bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local Lithium-Ion Transport of a Ternary Sulfolane-Lithium Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide-Carbonate Electrolyte: Experimental and First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Analysis toward Quasi-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Kawaji Jun , Unemoto Atsushi , Seki Eiji , Hirooka Motoyuki , Ikeshoji Tamio , Ueno Kazuhide , Dokko Kaoru , Watanabe Masayoshi , Okumura Takefumi
Published: January 2022

The ion coordination and local ion transport of the ternary electrolyte containing sulfolane (SL), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (LiTFSA), and a carbonate solvent were investigated by combining the electrochemical measurement and first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) simulation. Li(SL)3TFSA solution with the low-viscosity carbonate solvents, propylene carbonate (PC) and butylene carbonate (BC) was quasi-solidified by nanosized SiO2 and PTFE binder. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the quasi-solidified electrolyte sheets exhibited the Li+ transport number of 0.5, which was higher than that of Li(G4)TFSA containing PC and the conventional organic liquid electrolyte. The higher Li+ transport number contributed to an enhanced discharge capacity of the LIB at a high rate, and the LIB with Li(SL)3TFSA-PC and Li(SL)3TFSA-BC based electrolyte exhibited higher capacity retention in cycle test compared with Li(G4)TFSA-PC. The FPMD analysis revealed that a bridging coordination by SL and TFSA, where a single SL or TFSA coordinates two Li+, was observed even under coexistence with the carbonate solvent. It was also confirmed that some Li+ tend to transfer independently to the other molecules/anions via the bridging coordination, leading to the high Li+ transport number. In conclusion, the composition design of the electrolyte to keep the bridging coordination is desirable for a high Li+ transport number and superior LIB performances.
From the Editor: Let There Be Light
Authors: Talbot Jan B.
Published: January 2022

Certain materials can absorb energy from such sources as X-rays, ultraviolet light, or electrons, then re-emit the energy as visible light. These luminescent materials, called “phosphors,” are ubiquitous. Phosphors light up fluorescent light bulbs, television screens, computer screens, and signs and displays everywhere we look. These are the materials of interest to the Luminescence and Display Materials Division, featured in this issue.
Chemical Sensors: A Perspective of the Present and Future
Authors: Rico Antonio J. , Crooks Richard M. , Janata Jiri (Art)
Published: January 2022

To a greater extent than in many areas of endeavor in the chemical sciences, successful chemical sensors require a high level of interdisciplinary collaboration and effort, along with an unusually close coupling between the ultimate application and the R&D process. The tremendous growth in chemical sensor R&D over the past ten years has been spurred by everything from fundamental advances in interfacial chemistry, to new microscale engineering technologies, to a demand for cleaner, more efficient, better-controlled industrial processes.
Electron-Transfer Kinetics of Ferrocene in Phenyl Containing Monolayers
Authors: Sumner James J.
Published: January 2022

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for the 1998 Joseph W. Richards Summer Research Fellowship.
The Influence of Psychological Status on Acupuncture for Postprandial Distress Syndrome: A Subgroup Analysis of a Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yang Na-Na , Yang Jing-Wen , Tan Chun-Xia , Li Yue-jie , Wang Yu , Qi Ling-Yu , Liu Cun-Zhi
Published: January 2022

Background. Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) is accompanied by a high incidence of mood disorder. Acupuncture is an effective method in relieving dyspepsia symptoms; however, the impact of psychological status on acupuncture for PDS remains mysterious. Methods. This secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the influence of anxiety and depression on acupuncture for PDS. 138 patients received the same acupuncture treatment and were followed up until week 16. The 2 primary outcomes were the response rate based on overall treatment effect and the elimination rate of all 3 cardinal symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment. Results. Of 114 patients, 31 were anxiety patients and 83 were nonanxiety patients or 32 were depressive patients and 82 were nondepressive patients. The response rate and elimination rate at week 4 were 77.4% and 9.7% in anxiety patients versus 84.3% and 27.7% in nonanxiety patients, respectively (

P

 = 0.388;

P

 = 0.041). No significant difference was noted in the response rate (

P

 = 0.552) and elimination rate (

P

 = 0.254) at week 4 between nondepressive and depressive patients. There was no significant intergroup difference in the response rate and elimination rate between non-mood-disorder and mood disorder patients (

P

 > 0.05) during the 12-week post-treatment follow-up, except for the response rate at week 8 (

P

 < 0.05). Conclusion. The effect of acupuncture on response rate was similar for both non-mood-disorder and mood disorder patients. However, anxiety but not depression had a negative influence on the elimination rate, especially in postprandial fullness.
A Case of Nonpuerperal Uterine Inversion Caused by Cervical Cancer
Authors: Hiratsuka Daiki , Tsukazaki Takehiro , Sone Kenbun , Neriishi Kazuaki , Takechi Kimihiro
Published: January 2022

Uterine inversion is a rare puerperal event in the third stage of labor. Nonpuerperal uterine inversion is even rarer and is mainly caused by uterine fibroids, uterine sarcoma, or endometrial cancer. This is the first report of uterine inversion caused by cervical cancer. A 67-year-old woman presented with a 10 cm pelvic mass. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed uterine inversion, which was preoperatively diagnosed to be caused by endometrial cancer and was treated using an extended abdominal hysterectomy. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed that the primary tumor was a squamous cell carcinoma with coexistent high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Immunostaining was diffusely positive for p16 and negative for estrogen receptors. The postoperative diagnosis was cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Our observations suggested that cervical carcinoma can cause uterine inversion by invading the corpus.
Inferring Agronomical Insights for Wheat Canopy Using Image-Based Curve Fit
K
-Means Segmentation Algorithm and Statistical Analysis
Authors: Gupta Ankita , Kaur Lakhwinder , Kaur Gurmeet
Published: January 2022

Phenomics and chlorophyll fluorescence can help us to understand the various stresses a plant may undergo. In this research work, we observe the image-based morphological changes in the wheat canopy. These changes are monitored by capturing the maximum area of wheat canopy image that has maximum photosynthetic activity (chlorophyll fluorescence signals). The proposed algorithm presented here has three stages: (i) first, derivation of dynamic threshold value by curve fitting of data to eliminate the pixels of low-intensity value, (ii) second, extraction and segmentation of thresholded region by application of histogram-based

K

-means algorithm iteratively (this scheme of the algorithm is referred to as the curve fit

K

-means (CfitK-means) algorithm); and (iii) third, computation of 23 grey level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features (traits) from the wheat images has been done. These features help to do statistical analysis and infer agronomical insights. The analysis consists of correlation, factor, and agglomerative clustering to identify water stress indicators. A public repository of wheat canopy images was used that had normal and water stress response chlorophyll fluorescence images. The analysis of the feature dataset shows that all 23 features are proved fruitful in studying the changes in the shape and structure of wheat canopy due to water stress. The best segmentation algorithm was confirmed by doing exhaustive comparisons of seven segmentation algorithms. The comparisons showed that the best algorithm is CfitK-means as it has a maximum IoU score value of 95.75.
Method for Predicting Barge Impact Force Based on Nonlinear Spring Stiffness
Authors: Shao Junhu , Zhan Yulin , Song Shuai , Cai Mengqi , Chen Xiaoping , Yu Haiying
Published: January 2022

Accurate prediction of barge impact force contributes greatly to the research of the soundness of the bridge under barge impact. Toward this end, the calculation method of barge impact force caused by ship-bridge collision is investigated in this study. Firstly, a comparative analysis for different energy conversion relationships is conducted via the high-precision finite element method (HPFEM) and the coupled vessel impact analysis (CVIA). A construction method of nonlinear spring stiffness (NSS) is proposed therefrom. Secondly, a high-precision finite element model is developed to simulate the barge-bridge collision under different barge masses and impact velocities. NSS under each condition is obtained, and the influences of barge mass and impact velocity on NSS are further discussed. An NSS model considering the effects of impact mass and impact velocity is proposed. Lastly, based on the NSS model, a prediction method of barge impact force is introduced. The results show that the impact mass has little influence on the peak value of NSS; however, the impact mass and impact velocity have a great influence on the tail of the NSS curve. According to the characteristics of NSS, four key control points can be extracted and NSS is simplified into a polyline model. The NSS model of the barge is obtained by nonlinear response surface fitting. The impact force can be predicted by combining the simplified NSS model and the proposed method in this study. The proposed method in this paper does not consider the pier stiffness; hence, it can be combined with NSS to quickly estimate the impact force, which can provide a design basis for the impact force in ship-bridge collision design. The rigid wall and a continuous rigid frame bridge impacted by the barge are studied; the results show that the proposed method can reasonably estimate the impact force.
Research on the Realization Path of Fitness Strategy under the Guidance of the “Healthy China” Era
Authors: Wang Bei
Published: January 2022

National fitness is a great strategy to cater to the development of the country, which is related to people's happiness and physical health, and is also an important condition for realizing a harmonious society. Constructing the public service system of national fitness is not only an important part of implementing the scientific development concept and building a harmonious socialist society but also a key task of China’s sports system reform and system innovation in the new period. The cultivation and formation of the new sports consumption concept under the national strategy of national fitness is an important factor affecting the implementation of the national strategy of national fitness and is the fundamental way to accelerate the development of sports industry and promote sports consumption. In the current torrent of economic development, national fitness can not only ensure the health of the whole people but also promote the rapid development of sports industry and consumption, thus promoting the steady growth of China’s economy. In this paper, under the national strategy of fitness for all, combined with the concept of “healthy China,” the era implication and realization path of sports consumption concept are studied.
Prognostic Value of Intratumor Metabolic Heterogeneity Parameters on 18F‐FDG PET/CT for Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Liu Xin , Xiang Kun , Geng Guang-Yong , Wang Shi-Cun , Ni Ming , Zhang Yi-Fan , Pan Hai-Feng , Lv Wei-Fu
Published: January 2022

Purpose. Intratumor metabolic heterogeneity parameters on 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography‐computed tomography (PET‐CT) have been proven to be predictors of the clinical prognosis of cancer patients. The study aimed to examine the correlation between 18F‐FDG PET‐CT‐defined heterogeneity parameters and the prognostic significance in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods. The study included 188 patients with colorectal cancer who received surgery and 18F‐FDG PET/CT examinations. Preoperative 18F‐FDG PET/CT conventional and metabolic heterogeneity parameters were collected, including maximum, peak, and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmax, SUVpeak, and SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), heterogeneity index‐1 (HI‐1) and heterogeneity index‐2 (HI‐2), and clinicopathological information. Correlations between these parameters and patient survival outcomes were inferred. Results. The associations between 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Tumor thrombus (P < 0.001), tumor stage (P = 0.001), MTV (P = 0.003), HI‐1 (P = 0.032), and HI‐2 (P = 0.001) differed between the two groups with and without recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that, in the radical surgery group, HI‐2 (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.17, P = 0.001), tumor stage (HR = 20.65, 95% CI: 4.81–88.62, P < 0.001), and regional lymph nodes status (HR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04–0.57, P = 0.005) were independent variables significantly correlated with progression‐free survival (PFS) and HI‐2 (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001) was an independent variable affecting overall survival (OS). In the palliative surgery group, HI‐2 (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.06, P = 0.020) was an independent variable affecting PFS, and all the parameters were not statistically significant for OS. Conclusion. HI‐2, tumor stage, and regional lymph nodes status might predict the outcomes of colorectal cancer more effectively than other 18F‐FDG PET/CT defined parameters.
Comprehensive Analysis of CRIP1 in Patients with Ovarian Cancer, including ceRNA Network, Immune-Infiltration Pattern, and Clinical Benefit
Authors: Qi Bingli , Liu Shikai , Liu Dantong , Yao Hairong , Yan Ruixue
Published: January 2022

Background. With the development of sequencing technology, an increasing number of biomarkers have been identified in ovarian cancer (OC). However, there have been few comprehensive analyses of CRIP1 in patients with OC. Methods. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the correlations between clinical characteristics and CRIP1 expression. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to explore the difference in survival in each clinical subgroup. In addition, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were further used to confirm the independent prognostic values of CRIP1. We further constructed ceRNA network based on the difference analysis. Subsequently, we used the ssGSEA algorithm to excavate the correlation between CRIP1 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Moreover, the potential biological functions of CRIP1 were investigated by gene function annotation. Finally, we knocked down CRIP1 gene for preliminary biological function verification in A2780 and SKOV-3 cell lines. Results. The overexpression of CRIP1 was confirmed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, immunohistochemistry, and OC cell lines. CRIP1 overexpression was correlated with the FIGO stage according to a logistic regression analysis that used the median of CRIP1 expression as a categorization of the dependent variable. Survival analysis revealed that CRIP1 was associated with a poor prognosis in most clinical subgroups and acts as an independent prognostic marker in OC patients. In immuno-bioinformatics analysis, CRIP1 is associated to majority of immune cells. This is noteworthy given that we identified that the ceRNA network based on CRIP1 may regulate progression in OC. In addition, gene enrichment analysis suggested CRIP1 may be involved in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, etc. Finally, we found that knockdown CRIP1 could inhibit the proliferation of OC cells. Conclusion. We provided robust evidences that CRIP1 is an indicator of poor prognosis and a potential target for immunotherapy in patients with OC.
Analysis of the Law of Joint Deformation for Grouted Mortise‐Tenon Joint
Authors: Yang Xiuren , Lin Fang , Huang Meiqun
Published: January 2022

This paper analyzes the law of joint deformation of grouted mortise‐tenon joint with 1 : 1 prototype test in key working direction types under 38 working conditions of different joint types, tenon lengths, grouting ranges, grouting materials, and loading combinations for the prefabricated metro station. The deformation performance of the joint has also been compared. In addition, finite element models have been built, and the joint deformation stages are discussed. The influences on the law of joint deformation of different influencing factors have been discovered. The deformation development stages and the main deformation laws of each stage of the joints have also been obtained. Moreover, this paper also compares and analyzes the field test results and experimental results. The monitoring results show that the safety margin of joint deformation is sufficient during the whole construction process from the assembly to the completion of the station. The research results have great values for the joint design and calculation for the prefabricated metro station structure.
Dimensional Learning Strategy-Based Grey Wolf Optimizer for Solving the Global Optimization Problem
Authors: Liu Xinyang , Wang Yifan , Zhou Miaolei
Published: January 2022

Grey wolf optimizer (GWO) is an up-to-date nature-inspired optimization algorithm which has been used for solving many of the real-world applications since it was proposed. In the standard GWO, individuals are guided by the three dominant wolves alpha, beta, and delta in the leading hierarchy of the swarm. These three wolves provide their information about the potential locations of the global optimum in the search space. This learning mechanism is easy to implement. However, when the three wolves are in conflicting directions, an individual may not obtain better knowledge to update its position. To improve the utilization of the population knowledge, in this paper, we proposed a grey wolf optimizer based on the dimensional learning strategy (DLGWO). In the DLGWO, the three dominant wolves construct an exemplar wolf through the dimensional learning strategy (DLS) to guide the grey wolves in the swarm. Thereafter, to reinforce the exploration ability of the algorithm, the Levy flight is also utilized in the proposed method. 23 classic benchmark functions and engineering problems are used to test the effectiveness of the proposed method against the standard GWO, variants of the GWO, and other metaheuristic algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed DLGWO has good performance in solving the global optimization problems.
The Material Basis and Mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in Treating Stable Angina Pectoris and Unstable Angina Pectoris
Authors: Qi Guanpeng , Jiang Kaiwen , Qu Jiaming , Zhang Aijun , Xu Ze , Li Zhaohang , Zheng Xiaosong , Li Zuojing
Published: January 2022

Background and Objective. Xuefu Zhuyu decoction has good efficacy in both stable and unstable angina pectoris; however, the reasons for this remain elusive. We propose a systematic process to investigate the effectiveness of the formula and the underlying material basis and mechanism of action. Methods. Firstly, we used a network proximity approach to calculate and compare the effectiveness of the formula with that of Western drugs for each type of angina, including all targets and intersecting targets, from a topological perspective. Secondly, we compared the mechanisms of action of the two angina pectoris at three levels and five aspects, including conventional and modular analysis approaches. Thirdly, based on the unique functions of each angina in the complex heterogeneous network, we designed a reverse process for finding the material basis using dynamic, static, and enriched items as well as a total item. Finally, the designed inverse process, material basis, and mechanism of action were validated. Results. The target network of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction is closer to the target network of each type of angina than that of Western drugs, and the intersection targets have a closer proximity. Comparison of the mechanisms of action showed that stable angina and unstable angina had 158 common targets, while the unique targets were 34 and 1, respectively. Modularity analysis showed that the GO similarity of target modules was highly correlated with KEGG similarity. We ended up with 67 compounds upregulated for stable angina and 47 compounds upregulated for unstable angina. Our results were validated by literature mining, high-volume molecular docking, and miRNA enrichment analysis. Conclusions. For both types of angina pectoris, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction is superior to Western drugs. A comparison of various aspects led to the unique mechanisms of action, from which the material basis of each type of angina was deduced.
Mechanism and Application of Blasting Technology Using Phase-Difference Vibration Mitigation on Adjacent Railway Tunnel
Authors: Zhang Bin , Zhou Yuanfu , Zhang Xuefu , Zhang Zhaoyuan , Wang Zijian , Wu Yi
Published: January 2022

The blasting vibration velocity is a widely used controlling index for the safety assessment of tunnel structures. How to reduce the impact of blasting vibration on the operation of adjacent railway tunnels is worth studying. In this paper, the initial phase-difference of blasting using phase-difference shock absorption is derived from the propagation theory of the blasting stress wave. When the initial phase-difference is Δφi = ±(2n + 1)π (n = 1, 2, 3, …), the peak particle velocity (PPV) in the tunnel structure is decreased to the minimum. On the basis of blasting theory using phase-difference shock absorption, the blasting parameters were designed for the No. 2 drainage tunnel excavated which adjacent a railway tunnel from Guiyang to Changsha, and it carried out 4 times blasting tests. It was found that the PPV of the railway tunnel structure in X, Y, and Z directions reduced by 64.6%, 66.25%, and 81.26%, respectively, which compared with the conventional blasting with the same total quality. Meanwhile, the amount of overbreak and underbreak can be controlled within 5%. The results show that the effect of blasting technology using phase-difference vibration mitigation is obvious, which is able to match with the design requirements for the tunnel excavation contour. The blasting technology using phase-difference vibration mitigation can be achieved via controlling the blasting time interval accurately. Moreover, it is beneficial for enriching and developing the blasting vibration control technology.
Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer following Breast Conservation Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Yue , Guo Jianming , Sui Yuan , Chen Baihui , Li Dalin , Jiang Jiakang
Published: January 2022

To evaluate the health-related quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in surgical breast cancer survivors who received breast conservation therapy (BCT) compared to mastectomy, we utilized a systematic review to conduct observational studies of QOL in patients with breast cancer following breast conservation therapy from their inception until October 2021. The PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science databases were systematically searched to retrieve the observational studies. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied as an effect estimate and calculated using Stata 15 software. Nine studies comprising 2301 patients were included. The results showed that no significant differences compared to mastectomy were detected for global health status (

P
=
0.971

and

P
=
0.613

), physical function (

P
=
0.099

), emotional function (

P
=
0.096

), cognitive function (

P
=
0.377

), social function (

P
=
0.602

), sexual functioning (

P
=
0.072

), and sexual enjoyment (

P
=
0.142

), while role function (

P
=
0.036

), body image (

P
=
0.000

), and future perspective (

P
=
0.012

) showed a significant difference for BCT when compared to mastectomy. When compared to breast reconstruction (BR), the BCT group was inferior at physical function (

P
=
0.002

) and cognitive function (

P
=
0.040

) but superior at body image (

P
=
0.001

). When used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) tool, BCT has better results in physical function (

P
=
0.000

), emotional function (

P
=
0.000

), and social function (

P
=
0.000

) than mastectomy. QOL outcomes after BCT were better than mastectomy in body image, future perspective, and role function. BCT may be an acceptable option in the study setting for breast cancer patients who pursue high QOL.
A Cost Allocation Decision Model for Air Pollution Control
Authors: Qin Dong-Sheng , Gao Chang-Yuan
Published: January 2022

Air pollution control as the background of a cost allocation method is based on the Shapley value to determine the core stakeholder, so fair pollution control projects and the establishment of the atmospheric pollution of governance cost allocation model are put forward for the solution of air pollution coordinated by the government supervision and the atmospheric pollution control collaborative group. The results show that the cost allocation model of air pollution control based on Shapley value is more reasonable, and the cost of stakeholders is reduced to a certain extent, and the risk of the participants is reduced so that it maximizes social benefits.
Consilience of Reductionism and Complexity Theory in Language Research: Adaptive Weight Model
Authors: Zhang Chao
Published: January 2022

Reductionism and complexity theory are two paradigms frequently found in language research. There exist a number of conflicts in terms of concepts and methodologies between reductionism and complexity theory, which are not conducive to creating a unified language research framework. This paper starts by discussing the adaptability of complex dynamic systems and combines cognitive processing model and artificial neural networks to construct and verify an adaptive weight model, showing that the study of reductionism is induction of high‐weight elements and the study of complexity theory is a discussion of system complexity from adaptability, meaning that there is a good fit between the two frameworks. The adaptive weight model is conducive to developing a unified interpretation of language research results.
Some New Upper Bounds for the Y‐Index of Graphs
Authors: Maji Durbar , Ghorai Ganesh , Shami Faria Ahmed
Published: January 2022

In mathematical chemistry, the topological indices with highly correlation factor play a leading role specifically for developing crucial information in QSPR/QSAR analysis. Recently, there exists a new graph invariant, namely, Y‐index of graph proposed by Alameri as the sum of the fourth power of each and every vertex degree of that graph. The approximate range of the descriptors is determined by obtaining the bounds for the topological indices of graphs. In this paper, firstly, some upper bounds for the Y‐index on trees with several types of domination number are studied. Secondly, some new bounds are also presented for this index of graphs in terms of relevant parameters with other topological indices. Additionally, a new idea on bounds for the Y‐index by applying binary graph operations is computed.
Biopolymer-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for the Electrochemical Detection of Pb(II) in Water
Authors: Ifguis Ousama , Moutcine Abdelaziz , Laghlimi Charaf , Ziat Younes , Bouhdadi Rachid , Chtaini Abdelilah , Moubarik Amine , Mbarki Mohamed
Published: January 2022

During the present study, biopolymer lignin was extracted, in particular, from sugar beet pulp (molasses) from the Tadla region (224 km from Marrakech, Morocco). The lignin was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric TG/DTA analysis and then used as a modifier to enhance the electroanalytical detection of heavy metal ion traces. The performance of the lignin/CPE sensor to detect lead (II) was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry in 0.3 mol L−1 NaCl. With optimized experimental parameters, the lignin/CPE sensor developed has a minimum detection limit of 2.252.10−11 M for Pb (II). The proposed working electrode has been successfully applied for the coanalysis of Pb (II) in tap water with good results.
Qing Zao Fang (QZF) Alleviates the Inflammatory Microenvironment of the Submandibular Gland in Sjögren’s Syndrome Based on the PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zeng Ping , Liu Wei , Yang Xiaochun , Zhang Shumin , Du Shaopeng , Fan Yihua , Zhao Longmei , Wang Aihua
Published: January 2022

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) which could lead to a disorder of our immune system is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by invading exocrine glands such as salivary glands and lacrimal glands and other exocrine glands. Its common symptom is dry mouth and dry eyes, often accompanied by a large number of lymphocyte infiltrations and can involve other organs to cause complex clinical manifestations. In this study, we aimed at investigating the effect of QZF in SS, identifying the molecular mechanism in modulating autoimmune response, and determining the important roles of these factors’ function as a modulator in the pathogenesis of SS. The NOD mice were utilized to establish the rats’ model of Sjögren’s syndrome. After 10 weeks’ hydroxychloroquine and QZF in different dose interference, submandibular gland tissue was collected. The therapeutic effect of QZF on SS rats was identified, and the results suggest the comparable potential to hydroxychloroquine. In submandibular gland tissue, interleukin- (IL-) 17 was significantly lower in high-dose QZF than that in SS rats and the focal lymphocytes were highly attenuated. Moreover, we found that PI3K/Akt signals were activated and the downstream HIF-1α/VEGF signals were enhanced in SS rats whose protein expression could be inhibited by QZF treatment. In addition, QZF could modulate autophagy in submandibular gland tissue and then inhibit the inflammation response and therefore facilitate the tissue repair.
Outlier-Resistant Localization for Smart Cities: Low-Rank Approximation-Based Approaches
Authors: Wang Feng , Ma Peng , Zhu Rui , Guo Jianxin
Published: January 2022

For smart cities, location-based services (LBSs) are indispensable; however, the urban environment is typically a multipath channel and achieving high accuracy localization is challenging, especially in GNSS-denied environments. It is already known that there are two key factors that constrain IoT localization performance, namely, the presence of outliers in the inter-node ranging data and the difficulty to guarantee that ranging is carried out between all nodes, which means that we are dealing with an incomplete Euclidean distance matrix (EDM) contaminated with outliers. In this paper, we propose a robust localization framework, termed low-rank approximation-based localization (LRAbL). LRAbL enables network localization in a stepwise manner using partially observed EDMs that contain coarse noise (outliers). Specifically, the working process of LRAbL can be divided into three stages: the preprocessing of the observed EDM, aiming to eliminate outliers with large values, the use of low-rank approximation means to obtain the complete EDM, and finally the application of non-classical MDS to calculate the coordinates of the nodes in the network. To confirm the applicability of the proposed framework, extensive numerical experiments were conducted, which indicated that LRAbL was still able to achieve satisfactory localization results when the network links were sparse (only about 1/4 of the entries can be observed) and contained a certain percentage of large value outliers. In summary, our work provides a solution worthy of consideration for location-based services in the future Internet of Things.
Remediation of Azure A Dye from Aqueous Solution by Using Surface-Modified Coal Fly Ash Extracted Ferrospheres by Mineral Acids and Toxicity Assessment
Authors: Yadav Virendra Kumar , Inwati Gajendra Kumar , Ali Daoud , Gnanamoorthy G. , Bera Sweta Parimita , Khan Samreen Heena , Choudhary Nisha , Kumar Gokhlesh , Chaurasia Tejulal Prasad , Basnet Anup
Published: January 2022

The Indian coal fly ash (CFA) is composed of 5-15% ferrous fractions. The variation in percentage depends on the source of coal and the operating conditions of the thermal power plants. The present research work reports the recovery of ferrous particles from CFA by the wet magnetic separation method. The morphological, elemental, and chemical properties of the extracted ferrous fractions were analyzed. In order to achieve surface-modified ferrospheres, the extracted ferrospheres were treated with concentrated HCl followed by sonication. The instrumental analysis reported the ferrous composition is around 16% by weight and belongs to class F. The toxicity of CFA was determined on normal human lung (BEAS-2B) cells using MTS assay. The results showed that CFA’s induced cell toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. The ferrous particles were spherically shaped with various sizes ranging from 200 nm to 7000 nm. It was crystalline in nature and is a mixture of hematite and magnetite. The particles were found to be associated with alumina, silica, oxygen, and traces of Ca, Mg, Ti, and C. The surface-modified ferrospheres were used for the remediation of Azure A dye by batch adsorption study. The removal percentage of dye was 25.03%, within 30 minutes at neutral pH, i.e., 7.2. The surface-modified ferrospheres show potential as an alternate, more economical, and reusable adsorbent for the remediation of Azure A dye in the industries or in common effluent treatment plants. Moreover, the recovery of surface-modified ferrospheres using an external magnet and the reuse of the particles make the material much economical for dye removal at an industrial scale.
Edge Detection-Based Feature Extraction for the Systems of Activity Recognition
Authors: Siddiqi Muhammad Hameed , Alrashdi Ibrahim
Published: January 2022

Human activity recognition (HAR) is a fascinating and significant challenging task. Generally, the accuracy of HAR systems relies on the best features from the input frames. Mostly, the activity frames have the hostile noisy conditions that cannot be handled by most of the existing edge operators. In this paper, we have designed an adoptive feature extraction method based on edge detection for HAR systems. The proposed method calculates the direction of the edges under the presence of nonmaximum conquest. The benefits are in ease that depends upon the modest procedures, and the extension possibility is to determine other types of features. Normally, it is practical to extract extra low-level information in the form of features when determining the shapes and to get the appropriate information, the additional cultured shape detection procedure is utilized or discarded. Basically, this method enlarges the percentage of the product of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the highest isolation along with localization. During the processing of the frames, again some edges are demonstrated as a footstep function; the proposed approach might give better performance than other operators. The appropriate information is extracted to form feature vector, which further be fed to the classifier for activity recognition. We assess the performance of the proposed edge-based feature extraction method under the depth dataset having thirteen various kinds of actions in a comprehensive experimental setup.
A Novel Two-Stage Adaptive Filtering Model-Based GNSS/INS Tightly Coupled Precise Relative Navigation Algorithm for Autonomous Aerial Refueling
Authors: Wu Ling , Sun Yongrong , Fu Xiyu , Xu Rui
Published: January 2022

Autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) has generated great interest in recent years. However, much research has focused on the vision-based close docking stage; few studies have been conducted on the navigation algorithm for the rendezvous and following stages. High-precision relative navigation in following stage can provide favourable conditions for successful docking. Aiming at precise relative navigation in the complex high dynamic environment of aerial refueling rendezvous and following stages, a two-stage adaptive filtering architecture is exploited in this paper. An adaptive main Kalman filter (AKF) is realized for ambiguity eliminated GNSS/INS tightly coupled integrated system, and a robust adaptive subfilter is developed for GNSS individually. Particularly, aiming at the influence of pseudorange observation multipath outliers and state abnormal disturbances in unmanned air vehicle- (UAV-) tanker proximity, an INS-aided bifactor robust and classified factor adaptive filtering (IBRCAF) algorithm for single-frequency ambiguity resolution is proposed. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by the simulation experiments for UAV-tanker. The results indicate that the IBRCAF algorithm can efficiently suppress the influence of pseudorange multipath gross errors and abnormal state disturbances and greatly raise the success rate of ambiguity resolution, and the two-stage adaptive filtering algorithm of IBRCAF-AKF can significantly improve relative navigation performance and achieve centimeter-level accuracy.
The Effects of Chewing Gum on Reducing Anxiety and Stress: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Luo Jing , Xia Mengjie , Zhang Chen
Published: January 2022

There was currently no consensus on whether chewing gum should be widely instituted as a means to help reduce anxiety and stress. Chewing gum was also not included in guidelines for alleviating anxiety and stress. The purpose of this study was of two aspects: (1) to review the research progress of the relationship between gum chewing and anxiety and stress in recent years and (2) to make a meta-analysis of the effects of mastication on anxiety and stress. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies extracted from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of chewing gum on anxiety, and stress was evaluated through screening, inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment. The meta-analysis we performed was using Review Manager 5.3 software. We included a total of 8 RCTs, involving more than 400 adults over 18 years old. Compared with no chewing gum, chewing gum resulted in anxiety (MD = −0.26, 95% CI (−0.48, −0.04),

p
=
0.02

, I2 = 11%), where the heterogeneity was low and statistically significant. While in stress (MD = −0.27, 95% CI (−0.79, −0.25),

p
=
0.31

, I2 = 48%), the heterogeneity was high, and there was of no statistical significance. Based on current evidence, chewing gum is an inexpensive, well-tolerated, safe, and effective way to relieve anxiety and stress. To confirm the conclusion, we still need to conduct more randomized trials.
Age Estimation in Children by the Measurement of Open Apices in Teeth: A Study in the Western Indian Population
Authors: Manjrekar Sanjana , Deshpande Shantanu , Katge Farhin , Jain Romi , Ghorpade Tejaswini
Published: January 2022

In forensic sphere and clinical dentistry, age estimation is a topic of utmost importance. Various techniques are employed in children to determine age; however, dental development has proven to be an appropriate method because of its low variability. Cameriere’s method is a widely accepted method of age estimation in children, which is carried out by measuring the projections of open apices and also the heights of developing permanent teeth seen on panoramic radiographs. The aim of this study is to establish a new formula for age estimation in the Western Indian population by measuring the open apices of mandibular teeth using Cameriere’s European formula. For this study, we included 311 panoramic radiographs of healthy children living in Western India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa) aged 4–15 years which were analysed by two independent researchers. Seven left permanent mandibular teeth were assessed for length and width of open apices. Dental maturity was evaluated using measurements of the left seven permanent mandibular teeth (xi = Ai/Li, i = 1, …, 7), the sum of the normalized open apices (s), and the number (N0) of teeth with complete root formation. A linear relationship between open apices, N0, age, and other factors was evaluated with the aid of a stepwise multiple regression model. A stepwise linear regression showed that all parameters, gender, s, N0, and x5, were significantly associated with age (R = 85%). No statistically significant difference was found between the predicted and actual chronological age of children in the age group of 4–13 years using the regression equation for the Western Indian population. The present research suggests that the new regression formula developed will be more accurate for age assessment in the Western Indian population.
Effect of Nephropathy Prescription I on the Expression of Angptl3 and Podocyte-Associated Protein in Mice with Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy
Authors: Zhang Feifei , Liu Junchao , Yu Jian , Sun Wen , Wang Yonghong , Fan Teng , Sun Yanyan , Han Xinghui
Published: January 2022

Objective. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Nephropathy Prescription I on the expression of angptl3, nephrin, and podocin, in addition to its protective effects on podocytes in mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy. Methods. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control (C), adriamycin (Model or M), adriamycin + Nephropathy Prescription I (M + Z), adriamycin + prednisone acetate (M + S), and adriamycin + Nephropathy Prescription I + prednisone acetate groups (M + Z + S). All mice except those in the C group in the experimental groups were treated with a single tail vein injection of adriamycin. The urine albumin-creatinine ratio was measured before model establishment and on the 7th day, 14th day, 21st day, and 28th day of doxorubicin injection. All the mice were sacrificed on the 29th day. Blood samples were collected to observe biochemical indicators in the serum. The morphological structure and podocyte ultrastructure in the kidney were observed using light and electron microscopy, respectively. The expression of angptl3, nephrin, and podocin at the mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. Results. Following modeling with adriamycin, albuminuria was observed in urine samples in the first week, and the urinary protein/creatinine ratio increased maximally in the fourth week in the M group (

P
<
0.05

). In contrast, the urinary protein/creatinine ratio significantly decreased (

P
<
0.05

) in the third week in the (M + Z) group compared to that in the M group. Similarly, this ratio decreased in the (M + S) and (M + Z + S) groups compared to that in the M group throughout the experiment. Compared with the C group, serum albumin content and the expression of nephrin and podocin decreased (

P
<
0.05

), whereas blood lipid level and the expression of angptl3 increased (

P
<
0.05

) in the M group. Glomerular foot process fusion was observed in this group using electron microscopy. In all the intervention groups, serum albumin content and the expression of nephrin and podocin increased (

P
<
0.05

), whereas blood lipid level and the expression of angptl3 decreased (

P
<
0.05

), with alleviated glomerular foot process injury observed particularly in the (M + Z + S) group. Conclusion. The Nephropathy Prescription I can alleviate albuminuria, increase serum albumin levels, lower blood lipid levels, and reduce the fusion of foot processes of podocytes in mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy. The protective effects of the Nephropathy Prescription I may function by reducing Angptl3 expression and increasing nephrin and podocin expression.
Somatic Mutations Enriched in Cis-Regulatory Elements Affect Genes Involved in Embryonic Development and Immune System Response in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Lasorsa Vito Alessandro , Montella Annalaura , Cantalupo Sueva , Tirelli Matilde , de Torres Carmen , Aveic Sanja , Tonini Gian Paolo , Iolascon Achille , Capasso Mario
Published: January 2022

Noncoding cis-regulatory variants have gained interest as cancer drivers, yet progress in understanding their significance is hindered by the numerous challenges and limitations of variant prioritization. To overcome these limitations, we focused on active cis-regulatory elements (aCRE) to design a customized panel for the deep sequencing of 56 neuroblastoma tumor and normal DNA sample pairs. To search for driver mutations, aCREs were defined by reanalysis of H3K27ac chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing peaks in 25 neuroblastoma cell lines. These regulatory genomic regions were tested for an excess of somatic mutations and assessed for statistical significance using a global approach that accounted for chromatin accessibility and replication timing. Additional validation was provided by whole genome sequence analysis of 151 neuroblastomas. Analysis of HiC data determined the presence of candidate target genes interacting with mutated regions. An excess of somatic mutations in aCREs of diverse genes were identified, including IPO7, HAND2, and ARID3A. CRISPR-Cas9 editing was utilized to assess the functional consequences of mutations in the IPO7-aCRE. Patients with noncoding mutations in aCREs showed inferior overall and event-free survival independent of age at diagnosis, stage, risk stratification, and MYCN status. Expression of aCRE-interacting genes correlated strongly with negative prognostic markers and low survival rates. Moreover, a convergence between the biological functions of aCRE target genes and transcription factors with mutated binding motifs was associated with embryonic development and immune system response. Overall, this strategy enabled the identification of somatic mutations in regulatory elements that collectively promote neuroblastoma tumorigenesis.

Significance:

Assessment of noncoding cis-regulatory variants and long-range interaction data highlight the combined effect of somatic mutations in regulatory elements in driving neuroblastoma.
NRF2: KEAPing Tumors Protected
Authors: Pillai Ray , Hayashi Makiko , Zavitsanou Anastasia-Maria , Papagiannakopoulos Thales
Published: January 2022

The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway plays a physiologic protective role against xenobiotics and reactive oxygen species. However, activation of NRF2 provides a powerful selective advantage for tumors by rewiring metabolism to enhance proliferation, suppress various forms of stress, and promote immune evasion. Genetic, epigenetic, and posttranslational alterations that activate the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway are found in multiple solid tumors. Emerging clinical data highlight that alterations in this pathway result in resistance to multiple therapies. Here, we provide an overview of how dysregulation of the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway in cancer contributes to several hallmarks of cancer that promote tumorigenesis and lead to treatment resistance.

Significance:

Alterations in the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway are found in multiple cancer types. Activation of NRF2 leads to metabolic rewiring of tumors that promote tumor initiation and progression. Here we present the known alterations that lead to NRF2 activation in cancer, the mechanisms in which NRF2 activation promotes tumors, and the therapeutic implications of NRF2 activation.