bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Health‐Promoting Lifestyle Modification Education on Knowledge, Attitude, and Quality of Life of Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Rathnayake Nirmala , Alwis Gayani , Lenora Janaka , Mampitiya Iresha , Lekamwasam Sarath
Published: May 2020

Limited knowledge and negative attitudes about menopause among postmenopausal women (PMW) create a multitude of health‐related issues leading to impaired quality of life (QOL) among them. This study evaluated the impact of a health‐promoting lifestyle education intervention (HPLEI) on knowledge, attitude, and QOL in a group of PMW in Sri Lanka. A quasi‐experimental study was conducted with 72 PMW, matched for sociodemographic status of the community from two geographically separated areas in Galle, and they were allocated to intervention (n = 37) and control (n = 35) groups. HPLEI is comprised of health education sessions focused on postmenopausal health management with lifestyle modifications provided only for the intervention group for 8 weeks and follow‐up for 6 months. The control group was not given any planned education programme and was allowed to proceed with the usual lifestyle during this period. Knowledge, attitude, menopause‐specific QOL (MENQOL), and overall QOL were evaluated in both groups with self‐administered questionnaires at the baseline, after 8 weeks of education sessions and at the end of 6 months of follow‐up. The mean (SD) ages of the intervention and control groups were 54.6 (4.5) and 56.5 (3.4) (p = 0.06) years, respectively. All evaluated variable scores were not different between the intervention and control groups (p > 0.05) at the baseline. In the intervention group, knowledge (mean ± SD; 21.70 ± 1.05) and attitude (mean ± SD; 44.02 ± 5.33) scores increased at the end (p < 0.001). In the control group, a marginal increase in all dimensions of knowledge scores (mean ± SD; 9.71 ± 2.21) and unchanged attitude scores (mean ± SD; 23.91 ± 7.56) were seen. All MENQOL scores decreased during the follow‐up in the intervention group (mean ± SD; 138.51 ± 18.47) (p < 0.001) except the sexual domain (p = 0.32). MENQOL scores were increased in the control group (mean ± SD; 92.05 ± 28.87) (p < 0.001) with time. Overall QOL scores increased (mean ± SD; 74.85 ± 9.71) (p < 0.001) in the intervention group during the study period and in the control group overall QOL (mean ± SD; 51.03 ± 13.61) showed a reduction (p < 0.001) at the end. Health education focused on health‐promoting lifestyle modifications was effective in improving knowledge, attitude, MENQOL, and overall QOL of PMW.
Myocardial Fluid Balance and Pathophysiology of Myocardial Edema in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Zahara Rita , Santoso Anwar , Barano Adhiala Z.
Published: May 2020

Myocardial edema is one of the most common complications of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) that is linearly related to many coronary artery diseases. Myocardial edema can cause several consequences including systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, arrhythmia, and cardiac tissue fibrosis that can increase mortality in CABG. Understanding myocardial fluid balance and tissue and systemic fluid regulation is crucial in order to ultimately link how coronary artery bypass grafting can cause myocardial edema in such a setting. The identification of susceptible patients by using imaging modalities is still challenging. Future studies about the technique of imaging modalities, examination protocols, prevention, and treatment of myocardial edema should be carried out, in order to limit myocardial edema occurrence and prevent complications.
FITC‐Labeled Alendronate as an In Vivo Bone pH Sensor
Authors: Li Yuzhou , Fu Yiru , Zhang He , Song Jinlin , Yang Sheng
Published: May 2020

pH is a critical indicator of bone physiological function and disease status; however, noninvasive and real‐time sensing of bone pH in vivo has been a challenge. Here, we synthesized a bone pH sensor by labeling alendronate with the H+‐sensitive dye fluorescein isothiocyanate (Aln‐FITC). Aln‐FITC showed selective affinity for hydroxyapatite (HAp) rather than other calcium materials. An in vivo biodistribution study showed that Aln‐FITC can be rapidly and specifically delivered to rat bones after caudal vein injection, and the fluorescence lasted for at least 12 h. The fluorescence intensity of Aln‐FITC binding to HAp linearly decreased when the pH changed from 6 to 12. This finding was further confirmed on bone blocks and perfused bone when the pH changed from 6.8 to 7.4, indicating unique pH‐responsive characteristics in the bone microenvironment. Aln‐FITC was then preliminarily applied to evaluate the changes in bone pH in a nude mouse acidosis model. Our results demonstrated that Aln‐FITC might have the potential for minimally invasive and real‐time in vivo bone pH sensing in preclinical studies of bone healing, metabolism, and cancer mechanisms.
Exploring the Novel Continuum-Cancellation Leal-Method for the Approximate Solution of Nonlinear Differential Equations
Authors: Vazquez-Leal Hector
Published: May 2020

This work presents the novel continuum-cancellation Leal-method (CCLM) for the approximation of nonlinear differential equations. CCLM obtains accurate approximate analytical solutions resorting to a process that involves the continuum cancellation (CC) of the residual error of multiple selected points; such CC process occurs during the successive derivatives of the differential equation resulting in an accuracy increase of the inner region of the CC-points and, thus, extends the domain of convergence and accuracy. Users of CCLM can propose their own trial functions to construct the approximation as long as they are continuous in the CC-points, that is, it can be polynomials, exponentials, and rational polynomials, among others. In addition, we show how the process to obtain the approximations is straightforward and simple to achieve and capable to generate compact, and easy, computable expressions. A convergence control is proposed with the aim to establish a solid scheme to obtain optimal CCLM approximations. Furthermore, we present the application of CCLM in several examples: Thomas–Fermi singular equation for the neutral atom, magnetohydrodynamic flow of blood in a porous channel singular boundary-valued problem, and a system of initial condition differential equations to model the dynamics of cocaine consumption in Spain. We present a computational convergence study for the proposed approximations resulting in a tendency of the RMS error to zero as the approximation order increases for all case studies. In addition, a computation time analysis (using Fortran) for the proposed approximations presents average times from 3.5 nanoseconds to 7 nanoseconds for all the case studies. Thence, CCML approximations can be used for intensive computing simulations.
Coordinated Beamforming for Secure Transmission in the Downlink Multicell MIMO Systems
Authors: Bai Juan , Dong Tao , Zhang Qin , Wang Shiqiang , Lin Yanhong
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we consider secure transmission in the downlink of a multicell multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system with M cells; each cell consists of an N-antenna base station (BS) and K single-antenna users. Coordinated beamforming (CBf) is employed for secrecy enhancement. For CBf, the BSs can jointly design their respective beamformers to control intercell interference and information leakage. Based on regularized channel inversion (RCI) precoding structures, we derive the concise formulas for the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) for the legitimate users and the colluding malicious users and the achievable secrecy sum rate for the CBf. Furthermore, we obtain a novel closed-form expression of the secrecy sum in the large-system regime where N and K tend to infinity with a fixed ratio β=K/N. Based on the large-system regime result, the regularization parameter is optimized to maximize the secrecy sum rate. It shows that the optimal regularization parameter decreases with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and stays constant at high SNR if β>1/M. Compared with single-cell processing (SCP) without BS cooperation, simulation results show that the secrecy performance can be significantly enhanced by exploiting CBf. The analytical results are validated with the finite-size system by simulation.
Thrombolysis of Postoperative Acute Pulmonary Embolism with a Thrombus in Transit
Authors: Mardinger Cynthia , Boiteau Paul J. E. , Kortbeek John B.
Published: May 2020

Right heart thrombus in transit clot (RHTT) associated with a pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a rare but potentially fatal diagnosis. Early diagnosis and immediate intervention are crucial. This report describes the case of a healthy, physically active 32-year-old female who presented 19 days postoperatively, following an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and partial lateral meniscectomy with a saddle PE, RHTT, and right ventricular (RV) strain. The patient received half of the standard dose of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) in combination with anticoagulation and survived. Case reports of RHTT will inform future studies designed to evaluate whether and when thrombolysis should be administered.
An Integrated Approach for Preventing Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers: Two Etiologies with Distinct and Shared Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
Authors: El-Bayoumy Karam , Christensen Neil D. , Hu Jiafen , Viscidi Raphael , Stairs Douglas B. , Walter Vonn , Chen Kun-Ming , Sun Yuan-Wan , Muscat Joshua E. , Richie John P.
Published: May 2020

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was the 7th most common malignancy worldwide in 2018 and despite therapeutic advances, the overall survival rate for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC; ∼50%) has remained unchanged for decades. The most common types are OSCC and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC, survival rate ∼85%). Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor of HNSCC. In the developed world, the incidence of OSCC is declining as a result of tobacco cessation programs. However, OPSCC, which is also linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is on the rise and now ranks as the most common HPV-related cancer. The current state of knowledge indicates that HPV-associated disease differs substantially from other types of HNSCC and distinct biological differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC have been identified. Although risk factors have been extensively discussed in the literature, there are multiple clinically relevant questions that remain unanswered and even unexplored. Moreover, existing approaches (e.g., tobacco cessation, vaccination, and chemoprevention) to manage and control this disease remain a challenge. Thus, in this review, we discuss potential future basic research that can assist in a better understanding of disease pathogenesis which may lead to novel and more effective preventive strategies for OSCC and OPSCC.
Antibiotics to Prevent Relapse of Adjustable Gastric Balloon Hyperinflation: Feasible for Balloon Maintenance?
Authors: Usuy Eduardo , Silva Marco , dos Passos Galvão Neto Manoel , Grecco Eduardo , Ferreira de Souza Thiago , de Quadros Luiz Gustavo
Published: May 2020

The placement of an intragastric balloon (IGB) plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of obesity. The authors describe the cases of 2 female patients, 34 and 62 years old, who were submitted to the implantation of a Spatz3® IGB to treat obesity. Ten to fourteen weeks later, the patients presented complaints of epigastric pain, vomiting, and abdominal distension. A bulging of the upper abdominal wall was noticed upon physical examination. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed the clinical suspicion of IGB hyperinflation. It was decided to remove the 500 mL of saline solution with methylene blue from inside the balloon. During the same procedure, the IGB was refilled with 500 mL of fresh saline solution, methylene blue, and empiric β-lactam antibiotic. The extracted content of the hyperinflated IGB was sent for microbiological culturing and was found to be positive for Streptococcus viridans in one of the cases. In the other case, the culture examination was negative, and after 8 weeks, the patient presented again with hyperinflation of the IGB. It was then decided to substitute the IGB with another balloon; the procedure was uneventful. The content of the removed IGB was sent for microbiological testing, and colonization by Candida tropicaliswas confirmed. This is a rare but potentially serious complication of IGB placement. Randomized trials are needed to clarify the role of antibiotics and antifungals in primary and secondary prophylaxis against IGB hyperinflation.
Milk Exosomes Prevent Intestinal Inflammation in a Genetic Mouse Model of Ulcerative Colitis: A Pilot Experiment
Authors: Stremmel Wolfgang , Weiskirchen Ralf , Melnik Bodo C.
Published: May 2020

Background: Milk is rich in nutrients and anabolic mediators rendering it essential for postnatal growth and metabolic programming. However, in adults, excessive consumption of milk is controversial as civilization disorders such as diabetes or prostate cancer may be promoted. A cytoprotective effect of milk could be utilized in inflammatory conditions, that is, chronic colitis. Objective: To evaluate the effect of bovine milk exosomes on intestinal inflammation in a genetic mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Methods: Intestinal-specific kindlin 2 knockout (KO) mice were exposed for 4 days to tamoxifen for induction of an ulcerative colitis phenotype. At the same time 4 other kindlin 2 KO mice were exposed to 33 μg/g cow milk derived exosomes in PBS by oral gavage. Both groups were compared to untreated wild-type controls. Results: Milk exosomes prevented the appearance of a severe ulcerative phenotype. The macroscopic colitis score dropped from a mean of 3.33 in untreated mice to 0.75 index points (p < 0.01) in exosome-treated mice, which included significant improvement of the subscores of stool improvement and colon weight and length. Treated mice featured a noninflamed appearance of the intestinal mucosa. Key Message: Milk exosomes have cytoprotective/anti-inflammatory activity in a genetic mouse model of ulcerative colitis. The mechanisms behind this need to be elucidated. This pilot study needs verification before a therapeutic strategy is developed.
Non-Invasive Colorectal Cancer Screening: An Overview
Authors: Tepus Melanie , Yau Tung On
Published: May 2020

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) follows a protracted stepwise progression, from benign adenomas to malignant adenocarcinomas. If detected early, 90% of deaths are preventable. However, CRC is asymptomatic in its early-stage and arises sporadically within the population. Therefore, CRC screening is a public health priority. Summary: Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is gradually replacing guaiac faecal occult blood test and is now the most commonly used screening tool for CRC screening program globally. However, FIT is still limited by the haemoglobin degradation and the intermittent bleeding patterns, so that one in four CRC cases are still diagnosed in a late stage, leading to poor prognosis. A multi-target stool DNA test (Cologuard, a combination of NDRG4 and BMP3 DNA methylation, KRAS mutations, and haemoglobin) and a plasma SEPT9 DNA methylation test (Epi proColon) are non-invasive tools also approved by the US FDA, but those screening approaches are not cost-effective, and the detection accuracies remain unsatisfactory. In addition to the approved tests, faecal-/blood-based microRNA and CRC-related gut microbiome screening markers are under development, with work ongoing to find the best combination of molecular biomarkers which maximise the screening sensitivity and specificity. Key Message: Maximising the detection accuracy with a cost-effective approach for non-invasive CRC screening is urgently needed to further reduce the incidence of CRC and associated mortality rates.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing to Dissect the Immunological Network of Autoimmune Myocarditis
Authors: Hua Xiumeng , Hu Gang , Hu Qingtao , Chang Yuan , Hu Yiqing , Gao Linlin , Chen Xiao , Yang Ping-Chang , Zhang Yu , Li Mingyao , Song Jiangping
Published: May 2020

Background:

Myocarditis can develop into dilated cardiomyopathy, which may require heart transplantation. The immunological network of myocarditis phases remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the immunological network during the transition from myocarditis to cardiomyopathy and to identify the genes contributing to the inflammatory response to myocarditis.

Methods:

Mice were treated with myosin heavy chain-α peptides to generate an experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of
Cd45
+
cells extracted from mouse hearts during different EAM phases, including normal control, acute inflammatory, subacute inflammatory, and myopathy phases. Human heart tissues were collected from the surgically removed hearts of patients who had undergone heart transplantation.

Results:

We identified 26 cell subtypes among 34 665 cells. Macrophages constituted the main immune cell population at all disease phases (>60%), and an inflammation-associated macrophage cluster was identified in which the expression of
Hif1a
-regulated genes was upregulated. The neutrophil population was increased after the induction of EAM, and neutrophils then released
Il-1
to participate in the EAM process. T cells were observed at the highest percentage at the subacute inflammatory phase. T-helper 17 cells, in which the expression of
Hif1a
-regulated genes was upregulated, constituted the main T-cell population detected at the acute inflammatory phase, whereas regulatory T cells were the main T-cell population detected at the subacute inflammatory phase, and γδ T cells releasing
Il-17
were the main T-cell population observed at the myopathy phase. Moreover, the
Hif1a
expression level correlated with the extent of inflammation. In addition, PX-478 could alleviate the inflammatory responses of the different EAM phases. Last,
HIF1A
was expressed at higher levels in patients with acute autoimmune myocarditis than in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and healthy control subjects.

Conclusions:

We present here a comprehensive single-cell landscape of the cardiac immune cells in different EAM phases. In addition, we elucidate the contribution of
Hif1a
to the inflammatory response through the regulation of immune cell activity, particularly of macrophage cluster 2 and T-helper 17 cells. Moreover, an
Hif1a
inhibitor alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration of the EAM model and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the clinic.
Acute Heart Failure in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in the Context of Global SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Belhadjer Zahra , Méot Mathilde , Bajolle Fanny , Khraiche Diala , Legendre Antoine , Abakka Samya , Auriau Johanne , Grimaud Marion , Oualha Mehdi , Beghetti Maurice , Wacker Julie , Ovaert Caroline , Hascoet Sebastien , Selegny Maëlle , Malekzadeh-Milani Sophie , Maltret Alice , Bosser Gilles , Giroux Nathan , Bonnemains Laurent , Bordet Jeanne , Di Filippo Sylvie , Mauran Pierre , Falcon-Eicher Sylvie , Thambo Jean-Benoît , Lefort Bruno , Moceri Pamela , Houyel Lucile , Renolleau Sylvain , Bonnet Damien
Published: May 2020

Background:

Cardiac injury and myocarditis have been described in adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children is typically minimally symptomatic. We report a series of febrile pediatric patients with acute heart failure potentially associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Methods:

Over a 2-month period, contemporary with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in France and Switzerland, we retrospectively collected clinical, biological, therapeutic, and early outcomes data in children who were admitted to pediatric intensive care units in 14 centers for cardiogenic shock, left ventricular dysfunction, and severe inflammatory state.

Results:

Thirty-five children were identified and included in the study. Median age at admission was 10 years (range, 2–16 years). Comorbidities were present in 28%, including asthma and overweight. Gastrointestinal symptoms were prominent. Left ventricular ejection fraction was <30% in one-third; 80% required inotropic support with 28% treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Inflammation markers were suggestive of cytokine storm (interleukin-6 median, 135 pg/mL) and macrophage activation (D-dimer median, 5284 ng/mL). Mean BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) was elevated (5743 pg/mL). Thirty-one of 35 patients (88%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection by polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal swab or serology. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin, with adjunctive steroid therapy used in one-third. Left ventricular function was restored in the 25 of 35 of those discharged from the intensive care unit. No patient died, and all patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were successfully weaned.

Conclusions:

Children may experience an acute cardiac decompensation caused by severe inflammatory state after SARS-CoV-2 infection (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children). Treatment with immunoglobulin appears to be associated with recovery of left ventricular systolic function.
Atrial Cardiopathy in the Absence of Atrial Fibrillation Increases Risk of Ischemic Stroke, Incident Atrial Fibrillation, and Mortality and Improves Stroke Risk Prediction
Authors: Edwards Jodi D. , Healey Jeff S. , Fang Jiming , Yip Kathy , Gladstone David J.
Published: May 2020

Background

Atrial fibrillation (
AF
) is a major, often undetected, cardiac cause of stroke. Markers of atrial cardiopathy, including left atrial enlargement (
LAE
) or excessive atrial ectopy (
EAE
) increase the risk of
AF
and have shown associations with stroke. We sought to determine whether these markers improve stroke risk prediction beyond traditional vascular risk factors (eg
CHA
2
DS
2
‐
VAS
c score).

Methods and Results

Retrospective longitudinal cohort of 32 454 consecutive community‐dwelling adults aged ≥65 years referred for outpatient echocardiogram or Holter in Ontario, Canada (2010–2017). Moderate‐severe
LAE
was defined as men >47 mm and women >43 mm, and
EAE
was defined as >30
APB
s per hour. Cause‐specific competing risks Cox proportional hazards used to estimate risk of ischemic stroke (primary), incident
AF
, and death (secondary). C‐statistics, incremental discrimination improvement and net reclassification were used to compare
CHA
2
DS
2
‐
VAS
c with
LAE
and
EAE
to
CHA
2
DS
2
‐
VAS
c alone. Each 10 mm increase in left atrial diameter increased 2‐ and 5‐year adjusted cause‐specific stroke hazard almost 2‐fold (
LAE
: 2‐year hazard ratio (HR), 1.72;
P
=0.007; 5‐year
HR
, 1.87;
P
<0.0001), while
EAE
showed no significant associations with stroke (2‐year
HR
, 1.00;
P
=0.99; 5‐year
HR,
1.08,
P
=0.70), adjusting for incident
AF
. Stroke risk estimation improved significantly at 2 (C‐statistics=0.68–0.75,
P=
0.008) and 5 years (C‐statistics=0.70–0.76,
P
=0.003) with
LAE
and
EAE
.

Conclusions

LAE
was independently associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in the absence of
AF
and both
LAE
and
EAE
improved stroke risk prediction. These findings have implications for stroke risk stratification,
AF
screening, and stroke prevention before the onset of
AF
.
SARS-CoV-2 and Stroke in a New York Healthcare System
Authors: Yaghi Shadi , Ishida Koto , Torres Jose , Mac Grory Brian , Raz Eytan , Humbert Kelley , Henninger Nils , Trivedi Tushar , Lillemoe Kaitlyn , Alam Shazia , Sanger Matthew , Kim Sun , Scher Erica , Dehkharghani Seena , Wachs Michael , Tanweer Omar , Volpicelli Frank , Bosworth Brian , Lord Aaron , Frontera Jennifer
Published: May 2020

Background and Purpose:

With the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the current worldwide pandemic, there is mounting evidence that patients affected by the illness may develop clinically significant coagulopathy with thromboembolic complications including ischemic stroke. However, there is limited data on the clinical characteristics, stroke mechanism, and outcomes of patients who have a stroke and COVID-19.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with ischemic stroke who were hospitalized between March 15, 2020, and April 19, 2020, within a major health system in New York, the current global epicenter of the pandemic. We compared the clinical characteristics of stroke patients with a concurrent diagnosis of COVID-19 to stroke patients without COVID-19 (contemporary controls). In addition, we compared patients to a historical cohort of patients with ischemic stroke discharged from our hospital system between March 15, 2019, and April 15, 2019 (historical controls).

Results:

During the study period in 2020, out of 3556 hospitalized patients with diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, 32 patients (0.9%) had imaging proven ischemic stroke. Cryptogenic stroke was more common in patients with COVID-19 (65.6%) as compared to contemporary controls (30.4%,
P
=0.003) and historical controls (25.0%,
P
<0.001). When compared with contemporary controls, COVID-19 positive patients had higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and higher peak D-dimer levels. When compared with historical controls, COVID-19 positive patients were more likely to be younger men with elevated troponin, higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Patients with COVID-19 and stroke had significantly higher mortality than historical and contemporary controls.

Conclusions:

We observed a low rate of imaging-confirmed ischemic stroke in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Most strokes were cryptogenic, possibly related to an acquired hypercoagulability, and mortality was increased. Studies are needed to determine the utility of therapeutic anticoagulation for stroke and other thrombotic event prevention in patients with COVID-19.
Nelisiwe Xaba: Dancing between South Africa and the Global North
Authors: Manning Susan
Published: May 2020

Nelisiwe Xaba has spent her career creating and touring works between South Africa and the Global North. Signature elements of her work include small-scale formats (solos, duets, trios), the use of objects that blur the distinction between costume and set, the repurposing of everyday materials, and the deliberate play with the performer’s and spectators’ gaze. In this cluster of articles writers based in South Africa, Germany, and the US explore how her works take on different meanings for different spectators in different cultural contexts.
Transplanted Exoticism
Authors: Hayes Edwards Brent
Published: May 2020

Nelisiwe Xaba’s Fremde Tänze is a remarkable exercise in transplanted exoticism. Its trenchant critique of German imaginings of racialized and eroticized Others unavoidably took on different meanings when Xaba performed it in Chicago in the fall of 2017.
Inhabiting Inherited Structures of Representation
Authors: Young Hershini
Published: May 2020

Looking at how Tanztheater traditionally exploited the notion of Orientalism and Primitivism reveals how Nelisiwe Xaba refocuses the audience’s gaze, drawing attention to the role that representational modes have played in consolidating racism.
Test-retest reliability of the human functional connectome over consecutive days: identifying highly reliable portions and assessing the impact of methodological choices
Authors: Tozzi Leonardo , Fleming Scott L. , Taylor Zachary D. , Raterink Cooper D. , Williams Leanne M.
Published: May 2020

Countless studies have advanced our understanding of the human brain and its organization by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to derive network representations of human brain function. However, we do not know to what extent these “functional connectomes” are reliable over time. In a large public sample of healthy participants (N = 833) scanned on two consecutive days, we assessed the test-retest reliability of fMRI functional connectivity and the consequences on reliability of three common sources of variation in analysis workflows: atlas choice, global signal regression, and thresholding. By adopting the intraclass correlation coefficient as a metric, we demonstrate that only a small portion of the functional connectome is characterized by good (6–8%) to excellent (0.08–0.14%) reliability. Connectivity between prefrontal, parietal, and temporal areas is especially reliable, but also average connectivity within known networks has good reliability. In general, while unreliable edges are weak, reliable edges are not necessarily strong. Methodologically, reliability of edges varies between atlases, global signal regression decreases reliability for networks and most edges (but increases it for some), and thresholding based on connection strength reduces reliability. Focusing on the reliable portion of the connectome could help quantify brain trait-like features and investigate individual differences using functional neuroimaging.
Response of specialized birds to reed-bed aging in a Mediterranean wetland: Significant changes in bird biomass after two decades
Authors: Battisti Corrado , Grosso Giacomo , Ioni Susanna , Zullo Francesco , Cerfolli Fulvio
Published: May 2020

Traditional fish farming carried out in wetland is declining in many countries of Mediterranean Europe. This decline can lead to a lack of management of the reeds that tend to age progressively. In this work we compared, through a wide temporal range (2001-2019), the densities of four habitat-specialized birds (warblers), strictly linked to Phragmites australis reed-beds in a coastal wetland on the Tyrrhenian central Italy. In this wetland, following the abandonment of fish farming, the average density of reeds significantly decreased, and both the average reed diameter and habitat heterogeneity showed a significant increase. Comparing 2001 to 2019, we observed an increase in the total density of breeding warblers. The two species of Acrocephalus (scirpaceus and arundinaceus), and Cettia cetti showed a marked increase in density, while Cisticola juncidis showed a clear decrease. More particularly, a significant increase in Cettia cetti (p < 0.001) and a decrease in Cisticola juncidis (p < 0.05) emerged when comparing bird biomasses. Species diversity and evenness were more high in 2019 than in 2001. Our data suggest that: (i) these species could be considered indicators of long-term reed-bed changes and (ii) their biomass may be used as a more effective metric when compared to abundance.
Detection of Kappa Light Chain Protein in Human Urine by Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Zhang Lulu , Zhang Hao , Huang Yafeng , Zhang Jing , Chen Xing , Chen Yuanyuan , Miao Guijun , Liu Luyao , Yu Duli , Qiu Xianbo , Cui Dafu
Published: May 2020

Ingredients of urine proteins are complex, and different types of urinary proteins are usually associated with different diseases. Light chain proteins are related to neoplastic diseases, which might be misdiagnosed as nephropathia. Accurate detection of urine light chain proteins in
urine is very important for early diagnosis of multiple myeloma and other diseases. Traditional methods for detecting urinary light chain proteins are of low sensitivities, complex processes and high costs. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a sensitive, real-time and label-free method which
is suitable for studying protein-molecule interactions. In this paper, SPR methods were used to detect kappa light chain proteins through direct assay method. Kappa light chain protein antibodies with a pH value of 5.0 were successfully immobilized to the sensor chip in one channel while another
was used as a reference channel. Detection limit of kappa light chain proteins was estimated to be 0.1 μg/mL through direct assay method in standard solution. Healthy and patient human urine samples were also tested, which showed different SPR response signals. It indicated that
SPR could be used as a fast and sensitive method in quantitative detection of urinary kappa proteins.
Expression of the Proteins Ski and Akradia in the Retinal Tissue of Diabetic Rats
Authors: Gou Wenjun , Li Heng , Yang Xu , Fang Yanhong , Long Bo , Liu Siyuan
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of Ski and Arkadia protein expression in the retina of diabetic rats, as well as to explore the relationships between Ski, Arkadia, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) to provide theoretical insights into its pathogenesis. Forty healthy male
Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: the normal control group, and the DM (diabetes mellitus, DM) group. A DM rat model was established through a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg · kg–1 STZ. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed at the 8th and
12th weeks after model generation; the left eyeball of each rat was removed completely and made into eye cups. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression of Ski and Arkadia in the retina of each rat. In the normal control group, Ski was highly expressed, while Arkadia was
either not expressed or weakly expressed. At weeks 8 and 12, the expression of Arkadia in the retina of the rats in the DM group was significantly higher than in those of the normal control group (P <0.01), whereas the expression of Ski was significantly lower than in normal controls
(P <0.01). In retinal tissue of diabetic rats, the ubiquitin proteasome pathway can degrade the expression of the Ski protein and the E3 ligase Arkadia is involved in the ubiquitination of Ski proteins.
Nanofluid Viscoelastic Fluid Flow with Thermophoresis
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Gamal M. , El-Fayez Faiza M. N.
Published: May 2020

We in this study investigated Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects embedded in a porous medium flow with heat transfer generation and chemical reaction on a stretching sheet and Jeffrey fluid model for viscoelastic nanofluid under the effects of magnetic field and thermal radiation.
The nanofluid was assumed incompressible and the flow was laminar, with base fluid containing the following types of nanoparticles: Copper (Cu), Aluminum (Al2O3) and Titanium Oxide (TiO2). The governing continuity, momentum, and energy equations for the nanofluid
were reduced using similarity transformation and converted into a system of non-Linear ordinary differential equations which were solved numerically. Numerical solutions were also obtained for the velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concentration fields, as well as for skin friction coefficient
and Nusselt number. Finally, numerical values for the physical quantities, such as local skin-friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, local Sherwood number and wall deposition flux are herein presented in tabular form.
Best Practice Strategies for Process Studies Designed to Improve Climate Modeling
Authors: Sprintall Janet , Coles Victoria J. , Reed Kevin A. , Butler Amy H. , Foltz Gregory R. , Penny Stephen G. , Seo Hyodae
Published: May 2020

Process studies are designed to improve our understanding of poorly described physical processes that are central to the behavior of the climate system. They typically include coordinated efforts of intensive field campaigns in the atmosphere and/or ocean to collect a carefully planned set of in situ observations. Ideally the observational portion of a process study is paired with numerical modeling efforts that lead to better representation of a poorly simulated or previously neglected physical process in operational and research models. This article provides a framework of best practices to help guide scientists in carrying out more productive, collaborative, and successful process studies. Topics include the planning and implementation of a process study and the associated web of logistical challenges; the development of focused science goals and testable hypotheses; and the importance of assembling an integrated and compatible team with a diversity of social identity, gender, career stage, and scientific background. Guidelines are also provided for scientific data management, dissemination, and stewardship. Above all, developing trust and continual communication within the science team during the field campaign and analysis phase are key for process studies. We consider a successful process study as one that ultimately will improve our quantitative understanding of the mechanisms responsible for climate variability and enhance our ability to represent them in climate models.
Why Does the Deep Western Boundary Current “Leak” around Flemish Cap?
Authors: Solodoch Aviv , McWilliams James C. , Stewart Andrew L. , Gula Jonathan , Renault Lionel
Published: May 2020

The southward-flowing deep limb of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is composed of both the deep western boundary current (DWBC) and interior pathways. The latter are fed by “leakiness” from the DWBC in the Newfoundland Basin. However, the cause of this leakiness has not yet been explored mechanistically. Here the statistics and dynamics of the DWBC leakiness in the Newfoundland Basin are explored using two float datasets and a high-resolution numerical model. The float leakiness around Flemish Cap is found to be concentrated in several areas (hot spots) that are collocated with bathymetric curvature and steepening. Numerical particle advection experiments reveal that the Lagrangian mean velocity is offshore at these hot spots, while Lagrangian variability is minimal locally. Furthermore, model Eulerian mean streamlines separate from the DWBC to the interior at the leakiness hot spots. This suggests that the leakiness of Lagrangian particles is primarily accomplished by an Eulerian mean flow across isobaths, though eddies serve to transfer around 50% of the Lagrangian particles to the leakiness hot spots via chaotic advection, and rectified eddy transport accounts for around 50% of the offshore flow along the southern face of Flemish Cap. Analysis of the model’s energy and potential vorticity budgets suggests that the flow is baroclinically unstable after separation, but that the resulting eddies induce modest modifications of the mean potential vorticity along streamlines. These results suggest that mean uncompensated leakiness occurs mostly through inertial separation, for which a scaling analysis is presented. Implications for leakiness of other major boundary current systems are discussed.
Preliminary Study of Land–Sea Microphysics Associated with the East Asian Summer Monsoon Rainband and Its Application to GPM DPR
Authors: Zhang Yun , Wu Zuhang , Zhang Lifeng , Xie Yanqiong , Huang Yanbin , Zheng Hepeng
Published: May 2020

Raindrop size distribution (DSD) characteristics during the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) were studied, using measurements from three OTT Particle Size Velocity (Parsivel) disdrometers in Nanjing, Chuzhou, and the northwestern Pacific (NWP), respectively. Western and eastern parts of the monsoon rainband were separated for a comparative study of the DSD variability. Along with disdrometer data, GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR), Fengyun-2E (FY-2E), MODIS, GPCP, ERA-Interim, and in situ radiosonde datasets are combined to illustrate the possible microphysical mechanisms for the significant DSD variability in two parts, in terms of convective intensity, cloud structure, and aerosol effects. The DSD characteristics of six rain-rate classes and two rainfall categories (convective and stratiform) were studied. The western part has larger mass-weighted mean diameter Dm while smaller normalized intercept log10(Nw) than the eastern part, and the convective clusters of the western part (land) could be identified more maritime-like than continental-like due to moisture transport from the tropical ocean, while that of the eastern part (sea) is between maritime-like and continental-like. Cross validation of GPM rainfall products are implemented based on surface disdrometer observations. DPR products manifest better performance over sea than land areas of the EASM rainband. Empirical Dm–Ze and Nw–Dm relations were also derived preliminarily to improve the GPM rain-retrieval algorithms in the EASM season.
External Sector: Between Congestion and Sanctions—‘Syrian Economy Case, 1987–2018’
Authors: Suliman Forat , Khwanda Homam
Published: May 2020

Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in March 2011, the USA, European Union, Arab League and several other regulatory entities imposed negative economic sanctions on Syria—some of the most comprehensive ever implemented. This article first provides an assessment of Syrian foreign trade sector during the reform period of the 2000s and its impact on economic growth. Second, it estimates the impact of sanctions and conflict on the trade sector of the Syrian economy. The analysis is conducted using a panel-gravity model between Syria and 78 trading partners (1987–2017). Multilateral sanctions and conflict-related disruptions demonstrate a large significant negative impact on Syria-bilateral trade flow by 65 per cent. We attempt to find out whether the Syrian economy was able to divert trade away from Europe and/or conduct de-Europeanisation. Findings confirm that the Syrian economy was unable to divert trade flow to Asian and other countries due to the conflict-related congestion and distance factor.

JEL: C33, F10
A Circle of Fragments: Barthes, Burgin, and the Interruption of Rhetoric
Authors: Bishop Ryan
Published: May 2020

Roland Barthes’ entire career pursued a dream of being freed from the tyranny of ossified, institutionalized, rote language use, as articulated from his first massively influential work on ‘writing degree zero’ in 1953. The anaemic role of institutional rhetoric and its dusty formulations dulled the capacity for using language and thought otherwise. For Barthes, fragments played a privileged role in the escape from the tyranny of meaning imposed by doxa and received wisdom, sometimes called ‘literature’ and ‘rhetoric’. Barthes once referred to almost all of his writing, and indeed theorizing, as ‘a circle of fragments’. The artist and theorist Victor Burgin has been profoundly influenced by Barthes’ writings and his attempts to escape the ideological constraints of language, institutions and images. His visual rhetorical practice now often takes the form of projection loops that are accessible by gallery attendees at any point in the loop. Their basic building block is also the fragment, and the loop constitutes another circle of fragments. His 2016 work Belledonne uses the time Barthes spent in the sanatorium for tuberculosis treatment as the basis for the piece, its computer-generated imagery and textual intertitles. This article examines Barthes’s writings on pre-Socratic rhetoric, as well as his self-reflexive engagement with his own theorizing, combined with Burgin’s reconsideration of moving image work in gallery or museum spaces as attempts to offer potentially liberatory strategies for eluding rote use and effects of language, image and thought.
Secondary myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia in acquired aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Authors: Sun Lova , Babushok Daria V.
Published: May 2020

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are pathogenically related nonmalignant bone marrow failure disorders linked to T-cell–mediated autoimmunity; they are associated with an increased risk of secondary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Approximately 15% to 20% of AA patients and 2% to 6% of PNH patients go on to develop secondary MDS/AML by 10 years of follow-up. Factors determining an individual patient’s risk of malignant transformation remain poorly defined. Recent studies identified nearly ubiquitous clonal hematopoiesis (CH) in AA patients. Similarly, CH with additional, non-PIGA, somatic alterations occurs in the majority of patients with PNH. Factors associated with progression to secondary MDS/AML include longer duration of disease, increased telomere attrition, presence of adverse prognostic mutations, and multiple mutations, particularly when occurring early in the disease course and at a high allelic burden. Here, we will review the prevalence and characteristics of somatic alterations in AA and PNH and will explore their prognostic significance and mechanisms of clonal selection. We will then discuss the available data on post-AA and post-PNH progression to secondary MDS/AML and provide practical guidance for approaching patients with PNH and AA who have CH.
Impact of Myc in HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphomas treated with EPOCH and outcomes with vorinostat (AMC-075 trial)
Authors: Ramos Juan C. , Sparano Joseph A. , Chadburn Amy , Reid Erin G. , Ambinder Richard F. , Siegel Eric R. , Moore Page C. , Rubinstein Paul G. , Durand Christine M. , Cesarman Ethel , Aboulafia David , Baiocchi Robert , Ratner Lee , Kaplan Lawrence , Capoferri Adam A. , Lee Jeannette Y. , Mitsuyasu Ronald , Noy Ariela
Published: May 2020

EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin) is a preferred regimen for HIV-non-Hodgkin lymphomas (HIV-NHLs), which are frequently Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive or human herpesvirus type-8 (HHV-8) positive. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor vorinostat disrupts EBV/HHV-8 latency, enhances chemotherapy-induced cell death, and may clear HIV reservoirs. We performed a randomized phase 2 study in 90 patients (45 per study arm) with aggressive HIV-NHLs, using dose-adjusted EPOCH (plus rituximab if CD20+), alone or with 300 mg vorinostat, administered on days 1 to 5 of each cycle. Up to 1 prior cycle of systemic chemotherapy was allowed. The primary end point was complete response (CR). In 86 evaluable patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL; n = 61), plasmablastic lymphoma (n = 15), primary effusion lymphoma (n = 7), unclassifiable B-cell NHL (n = 2), and Burkitt lymphoma (n = 1), CR rates were 74% vs 68% for EPOCH vs EPOCH-vorinostat (P = .72). Patients with a CD4+ count <200 cells/mm3 had a lower CR rate. EPOCH-vorinostat did not eliminate HIV reservoirs, resulted in more frequent grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and did not affect survival. Overall, patients with Myc+ DLBCL had a significantly lower EFS. A low diagnosis-to-treatment interval (DTI) was also associated with inferior outcomes, whereas preprotocol therapy had no negative impact. In summary, EPOCH had broad efficacy against highly aggressive HIV-NHLs, whereas vorinostat had no benefit; patients with Myc-driven DLBCL, low CD4, and low DTI had less favorable outcomes. Permitting preprotocol therapy facilitated accruals without compromising outcomes. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT0119384.