bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osmotic demyelination syndrome following slow correction of hyponatraemia
Authors: Saunders Isabel , Williams David M , Ruslan Aliya Mohd , Min Thinzar
Published: August 2021

Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disturbance observed in hospital inpatients. We report a 90-year-old woman admitted generally unwell following a fall with marked confusion. Examination revealed a tender suprapubic region, and investigations observed elevated inflammatory markers and bacteriuria. Admission investigations demonstrated a serum sodium of 110 mmol/L with associated serum osmolality 236 mmol/kg and urine osmolality 346 mmol/kg. She was treated for hyponatraemia secondary to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and urosepsis. However, her serum sodium failed to normalise despite fluid restriction, necessitating treatment with demeclocycline and hypertonic saline. Despite slow reversal of hyponatraemia over 1 month, the patient developed generalised seizures with pontine and thalamic changes on MRI consistent with osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS). This case highlights the risk of ODS, a rare but devastating consequence of hyponatraemia treatment, despite cautious sodium correction.
Primary monophasic breast synovial sarcoma in a female patient
Authors: Do Quan , Katiyar Vatsala , Breaux Andrea , Singh Vikas
Published: August 2021

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma usually arising in the deep soft tissues of the limbs, trunk, and head and neck region. Due to its rarity, diagnosis can be difficult to establish, especially when it involves an uncommon location like the breast. In this case report, we describe a young woman who was found to have primary SS of the breast. Initial immunohistochemistry staining was focally positive for cytokeratin and S100 and she was misdiagnosed with atypical spindle cell carcinoma. Due to the unusual presentation, further testing was performed which showed TLE1 and epithelial membrane antigen positivity, establishing the diagnosis of SS of the breast. A FISH was later sent out and was positive for SS18-SSX fusion transcript. This case highlights the importance of considering rare histopathology in breast lesions and using additional staining and cytogenetics to confirm diagnosis.
Essential oils and cluster headache: insights from two cases
Authors: Mathew Thomas , John Saji Kaithavalappil , Javali Mahendra Vishwanath
Published: August 2021

Essential oils with proconvulsive properties are known to cause seizures and may worsen migraine. Here, we report two cases of cluster headache temporally related to the use of toothpastes containing essential oils of camphor and eucalyptus.
Metformin for the treatment of breast cancer: protocol for a scoping review of randomised clinical trials
Authors: Araujo Carolina Fumico Massuda , Nunes Lélia Cápua , Murta-Nascimento Cristiane , Souza Cristiano de Pádua , Bragagnoli Arinilda Campos , Fukushima Fernanda Bono , Vidal Edison Iglesias de Oliveira
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Innovation through the repurposing of generic drugs encloses several advantages when compared with the process of developing new drugs from scratch. Metformin is an established and inexpensive antidiabetic drug for which anticancer properties have been hypothesised. A systematic review of observational studies found promising results for metformin related to breast cancer in women with diabetes. Although the number of randomised clinical trials of metformin for the treatment of breast cancer increased over the last decades, the overall landscape of those studies in this heterogeneous field remains unclear. Hence, we designed the present scoping review protocol to map the literature on randomised clinical trials of metformin in the treatment of breast cancer to determine the value and scope of future systematic reviews on this subject and identify research gaps.

Methods

We will search MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, CENTRAL, LILACS, Web of Science and sources of grey literature. We will include any randomised clinical trial of metformin for the treatment of breast cancer in adult women, and will not impose restrictions regarding context, language or publication date. Two independent reviewers will screen and select studies, and chart the data. We will structure the presentation of our results based on the molecular types of breast cancer, their stages and treatment modalities.

Ethics and dissemination

As a literature review, this study is exempt from ethics approval. Findings will be disseminated through presentations in conferences and a peer-reviewed publication.

Open Science Framework registration

osf.io/yquba.
Yoga, cognitive–behavioural therapy versus education to improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs in people with endometriosis: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Mikocka-Walus Antonina , Druitt Marilla , O"Shea Melissa , Skvarc David , Watts Jennifer J , Esterman Adrian , Tsaltas Jim , Knowles Simon , Harris Jill , Dowding Charlotte , Parigi Elesha , Evans Subhadra
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Endometriosis is a debilitating chronic inflammatory condition highly burdensome to the healthcare system. The present trial will establish the efficacy of (1) yoga and (2) cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT), above (3) education, on quality of life, biopsychosocial outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Methods and analysis

This study is a parallel randomised controlled trial. Participants will be randomly allocated to yoga, CBT or education. Participants will be English-speaking adults, have a diagnosis of endometriosis by a qualified physician, with pain for at least 6 months, and access to internet. Participants will attend 8 weekly group CBT sessions of 120 min; or 8 weekly group yoga sessions of 60 min; or receive weekly educational handouts on endometriosis. The primary outcome measure is quality of life. The analysis will include mixed-effects analysis of variance and linear models, cost–utility analysis from a societal and health system perspective and qualitative thematic analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

Enrolment in the study is voluntary and participants can withdraw at any time. Participants will be given the option to discuss the study with their next of kin/treating physician. Findings will be disseminated via publications, conferences and briefs to professional organisations. The University’s media team will also be used to further disseminate via lay person articles and media releases.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12620000756921p; Pre-results.
Effect of a smartphone application (Perx) on medication adherence and clinical outcomes: a 12-month randomised controlled trial
Authors: Li Ang , Del Olmo M Gail , Fong Mackenzie , Sim Kyra , Lymer Sharyn J , Cunich Michelle , Caterson Ian
Published: August 2021

Objective

To determine whether the Perx app improves medication adherence and clinical outcomes over 12 months compared with standard care in patients requiring polypharmacy.

Design

Randomised controlled trial with 12-month follow-up.

Setting

Outpatient clinics in three tertiary hospitals in Sydney, Australia.

Participants

Eligible participants were aged 18–75 years, with at least one chronic condition, taking ≥3 different medications (oral medications or injections), with smartphone accessibility. Participants were randomised in a 1:1 ratio.

Interventions

The intervention group used the Perx app that contained customised reminders and gamified interactions to reward verified medication adherence.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was medication adherence over 12 months measured using pill counts. Secondary outcomes included clinical outcomes (haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), cholesterol, blood glucose, triglycerides, creatinine, thyroid function, blood pressure and weight).

Results

Of 1412 participants screened for eligibility, 124 participants were randomised; 45 in the Perx arm and 40 in the control arm completed the study. The average age was 59.5, 58.9% were women, chronic conditions were cardiovascular disease (78%), type 2 diabetes (75%), obesity (65%) or other endocrine disorders (18%). On average, participants were taking six medications daily. The Perx group had greater improvements in adherence at month 2 (Coef. 8%; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.15), month 3 (Coef. 7%; 95% CI 0.00 to 0.14) and month 12 (Coef. 7%; 95% CI 0.00 to 0.13). The probability of HbA1c ≤6.5% was greater in the Perx group at months 9 and 12 and cholesterol (total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) was lower in the Perx group at month 3. The intervention was particularly effective for those with obesity, taking medications for diabetes and taking ≤4 medications.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that app-based behavioural change interventions can increase medication adherence and produce longer-term improvements in some clinical outcomes in adults managing multimorbidity. More trials are needed to build the evidence base.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12617001285347.
Rationale and design of the IRON-AF study: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to assess the effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in patients with atrial fibrillation and iron deficiency
Authors: Tu Samuel J , Elliott Adrian D , Hanna-Rivero Nicole , Gallagher Celine , Mishima Ricardo S , Lyrtzis Ellen , Wlochowicz Danielle , Clarke Nicholas AR , Roberts-Thomson Kurt C , Stokes Michael B , Emami Mehrdad , Lau Dennis H , Sanders Prashanthan , Wong Christopher X
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significantly impaired quality-of-life. Iron deficiency (ID) is prevalent in patients with AF. Correction of ID in other patient populations with intravenous iron supplementation has been shown to be a safe, convenient and effective way of improving exercise tolerance, fatigue and quality-of-life. The IRON-AF (Effect of Iron Repletion in Atrial Fibrillation) study is designed to assess the effect of iron repletion with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in patients with AF and ID.

Methods and analysis

The IRON-AF study is a double-blind, randomised controlled trial that will recruit at least 84 patients with AF and ID. Patients will be randomised to receive infusions of either ferric carboxymaltose or placebo, given in repletion and then maintenance doses. The study will have follow-up visits at weeks 4, 8 and 12. The primary endpoint is change in peak oxygen uptake from baseline to week 12, as measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a cycle ergometer. Secondary endpoints include changes in quality-of-life and AF disease burden scores, blood parameters, other CPET parameters, transthoracic echocardiogram parameters, 6-minute walk test distance, 7-day Holter/Event monitor burden of AF, health resource utilisation and mortality.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee, Australia. The results of this study will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000285954).
Utility of the FebriDx point-of-care assay in supporting a triage algorithm for medical admissions with possible COVID-19: an observational cohort study
Authors: Houston Hamish , Deas Gavin , Naik Shivam , Shah Kamal , Patel Shiras , Greca Dottori Maria , Tay Michael , Filson Sarah Ann , Biggin-Lamming James , Ross John , Vaughan Natalie , Vaid Nidhi , Gopal Rao Guduru , Amin Amit K , Gupta-Wright Ankur , John Laurence
Published: August 2021

Objective

To evaluate a triage algorithm used to identify and isolate patients with suspected COVID-19 among medical patients needing admission to hospital using simple clinical criteria and the FebriDx assay.

Design

Retrospective observational cohort.

Setting

Large acute National Health Service hospital in London, UK.

Participants

All medical admissions from the emergency department between 10 August 2020 and 4 November 2020 with a valid SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result.

Interventions

Medical admissions were triaged as likely, possible or unlikely COVID-19 based on clinical criteria. Patients triaged as possible COVID-19 underwent FebriDx lateral flow assay on capillary blood, and those positive for myxovirus resistance protein A (a host response protein) were managed as likely COVID-19.

Primary outcome measures

Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) of the algorithm and the FebriDx assay using SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swabs as the reference standard.

Results

4.0% (136) of 3443 medical admissions had RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19. Prevalence of COVID-19 was 46% (80/175) in those triaged as likely, 4.1% (50/1225) in possible and 0.3% (6/2033) in unlikely COVID-19. Using a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR reference standard, clinical triage had sensitivity of 96% (95% CI 91% to 98%) and specificity of 61.5% (95% CI 59.8% to 63.1%), while the triage algorithm including FebriDx had sensitivity of 93% (95% CI 87% to 96%) and specificity of 86.4% (95% CI 85.2% to 87.5%). While 2033 patients were deemed not to require isolation using clinical criteria alone, the addition of FebriDx to clinical triage allowed a further 826 patients to be released from isolation, reducing the need for isolation rooms by 9.5 per day, 95% CI 8.9 to 10.2. Ten patients missed by the algorithm had mild or asymptomatic COVID-19.

Conclusions

A triage algorithm including the FebriDx assay had good sensitivity and was useful to ‘rule-out’ COVID-19 among medical admissions to hospital.
Advanced prostate cancer experimental radioactive treatment—clinical trial decision making: patient experiences
Authors: Viljoen Bianca , Hofman Michael S , Chambers Suzanne K , Dunn Jeff , Dhillon Haryana , Davis Ian D , Ralph Nicholas
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Nested qualitative studies within clinical trials provide the opportunity to better understand participant experiences of participation and identify areas where improved support is required. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the lived experiences of men with advanced prostate cancer participating in the TheraP trial; a randomised trial of177Lu-PSMA-617 compared with cabazitaxel chemotherapy.

Methods

Fifteen men with advanced prostate cancer were recruited from the TheraP clinical trial and interviewed at three time points during the trial. Interviews were inductively analysed using thematic analysis. This research paper reports the results from the baseline interview at commencement of the trial, focusing specifically on participants’ enrolment experiences.

Results

Four themes were identified representing the lived experiences of men with advanced prostate cancer deciding to participate in the TheraP trial: (1) hoping to survive; (2) needing to feel informed; (3) choosing to participate and (4) being randomised. The process of deciding to enrol in a clinical trial is filled with indecision, emotional difficulties and focused on a desire to live.

Conclusions

For men with advanced prostate cancer, the experience of deciding to enrol in a clinical trial is principally driven by a desire to survive but interlinked with the need to make an informed decision as participants in this study expressed a preference for allocation to the experimental arm. Men seeking to enrol in clinical trials of new prostate cancer treatments would benefit from improved informational and decision support.

Trial registration number

NCT03392428, ANZUP1603.
Impact of puberty as threshold to differentiate outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care groups: a nationwide observational study in France
Authors: Privat Elodie , Baert Valentine , Escutnaire Joséphine , Dumont Cyrielle , Recher Morgan , Genin Michael , Leclerc Francis , Hubert Hervé , Leteurtre Stephane
Published: August 2021

Background

Since 2005, the international guidelines for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) use puberty to differentiate paediatric and adult care. This threshold is mainly relied on the more frequent respiratory aetiologies in children. Hitherto, to the best of our knowledge, no study has compared the characteristics and outcomes of non-pubescent children, adolescents and adult patients with OHCA. In this study, we intended to describe the characteristics, outcome and factors associated with survival of patients who experienced OHCA in the three groups: children, adolescents (pubescent<18 years) and adults (<65 years), to assess the pertinence of the guidelines.

Methods

Data from the French national cardiac arrest registry (2012–2017) were used in this nationwide observational study. Victims of OHCA who were <65 years old were included. The characteristics and outcomes of children and adolescents, and adolescents and adults were compared. Logistic regression was performed in each group to identify factors associated with survival at day 30.

Results

We included 934 children, 433 adolescents and 26 952 adults. Respiratory aetiology was more frequent and shockable rhythm less frequent in children compared with adolescents (25.5% vs 17.2%, p=0.025 and 2.4% vs 6.8%, p<0.001, respectively). However, these differences were not observed between adolescents and adults (17.2% vs 14.1%, p=0.266 and 6.8% vs 10%, p=0.055, respectively). Between children and adolescents, and adolescents and adults, there was no significant difference in survival at day 30 (8.6%vs 9.8% and 9.8% vs 8.5%, respectively). For all groups, shockable initial rhythm was a factor of survival.

Conclusion

Frequency of respiratory aetiologies and shockable rhythm were common in adolescents and adults and different between children and adolescents. These results indicate that puberty as a threshold in international guidelines seems to be relevant.
PI3Kα inhibitor CYH33 triggers antitumor immunity in murine breast cancer by activating CD8+T cells and promoting fatty acid metabolism
Authors: Sun Pu , Zhang Xi , Wang Rong-Jing , Ma Qing-Yang , Xu Lan , Wang Yi , Liao Hui-Ping , Wang Hai-Long , Hu Lan-Dian , Kong Xiangyin , Ding Jian , Meng Ling-Hua
Published: August 2021

Background

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is frequently hyperactivated in cancer and plays important roles in both malignant and immune cells. The effect of PI3Kα inhibitors on the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the modulation of the TME by a clinical PI3Kα-specific inhibitor CYH33.

Methods

The activity of CYH33 against a panel of murine tumors in the immune-competent context or athymic mice was detected. Single-cell RNA sequencing and multi-parameter flow cytometry were performed to determine the immune profiling of TME. The effect of CYH33 on immune cells was conducted with primary murine cells.

Results

CYH33 exhibited more potent antitumor activity in immune-competent context. CYH33 enhanced the infiltration and activation of CD8+T and CD4+T cells, while attenuating M2-like macrophages and regulatory CD4+T cells. Increase in memory T cells was confirmed by the induction of long-term immune memory on CYH33 treatment. Mechanistically, CYH33 relieved the suppressed expansion of CD8+T cells via preferential polarization of the macrophages to the M1 phenotype. CYH33 promoted fatty acid (FA) metabolism in the TME, while FA enhanced the activity of CD8+T cells in vitro. The combination of CYH33 with the FA synthase (FASN) inhibitor C75 synergistically inhibited tumor growth with enhanced host immunity.

Conclusions

CYH33 induces immune activation and synergizes with FASN inhibitor to further promote the antitumor immunity, which gains novel insights into how PI3K inhibitors exert their activity by modulating TME and provides a rationale for the concurrent targeting of PI3K and FASN in breast cancer treatment.
Leadership gender disparity in the fifty highest ranking North American universities: Thematic analysis under a theoretical lens
Authors: Azizi Hawmid , Abdellatif Waleed , Nasrullah Muazzam , Ali Shozab , Ding Jeffrey , Khosa Faisal
Published: August 2021

Background

Despite changes in the discourse around gender distributions within academic leadership, women continue to be under-represented in academia. Our study aims to identify the extent of gender disparity in the academic leadership in the top 50 North American universities and to critically analyse the contributing factors through a comprehensive theoretical framework.

Methods

We adopted the theoretical framework of leadership continuum model. A retrospective analysis of the gender of the leadership ranks was conducted between December 2018 and March 2019 for the top 50 universities in North America (2019 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking system). The leadership hierarchy was classified into six tiers.

Results

A total of 5806 faculty members from 45 US and five Canadian universities were included. Women were overall less likely to be in a senior leadership role than men (48.7% vs 51.3%; p value=0.05). Women accounted for fewer positions than men for resident/chancellor (23.8% vs 76.2%; p value<0.001), vice-president/vice-chancellor (36.3% vs 63.7%; p value<0.001), vice provost (42.7% vs 57.3%; p value=0.06), dean (38.5% vs 61.5%; p value<0.001) and associate dean (48.2% vs 51.8%; p-value=0.05). Women however were in a greater proportion in the assistant dean positions (63.8% vs 36.2%; p value<0.001).

Conclusion

Leadership gender imbalance is trans-organisational and transnational within the top 50 universities of North America and progressively widens towards the top leadership pyramid. This correlates with the lack of women leadership progress and sustainability in later cycles of the leadership continuum model (beyond assistant dean).
Regulation response of pilot-operated diaphragm type pressure-reducing valves: laboratory testing and impact on the performance of pressure control modes in water distribution systems
Authors: Doghri Mouna , Duchesne Sophie , Poulin Annie , Villeneuve Jean Pierre
Published: August 2021

Pressure control is recognized as an efficient measure for reducing leaks from water distribution systems. We have evaluated the effectiveness of various pressure control modes by means of pilot-operated diaphragm type pressure-reducing valves (PRVs), taking into account the sensitivity of the valves to various settings. First, the response of a PRV to consecutive pressure settings variations was experimentally evaluated in the hydraulic simulation laboratory of National Institute for Scientific Research. These experiments revealed that the studied valve only reacts when variation in the pressure setting corresponds to at least a 1/6 turn of the pilot valve. Second, an actual case study from Quebec City, Canada, was simulated to evaluate the impact of the PRV response on three pressure control modes: fixed control, time-based control, and real-time control (RTC). The results show that RTC of pressure leads to reductions in leakage rate for the studied network but that the PRV operational constraints limit the expected performance of RTC.
Constraints on the spatial variation of Planck constant
Authors: Fiordilino Emilio
Published: August 2021

Inspired by recently published researches, we present two protocols for setting an upper limit to the claimed variation of$$\hbar $$ħupon the position. The protocols, both within today state of art, involve the use of two delayed laser pulses driving an atom. The distinct positions of the laboratory, due to the Earth motion, affects$$\hbar $$ħand hence the atomic dynamics. The first protocol measures the difference in population of the atomic ground state while the second one the red-shift of the harmonics emitted by the atom in the two moments of the experiment. The protocols improve the reported upper limit of$$\varDelta \hbar /\hbar $$Δħ/ħ. The theory shows that$$\hbar (\varvec{r})$$ħ(r)induces a chaotic evolution to the atom. This form of Chaos is generated by a variation of a physical parameter and is one example of Parametric Chaos.
Lead, zinc and arsenic contamination of pit lake waters in the Zeida abandoned mine (High Moulouya, Morocco)
Authors: El Alaoui Lamiae , Dekayir Abdelilah , Rouai Mohammed , Benyassine El Mehdi
Published: August 2021

In the Zeida abandoned mine, pit lake waters exhibit alkaline pH and high conductivity. The concentrations of the total dissolved lead and zinc are very low due to their adsorption on clay minerals and iron oxyhydroxides. Conversely, arsenic concentrations in two lakes (ZL1 and ZA) exceed WHO water quality guidelines. The As content is relatively high in ZL1 and exists mainly as As(V). In ZA, As(III) occurs in low concentration compared to the total dissolved arsenic, while dimethylarsenic acid (H
2
AsO
2
(CH
3
)
2
, DMA) prevails. This means that arsenic was methylated by organic matter produced by micro-organisms such as chlorella. The sequential extraction of floor sediments in the two lakes shows that the bioavailable arsenic contents change between them. In ZA, the sediments show high concentrations of lead and arsenic compared to the ZL1 sediment since it is surrounded by mining waste tailings, which are rich in these elements. An arsenic leaching test of ZA sediment shows that bioavailable arsenic is distributed in equal proportion between clay/carbonates, sulfide-organic matter and iron oxide phases, while in ZL1, most of the arsenic is linked to hydrous iron oxides.

Supplementary material:
Information on quality control/quality insurance for the used analytical techniques, and additional figures 9–13 are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5545316

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Hydrochemistry related to exploration and environmental issues collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrochemistry-related-to-exploration-and-environmental-issues
Resistance Distance in Tensor and Strong Product of Path or Cycle Graphs Based on the Generalized Inverse Approach
Authors: Sardar Muhammad Shoaib , Pan Xiang-Feng , Alrowaili Dalal , Siddique Imran
Published: August 2021

Graph product plays a key role in many applications of graph theory because many large graphs can be constructed from small graphs by using graph products. Here, we discuss two of the most frequent graph-theoretical products. Let

G

1

and

G

2

be two graphs. The Cartesian product

G

1

□

G

2

of any two graphs

G

1

and

G

2

is a graph whose vertex set is

V

G

1

□

G

2

=
V

G

1

×
V

G

2

and

a

1

,

a

2

b

1

,

b

2

∈
E

G

1

□

G

2

if either

a

1

=

b

1

and

a

2

b

2

∈
E

G

2

or

a

1

b

1

∈
E

G

1

and

a

2

=

b

2

. The tensor product

G

1

×

G

2

of

G

1

and

G

2

is a graph whose vertex set is

V

G

1

×

G

2

=
V

G

1

×
V

G

2

and

a

1

,

a

2

b

1

,

b

2

∈
E

G

1

×

G

2

if

a

1

b

1

∈
E

G

1

and

a

2

b

2

∈
E

G

2

. The strong product

G

1

⊠

G

2

of any two graphs

G

1

and

G

2

is a graph whose vertex set is defined by

V

G

1

⊠

G

2

=
V

G

1

×
V

G

2

and edge set is defined by

E

G

1

⊠

G

2

=
E

G

1

□

G

2

∪
E

G

1

×

G

2

. The resistance distance among two vertices

u

and

v

of a graph

G

is determined as the effective resistance among the two vertices when a unit resistor replaces each edge of

G

. Let

P

n

and

C

n

denote a path and a cycle of order

n

, respectively. In this paper, the generalized inverse of Laplacian matrix for the graphs

P

n

1

×

C

n

2

and

P

n

1

⊠

P

n

2

was procured, based on which the resistance distances of any two vertices in

P

n

1

×

C

n

2

and

P

n

1

⊠

P

n

2

can be acquired. Also, we give some examples as applications, which elucidated the effectiveness of the suggested method.
Whole-Genome Duplication and Purifying Selection Contributes to the Functional Redundancy of Auxin Response Factor (ARF) Genes in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)
Authors: Chen You , Liu Bin , Zhao Yujun , Yu Wenzhe , Si Weina
Published: August 2021

Auxin response factors (ARFs) play crucial roles in auxin-mediated response, whereas molecular genetics of ARF genes was seldom investigated in Setaria italica, an important crop and C4 model plant. In the present study, genome-wide evolutionary analysis of ARFs was performed in S. italica. Twenty-four SiARF genes were identified and unevenly distributed on eight of the nine chromosomes in S. italica. Duplication mode exploration implied that 13 SiARF proteins were originated from whole-genome duplication and suffered purifying selection. Phylogeny reconstruction of SiARFs by maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining trees revealed SiARFs could be divided into four clades. SiARFs clustered within the same clade shared similar gene structure and protein domain composition, implying functional redundancy. Moreover, amino acid composition of the middle regions was conserved in SiARFs belonged to the same clade. SiARFs were categorized into either activators or repressors according to the enrichment of specific amino acids. Intrinsic disorder was featured in the middle regions of ARF activators. Finally, expression profiles of SiARFs under hormone and abiotic stress treatment not only revealed their potential function in stress response but also indicate their functional redundancy. Overall, our results provide insights into evolutionary aspects of SiARFs and benefit for further functional characterization.
Ligand-Based and Docking-Based Virtual Screening of MDM2 Inhibitors as Potent Anticancer Agents
Authors: Li Bing-Hui , Ge Jun-Qi , Wang Ya-Li , Wang Li-Jun , Zhang Qi , Bian Cong
Published: August 2021

A ligand-based and docking-based virtual screening was carried out to identify novel MDM2 inhibitors. A pharmacophore model with four features was used for virtual screening, followed by molecular docking. Seventeen compounds were selected for an in vitro MDM2 inhibition assay, and compounds AO-476/43250177, AG-690/37072075, AK-968/15254441, AO-022/43452814, and AF-399/25108021 showed promising MDM2 inhibition activities with

K

i

values of 9.5, 8.5, 23.4, 3.2, and 23.1 μM, respectively. Four compounds also showed antiproliferative activity, and compound AO-022/43452814 was the most potent hit with IC50 values of 19.35, 26.73, 12.63, and 24.14 μM against MCF7 (p53 +/+), MCF7 (p53 -/-), HCT116 (p53 +/+), and HCT116 (p53 -/-) cell lines, respectively. Compound AO-022/43452814 could be used as a scaffold for the development of anticancer agents targeting MDM2.
Cysteine-Rich Intestinal Protein 1 Served as an Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Marker via Promoting Wnt/β-Catenin-Mediated EMT and Tumour Metastasis
Authors: Liu Yujuan , Li Wenyu , Luo Ji , Wu Yiguo , Xu Yuanyuan , Chen Tingtao , Zhang Wei , Fu Fen
Published: August 2021

Objective. To explore the expression, functions, and the possible mechanisms of cysteine-rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1) in epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods. Using open microarray datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified the tumorigenic genes in ovarian cancer. Then, we detected CRIP1 expression in 26 pairs of epithelial ovarian cancer tissue samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and performed a correlation analysis between CRIP1 and the clinicopathological features. In addition, epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and OVCAR3 were used to examine CRIP1 expression by western blot and qRT-PCR. Various cell function experiments related to tumorigenesis were performed including the CCK8 assay, EdU, Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis assay, wound healing, and Transwell assay. In addition, the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers was detected by western blot to illustrate the relationship between CRIP1 and EMT. Furthermore, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and western blot were conducted to reveal the signaling pathways in which CRIP1 is involved in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Results. CRIP1 was identified as an oncogene from the TCGA database. The IHC score demonstrated that the CRIP1 protein was expressed at a higher level in tumours than in tumour-adjacent tissues and was associated with a higher pathological stage, grade, and positive lymphatic metastasis. In cell models, CRIP1 was overexpressed in serous epithelial ovarian cancer. Cell function experiments showed that the knockdown of CRIP1 did not significantly affect cell proliferation or apoptosis but could exert an inhibitory effect on cell migration and invasion, and also induce changes in EMT markers. Furthermore, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and western blot showed that CRIP1 could induce ovarian cancer cell metastasis through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusion. This study is the first to demonstrate that CRIP1 acts as an oncogene and may promote tumour metastasis by regulating the EMT-related Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that CRIP1 may be an important biomarker for ovarian cancer metastasis and progression.
Analysis of Prevalence, Influencing Factors, and Countermeasures of Short Stature in Children and Adolescents Aged 6∼14 in Furong District, Changsha City, in 2020
Authors: Li Yanyan , Chen Yun , Xu Xuan , Tan Boyu , Liu Yingbo , Peng Xuan , Peng Danxia , Liu Shuping , Yao Jinghui
Published: August 2021

In recent years, children’s and adolescents’ growth and development issues have received increasing attention with the socioeconomic development. The etiology of child short stature involves heredity, race, sex, nutrition, and a variety of endocrine hormones, which is very complex. The age of 6∼14 is the key period of children’s development. Understanding the height characteristics, the prevalence of short stature, and its influencing factors at this stage and formulating preventive measures as soon as possible are conducive to improving the average height of children and reducing the incidence of short stature. In this study, cluster sampling was used to select 56,865 children and adolescents aged 6∼14 years old from 40 primary and secondary schools in Furong District of Changsha City, and the height of each child and adolescent was measured. The results showed that the overall crude prevalence of short stature in children aged 6∼14 in Furong District of Changsha is 2.82%. Growth hormone level <10 μg/L, pubertal retardation, familial short stature, low egg intake, and intrauterine growth retardation are independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of short stature. In order to improve the status quo of short stature of children aged 6∼14 in Furong District, Changsha City, targeted intervention should be strengthened for people with combined high risk factors.
Numerical Simulation of Coal Spontaneous Combustion around a Borehole Induced by Negative Pressure Gas Drainage
Authors: Zhao Youxin , Qi Qingjie , Jia Xinlei , Liu Yingjie , Zhang Jingwen
Published: August 2021

The suction negative pressure is an important factor affecting the spontaneous combustion of coal around a borehole. Because the mechanism of suction negative pressure in the gas extraction process remains unclear, a constant suction negative pressure is often used in coal mines, leading to a low efficiency of gas extraction in deep coal seams. Moreover, the coal body easily undergoes spontaneous combustion during the extraction process, which is not conducive to safe mining. To study the effect of the suction negative pressure near the end sealing section, a numerical model of the combustion process around a borehole under the influence of suction negative pressure was established using COMSOL. The variation laws of the gas seepage velocity, oxygen concentration, and coal temperature in the borehole cycle were analyzed, and the gas suction negative pressure under different sealing parameters was optimized to ensure efficient gas extraction and prevent the spontaneous combustion of coal. The results showed that the negative pressure of extraction provides the power required for gas seepage into the borehole, and the gas flow rate increases with increasing negative pressure of extraction, exhibiting a linear growth trend. The range of the coal suffocation zone around the sealing section decreases with the increase in the negative pressure. With the extension of the gas extraction time, the oxygen concentration decreases rapidly, and the inflection point advances with the increase in the negative pressure. When the negative pressure of gas extraction is <40 kPa, the range of the high-temperature area around the block increases with the negative pressure of gas extraction. Based on the present situation of the spontaneous combustion induced by gas drainage in the Pingdingshan No. 10 Coal Mine, different sealing parameters should be set with different negative pressures of extraction, and the negative pressure of extraction should not exceed −18 kPa when the sealing depth is 20 m and the sealing length is 8 m in the 24130 working face. These parameter settings can help effectively prevent spontaneous combustion during the extraction process.
Effect of Graphene Oxide-Boron Nitride-Based Dual Fillers on Mechanical Behavior of Epoxy/Glass Fiber Composites
Authors: Kavimani V. , Gopal P. M. , Stalin B. , Karthick Alagar , Arivukkarasan S. , Bharani Murugesan
Published: August 2021

Graphene and its derivatives have excellent properties such as high surface area, thermal, and mechanical strength, and this fact made the researchers promote them as the possible filler material for fiber-matrix composite. The current research deals with validation on the effect of graphene oxide boron nitride filler over mechanical and thermal stability of epoxy glass fiber polymer matrix composite. The objective of this experimental investigation is to develop glass fiber reinforced polymer composites with hybrid filler addition. The matrix material selected is epoxy resin, whereas the glass fiber is selected as reinforcement, while boron nitride and graphene oxide are chosen as fillers. Compression moulding methodology is followed to develop the composites with the constant percentage of fiber loading, graphene oxide filler, and varying boron nitride content from 0 to 3 wt.% at an equal interval of 1 wt.%. The developed composite is analyzed for mechanical properties, and the fractured surface is analyzed through the scanning electron microscope. The addition of hybrid fillers enhances the fiber-matrix bonding strength and improves the thermal and mechanical properties up to a specific limit. Thermal gravimetric analysis was conducted to understand the thermal behavior of composite. The results revealed that the addition of filler improved the thermal stability of the composites.
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Rats with Hyperandrogenic Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Authors: Li Na , Yang Chenghao , Xie Huiyu , Liu Yinghong , Liao Yuanpeng
Published: August 2021

Hyperandrogenism is a key pathologic characteristic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and exercise can alleviate the accompanying inflammation and decrease the high androgen levels, but the mechanism is still unclear, so the purpose of this study is to explore the pathophysiologic characteristics of hyperandrogenic PCOS and the mechanism underlying its amelioration with aerobic exercise. Thirty-two female rats were randomly allocated to a normal control group (NC, n = 8), exercise control group (EC, n = 8), PCOS group (PC, n = 8), and PCOS plus exercise group (PE, n = 8). The PC and PE groups were injected with a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) solution to induce the hyperandrogenic PCOS rat model. The EC and PE groups underwent a Masashi swimming protocol (120 min per session, 6 days/week, for 15 days). Results indicated that the concentrations of leptin (LP) in the EC group were significantly lower than those in the NC group (p<0.05). Compared with the NC group, the levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LP, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and free fatty acids (FFA) were all significantly augmented in the PC group (allp<0.05). In addition, compared with the NC group, the levels of adiponectin (ADP) were significantly decreased (p<0.05), and the expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) in ovarian tissue was significantly elevated in the PC group (p<0.05). The levels of T, FSH, LP, and FFA were also significantly increased in the PE group (p<0.05). Compared with the PC group, the levels of T and LP in the PE group were significantly diminished (p<0.05), and the levels of ADP were significantly increased in the PE group (p<0.05). T was positively correlated with E2, FSH, AMH, LP, TNF-α, IL-6, and FFA levels, while ADP was negatively correlated with LP and E2. These results showed that hyperandrogenism, chronic low-grade inflammation, and leptin resistance may interact to influence the occurrence and development of PCOS. Aerobic exercise can alleviate the internal inflammation by relieving leptin resistance and may mitigate the sex hormone disorder and hyperandrogenism in rats with PCOS by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
Subway Sudden Passenger Flow Prediction Method Based on Two Factors: Case Study of the Dongsishitiao Station in Beijing
Authors: Xie Chengguang , Li Xiaofeng , Chen Bingfa , Lin Feng , Lin Yushun , Huang Hainan
Published: August 2021

A sudden increase in passenger flow can primitively lead to continuous congestion of a subway network and thus have a profound impact on the subway system. To prevent the risk caused by sudden overcrowding, the prediction of passenger flow is a daily task of the rail transit management. Most current short-term passenger flow forecasts rely only on inbound passenger flow, which cannot accurately characterize the total impact of sudden passenger flow. To enhance the prediction accuracy, we propose a sudden passenger flow prediction model with two factors, the outbound and inbound passenger flows. The wavelet neural network (WNN) model was used to detect the sudden passenger flow, and subsequently, it is optimized by the genetic algorithm (GA), according to two-factor data characteristics. Sudden passenger flow events from 2014 to 2016 in the Beijing Dongsishitiao Station (DS) were used to train and verify the reliability of the prediction model. The optimized WNN results proved better than the conventional WNN, and the error of models based on two factors was significantly smaller than the models with a single-factor.
An Emergency Measure Completeness Evaluation Method Based on UGC Data
Authors: Zhao Hua , Li ShuJia , Zhang PeiXin , Zeng QingTian
Published: August 2021

Complete emergency measures are one of the important guarantees for effective emergency response. An evaluation method based on User-Generated Content (UGC) data is proposed to assess the completeness of emergency measures. To implement this method, UGC data comprising emergency needs from the users and emergency plans comprising emergency measures for specific emergency were firstly collected using a crawler program. A feature template was then established to identify relationships between different features, and a Conditional Random Field (CRF) model was used to extract emergency measures from the emergency plan and emergency needs from UGC data. The Siamese network was applied thereafter to compute the similarity between the emergency measures and emergency needs. The missing emergency measures were obtained based on the similarities, and a quantitative method to calculate the completeness was defined. Finally, using province A as a case study, the emergency measure completeness was evaluated and the emergency measures that need to be strengthened and improved were identified.
Effects of the Wenyang Zhenshuai Granule on the Expression of LncRNA-MiR143HG/miR-143 Regulating ERK5 in H9C2 Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Xu Zelin , Chen Xinyu , Chen Qingyang , Cai Huzhi
Published: August 2021

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome caused by a variety of heart problems, with a high incidence. The 5-year survival rate of patients with clinical symptoms is similar to that of malignant tumors. Wenyang Zhenshuai granules are a safe and effective granule of traditional Chinese medicine components, including aconite, dried ginger, licorice, and red ginseng. In contemporary clinical applications, it is widely used in acute and chronic heart insufficiency, coronary heart disease, and arrhythmia. This research cultured H9C2 cardiomyocytes and divided them into the normal control group, LncRNA-MiR143HG overexpression group, LncRNA-MiR143HG silence group, Adriamycin (ADR) group, ADR + medicated serum group, ADR + LncRNA-MiR143HG overexpression + medicated serogroup, and ADR + LncRNA-MiR143HG silence + medicated serogroup. The cells of each group were treated differently, and the survival rate of each group of cells and the expression levels of LncRNA-MiR143HG/miR-143 and ERK5 were detected at the end of the experiment, and the expression of LncRNA-MiR143HG/miR-143 in H9C2 cardiomyocytes was regulated by Wenyang Zhenshuai granules’ impact. The results of this study showed that, in the doxorubicin-induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte injury model, the expression of miR-143 was upregulated, and the expression of LncRNA-MiR143HG and ERK5 was significantly downregulated. Wenyang Zhenshuai granules can downregulate the expression of miR-143 to promote ERK5 protein expression and phosphorylation. The process is regulated by LncRNA-MiR143HG/miR-143, which may be one of its important mechanisms for the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Research on Analysis and Classification of Vulnerability of Electromagnetic Pulse with a STM32 Single-Chip Microcomputer
Authors: Keshun Liu , Xijun Zhang , Xing Zhou
Published: August 2021

With the continuous development of information technology, the performance of the entire traditional electrical system is gradually optimized. Nowadays, the single-chip technology is an important part of the traditional electrical system because it determines the operating quality of the entire traditional system. However, due to the electromagnetic pulse, the single-chip microcomputer system may be interfered with malfunction or damage, which seriously affects its performance. Therefore, to investigate the impact of an electromagnetic pulse on a single-chip microcomputer system, in this research work, we have used a STM32 single-chip microcomputer as the research object by setting up multiple sets of STM32 single-chip microcomputer serial communication systems. Besides, we have conducted an electromagnetic pulse vulnerability experiment using the inductive coupling inject method which has improved the antielectromagnetic pulse capacity of the STM32 single-chip serial communication system. The experimental results show that the damage threshold of the single-chip microcomputer with positive pulse injection is greater than the negative pulse injection, which indicates that the serial communication system of the STM32 single-chip microcomputer is more sensitive to the negative pulse injection. Moreover, this research work is of great significance to evaluate more accurately the viability and anti-interference capability of a single-chip microcomputer system under the action of electromagnetic pulse.