bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stable isotope geochemistry of pedogenic carbonates in calcareous materials, Iran: a review and synthesis
Authors: Bayat Omid , Karimi Alireza , Amundson Ronald
Published: June 2020

The stable isotopic composition of pedogenic carbonate forms in equilibrium with environmental parameters and, thus, records palaeoenvironmental signals. The aims of this study are to synthesize available data on the stable isotopic composition of Quaternary pedogenic carbonates in calcareous parent materials of Iran and to decipher paleoenvironmental implications of the isotopic data for the country. Isotopic composition and microfabric of pedogenic carbonates in 18 pedons in both gravelly (calcareous alluvium in central Iran) and non-gravelly deposits (calcareous loess in northeastern Iran) have been investigated. The results indicate that in limestone-derived soils of central Iran
in situ
weathering of calcareous pebbles is a major source of Ca for genesis of the carbonates, and carbonate features consist of micritic calcite crystals. In the loessic soils of northeastern Iran, pedogenic carbonates show a dominance of nodule morphology and are classified as orthic nodules. Microfabric analysis reveals that most of the carbonates have not been altered by diagenetic processes, especially the Holocene carbonates, and are suitable for isotopic study and palaeoreconstructions. In limestone-derived soils within the arid region of central Iran, the δ
18
O and the δ
13
C values of carbonates indicate their enrichment due to the effects of evaporative water loss, a decline in plant density and the entrance of atmospheric CO
2
into the soils. In semi-arid ecosystems of central and northeastern Iran, most of the Holocene carbonates have formed in equilibrium with the ambient environment and are suitable for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The combination of carbon and oxygen isotopic data demonstrates the dominant role of climate in determining the δ
13
C values of carbonates. There is a strong relationship between the δ
13
C values of carbonates and rainfall, and between O isotopes and aridity indices. Stable isotope patterns in Holocene soils appear to provide data for models that can then be used to interpret the many localities where Pleistocene-aged soils and associated carbonate exist.
Time series analysis of the
δ
2
H,
δ
18
O and d
excess
values in correlation with monthly temperature, relative humidity and precipitation in Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania: 2012–2018
Authors: Varlam Carmen , Duliu Octavian G. , Ionete Roxana Elena , Costinel Diana
Published: June 2020

To investigate the influence of local climate and transboundary circulation of moisture on the stable isotope of precipitation in Ramnicu Valcea, Romania, monthly values of
δ
2
H,
δ
18
O, deuterium excess (d
excess
), temperature, relative humidity and precipitation were determined between January 2012 and December 2018. Monthly analysis showed differences in d
excess
varying between 24.2‰ (October 2015) and −23.7‰ (July 2013) with a multi-annual average of 6.1 ± 5.9‰, suggesting an Atlantic origin of moisture with episodic Mediterranean transport. Also a significant correlation between the North Atlantic Oscillation on the local temperature during winter season was noticed. The local meteoric water line (LMWL) for the entire period showed slope and intercept values similar to those for neighbouring localities with the same altitude. When the analysis was extended to summer (April–October) and winter (November–March) seasons, the LMWL slope and intercept were different, reflecting the summer–winter difference in temperatures and air circulation. The monthly values of all parameters formed equal-spaced time series whose detailed analysis confirmed at
p <
0.01 that
δ
2
H,
δ
18
O, temperature and relative humidity show a well-evidenced one-year periodicity. In contrast, precipitation and d
excess
seasonality were almost unrecognizable, most probably owing to the reduced number of observations.
Responsive Science
Authors: Drahos Peter
Published: June 2020

Regulatory capitalism depends heavily on science, but science faces epi-stemic critiques and crises of research integrity. These critiques and crises are outlined and then located within capitalism's general tragedy of commodification. Drawing on Marx's insights into the relationship between science, commodity production, and the machine age, the general tragedy of commodification is outlined. From here, the article shifts to discussing some well-known global public good problems relating to access to medicines and access to knowledge. The roots of these problems can be traced back to the way the institution of science has been bent toward processes of capital accumulation. The evidence we have from the history of science suggests that too often its research agendas have been set by capital and the demands of war-making capitalist states. The final part of the article considers whether the ideal of responsiveness might help us to reformulate the way in which we think about the responsibilities and duties of science. It focuses on human rights, citizen science, and the intellectual commons as potential sources of responsiveness. Responsiveness has been a fertile ideal for law and society theorists when it has come to theory building in law and regulation. It also has something to offer the debates around the crises of science.
Cyclic di-AMP Signaling in Bacteria
Authors: Stülke Jörg , Krüger Larissa
Published: June 2020

The second messenger molecule cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP) is formed by many bacteria and archaea. In many species that produce c-di-AMP, this second messenger is essential for viability on rich medium. Recent research has demonstrated that c-di-AMP binds to a large number of proteins and riboswitches, which are often involved in potassium and osmotic homeostasis. c-di-AMP becomes dispensable if the bacteria are cultivated on minimal media with low concentrations of osmotically active compounds. Thus, the essentiality of c-di-AMP does not result from an interaction with a single essential target but rather from the multilevel control of complex homeostatic processes. This review summarizes current knowledge on the homeostasis of c-di-AMP and its function(s) in the control of cellular processes.
Control of the Chamber in Extra‐Thick Coal Seam Based on Fracture Characteristics of Coal Rock and Mass
Authors: Tai Yang , Lu Guozhi , Xia Hongchun , Liu Jinrong , Zhang Yanqun
Published: June 2020

As the development characteristics of cracks of the chamber are closely related to the bolt and cable anchoring parameters, the original rock stress of the surrounding rock, and fracture degree, this paper proposes the control method for chamber in extra‐thick coal seam by the crack development characteristics. Based on the numerical model analysis, the chamber generates a large amount of shear cracks. Then, these cracks further extend and expand. When the cracks penetrate each other, the chamber bearing capacity decreases sharply, and the corresponding displacement also increases significantly. Based on the above rules, a chamber control method by high‐strength anchor bolts and grouting reinforcement is proposed to improve the rock shear strength. By optimizing the anchor bolt parameters and grouting parameters, such as spacing, length, and the grouting pressure, the cracks are significantly reduced and the cracks are prevented from penetrating. Finally, an industrial test was conducted in the chamber at Datong Coal Group, and the chamber deformation was well controlled.
Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF for the Diagnosis of Lymphatic Tuberculosis
Authors: Li Hou-He , He Zhi-Jian , Liang Jia-Qi , Li Gui-Lin , Xie Tian-Ao , Liu Ye-Ling , Li Zhong-Wei , Feng Xuan-Cheng , Xia Yong , Guo Xu-Guang
Published: June 2020

Background. The World Health Organization approved the use of Xpert MTB/RIF for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA, which has significantly improved the diagnosis of tuberculosis. In this study, our main objective was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Xpert MTB/RIF for lymphoid tuberculosis to determine whether Xpert MTB/RIF could be used as a routine detection method. Materials and Methods. We searched four databases for the relevant literature published from May 2007 to December 2019. The quality of the literature was evaluated with reference to the evaluation criteria. Data that were extracted from the literature on Xpert MTB/RIF diagnosis of lymphatic tuberculosis were used to plot the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve, after which the software was used to combine and analyze the accuracy of these data. Results. A total of 27 studies were included. The sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF for detecting lymphatic tuberculosis was 0.79 (95% CI (0.77, 0.81)), the specificity was 0.88 (95% CI (0.87, 0.90)), and the positive likelihood ratio (PLR) was 7.21 (95% CI (4.93, 10.55)). In addition, the negative likelihood ratio (NLR) was 0.25 (95% CI (0.19, 0.32)) and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 40.23 (95% CI (24.53, 65.98)). At the same time, we used the extracted data to make the SROC curve, obtaining the following parameters: area under the curve (AUC) = 0.9144, Q = 0.8470 (SE = 0.0163). Conclusion. Xpert MTB/RIF has high accuracy in detecting lymphatic tuberculosis, and it can be used to quickly and easily diagnose lymphatic tuberculosis at an early stage as a general method.
Dynamic Response of Composite Steel Lining Structure under Blast Loading
Authors: Kong Desen , Xu Yu , Song Cheng
Published: June 2020

According to the advantages of high tensile resistance and high shear strength of composite steel plate, a new antiexplosion protection method of composite steel plate lining structure is put forward. The numerical model of explosion impact of subway tunnel with composite steel plate lining structure was established by dynamic analysis software. The transient dynamic response of lining structure with the composite steel plate was simulated when explosion occurred. The research results show that the influence of explosive quantity on each point of composite steel plate lining structure is different and the change of acceleration near the centre of the detonation source is generally greater than the multiple of the increase of explosive quantity. The increase of velocity and displacement is basically consistent with the quantity of explosive. The influence of axial stress on the lining structure is the least, and the influence of the lining structure is greater in the y-direction than in the x-direction. The research results can provide the plan and basis for the emergency response of the subway tunnel.
Attenuation of Diabetic Nephropathy in Diabetic Mice by Fasudil through Regulation of Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Xie Fajiang , Lei Jiesen , Ran Maoxia , Li Yan , Deng Li , Feng Jian , Zhong Yi , Li Jiafu
Published: June 2020

Inflammation and fibrosis induced by hyperglycemia are considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. As macrophage polarization may determine the severity and progression of inflammation, regulation of macrophage polarization may be an effective method to treat diabetic complications. Fasudil, a potent Rho-kinase inhibitor, reportedly exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. However, whether fasudil reduces hyperglycemia-induced diabetic nephropathy via regulation of macrophage polarization remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the effect of fasudil on diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mice. Our data showed that fasudil significantly decreased urinary protein and serum creatinine in diabetic mice, whereas it had no effect on the body weight and blood glucose. We also found increased M1-type macrophages and related proinflammatory cytokines, adverse fibrosis in renal tissue of diabetic mice. Interestingly, treatment of diabetic mice with fasudil increased the number of M2-type macrophages and related anti-inflammatory cytokines, which attenuated renal injury in diabetic mice. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that fasudil could slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy. The possible mechanism might be associated with its induction of M2 macrophage polarization and the reduction of M1 macrophage polarization and inflammation.
Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic Dynamics in Asian Countries with Statistical Modeling
Authors: Zuo Min , Khosa Saima K. , Ahmad Zubair , Almaspoor Zahra
Published: June 2020

In the current scenario, the outbreak of a pandemic disease COVID-19 is of great interest. A broad statistical analysis of this event is still to come, but it is immediately needed to evaluate the disease dynamics in order to arrange the appropriate quarantine activities, to estimate the required number of places in hospitals, the level of individual protection, the rate of isolation of infected persons, and among others. In this article, we provide a convenient method of data comparison that can be helpful for both the governmental and private organizations. Up to date, facts and figures of the total the confirmed cases, daily confirmed cases, total deaths, and daily deaths that have been reported in the Asian countries are provided. Furthermore, a statistical model is suggested to provide a best description of the COVID-19 total death data in the Asian countries.
PWM-Based Finite-Time Tracking of Switched Buck Power Converters
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wu Zhaojing
Published: June 2020

In this paper, the problem of finite-time tracking is investigated for switched buck power converters based on the pulse width modulation (PWM) technique. For the continuous model, an equivalent continuous controller is solved by the backstepping technique, such that all signals are finite-time stable. PWM-based finite-time tracking with the equivalent control input is proposed for the switched buck converter, such that the tracking error converges to an arbitrarily small neighborhood of the origin in finite time, and the origin of the closed-loop system is practically finite-time stable. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
A Case of Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation in a Patient with Leadless Pacemaker
Authors: Gumireddy Srikala R. , Katayama Minako , Chaliki Hari P.
Published: June 2020

An 85-year-old man with cardiac history notable for atrial fibrillation diagnosed 10 years ago which was being treated with atenolol and warfarin presented to our institution with persistent atrial fibrillation. His echocardiogram showed ejection fraction (EF) of 56%, no regional wall motion abnormalities, mild mitral and pulmonary regurgitation, and trivial tricuspid regurgitation. Despite this treatment, he had recurrent episodes of paroxysmal symptomatic atrial fibrillation with a rapid rate requiring multiple emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Given difficulty to control the rate, he underwent atrioventricular (AV) nodal ablation and leadless pacemaker insertion. Fifteen days after the procedure, he was found to have a severe mitral regurgitation murmur.
Vaccination Coverage of the Elderly in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study
Authors: Papagiannis Dimitrios , Rachiotis Georgios , Mariolis Anargiros , Zafiriou Efterpi , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos I.
Published: June 2020

Vaccines are important for older adults, and the morbidity and mortality of vaccine-preventable diseases among older adults are high. There are limited data on vaccination coverage among elderly people in Greece. The aim of this observational study was to record the vaccination coverage for vaccines recommended by the National Vaccination Program in Greece for the elderly people ≥60 years old. Two hundred general practitioners (GPs) around the country from the primary healthcare system were invited to “participate,” and one hundred fifty from them participated in the present study. The GPs were selected using geographically stratified random sampling methodology. Two thousand and seventy-two participants participated in the present study: of which, 1043 were males and 1029 were females. The mean age of the participants was 73.3 years, and 83% vaccination coverage for flu vaccine, 49.5% for conjugate pneumococcal vaccine, and 23.5% for polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine were recorded. In addition, the vaccination coverage for herpes zoster vaccine was 20%, while very low percentages were recorded for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio vaccine for adults. We found significant gaps in vaccination coverage, especially with regard to pneumococcal, herpes zoster, and tetanus. On the contrary, influenza vaccination coverage was satisfactory.
Clinical Application Status of Articular Cartilage Regeneration Techniques: Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Brings New Hope
Authors: Jiang Shuangpeng , Guo Weimin , Tian Guangzhao , Luo Xujiang , Peng Liqing , Liu Shuyun , Sui Xiang , Guo Quanyi , Li Xu
Published: June 2020

Hyaline articular cartilage lacks blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves and is characterised by limited self-repair ability following injury. Traditional techniques of articular cartilage repair and regeneration all have certain limitations. The development of tissue engineering technology has brought hope to the regeneration of articular cartilage. The strategies of tissue-engineered articular cartilage can be divided into three types: “cell-scaffold construct,” cell-free, and scaffold-free. In “cell-scaffold construct” strategies, seed cells can be autologous chondrocytes or stem. Among them, some commercial products with autologous chondrocytes as seed cells, such as BioSeed®-C and CaReS®, have been put on the market and some products are undergoing clinical trials, such as NOVOCART® 3D. The stem cells are mainly pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells from different sources. Cell-free strategies that indirectly utilize the repair and regeneration potential of stem cells have also been used in clinical settings, such as TruFit and MaioRegen. Finally, the scaffold-free strategy is also a new development direction, and the short-term repair results of related products, such as NOVOCART® 3D, are encouraging. In this paper, the commonly used techniques of articular cartilage regeneration in surgery are reviewed. By studying different strategies and different seed cells, the clinical application status of tissue-engineered articular cartilage is described in detail.
Feasibility Evaluation of a Long‐Life Asphalt Pavement for Steel Bridge Deck
Authors: Chen Leilei , Qian Zhendong , Chen Daoxie , Wei Ya
Published: June 2020

In order to extend the service life of the steel bridge deck pavement, a long‐life steel bridge deck pavement (LLSBDP) was put forward referring to the concept of long‐life asphalt pavement. First, the requirements of the LLSBDP were given, based on which, an LLSBDP structure “EAC + SMA” was proposed. Second, a numerical analysis was performed to evaluate the stress status of the “EAC + SMA” structure. Third, an experimental study was conducted to assess the performance of the pavement material and the pavement structure. Meanwhile, for comparison, the performances of traditional steel bridge deck pavement structure “EAC + EAC” were also studied in the numerical and experimental program. The results showed that, with periodical rehabilitation or reconstruction of the SMA surface layer, the EAC base layer can last for a long life without structural distresses. The proposed structure can meet the requirements of LLSBDP and can be used to extend the service life of the steel bridge deck pavement.
Investigation of Phonon Vibrational Modes in Ga, Al, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn Doped (110)‐Oriented PBCO Thin Films
Authors: Kandel Hom , Iliev Milko , Arndt Nathan , Chen Tar-Pin
Published: June 2020

We performed Raman scattering measurements and a comprehensive study of different types of Raman modes associated with phonon vibrations on pure and Ga, Al, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn doped (110)‐oriented PrBa2Cu3O7 (PBCO) thin films to identify the substitution of Cu (1) or Cu (2) ions in PBCO lattice. In Raman spectrum of (110)–oriented PBCO thin film, we observed four prominent Ag type Raman modes at ∼130 cm−1, ∼150 cm−1, ∼440 cm−1, and ∼520 cm−1 corresponding to Ba, Cu (2), O (2)–O (3) in‐phase, and O (4) apical oxygen vibration along c‐axis, respectively. The Raman mode of pure PBCO at ∼520 cm−1 softened on Ga, Al, Fe, and Co doped PBCO thin films while it remained unaffected on Zn and Ni doped PBCO thin films. We explain these results in the context of their correlation with Cu (1)–O (4) and Cu (2)–O (4) bond lengths. In addition, we observed a new Raman mode near 610 cm−1 in the Raman spectra of Ga, Al, Fe, and Co doped PBCO thin films, an infrared (IR) active mode that became Raman active when the symmetry was broken at the Cu‐O chain site after the partial substitution of Cu (1) ion. Moreover, the “O (2)–O (3) in‐phase Raman mode” near 440 cm−1 remained unaffected in Fe, Co, Ga, and Al doped PBCO thin films but softened in Zn and Ni doped PBCO thin films. Based on these results, we argue that Ga, Al, Fe, and Co ions replace Cu (1) ion at the Cu‐O chain site, break the crystal symmetry, and produce disorder locally, whereas Zn and Ni ions replace Cu (2) ion at the CuO2 plane of the PBCO lattice structure.
Cathepsin K Deficiency Impaired Ischemia-Induced Neovascularization in Aged Mice
Authors: Yue Xueling , Jiang Haiying , Xu Ying , Xia Manli , Cheng Xian-Wu
Published: June 2020

Background. Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cysteine protease cathepsin K (CatK) has been implicated in the process of angiogenesis, but the exact roles of individual CatK in vessel formation during aging are poorly understood. Methods and Results. To study the putative role of CatK in ischemia-induced angiogenesis, we applied a hindlimb ischemia model to aged wild-type (CatK+/+) and CatK-deficient (CatK−/−) mice. A serial laser Doppler blood-flow analysis revealed that the recovery of the ischemic/normal blood-flow ratio in the aged CatK−/−mice was impaired throughout the follow-up period. On postoperative day 14, CatK deficiency had also impaired capillary formation. CatK deficiency reduced the levels of cleaved Notch1, phospho-Akt, and/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins in the ischemic muscles and bone marrow-derived c-Kit+ cells. A flow cytometry analysis revealed that CatK deficiency reduced the numbers of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-like CD31+/c-Kit+ cells in the peripheral blood as well as the ischemic vasculature. In vitro experiments, CatK−/− impaired bone-derived c-Kit+ cellular functions (migration, invasion, proliferation, and tubulogenesis) in aged mice. Our findings demonstrated that aging impaired the ischemia-induced angiogenesis associated with the reductions of the production and mobilization of CD31+/c-Kit+ cells in mice. Conclusions. These findings established that the impairment of ischemia-induced neovascularization in aged CatK−/− mice is due, at least in part, to the reduction of EPC mobilization and the homing of the cells into vasculature that is associated with the impairment of Notch1 signaling activation at advanced ages.
Risk Factors of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Gang , Xu Kailiang , Sun Fangyuan , Sun Yuxia , Kong Ziyuan , Fang Bangjiang
Published: June 2020

Background. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) with high mortality. The purpose of this study is to identify the risk factors associated with MDR by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods. PubMed, EMBASE (via Ovid), and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for studies on the risk factors for MDR bacteria in LRTIs as of November 30, 2019. Literature screening, data abstraction, and quality assessment of the eligible studies were performed independently by two researchers.Results. A total of 3,607 articles were retrieved, of which 21 articles representing 20 cohort studies published in English were included after title/abstract and full-text screening. Among the 21 articles involving 7,650 patients and 1,360 MDR organisms, ten reported the risk factors for MDR Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), ten for MDR GNB, and one for MDR GPB. The meta-analysis results suggested that prior antibiotic treatment, inappropriate antibiotic therapy, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease and cerebral disease, prior MDR and PA infection/colonization, recent hospitalization, longer hospitalization stay, endotracheal tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, nursing home residence, and higher disease severity score were independent risk factors for MDR bacteria.Conclusions. This review identified fourteen clinical factors that might increase the risk of MDR bacteria in patients with LRTIs. Clinicians could take into account these factors when selecting antibiotics for patients and determine whether coverage for MDR bacteria is required. More well-designed studies are needed to confirm the various risk factors for MDR bacteria in the future.
Development of a Care Bundle for Stroke Survivors with Psychological Symptoms: Evidence Summary and Delphi Study
Authors: Chen Yiting , Li Zheng , Peng Jian , Shen Lanjun , Shi Juan
Published: June 2020

Background. Psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety are quite common among stroke survivors and have great negative impacts on patients. Objective. To develop a care bundle through reviewing and integrating care strategies for psychological symptoms after stroke and then improve the bundle by Delphi study. Methods. A structured search of the literature was performed to identify studies evaluating interventions for stroke patients with psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety. Two trained researchers screened papers through the titles, abstracts, and full‐texts independently. All studies complying with the eligibility criteria were appraised using quality assessment tools. Related interventions with evaluated evidence levels formed the preliminary bundle. Afterward, the Delphi study was carried out to improve the bundle, and the experts were contacted by e‐mail. Ten clinical experts specialized in stroke and psychological rehabilitation were recruited. The reliability of experts was represented by the effective response rate and authority coefficient (Cr). The consensus was deemed to be reached when the mean score for item importance is all equal or above 3.50 and the coefficient of variation (CV) is all equal or below 0.20. The Kendall coefficient W test was adopted to evaluate the consensus on agreement among the experts as well. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V.22.0. Results. Through a systematic evidence summary and two‐round Delphi study, the items that were given high scores and got consensus by experts were chosen for the bundle. The iDAME bundle consisted of five interventions eventually: maintaining Interaction, tailored Diet, Acupressure, mindfulness Meditation, and physical Exercise. Conclusion. The development of an evidence‐based and consensus‐based iDAME bundle which integrated western and traditional Chinese medicine intervention was described. Evidence summary made the bundle become scientific, while the Delphi study made it more maneuverable. Based on these results, the bundle would be potentially implemented in stroke patients for their psychological symptoms.
Evaluation of the Level of Salivary sHLA-G in Children Aged 3–5 Years with or without Dental Caries
Authors: Bijani Mansoureh , Mostafazadeh Amrollah , Motallebnejad Mina , Bijani Ali , Pourbagher Roghiyeh , Gharekhani Samaneh
Published: June 2020

Aim and Background. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common type of dental caries affecting children. As dental caries is a bacterial infectious disease, the host immune system parameters including soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) are essential factors in estimating dental caries. The study aimed to investigate and compare the concentration of sHLA-G in the saliva of children with or without dental caries. Methods and Materials. This analytic cross-sectional study was carried out on 83 healthy children aged 3 to 5 years of both genders, who were divided into three groups based on decayed dental surfaces (ds): group 1, caries-free children (CF, n = 29); group 2, children with 1 ≤ ds ≤ 3, 1 ≤ ds ≤ 4, and 1 ≤ ds ≤ 5 for age 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively (ECC, n = 20); and group 3, children with ds ≥ 4, ds ≥ 5, and ds ≥ 6 for age 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively (S-ECC, n = 34). The unstimulated saliva samples were collected, and the salivary sHLA-G concentration was measured by the ELISA kit. The SPSS Statistics v17.0 software and Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square, and Spearman’s rank correlation tests were used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was considered at p<0.05. Results. The mean concentrations of salivary sHLA-G in CF, ECC, and S-ECC groups were 3.18 ± 2.28, 5.64 ± 5.51, and 6.21 ± 6.03 ng/l, respectively (p=0.047), and the mean salivary sHLA-G level was comparatively higher in children with dental caries than that of the CF group (p=0.02), but there is no significant difference between ECC and S-ECC groups (p>0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation test showed a weak positive correlation (p=0.039, r = 0.22), between the level of salivary sHLA-G and dental caries. Conclusion. The present study provides some preliminary evidences on relationship between sHLA-G and dental caries in children.
Totally Implanted Port May Be an Alternative to Centrally Inserted Central Catheter for Measurement of Central Venous Pressure
Authors: Kuo Wei-Ke , Huang Chih-Yu , Yu Chung-Chieh , Hua Chung-Ching
Published: June 2020

Background. A conventional centrally inserted central catheter (CICC) is frequently used to measure central venous pressure (CVP) to monitor the cardiocirculatory status of patients. The tip of the totally implanted port (TIP) is inserted at the same location in the superior vena cava as that of a CICC, and the TIP has been implanted in many patients with cancer. Measurements of CVP using CICC (CICCP) and TIP (TIPP) may be closely related. Material and Methods. Ten patients with TIPs in an intensive care unit were prospectively studied, and 121 records of 4536 paired CICCP and TIPP measurements were collected. A bench test in a static or dynamic setting was performed, and 598 paired measurements taken using CICC and TIP were recorded. Results. The measurement of TIPP was highly correlated with that of CICCP in patients with cancer, especially those in a calm state. Patients with a calm state and ≥3 consecutive identical TIPP were recorded (≥30 seconds), and 90% of the mean difference between CICCP and TIPP was ≤2 mmHg. The pressure measurements recorded using CICC and TIP were identical in both the static and dynamic bench tests. Conclusions. TIP may be an alternative to CICC for measuring CVP.
Selenium Supplementation May Decrease Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Titer via Reducing Oxidative Stress in Euthyroid Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Authors: Tian Xun , Li Ning , Su Rui , Dai Chenyang , Zhang Ruiguo
Published: June 2020

Objective. Selenium, as an antioxidant, has been implicated in the development of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Many studies showed selenium supplementation could decrease thyroid autoantibodies in patients with AIT. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been well determined. Therefore, we performed a clinical study to investigate the possible mechanism of beneficial effects of selenium treatment on AIT patients. Methods. Forty euthyroid patients with AIT were randomized into two groups. Group I was treated with 200 μg/day selenium supplementation, and group II received a placebo over a 3-month period. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured before and 3 months after treatments. Additionally, twenty healthy volunteers also served as a control group for the evaluation of such parameters in basic condition. Results. Totally, 32 patients (group I, n = 18; group II, n = 14) completed the clinical study and were incorporated into the statistics. MDA level was higher and SOD activity and TAC were lower in patients compared to healthy individuals. After 3 months, TPOAb titer significantly decreased within group I (P<0.001) but did not change within group II (P=0.001). There were also no statistically significant changes in TSH and TgAb titers within the two groups (all P>0.05). Additionally, decreased MDA level (from 6.8 ± 1.3 nmol/ml to 4.9 ± 0.7 nmol/ml; P<0.001) and increased TAC (from 10.0 ± 1.9 mmol/l to 12.9 ± 3.1 mmol/l; P=0.003) and SOD activity (from 72.3 ± 10.3 U/ml to 84.3 ± 13.2 U/ml; P=0.007) were simultaneously observed after 3 months’ selenium treatment. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between TAC and TgAb/TPOAb and a positive correlation between MDA and TgAb/TPOAb in AIT patients. Conclusions. Our findings support the hypothesis that selenium treatment could decrease TPOAb titer via enforcing the defense against oxidative stress in euthyroid patients with AIT, which may be a potential underlying mechanism.
Molecular Mechanisms of Ferroptosis and Its Role in Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Tao Ningning , Li Kang , Liu Jingjing
Published: June 2020

Ferroptosis is a new mode of cell death that is characterized by the excessive accumulation of iron and lipid peroxides. It has unique morphological changes and disparate biochemical features and plays an intricate role in many pathophysiological processes. A great deal of researches confirms that ferroptosis can be regulated by numerous molecules through different mechanisms, supporting great potentials for novel pharmacological therapeutics. Recently, several studies reveal that ferroptosis is also closely associated with the initiation and development of respiratory disease. Understanding the specific mechanism, the molecular trait of ferroptosis and their relationship with pulmonary disease could provide significant references regarding effective treatment of these obstinate disease.
Why There Is a Vestibular Sense, or How Metacognition Individuates the Senses
Authors: Garzorz Isabelle , Deroy Ophelia
Published: June 2020

Should the vestibular system be counted as a sense? This basic conceptual question remains surprisingly controversial. While it is possible to distinguish specific vestibular organs, it is not clear that this suffices to identify a genuine vestibular sense because of the supposed absence of a distinctive vestibular personal-level manifestation. The vestibular organs instead contribute to more general multisensory representations, whose name still suggest that they have a distinct ‘sensory’ contribution. The vestibular case shows a good example of the challenge of individuating the senses when multisensory interactions are the norm, neurally, representationally and phenomenally. Here, we propose that an additional metacognitive criterion can be used to single out a distinct sense, besides the existence of specific organs and despite the fact that the information coming from these organs is integrated with other sensory information. We argue that it is possible for human perceivers to monitor information coming from distinct organs, despite their integration, as exhibited and measured through metacognitive performance. Based on the vestibular case, we suggest that metacognitive awareness of the information coming from sensory organs constitutes a new criterion to individuate a sense through both physiological and personal criteria. This new way of individuating the senses accommodates both the specialised nature of sensory receptors as well as the intricate multisensory aspect of neural processes and experience, while maintaining the idea that each sense contributes something special to how we monitor the world and ourselves, at the subjective level.
Intersectionality and Comparative Antidiscrimination Law
Authors: Atrey Shreya
Published: June 2020

This volume in the Brill Research Perspectives in Comparative Discrimination Law addresses intersectionality from the lens of comparative antidiscrimination law. The term ‘intersectionality’ was coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw in 1989. As a field, intersectionality has a longer history, of nearly two hundred years. Meanwhile, comparative antidiscrimination law as a field may be just over a few decades old. Thus, intersectionality’s tryst with antidiscrimination law is a fairly recent one. Developed as a critique of antidiscrimination law, intersectionality has had a significant influence on it. Yet, intersectionality’s logic does not seem to have infiltrated the logic of antidiscrimination law completely. Comparative antidiscrimination law continues to develop with intersectionality in sight, but rarely, in step. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Crenshaw’s seminal article that coined the term in the context of antidiscrimination law, Shreya Atrey explores this irony. Her article provides a meta-narrative of the development of the two fields with the purpose of showing what appear to be orthogonal trajectories.
Discrimination of species of Hapsomela Poinar & Brown (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Authors: YIN ZI-WEI
Published: June 2020

A study of fourteen specimens of the extinct genus Hapsomela Poinar & Brown from Burmese amber revealed three morphospecies, of which two are described as new: Hapsomela minor sp. nov. and H. tibialis sp. nov. The holotype of H. burmitis Poinar & Brown, originally interpreted as a female, is most likely a male. The projections/spines of the pro- and metatibiae are recognized as male sexual characters. The apical parts of the aedeagi of H. burmitis and H. tibialis are illustrated. Six specimens lacking modifications on the legs are listed as unassociated females.
The second genus of the ‘libelluloid’ family Araripephlebiidae (Odonata, Clavilabiata)

Authors: NEL ANDRÉ , POUILLON JEAN-MARC
Published: June 2020

The Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation is a well-known Konservat Lagerstätte with a very rich entomofauna. The Odonata are especially very diverse and extensively studied (Bechly, 1998, 2000, 2007, 2010; Nel et al., 1998; Bechly et al., 2001; Bechly & Ueda, 2002) with representatives of all the extant anisopteran main subgroups. This fauna is especially interesting because it comprises some of the oldest and most ‘basal’ groups of the highly diverse extant ‘libelluloid’ dragonflies, or Clavilabiata Bechly, 1996. Among these, the monospecific family Araripephlebiidae Bechly, 1998 is remarkable in the highly specialized hind wing cubito-anal area that contains a curious supplementary longitudinal vein more or less parallel to AA and CuA, unique among the Odonata. Nevertheless, this family remained rather poorly known by three described specimens, only females.
Red Phosphorescent Platinum(II) Complexes with Tetradentate Pyridine-Containing Ligands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes
Authors: Woo Jeongkyu , Kang Soo Kyung , Han Ju Hee , Kim Ki Ju , Moon Yu Ji , Kim Young Kwan , Yoon Seung Soo
Published: June 2020

Here, red phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes based on tetradentate pyridine-containing lig-ands are studied. To investigate their electroluminescent properties, multilayer devices were fabricated in the following sequence; ITO (180 nm)/4,4′,4″-Tris[2-naphthyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine
(2-TNATA) (30 nm)/N, N′-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,1′-biphenyl)4,4′-diamine (NPB) (20 nm)/ Tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA) (10 nm)/4,4′-Bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (CBP) (20 nm)/Platinum(II) complex (20
nm)/1,3,5-Tris(1-Phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene) (TPBi) (40 nm)/Liq (2 nm)/Al (100 nm). In particularly, a device using platinum(II) complex based on N-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-N-(3-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)benzenamineligand showed the efficient red emission,
with a luminous efficiency, power efficiency, and external quantum efficiency of, and the Commission International de LEclairge (CIE) coordinates of 27.26 cd/A, 10.54 lm/W, 8.50% at 20 mA/cm2, and (0.65, 0.33) at 11.0 V, respectively.
Design and Analysis of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor-Based Capacitorless One-Transistor Embedded Dynamic Random-Access Memory with Double-Polysilicon Layer Using Grain Boundary for Hole Storage
Authors: Jang Won Douk , Yoon Young Jun , Cho Min Su , Jung Jun Hyeok , Lee Sang Ho , Jang Jaewon , Bae Jin-Hyuk , Kang In Man
Published: June 2020

In this work, a capacitorless one-transistor embedded dynamic random-access memory based on a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor with a double-polysilicon layer structure has been proposed and investigated using technology computer-aided design simulation. By using the
grain boundary for hole storage, a higher sensing margin of 4.35 /μA//μm is achieved compared to that without using the grain boundary. Furthermore, the proposed device achieves a superior retention time of 555.77 /μs, which is reasonable from the viewpoint of
its application in embedded systems (>100 /μs), even at a high temperature of 358 K. For higher device reliability, the effect of the grain boundary on the capacitorless one-transistor embedded dynamic random-access memory is analyzed with different trap distributions. The proposed
capacitorless one-transistor embedded dynamic random-access memory cell exhibited superior reliability in terms of retention time (>100 /μs).
Platinum (II) Complexes Based on Tetradentate Pyridine-Containing Ligands for Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Kang Soo Kyung , Woo Jeongkyu , Han Ju Hee , Kim Ki Ju , Lee Hakjun , Kim Young Kwan , Yoon Seung Soo
Published: June 2020

In this study, we designed and synthesized two phosphorescent emitting materials based on tetradentate pyridine-containing ligands. Their photophysical properties were examined for OLEDs and multilayer devices using these materials were fabricated in the following sequence; ITO (180
nm)/4,4′,4″-Tris[2-naphthyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine (2-TNATA) (30 nm)/N,N′-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,1′-biphenyl)4,4′-diamine (NPB) (20 nm)/Tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA) (10 nm)/4,4′-Bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1′-biphenyl(CBP):
5, 8, 15% Platinum (II) complexes (20 nm)/1,3,5-Tris(1-Phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene) (TPBi) (40 nm)/Liq (2 nm)/Al (100 nm). In particularly, a device using Platinum (II) complex based on A/-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-6-phenyl-N-(6-phenylpyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-amine ligand
showed the efficient emission, with luminous efficiency, power efficiency, and external quantum efficiency, and the Commission International de LEclairge (CIE) coordinates of 29.29 cd/A, 9.37 lm/W, 8.66% at 20 mA/cm2, and (0.32, 0.62) at 8.0 V, respectively.
Effects of He/H2 Plasma Treatment on Properties of SiCOH Films Deposited with the 1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7- Octamethyl-3,5-Bis(Trimethylsiloxy) Tetrasiloxane Precursor
Authors: Park Yoonsoo , Lim Hyuna , Kwon Sungyool , Kim Younghyun , Ban Wonjin , Jung Donggeun
Published: June 2020

Low-dielectric-constant SiCOH films fabricated using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) are widely used as inter-metallic dielectric (IMD) layers in interconnects of semiconductor chips. In this work, SiCOH films were deposited with 1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7-octamethyl-3,5-bis(trimethylsiloxy)tetrasiloxane
(OMBTSTS), and plasma treatment was performed by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system with mixture of He and H2. The values of relative dielectric constant (k) of the as-deposited SiCOH films ranged from 2.64 to 4.19. The He/H2 plasma treatment led to a reduction
of the k values of the SiCOH films from 2.64–4.19 to 2.07–3.94. To investigate the impacts of the He/H2 plasma treatment on the SiCOH films, the chemical compositions and structures of the as-deposited and treated the SiCOH films were compared by Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate that the k value of the SiCOH films was decreased, there was a proportional increase in pore-related Si–O–Si structure, which is commonly called the cage structure with lager angle than 144°, after He/H2
plasma treatment. The He/H2 plasma treatment was considered to have reduced the k value by forming pores that could be represented by the cage structure. On the other hand, the leakage current density of the SiCOH films was slightly degraded by He/H2 plasma treatment,
however, this was tolerable for IMD application. Concludingly the He/H2 plasma treated SiCOH film has the lowest relative dielectric constant (k~2.08) when the most highly hydrocarbon removal and cage structure formation increased.
The Effect of Crystal Structure on the Growth of Nanotubular Oxide Layers Formed on Ti–Ni Alloys
Authors: Kim Min-Su , Choi Su-Young , Nam Tae-Hyun
Published: June 2020

Electrochemical anodization of Ti–Ni alloys with different Ni composition was carried out in an ethylene glycol base electrolyte under the various conditions to investigate the effect of crystal structure and chemical composition of the Ti–Ni alloy. X-ray diffraction patterns
indicated that Ti-48.0 Ni and Ti-49.0Ni alloys were the martensitic phase at room temperature, while Ti 50.6Ni and 51.0Ni were the austenitic phase. Self-organized nanotubular oxide layers were formed on four Ti–Ni alloys. The thickness of oxide layers increased with increasing anodization
time and applied voltages. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that the nanotubular oxide layers consist of two kinds of oxides, one of which is Titanium oxide and the other is Nickel oxide. These results indicate that the growth of nanotubular oxide layer formed Ti–Ni alloys
are not affected by crystal structure, but by applied voltage and anodization time.
Differential Photosensor Activities for the L-Cysteine and L-Serine Capped ZnS:Mn Nanocrystals in the Detection of Divalent Transition Metal Ions in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Choi Mi , Hwang Cheong-Soo
Published: June 2020

Colloidal ZnS:Mn nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized in water by capping the NC surface with conventional amino acids: L-cysteine (Cys) and L-serine (Ser) molecules, which have very similar structures but different terminal functional groups. The optical properties were investigated
by using UV-Visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL spectra for both ZnS:Mn-Cys and ZnS:Mn-Ser NCs showed broad emission peaks at 590 nm. The measured average particle size from the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images were 4.38 nm (ZnS:Mn-Cys) and
5.57 nm (ZnS:Mn-Ser), which were also supported by Debye-Scherrer calculations. In addition, the surface charge of the NCs in aqueous solutions were measured using zeta-particle size analyzer spectroscopy, which showed formation of negatively charged surface for the ZnS:Mn-Cys (−43.93
mV) and ZnS:Mn-Ser (−8.21 mV) NCs in water. In this present study those negatively charged NCs were applied as photosensors for the detection of specific divalent transition metal cations in aqueous solution at the same condition. Consequently, the ZnS:Mn-Cys and ZnS:Mn-Ser NCs showed
totally different photosensor activities upon the addition of first-row divalent transition metal ions. The former NCs showed luminescence quenching for most added metal ions except for Zn (II) ions; whereas the latter NCs showed exclusive quenching effect for Cu (II) ions at the same conditions.
These results suggested that those NCs can be applied as Zn2+ and Cu2+ ion sensors in water.