bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum L.) as a New Challenge for Reinforcement of Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement, Could It Be?
Authors: Aref Neven S.
Published: March 2021

Purpose. Despite the advantages of glass ionomer cement (GIC) including chemical bonding to the tooth structure and fluoride release, its low-grade mechanical properties make it a topic for research. Accordingly, this study was conducted to assess the ability of sesame oil as a natural bioactive additive to reinforce conventional glass ionomer cement. Materials and Methods. Sesame oil was blended into the liquid component of the cement in ratios of 3 and 5 (v/v%). One control and two experimental groups were enrolled in the study; I: unmodified GIC (control), II: 3 (v/v%) sesame oil-modified GICs, and III: 5(v/v%) sesame oil-modified GICs. Compressive strength, shear bond strength, diametral tensile strength, surface microhardness, surface roughness, and color stability were the parameters assessed. A representative specimen of each group was analyzed for its chemical structure by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test was used to analyze the collected data of all evaluated parameters except the color stability results, which were analyzed by Student t-test atp<0.05. Results. Three and 5 (v/v%) sesame oil-modified GICs exhibited significant increase in their compressive strength, shear bond strength, diametral strength, and surface microhardness. Concurrently, there was a significant decrease in surface roughness (p<0.05) in both formulations of the modified cement. Both 3 and 5 (v/v%) sesame oil-modified GICs showed a clinically acceptable color change. Conclusions. Sesame oil seems to be a promising natural bioactive product for reinforcement of conventional GIC with a clinically agreeable esthetic.
Optimization of Internet of Things E‐Commerce Logistics Cloud Service Platform Based on Mobile Communication
Authors: Chen Jun , Wu Huan , Zhou Xi , Wu Maoguo , Zhao Chenyang , Xu Shiyan
Published: March 2021

E‐commerce conceivable future trade, consumption, and service is a new digital employer mode. Therefore, in order to decorate the customary natural environment of operation, it is quintessential to get rid of the preferred desktop in the true field, create a social logistics and transportation administration computing device with commodity agents and distributors as the key features, and mix freight logistics, business enterprise approach waft and data waft advertising and marketing, and advertising and marketing organically. The notion of e‐commerce logistics looks alongside the enchantment vogue of neighborhood technological knowledge and social demand. It is an integral part of ending e‐commerce authentic economic value. All kinds of cell networks clear up the problem of data flow communication; in the technological know‐how of telephone network, digital cost solves the bother of capital flow; at present, logistics is however a long‐standing problem of e‐commerce. Logistics has grown to be the last and entirely bottleneck of e‐commerce. If logistics cannot adapt to the enchantment of e‐commerce, it may also additionally lead to the slow enchantment of e‐commerce. The purpose of this paper is to supply an Internet of things (IoT) e‐commerce logistics cloud provider platform based totally absolutely on cell communication, which can be combined with e‐commerce and beautify the transport tempo of e‐commerce. This paper moreover optimizes the e‐commerce logistics system, so that it can combine with e‐commerce to increase out the distribution of goods, the distribution tempo of e‐commerce is doubled, and e‐commerce can in a similar fashion develop rapidly.
The Realization of Intelligent Algorithm of Knowledge Point Association Analysis in English Diagnostic Practice System
Authors: Zhang Yanyan
Published: March 2021

This paper first conducts knowledge point association analysis on a large amount of data collected in practical applications. Data mining includes data collection, data preprocessing, actual mining, and result analysis, establishes knowledge point association rules table, and develops college English diagnostic practice system. Then, starting from the existing paper composition mode of the system, the knowledge point association rule table is introduced, and the knowledge point association relationship mining model is constructed using the association rule algorithm to explore the potential influence relationship between different knowledge points that affect the improvement of learning quality. Finally, the data collected when the system is used is preprocessed, and the three dimensions of learning status evaluation, question‐type association analysis, and college English score prediction are, respectively, modeled. Finally, after combining these submodels, a relatively complete and reliable diagnosis is obtained by evaluation model and related verification.
Influence of Freeze‐Thaw Cycles on Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Granite Samples under Triaxial Compression
Authors: Su Zhandong , Geng Ke , Zhou Fubiao , Sun Jinzhong , Yu Huayan
Published: March 2021

Understanding the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of rocks that have undergone freeze‐thaw cycling is of great significance for the use of AE technology to monitor the stability of rock masses in cold regions. A series of freeze‐thaw cycling experiments and triaxial compression AE tests of granite samples were performed. The results show that, with an increasing number of freeze‐thaw cycles, the P‐wave velocity and peak AE intensity of granite show a substantial downward trend. The AE ringing counts during triaxial compression can be divided into three stages: abrupt period, calm period, and failure period. The overall change of the characteristic AE signal of granite samples that underwent different freeze‐thaw cycles is the same. The AE signal during the destruction of granite occurs in clear dual dominant frequency bands. The peak frequency increases with increasing load time, and this trend becomes less clear as the number of freeze‐thaw cycles increases. Overall, the peak frequency distribution tends to change from high to low with an increasing number of freeze‐thaw cycles. The results provide basic data for rock mass stability monitoring and prediction, which is of great significance for engineering construction and management in cold regions.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Threatened Miscarriage: Advantages and Risks
Authors: Lu Lingjing , Li Juan , Zhou Yu , Ma Hongxia , Hu Min
Published: March 2021

Threatened miscarriage is one of the most common complications causing pregnancy loss, and it affects approximately 20% of confirmed pregnancies. More and more women are seeking treatment with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for this common complication, and it has been reported that women have had successful pregnancies after threatened miscarriage when being treated with CAM, which mainly includes Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture, and nutritional supplements as well as psychological interventions and other approaches. However, many experts are concerned about the safety and adverse events of certain CAM approaches in women with threatened miscarriage. Therefore, this review focuses on the status of CAM for threatened miscarriage and presents the potential therapeutic efficacy and safety of CAM based on some clinical and experimental studies. We thus hope to provide some instructive suggestions for the application of CAM for treating threatened miscarriage in the future.
Sonar Image Target Detection and Recognition Based on Convolution Neural Network
Authors: Yanchen Wu
Published: March 2021

Recent advancements in deep learning offer an effective approach for the study in machine vision using optical images. In this paper, a convolution neural network is used to deal with the target task of sonar detection, and the performance of each neural network model in the sonar image detection and recognition task of underwater box and tire is compared. The simulation results show that the neural network method proposed in this paper is better than the traditional machine learning methods and SSD network models. The average accuracy of the proposed method for sonar image target recognition is 93%, and the detection time of a single image is only 0.3 seconds.
Using Statistical Model to Study the Daily Closing Price Index in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Authors: Aljohani Hassan M. , Elhag Azhari A.
Published: March 2021

Classification in statistics is usually used to solve the problems of identifying to which set of categories, such as subpopulations, new observation belongs, based on a training set of data containing information (or instances) whose category membership is known. The article aims to use the Gaussian Mixture Model to model the daily closing price index over the period of 1/1/2013 to 16/8/2020 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The daily closing price index over the period declined, which might be the effect of corona virus, and the mean of the study period is about 7866.965. The closing price is the last regular deal that took place during the continuous trading period. If there are no transactions on the stock during the day, the closing price is the previous day’s closing price. The closing auction period comes after the continuous trading period (from 3 : 00 PM to 3 : 10 PM), during which investors can enter by buying and selling the stocks at this period. The experimental results show that the best mixture model is E (equal variance) with three components according to the BIC criterion. The expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm converged in 2 repetitions. The data source is from Tadawul KSA.
Protection against Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiotoxicity through Modulating iNOS/ARG 2 Balance by Electroacupuncture at PC6
Authors: Wang Jingya , Yao Lin , Wu Xiaoli , Guo Qi , Sun Shengxuan , Li Jie , Shi Guoqi , Caldwell Ruth B. , Caldwell R. William , Chen Yongjun
Published: March 2021

Background. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug but is limited in clinical applications by its cardiotoxicity. Neiguan acupoint (PC6) is a well‐recognized acupoint for the treatment of cardiothoracic disease. However, whether acupuncture at PC6 could be effective in preventing DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity is still unknown. Methods. A set of experiments were performed with myocardial cells, wild type, inducible nitric oxide synthase knockout (iNOS‐/‐), and myocardial‐specific ablation arginase 2 (Myh6‐ARG 2‐/‐) mice. We investigated the protective effect and the underlying mechanisms for electroacupuncture (EA) against DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity by echocardiography, immunostaining, biochemical analysis, and molecular biotechnology in vivo and in vitro analysis. Results. We found that DOX‐mediated nitric oxide (NO) production was positively correlated with the iNOS level but has a negative correlation with the arginase 2 (ARG 2) level in both myocardial cells and tissues. Meanwhile, EA at PC6 alleviated cardiac dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy in DOX‐treated mice. EA at PC6 blocked the upregulation of NO production in accompanied with the downregulated iNOS and upregulated ARG 2 levels in myocardial tissue induced by DOX. Furthermore, knockout iNOS prevented cardiotoxicity and EA treatment did not cause the further improvement of cardiac function in iNOS‐/‐ mice treated by DOX. In contrast, deficiency of myocardial ARG 2 aggravated DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity and reduced EA protective effect. Conclusion. These results suggest that EA treatment at PC6 can prevent DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity through modulating NO production by modulating the iNOS/ARG 2 balance in myocardial cells.
Experimental Research on Permeability of Coal and Rock Mass considering Postpeak Failure
Authors: Cao Zhiguo , Zhang Hualei , Yin Jiadi , Fu Baojie
Published: March 2021

In most mining areas of China, coal seams are characterized by low gas pressure, poor permeability, and high gas adsorption capacity, all of which have brought considerable difficulties to coal seam mining and coalbed methane (CBM) extraction. According to the multiyear scientific research and production practice of China, gas is migrated in quantity only after the coal body is directly mined, and the surrounding rocks deform and fracture under the mining influence. Thus, the key to effective control of gas migration and the coal and CBM comining technology lies in investigating the gas resolution, permeation, migration, and accumulation laws in the coal seams under the unloading confining pressure during mining. The MTS815.02 rock mechanics testing system and its supporting equipment are combined to test the permeability characteristics of coal and rock mass (postpeak fractured coal and sandstone specimens) under the loading and unloading of confining pressure using the steady method, and then, the permeation laws of the fractured coal and rock mass are obtained. Results show that after the postpeak rock crack propagation reaches a stable state, the confining pressure gradually increases, and the gas permeability presents an approximately linear reduction; in the postpeak unloading phase, the opening and coalescence degree of rock cracks gradually increase as the deformation extends. Thus, permeability reaches a peak value. The strain softening phase follows, where the cracks are closed and permeability declines to a certain extent. Moreover, the unloading step size of confining pressure has bearing on gas permeability. Specifically, as the unloading step size of confining pressure decreases, the change of gas permeability increases in stability.
Permeability Enhancement and Gas Drainage Effect in Deep High Gassy Coal Seams via Long‐Distance Pressure Relief Mining: A Case Study
Authors: He Xiang , Yang Ke , Han Penghua , Liu Wenjie , Zhang Zhonghao , Wu Huan
Published: March 2021

Coal 3 in group A is employed as a protective layer to release long‐distance coal 4 in group B in Paner colliery (approximately 80 m vertical interval) as the mining depth extends downward, which is the first engineering test in the Huainan coal mining area. To evaluate the validity of the scheme, the permeability distribution, and evolution law, gas pressure distribution characteristics, swelling deformation, pressure relief range, and gas drainage volume of the protected coal seam are analyzed using a FLAC3D numerical simulation and field measurements. Therefore, different stress‐permeability models are adopted for caved, fractured, and continuous deformation zones, and a double‐yield model is applied in the goaf based on compaction theory to improve the accuracy of the numerical simulation. The results indicate that the extraction of coal 3 has a positive effect on permeability enhancement and pressure relief gas drainage. However, the dip angle of coal measurements causes asymmetric strata movement, which leads to the pressure relief and permeability enhancement area shifting to the downhill side, where the permeability enhancement effect of the downhill side is better than that of the uphill side. The permeability enhancement zone is an inverted trapezoid, but the effective pressure relief range is a positive trapezoid. The permeability of the protected coal seam in the pressure relief zone is significantly higher than that in the compressive failure zone. The permeability in the pressure relief zone will decrease again due to the recompaction of the coal seam with an advancement of the longwall face. Thus, pressure relief gas drainage is suggested during long‐distance protective coal seam mining to eliminate gas hazards.
Numerical Solution of Fractional Model of HIV-1 Infection in Framework of Different Fractional Derivatives
Authors: Alzaid Sara Salem , Alkahtani Badr Saad T. , Sharma Shivani , Dubey Ravi Shanker
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we have extended the model of HIV-1 infection to the fractional mathematical model using Caputo-Fabrizio and Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative operators. A detailed proof for the existence and the uniqueness of the solution of fractional mathematical model of HIV-1 infection in Atangana-Baleanu sense is presented. Numerical approach is used to find and study the behavior of the solution of the stated model using different derivative operators, and the graphical comparison between the solutions obtained for the Caputo-Fabrizio and the Atangana-Baleanu operator is presented to see which fractional derivative operator is more efficient.
Robust Fast Adaptive Fault Estimation for T-S Fuzzy Markovian Jumping Systems with Mode-Dependent Time-Varying State Delays
Authors: Sun Chao , Huang Shengjuan , Wu Libing , Yi Suhuan
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the problem of actuator fault estimation for a class of T-S fuzzy Markovian jumping systems, which is subject to mode-dependent interval time-varying delays and norm-bounded external disturbance. Based on the given fast adaptive estimation algorithm and by employing a novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii function candidate, a robust fault estimation scheme is proposed to estimate faults whose derivative is bounded. With this improved method, the proposed fault estimator minimizes the effect of disturbance on the estimation error and reduces the conservatism of systems stability results simultaneously. To be specific, an improved mode-dependent criterion for the existence of the fault estimation observer is established to guarantee the error dynamic system to be stochastically stable with a prescribed

H

∞

performance and reduce the conservatism of designing procedure. Finally, three numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Effect of LongZhang Gargle on Dual‐Species Biofilm of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Gong Jinglei , Hu Die , He Jinzhi , Zou Ling , Chen Zhu , Li Mingyun
Published: March 2021

Bioactive natural products have become a hot spot for oral disease treatments. At the present study, LongZhang Gargle was investigated for its effects on single‐species biofilms of Candida albicans and dual‐species biofilms of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Two different models of single and dual‐species biofilms were grown in YNBB medium under appropriate conditions. Biofilm biomass, biofilm architecture, and cell activity in biofilms were assessed using Crystal Violet Staining, MTT, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Significant reductions of biofilm biomass and fungus activity were obtained when treated with LongZhang Gargle at 2% (P < 0.05), 4% (P < 0.05), and 8% (P < 0.05) in single‐species biofilms of C. albicans, and at 4% (P < 0.05) and 8% (P < 0.05) in double‐species biofilms. Suppression of density, thickness, and the proportion of hyphae and fungal spores were obtained under SEM and CLSM. In conclusion, LongZhang Gargle affects single and dual‐species biofilms by inhibiting biofilm biomass, cell activity, and formation of hyphae, but it does not affect the production of Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). We speculate that LongZhang Gargle would be a promising natural drug, which can be used in treatment against C. albicans and S. mutans in oral diseases.
TCF7L1 Genetic Variants Are Associated with the Susceptibility to Cervical Cancer in a Chinese Population
Authors: Chen Jingjing , Xu Yuanfang , Hu Hongyuan , Jin Tianbo
Published: March 2021

Background. Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common tumor in women worldwide. Studies have been accepted that genetic variations play an important role in the development of CC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of TCF7L1 variants on CC risk. Methods. 508 patients of cervical cancer and 497 healthy subjects were recruited to determine the impact of TCF7L1 polymorphisms on CC susceptibility. The associations were investigated by computing odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. The effect of SNP‐SNP interactions on CC risk was explored by multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis. Results. Our study showed that rs11904127 (OR 0.79, p = 0.010) and rs62162674 (OR 0.82, p = 0.044) of TCF7L1 significantly decreased cervical cancer risk. Stratified analysis indicated that rs11904127 and rs62162674 present decreased susceptibility to CC in age > 51 years (OR 0.74, p = 0.019; OR 0.72, p = 0.014, respectively). Haplotype analyses revealed that Grs2366264Trs11689667Crs62162674 has a lower risk to cervical cancer (OR = 0.43, p = 0.018). Besides, there is strong interaction of rs11904127 and rs2366264. Conclusion. Rs11904127 and rs62162674 in TCF7L1 are related to cervical cancer. We suggest that these variants can be used as prognostic markers for judging the susceptibility to cervical cancer.
Effect of Xingbi Gel Nasal Drops on Fyn-STAT5 Pathway in Nasal Mucosa Fibroblasts of Guinea Pigs with Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Zhuang Xiangli , Wu Bo , Qiu Caixia , Ai Si , Zheng Jian
Published: March 2021

Fyn-STAT5 is considered to be the frontier signaling pathway of IgE-mediated allergic reactions related to mast cell activation, but research on allergic rhinitis (AR) has been rarely reported. Xingbi gel nasal drops (XGND) are a compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, which has the exact therapeutic efficacy on AR. The current study aimed to observe the effects of XGND on Fyn-STAT5 pathway in AR guinea pig nasal mucosal fibroblasts in vitro and further illuminate the possible therapeutic mechanism of XGND on AR. The isolated and cultured nasal mucosa fibroblasts from AR guinea pigs were identified by immunocytochemical staining. Real-time PCR and western blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein levels of the Fyn-STAT5 pathway and related cytokines in AR guinea pig nasal mucosal fibroblasts. The results indicated that XGND may interfere with the Fyn-STAT5 pathway by reducing the expression of Fyn and SCF and upregulating STAT5 and IL-10, thereby inhibiting proliferation and degranulation of mast cells, correcting Th1/Th2 immune imbalance, and then alleviating the immune response of AR fibroblasts. Our study revealed the possible regulatory mechanism of XGND in AR and laid an experimental foundation for improving the clinical efficacy of AR and enriching the clinical medication for AR.
Experimental Research on Material and Mechanical Properties of Rock‐Like Filling Materials in Disaster Prevention of Underground Engineering
Authors: Shi Junwei , Chen Zhangliang , Zheng Binbin
Published: March 2021

Rock‐like materials can be used as a filling material to improve the stability of underground engineering substantially. And the optimization of the rock‐like material is an effective way to improve the performance of the filling material. Firstly, the AHP‐FUZZY comprehensive optimization model was constructed for the complexity and fuzziness of the rock‐like filling material ratio optimization. Secondly, according to the mechanical properties of rock‐like filling materials under special environment (such as high temperature, high humidity, high stress, and high airtight) in old goaf, mechanical properties of rock‐like filling materials were studied with the method of field core and laboratory test, which revealed the variation law of mechanical properties with time, and the regression equation between mechanical parameters and time was established with the method of least squares. Finally, the strength and deformation characteristics of rock‐like filling materials were monitored by the monitoring and early warning technology. The results show that the optimal ratio of the rock‐like filling materials is “E3”; that is, the cement content is 9%, the ash ratio is 2 : 5, and the mass concentration is 74%. The mass concentration is the main factor that affects the slump of the slurry, and the proportion of fly ash and coal gangue content directly affects the stratification and bleeding rate of the slurry. Reasonably increasing the ash and gangue ratio can significantly improve the workability and water retention of the rock‐like filling materials. Also, the amount of composite cementitious material is the main factor that affects the setting time and the strength of the rock‐like material. What is more, the special environment in gob is good for each chemical reaction fully in rock‐like filling materials and strengthens the gelling property of deformation resisting capability, which can be a benefit for disaster prevention of underground engineering.
Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion versus Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Single‐Center Retrospective Comparative Study
Authors: Du Xing , She Yuxiao , Ou Yunsheng , Zhu Yong , Luo Wei , Jiang Dianming
Published: March 2021

Objective. To compare the efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in single‐level degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). Methods. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent single‐level DLS surgery in our department from 2015 to 2018 was performed. According to the surgical method, the enrolled patients were divided into two groups, namely, the OLIF group who underwent OLIF combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) and the TLIF group. Clinical outcomes included operation time, operation blood loss, postoperative drainage, hospital stay, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and complications, and imaging outcomes included upper vertebral slip, intervertebral space height (ISH), intervertebral foramen height (IFH), intervertebral space angle (ISA), lumbar lordosis (LL), and bone fusion rate. All outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Results. A total of 65 patients were finally included, and there were 28 patients and 37 patients in the OLIF group and the TLIF group, respectively. The OLIF group showed shorter operation time, less blood loss, less postoperative drainage, and shorter hospital stay than the TLIF group (P < 0.05). The ISH, IFH, ISA, and LL were all larger in the OLIF group at postoperative and last follow‐up (P < 0.05), but the degree of upper vertebral slip was found no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The bone graft fusion rate of OLIF group and TLIF group at 3 months, 6 months, and last follow‐up was 78.57%, 92.86%, and 100% and 70.27%, 86.49%, and 97.30%, respectively, and no significant differences were found (P > 0.05). Compared with the TLIF group, the OLIF group showed a superior improvement in VAS and ODI at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperative (P < 0.05), but no differences were found at 12 months postoperative and the last follow‐up (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in complications between the two groups, with 4 patients and 6 patients in the OLIF group and TLIF group, respectively (P > 0.05). Conclusions. Compared with TLIF, OLIF showed the advantages of less surgical invasion, better decompression effect, and faster postoperative recovery in single‐level DLS surgery.
Current Advances in DNA Methylation Analysis Methods
Authors: Khodadadi Ehsan , Fahmideh Leila , Khodadadi Ehsaneh , Dao Sounkalo , Yousefi Mehdi , Taghizadeh Sepehr , Asgharzadeh Mohammad , Yousefi Bahman , Kafil Hossein Samadi
Published: March 2021

DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic changes, which plays a major role in regulating gene expression and, thus, many biological processes and diseases. There are several methods for determining the methylation of DNA samples. However, selecting the most appropriate method for answering biological questions appears to be a challenging task. The primary methods in DNA methylation focused on identifying the state of methylation of the examined genes and determining the total amount of 5‐methyl cytosine. The study of DNA methylation at a large scale of genomic levels became possible following the use of microarray hybridization technology. The new generation of sequencing platforms now allows the preparation of genomic maps of DNA methylation at the single‐open level. This review includes the majority of methods available to date, introducing the most widely used methods, the bisulfite treatment, biological identification, and chemical cutting along with their advantages and disadvantages. The techniques are then scrutinized according to their robustness, high throughput capabilities, and cost.
Sedentary Behaviour among Urban Civil Servants in Eastern Part of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Baye Markos Yohannes
Published: March 2021

Background. Active lifestyle is a determining factor for functional and clinical health that protects and maintains both physical and mental health of an individual, whereas sedentary lifestyle is a contrary vital cause for higher premature mortality, heart disease, diabetics, and poorer quality of life. This study is aimed at determining the amount of time spent on sedentary activity and identifying sedentary behaviours frequently practiced by civil servants in Southern Ethiopia in 2015. Methods. It was a cross‐sectional study which employed both qualitative and quantitative approach. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 375 office workers (222 men and 153 women) from Hawassa, Wolayta Soddo, and Dilla ranging from 18‐65 years old. Data were collected using harmonized self‐reporting LASSA (Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam) questionnaires and prevalence estimates of mean sedentary time in each 12 activities per day were determined. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Independent t‐test, Uni‐variate ANOVA, and Person’s correlation were used to analyze association and predictability of IV on DV variables. Result. The total mean time spent sitting per day was 13.39 h which was 81.5% of weak time. Collectively, screen time was dominant (6.08). About 70.7%, 23.7%, 4.8%, and 0.8% of respondents were levelled very high, high, moderate, and less sedentary, respectively. In general, women accounted higher sedentary level (96.1%) than men (93.3%) in sedentary activity. There is a weak positive correlation between age and time spent in an administrative task. Income and mealtime were statistically significant (r < 0.2, n = 375, p < 0.05). Conclusion. The high level of self‐reported sedentary time record suggests the need for public health policies targeted at increasing physical activity and decreasing sitting time through systemic intervention in and out of work.
Comprehensive Molecular Profiling of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Authors: Slotkin Emily K. , Bowman Anita S. , Levine Max F. , Dela Cruz Filemon , Coutinho Diego F. , Sanchez Glorymar I. , Rosales Nestor , Modak Shakeel , Tap William D. , Gounder Mrinal M. , Thornton Katherine A. , Bouvier Nancy , You Daoqi , Gundem Gunes , Gerstle Justin T. , Heaton Todd E. , LaQuaglia Michael P. , Wexler Leonard H. , Meyers Paul A. , Kung Andrew L. , Papaemmanuil Elli , Zehir Ahmet , Ladanyi Marc , Shukla Neerav
Published: March 2021

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is characterized by the EWSR1–WT1 t(11;22) (p13:q12) translocation. Few additional putative drivers have been identified, and research has suffered from a lack of model systems. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from 68 matched tumor-normal samples, whole-genome sequencing data from 10 samples, transcriptomic and affymetrix array data, and a bank of DSRCT patient-derived xenograft (PDX) are presented. EWSR1–WT1 fusions were noted to be simple, balanced events. Recurrent mutations were uncommon, but were noted in TERT (3%), ARID1A (6%), HRAS (5%), and TP53 (3%), and recurrent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 11p, 11q, and 16q was identified in 18%, 22%, and 34% of samples, respectively. Comparison of tumor-normal matched versus unmatched analysis suggests overcalling of somatic mutations in prior publications of DSRCT NGS data. Alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) were identified in 5 of 68 (7%) of tumor samples, whereas differential overexpression of FGFR4 was confirmed orthogonally using 2 platforms. PDX models harbored the pathognomic EWSR1–WT1 fusion and were highly representative of corresponding tumors. Our analyses confirm DSRCT as a genomically quiet cancer defined by the balanced translocation, t(11;22)(p13:q12), characterized by a paucity of secondary mutations but a significant number of copy number alterations. Against this genomically quiet background, recurrent activating alterations of FGFR4 stood out, and suggest that this receptor tyrosine kinase, also noted to be highly expressed in DSRCT, should be further investigated. Future studies of DSRCT biology and preclinical therapeutic strategies should benefit from the PDX models characterized in this study.

Implications:

These data describe the general quiescence of the desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) genome, present the first available bank of DSRCT model systems, and nominate FGFR4 as a key receptor tyrosine kinase in DSRCT, based on high expression, recurrent amplification, and recurrent activating mutations.
AP-2α Regulates S-Phase and Is a Marker for Sensitivity to PI3K Inhibitor Buparlisib in Colon Cancer
Authors: Beck Anna C. , Cho Edward , White Jeffrey R. , Paemka Lily , Li Tiandao , Gu Vivian W. , Thompson Dakota T. , Koch Kelsey E. , Franke Christopher , Gosse Matthew , Wu Vincent T. , Landers Shannon R. , Pamatmat Anthony J. , Kulak Mikhail V. , Weigel Ronald J.
Published: March 2021

Activating protein 2 alpha (AP-2α; encoded by TFAP2A) functions as a tumor suppressor and influences response to therapy in several cancer types. We aimed to characterize regulation of the transcriptome by AP-2α in colon cancer. CRISPR-Cas9 and short hairpin RNA were used to eliminate TFAP2A expression in HCT116 and a panel of colon cancer cell lines. AP-2α target genes were identified with RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Effects on cell cycle were characterized in cells synchronized with aphidicolin and analyzed by FACS and Premo FUCCI. Effects on invasion and tumorigenesis were determined by invasion assay, growth of xenografts, and phosphorylated histone H3 (PHH3). Knockout of TFAP2A induced significant alterations in the transcriptome including repression of TGM2, identified as a primary gene target of AP-2α. Loss of AP-2α delayed progression through S-phase into G2–M and decreased phosphorylation of AKT, effects that were mediated through regulation of TGM2. Buparlisib (BKM120) repressed in vitro invasiveness of HCT116 and a panel of colon cancer cell lines; however, loss of AP-2α induced resistance to buparlisib. Similarly, buparlisib repressed PHH3 and growth of tumor xenografts and increased overall survival of tumor-bearing mice, whereas, loss of AP-2α induced resistance to the effect of PI3K inhibition. Loss of AP-2α in colon cancer leads to prolonged S-phase through altered activation of AKT leading to resistance to the PI3K inhibitor, Buparlisib. The findings demonstrate an important role for AP-2α in regulating progression through the cell cycle and indicates that AP-2α is a marker for response to PI3K inhibitors.

Implications:

AP-2α regulated cell cycle through the PI3K cascade and activation of AKT mediated through TGM2. AP-2α induced sensitivity to Buparlisib/BKM120, indicating that AP-2α is a biomarker predictive of response to PI3K inhibitors.
Microfluidic Assays for Probing Neutrophil-Borrelia Interactions in Blood During Lyme Disease
Authors: Muldur Sinan , Ellett Felix , Marand Anika L. , Marvil Charles , Branda John A. , LeMieux Jacob E. , Raff Adam B. , Strle Klemen , Irimia Daniel
Published: March 2021

Human neutrophils are highly sensitive to the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the agent of Lyme disease (LD), in tissues. Although Bb is also found in the blood of LD patients, far less is known about how neutrophils respond to Bb in the presence of blood. In this study, we employed microfluidic tools to probe the interaction between human neutrophils and Bb and measured the activation of human neutrophils in blood samples from patients. We found that neutrophils migrate vigorously toward Bb in the presence of serum, and this process was complement-dependent. Preventing complement factor 5 cleavage or blocking complement receptors decreased neutrophil’s ability to interact with Bb. We also found that spiking Bb directly into the blood from healthy donors induced spontaneous neutrophil motility. This response to Bb was also complement-dependent. Preventing complement factor 5 cleavage decreased spontaneous neutrophil motility in Bb-spiked blood. Moreover, we found that neutrophils in blood samples from acute LD patients displayed spontaneous motility patterns similar to those observed in Bb-spiked samples. Neutrophil motility was more robust in blood samples from LD patients than that measured in healthy and ill controls, validating the utility of the microfluidic assay for the study of neutrophil-Bb interactions in the presence of blood.
Arqueologia indígena dos povos do rio Mapuera: entrevista com Jaime Xamen Wai Wai
Authors: Rodrigues Igor , Kater Thiago , Wai Wai Jaime Xamen
Published: March 2021

Durante a VI Semana Internacional de Arqueologia dos Discentes MAE-USP, realizou-se uma entrevista com o arqueólogo Jaime Xamen Wai Wai. Convidado para palestrar na Mesa sobre Arqueologias Indígenas, aproveitou-se a ocasião para entrevistá-lo a respeito de sua trajetória na Arqueologia, das motivações que o levaram a cursar a universidade e quais suas opiniões a respeito das contribuições que o olhar de um arqueólogo indígena pode trazer à disciplina. Estimulante, as respostas de Xamen trazem os desafios pessoais e as reflexões a respeito das práticas, categorias e classificações arqueológicas.
O papel dos amuletos em cemitérios de não-elite no Antigo Egito
Authors: Arroyo Victoria
Published: March 2021

O presente artigo tem como objetivo expandir a noção sobre amuletos no Antigo Egito através da discussão dos aspectos da contextualização desses objetos em cemitérios de não-elite. Para tanto, demonstramos a variabilidade contextual e a diversidade social caracterizada por diferentes práticas, apropriações e ressignificações dessa cultura material em enterramentos. A intenção é questionar interpretações generalizantes dos amuletos concebidas a partir de fontes textuais e iconográficas acessíveis apenas para a elite. Através da análise contextual de dados sobre amuletos encontrados em três sítios, Gurob, Matmar e Lahun, pretendemos refletir sobre as diferentes práticas e crenças em relação a não-elite.
Estatuetas e prótomos em espaços sagrados de Atena, na Sicília e em Rodes, do Período Arcaico
Authors: Ferreira Felipe Leonardo
Published: March 2021

O presente artigo tem por fim ampliar a apresentação realizada na VI Semana Internacional de Arqueologia – Discentes – MAE – USP em 2019, na medida do possível acolhendo as sugestões, críticas e questões levantadas durante a mesa e o evento em si. A formação da pólis foi um processo que se deu ao longo do Período Arcaico em vários movimentos, articulados às transformações sociais do final da Idade do Ferro. A religião foi um dos elementos estruturantes de muitas dessas comunidades nascentes, sendo bem atestada a concentração de oferendas em locais públicos sagrados que, posteriormente, dariam vida aos santuários, em detrimento da imobilização da riqueza em túmulos suntuosos, individuais ou até coletivos. A partir do século VIII a.C. também percebemos na materialidade certas inovações como a construção de templos, edifícios para o abrigo da imagem de culto, a morada do deus. O movimento de expansão grega, que ganhou grande expressão em época arcaica com a fundação de apoikiai ao longo dos mares Mediterrâneo e Negro, também colaborava para a consolidação das pólis na velha Grécia. Os fundadores levavam consigo a cultura e o modo de construir seu mundo material, inclusive seus deuses, porém as especificidades de cada localidade tendiam a dar contornos novos às práticas religiosas. Nesse contexto analisamos dois tipos de oferendas, prótomos e estatuetas de terracota, em fundações siciliotas e suas metrópoles, para tentarmos discernir semelhanças e adaptações que apontem possíveis mudanças sociais ou cultuais nas novas comunidades que se formavam.
Short- and Long-Term Reproducibility of Nighttime Blood Pressure Phenotypes and Nocturnal Blood Pressure Reduction
Authors: Mancia Giuseppe , Facchetti Rita , Bombelli Michele , Quarti-Trevano Fosca , Cuspidi Cesare , Grassi Guido
Published: March 2021

In 1722 hypertensives recruited for the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis and treated with atenolol or lacidipine (±additional drugs) during 4 years, we evaluated the long-term reproducibility of dipping, nondipping, extreme dipping, and reverse dipping, an information of key relevance for defining the prognostic impact of these blood pressure (BP) phenotypes. Ambulatory BP was measured at baseline and every year during treatment, allowing repeated classifications of these conditions. Based on systolic BP, at baseline 50.1%, 37.5 %, 4.5 %, and 7.9 % were dippers, nondippers, extreme dippers, and reverse dippers, respectively. Antihypertensive drug treatment reduced the number of dippers and extreme dippers in favor of nondippers and reverse dippers. During treatment, the dipping and nondipping phenotypes were markedly unstable and shifts from one to other phenotypes were even more common in reverse and extreme dippers In only a very small fraction of patients, a given nighttime BP phenotype was persistently found throughout the 4 years. Data were similar for diastolic BP and in subgroups differing for the type of treatment, the treatment complexity, and the achieved on-treatment BP value Poor reproducibility characterized also the absolute nighttime BP reduction as measured by the nighttime BP fall and the night/day BP ratio. Thus nighttime BP phenotypes are all largely inconsistent, their detection over the entire treatment period involving just a minute fraction of the entire patients’ cohort.
Systolic Blood Pressure Trajectories After Discharge and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Zheng Xiaowei , Peng Yanbo , Zhong Chongke , Xie Xuewei , Wang Aili , Zhu Zhengbao , Xu Tan , Peng Hao , Xu Tian , Wang Dali , Ju Zhong , Geng Deqin , Chen Jing , Liu Liping , He Jiang , Zhang Yonghong
Published: March 2021

Previous study reported that acute phase systolic blood pressure (BP) trajectories were associated with subsequent clinical outcomes among patients with ischemic stroke. However, the association between discharge systolic BP trajectories and ischemic stroke prognosis is not well characterized. A total of 3479 patients with ischemic stroke with 3 BP measurements after hospital discharge from the CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke) were included in this analysis. Discharge systolic BP trajectories were identified by latent mixture modeling. Study outcomes related to mortality, major disability, recurrent stroke, and cardiovascular events were collected 24 months after stroke onset. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association of systolic BP trajectories with clinical outcomes during follow-up. We identified 4 discharge systolic BP trajectories: high-stable, high-decreasing, low-increasing, and low-stable. Compared with participants in the high-stable systolic BP trajectory group, those in the high-decreasing and low-stable trajectory groups had a decreased risk of the composite outcome of death or major disability, with multiple-adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) of 0.56 (0.31–0.97) and 0.50 (0.24–0.89), respectively, and a decreased risk of mortality, with multiple-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 0.36 (0.13–0.99) and 0.19 (0.07–0.50), respectively. Patients in the low-stable trajectory group had the lowest risk of recurrent stroke, cardiovascular events, and the composite outcome of death or cardiovascular events. This implicates that patients with a high-decreasing or low-stable systolic BP trajectory after discharge had a lower risk of adverse clinical outcomes among patients with ischemic stroke.
An allegory of artistic choice in times of trouble: Pieter Bruegel’s Tower of Babel
Authors: Jonckheere Koenraad
Published: March 2021

Koenraad Jonckheere: An allegory of artistic choice in times of trouble. Pieter Bruegel’s Tower of Babel
Monthly rainfall forecasting using temperature and climate indices through a hybrid method in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Ghamariadyan Meysam , Imteaz Monzur A.
Published: March 2021

This paper presents applications of wavelet artificial neural networks (WANN) to forecast rainfalls one, three, six, and twelve months in advance using lagged monthly rainfall, maximum, minimum temperatures, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), and Nino3.4 as predictors. Eight input datasets comprised of different combinations of predictive variables were used for ten candidate climate stations in Queensland, Australia. Datasets were split as 1908 to 1999 for the training of the model and 2000 to 2016 for the verification of the model. Also, the conventional Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed with the same input datasets to compare with WANN results. Moreover, the skillfulness of the WANN was investigated with the current climate prediction system used by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Australian Community Climate Earth-System Simulator–Seasonal (ACCESS–S) as well as climatology forecasts. The comparisons showed that the WANN achieved the lowest errors for three-month lagged prediction with an average Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 38.6mm. In contrast, for the same lag-period, the average RMSEs from ANN, ACCESS-S, and climatology predictions were 72.2mm, 102.7mm, and 72.2mm, respectively. It is also found that the ANN underestimates the peak values with an average value of 49%, 47%, 52%, and 53% at one, three, six, and twelve months lead times, correspondingly. However, the corresponding peak values underestimation through the WANN were 0%, 1%, 22%, and 39%, respectively. This research provides promising insights into using hybrid methods for predicting rainfall a few months in advance, which is extremely beneficial for Australia’s agricultural industries.
Observed Near-Surface Wind Structure in the Inner Core of Typhoon Goni (2015)
Authors: Mashiko Wataru , Shimada Udai
Published: March 2021

The very strong Typhoon Goni passed over the Yaeyama Islands in southwestern Japan during the rapid intensification stage on August 23, 2015. Surface data collected by the dense network of weather stations as well as Doppler radar observations over the islands revealed a finescale structure in the inner core of the typhoon near the surface.

Goni had a clear eye surrounded by a square-shaped eyewall with intense convection. The surface observations revealed that several vortices with a diameter of ~7–10 km accompanied by a pressure deficit were present inside the eye. From the Doppler velocity field, mesovortices approximately 10 km in diameter were found at the apexes of the square-shaped eyewall. These mesovortices and the inner rainbands emanating outward from the apexes of the polygonal eyewall generally exhibited features typical of vortex Rossby waves. The mesovortices were accompanied by a pressure deficit at the surface and enhanced surface winds. The data also indicated the first observational evidence of near-surface mixing between the eye and eyewall through the mesovortices, that is, the transport of high equivalent potential temperature in the eye toward the eyewall.

The radar data revealed that many radar-reflectivity filaments that had a pleated shape with lengths of a few kilometers extended perpendicularly from the inner edge of the eyewall at low levels. The filaments associated with wind perturbations at low levels caused significant wind gusts accompanied by sudden pressure drops and shifts in wind direction at the surface.