bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Accuracy of Global Longitudinal Strain for Detecting Exercise Intolerance in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Zhang Sisi , Liu Yujian , Jiang Luying , Wang Zhaozhao , Liu Wanjun , Zuo Houjuan
Published: December 2022

Objective: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a sensitive and reproducible predictive factor in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), although its correlation with exercise tolerance is unknown. We aimed to identify the correlation between global longitudinal strain (GLS) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) parameters and assess the prognostic implications and accuracy of GLS in predicting exercise intolerance in populations with ischemic heart disease (IHD) using CPET criteria. Methods: Prospectively, 108 patients with IHD underwent CPX and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Correlation between GLS and multiple CPX variables was assessed using Spearman’s correlation analysis and univariate regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed on GLS to detect exercise intolerance. Results: GLS was correlated with peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2; r = −0.438, p = 0.000), %PPeak VO2 (−0.369, p = 0.000), peak metabolic equivalents (METs@peak; r = −0.438, p < 0.01), and the minute ventilation–carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope (r = 0.257, p < 0.01). Weak-to-moderate correlations were also identified for the respiratory exchange rate at the anaerobic threshold (RER@AT), end-tidal carbon dioxide at the anaerobic threshold (PETCO2@AT), oxygen consumption at the anaerobic threshold (VO2@AT), carbon dioxide production at the anaerobic threshold (VCO2@AT), and metabolic equivalents at the anaerobic threshold (METs@AT; p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, the results showed that age, the BMI, and GLS are independent predictors for reduced exercise capacity in patients with IHD (p < 0.01). The area under the ROC curve value of GLS for identifying patients with a peak VO2 of <14 mL/kg/min was 0.73 (p = 0.000). Conclusion: As a sensitive echocardiographic assessment of patients with ischemic heart disease, global longitudinal strain is an independent predictor of reduced exercise capacity and has a sensitivity of 74.2% and a specificity of 66.7% to detect exercise intolerance.
Hormonal and Reproductive Factors in Relation to Cardiovascular Events in Women with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Boman Antonia , Kokkonen Heidi , Berglin Ewa , Alenius Gerd-Marie , Rantapää-Dahlqvist Solbritt
Published: December 2022

Hormonal and reproductive factors affect the risk for cardiovascular events (CVE) in the general population. Although the risk of CVE is increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the knowledge about the impact of hormonal factors for CVE in RA is sparse. Female postmenopausal patients ≤80 years with early RA were consecutively included in this observational study (n = 803) between 1 January 1996 until 31 December 2017. Questionnaires regarding hormonal factors were distributed from the index date. Data regarding CVE were obtained from the Swedish National Health Register and Cause of Death Register. Associations between CVE and hormonal factors were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression. Of the postmenopausal women, 64 women had a CVE after RA onset. The time period from menopause to RA onset was significantly longer for CVE cases with higher proportion of postmenopausal women. In Cox proportional hazard regression models, years from last childbirth and multiparity were associated with higher CVE risk. Adjustments for traditional risk factors did not affect the results except for hypertension. RA onset after menopause and a longer duration from menopause until onset increased the CVE risk. Multiparity was associated with higher CVE risk whilst oral contraceptives decreased the risk. These results can contribute to identification of high-risk patients for CVE beyond traditional risk factors.
Current Issues and Future Technologies in Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Authors: Denecke Christian , Pratschke Johann , Raakow Jonas
Published: December 2022

Gastrointestinal surgery has evolved rapidly in recent years, with laparoscopic techniques being implemented as the standard procedure and robotic surgery becoming increasingly important [...]
Incidence of Complications Related to Corneal Graft in a Group of 758 Patients
Authors: Szkodny Dominika , Wróblewska-Czajka Ewa , Wylęgała Adam , Nandzik Magdalena , Wylęgała Edward
Published: December 2022

Purpose: this study aimed to assess the frequency of complications related to corneal grafts, including epithelialization disorders, wound dehiscence, infectious keratitis, recurrence of herpetic keratitis, graft rejection, late graft failure, and infectious and noninfectious corneal melting, while also considering risk factors, particularly indications. Methods: this retrospective analysis of corneal graft failure included a chart review of the hospital records of patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK) between January 2016 and December 2020 at the Department of Ophthalmology of the District Railway Hospital, Katowice, Poland. Results: Between 2016 and 2020, a total of 758 PK procedures were carried out at the ophthalmology department. Bullous keratopathy (20.58%), keratoconus (18.07%), and corneal perforation (13.32%) were the primary indications for keratoplasty. Secondary glaucoma was diagnosed in 99 patients (13.06%). The success rate of PK was 72.43% (494). The most frequent treatment complication was secondary glaucoma (13.06%), followed by late endothelial failure, perforation (4.1%), and bacterial keratitis (3.23%). Patients in the high-risk group were 4.65 times more likely to develop complications than those in the low-risk group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that concomitant ophthalmic diseases (odds ratio (OR): 3.12, confidence interval (CI): 1.60–6.08, p = 0.00) and connective tissue diseases (OR: 7.76, CI: 2.40–25.05, p = 0.00) were significant factors associated with the occurrence of complications. Diabetes, dermatological diseases, primary glaucoma, and sex were not associated with corneal graft failure (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Chronic loss of the endothelium was the primary cause of graft failure in individuals who underwent PK. The high-risk transplant has up to 4.65 times higher risk of complications compared to the indications with a good prognosis.
Relationship between Residual Urine Output and Type of Dialysis with FGF23 Levels
Authors: Corradi Valentina , Samoni Sara , Mariotto Alice , Caprara Carlotta , Scalzotto Elisa , Frigo Anna Chiara , Martino Francesca K. , Giavarina Davide , Ronco Claudio , Zanella Monica
Published: December 2022

Several studies investigated the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in the regulation of renal phosphate excretion in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, patients with residual urine output (UO) seem to control their serum phosphorus levels better. Our aim was to determine whether FGF23 levels are influenced by dialysis modality and UO. We performed a cross-sectional study in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The C-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) levels were determined in plasma with a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The UO collection referred to an mL/day measurement. All p values were two-sided, and the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. We enrolled 133 patients (58 HD, 75 PD, UO 70%). The median cFGF23 was significantly higher in HD vs. PD patients (p = 0.0017) and not significantly higher in patients without UO (p = 0.12). We found a negative correlation between cFGF23 and the UO volume (p = 0.0250), but the correlation was not significant when considering the type of dialysis treatment. Phosphorus (ß = 0.21677; p = 0.0007), type of dialysis (ß = −0.68392; p = 0.0003), and creatinine (ß = 0.08130; p = 0.0133) were significant and independent predictors of cFGF23 levels. In conclusion, cFGF23 was significantly higher in HD than in PD patients. We found a significant negative correlation between cFGF23 and the residual UO volume, but the correlation was not significant considering the type of dialysis. Our study reveals that dialysis modality is an independent predictor of FGF23 levels. In particular, PD is associated with lower FGF23 levels than HD.
Targeting Copper in Cancer Imaging and Therapy: A New Theragnostic Agent
Authors: Capriotti Gabriela , Piccardo Arnoldo , Giovannelli Elena , Signore Alberto
Published: December 2022

Copper is required for cancer cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Copper-64 radionuclide (64Cu), a form of copper chloride (64CuCl2), is rapidly emerging as a diagnostic PET/CT tracer in oncology. It may also represent an interesting alternative to gallium-68 (68Ga) as a radionuclide precursor for labelling radiopharmaceuticals used to investigate neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer. This emerging interest is also related to the nuclear properties of 64CuCl2 that make it an ideal theragnostic nuclide. Indeed, 64CuCl2 emits β+ and β- particles together with high-linear-energy-transfer Auger electrons, suggesting the therapeutic potential of 64CuCl2 for the radionuclide cancer therapy of copper-avid tumors. Recently, 64CuCl2 was successfully used to image prostate cancer, bladder cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and non-small cell lung carcinoma in humans. Copper cancer uptake was related to the expression of human copper transport 1 (hCTR1) on the cancer cell surface. Biodistribution, toxicology and radiation safety studies showed its radiation and toxicology safety. Based on the findings from the preclinical research studies, 64CuCl2 PET/CT also holds potential for the diagnostic imaging of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant melanoma, and the detection of the intracranial metastasis of copper-avid tumors based on the low physiological background of radioactive copper uptake in the brain.
Learners with Low Working Memory Capacity Benefit More from the Presence of an Instructor’s Face in Video Lectures
Authors: Zhang Yuyang , Yang Jing , Wen Zhisheng (Edward)
Published: December 2022

This current study explores the influence of learners’ working memory capacity (WMC) on the facilitation effect of an instructor’s presence during video lectures. Sixty-four undergraduates were classified into high and low WMC groups based on their performance in an operation span task. They watched three types of video lectures on unfamiliar topics in a random order: video lectures with an instructor’s voiceover but without presence (VN), video lectures with the instructor’s face picture (VP), and video lectures with the same instructor talking (VV). We collected their eye movement data during the video lectures and their learning performance in the comprehension tests following each video. Two-way ANOVA and post-hoc analyses showed that the instructor’s presence significantly improved comprehension performance in only the low WMC group. They allocated more attention to the instructor’s face picture and talking head than the high WMC group. Our results highlight the value of the instructor’s presence as a social cue in video lectures, which is particularly beneficial for learners with a low WMC.
Green Technology Adoption and Fleet Deployment for New and Aged Ships Considering Maritime Decarbonization
Authors: Wu Yiwei , Huang Yadan , Wang Hans , Zhen Lu , Shao Wei
Published: December 2022

Maritime decarbonization and strict international regulations have forced liner companies to find new solutions for reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Green technology is regarded as one of the most promising alternatives to achieve environmental benefits despite its high initial investment costs. Therefore, a scientific method is required to assess the possibility of green technology adoption for liner companies. This study formulates a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model to determine whether to retrofit their ship fleets with green technology and how to deploy ships while taking maritime decarbonization into account. To convert the nonlinear model into a linear model that can be solved directly by off-the-shelf solvers, several linearization techniques are applied in this study. Sensitivity analyses involving the influences of the initial investment cost, fuel consumption reduction rate of green technology, unit fuel cost, and fixed operating cost of a ship on operation decisions are conducted. Green technology may become more competitive when modern technology development makes it efficient and economical. As fuel and fixed operating costs increase, more ships retrofitted with green technology will be deployed on all shipping routes.
Performance Evaluation of Routing Protocols for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Rahman Taj , Ahmad Irfan , Zeb Asim , Khan Inayat , Ali Gauhar , ElAffendi Mohammed
Published: December 2022

Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) are emerging technology for disclosing multiple applications, such as oil, earth quick, and marine environments. All sensor nodes deployed in UWSNs operate through limited power batteries. Prolonging the network’s lifetime in such environments is an essential task and a hot topic among researchers. Multiple routing protocols have been designed to overcome the limited power issue and reduce energy consumption. Each routing protocol evaluated different parameters, but the issue is still unclear as to which one is better. In this study, we evaluated multiple routing protocols to investigate which is better in terms of parameters, such as packet delivery ratio (PDR), energy consumption, end-to-end delay, and the number of alive nodes. The simulation results indicate that Reliability and Adaptive Cooperation for Efficient UWSNs Using Sink Mobility (RACE-SM) performs better in all performance metrics than other routing schemes.
Production of Fungal Pigments: Molecular Processes and Their Applications
Authors: Lin Lan , Xu Jianping
Published: December 2022

Due to the negative environmental and health effects of synthetic colorants, pigments of natural origins of plants and microbes constitute an abundant source for the food, cosmetic, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. The demands for natural alternatives, which involve natural colorants and natural biological processes for their production, have been growing rapidly in recent decades. Fungi contain some of the most prolific pigment producers, and they excel in bioavailability, yield, cost-effectiveness, and ease of large-scale cell culture as well as downstream processing. In contrast, pigments from plants are often limited by seasonal and geographic factors. Here, we delineate the taxonomy of pigmented fungi and fungal pigments, with a focus on the biosynthesis of four major categories of pigments: carotenoids, melanins, polyketides, and azaphilones. The molecular mechanisms and metabolic bases governing fungal pigment biosynthesis are discussed. Furthermore, we summarize the environmental factors that are known to impact the synthesis of different fungal pigments. Most of the environmental factors that enhance fungal pigment production are related to stresses. Finally, we highlight the challenges facing fungal pigment utilization and future trends of fungal pigment development. This integrated review will facilitate further exploitations of pigmented fungi and fungal pigments for broad applications.
Predictability of HOMA-IR for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Early Pregnancy Based on Different First Trimester BMI Values
Authors: Duo Yanbei , Song Shuoning , Zhang Yuemei , Qiao Xiaolin , Xu Jiyu , Zhang Jing , Peng Zhenyao , Chen Yan , Nie Xiaorui , Sun Qiujin , Yang Xianchun , Wang Ailing , Sun Wei , Fu Yong , Dong Yingyue , Lu Zechun , Yuan Tao , Zhao Weigang
Published: December 2022

Objective: To investigate the ability of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in early pregnancy for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese women with different first-trimester body mass index (FT-BMI) values. Methods: Baseline characteristics and laboratory tests were collected at the first prenatal visit (6–12 weeks of gestation). GDM was diagnosed by a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Partial correlation analysis and binary logistic regression were applied to identify the association between HOMA-IR and GDM. The cutoff points for predicting GDM were estimated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Of the total of 1343 women, 300 (22.34%) were diagnosed with GDM in the 24–28 weeks of gestation. Partial correlation analysis and binary logistic regression verified HOMA-IR as a significant risk factor for GDM in the normal weight subgroup (FT-BMI < 24 kg/m2) (adjusted OR 2.941 [95% CI 2.153, 4.016], P < 0.001), overweight subgroup (24.0 kg/m2 ≤ FT-BMI < 28.0 kg/m2) (adjusted OR 3.188 [95% CI 2.011, 5.055], P < 0.001), and obese subgroup (FT-BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2) (adjusted OR 9.415 [95% CI 1.712, 51.770], p = 0.01). The cutoff values of HOMA-IR were 1.52 (area under the curve (AUC) 0.733, 95% CI 0.701–0.765, p < 0.001) for all participants, 1.43 (AUC 0.691, 95% CI 0.651–0.730, p < 0.001) for normal weight women, 2.27 (AUC 0.760, 95% CI 0.703–0.818, p < 0.001) for overweight women, and 2.31 (AUC 0.801, 95% CI 0.696–0.907, p < 0.001) for obese women. Conclusions: Increased HOMA-IR in early pregnancy is a risk factor for GDM, and HOMA-IR can be affected by body weight. The cutoff value of HOMA-IR to predict GDM should be distinguished by different FT-BMI values.
Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma for Refractory Lateral Epicondylitis of Humerus: Case Series
Authors: Huang Guohang , Zhang Jiangshan , Wei Zhenhai , Mai Yiying , Guo Jisheng , Jiang Li
Published: December 2022

Refractory lateral epicondylitis (RLE) is a tendinopathy of the elbow with less effective conservation treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a new treatment option for RLE because of its repair-promoting effect on tissues. Although evidence demonstrates the efficacy of PRP in treating tendinopathies, the therapeutic utility of ultrasound-guided PRP injection for RLE is unknown. Here, we report two cases of RLE treated with PRP. The first patient was a 78-year-old man who received an unknown dose of local glucocorticoid injection at the local community clinic in June 2016. His pain recurred after exertion. The second patient was a 54-year-old woman who received a glucocorticoid injection (0.5 mL of compound betamethasone and 1.5 mL of 0.9% normal saline) in October 2020. Her pain could not be relieved. A physician diagnosed patients with RLE based on their medical history, symptoms, and clinical signs. The doctor injected PRP (the first patient in November 2020, the second in March 2021) under ultrasound guidance into the patient’s attachment point of the extensor tendon at the lateral humeral epicondyle. The doctor evaluated the effectiveness of the treatment by ultrasonography, visual analogue scale, and the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation. After four weeks of treatment, the pain was relieved, and functions continued to improve in the following three months. Moreover, the ultrasonography showed that the damaged tendons were repaired. Together, we demonstrate that ultrasound-guided PRP injection could considerably relieve pain, improve elbow joint functions in patients with RLE, and provide visible evidence that PRP repairs tendon damage.
The Impact of Government Effectiveness on Trade and Financial Openness: The Generalized Quantile Panel Regression Approach
Authors: Nzama Lethiwe , Sithole Thanda , Kahyaoglu Sezer Bozkus
Published: December 2022

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the impact of government effectiveness on trade and financial openness in 35 selected countries around the globe. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach was applied in the study using the generalized quantile panel regression approach to analyze the impact of identified variables in these selected countries. Panel quantile models with high estimation performance are preferred in the presence of excessive deviations and in cases where the normal distribution is invalid. Findings/results: The empirical findings indicate that selected countries with above-average governmental effectiveness, that is, with a well-established state bureaucracy and a historically strong state tradition, will further increase their activities toward international integration through financial and trade openness. Practical implications: This study aims to provide valuable information that governments and regulatory authorities can benefit from in their decision-making processes. Originality/value: In this study, it is preferred to use the trade openness of countries as the share of exports in total world exports and financial openness as the ratio of capital flows to world flows. In this way, these variables will provide new information to analyze the influence of government effectiveness. Implementing the generalized quantile panel regression technique can also be expressed as an innovation in this field of literature.
On the Kavya–Manoharan–Burr X Model: Estimations under Ranked Set Sampling and Applications
Authors: Hassan Osama H. Mahmoud , Elbatal Ibrahim , Al-Nefaie Abdullah H. , Elgarhy Mohammed
Published: December 2022

A new two-parameter model is proposed using the Kavya–Manoharan (KM) transformation family and Burr X (BX) distribution. The new model is called the Kavya–Manoharan–Burr X (KMBX) model. The statistical properties are obtained, involving the quantile (QU) function, moment (MOs), incomplete MOs, conditional MOs, MO-generating function, and entropy. Based on simple random sampling (SiRS) and ranked set sampling (RaSS), the model parameters are estimated via the maximum likelihood (MLL) method. A simulation experiment is used to compare these estimators based on the bias (BI), mean square error (MSER), and efficiency. The estimates conducted using RaSS tend to be more efficient than the estimates based on SiRS. The importance and applicability of the KMBX model are demonstrated using three different data sets. Some of the useful actuarial risk measures, such as the value at risk and conditional value at risk, are discussed.
Current and Expected Value Assessment of the Waterfront Urban Design: A Case Study of the Comprehensive Urban Design of Beijing’s Waterfront
Authors: Chen Lulu , Liu Yi , Leng Hong , Xu Suning , Wang Yichen
Published: December 2022

Beijing, capital of China, and its exuberant waterfront is supposed to be a significant component of the city’s charm. However, due to urbanization and population growth, Beijing’s waterfront is experiencing a variety of issues, needing comprehensive urban design and overall value assessment. The main purposes of this study are to develop an urban layer system of waterfront urban design and to assess the current and expected value of Beijing’s waterfront. Beijing’s waterfront was divided into four urban layer subsystems: ecological subsystem, spatial subsystem, demand subsystem, and cultural subsystem. This study includes the waterfront of 26 rivers and 9 lakes, which are divided into 54 waterfront segments by main roads. This study assessed the current and expected values of 54 waterfront segments in Beijing with the urban layer system by citizen questionnaires, expert questionnaires, and field surveys. A series of maps and radar maps were generated to visualize the assessment results. This study analyzes and describes the characteristics of four urban layer subsystems and different waterfront segments, based on a comprehensive evaluation of the value of Beijing’s waterfront. It provides strategies for the master urban design of Beijing’s waterfront. Furthermore, the results of this study and the urban layer system can provide insight on waterfront urban design.
Economic Efficiency of Climate Smart Agriculture Technology: Case of Agrophotovoltaics
Authors: Mo Taejun , Lee Hojune , Oh Sungeunsally , Lee Hyunji , Kim Brian H. S.
Published: December 2022

Climate change must be the most serious environmental crisis of the present human generation. While corresponding climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices are emerging, the extent to which CSA is profitable to farmers is unclear. In this paper, we focus on agrophotovoltaics (APV), one of the CSA policies intensively pursued by the Korean government, to analyze the profitability of APV and its implications for rural sustainability. First, we consider the total profit of farms before and after APV installation by a region through generalized least squares (GLS) to verify that APV has overall profitability through the region. Additionally, we estimate farms’ productivity by region with a generalized method of moments (GMM) to compare with the results of the profitability. We predict that APV installation will be more profitable than not installing, and the regions with lower productivity will show higher profitability than other regions. The results are in line with the prediction. The profitability of APV is verified in all regions, and the order of profitability by region and productivity by region are opposite to each other. It suggests that regions with lower productivity may have a higher preference for installing APV, implying the installation of APV provides a new incentive to continue farming even in regions with low agricultural productivity. These results have an important policy implication on rural sustainability since the implementation of CSA could generate a sound and sustainable farming environment by addressing the challenges of climate change.
Priority to Self-Interest? Economic Development? Or Ecological Coordination? The Turnover of Local Officials and Environmental Governance in China
Authors: Guo Yanjun , Zhang Tuo , Li Ruotong
Published: December 2022

Under the background of government-oriented environmental governance in China, the environmental effect of local official turnover has become an important issue. How to improve governmental governance is an important issue that profoundly affects local environmental governance. Based on a literature analysis, this paper establishes an environmental-effect identification equation to deeply analyze the environmental effect of local official turnover on private enterprises. Then, this paper empirically analyzes the effect of local personnel turnover on the environmental pollution control of private enterprises and the persistence of this effect. The results show that the turnover of local officials has a positive effect on the pollution control investment of private enterprises, but the effect is not persistent. The interest collusion between local officials and private enterprises tends to be one main reason to explain the environmental effect, and two different types of interest collusions are determined: priority to self-interest and economic development. The reasons why the positive effect cannot last for long may be attributed to a lack of systematic and effective institutions or temporary administrative measures. It is important to make local officials fully realize the “green wealth” value of the ecosystems, to change their economic priorities. Finally, this paper proposes countermeasures for local governments on personnel affairs to promote environmental governance.
Biomarker Alteration after Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy or Chemotherapy in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Long Mengping , You Chong , Song Qianqian , Hu Lina , Guo Zhaorong , Yao Qian , Hou Wei , Sun Wei , Liang Baosheng , Zhou Xiao-Hua , Liu Yiqiang , Hu Taobo
Published: December 2022

In estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, changes in biomarker expression after neoadjuvant therapy indicate the therapeutic response and are prognostic. However, there is limited information about the biomarker alteration caused by neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in ER-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. We recruited ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET), or sequential neoadjuvant endocrine-chemotherapy (NECT) at Peking University Cancer Hospital from 2015 to 2021. A total of 579 patients had paired immunohistochemistry information in both diagnostic biopsy samples and post-neoadjuvant therapy surgical samples. Through a paired comparison of the immunohistochemical information in pre-treatment and post-treatment samples, we found that progesterone receptor (PR) expression reductions were more frequent than ER expression reductions (70.8% vs. 35.2%) after neoadjuvant therapy. The percentage of patients who had a decreased Ki-67 index in the post-operative samples was similar in the three groups (79.8% vs. 79.7% vs. 78.4%). Moreover, PR losses caused by NET were related to low baseline PR expression (p = 0.001), while we did not find a significant association between PR losses and Ki-67 reductions (p = 0.428) or ER losses (p = 0.274). All three types of neoadjuvant therapies caused a reduction in ER, PR, and Ki-67 expression. In conclusion, we found that PR loss after NET was only significantly related to low baseline PR expression, and there is no significant difference in the extent of prognostic factor change including Ki-67 and ER between the PR loss and non-loss groups.
Identifying Tumor-Associated Genes from Bilayer Networks of DNA Methylation Sites and RNAs
Authors: Xu Xin-Jian , Gao Hong-Xiang , Zhu Liu-Cun , Zhu Rui
Published: December 2022

Network theory has attracted much attention from the biological community because of its high efficacy in identifying tumor-associated genes. However, most researchers have focused on single networks of single omics, which have less predictive power. With the available multiomics data, multilayer networks can now be used in molecular research. In this study, we achieved this with the construction of a bilayer network of DNA methylation sites and RNAs. We applied the network model to five types of tumor data to identify key genes associated with tumors. Compared with the single network, the proposed bilayer network resulted in more tumor-associated DNA methylation sites and genes, which we verified with prognostic and KEGG enrichment analyses.
Novel Hybridized Computational Paradigms Integrated with Five Stand-Alone Algorithms for Clinical Prediction of HCV Status among Patients: A Data-Driven Technique
Authors: Madaki Zachariah , Abacioglu Nurettin , Usman A. G. , Taner Neda , Sehirli Ahmet. O. , Abba S. I.
Published: December 2022

The emergence of health informatics opens new opportunities and doors for different disease diagnoses. The current work proposed the implementation of five different stand-alone techniques coupled with four different novel hybridized paradigms for the clinical prediction of hepatitis C status among patients, using both sociodemographic and clinical input variables. Both the visualized and quantitative performances of the stand-alone algorithms present the capability of the Gaussian process regression (GPR), Generalized neural network (GRNN), and Interactive linear regression (ILR) over the Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) models. Hence, due to the lower performance of the stand-alone algorithms at a certain point, four different novel hybrid data intelligent algorithms were proposed, including: interactive linear regression-Gaussian process regression (ILR-GPR), interactive linear regression-generalized neural network (ILR-GRNN), interactive linear regression-Support Vector Regression (ILR-SVR), and interactive linear regression-adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ILR-ANFIS), to boost the prediction accuracy of the stand-alone techniques in the clinical prediction of hepatitis C among patients. Based on the quantitative prediction skills presented by the novel hybridized paradigms, the proposed techniques were able to enhance the performance efficiency of the single paradigms up to 44% and 45% in the calibration and validation phases, respectively.
Catch per Unit Effort, Density and Size Distribution of the Oysters Pinctada capensis and Saccostrea cucullata (Class Bivalvea) on Inhaca Island, Southern Mozambique
Authors: Mafambissa Mizeque Julio , Gimo Celia Angelica , Andrade Carlos Pestana , Macia Adriano Afonso
Published: December 2022

Oysters are important resources for the daily diet, a source of economic income for many coastal communities and a delicacy for the tourism industry. In this study, the oysters (Pinctada capensis and Saccostrea cucullata) were investigated with the aim to assess the catch per unit effort, density and size composition. The study was conducted over a three-year period on Inhaca Island, Southern Mozambique. For both species, perception of fishery trends from collectors was carried out through habitat censuses and interviews. Transects, quadrats and daily fisheries catches approaches were used. Results show that P. capensis is the most exploited on the island. A total of 72.1% of respondents pointed that the oyster P. capensis is decreasing, due to excessive catching (75.4%) followed by natural death (24.6%), while 20.9% affirmed that the resource is stable and 7.0% are unaware about the resource trend. Oyster densities, sizes and catches per unit effort were higher in less accessible areas only for P. capensis. The present study provides valuable baseline information to recommend best practices to improve the exploitation, and access the need for introduction of aquaculture, towards the sustainable management and conservation of oysters, and ultimately to ameliorate people’s livelihoods.
Applications of Molecular Markers for Developing Abiotic-Stress-Resilient Oilseed Crops
Authors: Chugh Vishal , Kaur Dasmeet , Purwar Shalini , Kaushik Prashant , Sharma Vijay , Kumar Hitesh , Rai Ashutosh , Singh Chandra Mohan , Kamaluddin  , Dubey R. B.
Published: December 2022

Globally, abiotic stresses, such as temperature (heat or cold), water (drought and flooding), and salinity, cause significant losses in crop production and have adverse effects on plant growth and development. A variety of DNA-based molecular markers, such as SSRs, RFLPs, AFLPs, SNPs, etc., have been used to screen germplasms for stress tolerance and the QTL mapping of stress-related genes. Such molecular-marker-assisted selection strategies can quicken the development of tolerant/resistant cultivars to withstand abiotic stresses. Oilseeds such as rapeseed, mustard, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower, safflower, sesame, flaxseed, and castor are the most important source of edible oil worldwide. Although oilseed crops are known for their capacity to withstand abiotic challenges, there is a significant difference between actual and potential yields due to the adaptation and tolerance to severe abiotic pressures. This review summarizes the applications of molecular markers to date to achieve abiotic stress tolerance in major oilseed crops. The molecular markers that have been reported for genetic diversity studies and the mapping and tagging of genes/QTLs for drought, heavy metal stress, salinity, flooding, cold and heat stress, and their application in the MAS are presented.
Cellular Behaviors of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells in the Presence of Bone Grafting Biomaterials, In-Vitro Study
Authors: Esfahanian Vahid , Ejeian Fatemeh , Mohebinia Hajar , Zojaji Nejad Zahra Sadat , Yazdchi Maryam , Ebrahimi Dastgerdi Maziar , Ebrahimi Dastgerdi Mehrnoush , Nasr-Esfahani Mohammad Hossein
Published: December 2022

Periodontal regeneration through the employment of bone substitutes has become a feasible strategy in animal and clinical studies. In this regard, we aimed to compare the periodontal ligament stem cell behavior in the vicinity of various bone grafting substitutes. Three types of popular bone substitutes, including allografts (Regen), xenografts (Cerabone), and alloplasts (Osteon) were studied in this experimental survey. The cellular attachment was assessed after four hours using the MTS assay and SEM imaging. In addition, cellular proliferation was investigated after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days through MTS assay. Osteogenesis was studied after 21 days of cell culture in a differentiation medium (DM+) and a normal medium (DM−), by employing real-time PCR and alizarin red staining. The highest cellular attachment was seen in the xenograft group with a significant difference in comparison to the other grafting materials. Despite the relatively low primary attachment of cells to allografts, the allograft group showed the highest total proliferation rate, while the lowest proliferation capacity was found in the alloplast group. Osteogenesis fount to be accelerated mostly by xenografts in both mediums (DM+ and DM−) after 3 weeks, while alloplasts showed the lowest osteogenesis. This study revealed that the type of bone substitutes used in regenerative treatments can affect cellular behavior and as a whole allografts and xenografts showed better results.
Long-Term Performance of Concrete Made with Different Types of Cement under Severe Sulfate Exposure
Authors: Tahwia Ahmed M. , Fouda Rowyda M. , Abd Elrahman Mohamed , Youssf Osama
Published: December 2022

Concrete sulfate attack is of great interest as it represents one of the main reasons of concrete deterioration and poor durability for concrete structures. In this research, the effect of different cement types on concrete sulfate resistance was investigated. This included three concrete classes, namely, low strength concrete, medium strength concrete, and high strength concrete. Blast furnace cement (BFC), sulfate resisting Portland cement (CEM I-SR5), and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) were used in a total of eighteen concrete mixes. Three binder contents of 250 kg/m3, 350 kg/m3, and 450 kg/m3 and a constant silica fume (SF) content were applied in this experimental study. The water/binder (w/b) ratio was varied between 0.4 and 0.8. Concrete specimens were immersed in highly severe effective sodium sulfate solutions (10,000 ppm) for 180 days after standard curing for 28 days. The fresh concrete performance was evaluated through a slump test to attain proper workability. Concrete compressive strength and mass change at 28 days and 180 days were measured before and after immersion in the solution to evaluate the long-term effect of sulfate attack on the proposed concrete durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was conducted to study the concrete microstructure and its deterioration stages. The obtained results revealed that BFC cement has the best resistance to aggressive sulfate attacks. The strength deterioration of BFC cement was 3.5% with w/b of 0.4 and it increased to about 7.8% when increasing the w/b ratio to 0.6, which are comparable to other types of cement used. The findings of this research confirmed that the quality of concrete, specifically its composition of low permeability, is the best and recommended protection against sulfate attack.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the 6 wt% Mn-Doped Martensitic Steel Strengthened by Cu/NiAl Nanoparticles
Authors: Jiang Yan , Xu Songsong , Lu Xiuhua , Wu Xiaoxiang , Chen Liang , Liu Shichao , Li Xinzhong
Published: December 2022

The microstructure and mechanical properties of 6 wt.% Mn-doped martensitic steel have been investigated through a combination of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The 6 wt.% Mn-doped steel exhibits a yield strength of ~1.83 GPa and an elongation-to-failure of ~7% under peak aging, and the ~853 MPa of precipitation strengthening is much higher than that observed in the 1.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% Mn-doped steels. The steel is composed of α’-martensite and slightly equiaxed α-ferrite together with a high proportion (~62.3%) of low-angle grain boundaries, and 6 wt.% Mn doping and the aging treatment have an effect on the matrix’s microstructure. However, 6 wt.% Mn doping can obviously increase the mean size of the Cu/NiAl nanoparticles by enhancing the chemical driving force of the Mn partitioning on the NiAl nanoparticles, which differs from the refining effect on the nanoparticles in 3 wt.% Mn-doped steels. Furthermore, larger Cu/NiAl nanoparticles can significantly improve the yield strength of martensitic steel through precipitation-strengthening mechanisms.
Structural and Charge Transport Properties of Composites of Phosphate-Silicate Protonic Glass with Uranyl Hydroxy-Phosphate and Hydroxy-Arsenate Obtained by Mechano-Chemical Synthesis Undergoing Hydration Changes
Authors: Majewska Karolina , Mroczkowska-Szerszeń Maja , Letmanowski Rafał , Ryś Piotr , Pudełko Wojciech , Dudek Magdalena , Zalewska Aldona , Obarski Norbert , Dudek Lidia , Piszcz Michał , Żukowska Grażyna Zofia , Siekierski Maciej
Published: December 2022

The introduction of the hydrogen economy, despite its obvious technological problems, creates a need for a significant number of niche-focused solutions, such as small-sized (10–100 W) fuel cells able to run on hydrogen of lesser purity than what is considered a standard in the case of PEMFCs. One of the solutions can be derived from the fact that an increase in the operational temperature of a cell significantly decreases its susceptibility to catalyst poisoning. Electrolytes suitable for the so-called medium temperature operational range of 120–400 °C, hence developed, are neither commercialized nor standardized. Among them, phosphate silicate protonically conductive glasses were found not only to reveal interestingly high levels of operational parameters, but also, to exhibit superior chemical and electrochemical stability over their polymeric counterparts. On the other hand, their mechanical properties, including cracking fragility, still need elaboration. Initial studies of the composite phosphate silicate glasses with uranyl-based protonic conductors, presented here, proved their value both in terms of application in fuel cell systems, and in terms of understanding the mechanism governing the charge transport mechanism in these and similar systems. It was found that whereas systems containing 10–20 wt% of the crystalline additive suffer from significant instability, materials containing 45–80 wt% (with an optimum at 60%) should be examined more thoughtfully. Moreover, the uranyl hydrogen phosphate was found to surpass its arsenate counterpart as an interesting self-healing behavior of the phase structure of the derived composite was proved.
Investigation of the Technological Possibility of Manufacturing Volumetric Shaped Ductile Cast Iron Products in Open Dies
Authors: Galkin Vladimir , Kurkin Andrey , Gavrilov Gennady , Kulikov Ilya , Bazhenov Evgeny
Published: December 2022

Information about the technological possibility of stamping in open dies, round-shaped forgings made of ductile cast iron, is outlined herein. Cast iron’s propensity for plastic deformation under complex loading conditions is analyzed from the standpoint of the morphology of graphite inclusions, depending on the degree and mechanical scheme of deformation. The research methodology included: the choice of a brand of cast iron with spherical graphite and the technological process of its deformation; mathematical modeling of the deformation process using the DEFORM–3D software package; stamping of an experimental batch of forgings; and microstructural studies of the forging material, together with the data of its stress–strain state and the direction of flow of the material. Under the conditions of comprehensive compression of the workpiece material at the beginning of the deformation process, lateral pressure was created from the tool walls. It was carried out by selecting the size and shape of the initial blank by mathematical modeling. When analyzing the morphology of graphite inclusions, the stress state scheme was determined as the main influencing factor. The greatest change in the shape and size of graphite inclusions of cast iron, including their crushing, corresponds to the condition of the disappearance of all-round compression. When stamping in open dies, this occurs in the area where the material exits from the stamp engraving into the flash gutter. In the process of forming, cast iron showed the possibility of deformation in the deformation intensity index εi = 2.5.
Elastic–Plastic Numerical Analysis of the Spinning Process of SA-372 Steel Used in High-Pressure Hydrogen Storage Cylinders (≥100 MPA)
Authors: Yin Ruifeng , Fu Ruidong , Wei Wenlong , Gao Jianfu , Liu Yongjiu , Ge Shuaitao
Published: December 2022

Elastic–plastic numerical analysis of the spinning process of SA-372 steel is used in high-pressure hydrogen storage to analyze high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinders with high precision and excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance. The spinning process of SA-372 steel used to form such a cylinder with a pressure of 100 MPa is investigated through elastic–plastic finite element analysis. The variations in the stress, strain, pressure, temperature, and wall thickness during the spinning processes are comprehensively examined, and the optimized processing parameters are determined based on the numerical analysis results. Finally, these optimal parameters are used to conduct actual spin-forming experiments. The numerical results are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental results, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed elastic–plastic numerical analysis model for the optimization of spinning process parameters. Furthermore, the hydrogen embrittlement test based on ISO 11114-4:2005 method A proves that the cylinder shoulder has a good hydrogen embrittlement resistance.
Use of Multi-Scale Investigation to Evaluate Adhesion Performance of Warm-Mix Polymer-Modified Asphalt
Authors: Li Ping , Wang Ziran , Men Bo , Ma Xiaopeng , Tang Guoqi , Wang Riran
Published: December 2022

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology can effectively reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption during road project construction. However, it may have a negative impact on the binding properties of asphalt mixtures. In order to effectively evaluate the adhesion performance of asphalt binders and aggregates under the combined influence of WMA and traditional polymer-modified asphalt, this paper provides a comprehensive evaluation at the micro and macro levels. The adhesion between three different modified asphalts (warm mix crumb rubber/ Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) composite modified asphalt, warm mix crumb rubber asphalt, and warm mix SBS modified asphalt) and two different aggregates (limestone and granite) under both virgin and short-term aging conditions were analyzed. Regardless of the type of modified asphalt, the results showed that limestone aggregates have better adhesion properties with asphalt binders. In addition, the short-term thermal oxidation aging behavior is conducive to enhancing the asphalt-aggregate adhesion characteristics. Furthermore, WMA additives, crumb rubber, and SBS compound modification can improve the adhesion performance between asphalt and aggregate.
An Improved Data-Driven Calibration Method with High Efficiency for a 6-DOF Hybrid Robot
Authors: Yan Zhibiao , Wang Youyu , Liu Haitao , Xiao Juliang , Huang Tian
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes an improved data-driven calibration method for a six degrees of freedom (DOF) hybrid robot. It focuses mainly on improving the measurement efficiency and practicability of existing data-driven calibration methods through the following approaches. (1) The arbitrary motion of the hybrid robot is equivalently decomposed into three independent sub-motions by motion decomposition. Sequentially, the sub-motions are combined according to specific motion rules. Then, a large number of robot poses can be acquired in the whole workspace via a limited number of measurements, effectively solving the curse of dimensionality in measurement. (2) A mapping between the nominal joint variables and joint compensation values is established using a back propagation neural network (BPNN), which is trained directly using the measurement data through a unique algorithm involving inverse kinematics. Thus, the practicability of data-driven calibration is significantly improved. The validation experiments are carried out on a TriMule-200 robot. The results show that the robot’s maximal position/orientation errors are reduced by 91.16%/88.17% to 0.085 mm/0.022 deg, respectively, after calibration.