bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of oxidative stress: We should treat it that way
Authors: Sczepanik Fábio Sá Carneiro , Grossi Márcio Lima , Casati Márcio , Goldberg Michael , Glogauer Michael , Fine Noah , Tenenbaum Howard C.
Published: August 2020

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent disease. As it progresses, it causes serious morbidity in the form of periodontal abscesses and tooth loss and, in the latter stages, pain. It is also now known that periodontitis is strongly associated with several nonoral diseases. Thus, patients with periodontitis are at greater risk for the development and/or exacerbation of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular diseases, among other conditions. Although it is without question that specific groups of oral bacteria which populate dental plaque play a causative role in the development of periodontitis, it is now thought that once this disease has been triggered, other factors play an equal, and possibly more important, role in its progression, particularly in severe cases or in cases that prove difficult to treat. In this regard, we allude to the host response, specifically the notion that the host, once infected with oral periodontal pathogenic bacteria, will mount a defense response mediated largely through the innate immune system. The most abundant cell type of the innate immune system – polymorphonuclear neutrophils – can, when protecting the host from microbial invasion, mount a response that includes upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxygen species, all of which then contribute to the tissue damage and loss of teeth commonly associated with periodontitis. Of the mechanisms referred to here, we suggest that upregulation of reactive oxygen species might play one of the most important roles in the establishment and progression of periodontitis (as well as in other diseases of inflammation) through the development of oxidative stress. In this overview, we discuss both innate and epigenetic factors (eg, diabetes, smoking) that lead to the development of oxidative stress. This oxidative stress then provides an environment conducive to the destructive processes observed in periodontitis. Therefore, we shall describe some of the fundamental characteristics of oxidative stress and its effects on the periodontium, discuss the diseases and other factors that cause oxidative stress, and, finally, review potentially novel therapeutic approaches for the management (and possibly even the reversal) of periodontitis, which rely on the use of therapies, such as resveratrol and other antioxidants, that provide increased antioxidant activity in the host.
On a neglected feature of moral agency
Authors: Barber Zachary L.
Published: August 2020

Two conditions have been thought necessary and sufficient for a person to be morally responsible. The first is a control condition: an agent must control the actions for which she is held responsible. The second is an epistemic condition: an agent must know, or have the right kind of cognitive relationship to, the relevant features of what she is doing. Debate about moral responsibility among contemporary philosophers can be neatly divided into two circles, with each circle attending narrowly to one of these two conditions. I argue that these separate debates should not be had so separately. The two conditions on moral responsibility interact in a way that has been neglected. An agent's possession of knowledge, and her capacity to attain knowledge, increase that agent's control in a sense relevant to the control condition on moral responsibility. Conversely, an agent's control of her actions can be used to acquire knowledge in a sense relevant to the epistemic condition on moral responsibility. It is in this way that a sort of feedback loop arises between the epistemic condition and the control condition—each is capable of augmenting the degree to which their possessor satisfies the other. I argue that this interaction has important implications for each debate.
Nestedg-Computation: A Causal Approach to Analysis of Censored Medical Costs in The Presence of Time-Varying Treatment
Authors: Spieker Andrew J. , Ko Emily M. , Roy Jason A. , Mitra Nandita
Published: August 2020

Rising medical costs are an emerging challenge in policy decisions and resource allocation planning. When cumulative medical cost is the outcome, right censoring induces informative missingness due to heterogeneity in cost accumulation rates across subjects. Inverse weighting approaches have been developed to address the challenge of informative cost trajectories in mean cost estimation, though these approaches generally ignore post-baseline treatment changes. In post-hysterectomy endometrial cancer patients, data from a linked database of Medicare records and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results programme of the National Cancer Institute reveal substantial within-subject variation in treatment over time. In such a setting, the utility of existing intent-to-treat approaches is generally limited. Estimates of the population mean cost under a hypothetical time-varying treatment regime can better assist with resource allocation when planning for a treatment policy change; such estimates must inherently take time-dependent treatment and confounding into account. We develop a nested g-computation approach to cost analysis to address this challenge, while accounting for censoring. We develop a procedure to evaluate sensitivity to departures from baseline treatment ignorability. We further conduct a variety of simulations and apply our nested g-computation procedure to 2-year costs from endometrial cancer patients.
La teología política de Schelling en el Freiheitsschrift
Authors: Ramírez Carlos Andrés
Published: August 2020

Schelling no es reconocido como pensador político. Su Escrito sobre la libertad, en particular, pareciera un texto relevante exclusivamente desde un punto de vista ontológico y teológico. No obstante, es posible interpretarlo en términos políticos considerando (1) su deliberada intervención en cierto contexto histórico-político y sus alusiones al mismo; (2) su lectura en clave ontoteológica de la historia humana y, en ella, del surgimiento de un “nuevo reino”; y (3) su comprensión de la filosofía como impulso a un nuevo tipo de espiritualidad. La suma de esos elementos permite hablar de una teología política en el Freiheitsschrif.
Performance Evaluation of Surface Overlaid EN-42 Steel for Tillage Applications
Authors: Singh Jagseer , Chatha Sukhpal Singh , Sidhu Buta Singh
Published: August 2020

Wear of tools is a key problem in the farming sector. The objective of this study was to evaluate the wear performance of untreated steel (EN-42) and two hardfacings, namely H1 and VB. Hardfacing H1 (0.86Cr0.22C) fall in the basic buildup iron–carbide alloy category and hardfacing VB (3.19Cr2.51C2.7Si) is categorized as martensitic alloy steel. Abrasive wear performance of untreated, as well as hardfaced steel specimens, was evaluated in the laboratory and actual field conditions. The tests were conducted in the laboratory, and actual field trials were conducted in sandy loam and sandy clay-loam soil. The performance of the untreated and hardfaced steel was analyzed using various techniques such as weight loss, microhardness, microstructure and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that H1 and VB overlaid steel exhibited better wear performance than the untreated steel, and the least wear-rate was found in sandy clay-loam soil. VB overlaid steel experienced lesser cumulative weight loss (g) and wear-rate (g/km) and thus displayed better abrasive wear behavior under all the conditions of the study. Further, it has been observed that the moisture content in soil exerts a stronger effect on ploughshare wear than soil type. For actual field conditions, untreated and overlaid ploughshares tested in sandy loam soil with low moisture content (0–3%) experienced almost three times higher wear-rate (4.078 g/km, 3.699 g/km, and 3.055 g/km for untreated, H1, and VB overlaid steel, respectively) than the same ploughshares tested in soil having high (14–17%) moisture content (1.296 g/km, 1.178 g/km, and 0.913 g/km for untreated, H1, and VB overlaid steel, respectively).
Adapting to Extreme Heat: Social, Atmospheric, and Infrastructure Impacts of Air-Conditioning in Megacities—The Case of New York City
Authors: Gamarro Harold , Ortiz Luis , González Jorge E.
Published: August 2020

Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense. In cities, the urban heat island (UHI) can often intensify extreme heat exposure, presenting a public health challenge across vulnerable populations without access to adaptive measures. Here, we explore the impacts of increasing residential air-conditioning (AC) adoption as one such adaptive measure to extreme heat, with New York City (NYC) as a case study. This study uses AC adoption data from NYC Housing and Vacancy Surveys to study impacts to indoor heat exposure, energy demand, and UHI. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, coupled with a multilayer building environment parameterization and building energy model (BEP–BEM), is used to perform this analysis. The BEP–BEM schemes are modified to account for partial AC use and used to analyze current and full AC adoption scenarios. A city-scale case study is performed over the summer months of June–August 2018, which includes three different extreme heat events. Simulation results show good agreement with surface weather stations. We show that increasing AC systems to 100% usage across NYC results in a peak energy demand increase of 20%, while increasing UHI on average by 0.42 °C. Results highlight potential trade-offs in extreme heat adaptation strategies for cities, which may be necessary in the context of increasing extreme heat events.
Detection of simulated patterned echo packets by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Finneran Ann E. , Mulsow Jason , Finneran James J.
Published: August 2020

Dolphins performing long-range biosonar tasks sometimes use “packets” of clicks, where inter-click-intervals within each packet are less than the two-way acoustic travel time from dolphin to target. The multi-echo nature of packets results in lower detection thresholds than single echoes; however, other potential benefits of packet use remain unexplored. The present study investigated whether structured temporal patterns observed in click packets impart some advantage in detecting echo-like signals embedded in noise. Two bottlenose dolphins were trained to passively listen and detect simulated packets of echoes in background noise consisting of either steady-state broadband Gaussian noise, or Gaussian noise containing randomly presented impulses similar to dolphin clicks. Four different inter-stimulus-interval (ISI) patterns (constant, random, increasing, or decreasing ISI within each packet) were tested. It was hypothesized that decreasing ISIs—found naturally in dolphin packets—would result in the lowest thresholds, while random, unlearnable patterns would result in the highest. However, no biologically significant differences in threshold were found among the four ISI patterns for either noise condition. Thus, the bottlenose dolphin's stereotypical pattern of decreasing ISI during active echolocation did not appear to provide an advantage in packet detection in this passive listening task.
Draft Genome Sequences of 10 Strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Biovar 1, a Major Kiwifruit Bacterial Canker Pathogen in Japan
Authors: Fujikawa Takashi , Hatomi Hiroe , Sawada Hiroyuki
Published: August 2020

Several groups (biovars) of the kiwifruit bacterial canker pathogen
Pseudomonas syringae
pv. actinidiae are found in Japan. Here, we sequenced and compared 10 genome sequences of biovar 1, a major group in Japan, which is known as the phaseolotoxin producer.
Management of a twin pregnancy in a didelphys uterus: one fetus in each uterine cavity
Authors: Goulios Chloe , McCuaig Ruth , Hobson Louise , White Scott
Published: August 2020

We report on a rare case of dicavitary twin pregnancy in a woman with a uterine didelphys. Delivery was performed by elective caesarean section, where live female and male infants were born. Twin pregnancies, in women with uterine anomalies, are high risk and require close surveillance in a specialist centre to monitor for complications such as preterm birth and fetal growth restriction.
Clinical teachers’ motivations for feedback provision in busy emergency departments: a multicentre qualitative study
Authors: Chaou Chung-Hsien , Yu Shiuan-Ruey , Ngerng Roy Yi Ling , Monrouxe Lynn Valerie , Chang Li-Chun , Chang Yu-Che
Published: August 2020

Background

Feedback is an effective pedagogical tool in clinical teaching and learning, but the actual perception by learners of clinical feedback is often described as unsatisfactory. Unlike assessment feedback or teaching sessions, which often happen within protected time and space, clinical feedback is influenced by numerous clinical factors. Little is known about clinical teachers’ motivations to provide feedback in busy clinical settings. We aimed to investigate the motivations behind feedback being given in emergency departments (EDs).

Methods

A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview data was conducted between August 2015 and June 2016. Eighteen attending physicians were purposively sampled from three teaching hospital EDs in Taiwan. Data were thematically analysed, both inductively (from the data) and deductively (using self-determination theory (SDT)). Themes were mapped to the different motivation types identified by the SDT.

Results and discussion

Despite working in busy clinical settings, Taiwanese ED clinical teachers reported being motivated to provide feedback when they felt responsible for their learners, when they understood the importance of feedback (patient safety and partner building), or simply because they were committed to following a tradition of passing on their clinical knowledge to their juniors. Suggestions to facilitate the internalisation of external motivations are proposed.

Conclusions

In this qualitative study, motivations for clinical feedback were identified. Although the motivations are mostly extrinsic, the elicitation of internal motivation is possible once true satisfaction is fostered during the feedback-giving process. This understanding can be used to develop interventions to enable clinical feedback to be provided in a sustained manner.
Emerging treatment options for extraintestinal manifestations in IBD
Authors: Greuter Thomas , Rieder Florian , Kucharzik Torsten , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Schoepfer Alain M , Rubin David T , Vavricka Stephan R
Published: August 2020

Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) are frequently observed in IBDs and contribute considerably to morbidity and mortality. They have long been considered a difficult to treat entity due to limited therapy options, but the increasing use of anti-tumour necrosis factors has dramatically changed the therapeutic approach to EIM in recent years. Newly emerging therapies such as JAK inhibitors and anti-interleukin 12/23 will further shape the available armamentarium. Clinicians dealing with EIMs in everyday IBD practice may be puzzled by the numerous available biological agents and small molecules, their efficacy for EIMs and their potential off-label indications. Current guidelines on EIMs in IBD do not include treatment algorithms to help practitioners in the treatment decision-making process. Herein, we summarise knowledge on emerging biological treatment options and small molecules for EIMs, highlight current research gaps, provide therapeutic algorithms for EIM management and shed light on future strategies in the context of IBD-related EIMs.
Histopathological features of multiorgan percutaneous tissue core biopsy in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Wang Xin-xin , Shao Chen , Huang Xiao-jie , Sun Lin , Meng Ling-jia , Liu Hui , Zhang Shi-jie , Li Hong-jun , Lv Fu-dong
Published: August 2020

Aims

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in an increased mortality. However, whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect multiple organs is still unclear. In this study, postmortem percutaneous biopsies of multiple organs from deceased patients were performed to understand the histopathological changes caused by COVID-19.

Methods

Biopsy specimens of pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic and lymphoid tissues were obtained from three patients, who died due to COVID-19 pneumonia. H&E stain, Masson trichrome stain, immunohistochemistry stain and in-situ hybridisation were used.

Results

Pulmonary damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection was diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). In the early phase, the histological findings were mainly those of exudative features of DAD. The later phase was characterised by organisation of DAD combined with bacterial pneumonia. No serious damage was found in the bronchiolar epithelium and submucosal glands. The hepatic tissue revealed features of ischaemic necrosis, but findings suggestive of mild lobular hepatitis were also observed. The lymphoid tissue revealed features of non-specific acute lymphadenitis. The cardiac tissue revealed changes of underlying disease. SARS-CoV-2 RNAs were not detected in hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and lymphocytes of lymph nodes.

Conclusions

COVID-19 predominantly involves the pulmonary tissue, causes DAD and aggravates the cardiovascular disease. However, other extrapulmonary tissues did not reveal any virus-specific findings, but were affected by multiple factors. The findings in this report caution the pathologists that they should not mistakenly attribute all the histological features to CoV infection. Moreover, the clinicians should pay attention to the potentially injurious and correctable causes.
Early brain biomarkers of post-traumatic seizures: initial report of the multicentre epilepsy bioinformatics study for antiepileptogenic therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) prospective study
Authors: Lutkenhoff Evan S. , Shrestha Vikesh , Ruiz Tejeda Jesus , Real Courtney , McArthur David L. , Duncan Dominique , La Rocca Marianna , Garner Rachael , Toga Arthur W. , Vespa Paul M. , Monti Martin M.
Published: August 2020

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes early seizures and is the leading cause of post-traumatic epilepsy. We prospectively assessed structural imaging biomarkers differentiating patients who develop seizures secondary to TBI from patients who do not.

Design

Multicentre prospective cohort study starting in 2018. Imaging data are acquired around day 14 post-injury, detection of seizure events occurred early (within 1 week) and late (up to 90 days post-TBI).

Results

From a sample of 96 patients surviving moderate-to-severe TBI, we performed shape analysis of local volume deficits in subcortical areas (analysable sample: 57 patients; 35 no seizure, 14 early, 8 late) and cortical ribbon thinning (analysable sample: 46 patients; 29 no seizure, 10 early, 7 late). Right hippocampal volume deficit and inferior temporal cortex thinning demonstrated a significant effect across groups. Additionally, the degree of left frontal and temporal pole thinning, and clinical score at the time of the MRI, could differentiate patients experiencing early seizures from patients not experiencing them with 89% accuracy.

Conclusions and relevance

Although this is an initial report, these data show that specific areas of localised volume deficit, as visible on routine imaging data, are associated with the emergence of seizures after TBI.
Lockdown and levelling down: why Savulescu and Cameron are mistaken about selective isolation of the elderly
Authors: Hughes Jonathan A
Published: August 2020

In their recent article, ‘Why lockdown of the elderly is not ageist and why levelling down equality is wrong’, Savulescu and Cameron argue for selective isolation of the elderly as an alternative to general lockdown. An important part of their argument is the claim that the latter amounts to ‘levelling down equality’ and that this is ‘unethical’ or even ‘morally repugnant’. This response argues that they fail to justify either part of this claim: the claim that levelling down is always morally wrong is subject to challenges that Savulescu and Cameron do not consider; and a policy of maintaining general lockdown does not constitute levelling down, as it provides absolute benefits to those who would be worse off under selective isolation.
Antibiotic prescriptions by medical interns in Hong Kong: influence of the hospital settings and prescription culture
Authors: Lam Tai Pong , Chan Tak Hon , Sun Kai Sing , Lam Kwok Fai , Kwok Kit Wing , Ho Pak Leung
Published: August 2020

Background

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing practices predispose to resistance emergence. Despite the inclusion of the topic in medical school curricula worldwide, it is uncertain whether newly graduated medical interns have confidence in proper antibiotic prescription.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the antibiotic prescribing behaviours of the medical interns in Hong Kong and their barriers to appropriate antibiotic prescription.

Methods

Two focus groups were conducted among medical interns with training experiences in different public hospitals. Their prescribing behaviours and barriers were further examined with a questionnaire survey just before completion of internship.

Results

Focus group interviews identified a variety of hospital workplace cultures, including inappropriate empirical prescriptions and dosages, interns’ passive roles in prescribing antibiotics and varied guidelines between different departments. Defensive medicine and lack of clinical experience were other barriers encountered. The interns believed that the incorrect practice learnt would perpetuate in their minds and affect their future practice. The top barriers reported by the survey respondents were adaptation to prescription culture of different hospitals (93.5%), lack of experience in antibiotic prescription (88.3%), inadequate knowledge in the choice of antibiotics (85.7%) and compliance with the seniors’ instructions (80.6%). However, some focus group participants perceived weaker barriers in paediatric departments which provided close monitoring of antibiotic use.

Conclusions

Inadequate knowledge and low confidence in antibiotic prescription led to the passive role of medical interns in antibiotic prescription, predisposing to future inappropriate practice. Inconsistent guidelines and prescription cultures between different hospitals and departments might further exacerbate their barriers.
Tobacco price elasticity in Serbia: evidence from a middle-income country with high prevalence and low tobacco prices
Authors: Vladisavljevic Marko , Zubović Jovan , Đukić Mihajlo , Jovanović Olivera
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we use Deaton’s demand model and Household Budget Survey data from 2006 to 2017 to provide a first robust and reliable estimate of cigarettes price elasticity for Serbia. The case of Serbia is particularly interesting and important as it provides evidence for a country in which tobacco market is characterised by the high tobacco consumption, low prices and large perceived impact of multinational tobacco companies on public revenues, export and employment, given their considerable cigarette production in Serbia. The price elasticity of cigarettes is estimated at −0.639, in line with the previous estimates for the low-income and middle-income countries. Estimated negative cigarettes price elasticity for Serbia suggests that tobacco tax policy could be used effectively to reduce cigarette consumption in Serbia, which could lower the harmful health effects of cigarettes. Furthermore, a calculation based on the estimated elasticity suggests that increasing tobacco taxes could also have positive fiscal effects, as the expected revenue from the taxes would increase.
Machine availability and productivity during timber harvester machine operator training
Authors: Pagnussat Millana B. , Silva Lopes Eduardo da , Robert Renato C.G.
Published: August 2020

Machine availability and timber harvest productivity in commercial forestry are influenced in part by operator performance. This work aimed to evaluate the behavior of these two variables, machine availability and productivity, during the training period for harvester operators. The study was conducted at a forestry company situated in Brazil. Productivity and machine availability data were collected for 30 individuals who were trained over an 11-month period. Monthly mean data for both variables were compared using Tukey’s test. The analysis revealed a significant difference in productivity and machine availability during the training period, with productivity increasing until 6 months of harvester operator training while machine availability simultaneously decreased. Productivity began at a mean of 9 m3·PMH0 −1, reaching 24 m3·PMH0 −1 at its peak, and stabilizing around 20 m3·PMH0 −1, where PMH0 is productive machine hours. Machine availability started at 84%, decreased to a mean of 78%, and increased to around 88% until the present. Both variables demonstrated a tendency toward stabilization until 9 months of harvester operation training. Given that the harvester operator training period had a significant influence on machine availability and productivity, this study’s results support careful operational planning, staffing, and resource use during this training period.
The effect of cutting technique on the mortality and resprouting vigor of poplar stumps in short-rotation plantations
Authors: Spinelli Raffaele , Magagnotti Natascia , Lombardini Carolina , Leonello Elaine Cristina
Published: August 2020

Mechanical felling is the most cost-effective solution for harvesting short-rotation poplar plantations, but the damage inflicted by conventional shear-cutting devices on tree stumps has raised concerns about stump mortality and resprouting vigor, both of which are crucial to coppice regeneration. To determine whether such concerns are justified, this experiment monitored the survival and resprouting vigor of 11 sample blocks composed of two 10-stump row segments that were cut according to one of two methods: (1) a chainsaw or (2) an excavator-mounted shear. The sample blocks were located within the same plantation, established 7 years earlier with hybrid poplars (Populus nigra × Populus deltoides) belonging to the AF8 clone. One year after cutting, no differences were found between treatments in terms of stump mortality, number of shoots per stump, shoot diameter at 30 cm from the insertion, or shoot height. These results support the use of mechanical shears to fell short-rotation poplar coppice. However, further studies should be conducted on multiple fields and clones in order to safely generalize these preliminary findings.
Weak Separation Problem for Tree Languages
Authors: Alirezazadeh Saeid , Alibabaei Khadijeh
Published: August 2020

Forest algebras are defined for investigating languages of forests [ordered sequences] of unranked trees, where a node may have more than two [ordered] successors. They consist of two monoids, the horizontal and the vertical, with an action of the vertical monoid on the horizontal monoid, and a complementary axiom of faithfulness. A pseudovariety is a class of finite algebras of a given signature, closed under the taking of homomorphic images, subalgebras and finitary direct products. By looking at the syntactic congruence for monoids and as the natural extension in the case of forest algebras, we could define a version of syntactic congruence of a subset of the free forest algebra, not just a forest language. Let [Formula: see text] be a finite alphabet and [Formula: see text] be a pseudovariety of finite forest algebras. A language [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-recognizable if its syntactic forest algebra belongs to [Formula: see text]. Separation is a classical problem in mathematics and computer science. It asks whether, given two sets belonging to some class, it is possible to separate them by another set of a smaller class.

Suppose that a forest language [Formula: see text] and a forest [Formula: see text] are given. We want to find if there exists any proof for that [Formula: see text] does not belong to [Formula: see text] just by using [Formula: see text]-recognizable languages, i.e. given such [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], if there exists a [Formula: see text]-recognizable language [Formula: see text] which contains [Formula: see text] and does not contain [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we present how one can use profinite forest algebra to separate a forest language and a forest term and also to separate two forest languages.
The Silk Road: Traveled, Imagined, Transformed
Authors: Kratz Dennis M.
Published: August 2020

Western artists, philosophers and politicians have inevitably viewed China and its actions through a distorting lens – often seeking to confirm assumptions rather than to gain new understanding. This paper examines Western and specifically American responses to three manifestations of the Silk Road: the historical Silk Road that enabled the transport of goods, people and ideas from China through Central Asia as far as Europe; the “Silk Road of the Western Imagination;” and the modern transformation of the Silk Road into China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It explores reasons for the American idealized fascination for the first two and hostility toward the BRI. The tendency to interpret history and China from a “heroic” perspective serves as an obstacle to fostering a modern era of cultural exchange and cooperation that both Americans and Chinese believe the Silk Road symbolizes.
How Much Does Africa Need China’s New Infrastructure?
Authors: Liang Haiming
Published: August 2020

The African prospects for the development of the digital economy can be exhilarating, in the next three years, the rate of internet penetration African will undoubtedly be fast growth, where the magnitude of African internet users could reach an astounding number of 800 million, a number which is on par with the current number of Chinese internet users. As the world’s second most powerful digital economy, China under the banner of the construction of the “Digital Silk Road” has already in the past decade signed numerous memorandums of understanding with various African nations. China and even more African nations can and will mutually and significantly cultivate in the field of new infrastructures. The urgent promotion and establishment of new African infrastructure shall and will greatly support Africans to be able to gain access to the highspeed internet, which will not only benefit Africa’s local economic growth but also bring new impetus to the global economy.
Code Renewability for Native Software Protection
Authors: Abrath Bert , Coppens Bart , Broeck Jens Van Den , Wyseur Brecht , Cabutto Alessandro , Falcarin Paolo , Sutter Bjorn De
Published: August 2020

Software protection aims at safeguarding assets embedded in software by preventing and delaying reverse engineering and tampering attacks. This article presents an architecture and supporting tool flow to renew parts of native applications dynamically. Renewed and diversified code and data belonging to either the original application or to linked-in protections are delivered from a secure server to a client on demand. This results in frequent changes to the software components when they are under attack, thus making attacks harder. By supporting various forms of diversification and renewability, novel protection combinations become available and existing combinations become stronger. The prototype implementation is evaluated on several industrial use cases.
A Subjective Expressions Extracting Method for Social Opinion Mining
Authors: Yin Mingyong , Wang Haizhou , Chen Xingshu , Yan Hong , Tang Rui
Published: August 2020

Opinion mining plays an important role in public opinion monitoring, commodity evaluation, government governance, and other areas. One of the basic tasks of opinion mining is to extract the expression elements, which can be further divided into direct subjective expression and expressive subjective expression. For the task of subjective expression extraction, the methods based on neural network can learn features automatically without exhaustive feature engineering and have been proved to be efficient for opinion mining. Constructing adequate input vector which can encode sufficient information is a challenge of neural network-based approach. To cope with this problem, a novel representation method that combines the different features with word vectors is proposed. Then, we use neural network and conditional random field to train and predict the expressions and carry out comparative experiments on different methods and features combinations. Experimental results show the performance of the proposed model, and the F value outperforms other methods in comparative experimental dataset. Our work can provide hint for further research on opinion expression extraction.
Distributed Adaptive Fixed-Time Tracking Consensus Control for Multiple Uncertain Nonlinear Strict-Feedback Systems under a Directed Graph
Authors: Li Pinwei , Dai Jiyang , Ying Jin , Zhang Zhe , He Cheng
Published: August 2020

In this brief, we study the distributed adaptive fixed-time tracking consensus control problem for multiple strict-feedback systems with uncertain nonlinearities under a directed graph topology. It is assumed that the leader’s output is time varying and has been accessed by only a small fraction of followers in a group. The distributed fixed-time tracking consensus control is proposed to design local consensus controllers in order to guarantee the consensus tracking between the followers and the leader and ensure the error convergence time is independent of the systems’ initial state. The function approximation technique using radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs) is employed to compensate for unknown nonlinear terms induced from the controller design procedure. From the Lyapunov stability theorem and graph theory, it is shown that, by using the proposed fixed-time control strategy, all signals in the closed-loop system and the consensus tracking errors are cooperatively semiglobally uniformly bounded and the errors converge to a neighborhood of the origin within a fixed time. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy has been proved by rigorous stability analysis and two simulation examples.
Introducing a Chaotic Component in the Control System of Soil Respiration
Authors: An Peng , Wang Wen-Feng , Chen Xi , Qian Jing , Pan Yunzhu
Published: August 2020

Chaos theory has been proved to be of great significance in a series of critical applications although, until now, its applications in analyzing soil respiration have not been addressed. This study aims to introduce a chaotic component in the control system of soil respiration and explain control complexity of this nonlinear chaotic system. This also presents a theoretical framework for better understanding chaotic components of soil respiration in arid land. A concept model of processes and mechanisms associated with subterranean CO2 evolution are developed, and dynamics of the chaotic system is characterized as an extended Riccati equation. Controls of soil respiration and kinetics of the chaotic system are interpreted and as a first attempt, control complexity of this nonlinear chaotic system is tackled by introducing a period-regulator in partitioning components of soil respiration.
Synthesis, Electrochemical, Thermodynamic, and Quantum Chemical Investigations of Amino Cadalene as a Corrosion Inhibitor for Stainless Steel Type 321 in Sulfuric Acid 1M
Authors: Koumya Y. , Idouhli R. , Oukhrib A. , Khadiri M. , Abouelfida A. , Benyaich A.
Published: August 2020

The corrosion of stainless steel is one of the major industries’ issues that gained wide interest among researchers. It became necessary to develop and apply eco-friendly approaches to corrosion control. This work explores the inhibitory effect of a newly synthesized amino cadalene (ACM) on the corrosion of stainless steel type 321 in sulfuric acid 1M. Particularly, the experimental study consisting of electrochemical and surface analyses was conducted in conjunction with a theoretical approach. The electrochemical results showed that ACM acted as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor and the inhibition efficiency attained 91% at 10−3M. EIS measurements revealed that both metal charge transfer and diffusion processes are involved in the interfacial metal/solution reactions. The interfacial mechanism is thoroughly investigated; the physisorption of the protonated molecules was preceded by the formation of a negative layer due to adsorption of the solution anionic species. The experimental insights are corroborated with the quantum chemical calculations.
An Effective and Simple Way to Establish Elastase‐Induced Middle Carotid Artery Fusiform Aneurysms in Rabbits
Authors: Lyu Yanxia , Luo Jie , Zhang Yonghong , Wang ChaoJia , Li AnRong , Zhou Yi , Du EnFu , Wang Hui , Hu JunTao
Published: August 2020

Objective. Elastase‐induced aneurysms in rabbits have been proposed as a preclinical tool for device development, but there is still much deficiency in those aneurismal models. So we need to explore the efficient and convenient animal models for the investigation of intracranial aneurysms. Then, we compared and analyzed three methods of elastase‐induced carotid artery aneurysms in rabbits and aimed to find a simple, effective, and reproducible method for creating elastase‐induced aneurysms. Methods. 42 standard feeding male adult Japanese white rabbits (3.05 ± 0.65 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups and treated with elastase ablation to create common carotid artery (RCCA) aneurysm models: Group A (root‐RCCA medication group, n = 12), Group B (mid‐RCCA medication group, n = 18), and Group C (ligated RCCA+medication group, n = 12). For Group A, the origin of the RCCA was blocked by two temporary aneurysm clips, and the resulting 2 cm cavity was infused with elastase for 20 min, then the clip was removed and the RCCA was not ligated. For Group B, the middle part of RCCA was treated the same way as Group A and the RCCA was not ligated. For Group C, the middle part of RCCA was treated as Group B, but the distal RCCA was ligated. After the aneurysm models were created for 3 weeks, prior to sacrificing the animals, color Doppler ultrasound and angiography were performed for blood flow measurements inside the aneurysms. Histological analysis (such as SMA‐α, CD31, CD34, CD68, collagen IV, and Ki67) and the other relevant indexes were compared between the ideal model’s aneurysmal tissues and the human intracranial aneurysm’s tissues to confirm whether we have successfully established elastase‐induced aneurysm models. Results. Compared with human intracranial aneurysm specimens by the color Doppler ultrasound, angiography, and changes in the inner diameter of arteries, all three methods have successfully established the elastase‐induced aneurysm models. Histology showed that biological responses were similar to both human cerebral aneurysms and previously published elastase‐induced rabbit aneurysm models. Group A and Group B had the same morphology, but Group A had a higher mortality rate than Group B. Group B and Group C had different morphology. The aneurysm of Group C was more similar to human cerebral aneurysms but had a higher mortality rate than Group B. Group B was confirmed not only as an alternative method but also as a more safe and effective method for creating elastase‐induced aneurysm models. Conclusion. Through analysis and comparison, the Group B is proven to be the simplest, reproducible, and most effective modeling method. The aneurysm model established by Group B can be used for basic research related to aneurysm mechanism. We have provided a new and effective method for basic research on aneurysm.
Fatal Mucormycosis and Aspergillosis in an Atypical Host: What Do We Know about Mixed Invasive Mold Infections?
Authors: Tsikala-Vafea Maria , Cao Weibiao , Olszewski Adam J. , Donahue John E. , Farmakiotis Dimitrios
Published: August 2020

Mixed invasive mold infections (MIMIs) are considered rare. We present a case of fatal aspergillosis and mucormycosis in an elderly host with history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and potential mold exposures. Notably, he had no classic risk factors for IMI other than high-dose corticosteroids, which may be an important risk factor for (M)IMI, based on the current and previous reports. There is an urgent need for studies on the “net state of immunosuppression,” environmental exposure as risk factors for (M)IMIs, and noninvasive fungal diagnostics.
Recurrent Unprovoked Venous Thrombosis (Cerebral Sinus Thrombosis and Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis) in Young Patient with Crohn’s Disease: A Case Report and Review
Authors: Albishi Abdullah Mohammed , Chakik Rafaat , Alshamrani Ali Saleh
Published: August 2020

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have a higher risk of thrombosis. Most data about thrombosis in inflammatory bowel disease are related mainly to inpatients with disease activity, but in this article, we report one case of inflammatory bowel disease with two different sites of venous thrombosis which happened in a patient with nonactive IBD at an outpatient setting.
Anesthetic Management for Emergent Repair of Tracheoinnominate Fistula
Authors: Nadar Vinayak , Banik Ratan K.
Published: August 2020

We present a case of a 30-year-old female, who had tracheostomy revision complicated by false passage into the subcutaneous space and pneumothorax. Six days later, she developed massive bleeding from the mouth, nose, and tracheostomy site. Approximately 2 liters of blood was lost. With high suspicion for tracheo-innominate fistula, she was emergently brought to the operating room for fistula repair. Her anesthetic management was initially focused on maintaining spontaneous ventilation with inhalation agents until surgical exposure was adequate. An endotracheal tube was then placed under guidance of a video-laryngoscope. The tracheostomy tube was then removed over a Cook catheter to maintain secure passage in case of airway collapse. The oral endotracheal tube was then inserted distal to the arterial and tracheal defect. The patient’s bleeding was stopped, the fistula was repaired, and she was transferred back to the intensive care unit, but she died several days later due to multi-organ failure.
Seepage Analysis on the Surface Layer of Multistage Filled Slope with Rainfall Infiltration
Authors: Yuan Bingxiang , Cai Zengrui , Lu Mengmeng , Lv Jianbing , Su Zhilei , Zhao Zuqing
Published: August 2020

Based on the theory of rainfall infiltration, the surface infiltration model of multilevel filled slope was established by using the SEEP/W module of GeoStudio. The changes of the volumetric water content (VWC) and pore water pressure (PWP) in the surface of the slope during the rainfall infiltration were analyzed, and the influence of the change of the rainfall conditions on the VWC and PWP was considered. The analysis showed that VWC and PWP increased when the rain fell, and the growth rate of the higher feature point was higher. The affected area was concentrated on the upper part of the surface about 0.75 m. With the increasing of rainfall intensity, the slope surface getting to transient saturation state was quick, and the time of the PWP increasing to 0 among the feature points of same elevation was shortened. Meanwhile, the PWP presented a positive value, and as the infiltration depth increased, the transient saturation region expanded. The safety coefficient of the multistage filled slope was continuously reduced; after the stop of rainfall, the VWC and the PWP decreased, and the decline rate of the higher feature points was higher. In addition, the PWP of the lower part increased, and the safety factor of the slope presented a trend of rebound.
Triplet Therapy with PD-1 Blockade, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, and DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitor Achieves Radiological Response in Refractory Double-Expressor Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma with 17p Deletion
Authors: Zheng Runhui , Chen Xiaobo , Wang Chunyan , Qin Pengfei , Tan Huo , Luo Xiaodan
Published: August 2020

Double-expressor diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with17pdeletion is an aggressive and refractory disease. Immune checkpoint blockade and epigenetic drugs have been widely used, but the efficacy of different combined applications varied. We report a case with “double-expressor” DLBCL treated with a combined regimen which consisted of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi), and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi). A 50-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of hoarseness, and 10 days of progressive shortness of breath was diagnosed of DLBCL, stage IV. The patient failed to respond to the 1stline (R-EPOCH: rituximab, etoposide, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone), 2ndline (R-EPOCH + lenalidomide + ibrutinib), and a 3rdline chemotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor (sintilimab), decitabine, and GDP (gemcitabine, DDP, and dexamethasone). Surprisingly, patient’s condition was improved after treatment with PD-1 inhibitor in combination with DNMTi/HDACi. Restaging PET revealed dramatically radiological response.
The Dual Androgen Receptor and Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist CB-03-10 as Potential Treatment for Tumors that have Acquired GR-mediated Resistance to AR Blockade
Authors: Rosette Caridad , Agan Frances J. , Rosette Niccolette , Mazzetti Alessandro , Moro Luigi , Gerloni Mara
Published: August 2020

CB-03–10 (cortexolone 17α-valerate-21-propionate) is a synthetic steroidal compound derived from cortexolone (11-deoxycortisone), an intermediate in cortisol biosynthesis. Characterization of the activity of CB-03-10 and its main related compound CB-03–05 (cortexolone 17α-valerate) included in vitro binding to the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors (AR and GR), antagonism of AR and GR transcriptional activities, and screening for antitumor activity across a selected panel of human prostate and in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. CB-03-10 cytotoxic activity in these cancer cell lines was in the low micromolar range and was primarily associated with induction of the apoptotic cascade via activation of caspases. The compound's potential for antitumor activity was verified in a murine xenograft model utilizing the AR-positive LNCaP prostate cancer cell line as well as in an orthotopic model utilizing AR-negative/GR-positive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Orally administered CB-03-10 inhibited prostate tumor growth and orthotopically implanted breast tumor growth in these mice and maintained body weight, as compared with vehicle-treated mice. On the basis of AR/GR binding affinities, antagonism of androgen and glucocorticoid-dependent transcriptional activities, and AR/GR mRNA and protein expression, the mechanism of tumor growth suppression is related to AR and GR antagonist activities. Importantly, these compounds lack biologically relevant AR/GR agonist activities. Overall, these preclinical findings support the selection of CB-03-10 for further development as an anticancer agent in cases where resistance to AR-targeted therapy or chemotherapy, via upregulation of GR activity, continues to limit the efficacy and duration of clinical benefit with these interventions.
Post-Burn Infantile Hemangioma in an Extremely Premature Neonate
Authors: Rosa-Mangeret Flavia , Calza Anne Marie , Pfister Riccardo E. , Barcos-Munoz Francisca
Published: August 2020

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common vascular tumor in infancy, and its physiopathology is not fully understood. Nevertheless, a hypoxic insult may be an essential element for the formation of an IH. Herein, we describe a case of a 25-week premature newborn who developed an IH after a post-burn scar and its evolution.