bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Genotype Effects of TP53 and PAI-1 Polymorphisms in Breast Cancer Susceptibility: Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction and in silico Analysis
Authors: Pouladi Nasser , Shavali Mojtaba , Abdolahi Sepehr
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disease. TP53 and PAI-1 as important tumor suppressor genes are involved in the development, invasion, and metastasis of many cancers. This study’s objective was to demonstrate the combined genotype effects of these 2 genes by investigating their single nucleotide polymorphisms. Methods: In this case-control study, 200 individuals with breast cancer and 179 healthy individuals were studied. The genotypes were determined using the tetra-ARMS method. For data analysis, MDR, online javstat statistics package, and SPSS v.24 software were used. Also, in silico studies on the estimated effects of each of these polymorphisms were performed. Results: We showed a novel gene-gene interaction of these 2 genes and demonstrated a strong synergistic interaction for TP53/PAI-1, moderate synergistic interaction for PAI-1/age, and correlation for TP53/age. On the other hand, there was no association between the allelic and genotype frequency alone and in combination, with case-control status, using the parametric method, between TP53 and PAI-1. Discussion/Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the polymorphism of codon 72 of the TP53 gene was significantly associated with tumor stage (p < 0.023). In conclusion, we showed a gene-gene interaction between TP53 and PAI-1, in combination, using the MDR method.
The Seraph®-100 Microbind Affinity Blood Filter Does Not Affect Vancomycin, Tacrolimus, and Mycophenolic Acid Plasma Concentrations
Authors: de Geus Hilde R.H. , Smeets Tim , Hoek Rogier A.S. , Endeman Henrik , Hunfeld Nicole
Published: March 2021

Extracorporeal blood purification is considered an adjunct therapy in critically ill patients with life-threatening conditions such as sepsis and septic shock. It consists of cytokine removal, removal of endotoxins, a combination of both, or the removal of pathogens themselves. The latter technique was introduced for clinical application very recently. This case study describes a case of a 69-year-old female lung transplant recipient patient with a persistent VV-ECMO-related septic deep vein thrombosis with continuous renal replacement therapy-dependent acute kidney injury initiated on the Seraph®-100 Microbind Affinity Filter in order to control the persistent bacteraemia with coagulase-negative staphylococci. Drug plasma concentrations (vancomycin, tacrolimus, and mycophenolic acid) were measured before and after the device to calculate absorber-related drug clearance.
Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Trial
Authors: Parewa Maneet , Burman Avijit Shee , Brahma Arabinda , Rutten Lex , Sadhukhan Satarupa , Misra Pankhuri , Gupta Bharti , Saklani Nitin , Michael James , Basu Anamika , Ali Sk. Swaif , Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Evidence favoring homeopathy in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remains scarce. The objective of this pilot trial was to test feasibility of a definitive trial in future. We also experimented whether individualized homeopathic medicines (IH) plus psychological counseling (PC) can produce significantly different effects beyond placebo plus PC in the treatment of GAD. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel arm, pilot trial was conducted on 62 GAD patients at the National Institute of Homoeopathy, India. GAD-7 questionnaire and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) were used as the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively, measured at baseline and 3 months. Patients received either IH plus PC (n = 31) or identical-looking placebo plus PC (n = 31). Intention-to-treat sample was analyzed to detect group differences using unpaired t tests. Results: Recruitment and retention rates were 56 and 90%, respectively. Mean age was 31.5 years; 56.5% were male. GAD-7 reductions were non-significantly higher in IH than placebo (p = 0.122). Group differences on HAM-A favored IH significantly (p = 0.018). Effect sizes were small to medium. Calcarea carbonica was the most frequently indicated medicine. No serious adverse events happened. Conclusions: A small but positive direction of anxiolytic effect was observed favoring homeopathy over placebo. A definitive trial appeared feasible in future.
Biological Therapies for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhou Shuying , Qi Fei , Gong Yue , Zhang Jinping , Zhu Binghua
Published: March 2021

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widely acquired, relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Biologics are now widely used in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Objective: This work aims to summarize both label and off-label biologics on AD treatment in phase II and phase III stages, and compile evidence on the efficacy of the most-studied biologics. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search through PubMed, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify all documented biological therapies for AD. The criteria were further refined to focus on those treatments with the highest evidence level for AD with at least one randomized clinical trial supporting their use. Only studies or articles published in English were enrolled in this study. Findings: Primary searches identified 525 relevant articles and 27 trials. Duplicated articles and papers without a full text were excluded. Only completed trials were enrolled. We included 28 randomized controlled trials, 4 unpublished trials, 2 observational studies, and 1 meta-analysis. Eight kinds of biologics, including IL-4/IL-13 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, anti-IL-13 antibodies, anti-IL-22 antibodies, anti-IL-33 antibodies, thymic stromal lymphopoietin inhibitor (TSLP), OX40 antibodies, and H4R-antagonists were included in this work. Dupliumab, as the most widely used and investigated biologic, was reported in 1 meta-analysis and 4 trials exploring its long-term use and application in both adults and pediatric patients. Besides dupilumab, four other IL-4/IL-13 inhibitors recruited were all randomized, clinical trials at phase 2–3 stage. Six different kinds of JAK inhibitors were summarized with strong evidence revealing their significant therapeutic effects on AD. There were 3 trials for nemolizumab, an anti-IL-13 antibody, all of which were in the phase 2 clinical trial stage. Results showed nemolizumab could be another alternative therapy for moderate-to-severe AD with long-term efficiency and safety. Conclusion: The biological therapies with the most robust evidence on efficacy and long-term safety for AD treatment include dupilumab, barcitinib, abrocitinib, and delgocitinib. Most of the biologics mentioned in this review were still at the exploratory stage. This review will help practitioners advise patients seeking suitable biological therapies and offer experimental study directions for treatment.
Learning as an Important Privilege: A Life Span Perspective with Implications for Successful Aging
Authors: Wu Rachel , Zhao Jiaying , Cheung Cecilia , Natsuaki Misaki N. , Rebok George W. , Strickland-Hughes Carla M.
Published: March 2021

Research has demonstrated the cognitive and mental health benefits of learning new skills and content across the life span, enhancing knowledge as well as cognitive performance. We argue that the importance of this learning – which is not available equally to all – goes beyond the cognitive and mental health benefits. Learning is important for not only the maintenance, but also enhancement of functional independence in a dynamic environment, such as changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and technological advances. Learning difficult skills and content is a privilege because the opportunities for learning are neither guaranteed nor universal, and it requires personal and social engagement, time, motivation, and societal support. This paper highlights the importance of considering learning new skills and content as an important privilege across the life span and argues that this privilege becomes increasingly exclusionary as individuals age, when social and infrastructural support for learning decreases. We highlight research on the potential positive and negative impacts of retirement, when accessibility to learning opportunities may vary, and research on learning barriers due to low expectations and limited resources from poverty. We conclude that addressing barriers to lifelong learning would advance theories on life span cognitive development and raise the bar for successful aging. In doing so, our society might imagine and achieve previously unrealized gains in life span cognitive development, through late adulthood.
An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Pemetrexed-Carboplatin versus (Weekly) Paclitaxel-Carboplatin as First-Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Yadav Ajay , Malik Prabhat Singh , Khurana Sachin , Jain Deepali , Vishnubhatla Sreenivas , Yadav Mukesh , Pathy Sushmita , Mohan Anant , Kumar Lalit
Published: March 2021

Background: Before the approval of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors, platinum doublets were the standard of care in patients with treatment-naïve advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without targetable driver mutations. Pemetrexed-platinum combinations are preferred in non-squamous NSCLC. However, there has been no direct comparison to paclitaxel-carboplatin. Methods: This open-label randomized trial was designed to compare pemetrexed-carboplatin with (weekly) paclitaxel-carboplatin in treatment-naïve advanced/metastatic non-squamous NSCLC without driver mutations. Patients received either pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC 5 every 3 weeks, or paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 on day 1, day 8, and day 15 with carboplatin AUC 5 every 4 weeks for 4 cycles. Patients in both arms were allowed to receive pemetrexed maintenance. Results: A total of 180 patients were enrolled. The study was terminated early; however, at the time of analysis 75.8% of the required events had occurred. Finally, 164 patients were evaluable, 83 in the pemetrexed arm and 81 in the paclitaxel arm. After a median follow-up of 17 months, progression-free survival (PFS) rates at 6 months were not different in the two treatment arms (47.45 vs. 48.64%, p = 0.88). The median PFS values were 5.67 months (95% CI 3.73–7.3) and 5.03 months (95% CI 2.63–7.43) in each arm, respectively (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.81–1.59, p = 0.44). The median overall survival was also not different: 14.83 months (95% CI 9.5–18.73) and 11.3 (95% CI 8.3–19.7; HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.8–1.78, p = 0.37). All grade toxicities were similar except for alopecia and peripheral neuropathy, which were higher in the paclitaxel arm. Conclusion: Pemetrexed-carboplatin is not superior to (weekly) paclitaxel-carboplatin as the first-line regimen in advanced non-squamous NSCLC in terms of PFS.
The Effect of Panax ginseng on Genitourinary Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Ghorbani Zahra , Mirghafourvand Mojgan , Farshbaf Khalili Azizeh , Javadzadeh Yousef , Shakouri Seyed Kazem , Dastranj Tabrizi Ali
Published: March 2021

Background: Menopause and estrogen deprivation cause a rise in the number of urogenital tract complaints. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of ginseng on genitourinary syndrome. Methods: This randomized trial was conducted on 60 postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome. The participants were randomly allocated to ginseng and placebo groups twice daily for 4 weeks. Vaginal maturation index and vaginal pH were evaluated before and 4 weeks after intervention as the primary outcomes. Also, the atrophic vaginitis and incontinence questionnaires were completed before and after intervention as the secondary outcomes. The safety of intervention was assessed by the side effects checklist. Results: No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in objective symptoms after the intervention, but the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in terms of subjective symptoms of atrophic vaginitis. One case of insomnia and palpitation and 2 cases of hot flashes were reported in the intervention group, and 1 case of gastric discomfort and change in urine appearance was reported in the placebo group. Conclusion: Ginseng only improved the patient-assessed symptoms and had no significant effect on the clinician-assessed outcomes. Further studies are required to determine the precise pharmacological mechanisms of ginseng on genitourinary syndrome.
Sleep Deprivation Interferes with JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway and Myogenesis in the Masseter Muscle of Rats
Authors: Gomes Galvani Marina , Moreira Antunes Hanna Karen , Monico-Neto Marcos , Yujra Veronica Quispe , Prado Carla Maximo , Quintana Hananiah Tardivo , de Oliveira Flavia , Ribeiro Daniel Araki
Published: March 2021

Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the Janus kinase/tyrosine kinase-activated transduction factor (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway and myogenesis on the masseter muscle after sleep deprivation and to investigate the role of stress in this scenario. Subjects and Methods: A total of 18 male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: control (n = 6): animals were not submitted to any procedures, and paradoxical sleep deprivation and vehicle (PSD + V; n = 6): animals were subjected to PSD for 96 h and (PSD + MET; n = 6): animals were subjected to PSD for 96 h with administration of metyrapone. Paradoxical sleep deprivation was performed by the modified multiple platforms method. Histopathological analysis, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry were performed. Results: The results showed the presence of inflammatory infiltrate in the PSD + V and PSD + MET groups and atrophy. Histomorphometry showed that the cellular profile area decreased, while cellular density increased in both experimental groups. Expression of p-STAT 3, MyoD, and MyoG increased in the PSD + V group, while the PSD + MET group showed increased expression of IL-6 and p-STAT 3. Conclusion: Our results suggest that sleep deprivation induces an inflammatory response and atrophy in the masseter muscle of rats.
Analysis of Three Mutations in Italian Strains of SARS-CoV-2: Implications for Pathogenesis
Authors: Benvenuto Domenico , Benedetti Francesca , Demir Ayse Banu , Ciccozzi Massimo , Zella Davide
Published: March 2021

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped virus initially detected in Wuhan in December 2019, responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory syndrome currently affecting >220 countries around the world, with >80 million cases registered and >1.8 million deaths. Objective: As several vaccines are still being developed and 2 have been approved, it is particularly important to perform evolutionary surveillance to identify mutations potentially affecting vaccine efficacy. Methods: DynaMut server has been used to evaluate the impact of the mutation found on SARS-CoV-2 isolates available on GISAID. Results: In this article, we analyze whole genomes sequenced from Italian patients, and we report the characterization of 3 mutations, one of which presents in the spike protein. Conclusion: The mutations analyzed in this article can be useful to evaluate the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency: The Importance of Diagnostic Methods
Authors: Ciotti Marco , Benedetti Francesca , Zella Davide , Angeletti Silvia , Ciccozzi Massimo , Bernardini Sergio
Published: March 2021

Background: Currently, a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is underway, resulting in high morbidity and mortality across the globe. Summary: A prompt and effective diagnosis is crucial to identify infected individuals, to monitor the infection, to perform contact tracing, and to limit the spread of the virus. Since the announcement of this public health emergency, several diagnostic methods have been developed including molecular and serological assays, and more recently biosensors. Here, we present the use of these assays as well as their main technical features, advantages, and limits. Key Messages: The development of reliable diagnostic assays is crucial not only for a correct diagnosis and containment of COVID-19 pandemic, but also for the decision-making process that is behind the clinical decisions, eventually contributing to the improvement of patient management. Furthermore, with the advent of vaccine and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, serological assays will be instrumental for the validation of these new therapeutic options.
Probiotics in Gastrointestinal Diseases: All that Glitters Is Not Gold
Authors: Compare Debora , Sgamato Costantino , Nardone Olga Maria , Rocco Alba , Coccoli Pietro , Laurenza Carmen , Nardone Gerardo
Published: March 2021

Background: Multiple lines of evidence now support the notion that gut microbiota can contribute to digestive and extra-digestive diseases. The emergence of these observations enabled to postulate a bacteria-centric paradigm to rethink the treatment of many diseases. The goal of therapy should not be to eradicate the flora but to modify it in a way that leads to symptomatic improvement; thus, the interest in the use of probiotics to modulate microbiota composition has increased worldwide in both community and healthcare settings. Summary: The results of published studies are conflicting for most probiotic strains and formulations, and clinicians and consumers need a better understanding of probiotic risks and benefits. Currently, clear guidelines on when to use probiotics and the most effective probiotic for different gastrointestinal conditions are still lacking. Here, we reviewed the studies on the use of probiotics in some diseases of relevant interest to gastroenterologists, such as Helicobacter pylori infection, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Key Message: Although the evidence is relevant and promising for probiotics in general, and for specific strains and combinations of strains, it is not yet sufficient to draw unequivocal conclusions and clear recommendations.
Dysfunctional Coping Mediates the Relationship between Stress and Mental Health in Health-Care Staff Working amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Warchoł-Biedermann Katarzyna , Daroszewski Przemysław , Bączyk Grażyna , Greberski Krzysztof , Bugajski Paweł , Karoń Jacek , Mojs Ewa , Ziarko Michał , Jasielska Aleksandra , Samborski Włodzimierz
Published: March 2021

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the stress outcomes in health-care staff working during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the role of coping in the relationship between stress outcomes and mental health dimensions with Preacher & Hayes’s mediation analysis. Subjects and Methods: One hundred seventy participants including physicians (n = 41; 24.1%), nurses (n = 114, 67.1%), and paramedics (n = 15, 8.8%) with a mean age of 37.69 ± 12.23 years and an average seniority of 14.40 ± 12.32 years were administered the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Emotional Processing Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The data were analyzed by estimation of simple correlation coefficients and a Preacher and Hayes’s mediation procedure. Results: Participants reported elevated levels of stress (7–8 sten on the sten scale developed for the PSS-10 questionnaire). Statistically significant differences in the stress levels between nurses, paramedics, and physicians could not be determined. In contrast, significant association between mental health outcomes and the occupational category could not be found. Conclusion: Our observations support the assumption about a controlling role of coping in the relationship between work-related stress, alexithymia, emotional processing loneliness and positive/negative affect in medical staff working amid pandemic.
Prenatal Testosterone Associates With Blood Pressure in Young Adults
Authors: Le-Ha Chi , Beilin Lawrence J. , Burrows Sally , Keelan Jeffrey A. , Hickey Martha , Mori Trevor A.
Published: March 2021

Preclinical evidence suggests that adult blood pressure (BP) may be modified by the prenatal endocrine environment. Specifically, in several animal models, higher prenatal testosterone exposure increases the risk of hypertension in later life. We investigated the prospective association between prenatal testosterone levels (as measured in umbilical cord blood) and BP at 20 to 27 years in 434 participants from the Raine Study. As expected, median bioavailable testosterone, the fraction of total testosterone either free or bound to serum albumin, was higher in males than females (0.12 [Q1–Q3, 0.09–0.19] versus 0.07 [Q1–Q3, 0.05–0.1] nmol/L;
P
<0.001). Mean (SD) systolic BP was 122.9 (±12.3) and 110.9 (±9.5) mm Hg at age 20 years and 122.4 (±11) and 111.2 (±9.1) mm Hg at 27 years in males and females, respectively. Using hierarchical mixed-effects models, higher cord blood bioavailable testosterone concentrations were associated with higher levels of systolic BP (
P
=0.007) and diastolic BP (
P
=0.002) in young adults at 20 and 27 years, after adjusting for change in BP over time and potential confounders. In these models, one SD increase in bioavailable testosterone equated to a 1 mm Hg increase in systolic BP (regression coefficient, 11.1 [95% CI, 4.1–21.11]) and diastolic BP (regression coefficient, 10.15 [95% CI, 3.67–15.93]). There was no significant difference detected between males and females in the association between bioavailable testosterone and adult BP. These data from a large unselected population indicate that higher fetal testosterone levels in late pregnancy are associated with higher BP in young adulthood.
Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Wei Fang-Fei , Zhou Yuanyuan , Thijs Lutgarde , Xue Ruicong , Dong Bin , He Xin , Liang Weihao , Wu Yuzhong , Jiang Jingzhou , Tan Weiping , He Jiangui , Staessen Jan A. , Dong Yugang , Zhao Jingjing , Liu Chen
Published: March 2021

Whether visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction is unclear. We assessed these associations in 3184 patients with HF (51.0% women; mean age, 68.6 years) with preserved ejection fraction (≥45%) enrolled in the TOPCAT trial (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist). BPV indexes were the SD, variability independent of the mean, and average real variability. The primary end point consisted of total mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalized HF. We computed hazard ratios for the risks associated with 1-SD increase in BPV indexes, using multivariable Cox regression to adjust for the BP level and confounders. In the placebo group (n=1577), the primary composite end point, stroke, and hospitalized HF were significantly associated with systolic and diastolic BPV (hazard ratios, ≥1.28;
P
≤0.008) and total mortality with systolic BPV (hazard ratios ≥1.20;
P
≤0.010). In the spironolactone group (n=1607), the primary end point and hospitalized HF were associated with both systolic and diastolic BPV (hazard ratios ≥1.17;
P
≤0.006). Sensitivity analyses stratified by sex, median age, and region generated confirmatory results. Most of the interactions between randomized group and BPV indexes were not significant. In conclusion, in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, greater systolic and diastolic BPV were associated with adverse health outcomes over and beyond the BP level.
Analysis and Evaluation of Language Models for Word Sense
Disambiguation
Authors: Loureiro Daniel , Rezaee Kiamehr , Pilehvar Mohammad Taher , Camacho-Collados Jose
Published: March 2021

Transformer-based language models have taken many fields in NLP by storm. BERT and its derivatives dominate most of the existing evaluation benchmarks, including those for Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD), thanks to their ability in capturing context-sensitive semantic nuances. However, there is still little knowledge about their capabilities and potential limitations in encoding and recovering word senses. In this article, we provide an in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis of the celebrated BERT model with respect to lexical ambiguity. One of the main conclusions of our analysis is that BERT can accurately capture high-level sense distinctions, even when a limited number of examples is available for each word sense. Our analysis also reveals that in some cases language models come close to solving coarse-grained noun disambiguation under ideal conditions in terms of availability of training data and computing resources. However, this scenario rarely occurs in real-world settings and, hence, many practical challenges remain even in the coarse-grained setting.We also perform an in-depth comparison of the two main language model based WSD strategies, namely, fine-tuning and feature extraction, finding that the latter approach is more robust with respect to sense bias and it can better exploit limited available training data. In fact, the simple feature extraction strategy of averaging contextualized embeddings proves robust even using only three training sentences per word sense, with minimal improvements obtained by increasing the size of this training data.
Universal Discourse Representation Structure Parsing
Authors: Liu Jiangming , Cohen Shay B. , Lapata Mirella , Bos Johan
Published: March 2021

We consider the task of crosslingual semantic parsing in the style of Discourse Representation Theory (DRT) where knowledge from annotated corpora in a resource-rich language is transferred via bitext to guide learning in other languages. We introduce Universal Discourse Representation Theory (UDRT), a variant of DRT that explicitly anchors semantic representations to tokens in the linguistic input. We develop a semantic parsing framework based on the Transformer architecture and utilize it to obtain semantic resources in multiple languages following two learning schemes. The Many-to-One approach translates non-English text to English, and then runs a relatively accurate English parser on the translated text, while the One-to-Many approach translates gold standard English to non-English text and trains multiple parsers (one per language) on the translations. Experimental results on the Parallel Meaning Bank show that our proposal outperforms strong baselines by a wide margin and can be used to construct (silver-standard) meaning banks for 99 languages.
Massive Institutional Structures in Global Governance
Authors: Kim Rakhyun E. , Morin Jean-Frédéric
Published: March 2021

Global governance consists of elementary regimes that form regime complexes, which in turn give rise to what we call superclusters around broad policy domains. In recent years, scholars have explored what these macroscopic structures look like and how they evolve over time. Yet the complex ways in which entire governance superclusters interact and coevolve, and what might emerge through this process, have not received much attention. In this article, we expand the ontological frontier of global governance research by offering a first bird’s-eye view on supercluster-level institutional interaction with an empirical focus on trade and environment. We constructed and analyzed a dynamic network-of-networks model, revealing a supercluster complex, a massive institutional structure in global governance consisting of two or more interlocking superclusters that exert a measurable influence on each other’s course of development. We theorize that the supercluster complex serves as an institutional fabric that enables the degree of self-organized coordination observed between the trade and environment policy domains. Our preliminary findings warrant more research on supercluster complexes as an important but little-noticed phenomenon in global governance.
Total number of papers and in a single percentile fully describes research impact—Revisiting concepts and applications
Authors: Rodríguez-Navarro Alonso , Brito Ricardo
Published: March 2021

This study uses the data provided by the Leiden Ranking 2020 to support the claim that percentile-based indicators are linked by a power law function. A constant calculated from this function, ep, and the total number of papers fully characterize the percentile distribution of publications. According to this distribution, the probability that a publication from a country or institution is in the global xth percentile can be calculated from a simple equation: P = ep(2−lgx). By taking the Leiden Ranking PPtop 10%/100 as an approximation of the ep constant, our results demonstrate that other PPtop x% indicators can be calculated applying this equation. Consequently, given a PPtop x% indicator, all the others are redundant. Even accepting that the total number of papers and a single PPtop x% indicator are sufficient to fully characterize the percentile distribution of papers, the results of comparisons between universities and research institutions differ depending on the percentile selected for the comparison. We discuss which Ptop x% and PPtop x% indicators are the most convenient for these comparisons to obtain reliable information that can be used in research policy.
African Continental Free-Trade Area: Key Challenges
Authors: Ezeonu Ifeanyi
Published: March 2021

On March 21, 2018, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement was signed in Kigali, Rwanda by an overwhelming majority of African states. This Agreement, which was designed to create a free-trade area across the African continent, came into force on May 30, 2019, following its ratification by twenty-two African states as provided for in the agreement. The resultant free-trade area is intended to integrate African markets, stimulate industrialization, and engender the economic transformation of the continent through the promotion of free movement of persons, capital, goods, and services across the continent. This article discusses the key challenges facing the new free-trade zone and the prospects of the trade zone for African industrialization and economic development in the twenty-first century.
The type specimens in Eugen von Halácsy´s Herbarium Graecum

Authors: REICH DIETER , GUTERMANN WALTER , BARDY KATHARINA , RAINER HEIMO , RAUS THOMAS , SONNLEITNER MICHAELA , TAN KIT , LACHMAYER MARGARITA
Published: March 2021

Greece, as one of the European biodiversity hotspots, is long since in the focus of botanical investigations. Among historical researchers significantly contributing to the floristic and taxonomic exploration was Eugen von Halácsy, a Viennese physician and botanist. He was the first and so far last author of a complete Greek flora, the Conspectus Florae Graecae, and has compiled a seminal herbarium collection of plant specimens originating from Greece. This Herbarium Graecum of approx. 26,000 vouchers, is today held by the Herbarium of the University of Vienna (WU). Investigations for original material in this collection yielded a total of 1,439 (approx. 5.5 %) vouchers. The current type status was checked for the entire material, the vouchers were databased, photographed and geo-referenced, and the data are made publicly available here. These results are presented in an annotated catalogue including 19 lectotypifications, in order to contribute to the still extremely active field of plant biodiversity research in Greece.
Molecular identification of common hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Xinjiang, China
Authors: WANG QIGUO , ZHANG YUJIANG , SUN SURONG , LUO TAO , MOU WENTING , LI BO , DONG XIAO , ZHANG XIAOBING , BAOKAIXI GULIAYI , CUI YAN
Published: March 2021

We provide data on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rDNA genes for eight species of common hard ticks in Xinjiang: Dermacentor montanus, D. niveus, Haemaphysalis sulcate, Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum, Hya. detritum, Hya. scupense, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. pumilio. Genetic distances, calculated based on the Kimura two-parameter (K2P) distance model, found the same trend of intraspecies level≤interspecies level<intragenus level. Phylogenetic trees, constructed with the neighbor-joining (NJ) and minimum-evolution (ME) methods, demonstrated that each species clustered into separate clades, thus confirming the usefulness of CO1 and 16S rDNA genes for tick species identification. The genera Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis and Rhipicephalus were all recovered in the phylogenetic analysis, as was the subfamily Rhipicephalinae, but a monophyletic Hyalomma was not.
Report on hydrozoans (Cnidaria), excluding Stylasteridae, from the Emperor Seamounts, western North Pacific Ocean
Authors: CALDER DALE R. , WATLING LES
Published: March 2021

Fourteen species of hydroids, collected during August 2019 by ROV SuBastian of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, are reported from the Emperor Seamount chain in the western North Pacific Ocean. Two others, Candelabrum sp. and Eudendrium sp., were observed only on videos taken by the ROV. From collections and video observations, eight species of hydroids were found at Jingū Seamount, three at Yomei, Nintoku, and Annei seamounts, and one at Koko Seamount and Hess Rise. At Suiko and Godaigo seamounts, hydroids were seen in videos but they could not be identified. Latebrahydra schulzei, an endobiotic associate of the hexactinellid sponge Walteria flemmingii Schulze, 1886 from Annei Seamount and Hess Rise, is described as a new genus and species tentatively attributed to Hydractiniidae L. Agassiz, 1862. Another new species, Hydractinia galeai, is described from Jingū Seamount. Among its distinctive characters is a zooid termed a sellectozooid, likely serving in both food capture and defence. Hydroids examined from Yomei, Nintoku, and Jingū seamounts are elements of a cold-water fauna occurring in the North Pacific Boreal Bathyal province, while those of Annei and Koko seamounts, and Hess Rise, are part of the biota of the Central North Pacific Bathyal province. Hydroids identified as Bouillonia sp., from Nintoku Seamount, represent the first record of this predominantly deep water tubulariid genus in the North Pacific Ocean. Bonneviella superba Nutting, 1915, from Jingū Seamount, is reported for the first time outside the Aleutian Islands. Bonneviella cf. gracilis Fraser, 1939, known elsewhere only from Dease Strait in the western Canadian Arctic, was also collected on Jingū. In addition to hydroids, medusae of Ptychogastria polaris Allman, 1878 were observed on videos from Nintoku, Jingū, Annei, and Koko seamounts at depths between 2423–1422 m. An unidentified siphonophore was observed near bottom at 2282 m on Nintoku Seamount.
Preliminary faunistic study on the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Republic of Dagestan, with some additional information from northern Caucasus
Authors: KHACHIKOV EDUARD , ILJINA ELENA , GASANOVA NARGIZ , JAPOSHVILI GEORGE
Published: March 2021

A checklist of rove beetles recorded from the Republic of Dagestan (221 species) is given, with 47 new records from this region. The genus Oedichirus Erichson, 1839 (Oedichirus rubronotatus Pic, 1903) and species Stenus turk Puthz, 1972 are new additions to the fauna of Russia. Two new synonyms are established: Xantholinus dagestanicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. and X. circassicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. (both =Xantholinus variabilis Hochhuth, 1851).
A new species of Asian gracile skink (Scincidae: Lygosominae: Subdoluseps) from the rain-shadow belts of Nilgiri hills, Western Ghats, India
Authors: GANESH S. R. , SRIKANTHAN ACHYUTHAN N. , GHOSH AVRAJJAL , ADHIKARI OMKAR DILIP , KUMAR SHREE VARSHA VIJAY , DATTA-ROY ANIRUDDHA
Published: March 2021

We describe a new species of Asian gracile skink from the dry leeward slopes of the Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu state, India which forms a part of the eastern, rain shadow escarpment of the Western Ghats in peninsular India. The new species, Subdoluseps nilgiriensis sp. nov., is characterized by: slender, small-sized body (47–67 mm); sandy brown above, with each scale tipped with black; a thick black lateral band from snout to tail; a distinct white labial streak; dirty white venter, with throat having mild black striations; 28–29 midbody scale rows; 71–74 mid ventral scales; 66–69 paravertebral scales. The new species is described based on external morphological characters, genetic data and geographical isolation. Based on two mitochondrial DNA genes, we show that the new species shares a sister relationship with Subdoluseps pruthi (Sharma, 1977) which is found in parts of the Eastern Ghats in peninsular India. The discovery of this new population raises two novel scenarios. Firstly, it renders the genus Subdoluseps evolutionarily polyphyletic with respect to the Indian species included in this genus. Secondly, it falsifies the notion that S. pruthi group skinks are restricted to the Eastern Ghats. Our results further indicate that the dry zone of peninsular India has unrealized skink diversity that needs to be further explored.
Engaging Schools to Explore Meteorological Observational Gaps
Authors: Caluwaerts Steven , Top Sara , Vergauwen Thomas , Wauters Guy , De Ridder Koen , Hamdi Rafiq , Mesuere Bart , Van Schaeybroeck Bert , Wouters Hendrik , Termonia Piet
Published: March 2021

Today, the vast majority of meteorological data are collected in open, rural environments to comply with the standards set by the World Meteorological Organization. However, these traditional networks lack local information that would be of immense value, for example, for studying urban microclimates, evaluating climate adaptation measures, or improving high-resolution numerical weather predictions. Therefore, an urgent need exists for reliable meteorological data in other environments (e.g., cities, lakes, forests) to complement these conventional networks. At present, however, high-accuracy initiatives tend to be limited in space and/or time as a result of the substantial budgetary requirements faced by research teams and operational services. We present a novel approach for addressing the existing observational gaps based on an intense collaboration with high schools. This methodology resulted in the establishment of a regionwide climate monitoring network of 59 accurate weather stations in a wide variety of locations across northern Belgium. The project is also of large societal relevance as it bridges the gap between the youth and atmospheric science. To guarantee a sustainable and mutually valuable collaboration, the schools and their students are involved at all stages, ranging from proposing measurement locations, building the weather stations, and even data analysis. We illustrate how the approach received overwhelming enthusiasm from high schools and students and resulted in a high-accuracy monitoring network with unique locations offering novel insights.
Angiogenin—A Proposed Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease—Is Not Associated With Long-Term Survival in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Höbaus Clemens , Pesau Gerfried , Zierfuss Bernhard , Koppensteiner Renate , Schernthaner Gerit-Holger
Published: March 2021

We evaluated angiogenin as a prospective biomarker in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients with and without claudication symptoms. A pilot study suggested an elevation of angiogenin in critical limb ischemia. However, in PAD patients, the predictive value of angiogenin has not yet been evaluated. For this purpose, 342 patients with PAD (age: 69 ± 10 years, 34.5% women) were followed-up for 7 years in a cross-sectional study. Angiogenin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were analyzed by Cox regression. Angiogenin levels were higher in men ( P = .001) and were associated with patient waist-to-hip ratio ( P < .001), fasting triglycerides ( P = .011), and inversely with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( P = .009). However, angiogenin showed no association with age, characteristics of diabetes, markers of lipid metabolism, or C-reactive protein. Angiogenin did not correlate with markers of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, or tie-2. Furthermore, angiogenin was not associated with PAD Fontaine stages or with patient ankle-brachial index in addition to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09 [95% CI: 0.89-1.34]) or cardiovascular morality (HR = 1.05 [0.82-1.35]). These results suggest that angiogenin does not provide further information regarding outcome prediction in patients with PAD.
An LC-MS/MS assay for analysis of equilibrium angiotensin II in human serum
Authors: Bernstone Laura , Adaway Joanne E , Keevil Brian G
Published: March 2021

Background

The current first-line screening test for primary hyperaldosteronism is the plasma aldosterone:renin ratio; however, renin assays have several disadvantages and the ARR is affected by medications and physiological factors. Angiotensin II is a key biologically active hormone in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. It has been suggested that measurement of equilibrium levels of this peptide, involving an in vitro incubation of serum prior to analysis, may provide a better marker of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity than renin.

Methods

An eqAng II LC-MS/MS assay was developed, optimized and validated. Serum samples were incubated at 37°C for 45 min prior to stabilization with cold EDTA solution, solid phase extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis. Stability in whole blood and the effect of cryoactivation were assessed. For comparison to the current screening test, 150 anonymized patients’ samples were analysed for eqAng II, renin activity and aldosterone (all by LC-MS/MS).

Results

The assay had good precision, minimal bias and acceptable recovery. EqAng II did not change significantly when whole blood samples were stored for up to 72 h, and cryoactivation was only observed for pregnant patients. EqAng II was significantly correlated with renin, and the aldosterone:eqAng II ratio had a strong positive correlation with the aldosterone:renin ratio.

Conclusions

An LC-MS/MS assay for eqAng II has been developed which shows promise as an alternative screening test for primary hyperaldosteronism. Compared to renin assays, it is quicker, simpler and less likely to be affected by anti-hypertensive medications. Further clinical validation in hypertensive patients would be required prior to implementation.
Using 3D Rule-Based Modeling to Interactively Visualize “Complete Streets” Design Scenarios
Authors: Bejleri Ilir , Noh Soowoong , Bufkin Jamie N. , Zhou Ruchen , Wasserman David
Published: March 2021

“Complete Streets” has successfully emerged, and is increasingly being adopted around the U.S.A., as a transportation policy and design approach that aims to support the needs of all road users. Requiring complex street design configurations, Complete Streets initiatives can benefit from the power of three-dimensional (3D) visualization to share the design vision with stakeholders and citizens. Traditional modeling techniques present some challenges to respond to such needs because of low modeling efficiency. However, 3D procedural modeling, also known as rule-based modeling, provides exciting opportunities to overcome such challenges. This study investigates 3D rule-based modeling as a scenario-oriented street design tool. It employs a case study approach that utilizes a set of rules designed for Complete Streets and applies rule-based modeling to visually compare design scenarios using a study area in Florida. Findings show that the rule-based modeling approach is proven to effectively visualize scenario-oriented street designs. Its ability to modify design parameters easily and generate scenarios rapidly, enables effective visual comparison of alternatives. Its ability to be customized and extended makes it applicable to thousands of communities around the country that are looking to implement Complete Streets designs. Finally, with the ability to support 3D web-based visualization and virtual reality, the rule-based approach can serve as an effective integrated collaboration platform. The Complete Streets rules are available and can be utilized by practitioners immediately. For researchers, the rule-based street modeling approach adds another tool in their methodological toolbox that can help bridge modeling and visualization with Complete Streets research.
Overuse Elbow Injuries in Youth Gymnasts
Authors: Bonazza Nicholas A. , Saltzman Eliana B. , Wittstein Jocelyn R. , Richard Marc J. , Kramer Whitney , Riboh Jonathan C.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Gymnastics is a unique sport that places significant loads across the growing elbow, resulting in unique overuse injuries, some of which are poorly described in the current literature.

Purpose:

To provide a comprehensive review of the unique overuse elbow injuries seen in youth gymnasts and to provide an up-to-date synthesis of the available literature and clinical expertise guiding treatment decisions in this population.

Study Design:

Narrative review.

Methods:

A review of the PubMed database was performed to include all studies describing elbow biomechanics during gymnastics, clinical entities of the elbow in gymnasts, and outcomes of operative and/or nonoperative treatment of elbow pathology in gymnasts.

Results:

Participation in gymnastics among youth athletes is high, being the sixth most common sport in children. Early specialization is the norm in this sport, and gymnastics also has the highest number of participation hours of all youth sports. As a result, unique overuse elbow injuries are common, primarily on the lateral side of the elbow. Beyond common diagnoses of radiocapitellar plica and osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum, we describe a pathology unique to gymnasts involving stress fracture of the radial head. Additionally, we synthesized our clinical experience and expertise in gymnastics to provide a sport-specific rehabilitation program that can be used by providers treating surgical and nonsurgical conditions of the elbow and wishing to provide detailed activity instructions to their athletes.

Conclusion:

Overuse injuries of the elbow are common in gymnastics and include osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum, radiocapitellar plica syndrome, and newly described radial head stress fractures. A thorough understanding of the psychological, cultural, and biomechanical aspects of gymnastics are necessary to care for these athletes.
Research on local path planning based on improved RRT algorithm
Authors: Zong Changfu , Han Xiaojian , Zhang Dong , Liu Yang , Zhao Weiqiang , Sun Ming
Published: March 2021

In order to solve the local path planning of self-driving car in the structured road environment, an improved path planning algorithm named Regional-Sampling RRT (RS-RRT) algorithm was proposed for obstacle avoidance conditions. Gaussian distribution sampling and local biasing sampling were integrated to improve the search efficiency in the sampling phase. In the expansion phase, considering the actual size of the vehicle and obstacles, combined with the goal of safety and comfort, the separating axis theorem (SAT) method and vehicle dynamics were used to detect the collision among vehicle and surrounding obstacles in real time. In the post-processing stage, the driver’s driving consensus and path smoothing algorithm were combined to correct the planning path. In order to track the generated path, the MPC tracking algorithm was designed based on the Four-Wheel-Independent Electric Vehicle (FWIEV) model. The co-simulation software platform of CarSim and MATLAB/Simulink was employed to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the path planning and tracking algorithm. The results show that compared with basic RRT and Goal-biasing RRT, the proposed RS-RRT algorithm has advantages in terms of number of nodes, path length and running time. The generated path can meet the FWIEV dynamics and path tracking requirements.