bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Healing Monitoring in Bone Lengthening Using Bioimpedance
Authors: Sadoughi Farahnaz , Behmanesh Ali , Najd Mazhar Farid , Joghataei Mohammad Taghi , Yazdani Shahram , Shams Roshanak , Morovvati Hassan , Najaf Asaadi Sareh , Vosough Araz
Published: April 2022

The most common technique of orthopedic surgical procedure for the correction of deformities is bone lengthening by “distraction osteogenesis,” which requires periodic and ongoing bone assessment following surgery. Bone impedance is a noninvasive, quantitative method of assessing bone fracture healing. The purpose of this study was to monitor bone healing and determine when fixation devices should be removed. The left tibia of eight male New Zealand white rabbits (2.4 ± 0.4 kg) undergoing osteotomy was attached with a mini-external fixator. The bone length was increased by 1 cm one week after surgery by distracting it 1 mm per day. Before and after osteotomy, as well as every week after, bone impedance was measured in seven frequency ranges using an EVAL-AD5933EBZ board. Three orthopedic surgeons analyzed the radiographs using the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial (RUST) score. The Kappa Fleiss coefficient was used to determine surgeon agreement, and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to find out the relationship between impedance measurements and RUST scores. Finally, the device removal time was calculated by comparing the bone impedance to the preosteotomy impedance. The agreement of three orthopedic surgeons on radiographs had a Fleiss’ Kappa coefficient of 49%, indicating a moderate level of agreement. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.43, indicating that impedance and radiographic techniques have a direct relationship. Impedance is expected to be used to monitor fractured or lengthened bones in a noninvasive, low-cost, portable, and straightforward manner. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with other qualitative methods such as radiography, impedance can be useful in determining the precise time of device removal.
Cement Sheath Integrity in Anisotropic Shale Formations: A Numerical Investigation
Authors: Li Xiaorong , Zeng Yijin , Ding Zechen , Liu Rengguang , Lin Hai
Published: April 2022

Cement sheath should provide zonal isolation and structural support during the full life cycle of a well. However, achieving long-term cement sheath integrity under complex geological and operational conditions, especially in bedding shales characterized by strong anisotropy, is still a great challenge. Thus, to better understand the effects of the anisotropy of shales on cement sheath integrity, this paper developed a 3D coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical model of the formation-cement-casing system. Stress generation and evolution within cement sheath are also considered in the modeling. The model is validated against analytical solutions and physical experimental results. Then, sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the initial stress of cement sheath and shale anisotropy on cement sheath integrity. The results show that the anisotropy of Young’s modulus has a greater influence on cement sheath integrity compared to the anisotropy of Poisson’s ratio. Debonding between the cement sheath and formation can be easily generated due to the shale’s high anisotropy of Young’s modulus. The aperture of the microannulus along the cement interface varies with the angle between the wellbore axis and the bedding plane. The minimum microannulus is developed where the wellbore is parallel to the shale’s bedding planes. The results also indicate that initial stress generated in the cement sheath after its hardening is beneficial for the integrity of the cement-formation interface.
Nanomaterials and Bioactive Compounds against SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Roy Arpita , Datta Shreeja , Roy Madhura , Alghamdi Saad , Rajab Bodour S. , Babalghith Ahmad O. , Islam Md. Rabiul
Published: April 2022

Presently, an outbreak of coronavirus is of global concern, as it causes various respiratory problems. It was first detected in December 2019 in China’s Wuhan City where various patients got admitted to the hospitals with a symptom of pneumonia. As the number of cases increased, scientists isolated the samples from patients. Initially, it was named as a novel coronavirus (2019‐nCoV) and now renamed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). This virus spread from Wuhan to other cities of China, and currently it is affecting worldwide. Transmission of this virus occurs from one human to another and spreads through contaminated hands or surfaces. Various researchers are trying to explore the potential role of bioactive compounds from plants and different nanomaterials against this virus. Therefore, in this review, an overview of SARS‐CoV‐2, preventive measures against this viral infection, potential biocides against this virus, and role of phytochemicals and nanomaterials against this virus have been discussed.
A Dense Litchi Target Recognition Algorithm for Large Scenes
Authors: Wu Jinlong , Zhang Sheng , Zou Tianlong , Dong Lizhong , Peng Zhou , Wang Hongjun
Published: April 2022

To address the automatic detection of dense and small-scale fruit targets under natural large-scene conditions, litchi was used as the research object. Here, a method to automatically detect dense and small-scale litchi fruit targets based on the YOLOv4 detection network is proposed. First, the K-means++ algorithm was used to cluster the labelled data frames (ground truth) to determine the size of the anchor suitable for litchi. Then, the output size of the feature map of the original network was changed to make it more suitable for small-scale target detection. In addition, the images were preprocessed (cropped input) before they were fed into the network. To construct the litchi dataset, 400 images containing more than 20,000 targets were collected. Comparing the detection level to that of the original YOLOv4 model, the recall, precision, and F1 score values of the improved model increased from 0.81 to 0.825, 0.762 to 0.892, and 0.79 to 0.85, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the performance of the litchi detection method proposed in the study is significantly greater than the original model, and it meets the requirements for fruit monitoring in litchi orchards.
Data Collecting and Energy Charging Oriented Mobile Path Design for Rechargeable Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Meiyan , Cai Wenyu
Published: April 2022

Energy efficiency is one of the most important concerns in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). As far as we know, almost all energy efficiency researches of WSNs focus on energy conservation in some respects such as wireless data transmission and minimal data collection. Recently, wireless energy transfer has been a promising technology to prolong the lifetime of microsensor nodes, and so the traditional WSNs can be extended to rechargeable WSNs. Rechargeable WSNs is a new type of wireless sensor networks, where each sensor node can replenish energy through wireless charging. For rechargeable WSNs, it is powered by reusable energy or harvested energy, so the energy efficiency problem can be completely solved. Furthermore, mobile data collection has been well recognized to have significant advantages over sensory data collection manner using static sinks. In this paper, by employing one or multiple recharging sinks to replenish energy for sensor nodes and collect sensory data concurrently, we propose a novel wireless charging and mobile data collecting method based on self-organizing map (SOM) unsupervised learning for rechargeable WSNs. In other words, the sink mobility and energy replenishment are jointly considered in this paper. Finally, we evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms through software simulation. Extensive results verify that the performance of the proposed algorithm can reduce the travel cost of mobile sink and improve the residual energy level for sensor nodes. As a results, it is very promising in the field of data acquisition in wireless sensor networks.
Adiabatic CMOS‐Based Electrostatic MEMS Actuation for Reduced Dynamic Power and Switching Activity
Authors: Muthu P. , Vasanth Raj P. T. , Bommi R. M. , Baskar M. , Selvaganapathi S. , Sivaprakasam P.
Published: April 2022

The basic purpose of MEMS actuation is to miniaturize the actuators and sensors for applications in nanoelectronics. The transistor switching current and power supply noises due to voltage drops across the metal lines can impair circuit timing and performance, posing a continuing problem for high‐performance chip designers. This work presents an empirical concept of a reconfigurable charge pump based on FPGA for electrostatic actuation of the Microelectromechanical System (MEMS). The goal of the design is to produce enough on‐chip voltages for actuating the MEMS that are continuously adaptive and reconfigurable. In this proposed method, pumping capacitors lying in the range of 1‐pF have been deployed to decrease the area of design concerned. The various voltages are programmable digitally and created by dynamically altering the number of phases as well as the clock drive levels. The dynamic model is designed by adjusting the number of stages to produce on‐chip voltages including clock drive speeds, assuming a purely capacitive load. The proposed model’s power consumption can be lowered in the steady state by lowering its clock frequency and electrostatic MEMS actuators with capacitive load. An average of 0.62 W is dissipated by the circuit when the eight stages are triggered. Consequently, with adiabatic and without adiabatic architecture, 0.0186 mW of minimum power difference is obtained.
Distributed Energy Storage Cluster Control Method for DC Microgrid Considering Flexibility
Authors: Tao Peng , Zhang Yangrui , Zhao Junpeng
Published: April 2022

As the core support, when we develop some new energies, the energy storage industry and energy storage technology cover both the power supply, grid and the user side, residential side, and socialized functional store of the energy facilities. If we can implement the storage of energy by the distributed unit, we can save the time and space translation of energy in function and has the characteristics of flexible layout and installation at the equipment level. It is important to promote the production and consumption of renewable energy and improve the operational reliability of alternating current or direct current AC/DC hybrid power grids. It is a virtual form and develops a tendency for energy storage resources in the power grid in the future. However, as an emerging technology and resource, the use of distributed energy storage still has problems such as low efficiency, high idle rate, and single functional scenarios. Distributed energy storage systems can be used almost everywhere around the system of power, have broad application prospects and huge application potential, and will become more and more significant for the power grid in the near future. In general, the distributed energy storage system now is at a primary level of engineering application, and deep study about it still exists various key technologies which needed to lay the foundation for its popularization and application. In this paper, by constructing a microgrid experimental system containing a variety of distributed energy storage systems, research is carried out around the modeling, control, efficiency analysis, and energy management of distributed energy storage systems.
Effective Image Processing and Segmentation-Based Machine Learning Techniques for Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Authors: Chaudhury Sushovan , Krishna Alla Naveen , Gupta Suneet , Sankaran K. Sakthidasan , Khan Samiullah , Sau Kartik , Raghuvanshi Abhishek , Sammy F.
Published: April 2022

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, behind only heart disease. However, despite the high incidence and mortality rates associated with breast cancer, it is still unclear as to what is responsible for its development in the first place. The prevention of breast cancer is not possible with any of the current available methods. Patients who are diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at an early stage have a better chance of having a successful treatment and recovery. In the field of breast cancer detection, digital mammography is widely acknowledged to be a highly effective method of detecting the disease early on. We may be able to improve early detection of breast cancer with the use of image processing techniques, thereby boosting our chances of survival and treatment success. This article discusses a breast cancer image processing and machine learning framework that was developed. The input data set for this framework is a sequence of mammography images, which are used as input data. The CLAHE approach is then utilized to improve the overall quality of the photographs by means of image processing. It is called contrast restricted adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE), and it is an improvement on the original histogram equalization technique. This aids in the removal of noise from photographs while simultaneously improving picture quality. The segmentation of images is the next step in the framework’s development. An image is divided into distinct portions at this point because the pixels are labeled at this step. This assists in the identification of objects and the delineation of boundaries. To categorize these preprocessed images, techniques such as fuzzy SVM, Bayesian classifier, and random forest are employed, among others.
Magnetic Hydrogel for Cartilage Tissue Regeneration as well as a Review on Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Cartilage Repair Strategies
Authors: Babaniamansour Parto , Salimi Maryam , Dorkoosh Farid , Mohammadi Maryam
Published: April 2022

There is a clear clinical need for efficient cartilage healing strategies for treating cartilage defects which burdens millions of patients physically and financially. Different strategies including microfracture technique, osteochondral transfer, and scaffold‐based treatments have been suggested for curing cartilage injuries. Although some improvements have been achieved in several facets, current treatments are still less than satisfactory. Recently, different hydrogel‐based biomaterials have been suggested as a therapeutic candidate for cartilage tissue regeneration due to their biocompatibility, high water content, and tunability. Specifically, magnetic hydrogels are becoming more attractive due to their smart response to magnetic fields remotely. We seek to outline the context‐specific regenerative potential of magnetic hydrogels for cartilage tissue repair. In this review, first, we explained conventional techniques for cartilage repair and then compared them with new scaffold‐based approaches. We illustrated various hydrogels used for cartilage regeneration by highlighting the magnetic hydrogels. Also, we gathered in vitro and in vivo studies of how magnetic hydrogels promote chondrogenesis as well as studied the biological mechanism which is responsible for cartilage repair due to the application of magnetic hydrogel.
Application of the Iot Network and the Deep Learning Concept in Music Teaching
Authors: Shuangling Gai , Yafen Wu
Published: April 2022

In order to realize students’ in-depth understanding of music teaching content, it is necessary to reasonably allocate teaching materials according to the teaching content. Therefore, this paper puts forward the application of the concept of the Iot network and deep learning in music teaching. After the teaching resources are vectorized, the distinguishing local registration method of the DLA model is used to extract their features. Based on the dimension of the teaching content, the features of the teaching content are output in the DLA model, the music teaching resources are allocated according to the minimum matching error criterion, the hyperbolic tangent function is taken as the activation function, and the feature error is filtered by maximum aggregation. The experimental results show that the design method can, according to the music teaching content, have more than 80% accuracy in the shallow distribution and deep distribution of teaching materials, and play a positive role in promoting students’ in-depth learning.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Hemangioma Resection for Encephalofacial Angiomatosis (Sturge–Weber Syndrome) in Children under Intelligent Algorithm
Authors: Lv Yini , Liang Guoan , Fan Hailing , Cheng Jun , Xing Panwei , Zhu Lili
Published: April 2022

This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of hemangioma resection in the treatment of infantile encephalofacial angiomatosis (Sturge–Weber syndrome, SWS) through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, and intelligent algorithms were employed to process MRI images. A retrospective study of 45 children diagnosed with facial hemangioma admitted to hospital was conducted. Then, MRS images were acquired, and a mathematical model for MRI image denoising and reconstruction was constructed based on nonlocal similar block low‐rank prior algorithms. The processing effect was assessed regarding the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM). Finally, MRI images were collected to analyze the difference between the metabolites of N‐acetylaspartic acid (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), and their ratios in the lesions of the children before and after treatment. The improvement rate was analyzed through a twelve‐month follow‐up. The algorithm test results showed that compared with the classic K‐singular value decomposition (K‐SVD) denoising algorithm and the Sparse MRI reconstruction algorithm, the proposed algorithm processed MRI images more clearly and had more detailed information. The quantitative results showed that the PSNR and SSIM in the image processed by the algorithm proposed were remarkably large. The clinical treatment results showed that compared with those before treatment, the nCho level after treatment, the ratio of Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA were remarkably reduced, and the difference was remarkable (P < 0.05). The follow‐up results showed that the considerable improvement rate was 88.89%, the postoperative organ remodeling rate was 17.78%, and the probability of reoperation was only 6.67%. In summary, the introduction of intelligent algorithms for denoising and reconstruction of MRI images can remarkably improve image quality and help doctors use image information to diagnose diseases and evaluate treatment effects. The hemangioma resection for the treatment of pediatric SWS had a high treatment improvement rate and was worthy of clinical adoption.
The Polysaccharides from the Aerial Parts of Bupleurum chinense DC Attenuate Epilepsy-Like Behavior through Oxidative Stress Signaling Pathways
Authors: Li Xiaomao , Liu Yan , Wang Siyi , Jiang Yikai , Algradi Adnan Mohammed , Zhou Yuanyuan , Guan Wei , Pan Juan , Kuang Haixue , Yang Bingyou
Published: April 2022

Bupleurum chinense DC. is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long medicinal history and is often used as the main ingredient in prescription drugs for epilepsy. The aerial parts of B. chinense DC. have similar efficacy and composition to B. chinense DC. Therefore, we speculated that the aerial parts of B. chinense DC. could be used in the treatment of epilepsy. Polysaccharides from the aerial parts of B. chinense DC. were selected to explore their therapeutic effects on epilepsy and their potential mechanism of action. The study is aimed at clarifying the antiepileptic effects of the polysaccharides from the aerial parts of B. chinense DC. and their potential underlying mechanisms. The chemical profile of the aerial parts of B. chinense DC. polysaccharides (ABP) was characterized by FT-IR spectrum and HPLC chromatogram. To determine the therapeutic effects of ABPs on epilepsy, we established a kainic acid- (KA-) induced rat model of epilepsy, and through H&E staining, Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, biochemical analysis, ELISA, and Western blot analysis, we explored the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ABPs on epilepsy. The monosaccharide content of ABP included galacturonic acid (45.19%), galactose (36.63%), arabinose rhamnose (12.13%), and mannose (6.05%). Moreover, the average molecular weight of ABP was

1.38
×

10

3

 
kDa

. ABP could improve hippocampal injuries and neuronal function in the KA-induced epilepsy rat model. ABP significantly inhibited oxidative stress in the hippocampus of KA-induced rats. More importantly, ABP could regulate TREM2 activation in the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway to inhibit neuronal apoptosis, including increasing the expression of superoxide dismutase and lactate dehydrogenase and decreasing the expression of malondialdehyde. The current study defined the potential role of ABP in inhibiting the development of epilepsy, indicating that ABP could upregulate TREM2 to alleviate neuronal apoptosis, by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway and oxidative stress in epilepsy.
Construction of University Sports Flipped Classroom Based on Sports Skills Learning and Mobile Edge Computing-Driven Neural Network
Authors: Guo Chunding , Yang Junxia
Published: April 2022

In order to make students more interested in PE learning in PE teaching, it is necessary for PE educators to change the traditional way of thinking, take students as the main body of PE learning, be guided by teachers themselves, and use mobile edge computing and neural network technology as technologies. It enables students to carry out intelligent physical education independently. Whether the teaching is effective does not mean whether the teacher has completed the teaching content seriously, but whether the students have learned something, or whether the students have learned well. Based on the actual teaching practice of flipped sports classroom, this paper takes the “effectiveness” of sports classroom teaching as the breakthrough point, mainly adopts the research methods of comparative analysis, mobile edge computing, and neural network, and combines relevant domestic and foreign research results on the teaching of sports flipped classroom at home and abroad. An in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness was carried out. The research results show that it is reliable to build a university sports flipped classroom with a neural network driven by motor skill learning and mobile edge computing as the carrier.
Evaluation System for the Talent Training Quality of Higher Education Based on the Combination of the Subjective and Objective Evaluation Method and AdaBoost-SVM
Authors: Liu Ruifeng , Li Lijun
Published: April 2022

This paper mainly researches for the evaluation index system of college students’ cultivation quality. First, we establish a comprehensive evaluation index system of college students’ cultivation quality from three aspects of college students’ knowledge, ability, and quality, to establish the evaluation index system which consists of 3 first-level indexes, 14 second-level indexes, and 40 index observation points. Then, the method of assigning the index weight is optimized and the method of combining subjective and objective weight is adopted. Finally, this paper introduces the algorithm of machine learning as an evaluation method. In order to improve the performance of the algorithm, diversity measure is introduced to ensure that the base learner has good diversity. We proposed a new algorithm AdaBoost-support vector machine (AdaBoost-SVM); it is found that the proposed method gets a high accuracy rate of 91% with a small amount of data in our education datasets. The research results of this paper solve the problems of incomplete index creation, unreasonable index weight assignment, and low efficiency of evaluation methods in the current evaluation of college student’s cultivation quality.
Effect of the Application of Cold Plasma Energy on the Inactivation of Microorganisms, Proteins, and Lipids Deterioration in Adobera Cheese
Authors: Aguilar Uscanga Blanca Rosa , Calderón Santoyo Montserrat , Ragazzo Sánchez Juan Arturo , Alemán Duarte Mario Iván , Pérez Montaño Julia Aurora , Balcázar-López Edgar , Solís Pacheco Josué Raymundo
Published: April 2022

Cheeses are perishable foods that must fulfill sanitary and quality requirements according to the parameters established globally. Plasma as a nonthermal inactivation technique has been a current research topic for food preservation, so the objective of this work was to study the effect of plasma energy against microorganisms in Adobera cheese (traditional Mexican cheese) as well as evaluate the possible degradation of lipids and protein. 108 CFU/mL of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella ATCC13076, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 were inoculated at 0.5 g of Adobera cheese and were subjected to an energy of 30 volts, in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor (DBDR) at intervals of times 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 min. A flow of a mixture of air and helium at 96% purity was used. The decimal reduction time (D) was determined, and the oxidation of proteins and lipids was analyzed after each treatment. The results showed an annihilating effect of plasma on the indicator bacteria under study, and a reduction of 5 logarithmic cycles was obtained. The maximum degree of lipid oxidation was 23 acid degree values (ADV) after 7 min of exposure to plasma. The oxidation of proteins showed a direct and proportional relationship between the formation of carbonyl groups with the percentage significant loss to the concentration of carbonyl groups with the concentration of protein oxidation, after 3 min of exposure to cold plasma levels of 82% and 99% oxidation of Adobera cheese protein and free casein, respectively. We conclude that the plasma energy applied to Adobera cheese is an effective treatment to inactivate bacteria. However, there is the possibility of causing changes in taste and odor, due to the release of fatty acids and the oxidation of proteins.
Effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Combined with Needle-Knife on Pain and Lumbar Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation
Authors: Peng Guoqiang , Zheng Yanfang , Luo Dejun
Published: April 2022

This study aimed for the analysis of the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with needle-knife on pain and lumbar function in patients with lumbar disc herniation. From June 2019 to February 2021, the medical records of 126 patients with lumbar disc herniation admitted to the department of orthopedics of our hospital were selected and divided into the control group (n = 63) treated with acupuncture and moxibustion and the observation group (n = 63) treated with acupuncture and moxibustion combined with needle-knife according to different treatment regimens. After 4 weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy, pain status, and lumbar function were compared between the two groups. The concentrations of relevant inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and MMP-2) in peripheral blood of the two patients before and after treatment were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After treatment, the overall response rate was 93.65% in the observation group, which was higher than 80.95% in the control group (

P
<
0.05

); the visual blurred score (VAS) scores of lower limbs and waist in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, while the expression of pain mediators serotonin (5-HT) and prostaglandin E2 (PEG2) was also lower than that in the control group (

P
<
0.05

); the Oswestry disability index (ODI) in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, while the Japanese Orthopedic Association assessment treatment score (JOA) was higher than that in the control group (

P
<
0.05

). After treatment, the concentration levels in peripheral blood (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and MMP-2) were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (

P
<
0.05

). Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with needle-knife is effective in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, which helps to improve the clinical efficacy, relieve pain symptoms, promote the improvement of lumbar function, and contribute to the reduction of inflammatory factors.
Impact of Soil and Water Conservation Measures and Slope Position on Selected Soil Attributes at a Watershed Scale
Authors: Retta Melaku Alene , Addis Hailu Kendie , Beyene Tesfaye Feyisa
Published: April 2022

The Ethiopian highlands are affected by soil erosion resulting in the deterioration of soil properties. To reverse this, different soil and water conservation (SWC) measures were spatially practiced; however, the effect of SWC and slope gradient on soil properties is not well studied in the area. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of SWC and slope gradient on selected soil physicochemical properties in Dawnt watershed, northwestern Ethiopia. The treatments were a combination of four different SWC measures on three slope gradients replicated at three sites. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from 0–20 cm soil depth, and physicochemical properties were determined following standard laboratory procedures. The laboratory results depict that sand, bulk density, moisture, particle density, porosity, pH, organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen, and available phosphorus were significantly (

P
<
0.05

) affected by SWC measures and slope gradient. High OC (2.44%), CEC (45 cmol (+) kg−1), and moisture (19.55%) were obtained from stone-faced soil bund stabilized with grass (SFSBG) and higher available phosphorus (7.83 ppm) from soil bund (SB), while lower bulk density (1.13 gm/cm3) was obtained from SFSBG. Additionally, higher clay (41.67%) and moisture (19.81%), and lower bulk density (1.14 g·cm−3) were obtained from the lower slope. Higher pH (6.75) and OC (2.89%) were recorded at the lower slope under SFSBG and lower pH and OC (6.03 and 1.02%) at the upper slope with nonconserved. Soil chemical properties, except available potassium, were increased down the slope. The interactions of slope position and SWC measures affect soil texture, pH, organic carbon, and available phosphorus but not affect soil bulk density, moisture content, particle density, total porosity, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen, and available potassium. In general, the soil properties were improved through integrating conservation practices with multipurpose grass species across the study watershed. Therefore, it is possible to infer that SFSBG measures improve the observed physicochemical soil properties, which urge for the maintenance and the development of SWC measures in the study watershed as well as nearby highlands with similar topographic conditions and agroclimatic characteristics.
A Novel Fuzzy Structure: Infra-Fuzzy Topological Spaces
Authors: Ameen Zanyar A. , Al-shami Tareq M. , Azzam A. A. , Mhemdi Abdelwaheb
Published: April 2022

Obtaining a weaker condition that preserves some inspired topological properties is always desirable. As a result, we introduce the concept of infra-fuzzy topology, which is a subset family that degrades the concept of fuzzy topology by omitting the condition of closedness under arbitrary unions. Fundamental properties of infra-fuzzy topological spaces are investigated, including infra-fuzzy open and infra-fuzzy closed sets, infra-fuzzy interior and infra-fuzzy closure operators, and the infra-fuzzy boundary of a fuzzy set. It is not possible to expect the latter concepts to have properties identical to those in ordinary fuzzy topological spaces. More precisely, the infra-fuzzy interior of a set need not be infra-fuzzy open, and the infra-fuzzy closure and boundary of a set may not be infra-fuzzy closed. Then, employing infra-fuzzy neighborhood systems, infra-fuzzy Q-neighborhood systems, the basis of infra-fuzzy topology, and infra-fuzzy relative topology, we propose several approaches for generating infra-fuzzy topologies. Finally, we define the notions of continuity, openness, closedness, and homeomorphism of mappings in the context of infra fuzziness and investigate some of their properties and characterizations. We show that the usual characterization of earlier notions in the infra-fuzzy structure is incorrect. We demonstrate that the family of all infra-fuzzy homeomorphisms on an infra-fuzzy topological space forms a group under mappings composition. We finish this work by proving that each infra-fuzzy homeomorphism between two infra-fuzzy topological spaces produces an isomorphism on groups of infra-fuzzy homeomorphisms of the corresponding spaces.
Effect of Aspirin on Melanoma Incidence in Older Persons: Extended Follow-up of a Large Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: Yan Mabel K. , Orchard Suzanne G. , Adler Nikki R. , Wolfe Rory , McLean Catriona , Rodriguez Luz María. , Woods Robyn L. , Gibbs Peter , Chan Andrew T. , Haydon Andrew , Mar Victoria J.
Published: April 2022

The effects of aspirin on melanoma are unclear, with studies reporting conflicting results. Data from two periods of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study; the randomized placebo-controlled trial period examining daily 100 mg aspirin in older adults with a median follow-up of 4.7 years, and the second period, an additional 2 years of observational follow-up, were utilized in this secondary analysis to examine whether aspirin exposure is associated with a reduced cutaneous melanoma incidence. All melanoma cases were adjudicated and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare incidence between randomized treatment groups. ASPREE recruited 19,114 participants with a median age of 74 years. During the trial period, 170 individuals (76 aspirin, 94 placebo) developed an invasive melanoma, and no significant effect of aspirin was observed on incident melanoma [HR = 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60–1.10]. Including the additional 2 years of observational follow-up (median follow-up of 6.3 years), 268 individuals (119 aspirin, 149 placebo) developed an invasive melanoma, and similar results were observed (HR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.63–1.03). A reduced number of events was observed with aspirin among females in a subgroup analysis (HR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.44–0.92); however, the interaction effect with males (HR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.68–1.25) was nonsignificant (P = 0.17). Our findings from this randomized trial do not provide strong support that aspirin is associated with a reduced risk of invasive melanoma in older individuals. Additional studies are required to further explore this relationship.

Prevention Relevance:

Melanoma prevention is an important strategy to improve outcomes and while preventive efforts have largely focused on sun protection, the role of potential chemopreventive agents such as aspirin warrants investigation.
Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Brain Metastases: Toward Unlocking Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Strickland Matthew R. , Alvarez-Breckenridge Christopher , Gainor Justin F. , Brastianos Priscilla K.
Published: April 2022

Brain metastasis (BrM) is a devastating complication of solid tumors associated with poor outcomes. Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of cancer, but determinants of response are incompletely understood. Given the rising incidence of BrM, improved understanding of immunobiologic principles unique to the central nervous system (CNS) and dissection of those that govern the activity of ICIs are paramount toward unlocking BrM-specific antitumor immunity. In this review, we seek to discuss the current clinical landscape of ICI activity in the CNS and CNS immunobiology, and we focus, in particular, on the role of glial cells in the CNS immune response to BrM.

Significance:

There is an urgent need to improve patient selection for and clinical activity of ICIs in patients with cancer with concomitant BrM. Increased understanding of the unique immunobiologic principles that govern response to ICIs in the CNS is critical toward identifying targets in the tumor microenvironment that may potentiate antitumor immunity.
Txnip Enhances Fitness of Dnmt3a-Mutant Hematopoietic Stem Cells via p21
Authors: Zhang Christine R. , Ostrander Elizabeth L. , Kukhar Ostap , Mallaney Cates , Sun Jiameng , Haussler Emily , Celik Hamza , Koh Won Kyun , King Katherine Y. , Gontarz Paul , Challen Grant A.
Published: April 2022

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) refers to the age-related expansion of specific clones in the blood system, and manifests from somatic mutations acquired in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Most CH variants occur in the gene DNMT3A, but while DNMT3A-mutant CH becomes almost ubiquitous in aging humans, a unifying molecular mechanism to illuminate how DNMT3A-mutant HSCs outcompete their counterparts is lacking. Here, we used interferon gamma (IFNγ) as a model to study the mechanisms by which Dnmt3a mutations increase HSC fitness under hematopoietic stress. We found Dnmt3a-mutant HSCs resist IFNγ-mediated depletion, and IFNγ-signaling is required for clonal expansion of Dnmt3a-mutant HSCs in vivo. Mechanistically, DNA hypomethylation–associated overexpression of Txnip in Dnmt3a-mutant HSCs leads to p53 stabilization and upregulation of p21. This preserves the functional potential of Dnmt3a-mutant HSCs through increased quiescence and resistance to IFNγ-induced apoptosis. These data identify a previously undescribed mechanism to explain increased fitness of DNMT3A-mutant clones under hematopoietic stress.

Significance:

DNMT3A mutations are common variants in clonal hematopoiesis, and recurrent events in blood cancers. Yet the mechanisms by which these mutations provide hematopoietic stem cells a competitive advantage as a precursor to malignant transformation remain unclear. Here, we use inflammatory stress to uncover molecular mechanisms leading to this fitness advantage.

See related commentary by De Dominici and DeGregori, p. 178.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 171
Dynamic Observation: Immune-Privileged Microenvironment Limited the Effectiveness of Immunotherapy in an Intraocular Metastasis Mouse Model
Authors: Tao Tianchang , Liu Yang , Zhang Jun , Huang Lvzhen , Tao Ye
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Intraocular metastasis (IM) occurred in approximately 8–10% of patients with metastatic malignancy, for whom oncological immunotherapies showed poor visual potential. However, the mechanism for that inefficiency remains unclear and requires further exploration. Methods: We established a novel mouse model of IM by intracarotid injection of cutaneous melanoma cells. We investigated disease progression using ophthalmic and histological examinations. We used combined anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4 antibodies for immunotherapy and evaluated the therapeutic effects in the mouse model. In addition, we characterized the immune microenvironment of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T by fluorescence staining and assessed their cytotoxicity by flow cytometry. Results: All mice presented IM in the left eye, while the right eye was healthy. Uveal tissues with rich vascularity (e.g., the iris, ciliary body, and choroid) initiated IM at an early stage, and IM development resulted in several secondary changes, including corneal swelling, retinal detachment, and intratumoral hemorrhage. Immunotherapy could inhibit IM and prolong the time to eye rupture but did not prevent rupture ending. This inefficiency might be attributed to ocular tissues specificities that inhibited CD8+ T-cell infiltration via PD-L1 expression. PD-L1low corneal tissue resisted tumor invasion with high levels of CD8+ T-cell infiltration, whereas CD8+ T cells were deficient in PD-L1high uveal metastasis. Furthermore, we found a significantly increased PD-1+/− CD4+ and PD-1+/− CD8+ T cells infiltrating the intratumoral hemorrhage area. Although these CD8+ T cells in the IM were not exhausted and had a higher capacity of cytotoxicity (higher interferon-γ ratio) than CD8+ T cells in the blood, FasL+ PD-L1+ ocular tissue can strongly inhibit these IM-infiltrating T cells. Conclusions: Immunotherapy can inhibit the disease progression of IM. Enhancing the effects of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells should be one of the highest potentials to improve the visual potential.
Intracranial Aneurysm in Pediatric Population: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: de Aguiar Guilherme Brasileiro , Ozanne Augustin , Elawady Ahmed , Samoyeau Thomas , Niknejad Hamid Reza , Caroff Jildaz , Vergara Martinez Jeickson , Mihalea Cristian , Gallas Sophie , Chalumeau Vanessa , Ikka Léon , Moret Jacques , Spelle Laurent
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Pediatric intracranial aneurysms (PIA) are rarer and more complex when compared to adult aneurysms. In general, the clinical presentation of PIA is due to a mass effect, but the presenting symptoms can be also related to ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or in a combination of different symptoms. This paper aimed to report a single-center experience with clinical and angiographic aspects of brain aneurysm in children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained database for patients with intracranial aneurysms in our institution from July 2015 to February 2021. Among these, all patients under 18 years of age submitted to a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure for an intracranial aneurysm were included. Results: Twelve patients were submitted to diagnostic or therapeutic procedures in our department. Three of them had multiple aneurysms, and in total, 17 intracranial aneurysms were assessed in this study. The most frequent location was in the middle cerebral artery (7 cases/41%). Five out of twelve children (42%) presented SAH due to ruptured aneurysm. Three patients (25%) had symptoms due to the mass effect from large aneurysms, with compression of cranial nerves or brainstem. Aneurysms diameters ranged from 1.5 mm to 34 mm (mean 14.2 mm), with six aneurysms being giant and eight being nonsaccular/fusiform. Twelve aneurysms were submitted to endovascular treatment, with one treatment-related clinical complication and later death. Conclusion: PIAs are rare diseases that can arise from a variety of different underlying pathological mechanisms. The management of these conditions requires a detailed understanding of the pathology and a multidisciplinary approach. Despite the availability of new technologies, parent vessel occlusion remains a valid option for aneurysms in the pediatric population.
Addressing Cognitive Vulnerabilities through Genome and Epigenome Editing: Techno-Legal Adaptations for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Lau Pin Lean
Published: April 2022

The key aim of this paper is to highlight the oft-under-represented narrative of how persons with disabilities (specifically, those with intellectual disabilities) may access the benefits that genome editing may offer. Firstly, this paper reflects on the critical need for a paradigm shift in how we view intellectual disabilities, and centering the rights of persons with disabilities to allow them to access the broad scope of their right to health under various international law instruments (including the complementary right to habilitation under Article 26 of the CRPD). Secondly, the paper evaluates the legal provisions in the CRPD and other international instruments relating to the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, and their access to genome editing technologies. This analysis intends to demonstrate that human rights in disability discourse be complemented with emancipatory, participatory, and transformative research. Finally, the paper argues for a reinvigorated line of thinking that expands on the social model of disability: to align with inclusive, contemporary disability discourse that embodies greater responsibility and innovation in perpetuating better access to genome editing technologies for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Stanislas Breton
Authors: Hackett William C.
Published: April 2022

The name Stanislas Breton likely drums up a few interesting facts: chum of Louis Althusser or Michel de Certeau, author of an obscure spiritual classic (The Word and the Cross) or bewildering treatises on Nothing, the Imaginary, and the “poetics of the sensible” – an idiosyncratic figure at the margins, writing on St. Paul or Proclus well before it was mainstream. Coming across his name can be like discovering a great record that none of your friends are talking about or taking a chance on Netflix to find an arthouse ‘hidden gem’. To facilitate that experience (perhaps why you got into Continental philosophy and into religion in the first place), I offer a brief introductory essay sounding some of the major notes in his thought and life, followed by a translation of his “Examen particulier,” written in 1988 as a late-stage critical self-interrogation. The reader should find here that Breton’s oeuvre develops a coherent and penetrating philosophy of conceptual rigor and thematic range that is as deeply indebted to its modern engagements as it is to its medieval and late antique sources of inspiration.
Synopsis of the Central Asian Salvia species with identification key
Authors: TURDIBOEV OBIDJON A. , SHORMANOVA AIJAMAL A. , SHELUDYAKOVA MARIYA B. , AKBAROV FERUZ , DREW BRYAN T. , CELEP FERHAT
Published: April 2022

The genus Salvia is comprised of about 1000 species and has diversity hotspots in the Americas, East Asia, southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region. Central Asia also possesses considerable Salvia species diversity but is understudied relative to the aforementioned diversity hotspots. To help remedy this deficiency, we present a synopsis of Central Asian Salvia species based on extensive fieldwork, herbarium consultation, and literature surveys focusing on Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan (i.e., Central Asia). According to our final taxonomic revision, there are 41 species of native Salvia in the flora of Central Asia, 24 of which are endemic. Salvia ariana from Tajikistan and S. spinosa from Kazakhstan are documented from the respective countries for the first time, and the presence of S. tianschanica from Tajikistan and S. verticillata from Kazakhstan has been confirmed. In addition, the neotypification of S. deserta and three lectotypifications (Perovskia abrotanoides, S. bucharica and S. trautvetterii) are provided. Furthermore, we synonymized six species of Salvia that were previously reported from Central Asia, including S. intercedens, S. kopetdaghensis, S. linczevskii, S. lipskyi, S. semilanata and S. stepposa. Finally, a new species identification key for Central Asian Salvia is presented based on the new nomenclature changes and our taxonomic revision.
Fissuroma bambucicola sp. nov. (Aigialaceae, Pleosporales) from Bamboo in Guizhou, China
Authors: FENG YAO , ZHANG SHENG-NAN , CHEN YA-YA , LIU ZUO-YI
Published: April 2022

During an investigation of fungi on bamboos in Guizhou Province of China, a new ascomycete inhabiting decaying bamboo is introduced based on morpho-molecular evidence. Morphologically, our new species is characterized by hemispherical ascomata with slit-like ostiole, trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, obclavate to cylindrical asci, and fusiform, hyaline, 1-septate ascospores, surrounded by a distinctive thin sheath, which fit well with Aigialaceae. The phylogenetic analyses based on a combined LSU, ITS, SSU, and TEF1-α sequence data showed that the new collections are affiliated with the genus Fissuroma and can be recognized as a new species Fissuroma bambusicola. The comprehensive description and notes of F. bambusicola are provided.