bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
5-HT1Areceptor-mediated attenuation of heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia by chrysin in mice with experimental mononeuropathy
Authors: Wu Jiayi , Wang Yangui , Cui Wugeng , Zhou Wenhua , Zhao Xin
Published: June 2020

Background

Persistent neuropathic pain poses a health problem, for which effective therapy or antidote is in dire need. This work aimed to investigate the pain-relieving effect of chrysin, a natural flavonoid with monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity, in an experimental model of neuropathic pain and elucidate mechanism(s).

Methods

Chronic constriction injury (CCI) was produced by loose ligation of sciatic nerve in mice. The pain-related behaviors were examined using von Frey test and Hargreaves test. The serotonin-related mechanisms were investigated by serotonin depletion withp-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and antagonist tests in vivo and in vitro.

Results

Repeated treatment of CCI mice with chrysin (orally, two times per day for 2 weeks) ameliorated heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent fashion (3–30 mg/kg). The chrysin-triggered pain relief seems serotonergically dependent, since its antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic actions were abolished by chemical depletion of serotonin by PCPA, whereas potentiated by 5-hydroxytryptophan (a precursor of 5-HT). Consistently, chrysin-treated neuropathic mice showed enhanced levels of spinal monoamines especially 5-HT, with depressed monoamine oxidase activity. Moreover, chrysin-evoked pain relief was preferentially counteracted by 5-HT1Areceptor antagonist WAY-100635 delivered systematically or spinally. In vitro, chrysin (0.1–10 nM) increased the maximum effect (Emax, shown as stimulation of [35S] GTPγS binding) of 8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT1Aagonist. Beneficially, chrysin was able to correct comorbid behavioral symptoms of depression and anxiety evoked by neuropathic pain, without causing hypertensive crisis (known as ‘cheese reaction’).

Conclusion

These findings confirm the antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic efficacies of chrysin, with spinal 5-HT1Areceptors being critically engaged.
Antibodies to Leishmania infantum in peritoneal effusion from a dog with atypical signs of leishmaniosis: treatment and follow‐up
Authors: Villanueva‐Saz Sergio , Peréz Sala Cristina , Yzuel Estévez Andrés , Fernández Antonio , Verde María Teresa
Published: June 2020

A three‐year‐old entire male French bulldog was brought in with the following clinical signs: apathy, vomiting and abdominal distension. Physical examination showed dehydration, tachypnoea and presence of jaundice. Abdominal radiology revealed the presence of an important loss of details in the abdominal structures compatible with peritoneal effusion, confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. Findings detected by ultrasonography consisted of splenomegaly with alteration of the echotexture, hepatomegaly with presence of nodules and irregular areas in the liver capsule. An ultrasound‐guided sample of the peritoneal fluid was taken for laboratory analysis. Abnormal clinicopathological results included pancytopenia, hyperglobulinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, and elevation of the hepatic parameters and total bilirubin. High antibodies to Leishmania infantum were detected by ELISA in serum and peritoneal fluid samples. However, PCR for L infantum showed a negative result from the peritoneal fluid sample. This is the first reported case of canine leishmaniosis with the specific detection of L infantum antibodies in peritoneal effusion.
Planckian hypersurfaces, inflation and bounces
Authors: Giovannini Massimo
Published: June 2020

When the different wavelengths of the scalar and tensor modes of the geometry are all assigned on the same space-like hypersurface the maximally amplified frequencies of the spectrum remain smaller than the Planck mass only if the duration of a stage of accelerated expansion and the corresponding tensor to scalar ratio are severely constrained. All the different wavelengths can be initialized on the same space-like hypersurface at the onset of inflation but this strategy and the related conclusions are plausible only for classical inhomogeneities. We argue that a whole class of potential constraints is easily evaded provided the different wavelengths of the quantum fields are assigned as soon as they cross the corresponding Planckian hypersurfaces. In this case the Cauchy data for the mode functions depend on the wavenumber so that larger wavelengths start evolving earlier while shorter wavelengths are assigned later. Within this strategy the duration of a conventional inflationary phase and the corresponding tensor to scalar ratio are not constrained but the large-scale power spectra inherit specific large-scale corrections that remain however unobservable. We also address the problem of the bouncing dynamics and show that similar constraints do no not appear at the beginning of the bouncing phase but rather towards its end.
Multidecadal variability in the climate system: phenomena and mechanisms
Authors: Jüling André , Dijkstra Henk A. , Hogg Andrew McC. , Moon Woosok
Published: June 2020

An open and fundamental issue in climate dynamics is the origin of multidecadal variability in the climate system. Resolving this issue is essential for adequate attribution of human-induced climate change. The purpose of this paper is to provide a perspective on multidecadal variability from the analysis of observations and results from model simulations. Data from the instrumental record indicate the existence of large-scale coherent patterns of multidecadal variability in sea surface temperature. Combined with long time series of proxy data, these results provide ample evidence for the existence of multidecadal sea surface temperature variations. Results of a hierarchy of climate models have provided several mechanisms of this variability, ranging from pure atmospheric forcing, via internal ocean processes to coupled ocean-atmosphere interactions. An important problem is that current state-of-the-art climate models underestimate multidecadal variability. We argue that these models miss important processes in their representation of ocean eddies and focus on a robust mechanism of multidecadal variability which is found in multi-century simulations with climate models having a strongly eddying ocean component.
The effect of native vacancy defects on electronic and magnetic properties of ZnO:Mn system
Authors: Wang Chun-An , Li Jun-Xian , Fu Si-Lie , Bao Jia-Yi , Lei Tao , Miao Jing
Published: June 2020

In this paper, the plane wave ultra-soft pseudopotential method was performed to analyze the effect of neutral Zn vacancy (V[Formula: see text]) and O vacancy (V[Formula: see text]) on the electronic and magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO systems. In a [Formula: see text] ZnO:Mn supercell, the sites of V[Formula: see text] and V[Formula: see text] were set as nearest neighbor, next nearest neighbor and far nearest neighbor relative to Mn site, respectively. The results indicated that V[Formula: see text] is easier to be produced than V[Formula: see text] in the ZnO:Mn system, and both kinds of defects are more likely to be generated in the nearest neighbor of Mn site. Meanwhile, the ZnO:Mn-V[Formula: see text] system is p-type conductive. The farther the distance between V[Formula: see text] and Mn, the better the conductivity of the system. Contrary to V[Formula: see text], the ZnO:Mn-V[Formula: see text] system is n-type conductive. The farther the distance between V[Formula: see text] and Mn, the worse the conductivity of the system. Furthermore, the ZnO:Mn systems containing neutral V[Formula: see text] or V[Formula: see text] are both likely to be in antiferromagnetic phase. However, the presence of V[Formula: see text] will enhance the possibility, while V[Formula: see text] will weaken it.
Flexible Jump Diffusion Process Models for Open Source Project with Application to the Optimal Maintenance Problem
Authors: Tamura Yoshinobu , Sone Hironobu , Yamada Shigeru
Published: June 2020

The operation of open source software (OSS) has a complex maintenance phase. This paper focuses on several irregular fluctuation in the operation performance of OSS. We apply a flexible jump diffusion process model to several noisy cases in the operation of OSS associated with version upgrade. In particular, we discuss a method of maintenance effort management based on the flexible jump diffusion process model considering the irregular fluctuation in version upgrade performance for OSS projects. Moreover, this paper proposes the optimal maintenance problems based on our flexible jump diffusion process models. Then, it will be useful for the OSS project managers to understand the effort status and the optimal maintenance times with version upgrade of OSS from the standpoint of OSS project management. Moreover, we analyze actual data to show numerical examples of our model and the proposed optimal maintenance problems considering the characteristics with version upgrade of OSS projects.
Tameness, powerful images, and large cardinals
Authors: Boney Will , Lieberman Michael
Published: June 2020

We provide comprehensive, level-by-level characterizations of large cardinals, in the range from weakly compact to strongly compact, by closure properties of powerful images of accessible functors. In the process, we show that these properties are also equivalent to various forms of tameness for abstract elementary classes. This systematizes and extends results of [W. Boney and S. Unger, Large cardinal axioms from tameness in AECs, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 145(10) (2017) 4517–4532; A. Brooke-Taylor and J. Rosický, Accessible images revisited, Proc. AMS 145(3) (2016) 1317–1327; M. Lieberman, A category-theoretic characterization of almost measurable cardinals (Submitted, 2018), http://arxiv.org/abs/1809.06963; M. Lieberman and J. Rosický, Classification theory for accessible categories. J. Symbolic Logic 81(1) (2016) 1647–1648].
Numerical modeling of vibration fatigue of viscoelastic pipelines conveying pulsating fluid flow
Authors: Komilova Kh. M.
Published: June 2020

The effect of investigation results on viscoelastic properties of the material and bases on vibration fatigue of a pipeline conveying pulsating fluid flow is given in the paper. A mathematical model of viscoelastic pipeline vibrations based on the theory of beams was developed when a pulsating fluid flows through it. A computational algorithm has been developed to solve vibration problems of composite pipelines conveying pulsating fluid. Stability and amplitude-time characteristics of vibrations of composite pipelines conveying pulsating fluid were studied at wide range of parameters variation of deformable systems and fluid flow.
Mathematical modeling of building structures and nonlinear differential equations
Authors: Orlov Victor , Zheglova Yulia
Published: June 2020

Nonlinear differential equations with moving singular points require emergence and development of new approximate methods of solution. In this paper, we give a solution to one of the problems of the analytical approximate method for solving nonlinear differential equations with moving singular points, and study the influence of the perturbation of the initial conditions on the analytical approximate solution in the analytic domain. Theoretical material was tested using a numerical experiment confirming its reliability. The theoretical material presented in this paper allows researchers to use nonlinear differential equations with moving singular points when designing mathematical models of building structures.
Altered endothelial ETB receptor expression in postmenopausal women
Authors: Kuczmarski Andrew V. , Shoemaker Leena N. , Hobson Joshua C. , Edwards David G. , Wenner Megan M.
Published: June 2020

Our study provides novel data demonstrating attenuated endothelial ETBR expression in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, our data extend current knowledge by demonstrating a positive relation between ETBR expression and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. These findings provide additional mechanistic insight into vascular endothelial dysfunction in postmenopausal women.
The Misconceptions and Determinants of Diabetes Knowledge in Patients with Diabetes in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chia-Chia , Chen Chien-Lung , Ko Yu
Published: June 2020

Aim. This study aimed at (1) examining the misconceptions of patients with diabetes in Taiwan and (2) examining the association between patients’ diabetes knowledge and their demographic characteristics.Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a metropolitan hospital in northern Taiwan. A total of 501 outpatients with diabetes were recruited, mostly from the hospital’s endocrinology and metabolism clinic, nephrology clinic, and dialysis center. A self-developed questionnaire that consisted of demographic information and a diabetes knowledge test was administered. The knowledge test included 10 True/False questions and 6 multiple-choice questions that aimed at identifying patients’ common misconceptions about diabetes.Results. A perfect score on the diabetes knowledge test was 16 points, and themean±SDscore of the respondents was11.5±2.8. The most common misconception was “People can always feel when their blood sugar level is high.” (64%), followed by “Taking insulin hurts the kidneys and may result in a need for dialysis.” (52%) and “Being a vegetarian helps control blood sugar levels.” (48%). The total knowledge scores were significantly associated with education levels (rs=0.39,p<0.001), average monthly income (rs=0.28,p<0.001), and age (rs=−0.34,p<0.001).Conclusions. Certain misconceptions are prevalent among patients with diabetes, particularly in those with older age, lower education levels, or lower income. Healthcare providers need to work to eliminate common misconceptions and modify diabetes educational programs accordingly to help patients manage diabetes more effectively.
Identification and Robustness Analysis of Powertrain Excitation Forces
Authors: Liu Xiao-ang , Ma Yechi , Jiang Chunlei , Sun Xiuxiu
Published: June 2020

In order to get the excitation forces of the vehicle powertrain, a six-degree-of-freedom model of the powertrain mounting system is established. Two different identification methods are presented. Through the test of mount dynamic response, the powertrain excitations identified through these two methods are compared. The results show that the powertrain excitations identified through two methods are basically the same, since the mount accelerations at the body side are really small. The identified excitation is verified by comparing the deformation of torque strut. The robustness analysis of the mount acceleration phase affecting the identification results is also proposed. Improving the accuracy of phase in test input is helpful to improve the accuracy of identification results.
Diabetes Distress in Young Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China
Authors: Hu Yanfen , Li Lingxia , Zhang Jun
Published: June 2020

Background. Diabetes distress is a negative emotion related to diabetes management, which can compromise self-care and management of diabetes. However, few studies on diabetes distress have focused on young adults with type 2 diabetes in China. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Using a convenient sampling method, 98 young adults with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to our hospital from June 2017 to July 2018 were selected as research subjects. They were investigated using a basic demographic questionnaire, Diabetes Distress Scale, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure, and Audit of Disease Knowledge. Pearson’s correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of diabetic distress. Results. Among participants, 90.82% suffered from diabetes distress with an average score of 3.01±0.58. Regimen-related, emotional burden-related, and interpersonal-related distress were the most frequently reported as severe. The results of the single-factor analysis showed that gender (P=0.019), age (P=0.003), occupation (P=0.022), smoking (P<0.001), and diabetes complications (P=0.001) were the main factors affecting diabetes distress. The correlation analysis showed that diabetes distress was negatively correlated with the level of diabetic self-management (P<0.001, r=−0.377) but not with the level of diabetes knowledge (P=0.052, r=−0.197). The results of a multiple regression analysis showed that self-management level (P=0.001, 95% CI: -0.039-0.011), age (P=0.002, 95% CI: -0.463-0.104), smoking (P=0.018, 95% CI: -0.504-0.048), and complications (P=0.009, 95% CI: -0.517-0.076) accounted for 35.42% of the total variation in diabetes distress. Conclusion. Young adults with type 2 diabetes reported severe diabetes distress. Age, smoking, and diabetes complications were the main factors influencing diabetes distress in young adults with type 2 diabetes. Results of the present study are fundamental in selecting targeted measures for alleviating diabetes distress and thus improving the quality of life in these patients.
Adaptive Language Processing Based on Deep Learning in Cloud Computing Platform
Authors: Xu Wenbin , Yin Chengbo
Published: June 2020

With the continuous advancement of technology, the amount of information and knowledge disseminated on the Internet every day has been developing several times. At the same time, a large amount of bilingual data has also been produced in the real world. These data are undoubtedly a great asset for statistical machine translation research. Based on the dual-sentence quality corpus screening, two corpus screening strategies are proposed first, based on the double-sentence pair length ratio method and the word-based alignment information method. The innovation of these two methods is that no additional linguistic resources such as bilingual dictionary and syntactic analyzer are needed as auxiliary. No manual intervention is required, and the poor quality sentence pairs can be automatically selected and can be applied to any language pair. Secondly, a domain adaptive method based on massive corpus is proposed. The method based on massive corpus utilizes massive corpus mechanism to carry out multidomain automatic model migration. In this domain, each domain learns the intradomain model independently, and different domains share the same general model. Through the method of massive corpus, these models can be combined and adjusted to make the model learning more accurate. Finally, the adaptive method of massive corpus filtering and statistical machine translation based on cloud platform is verified. Experiments show that both methods have good effects and can effectively improve the translation quality of statistical machines.
The Prevalence and Diagnostic Ratio of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) and Proportion of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Japanese FH Patients in a Healthcare Record Database Study
Authors: Teramoto Tamio , Sawa Tomohiro , Iimuro Satoshi , Inomata Hyoe , Koshimizu Takashi , Sakakibara Iori , Hiramatsu Katsutoshi
Published: June 2020

Background. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Because of underdiagnosis, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is often the first clinical manifestation of FH. In Japan, there are few reports on the prevalence and diagnostic ratios of FH and the proportion of ACS among FH patients in clinical settings. Methods. This retrospective, observational study used anonymized data from electronic healthcare databases between April 2001 and March 2015 of patients who had ≥2 LDL-C measurements recorded after April 2009. The index date was defined as the date of the first LDL-C measurement after April 2009. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of definite or suspected FH; secondary endpoints included the proportion of FH patients hospitalized for ACS, the proportion of patients using lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs), and LDL-C levels. Results. Of the 187,781 patients screened, 1547 had definite or suspected FH (0.8%) based on data from the entire period; 832 patients with definite (n=299, 0.16%) or suspected FH (n=533, 0.28%) before the index date were identified in the main analysis cohort. LLDs were used in 214 definite FH patients (71.6%) and 137 suspected FH patients (25.7%). Among definite or suspected FH patients with ACS (n=84) and without ACS (n=748), 32.1% and 30.1% with definite FH and 3.2% and 2.4% with suspected FH had LDL-C levels<2.6 mmol/L (<100 mg/dL), respectively. Sixty patients (7.2%) were hospitalized due to ACS at the index date. Conclusions. The prevalence of FH in this Japanese cohort of patients with ≥2 LDL-C measurements at hospitals was 0.8%, which is higher than that currently reported in epidemiological studies (0.2–0.5%). Patients with suspected FH, with or without ACS, had poorly controlled LDL-C levels and were undertreated. The proportion of FH patients who were hospitalized due to ACS was 7.2%.
[Retracted] Effect of Different Hemodialysis Methods on Microbiota in Uremic Patients
Authors: He Haidong , Xie Yan
Published: June 2020

Background. To investigate the effect of hemodialysis on microbiota in uremic patients. Objective. To investigate the effect of hemodialysis on microbiota in uremic patients. Methods. This study included 85 adult patients who have received hemodialysis since August 2014, and the treatment plan has not changed for more than 12 months. These patients were divided into hemodialysis group (group A), hemodialysis+hemodialysis filtration group (group B), and hemodialysis+hemodialysis filtration+blood perfusion group (group C). Twenty‐four adult ESRD patients (CK group) were enrolled. Serum biochemical indexes were measured, glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) was estimated, dialysis adequacy (kt/V) was calculated, and fresh feces were collected. At the same time, the feces of 30 health workers were selected as the control. 16S rRNA sequence was used to determine the intestinal flora of all fecal specimens. First of all, we analyzed the difference of the whole flora distribution between dialysis and nondialysis ESRD patients; then, we selected the most representative content of bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis to analyze the influence of different blood purification methods on the intestinal flora. Results. (1) The level of C‐reactive protein (CRP) in dialysis patients was lower than that in nondialysis ESRD patients, and CRP in group C was lower than that in groups A and B. There was no significant difference in kt/V between group A, group B, and group C. There was no significant difference in EGFR between the four groups. (2) The species diversity of ESRD patients without dialysis (CK group) was significantly lower than that of ESRD patients with dialysis; there was no significant difference between group A and group B; the species diversity of group C was significantly higher than that of group A and group B. (3) Compared with the control group, the levels of bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus in ESRD patients were significantly lower, while the levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were significantly higher. (4) The levels of bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus in hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than those in nonblood purification treatment group, and the levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were significantly lower than those in nonblood purification treatment group. (5) The level of Lactobacillus acidophilus in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B, and the level of Escherichia coli was significantly lower than that in groups A and B. Conclusion. ESRD patients have microbiota disorder. Hemodialysis can improve microbiota disorder in uremic patients. Compared with ordinary hemodialysis, combined hemoperfusion dialysis can further improve microbiota disorder.
A Gradient Boosting Crash Prediction Approach for Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Crash Analysis
Authors: Lu Pan , Zheng Zijian , Ren Yihao , Zhou Xiaoyi , Keramati Amin , Tolliver Denver , Huang Ying
Published: June 2020

Highway-rail grade crossing (HRGC) crashes continue to be the major contributors to rail causalities in the United States and have been intensively researched in the past. Data-mining models focus on prediction while dominant general linear models focus on model and data fitness. Decision makers and traffic engineers rely on prediction models to examine at-grade crash frequency and make safety improvement. The gradient boosting (GB) model has gained popularity in many research areas. In this study, to fully understand the model performance on HRGC accident prediction performance, the GB model with functional gradient descent algorithm is selected to analyze crashes at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs) and to identify contributor factors. Moreover, contributors’ importance and partial-dependent relations are generated to further understand the relationship of identified contributors and HRGC crash likelihood to concur “black box” issues that most machine learning methods face. Furthermore, to fully demonstrate the model’s prediction performance, a comprehensive model prediction power assessment based on six measurements is conducted, and the prediction performance of the GB model is verified and compared with a decision tree model as a reference due to their popularity and comparable data availability. It is demonstrated that the GB model produces better prediction accuracy and reveals nonlinear relationships among contributors and crash likelihood. In general, HRGC crash likelihood is significantly impacted by several traffic exposure factors: highway traffic volume, railway traffic volume, and train travel speed and others.
Recent Progress on Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Effects of the Genus Nigella
Authors: Niu Yun , Zhou Li , Meng Lijun , Chen Sitan , Ma Changyang , Liu Zhenhua , Kang Wenyi
Published: June 2020

Seeds of the genus Nigella plants as folk medicine are often used to prevent and treat asthma, diarrhea, dyslipidemia, and other diseases around the world. Pharmacological researches showed that seed extract and seed oil have antibacterial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective effects which attributed to their bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, saponins, flavones, and phenols. This paper has covered recent progresses on chemical and pharmacological researches on these plants, including their compounds and pharmacological effects. It was found that the chemical component researches were focused on the seed oil. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the profile of the whole constituents in the seeds.
First-Time Mothers’ Enjoyment of Breastfeeding Correlates with Duration of Breastfeeding, Sense of Coherence, and Parental Couple and Child Relation: A Longitudinal Swedish Cohort Study
Authors: Granberg Agnes , Ekström-Bergström Anette , Bäckström Caroline
Published: June 2020

Objectives. Many women do not reach their own breastfeeding goals regarding duration of breastfeeding. Different factors influence breastfeeding, and to learn more about breastfeeding within a multidimensional and longitudinal perspective, further research is needed. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate diverse factors correlated with first-time mothers’ enjoyment of breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration, between childbirth and two years after birth. Methods. In a prospective longitudinal cohort study, 324 newly become mothers were followed. The Spearman correlation test was used to investigate factors correlated with the degree to which mothers enjoy breastfeeding and the duration of breastfeeding. The Mann–Whitney test was conducted for comparisons of demographic characteristics between mothers who did or did not breastfeed. Results. Among the mothers, 99.2% initiated breastfeeding after birth. Frequencies of breastfeeding were 54.8% at six months, 9.1% at one year, and 1.0% at two years. The degree to which the mother enjoyed breastfeeding was correlated positively with (1) the duration of breastfeeding, (2) more positive feelings for and relation to the child, (3) the partner’s perceived relation to the child, (4) a higher sense of coherence, and (5) stronger perceived parental couple’s relationship. Longer breastfeeding duration was correlated positively with (1) a higher degree of enjoyment of breastfeeding, (2) more positive relation to the child, and (3) stronger perceived parental couple’s relationship. Additionally, breastfeeding during the first two hours after birth, more positive feelings for and relation to the child, and a higher degree of enjoyment of breastfeeding were more frequently reported among breastfeeding mothers, in comparison with not breastfeeding mothers. Conclusion. Mothers’ subjective experience from breastfeeding, sense of coherence, and couple relationship with partner and relationship with the child are valuable factors in regard to breastfeeding.
Rs‐198 Liquid Biofertilizers Affect Microbial Community Diversity and Enzyme Activities and Promote Vitis vinifera L. Growth
Authors: Lu Huadan , Wu Zhansheng , Wang Wenfei , Xu Xiaolin , Liu Xiaochen
Published: June 2020

Chemical fertilizers were applied on perennial tree vines to obtain high yields, which have resulted in considerable deterioration of soil quality, and it is likely to have negative impacts on the development of the grape industry. In this study, P. putida Rs‐198 liquid biofertilizer (Rs198LBF) was inoculated into grape rhizosphere soils to assess its influence on grape growth and microbial community. Field experiment results showed that grape growth and quality increased depending on the concentrations of Rs198LBF applications. The berry weight, length, and width in addition with 60 ml Rs198LBF (1.44 × 1013 cfu ml−1 Rs‐198) per grapevine treatment (BFP3) were 17.2%, 6.2%, and 4.4% higher than those of CK (control, non‐inoculation) treatment, respectively. The available phosphorus contents in addition with 40 ml Rs198LBF per grapevine (BFP2) and BFP3 treatments were 12.6% and 55.3% higher than those of CK treatment (P < 0.05). The activities of invertase and alkaline phosphatase were improved in BFP2 and BFP3 treatment compared with those in CK. The relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria significantly increased compared with that in CK treatment (P < 0.05). The clusters of orthologous groups (COG) annotation illustrated that the application of 60 ml Rs198LBF increased the relative abundance of metabolic genes in rhizosphere soil. The results of this study show that biofertilizer is very effective in enhancing plant growth and affects soil community diversity.
Phase-Field-Based LBM Analysis of KHI and RTI in Wide Ranges of Density Ratio, Viscosity Ratio, and Reynolds Number
Authors: Zhou Xun , Dong Bo , Li Weizhong
Published: June 2020

Numerous studies have elaborated the dominated roles of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) and Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) in the liquid sheet breakup and primary atomization. As for applications in aeronautics, the liquid-gas mixing generally occurs at the challenging conditions of a large density ratio and high Reynolds number. Hence, the evaluation of KHI and RTI under such challenging conditions will have great significance in better understanding the destabilizing mechanism of the liquid layer. To this end, a lattice Boltzmann multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) two-phase model, based on the conservative Allen-Cahn equation, is reconstructed for the present study. Preliminarily, the numerical stability and accuracy of this MRT model are tested by Laplace’s law under a large density ratio and high Reynolds number, including the sensitivity study to the values of mobility. Afterward, KHI and RTI are investigated in wide ranges of the Reynolds number, density ratio, and viscosity ratio. Numerical results indicate that the enhanced viscous force of light fluid with an increasing viscosity ratio notably suppresses the roll-ups of heavy fluid in KHI and RTI. As for the density ratio, it generally shows negative impacts on fluid-mixing in KHI and spike-spiraling in RTI. However, when the density ratio and the Reynolds number both arrive at high levels, the Kelvin-Helmholtz wavelets aroused by a dominated inertia force of heavy fluid trigger severe interface disintegration. The above results once more demonstrate the excellent ability of the present model in dealing with challenging conditions. Besides, the morphological characteristics of KHI and RTI at a high Reynolds number and large density ratio also greatly support the typical interface breakup mechanism observed in primary atomization.
Infill Modelling Influence on Dynamic Identification and Model Updating of Reinforced Concrete Framed Buildings
Authors: Bovo Marco , Tondi Michele , Savoia Marco
Published: June 2020

In order to correctly capture the dynamic behavior of infilled framed buildings, the importance to take into account in seismic design the infill panels’ contribution is nowadays well recognized since they could modify in a significant way the global and local response of the whole building. Despite about sixty years of continuous research in the field, the modelling of the frame‐infill interaction still represents a serious issue for the daily practical design since there is no reference model proven to be suitable to cover a wide record of possible cases. Moreover, few works are available in the literature, comparing the results of different modelling proposals with outcomes of dynamic tests on a full‐scale building. To this regard, starting from the results of induced vibration dynamic tests performed on a 7‐story building with reinforced concrete frames with masonry infill, in the present paper, the effects of the infill presence have been evaluated by comparing experimental outcomes, achieved using a MDOF Circle‐Fit identification procedure, with the results obtained by means of numerical analyses performed on finite element models. Using a model updating procedure, the optimal width to assign to the masonry equivalent struts modelling the infill panels was defined. Furthermore, several literature proposals for the definition of the equivalent strut width have been analysed. Thirteen different proposals have been selected and implemented in thirteen different finite element models. The reliability of each proposal has been investigated and quantified by comparing the dynamic properties of the models with the building dynamic response obtained by the experimental tests. The main outcomes of the analyses highlight that different proposals provide a great variability for the strut width. This brings to a large variability of the mechanical properties of the equivalent struts, and as a consequence, the modelling choice also influences the dynamic behaviour of the numerical models. Currently, this represents a serious issue for the daily designers’ activity. The outcomes provided in the paper, although established for a specific case study, can be extended to a wide range of buildings and should drive the future research studies in order to provide more robust criteria for the modelling of this worldwide building class.
Stability Analysis of Neighborhood Tunnels with Large Section Constructed in Steeply Jointed Rock Mass
Authors: Zheng Aichen , Huang Feng , Tang Zhengdong , He Zhaoyi
Published: June 2020

To investigate the instability of two neighborhood tunnels with large crossing section during the construction, the Tushan subway station was taken as study background, which was built in steeply jointed rock mass. Based on the excavation method called traditional double side drift, numerical simulations of four different face excavation sequences in the two neighborhood tunnels were conducted to optimize construction sequence to improve the stability during tunneling. The results show that first excavation of the right tunnel produced less deformation of the tunnels due to joints dip. The effects of rock mass discontinuities on the stability of the tunnels were studied through comparison between the real condition with joints and the assumed condition without joints. Furthermore, six initial supporting systems with different parameters were compared, and the field observations of deformations along tunnel profile show good agreement with the numerical results. Based on the numerical simulation, the length of rock anchors could be designed asymmetrically, which is more economical than the symmetrical design. The optimized thickness of shot concrete and spacing of steel sets was 35 cm and 60 cm, respectively.
Tislelizumab Plus Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment for Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xu Jianming , Bai Yuxian , Xu Nong , Li Enxiao , Wang Buhai , Wang Jin , Li Xiang , Wang Xin , Yuan Xianglin
Published: June 2020

Purpose:

This phase II study (NCT03469557) assessed safety/tolerability and antitumor activity of first-line tislelizumab, a monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death-1, plus chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) or gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

Patients and Methods:

Patients with ESCC received tislelizumab [200 mg i.v. every 3 weeks (Q3W)] plus cisplatin (80 mg/m² i.v. Q3W for ≤6 cycles) and fluorouracil (800 mg/m²/day i.v., Days 1–5 Q3W for ≤6 cycles); patients with G/GEJ adenocarcinoma received tislelizumab (200 mg i.v. Q3W) plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m² i.v. Q3W for up to six cycles) and oral capecitabine (1,000 mg/m² twice daily, Days 1–14 Q3W). The safety/tolerability profile of combination therapy was the primary endpoint; secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival per RECIST v1.1. Exploratory endpoints included overall survival and potential predictive biomarkers.

Results:

As of March 31, 2019, 30 patients (n = 15 per cohort) were enrolled. Most common adverse events considered related to tislelizumab and/or chemotherapy were anemia (n = 18), decreased appetite (n = 17), nausea (n = 16), and asthenia (n = 15). One patient experienced fatal hepatic dysfunction, confounded by progressive disease and underlying hepatitis, attributed to treatment by the investigator. Confirmed ORRs and DCRs were 46.7% and 80%, respectively, for both ESCC and G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. In ESCC, median DoR was 12.8 months (95% confidence interval, 3.5–12.8); DoR was not yet mature for the G/GEJ cohort.

Conclusions:

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy demonstrated durable responses with manageable tolerability in patients with advanced ESCC or G/GEJ adenocarcinoma.
Epitranscriptomics in Hematopoiesis and Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Rosselló-Tortella Margalida , Ferrer Gerardo , Esteller Manel
Published: June 2020

Since the 1960s, a large number of chemical modifications have been identified in RNA molecules, establishing the RNA epigenetics field named “epitranscriptomics.” These chemical marks participate in several RNA metabolic processes; however, the biological relevance of many of these modifications and the many enzymes involved in their function is not completely understood. Emerging knowledge of the epitranscriptome (pseudouridine, N6-methyladenosine, and A-to-I editing) in hematopoiesis and hematologic malignancies reveals the requirement of these modifications in normal development and their alteration in disorders, leading to the development of new molecules and strategies to target the epitranscriptome as a novel therapeutic approach. RNA modifications are required for the correct development of hematopoietic cells, and their alteration can promote the development of malignancies or the transition from a low-grade to an aggressive disease. While we are expanding our understanding of the epitranscriptome of normal and malignant hematopoiesis, the number of potential new therapeutic interventions is rising.
The Chromosome 13 Conundrum in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Walker Brian A.
Published: June 2020

In this issue of Blood Cancer Discovery, Chesi and colleagues have performed a series of mouse experiments, combined with patient sample analysis, to delineate the role of del(13) in multiple myeloma. They identify loss of the miRNA cluster MIR15A/16-1 as critical for myelomagenesis and progression of disease.

See related article by Chesi et al., p. 68.
Neonatal Umbilical Arterial Catheter Removal Is Accompanied by a Marked Decline in Phlebotomy Blood Loss
Authors: Carroll Patrick D. , Zimmerman M. Bridget , Nalbant Demet , Gingerich Earl L. , An Guohua , Cress Gretchen A. , Veng-Pedersen Peter , Widness John A.
Published: June 2020

Background: Umbilical arterial catheters (UACs) are frequently used in critically ill neonates. UAC are convenient, reliable, and allow for caregiver convenience in performing painless arterial blood sampling. We hypothesized that UAC removal in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates will result in significantly less phlebotomy blood loss (PBL) after correcting for severity of illness. Study Design and Methods: PBL was measured at a single center in 99 ELBW infants who survived to day 28. Individual infant’s paired daily PBL for the two 24-h periods before and after UAC removal were compared using the paired t test. Daily PBL up to 7 days before and 7 days after UAC removal were compared using a logistic regression with mixed model analysis for repeated measures. Cumulative 28-day phlebotomy loss was evaluated by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: PBL 24 h before and after UAC removal were 1.7 mL (95% CI 1.5–1.9) and 0.9 mL (95% CI 0.8–1.0; p < 0.0001), respectively. Cumulative 28-day PBL increased by 2.2 mL (±0.7) per day that a UAC was present with or without correction for severity of illness (p < 0.001). Conclusion: UAC removal is independently associated with a marked decline in PBL. We speculate the ease and convenience of UAC blood sampling lead to more frequent blood testing and greater PBL.
Acute Perinatal Infection and the Evidenced-Based Risk of Intrauterine Diagnostic Testing: A Structured Review
Authors: Wilson R. Douglas
Published: June 2020

Background: The prevalence of perinatal infection from maternal exposure is increasing. The prevalence of acute maternal infections identifies cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, toxoplasmosis, and varicella as the most common organisms and in the order of frequency. Maternal informed consent and understanding is required before intrauterine testing for fetal infectious and possible genetic risk assessment. Methods: This structured review of the reproductive published literature focuses on the risks of amniocentesis and cordocentesis diagnostic procedure-related fetal loss rates and fetal vertical transmission (VT) rates from published infected pregnant cohorts. Results: The total postprocedure fetal loss rate for diagnostic amniocentesis procedures, in limited infectious cohorts, is 1.5% and does not appear to be increased compared to “noninfected” amniocentesis cohorts using an estimated background spontaneous fetal loss rate (no procedure) of 0.65%. The “pooled” unintended fetal loss rate is from small infected population cohorts, but can be used for counseling purposes. Postcordocentesis fetal loss risk, in an infected cohort, is not possible to estimate due to limited data. The “biological spontaneous fetal loss rate” risk with a perinatal infection (positive or negative fetal anomalies) and no diagnostic procedure before 20 weeks of gestation is reviewed. The risk of VT in acute infection cohorts as a result of the intra-amniotic diagnostic procedure is not found to be increased. Conclusion: The unintended “fetal loss” rate after amniocentesis for perinatal infected cohorts is similar to that of noninfected cohorts, but the estimate is based on limited infected cohorts. There was no procedure-based risk of fetal VT in the infected cohorts, but identification of postprocedure maternal bleeding into the amniotic cavity increases the potential risk. Maternal knowledge translation and an informed consent process with risk-benefit maternal/fetal risk counseling are required prior to any diagnostic amniocentesis procedure.
The Role of Type I IFNs in Influenza: Antiviral Superheroes or Immunopathogenic Villains?
Authors: Wu Wenxin , Metcalf Jordan P.
Published: June 2020

The important role of interferons (IFNs) in antiviral innate immune defense is well established. Although recombinant IFN-α was approved for cancer and chronic viral infection treatment by regulatory agencies in many countries starting in 1986, no IFNs are approved for treatment of influenza A virus (IAV) infection. This is partially due to the complex effects of IFNs in acute influenza infection. IAV attacks the human respiratory system and causes significant morbidity and mortality globally. During influenza infection, depending on the strain of IAV and the individual host, type I IFNs can have protective antiviral effects or can contribute to immunopathology. In the context of virus infection, the immune system has complicated mechanisms regulating the expression and effects of type I IFN to maximize the antiviral response by both activating and enhancing beneficial innate cell function, while limiting immunopathological responses that lead to exaggerated tissue damage. In this review, we summarize the complicated, but important, role of type I IFNs in influenza infections. This includes both protective and harmful effects of these important cytokines during infection.
Use Motives of Patients with Amphetamine-Type Stimulants Use Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Thurn Daniela , Riedner Angelika , Wolstein Jörg
Published: June 2020

Introduction: There is a frequent comorbidity of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The assumption that this patient group “self-medicate” suggests that there are different use motives for ATS addicted patients with and without ADHD. Objective: Our study investigates these potential differences in use motives. Methods: Within a mixed-method approach, we examined the use motives of adults with ATS use disorder with and without ADHD in the first and latest month of their use. For this purpose, we used the 12-item Amphetamine-Type Stimulants Motive Questionnaire (AMQ) and a mind mapping technique after verifying that these tools are applicable to adults with ADHD. Results: The mixed-method approach showed that enhancement motives were the most important motives in the first month of use (e.g., fun/kick/rush/desire, and curiosity/interest in the drug/appeal), and over time, the incidence of coping motives increased (e.g., repression and freeing the mind/not having to think/switching off). There were no differences between adults with and without ADHD in the AMQ data, while the qualitative data showed that adults with ADHD used ATS less often out of social motives. In particular, the results showed no differences in the coping dimension and, thus, did not suggest that self-medication is an important factor for patients with ADHD. Conclusions: Patients with and without ADHD show very similar motive patterns for ATS use. This indicates that ATS treatment programs addressing use motives do not necessarily have to be different for patients with and without ADHD.