bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Race and Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE): The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Cohort
Authors: Franey Ericha G , Kritz-Silverstein Donna , Richard Erin L , Alcaraz John E , Nievergelt Caroline M , Shaffer Richard A , Bhatnagar Vibha
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims. To evaluate the association of self-reported race with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and modification of this association by paraoxonase gene (PON1, PON2, and PON3) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Methods. Included in this longitudinal study were 12,770 black or white participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort who completed a baseline visit (1987–1989) with PON genotyping. Demographic, behavioral, and health information was obtained at baseline. MACE was defined as first occurrence of myocardial infarction, stroke, or CHD-related death through 2004. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between race and MACE after adjustment for age, gender, and other demographic and cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension. Modification of the association between PON SNPs and MACE was also assessed. Results. Blacks comprised 24.6% of the ARIC cohort; overall, 14.0% of participants developed MACE. Compared with whites, blacks had 1.24 times greater hazard of MACE (OR = 1.24,95%CI = 1.10,1.39) than whites after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, cigarette and alcohol use, educational and marital status, and aspirin use. This association became nonsignificant after further adjustment for high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension. None of the evaluated SNPs met the significance level (p<0.001) after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions. No association between race and MACE was identified after adjusting for high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension, suggesting that comorbidities are major determinants of MACE; medical intervention with focus on lifestyle and health management could ameliorate the development of MACE. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation.
Mass Rapid Transit Ridership Forecast Based on Direct Ridership Models: A Case Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Guo Ruili , Huang Zhengdong
Published: March 2020

Many large cities rely on Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) to increase passenger mobility. For efficiency, MRT stations should be arranged to attract maximal number of travelers. It is therefore important to develop methods for estimating MRT ridership forecasting models, which are important for policies on land use development or new MRT lines. Direct ridership models (DRMs) at the station level are superior in estimating the benefits of transit-oriented development policies. In this paper, a principal component regression (PCR) is proposed to overcome the issue of multicollinearity that widely occurs in multivariate regression analyses for DRM modeling, especially the ordinary least squares regression. Based on the analysis of 72 MRT stations in Wuhan, China, four principal components are obtained to explain the potential linkage to MRT ridership, which include built-environment related factors, jobs-housing spatial structure related factors, station attributes, and the large compound. Nineteen significant determinants have been identified, among which the four factors of office building area, land use mix, the number of restaurants, and financial institutions are the most influential factors. Built-environment-related factors exert more significant impact on MRT ridership than others. The distance to city center and the number of bus lines around stations have negative association with MRT demand. The proposed PCR-based DRM provides insights for forecasting transit demand brought about by new metro lines and forecasting the consequences of land use development.
Advances in Polymer Technology Application of Pareto-Based Genetic Algorithm in Determining Layout of Heating Rods for a Plastic Injection Mold
Authors: Li Yipeng , Gong Ningning , Wang Yaohui , Chen Yuntao , Wang Bowen , Li Xiping
Published: March 2020

The Pareto-based genetic algorithm is an effective way to solve complex optimization design problems in engineering. In this study, first, the principles of Pareto optimal solutions and multiobjective genetic algorithm were presented. Second, to investigate the influence of the mold temperature on the products’ performances, a multicavity experiment injection mold was designed whose temperature could be controlled by the heating rods. To obtain a homogeneous temperature distribution across the multicavity surfaces after the heating stage, multiobjective optimization models for the heating rods layout were established based on the heat transfer process of the mold. Finally, the Pareto-based genetic algorithm and finite element method were combined to solve the optimized models to obtain the optimal solution. After a finite element analysis and experimental injection, it is proved that the optimized distribution of the heating rods in the mold is necessary for the experiment and production.
Review on the Relationship of Absorptive Capacity with Interorganizational Networks and the Internationalization Process
Authors: Agramunt L. F. , Berbel-Pineda J. M. , Capobianco-Uriarte M. M. , Casado-Belmonte M. P.
Published: March 2020

There is evidence about the international competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises having a close relationship with their absorptive capacity and internationalization networking, and for that reason, it is relevant to find out the main trends in this field of knowledge. The objective of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis of the status of the existing research in the field to recognize main topics and help identify research gaps. This study was done through a review of 1,710 documents published about this relationship from the Scopus and Web of Science databases (1994–2018), using as processing software application that employs two combinations of terms associated with Boolean operators. This was taken into account in order to optimize the accuracy of the search and to facilitate large data capture. The results show that these studies are in a period of high production and concentrated in a few countries and researchers’ networks in the United States, the People’s Republic of China, and some European countries. Moreover, the trend words used by researchers are those which link absorptive capacity with networking, open innovation, and firm performance.
Iron Chelation Properties of Green Tea Epigallocatechin‐3‐Gallate (EGCG) in Colorectal Cancer Cells: Analysis on Tfr/Fth Regulations and Molecular Docking
Authors: Md Nesran Zarith Nameyrra , Shafie Nurul Husna , Md Tohid Siti Farah , Norhaizan Mohd Esa , Ismail Amin
Published: March 2020

In many studies, green tea epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) has already shown its therapeutic effects in colorectal cancer cells (CRC). However, its mechanism of actions in CRC is poorly elucidated. Hence, this study attempts to elucidate the mechanism of actions of green tea ECGG via iron chelation activity in CRC. In order to investigate this property, HT‐29 cell lines (CRC) were treated with EGCG for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. From western blot analysis, EGCG had upregulated transferrin receptor (TfR) protein and downregulated Ferritin‐H (FtH) protein indicating that iron chelation activity has occurred in CRC. Meanwhile, the molecular docking study demonstrated that EGCG is able to strongly interact the ferritin protein with a high binding affinity (−7.3 kcal/mol) via strong hydrogen bindings to glutamic acid 64 and lysine 71; two moderate hydrogen bindings to asparagine 74 and a hydrophobic interaction to the hydrophobic pocket of lysine 71. The strong interaction predicted between EGCG to ferritin may lead to inhibition of ferritin by EGCG, thus supporting the downregulation of FtH observed in in vitro studies. Molecular docking study of TfR to EGCG cannot be modulated based on the in vitro results. In conclusion, EGCG possesses iron chelator property in CRC and this potential could be further exploited for CRC treatment.
Neural Mechanisms of Vicarious Reward Processing in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Greene Rachel K. , Damiano-Goodwin Cara R. , Walsh Erin , Bizzell Joshua , Dichter Gabriel S.
Published: March 2020

Previous studies examining the neural substrates of reward processing in ASD have explored responses to rewards for oneself but not rewards earned for others (i.e., vicarious reward). This omission is notable given that vicarious reward processing is a critical component of creating and maintaining social relationships. The current study examined the neural mechanisms of vicarious reward processing in 15 adults with ASD and 15 age- and gender-matched typically developing controls. Individuals with ASD demonstrated attenuated activation of reward-related regions during vicarious reward processing. Altered connectivity was also observed in individuals with ASD during reward receipt. These findings of altered neural sensitivity to vicarious reward processing may represent a mechanism that hinders the development of social abilities in ASD.
A New Model for Competitive Knowledge Diffusion in Organization Based on the Statistical Thermodynamics
Authors: Jong Ju-Yong , Wu Wei-Wei , So Sung-Ryol
Published: March 2020

In this study, we have constructed a new model for competitive knowledge diffusion in organization based on the statistical thermodynamics of physics. In order to achieve the purpose of research, we newly define the absorptive capacity coefficient, the creativity ability coefficient, the depreciation coefficient of knowledge, the ambiguity coefficient of knowledge, and the knowledge affinity coefficient of organizational culture. And various knowledge quantities such as knowledge energy, knowledge temperature, and diffusion coefficient for the knowledge diffusion equation were defined and simulations were carried out by the lattice kinetic method. And, based on the new model, we have successfully studied the impact of the characteristics of members, knowledge itself, and organizational culture on the diffusion of competitive knowledge. The results show that the diffusion velocity of knowledge in the organization increases as the knowledge absorbing ability of the members is larger, and the ambiguity of knowledge has a negative impact on the diffusion of knowledge. The degree of knowledge affinity of organizational culture is a decisive factor in the diffusion and accumulation of knowledge in the organization, and the cultural characteristics of the organization have a much greater influence on the diffusion of competitive knowledge than the personal characteristics of members. Therefore, the organization manager needs to pay more attention to building a better organizational culture than improving personal characteristics. Our research is helpful in analyzing the factors affecting competitive knowledge diffusion and constructing an effective knowledge management system.
Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhou Yumei , Guo Yuebao , Zhou Rui , Wu Ping , Liang Fanrong , Yang Zhuoxin
Published: March 2020

Objective. This study aimed at assessing the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for lateral epicondylitis (LE). Methods. The following databases were systematically searched: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Wan Fang database, Chinese Biomedicine Literature, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library from inception to May 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the inclusion criteria were included. RevMan 5.3 software was used to conduct meta-analyses. The study quality was evaluated with the Cochrane risk of bias. Results. Ten RCTs involving 796 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. Three studies reported randomized methods with a specific description. For the analyses of the clinical efficacy rate, acupuncture outperformed sham acupuncture (two RCTs, n = 130, P=0.15), medicine therapy (two RCTs, n = 124, P=0.02), and blocking therapy (four RCTs, n = 427, P=0.0001). For the analyses of the visual analog scale, acupuncture outperformed sham acupuncture (two RCTs, n = 92, P=0.18), medicine therapy (two RCTs, n = 144, P<0.00001), and blocking therapy (two RCTs, n = 132, P=0.03). The subgroup analyses comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture therapy revealed heterogeneities. The follow-up information and adverse reactions were not analyzed because of the insufficient number of studies. Conclusions. Acupuncture appears to be superior to drug or blocking therapy or sham acupuncture therapy for LE. However, considering the low quality of the available trials, further large-scale RCTs with a low risk of bias are needed in the future.
Evolutionary Game Mechanism on Complex Networks of Green Agricultural Production under Intensive Management Pattern
Authors: Du Jianguo , Zhou Zhuoyun , Xu Lingyan
Published: March 2020

The diffusion of green agricultural production under intensive management pattern is an interactive process of strategy comparison and learning on complex networks among traditional farmers and new agricultural operation entities. Based on the theory of evolutionary game and complex networks, we construct evolutionary game models on the scale-free networks to simulate the evolution process of green agricultural production under the market mechanism and the government guidance mechanism, respectively. The comparison analysis results in different scenarios show that the stable state of the green agricultural production network is determined by interactions among the subjects. Detailed experimental results indicate that the double-score system under government guidance mechanism has a significant effect on the diffusion of the green agricultural production, of which the extra reward or penalty obtained from government is crucial. Besides, the diffusion of the green agricultural production under the market mechanism is mostly affected by the net profit of green agricultural production. These results are of great significance for increasing efficiency of government’s incentive and promoting the initiatives of traditional farmers and new agricultural operation entities in the green agricultural production.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Enhance Sustainability of Industry 4.0: Design of an Artificial Neural Network Model as Dynamic Behavior Optimizer of Robotic Arms
Authors: Azizi Aydin
Published: March 2020

Industrial robots have a great impact on increasing the productivity and reducing the time of the manufacturing process. To serve this purpose, in the past decade, many researchers have concentrated to optimize robotic models utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. Gimbal joints because of their adjustable mechanical advantages have been investigated as a replacement for traditional revolute joints, especially when they are supposed to have tiny motions. In this research, the genetic algorithm (GA), a well-known evolutionary technique, has been adopted to find optimal parameters of the gimbal joints. Since adopting the GA is a time-consuming process, an artificial neural network (ANN) architecture has been proposed to model the behavior of the GA. The result shows that the proposed ANN model can be used instead of the complex and time-consuming GA in the process of finding the optimal parameters of the gimbal joint.
Hybrid Meson Interpretation of the Exotic Resonance π11600
Authors: Benhamida Azzeddine , Semlala Lahouari
Published: March 2020

The exotic JPC=1−+resonance π11600 is examined in the framework of the Quark Model with Constituent Gluon (QMCG). We report the possibility of interpreting that resonance as qq¯g meson, with a masse ≃1.65−0.04+0.05 GeV, and a decay width to ρπ≃0.28−0.09+0.14 GeV.
Differential Metabolomic Analysis of Liver Tissues from Rat Models of Parenteral Nutrition‐Associated Liver Disease
Authors: Wan Songlin , Yang Jianbo , Mamtawla Gulsudum , Zhang Li , Gao Xuejin , Wang Xinying
Published: March 2020

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life‐saving therapy for patients with intestinal failure, but parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease (PNALD) limits its long‐term use. The present study is aimed at determining which pathways are altered most notably in a rat model of PNALD. We randomly assigned male Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats into two different groups, whereby they received either enteral nutrition (EN) or PN. Liver tissues were harvested from all rats 7 days later for metabolomic profiling. The composition of primary conjugated bile acids was altered, the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids was reduced, the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl‐CoA was blocked, and the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine was inhibited in rats with PNALD. Riboflavin, which is involved in the electron transfer process in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, was remarkably decreased in PNALD rats. A deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids, riboflavin, choline, and taurine might be involved in the progression of PNALD. The implications of these findings for the field of medicine are that supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids, riboflavin, choline, and taurine might have potential as therapeutic strategies for PNALD and also shed light on the mechanisms of PNALD.
Solution Procedure for Inventory Models with Linear and Fixed Backorder Costs
Authors: Lin Daniel Yi-Fong
Published: March 2020

Several researchers applied the algebraic method to solve the optimal solution of EOQ and EPQ models with linear and fixed backorder costs. However, there are questionable derivations in their solution procedure such that researchers provided further examinations. We study two papers that are considered the same inventory models under different notation and slightly different objective functions to provide detailed discussions for their questionable results and our improvements.
Pharmacokinetic Comparisons of Different Combinations of Yigan Jiangzhi Formula in Rats: Simultaneous Determination of Fourteen Components by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Ping , Xie Jun , Yin Zhaorui , Lin Xiaoyan , Zhao Yuanhong , Li Zheng , Chen Tao , Gu Shuang , Lv Qiang , Zhao Zhili , Xu Changhua
Published: March 2020

A rapid, specific, and sensitive analysis for simultaneous determination of fourteen components (daidzein, fermononetin, apigenin, luteolin, puerarin, ononin, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, tanshinol, rosmarinic acid, alkanoic acid, salvianolic acid B, berberine, jatrorrhizin, and palmatine) of Yigan Jiangzhi formula (YGJZF, a clinical experienced formula for damp-heat syndrome) in rat plasma was developed and validated using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Lower limit of quantitation ranged from 0.2–10.0 ng/mL, and the calibration curves showed good linearity over 500 times of measuring range. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics investigation of the fourteen compounds in rat plasma after oral administration of two different doses of YGJZF. Compared with the low-dose group of YGJZF, the high-dose group showed significant increase (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in maximum plasma concentration, maximum concentration time, and area under the plasma concentration-time curve and decrease (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in clearance of most of the fourteen analytes, which suggested that the bioavailability of these components could be enhanced by increasing dosage. The above results may provide useful information for cognizing the relationship between in vitro and in vivo data of the fourteen bioactive ingredients of YGJZF and further guiding rational clinical drug prescription.
Springback Characteristics of Cylindrical Bending of Tailor Rolled Blanks
Authors: Fan Li-Feng , Gou Jianjun , Wang Ge , Gao Ying
Published: March 2020

As a new type of variable thickness sheet structure, the TRB (tailor rolled blank) has good prospects for the development of lightweight materials in the automotive industry. However, springback is a key issue in production. Research on TRB springback characteristics has great significance for further applications due to variations in the sheet thickness and gradient distribution of the material mechanical properties. In this study, the springback characteristics of TRBs were investigated by means of the finite element code ABAQUS/USDFLD and experiments taking cylindrical bending as an example. The results showed that the cylindrical bending process of the TRB gradually evolved from three‐point bending to four‐point bending and, finally, to multipoint bending. At same time, the gradient of the thickness leads to the nonuniform longitudinal distribution of the von Mises stress. On the contrary, larger bending angles can be achieved by reducing R and improving Rd, but t/T has little effect on the bending angles. In terms of the influence of springback, increasing Rd and reducing R and t/T can lead to a smaller springback angle. This project provided an important opportunity to advance the understanding of TRB springback characteristics.
Haemodynamic Effects of Anaemia in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Krzesiński Paweł , Galas Agata , Gielerak Grzegorz , Uziębło-Życzkowska Beata
Published: March 2020

Anaemia is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with more severe symptoms and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate haemodynamic profiles of HF patients with respect to the presence of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and anaemia. Methods and Results. Haemodynamic status was evaluated in 97 patients with acute decompensated HF. Impedance cardiography, echocardiography, and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) results were analysed. The study group was stratified into four subgroups according to LVEF (<40% vs ≥40%) and the presence of anaemia (haemoglobin <13.0 g/dL in men and <12.0 g/dL in women). Thoracic fluid content was higher (p=0.037) in anaemic subjects, while no significant relation between anaemia and NYHA was observed. Anaemic subjects with LVEF ≥ 40% were distinguished from those with LVEF < 40% by significantly higher stroke index (p=0.002), Heather index (p=0.014), and acceleration index (p=0.047). Patients with reduced LVEF and anaemia presented the highest NT-proBNP (p=0.003). Conclusions. In acute decompensated HF, anaemia is related with fluid overload, relatively higher cardiac systolic performance but no clinical benefit in patients with preserved/midrange LVEF, and increased left ventricular tension, fluid overload, and impaired cardiac systolic performance in patients with reduced LVEF.
Micronutrients Potential of Underutilized Vegetables and Their Role in Fighting Hidden Hunger
Authors: Chacha James S. , Laswai Henry S.
Published: March 2020

Background. Innumerable underutilized vegetable (UV) species have been utilized as food and as folklore medicine since time immemorial. Such vegetables have been part and parcel of the food dishes, especially to the ancient rural and periurban dwellers. However, researchers and agricultural scientists have given little or no attention to such vegetables, as to what constitutes their potentials in curbing hidden hunger. To achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals, Tanzania needs to address the issue of food insecurity through the use of not only grains, fruits, and edible insects but also through embracing the UVs. The overall objective of this study was to screen the indigenous vegetables with nutritional and health claims from communities in Kilimanjaro and Morogoro regions.Methods. Quantitative data were obtained by conducting laboratory nutrient and antinutrients composition analyses as per standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods. This was carried out to determine the moisture content, micronutrient, and antinutrients composition of the selected UVs.Results. The nutritional and medicinal claims of the selected UVs mentioned during interviews were validated by data obtained from laboratory nutrient and antinutrients composition analyses. Chemical analyses revealed that vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, and C contents ranged from 2.50-6.67, 18.94-182.95, 0.18-0.76, 0.09-0.43, and 46.52-198.08 mg/100 g, respectively. Minerals, on the other hand, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn contents ranged from 60.28-421.03, 4.28-21.05, 191.12-1151.91, and 4.28-21.10 mg/100, respectively. Moisture content, oxalates, and phytates contents ranged from 78.59-95.49%, 1.28-3.15, and 1.64-6.18 mg/100 g, respectively.Conclusion. The findings from the study added credence to the selected UVs that they are rich sources of micronutrients and crucial in daily human diet to curb hidden hunger.
Detection of Road Foreign Body Intrusion with Synthetic Aperture Radar
Authors: Hou Lili , Zhang Qian
Published: March 2020

Foreign body intrusion will cause interruption of road transportation and bring great threat to operation safety. Detection of foreign body intrusion is a key step for efficient recognition, location, and tracking of foreign body intrusion. Current detection approaches of foreign body intrusion are available, but can only detect in a certain range. As an active remote sensing technique, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can monitor wide areas of the earth, and thus provides a viable way to detect road foreign body intrusion in a wide range. Firstly, because of large data, the SAR data in the azimuth is sparsely sampled to reduce data sampling. Then, before detection of foreign body intrusion, compressed sensing (CS) theory is utilized to reconstruct the sparsely sampled data. At last, Kalman filtering is adopted to detect foreign body intrusion. The simulated results and real data processing results both validate the proposed method.
Prevalence of Stunting and Its Associated Factors among Children of 6–59 Months in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS), Southern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bogale Biruk , Gutema Befikadu Tariku , Chisha Yilma
Published: March 2020

Introduction. Child stunting, which is a chronic length or height growth deficit, has been a devastating public health problem in developing countries. In Ethiopia, stunting remains severe public health problem. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of stunting and its associated factors among children of 6–59 months. Methods. The community-based cross sectional study was conducted in the Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, Southern Ethiopia. The simple random sampling method was used to recruit 656 mother-child pairs. Height for age Z score was computed using WHO Anthro version 3.2.2 software. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted, and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at p value <0.05 was used to determine statistically significant association between predictors and outcome variable. Result. The prevalence of stunting among children of 6–59 months in the study area was 47.9% (95% CI; 44.0–51.7). The likelihood of stunting was significantly higher among children who live in households with medium (AOR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.43–3.37) and poor (AOR 2.87, 95% CI: 1.72–4.81) wealth status. In addition, children who were not exclusively breast fed (AOR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07–2.24), whose mothers had not participated in decision of major household purchases (AOR 2.27, 95% CI: 1.21–4.26), and whose mothers lacked decision on freedom of mobility (AOR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.05–3.66) were significantly stunted compared with counterparts. Conclusion. Stunting is a severe public health problem in the area. Therefore, efforts should be taken to enhance maternal empowerment, household wealth, and infant and young child feeding practice for reducing stunting among children.
Patent Foramen Ovale Closure for Splenic Infarction: An Unusual Presentation and an Unusual Indication
Authors: Lamas Edgar Stroppa , Osti Alan Vinicius Gamero
Published: March 2020

Background. Splenic infarction is a rare clinical condition. It is generally attributed to hematologic, vascular, cardioembolic, and infectious diseases or trauma. Case Presentation. We describe a rare case in an otherwise asymptomatic 41-year-old overweight woman with acute abdominal pain. Imaging work-up revealed splenic infarction. Common etiologies were excluded. A transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The patient was sent to closure with good outcome. Conclusion. Paradoxical embolism due to PFO can be a cause of splenic infarction, and its investigation and subsequent closure may be considered when there are no other causative disorders.
COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Clerkin Kevin J. , Fried Justin A. , Raikhelkar Jayant , Sayer Gabriel , Griffin Jan M. , Masoumi Amirali , Jain Sneha S. , Burkhoff Daniel , Kumaraiah Deepa , Rabbani LeRoy , Schwartz Allan , Uriel Nir
Published: March 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic affecting 185 countries and >3 000 000 patients worldwide as of April 28, 2020. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which invades cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Among patients with COVID-19, there is a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and >7% of patients experience myocardial injury from the infection (22% of critically ill patients). Although angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 serves as the portal for infection, the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers requires further investigation. COVID-19 poses a challenge for heart transplantation, affecting donor selection, immunosuppression, and posttransplant management. There are a number of promising therapies under active investigation to treat and prevent COVID-19.
Association of Dietary Patterns Derived Using Reduced‐Rank Regression With Subclinical Cardiovascular Damage According to Generation and Sex in the STANISLAS Cohort
Authors: Wagner Sandra , Lioret Sandrine , Girerd Nicolas , Duarte Kevin , Lamiral Zohra , Bozec Erwan , Van den Berghe Laurie , Hoge Axelle , Donneau Anne‐Françoise , Boivin Jean‐Marc , Mercklé Ludovic , Zannad Faiez , Laville Martine , Rossignol Patrick , Nazare Julie‐Anne
Published: March 2020

Background

The diet impact on cardiovascular diseases has been investigated widely, but the association between dietary patterns (
DP
s) and subclinical cardiovascular damage remains unclear. More informative
DP
s could be provided by considering metabolic syndrome components as intermediate markers. This study aimed to identify
DP
s according to generation and sex using reduced‐rank regression (
RRR
) with metabolic syndrome components as intermediate markers and assess their associations with intima‐media thickness, left ventricular mass, and carotid‐femoral pulse‐wave velocity in an initially healthy population‐based family study.

Methods and Results

This study included 1527 participants from the
STANISLAS
(Suivi Temporaire Annuel Non‐Invasif de la Santé des Lorrains Assurés Sociaux) cohort fourth examination.
DP
s were derived using reduced‐rank regression according to generation (G1: age ≥50 years; G2: age <50 years) and sex. Associations between
DP
s and cardiovascular damage were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. Although identified
DPs
were correlated between generations and sex, qualitative differences were observed: whereas only unhealthy
DP
s were found for both men generations, healthy
DPs
were identified in G2 (“fruity desserts”) and G1 (“fiber and w3 oil”) women. The “alcohol,” “fast food and alcohol,” “fried, processed, and dairy products,” and “meat, starch, sodas, and fat”
DP
s in G1 and G2 men and in G1 and G2 women, respectively, were associated with high left ventricular mass (β [95% CI], 0.23 [0.10–0.36], 0.76 [0.00–1.52], 1.71 [0.16–3.26], and 1.80 [0.45–3.14]). The “alcohol”
DP
in G1 men was positively associated with carotid‐femoral pulse‐wave velocity (0.22 [0.09–0.34]).

Conclusions

The
DP
s that explain the maximum variation in metabolic syndrome components had different associations with subclinical cardiovascular damage across generation and sex. Our results indicate that dietary recommendations should be tailored according to age and sex.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
01391442.
Urinary Ethyl Glucuronide as Measure of Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Population‐Based Cohort Study
Authors: van de Luitgaarden Inge A. T. , Schrieks Ilse C. , Kieneker Lyanne M. , Touw Daan J. , van Ballegooijen Adriana J. , van Oort Sabine , Grobbee Diederick E. , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Kootstra‐Ros Jenny E. , Muller Kobold Anneke C. , Bakker Stephan J. L. , Beulens Joline W. J.
Published: March 2020

Background

Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all‐cause mortality compared with heavy drinkers and abstainers. To date, studies have relied on self‐reported consumption, which may be prone to misclassification. Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is an alcohol metabolite and validated biomarker for recent alcohol consumption. We aimed to examine and compare the associations of self‐reported alcohol consumption and EtG with CVD and all‐cause mortality.

Methods and Results

In 5676 participants of the PREVEND (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End‐Stage Disease) study cohort, EtG was measured in 24‐hour urine samples and alcohol consumption questionnaires were administered. Participants were followed up for occurrence of first CVD and all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and CVD risk factors, were fitted for self‐reported consumption, divided into 5 categories: abstention, 1 to 4 units/month (reference), 2 to 7 units/week, 1 to 3 units/day, and ≥4 units/day. Similar models were fitted for EtG, analyzed as both continuous and categorical variables. Follow‐up times differed for CVD (8 years; 385 CVD events) and all‐cause mortality (14 years; 724 deaths). For both self‐reported alcohol consumption and EtG, nonsignificant trends were found toward J‐shaped associations between alcohol consumption and CVD, with higher risk in the lowest (hazard ratio for abstention versus 1–4 units/month, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.02–1.98) and highest drinking categories (hazard ratio for ≥4 units/day versus 1–4 units/month, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.68–1.84). Neither self‐report nor EtG was associated with all‐cause mortality.

Conclusions

Comparable associations with CVD events and all‐cause mortality were found for self‐report and EtG. This argues for the validity of self‐reported alcohol consumption in epidemiologic research.
Associations of Peripheral Artery Disease With Calf Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy
Authors: Gonzalez‐Freire Marta , Moore A. Zenobia , Peterson Charlotte A. , Kosmac Kate , McDermott Mary M. , Sufit Robert L. , Guralnik Jack M. , Polonsky Tamar , Tian Lu , Kibbe Melina R. , Criqui Michael H. , Li Lingyu , Leeuwenburgh Christian , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: March 2020

Background

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) undergo frequent episodes of ischemia‐reperfusion in lower extremity muscles that may negatively affect mitochondrial health and are associated with impaired mobility. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle from PAD patients will show high mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy, especially in regions more susceptible to oxidative damage, such as the displacement loop, and that the degree of heteroplasmy will be correlated with the severity of ischemia and mobility impairment.

Methods and Results

Mitochondrial mutations and deletions and their relative abundance were identified by targeted mitochondrial DNA sequencing in biopsy specimens of gastrocnemius muscle from 33 PAD (ankle brachial index <0.9) and 9 non‐PAD (ankle brachial index >0.9) subjects aged ≥60 years. The probability of heteroplasmy per DNA base was significantly higher for PAD subjects than non‐PAD within each region. In adjusted models, PAD was associated with higher heteroplasmy than non‐PAD (
P
=0.003), but the association was limited to microheteroplasmy, that is heteroplasmy found in 1% to 5% of all mitochondrial genomes (
P
=0.004). Heteroplasmy in the displacement loop and coding regions were significantly higher for PAD than non‐PAD subjects after adjustment for age, sex, race, and diabetes mellitus (
P
=0.037 and 0.004, respectively). Low mitochondrial damage, defined by both low mitochondrial DNA copy number and low microheteroplasmy, was associated with better walking performance.

Conclusions

People with PAD have higher “low frequency” heteroplasmy in gastrocnemius muscle compared with people without PAD. Among people with PAD, those who had evidence of least mitochondrial damage, had better walking performance than those with more mitochondrial damage.

Registration

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02246660.
Association of Insulin Resistance, Plasma Glucose Level, and Serum Insulin Level With Hypertension in a Population With Different Stages of Impaired Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Sasaki Nobuo , Ozono Ryoji , Higashi Yukihito , Maeda Ryo , Kihara Yasuki
Published: March 2020

Background

The interrelationships among the different stages of impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and hypertension are not fully understood.

Methods and Results

We investigated the impact of insulin resistance, plasma glucose, and serum immunoreactive insulin levels on hypertension in 19 166 participants with different stages of impaired glucose metabolism (7114 normal fasting glucose/normal glucose tolerance, 3543 isolated impaired fasting glucose [
IFG
], 2089 isolated impaired glucose tolerance, 2922
IFG
plus impaired glucose tolerance, and 3498 diabetes mellitus]) determined by 75‐g oral glucose tolerance tests. Participants were recruited from examinees who finished a general health checkup for atomic bomb survivors between 1982 and 2017. The profiles of plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin during oral glucose tolerance tests were assessed using the total area under the curve. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. The rate of hypertension increased from 36.3% in participants with normal fasting glucose/normal glucose tolerance to 50.1%, 50.8%, 58.3%, and 63.8% in participants with isolated
IFG
, isolated impaired glucose tolerance,
IFG
plus impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus, respectively. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was associated with hypertension regardless of the presence and the degree of impaired glucose metabolism. Furthermore, fasting plasma glucose and serum immunoreactive insulin levels and areas under the curve for plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin during oral glucose tolerance tests were associated with hypertension in normal fasting glucose/normal glucose tolerance and isolated
IFG
, but such a relationship was diminished in other types of prediabetes and diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions

The prevalence of hypertension increases with worsening stages of impaired glucose metabolism; however, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are significant contributors to the presence of hypertension only in the early stages of impaired insulin metabolism.
BANKACILIK SEKTÖRÜ İÇİN ETKİN PİYASALAR HİPOTEZİNİN UZUN HAFIZA MODELLERİ ANALİZİ
Authors: ÇEVİK Emrah İsmail , SEZEN Serhat
Published: March 2020

Fama (1970) tarafından geliştirilen
Etkin Piyasa Hipotezi, hisse senedi fiyatlarının piyasa ile ilgili tüm bilgiyi
yansıttığını belirtmekte ve bu nedenle piyasada ortalamanın üzerinde gelir elde
etmenin mümkün olmadığı belirtilmektedir. Fama (1970) piyasa etkinliğinin
zayıf, yarı-zayıf ve güçlü olmak üzere üç farklı formda ortaya çıkabileceğini
belirtmiştir. Zayıf formda etkin piyasa hipotezi hisse senedi fiyatlarının
rassal yürüyüş süreci sergilediğini ve bu nedenle geçmiş verileri kullanarak
geleceğe yönelik hisse senedi fiyat tahminlerinin mümkün olamayacağını
belirtmektedir. Bu çalışmada BIST bankacılık sektör endeksi için zayıf formda
etkin piyasa hipotezinin geçerli olup olmadığı 1997-2018 dönemi için uzun
hafıza modelleri kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonucuna göre, banka endeksinin
volatilitesinde uzun hafızanın varlığı tespit edilmiş ve buna bağlı olarak da
BIST bankacılık sektörünün zayıf formda etkin bir piyasa olmadığı söylenebilir.
YURTİÇİ TASARRUFLAR İLE YATIRIMLAR ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ: FELDSTEİN-HORİOKA HİPOTEZİ ÇERÇEVESİNDE TÜRKİYE ANALİZİ
Authors: KESKİN Nagehan
Published: March 2020

Bu çalışmada Türkiye’de yurtiçi
tasarruflar ile yatırımlar arasındaki ilişki, Feldstein-Horioka hipotezi
çerçevesinde, 1990-2015 dönemi yıllık verileri kullanılarak, ARDL sınır testi yöntemi
ile analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda yurtiçi
tasarruflarla yatırımlar arasında eşbütünleşme ilişkisi olduğu ve tasarruf
değişkenine ait uzun dönem katsayının değerinin sıfıra oldukça yakın olduğu
tespit edilmiştir. Bu bulgu, Türkiye’de yurtiçi tasarrufların yatırımlar
üzerindeki etkisinin zayıf olduğunu göstermekte ve yatırımların büyük ölçüde
yabancı tasarruflarla finanse edildiğine işaret etmektedir. Yatırımların ulusal
tasarruflar yerine büyük ölüde yabancı tasarruflarla finanse edilmesi ise
ülkenin dış kaynaklara olan bağımlılığını arttırarak hem makroekonomik istikrar
açısından risk oluşturmakta hem de büyümenin sürdürülebilirliğini tehlikeye
atmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, yatırımların ve ekonomik büyümenin dış kaynaklara olan
bağımlılığının azaltılması için ulusal tasarrufların arttırılması ve
tasarrufların verimli alanlara yönlendirilmesi büyük önem arz etmektedir.
A Static World
Authors: Tong Wu
Published: March 2020

The present article scrutinizes the text of Erythraean Sea ethnography in Book 3 of Diodorus Siculus’ Bibliotheca Historica, while comparing it with Diodorus’ original source—Agatharchides’ On the Erythraean Sea, which is preserved in Photius’ Bibliotheca. It will be argued that Diodorus, with careful modifications of his source as well as referring to, or rejecting, specific contemporary moral motifs, articulates various kinds of limitations of the Erythraean inhabitants, and therefore (re)constructs the Erythraean Sea as a static world. The different and remote world of Diodorus’ protagonists serves as a mirror to reflect on moral, geographical, social and economic forms, and thus allows Diodorus to communicate with his readers: the latter are reminded of their seemingly unlimited chances in the present, which are commonly presented in contemporary literature.
Herodicus in Babylon
Authors: Cartlidge Ben
Published: March 2020

This paper deals with the epigram of Herodicus (apud Ath. 5.222a). First it is examined as a piece of Greek literature—with a history, a number of imitators, a Greek intellectual and scholarly context, and the expressive resources of the Greek language. Several cruces are discussed, but the meaning of the final two words of the poem—θεόπαις Βαβυλών—is of particular importance. The internal syntactic structure of the compound adjective θεό-παις is analysed using comparative evidence from Greek. But the actual comparandum that is argued to be crucial for establishing its meaning is an epithet of Babylon found in Akkadian and Sumerian. The basis for the relevance of this is the existence of Akkadian texts in Greek script (the ‘Graeco-Babyloniaca’), which are reviewed in full as part of the evidence for cultural contact in Hellenistic Babylon.
The Role of Procreation (Injāb) in Marital Life
Authors: Rispler-Chaim Vardit
Published: March 2020

Classical Islamic marriage and divorce laws focus on both spouses’ ability to perform sexually. In fiqh texts, sexual disability is considered a serious medical condition. The fiqh literature lists certain sexual disabilities unique to men, unique to women, or shared by both sexes. Infertility (ʿuqm) is not found in any of these early fiqh lists, although we have proof in various Islamic religious texts that fertility and procreation have always been highly valued in society. In contemporary fatwas (from the Sunni world), the picture appears reversed, as fertility is given priority over sexual performance. In this paper, I illustrate this shift in attitude between the classical legal texts and contemporary fatwas. Then, I offer possible explanations for it. Among the main motivations suggested for the change are feminist Muslim writings, a growing awareness of human rights in the Islamic world, advanced medical technology, and economic factors.
Age-Related Differences in Time Reproduction Reflect Attentional Control but not Stimulus Magnitude
Authors: Costello Matthew C. , Thumma Rohini R. , Nissenbaum Emma R.
Published: March 2020

Research on age-related differences in time perception are mixed, with the strongest results indicating that age group differences are magnified based on the cognitive complexity of the specific task design. This raises the possibility that age-related differences in time perception may reflect downstream effects of ‘non-temporal’ factors such as stimulus magnitude, selective attention, and memory requirements. The current study explored this possibility with two experiments conducted on both younger and older adults that systematically varied stimulus magnitude and attentional demands. The first experiment was a focused–attention time reproduction task in which participants reproduced the temporal duration of a white rectangle with an embedded four-digit number. The stimulus magnitude varied from small (1000–3999) to medium (4000–6999) to large (7000–9999) digits. The second experiment was a divided-attention variant of the first experiment, where the participant either reported the temporal duration or recalled the number sequence embedded in the stimulus. Analyses indicated minimal age group differences under focused-attention conditions, but under divided-attention conditions there were age-related decreases in time estimates and temporal precision. Stimulus magnitude operated as predicted by the number–time association (NTA) effect, in which larger stimulus magnitudes induce longer duration estimates. Surprisingly, the NTA effect was evident similarly for both age groups and across both experiments. Exploratory analyses found evidence for age group equivalence in the positive influence of short-term memory on time reproduction, but age-related differences in the correlative link with cognitive processing speed. We conclude that age-related differences in our time reproduction task reflects attentional control factors but not stimulus magnitude.
Crossmodal Associations between Cinema with Elements of Comic and Tragic and Texture Touch
Authors: Iosifyan Marina
Published: March 2020

Crossmodal associations are systematic links between a stimulus from one modality (e.g., color) and a stimulus from another modality (e.g., sound). The present study investigated crossmodal associations between cinema (a complex visual and auditory stimulus) and texture touch. Participants watched fragments of movies with comic and tragic elements. They also touched different textures (e.g., silk, fur, marble) and chose the textures that were most/least consistent with the films. We found systematic links between the films and the textures associated with them. Films with elements of tragedy were associated with granite, marble and glass, while films with elements of comedy were associated with glass pebbles, plasticine and a slime toy. Similar emotional and semantic evaluations of textures and films can partly explain these crossmodal associations. Significant correlations were found between the direct emotional evaluation of films and indirect evaluation through the cinema-haptic perception index for the following scales: dirty, disgusting, pleasant and happy.