bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered Functional Connectivity after Epileptic Seizure Revealed by Scalp EEG
Authors: Liang Yi , Chen Chunli , Li Fali , Yao Dezhong , Xu Peng , Yu Liang
Published: November 2020

Epileptic seizures are considered to be a brain network dysfunction, and chronic recurrent seizures can cause severe brain damage. However, the functional brain network underlying recurrent epileptic seizures is still left unveiled. This study is aimed at exploring the differences in a related brain activity before and after chronic repetitive seizures by investigating the power spectral density (PSD), fuzzy entropy, and functional connectivity in epileptic patients. The PSD analysis revealed differences between the two states at local area, showing postseizure energy accumulation. Besides, the fuzzy entropies of preseizure in the frontal, central, and temporal regions are higher than that of postseizure. Additionally, attenuated long-range connectivity and enhanced local connectivity were also found. Moreover, significant correlations were found between network metrics (i.e., characteristic path length and clustering coefficient) and individual seizure number. The PSD, fuzzy entropy, and network analysis may indicate that the brain is gradually impaired along with the occurrence of epilepsy, and the accumulated effect of brain impairment is observed in individuals with consecutive epileptic bursts. The findings of this study may provide helpful insights into understanding the network mechanism underlying chronic recurrent epilepsy.
Vitamin D Deficiency May Not Be an Independent Risk Factor for Peripheral Arterial Disease in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in China
Authors: Wang Yan , Feng Tongbao , Zhou Hongxing , Lu Kefeng , Bai Yang , Zhang Ping
Published: November 2020

Background. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to the increased severity and prevalence of metabolic disorders. However, the relationship between levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is controversial. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to explore the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and PAD in middle-aged and elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in China. Methods. In this study, a total of 183 patients with T2DM were enrolled and categorized into groups with or without PAD. Clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed, and a Pearson analysis was used to identify a possible association between levels of 25(OH)D and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Some biochemical parameters were also assessed in the T2DM patients with PAD according to vitamin D status. Interactions were also explored among HbA1c control, 25(OH)D levels, and PAD. The possible risk factors for PAD were measured by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results. Firstly, the parameters including age, HbA1c, and disease duration between T2DM and T2DM+PAD groups showed significantly different. In addition, the frequency of smoking in the group of T2DM patients was significantly less than that in the T2DM patients with the PAD group, while the frequency of well-controlled HbA1c in the patients with T2DM was significantly higher. There is a trend that the levels of 25(OH)D and HbA1c are correlated, but no interactions among vitamin D deficiency, HbA1c control, and PAD were found. However, HbA1c significantly differed between groups with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in the T2DM patients with PAD. According to the multivariate logistic regression analyses, the PAD risk factors of T2DM patients were family history of diabetes, smoking, age, disease duration, HbA1c, and LDL. Conclusions. The findings demonstrate that the deficiency of vitamin D level is not related to PAD, but HbA1c may be linked to the presence of PAD in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM in China.
Widefield Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Amato Alessia , Nadin Francesco , Borghesan Federico , Cicinelli Maria Vittoria , Chatziralli Irini , Sadiq Saena , Mirza Rukhsana , Bandello Francesco
Published: November 2020

Purpose. To summarize the role of widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (WF-OCTA) in diabetic retinopathy (DR), extending from the acquisition strategies to the main clinical findings. Methods. A PubMed-based search was carried out using the terms “Diabetic retinopathy”, “optical coherence tomography angiography”, “widefield imaging”, and “ultra-widefield imaging”. All studies published in English up to August 2020 were reviewed. Results. WF-OCTA can be obtained with different approaches, offering advantages over traditional imaging in the study of nonperfusion areas (NPAs) and neovascularization (NV). Quantitative estimates and topographic distribution of NPA and NV are useful for treatment monitoring and artificial intelligence-based approaches. Curvature, segmentation, and motion artifacts should be assessed when using WF-OCTA. Conclusions. WF-OCTA harbors interesting potential in DR because of its noninvasiveness and capability of objective metrics of retinal vasculature. Further studies will facilitate the migration from traditional imaging to WF-OCTA in both the research and clinical practice fields.
Leg Stiffness and Vertical Stiffness of Habitual Forefoot and Rearfoot Strikers during Running
Authors: Yin Lulu , Hu Xiaoyue , Lai Zhangqi , Liu Kun , Wang Lin
Published: November 2020

Foot strike patterns influence the running efficiency and may be an injury risk. However, differences in the leg stiffness between runners with habitual forefoot (hFFS) and habitual rearfoot (hRFS) strike patterns remain unclear. This study aimed at determining the differences in the stiffness, associated loading rate, and kinematic performance between runners with hFFS and hRFS during running. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected amongst 39 runners with hFFS and 39 runners with hRFS running at speed of 3.3 m/s, leg stiffness (Kleg), and vertical stiffness (Kvert), and impact loads were calculated. Results found that runners with hFFS had greater Kleg (

P
=
0.010

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
0.60

), greater peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) (

P
=
0.040

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
0.47

), shorter contact time(

t

c

) (

P
<
0.001

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
0.85

), and smaller maximum leg compression (

Δ
L

) (

P
=
0.002

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
0.72

) compared with their hRFS counterparts. Runners with hFFS had lower impact peak (IP) (

P
<
0.001

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
1.65

), vertical average loading rate (VALR) (

P
<
0.001

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
1.20

), and vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR) (

P
<
0.001

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
1.14

) compared with runners with hRFS. Runners with hFFS landed with a plantar flexed ankle, whereas runners with hRFS landed with a dorsiflexed ankle (

P
<
0.001

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
3.35

). Runners with hFFS also exhibited more flexed hip (

P
=
0.020

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
0.61

) and knee (

P
<
0.001

,

Cohe

n

’

s
 
d
=
1.15

) than runners with hRFS at initial contact. These results might indicate that runners with hFFS were associated with better running economy through the transmission of elastic energy.
Mathematical Model for Analysis of Uniaxial and Biaxial Reinforced Concrete Columns
Authors: Al-Ansari Mohammed Salem , Afzal Muhammad Shekaib
Published: November 2020

This paper presents a mathematical model for the analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) uniaxial and biaxial columns. This proposed model is a quick and faster approach for the analysis and design of reinforced concrete rectangular columns without going through the interaction charts procedure as well as other iterative methods for the computation of required axial load capacity (Pc) and moment capacity (Mc). A simplified flow chart has also been developed to find the required column capacity using this mathematical model. Eight uniaxial columns (C‐1 to C‐8) and seven biaxial columns (CB‐1 to CB‐7) are analysed in this study. Each column is analysed having different steel reinforcement ratios (ρ) with different loading conditions. In addition, the studied columns are subjected to both tension and compression failures. The detailed examples for both uniaxial and biaxial columns (one for each case) are also presented in this study. The studied columns are also analysed using computer software spColumn. The average variation of the mathematically computed values to the finite element software is not more than 10%, showing promising computational results.
An Analysis of High and Low Intercorrelations between Mathematics Self-Efficacy, Anxiety, and Achievement Variables: A Prerequisite for a Reliable Factor Analysis
Authors: Bergqvist Erik , Tossavainen Timo , Johansson Maria
Published: November 2020

This paper draws on data from a quantitative study of upper secondary students’ general mathematical self-efficacy, anxiety towards mathematics, and their relationship to achievement in mathematics. The main objective of this article is to discuss the type of information that may be lost if potential problems of validity and extreme multicollinearity in exploratory factor analysis would be solved by only removing variables without doing a profound analysis. We also describe a method that treats Likert items in the questionnaire as ordinal variables that may represent the underlying continuous variable. Our study shows, for example, that removal of problematic variables without a profound analysis leads to a loss of significant information about test anxiety. Our qualitative analysis of problematic variables also led to an unexpected finding regarding the relationship between general mathematical self-efficacy and motivational values in mathematics.
Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Pectin from “Saba” Banana Peel Waste: Optimization, Characterization, and Rheology Study
Authors: Rivadeneira Joel P. , Wu Tao , Ybanez Quincy , Dorado Adeliza A. , Migo Veronica P. , Nayve Fidel Rey P. , Castillo-Israel Katherine Ann T.
Published: November 2020

One way to valorize “Saba” banana peel waste is to extract high-value compounds, such as pectin, and use it for food applications. In this study, the parameters for the microwave-assisted extraction of pectin were screened and optimized using Response Surface Methodology. The pectin was purified and then subjected to characterization. Results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were 195°C, 8% solid-liquid ratio, and pH 3 hydrochloric acid (HCl), with predicted and actual yields of 12.8% and 14.2%, respectively. The subsequent purification method increased the purity of pectin by 300%. The pectin was found to be low-methoxy in nature and had an average particle size of 300 nm. The pectin application in whey protein isolate resulted in a shear-thinning fluid, with an improved viscosity compared to a control. When applied to a commercial orange juice, the in vitro digestion study showed that the fluid’s viscosity was higher before and during the gastric and intestinal digestion at the low physiological shear rate.
Stress-Sensitive Protein Rac1 and Its Involvement in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Liu Dongbin , Wei Fangzhen , Li Yue , Wang Xuefeng , Li Linjie , Wang Guan , Zhang Shuli , Zhang Lei
Published: November 2020

Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) is a small GTPase that is well known for its sensitivity to the environmental stress of a cell or an organism. It senses the external signals which are transmitted from membrane-bound receptors and induces downstream signaling cascades to exert its physiological functions. Rac1 is an important regulator of a variety of cellular processes, such as cytoskeletal organization, generation of oxidative products, and gene expression. In particular, Rac1 has a significant influence on certain brain functions like neuronal migration, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation via regulation of actin dynamics in neurons. Abnormal Rac1 expression and activity have been observed in multiple neurological diseases. Here, we review recent findings to delineate the role of Rac1 signaling in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with abnormal spine morphology, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Moreover, certain novel inhibitors of Rac1 and related pathways are discussed as potential avenues toward future treatment for these diseases.
Biosensor Design for Detection of Mercury in Contaminated Soil Using Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant and Luminescent Bacteria
Authors: Babapoor Aziz , Hajimohammadi Reza , Jokar Seyyed Mohammad , Paar Meysam
Published: November 2020

In this study, a biosensor is designed to remove mercury as a toxic metal contaminant from the soil. The rhamnolipid biosurfactant was used to extract the mercury sorbed to soil to the aqueous phase. An immobilized bioluminescent bacterium (Escherichia coli MC106) with pmerRBPmerlux plasmid is assisted for mercury detection. A significant decrease in luminescence level was observed in a biosensor system containing contaminated soil sample extract. The concentrations of extracting mercury are well correlated with the mercury toxicity data obtained from experimental biosensor systems according to the RBL value. The optimum aeration rate of 20 ml/min was obtained for the biosensor systems. The advantage of such a biosensor is the in situ quantification of mercury as a heavy metal contaminant in soils. Therefore, this system could be proposed as a good biosensor-based alternative for future detection of heavy toxic metals in soils.
V
-Prox-Regular Functions in Smooth Banach Spaces
Authors: Bounkhel Messaoud , Bachar Mostafa
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we continue the study of the

V

-prox-regularity that we have started recently for sets. We define an appropriate concept of the

V

-prox-regularity for functions in reflexive smooth Banach spaces by adapting the one given in Hilbert spaces. Our main goal is to study the relationship between the

V

-prox-regularity of a given l.s.c.

f

and the

V

-prox-regularity of its epigraph.
Therapeutic Targeting of Metadherin Suppresses Colorectal and Lung Cancer Progression and Metastasis
Authors: Shen Minhong , Xie Shanshan , Rowicki Michelle , Michel Sven , Wei Yong , Hang Xiang , Wan Liling , Lu Xin , Yuan Min , Jin John F. , Jaschinski Frank , Zhou Tianhua , Klar Richard , Kang Yibin
Published: November 2020

Colorectal and lung cancers account for one-third of all cancer-related deaths worldwide. Previous studies suggested that metadherin (MTDH) is involved in the development of colorectal and lung cancers. However, how MTDH regulates the pathogenesis of these cancers remains largely unknown. Using genetically modified mouse models of spontaneous colorectal and lung cancers, we found that MTDH promotes cancer progression by facilitating Wnt activation and by inducing cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion, respectively. Moreover, we developed locked nucleic acid-modified (LNA) MTDH antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) that effectively and specifically suppress MTDH expression in vitro and in vivo. Treatments with MTDH ASOs in mouse models significantly attenuated progression and metastasis of colorectal, lung, and breast cancers. Our study opens a new avenue for developing therapies against colorectal and lung cancers by targeting MTDH using LNA-modified ASO.

Significance:

This study provides new insights into the mechanism of MTDH in promoting colorectal and lung cancers, as well as genetic and pharmacologic evidence supporting the development of MTDH-targeting therapeutics.
The Cancer-Associated ATM R3008H Mutation Reveals the Link between ATM Activation and Its Exchange
Authors: Milanovic Maja , Sprinzen Lisa , Menolfi Demis , Lee Ji-Hoon , Yamamoto Kenta , Li Yang , Lee Brian J. , Xu Jun , Estes Verna M. , Wang Dong , Mckinnon Peter J. , Paull Tanya T. , Zha Shan
Published: November 2020

ATM kinase is a tumor suppressor and a master regulator of the DNA damage response. Most cancer-associated alterations to ATM are missense mutations at the PI3-kinase regulatory domain (PRD) or the kinase domain. Expression of kinase-dead (KD) ATM protein solely accelerates lymphomagenesis beyond ATM loss. To understand how PRD suppresses lymphomagenesis, we introduced the cancer-associated PRD mutation R3008H (R3016 in mouse) into mice. R3008H abrogated DNA damage- and oxidative stress-induced activation of ATM without consistently affecting ATM protein stability and recruitment. In contrast to the early embryonic lethality of AtmKD/KD mice, AtmR3016H (AtmR/R) mice were viable, immunodeficient, and displayed spontaneous craniofacial abnormalities and delayed lymphomagenesis compared with Atm−/− controls. Mechanistically, R3008H rescued the tardy exchange of ATM-KD at DNA damage foci, indicating that PRD coordinates ATM activation with its exchange at DNA-breaks. Taken together, our results reveal a unique tumorigenesis profile for PRD mutations that is distinct from null or KD mutations.

Significant:

This study functionally characterizes the most common ATM missense mutation R3008H in cancer and identifies a unique role of PI3-kinase regulatory domain in ATM activation.
Association between SIRT6 Methylation and Human Longevity in a Chinese Population
Authors: Tang Xu , Wei Yi , Wang Jian , Chen Shiyi , Cai Jiansheng , Tang Jiexia , Xu Xia , Long Bingshuang , Yu Guoqi , Zhang Zhiyong , He Min , Qin Jian
Published: November 2020

Background: Sirtuin 6 gene (SIRT6) is a longevity gene that is involved in a variety of metabolic pathways, but the relationship between SIRT6 methylation and longevity has not been clarified. Methods: We conducted a case-control study on 129 residents with a family history of longevity (1 of parents, themselves, or siblings aged ≥90 years) and 86 individuals without a family history of exceptional longevity to identify the association. DNA pyrosequencing was performed to analyze the methylation status of SIRT6 promoter CpG sites. qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to estimate the SIRT6 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and protein content. Six CpG sites (P1–P6) were identified as methylation variable positions in the SIRT6 promoter region. Results: At the P2 and P5 CpG sites, the methylation rates of the longevity group were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009), which might be independent determinants of longevity. The mRNA and protein levels of SIRT6 decreased in the control group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.038). The mRNA level negatively correlated with the methylation rates at the P2 (rs = −0.173, p = 0.011) and P5 sites (rs = −0.207, p = 0.002). Furthermore, the protein content positively correlated with the methylation rate at the P5 site (rs = 0.136, p = 0.046) but showed no significant correlation with the methylation rate at the P2 site. Conclusion: The low level of SIRT6 methylation may be a potential protective factor of Chinese longevity.
Fertility Relevance Probability Analysis Shortlists Genetic Markers for Male Fertility Impairment
Authors: Greither Thomas , Schumacher Julia , Dejung Mario , Behre Hermann M. , Zischler Hans , Butter Falk , Herlyn Holger
Published: November 2020

Impairment of male fertility is one of the major public health issues worldwide. Nevertheless, genetic causes of male sub- and infertility can often only be suspected due to the lack of reliable and easy-to-use routine tests. Yet, the development of a marker panel is complicated by the large quantity of potentially predictive markers. Actually, hundreds or even thousands of genes could have fertility relevance. Thus, a systematic method enabling a selection of the most predictive markers out of the many candidates is required. As a criterion for marker selection, we derived a gene-specific score, which we refer to as fertility relevance probability (FRP). For this purpose, we first categorized 2,753 testis-expressed genes as either candidate markers or non-candidates, according to phenotypes in male knockout mice. In a parallel approach, 2,502 genes were classified as candidate markers or non-candidates based on phenotypes in men. Subsequently, we conducted logistic regression analyses with evolutionary rates of genes (dN/dS), transcription levels in testis relative to other organs, and connectivity of the encoded proteins in a protein-protein interaction network as covariates. In confirmation of the procedure, FRP values showed the expected pattern, thus being overall higher in genes with known relevance for fertility than in their counterparts without corresponding evidence. In addition, higher FRP values corresponded with an increased dysregulation of protein abundance in spermatozoa of 37 men with normal and 38 men with impaired fertility. Present analyses resulted in a ranking of genes according to their probable predictive power as candidate markers for male fertility impairment. Thus, AKAP4, TNP1, DAZL, BRDT, DMRT1, SPO11, ZPBP, HORMAD1, and SMC1B are prime candidates toward a marker panel for male fertility impairment. Additional candidate markers are DDX4, SHCBP1L, CCDC155, ODF1, DMRTB1, ASZ1, BOLL, FKBP6, SLC25A31, PRSS21, and RNF17. FRP inference additionally provides clues for potential new markers, thereunder TEX37 and POU4F2. The results of our logistic regression analyses are freely available at the PreFer Genes website (https://prefer-genes.uni-mainz.de/).
Chronic Active Antibody-Mediated Rejection with Linear IgG Deposition on Glomerular Capillaries in a Kidney Transplant Recipient
Authors: Miura Kenichiro , Shirai Yoko , Kaneko Naoto , Yabuuchi Tomoo , Ishizuka Kiyonobu , Horita Shigeru , Furusawa Miyuki , Unagami Kohei , Okumi Masayoshi , Ishida Hideki , Tanabe Kazunari , Koike Junki , Honda Kazuho , Yamaguchi Yutaka , Hattori Motoshi
Published: November 2020

Glomerular IgG deposition is rarely observed in antibody-mediated rejection. Here, we report chronic active antibody-mediated rejection with linear IgG deposition on glomerular capillary walls in a pediatric kidney transplant recipient. A 6-year-old boy with bilateral renal hypoplasia underwent preemptive deceased-donor kidney transplantation. Five years after the transplantation, an allograft biopsy revealed chronic active antibody-mediated rejection with diffuse linear IgG deposition on glomerular capillaries. Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody, donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies, and anti-angiotensin II type 1 receptor antibody were negative. A multiplex antibody assay identified anti-major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecule A antibody. Additionally, a single-antigen bead assay identified autoantibodies to 12 non-HLA antigens, including vimentin and glutathione S-transferase theta-1. To investigate whether IgG autoantibodies in the patient’s serum bind to antigens on glomerular capillaries, we incubated the patient’s serum with 0-h biopsy specimens of tissue donated to the patient and a control subject, both obtained immediately after nephrectomy from respective donors. IgG signals were observed in neither patient nor control samples. Nevertheless, linear IgG deposition may be explained by the binding of autoantibodies to non-HLA antigens that are usually hidden and only exposed via severe endothelial cell injury. Further studies are needed to confirm the significance of non-HLA antibodies in glomerular IgG deposition.
Historical Discoveries on Viruses in the Environment and Their Impact on Public Health
Authors: Labadie Thomas , Batéjat Christophe , Leclercq India , Manuguerra Jean-Claude
Published: November 2020

Background: Transmission of many viruses occurs by direct transmission during a close contact between two hosts, or by an indirect transmission through the environment. Several and often interconnected factors, both abiotic and biotic, determine the persistence of these viruses released in the environment, which can last from a few seconds to several years. Moreover, viruses in the environment are able to travel short to very long distances, especially in the air or in water. Summary: Although well described now, the role of these environments as intermediaries or as reservoirs in virus transmission has been extensively studied and debated in the last century. The majority of these discoveries, such as the pioneer work on bacteria transmission, the progressive discoveries of viruses, as well as the persistence of the influenza virus in the air varying along with droplet sizes, or the role of water in the transmission of poliovirus, have contributed to the improvement of public health. Recent outbreaks of human coronavirus, influenza virus, and Ebola virus have also demonstrated the contemporaneity of these research studies and the need to study virus persistence in the environment. Key Messages: In this review, we discuss historical discoveries that contributed to describe biotic and abiotic factors determining viral persistence in the environment.
Circulating Levels of Dickkopf-Related Protein 1 Decrease as Measured GFR Declines and Are Associated with PTH Levels
Authors: Forster Corey M. , White Christine A. , Turner Mandy E. , Norman Patrick A. , Ward Emilie C. , Hopman Wilma M. , Adams Michael A. , Holden Rachel M.
Published: November 2020

Background: The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been implicated in the development of adynamic bone disease in early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) and sclerostin are antagonists of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway yet have not been widely used as clinical indicators of bone disease. This study characterized levels of DKK1, sclerostin, and other biomarkers of mineral metabolism in participants across a spectrum of inulin-measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Methods: GFR was measured by urinary inulin clearance (mGFR) in 90 participants. Blood samples were obtained for measurement of circulating DKK1, sclerostin, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphate, α-klotho, and vitamin D metabolites including 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Spearman correlations and linear regressions were used where appropriate to examine the associations between measured values. Results: The median [IQR] age was 64 years [53.0–71.0], and the median [IQR] mGFR was 32.6 [21.7–60.6] mL/min. DKK1 decreased (r = 0.6, p < 0.001) and sclerostin increased (r = −0.4, p < 0.001) as kidney function declined, and both were associated with phosphate, PTH, FGF-23, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the unadjusted analysis. After adjustment for age and mGFR, DKK1 remained significantly associated with PTH. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate opposing trends in Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitors, DKK1 and sclerostin, as mGFR declines. Unlike sclerostin, DKK1 levels decreased significantly as mGFR declined and was independently associated with PTH. Future studies should determine whether measurement of Wnt signaling inhibitors may be useful in predicting bone histomorphometric findings and important clinical outcomes in patients with CKD.
Long Noncoding RNA PMS2L2 Downregulates miR-24 through Methylation to Suppress Cell Apoptosis in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Yu Ting , Meng Fanyu , Xie Minning , Liu Huajiang , Zhang Lei , Chen Xinghua
Published: November 2020

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon. It has been reported that PMS2L2 plays protective roles in inflammatory injury. This study aimed to investigate the role of the long noncoding RNA PMS2L2 in UC. Methods: Sixty-two patients with UC as well as 62 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Expressions of PMS2L2 and miR-24 in plasma from UC patients and healthy controls were determined by RT-qPCR. The interaction between PMS2L2 and miR-24 was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down. The role of PMS2L2 in the regulation of miR-24 gene methylation was analyzed by methylation-specific PCR. The effects of PMS2L2 and miR-24 on the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blots. Results: PMS2L2 was downregulated in the plasma of UC patients compared to that in age- and gender-matched healthy control. In human colonic epithelial cells (HCnEpCs), PMS2L2 overexpression inhibited miR-24 expression via promoting the methylation of miR-24 gene. In contrast, miR-24 overexpression failed to affect PMS2L2. In the detection of cell apoptosis, PMS2L2 overexpression could promote the expression of Bcl-2 and inhibit Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-9 expressions stimulated by LPS. Flow cytometer revealed that PMS2L2 elevation suppressed the apoptosis of HCnEpCs induced by LPS, but miR-24 aggravated the apoptosis. PMS2L2 overexpression rescued the detrimental effect of miR-24 on cell apoptosis. Conclusion: PMS2L2 may downregulate miR-24 via methylation to suppress cell apoptosis in UC.
Crítica responsiva a diálogos polêmicos com o conceito de dialogismo de Bakhtin
Authors: Villarta-Neder Marco Antonio , ´Castro Dias Fábio Luiz
Published: November 2020

Em discussões de grupo de pesquisa deparou-se com críticas ao conceito bakhtiniano de dialogismo, questionando sua viabilidade epistemológica. Caryl Emerson endossa visões desse conceito como “demasiado frouxo e indisciplinado”. Ignora que já em Arte e Responsabilidade, Bakhtin considera indissociáveis as dimensões da vida, da arte e da ciência. Em Problemas da Criação de Dostoiévski e em Problemas da Poética de Dostoiévski, ele aponta que no mundo de Dostoiévski não há nada que tenha dito sua última palavra, que não suscite uma resposta. A partir disso, nosso objetivo é discutir o conceito de dialogismo a partir da produção bakhtiniana sobre Dostoiévski. A metodologia de análise, contrapontística e dialógica, baseia-se, principalmente, no correlacionamento de obras do Círculo de Bakhtin. Os resultados esperados apontam, de um lado, um viés de leitura do conceito de dialogismo com uma polêmica compreensão teórico-epistemológica-axiológica e, de outro, possíveis contextos de recepção desse conceito de maneira mais acurada.
Intravascular Imaging-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Shlofmitz Evan , Ali Ziad A. , Maehara Akiko , Mintz Gary S. , Shlofmitz Richard , Jeremias Allen
Published: November 2020

Despite consistent clinical data supporting the use of intravascular imaging with percutaneous coronary intervention, utilization remains low. A practical and standardized approach to incorporating intravascular imaging with percutaneous coronary intervention may overcome the barriers to utilization. This review focuses on basic image interpretation with intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography and proposes an algorithmic approach to stent sizing and optimization. Incorporation of this strategic method for percutaneous coronary intervention may aid in the greater adoption of intravascular imaging for percutaneous coronary intervention.
COVID-19 in Taiwan: Economic Impacts and Lessons Learned*
Authors: Kuo Chun-Chien
Published: November 2020

This paper illustrates Taiwan's experience in controlling the virus and curbing the impact of COVID-19 on its economy. All the following factors contributed to Taiwan's early success in fighting COVID-19: the early establishment of a command center, the “precision-prevention” model of strategies that includes tight border controls and strict quarantine policy, the procuring of sufficient anti-pandemic medical supplies, and educating residents about public health awareness (e.g., promoting face mask wearing in public, maintaining proper social distance, and handwashing procedures). In addition, the country's medical facilities and a national health insurance program that are already in place along with the utilization of technology and big data also played a crucial role during the pandemic. Taiwan's success story may open up opportunities for the country to assume a leading role as a facilitator in the reallocation of the global supply chain and the creation of a new worldwide health coalition that includes Taiwan, unlike its lonely efforts 17 years ago when SARS hit the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions.
In-State Tuition Policies and the College Decisions of Undocumented Students: Evidence from Colorado
Authors: Grosz Michel , Hines Annie
Published: November 2020

We study the effects of a decrease in college tuition on college application and enrollment behavior. Specifically, we use student-level data to analyze a Colorado law that granted in-state tuition to undocumented students residing in Colorado. We find an increase in the credit hours and persistence of newly enrolled and likely undocumented students. We do not find evidence of changes in the persistence or credit hours of continuing students. Leveraging application-level data, we show suggestive evidence that the policy induced more students to enroll in college through an increase in applications, rather than an increase in the acceptance rate or the enrollment rate.
Scholarly Circles: A Practice for Thinking Christianly in the University
Authors: Day Benjamin S. , Glanville Luke , Halliday Terence C. , Jacob Cecilia
Published: November 2020

This article documents how the formation of a Scholarly Circle led to the development of the articles published in this issue. We outline how our Scholarly Circle developed across three stages over a period of seven years. By doing so, we hope to encourage others to consider the Scholarly Circle as a potential model to guide small communities of scholars seeking to integrate their faith and scholarship in a deeper and more deliberate way.
Nuclear Weapons and the Christian: Disarmament or Learning to Live with Nuclear Armed Adversaries?
Authors: Cohen Michael
Published: November 2020

A long Christian tradition has argued that the possession and coercive/physical use of nuclear weapons is morally indefensible and advocated nuclear disarmament. This article takes stock of what we now know about nuclear weapons and advocates a Christian responsibility to redirect initiatives from eliminating nuclear weapons to eliminating the hatred, fear and insecurity that creates a demand for them. It notes the small number of nuclear powers despite many states that could develop a nuclear capability and argues that the United States holds the most responsibility for their limited spread. It also notes that the tendency for nuclear weapons to provide otherwise elusive solutions to deeply pressing security challenges facing the nine nuclear powers means that these states will likely never eliminate them. The article advocates for the removal of the insecurity that generates the demand for nuclear weapons, and briefly illustrates how this might look like in contemporary North Korea.
Arctic Petroleum and the 2°C Goal: a Case for Accountability for Fossil-Fuel Supply
Authors: Shapovalova Daria
Published: November 2020

The Arctic is both a place disproportionately affected by climate change and a place that has been, and continues to be, subject to large-scale oil-and-gas development. Production and subsequent combustion of these resources would compromise the treaty-established target of keeping global warming ‘well below’ 2°C. The global regulatory efforts on climate change are centred on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel consumption, almost ignoring the supply side. In the absence of universal and strict emission-reduction targets, petroleum exports and carbon leakage jeopardize the effectiveness of the climate change regime. Through the examination of treaties and national practice, this paper argues for the establishment of accountability for the production of Arctic petroleum in light of climate change.
mrv of Emissions and Mitigation Action: the Paris Agreement and Financial Support for Transparency-Related Capacity Building in Developing Countries
Authors: Alexandraki Chrysa
Published: November 2020

This article examines the role of the Paris Agreement in enabling developed-country financial contributions aimed at building transparency-related capacity in developing countries. It first analyses the legal means and institutional arrangements utilized by the Agreement to support developing countries in building transparency-related capacity. It then argues that even though the Agreement adopts certain legal and institutional means to foster transparency-related capacity building in developing countries through financial support, it does so in a way that risks undermining the meaningful and accountable use of climate finance, while softening the bindingness of the Agreement’s provisions. The lack of accountability obligations on climate finance for developing countries, the principle of flexibility, and the challenges intrinsic to climate finance, combine to weaken the climate-finance obligation, while calling into question the effectiveness of the Agreement.
The Archetype as Form of Ontological Difference
Authors: Akca Uljana
Published: November 2020

It has often been argued that Jung failed to explain and ground his theory of the archetypes sufficiently, as he remained caught between a psychological, a biological, and a transcendent model of explanation. Inspired by Martin Heidegger’s methodology in Being and Time, this paper will combine an ontological inquiry with a phenomenological analysis of the archetype, to re-interpret it beyond the Jungian psychology and its inherent paradoxes. I will outline a distinction between a psychological appropriation of the archetype, and one that approaches its numinosity as such. According to my argument, this twofold phenomenology of the archetype reveals it to be a form through which we become aware of an ontological difference within our being. The argument will mainly be unfolded through an interpretation of the nymph-maiden in Lucas Cranach’s 16th century painting series Nymph of the Spring, followed by an assessment of our contemporary relation to the same archetype.
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It”
Authors: Hofferberth Matthias , Lambach Daniel
Published: November 2020

This article contends that practices of, and reflections on, global governance are diversifying without any particular teleology. Therefore, it proposes a “postgovernance” perspective to capture and make sense of the multiplicity of concurrent developments. Just like post-punk followed punk rock and provided new energy, postgovernance provides opportunities to revitalize debates on world politics. Postgovernance allows both scholars and practitioners to consider the persistence of “traditional” forms of global governance as well as the simultaneous emergence of new approaches. This article thus proposes postgovernance as a mode of world politics in a postparadigmatic world that is dynamic yet inconsistent. We advance this argument by outlining what postgovernance entails, by taking stock of current debates from a postgovernance perspective, and by discussing how these can be advanced from a postgovernance point of view.
Pragmatics of Understanding: Centrality of the Local
Authors: Matsumoto Yoshiko
Published: November 2020

Cross-cultural contrastive approaches motivate research that questions the universality premise of pragmatic theories by illustrating facts of local linguistic practices from diverse geographical areas. In the spirit of my earlier studies of Japanese (e.g. Matsumoto 1988, 1989), I suggest that contrastive pragmatics can lead the field of pragmatics to addressing variations in linguistic practice that go beyond the geographical diversity of cultures and encompass other types of “atypical” discourse, such as discourse of speakers with varied cognitive conditions including persons with Alzheimer’s. This paper argues for the pragmatics of understanding, i.e. the language users’ and the analysts’ efforts (i) to understand what speakers are trying to convey in verbal interaction and (ii) to understand local pragmatic principles of verbal exchange, and thereby to encourage more inclusive studies of pragmatics.
An Unpublished Manuscript Geologica Japonica by Von Siebold: Geology, Mineralogy, and Copper in the Context of Dutch Colonial Science and the Introduction of Western Geo-sciences to Japan
Authors: Tsukahara Togo
Published: November 2020

In this article, I will discuss one important aspect of historical encounters between Western colonial scientists and Japanese nature. In order to do so, I will shed new light on how geo-sciences became an object of scientific research of Japan, in the framework of Dutch colonial sciences. I will also show that Western interests in Japanese geo-sciences were primarily stimulated by economic motivations, and that, at the same time, it accompanied the process of the introduction of modern Western sciences into Japan.

It is well-known that Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) studied Japanese natural history widely, and wrote two standard works, Flora Japonica and Fauna Japonica. This paper examines a newly found unpublished manuscript Geologica Japonica by von Siebold, which discusses Japanese geology and mineralogy, and reports on copper mining and smelting. Mineralogical and geological collections have also been discovered in museums at Leiden, the Netherlands. These collections are now identified as the research materials used in the preparation of this manuscript, and found to be the first systematic European geo-scientific collections from Japan.

The collection of rocks and minerals from Japan has been proved as mostly collected and identified by Heinrich Burger (1806-1858), a pharmacist and assistant to von Siebold. Burger classified the collection using two nomenclature systems, those of A. G. Werner and R. Hauy.

We further point out that the Dutch were interested in the useful natural resources of their trading partner, carrying out a survey of coal mines in Japan, and the trial of tea transplantation from Japan to Java. In my research on the newly found manuscripts and collections of geology and mineralogy, I clarify that von Siebold and Burger intensively investigated Japanese copper mining and smelting. They reported their visit to the Sumitomo copper refinery at Osaka, and Burger wrote an article on Japanese copper in the journal of the Batavian Society for Arts and Sciences.

In conclusion, based on close study of newly examined manuscripts and detailed identification of geological collections, a network of interest in Japan’s geology and mineralogy by Dutch colonial scientist is illustrated, and its hybrid character is demonstrated against the background of Dutch- Japan cultural exchange.
A Fatal Case of Gu 蠱 Poisoning in Fourth-Century BC China?
Authors: Cook Constance A.
Published: November 2020

This essay reexamines the fourth century BC divination records found in the tomb of Shao Tuo 邵佗 in Baoshan 包山, Jingzhou 荊州, Hubei. Using charts, rules, and examples for divination from a newly discovered trigram divination text, called by modern scholars, the Shifa 筮法 (Stalk Method), and preserved in the Tsinghua University collection of Warring States period bamboo manuscripts, the author suggests a radical new way to interpret stalk divination results and speculates upon a possible diagnosis. Essentially, the author unpacks the Baoshan results according to the rules of trigram divination given in the Shifa and not of hexagram divination as in the Zhouyi 周易 (Changes of Zhou).
Buddhism, Medicine, and the Affairs of the Heart: Āyurvedic Potency Therapy (Vājīkarana) and the Reappraisal of Aphrodisiacs and Love Philters in Medieval Chinese Sources
Authors: Steavu Dominic
Published: November 2020

This article examines how discursive frames modify forms of knowledge and practice. More precisely, it considers the problem of categories in early and medieval Chinese sources through the lens of recipes designed to facilitate intercourse. In pre-Buddhist Chinese sources, such prescriptions traditionally fell either under the rubric of ‘nourishing life’ (yangsheng 養生) longevity practices or spellbinding (zhuzu 祝詛). While recipes that appear in the former bracket—referred to in this study as ‘aphrodisiacs’—were couched in a discourse of healing and classified as a medical undertaking, those associated with spellbinding—referred to as ‘love philters’—were filed under the heading of mantic arts and divination in bibliographic treatises. With the arrival of Āyurvedic medicine in China via Buddhist sources, this partition grew increasingly blurred. Āyurvedic medical taxonomy in general, and its discipline of potency therapy (vājīkarana) in particular, did not distinguish between aphrodisiacs and love philters since both ultimately facilitate intercourse, albeit through different means. The imprint of Āyurvedic categories in China can be ascertained in Buddhist manuscript sources from Dunhuang, but also, more surprisingly, in widely circulated medieval non-Buddhist medical treatises. However, in contrast to the emblematic medical treatises of the middle period and surveyed manuscript Buddhist materials, canonical Buddhist texts appear to have shied away from the topic of aphrodisiacs and upheld the indigenous Chinese understanding of love philters as spellbinding and mantic art.
The Substitution of Materia Medica in Tibetan Medicine: An Inquiry into Traditional Tibetan Treatises
Authors: Czaja Olaf
Published: November 2020

The substitution of materia medica in Tibetan medicine was an important issue in the past, and still is today. This article will offer a brief survey of references found in Tibetan written sources, and discuss the only three Tibetan treatises that deal exclusively with the subject. It will explore the underlying modes of substitution, and provide insights into the criteria that are used to determine suitable substitutes. Ultimately it will be demonstrated that one can distinguish seven criteria—namely the taste, healing potential, type, substance, name, shape, and smell—that are used to determine an appropriate substitute for rare or expensive materia medica in the Tibetan medical tradition.
Storax, Benzoin, and the Chinese Anxi xiang
Authors: Haw Stephen G.
Published: November 2020

The Chinese term Anxi xiang 安息香 is now usually applied to benzoin, an aromatic resin obtained from species of the genus Styrax native to Southeast Asia. However, it appears from Chinese records that this aromatic originally was imported into China from western Asia. What this early Anxi xiang was has never been ascertained. It is here suggested that, like benzoin, it was produced from a species of Styrax, and was the storax of the ancient Mediterranean region. A complication is that storax was obtained from more than one plant source. Another issue is that a different substance, known to the Chinese as suhe 蘇合, has often been identified with storax. The available evidence is assessed and probable solutions are proposed.
A new apterous genus of Carventinae from Hainan, China (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)
Authors: SURNAA SURNAA , BAI XIAOSHUAN , HEISS ERNST , CAI WANZHI
Published: November 2020

A new apterous genus and species of flat bugs, Neolibiocoris obtusus gen. nov. and sp. nov., and an additional new species, Rotundocoris pyramidalis sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae: Carventinae), are described from Hainan Island, China. The diagnostic morphological features of the new genus and species are discussed and illustrated. A revised key to apterous genera of Carventinae from Hainan Island is presented.