bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary Dynamics of Cooperation in a Corrupt Society with Anti-Corruption Control
Authors: Liu Linjie , Chen Xiaojie
Published: March 2021

The importance of cooperation is self-evident to humans, yet the existence of corruption where law violators can avoid being punished by paying bribes to corrupt law enforcers may threaten the maintenance of cooperation. Although powerful monitoring has been used to resolve such matters, existing studies show that the effects of such measures are either transient or uncertain. Thus how to efficiently control the occurrence of corruption for the emergence of cooperation remains a challenge. Here, we introduce social exclusion into the public goods game, and respectively propose three measures to control corruption, namely, the exclusion of corrupt punishers, the exclusion of corrupt defectors, and the exclusion of both corrupt punishers and corrupt defectors. Our results show that the system dynamics driven by these three measures can exhibit many interesting dynamical outcomes including the dominance of defectors, rock-scissors-paper cycle, heteroclinic cycle, or interior attractor. We further demonstrate that excluding corrupt punishers can improve the situation of corruption more efficiently than excluding corrupt defectors. In addition, excluding both corrupt defectors and corrupt punishers can more effectively promote the emergence of cooperation for a broad parameter range.
Detection of Hidden Oscillations in Systems Without Equilibrium
Authors: Tutueva Aleksandra V. , Karimov Timur I. , Nepomuceno Erivelton G. , Butusov Denis N.
Published: March 2021

Chaotic systems with hidden attractors have been widely studied in recent decades. In this field, systems without equilibrium are of special interest. Since multistable systems can alternate between several hidden attractors, it is difficult to detect their hidden oscillations using known analytical techniques. In this study, we propose to apply recurrence analysis methods as a possible solution to this problem. We consider the new quantity measure, called relative specific volume, which correlates with changes of the attractor. We choose the improved Sprott A system as an example of the multiscroll attractor to verify the proposed approach. We compare the new recurrence measure with other traditional quantitative methods for chaotic systems investigation. It is shown that the relative specific volume possesses the best correlation with the change of attractors among all considered metrics. The proposed approach can be used to study hidden oscillations in experimental data as well.
Global Dynamics of a Holling-II Amensalism System with Nonlinear Growth Rate and Allee Effect on the First Species
Authors: Luo Demou , Wang Qiru
Published: March 2021

Of concern is the global dynamics of a two-species Holling-II amensalism system with nonlinear growth rate. The existence and stability of trivial equilibrium, semi-trivial equilibria, interior equilibria and infinite singularity are studied. Under different parameters, there exist two stable equilibria which means that this model is not always globally asymptotically stable. Together with the existence of all possible equilibria and their stability, saddle connection and close orbits, we derive some conditions for transcritical bifurcation and saddle-node bifurcation. Furthermore, the global dynamics of the model is performed. Next, we incorporate Allee effect on the first species and offer a new analysis of equilibria and bifurcation discussion of the model. Finally, several numerical examples are performed to verify our theoretical results.
Agency Conflicts and the Marginal Value of Capital Expenditure in Australian Listed Companies
Authors: Butchers James , Bhabra Gurmeet Singh , Bhabra Harjeet Singh , Sen Anindya
Published: March 2021

We examine the value implications of Jensen’s free cash flow hypothesis for a sample of Australian listed companies. Consistent with the US evidence in Masulis, R, C Wang and F Xie (2009). Agency problems at dual-class companies. Journal of Finance, 64(4), 1697–1727, we find that the marginal value of corporate capital expenditures in Australian listed companies is inversely related to the magnitude of agency conflicts arising out of the use of free cash flows. Our results suggest that firms where managers have a greater ability to extract private benefits and are therefore more likely to maximize their own private benefits rather than shareholder wealth will suffer from a lower perceived valuation of their capital investments. Our findings are robust to alternative proxies for relative cash flows and growth opportunities and also hold over multiple sub-periods and industry groupings.
Do Negative Corporate Social Responsibility Events Signal Financial Misreporting? — Empirical Finding from Taiwan
Authors: Chen Ching-Lung , Wang Hann-Pyng , Fan Hung-Shu , Chiu Shiu-Chieh
Published: March 2021

This study examines whether negative corporate social responsibility events (NCSRs) signal potential firm misreporting and pending financial reporting restatements. Without formal opinions on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting in Taiwan, we hypothesize NCSRs can represent and/or signal a firm’s internal control weakness, which may in turn result in poor financial reporting. Note that the concern with controlling owners expropriating wealth through ineffective internal controls is given important weight by investors and regulators. We further examine whether the signaling function of NCSRs is more pronounced in contexts with a serious agency problem, such as is found in the high divergence of control and cash flow rights case (denoted as high excess control rights) in Taiwan. Empirical results indicate that, as conjectured, incidence of NCSRs is positively associated with the likelihood of reporting restatements. Further evidence reveals that this result is particularly pronounced in the high divergence of control and cash-flow rights subsample test. We demonstrate several diagnostic tests and show the results are robust in various specifications.
Chapter 5.3b Mount Early and Sheridan Bluff: petrology
Authors: Panter Kurt S. , Reindel Jenna , Smellie John L.
Published: March 2021

This study discusses the petrological and geochemical features of two monogenetic Miocene volcanoes, Mount Early and Sheridan Bluff, which are the above-ice expressions of Earth's southernmost volcanic field located at
c.
87° S on the East Antarctic Craton. Their geochemistry is compared to basalts from the West Antarctic Rift System to test affiliation and resolve mantle sources and cause of melting beneath East Antarctica. Basaltic lavas and dykes are olivine-phyric and comprise alkaline (hawaiite and mugearite) and subalkaline (tholeiite) types. Trace element abundances and ratios (e.g. La/Yb, Nb/Y, Zr/Y) of alkaline compositions resemble basalts from the West Antarctic rift and ocean islands (OIB), while tholeiites are relatively depleted and approach the concentrations levels of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB). The magmas evolved by fractional crystallization with contamination by crust; however, neither process can adequately explain the contemporaneous eruption of hawaiite and tholeiite at Sheridan Bluff. Our preferred scenario is that primary magmas of each type were produced by different degrees of partial melting from a compositionally similar mantle source. The nearly simultaneous generation of lower degrees of melting to produce alkaline types and higher degrees of melting forming tholeiite was most likely to have been facilitated by the detachment and dehydration of metasomatized mantle lithosphere.
Safe systems programming in Rust
Authors: Jung Ralf , Jourdan Jacques-Henri , Krebbers Robbert , Dreyer Derek
Published: March 2021

The promise and the challenges of the first industry-supported language to master the trade-off between safety and control.
Transformers aftermath
Authors: Reis Eduardo Souza Dos , Costa Cristiano André Da , Silveira Diórgenes Eugênio Da , Bavaresco Rodrigo Simon , Righi Rodrigo Da Rosa , Barbosa Jorge Luis Victória , Antunes Rodolfo Stoffel , Gomes Márcio Miguel , Federizzi Gustavo
Published: March 2021

Attention, particularly self-attention, is a standard in current NLP literature, but to achieve meaningful models, attention is not enough.
Security and Privacy Requirements for Electronic Consent
Authors: Verreydt Stef , Yskout Koen , Joosen Wouter
Published: March 2021

Electronic consent (e-consent) has the potential to solve many paper-based consent approaches. Existing approaches, however, face challenges regarding privacy and security. This literature review aims to provide an overview of privacy and security challenges and requirements proposed by papers discussing e-consent implementations, as well as the manner in which state-of-the-art solutions address them. We conducted a systematic literature search using ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, and PubMed Central. We included papers providing comprehensive discussions of one or more technical aspects of e-consent systems. Thirty-one papers met our inclusion criteria. Two distinct topics were identified, the first being discussions of e-consent representations and the second being implementations of e-consent in data sharing systems. The main challenge for e-consent representations is gathering the requirements for a “valid” consent. For the implementation papers, many provided some requirements but none provided a comprehensive overview. Blockchain is identified as a solution to transparency and trust issues in traditional client-server systems, but several challenges hinder it from being applied in practice. E-consent has the potential to grant data subjects control over their data. However, there is no agreed-upon set of security and privacy requirements that must be addressed by an e-consent platform. Therefore, security- and privacy-by-design techniques should be an essential part of the development lifecycle for such a platform.
The Sample Complexity of Up-to-ε Multi-dimensional Revenue Maximization
Authors: Gonczarowski Yannai A. , Weinberg S. Matthew
Published: March 2021

We consider the sample complexity of revenue maximization for multiple bidders in unrestricted multi-dimensional settings. Specifically, we study the standard model of

additive bidders whose values for

heterogeneous items are drawn independently. For any such instance and any

, we show that it is possible to learn an

-Bayesian Incentive Compatible auction whose expected revenue is within

of the optimal

-BIC auction from only polynomially many samples.

Our fully nonparametric approach is based on ideas that hold quite generally and completely sidestep the difficulty of characterizing optimal (or near-optimal) auctions for these settings. Therefore, our results easily extend to general multi-dimensional settings, including valuations that are not necessarily even
subadditive
, and arbitrary allocation constraints. For the cases of a single bidder and many goods, or a single parameter (good) and many bidders, our analysis yields exact incentive compatibility (and for the latter also computational efficiency). Although the single-parameter case is already well understood, our corollary for this case extends slightly the state of the art.
Succinct range filters
Authors: Zhang Huanchen , Lim Hyeontaek , Leis Viktor , Andersen David G. , Kaminsky Michael , Keeton Kimberly , Pavlo Andrew
Published: March 2021

We present the
Succinct Range Filter
(SuRF), a fast and compact data structure for approximate membership tests. Unlike traditional Bloom filters, SuRF supports both single-key lookups and common range queries, such as range counts. SuRF is based on a new data structure called the
Fast Succinct Trie (FST)
that matches the performance of state-of-the-art order-preserving indexes, while consuming only 10 bits per trie node---a space close to the minimum required by information theory. Our experiments show that SuRF speeds up range queries in a widely used database storage engine by up to 5×.
Impact of Diabetic Ketoacidosis on Thyroid Function in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Xing Yuling , Chen Jinhu , Song Guangyao , Zhao Liying , Ma Huijuan
Published: March 2021

Background. Changes in thyroid function in diabetes patients who developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) still need to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to systematically review available data on the relationship between thyroid function and DKA in diabetes patients who developed DKA. Methods. Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and China Academic Journal Full-text Database (CNKI)) were searched systematically to search relevant literature before December 2020. The mean ± standard deviation and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for evaluation, and sensitivity analysis was performed. Publication bias was estimated by funnel plot, Egger’s test, and Begger’s test. Results. 29 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the indicators (T4, T3, FT3, FT4, TSH, T3RU, and rT3) of patients with DKA were compared and analyzed. The results of this study showed that the levels of T4, T3, FT3, FT4, and TSH were decreased and the level of rT3 was increased in patients with DKA. Compared with after treatment, the levels of T4, T3, FT3, and FT4 in patients with DKA were decreased before treatment, while the levels of rT3 were increased, and there was no significant difference in changes of TSH. With the aggravation of DKA, the levels of T4, T3, FT3, and FT4 will further decrease, while the changes of TSH have no statistical difference. Conclusion. Thyroid function changed in diabetic patients with DKA. It changed with the severity of DKA. This condition may be transient, preceding further recovery of DKA.
Assessment of Occupational Injury among Industrial Workers in the Bahir Dar City of Northwest Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hunegnaw Berhanemeskel , Molla Mesafint , Mulugeta Yihun , Meseret Maru
Published: March 2021

Background. Ethiopia is one of the economically fastest growing countries in the world. Industries in Ethiopia are booming, and Bahir Dar is one of the industrial zones in the country. The city administration is planning to recruit the majority of the workforce in these industries. However, injuries related to occupations in the industries are not that much studied yet. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of occupational injury and its associated factors among industrial workers in the Bahir Dar city of Northwest Ethiopia. Methods and Materials. Institution-based cross-sectional study design was used. Multistage stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 846 study participants from each stratum (small-, medium-, and large-scale industries). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21. Binary logistic regression was employed to determine the existence of an association between dependent and independent variables. Result. A total of 803 participants were included in the study with a response rate of 95%. The mean age of respondents was 28.9 years (SD ± 8 years). Five hundred nine (63.4%) were occupationally injured in the last 12 months. Sex (AOR = 3.66, 95% CI = (2.53–5.29)), employment status (AOR = 7.33, 95% CI = (3.31–16.22)), regular health and safety supervision (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI= (1.79–3.96)), training prior to entry to actual work (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI= (2.14–4.74)), and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI= (1.74–3.56)) were significantly associated with occupational injury. Conclusion. The prevalence of occupational injury in this research is found to be very high. It is advisable to provide sustainable training and regular occupational health and safety supervision for industrial workers in the city. Moreover, research has to be conducted to know the reasons for the difference in the prevalence of occupational injury between large-, medium-, and small-scale industries.
Assessment of Tuber Yield Stability and Adaptability of Some Elite Yam Genotypes in the Guinea Savannah Ecology of Northern Ghana
Authors: Adjebeng-Danquah Joseph , Acheremu Kwabena , Chamba Emmanuel Boachie , Agyapong Freda Ansaah , Sayibu Alhassan
Published: March 2021

Studies were conducted to determine tuber yield stability and adaptability of some elite yam (Dioscorea sp.) genotypes in northern Ghana. Ten elite exotic yam genotypes alongside one locally cultivated farmer-preferred variety, Laribako, were grown in five environments between 2010 and 2012. These 11 genotypes were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications and assessed for tuber yield and yield components. Analysis of variance indicated significant

p
<
0.05

genotypic variation for tuber yield and the yield components studied. Genotype × environment interaction effect was significant

p
<
0.05

for tuber yield and mean tuber weight but not significant

p
>
0.05

for number of tubers per mound. Apart from genotype 95/18922, all the exotic genotypes had significantly

p
<
0.05

higher tuber yields than the local check, Laribako. The highest tuber yield (16.03 t ha−1) across environments was obtained from 96/19158 followed by 95/00594 (14.9 t ha−1). According to the additive main effect multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis, genotype (G), environment (E), and GxE interaction, respectively, explained 39.71%, 36.03%, and 24.26% of the total sum of squares for tuber yield. For number of tubers per plant, GxE effect explained the greatest percentage (60.46%) of the total sum of squares compared to genotype effect (22.00%) and environment effect (17.54%). The local variety, Laribako, was more stable across all environments though low yielding compared to the exotic genotypes. Three genotypes, 95/19158, 95/19177, and 96/02025, were more stable across environments than the other exotic genotypes. Genotype 95/18544 was the most sensitive and for that matter responded positively in the favorable environments. The study identified genotypes with specific and general adaptation potential across different environments for tuber yield that can be further tested in on-farm trials for possible release.
Uncovering the Pharmacology of Xiaochaihu Decoction in the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis Based on the Network Pharmacology
Authors: Zhan Lianghui , Pu Jinbao , Hu Yijuan , Xu Pan , Liang Weiqing , Ji Chunlian
Published: March 2021

Background. Xiaochaihu decoction (XD) has demonstrated the pharmacodynamics on acute pancreatitis. This study was aimed at investigating the material and molecular basis of Xiaochaihu decoction. Methods. Firstly, compounds of seven herbs containing XD were collected from the TCMSP, ETCM, and BATMAN‐TCM databases, and the putative targets of pancreatitis were obtained from the OMIM, TTD, and GeneCards databases. Then, the PPI network was constructed according to the matching results between XD potential targets and pancreatic neoplasm targets. Furthermore, enrichment analysis on GO and KEGG by DAVID utilized bioinformatics resources. Finally, molecular docking was performed to simulate the interaction between the active compound of XD and putative targets. In an in vitro experiment, AR42J cells were induced by LPS and then treated with Quercetin (25, 50, and 100 μM) or XCHD. The IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β levels were detected by ELISA kit, MAPK3 and TP53 mRNA expressions were measured by qRT‐PCR, and the proteins of MAPK3 and TP53 expressions were measured by WB. Results. A total of 196 active ingredients and 91 putative targets were selected. The PPI network analysis demonstrated that Quercetin was the candidate agent and MAPK3, IL‐6, and TP53 were the potential targets for the XD treatment of acute pancreatitis. The KEGG analysis revealed that pathways in cancers, TNF signaling way, and MAPK signaling way might play an important role in pancreatitis therapy. And molecular docking results showed that Quercetin combined well with MAPK3, IL‐6, and TP53. An in vitro experiment indicated that XCHD and Quercetin inhibited the IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β levels and MAPK3 and TP53. Conclusion. This study illustrated that XCHD and Quercetin contained in XD played an important role in the treatment of acute pancreatitis by acting on the key genes of MPAK3, IL‐6, and TP53 which were associated with inflammation and apoptosis.
Histopathological Finding of Microdamage Accumulation in Atypical Subtrochanteric Femoral Fracture
Authors: Watanabe Yo , Kondo Naoki , Fukuhara Tomomi , Imai Norio , Yamada Masahiko , Endo Naoto
Published: March 2021

Atypical femoral fracture is a low-energy stress fracture in the subtrochanteric region or the femoral shaft and is a complication of the long-term use of bisphosphonates. Histopathological findings of atypical femoral fractures have not been clarified. Herein, we report the case of a 61-year-old woman who fell while walking, which prompted her to visit our facility. She had a 7-year history of alendronate use to treat osteoporosis. A radiograph showed an atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture, following which she underwent a primary surgery, where an intramedullary femoral nail was used. Implant breakage was discovered 8 weeks after the primary surgery. The patient underwent a revision surgery in which the entry point for the revised intramedullary hole was created to prevent varus position. The lag screw was successfully inserted into the center of the femoral head. Cancellous bone, isolated from the right ilium, was autogenously implanted into the fracture site. Fracture healing was promoted using low-intensity pulse ultrasonography. Callus formation was detected on a radiograph, and full weight-bearing was advised 12 weeks after the revision surgery. The fracture had healed completely at 13 months after the revision surgery. The patient was able to walk without support and could independently perform activities of daily life. Laboratory findings suggested that the concentrations of her bone formation markers were normal, while those of bone resorption markers were elevated. Iliac bone histomorphometry did not reveal severely suppressed bone turnover. In the cortex of fracture site, the lacunar density was markedly lower than the osteocyte density, and microcracks were detected, suggesting impaired osteocyte function and a low potential for fracture healing. This case is notable because it helps to clarify the histopathological findings of atypical femoral fractures.
Research on Differential Brain Networks before and after WM Training under Different Frequency Band Oscillations
Authors: Tian Yin , Zhou Huishu , Zhang Huiling , Li Tianhao
Published: March 2021

Previous studies have shown that different frequency band oscillations are associated with cognitive processing such as working memory (WM). Electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence and graph theory can be used to measure functional connections between different brain regions and information interaction between different clusters of neurons. At the same time, it was found that better cognitive performance of individuals indicated stronger small-world characteristics of resting-state WM networks. However, little is known about the neural synchronization of the retention stage during ongoing WM tasks (i.e., online WM) by training on the whole-brain network level. Therefore, combining EEG coherence and graph theory analysis, the present study examined the topological changes of WM networks before and after training based on the whole brain and constructed differential networks with different frequency band oscillations (i.e., theta, alpha, and beta). The results showed that after WM training, the subjects’ WM networks had higher clustering coefficients and shorter optimal path lengths than before training during the retention period. Moreover, the increased synchronization of the frontal theta oscillations seemed to reflect the improved executive ability of WM and the more mature resource deployment; the enhanced alpha oscillatory synchronization in the frontoparietal and fronto-occipital regions may reflect the enhanced ability to suppress irrelevant information during the delay and pay attention to memory guidance; the enhanced beta oscillatory synchronization in the temporoparietal and frontoparietal regions may indicate active memory maintenance and preparation for memory-guided attention. The findings may add new evidence to understand the neural mechanisms of WM on the changes of network topological attributes in the task-related mode.
S-DPS: An SDN-Based DDoS Protection System for Smart Grids
Authors: Mahmood Hassan , Mahmood Danish , Shaheen Qaisar , Akhtar Rizwan , Changda Wang
Published: March 2021

Information Communication Technology (ICT) environment in traditional power grids makes detection and mitigation of DDoS attacks more challenging. Existing security technologies, besides their efficiency, are not adequate to cater to DDoS security in Smart Grids (SGs) due to highly distributed and dynamic network environments. Recently, emerging Software Defined Networking- (SDN-) based approaches are proposed by researchers for SG’s DDoS protection; however, they are only able to protect against flooding attacks and are dependent on static thresholds. The proposed approach, i.e., Software Defined Networking-based DDoS Protection System (S-DPS), is efficiently addressing these issues by employing light-weight Tsallis entropy-based defense mechanisms using SDN environment. It provides early detection mechanism with mitigation of anomaly in real time. The approach offers the best deployment location of defense mechanism due to the centralized control of network. Moreover, the employment of a dynamic threshold mechanism is making detection process adaptive to the changing network conditions. S-DPS has demonstrated its effectiveness and efficiency in terms of Detection Rate (DR) and minimal CPU/RAM utilization, considering DDoS protection focusing smurf attacks, socket stress attacks, and SYN flood attacks.
Evaluation of an Information Flow Gain Algorithm for Microsensor Information Flow in Limber Motor Rehabilitation
Authors: Ning Naiqiao , Tang Yong
Published: March 2021

This paper conducts an evaluative study on the rehabilitation of limb motor function by using a microsensor information flow gain algorithm and investigates the surface electromyography (EMG) signals of the upper limb during rehabilitation training. The surface EMG signals contain a large amount of limb movement information. By analysing and processing the surface EMG signals, we can grasp the human muscle movement state and identify the human upper limb movement intention. The EMG signals were processed by the trap and filter combination denoising method and wavelet denoising method, respectively, the signal‐to‐noise ratio was used to evaluate the noise reduction effect, and finally, the wavelet denoising method with a better noise reduction effect was selected to process all the EMG signals. After the noise is removed, the signal is extracted in the time domain and frequency domain, and the root mean square (RMS), absolute mean, median frequency in the time domain, and average power frequency in the frequency domain are selected and input to the classifier for pattern recognition. The support vector machine is used to classify the myoelectric signals and optimize the parameters in the support vector machine using the grid search method and particle swarm optimization algorithm and classify the test samples using the trained support vector machine. Compared with the classification results of the grid search optimized support vector machine, the optimized vector machine has a 7% higher recognition rate, reaching 85%. The action recognition classification method of myoelectric signals is combined with an upper limb rehabilitation training platform to verify the feasibility of using myoelectric signals for rehabilitation training. After the classifier recognizes the upper limb movements, the upper computer sends movement commands to the controller to make the rehabilitation platform move according to the recognition results, and finally, the movement execution accuracy of the rehabilitation platform reaches 80% on average.
Gemtuzumab-Ozogamicin-Related Impaired Hemoglobin-Haptoglobin Scavenging as On-Target/Off-Tumor Toxicity of Anti-CD33 AML Therapy: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Rajala Hanna L. M. , Anttila Veli-Jukka , Haapio Mikko , Keränen Mikko A. I. , Wartiovaara-Kautto Ulla , Räty Riikka
Published: March 2021

Gemtuzumab-ozogamicin (GO) is a humanized anti-CD33 antibody, which is conjugated to a cytotoxic calicheamicin. It is used to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in combination with chemotherapy. We describe here two GO-treated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases: both patients suffered from a toxic syndrome, which manifested as impaired hemoglobin-haptoglobin scavenging and accumulation of hemolysis-related products. Our observations and earlier reports indicated that the reaction was caused by GO-targeted destruction of CD33 + CD163+ monocytes/macrophages, which are responsible for the clearance of hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. The rise of plasma lactate dehydrogenase was an early sign of the reaction, and both patients had high levels of free plasma hemoglobin, but plasma haptoglobin and bilirubin levels were paradoxically normal. Symptoms included septic fever and abnormalities in cardiac tests and in the case of the first patient, severe neurological symptoms which required intensive care unit admittance. Therapeutic plasma exchanges supported the patients until the recovery of normal hematopoiesis. The symptoms may be easily confounded with infectious complications-related organ damage. Regarding the increasing use of gemtuzumab-ozogamicin and other emerging CD33-targeted cell therapies, we want to highlight this mostly unknown and probably underdiagnosed toxicity.
Characteristics of the In Situ Stress Field and Engineering Effect along the Lijiang to Shangri‐La Railway on the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China
Authors: Chai Chunyang , Ling Sixiang , Wu Xiyong , Hu Ting , Sun Dai
Published: March 2021

This work aims to characterize the in situ stress field along the Lijiang to Shangri‐La railway and identify possible engineering geological problems when constructing tunnels along this railway on the margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The in situ stress measured at 76 points in 12 boreholes by the hydraulic fracturing method was analysed. A rose diagram of the maximum principal stress direction was plotted based on the measured in situ stress data. The results show that the measured in situ stress is mainly horizontal stress, corresponding to a strike‐slip fault‐related tectonic stress field with a moderate to high in situ stress value. The main stress values have a good linear relationship with the burial depth, and the maximum horizontal principal stress (σH) increases by 1.1–8.8 MPa per 100 m, with an average gradient value of 3.6 MPa per 100 m. The maximum and minimum horizontal principal stresses and the stress differences increase with depth, and the lateral pressure coefficient (σH/σv) is generally 1–1.5. The ratio of the maximum and minimum effective stresses is less than the threshold at which faulting occurs, resulting in faults that are relatively stable at present. The direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress is oriented at a small angle to the axial direction of the deeply buried tunnel along the railway line; therefore, the tunnel sidewalls could readily deform during the construction process. Rock bursts are expected to occur in strong rock masses with high risk grades, whereas slight to moderate deformation of the rock surrounding the tunnel is expected to occur in weak rock masses. This study has significance for understanding the regional fault activity and issues related to the construction of deeply buried tunnels along the Lijiang to Shangri‐La railway.
NOX4‐Derived ROS Promotes Collagen I Deposition in Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cells by Activating Noncanonical p38MAPK/Akt‐Mediated TGF‐β Signaling
Authors: Hao Binwei , Sun Ruiting , Guo Xiaotong , Zhang Lili , Cui Jieda , Zhou Yumin , Hong Wei , Zhang Yanan , He Jinxi , Liu Xiaoming , Li Bing , Ran Pixin , Chen Juan
Published: March 2021

Background. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling is a hallmark in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). NADPH oxidase 4‐ (NOX4‐) mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production plays a crucial role in cell differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in ASM remodeling. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning its pathogenic roles remain elusive. Methods. The expression of NOX4 and TGF‐β1 in the airway of the lung was measured in COPD patients and the control group. Cigarette smoke‐ (CS‐) induced emphysema mice were generated, and the alteration of α‐SMA, NOX4, TGF‐β1, and collagen I was accessed. The changes of the expression of ECM markers, NOX4, components of TGF‐β/Smad, and MAPK/Akt signaling in human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs) were ascertained for delineating mechanisms of NOX4‐mediated ROS production on cell differentiation and remodeling in human ASM cells. Results. An increased abundance of NOX4 and TGF‐β1 proteins in the epithelial cells and ASM of lung was observed in COPD patients compared with the control group. Additionally, an increased abundance expression of NOX4 and α‐SMA was observed in the lungs of the CS‐induced emphysema mouse model. TGF‐β1 displayed abilities to increase the oxidative burden and collagen I production, along with enhanced phosphorylation of ERK, p38MAPK, and p‐Akt473 in HBSMCs. These effects of TGF‐β1 could be inhibited by the ROS scavenger N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), siRNA‐mediated knockdown of Smad3 and NOX4, and pharmacological inhibitors SB203580 (p38MAPK inhibitor) and LY294002 (Akt inhibitor). Conclusions. NOX4‐mediated ROS production alters TGF‐β1‐induced cell differentiation and collagen I protein synthesis in HBSMCs in part through the p38MAPK/Akt signaling pathway in a Smad‐dependent manner.
Laboratory Model Tests on Consolidation Performance of Soil Column with Drained‐Timber Rod
Authors: Chai X. J. , Deng K. , He C. F. , Xiong Y. F.
Published: March 2021

Timber pile is an ancient technology applied in soft ground improvement for more than 1000 years. With the rise of many high‐rise buildings, many types of modern mechanized‐construction piles are widely developed and applied; for example, steel pile, precast concrete pile, sand pile, and gravel pile are widely used instead of timber piles. Yet, in some special conditions, timber piles have certain advantages due to their environment‐friendly characteristics, which result in obvious economic benefits and suitability. To overcome the weakness of the traditional timber pile technology and expand its application in engineering practice, a drained‐timber pile technique was put forward. This technology is to wrap the permeable filter‐type drainage geotextile around the timber pile, so that the timber pile not only has the replacement function to strengthen the foundation but also has the drainage function, can accelerate the pore water discharge, and speeds up the soft soil foundation consolidation. The reduced scale soil‐column consolidation model was designed to perform the consolidation tests for the soil column with a drained‐timber rod. In total, eight types of soil‐column consolidation tests were carried out to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the drained‐timber pile technique. The results revealed that, under the same loading and consolidation time, the drained‐timber rod can obviously increase the degree of consolidation when compared with traditional timber rod. It can be expected that the drained‐timber pile technique has a good application prospect for the construction of medium‐small hydraulic structures and for the treatment of super soft clay.
Laboratory Investigation on the Interface Bonding between Portland Cement Concrete Pavement and Asphalt Overlay
Authors: Wei Fulu , Cao Jianfeng , Zhao Hongduo , Han Bingye
Published: March 2021

The interface bonding between Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement and hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlay plays an important role in the performance of the composite pavement. This research conducted a series of comprehensive laboratory studies to investigate the influence factors of the interface bonding strength using a self-designed direct shear test apparatus that can simultaneously apply normal stress and shear stress on a specimen. Four kinds of commonly used tack coat materials were systematically tested and compared under various combinations of normal stress and temperature. Then, coupling effects of the normal stress and temperature on the interface bonding between PCC and HMA were analyzed. The test results show that temperature has a significant impact on the adhesion of the tack coat. Emulsified asphalt was considered the optimal tack coat material because of its simple construction method. In addition, it was found that a damaged interface could still provide considerable bonding strength. Normal stress generated by traffic loads was beneficial to the interface bonding strength, especially at lower temperatures. The temperature had a significant effect on interface bonding and played a leading role in the failure mode of interface bonding.
Effect of Ilex x meserveae Aqueous Extract on the Quality of Dry-Aged Beef
Authors: Salejda Anna Marietta , Szmaja Aleksandra , Bobak Łukasz , Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska Anna , Fudali Anna , Bąbelewski Przemysław , Bienkiewicz Maciej , Krasnowska Grażyna
Published: March 2021

The effect of meat marinating with aqueous extract of Ilex meserveae dried leaves on dry-aged beef quality was investigated. Shear force, TBARS value, color parameters, fatty acid profile, and sensory properties were evaluated in beef cuts dry-aged for 21 days. The use of Ilex meserveae dried leaves as marinade at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%

w
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did not affect the shear force and color parameters of dry-aged beef. The marinating of beef cuts with Ilex meserveae resulted in efficient prevention of lipid oxidation without impairing sensory acceptability. Aqueous extract Ilex meserveae can be applied as a natural ingredient in meat marinade to prevent peroxidation.
Pacritinib Combined with Sirolimus and Low-Dose Tacrolimus for GVHD Prevention after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Preclinical and Phase I Trial Results
Authors: Pidala Joseph , Walton Kelly , Elmariah Hany , Kim Jongphil , Mishra Asmita , Bejanyan Nelli , Nishihori Taiga , Khimani Farhad , Perez Lia , Faramand Rawan G. , Davila Marco L. , Nieder Michael L. , Sagatys Elizabeth M. , Holtan Shernan G. , Lawrence Nicholas J. , Lawrence Harshani R. , Blazar Bruce R. , Anasetti Claudio , Sebti Said M. , Betts Brian C.
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

In this first-in-human, phase I, GVHD prevention trial (NCT02891603), we combine pacritinib (PAC), a JAK2 inhibitor, with sirolimus to concurrently reduce T-cell costimulation via mTOR and IL6 activity. We evaluate the safety of pacritinib when administered with sirolimus plus low-dose tacrolimus (PAC/SIR/TAC) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Patients and Methods:

The preclinical efficacy and immune modulation of PAC/SIR were investigated in xenogeneic GVHD. Our phase I trial followed a 3+3 dose-escalation design, including dose level 1 (pacritinib 100 mg daily), level 2 (pacritinib 100 mg twice daily), and level 3 (pacritinib 200 mg twice daily). The primary endpoint was to identify the lowest biologically active and safe dose of pacritinib with SIR/TAC (n = 12). Acute GVHD was scored through day +100. Allografts included 8/8 HLA-matched related or unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cells.

Results:

In mice, we show that dual JAK2/mTOR inhibition significantly reduces xenogeneic GVHD and increases peripheral regulatory T cell (Treg) potency as well as Treg induction from conventional CD4+ T cells. Pacritinib 100 mg twice a day was identified as the minimum biologically active and safe dose for further study. JAK2/mTOR inhibition suppresses pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells, spares Tregs and antileukemia effector cells, and exhibits preliminary activity in preventing GVHD. PAC/SIR/TAC preserves donor cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunity and permits timely engraftment without cytopenias.

Conclusions:

We demonstrate that PAC/SIR/TAC is safe and preliminarily limits acute GVHD, preserves donor CMV immunity, and permits timely engraftment. The efficacy of PAC/SIR/TAC will be tested in our ongoing phase II GVHD prevention trial.
Radium-223 Treatment Increases Immune Checkpoint Expression in Extracellular Vesicles from the Metastatic Prostate Cancer Bone Microenvironment
Authors: Vardaki Ioulia , Corn Paul , Gentile Emanuela , Song Jian H. , Madan Namrata , Hoang Anh , Parikh Nila , Guerra Leah , Lee Yu-Chen , Lin Song-Chang , Yu Guoyu , Santos Elmer , Melancon Marites P. , Troncoso Patricia , Navone Nora , Gallick Gary E. , Efstathiou Eleni , Subudhi Sumit K. , Lin Sue-Hwa , Logothetis Christopher J. , Panaretakis Theocharis
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

Radium-223 prolongs survival in a fraction of men with bone metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). However, there are no markers for monitoring response and resistance to Radium-223 treatment. Exosomes are mediators of intercellular communication and may reflect response of the bone microenvironment to Radium-223 treatment. We performed molecular profiling of exosomes and compared the molecular profile in patients with favorable and unfavorable overall survival.

Experimental Design:

We performed exosomal transcriptome analysis in plasma derived from our preclinical models (MDA-PCa 118b tumors, TRAMP-C2/BMP4 PCa) and from the plasma of 25 patients (paired baseline and end of treatment) treated with Radium-223. All samples were run in duplicate, and array data analyzed with fold changes +2 to −2 and P < 0.05.

Results:

We utilized the preclinical models to establish that genes derived from the tumor and the tumor-associated bone microenvironment (bTME) are differentially enriched in plasma exosomes upon Radium-223 treatment. The mouse transcriptome analysis revealed changes in bone-related and DNA damage repair–related pathways. Similar findings were observed in plasma-derived exosomes from patients treated with Radium-223 detected changes. In addition, exosomal transcripts detected immune-suppressors (e.g., PD-L1) that were associated with shorter survival to Radium-223. Treatment of the Myc-CaP mouse model with a combination of Radium-223 and immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) resulted in greater efficacy than monotherapy.

Conclusions:

These clinical and coclinical analyses showed that RNA profiling of plasma exosomes may be used for monitoring the bTME in response to treatment and that ICT may be used to increase the efficacy of Radium-223.
Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma and Epithelioid Hemangioma: Pazopanib as a Potential Salvage Therapy
Authors: Yakobson Alexander , Alguayn Wafeek , Shalata Walid , Levin Daniel , Kian Tawfeek A. , Korngreen Amir , Gibbs Rachel , Salah Mahmuod A. , Samueli Benzion , Lavrenkov Konstantin , Roisman Laila C. , Dudnik Yulia , Peled Nir , Refaely Yael , Kian Waleed
Published: March 2021

Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) are both rare vascular tumors. EH tumors are often benign while EHE tumors have moderate malignant potential. Here, we present three unique cases at Soroka Medical Center, two featuring EH of the bone and one presenting EHE of the mediastinum. Each case demonstrates distinct treatment challenges due to the rarity of both diseases and lack of established guidelines. We propose three treatment approaches including pazopanib for salvage therapy of EH of the bone and minimally invasive surgical resection which in these cases lead to complete symptom relief and tumor stabilization upheld over time with close follow-up.
Archaeology of marronage in the Caribbean Antilles
Authors: Singleton Theresa Ann
Published: March 2021

The archaeological study of maroons in the Caribbean Antilles presents both opportunities and challenges. On small islands, runaways had few places where they could seek refuge from slavery and elude capture for long periods of time. Consequently, such sites were occupied briefly and have been difficult to locate and identify. The Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico) had both short-term refuge sites and long-term settlements comparable to quilombos. Archaeologists have been most successful in their investigations maroons in Cuba and Jamaica. In Hispaniola, where I am working at the present, only a few cave sites and one presumed maniel (the local term for a long-term maroon settlements) have been studied. In this paper, I provide an overview of the archaeological study of maroons on the Caribbean Islands and my preliminary research to locate El Maniel de Ocoa, a major settlement of slave runaways for over a hundred years during 1500s-1660s.
The values of Antwerp and the prosperity of Belgica: Political economy in Guicciardini’s Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi (1567)
Authors: van Dixhoorn Arjan
Published: March 2021

Arjan van Dixhoorn: The values of Antwerp and the prosperity of Belgica. Political economy in Guicciardini’s Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi (1567)
The value of glass and the translation of artisanal knowledge in early modern Antwerp
Authors: Dupré Sven
Published: March 2021

Sven Dupré: The value of glass and the translation of artisanal knowledge in early modern Antwerp
The right hand of Pictura’s perfection: Cornelis de Bie’s Het gulden cabinet and Antwerp art in the 1660s
Authors: Moran Sarah Joan
Published: March 2021

Sarah Joan Moran: The right hand of Pictura’s perfection. Cornelis de Bie’s Het gulden cabinet and Antwerp art in the 1660s
Meridional Overturning Circulation in a multi-basin model. Part II: Sensitivity to diffusivity and wind in warm and cool climates
Authors: Baker Jonathan A. , Watson Andrew J. , Vallis Geoffrey K.
Published: March 2021

The response of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) to changes in Southern Ocean (SO) zonal wind forcing and Pacific basin vertical diffusivity is investigated under varying buoyancy forcings, corresponding to ‘warm’, ‘present-day’ and ‘cold’ states, in a two-basin general circulation model connected by a southern circumpolar channel. We find that the Atlantic MOC (AMOC) strengthens with increased SO wind stress or diffusivity in the model Pacific, under all buoyancy forcings. The sensitivity of the AMOC to wind stress increases as the buoyancy forcing is varied from a warm to a present-day or cold state, whereas it is most sensitive to the Pacific diffusivity in a present-day or warm state. Similarly, the AMOC is more sensitive to buoyancy forcing over the Southern Ocean under reduced wind stress or enhanced Pacific diffusivity. These results arise because of the increased importance of the Pacific pathway in the warmer climates, giving an increased linkage between the basins and so the opportunity for the diffusivity in the Pacific to affect the overturning in the Atlantic. In cooler states, such as in glacial climates, the two basins are largely decoupled and the wind strength over the SO is the primary determinant of the AMOC strength. Both wind- and diffusively-driven upwelling sustain the AMOC in the warmer (present-day) state. Changes in SO wind stress alone do not shoal the AMOC to resemble that observed at the last glacial maximum; changes in the buoyancy forcing are also needed to decouple the two basins.