bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GFAT1/HBP/O‐GlcNAcylation Axis Regulates β‐Catenin Activity to Promote Pancreatic Cancer Aggressiveness
Authors: Jia Chunzeng , Li Hengchao , Fu Deliang , Lan Yu
Published: February 2020

Reprogrammed glucose and glutamine metabolism are essential for tumor initiation and development. As a branch of glucose and metabolism, the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) generates uridine diphosphate N‐acetylglucosamine (UDP‐GlcNAc) and contributes to the O‐GlcNAcylation process. However, the spectrum of HBP‐dependent tumors and the mechanisms by which the HBP promotes tumor aggressiveness remain areas of active investigation. In this study, we analyzed the activity of the HBP and its prognostic value across 33 types of human cancers. Increased HBP activity was observed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and higher HBP activity predicted a poor prognosis in PDAC patients. Genetic silencing or pharmacological inhibition of the first and rate‐limiting enzyme of the HBP, glutamine:fructose‐6‐phosphate amidotransferase 1 (GFAT1), inhibited PDAC cell proliferation, invasive capacity, and triggered cell apoptosis. Notably, these effects can be restored by addition of UDP‐GlcNAc. Moreover, similar antitumor effects were noticed by pharmacological inhibition of GFAT1 with 6‐diazo‐5‐oxo‐l‐norleucine (DON) or Azaserine. PDAC is maintained by oncogenic Wnt/β‐catenin transcriptional activity. Our data showed that GFAT1 can regulate β‐catenin expression via modulation of the O‐GlcNAcylation process. TOP/FOP‐Flash and real‐time qPCR analysis showed that GFAT1 knockdown inhibited β‐catenin activity and the transcription of its downstream target genes CCND1 and MYC. Ectopic expression of a stabilized form of β‐catenin restored the suppressive roles of GFAT1 knockdown on PDAC cell proliferation and invasion. Collectively, our findings indicate that higher GFAT1/HBP/O‐GlcNAcylation exhibits tumor‐promoting roles by maintaining β‐catenin activity in PDAC.
The Role of Probiotics in Colorectal Cancer Management
Authors: Sivamaruthi Bhagavathi Sundaram , Kesika Periyanaina , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat
Published: February 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancerous diseases worldwide and causes leading cancer‐associated deaths. Several factors are related to the incidence of CRC such as unhealthy diet and lifestyle, heredity, metabolic disorders, and genetic factors. Even though several advanced medical procedures are available for CRC treatment, the survival rates are poor with many adverse treatments associated side effects, which affects the quality of life. Probiotics are a well‐known bioactive candidate for the treatment of several diseases and ill‐health conditions. The recent scientific evidence suggested that probiotic supplementation protects the CRC patients from treatment‐associated adverse effects. The manuscript summarizes the influence of probiotic supplementation on the health status of CRC patients and discusses the possible mechanism behind the protective effect of probiotics against CRC. The literature survey revealed that beneficial impact of probiotic supplementation depends on several factors such as strain, dosage, duration of the intervention, host physiology, and other food supplements. The probiotic intervention improves the microbiota, releases antimicrobials and anticarcinogenic agents, helps to remove carcinogens, and improves the intestinal permeability, tight junction function, and enzyme activity in CRC patients. Besides, not all probiotic strains exhibit anti‐CRC activities; it is necessary to screen the potent strain for the development of a probiotic‐based therapeutic agent to control or prevent the incidence of CRC.
Resource Allocation Algorithm for NOMA-Enhanced D2D Communications with Energy Harvesting
Authors: Su Na , Zhu Qi , Wang Ying
Published: February 2020

In this work, we propose a channel allocation and power control algorithm for energy harvesting (EH) device-to-device (D2D) communication based on nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA). The algorithm considers users’ quality of service (QoS) and energy causality constraint to maximize the total capacity of D2D groups. The optimal offline allocation of channel and power is realized firstly. Then, the offline optimization results are taken as the training dataset to train the neural network to obtain the optimal model of the transmission power. The online power allocation optimization algorithm is further proposed. Simulation results show that the offline algorithm can improve the total capacity of D2D groups, and the performance of the online algorithm is close to the offline algorithm.
Shaping Ability of XP Endo Shaper File in Curved Root Canal Models
Authors: Alfadley Abdulmohsen , Alrajhi Abdalrhman , Alissa Hamad , Alzeghaibi Faisal , Hamadah Lubna , Alfouzan Khalid , Jamleh Ahmed
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to assess the shaping ability of the XP Shaper (XPS) file in severely curved canal models under simulated body temperature and compare it with that of the WaveOne Gold (WOG) file. Ninety-six simulated root canals were equally distributed into XPS and WOG systems to be shaped by eight files each. Files were assessed under a stereomicroscope prior to canal shaping to detect deformation if any. The canals were shaped at 35 ± 1°C using the X-Smart Plus motor. Images of the canals were obtained before and after instrumentation using a stereomicroscope to measure the amount of removed resin from both the inner and outer curvature sides at apex (0 mm) and 3 mm and 6 mm from the apex. The shaping time was calculated. The data were statistically analyzed by the independentt-test at 5% significance level. The XPS and WOG systems shaped the canals in 37.0 ± 9.5 and 62.6 ± 11.3 seconds (P<0.05), respectively. At the apex level, the amount of resin removal in both sides did not show a significant difference between the tested groups (P>0.05). At 3 mm and 6 mm levels, the WOG removed more resin than XPS at both sides (P<0.05). In XPS, deformation was observed in four files: one file after the first use, one file after the fourth use, and two files after the sixth use. In WOG, two files were deformed: one file after the fifth use and one file after the sixth use. One XPS file was fractured after the sixth use. In short, XPS and WOG files can be used in shaping severely curved canals as they showed the ability to maintain the original shape with minimal transportation. Both file systems showed signs of deformation after use with a lower number of deformed files observed in WOG throughout the experiment.
Group Scheduling Problems with Time-Dependent and Position-Dependent DeJong’s Learning Effect
Authors: Sun Li , Ning Lei , Huo Jia-zhen
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we introduce a group scheduling model with time-dependent and position-dependent DeJong’s learning effect. The objectives of scheduling problems are to minimize makespan, the total completion time, and the total weighted completion time, respectively. We show that the problems remain solvable in polynomial time under the proposed model.
Assessing the Prognostic Performance of the Child-Pugh, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, and Albumin-Bilirubin Scores in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Large Asian Cohort from Gastroenterology Department
Authors: Wan Si-Zhe , Nie Yuan , Zhang Yue , Liu Cong , Zhu Xuan
Published: February 2020

Background and Aim. Various methods, including the Child-Pugh score, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, the MELD combined with serum sodium concentration (MELD-Na) score, the integrated MELD (iMELD) score, and the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, have been widely used for predicting the survival of decompensated cirrhosis (DeCi) patients. In this study, we defined and compared the prognostic value of these scores to predict mortality in DeCi patients. Methods. We performed a single-center, observational retrospective study and analyzed 456 DeCi patients who were hospitalized in the gastroenterology department. The biochemical examination results and demographic characteristics of the patients were obtained, and five scores were calculated upon admission after 24 hours. All patients were observed until death, loss to follow-up, or specific follow-up times (28 days, 90 days, and 6 months). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the ability of these methods to predict mortality in DeCi patients. Results. At 28 days, 90 days, and 6 months, the cumulative number of deaths was 50 (11.0%), 76 (16.6%), and 91 (19.9%), respectively. The scores were significantly higher in nonsurviving patients than in surviving patients. All scores yielded viable values in predicting 28-day, 90-day, and 6-month prognoses for DeCi patients. The areas under the ROC curve (AUROCs) of the ALBI score were higher than those of the other scores, which were only over 0.700 at 28 days. The AUROC of the MELD score was higher than that of the other scores, including the MELD-Na and iMELD scores, at 90 days and 6 months. Conclusion. All five methods (Child-Pugh score, MELD score, MELD-Na score, iMELD score, and ALBI score) provided a reliable prediction of mortality for both the short-term and long-term prognosis of patients with DeCi. The ALBI score may be particularly useful for assessing short-term outcomes, whereas the MELD score may be particularly useful for assessing long-term outcomes.
Correlation between FAK and EGF-Induced EMT in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Huang Kun , Gao Ningning , Bian Donglin , Zhai Qixi , Yang Puxu , Li Mingwei , Wang Xuemei
Published: February 2020

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer, which is mediated by FAK and EGF. However, whether FAK participates in EMT in colorectal cancer cells through the EGF/EGFR signaling pathway remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effector mechanisms of FAK in the process of EGF-induced EMT in colorectal cancer cells and to determine whether miR-217 is involved in this process. Caco-2 cancer cells were routinely cultured with and without treatment with 100 ng/mL EGF, and changes in cell morphology were observed using an inverted microscope. In addition, a transwell assay was used to detect cell migration under the condition of EGF treatment. The expression of FAK, pFAK, E-cadherin, vimentin, and β actin was assessed by western blotting, and the expression of miR-217 was assessed using real-time PCR. We found that EGF induced EMT in colorectal cancer cells and enhanced cell migration and invasion ability. Moreover, FAK was involved in the EGF-induced EMT of colorectal cancer cells. EGF upregulated the expression of E-cadherin in colorectal cancer cells by activating FAK, and miR-217 was found to participate in EGF-induced EMT in colorectal cancer cells. Our findings indicate that EGF induces EMT in colorectal cancer cells by activating FAK, and miR-217 is involved in the EGF/FAK/E-cadherin signaling pathway.
Modification of Platelet Count on the Association between Homocysteine and Blood Pressure: A Moderation Analysis in Chinese Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Zhang Jianan , Li Jing , Chen Shi , Gao Linglin , Yan Xiaoluan , Zhang Mingzhi , Yu Jia , Wang Fenchun , Peng Hao
Published: February 2020

Background. Platelet consumption followed by homocysteine-induced endothelial injury suggests a crosstalk between platelet activation and homocysteine on hypertension. Platelet count has been found to modify the effect of folic acid on vascular health. However, whether platelet count could modify the contribution of homocysteine to blood pressure (BP) remains unclear. Methods. Leveraging a community-based cross-sectional survey in 30,369 Chinese hypertensive patients (mean age 62 years, 52% female), we examined the moderation of platelet count on the association between serum homocysteine and BP by constructing hierarchical multiple regression models, adjusting for conventional risk factors. If adding the interaction term of homocysteine and platelet count could explain more variance in BP and the interaction is significant, then we believe that moderation is occurring. Results. The association between serum homocysteine and diastolic BP was significantly stronger (β = 0.092 vs. 0.035, P=0.004) in participants with low platelet count (<210 × 109/L) than in those with high platelet count (≥210 × 109/L). Adding the interaction term of homocysteine and platelet count additionally explained 0.05% of the variance in diastolic BP (P=0.0001), and the interaction was significant (β = −0.021, P<0.001). Excluding participants receiving antihypertensive medications did not change our results. Conclusions. The association between homocysteine and BP was significantly stronger in participants with low vs. high platelet count and was partially moderated by platelet count. These results indicate that platelet count may be useful in the identification of individuals who are most beneficial to reducing-homocysteine treatments but this usefullness still needs further investigation.
Analysis of Blimp-1 and PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint in an Autoimmune Thyroiditis Animal Model
Authors: Zhang Xue , Lv Xiaoshu , Chen Mengya , Liu Haixia
Published: February 2020

Objective. B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) have opposing roles in the development of T cells; however, the mechanism of autoimmune thyroiditis- (AIT-) associated abortion is unclear. The present study investigated the expression of Blimp-1 and PD-1/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in AIT-associated pregnancy loss and elucidated the related signaling pathway involving in the inflammatory response. Methods. An experimental fetal loss model with autoimmune thyroiditis was established after murine thyroglobulin- (mTg-) immunized CBA/J female mice mating with Balb/c males. ELISA was employed to investigate the TgAb level in the serum of CBA/J female mice. The expression of Blimp-1, PD-1/PD-L1, mammalian target protein rapamycin (mTOR), and Foxp3 proteins in the placenta and spleen was detected through immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. Results. ELISA indicated that the serum TgAb level in the mTg group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). Fetal resorption rates increased in the mTg group compared with those in the control group (45.63% vs. 3.1%, P<0.05). Blimp-1 levels in the placenta and spleen were higher in the AIT-related miscarriage group than in the control group. However, the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and Foxp3 was significantly decreased in the placenta and spleen in the AIT-related miscarriage group. Conclusion. Blimp-1 participates in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease-associated pregnancy loss through the inflammatory immune response, which is potentially mediated through the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway.
Fabrication of Nanostructured Polyamic Acid Membranes for Antimicrobially Enhanced Water Purification
Authors: Kimotho Ibrahim , Noah Naumih M. , Nawiri Mildred , Mbatia Betty
Published: February 2020

Water scarcity and quality challenges facing the world can be alleviated by Point-of-Use filtration devices (POU). The use of filtration membranes in POU devices has been limited largely because of membrane fouling, which occurs when suspended solids, microbes, and organic materials are deposited on the surface of filtration membranes significantly decreasing the membrane lifespan, thereby increasing operation costs. There is need therefore to develop filtration membranes that are devoid of these challenges. In this work, nanotechnology was used to fabricate nanostructured polyamic acid (nPAA) membranes, which can be used for microbial decontamination of water. The PAA was used as support and reducing agent to introduce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with antimicrobial properties. The nPAA membranes were fabricated via thermal and wet phase inversion technique and then tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus following standard tests. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited excellent dispersibility and stability as indicated by the color change of the solution and increments of optical density at 415 nm for AgNPs and 520 nm for AuNPs. The wet phase inversion process used produced highly porous, strong, and flexible nPAA membranes, which showed well-dispersed spherical AuNPs and AgNPs whose rough average size was found to be 35 nm and 25 nm, respectively. The AgNPs demonstrated inhibition for both gram positive E. coli and gram negative S. aureus, with a better inhibitory activity against S. aureus. A synergistic enhancement of AgNPs antimicrobial activity upon AuNPs addition was demonstrated. The nPAA membranes can thus be used to remove microbials from water and can hence be used in water purification.
Mass Rapid Transit Operation and Maintenance Cost Calculation Model
Authors: Nurcahyo Rahmat , Farizal F. , Arifianto Bimo M. I. , Habiburrahman Muhammad
Published: February 2020

Mass rapid transit (MRT) is an efficient transportation mode that is urgently needed by a growing city such as Jakarta, Indonesia. However, limited research has attempted to evaluate the system’s current performance through a comprehensive, unit-based calculation of the costs of MRT operation and maintenance. This research aimed to develop a system for calculating and comparing MRT operation and maintenance costs per kilometer per year. The cost model has three components, namely, capital, operation cost, and maintenance cost, which are, respectively, calculated based on their percentage toward total cost. The cost model calculation determined that Jakarta MRT operation and maintenance costs total USD 8.44 million per kilometer per year. This result was compared to other countries’ MRT operations.
Housing Sources of Second‐Tier Urban Residents Based on Multivariate Correspondence
Authors: Zhang Feng , Li Anlin
Published: February 2020

To explore the relationship between different housing sources and individual attributes in second‐tier cities, finding the key point of contradiction between supply and demand in the real estate market is important. Multivariate correspondence analysis (MCA) is a powerful method to solve the complex problem of the relationship between classified variables. Also known as corresponding analysis, it is a multivariate statistical analysis method that aims to describe the relationship between two classification variables in a corresponding table in a low‐dimensional space. MCA has unique advantages when dealing with categorical variable data. It combines the advantages of factor analysis and multidimensional scaling. On the basis of combining and analysing the existing literature, this paper makes an analysis of the data obtained from a housing questionnaire survey collected in Jinan, Shandong Province, in 2017. The research results show that the housing sources of second‐tier urban residents are closely related to age, annual family income, marriage, education level, and individual characteristics of the permanent family population but not to gender.
Experimental Study on the Nonlinear Dynamic Characteristics of Wire Rope under Periodic Excitation in a Friction Hoist
Authors: Guo Yongbo , Zhang Dekun , Zhang Xinyue , Wang Songquan , Ma Wan
Published: February 2020

The nonlinear dynamic responses of a wire rope under periodic excitation in a friction hoisting system are investigated. Longitudinal excitation experiments of different periodic excitation frequencies are performed. The nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the rope, including transverse, longitudinal, and coupled vibrations, are discussed with time-frequency analysis. The results show that the transverse vibration is a forced vibration following the excitation, while the longitudinal vibration shows a complex, random vibration state. The vibration amplitude and intensity deviate significantly from their linear trend (superharmonic resonance) at some excitation frequencies, and this deviation indicates the typical nonlinear multiorder natural frequency characteristics. The lifting motion can lead to additional corrugated high-order harmonics and cause a fundamental wave distortion of low-frequency excitation. Experimental evidence for the coupling characteristics of the transverse-longitudinal rope vibration in the lifting process is found.
Transmit Power Allocation with Connectivity Probability for Multi-QoS in Cluster Flight Spacecraft Network
Authors: Mo Jinrong , Hu Shengbo , Yan Tingting , Song Xiaowei , Shi Yanfeng
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we investigate the transmit power allocation problem to minimize the average packet error rate at the access point in the cluster flight spacecraft network, which adopts the CSMA/CA channel access mechanism. First, the node mobility, nodal distance distribution, and probabilistic adjacency matrix were formulated for cluster flight spacecraft network based on twin-satellite mode. Then, the optimization-theoretic model described the optimized transmit power allocation strategy and its implementation algorithm was proposed. And the problem of minimizing the packet error rate of the cluster flight spacecraft network system can be converted into maximizing the expectation of the binary probabilistic adjacency matrix, i.e., maximizing the sum of the nondiagonal elements in the probabilistic adjacency matrix. Due to discreteness of nodal distance distribution, Monte Carlo method was applied to solve the transmit power allocation problem. Yet importantly, the influence of node transmit power on the QoS performance of cluster flight spacecraft network was simulated and analyzed under the assumption of finite overall network transmit power and low traffic load. Finally, the results show that the pocket error rate increases with the provided traffic load, but the pocket error rate hardly changes with the same traffic load in different sequential time slots of any orbital hyperperiod or in the same time slot of different orbital hyperperiods, and by maximizing the sum of the nondiagonal elements in the probabilistic adjacency matrix, the pocket error rate minimum is achieved for a given total network transmit power at any time slot for cluster flight spacecraft network.
Epidemiologic Risk Factors in a Comparison of a Barrett Esophagus Registry (BarrettNET) and a Case–Control Population in Germany
Authors: Schmidt Melissa , Ankerst Donna P. , Chen Yiyao , Wiethaler Maria , Slotta-Huspenina Julia , Becker Karl-Friedrich , Horstmann Julia , Kohlmayer Florian , Lehmann Andreas , Linkohr Birgit , Strauch Konstantin , Schmid Roland M. , Quante Anne S. , Quante Michael
Published: February 2020

Endoscopic screening for Barrett's esophagus as the major precursor lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma is mostly offered to patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, other epidemiologic risk factors might affect the development of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Therefore, efforts to improve the efficiency of screening to find the Barrett's esophagus population “at risk” compared with the normal population are needed. In a cross-sectional analysis, we compared 587 patients with Barrett's esophagus from the multicenter German BarrettNET registry to 1976 healthy subjects from the population-based German KORA cohort, with and without GERD symptoms. Data on demographic and lifestyle factors, including age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, physical activity, and symptoms were collected in a standardized epidemiologic survey. Increased age, male gender, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, low physical activity, low health status, and GERD symptoms were significantly associated with Barrett's esophagus. Surprisingly, among patients stratified for GERD symptoms, these associations did not change. Demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors as well as GERD symptoms were associated with Barrett's esophagus development in Germany, suggesting that a combination of risk factors could be useful in developing individualized screening efforts for patients with Barrett's esophagus and GERD in Germany.
A Case Report of a Solitary Pelvic Mass Proven to Be a Lymph Nodal Metastasis from Anal Cancer
Authors: Sakanaka Katsuyuki , Mizowaki Takashi
Published: February 2020

A solitary pelvic-wall lymph nodal metastasis can be mistaken as a primary malignancy when a primary tumor has not been diagnosed. We report the case of a 72-year-old woman with a solitary left pelvic-wall mass that was finally proven to be a left internal iliac lymph nodal metastasis from anal cancer. No signs of the primary tumor had been initially found by general screening using computed tomography, colonoscopy, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, and gynecological/urological examination; however, squamous cell carcinoma was detected by surgical biopsy of the left pelvic-wall mass. Additional 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) showed focal accumulations in the left pelvic mass and the anal canal. A biopsy of the induration in the anal canal led to the diagnosis of anal cancer, clinical T2N2M0, and stage IIIB (UICC-TNM 7th ed.), which was indicated for definitive chemoradiotherapy. Two months after completing a definitive chemoradiotherapy for anal cancer, a fixed induration developed under the surgical wound along with the surgical tract of the biopsy site. Physical examination and 18F-FDG-PET/computed tomography led to the clinical diagnosis of unresectable surgical tract recurrence of anal cancer. The patient underwent palliative treatment and died 14 months after the diagnosis of the surgical tract recurrence. In conclusion, anal cancer may present as a solitary pelvic mass without any anal symptoms. To evaluate the solitary pelvic mass, 18F-FDG-PET/computed tomography, along with digital examination, will probably help in establishing an accurate diagnosis. Anal cancer must be considered during the differential diagnosis of a solitary pelvic-wall mass for a correct diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary procedures.
I Feel Safe Doing It! Prevalence, Risk Perception, and Motives for Risky Driving in Portugal
Authors: Duarte Ana Patrícia , Mouro Carla
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Road traffic injuries are among the top 10 causes of death and thus a major public health issue worldwide. Consistent differences between countries in the European Union justify a closer examination of the problem at a national level. The present study focused on identifying the socio-psychological factors behind risky driving, which can help interventions more successfully foster safer driving practices in Portugal. More specifically, this research ana­lysed the prevalence of self-reported risky driving behaviours and their association with perceived risks to establish whether this relationship differs across risk-taking practices. The study also examined drivers’ motives for taking risks. Methods: A telephone survey about road safety collected responses from 635 adult drivers. The respondents provided sociodemographic information so comparisons could be made between groups of drivers based on age, gender, and frequency of driving. Results: The risky driving practices most frequently reported by Portuguese drivers were speeding and disregarding the need for rest breaks. The respondents also evaluated these two practices as the least risky, suggesting that drivers minimise their personal risk of traffic accidents. The most frequently mentioned motives for risky driving were a perceived control over vehicles and road conditions. Male, younger, and everyday drivers have higher risk profiles since they reported engaging in risky driving practices more often and perceiving these behaviours as less risky. Conclusion: Portuguese drivers reported engaging consistently in risky driving practices, while evaluating their risk as moderate and their control over driving conditions as high. This contextualised understanding of factors that strengthen the likelihood of risky driving can help facilitate tailor-made interventions to reduce Portuguese drivers’ unrealistic perceptions of control and invulnerability, thereby ensuring safer roads.
Aproximações ao imaginário: bússola de investigação poética
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Educação, Ferreira-Santos Marcos , Almeida Rogério de ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Educação
Published: February 2020

Este livro foi engendrado como uma bússola a orientar nossos alunos de graduação e pós-graduação a guiarem-se pelos territórios do imaginário, buscando atender a questões muito precisas: por onde começar? Qual livro leio primeiro? Onde encontro este ou aquele conceito? Como compreendo esta ou aquela noção? Não foi pensado, entretanto, como um livro didático, mas como um mapa que carregamos conosco tão logo empreendemos viagem. Por essa razão, não pode ser confundido com um dicionário ou enciclopédia, apesar dos verbetes - eles funcionam como fio de Ariadne, são as marcas espalhadas pelo caminho, fios que se entretecem em uma rede complexa, para fazer jus à dinamicidade própria do imaginário.
O imaginário trágico de Machado de Assis: elementos para uma pedagogia da escolha
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Educação, Almeida Rogério de
Published: February 2020

Com esse livro, que merece ser lido e discutido, Rogério de Almeida se lança no texto e na crítica machadianas sem qualquer expectativa de encontrar uma rede de proteção no final do mergulho. Ao encarar aquilo para que as melhores narrativas machadianas parecem apontar – o nada, sem mais nem menos –, surpreende, enfim, um Machado plenamente trágico. Para o Machado que ressalta dessas páginas, não há leis naturais, apenas formulações estabelecidas pela razão. Por isso mesmo elas são precárias, instáveis, falíveis, na medida em que a razão não é capaz de apreender a realidade. É dessa incapacidade fundamental, aliás, que surgiria, segundo Clément Rosset, a necessidade generalizada no pensamento ocidental de pressupor a insuficiência da realidade, e de inventar sistemas que expliquem suas origens ou a transcendam, seja por meio da ontologia, da metafísica ou da invenção de utopias. Na contramão de tudo isso, o Machado de Rogério de Almeida constrói uma obra que produz uma relativização incessante dos fatos, indicando que não há nada tão fixo a sustentar a realidade, a não ser a imaginação dos interessados em atribuir significação à realidade, um modo de aplacar a angústia causada pela falta de sentido da vida.
Breaking barriers: Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus Temminck, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) colonizing Olive groves
Authors: Garrote Germán , Bueno José Francisco , Ruiz Manuel , De Lillo Santiago , Martin José Manuel , Moral Manuel , Simón Miguel Angel
Published: February 2020

In recent years, the Andújar-Cardeña Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus population has grown both in number and in occupied surface area.  This feline has spread into areas surrounding existing population nuclei and occupied new habitats including human-dominated areas and tree crops.  Here we describe this colonization process and the evolution of the Iberian Lynx populations in the Olive Olea europaea groves that surround typical Lynx scrub habitats in Andújar-Cardeña.  Our findings were obtained through radio-tracking, camera trapping and European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus monitoring.  Two colonized areas—Zocueca and Marmolejo-Montoro—were identified in which Olive cultivation is predominant.  Since 2011, a total of 45 and 50 different individuals have been detected in Zocueca and Marmolejo-Montoro, respectively.  At present, 19 individuals are known to live in Zocueca and 29 in Marmolejo-Montoro.  The main cause of mortality is road-kills.  Our results suggest that the Iberian Lynx is capable of colonizing human-modified areas such as agricultural land provided that they can support high-density Rabbit populations and the causes of non-natural mortality are minimized.
First photographic evidence of the Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan
Authors: Wangyel Sonam , Dorji Kumbu , Tobgay Sonam , Yangdon Norbu
Published: February 2020

The Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii is among Asia’s least studied wild felids.  We report the first photographic evidence of its presence in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, eastern Bhutan, where it was recorded above 3,000m.  The photographs show three distinct colour morphs, viz., golden, buff brown, and melanistic.  The main threat to the species in the sanctuary appears to be habitat loss due to increasing developmental activities and land use change.  Future studies are needed to determine the conservation status of Asiatic Golden Cats in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary.
New record on Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae): photographic evidence of its westernmost distribution in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal
Authors: Koju Narayan Prasad , Bashyal Bijay , Pandey Bishnu Prasad , Thami Shankar , Dhamala Man Kumar , Shah Satya Narayan
Published: February 2020

The Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii is poorly known in Nepal and was previously recorded only twice in the eastern part of the country.  We conducted a camera trap survey in the Lapchi Valley (32km2) of Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA), a protected area in north-central Nepal, from October 2018 to April 2019. Eleven cameras were deployed to record mammalian diversity in a 2×2 km2 grid across Lapchi block of GCA.  During the study period, four photos and three videos (each of 10 seconds length) of Asiatic Golden Cats were recorded at an elevation of 2,540m at a single camera trap station.  This is the first photographic record of Asiatic Golden Cat in this region of Nepal extending the distribution of the species further west in the Himalaya.  A more detailed study on its distribution, population size and behaviour is warranted in the near future to implement appropriate conservation measures.
Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus Temminck, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in central Spain: trophic niche of an isolated population
Authors: Alfaya Pedro , Invernón Ariadna , Alonso Germán
Published: February 2020

Understanding predator-prey relationships is fundamental to develop effective conservation plans.  Between 2015 and 2018, we combed 21 transects, each 7km long, searching for Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus scat within the province of Madrid in central Spain.  In order to minimise inherent subjectivity of visual identification as much as possible, we performed a double specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by a primer extension assay addressed to two Iberian Lynx diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms.  Forty-six scat samples were positively identified as belonging to Iberian Lynx through genetic analysis.  From these, we extracted remains of consumed prey, which we determined to the lowest possible taxonomic level, mainly through hair identification.  Identified prey was divided into four types: lagomorphs, small mammals, birds, and ungulates.  The species’ diet composition was described based on the frequency of occurrence (FO) of each prey and niche breadth, and also compared with prior knowledge of the species using four prior studies as a comparative reference through the calculation of the niche overlap value.  The FO of lagomorphs (39%) was the lowest, while the FO of small mammals (54%) was the highest recorded to date.  The niche breath (0.36) was higher than recorded in prior studies, but still showing the specialist character of the Iberian Lynx.  Niche overlap was low (C = 0.49), showing differences in trophic niche between the population in our study area and the one studied in southern Spain.  This indicates that the Iberian Lynx is adept at switching its main prey, an ability that has previously been firmly rejected.  It is, however, capable of adapting to alternative prey more often than recorded to date, which could be a behavioural response to the patchy distribution of European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus in the study area.
Jungle Cat Felis chaus Schreber, 1777 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) at high elevations in Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Bikram Shrestha , Subedi Naresh , Kandel Ram Chandra
Published: February 2020

To date, the Jungle Cat Felis chaus has been recorded in the lowlands and mid-hills in Nepal. Photographic evidence, however, is scarce, particularly in alpine habitat.  Here we present the first photographic records of the Jungle Cat in an alpine habitat in Lower Mustang of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal.  It was recorded by camera traps at elevations of 3,000–3,100 m in 2014 and 2016 in 10 detections during 2,755 trap days.  In July 2016, one individual was sighted at an elevation of 3,300m.  The habitat of these records comprised riverbed, a poultry farm adjacent to agricultural land and shrubland of Juniper and Caragana species.
Multimodality Imaging in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy for Risk Stratification
Authors: Tower-Rader Albree , Kramer Christopher M. , Neubauer Stefan , Nagueh Sherif F. , Desai Milind Y.
Published: February 2020

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, multimodality imaging is crucial to confirm diagnosis, assess for presence and mechanism of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and risk stratification for sudden cardiac death. This review will focus on the application of imaging to assess established and emerging factors to be considered in sudden cardiac death risk stratification.
Effects of Exercise Therapy Dosing Schedule on Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Scott Jessica M. , Thomas Samantha M. , Peppercorn Jeffrey M. , Herndon James E. , Douglas Pamela S. , Khouri Michel G. , Dang Chau T. , Yu Anthony F. , Catalina Diane , Ciolino Cristi , Capaci Catherine , Michalski Meghan G. , Eves Neil D. , Jones Lee W.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Current exercise guidelines for clinical populations recommend an exercise therapy (ET) prescription of fixed intensity (moderate), duration (40–50 minutes per session), and volume (120–160 min/wk). A critical overarching element of exercise programming that has received minimal attention is dose scheduling. We investigated the tolerability and efficacy of 2 exercise training dose regimens on cardiorespiratory fitness and patient-reported outcomes in patients with posttreatment primary breast cancer.

Methods:

Using a parallel-group randomized trial, we randomly allocated 174 postmenopausal patients (2.8 years after adjuvant therapy) with impaired peak oxygen consumption (VO
2
peak) to 1 of 2 supervised exercise training interventions delivered with a standard linear (LET) (fixed dose intensity per session for 160 min/wk) or nonlinear (NLET) (variable dose intensity per session for ≈120 min/wk) schedule compared with a stretching attention control group for 16 consecutive weeks. Stretching was matched to exercise dosing arms on the basis of location, frequency, duration, and treatment length. The primary end point was change in VO
2
peak (mL O
2
·kg
−1
·min
−1
) from baseline to after intervention. Secondary end points were patient-reported outcomes, tolerability, and safety.

Results:

No serious adverse events were observed. Mean attendance was 64%, 75%, and 80% for attention control, LET, and NLET, respectively. In intention-to-treat analysis, VO
2
peak increased 0.6±1.7 mL O
2
·kg
−1
·min
−1
(
P
=0.05) and 0.8±1.8 mL O
2
·kg
−1
·min
−1
(
P
=0.07) in LET and NLET, respectively, compared with attention control. Change in VO
2
peak ranged from −2.7 to 4.1 mL O
2
·kg
−1
·min
−1
and from −3.6 to 5.1 mL O
2
·kg
−1
·min
−1
in LET and NLET, respectively. Approximately 40% of patients in both exercise dosing regimens were classified as VO
2
peak responders (ie, Δ ≥1.32 mL O
2
·kg
−1
·min
−1
). NLET improved all patient-reported outcomes compared with attention control.

Conclusions:

Short-term exercise training, independently of dosing schedule, is associated with modest improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in patients previously treated for early-stage breast cancer.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01186367.
Women’s Participation in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials From 2010 to 2017
Authors: Jin Xurui , Chandramouli Chanchal , Allocco Brooke , Gong Enying , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Yan Lijing L.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide, yet, women have historically been underrepresented in cardiovascular trials.

Methods:

We systematically assessed the participation of women in completed cardiovascular trials registered in
ClinicalTrials.gov
between 2010 and 2017, and extracted publicly available information including disease type, sponsor type, country, trial size, intervention type, and the demographic characteristics of trial participants. We calculated the female-to-male ratio for each trial and determined the prevalence-adjusted estimates for participation of women by dividing the percentage of women among trial participants by the percentage of women in the disease population (participation prevalence ratio; a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2 suggests comparable prevalence and good representation).

Results:

We identified 740 completed cardiovascular trials including a total of 862 652 adults, of whom 38.2% were women. The median female-to-male ratio of each trial was 0.51 (25th quartile, 0.32; 75th quartile, 0.90) overall and varied by age group (1.02 in ≤55 year old group versus 0.40 in the 61- to 65-year-old group), type of intervention (0.44 for procedural trials versus 0.78 for lifestyle intervention trials), disease type (0.34 for acute coronary syndrome versus 3.20 for pulmonary hypertension), region (0.45 for Western Pacific versus 0.55 for the Americas), funding/sponsor type (0.14 for government-funded versus 0.73 for multiple sponsors), and trial size (0.56 for smaller [n≤47] versus 0.49 for larger [n≥399] trials). Relative to their prevalence in the disease population, participation prevalence ratio was higher than 0.8 for hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension and lower (participation prevalence ratio 0.48 to 0.78) for arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure trials. The most recent time period (2013 to 2017) saw significant increases in participation prevalence ratios for stroke (
P
=0.007) and heart failure (
P
=0.01) trials compared with previous periods.

Conclusions:

Among cardiovascular trials in the current decade, men still predominate overall, but the representation of women varies with disease and trial characteristics, and has improved in stroke and heart failure trials.
Sex-Specific Trends in Acute Myocardial Infarction Within an Integrated Healthcare Network, 2000 Through 2014
Authors: Mefford Matthew T. , Li Bonnie H. , Qian Lei , Reading Stephanie R. , Harrison Teresa N. , Scott Ronald D. , Cavendish Jeffrey J. , Jacobsen Steven J. , Kanter Michael H. , Woodward Mark , Reynolds Kristi
Published: February 2020

Background:

In recent decades, the rates of incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have declined in the United States, yet disparities by sex remain. In an integrated healthcare delivery system, we examined temporal trends in incident AMI among women and men.

Methods:

We identified hospitalized AMI among members ≥35 years of age in Kaiser Permanente Southern California. The first hospitalization for AMI overall, and for ST-segment–elevation MI and non–ST-segment–elevation MI was identified by
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification
primary discharge diagnosis codes in each calendar year from 2000 through 2014. Age- and sex-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 person-years were calculated by using direct adjustment to the 2010 US Census population. Average annual percent changes (AAPCs) and period percent changes were calculated, and trend tests were conducted using Poisson regression.

Results:

We identified 45 331 AMI hospitalizations between 2000 and 2014. Age- and sex-standardized incidence rates of AMI declined from 322.4 (95% CI, 311.0–333.9) in 2000 to 174.6 (95% CI, 168.2–181.0) in 2014, representing an AAPC of –4.4% (95% CI, –4.2 to –4.6) and a period percent change of –46.6%. The AAPC for AMI in women was –4.6% (95% CI, –4.1 to –5.2) between 2000 and 2009 and declined to –2.3% (95% CI, –1.2 to –3.4) between 2010 and 2014. The AAPC for AMI in men was stable over the study period (–4.7% [95% CI, –4.4 to –4.9]). The AAPC for ST-segment–elevation MI hospitalization overall was –8.3% (95% CI, –8.0% to –8.6%).The AAPC in ST-segment–elevation MI changed among women in 2009 (2000–2009: –10.2% [95% CI, –9.3 to –11.1] and in 2010–2014: –5.2% [95% CI, –3.1 to –7.3]) while remaining stable among men (–8.0% [95% CI, –7.6 to –8.4]). The AAPC for non–ST-segment–elevation MI hospitalization was smaller than for ST-segment–elevation MI among both women and men (–1.9% [95% CI, –1.5 to –2.3] and –2.8% [95% CI, –2.5 to –3.2], respectively).

Conclusions:

These results suggest that the incidence of hospitalized AMI declined between 2000 and 2014; however, declines in AMI have slowed among women in comparison with men in recent years. Determining unmet care needs among women may reduce these sex-based AMI disparities.
Combining Biomarkers to Predict Pregnancy Complications and Redefine Preeclampsia
Authors: Stepan Holger , Hund Martin , Andraczek Theresa
Published: February 2020

Placental dysfunction underlies a spectrum of perinatal pathologies, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Angiogenesis-related factors, including sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) and PlGF (placental growth factor), play an important role in placental dysfunction; altered levels are detectable several weeks before onset of pregnancy complications. In vitro diagnostic tests for these biomarkers can improve early diagnosis and facilitate prediction of maternal and fetal outcomes. We assessed evidence for combining angiogenic biomarkers with other biomarkers or clinical parameters to predict maternal/fetal outcomes in pregnant women with placental dysfunction. Pooled information on placental perfusion (ultrasonography, mean arterial pressure), clinical characteristics, and biomarker levels (PlGF) can improve first-trimester prediction and preeclampsia diagnosis. Angiogenic factors (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio; PlGF alone) with or without clinical characteristics can facilitate second-/third-trimester prediction of early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia. A combination of increased sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and ultrasound can rule out early fetal growth restriction. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is also a reliable tool for discriminating between pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders, including superimposed preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Analysis of angiogenic factors with or without uterine Doppler substantially improves sensitivity and specificity for predicting adverse outcomes and iatrogenic preterm delivery. We propose to extend the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists definition of preeclampsia in the future to include the combination of new-onset hypertension and new-onset of altered angiogenic factors (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or PlGF alone). In summary, altered angiogenic biomarkers indicate placental dysfunction, and their implementation into clinical practice will help reduce the considerable burden of morbidity and mortality associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes as a consequence of angiogenic-placental syndrome.