bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High CXCR3 on Leukemic Cells Distinguishes IgHVmut from IgHVunmut in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Evidence from CD5high and CD5low Clones
Authors: Manukyan Gayane , Papajik Tomas , Mikulkova Zuzana , Urbanova Renata , Kraiczova Veronika Smotkova , Savara Jakub , Kudelka Milos , Turcsanyi Peter , Kriegova Eva
Published: June 2020

Despite the shared pattern of surface antigens, neoplastic cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are highly heterogeneous in CD5 expression, a marker linked to a proliferative pool of neoplastic cells. To further characterize CD5high and CD5low neoplastic cells, we assessed the chemokine receptors (CCR5, CCR7, CCR10, CXCR3, CXCR4, CXCR5) and adhesion molecules (CD54, CD62L, CD49d) on the CD5high and CD5low subpopulations, defined by CD5/CD19 coexpression, in peripheral blood of CLL patients (n=60) subgrouped according to the IgHV mutational status (IgHVmut, n=24; IgHVunmut, n=36). CD5high subpopulation showed a high percentage of CXCR3 (P<0.001), CCR10 (P=0.001), and CD62L (P=0.031) and high levels of CXCR5 (P=0.005), CCR7 (P=0.013) compared to CD5low cells expressing high CXCR4 (P<0.001). Comparing IgHVmut and IgHVunmut patients, high levels of CXCR3 on CD5high and CD5low subpopulations were detected in the IgHVmut patients, with better discrimination in CD5low subpopulation. Levels of CXCR3 on CD5low subpopulation were associated with time to the next treatment, thus further confirming its prognostic value. Taken together, our analysis revealed higher CXCR3 expression on both CD5high and CD5low neoplastic cells in IgHVmut with a better prognosis compared to IgHVunmut patients. Contribution of CXCR3 to CLL pathophysiology and its suitability for prognostication and therapeutic exploitation deserves future investigations.
Adaptive Autophagy Offers Cardiorenal Protection in Rats with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Feng Zhendong , Jiang Han Xue , Chen Huiyang , Liu Yu Ning , Wang Yahui , Yang Rui Bing , Han Xueting , Xia Chen Hui , Zhu Ze Bing , Shang Hongcai , Wu Aiming , Liu Wei Jing
Published: June 2020

Objective. Understanding the multifactorial changes involved in the kidney and heart after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is prerequisite for further mechanisms and early intervention, especially autophagy changes. Here, we discussed the role of adaptive autophagy in the heart and kidney of rats with AMI. Methods. A rat model of AMI was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. Animals were sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks after the operation to assess the morphological and functional changes of the heart and kidney, as well as the autophagy pathway. In vitro, HK-2 and AC16 cell injuries and the autophagy pathway were assayed after autophagy was inhibited by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) in a hypoxia incubator. Results. We found that the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) significantly decreased in the model group at weeks 2 and 4. At weeks 2 and 4, the level of urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (uKIM1) of the model group was significantly higher than the sham group. At week 4, urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalcin (uNGAL) and urinary albumin also significantly increased. At week 2, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II), ATG5, and Beclin1 were significantly elevated in the heart and kidney compared with the sham-operated rats, but there was no change in p62 levels. At week 4, LC3-II did not significantly increase and p62 levels significantly increased. In addition, 3-MA markedly increased KIM1, NGAL, and the activity of caspase-3 in the hypoxic HK-2 and AC16 cell. Conclusion. Autophagy will undergo adaptive changes and play a protective role in the heart and kidney of rats after AMI.
Response Patterns of Vegetation Phenology along Urban-Rural Gradients in Urban Areas of Different Sizes
Authors: Luo Xue , Zhang Yuqing , Sun Dongqi
Published: June 2020

On the basis of MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index time series data and multisource data, such as nighttime light data and China City Statistical Yearbook data, we investigated the differences in vegetation phenology along urban-rural gradients in urban areas of different sizes between coastal and inland cities in Liaoning Province, China. The results showed that the following: (1) the iterative extraction of urban built-up areas using the threshold method based on nighttime light data combined with the definition of urban built-up areas had high accuracy. (2) Additionally, we found that the start of the growing season (SOS) in Liaoning Province occurred between day 100 and day 180, while the end of the growing season (EOS) occurred between days 260 and 330. The difference in the SOS between coastal cities (i.e., Dalian, Yingkou, Panjin, Jinzhou, Huludao, and Dandong) and inland cities (i.e., Chaoyang, Fuxin, Tieling, Shenyang, Fushun, Liaoyang, Benxi, and Anshan) was 1.70 days. However, the difference in the EOS was more significant, i.e., the EOS in coastal cities occurred 4.47 days later than that in the inland cities. (3) In urban areas of different sizes, the ∆SOS and ∆EOS of inland cities had negative correlations with urban size. Specifically, when the urban size increased 10-fold, the ∆SOS and ∆EOS advanced by 10.03 and 5.71 days, respectively. In contrast, the ∆SOS and ∆EOS of coastal cities had positive and negative correlations with the urban size, respectively. Specifically, when urban size increased 10-fold, ∆SOS was delayed by 11.29 days while EOS was advanced by 8.83 days.
Investigation ofToxoplasma gondiiInfection in Aborted Fetuses of Sheep Using PCR: A Study in North Khorasan Province, Iran
Authors: Salehi Mitra , Nezami Hosein , Niazkar Hamid Reza
Published: June 2020

Toxoplasma gondiiis a zoonotic obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects warm-blooded animals as well as humans worldwide. The purpose of this study was to delineate the prevalence ofToxoplasmainfection in aborted fetuses of sheep in North Khorasan province, Iran. Three hundred and ninety-nine samples of the liver (133 samples), placenta (133 samples), and brain (133 samples) from 133 aborted fetuses of sheep were collected from 2015 to 2017. The ages of aborted fetuses were higher than 120 days’ gestational age in this study. According to the samples, sixteen out of 133 aborted fetuses of sheep were infected withT. gondii.ToxoplasmaDNA was found in the placenta (68.75%) and liver (31.25%) samples of infected fetuses using the PCR method. The highest and lowest rates ofToxoplasmainfection were observed during 2016 and 2017, respectively. Shirvan and Faruj provinces were recognized as the two most infected districts among others. There was a significant difference between the year and abortion rate in sheep due to infection by theToxoplasmaparasite (P<0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference between the prevalence ofT. gondiiinfection and aborted fetuses was seen (P>0.05) in different areas. According to the present study,T. gondiiinfection can be one of the causes of fetus abortion of sheep in North Khorasan province, Iran.
Smart City Moving Target Tracking Algorithm Based on Quantum Genetic and Particle Filter
Authors: Liu Zhigang , Shang Jin , Hua Xufen
Published: June 2020

In the application of moving target tracking in smart city, particle filter technology has the advantages of dealing with nonlinear and non-Gaussian problems, but when the standard particle filter uses resampling method to solve the degradation phenomenon, simply copying the particles will cause local optimization difficulties, resulting in unstable filtering accuracy. In this paper, a particle filter algorithm combined with quantum genetic algorithm (QGA) is proposed to solve the above problems. Aiming at the problem of particle exhaustion in particle filter, the algorithm adopts the method of combining evolutionary algorithm. Each particle in particle filter is regarded as a chromosome in genetic algorithm, and the fitness of each chromosome corresponds to the weight of particle. For each particle state with weight, the particle is first binary coded with qubit and quantum superposition state, and then quantum rotation gate is used for selection, crossing, mutation, and other operations, after a set number of iterations, the final particle set with accuracy and better diversity. In this paper, the filter state estimation and RMSF of N=50 and N=100 for nonlinear target tracking and the comparison of real state and state estimation trajectory in time-constant model under nonlinear target tracking are given. It can be seen that in nonlinear state, the quantum genetic and particle filter (QGPF) algorithm can achieve a higher accuracy of state estimation, and the filtering error of QGPF algorithm at each time is relatively uniform, which shows that the algorithm in this paper has better algorithm stability. Under the time-constant model, the algorithm fits the real state and realizes stable and accurate tracking.
A Multinational Green Supply Chain Model Suffered to Import Tariff
Authors: Zhai Mengyue , Liu Mingwu , Fu Hong , Fu Qiaoling
Published: June 2020

This paper considers a multinational green supply chain (MGSC), composed of a manufacturer and a foreign retailer affected by import tariff. The main theme of this paper is to explore supply chain decisions and coordination contract. Four decision models were investigated: (1) the centralized decision supply chain model (model CS), (2) the decentralized decision supply chain model (model DS), (3) the R&D cost sharing contract model (model RD) with the retailer sharing a portion of green R&D cost, and (4) the quantity discount-cost sharing contract model (model QD), which combined a quantity discount contract with a cost sharing contract. The equilibrium decisions of these models were derived. The R&D cost sharing contract was found to improve greenness and performance of the supply chain but cannot reach the optimal performance compared to the centralized decision model. While the quantity discount-cost sharing contract can achieve a perfect coordination of MGSC. Furthermore, import tariff has an adverse effect on the performance of MGSC. The increase in tariff shrinks the threshold of the highest wholesale price and quantity discount coefficient offered by the manufacturer, which will hamper the cooperation of supply chain. However, the enhancement of consumers’ green preference is conducive to encourage the retailer to participate in cooperation and smoothen the adverse effects of tariff fluctuation. In the same model, the adverse effect of tariff on product greenness and the retail price does not change with the increase in its value. However, the adverse effect on the green performance price ratio and the profits from all parties in the supply chain are slow.
An ANN-Based Precision Compensation Method for Industrial Manipulators via Optimization of Point Selection
Authors: Wang Zhirong , Chen Zhangwei , Mao Chentao , Zhang Xiang
Published: June 2020

Industrial manipulators are widely used in the manufacture of products due to their high flexibility and low costs. High absolute positioning accuracy is the key to guarantee the product quality, which is commonly improved through the error compensation technology. Due to the variety, complexity, and unpredictability of the error sources, the influence of the nongeometric errors on the absolute positioning accuracy of manipulators is uncertain. In result, the existing error compensation methods are difficult to obtain satisfying results, especially for manipulators with large joint flexibility that need to work in different task scenarios. In this paper, an artificial neural network- (ANN-) based precision compensation method via optimization of point selection is proposed, which deals with the kinematic errors and joint stiffness errors in different task scenarios. Firstly, the quasi-random sequence (QRS) method and the product of exponentials (POE) model are combined to identify and compensate the geometric parameters. The QRS method can select points evenly in the workspace. And the POE model can avoid the singularity problem of Denavit–Hartenberg (DH) model. Secondly, a continuous joint stiffness compensation model in the whole workspace is established through ANN. In order to get better compensation results for the current task scenario, the point selection method based on trajectory similarity is adopted to determine the training data of ANN. Finally, the experiments are conducted on a 6-DOF industrial manipulator to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method. The results show that the ANN-based method via optimization of point selection could be an effective solution for the precision compensation.
Prevalence of Depression among Type-II Diabetic Patients Attending the Diabetic Clinic at Arar National Guard Primary Health Care Center, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhunayni Norah Muqbil , Mohamed Amal Elwan , Hammad Sabry Mohamed
Published: June 2020

Background. Depression is a common comorbidity in type-II diabetic patients, which if undiagnosed leads to poor clinical outcomes. Objectives. To determine the prevalence and risk factors of depression among type-II diabetic patients attending the National Guard Diabetic Clinic in Arar city. Subjects and methods. This cross-sectional study included every third type-II diabetic patient attending the National Guard Primary Health Care Center between the 1st of January and 31st of March 2019. Participants were interviewed using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Patients who scored ≥5 were considered to have depression. Chi-square test (χ2) was used to compare differences between categorical variables. P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Of the total 422 diabetic patients approached for this study, 397 provided complete responses (94% response rate). Of these, 37% had depression: 23% mild, 9% moderate, and 5% severe. Diabetic patients with low education, poor income, and long duration of diabetes mellitus were found to be at higher risk of depression. Poor compliance with physical activities, diet regimen, family history of DM, and the presence of complications was also significantly associated with depression. On logistic regression analysis, low family income, duration of DM, poor compliance to physical activity, and presence of complications as neuropathy or libido were the main predictors of depression in diabetic patients. Conclusion. More than one-third of type-II diabetic patients had depression. Regular screening of type-II diabetic patients for depression is a necessity, as it can affect the clinical outcome.
Evaluation of the Capability of Horizontal ATR-FTMIR and UV-Visible Spectroscopy in the Discrimination of Virgin Olive Oils from the Moroccan Region of Beni Mellal-Khenifra
Authors: El Orche Aimen , Bouatia Mustapha , Yanisse Siham , Labjar Houda , Mouhsin Mouad , Bouha Mohamed , Oubenali Mustapha , Mbarki Mohamed
Published: June 2020

One of the most important challenges in the authentication of olive oil is the determination of the geographical origin of virgin olive oil. In this work, we evaluated the capacity of two spectroscopic techniques, UV-Visible and ATR-FTMIR, coupled with chemometric tools to determine the geographical origin of olive oils. These analytical approaches have been applied to samples that have been collected during the period of olive oil production, in the Moroccan region of Beni Mellal-Khenifra. To develop a rapid analysis tool capable of authenticating the geographical origin of virgin olive oils from five geographical areas of the Moroccan region of Beni Mellal-Khenifra, UV-Visible and ATR-FTMIR spectral data were processed by chemometric algorithms. PCA was applied on the spectral data set to represent the data in a very small space, and then discrimination methods were applied on the principal components synthesized by the PCA. The application of the PCA-LDA method on the spectral data of UV-Visible and ATR-FTMIR shows a good ability to classify olive oils according to their geographical origin with a percentage of correct classification that represents 90.24% and 85.87%, respectively, and the processing of the spectral data of UV-Visible and ATR-FTMIR by PCA-SVM allows differentiating correctly between five olive oils with a correct classification rate of 100% and 97.56, respectively. This study demonstrated the feasibility of UV-Visible and ATR-FTMIR fingerprinting (routine technique) for the geographical classification of olive oils in the Moroccan region of Beni Mellal-Khenifra. Such developed methods can be proposed as alternative and complementary methods to authenticate the geographical origin of virgin olive oil.
Fuzzy Matching Template Attacks on Multivariate Cryptography: A Case Study
Authors: Li Weijian , Huang Xian , Zhao Huimin , Xie Guoliang , Lu Fuxiang
Published: June 2020

Multivariate cryptography is one of the most promising candidates for post-quantum cryptography. Applying machine learning techniques in this paper, we experimentally investigate the side-channel security of the multivariate cryptosystems, which seriously threatens the hardware implementations of cryptographic systems. Generally, registers are required to store values of monomials and polynomials during the encryption of multivariate cryptosystems. Based on maximum-likelihood and fuzzy matching techniques, we propose a template-based least-square technique to efficiently exploit the side-channel leakage of registers. Using QUAD for a case study, which is a typical multivariate cryptosystem with provable security, we perform our attack against both serial and parallel QUAD implementations on field programmable gate array (FPGA). Experimental results show that our attacks on both serial and parallel implementations require only about 30 and 150 power traces, respectively, to successfully reveal the secret key with a success rate close to 100%. Finally, efficient and low-cost strategies are proposed to resist side-channel attacks.
Efficacy and Safety of Shengmai Injection for Chronic Heart Failure: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Wang Yanping , Zhou Xu , Chen Xiaofan , Wang Fei , Zhu Weifeng , Yan Dongmei , Shang Hongcai
Published: June 2020

Background. Shengmai injection (SMI) is made from purified ginseng, Radix Ophiopogonis, and Schisandra chinensis. It has cardiotonic effects and is clinically used for the adjuvant treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF). However, its efficacy and safety are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the existing efficacy and safety evidence in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that studied SMI for the treatment of CHF. Methods. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM databases were searched up to September 10, 2019. RCTs that compared basic Western medicine treatment with SMI + basic Western medicine were included. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the RCTs. The meta‐analysis used the random effects model; the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined using the inverse variance method, and the Mantel–Haenszel method was used to combine the relative risk (RR) and 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 and Q tests, and the source of heterogeneity was explored by analyzing three preset subgroup hypotheses. Results. A total of 20 RCTs were included (n = 1562), with a moderate‐to‐high risk of bias. The meta‐analysis showed that, compared with Western medicine alone, SMI adjuvant therapy significantly improved cardiac function indicators, including left ventricular ejection fraction (MD 6.8%, 95% CI 4.68 to 8.91), stroke volume (MD 9.81 ml, 95% CI 5.67 to 13.96), cardiac output (MD 0.96 L/min, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.25), and cardiac index (MD 0.53 L/min, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.70); heterogeneity was generally high among these outcomes. Compared with the controls, patients receiving SMI adjuvant therapy also had a higher response to treatment (RR 2.89, 95% CI 2.10 to 3.99; I2 = 0%), a greater decrease in brain natriuretic peptide levels (MD −284.66 ng/l, 95% CI −353.73 to −215.59, I2 = 0%), and a greater increase in six‐minute walk test performance (MD 70.67 m, 95% CI 22.92 to 118.42; I2 = 84%). Nine studies reported mild adverse events, such as gastrointestinal reactions, and no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion. Currently, available evidence indicates that SMI, as an adjuvant for basic Western medicine treatment, can improve the cardiac function of patients with CHF with good safety outcomes. Because of the high risk of bias among the included RCTs and the large heterogeneity of partial outcomes, the findings of this study must be verified by high‐quality studies with large sample sizes.
Linearization Method of Nonlinear Magnetic Levitation System
Authors: Wang Dini , Meng Fanwei , Meng Shengya
Published: June 2020

Linearized model of the system is often used in control design. It is generally believed that we can obtain the linearized model as long as the Taylor expansion method is used for the nonlinear model. This paper points out that the Taylor expansion method is only applicable to the linearization of the original nonlinear function. If the Taylor expansion is used for the derived nonlinear equation, wrong results are often obtained. Taking the linearization model of the maglev system as an example, it is shown that the linearization should be carried out with the process of equation derivation. The model is verified by nonlinear system simulation in Simulink. The method in this paper is helpful to write the linearized equation of the control system correctly.
Cancer Surveillance in Healthy Carriers of Germline Pathogenic Variants in BRCA1/2: A Review of Secondary Prevention Guidelines
Authors: Dullens Boudewijn , de Putter Robin , Lambertini Matteo , Toss Angela , Han Sileny , Van Nieuwenhuysen Els , Van Gorp Toon , Vanderstichele Adriaan , Van Ongeval Chantal , Keupers Machteld , Prevos Renate , Celis Valerie , Dekervel Jeroen , Everaerts Wouter , Wildiers Hans , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Timmerman Dirk , Smeets Ann , Denayer Ellen , Van Buggenhout Griet , Legius Eric , Punie Kevin
Published: June 2020

Germline pathogenic alterations in the breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 (BRCA1) and 2 (BRCA2) are the most prevalent causes of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The increasing trend in proportion of cancer patients undergoing genetic testing, followed by predictive testing in families of new index patients, results in a significant increase of healthy germline BRCA1/2 mutation carriers who are at increased risk for breast, ovarian, and other BRCA-related cancers. This review aims to give an overview of available screening guidelines for female and male carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline BRCA1/2 variants per cancer type, incorporating malignancies that are more or less recently well correlated with BRCA1/2. We selected guidelines from national/international organizations and/or professional associations that were published or updated between January 1, 2015, and February 1, 2020. In total, 12 guidelines were included. This review reveals several significant discordances between the different guidelines. Optimal surveillance strategies depend on accurate age-specific cancer risk estimates, which are not reliably available for all BRCA-related cancers. Up-to-date national or international consensus guidelines are of utmost importance to harmonize counseling and proposed surveillance strategies for BRCA1/2 carriers.
NRF2-Driven KEAP1 Transcription in Human Lung Cancer
Authors: Tian Yijun , Liu Qian , Yu Shengnan , Chu Qian , Chen Yuan , Wu Kongming , Wang Liang
Published: June 2020

Constitutive NRF2 activation by disrupted KEAP1-NRF2 interaction has been reported in a variety of human cancers. However, studies focusing on NRF2-driven KEAP1 expression under human cancer contexts are still uncommon. We examined mRNA expression correlation between NRF2 and KEAP1 in multiple human cancers. We measured KEAP1 mRNA and protein alterations in response to the activation or silencing of NRF2. We queried chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) datasets to identify NRF2 binding to KEAP1 promoters in human cells. We used reporter assay and CRISPR editing to assess KEAP1 promoter activity and mRNA abundance change. To determine specimen implication of the feedback pattern, we used gene expression ratio to predict NRF2 signal disruption as well as patients' prognosis. Correlation analysis showed KEAP1 mRNA expression was in positive association with NRF2 in multiple squamous cell cancers. The positive correlations were consistent across all squamous cell lung cancer cohorts, but not in adenocarcinomas. In human lung cells, NRF2 interventions significantly altered KEAP1 mRNA and protein expressions. ChIP-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) and sequencing data demonstrated consistent NRF2 occupancy to KEAP1 promoter. Deleting NRF2 binding site significantly reduced baseline and inducible KEAP1 promoter activity and KEAP1 mRNA expression. By incorporating tumor tissue KEAP1 mRNA expressions in estimating NRF2 signaling disruptions, we found increased TXN/KEAP1 mRNA ratio in cases with NRF2 gain or KEAP1 loss and decreased NRF2/KEAP1 mRNA ratio in cases with NRF2–KEAP1 somatic mutations. In TCGA PanCancer datasets, we also identified that cases with loss-of-function mutations in NRF2 pathway recurrently appeared above the NRF2-KEAP1 mRNA expression regression lines. Moreover, compared with previous NRF2 signatures, the ratio-based strategy showed better predictive performance in survival analysis with multiple squamous cell lung cancer cohort validations.

Implications:

NRF2-driven KEAP1 transcription is a crucial component of NRF2 signaling modulation. This hidden circuit will provide in-depth insight into novel cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies.
SPANX Control of Lamin A/C Modulates Nuclear Architecture and Promotes Melanoma Growth
Authors: Lazar Ikrame , Fabre Bertrand , Feng Yongmei , Khateb Ali , Turko Patrick , Martinez Gomez Julia M. , Frederick Dennie T. , Levesque Mitchell P. , Feld Lea , Zhang Gao , Zhang Tongwu , James Brian , Shklover Jeny , Avitan-Hersh Emily , Livneh Ido , Scortegagna Marzia , Brown Kevin , Larsson Ola , Topisirovic Ivan , Wolfenson Haguy , Herlyn Meenhard , Flaherty Keith , Dummer Reinhard , Ronai Ze'ev A.
Published: June 2020

Mechanisms regulating nuclear organization control fundamental cellular processes, including the cell and chromatin organization. Their disorganization, including aberrant nuclear architecture, has been often implicated in cellular transformation. Here, we identify Lamin A, among proteins essential for nuclear architecture, as SPANX (sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome), a cancer testis antigen previously linked to invasive tumor phenotypes, interacting protein in melanoma. SPANX interaction with Lamin A was mapped to the immunoglobulin fold-like domain, a region critical for Lamin A function, which is often mutated in laminopathies. SPANX downregulation in melanoma cell lines perturbed nuclear organization, decreased cell viability, and promoted senescence-associated phenotypes. Moreover, SPANX knockdown (KD) in melanoma cells promoted proliferation arrest, a phenotype mediated in part by IRF3/IL1A signaling. SPANX KD in melanoma cells also prompted the secretion of IL1A, which attenuated the proliferation of naïve melanoma cells. Identification of SPANX as a nuclear architecture complex component provides an unexpected insight into the regulation of Lamin A and its importance in melanoma.

Implications:

SPANX, a testis protein, interacts with LMNA and controls nuclear architecture and melanoma growth.
Comparison of Clinicopathological Features of Biliary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma with Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Shiihara Masahiro , Higuchi Ryota , Furukawa Toru , Yazawa Takehisa , Uemura Shuichiro , Izumo Wataru , Yamamoto Masakazu
Published: June 2020

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the clinical features and postoperative outcomes of extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and compared with those of adenocarcinoma. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with EHBD cancer operated in our institution between 1995 and 2015. Results: Of 475 patients, 468 had adenocarcinoma, while 7 had NEC/mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) in this study. There were no notable preoperative and pathological features in patients with NEC/MANEC. However, patients with NEC/MANEC had a higher recurrence rate (51.8 vs. 100%, p = 0.016), poorer relapse-free survival (RFS) time (the median RFS time: 35 vs. 12 months, p = 0.006), and poorer overall survival (OS) time (the median OS time: 60 vs. 19 months, p = 0.078) than those with adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, patients with NEC/MANEC had higher rates of liver metastasis (11.9 vs. 85.7%, p < 0.001) than those with adenocarcinoma. In multivariable regression analysis, pathological type with NEC/MANEC was a risk factor for poorer RFS (p = 0.022, hazard ratio: 6.09). Conclusions: Patients with NEC/MANEC have high malignant potential and poor outcomes. It is necessary to develop an effective approach and postoperative adjuvant treatment for patients with NEC/MANEC.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Global Severity Profiles in Treatment-Seeking Patients with Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Icick Romain , Moggi Franz , Slobodin Ortal , Dom Geert , Mathys Frieda , van den Brink Wim , Levin Frances R. , Blankers Matthijs , Kaye Sharlene , Demetrovics Zsolt , van de Glind Geurt , Velez-Pastrana Maria C. , Schellekens Arnt S.A. ,   ICASA-group
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is present in 15–25% of all patients seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Some studies suggest that comorbid ADHD increases clinical severity related to SUDs, other psychiatric comorbidities, and social impairment, but could not disentangle their respective influences. Objectives: To investigate whether comorbid adult ADHD in treatment-seeking SUD patients is associated with more severe clinical profiles in these domains assessed altogether. Methods: Treatment-seeking SUD patients from 8 countries (N = 1,294: 26% females, mean age 40 years [SD = 11 years]) were assessed for their history of DSM-IV ADHD, SUDs, and other psychiatric conditions and sociodemographic data. SUD patients with and without comorbid ADHD were compared on indicators of severity across 3 domains: addiction (number of SUD criteria and diagnoses), psychopathological complexity (mood disorders, borderline personality disorder, lifetime suicidal thoughts, or behavior), and social status (education level, occupational and marital status, and living arrangements). Regression models were built to account for confounders for each severity indicator. Results: Adult ADHD was present in 19% of the SUD patients. It was significantly associated with higher SUD severity, more frequent comorbid mood or borderline personality disorder, and less frequent “married” or “divorced” status, as compared with the absence of comorbid ADHD. ADHD comorbidity was independently associated with a higher number of dependence diagnoses (OR = 1.97) and more psychopathology (OR = 1.5), but not marital status. Conclusions: In treatment-seeking SUD patients, comorbid ADHD is associated with polysubstance dependence, psychopathological complexity, and social risks, which substantiates the clinical relevance of screening, diagnosing, and treating ADHD in patients with SUDs.
Transient Intermittent Hyperglycemia Accelerates Atherosclerosis by Promoting Myelopoiesis
Authors: Flynn Michelle C. , Kraakman Michael J. , Tikellis Christos , Lee Man K.S. , Hanssen Nordin M.J. , Kammoun Helene L. , Pickering Raelene J. , Dragoljevic Dragana , Al-Sharea Annas , Barrett Tessa J. , Hortle Fiona , Byrne Frances L. , Olzomer Ellen , McCarthy Domenica A. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Forbes Josephine M. , Hoehn Kyle , Makowski Liza , Lancaster Graeme I. , El-Osta Assam , Fisher Edward A. , Goldberg Ira J. , Cooper Mark E. , Nagareddy Prabhakara R. , Thomas Merlin C. , Murphy Andrew J.
Published: June 2020

Rationale:

Treatment efficacy for diabetes mellitus is largely determined by assessment of HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin A1c) levels, which poorly reflects direct glucose variation. People with prediabetes and diabetes mellitus spend >50% of their time outside the optimal glucose range. These glucose variations, termed transient intermittent hyperglycemia (TIH), appear to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the pathological basis for this association is unclear.

Objective:

To determine whether TIH per se promotes myelopoiesis to produce more monocytes and consequently adversely affects atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results:

To create a mouse model of TIH, we administered 4 bolus doses of glucose at 2-hour intervals intraperitoneally once to WT (wild type) or once weekly to atherosclerotic prone mice. TIH accelerated atherogenesis without an increase in plasma cholesterol, seen in traditional models of diabetes mellitus. TIH promoted myelopoiesis in the bone marrow, resulting in increased circulating monocytes, particularly the inflammatory Ly6-C
hi
subset, and neutrophils. Hematopoietic-restricted deletion of
S100a9
,
S100a8
, or its cognate receptor
Rage
prevented monocytosis. Mechanistically, glucose uptake via GLUT (glucose transporter)-1 and enhanced glycolysis in neutrophils promoted the production of S100A8/A9. Myeloid-restricted deletion of
Slc2a1
(GLUT-1) or pharmacological inhibition of S100A8/A9 reduced TIH-induced myelopoiesis and atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

Together, these data provide a mechanism as to how TIH, prevalent in people with impaired glucose metabolism, contributes to cardiovascular disease. These findings provide a rationale for continual glucose control in these patients and may also suggest that strategies aimed at targeting the S100A8/A9-RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) axis could represent a viable approach to protect the vulnerable blood vessels in diabetes mellitus.

Graphic Abstract:

A
graphic abstract
is available for this article.
Do People Avoid Morally Relevant Information? Evidence from the Refugee Crisis
Authors: Freddi Eleonora
Published: June 2020

Combining click data from a swedish newspaper and administrative data on asylum seekers in sweden, i examine whether a larger presence of refugees in a municipality induces people to avoid news that may encourage welcoming the newcomers. Exploiting the unexpected inflow of refugees to Sweden during 2015 and their exogenous allocation across Swedish municipalities, I find that people living in municipalities where the relative number of refugees is larger read fewer articles about asylum seekers. The decrease in clicks is 36% larger for more empathic articles and is correlated with less engagement in activities aimed at welcoming refugees.
International Food Commodity Prices and Missing (Dis)Inflation in the Euro Area
Authors: Peersman Gert
Published: June 2020

Exogenous shifts in international food commodity prices, which are identified using an SVAR model with global harvest shocks as an external instrument, explain almost 30% of euro-area inflation volatility over the medium term and contributed significantly to the twin puzzle of missing (dis)inflation in the era after the Great Recession. International food price shocks have an impact on food retail prices through the food production chain, but also trigger indirect inflationary effects via a depreciation of the euro and, most important, rising wages. Finally, due to asymmetric wage responses, the inflationary effects are very different across member states.
Revealing “Mafia Inc.”? Financial Crisis, Organized Crime, and the Birth of New Enterprises
Authors: Le Moglie Marco , Sorrenti Giuseppe
Published: June 2020

We study the investment of organized crime in the legal economy. By using the shock induced on the Italian credit market by the 2007 subprime mortgage crisis, we document how provinces with a high organized crime presence have been affected less by the crisis in terms of the establishment of new enterprises than provinces with a lower criminal infiltration. We provide evidence that the lower impact of the crisis is consistent with the presence of investments by organized crime in the legal economy. We corroborate this interpretation by comparing our results with the characterization made by the judicial authority of such investments.
Optimal Defaults with Normative Ambiguity
Authors: Goldin Jacob , Reck Daniel
Published: June 2020

Default effects are pervasive, but the reason they arise is often unclear. We study optimal policy when the planner does not know whether an observed default effect reflects a welfare-relevant preference or a mistake. Within a broad class of models, we find that determining optimal policy is impossible without resolving this ambiguity. Depending on the resolution, optimal policy tends in opposite directions: either minimizing the number of nondefault choices or inducing active choice. We show how these considerations depend on whether active choosers make mistakes when selecting among nondefault options. We illustrate our results using data on pension contribution defaults.
The First Day of the AN.TAḪ.ŠUM-Festival
Authors: Kryszeń Adam
Published: June 2020

The study proposes a revaluation of the sources dealing with the first days of the great Hittite spring AN.TAḫ.ŠUM-festival. It offers a close comparison of the so-called outline-tablets, which present a brief but essential overview of the entire festival, with the tablets that provide detailed descriptions of individuals days. Through an in-depth analysis of all the key elements of the celebrations, it is argued that the texts previously thought to represent the second day of the AN.TAḫ.ŠUM are misattributed and in fact depict the initial day of the festival.
A Sacred Landscape of Sumer: Statuettes from Ur Depicting a Goat on a Tree
Authors: Miller Naomi F. , Jones Philip , Zettler Richard L. , Pittman Holly
Published: June 2020

The statuettes commonly referred to as “Ram Caught in a Thicket” (2500 BC) may well be associated with what is known from later texts (2nd millennium BC) as the (daily) determining-of-the-fates ritual that occurred at sunrise. Symbolic elements (tree, rosette, leaf, possible mountain), and motifs (quadruped facing a tree) occur in other media—glyptic, musical instruments—and their meaning informs the unique combination of elements found in these two statuettes. It is proposed that the statuettes are offering stands. The composition as a whole represents a sacred landscape rather than a charming genre scene. It is likely that the statuettes were associated with the daily ritual of the determining of the fates, which would push the later attestations of that ritual and the cosmological view behind it back to the mid-third millennium BC.
Dressing Up for the Gods: Ceremonial Garments in Hittite Cultic Festivals according to the Philological and Archaeological Evidence
Authors: Mouton Alice , Erbil Yiğit
Published: June 2020

Through the combined study of Hittite cuneiform texts and the iconography of Hittite relief vases (Anatolia of the second half of the second millennium BCE), this paper addresses the ceremonial garments of key participants in cultic ceremonies, namely the royal couple, priests and priestesses, as well as festival entertainers. The paper also discusses a particular gesture which is frequently mentioned in Hittite religious texts: the act consisting of seizing someone else’s šeknu-garment. We argue that such a gesture might be related to the purity rules regarding the Great King’s body. Throughout this paper, several correspondences between the iconography and the textual evidence are also suggested.
Spiritual but not Religious?
Authors: Gür Hande
Published: June 2020

Mevleviye as an Islamic religious order is established in Anatolia after the passing of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi in the 13th century. Based on bigger ethnographic research, this paper tries to delve into the distinction between spiritual and religious from the perspective of new Mevlevis of contemporary Mevleviye in Turkey. The authenticity of new Mevlevis’ standpoint while defining themselves as spiritual but not religious reflects the effects of modernization and individualization in Turkey as well as Mevleviye’s particular approach to spirituality. This reflection seems to reveal the flaws of Western definitions of the spiritual that is often presented as a contrary notion to being religious. Besides offering a discussion on the case of new Mevlevis’ understanding of spiritual and religious, this paper also argues that spirituality has to be studied empirically and defined in regards to its context and culture rather than as an essentially contrasting notion to being religious.
An Analysis of the Verses in the Tattvārthādhigamabhāṣya
Authors: den Boer Lucas
Published: June 2020

The Tattvārthādhigamabhāṣya, which is an early commentary on the Tattvārthādhigama attributed to Umāsvāti, contains several passages in verse. The inclusion of these verses has not been studied before, even though they are relevant for the discussion of the relationship between the Tattvārthādhigama and the bhāṣya. This article provides an analysis and translation of these verses, including the introductory verses and the colophon that usually accompany this text. Although some scholars regard the bhāṣya as an auto-commentary, the outcomes of this analysis indicate that the bhāṣya was written by a different author. Further, this study shows that some of the verses in the bhāṣya are derived from other Jaina works in Sanskrit that are no longer extant. This suggests that the Tattvārthādhigama was not the only Jaina philosophical text in Sanskrit at the time of the final redaction of the bhāṣya.
Black-ish Missiology: A Critique of Mission Studies and Appeal for Inclusion in the United States Context
Authors: Radcliff Dwight A.
Published: June 2020

Using the idiomatic expression found in the United States, this essay contends that the current field of missiology is black-ish. The expression is used to describe something purports to be Black (African American), but upon close inspection may not be authentic to the culture. This essay seeks to examine the dearth of specifically African American contributions to missiology. Citing issues of internal structuring and epistemology, an argument is made that African American voices and culture are often lost in this maze constituted by a lack of uniformity within mission studies. Additionally, there is an existing catalogue of Black scholarship that deals, directly and indirectly, with mission but is often not given the same latitude of inclusion and review that White scholarship is afforded in the United States.
People on Lists in Port Cities: Administrative Migration Control in Antwerp and Rotterdam (c. 1880–1914)
Authors: Reimann Christina
Published: June 2020

This article addresses the intertwined development of the port cities of Rotterdam and Antwerp into border zones that took place with the upswing of steam navigation in the upcoming age of high mobility. It focuses on administrative practice, namely local authorities’ approaches to identifying and registering mobile people, to shed new light on the often-presumed shift in migration control in this period. Scrutiny of the paperwork used and produced by local authorities tasked with migration control suggests that administrative practice does not fit into coherent narratives of high modernity characterised by the increasing relevance of nationality, border control management, and a growing impact of the nation-state. Instead, this era is characterised by the layering of control practices: resilient practices – some dating back to pre-modern times, some lacking coherence; the practices of individual police agents; and national policies.
Nipponophloeostiba thayeri sp.n., a new species from Sabah, Malaysia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Omaliini)
Authors: SHAVRIN ALEXEY V.
Published: June 2020

Nipponophloeostiba thayeri Shavrin, sp.n. from Borneo Island, Sabah (Malaysia) is described, illustrated and compared with Japanese N. verrucifera Watanabe, 1962.
Data Replication Strategies with Load Balancing and Data Migration in Cloud Data Center
Authors: Bijolin Edwin E. , Roshni Thanka M.
Published: June 2020

The evolution of Information Systems implies new applications and the need to migrate the data from a previous application to a new one. At the same time, some organizations may need to replicate data from one technology to another one, in order to have backup systems and have a flexible
load balanced strategies. The maximal uniform distribution of the load across closer and number of simpler nodes can help managing and providing the big data and large workloads which are more easy to handle. The ultimate goal is to balance the load through cloud and make internet less cloud
defendant by having data available closer to the user end. One of the most challenging steps required to deploy an application infrastructure in the cloud involves the physics of moving data into and out of the cloud. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a number of services for moving data,
and each solution offers various levels of speed, security, cost, and performance. This stems from the fact that almost all the typical distributed storage systems only provide data-amount-oriented balancing mechanisms without considering the different access load of data. To eliminate the
system bottlenecks and optimize the resource utilization, there is a demand for such distributed storage systems to employ a workload balancing and adaptive resource management framework. We propose a framework of Enhanced replication scheduling algorithm which balances the replicated data
to be balanced and to handle the overload data integration by data migration concept which gives more data efficiency and improved performance during migration of replicated data. For handling of data migration, we propose Ant Colony Algorithm which gives a safe data migration from one end
to the other. This will improve the efficiency, Cost and takes less duration for the data to migrated and to be equally balanced.
Investigation of Machining Characteristics and Drilling Parameters Optimization in Drilling of Nimonic C-263 Alloy
Authors: Nagaraj M. , John Presin Kumar A. , Ezilarasan C. , Velayudham A.
Published: June 2020

This paper contains the investigation of machining characteristics and machining parameters optimization while drilling Nimonic C263 alloy. The proposed method is designed as per Taguchi’s Design and drilling trials are conducted utilizing ALCRONA coated drills. An empirical model
has been proposed for process performance prediction via RSM (Response Surface Methodology). The optimization of multi response has also been carried out depends on function of desirability approach. The optimized cutting conditions were established. Confirmation tests were conducted to confirm
the modelling results.
Software Metrics for Computing Quality of Software Agents
Authors: Ajith Jubilson E. , Sangam Ravi Sankar
Published: June 2020

Metrics are the essential building blocks for any evaluation process. They establish specific goals for improvement. Multi agent system (MAS) is complex in nature, due to the increase in complexity of developing a multi agent system, the existing metrics are less sufficient for evaluating
the quality of an MAS. This is due to the fact that agent react in an unpredictable manner. Existing metrics for measuring MAS quality fails to addresses potential communication, initiative behaviour and learn-ability. In this work we have proposed additional metrics for measuring the software
agent. A software agent for online shopping system is developed and the metrics values are obtained from it and the quality of the multi agent system is analysed.