bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Itaconate: an antimicrobial metabolite of macrophages
Authors: Duncan Dustin , Auclair Karine
Published: June 2021

Itaconate is a conjugated 1,4-dicarboxylate produced by macrophages. This small molecule has recently received increasing attention due to its role in modulating the immune response of macrophages upon exposure to pathogens. Itaconate has also been proposed to play an antimicrobial function; however, this has not been explored as intensively. Consistent with the latter, itaconate is known to show antibacterial activity in vitro and was reported to inhibit isocitrate lyase, an enzyme required for survival of bacterial pathogens in mammalian systems. Recent studies have revealed bacterial growth inhibition under biologically relevant conditions. In addition, an antimicrobial role for itaconate is substantiated by the high concentration of itaconate found in bacteria-containing vacuoles, and by the production of itaconate-degrading enzymes in pathogens such as Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Yersinia pestis. This review describes the current state of literature in understanding the role of itaconate as an antimicrobial agent in host–pathogen interactions.
Influence of a one-time biosolids application on elemental and nutrient concentrations on mine tailings
Authors: Harris Michelle E. , Gardner Wendy C. , Pypker Thomas
Published: June 2021

Mine tailings are nutrient deficient, contain no organic matter, and have high metal concentrations preventing the long-term establishment of vegetation. The use of organic amendments, including biosolids, can help the revegetation of mine tailings by adding organic matter and nutrients but can increase metals in the receiving soil. There is also uncertainty if biosolids provide a long-term benefit, or if the benefits diminish with time. To test this, a study was conducted on two tailings storage facilities — a sand, and a silt loam — for a copper mine in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. In 1998, biosolids were applied at rates between 50 and 250 Mg·ha−1and compared with a control and fertilizer treatment. Plots were sampled in 2000 and 2015 for total and available nutrients and metals. This study showed that 17 yr after a one-time biosolids application at different rates, the tailing storage facilities that received biosolids had higher carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and biomass compared with tailings that did not receive biosolids or received conventional fertilizer. Many elements such as carbon (C) did not change from 2000 to 2015 in biosolids-treated plots, indicating a long-term benefit to the tailings. Additionally, biosolids did not result in increased concentrations of metals above the national regulatory limits for agriculture. This study suggests that a one-time biosolids application can provide a long-term benefit to tailings, whereas proper application rates can reduce the risks of metal exceedances.
Effect of surface roughness and plasma current to adhesion of Cr3C2-NiCr coating fabricated by plasma spray technique on 16Mn steel
Authors: Cuong Pham Duc , Thao Dang Xuan
Published: June 2021

The life time and quality of thermal spray coatings are strongly influenced by the technological parameters of the coating process and characteristics of the coated surface. In this paper, 16Mn steel substrates of different surface roughness are coated by Cr3C2-NiCr using a plasma spray technique. The adhesion of the coating to the substrate has been studied in relation to the roughness of the substrate and the plasma current of the spraying process. The results showed that the adhesion of the Cr3C2-NiCr coating to 16Mn steel substrate is strongly influenced by the roughness and the current intensity. The range of substrate surface roughness and current intensity at which the Cr3C2-NiCr exhibited high adhesion to the steel substrate are discussed in this paper.
MULTI-AUV DYNAMIC MANEUVER DECISION-MAKING BASED ON INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY COUNTER-GAME AND FRACTIONAL-ORDER PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION
Authors: LIU LU , ZHANG SHUO , ZHANG LICHUAN , PAN GUANG , BAI CHUNMEI
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a multi-AUV dynamic maneuver decision-making algorithm is studied based on intuitionistic fuzzy game and fractional-order Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Because of the weak communication condition and complex marine environment, a maneuver decision-making algorithm is usually hard to realize in real-time multi-AUV couter-game process. First, the weak communication condition is analyzed according to sonar and other equipment characteristics. Then, the multi-AUV maneuver attributes evaluation and maneuver decision-making modeling are investigated under the obtained weak communication constraints. Subsequently, a fractional-order PSO optimization method is proposed to solve the strategy optimization problem of multi-AUV maneuver decision-making process. At last, an example is presented to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the obtained algorithm.
Nakamura, Craford, and Dupuis on the 2021 QEPrize for Engineering
Authors: Chaves Frances
Published: June 2021

Isamu Akasaki, Shuji Nakamura, Nick Holonyak, Jr., M. George Craford, and Russell Dupuis received the 2021 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) “for the creation and development of LED lighting, which forms the basis of all solid state lighting technology… They are recognized not only for the global impact of LED and solid state lighting but also for the tremendous contribution the technology has made, and will continue to make, to reducing energy consumption and addressing climate change.”
Journal Patent Citations – A New Paradigm for Journal Quality?
Authors: Parr Daniel L. , Jannuzzi Christopher J. , Taylor E. Jennings , Leddy Johna
Published: June 2021

In a previous article in Interface, various measures of “journal prestige” were discussed. Present metrics of journal impact are based largely on researchers citing the peer-reviewed articles of other researchers that lead to an interwoven network of “forward” and “backward” citations.
Podcasts of Note - Summer 2021
Authors: Suroviec Alice
Published: June 2021

Alice Suroviec presents a collection of podcasts that scientists will appreciate.
Looking at Patent Law: Patenting an Electrochemical Nondestructive Corrosion Evaluation System for Ships, Buildings, and Bridges – A Case Study
Authors: Taylor E. Jennings , Inman Maria
Published: June 2021

In this installment of the “Looking at Patent Law” articles, we present a case study of a system for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of corrosion on ships, buildings, and bridges. We have chosen this invention to align with the focus of this issue of Interface on the ECS Corrosion Division.
Corrosion in Advanced Nuclear Reactors
Authors: Was Gary S. , Allen Todd R.
Published: June 2021

Commercial nuclear power plants in the United States are light water reactors (LWRs) that use water as a coolant, with temperatures ranging between 280°C and 320°C. Water purity is tightly controlled; nevertheless, the high temperatures expose components in the water circuit to degradation by corrosion by many different types of environmental attack. Uniform corrosion occurs across the entire surface of a material and is prevalent in engineering systems to some extent. Site-specific corrosion processes, such as crevice corrosion, intergranular attack, or galvanic corrosion, are common in complex engineering systems that consist of multiple materials joined by welds or other solid state joining processes. Even within a single component, if second phase strengthening is used or if surface defects are present, localized corrosion can occur.
Evaluation of Dielectrically Modulated and Fringing Field Tunneling Field Effect Transistor Biosensors Devices
Authors: Macambira C. N. , Agopian P. G. D. , Martino J. A.
Published: June 2021

An evaluation of a dielectrically modulated (DM) and a fringing field (FF) biosensor based on a tunneling field-effect transistor (Bio-TFET) by 2D numerical simulation is presented. The bio detection is based on the presence of a biomaterial with a distinct dielectric constant (k) on the sensitivity area. The performance of the devices is compared in terms of drain current in the ambipolar region (i.e., for negative gate voltage in an n-type Bio-nTFET device) due to the variation of the k, drain underlap length (LUD), and the presence of charges (QBio) into the biomaterial/silicon interface. The results show that the DM biosensor with LUD = 25 nm exhibits a higher sensitivity in all k simulated compared with FF biosensor, resulting in more than 2 orders of magnitude for k = 10. In the presence of charges, the DM shows a higher sensitivity in all of the range studied. Higher sensitivity values over a wider range of LUD and QBio are desirable and DM Bio-TFET achieves a better result compared with the FF Bio-TFET. Results show a new outlook for each type of biosensor.
Is the Long Memory Factor Important for Extending the Fama and French Five-Factor Model: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Yicun , Teng Yuanyang , Shi Wei , Sun Lin
Published: June 2021

This paper proposes a new factor model, which is built upon the marriage of the Fama and French five-factor model and a long memory factor based on the monthly data of the A-share market in the Chinese stock market from January 2010 to July 2020. We first examine the explanatory power of the Fama and French five-factor model. We find strong market factor return of market (RM), size factor small minus big (SMB), and value factor high minus low (HML) but weak factor robust minus weak (RMW) and investment factor conservative minus aggressive (CMA). Then, both the Hurst exponent and the momentum factors (MOM) are added to the model to test the improvement of the explanatory power of these two new factors. We find that both the momentum factor and the Hurst exponent factor can effectively improve the explanatory power of the model. The momentum factor captures the short-term trend, but it cannot completely replace the Hurst exponent, which reflects the long memory effect.
Spherical Cubic Fuzzy Extended TOPSIS Method and Its Application in Multicriteria Decision-Making
Authors: Tehreem  , Hussain Amjad , Alsanad Ahmed , A. A. Mosleh Mogeeb
Published: June 2021

This paper aims to propose a new methodology for spherical cubic fuzzy (SCF) multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) utilizing the TOPSIS method that uses incomplete weight information. At first, the maximum deviation model is suggested to determine the criteria of weight values. An MCDM methodology is introduced using SCF information, based on the proposed method. Also, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed information, a numerical example is given. Finally, a comprehensive and structured analysis of existing work in comparison with previous work is given.
Experimental Investigation into Limit Void Ratio Characteristics of Calcareous Sands considering Various Factors
Authors: Li Baojian , Lei Gang , Guo Panpan , Zhou Gaoyun , Wang Zhe , Gong Xiaonan
Published: June 2021

Relative density is an important index affecting the mechanical behaviors of calcareous sands. The dense sands present softening strength, whereas the loose sands exhibit hardening strength. Furthermore, the relative density is determined based on the maximum and minimum void ratios obtained by using the maximum and minimum dry density test. In this study, a series of tests were carried out on various mixed graded sands to explore their material properties and the relationship between the limit void ratio, considering the effects of test methods, equipment, and fine content. It is shown that a more accurate maximum void ratio can be attained by using the 1000 mL measuring cylinder with low rotation speed. In addition, in order to avoid particle breakage of calcareous sands, it is suggested that the minimum void ratio should be obtained with the 1000 mL compaction cylinder combining vibration with hit. The results also show that a linear relationship exists among the limit void ratio of various mixed graded sands. Besides, the void ratio is significantly affected by the fine content. 40% is the critical fine content corresponding to the lowest value of the limit void ratio.
An Effective Quantum Genetic Algorithm Based on Drama Resource Mining Using Wireless Sensing Technology
Authors: Dong Rui
Published: June 2021

Wireless sensor technology has penetrated various domains of today’s life and plays a vital role in the advanced technology. Numerous researchers have combined this outstanding technology with other fields such as resource mining, industry, healthcare, automobile system, gaming industry, and dramas. However, in traditional resource mining, long mining time leads to incomplete mining results along with low accuracy. In order to improve the effect of resource mining, we have proposed an effective Quantum Generic Algorithm (QGA) based on drama resource mining by using wireless sensor technology. In our proposed scheme, we have combined the RFID technology of wireless sensor with wireless network protocol stack for the purpose of collecting drama resources on the network platform. We have classified the drama resources on the network platform by using QGA based on the results of resources collection. Additionally, we have mined the semantic association features of frequent patterns of the drama resources on the platform and combined with the fuzzy attribute feature detection method. The experimental results show that this method is superior to the traditional methods in terms of resource mining time, mining results’ comprehensiveness, and mining results’ accuracy, which shows that this method has practical application value.
A Control Approach of the Roof in No-Pillar Roadway Formed by Roof Cutting and Pressure Releasing
Authors: Lou Qingnan , Li Tingchun , Zhu Qingwen , Wu Shanyuan , Yun Ming , Zhao Renle
Published: June 2021

Roof control is one of the eternal themes of mine pressure theory, and it is also a key step of roadway formed by roof cutting. Based on the analysis of abutment pressure distribution, the viewpoint of controlling roadway roof by roof cutting distance is put forward according to the failure limit of roadway roof, and the calculation method of roof cutting distance is given. Based on the Qiuji coal mine’s background, the numerical and field test study is conducted to verify the theoretical analysis, and the allowable variation range of roof cutting distance is obtained. The research shows that the roof cutting distance, abutment pressure, and roadway deformation are closely related. By controlling the roof cutting distance, the roadway roof can be placed in the low-stress area, the roadway deformation can be reduced, and the support cost can be saved. This study provides a theoretical basis for explaining the roadway’s abnormal mine pressure and controlling the roadway roof by roof cutting.
Acute Hepatitis Induced by Intravesical BCG Therapy: A Rare but Serious Complication
Authors: Abid Hakima , Figuigui Mouna , Adil Ibrahimi Sidi , El Abkari Mohamed , Mzyiene Mohamed , Ennaciri Soufiane , Justin Ziba Ouima , Fassi Mohamed Jamal El , Tahiri Elousrouti Layla , Chbani Laila
Published: June 2021

Bacillus Calmette and Guérin (BCG), widely used as a vaccination to prevent tuberculosis, is also used as immunotherapy, by intrabladder instillation, to treat superficial bladder cancers and prevent recurrence. Complications following instillation of BCG are most often localized reactions, such as cystitis or hematuria. They can more rarely be generalized and potentially severe such as hepatitis, pneumopathies, aortitis, and localization to hematopoietic tissue. We have reported the observation of a 47-year-old patient followed up for a bladder tumor operated for transurethral resection of the bladder, then having benefited from an instillation of BCG therapy complicated by occurrence a week later of an acute hepatitis. The diagnostic time was 2 days, and the outcome was favorable with corticosteroid therapy.
Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making Using Fermatean Fuzzy Hamacher Interactive Geometric Operators
Authors: Shahzadi Gulfam , Zafar Fariha , Alghamdi Maha Abdullah
Published: June 2021

Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS) is a more efficient, flexible, and generalized model to deal with uncertainty, as compared to intuitionistic and Pythagorean fuzzy models. This research article presents a novel multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) technique based on FFS. Aggregation operators (AOs), for example, Dombi, Einstein, and Hamacher, are frequently being used in the MADM process and are considered useful tools for evaluating the given alternatives. Among these, one of the most effective is the Hamacher operator. The salient feature of this operator is that it reduces the impact of negative information and provides more accurate results. Motivated by the primary characteristics of the Hamacher operator, we apply Hamacher interactive aggregation operators based on FFSs to determine the best alternative. Using Hamacher’s norm operations, we introduce some new geometric operators, namely, Fermatean fuzzy Hamacher interactive weighted geometric (FFHIWG) operator, Fermatean fuzzy Hamacher interactive ordered weighted geometric (FFHIOWG) operator, and Fermatean fuzzy Hamacher interactive hybrid weighted geometric (FFHIHWG) operator. Some important results and properties of the proposed AOs are discussed, and to achieve the optimal alternative, the proposed MADM technique is carried out in a real-life application of the medical field. An algorithm of the proposed technique is also developed. The significance of the proposed method is that Fermatean fuzzy Hamacher interactive geometric (FFHIG) operators deal with the relationship among belongingness degree (BD) and nonbelongingness degree (NBD) of the objects, which perform a crucial role in decision-making (DM). At last, to show the exactness and validity of the proposed work, a comparative analysis of the proposed model and the existing models is presented.
Circ_0044516 Regulates miR-136/MAT2A Pathway to Facilitate Lung Cancer Development
Authors: Chen Yue-Wei , Du Qiu-Rong , He Yu-Juan , Chen Wen-Shu , Jiang Wen-Yang , Gui Qi , Xu Cheng-Cheng , Wang Wei , Cheng Hong-Yun
Published: June 2021

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of noncoding RNA that can interact with miRNAs to regulate gene expression. However, little is known concerning circRNA, which is crucial in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. To date, limited studies have explored the role of circ_0044516 in lung cancer progression. Recently, we observed that circ_0044516 expression levels were obviously elevated in lung cancer tissues and cells. A549 and SPCA1 cells were transfected with circ_0044516 siRNA. We observed that knockdown of circ_0044516 dramatically repressed cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis, and repressed the cell cycle. Moreover, A549 and SPCA1 cell migration and invasion abilities were greatly repressed by circ_0044516 siRNA. Due to accumulating evidence demonstrating the vital role of cancer stem cells, their mechanism of involvement has drawn increasing attention in tumor progression and metastasis research. We also found that cancer stem cell properties were restrained by silencing circ_0044516 in A549 and SPC-A1 cells. Moreover, in vivo xenograft experiments showed that circ_0044516 downregulation reduced tumor growth. Mechanistically, in lung cancer and using bioinformatics, we demonstrated that circ_0044516 sponges miR-136 targeting MAT2A. Furthermore, rescue assays were carried out to identify that circ_0044516 modulates cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness by regulating miR-136 and MAT2A in lung cancer. In summary, our study revealed that the circ_0044516/miR-136/MAT2A axis is involved in lung cancer progression. Our findings may provide novel targets for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in lung cancer patients.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution Correlated with Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Tianyi , Luo Hui , Wei Dawei , Xie Xiaolong , Yang Cinyu , Liu Bowen , Gao Ying
Published: June 2021

Objective. To investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) body constitution and ischemic stroke (IS). Methods. Literature search was conducted in databases including Wanfang database, Chongqing VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Embase, and PubMed from inception to November 16, 2020. Observational studies evaluating the association between TCM body constitution and IS were included for analysis. The distribution of body constitutional types in IS patients was pooled into meta-analysis. The correlation between constitution and IS was presented by the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI through the comparison between IS and the general population. Results. 41 studies involving 11,211 participants were included. Among the nine constitution types, qi-deficiency constitution (QDC), phlegm-dampness constitution (PDC), and blood stasis constitution (BSC) are the common types, accounting for 25% [0.22, 0.29], 23% [0.20, 0.29], and 17% [0.13, 0.22], respectively, in IS patients. The proportion of PDC and QDC among IS patients is 2.34 times and 3.47 times higher than that in the general population, respectively (OR and 95% CI: 2.34 [1.39, 3.94], 3.47 [1.61, 7.50], respectively). Conclusion. PDC and QDC are the common constitutions in IS patients and may have a potential correlation with the incidence of IS. Due to the low or moderate quality of included studies, more well-designed prospective studies are warranted to further evaluate the relationship between TCM constitutions and IS.
Visibility Detection Algorithm of Single Fog Image Based on the Ratio of Wavelength Residual Energy
Authors: Chen Zhixiang , Ou Binna
Published: June 2021

Different visibilities and different wavelength attenuations can cause color deviation problem in some dehazing algorithms. A visibility detection algorithm based on a single fog image is proposed. First, the visibility range of the image is preliminarily determined according to the transmissivity; then, the normalized differences between the residual energy ratios of different wavelengths of RGB channels are calculated, and the pixels with large gray deviation of a single channel are filtered to improve the calculation accuracy; finally, the image visibility detection value is calculated. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only effectively reflects the fog image visibility but is also well suited for evaluating the effectiveness of the image defogging algorithms and the restoration degree of the defogging color difference.
Hyperspectral Image Denoising via Nonconvex Logarithmic Penalty
Authors: Wang Shuo , Zhu Zhibin , Zhao Ruwen , Zhang Benxin
Published: June 2021

Hyperspectral images (HSIs) can help deliver more reliable representations of real scenes than traditional images and enhance the performance of many computer vision tasks. However, in real cases, an HSI is often degraded by a mixture of various types of noise, including Gaussian noise and impulse noise. In this paper, we propose a logarithmic nonconvex regularization model for HSI mixed noise removal. The logarithmic penalty function can approximate the tensor fibered rank more accurately and treats singular values differently. An alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is also presented to solve the optimization problem, and each subproblem within ADMM is proven to have a closed-form solution. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Off-Label Use of a Double-Layer Micromesh Carotid Stent for Hybrid Treatment of Popliteal Artery Aneurism Complicated by Chronic Distal Embolization
Authors: Barat Sorin , Casian Dumitru
Published: June 2021

We report our initial experience in off-label use of the double-layer micromesh (DLM) Roadsaver® stent for the hybrid treatment of a fusiform popliteal artery aneurism complicated by distal embolization and chronic limb threatening ischemia in a COVID-19-positive young male. A 36-year-old male patient was admitted with chronic limb threatening ischemia of the left lower limb. The duplex ultrasound and computer tomography angiography (CTA) demonstrated a fusiform popliteal artery aneurism with a maximal diameter of 14 mm and distal occlusion of peroneal and both tibial arteries. Urgent hybrid intervention was performed, starting with an open thrombectomy from the distal posterior tibial artery via a retromalleolar access followed by percutaneous deployment of the DLM Roadsaver® stent (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) for the exclusion of the popliteal artery aneurism. The flow diverting effect was observed immediately with contrast stagnation in the asymmetrical part of the aneurism sac (grade C2 of the O’Kelly-Marotta flow diversion scale). The procedure was uneventful, with the regaining of an adequate foot perfusion and palpable pulse at the posterior tibial artery. On the 2nd postoperative day, the patient was diagnosed with a symptomatic form of COVID-19 infection and transferred to a dedicated facility. At a one-month follow-up, the patient had no symptoms of limb ischemia and CTA showed complete thrombosis of the aneurism sac, absence of endoleaks, and patency of the treated arterial segment. This case demonstrates the possibility of off-label use of the DLM Roadsaver® stent for hybrid treatment of popliteal artery aneurism complicated by distal embolization and critical limb ischemia.
TaiChi and Qigong for Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jiang Wei , Liao Shaojun , Chen Xiankun , Lundborg Cecilia Stålsby , Marrone Gaetano , Wen Zehuai , Lu Weihui
Published: June 2021

Background. Depression is a debilitating comorbidity of heart failure (HF) that needs assessment and management. Along with mind-body exercise to deal with HF with depression, the use of TaiChi and/or Qigong practices (TQPs) has increased. Therefore, this systematic review assesses the effects of TQPs on depression among patients with HF. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effect of TQPs on depression in patients with HF were searched by five databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, CINAHL, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)). With standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), random-effects meta-analyses of the effect of TQPs on depressive symptoms were performed. Results. Of eight included RCTs, seven (481 patients) provided data for the meta-analysis. The pooling revealed that TQPs contribute to depression remission in HF (SMD −0.66; 95% CI −0.98 to −0.33,

P
<
0.0001

; I2 = 64%). Its antidepressive effect was not influenced by intervention duration or exercise setting, but rather by ejection fraction subtype, depressive severity, and depression instruments. The beneficial effects were preserved when the study with the largest effect was removed. Conclusion. This study suggests that TQPs might be a good strategy for alleviating depressive symptoms in patients with HF. And rigorous-design RCTs, which focus on the identified research gaps, are needed to further establish the therapeutic effects of TQPs for depression in HF.
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy and Chemometric Strategy Enable the Classification and Detection of Expired Antimalarial Herbal Medicinal Product in Ghana
Authors: Mensah Jacob N. , Brobbey Abena A. , Addotey John N. , Ayensu Isaac , Asare-Nkansah Samuel , Opuni Kwabena F. M. , Adutwum Lawrence A.
Published: June 2021

To meet the growing demand for complementary and alternative treatment for malaria, manufacturers produce several antimalarial herbal medicinal products. Herbal medicinal products regulation is difficult due to their complex chemical nature, requiring cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming methods of analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a simple spectroscopic method together with a chemometric model for the classification and the identification of expired liquid antimalarial herbal medicinal products. Principal component analysis model was successfully used to distinguish between different herbal medicinal products and identify expired products. Principal component analysis showed a clear class separation between all five herbal medicinal products (HMP) studied, with explained variance for first and second principal components as 37.51% and 26.38%, respectively, while the third principal component had 18.74%. Support vector machine classification gave specificity and accuracy of 1.00 (100%) for training set data for all the products. The validation set HMP1, HMP2, and HMP3 had sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 1.00. HMP4 and HMP5 had sensitivity and specificity of 0.90 and 1.00, respectively, and an accuracy of 0.98. The support vector machine classification and principal component analysis models were successfully used to identify expired herbal medicinal products. This strategy can be used for rapid field detection of expired liquid antimalarial herbal medicinal products.
Assessment of Attentional Functioning in Health Professionals of a Brazilian Tertiary Referral Hospital for COVID-19
Authors: van Duinkerken Eelco , Schmidt Guilherme J. , Gjorup Ana Lúcia Taboada , Mello Carolina Ribeiro , Marques André Casarsa , do Carmo Filho Áureo , Fukusawa Paula Regina Yuri , de Assis Simone Gonçalves , Tolentino Júlio Cesar , Schmidt Sergio L.
Published: June 2021

This study is aimed at assessing differences in basic attentional functioning between substantial and minimal work-related exposure to COVID-19 patients in professionals working in a tertiary referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Therefore, hospital employees performed a Continuous Visual Attention Test. This test consisted of a 90-second Go/No-Go task with 72 (80%) targets and 18 (20%) nontargets. For each participant, reaction time and intraindividual variability of reaction times of all correct target responses, as well as the number of omission and commission errors, were evaluated. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on their exposure to COVID-19 patients (substantial versus minimal exposure). The substantial exposure group consisted of participants with 24 hours/week or more direct contact with COVID-19 patients. This cut-off was based on the clear division between professionals working and not working with COVID-19 patients and considered that 12-hour and 24-hour daily shifts are common for hospital employees in Brazil. A MANCOVA was performed to examine between-group differences, using age, sleep quality, sex, education level, previous COVID-19 infection, and profession as covariates. Of 124 participants, 80 had substantial exposure and 44 had minimal exposure to COVID-19. The overall MANCOVA reached statistical significance (

P
=
0.048

). Post hoc ANCOVA analysis showed that the substantial exposure group had a statistically significantly higher intraindividual variability of reaction time of all correct target responses (

P
=
0.017

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
δ
=
−
0.55

). This result remained after removing those with a previous COVID-19 infection (

P
=
0.010

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
δ
=
−
0.64

) and after matching groups for sample size (

P
=
0.004

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
δ
=
−
0.81

). No other variables reached statistical significance. Concluding, hospital professionals with a substantial level of exposure to patients with COVID-19 show a significant attention decrement and, thus, may be at a higher risk of accidental SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Studying the Simultaneous Effect of Autonomous Vehicles and Distracted Driving on Safety at Unsignalized Intersections
Authors: Khashayarfard Mohammad , Nassiri Habibollah
Published: June 2021

Human error is one of the leading causes of accidents. Distraction, fatigue, poor visibility, speeding, and other such errors made by drivers can cause accidents. With the rapid advancements in automation technologies, transportation planners have strived to use Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to minimize human error. In this study, the effect of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) on the number of potential conflicts at two unsignalized intersections is investigated by using a microsimulation model in PTV Vissim software. For human-driven cars, the factor that is considered for calibration is driver distraction mainly caused by reading or writing text messages on a cellphone while driving. This factor can be estimated using driving simulators. In this paper, five different scenarios were defined for simulation, in addition to the primary state, according to the different market penetration rates of AVs in Vissim. Safety assessment was performed by the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) using Time to Collision (TTC) and Deceleration Rate to Avoid Crashes (DRAC) indicators to determine the number of accidents. It was concluded that the presence of 100% of AVs could reduce the potential for accidents by up to 93%.
Restoration of Deafferentation Reduces Tinnitus, Anxiety, and Depression: A Retrospective Study on Cochlear Implant Patients
Authors: Yang Juanmei , Song Jing , Zhao Xiang , Pang Carol , Cong Ning , Han Zhao
Published: June 2021

Patients with profound bilateral deafness (BD) are prone to suffering from tinnitus, which further leads to psychological comorbidities and makes it more difficult for patients to communicate with people. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of cochlear implants (CIs) on tinnitus distress and psychological comorbidities in patients with profound BD. This multicenter retrospective study reviewed 51 patients with severe postlingual BD who underwent cochlear implantation; 49 patients underwent unilateral cochlear implantation, and 2 patients underwent bilateral cochlear implantation. The patients were asked to complete all the questionnaires, including the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), the visual analog scale (VAS) score, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Questionnaire (HADS), the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP), and the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR), at least 4 months after implantation when the CI was on or off, in approximately May-June 2019. In our study, 94% (48/51) of BD patients suffered from tinnitus before CI, and 77% (37/48) of them suffered from bilateral tinnitus. In addition, 50.9% (26/51) of the CI patients were suffering from anxiety, 52.9% (27/51) of them were suffering from depression (

score
≥
8

), and 66.7% (34/51) (27/51) of them were suffering from anxiety or depression. Cochlear implantation could reduce tinnitus more obviously when the CI was on than when the CI was off. Cochlear implantation also reduced anxiety/depression severity. There were significantly positive correlations between tinnitus severity and anxiety/depression severity before and after surgery. Moreover, hearing improvement is positively correlated with reduction level of tinnitus, the better hearing, and the lesser severity of tinnitus. Thus, along with effective restoration of deafferentation, cochlear implantation shows positive therapeutic effects on tinnitus and psychological comorbidities, providing a reference for future clinical and research work.
Synergistic Effects of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Polymorphisms and Alcohol Consumption on Cognitive Impairment after Ischemic Stroke in Han Chinese
Authors: Yu Ying , Gao Jie , Wang Shasha , Lv Heng , Xiao Liping , Shi Hengyuan , Jia Xianjie
Published: June 2021

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) polymorphisms are related to both stroke risk and alcohol consumption. However, the influence of ALDH2 polymorphisms and alcohol consumption on cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke remains unknown, as do the possible mechanisms. We enrolled 180 Han Chinese ischemic stroke patients from four community health centers in Bengbu, China. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and two different MoCA cutoff scores were used to define cognitive impairment in ischemic stroke patients. The ALDH2 genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. To assess the associations of ALDH2 polymorphisms and alcohol consumption with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke, we performed binary logistic regression analysis with odds ratios. We revealed that individuals with the ALDH2 wild-type genotype were more likely to have high MoCA scores than those with the mutant and heterozygous types (

p
=
0.034

). In addition, using two MoCA cutoff scores, the percentage of moderate to excessive alcohol consumption in the cognitive impairment group was higher than that in the nonimpairment group (

p
=
0.001

). The levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (

p
=
0.001

) and swallowing function (

p
=
0.001

) were also higher in the cognitive impairment group than in the nonimpairment group. Moreover, after adjusting for other potential risk factors, ALDH2 polymorphisms and alcohol consumption had a significant synergistic effect on cognitive impairment (

p
=
0.022

). Specifically, the ALDH2

∗

2 mutant allele and higher alcohol consumption were associated with cognitive impairment and swallowing ability after ischemic stroke. Targeting ALDH2 may be a useful biomarker for cognitive rehabilitation following ischemic stroke.
Iterative Solutions for the Differential Equation with
p
-Laplacian on Infinite Interval
Authors: Zhao Guoying , Wang Ying
Published: June 2021

This paper systematically investigates a class of fourth-order differential equation with

p

-Laplacian on infinite interval in Banach space. By means of the monotone iterative technique, we establish not only the existence of positive solutions but also iterative schemes under the suitable conditions. At last, we give an example to demonstrate the application of the main result.
Numerical Simulation of Mining‐Induced Damage in Adjacent Tunnels Based on FLAC3D
Authors: Wang Guorui , Li Peixian , Wu Qiang , Cui Ximin , Tan Zhixiang
Published: June 2021

The Bayueshan (BYS) tunnels are adjacent tunnels which comprise key engineering structures important for Yurong highway from Chongqing to Sichuan, China. The tunnels were established crossing over the old goafs of a coal mine. The tunnels have been damaged three times between 2014 and 2016. To evaluate the reasons for the damage, fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in three dimensions (FLAC3D) was used to simulate the underground coal‐mine excavation yearly from 2012 to 2015. The simulation results show that the subsidence of the ground surface increased annually. The maximum subsidence of the left tunnel was 505 mm and that of the right tunnel was 512 mm. The excavation led to increase in the tunnels’ stress concentration. The simulations further show that uneven horizontal displacement and subsidence were the major factors in inducing tunnel construction defects. Poor geological conditions, water, and vehicle dynamic loads were also important factors that induced damage. Several engineering suggestions for ways to maintain the tunnels are given in this paper, and the research provides a reference for safety evaluation for tunnels crossing over an old goaf.
Immune-Related Genes: Potential Prognostic Factors and Regulatory Targets for Cervical Carcinoma
Authors: Xie Feng , Liu Xiaofeng , Liu Hua , Wei Min , Liu Wei
Published: June 2021

Background. Advanced cervical carcinoma carries a particularly poor prognosis, and few treatment options exist. It is very important to find a method to evaluate the prognosis and survival rate of cervical carcinoma. The metastasis and invasion of cervical carcinoma are closely related to tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and immune related genes (IRGs) are involved in the regulation of TIME. However, the role of IRGs in the prognosis of patients with cervical carcinoma remains unclear. Methods. The gene expression profiles of cervical carcinoma were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and IRG information were obtained from the ImmPort database. The IRGs were screened by coexpression analysis and were also performed function enrichment and pathway analyses. A prognosis model was built based on IRGs, and the risk score (RS) was calculated by Cox regression analysis. The accuracy was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Besides, the relationship between RS and TIMER-generating immune cell content was performed by immune infiltration analysis. Results. In a total of 2503 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 204 genes were IRGs, 20 of which were crucially correlated with the survival rate of cervical carcinoma. On the basis of Cox regression analysis, 6 IRGs were included in the prognosis model to calculate the RS. Kaplan-Meier survival and ROC analyses showed that the prognostic function of the model was superior to the current model constructed by clinicopathological risk factors. In addition, these 6 IRG signatures were related to the immune infiltration levels of six immune cells and the overall survival (OS) of cervical carcinoma. Finally, C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) gene is related to tumor metastasis, and Slit guidance ligand 2 (Slit2) is related to tumor clinical stage. Conclusion. The IRGs may contribute to the stratification of prognosis, and CSK/Slit2 may be two suppressor genes for cervical carcinoma.
T-Cell Receptor Mimic Antibodies for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Duan Zhijian , Ho Mitchell
Published: June 2021

Antibody-based immunotherapies show clinical effectiveness in various cancer types. However, the target repertoire is limited to surface or soluble antigens, which are a relatively small percentage of the cancer proteome. Most proteins of the human proteome are intracellular. Short peptides from intracellular targets can be presented by MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules on cell surface, making them potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Antibodies can be developed to target these peptide/MHC complexes, similar to the recognition of such complexes by the T-cell receptor (TCR). These antibodies are referred to as T-cell receptor mimic (TCRm) or TCR-like antibodies. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies will help us understand their mechanisms of action and selection of target epitopes for immunotherapy. The present review will summarize and discuss the selection of intracellular antigens, production of the peptide/MHC complexes, isolation of TCRm antibodies for therapeutic applications, limitations of TCRm antibodies, and possible ways to advance TCRm antibody-based approaches into the clinic.
The Independent Evolution of Dorsal Pallia in Multiple Vertebrate Lineages
Authors: Striedter Georg F. , Northcutt R. Glenn
Published: June 2021

Comparative neurobiologists have long wondered when and how the dorsal pallium (e.g., mammalian neocortex) evolved. For the last 50 years, the most widely accepted answer has been that this structure was already present in the earliest vertebrates and, therefore, homologous between the major vertebrate lineages. One challenge for this hypothesis is that the olfactory bulbs project throughout most of the pallium in the most basal vertebrate lineages (notably lampreys, hagfishes, and lungfishes) but do not project to the putative dorsal pallia in teleosts, cartilaginous fishes, and amniotes (i.e., reptiles, birds, and mammals). To make sense of these data, one may hypothesize that a dorsal pallium existed in the earliest vertebrates and received extensive olfactory input, which was subsequently lost in several lineages. However, the dorsal pallium is notoriously difficult to delineate in many vertebrates, and its homology between the various lineages is often based on little more than its topology. Therefore, we suspect that dorsal pallia evolved independently in teleosts, cartilaginous fishes, and amniotes. We further hypothesize that the emergence of these dorsal pallia was accompanied by the phylogenetic restriction of olfactory projections to the pallium and the expansion of inputs from other sensory modalities. We do not deny that the earliest vertebrates may have possessed nonolfactory sensory inputs to some parts of the pallium, but such projections alone do not define a dorsal pallium.
Association of Daily Mean Temperature and Temperature Variability With Onset Risks of Acute Aortic Dissection
Authors: Yu Xinyu , Xia Liangtao , Xiao Jiewen , Zheng Jin , Xu Nina , Feng Xin , Wei Xiang
Published: June 2021

Background

The association between ambient temperature and cardiovascular diseases has been well established, but evidence of temporal changes in the risk of acute aortic dissection (AAD) onset is lacking.

Methods and Results

We conducted an 8‐year time‐series study based on data from 2120 patients diagnosed with AAD at Tongji Hospital (Wuhan, China). Daily meteorological parameters were measured in the study area. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was applied to measure the associations between daily meteorological data and air pollution indicators. A distributed lag nonlinear model following quasi‐Poisson regression was used to express the nonlinear exposure‐response relationships and lag effects of daily mean temperature and temperature variability on the occurrence of AAD. Considering a 25‐day lag effect, lower or higher temperatures with reference to 25°C did not alter the onset risk of AAD. The lag effect of daily mean temperature on the incidence of AAD is statistically significant within 2 days, and the impact of daily mean temperature on the risk is most influential on the day. The exposure‐response curve between daily mean temperature and onset risks of AAD at lag 0 showed that the extremely cold temperature (2.5th percentile, 0.5°C) significantly increased the AAD risk for the total (relative risk, 1.733; 95% CI, 1.130–2.658) and type A dissection (relative risk, 3.951; 95% CI, 1.657–9.418). Temperature variability within 1 week did not affect the onset risks of AAD for the total.

Conclusions

We confirmed that extremely cold temperatures significantly increased the AAD risk, which could contribute to early prevention and timely diagnosis of the disease.
Neutrophil Counts as Promising Marker for Predicting In-Hospital Mortality in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Linjie , Jia Lu , Li Tiangui , Di Yuanyuan , Wang Peng , Deng Haidong , Fan Huaqian , Li Ying , Cheng Xin , Chen Younian , Wang Xing , Chong Weelic , Hai Yang , You Chao , Cheng Yongzhong , Fang Fang
Published: June 2021

Background and Purpose:

Systemic inflammation is recognized as a hallmark of stroke. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of various inflammatory factors using blood at admission in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods:

In a multicenter observational study of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, the counts of neutrophil, platelet, and lymphocyte were collected on admission. Patients were stratified based on neutrophil counts with propensity score matching to minimize confounding. We calculated the adjusted odds ratios with 95% CIs for the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality and hospital-acquired infections.

Results:

A total of 6041 patients were included in this study and 344(5.7%) of them died in hospital. Propensity score matching analyses indicated that compared with the lower neutrophil counts, higher neutrophil counts were associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.14–2.06]), hospital-acquired infections (odds ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.38–1.79]), and delayed neurological ischemic deficits (odds ratio, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.09–1.97]). Moreover, out of all the inflammatory factors studied, neutrophil counts demonstrated the highest correlation with in-hospital mortality and hospital-acquired infections.

Conclusions:

Among patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, high neutrophil counts at admission were associated with increased mortality and hospital-acquired infections. The neutrophil count is a simple, useful marker with prognostic value in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.