bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Jagged–Notch-mediated divergence of immune cell crosstalk maintains the anti-inflammatory response in visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Chandrakar Pragya , Seth Anuradha , Rani Ankita , Dutta Mukul , Parmar Naveen , Descoteaux Albert , Kar Susanta
Published: February 2021

Notch signaling governs crucial aspects of intercellular communication spanning antigen-presenting cells and T-cells. In this study, we investigate how Leishmaniadonovani takes advantage of this pathway to quell host immune responses. We report induction of the Notch ligand Jagged1 in L. donovani-infected bone marrow macrophages (BMMϕs) and subsequent activation of RBPJκ (also known as RBPJ) in T cells, which in turn upregulates the transcription factor GATA3. Activated RBPJκ also associates with the histone acetyltransferase p300 (also known as EP300), which binds with the Bcl2l12 promoter and enhances its expression. Interaction of Bcl2L12 with GATA3 in CD4+ T cells facilitates its binding to the interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-4 promoters, thereby increasing the secretion of these cytokines. Silencing Jagged1 hindered these events in a BMMϕ–T cell co-culture system. Upon further scrutiny, we found that parasite lipophosphoglycan (LPG) induces the host phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, which activates β-catenin and Egr1, the two transcription factors responsible for driving Jagged1 expression. In vivo morpholino-silencing of Jagged1 suppresses anti-inflammatory cytokine responses and reduces organ parasite burden in L. donovani-infected Balb/c mice, suggesting that L. donovani-induced host Jagged1–Notch signaling skews macrophage–T cell crosstalk into disease-promoting Th2 mode in experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Case Report: Successful revascularization in massive pulmonary embolism with a large protruding thrombus and dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Susilo Hendri , Julario Rerdin , Dyah Kencono Wungu Citrawati
Published: February 2021

Pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition. Despite advances in diagnostics, lack of consensus and delays in determining the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism are still important problems. We report the diagnosis and management of a 37-year-old man suffering from massive pulmonary embolism, a large protruding thrombus, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography showed dilatation of all cardiac chambers, a large protruding thrombus in the right atrium to the inferior vena cava, impaired left and right ventricular systolic function, and global hypokinetic of the left ventricle with eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. A thoracic computerized tomography scan showed pulmonary embolism with infarction. The patient’s blood pressure was 60/40 mmHg and heart rate was 110 bpm. The patient was diagnosed with high-risk acute pulmonary embolism. We gave him hemodynamic support and reperfusion therapy with a loading dose of 250,000 units of Streptokinase followed by 100,000 units/hour for 24 hours. After revascularization, the patient's hemodynamic condition improved. The diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism is based on clinical symptoms, hemodynamic changes, or radiological examination. Unstable hemodynamic underlies high-risk stratification. Hypotension or shock results from obstruction of the pulmonary artery which causes increased right ventricular afterload and acute right ventricular dysfunction. Reperfusion with thrombolysis therapy could provide good outcomes in this patient. Prolonged anticoagulation should be given to prevent the recurrence of venous thromboembolism.
Importance of respiratory syncytial virus as a predictor of hospital length of stay in bronchiolitis
Authors: Buendia Jefferson Antonio , Guerrero Patino Diana
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization in children. Estimate potentially preventable variables that impact the length of hospital stay are a priority to reduce the costs associated with this disease. This study aims to identify clinical variables associated with length of hospital stay of bronchiolitis in children in a tropical middle-income country

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 417 infants with bronchiolitis in tertiary centers in Colombia. All medical records of all patients admitted to the emergency department were reviewed. To identify factors independently associated we use negative binomial regression model, to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and adjust for potential confounding variables

Results: The median of the length of hospital stay was 3.68 days, with a range of 0.74 days to 29 days, 138 (33.17%) of patients have a hospital stay of 5 or more days. After modeling and controlling for potential confounders age <6 months, comorbidities (CHD or neurological), BPD,  chest indrawing, RSV isolation, and C-reactive protein were independent predictors of LOS

Conclusions: Our results show that in infants with bronchiolitis, RSV isolation, age <6 months, comorbidities (CHD or neurological), BPD,  chest indrawing, and C-reactive protein were independent predictors of LOS. As a potentially modifiable risk factor, efforts to reduce the probability of RSV infection can reduce the high medical cost associates with prolonged LOS in bronchiolitis.
Simulation of a Random Variable and its Application to Game Theory
Authors: Valizadeh Mehrdad , Gohari Amin
Published: February 2021

We provide a new tool for simulation of a random variable (target source) from a randomness source with side information. Considering the total variation distance as the measure of precision, this tool offers an upper bound for the precision of simulation, which is vanishing exponentially in the difference of Rényi entropies of the randomness and target sources. This tool finds application in games in which the players wish to generate their actions (target source) as a function of a randomness source such that they are almost independent of the observations of the opponent (side information). In particular, we study zero-sum repeated games in which the players are restricted to strategies that require only a limited amount of randomness. Let be the max-min value of the n stage game. Previous works have characterized [Formula: see text], that is, the long-run max-min value, but they have not provided any result on the value of v n for a given finite n-stage game. Here, we utilize our new tool to study how v n converges to the long-run max-min value.
First-Year Experiences of Social Studies Teachers Starting their Profession in the Public Sector
Authors: Şimşek Ünal , Yıldırım Erdal , Öntaş Turğay
Published: February 2021

This research aims to reveal the first-year experiences of social studies teachers who have just started their profession in the public sector. Also, it aims to reveal what awaits teachers in the school environment and the current experiences of teachers at the beginning of the profession. Case study design, one of the qualitative research designs, was used in the study. The study group of the research consists of 34 social studies teachers working in secondary schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education (Turkey) in the districts of Ankara. Participants were selected on an equal basis from all districts of Ankara province. Purposeful sampling, one of the non-random sampling methods was used in determining participants. In addition, criterion sampling was also used in the purposeful sampling phase. The obtained data were subjected to the content and descriptive analysis. As a result of the research, following the latest changes and developments and developing their basic knowledge and skills seems important for teachers who started their profession in the public sector. The multidisciplinary of the social studies branch, attractivity, and the fact that there are no alternatives comes to the fore in teachers' decision-making process to become social studies teachers. In addition, teachers participating in the research suggested to new teachers that they should master their fields, maintain their personal development, get to know the target group, and maintain strong communication in school.
Crisis communication and crisis management during COVID-19
Authors: Wodak Ruth
Published: February 2021

This paper presents results from a comparative and qualitative discourse-historical analysis of governmental crisis communication in Austria, Germany, France, Hungary and Sweden, during the global COVID-19 pandemic lockdown from March 2020 to May 2020 (a ‘discourse strand’). By analysing a sample of important speeches and press conferences by government leaders (all performing as the ‘face of crisis management’), it is possible to deconstruct a range of discursive strategies announcing/legitimising restrictive measures in order to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic where everybody is in danger of falling ill, regardless of their status, position, education and so forth. I focus on four frames that have been employed to mitigate the ‘dread of death’ (Bauman, 2006) and counter the ‘denial of death’ (Becker, 1973/2020): a ‘religious frame’, a ‘dialogic frame’, a frame emphasising ‘trust’, and a frame of ‘leading a war’. These interpretation frameworks are all embedded in ‘renationalising’ tendencies, specifically visible in the EU member states where even the Schengen Area was suddenly abolished (in order to ‘keep the virus out’) and borders were closed. Thus, everybody continues to be confronted with national biopolitics and body politics (Wodak, 2021).
Photon thermalization and a condensation phase transition in an electrically pumped semiconductor microresonator
Authors: Barland S. , Azam P. , Lippi G. L. , Nyman R. A. , Kaiser R.
Published: February 2021

We report on an experimental study of photon thermalization and condensation in a semiconductor microresonator in the weak-coupling regime. We measure the dispersion relation of light and the photon mass in a single-wavelength, broad-area resonator. The observed luminescence spectrum is compatible with a room-temperature, thermal-equilibrium distribution. A phase transition, identified by a saturation of the population at high energies and a superlinear increase of the occupation at low energy, takes place when the phase-space density is of order unity. We explain our observations by Bose-Einstein condensation of photons in equilibrium with a particle reservoir and discuss the relation with laser emission.
Toward high laser power beam manipulation with nanophotonic materials: evaluating thin film damage performance
Authors: Tumkur T. U. , Sokhoyan R. , Su M. P. , Ceballos-Sanchez A. , Kafaie Shirmanesh G. , Kim Y. , Atwater H. A. , Feigenbaum E. , Elhadj S.
Published: February 2021

Nanophotonic materials enable unprecedented control of light-matter interactions, including the ability to dynamically steer or shape wavefronts. Consequently, nanophotonic systems such as metasurfaces have been touted as promising candidates for free-space optical communications, directed energy and additive manufacturing, which currently rely on slow mechanical scanners or electro-optical components for beam steering and shaping. However, such applications necessitate the ability to support high laser irradiances (> kW/cm2) and systematic studies on the high-power laser damage performance of nanophotonic materials and designs are sparse. Here, we experimentally investigate the pulsed laser-induced damage performance (at λ ∼ 1 µm) of model nanophotonic thin films including gold, indium tin oxide, and refractory materials such as titanium nitride and titanium oxynitride. We also model the spatio-thermal dissipation dynamics upon single-pulse illumination by anchoring experimental laser damage thresholds. Our findings show that gold exhibits the best laser damage resistance, but we argue that alternative materials such as transparent conducting oxides could be optimized to balance the tradeoff between damage resistance and optical tunability, which is critical for the design of thermally robust nanophotonic systems. We also discuss damage mitigation and ruggedization strategies for future device-scale studies and applications requiring high power beam manipulation.
Rare-earth doped micro-emitters made by lift-off processing in pulsed laser deposited layers on Si substrate
Authors: Gassenq Alban , Cleyet-Merle Etienne , Sahib Hoshang , Baguenard Bruno , Belarouci Ali , Orobtchouk Régis , Lerouge Frederic , Guy Stephan , Pereira Antonio
Published: February 2021

Rare earth emitters are promising in integrated optics but require complex integration on silicon. In this work, we have fabricated an Y2O3:Eu3+ micro-emitter on SiO2 on Si substrate without etching. Since pulsed laser deposition produces a high quality layer at room temperature, material can be locally deposited on top of substrates by lift-off processing. After annealing, microstructures exhibit good crystallographic quality with controlled dimensions for light confinement and narrow emission. This works allows envisioning rare-earth doped micro-photonic structures directly integrated on silicon without etching, which opens the way to integration of new functional materials on silicon platform.
Quantum-limited discrimination of laser light and thermal light
Authors: Habif Jonathan L. , Jagannathan Arunkumar , Gartenstein Samuel , Amory Phoebe , Guha Saikat
Published: February 2021

Understanding the fundamental sensitivity limit of an optical sensor requires a full quantum mechanical description of the sensing task. In this work, we calculate the fundamental (quantum) limit for discriminating between pure laser light and thermal noise in a photon-starved regime. The Helstrom bound for discrimination error probability for single mode measurement is computed along with error probability bounds for direct detection, coherent homodyne detection and the Kennedy receiver. A generalized Kennedy (GK) receiver is shown to closely approach the Helstrom limit. We present an experimental demonstration of this sensing task and demonstrate a 15.4 dB improvement in discrimination sensitivity over direct detection using a GK receiver and an improvement of 19.4% in error probability over coherent detection.
Robust light beam diffractive shaping based on a kind of compact all-optical neural network
Authors: Shi Jiashuo , Wei Dong , Hu Chai , Chen Mingce , Liu Kewei , Luo Jun , Zhang Xinyu
Published: February 2021

A kind of compact all-optical learning-based neural network has been constructed and characterized for efficiently performing a robust layered diffractive shaping of laser beams. The data-driven control lightwave strategy demonstrates some particular advantages such as smart or intelligent light beam manipulation, optical data statistical inference and incident beam generalization. Based on the proposed method, several typical aberrated light fields can be effectively modulated into the desired fashion including the featured flat-top beams, an arrayed sub-beam arrangement and complex annular fringes compared with conventional GS-based DOEs. An actual THz laser is utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the method developed.
Efficiency enhancement of organic light-emitting diodes via a self-assembled moth-eye nanopatterned hole-transporting layer
Authors: Lan Tao , Liu Lihui , Xie Jvxuan , Chen Dingfu , Shen Haoran , Wang Jiaqian , Chen Yuhui , Cui Hao , Shen Wei , Cao Kun , Chen Shufen
Published: February 2021

A moth-eye nanopatterned hole-transporting layer (ME-HTL) is proposed to enhance the device efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which is fabricated via spontaneous phase separation during spin-coating between poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and poly (9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) induced by their surface energy difference. Meanwhile, film morphology characteristics confirm the conformal deposition of the following organic layers and metal electrode on the ME-HTL, indicating the extension of ME nanostructure over all layers in OLEDs. Finally, owning to the disruption of the internal waveguide light at the organic layer/anode interface and the suppression of surface plasmonic loss at organic layer/cathode interface, this device architecture obtained a current efficiency of 78.9 cd/A, with an enhancement factor of 40%. This approach takes the advantage of manufacturing compatibility on behalf of solution-process and thus can be a promising strategy to reduce the production cost of OLEDs.
Open Access (OA) Folklor Lisan di Perpustakaan Khusus
Authors:   Program Studi Perpustakaan dan Sains Informasi - Universitas Padjadjaran, Rukmana Evi Nursanti ,   Program Studi Perpustakaan dan Sains Informasi - Universitas Padjadjaran, Kusnandar Kusnandar ,   Program Studi Perpustakaan dan Sains Informasi - Universitas Padjadjaran, Erwina Wina ,   Program Studi Perpustakaan dan Sains Informasi - Universitas Padjadjaran, CMS Samson
Published: February 2021

Open Access (OA) is a digital library service concept that distributes a whole library collection. A special library of oral folklore can provide oral folklore collections through OA services to the community or society. The purpose of this research is to know how the application of oral folklore OA in special libraries. The research method uses descriptive qualitative through literature studies. The author collects, sorts, and analyzes references according to oral folklore studies and OA that come from books, journals, and the internet. The results showed that librarians in special libraries can look for oral folklore in the community or society through cultural documentation and research activities. Cultural documentation is the activity of searching, collecting data, recording, and storing in various media, while research is a structured observation process in oral folklore. The results of cultural documentation and oral folklore then become a special collection of special libraries that can be shared openly to the community or society. So, librarians design Library Management Systems (LMS) and formulate policies in implementing OA. In addition, librarians also organize activities to share information on oral folklore through social media settings, the internet, library websites, and organize Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The conclusion of this research is that OA services can be implemented in special libraries through good cooperation between librarians and the community or society.
Going beyond the one-off: How can STEM engagement programmes with young people have real lasting impact?
Authors: Archer Martin , DeWitt Jennifer , Davenport Carol , Keenan Olivia , Coghill Lorraine , Christodoulou Anna , Durbin Samantha , Campbell Heather , Hou Lewis
Published: February 2021

A major focus in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) public engagement sector concerns engaging with young people, typically through schools. The aims of these interventions are often to positively affect students’ aspirations towards continuing STEM education and ultimately into STEM-related careers. Most school engagement activities take the form of short one-off interventions that, while able to achieve positive outcomes, are limited in the extent to which they can have lasting impacts on aspirations. In this paper, we discuss various different emerging programmes of repeated interventions with young people, assessing what impacts can realistically be expected. Short series of interventions appear also to suffer some limitations in the types of impacts achievable. However, deeper programmes that interact with both young people and those who influence them over significant periods of time (months to years) seem to be more effective in influencing aspirations. We discuss how developing a theory of change and considering young people’s wider learning ecologies are required in enabling lasting impacts in a range of areas. Finally, we raise several sector-wide challenges to implementing and evaluating these emerging approaches.
Creating impact through participatory action research: A film festival framework case study
Authors: Farrar Ruth
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this article is to share insights on a novel approach to participatory action research. The significance of my research highlights the benefits of positioning a film festival as a useful participatory action research framework for researchers seeking impact. A film festival approach provides an effective framework for evidencing co-impact throughout the process. The scope of my research focuses on one case study film festival. Shextreme Film Festival is the world’s first film festival celebrating women in extreme sports and adventure. In this paper, four guiding steps for reflection and five research insights are outlined for researchers seeking to adopt a film festival within their own discipline as a participatory action research approach to creating impact. An advantage of this approach is that a film festival is an effective creative and public forum for addressing aspirations across industry, community and academic divides. It also empowers a researcher by providing an enterprising approach for commercializing research and sustainably funding long-term projects.
Superb microvascular imaging technology of ultrasound examinations for the evaluation of tumor vascularity in hepatic hemangiomas
Authors: Jeon Sun Kyung , Lee Jae Young , Han Joon Koo
Published: February 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate and categorize the diverse features of hepatic hemangiomas on superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in a relatively large prospective study.Methods: In this prospective study, 70 patients with 92 hepatic hemangiomas were consecutively enrolled. All nodules were radiologically confirmed with the typical imaging features of hepatic hemangiomas on dynamic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using SMI, all lesions were evaluated and categorized into subgroups according to the flow pattern on SMI. Differences in the frequencies of SMI patterns according to lesion size and enhancement patterns on dynamic CT or MRI were also compared.Results: In 67.4% (62/92) of hemangiomas, tumor vascularity was detected using SMI, while 32.6% (30/92) did not show any signal on the SMI examination, and the absence of an SMI signal was not shown in rapidly enhancing hemangiomas (0% [0/30] vs. 100% [30/30], P=0.002) and was more frequent in lesions <2 cm than in lesions ≥2 cm (44.0% [22/50] vs. 2.7% [8/42], P=0.011). In hepatic hemangiomas in which vascularity was detected (n=62), the strip rim pattern was the most common SMI pattern of hepatic hemangiomas (48.4%, 30/62), followed by the nodular rim pattern involving spotty dot-like engorged vessels (37.1%, 23/62).Conclusion: The evaluation of the inner vascularity of hepatic hemangiomas with SMI was feasible for most hemangiomas, especially in larger (≥2 cm) or rapidly enhancing hemangiomas. The most frequent SMI patterns of hepatic hemangiomas were the strip rim pattern and nodular rim pattern.
En nombre de la integralidad y el buen vivir: Genealogía de los departamentos de consejería estudiantil en Ecuador
Authors: Palacios Díaz Diego , Hidalgo Kawada Felipe
Published: February 2021

En este artículo analizamos genealógicamente la emergencia de los Departamentos de Consejería Estudiantil (DECE) en el campo de las políticas educativas contemporáneas de Ecuador. Específicamente, examinamos cómo se ha construido una nueva arquitectura jurídico-normativa que, desde los principios del Buen Vivir, busca garantizar la entrega de servicios psicológicos y sociales a los estudiantes ecuatorianos a partir de una novedosa incorporación de saberes, prácticas y experticias basadas en las ciencias psicológicas. Metodológicamente, adherimos a los principios de Michel Foucault sobre la genealogía, a fin de analizar un corpus textual compuesto por distintas fuentes documentales que contienen archivos jurídicos, normativos y reglamentarios relevantes para nuestra problemática, así como también por entrevistas realizadas a policymakers y coordinadores distritales que han participado en los procesos de elaboración y puesta en práctica de las políticas educativas relacionadas con los DECE. De esta manera, mediante nuestros ejes de análisis exponemos cómo se ha configurado una nueva racionalidad de Estado en torno a la noción de integralidad y cómo mediante diversos ajustes sociotécnicos, reglamentarios y prácticos se han promovido lógicas de gestión orientadas a gobernar y controlar las formas específicas en que los profesionales despliegan sus acciones en las instituciones educativas. Finalmente, discutimos cómo los saberes del Sumak Kawsay quedan relegados frente a una influyente racionalidad científico-técnica que busca orientar en vías específicas los procesos educativos y frente a un lenguaje psicológico orientado desde una perspectiva biomédica que inhibe formas alternativas de comprender al sujeto y la subjetividad en la educación ecuatoriana.
Education populism? A corpus-driven analysis of Betsy DeVos’s education policy discourse
Authors: Cohen Michael Ian
Published: February 2021

Scholars of political economy have raised the question of whether recent populist movements around the world signal the decline of neoliberal hegemony. What would such a decline mean for education policy, an arena that has been dominated by a neoliberal common sense for several decades? This study investigates the policy discourse of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, in order to assess the extent to which it aligns with the neoliberal common sense or draws upon discourses of populism that have been gaining traction in the last few years. Using methods of corpus linguistics, I engage in a critical discourse analysis of 59 of DeVos’s public speeches delivered between 2017 and 2019 in comparison with a reference corpus of speeches delivered by DeVos’s predecessors in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. The findings, informed by Ernesto Laclau’s theory of populism as political logic and discourse, suggest that DeVos deploys several features of populist discourse even as she advocates policies that are characteristically neoliberal. I consider the implications of this discourse for education policy in the US.
Copper and Lead Ions Removal by Electrocoagulation: Process Performance and Implications for Energy Consumption
Authors: Prasetyaningrum Aji , Ariyanti Dessy , Widayat Widayat , Jos Bakti
Published: February 2021

Electroplating wastewater contains high amount of heavy metals that can cause serious problems to humans and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to remove heavy metals from electroplating wastewater. The aim of this research was to examine the electrocoagulation (EC) process for removing the copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) ions from wastewater using aluminum electrodes. It also analyzes the removal efficiency and energy requirement rate of the EC method for heavy metals removal from wastewater. Regarding this matter, the operational parameters of the EC process were varied, including time (20−40 min), current density (40−80 A/m2), pH (3−11), and initial concentration of heavy metals. The concentration of heavy metals ions was analyzed using the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method. The results showed that the concentration of lead and copper ions decreased with the increase in EC time. The current density was observed as a notable parameter. High current density has an effect on increasing energy consumption. On the other hand, the performance of the electrocoagulation process decreased at low pH. The higher initial concentration of heavy metals resulted in higher removal efficiency than the lower concentration. The removal efficiency of copper and lead ions was 89.88% and 98.76%, respectively, at 40 min with electrocoagulation treatment of 80 A/m2 current density and pH 9. At this condition, the speciﬁc amounts of dissolved electrodes were 0.2201 kg/m3, and the energy consumption was 21.6 kWh/m3. The kinetic study showed that the removal of the ions follows the first-order model.
Habenaria diphylla (Nimmo) Dalzell (Orchidaceae), new record for the flora of Vietnam
Authors: Van Hong Thien , Nguyen Thi Hong Van , Le Hong Thia , Trinh Ngoc Nam , Huynh Nguyen Tuong An , Le Van Son , Phan Thi Thanh Nha , Dang Le Anh Tuan
Published: February 2021

Habenaria diphylla (Nimmo) Dalzell is reported for the first time as a new discovery for the flora of Vietnam based on the specimens collected in Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The present study provided the detailed characteristics of the species including detailed photographs of the morphological characteristics, the cross section of the leaf, inflorescence axis and root. Furthermore, the information about the species, including distribution, habitat, ecology and conservation status were also provided.
Reading skills of D/deaf students – native signers
Authors: Kotowicz Justyna
Published: February 2021

Reading skills of D/deaf students fall behind their hearing peers. The difference in reading skills between D/deaf and hearing children has not decreased for over past three decades. Low level of reading skills in D/deaf students has been associated with their language delay, which is mainly observed in D/deaf children using spoken language that is not fully accessible to “D/deaf individuals” instead of “ppl with hearing impairment”. D/deaf children immersed in sign language since their birth usually do not encounter language problems and they have a potential to become highly-skilled readers. In the present studies we have investigated reading skills of D/deaf students who are native signers of Polish Sign Language. The results have indicated that D/deaf students showed lower level of reading skills than their hearing peers. The present studies call in question Polish education system dedicated to D/deaf students who are native signers. The obtained results suggest that reading classes are probably not adapted to the needs and abilities of highly competent signers.
BİST 100 ENDEKSİNİN DÖVİZ KURU DEĞİŞİMLERİ İLE SİMETRİK VE ASİMETRİK İLİŞKİSİ
Authors: YILDIRIM Selim , CAVADOVA Reyhan , ESEN Ethem , TEMİZEL Fatih
Published: February 2021

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye Ekonomisinde 2009:Q1-2019:Q4 dönemi için BİST 100 endeks getirileri ile döviz kuru değişimleri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Çalışmada kullanılan BİST100 ve döviz kuru değişkenlerinin verileri, üç aylık verilerden oluşmaktadır. Değişkenler arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek üzere gecikme eklemeli modeller bağlamında, simetrik ve asimetrik nedensellik testleri kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada ilk olarak, serilerin durağan olup olmadığını veya birim köklerinin bulunup bulunmadığını belirlemek için Genişletilmiş Dickey-Fuller testi kullanılmıştır. Ardından da simetrik ve asimetrik nedensellik testi ile Türkiye’de döviz kuru-hisse senedi getirileri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Bulgular, iki değişken arasındaki ilişkinin zayıf olduğunu, bununla birlikte borsadaki negatif bir gelişmenin döviz kuru artışı ile ilişkili olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.
A note on Kazdan–Warner equation on networks
Authors: Camilli Fabio , Marchi Claudio
Published: February 2021

We investigate the Kazdan–Warner equation on a network.
In this case, the differential equation is defined on each edge, while appropriate transition conditions of Kirchhoff type are prescribed at the vertices.
We show that the whole Kazdan–Warner theory, both for the noncritical and the critical case, extends to the present setting.
New Diseases and Sectarian Debate in Hellenistic and Roman Medicine
Authors: Harris Arthur
Published: February 2021

Ancient medical practitioners discussed and debated whether previously unknown kinds of disease had been discovered and whether new diseases could come into existence. The debate over new diseases was of fundamental importance in defining the medical sects (haireseis) which came to dominate elite medicine from the Hellenistic period. This paper offers an overview of the most significant Greek and Roman sources for the debate over new diseases and an account of the origins and significance of this debate.
NT-proBNP levels in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction as well as in the prediction on an imminent delivery
Authors: Lafuente-Ganuza Paula , Carretero Fran , Lequerica-Fernández Paloma , Fernandez-Bernardo Ana , Escudero Ana I. , de la Hera-Galarza Jesus M. , Garcia-Iglesias Daniel , Alvarez-Velasco Rut , Alvarez Francisco V.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Studies of cardiovascular function in pregnancy have shown inconsistent and, in some cases, contradictory results, particularly regarding cardiac output. While some studies report preeclampsia associated with high cardiac output, other studies suggest that preeclampsia should be further subdivided into women with high or low cardiac output. This study was conducted to examine the NT-proBNP levels in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and hypertensive pregnancies without preeclampsia. We also examined N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels three to four months after delivery, in preeclamptic women as well as the prediction of delivery within 10 days. In a reduced number of preeclamptic women and controls we performed echocardiograms to study their diastolic function.

Methods

We investigated the NT-proBNP levels in 213 subjects with preeclampsia only, 73 with intrauterine growth restriction, 44 with preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, 211 who were hypertensive and 662 unaffected pregnancies (controls). We also performed echocardiograms on 36 preeclampsia and 19 controls before delivery and three to five months after delivery.

Results

NT-proBNP levels are higher in early onset preeclampsia than in late onset preeclampsia. Intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies showed a NT-proBNP levels similar to hypertensive and unaffected pregnancies. Compared with healthy pregnancies, women with preterm preeclampsia (<37 gestational weeks) had altered left atrial segments.

Conclusions

We observed that NT-proBNP levels are higher in early onset preeclampsia than in late onset. Moreover, diastolic dysfunction is higher in early onset than in late-onset term preeclampsia. An NT-proBNP value >136 pg/mL has a high positive predictive value for an imminent delivery within 10 days.
Significantly enlarged varix in the free-loop of the umbilical cord during the second trimester
Authors: Kurasaki Akiko , Hasegawa Junichi , Furuya Natsumi , Homma Chika , Harada Satoshi , Miura Ayako , Kondo Haruhiro , Suzuki Nao
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Umbilical cord varix is an abnormal dilatation of the umbilical vein. There are two types of umbilical venous varix, of which the free-loop type is extremely rare, and the prognosis and etiology are unclear. In this report, we present a case of a significantly enlarged varix in the free loop of the umbilical cord found in the second trimester.

Case presentation

Cesarean section was performed at 28 weeks’ gestation due to enlargement of the varix and rapidly increased umbilical venous velocity at the outlet of the varix. Neonatal blood tests revealed anemia and high concentrations of D-dimer, and they were considered to be due to clot formation inside the umbilical cord venous varix. The neonate received blood transfusion but other neonatal course was generally favorable. Thrombus formation in the enlarged varix was due to the constriction of the umbilical cord.

Conclusions

This case showed that the assessment of umbilical venous flow velocity can be used for estimating the constriction of the umbilical vein and for determining the timing of delivery.
A rare case of intra-uterine blood transfusion for fetal anemia caused by a giant placental chorioangioma
Authors: Raviv Shira , Shrim Alon , Eidel Julia , Yinon Yoav , Weiz Boaz , Lipitz Shlomo , Hallak Mordechai , Gabbay-Benziv Rinat
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Chorioangiomas (CAs) are the most frequent tumor-like-lesions of the placenta. Giant CAs (more than 4–5 cm in diameter) is rare and may result in severe maternal fetal complications.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old multigravida presented at 31 weeks’ gestation with contractions. Upon evaluation, contractions were spontaneously ceased, and the cervix was closed. Ultrasound examination revealed a single viable fetus, polyhydramnios and a 75 x 48 x 82 mm vascular lesion located on the placental surface near the cord insertion. Doppler assessment was suggestive of fetal anemia with middle cerebral artery-peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) 1.8 MoM’s. Fetal heart rate monitoring and biophysical scores were reassuring. Following betamethasone fetal cord sampling that revealed fetal hemoglobin level of 8.8 g/dL, 57 cc of blood was transfused resulting in final hemoglobin level of 14.3 g/dL measured prior to needle extraction. MCA-PSV was normalized immediately after the procedure, however aggravated at the following day with MCA-PSV 65 cm/s (1.46 MoM’s). No other intervention was taken and MCA-PSV continued to fluctuate from slight to severe anemia spontaneously over a period of two weeks. At 34 gestational weeks, the women delivered a healthy baby. Fetal hemoglobin level at delivery was 21 g/dL.

Conclusions

Fetal blood transfusion is a reasonable treatment for fetal anemia in cases of giant chorioangiomas. Following transfusion, MCA-PSV may act unexpectedly reflecting various mechanisms affecting the flow.
A case report of co-infection with rhinovirus and SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy
Authors: Heiselman Cassandra J. , Iovino Nicole , Herrera Kimberly M.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

A novel betacoronavirus, SARV-COV-2, was first reported in China on December 31, 2019. Since that time, the number of cases worldwide has grown exponentially. Because this coronavirus was newly described in the human population, strategies to combat spread, to test appropriately, and to identify those at higher risk for severe disease changed frequently as understanding evolved.

Case presentation

This is a report of a case that demonstrate that coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is possible and likely more common than initially projected. The patient is a 28-year-old G2P1001 at 31 weeks and four days gestation that presented with a 5-day history of high fevers, cough, myalgias, malaise and headache. Patient was diagnosed with Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, admitted for supportive care, and no longer considered a person under investigation for COVID19 because of her positive respiratory panel. Patient’s SARS-CoV-2 screen came back positive two days after her discharge from the hospital. Patient required readmission for worsening symptoms later that night, presenting with tachypnea, hypotension, and pneumonia. Patient was successfully discharged home on hospital day six.

Conclusions

Co-infection with other respiratory viruses happens more than originally thought, therefore going forward protocols should be cognizant of this. When patients present with symptoms suspicious of COVID-19, he or she should be tested regardless of the status of the respiratory viral panel, including influenza.
Adiponectin and leptin levels in normal weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Gözüküçük Murat , Yarcı Gürsoy Aslı , Destegül Emre , Taşkın Salih , Şatıroğlu Hakan
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Since polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is prevalent in reproductive women with obesity and insulin resistance, adipocytokines are often accused and investigated for pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adiponectin and leptin levels in normal-weight women with PCOS.

Methods

Forty women with PCOS and 40 age and body mass index (BMI) matched controls were included in the study. Adiponectin and leptin levels in addition to other biochemical parameters were measured.

Results

Leptin levels were statistically significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (6.53 ± 2.670 vs 3.37 ± 2.002 ng/mL, p < 0.001 respectively). Although Adiponectin levels were lower in the study group compared to the control group (28.89 ± 16.124 μg/mL vs 31.05 ± 20.507, p = 0.714 respectively) the difference did not reach statistical significance. Leptin levels were positively correlated with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, free testosterone levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. Adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with BMI.

Conclusions

Adiponectin and leptin have been suggested to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Different adipocytokine levels in the normal weight PCOS group compared to age and BMI matched controls support the idea that adipose tissue in this group of women has some distinctive features not only in high BMI subgroup but also in normal weight subgroup.
C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 (Cxcr2) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma immune evasion via regulating programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)
Authors: Wan Yafeng , Ge Ke , Zhou Weijiang , Lu Jun , Jia Changku , Zhu Hanzhang
Published: February 2021

Strategies to sensitize hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) to programmed death-1 (PD1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor therapies are important in improving the survival of HCC patients. The aim of the study was to characterize C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 (Cxcr2) as a therapeutic target in HCC and evaluate the effects of Cxcr2 suppression in sensitizing HCC to PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapies. To this end, we constructed a Cxcr2-knockout HCC cell line (Hepa1-6 KO) using the CRISPR-Cas9 approach and assessed the tumor growth rate and survival of mice after subcutaneously inoculating Hepa1-6 KO cells in mice. We show that Cxcr2 knockdown does not dramatically inhibit tumor growth and improve mouse survival. In tumor xenografts, the proportion of T cells is not affected but the ratio of M1/M2 macrophage is greatly increased. Cxcr2 knockdown does not alter cell viability but macrophages co-cultured with Hepa1-6 KO cells are shifted to M1 phenotypes compared to WT cells. Hepa-1-6 KO cells exhibit lower levels of PD-L1 expression. c-Myc is suppressed in Hepa1-6 KO cells, which contributes to PD-L1 downregulation. Knockdown of Cxcr2 decreases PD-L1 levels and consequently promotes the shift of macrophages to the M1 phenotype, which is mediated by downregulating c-Myc. In summary, Cxcr2 is a potential target for suppressing immune escape in HCC.
Revisiting the interaction of heme with hemopexin
Authors: Detzel Milena Sophie , Schmalohr Benjamin Franz , Steinbock Francèl , Hopp Marie-Thérèse , Ramoji Anuradha , Paul George Ajay Abisheck , Neugebauer Ute , Imhof Diana
Published: February 2021

In hemolytic disorders, erythrocyte lysis results in massive release of hemoglobin and, subsequently, toxic heme. Hemopexin is the major protective factor against heme toxicity in human blood and currently considered for therapeutic use. It has been widely accepted that hemopexin binds heme with extraordinarily high affinity of <1 pM in a 1:1 ratio. However, several lines of evidence point to a higher stoichiometry and lower affinity than determined 50 years ago. Here, we re-analyzed these data. SPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy were used to monitor the interaction of heme with the human protein. The heme-binding sites of hemopexin were characterized using hemopexin-derived peptide models and competitive displacement assays. We obtained a K

D
value of 0.32 ± 0.04 nM and the ratio for the interaction was determined to be 1:1 at low heme concentrations and at least 2:1 (heme:hemopexin) at high concentrations. We were able to identify two yet unknown potential heme-binding sites on hemopexin. Furthermore, molecular modelling with a newly created homology model of human hemopexin suggested a possible recruiting mechanism by which heme could consecutively bind several histidine residues on its way into the binding pocket. Our findings have direct implications for the potential administration of hemopexin in hemolytic disorders.
The effect of alternating ventilation on forced air pre-cooling of cherries
Authors: Jia Binguang , Liu Fang , Yuan Shaodi , Li Zichun , Zhang Xiao
Published: February 2021

Large temperature gradients caused by the traditional forced air pre-cooling method leads to the decrease of the shelf life of horticultural products. An alternating ventilation of air pre-cooling is one of the key methods to reduce the temperature inhomogeneity of cherries. The research results on the alternating ventilation change showed that the operating time of fan was not neglected in the forced air pre-cooling. It reached up to 7.70% of total pre-cooling time when the number of ventilation changes no more than five. In general, the total pre-cooling time was proportional to the number of ventilation increase. The final inhomogeneity of cherries first quickly decreased from 0.237 to 0.097 with air direction changing once and then fluctuated from 0.09 to 0.120 with the number of ventilation changing from 1 to 5. Through the comprehensive analysis of temperature inhomogeneity and pre-cooling time, the optimal alternating ventilation on forced air pre-cooling of cherries was ventilation changing once.
Research on bifurcation and chaos characteristics of planet gear transmission system with mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) friction
Authors: Wang Jingyue , Liu Ning , Wang Haotian , Guo Lixin
Published: February 2021

In order to study the influence of friction on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of a planetary gear system, the dynamic model of a planet gear transmission system considering mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) friction, time-varying meshing stiffness, backlash and comprehensive meshing error is established. The Runge–Kutta method is used to solve the dynamic differential equations, and the bifurcation and chaos characteristics of the system are analysed through the bifurcation diagram, largest lyapunov exponent (LLE), Poincaré map, phase diagram, time history curve diagram and fast fourier transform (FFT)spectrum. The results of numerical simulation show that the planetary gear system with mixed EHL friction exhibits rich bifurcation characteristics, and the system experiences short-periodic motion, long-periodic motion, quasi-periodic motion and chaotic motion. The effect of tooth surface friction on the bifurcation characteristics of the planetary gear system is more obvious at high frequency than that at low frequency. Tooth surface friction causes the system to enter chaotic motion in advance.
Inverse problems for stochastic parabolic equations with additive noise
Authors: Yuan Ganghua
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we study two inverse problems for stochastic parabolic equations with additive noise.
One is to determinate the history of a stochastic heat process and the random heat source simultaneously by the observation at the final time 𝑇.
For this inverse problem, we obtain a conditional stability result.
The other one is an inverse source problem to determine two kinds of sources simultaneously by the observation at the final time and on the lateral boundary.
The main tool for solving the inverse problems is a new global Carleman estimate for the stochastic parabolic equation.