bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of a pre‐procedural Mehran score to predict acute kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Blanco Anamarys , Rahim Faisal , Nguyen Michelle , Quach Steven , Guduru Sai , Makadia Shraddha , Abusaada Khalid
Published: August 2020

Aim

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known complication of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).The Mehran score was developed to identify patients at risk for AKI after cardiac catheterization or PCI, but its use of contrast volume as part of the score calculation limits its application prior to the procedure. In this study, we evaluated the utility of a modified Mehran score that utilizes only pre‐procedural data by excluding contrast volume.

Methods

This was done in a retrospective fashion using data from patients who received PCI at our institution between July 2015 and December 2017 by evaluating the discriminative ability of the scoring systems for predicting outcomes through a receiver‐operator characteristic curve analysis.

Results

One thousand five hundred and seven patients were included in the study. A total of 70 (4.6%) patients developed AKI. The removal of contrast volume from the Mehran score resulted in a small loss of discrimination with AUROC 0.73 vs 0.74, P = .01 for the pre‐procedural Mehran and the original Mehran, respectively. When compared to the original score, the pre‐procedural Mehran score had a four‐category net discrimination index (NRI) of ‑0.10 and an integrated discrimination index (IDI) for of −0.12.

Conclusion

Despite a small loss in discrimination, there was no difference in the four‐category net discrimination index between the two scores. The pre‐procedural modified Mehran score is a useful clinical predictor of the risk of AKI in patients undergoing PCI.
Anesthesia management of laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity. A retrospective review of perioperative adverse events
Authors: Kaur Balvindar , Carden Susan M. , Wong Jonathan , Frawley Geoff
Published: August 2020

Aims

The aim of this study was to report the incidence of perioperative adverse events occurring in infants undergoing diode laser photocoagulation of retinopathy of prematurity and to identify clinical risk factors that may affect the incidence.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of anesthetic and medical records of premature infants who were treated in the neonatal intensive care unit or an operating theater with laser photocoagulation in our institution between January 2014 and December 2019. Infants less than 38 weeks post‐menstrual age or less than 2000 grams were considered high risk for complications. Electronic medical records were evaluated for clinical and demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and perioperative complications of anesthesia.

Results

Sixty‐one infants (39 males, 22 females) underwent 72 laser treatments. The mean gestational age was 25.3 weeks (SD 1.6), and mean birth weight was 730 grams (SD 202). At treatment, the mean postmenstrual age was 37.5 weeks (SD 2.7) and weight was 2320 g (SD 610). Laser therapy was performed in an operating theater in 66 procedures (91.7%) and in the neonatal unit in 6 cases (8.3%). Twenty‐nine (40.3%) laser surgeries occurred outside normal week‐day daytime operating hours. Intraoperative hypotension occurred in 12 procedures (16.7%) but was not significantly different in high‐risk infants (16.1% vs 16.7% OR 0.94 P = .94) or in procedures performed in‐hours (16.3% vs 17.2% OR 0.93 P = .91). Post‐extubation apnea occurred in 21 procedures (29%) but was not significantly different in high‐risk infants (29.0% vs 27.3% OR 0.98 P = .34) or in procedures performed in‐hours (27.9% vs 31.1% OR 0.86 P = .77). Infants remained intubated at the end of the procedure in 58 (80.5%) cases and 29 (40.3%) remained ventilated more than 24 hours after the procedure.

Conclusion

The incidence of perioperative adverse events was not associated with patient's age, current weight, timing, or location of the procedure. Extubating infants at the end of the procedure is however associated with a high rate of apneas and bradycardia, and consideration should be given to keeping low weight infants undergoing prolonged procedures out‐of‐hours intubated.
Gun Ownership and Life Satisfaction in the United States
Authors: Hill Terrence D. , Dowd‐Arrow Benjamin , Burdette Amy M. , Warner Tara D.
Published: August 2020

Objective

Although there is little empirical evidence linking gun ownership with personal well‐being, speculation is widespread in gun culture. In this article, we test whether people who own guns are more or less satisfied with their lives than people who do not own guns.

Methods

We employ data collected from three national surveys, the Baylor Religion Survey (2014), the Chapman University Survey on American Fears (2014), and the General Social Survey (2018) to formally assess this understudied association.

Results

In adjusted models, gun ownership was unrelated to life satisfaction. This general pattern was consistent across surveys, different measures and specifications of life satisfaction, and a wide range of subgroups.

Conclusion

Our analyses contribute to the growing study of gun ownership and personal well‐being and challenge theoretical perspectives and cultural narratives about how owning a gun can contribute favorably to one's quality of life.
Dorsal offset rhinoplasty for treatment of stenotic nares in 34 brachycephalic dogs
Authors: Dickerson Vanna M. , Dillard Corinne M. B. , Grimes Janet A. , Wallace Mandy L. , McAnulty Jonathan F. , Schmiedt Chad W.
Published: August 2020

Objective

To describe the technique, outcome, and owner satisfaction associated with dorsal offset rhinoplasty (DOR) to treat stenotic nares in brachycephalic dogs.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Animals

Thirty‐four client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Medical records of dogs treated with DOR at a veterinary teaching hospital over a 6‐year period were identified. Dorsal offset rhinoplasty was defined as removal of a dorsal wedge of nasal planum from each naris with apposition of the rostral abaxial tissue to the caudal axial tissue, resulting in translocation of the alar cartilage in both median and dorsal planes. Immediate and postoperative complications were recorded. Owners were asked to report any complications with healing of the nares and to score their satisfaction with the appearance of the nares.

Results

Thirty‐four dogs met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐nine (85%) dogs were examined a median of 402.5 days (range, 23‐2042) postoperatively, with no major complications related to the rhinoplasty recorded. Eighteen owners responded a median of 701 days (range, 37‐1622) postoperatively. One owner reported that self‐trauma led to collapse of one naris. One owner reported collapse of both nares within 4 years; timing and cause were unknown. Sixteen of 17 responding owners reported that they were very satisfied with the outcome of the rhinoplasty. The owner of the dog with the collapsed naris was very unsatisfied. One owner did not provide a satisfaction score.

Conclusion

Owners were generally highly satisfied with DOR, and complications were uncommon.

Clinical significance

This report describes an alternate technique to treat stenotic nares.
Asymmetric Effects of Exchange Rate on Monetary Policy in Emerging Countries: A Non-Linear ARDL Approach in Uganda
Authors: Kayongo Allan , Guloba Asumani , Muvawala Joseph
Published: August 2020

Many money demand studies have been carried out on Uganda, however, these studies perceive and incorporate exchange rate as a linear determinant of real money demand. Indeed, exchange rate may have asymmetric effects on real money demand; with exchange rate appreciation having different effects from exchange rate depreciation. Therefore, this is the first study to estimate exchange rate asymmetries in Uganda, for the period 2008Q3 and 2018Q4. The study uses both the linear ARDL and non-linear ARDL methodologies to accomplish its goal. This is also done by incorporating an economic uncertainty index, which is critical, especially in light of the novel global coronavirus pandemic, that has disrupted trade, movement and supply chains. The error correction terms of both models are negative and significant, with the one of the non-linear ARDL twice as much as that of the linear ARDL. Indeed, the study confirms the existence of exchange rate asymmetries on Uganda’s real money demand. In the linear ARDL model, exchange rate has a positive effect in the long run but a negative result in the short run. On one hand, the non-linear ARDL model reveals that an exchange rate depreciation of the Uganda Shillings negatively affects real money demand in the short run. On the other hand, an exchange rate appreciation positively effects real money demand. Notably, economic uncertainty has insignificant effects in both models, except for its lags in the non-linear model. The implication of these findings is that macro-economic policy management in Uganda should be cognizant of these asymmetric effects of exchange rate, for effective planning, policy and implementation.
BRIP1 rs10744996C>A variant increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Mongolian population of northern China
Authors: Wang Jing , Sun Dejun , Lu Wenju , Zhang Zili , Zhang Chenting , Hu Ke
Published: August 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the role of breast cancer type 1 interacting protein C‐terminal helicase 1 (BRIP1) polymorphism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Variant rs10744996C>A of BRIP1 increases the susceptibility of the Mongolian population to COPD. The expression of BRIP1 was significantly reduced in cigarette smoke extract‐treated airway epithelial cells.

Cigarette smoke is a major environmental pollutant that can induce DNA damage in humans. The development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are known to be related to the impairment of DNA repair. Breast cancer type 1 interacting protein C‐terminal helicase 1 (BRIP1) plays an important role in DNA interstrand crosslink repair and double‐strand break repair. However, the role of BRIP1 polymorphisms in COPD has not been previously described. In this study, whole genome sequencing was used to identify mutations, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was used to verify the selected SNPs. In addition the BRIP1 expression levels in 16HBE and A549 airway epithelial cells treated with or without cigarette smoke extract (CSE) were measured using western blotting and RT‐qPCR. Rs10744996C>A in the 3′‐untranslated region (3′UTR) of BRIP1 was then genotyped in 1296 COPD cases and 988 healthy control subjects from a Mongolian population in northern China. Significant differences in the distribution of rs10744996C>A variants between COPD and control groups (P = 0.001) were identified. Rs10744996C>A was found to be associated with significantly increased COPD risk (adjusted odds ratio = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.30–1.98, P < 0.0001). Additionally, rs10744996A genotype was found to interact with a family history of cancer and a history of x‐ray exposure (P = 0.028 and 0.009, respectively). BRIP1 expression levels in 16HBE and A549 cells treated with CSE were significantly lower compared to the control treated cells. The rs10744996C>A variant of BRIP1 increased the COPD susceptibility of the Mongolian population cohort. BRIP1 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly reduced in conjunction with CSE‐induced DNA damage in 16HBE and A549 cells.
Spinal motoneuron firing properties mature from rostral to caudal during postnatal development of the mouse
Authors: Smith Calvin C. , Brownstone Robert M.
Published: August 2020

Key points

Many mammals are born with immature motor systems that develop through a critical period of postnatal development.

In rodents, postnatal maturation of movement occurs from rostral to caudal, correlating with maturation of descending supraspinal and local spinal circuits.

We asked whether development of fundamental electrophysiological properties of spinal motoneurons follows the same rostro‐caudal sequence.

We show that in both regions, repetitive firing parameters increase and excitability decreases with development; however, these characteristics mature earlier in cervical motoneurons.

We suggest that in addition to autonomous mechanisms, motoneuron development depends on activity resulting from their circuit milieu.

Altricial mammals are born with immature nervous systems comprised of circuits that do not yet have the neuronal properties and connectivity required to produce future behaviours. During the critical period of postnatal development, neuronal properties are tuned to participate in functional circuits. In rodents, cervical motoneurons are born prior to lumbar motoneurons, and spinal cord development follows a sequential rostro‐caudal pattern. Here we asked whether birth order is reflected in the postnatal development of electrophysiological properties. We show that motoneurons of both regions have similar properties at birth and follow the same developmental profile, with maximal firing increasing and excitability decreasing into the third postnatal week. However, these maturative processes occur in cervical motoneurons prior to lumbar motoneurons, correlating with the maturation of premotor descending and local spinal systems. These results suggest that motoneuron properties do not mature by cell autonomous mechanisms alone, but also depend on developing premotor circuits.
Deconvolution of decomposed conventional beamforming
Authors: Yang T. C.
Published: August 2020

A recently proposed deconvolution method applied to conventional beamforming (CBF) shows a much higher array gain (AG) than CBF in theory, thereby providing the possibility for detecting a weak signal with a much lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, simulated data processing shows an effective AG that decreases with decreasing SNR. The reason for the performance loss is analyzed. A method based on deconvolution of the signal subspace of the CBF outputs is shown to recover most of the AG loss. It is used to trace a weak signal in bearing and time.
COVID-19 and Youth Sports: Psychological, Developmental, and Economic Impacts
Authors: Sanderson Jimmy , Brown Katie
Published: August 2020

COVID-19 has dramatically altered and disrupted sport in unprecedented ways, and youth sports is one sector that has been profoundly impacted. In the United States, the youth sports industry generates $19 billion dollars annually, while youth sport tourism is estimated at $9 billion annually. With youth sports at a standstill, the effect on the youth sports infrastructure is significant. The purpose of this scholarly commentary was to discuss the psychological, developmental, and economic fallout from the stoppage of youth sports that has touched millions of participants, their families, and a substantial youth sports structural system. This work also addresses the potential restructuring of youth sport megacomplexes, cascading effects of canceled seasons, likely sponsorship losses, and potential growing socioeconomic divide in participation that could result from the pandemic. Thus, there is still much uncertainty about the future of youth sport participation and subsequent adjustments that may impact established participation and consumption norms.
Roberta J. Park: Paving the Sport History Highway While Saving Physical Education From a House Divided
Authors: Vertinsky Patricia , Wrynn Alison
Published: August 2020

Internationally acclaimed sport historian Roberta Park was among the Academy of Kinesiology’s leading scholars. Her extensive career at the University of California, Berkeley, was a powerful example of one woman’s agency and success in the hierarchical world of higher education. Systematically opening up the breadth of embodied and gendered practices deemed suitable for examination by sport historians, Park’s pioneering scholarship helped turn a narrow lane into the broad highway of sport history. She demonstrated that it is neither possible nor desirable to study the history of medicine, health, or fitness without accounting for the body, raising provocative questions about the historical origins of training regimens for sport and exercise, and excavating the histories of the biomedical sciences to better understand the antecedents of sports medicine and exercise science. She never abandoned her faith in the importance of the profession of physical education, properly supported by scholarly enquiry, holding up Berkeley’s foundational program as a template to guide physical education’s future and grieving its demise in 1997.
Supplemental Material: Late Quaternary slip rate of the Aksay segment and its rapidly decreasing gradient along the Altyn Tagh fault
Authors: rui j. , al. et
Published: August 2020

Processes of displacements measurement at the Jiaerwuzongcun site and the Yandantu site with the LaDiCaoz_v2 code.
Intramuscular lymphoma: uncommon presentation of Hodgkin’s disease
Authors: Alexander Vijay , Shenoy Rachana , Korula Anu , Koshy Maria
Published: August 2020

Extranodal presentation in lymphoproliferative disorders is a well-recognised entity. However, musculoskeletal involvement is extremely rare. We describe the case of a 64-year-old farmer who presented to us with constitutional symptoms of fever, loss of weight and loss of appetite for 2 years and physical examination revealing generalised lymphadenopathy with hepatosplenomegaly. Biopsy of an axillary lymph node showed mixed cellularity variant of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. CT of the thorax and abdomen revealed a collection in the right psoas muscle. Guided biopsy of the psoas deposit was suggestive of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. PCR and cultures forMycobacterium tuberculosistested negative. Here we describe a rare presentation of Hodgkin’s lymphoma with intramuscular involvement.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy as the first presentation of sarcoidosis
Authors: Elbadri Maha , Plant Gordon
Published: August 2020

Recognition of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients with an established primary neuroinflammatory condition can be clinically challenging. Delayed or incorrect diagnosis may worsen the course of the disease and result in an inaccurate prognosis. We present an unusual case of a patient with a rapid decline in visual acuity, positive serum ACE and extensive lymphadenopathy who was found to have progressive subcortical lesions and cerebrospinal fluid PCR positive for John Cunningham virus supporting a coincidental diagnosis of PML. The prognosis of PML is affected by the associated condition. Establishing the diagnosis is important for an exact prognosis of the primary condition but also to allow early discontinuation of immunomodulatory treatment. Sarcoidosis-associated PML might have a similar aggressive course to that seen when associated with haematological malignancies.
Imaging characteristics of metaplastic breast cancer with osteoblastic differentiation
Authors: Twadell Sara , Schilling Kathy , Gleckman Aaron , McDonald Kerry-Ann
Published: August 2020

An 82-year-old female presented to her breast surgeon with a hard, painful mass in the left breast. Mammography demonstrated a new hyperdense mass with pleomorphic calcifications of trabeculated appearance. Ultrasound-guided biopsy demonstrated a hypoechoic mass with significantly increased vascularity and tissue stiffness as well as additional irregular, hypoechoic masses in the same area. Together these findings suggested multifocal malignancy. The pathology report from the biopsy demonstrated fragments of solid sheets of epithelioid and focally spindled cells with multinucleated osteoclast giant cells. This was found to be most consistent with metaplastic carcinoma showing osteoblastic differentiation. The patient received a left-sided mastectomy. During follow-up with the patient, adjuvant chemotherapy was not advised given the relatively unknown survival advantage in this elderly patient.
Harlequin ichthyosis from birth to 12 years
Authors: Heap Jemima , Judge Mary , Padmakumar Beena
Published: August 2020

A neonate was born with generalised, erythrodermic, thick, fissured skin, severe ectropion, hypoplastic auricles and limb abnormalities. A clinical diagnosis of harlequin ichthyosis was made, allowing supportive therapies to be commenced promptly. Oral acitretin was initiated on day 3 of life, complemented by an intensive skin care regimen. Rehydration, prevention and treatment of infection, temperature control and nutritional support were all essential to see him through the neonatal period. Nearly 12 years later, this child continues to receive multidisciplinary input and enjoys a good quality of life.
Cardiac arrest during cornea transplant surgery
Authors: Jarstad Allison , Chou Jody , Garg Sumit
Published: August 2020

This paper describes a case of cardiac arrest during femtosecond laser enabled penetrating keratoplasty (FLEK) in a young, healthy patient with no known cardiac risk factors and discusses the risk of cardiac arrest during intraocular surgery. A healthy 22-year-old man who underwent repeat FLEK under general anaesthesia developed bradycardia and subsequent cardiac arrest while open sky during surgery. After resuscitation and completion of the transplant surgery, the patient recovered and the graft has survived with excellent uncorrected visual acuity over 1 year after surgery. Understanding the risks of cardiac arrest and death during intraocular surgery is imperative to discussing the systemic risks of surgery during the preoperative informed consent.
Bilateral breast masses as a presentation for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Mosalem Osama , Abu Rous Fawzi , Elshafie Ahmed , Isaac Daniel
Published: August 2020

Here we describe a 27-year-old woman, 5 months post partum, who presented to the emergency department with bilateral breast masses. She was initially treated as lactational mastitis with no improvement. Breast ultrasound showed bilateral breast and axillary lymphadenopathy suggestive of metastatic/neoplastic process, and chest X-ray showed a large anterior mediastinal mass. Further work-up led to the diagnosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The patient was started on a paediatric regimen using the children's oncology group AALL0434 protocol. The patient achieved a complete remission following induction chemotherapy with resolution of her presenting symptoms.
Decomposing the educational gradient in allostatic load across European populations. What matters the most: differentials in exposure or in susceptibility?
Authors: Veronesi Giovanni , Kee Frank , Hicks Blanaid , Forrest Hannah , Tunstall-Pedoe Hugh , Kuulasmaa Kari , Sans Susana , Salomaa Veikko , Thorand Barbara , Di Castelnuovo Augusto , Soderberg Stefan , Cesana Giancarlo , Bobak Martin , De Ponti Roberto , Iacoviello Licia , Palmieri Luigi , Zeller Tanja , Blankenberg Stefan , Ferrario Marco M
Published: August 2020

Background

We investigate whether socially disadvantaged individuals are more susceptible to the detrimental effects of smoking and alcohol intake on allostatic load (AL), a marker of physiological ‘wear and tear’, resulting from adaptation to chronic stress.

Methods

In a cross-sectional analysis, 27 019 men and 26 738 women aged 35–74 years were identified from 21 European cohorts in the BiomarCaRE consortium. We defined three educational classes (EDs) according to years of schooling and an AL score as the sum of z-scores of eight selected biomarkers from the cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory systems. We used the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to disentangle the ED gradient in AL score into thedifferential exposure(DE, attributable to different distribution of smoking and alcohol intake across EDs) and thedifferential susceptibility(DS, attributable to a different effect of risk factors on AL across EDs) components.

Results

Less-educated men (mean AL difference: 0.68, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.79) and women (1.52, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.64) had higher AL scores. DE accounted for 7% and 6% of the gradient in men and women, respectively. In men, combining smoking and alcohol intake, DS accounted for 42% of the gradient (smoking DS coefficient=0.177, 26% of the gradient; alcohol DS coefficient=0.109; 16%, not statistically significant). DS contribution increased to 69% in metabolic markers. DS estimates were consistent across age groups, irrespective of comorbidities and robust to unmeasured confounding. No DS was observed in women.

Conclusions

In men, a DS mechanism substantially contributes to the educational class gradient in allostatic load.
Opioid use among veterans undergoing major joint surgery managed by a multidisciplinary transitional pain service
Authors: Buys Michael J , Bayless Kimberlee , Romesser Jennifer , Anderson Zachary , Patel Shardool , Zhang Chong , Presson Angela P , Brooke Benjamin S
Published: August 2020

Background

Chronic postsurgical pain and opioid use is a problem among patients undergoing many types of surgical procedures. A multidisciplinary approach to perioperative pain management known as a transitional pain service (TPS) may lower these risks.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center to compare patients undergoing elective primary or revision total knee, hip, or shoulder replacement or rotator cuff repair in the year before (2017) and after (2018) implementation of a TPS. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients taking opioids 90 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include new chronic opioid use (COU) after surgery as well as the proportion of previous chronic opioid users who stopped or decreased opioid use after surgery.

Results

At 90 days after surgery, patients enrolled in TPS were significantly less likely to be taking opioids (13.4% TPS vs 27.3% pre-TPS; p=0.002). This relationship remained statistically significant in a multivariable logistic regression analysis, where the TPS group had 69% lower odds of postoperative COU compared with the preintervention group (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.66; p=0.03). Opioid-naive patients enrolled in TPS were less likely to have new COU after surgery (0.7% TPS vs 8.4% pre-TPS; p=0.004). Further, patients enrolled in TPS with existing COU prior to surgery were more likely to reduce or completely stop opioid use after surgery (67.5% TPS vs 45.3% pre-TPS; p=0.037) as compared with pre-TPS.

Conclusions

These data suggest that a TPS is an effective strategy for preventing new COU and reducing overall opioid use following orthopedic joint procedures in a Veterans Affairs hospital.
CT and surgical management of a uterine torsion associated with leiomyosarcoma in a dog
Authors: Carbonell Rossello Gabriel , Ferrandis Inma , Masso Juan Francisco Borrego , Jimenez Pelaez Manuel
Published: August 2020

An 11‐year‐old, 22‐kg, intact female crossbred dog presented with abdominal distention and marked chronic weight loss. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a large mass (>20‐cm diameter) in the mid‐abdomen; its origin could not be determined. CT of the abdomen revealed three masses associated with the uterus. A 720° uterine rotation along its long axis was noted. An exploratory laparotomy and en bloc ovariohysterectomy of the twisted uterus was performed and the dog recovered uneventfully. Histopathology confirmed three leiomyosarcomas within the uterine tissue. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case describing a uterine torsion associated with a leiomyosarcoma in a dog and diagnosed by CT.
Vascular smooth muscle remodeling in health and disease
Authors: Bkaily Ghassan , Abou Abdallah Nadia , Simon Yanick , Jazzar Ashley , Jacques Danielle
Published: August 2020

In blood vessels, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) generally exist in two major phenotypes: contractile and non-contractile (synthetic). The contractile phenotype is predominant and includes quiescent or differentiated VSMCs, which function as the regulators of blood vessel diameter and blood flow. According to some literature in the field, contractile VSMCs do not switch to the non-contractile phenotype due to the activation of specific transcription factors that are considered as guardians of the contractile phenotype. However, a vast amount of the literature uses the terms remodeling and phenotype switching of contractile VSMCs interchangeably based mainly on studies dealing with atherosclerosis. The use of the terms remodeling and switching to describe changes in phenotype based on morphological criteria can be confusing. The term remodeling was first used to describe morphological changes in the heart and was soon used to describe phenotype changes of contractile VSMCs based on morphological criteria. The latter were introduced in early studies, and new molecular criteria were later added, including changes in gene expression, which could be irreversible. In this review, we will discuss the different views concerning remodeling and possible switching of contractile VSMCs to a non-contractile phenotype. We conclude that only remodeling of contractile VSMCs may take place upon vascular injury and disease.
Wave-like spatially homogeneous models of Stäckel spacetimes (2.1) type in the scalar-tensor theory of gravity
Authors: Osetrin Konstantin , Filippov Altair , Osetrin Evgeny
Published: August 2020

Six exact solutions are obtained in the general scalar-tensor theory of gravity related to spatially homogeneous wave-like models of the Universe. Wave-like spacetime models allow the existence of privileged coordinate systems where the eikonal equation and the Hamilton–Jacobi equation of test particles can be integrated by the method of complete separation of variables with the separation of isotropic (wave) variables on which the space metric depends (non-ignored variables). An explicit form of the scalar field and two functions of the scalar field that are part of the general scalar-tensor theory of gravity are found. The explicit form of the eikonal function and the action function for test particles in the considered models is given. The obtained solutions are of type III according to the Bianchi classification and type N according to the Petrov classification. Wave-like spatially homogeneous spacetime models can describe primordial gravitational waves of the Universe.
A note on the Hasse quiver of τ-tilting modules
Authors: Gao Hanpeng
Published: August 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be an algebra with an indecomposable projective-injective module. Adachi gave a method to construct the Hasse quiver of support [Formula: see text]-tilting [Formula: see text]-modules. In this paper, we will show that it can be restricted to [Formula: see text]-tilting modules.
RAINFALL VARIABILITY AND ITS EFFECT ON COMMUNICATION LINK IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA
Authors: SEMIRE FOLASADE ABIOLA , ADEKUNLE ADEYANJU JOSHUA , ABOLADE ROBERT OLAYIMIKA
Published: August 2020

Due to the fact that rainfall may hamper signal availability, rainfall variability and its resultant effect on environment and communication have become of global concern. In this study, we investigate the trend and variability of rainfall in southwestern Nigeria and examine its effect on radio communication. Our results reveal a steady increasing in rainfall and slightly unstable in volume variation in southwestern Nigeria. The study also reveals that the tendency of higher attenuation in years was caused by the increasing trend but showing variability with frequency. With the rising trend in view, there is therefore the likelihood that radio communication infrastructures will experience increasing outage and more signal loss in the future years. This outcome should serve as useful tools in optimizing satellite link budget and better utilization of available bandwidth.
Dynamic and isometric handgrip exercise increases wave reflection in healthy young adults
Authors: Stock Joseph M. , Chouramanis Nicholas V. , Chirinos Julio A. , Edwards David G.
Published: August 2020

This study demonstrated that wave reflection magnitude is increased while reflected wave transit time is decreased during handgrip exercise in healthy young adults. The larger backward pressure waves and earlier return of these pressure waves were not different between dynamic and isometric handgrip exercise. These acute changes in wave reflection during handgrip exercise transiently augment pulsatile load.
Spatial muscle activation patterns during different leg exercise protocols in physically active adults using muscle functional MRI: a systematic review
Authors: Dooley Katherine , Snodgrass Suzanne J. , Stanwell Peter , Birse Samantha , Schultz Adrian , Drew Michael K. , Edwards Suzi
Published: August 2020

An emerging method to measure muscle activation patterns is muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging (mfMRI), where preexercise and postexercise muscle metabolism differences indicate spatial muscle activation patterns. We evaluated studies employing mfMRI to determine activation patterns of lumbar or lower limb muscles following exercise in physically active adults. Electronic systematic searches were conducted until March 2020. All studies employing ≥1.5 Tesla MRI scanners to compare spatial muscle activation patterns at the level of or inferior to the first lumbar vertebra in healthy, active adults. Two authors independently assessed study eligibility before appraising methodological quality using a National Institutes of Health assessment tool. Because of heterogeneity, findings were synthesized without meta-analysis. Of the 1,946 studies identified, seven qualified for inclusion and pertained to hamstring ( n = 5), quadriceps ( n = 1) or extrinsic foot ( n = 1) muscles. All included studies controlled for internal validity, with one employing assessor blinding. MRI physics and differing research questions explain study methodology heterogeneity. Significant mfMRI findings were: following Nordic exercise, hamstrings with previous trauma (strain or surgical autograft harvest) demonstrated reduced activation compared with unharmed contralateral muscles, and asymptomatic individuals preferentially activated semitendinosus; greater biceps femoris long head to semitendinosus ratios reported following 45° hip extension over Nordic exercise; greater rectus femoris activation occurred in “flywheel” over barbell squats. mfMRI parameters differ on the basis of individual research questions. Individual muscles show greater activation following specific exercises, suggesting exercise specificity may be important for rehabilitation, although evidence is limited to single cohort studies comparing interlimb differences preexercise versus postexercise.
Multiconsensus of Nonlinear Multiagent Systems with Intermittent Communication
Authors: Chen Jie , Xu Guang-Hui , Geng Liang
Published: August 2020

Compared with single consensus, the multiconsensus of multiagent systems with nonlinear dynamics can reflect some real-world cases. This paper proposes a novel distributed law based only on intermittent relative information to achieve the multiconsensus. By constructing an appropriate Lyapunov function, sufficient conditions on control parameters are derived to undertake the reliability of closed-loop dynamics. Ultimately, the availability of results is completely validated by these numerical examples.
Productivity, Water- and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, and Profitability of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under Different Nitrogen Applications in Semiarid Region of Nigeria
Authors: Ajeigbe Hakeem A. , Akinseye Folorunso M. , Kamara Alpha Y. , Tukur AbdulAzeez , Inuwa Abubakar Hassan
Published: August 2020

An experiment was conducted to examine the performance of pearl millet under different nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates in two locations in the semiarid zone of Nigeria. The objective was to evaluate the effects of different N rates on pearl millet yields, water- and nitrogen-use efficiency, and profitability. Grain yield increased by 23, 26, 32, 32, and 27% and by 38, 41, 54, 58, and 56% compared to unfertilized plots when applying 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and Gambawa, respectively. Similarly, stalk yield increased by 4, 3, 9, 9, and 9% and by 16, 24, 36, 40, and 37% compared to unfertilized plot when applying 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and Gambawa, respectively. The variations in GY that could be explained by TWU and NUE were 28% and 26% in Minjibir and 46% and 41%, respectively, in Gambawa. There was a strong and positive correlation (R = 0.81 and R = 0.95) between WUE and GY across N-fertilizer rates and pearl millet varieties in both locations. An increase in N-fertilizer levels increased WUE, confirming the optimal application of 60 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and of 80 kg Nha−1 in Gambawa. Similarly, the highest net economic return (NER) of US$610 ha−1 was obtained at 60 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and the highest NER of US$223 ha−1 was obtained at an application rate of 80 kg Nha−1 in Gambawa. Break-even yield was above 1000 kg ha−1, signifying that average farmer with a mean yield of less than 1000 kg ha−1 produces millet at a loss.
Frequency Diverse Array Target Localization Based on IPSO-BP
Authors: Liu Qinghua , Ding Kai , Wu Bingsen , Xie Quanmin
Published: August 2020

For the traditional target localization algorithms of frequency diverse array (FDA), there are some problems such as angle and distance coupling in single-frequency receiving FDA mode, large amount of calculation, and weak adaptability. This paper introduces a good learning and predictive method of target localization by using BP neural network on FDA, and FDA-IPSO-BP neural network algorithm is formed. The improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm with nonlinear weights is developed to optimize the neural network weights and biases to prevent BP neural network from easily falling into local minimum points. In addition, the decoupling of angle and distance with single frequency increment is well solved. The simulation experiments show that the proposed algorithm has better target localization effect and convergence speed, compared with FDA-BP and FDA-MUSIC algorithms.
High PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint Interaction Infers Tumor Selection and Therapeutic Sensitivity to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Treatment
Authors: Sánchez-Magraner Lissete , Miles James , Baker Claire L. , Applebee Christopher J. , Lee Dae-Jin , Elsheikh Somaia , Lashin Shaimaa , Withers Katriona , Watts Andrew G. , Parry Richard , Edmead Christine , Lopez Jose Ignacio , Mehta Raj , Italiano Antoine , Ward Stephen G. , Parker Peter J. , Larijani Banafshé
Published: August 2020

Many cancers are termed immunoevasive due to expression of immunomodulatory ligands. Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and cluster of differentiation 80/86 (CD80/86) interact with their receptors, programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), respectively, on tumor-infiltrating leukocytes eliciting immunosuppression. Immunotherapies aimed at blocking these interactions are revolutionizing cancer treatments, albeit in an inadequately described patient subset. To address the issue of patient stratification for immune checkpoint intervention, we quantitatively imaged PD-1/PD-L1 interactions in tumor samples from patients, employing an assay that readily detects these intercellular protein–protein interactions in the less than or equal to 10 nm range. These analyses across multiple patient cohorts demonstrated the intercancer, interpatient, and intratumoral heterogeneity of interacting immune checkpoints. The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction was not correlated with clinical PD-L1 expression scores in malignant melanoma. Crucially, among anti-PD-1–treated patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer, those with lower PD-1/PD-L1 interaction had significantly worsened survival. It is surmised that within tumors selecting for an elevated level of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, there is a greater dependence on this pathway for immune evasion and hence, they exhibit more impressive patient response to intervention.

Significance:

Quantitation of immune checkpoint interaction by direct imaging demonstrates that immunotherapy-treated patients with metastatic NSCLC with a low extent of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction show significantly worse outcome.
Inhibition of Histone H3K27 Demethylases Inactivates Brachyury (TBXT) and Promotes Chordoma Cell Death
Authors: Cottone Lucia , Cribbs Adam P. , Khandelwal Garima , Wells Graham , Ligammari Lorena , Philpott Martin , Tumber Anthony , Lombard Patrick , Hookway Edward S. , Szommer Tamas , Johansson Catrine , Brennan Paul E. , Pillay Nischalan , Jenner Richard G. , Oppermann Udo , Flanagan Adrienne M.
Published: August 2020

Expression of the transcription factor brachyury (TBXT) is normally restricted to the embryo, and its silencing is epigenetically regulated. TBXT promotes mesenchymal transition in a subset of common carcinomas, and in chordoma, a rare cancer showing notochordal differentiation, TBXT acts as a putative oncogene. We hypothesized that TBXT expression is controlled through epigenetic inhibition to promote chordoma cell death. Screening of five human chordoma cell lines revealed that pharmacologic inhibition of the histone 3 lysine 27 demethylases KDM6A (UTX) and KDM6B (JMJD3) leads to cell death. This effect was phenocopied by dual genetic inactivation of KDM6A/B using CRISPR/Cas9. Inhibition of KDM6A/B with a novel compound KDOBA67 led to a genome-wide increase in repressive H3K27me3 marks with concomitant reduction in active H3K27ac, H3K9ac, and H3K4me3 marks. TBXT was a KDM6A/B target gene, and chromatin changes at TBXT following KDOBA67 treatment were associated with a reduction in TBXT protein levels in all models tested, including primary patient-derived cultures. In all models tested, KDOBA67 treatment downregulated expression of a network of transcription factors critical for chordoma survival and upregulated pathways dominated by ATF4-driven stress and proapoptotic responses. Blocking the AFT4 stress response did not prevent suppression of TBXT and induction of cell death, but ectopic overexpression of TBXT increased viability, therefore implicating TBXT as a potential therapeutic target of H3K27 demethylase inhibitors in chordoma. Our work highlights how knowledge of normal processes in fetal development can provide insight into tumorigenesis and identify novel therapeutic approaches.

Significance:

Pharmacologic inhibition of H3K27-demethylases in human chordoma cells promotes epigenetic silencing of oncogenic TBXT, alters gene networks critical to survival, and represents a potential novel therapy.
Loss of SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Alters NRF2 Signaling in Non–Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Song Shujie , Nguyen Vinh , Schrank Travis , Mulvaney Kathleen , Walter Vonn , Wei Darmood , Orvis Tess , Desai Nisarg , Zhang Jiren , Hayes D. Neil , Zheng Yanfang , Major Michael B. , Weissman Bernard E.
Published: August 2020

The NF-E2–related factor 2 (referred to as NRF2) transcription factor binds antioxidant responsive elements within the promoters of cytoprotective genes to induce their expression. Next-generation sequencing studies in lung cancer have shown a significant number of activating mutations within the NRF2 signaling pathway. Mutations in components of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex, a general regulator of transcription using either BRG1 or BRM as the catalytic subunit, also frequently occur in lung cancers. Importantly, low BRG1 expression levels in primary human NSCLC correlated with increased NRF2-target gene expression. Here, we show that loss of SWI/SNF complex function activated a subset of NRF2-mediated transcriptional targets. Using a series of isogenic NSCLC lines with reduced or depleted BRG1 and/or BRM expression, we observed significantly increased expression of the NRF2-target genes HMOX1 and GSTM4. In contrast, expression of the NRF2 target genes NQO1 and GCLM modestly increased following BRM reduction. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that BRG1 knockdown led to increased NRF2 binding at its respective ARE sites in the HMOX1 promoter but not in NQO1 and GCLM. Our data demonstrate that loss of BRG1 or BRM in lung cancer results in activation of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway and HMOX1 expression. Therefore, we provide an additional molecular explanation for why patients harboring BRG1 or BRM mutations show poor prognoses. A better understanding of this mechanism may yield novel insights into the design of targeted treatment modalities.

Implications:

Our study identifies a novel mechanism for how mutations in the SMARCA4 gene may drive progression of human lung adenocarcinomas.
AGE-Induced Suppression of EZH2 Mediates Injury of Podocytes by Reducing H3K27me3
Authors: Liebisch Marita , Wolf Gunter
Published: August 2020

Background: Chronic hyperglycemia, a pivotal feature of diabetes mellitus (DM), initiates the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and the dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms, which may cause injury to renal podocytes, a central feature of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Previous data of our group showed that AGEs significantly reduce the expression of NIPP1 (nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1) in podocytes in vitro as well as in human and murine DKD. NIPP1 was shown by others to interact with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which catalyzes the repressive methylation of H3K27me3 on histone 3. Therefore, we hypothesized that AGEs can directly induce epigenetic changes in podocytes. Methods: We analyzed the relevance of AGEs on EZH2 expression and activity in a murine podocyte cell line. Cells were treated with 5 mg/mL glycated BSA for 24 h. To determine the meaning of EZH2 suppression, EZH2 activity was inhibited by incubating the cells with the pharmacological methyltransferase inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin A; EZH2 expression was repressed with siRNA. mRNA expression was analyzed with real-time PCR, and protein expression with Western blot. EZH2 expression and level of H3K27 trimethylation in podocytes of diabetic db/db mice, a mouse model for type 2 DM, were analyzed using immunofluorescence. Results: Our data demonstrated that AGEs decrease EZH2 expression in podocytes and consequently reduce H3K27me3. This suppression of EZH2 mimicked the AGE effects and caused an upregulated expression of pathological factors that contribute to podocyte injury in DKD. In addition, analyses of db/db mice showed significantly reduced H3K27me3 and EZH2 expression in podocytes. Moreover, the suppression of NIPP1 and EZH2 showed similar effects regarding podocyte injury. Conclusions: Our studies provide a novel pathway how AGEs contribute to podocyte injury and the formation of the so-called metabolic memory in DKD.