bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Fatigue Life for Finite Line Contact under Starved Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Condition
Authors: Liu Mingyong , Ku Haofeng , Zhang Jinxi , Xu Peidong , Wu Chenhui
Published: January 2020

Surface contact fatigue is the main failure mode in many mechanical components, such as gears, bearings, and cam-followers. A fatigue life prediction model is proposed for finite line contact under starved thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) condition in this paper. Then, the effects of inlet oil-supply thickness, slide-to-roll ratio (SRR), and operating conditions on the lubrication performance and fatigue life are investigated. The results show that the lubrication characteristics and fatigue life of finite line contact are obviously different from those of fully flooded situation by introducing the starved lubrication condition. For example, the severe starved conditions lead to a significant increase in friction coefficient and decreased fatigue life. The variation of SRR has an important influence on the fatigue life. With the increase of SRR, the fatigue life decreases firstly and then increases. The stress concentration occurs near the surface when speed is low. In addition, under the low-speed situation, rotation speed variation has little effect on the fatigue life.
Research on the Reliability Allocation Method for a Production System Based on Availability
Authors: Wang Yankun , Xu Binbin , Ma Tianqi , Wang Ziyue
Published: January 2020

This paper involves a production system, which is composed of units (workstations) and buffers. The buffer is used to store semifinished and finished products in the production process, to reduce the impacts of bad equipment in the production system on the entire system performance. Considering the characteristics of the large number of components and the state of the buffers in the production system, this paper considers the influences of buffer states on upstream and downstream units. When using the availability as the allocation index and combining it with Markov theory, the production unit (workstation) and upstream and downstream buffers are regarded as an equivalent unit (workstation) with multiple output states. We establish the relationship between the availability of each equivalent unit (workstation) and the production system availability and determine a scaling factor for the availability of the equivalent unit to account for the system availability. The expected availability goal of the production system is allocated to each equivalent unit (workstation) by the scaling factor; then, the availability of each equivalent unit (workstation) is assigned to each unit. Finally, the Plant Simulation software is used to simulate and analyze the production system to verify the correctness of the allocation method and realize the reliability allocation from a complex production system to a unit.
Suppression of KIF22 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Xenograft Tumor Growth in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Yi , Li Rong-Hua , Ren Gang , Jiang Jin
Published: January 2020

Background. Oral carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer and is a serious public health problem, and tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common type of oral carcinoma. Kinesin family member 22 (KIF22), also called as kinesin‐like DNA binding protein (KID), is a microtubule‐based motor protein and binds to both microtubules and chromosomes, transporting organelles, protein, and mRNA. This research aimed at investigating the prognostic significance of KIF22 in TSCC. Patients and Methods. This retrospective research collected 82 paired tissues with TSCC. KIF22 protein expression level was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Suppression of KIF22 with shRNA in CAL‐27 and SCC‐15 cells was to observe cell proliferation in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Results. In TSCC tissues, the protein expression level of KIF22 was increased and correlated with tumor stage, clinical stage, and lymphatic metastasis (P = 0.013, P = 0.034 and P = 0.015, respectively). Suppression of KIF22 inhibited cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth. Conclusion. KIF22 might play an important role in the progression of TSCC and could serve as a therapeutic target for TSCC.
Fixed Point Results for Dualistic Contractions with an Application
Authors: Nazam Muhammad , Mukheimer Aiman , Aydi Hassen , Arshad Muhammad , Riaz Raheel
Published: January 2020

In this paper, by introducing a convergence comparison property of a self-mapping, we establish some new fixed point theorems for Bianchini type, Reich type, and Dass-Gupta type dualistic contractions defined on a dualistic partial metric space. Our work generalizes and extends some well known fixed point results in the literature. We also provide examples which show the usefulness of these dualistic contractions. As an application of our findings, we demonstrate the existence of the solution of an elliptic boundary value problem.
Estimation of the Value at Risk Using the Stochastic Approach of Taylor Formula
Authors: Loyara Vini Yves Bernadin , Guillaume Bagré Remi , Barro Diakarya
Published: January 2020

The aim of this paper is to provide an approximation of the value-at-risk of the multivariate copula associated with financial loss and profit function. A higher dimensional extension of the Taylor–Young formula is used for this estimation in a Euclidean space. Moreover, a time-varying and conditional copula is used for the modeling of the VaR.
Reconstruction of Velocity Distribution in Partially-Filled Pipe Based on Non-Uniform Under-Sampling
Authors: Jiang Yulin , Pu Qingmin , Ding Wenbin
Published: January 2020

In the process of research on the flow velocity distribution in a partially filled pipe, the under-sampling of measurement data often occurs. For the first time, this problem is solved by the improved non-uniform B-spline curve fitting approximation (NBSC) method. The main innovation of this method is to reconstruct the flow velocity distribution fitting curve with a small amount of non-uniform feature points containing flow velocity information. First, the curvature of a whole discrete sampled data is analyzed, then the weighted threshold is set, and the sampled points that satisfy the threshold are extracted as the initial velocity distribution feature points. Next the node vectors were constructed according to the initial feature points, and the initial interpolation fitting curves are generated. Secondly, by using the relative deviation between the initial approximation curve and each sampled point, new feature points were added where the curve allowable deviation exceeded the specified tolerance, and then a new interpolation fitting curve was obtained. The above procedure was repeated until the fitting curve reached expected accuracy, thus the appropriate feature points were determined. Experimental results showed that, in the case of the same approximation deviation, the proposed NBSC method can solve the problem of under-sampling of measurement data better.
Mechanism of Alkali‐Activated Copper‐Nickel Slag Material
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Jin Haoliang , Guo Lijie , Li Wenchen , Han Junan , Pan Andrew , Zhang Dan
Published: January 2020

A copper‐nickel slag‐based alkali‐activated cementing material (CNSCM) for backfilling was prepared using copper‐nickel slag as a raw material and sodium silicate (SS) as an activating agent. The effects of SS content (6%, 8%, and 10%) and curing humidity on the compressive strength of CNSCM were investigated using an electronic universal testing machine. Types of hydration products and microstructures were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that by increasing the SS content, the compressive strength of the CNSCM exhibited an increasing trend, followed by a decreasing trend. The optimal content was 8%. Humidity was identified as another factor affecting compressive strength, which reached 17 MPa after curing for 28 d under standard conditions. A decrease in humidity could improve the compressive strength of the material. The main hydration reaction products of the CNSCM were C‐S‐H gel, Fe (OH)2 or Fe (OH)3 gel, and CaCO3.
Experimental Study of Composite Members in Spatial Grid Structure Subjected to Ultralow‐Cyclic Axial Force
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Haiwang , Song Xiayun
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the results of ultralow‐cycle fatigue tests for three full‐scale assemblies consisting of steel tubes and bolt‐sphere joints, which are widely used in public buildings. Each assembly was tested six times under a varying loading history. The ultralow‐cycle fatigue performance was investigated considering the joint stiffness and loading history. The deformation patterns, hysteretic characteristics, skeleton curves, bearing‐capacity degradation features, cumulative energy dissipation, and cumulative damage index of the assembly were obtained and analysed. The results show that the joint stiffness and loading system have a significant effect on the ultralow‐cycle fatigue performance of the assembly. Based on these results, an equation that describes the relationship between the cumulative damage index and the bearing degradation of the assembly for an ultralow‐cycle fatigue test was derived.
Application of High‐Strength Lightweight Concrete in Gob‐Side Entry Retaining in Inclined Coal Seam
Authors: Zhu Daoyong , Gong Weili , Su Yi , Guo Aipeng
Published: January 2020

Gob‐side entry retaining (GSER) is a popular no‐pillar mining technology that can increase coal recovery rate. We propose the application of high‐strength lightweight (HSLW) concrete to construct the gob‐side support body (GSSB) in NO. 411 inclined working face of Jingang Coal Mine. Firstly, the mechanical model of retained roadway was established, and the calculation for limit angle of GSSB stability and support resistance was mathematically derived. Using the performance test, the optimal proportion of LC50 concrete was determined as follows: the water‐binder ratio was 0.3; the silica fume dosage was not more than 10%; the fly ash dosage was 10–20%; and the sand ratio was 0.45–0.50. Based on theoretical deduction and laboratory analysis, the width of GSSB was obtained to be 0.75 m, and the optimal arrangement of concrete blocks with “two longitudinal and one horizontal, crisscross, and staggered joints” was determined. FLAC3D software was used to study the influence of different widths and material strengths on the surrounding rock deformation and verify the reasonable width and strength of the designed GSSB. Finally, field monitoring of retained roadway shows that the deformation is controlled in a small range, and the retained roadway effect is better, thus proving the feasibility of HSLW for constructing the support body for GSER. Our findings can serve as a theoretical guide for safety and effective implementation of HSLW as GSSB.
MEG3 Alleviated LPS-Induced Intestinal Injury in Sepsis by Modulating miR-129-5p and Surfactant Protein D
Authors: Du Xianjin , Tian Dan , Wei Jie , Yan Chen , Hu Peng , Wu Xu , Yang Wenbin
Published: January 2020

Sepsis and intestinal injury triggered by sepsis are common in intensive care units, which can contribute to a high mortality. lncRNAs can modulate gene expression, and they are closely involved in multiple diseases, including sepsis. In our present study, we investigated the biological function of MEG3 in sepsis, especially during the intestinal injury. Currently, we observed that in LPS-induced sepsis mouse models, the intestinal injury was triggered. Meanwhile, we reported that MEG3 was greatly decreased in vivo, with an increase of miR-129-5p and inhibition of SP-D. Then, MEG3 was overexpressed, and we found that its overexpression repressed the intestinal injury via downregulating miR-129-5p in sepsis mice. Moreover, TNF-α and IL-6 expression was elevated in intestinal tissues compared to the control groups. MEG3 restrained the activation of TNF-α and IL-6, in sepsis models. Subsequently, to induce the inflammatory injury of sepsis, human colorectal Caco2 cells were treated with 10 ng/ml LPS. 10 ng/ml LPS significantly inhibited Caco2 cell proliferation and increased the apoptosis. Additionally, MEG3 was decreased whereas miR-129-5p was obviously increased in Caco2 cells incubated with LPS. Interestingly, we showed that MEG3 repressed cell apoptosis partly and enhanced Caco2 cell proliferation. miR-129-5p overexpression could reverse the effect of MEG3 in vitro. Previously, we proved SP-D was reduced in sepsis and it depressed the intestinal injury in vivo. Finally, the correlation among MEG3, miR-129-5p, and SP-D was predicted and confirmed in our investigation. These findings indicated that MEG3 might be a potential target for intestinal damage caused by sepsis via regulating miR-129-5p and SP-D.
The Effects of Cryogenic Process on the AISI M2 Punch Materials and on the Hole Edge Geometry of the DIN EN 10111‐98 Sheet Metal Control Arm Parts
Authors: Arslan Yusuf
Published: January 2020

In this study, not only the effects of cryogenic processing on the wear of AISI M2 punches but also the effects of punch wear on the hole edge geometry of DIN EN 10111‐98 sheet metal control arm parts were investigated. The hole geometry changes are generally associated with punch wear and process parameters. Piercing operations were performed using eccentric press on 2.5‐mm‐thick sheet metal control arm parts with circular and slot AISI M2 tool steel punches. The punches were traditionally heat treated. The others were cryogenically treated at −145°C in addition to the conventional heat treatment. Weight losses were measured for punch wear assessments; furthermore, SEM and OM images were analyzed. The hole edge geometries of the selected parts were measured with a contour measuring machine in the specified number of blanks. So, no damage was done to the products for measurements. The cryogenic process resulted in a significantly low amount of retained austenite and caused uniformly distributed thin carbide precipitates. Reduction of retained austenite and formation of fine carbide particles led to increase in hardness values. It was found that untreated circular punch wear weight losses were approximately 40% higher than those of cryogenically treated samples. The untreated slot punch change rate was about 106% higher than that of the cryogenically treated samples. The wear process during the punching was faster and greater for the untreated punches. Fatigue microcracks were more common at the cutting edge of the untreated punches. However, abrasive wear was generally observed in cryogenically treated punches. The edge geometry values in the circular holes were at least two times higher than those in the slot holes of untreated samples. At the end of the industrial piercing process, it was determined that the M2 tool steel punch wear rates were decreased by cryogenic treatment, and the size changes of the hole geometry of the punches of the DIN EN 10111‐98 control arm parts were more economic and with a better quality.
Development Performance and Pressure Field Evolution of ASP Flooding
Authors: Li Junjian , Wang Hao , Hu Jinchuan , Jiang Hanqiao , Zhang Rongda , Tang Lihui
Published: January 2020

ASP (alkali-surfactant-polymer) is acknowledged as an effective technology to improve the oil recovery. The microscopic displacement efficiency and macroscopic sweep efficiency have been discussed in detail for the past few years. However, development performance, especially pressure characteristics, needs to be further studied. This paper aims to explore the pressure evolution performance during ASP flooding, of which the results will shed light on development characteristics of ASP flooding. The study on ASP flooding pressure field development is conducted by laboratory and numerical methodology. A large sandpack laboratory model with vertical heterogeneous layers is used to monitor pressure performance during the ASP flooding. With the help of interpolation methods, a precise and intuitive pressure field is obtained based on pressure data acquired by limited measurement points. Results show that the average formation pressure and its location are changing all the time in the whole process. In addition, the influence of heterogeneity and viscosity on recovery and pressure is also probed in this paper. We built a numerical simulation model to match the experiment data considering the physical and chemical alternation in ASP flooding. Also, response surface methodology (RSM) is adopted to obtain the formula between pressure functions and influencing factors.
Construction and Investigation of an LINC00284-Associated Regulatory Network in Serous Ovarian Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Shasha , Zhang Lu , Tao Lin , Pang Lijuan , Fu Ruiting , Fu Yu , Liang Weihua , Ding Yusong , Jia Wei
Published: January 2020

The low survival rate associated with serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC) is largely due to the lack of relevant molecular markers for early detection and therapy. Increasing experimental evidence has demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in cancer initiation and development, and a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis has been formulated. Therefore, the characterization of new lncRNA and lncRNA-related networks is crucial for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of SOC. Data on lncRNAs, mRNAs, and miRNAs with differential expression in SOC, compared to normal ovarian tissue, were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Data on lncRNA expression and clinical data in SOC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). lncRNA-miRNA interactions were predicted by the miRBase database. Different online tools, i.e., TargetScan, RNA22, miRmap, microT, miRanda, StarBase, and PicTar, were cooperatively utilized to predict the mRNAs targeted by miRNAs. The plugin of BiNGO in Cytoscape and KOBAS 3.0 were used to conduct the functional and pathway enrichment analyses. The lncRNA, miRNAs, and mRNAs identified to be expressed at statistically significant and different levels between SOC and healthy fallopian tube tissues were further validated using qRT-PCR. A total of 4 lncRNAs (LINC00284, HAGLR, HCAT158, and BLACAT1) and 111 mRNAs were found to be upregulated in SOC tissues compared to normal tissues, based on the GEO database. LINC00284 was found to be highly expressed in SOC, in association with the upregulation of the transcription factor SOX9. The high LINC00284 expression was associated with poor prognosis and proved to be an independent risk factor in patients with SOC, based on TCGA database. The qRT-PCR validation results closely recapitulated the expression profiles and prognostic scores of the aforementioned bioinformatic analyses. The LINC00284-related ceRNA network was found to be associated with SOC carcinogenesis by biofunctional analysis. In conclusion, the LINC00284-related ceRNA network may provide valuable information on the mechanisms of SOC initiation and progression. Importantly, LINC00284 proved to be a new potential prognostic biomarker for SOC.
Breast Cancer Cell–Derived Soluble CD44 Promotes Tumor Progression by Triggering Macrophage IL1β Production
Authors: Jang Jeong-Hoon , Kim Do-Hee , Lim Jae Min , Lee Joon Won , Jeong Su Jin , Kim Kwang Pyo , Surh Young-Joon
Published: January 2020

IL1β is a central regulator of systemic inflammatory response in breast cancer, but the precise regulatory mechanisms that dictate the overproduction of IL1β are largely unsolved. Here, we show that IL1β secretion is increased by the coculture of human monocyte–like cells and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. In addition, macrophages robustly produced IL1β when exposed to the conditioned media of TNBC cells. Consistent with these observations, macrophage depletion decreased serum IL1β and reduced breast cancer progression in an orthotopic breast cancer mouse model. Profiling the secretome of human breast cancer cells revealed that the CD44 antigen was the most differentially released protein in basal conditions of TNBC cells. Antibody-mediated neutralization of CD44 abrogated IL1β production in macrophages and inhibited the growth of primary tumors. These results suggest IL1β-mediated oncogenic signaling is triggered by breast cancer cell membrane–derived soluble CD44 (sCD44) antigen, and targeting sCD44 antigen may provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment by modulating inflammatory tumor microenvironment.

Significance:

A novel positive feedback loop between IL1β and CD44 promotes TNBC malignant progression.
A Prospective Analysis of Circulating Plasma Metabolites Associated with Ovarian Cancer Risk
Authors: Zeleznik Oana A. , Eliassen A. Heather , Kraft Peter , Poole Elizabeth M. , Rosner Bernard A. , Jeanfavre Sarah , Deik Amy A. , Bullock Kevin , Hitchcock Daniel S. , Avila-Pacheco Julian , Clish Clary B. , Tworoger Shelley S.
Published: January 2020

Ovarian cancer has few known risk factors, hampering identification of high-risk women. We assessed the association of prediagnostic plasma metabolites (N = 420) with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, including both borderline and invasive tumors. A total of 252 cases and 252 matched controls from the Nurses' Health Studies were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI), comparing the 90th–10th percentile in metabolite levels, using the permutation-based Westfall and Young approach to account for testing multiple correlated hypotheses. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA; n = 10 metabolite modules) and metabolite set enrichment analysis (n = 23 metabolite classes) were also evaluated. An increase in pseudouridine levels from the 10th to the 90th percentile was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of overall ovarian cancer (OR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.48–4.45; P = 0.001/adjusted P = 0.15); a similar risk estimate was observed for serous/poorly differentiated tumors (n = 176 cases; comparable OR = 2.38; 95% CI, 1.33–4.32; P = 0.004/adjusted P = 0.55). For nonserous tumors (n = 34 cases), pseudouridine and C36:2 phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen had the strongest statistical associations (OR = 9.84; 95% CI, 2.89–37.82; P < 0.001/adjusted P = 0.07; and OR = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03–0.35; P < 0.001/adjusted P = 0.06, respectively). Five WGCNA modules and 9 classes were associated with risk overall at FDR ≤ 0.20. Triacylglycerols (TAG) showed heterogeneity by tumor aggressiveness (case-only heterogeneity P < 0.0001). The TAG association with risk overall and serous tumors differed by acyl carbon content and saturation. In summary, this study suggests that pseudouridine may be a novel risk factor for ovarian cancer and that TAGs may also be important, particularly for rapidly fatal tumors, with associations differing by structural features.

Significance:

Pseudouridine represents a potential novel risk factor for ovarian cancer and triglycerides may be important particularly in rapidly fatal ovarian tumors.
Protective Effects of Baicalin on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Injury in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Ma Jing , Wang Ranran , Yan Haijing , Xu Renjie , Xu Ajing , Zhang Jian
Published: January 2020

Objectives: Sepsis-induced inflammation injury and oxidative stress are well known causes of mortality. The anti-inflammatory effects of baicalin have been proposed in a mouse model of experimental sepsis. Here, we investigated its protective effects and associated mechanisms with respect to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods: Worms were stimulated by LPS (100 μg/mL), with baicalin (1, 10, 100 μmol/L), for 24 h. Animal survival rates and behaviors (reversal and omega turn) were then determined. Further, levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blotting was also performed to determine the protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Bax, and Bcl-2. The activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) contents were determined using corresponding kits. Results: Baicalin (10, 100 μmol/L) improved LPS-stimulated C. elegans survival and rescued behavioral phenotypes. It also suppressed the oxidative stress related to LPS injury by decreasing MDA levels and increasing SOD activity. Moreover, the inflammatory response was inhibited as evidenced by decreased levels of cytokines including IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-α. In addition, baicalin treatment significantly decreased cleaved Bax levels and increased Bcl-2 expression in C. elegans treated with LPS. Simultaneously, the expression of NF-κB and TLR4 was significantly decreased. Conclusion: Baicalin treatment protects against LPS-induced injury by decreasing oxidative stress, repressing the inflammatory cascade, and inhibiting apoptosis.
Negative Affect Mediates Impulsivity in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Ferreira-Garcia Rafael , Gitahy Falcão Faria Clara , Nardi Antonio Egídio , da Rocha Freire Rafael Christophe
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Although anxiety and impulsivity are intuitively thought to be inversely correlated, increased impulsivity has been associated both with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) diagnosis and GAD symptoms in non-clinical samples. The emotional dysregulation model of GAD posits that patients experience more frequent and intense negative emotions while having poor regulatory control over emotional states and greater negative reactivity to their emotions. We hypothesized that poor regulatory control in the presence of negative emotions might explain the increased impulsivity found in GAD patients. In this study, we examined if negative affect mediates the relationship between GAD and impulsivity. Methods: Thirty-four GAD patients and 35 healthy controls were included, and evaluated with measurements of impulsivity, negative and positive emotions, the severity of worrying and GAD symptoms, depression, and 5-factor personality traits. Results: Global impulsivity scores and the attentional facet of impulsivity were higher in the patient group when compared to the controls. Negative affect was correlated with global impulsivity in the patient group only and explained impulsivity in our regression model while worrying and depressive symptoms did not. An indirect relationship was found between diagnosis and impulsivity through negative affect. Conclusion: Our study showed that the cardinal symptom of GAD – worrying – was not independently related to impulsivity in our sample. Increased impulsivity in GAD seems to be mediated by the increased presence of negative emotions, as it is common in mood and impulse-control disorders, indicating an unspecific shared vulnerability factor to psychopathology.
Interactions between Auditory and Vestibular Modalities during Stimulation with a Combined Vestibular and Cochlear Prosthesis
Authors: Phillips James O. , Ling Leo , Nowack Amy , Rebollar Brenda , Rubinstein Jay T.
Published: January 2020

Background: A combined vestibular and cochlear prosthesis may restore hearing and balance to patients who have lost both. To do so, the device should activate each sensory system independently. Objectives: In this study, we quantify auditory and vestibular interactions during interleaved stimulation with a combined 16-channel cochlear and 6-channel vestibular prosthesis in human subjects with both hearing and vestibular loss. Methods: Three human subjects were implanted with a combined vestibular and cochlear implant. All subjects had severe-to-profound deafness in the implanted ear. We provided combined stimulation of the cochlear and vestibular arrays and looked for interactions between these separate inputs. Our main outcome measures were electrically evoked slow-phase eye velocities during nystagmus elicited by brief trains of biphasic pulse stimulation of the vestibular end organs with and without concurrent stimulation of the cochlea, and Likert scale assessments of perceived loudness and pitch during stimulation of the cochlea, with and without concurrent stimulation of the vestibular ampullae. Results: All subjects had no auditory sensation resulting from semicircular canal stimulation alone, and no sensation of motion or slow-phase eye movement resulting from cochlear stimulation alone. However, interleaved cochlear stimulation did produce changes in the slow-phase eye velocities elicited by electrical stimulation. Similarly, interleaved semicircular canal stimulation did elicit changes in the perceived pitch and loudness resulting from stimulation at multiple sites in the cochlea. Conclusions: There are significant interactions between different sensory modalities during stimulation with a combined vestibular and cochlear prosthesis. Such interactions present potential challenges for stimulation strategies to simultaneously restore auditory and vestibular function with such an implant.
Moderate Loss of the Extracellular Matrix Proteoglycan Lumican Attenuates Cardiac Fibrosis in Mice Subjected to Pressure Overload
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Naiyereh , Melleby Arne Olav , Palmero Sheryl , Sjaastad Ivar , Chakravarti Shukti , Engebretsen Kristin V.T. , Christensen Geir , Lunde Ida G. , Tønnessen Theis
Published: January 2020

Introduction: The heart undergoes myocardial remodeling during progression to heart failure following pressure overload. Myocardial remodeling is associated with structural and functional changes in cardiac myocytes, fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix (ECM) and is accompanied by inflammation. Cardiac fibrosis, the accumulation of ECM molecules including collagens and collagen cross-linking, contributes both to impaired systolic and diastolic function. Insufficient mechanistic insight into what regulates cardiac fibrosis during pathological conditions has hampered therapeutic so­lutions. Lumican (LUM) is an ECM-secreted proteoglycan known to regulate collagen fibrillogenesis. Its expression in the heart is increased in clinical and experimental heart failure. Furthermore, LUM is important for survival and cardiac remodeling following pressure overload. We have recently reported that total lack of LUM increased mortality and left ventricular dilatation, and reduced collagen expression and cross-linking in LUM knockout mice after aortic banding (AB). Here, we examined the effect of LUM on myocardial remodeling and function following pressure overload in a less extreme mouse model, where cardiac LUM level was reduced to 50% (i.e., moderate loss of LUM). Methods and Results: mRNA and protein levels of LUM were reduced to 50% in heterozygous LUM (LUM+/–) hearts compared to wild-type (WT) controls. LUM+/– mice were subjected to AB. There was no difference in survival between LUM+/– and WT mice post-AB. Echocardiography revealed no striking differences in cardiac geometry between LUM+/– and WT mice 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-AB, although markers of diastolic dysfunction indicated better function in LUM+/– mice. LUM+/– hearts revealed reduced cardiac fibrosis assessed by histology. In accordance, the expression of collagen I and III, the main fibrillar collagens in the heart, and other ECM molecules central to fibrosis, i.e. including periostin and fibronectin, was reduced in the hearts of LUM+/– compared to WT 6 weeks post-AB. We found no differences in collagen cross-linking between LUM+/– and WT mice post-AB, as assessed by histology and qPCR. Conclusions: Moderate lack of LUM attenuated cardiac fibrosis and improved diastolic dysfunction following pressure overload in mice, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting that LUM is a central profibrotic molecule in the heart that could serve as a potential therapeutic target.
Molekulartoxische Folgen von chronischem und traumatischem Stress und deren Reversibilität durch entspannungs- und achtsamkeitsbasierte Interventionen
Authors: Karrasch Sarah , Hitzler Melissa , Gumpp Anja M. , Karabatsiakis Alexander , Kolassa Iris-Tatjana
Published: January 2020

Chronischer psychosozialer und traumatischer Stress sind zentrale Risikofaktoren für die Entwicklung psychosomatischer Erkrankungen. Eine Schlüsselrolle in der gemeinsamen Ätiologie psychischer und komorbide-auftretender körperlicher Erkrankungen wird dabei Veränderungen in der Regulation der neuroendokrinen Stressantwort, erhöhten Entzündungsprozessen und oxidativem Stress, dem schädlichen Überschuss an freien Sauerstoffradikalen, zugeschrieben. Angesichts der hohen Prävalenz von psychosozialem und traumatischem Stress über alle Gesellschaftsschichten hinweg ist es für die psychotherapeutische Praxis von großer Bedeutung, auch dessen molekulartoxische Folgen besser zu verstehen und in moderne Behandlungskonzepte zu integrieren. Es gilt, Interventionsmöglichkeiten auf psychobiologischer Ebene zu identifizieren, die stressassoziierte ­biomolekulare Veränderung im Körper rückgängig machen können. In diesem Beitrag soll deshalb insbesondere die Rolle von entspannungs- und achtsamkeitsbasierter Verfahren wie Entspannungstechniken, z.B. Hypnose, Mediation oder Yoga, betrachtet werden, die neben der Symptomreduktion auf klinischer Ebene auch die biomolekularen Veränderungen nach psychosozialem und traumatischem Stress reduzieren und so der gesundheitlichen Belastung entgegenwirken können. Obwohl entspannungs- und achtsamkeitsbasierte Verfahren im psychotherapeutischen Setting schon seit langem in unterschiedlichem Umfang eingesetzt werden, zeigt die aktuelle Studienlage, dass regelmäßig praktizierte entspannungs- und achtsamkeitsbasierte Verfahren eine bislang unterschätzte Interventionsmöglichkeit in der Psychotherapie sein könnten, die es zukünftig häufiger und gezielter in die gesamtkörperliche Behandlung stress- und traumaassoziierter Erkrankungen zu integrieren gilt.
Correlation between the Incidence and Attributable Mortality Fraction of Acute Kidney Injury: A Systematic Review
Authors: Komaru Yohei , Inokuchi Ryota , Iwagami Masao , Matsuura Ryo , Hamasaki Yoshifumi , Nangaku Masaomi , Doi Kent
Published: January 2020

Introduction: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) as diagnosed by international standardized criteria as well as its mortality has undergone extreme variations. Although AKI is a significant worsening mortality factor, a higher prevalence may lead to better patient management, thereby lowering mortality. We investigated the correlation between AKI incidence and its associated mortality. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies on AKI reporting its incidence and mortality. Literature searches were performed in ­MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, within the time frame of 2004–2018. Studies with small number of participants (<500 for adult cohorts, 50 for pediatric cohorts) were excluded. The correlation among AKI incidence, mortality, and AKI-attributable fraction of mortality was evaluated using a regression model. The trend test was used to analyze the effect of publication year and country gross domestic product (GDP). Results: A total of 4,694 manuscripts were screened, from which 287 cohorts were eligible (adults: 203 cohorts comprising 7,076,459 patients; children: 84 comprising 69,677 patients). Within adult cohorts, AKI patients’ mortality increased (R2 = 0.023, β = 0.12, p = 0.03) but the attributable fraction of mortality decreased (R2 = 0.27, β = –0.43, p < 0.001) with the increasing AKI incidence. Both more recent publications and higher GDP countries had a lower crude AKI patients’ mortality, although AKI-attributable fraction did not decrease. Conclusions: Cohorts with high AKI incidence had a relatively low AKI-attributable mortality fraction, which suggests an advantage of more experienced AKI management. Further study is needed, however, to address the heterogeneity of included cohorts and to confirm the causality. (Registered in prospective register of systematic reviews database; CRD 42019129322.)
Junctional Zone Endometrium Morphological Characteristics and Functionality: Review of the Literature
Authors: Tanos Vasilios , Lingwood Lee , Balami Safinez
Published: January 2020

The junctional zone endometrium (JZE) is a compacted layer of smooth muscle cells with little extracellular matrix. The innermost myometrium adjacent to the endometrium, JZE is best visualized and evaluated on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and two-dimensional/three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) scanning. Increased thickness of JZE >12 mm on MRI images has been associated with myometrial and subendometrial pathologic conditions, such as, adenomyosis, and is considered a poor prognostic factor for implantation. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) has been proposed as a treatment for adenomyosis and fibroids larger than 7 cm, and overall improvement in symptoms and disease progression were attributed to JZE thinning after GnRHa treatment. JZE contractility and frequency of contractions are affected by ovarian hormone cyclic activity and pathologic changes adjacent to JZE, such as fibroids and polyps. However, JZE contractility is not evaluated by TVUS during gynecological examinations because guidelines do not exist and the process is time consuming. The present data indicate that JZE is an important part of the nongravid uterus anatomy, structure, and functionality. When more evidence is available, the morphologic features, thickness, and contractility of JZE may potentially be used as markers for diagnosis and prognosis of normal and abnormal uterine function, for early stages of pregnancy, and possibly for early detection of endometrial cancer. A new tool for JZE measurements should be further investigated to fill this clinical gap. Key Message: JZE is an important component of the nongravid uterus anatomy, structure, and functionality. The thickness and contractility of JZE could potentially be used as markers for diagnosis and prognosis of normal and abnormal uterine function, early stages of pregnancy, and early detection of endometrial cancer. A new tool for JZE measurements should be further investigated.
Fotogrametria como base para o reconhecimento de cronologias urbanas e arquitetônicas
Authors: Villela Ana Teresa Cirigliano , Gutierrez Rodrigo Luiz Minot
Published: January 2020

O tema deste artigo é o uso da fotogrametria associada a pesquisas histórico-documentais, tomando como caso de estudo o reconhecimento da cronologia de formação e transformação do perfil edificado em volta da Praça XV de Novembro e da Praça Carlos Gomes, localizadas no Quadrilátero Central de Ribeirão Preto (SP). Trata-se do conjunto onde a cidade foi fundada e que vem sendo modificado desde sua origem, em 1856, aos dias atuais. Os documentos fotográficos, cartográficos e textuais disponíveis capturam fragmentos da área com grandes lacunas temporais e, por isso, o reconhecimento cronológico das transformações urbanas e arquitetônicas da área solicita a exploração da própria matéria edificada como fonte informativa. Para tanto, foi realizado um exercício experimental de observação, organização e representação de dados obtidos por meio de documentos existentes (fotos e mapas) e pela Fotogrametria terrestre, com vistas a apresentar uma proposta metodológica de levantamento das edificações e verificar os resultados obtidos.
O Vegetarianismo na Antiguidade como Campo de Pesquisa Interdisciplinar
Authors: Martins Pedro Ribeiro
Published: January 2020

a
A Historiography of Vegetarianism in Antiquity
Authors: Kovacs Alexandra
Published: January 2020

For the last few years, vegetarianism has been a social issue and at the center of ethico-ecological debates. Whereas the term exists since the 19th century, many vegetarians affirm that the practise exists already in Antiquity and use great philosophical figures as examples. It is indeed indisputable that the abstinence from meat existed in Antiquity, however this subject has been little exploited by historians. Considered for a long time as a marginal topic with a more philosophical than historical significance, the ancient vegetarianism aroused only tardily and recently the interest of researchers. This paper proposes to examine the historiography of this topic by showing how research on food, on sacrifice and on animals influenced research on ancient vegetarianism.
Justice for Animals According to Plutarch
Authors: Miszczyński Damian
Published: January 2020

This paper is an attempt to describe in details Plutarch’s view on the idea of justice between animals and humans, on the basis of a representative selection of passages from his works. Most of the analyzed passages are from De sollertia animalium and De esu carnium. The criterion of selection was lexical and contextual, so passages containing words semantically related to the Greek terms for justice or law were particularly taken into account, as well as assages simply referring to the subject of justice for animals from the context. The conclusion is that Plutarch believed that justice between humans and animals is possible and should be applied, but being conscious of how difficult this postulate is to achieve, he was content with urging to limit the consumption of meat.
Alimentação e Tabus Alimentares no Egito Antigo
Authors: Gama-Rolland Cintia Alfieri
Published: January 2020

Esse breve artigo pretende apresentar, em linhas gerais, a alimentação egípcia e suas fontes vegetais e principalmente alimentos de origem animal, tentando mostrar em que medida pode-se ou não tratar de um vegetarianismo egípcio antigo. Serão abordados temas como horta e pomar, bem como o uso de cereais, as carnes e peixes disponíveis para alimentação e os tabus alimentares, que podem ser tanto animais quanto vegetais. Para abordarmos os tabus alimentares faremos uma incursão na religião egípcia antiga e a relação da mesma com os alimentos, tanto no mundo dos vivos quanto no post mortem.
Convulsões Sociais no Antigo Egito
Authors: Stella Thomas Henrique de Toledo
Published: January 2020

O período do Novo Reinado no Antigo Egito foi encerrado num contexto de convulsões sociais que minaram a autoridade faraônica, contribuindo para que o Alto e o Baixo Egito dividissem-se. Ao mesmo tempo em que se assiste à ascensão do peso dos templos na economia, em especial do Domínio de Amon, verifica-se o enfraquecimento do poder faraônico. Neste quadro, com uma crise econômica instalada, os trabalhadores da Necrópole Tebana começam a rebelar-se e, como forma de reivindicação, paralisam os trabalhos, naquela que ficou registrada como a primeira greve da História, sucedida por muitas outras. Após terem enfrentado ladrões de tumbas, ataques de bandos líbios e uma guerra civil, esses trabalhadores acabaram por deixar a vila de Deir el-Medina e integraram-se à indústria de pilhagem de tumbas reais, que se instalou em Tebas nos últimos anos da 20a Dinastia. Isto representou um novo fator de dinamismo para aquela economia.
William L. Westermann entre o Antiquarismo e a História Comparada da Escravidão
Authors: Joly Fabio Duarte
Published: January 2020

O livro de William L. Westermann, The Slave Systems of Greek and Roman Antiquity, publicado em 1955, é até hoje uma referência para o estudo da escravidão antiga. No entanto, este livro é frequentemente criticado por sua estrutura antiquária e, portanto, pela falta de qualquer abordagem teórica sobre a escravidão no mundo antigo. Esse ponto de vista foi enfatizado principalmente por Moses Finley, com sua obra Ancient Slavery and Modern Ideology (1980), e tornou-se, desde então, um certo consenso na historiografia da escravidão. Este artigo argumenta que tal abordagem negligencia o lugar do livro de Westermann nos debates sobre a história comparada da escravidão que ocorreram nos Estados Unidos durante a segunda metade do século XX. Existem semelhanças entre a tese de Frank Tannenbaum sobre os diferentes níveis de severidade nos sistemas escravistas nas Américas, apresentados em seu Slave and Citizen (1946), e a visão de Westermann acerca dos antigos sistemas escravistas. Essa semelhança é compreensível se levarmos em conta que ambos participaram de seminários sobre a história do trabalho e da escravidão na Universidade de Columbia.
Los conceptos de simulación y disimulación en la representación de la locura enEl cuerdo loco, de Lope de Vega
Authors: Souza Ana Aparecida Teixeira de
Published: January 2020

El objetivo de este artículo es demostrar cómo Lope de Vega construye la locura fingida del príncipe Antonio, protagonista de la obra dramática titulada El cuerdo loco (1605), a partir de los conceptos de simulación y disimulación, los cuales formaban parte de los códigos de conducta de los siglos XVI y XVII.
Tamara Kamenszain e Paul Celan: aproximações poéticas
Authors: Tavares Mariane
Published: January 2020

Tamara Kamensain e Paul Celan, ambos poetas do século XX, pertencentes à tradição judaica escrevem à partir de um luto. O luto de Celan é pessoal e coletivo, imerso no contexto da Segunda Guerra Mundial. O luto de Kamenszain é pessoal - a morte do pai - e coletivo pela Grande Buenos Aires. Fazendo um trajeto panôramico sobre a história dos judeos argentinos, em "O gueto" Tarama Kamenszain convida Paul Celan para ser um dos seus companheiros de viagem, onde a escrita é o caminho para sublimar o luto.
Reinaldo Arenas, crítico literario
Authors: Sousa Pacelli Dias Alves de
Published: January 2020

Mariel Revista de Literatura y Arte fue una publicación editada por exiliados cubanos entre 1983 y 1985, con edición conmemorativa en 2003, entre Miami y Nueva York, por Reinaldo Arenas, Juan Abreu y García Ramos. La revista fue el principal portavoz de la Generación Mariel, grupo de escritores que salieron de Cuba por el puerto de Mariel, en 1980. Una de las secciones de la revista, titulada  "Confluencias", se dedicó a la publicación de textos considerados (o pertenecientes a escritores) ignorados por la política cultural cubana que, a su vez, aparecian acompañados de ensayos críticos escritos por los marielitos para colaborar a una "correcta apreciación". El objetivo del trabajo es analizar algunos textos escritos por Reinaldo Arenas en la dicha sección, archivo crítico de un momento crítico de la cultura cubana en el siglo XX.
Uma análise dos aspectos religiosos e das simbologias presentes na Leyenda “A rosa da paixão”, de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Authors: Costa Fernando
Published: January 2020

A presente pesquisa tem como foco a realização de um estudo sobre uma Leyenda do escritor espanhol Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, intitulada “A rosa da paixão” (1864). Para além dos aspectos sobrenaturais e místicos tão presentes no autor será possível ainda perceber nesta investigação as acepções do universo religioso em um enredo em que a simbologia da rosa deflagra diferentes oposições entre os signos de vida e morte. A fortuna crítica aplicada neste levantamento visa salientar pontos importantes sobre o autor em relação ao período artístico e literário observado na Espanha do século XIX, sendo utilizada a leitura e análise crítica de autores como Jean Canavaggio, Maria Alcalá, Pascual Izquierdo e Manuel Montecinos Caro. A Leyenda “A rosa da paixão” foi publicada primeiramente em Madrid no periódico “El contemporáneo” durante o ano de 1864. Este período é emblemático para muitas das transformações ocorridas na carreira do escritor. Quando chega à capital espanhola em 1854, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer conta com apenas dezoito anos de idade, muda-se de sua cidade natal (Sevilha) tendo a intenção de desenvolver, trabalhar e publicar os seus escritos, algo que de fato consegue consumar. Entretanto, a ação da narrativa se passa na cidade de Toledo, local que recebe um foco especial em suas composições, sendo que o autor havia realizado anteriormente o projeto intitulado “História de los templos de España (1857-1858)”, obra onde fez um estudo das principais cidades, construções e espaços religiosos de seu país. Outro aspecto relevante para esta análise é o profícuo jogo de narradores que ocorre nesta e em outras Leyendas becquerianas. De maneira geral há sempre a figura da personagem que abre as histórias e pretende contar algo que lhe foi previamente transmitido, reforçando assim tanto o caráter da oralidade quanto o da verossimilhança dentro das narrativas. Desse modo, nota-se um ponto que atualiza e conduz para certos traços da modernidade introduzida por Bécquer, muitas vezes considerado um “romântico tardio” justamente por salientar características anteriores do período em que viveu ao mesmo tempo em que incorporava e utilizava-se de novos preceitos.