bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Treaty of Meaux-Paris (1228)
Authors: Martines Vicent
Published: October 2020

The authors analyze the Treaty of Meaux-Paris (1228) signed between France and Toulouse. It has extraordinary relevance as it establishes the terms of the application of French law over the powerful county of Toulouse and by extension over Occitan lands, as the result of the Battle of Muret (1213). They offer the first translation ever (into English) of this treaty and they analyze it as the legal rendering of the centralized expansion of the French Crown on its way towards becoming an absolutist monarchy. They also study for the first time this treaty in comparison to the Decrees of Nova Planta issued in Spain between 1707-1716 by a king of French origin which represented the fulfillment of an authoritarian process that began in France in the 13th century. The treaty and the decrees used the concept of the “just right of conquest,” which provided a (debatable) legitimacy to the interests of the winning parties. They analyze literary texts such as the Cançó de la Croada as well as historical contemporary accounts creation of a Catalan collective identity.
Phraseology and Identity
Authors: Salvador Vicent M.
Published: October 2020

In recent decades, phraseology has ceased to be a marginal philological discipline and has become an important area in both discourse analysis (“repeated” or “prefabricated” discourse) and applied linguistics (translation and language teaching). The fact that idiomaticity is one of its most characteristic features creates an added difficulty for translators and second language learners, since knowledge of lexicon and regular grammar is not sufficient for the communicative mastery of a language and for the socialization of the speakers in the speech community concerned. This is where sociolinguistics comes into play: the (passive and active) use of phraseological units (PU) or phrasemes becomes a relevant sociolinguistic factor as an index of collective identity in Peirce's terms and as an indicator, a marker, or a stereotype, according to Labov. Furthermore, the conservation of repertories of PU throughout history, and especially proverbs and other expressive formulas, is a symbol of the linguistic and cultural personality of the Catalan language community.
Applying Blockchain Security for Agricultural Supply Chain Management
Authors: Vidhate Amarsinh V. , Saraf Chitra Ramesh , Wani Mrunal Anil , Waghmare Sweta Siddarth , Edgar Teresa
Published: October 2020

Blockchain technology permits a highly secured record keeping and digital transaction. Blockchain technology is changing the digital world and industry by bringing a new view to security, transparency, and efficiency of systems. It provides a safe way for the exchange of products, services, or transaction. Blockchain will enable more agile value chains, faster product innovations, closer customer relationship sector. This paper provides an overview of blockchain technology and its potential in developing a secure and reliable agriculture supply chain management. Agriculture supply chain management systems are vital for getting food products delivered from farmers to the consumers. Blockchain technology can also be used to achieve better prices and payment options, land title registration and for transparent disbursement of subsidies to farmers.
Analysis of Machine Learning Techniques for Anomaly-Based Intrusion Detection
Authors: Yaokumah Winfred , Wiafe Isaac
Published: October 2020

Determining the machine learning (ML) technique that performs best on new datasets is an important factor in the design of effective anomaly-based intrusion detection systems. This study therefore evaluated four machine learning algorithms (naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbors, decision tree, and random forest) on UNSW-NB 15 dataset for intrusion detection. The experiment results showed that random forest and decision tree classifiers are effective for detecting intrusion. Random forest had the highest weighted average accuracy of 89.66% and a mean absolute error (MAE) value of 0.0252 whereas decision tree recorded 89.20% and 0.0242, respectively. Naive Bayes classifier had the worst results on the dataset with 56.43% accuracy and a MAE of 0.0867. However, contrary to existing knowledge, naïve Bayes was observed to be potent in classifying backdoor attacks. Observably, naïve Bayes performed relatively well in classes where tree-based classifiers demonstrated abysmal performance.
Omni-Channel Retailing With Consumer Preference and Carbon Emission Efforts
Authors: Zhang Chong , You Mingchuan
Published: October 2020

With the popularity of omni-channel retailing, many retailers have begun to offer customers choices to decide whether to shop online or in a physical store, considering customers preference for different channels. This paper has studied omni-channel retailing in which the retailers sell low-carbon products through online and physical channels. The research has been conducted under three different decision circumstances (i.e., physical store-leader Stackelberg model and online store-leader Stackelberg model under the decentralized decision and centralized decision). The results show that both the retailers' profit in a single channel and the total profit in two channels will decrease with the customers' preference and the effort level of emission reduction. In addition, under decentralized decision, online store-leader Stackelberg model is more beneficial to the retailers.
Research on Multi-Period Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network Equilibrium Based on Consumers' Preference for Products
Authors: Guoyi Xiu , Caiquan Duan , Yubin Zhang , Yunhui Zhang
Published: October 2020

This paper comprehensively analyzes the impact of consumer preference for products in a multi-period closed-loop supply chain network (CLSCN) equilibrium. This paper is based on the multi-period CLSCN equilibrium model of remanufacturers' recoveries and multiple planning periods. The consumer preference for products at multiple planning periods are respectively divided into dynamic and static conditions. Moreover, the intervention of government is considered. Meanwhile, the variational inequalities are employed to separately depict the optimal behaviors and equilibrium conditions of the supply chain network. The results show that when the consumer preference for new products is static, the impact of consumer preference for new products has a significant impact on the multi-period CLSCN. If consumer preference for new products is dynamic, at the preliminary planning period, the impact of consumer preference for new products on the multi-period CLSCN will be better defined.
Implementation of Web Log Mining Device Under Apriori Algorithm Improvement and Confidence Formula Optimization
Authors: Zhu Lihua
Published: October 2020

With the increasing number of internet users, a large number of network alarm information increases, resulting in the increasing pressure of SMS gateway and frequent alarm delay. Therefore, in order to effectively improve the above problems, the article is based on the improved Apriori algorithm and confidence formula, points and grabbing module, model training module and the test evaluation module device, three steps to realize the web log mining and mining system design for the data acquisition module, data preprocessing module, mining model building blocks, mining model checking module and mining model analysis and evaluation module five modules. Finally, the Python program was used to verify the test data of about two million pieces of original alarm data in a company's network management database for a consecutive month. The verification results show that the design of this paper has greatly reduced the number of original alarms and completed the merging of related rules.
Evaluating the Impact of DDoS Attacks in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks
Authors: Adhikary Kaushik , Bhushan Shashi , Kumar Sunil , Dutta Kamlesh
Published: October 2020

The presence of either malicious vehicles or inaccessibility of network services makes vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) easy targets for denial of service (DoS) attacks. The sole purpose of DoS attacks is to prevent the intended users from accessing the available resources and services. When the DoS attack is carried out by multiple vehicles distributed throughout the network, it is referred as distributed DoS (DDoS) attack. A lot of works have been done by researchers in securing the vehicular communication against the DDoS attacks. In this paper, efforts have been made to simulate the DDoS attacks in VANETs as well as to study their impact on the performance of networks. The experimental results are presented using six important metrics, which are collision, jitter, delay, packet drop, ratio-in-out, and throughput. The experimental results show that the impact of distributed DoS (DDoS) attack on networks performance is very critical and must be addressed to ensure the smooth functioning of networks.
Multi-Agent-Based Acoustic Sensor Node Deployment in Underwater Acoustic Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Halakarnimath Basaprabhu S. , Sutagundar Ashok V.
Published: October 2020

The deployment of acoustic sensor nodes in 3-D underwater acoustic wireless sensor networks (UAWSN) is a difficult task due to various aquatic conditions and physical obstacles. This work proposes multi-agent-based acoustic sensor node deployment (MASD) to deploy the acoustic nodes at ideal positions to enhance coverage and seamless connectivity. The proposed scheme works is threefold: 1) AUV initiates random walk in the network to gather the information and prospective common reference points; 2) the base station gets this information through surface buoys and computes the routing path, feasible locations for deploying new nodes; and 3) AUV collects this information and follows the path to deploy nodes with the help of agents. The multi-agent-enabled deployment framework (MADF) is proposed to support the deployment process at each level of the proposed MASD scheme. The performance of propagation loss, coverage, and overhead tradeoffs are analyzed to validate the proposed scheme. Mobility issues can be further re-investigated in shallow water as a future direction to the MASD scheme.
Regulatory T Cells Maintain Selective Access to IL-2 and Immune Homeostasis despite Substantially Reduced CD25 Function
Authors: Hayes Erika T. , Hagan Cassidy E. , Khoryati Liliane , Gavin Marc A. , Campbell Daniel J.
Published: October 2020

IL-2 is a critical regulator of immune homeostasis through its impact on both regulatory T (Treg) and effector T cells. However, the precise role of IL-2 in the maintenance and function of Treg cells in the adult peripheral immune system remains unclear. In this study, we report that neutralization of IL-2 in mice abrogated all IL-2R signaling in Treg cells, but was well tolerated and only gradually impacted Treg cell function and immune homeostasis. By contrast, despite substantially reduced IL-2 sensitivity, Treg cells maintained selective IL-2 signaling and prevented immune dysregulation following treatment with the inhibitory anti-CD25 Ab PC61. Reduction of Treg cells with a depleting version of the same CD25 Ab permitted CD8+ effector T cell proliferation before progressing to more widespread immune dysregulation. Thus, despite severely curtailed CD25 expression and function, Treg cells retain selective access to IL-2 that supports their anti-inflammatory functions in vivo. Ab-mediated targeting of CD25 is being actively pursued for treatment of autoimmune disease and prevention of allograft rejection, and our findings help inform therapeutic manipulation and design for optimal patient outcomes.
An Allosteric Shift in CD11c Affinity Activates a Proatherogenic State in Arrested Intermediate Monocytes
Authors: Hernandez Alfredo A. , Foster Greg A. , Soderberg Stephanie R. , Fernandez Andrea , Reynolds Mack B. , Orser Mable K. , Bailey Keith A. , Rogers Jason H. , Singh Gagan D. , Wu Huaizhu , Passerini Anthony G. , Simon Scott I.
Published: October 2020

Intermediate monocytes (iMo; CD14+CD16+) increase in number in the circulation of patients with unstable coronary artery disease (CAD), and their recruitment to inflamed arteries is implicated in events leading to mortality following MI. Monocyte recruitment to inflamed coronary arteries is initiated by high affinity β2-integrin (CD11c/CD18) that activates β1-integrin (VLA-4) to bind endothelial VCAM-1. How integrin binding under shear stress mechanosignals a functional shift in iMo toward an inflammatory phenotype associated with CAD progression is unknown. Whole blood samples from patients treated for symptomatic CAD including non-ST elevation MI, along with healthy age-matched subjects, were collected to assess chemokine and integrin receptor levels on monocytes. Recruitment on inflamed human aortic endothelium or rVCAM-1 under fluid shear stress was assessed using a microfluidic-based artery on a chip (A-Chip). Membrane upregulation of high affinity CD11c correlated with concomitant activation of VLA-4 within focal adhesive contacts was required for arrest and diapedesis across inflamed arterial endothelium to a greater extent in non-ST elevation MI compared with stable CAD patients. The subsequent conversion of CD11c from a high to low affinity state under fluid shear activated phospho-Syk– and ADAM17-mediated proteolytic cleavage of CD16. This marked the conversion of iMo to an inflammatory phenotype associated with nuclear translocation of NF-κB and production of IL-1β+. We conclude that CD11c functions as a mechanoregulator that activates an inflammatory state preferentially in a majority of iMo from cardiac patients but not healthy patients.
State dependent nonconvex sweeping processes in smooth Banach spaces
Authors: Bounekhel Djalel , Bounkhel Messaoud , Bachar Mostafa
Published: October 2020

In the setting of 2-uniformly smooth and

q

-uniformly convex Banach spaces, we prove the existence of solutions of the following multivalued differential equation:

-\frac{d}{dt} J(u(t)) \in N^C(C(t,u(t));u(t)) \text{ a.e. in } [0,T]. \:\:\: \mathrm{(SDNSP)}

This inclusion is called State Dependent Nonconvex Sweeping Process (SDNSP). Here

N^C(C(t,u(t)); u(t))

stands for the Clarke normal cone. The perturbed (SDNSPP) is also considered. Our results extend recent existing results from the setting of Hilbert spaces to the setting of Banach spaces. In our proofs we use some new results on

V

-uniformly generalized prox-regular sets in Banach spaces.
Título en español.
Authors: David A. Young, Jr.
Published: October 2020

La dificultad existente para identificar una especie de Empoasca, colectada en el árbol de papaya, motivó un estudio sobre un grupo neotropical de especies afines a la Empoasca solana. El grupo incluye las especies canavalia, solana, manda, dilitara, plebeia, tamiama, caldwelli, hyalina, olivatula, thela, y dos nuevas especies: stevensi y wolcotti. Se incluye una clave para identificar 12 especies y se describen 9 de ellas.
Título en español.
Authors: George N. Wolcott
Published: October 2020

Riki-tiki-tavi, una mangosta de la India, fué el héroe en el "Libro de la Selva" de Rudyard Kipling, por su habilidad para matar cobras y otras serpientes venenosas. Traída a las Antillas donde no hay serpientes, como sucede en Santa Cruz, o muy pocas como en Puerto Rico, la mangosta se dedicó a atacar lo más que se le parecía a una culebra, principalmente lagartijas. Las lagartijas son insectívoras y por lo tanto se consideran beneficiosas a la agricultura. De hecho, la mayor parte de los insectos dañinos que se encontró en los estómagos de las mangostas observadas, con toda probabilidad fueron originalmente atrapados por lagartijas. Los insectos que come la mangosta en su mayoría son ortópteros, tales como saltamontes, grillos y cucarachas. También come tarántulas y ciempiés.
The Role of Internet Development on Energy Intensity in China: Evidence From a Spatial Econometric Analysis
Authors: Hao Yu , Wu Haitao
Published: October 2020

With the emergence of information communication technology, the role of internet development has become crucial for energy intensity. This study uses the spatial Durbin model to test the impact of internet development on China’s energy intensity. The results show that internet development reduces energy intensity. Internet development though carries spatial spillover effects, promoting energy intensity in adjacent areas.
Polemical Comparisons in Discourses of Religious Diversity: Conceptual Remarks and Reflexive Perspectives
Authors: Brauner Christina
Published: October 2020

Using comparisons to disparage others is a technique we all know from everyday life. In discourses of religious diversity, such polemical comparisons also play a prominent role in the making and unmaking of inter- and intra-religious boundaries and hierarchies. Linking polemical comparisons to more general methodological questions, this conceptual piece provides an analytical framework for the different case studies to follow. It takes up the call for a “double hermeneutics” in addressing comparing both as historical and scholarly practice. By adopting such a reflexive perspective, the analysis of polemical comparisons is situated at the interstices between emic and etic perspectives on the religious field. I briefly outline the current state of debate on comparisons in general and in religious studies in particular and situate polemical comparisons within these debates. I then move on to provide a typology of polemical comparisons, proposing some basic terms and perspectives for studying such comparisons in different constellations.
Mecanismos Neurocognitivos de la motivación en el entrenamiento físico
Authors: Salvador Bertone Matías , Ezequiel Loskin Ulises , Sandoval Obando Eduardo , Acosta Martín
Published: October 2020

La inactividad física y el sedentarismo son en la actualidad un problema de salud global que preocupa por su crecimiento sistemático. Provoca consecuencias sanitarias en los adultos y, con un incremento alarmante, en la población más joven. Por el contrario, la realización periódica de actividad física ha demostrado beneficios a la salud física, neurológica y mental. A pesar de los incontrovertibles datos sobre sus efectos positivos, menos de la mitad de la población mundial se ejercita regularmente. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una breve descripción sobre los mecanismo neurocognitivos que se encuentran implicados en los procesos de motivación, en especial los que se vinculan a la actividad física, con la finalidad de presentar una serie de recomendaciones pragmáticas para aumentar la adherencia a programas de entrenamiento físico, basados en técnicas de la psicología cognitiva y analizados desde la perspectiva neurocognitiva.
Complejo de esclerosis tuberosa
Authors: Bernal Botero Luisa Fernanda , Arias-Ramírez Yaira Zuleine , Pineda Graciano César Mauricio
Published: October 2020

El Complejo de Esclerosis Tuberosa (CET) es un trastorno genético de herencia autosómica dominante, causado por la mutación en uno de los genes TSC1 o TSC2. Los pacientes con una afectación CET grave de tipo neurológica posiblemente presentarán epilepsia, discapacidad intelectual, problemas específicos del aprendizaje y trastornos de la conducta, por lo que la evaluación neuropsicológica en individuos con esta patología cobra un carácter importante al proporcionar información sobre los déficits cognitivos que subyacen en la afectación cerebral, que alteran el funcionamiento intelectual y los aspectos adaptativos. El actual trabajo presenta el perfil cognitivo de una paciente adulta femenina con antecedente de CET, epilepsia y discapacidad intelectual, así como la descripción de una propuesta de intervención neuropsicológica basada en el funcionamiento ejecutivo dorsolateral.
Asthma severity identification from pulmonary acoustic signal for computerized decision support system
Authors: Fizza Ghulam Nabi  , Kenneth Sundaraj  , Chee Kiang Lam
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Objective: Breath sound has information about underlying pathology and condition of subjects. The purpose of this study is to examine asthmatic acuteness levels (Mild, Moderate, Severe) using frequency features extracted from wheeze sounds. Further, analysis has been extended to observe behavior of wheeze sounds in different datasets.

Method: Segmented and validated wheeze sounds was collected from 55 asthmatic patients from the trachea and lower lung base (LLB) during tidal breathing maneuvers. Segmented wheeze sounds have been grouped in to nine datasets based on auscultation location, breath phases and a combination of phase and location. Frequency based features F25, F50, F75, F90, F99 and mean frequency (MF) has been calculated from normalized power spectrum. Subsequently, multivariate analysis has been performed for analysis.

Result: Generally frequency features observe statistical significance (p < 0.05) for the majority of datasets to differentiate severity level ? = 0.432-0.939, F(12, 196-1534) = 2.731-11.196, p < 0.05, ????2 = 0.061-0.568. It was observed that selected features performed better (higher effect size) for trachea related samples ? = 0.432-0.620, F(12, 196-498) = 6.575-11.196, p < 0.05, ????2 = 0.386-0.568.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that severity levels of asthmatic patients with tidal breathing can be identified through computerized wheeze sound analysis. In general, auscultation location and breath phases produce wheeze sounds with different characteristics.

Keywords: Asthma, Breath Sounds, Wheeze Detection, Airway Obstruction, Severity Level

Continuous...
impact of diabetes mellitus on clinico-laboratory characteristics and in-hospital clinical outcomes among patients with myocardial
Authors: Syed Haroon Khalid  , Iqra Liaqat  , Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi  , Amer Hayat Khan  , Junaid Ahmad  , Yusra Habib Khan
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) along with myocardial infarction (MI) carries increased burden on patients in terms of morbidity, mortality and cost. Current study was aimed to investigate the impact of DM on clinico-laboratory characteristics on in-hospital treatment outcomes among MI patients.

Methodology: All MI patients admitted to the emergency department of Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology from April, 2016 to March, 2017 were recruited into the study. The clinico-laboratory profile and in-hospital outcomes of patients with and without DM were compared using chi-squared test or student t-test, where appropriate.

Results: A total 4063 patients (Mean age: 55.86 ± 12.37years) with male preponderance were included into the study. STEMI was most prevalent (n = 2723, 67%) type of MI among study participants. DM was present in substantial number of cases (n = 3688, 90.8%). Patients with DM presented with increased BMI, higher blood pressure, elevated levels of cholesterol, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen, when compared to the patients without DM (p<0.05). Out of 560 patients who were followed up, cardiogenic shock was frequent (n = 293, 52.3%) adverse outcome followed by heart failure (n = 114, 20.4%), atrial fibrillation (n = 78, 13.9%) and stroke (n = 75, 13.4 %). Moreover, in-hospital adverse outcomes were more prevalent among MI patients with DM than those without DM.

Conclusion: MI patients with DM present with varying clinico-laboratory characteristics as well as experience higher prevalence of adverse cardiovascular events as compared to patients without DM.

Continuous...
DOES DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AFFECT ECONOMIC GROWTH? EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA
Authors: Ozekhome Hassan O.
Published: October 2020

A reciprocally re-enforcing relationship exists between institutions, foreign direct investment and economic growth. Sound institutional framework which supports foreign direct investment is significant for driving rapid Economic growth. An important factor that has undermined rapid and sustained economic growth is the weak institutional structure, decrepit state capacity and low level of foreign direct investment in Nigeria. Democratic structures reflected in the rule of law, effectiveness and predictability of the judiciary and enforceability of contracts proceedings is imperative for accelerating economic growth. Employing the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation techniques on annual time series data covering the period from 1981 to 2015, the relationship between these variables was empirically investigated. The empirical findings reveal that democratic institutions and foreign direct investment are significant variables influencing economic growth in Nigeria. In particular, the results, using Nigerian data, show that weak institutions have a destabilizing impact on growth. The impact of FDI on the other hand is found to be positive and significant. Therefore, sound institutional framework, as well as appropriate and consistent macroeconomic policies that encourage foreign direct investment to propel rapid economic growth in Nigeria needs to be put in place.
DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL INTENSITY AMONG TABLE WATER PRODUCERS IN NIGERIA
Authors: Agbadudu Joseph Edewor , Adekunle Simon Ayo
Published: October 2020

Planning for and making reasonable decisions regarding reaching the target market with an organization’s product is a critical task on the part of management, which involves a careful evaluation and selection of its channel structure and intensity.This study therefore examines distribution channel intensity among table water producers in Edo State, Nigeria. The focus of the study is to ascertain the variables that significantly predict distribution intensity among the firms in the table water industry in Edo State. The study seeks to proffer answer to fundamental question of why brands within a single category of a given consumer good differ significantly in their distribution intensity. Using a survey research design, the data used for this study were obtained by taking a sample of 110 table water firms within the three senatorial districts in the State. The data obtained were presented and analyzed using different statistical tools such as mean and multiple regression through Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software. Findings revealed that manufacturers’ target focus, manufacturers’ support program, brand quality and level of firm’s technological advancement were significant predictors of distribution channel intensity among the industrial players in table water industry in the State. Based on the findings, the study recommended that table water firms within the State can secure a competitive edge over their fellow counterpart in the industry by designing an optimal distribution intensity that will meet up their marketing objectives. It is also recommended that the adoption of modern technology in form of online sales is an efficient way of sales and distribution which could be used to enhance their distribution techniques if there is a need to cut down on middle men due to increased cost. The study concluded that optimal distribution intensity could be achieved not by mere imitation of competitors but through a careful definition and analyses of target focus, support programs, quality of their brand as well as the level of technological advancement of the firms.
Local Electrochemical Behavior of Friction Stir Welded Mg-Al-Mn Alloy Joints
Authors: Salleh S.H. , Zeng Z.R. , McNally E.A. , Birbilis N. , Musameh M. , Venkatesan K. , Kish J.R. , McDermid J.R. , Glover C.F. , Williams G. , Thomas S.
Published: October 2020

Local scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), along with a scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), were used to spatially map anodic and cathodic regions in a complex assembly including a friction stir lap welded joint between two Mg-Al-Mn alloys, namely AM60 and AM30. The assembly investigated herein was comprised of the two base materials (AM60 and AM30) and a stir zone (SZ). The transitory electrochemical characteristics of the three regions were perceived from different electrochemical tests and have been correlated to their respective microstructures. Potentiometric and voltametric SECM performed on the assembly in 0.01 M NaCl revealed that during the first few minutes of exposure, AM60 and SZ regions act as dominant anodic regions in the assembly while after 2 h of exposure these regions transition to become cathodic relative to the AM30 region. Galvanic interaction between the different weld regions immersed in a significantly more conductive NaCl electrolyte was investigated by SVET. Under such conditions, filiform-like corrosion initiated, and propagated exclusively within the AM30 region, resulting in cathodic activation of the corroded surface. However, after approximately 5 h of exposure, the AM60 region preferentially dissolves following sufficient cathodic activation of the AM30 region.
New findings in oligogenic inheritance of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Authors: Gach Agnieszka , Pinkier Iwona , Wysocka Urszula , Sałacińska Kinga , Salachna Dominik , Szarras-Czapnik Maria , Pietrzyk Aleksandra , Sakowicz Agata , Nykel Anna , Rutkowska Lena , Rybak-Krzyszkowska Magda , Socha Magda , Jamsheer Aleksander , Jakubowski Lucjusz
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism results from a dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which is essential for the development and function of the reproductive system. It may be associated with anosmia, referred to as Kallmann syndrome, or a normal sense of smell. Numerous studies have proven that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is not simply a monogenic Mendelian disease, but that more than one gene may be involved in its pathogenesis in a single patient. The oligogenic complex architecture underlying the disease is still largely unknown.

Material and methods

Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to screen for DNA variants in a cohort of 47 patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The NGS panel consists of over 50 well-known and candidate genes, associated with hypogonadotropic state.

Results

Here we report the identification of new oligogenic variants in SPRY4/SEMA3A, SRA1/SEMA7A, CHD7/SEMA7A, CCDC141/POLR3B/POLR3B, and PROKR2/SPRY4/NSMF. These genes are known to contribute to the phenotype of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, yet our results point to potential new “partners” underlying digenic and trigenic patterns.

Conclusions

The finding supports the importance of oligogenic inheritance and demonstrates the complexity of genetic architecture in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. It also underlines the necessity for developing fine-tuned guidelines to provide a tool for adequate and precise sequence variant classification in non-Mendelian conditions.
Socioeconomic costs of influenza complications in hospitalized children
Authors: Wrotek August , Czajkowska Malgorzata , Zawlocka Edyta , Jackowska Teresa
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Influenza may be correlated with a high number of complications and generate high costs of treatment. The study aimed to estimate the socioeconomic significance of hospitalized influenza cases.

Material and methods

In the 2015–2016 flu season 157 children (median age 17 months) were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics. The diagnosis was confirmed with the rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or both. The study assessed the direct and indirect costs of hospitalization, including the cost of treatment, work absence and the related income lost.

Results

The frequency of complications among the children hospitalized was 57.3% (90/157), mainly due to pneumonia (31%) and bronchitis (23%). Patients with complications required longer hospital treatment (8 vs. 6 days, p < 0.01) and generated a higher total cost (€ 1042 vs. € 779, p < 0.01), including the patient’s and systemic costs (€123 vs. € 94, p < 0.01 and € 916 vs. € 690, p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with complications had a 3.5-fold higher risk of generating higher (i.e., above median) costs. The difference in the costs between children aged under 2 and those over 2 years old was greater than the difference between children aged under 5 and those over 5 years old (€ 358 vs. € 253).

Conclusions

Influenza complications generate higher systemic and patient’s costs, both direct and indirect. The group of children for whom the difference is especially marked is under 2 years of age.
Variability of PT-INR values measured by point of care devices INRatio/INRatio 2 and CoaguChek XS and standard laboratory method. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Komatsu Chikayoshi , Iseki Harukazu , Goto Shinichi , Goto Shinya
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Various point-of-care (POC) devices are available for measure- ment of PT-INR with whole blood in patients receiving vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). However, the variability in values measured with various POC devic- es and traditional plasma-based laboratory measurement in clinical practice has yet to be clarified.

Material and methods

PT-INR values measured with the same blood sam- ple by POC devices of INRatio/INRatio 2 (INRatio) and the CoaguChek XS portable INR monitor (CoaguChek) were compared with those measured with traditional plasma-based laboratory measurement (lab-INR) in 1,347 measurements from 393 patients. The difference between the PT-INR values obtained from Lab-INR and POC devicees were expressed as Δ. To quantify the relationships among values obtained by various methods, regression analysis and the Bland-Altman method were applied.

Results

PT-INR values measured with INRatio were higher than lab-INR with Δ = –0.33 ±0.38 (mean ± SD; 95% CI: –0.31 – –0.35). Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the values measured with INRatio and lab-INR was 0.784. The PT-INR values measured with CoaguChek were not different from lab-INR with Δ –0.08 ±0.15 (mean ± SD; 95% CI: –0.07 – –0.09). The correla- tion between the value obtained with CoaguChek XS and lab PT-INR was high with Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.951.

Conclusions

Even with the blood obtained from the same patients treated with the same dose of warfarin, the PT-INR values measured with INRatio were higher than traditional laboratory measurements. The apparent “qual- ity of warfarin control” is influenced by the methods of PT-INR measure- ments.
We are infected with the new, mutated virus UO-COVID-19
Authors: Kulesza Wojciech , Doliński Dariusz , Muniak Paweł , Derakhshan Ali , Rizulla Aidana , Banach Maciej
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Optimism is boosted by leaders hoping for job creation, increased business spending, and a high consumption rate. In this research, we assessed the hazardous side effect for global health policies stemming from this optimism: unrealistic optimism (being unrealistically optimistic about future negative events), which may be responsible for new infections and may prevent the eradication of COVID-19. The goal of the research was not only to assess whether this effect exists and to find out whether such an effect is global but also to evaluate whether there are groups resistant to this effect (presenting a potential toolkit for reducing this effect).

Material and methods

In May and April of 2020, online surveys were administered among students in Iran, Kazakhstan, and Poland respectively to assess the unrealistic optimism/pessimism. In study 1/objective 1, the survey was conducted twice (in a period of about 3 weeks) to assess the potential change (due to the anonymous codes delivered by the participants, we were able to make follow-ups between the same participants) in time in the 3 countries. In the first wave, 1611 participants took the survey. In the second wave, there were 1426 respondents. In study 2, the survey was conducted among 207 Polish healthcare workers of the frontline hospital.

Results

In study 1 across the 3 cultures (the first wave for unmatched data by the code of the specific participant F(1, 1608) = 419.2; p < 0.001, and for matched data F(1, 372) = 167.195; p < 0.001; ηp² = 0.31; ηp² = 0.21; the second wave for unmatched data F(1, 1423) = 359.61; p < 0.001; ηp² = 0.2, and for matched F(1, 372) = 166.84; p < 0.001; ηp² = 0.31), unrealistic optimism is present, and importantly it is constant in time. In study 2, unrealistic optimism was not found among healthcare professionals, who we hypothesized due to the medical knowledge are not inclined to be unrealistically optimistic t(206) = 1.06; p = 0.290, d = 0.07.

Conclusions

Medical education of COVID-19 severity might reduce unrealistic optimism, which may be the reason why pandemic restrictions are not being respected.
Clinical efficacy and safety of rituximab with membranous nephropathy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhong Hongzhen , Li Hong-Yan , Zhou Tianbiao , Zhong Zhiqing
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease, and its prevalence is increasing. B lymphocytes activated by T cells produce antibodies. CD19+/CD20+ plasma cells may contribute to autoantibody and alloantibody production. Rituximab has been effective in treating MN in many clinical trials. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of rituximab with MN.

Material and methods

We searched Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov without language or publication date limitations. Studies were classified in high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk groups based on baseline proteinuria. Follow-up periods and different administrations of rituximab were also compared. Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were assessed to measure the efficacy of rituximab, and adverse effects were also extracted. Dichotomous data were expressed by the odds ratio (OR), and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used for the recruited studies.

Results

Fourteen articles, including 17 studies, were included in this meta- analysis. The pooled OR of overall PR and CR remission rate was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.53–0.63; p = 0.003). No studies belonged to the low-risk group. The overall PR and CR remission rate in the medium-risk group was 0.56 (95% CI:0.36–0.73; p = 0.57). The pooled OR of overall PR and CR remission rate in the high-risk group was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.53–0.65; p = 0.03). At the 12-month follow-up, the pooled OR of overall PR and CR remission rate was 0.51 (95% CI:0.43–0.59; p = 0.72). At the 24-month follow-up, the pooled OR of overall PR and CR remission rate was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.48–0.86; p = 0.07). The pooled OR of efficacy of rituximab at 375 mg/m2 × 4 was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.55–0.70; p = 0.001). Rituximab was tolerated in MN, and most adverse effects were mild. The pooled OR of infusion reaction rate of rituximab was 0.25 (95% CI: 0.13–0.44; p = 0.01) in MN. The pooled OR of cardiovascular-related event rate of rituximab in MN was 0.04 (95% CI: 0.02–0.11). The pooled OR of infection rate of rituximab in MN was 0.06 (95% CI: 0.03–0.12; p < 0.00001).

Conclusions

Rituximab is safe and effective in MN and a promising alternative treatment. More randomized control trials and studies on the role of MN are expected.
Intercomparison of TCCON data from two Fourier transform spectrometers at Lauder, New Zealand
Authors: Pollard David F. , Robinson John , Shiona Hisako , Smale Dan
Published: October 2020

Abstract. We describe the change of operational instrument for the routine measurement of column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of several greenhouse gases (denoted Xgas) at the Lauder Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) site and the steps taken to demonstrate comparability between the two observation systems following a systematic methodology. Further, we intercompare retrieved Xgas values during an intensive intercomparison period during October and November 2018, when both instruments were performing optimally, and on subsequent, less frequent occasions. The average difference between the two observing systems was found to be well below the expected level of uncertainty for TCCON retrievals for all compared species. In the case of XCO2 the average difference was 0.0264 ± 0.0465 % (0.11 ± 0.19 μmol mol−1).
The Roland von Glasow Air-Sea-Ice Chamber (RvG-ASIC): an experimental facility for studying ocean/sea-ice/atmosphere interactions
Authors: Thomas Max , France James , Crabeck Odile , Hall Benjamin , Hof Verena , Notz Dirk , Rampai Tokoloho , Riemenschneider Leif , Tooth Oliver , Tranter Mathilde , Kaiser Jan
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Sea ice is difficult, expensive, and potentially dangerous to observe in nature. The remoteness of the Arctic and Southern Oceans complicates sampling logistics, while the heterogeneous nature of sea ice and rapidly changing environmental conditions present challenges for conducting process studies. Here, we describe the Roland von Glasow Air-Sea-Ice Chamber (RvG-ASIC), a laboratory facility designed to reproduce polar processes and overcome some of these challenges. The RvG-ASIC is an open-topped 3.5 m3 glass tank housed in a coldroom (temperature range: −55 to +30 °C). The RvG-ASIC is equipped with a wide suite of instruments for ocean, sea ice, and atmospheric measurements, as well as visible and UV lighting. The infrastructure, available instruments, and typical experimental protocols are described. To characterise some of the technical capabilities of our facility, we have quantified the timescale over which our chamber exchanges gas with the outside, τl = (0.66 ± 0.07) days, and the mixing rate of our experimental ocean, τm = (4.2 ± 0.1) minutes. Characterising our light field, we show that the light intensity across the tank varies by less than 10 % near the centre of the tank but drops to as low as 60 % of the maximum intensity in one corner. The temperature sensitivity of our light sources over the 400 nm to 700 nm range (PAR) is (0.028 ± 0.003) W m−2 °C−1, with a maximum irradiance of 26.4 W m−2 at 0 °C; over the 320 nm to 380 nm range, it is (0.16 ± 0.1) W m−2 °C−1, with a maximum irradiance of 5.6 W m−2 at 0 °C. We also present results characterising our experimental sea ice. The extinction coefficient for PAR varies from 3.7 m−1 to 6.1 m−1 when calculated from irradiance measurements exterior to the sea ice and from 4.5 m−1 to 6.2 m−1 when calculated from irradiance measurements within the sea ice. The bulk salinity of our experimental sea ice is measured using three techniques, modelled using a halo-dynamic one-dimensional (1D) gravity drainage model, and calculated from a salt and mass budget. The growth rate of our sea ice is between 2 cm d−1 and 4 cm d−1 for air temperatures of (−9.2 ± 0.9) °C and (−26.6 ± 0.9) °C. The PAR extinction coefficients, vertically integrated bulk salinities, and growth rates all lie within the range of previously reported comparable values for first-year sea ice. The vertically integrated bulk salinity and growth rates can be reproduced well by a 1D model. Taken together, the similarities between our laboratory sea ice and observations in nature, and our ability to reproduce our results with a model, give us confidence that sea ice grown in the RvG-ASIC is a good representation of natural sea ice.
Effects of 238U variability and physical transport on water column 234Th downward fluxes in the coastal upwelling system off Peru
Authors: Xie Ruifang C. , Le Moigne Frédéric A. C. , Rapp Insa , Lüdke Jan , Gasser Beat , Dengler Marcus , Liebetrau Volker , Achterberg Eric P.
Published: October 2020

Abstract. The eastern boundary region of the southeastern Pacific Ocean hosts one of
the world's most dynamic and productive upwelling systems with an associated
oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The variability in downward export fluxes in this
region, with strongly varying surface productivity, upwelling intensities
and water column oxygen content, is however poorly understood. Thorium-234
(234Th) is a powerful tracer to study the dynamics of export fluxes of
carbon and other elements, yet intense advection and diffusion in nearshore
environments impact the assessment of depth-integrated 234Th fluxes
when not properly evaluated. Here we use vessel-mounted acoustic Doppler current
profiler (VmADCP) current velocities,
satellite wind speed and in situ microstructure measurements to determine the
magnitude of advective and diffusive fluxes over the entire 234Th flux
budget at 25 stations from 11 to 16∘ S in the
Peruvian OMZ. Contrary to findings along the GEOTRACES P16 eastern section,
our results showed that weak surface wind speed during our cruises induced
low upwelling rates and minimal upwelled 234Th fluxes, whereas vertical
diffusive 234Th fluxes were important only at a few shallow shelf
stations. Horizontal advective and diffusive 234Th fluxes were
negligible because of small alongshore 234Th gradients. Our data
indicated a poor correlation between seawater 238U activity and
salinity. Assuming a linear relationship between the two would lead to
significant underestimations of the total 234Th flux by up to 40 % in
our study. Proper evaluation of both physical transport and variability in
238U activity is thus crucial in coastal 234Th flux studies.
Finally, we showed large temporal variations on 234Th residence times
across the Peruvian upwelling zone and cautioned future carbon export
studies to take these temporal variabilities into consideration while
evaluating carbon export efficiency.
Does drought advance the onset of
autumn leaf senescence in temperate
deciduous forest trees?
Authors: Mariën Bertold , Dox Inge , De Boeck Hans J. , Willems Patrick , Leys Sebastien , Papadimitriou Dimitri , Campioli Matteo
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Severe droughts are expected to become more frequent and persistent. However, their effect on autumn leaf senescence, a key process for deciduous trees and ecosystem functioning, is currently unclear. We hypothesized that (I) severe drought advances the onset of autumn leaf senescence in temperate deciduous trees and that (II) tree species show different dynamics of autumn leaf senescence under drought. We tested these hypotheses using a manipulative experiment on beech saplings and three years of monitoring mature beech, birch and oak trees in Belgium. The autumn leaf senescence was derived from the seasonal pattern of the chlorophyll content index and the loss of canopy greenness using generalized additive models and piece-wise linear regressions. Drought did not affect the onset of autumn leaf senescence in both saplings and mature trees, even if the saplings showed a high mortality and the mature trees a high leaf mortality (due to accelerated leaf senescence and early leaf abscission). We did not observe major differences among species. Synthesis: The timing of autumn leaf senescence appears conservative across years and species, and even independent on drought stress. Therefore, to study autumn senescence, seasonal chlorophyll dynamics and loss of canopy greenness should be considered separately.