bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Stability of Banking System with Shadow Banking on Different Interbank Network Structures
Authors: Pan Hongjie , Fan Hong
Published: April 2021

With the rapid development of the financial market, the outbreak of systemic risk is affected by many factors, among which shadow banking is considered to be the essential reason to cause financial crisis and destroy the stability of the banking system. In view of the stability of the banking system, considering shadow banking, interbank lending, and complex relationships between banks, a dynamic complex interbank network model with shadow banking under different network structures is proposed. Based on the model, the effects of ROI, investment periods, average deposit, deposit interest rate, the density of shadow banks, and asset loss are studied quantitatively, and the sensitivity and difference of the banking system with shadow banking under different interbank networks are compared and analyzed. The findings indicate that the spread of systemic risks between banks is closely related to the interbank network structures. With the relatively concentrated interbank network structure, it is easier to increase the probability and degree of risk contagion. Under the random, small-world, and scale-free networks, the random network has the strongest ability to resist and absorb risks, while the small-world network is the weakest. However, once the banking network suffers a big shock, excessive risk will directly break through the protection of the banking network, detonate the systematic risk, and destroy the stability of the banking system with shadow banking. This study contributes to a future empirical research agenda on the topic. Moreover, it gives a reference for policymakers and regulatory authorities to prevent systemic risk introduced by shadow banking.
Detection of Leishmania donovani DNA within Field-Caught Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Three Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Endemic Foci of Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka
Authors: Wijerathna Tharaka , Gunathilaka Nayana , Gunawardena Kithsiri , Fujii Yoshito , Gunasekara Deepa
Published: April 2021

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection transmitted through the bite of female phlebotomine sand flies. Microscopy is the gold standard to detect parasites within the sand flies and for vector incrimination. However, molecular-based detection has become more popular nowadays in the identification of Leishmania parasites since it provides detection and species identification simultaneously with no need of laborious procedures. The entomological surveys were conducted monthly from May to October 2017 using standard entomological techniques. Field-caught sand flies were identified to the species level followed by DNA extraction. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using species-specific primers to detect Leishmania donovani parasites. A total of 1,662 sand flies were encountered from the entomological surveys, and the majority of them were Phlebotomus argentipes (n = 1517; 91.27%), while others were Sergentomyia punjabiensis (n = 140; 8.72%). Leishmania donovani parasite DNA was detected only from P. argentipes (2.3%; n = 2). The detection of Leishmania DNA in P. argentipes suggests the possible role of this species as a vector for leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka.
Da Cheng Qi Decoction Alleviates Cerulein-Stimulated AR42J Pancreatic Acinar Cell Injury via the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhou Zehua , Chen Ying , Dong Wenmin , An Rui , Liang Kun , Wang Xinhong
Published: April 2021

Background. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute abdomen inflammation, characterized by the dysregulation of digestive enzyme production and secretion. Many studies have shown that Da Cheng Qi Decoction (DCQD) is a secure, effective prescription on AP. In this study, cerulein-stimulated AR42J cells damage model was established to further explore the feasibility and underlying mechanism of DCQD as a potential inhibitor of JAK2/STAT3 pathway for the treatment of AP. Methods. Cell viability of DCQD was measured using a cell counting Kit-8 assay. Pancreatic biochemical markers such as amylase, lipase, and C-reactive protein production were measured by assay kits, respectively. Cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1β) were assayed by ELISA. Protein location and protein expression were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting, respectively. Gene expression was assessed by real-time PCR. For mechanistic analysis of the effect of DCQD on JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, selective JAK2 inhibitor (Fedratinib) and STAT3 inhibitor (Stattic) as well as STAT3 activator (Garcinone D) were used. Results. DCQD protected cells by regulating cerulein-induced inflammation and reducing the secretion of pancreatic biochemical markers. Moreover, DCQD could not only inhibit the nuclear translocation of p-STAT3, but also decrease the mRNA expression of JAK2 and STAT3 as well as the ratio of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 in protein level. Additionally, DCQD could regulate the mRNA and protein expression of JAK2/STAT3 downstream effectors, Bax and Bcl-XL. The activated effect of cerulein on JAK2/STAT3 pathway was also reversed by JAK2 inhibitor Fedratinib or STAT3 inhibitor Stattic. And the overexpression of JAK2/STAT3 pathway, via STAT3 activator Garcinone D, did exert damage on cells, which bore a resemblance to cerulein. Conclusion. The activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway may play a key role in the pathogenesis of cerulein-stimulated AR42J pancreatic acinar cell injury. DCQD could improve inflammatory cytokines and cell injury, which might be mediated by suppressing the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Research on Green Collaborative Innovation Mechanism of Cloud Manufacturing Enterprises under Government Supervision
Authors: Zhai Jiaqi , Xu Xinliang , Xu Jianzhong , Lyu Xichen
Published: April 2021

With the rapid development of information technology, the sharing economy based on “Internet plus” cloud platforms has become a new collaborative innovation mode and a hot topic in recent years. Considering that government regulation restricts green innovation cooperation among cloud manufacturing enterprises, an evolutionary game model involving the government and cloud manufacturing enterprises A and B with potential differences in their technology knowledge is established using evolutionary game theory. A replication dynamic equation is established, the evolutionarily stable equilibrium strategy of the three parties is analysed, and the key factors affecting the cooperative selection strategy of the government and cloud manufacturing enterprises are discussed through a MATLAB-based numerical simulation. This research shows that when governmental incentives and punishments, the platform load capacity, the trust between enterprises, the technology loss coefficient, and the informatization degree are increased, the government will tend to choose supervision, and cloud manufacturing enterprises A and B will tend to choose the “collaborative innovation” strategy. These results provide a scientific basis suggesting that the government should not only formulate rules and regulations for cloud manufacturing enterprises but also promote green collaborative innovation among such enterprises and enhance their core competitiveness.
A Parallel Attribute Reduction Method Based on Classification
Authors: Li Deguang , Cui Zhanyou
Published: April 2021

Parallel processing as a method to improve computer performance has become a development trend. Based on rough set theory and divide‐and‐conquer idea of knowledge reduction, this paper proposes a classification method that supports parallel attribute reduction processing, the method makes the relative positive domain which needs to be calculated repeatedly independent, and the independent relative positive domain calculation could be processed in parallel; thus, attribute reduction could be handled in parallel based on this classification method. Finally, the proposed algorithm and the traditional algorithm are analyzed and compared by experiments, and the results show that the proposed method in this paper has more advantages in time efficiency, which proves that the method could improve the processing efficiency of attribute reduction and makes it more suitable for massive data sets.
Antenatal Hypoxia Affects Pulmonary Artery Contractile Functions via Downregulating L‐type Ca
2+
Channels Subunit Alpha1 C in Adult Male Offspring
Authors: Li Huan , Ji Bingyu , Xu Ting , Zhao Meng , Zhang Yingying , Sun Miao , Xu Zhice , Gao Qinqin
Published: April 2021

Background

Antenatal intrauterine fetal hypoxia is a common pregnancy complication that has profound adverse effects on an individual's vascular health later in life. Pulmonary arteries are sensitive to hypoxia, but adverse effects of antenatal hypoxia on pulmonary vasoreactivities in the offspring remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects and related mechanisms of antenatal hypoxia on pulmonary artery functions in adult male offspring.

Methods and Results

Pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats were housed in a normoxic or hypoxic (10.5% O
2
) chamber from gestation days 10 to 20. Male offspring were euthanized at 16 weeks old (adult offspring). Pulmonary arteries were collected for vascular function, electrophysiology, target gene expression, and promoter methylation studies. In pulmonary artery rings, contractions to serotonin hydrochloride, angiotensin II, or phenylephrine were reduced in the antenatal hypoxic offspring, which resulted from inactivated L‐type Ca
2+
channels. In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, the basal whole‐cell Ca
2+
currents, as well as vasoconstrictor‐induced Ca
2+
transients were significantly reduced in antenatal hypoxic offspring. In addition, increased promoter methylations within L‐type Ca
2+
channel subunit alpha1 C were compatible with its reduced expressions.

Conclusions

This study indicated that antenatal hypoxia programmed long‐lasting vascular hypocontractility in the male offspring that is linked to decreases of L‐type Ca
2+
channel subunit alpha1 C in the pulmonary arteries. Antenatal hypoxia resulted in pulmonary artery adverse outcomes in postnatal offspring, was strongly associated with reprogrammed L‐type Ca
2+
channel subunit alpha1 C expression via a DNA methylation‐mediated epigenetic mechanism, advancing understanding toward the effect of antenatal hypoxia in early life on long‐term vascular health.
Is There a Body without Flesh?
Authors: Hefty Karl
Published: April 2021

This paper investigates the theme of sense and nonsense as it pertains to the phenomenological problem of “flesh.” It raises two sets of questions: 1) What is the relation of flesh to body and body to flesh? It is possible to admit the materiality of the corporeal condition while maintaining the phenomenological privilege of flesh and life? Or must one deny the privilege of flesh in favor of a more moderate “balance” of flesh and body? 2) How does the phenomenality of flesh and body go together with the theological reality of the Incarnation of the Word? How is the passage into theology effected in phenomenology when it is a question of body and flesh? The article objects to Emmanuel Falque’s interpretation of Michel Henry, enters into recent scholarship relating phenomenology and cognitive science, and questions whether incarnation can be adequately described by a phenomenology in which perception is ultimate.
Family Environment and Child-To-Parent Violence: The Role of Emotional Insecurity
Authors: Junco-Guerrero Miriam , Ruiz-Fernández Ana , Cantón-Cortés David
Published: April 2021

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) constitutes a serious social problem due to its short and long-term consequences, which not only directly affect the victim but also generate a rupture of the family system. In this study, direct and indirect effects of exposition to violence within the family, insecurity in the family system (manifested as disengagement and/or preoccupation), and justification of violence on CPV toward mothers and fathers were analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). Davies and Cummings emotional security theory (1994) was applied. A total of 904 high school students between 13 and 20 years old participated in this study. Information regarding each participant’s committed CPV was obtained from the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Emotional insecurity was assessed with the Security in the Family System scale. To assess exposition to violence and justification of violence, the Exposure to Violence Questionnaire and Irrational Beliefs Inventory for Adolescents were applied, respectively. Strong relationships between exposition to violence within the family, emotional insecurity, justification of violence, and CPV toward mothers and fathers were observed. The results show that adolescents who are exposed to violence at home are more aggressive in the future. In addition, this relationship is mediated, at least in part, by the justification of violence and emotional insecurity. These results suggest that prevention and treatment of CPV aggressors should focus on improving security within the survivors’ family system as well as modifying attitudes toward violence.
Do Higher Land Costs for New Single-Family Housing Inhibit Economic Activity in U.S. Metropolitan Areas?
Authors: Wassmer Robert W.
Published: April 2021

The price of a new home is greater if the land to put it on costs more. In many U.S. metropolitan areas, this generates the widely acknowledged equity concern that low- to moderate-income households spend disproportionately on housing. But high residential land prices translating into high single-family home prices may also generate the efficiency concern of discouraging new workers’ entry into such areas or encouraging existing workers’ exit. The result could be a decrease in economic activity. This research offers panel-data regression evidence in support of the existence of this adverse outcome. Perhaps these findings can raise the saliency of the needed state or federal government intervention to curtail the stringency of local residential land-use regulations. NIMBYs see these land-use regulations as in their jurisdiction’s best interest, but as demonstrated here, such restrictions impose additional metro-wide economic concerns.
Factor VIII Inhibitor Bypassing Activity (FEIBA) Reversal for Apixaban and Rivaroxaban in Patients With Acute Intracranial and Nonintracranial Hemorrhage
Authors: Hunt Aleah R. , Coffeen Shawn N. , Shiltz Dane L. , Ice Calvin , Parker Jessi
Published: April 2021

Background:

The clinical use of factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) for factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor reversal is derived from small studies with notable variation in patient eligibility for use, dosage regimens, concurrent supportive care, and outcome measures. Consequently, additional effectiveness and safety data are warranted to expand the literature evaluating FEIBA for FXa inhibitor reversal.

Objective:

This study sought to determine the incidence of observed effective hemostasis within 24 hours of post-FEIBA® administration as well as in-hospital and 30-day post-discharge incidences of thromboembolic event (TEE) and mortality between apixaban and rivaroxaban in the intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and non-ICH populations.

Methods:

This case series evaluated patients between January 1, 2014 through July 1, 2019 who received at least one FEIBA® dose for apixaban or rivaroxaban reversal secondary to acute ICH or non-ICH. Patient demographics, FEIBA® dosages, adjunct treatments, effectiveness, and safety outcomes were retrospectively collected from electronic medical record review. Modified hemostasis outcomes, adapted from criteria previously published by Sarode et al., TEE, and mortality between apixaban and rivaroxaban in the ICH and non-ICH populations were evaluated.

Results:

Among the 104 patients evaluated, 62 received apixaban and 42 rivaroxaban. Thirty apixaban and 25 rivaroxaban users experienced ICH, whereas 32 apixaban and 17 rivaroxaban users experienced non-ICH. Among the combined ICH and non-ICH populations, effective hemostasis occurred in 89%, TEE in 8%, and mortality in 13%. No statistically significant differences were observed within ICH and non-ICH populations receiving apixaban or rivaroxaban regarding effective hemostasis, TEE, or mortality.

Conclusion and Relevance:

The combined ICH and non-ICH overall rates of effective hemostasis, TEE, and mortality were comparable to preexisting studies of FEIBA for factor Xa inhibitor reversal. The limitations inherent to the study design warrant a randomized controlled trial with an active comparator to confirm these observations.
DigiKnowIt News: Educating youth about pediatric clinical trials using an interactive, multimedia educational website
Authors: Parker Alison E. , Scull Tracy M. , Morrison Abigail M.
Published: April 2021

Pediatric clinical trials allow for the testing of appropriate and effective treatments for children. However, some challenges exist with recruitment. This study examined the effectiveness of DigiKnowIt News, an interactive, multimedia website (which includes activities, videos, and comic books) designed to educate children about clinical trials. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2018 with 91 participants ( M age = 10.92 years; SD = 2.06). Participants were randomly assigned to intervention or wait-list control groups and completed questionnaires at pretest and posttest (1 week later) about their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs about clinical trials, and self-efficacy for participating in clinical trials. Participants in the intervention group received access to DigiKnowIt News between pretest and posttest and completed a satisfaction questionnaire at posttest. At the end of the study, participants in the wait-list control group were offered the option to use the website and complete a satisfaction questionnaire. At posttest, participants in the intervention group, compared to participants in the wait-list control group, had more knowledge about clinical trials and more reported confidence for participating in clinical trials. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with DigiKnowIt News. The findings suggest that an educational website can improve factors related to increasing rates of participation in clinical trials.
Writing national histories of sociology: Methods, approaches and visions
Authors: Collyer Fran M , Manning Ben
Published: April 2021

There has been a renewal of interest in the writing of national histories of sociology, with dozens of histories recently published in both the global North and South. Despite this, there has been a dearth of discussion about the methods and methodologies appropriate to such a task. Indeed, few histories of sociology, and fewer still national histories of sociology, explicitly address methodology. In this study, we review the literature on histories of sociology from a variety of countries, focusing on how the authors have approached the writing of history, and their implicit use of methods and methodologies. We suggest the use of a content analysis as an additional, though perhaps unusual, method of historiography, and apply this in the case of an Australian history of sociology. Our content analysis reveals both similarities and differences in the Australian approach, indicating the impact of settler-colonialism on Australian sociology and its historiography.
Exhaust valve profile modulation for improved diesel engine curb idle aftertreatment thermal management
Authors: Joshi Mrunal C , Gosala Dheeraj , Shaver Gregory M , McCarthy James , Farrell Lisa
Published: April 2021

Rapid warm-up of a diesel engine aftertreatment system (ATS) is a challenge at low loads. Modulating exhaust manifold pressure (EMP) to increase engine pumping work, fuel consumption, and as a result, engine-outlet temperature, is a commonly used technique for ATS thermal management at low loads. This paper introduces exhaust valve profile modulation as a technique to increase engine-outlet temperature for ATS thermal management, without requiring modulation of exhaust manifold pressure. Experimental steady state results at 800 RPM/1.3 bar BMEP (curb idle) demonstrate that early exhaust valve opening with negative valve overlap (EEVO+NVO) can achieve engine-outlet temperature in excess of 255°C with 5.7% lower fuel consumption, 12% lower engine out NOx and 20% lower engine-out soot than the conventional thermal management strategy. Late exhaust valve opening with internal EGR via reinduction (LEVO+Reinduction) resulted in engine-outlet temperature in excess of 280°C, while meeting emission constraints at no fuel consumption penalty. This work also demonstrates that LEVO in conjunction with modulation of exhaust manifold pressure results in engine-outlet temperature in excess of 340°C while satisfying desired emission constraints. Aggressive use of LEVO can result in engine-outlet temperatures of 460°C, capable of active regeneration of DPF at curb idle, without the significant increase in engine-out soot emissions seen in previously studied strategies.
Acoustic inspection system with unmanned aerial vehicles for wind turbines structure health monitoring
Authors: García Márquez Fausto Pedro , Bernalte Sánchez Pedro José , Segovia Ramírez Isaac
Published: April 2021

Wind energy is considered as one of the most important renewable energies in the world, employing larger and more complex wind turbines. They need novel condition monitoring systems to ensure the reliability, availability, safety and maintainability of the main components of the wind turbines. It leads to early fault detection, increasing the productivity and minimizing the maintenance costs and downtimes. This article proposes a novel non-destructive testing system to analyse acoustically rotatory devices of wind turbines. It captures the noise emitted by the devices using an acoustic condition monitoring system embedded in an unmanned aerial vehicle. The signal acquired is sent to ground computer station for recording and analysing the data. It uses a test rig, previously validated, to carry out a set of experiments to simulate the main faults. A signal processing method is done by wavelet transforms that filters and analyses the energy patterns of the signals. The results are analysed qualitatively and quantitatively considering different scenarios. A statistical analysis is developed to compare the numerical results provided by different wavelet transform families and convolutional neural network. It is concluded that Symlets and Daubechies families report equivalent results for this case study. The accuracies of the results are more than 75%, reaching up to 100%. The approach is validated employing Friedman test.
Detection of smoke from infrared image frames in the aircraft cargoes
Authors: Deng Li , Chen Qian , He Yuanhua , Sui Xiubao , Wang Qin
Published: April 2021

The existing equipment of civil aircraft cargo fire detection mainly uses photoelectric smoke detectors, which has a high false alarm rate. According to Federal Aviation Agency’s statistics, the false alarm rate is as high as 99%. Since, in the cargo of civil aircraft, visible image processing technology cannot be used to detect smoke in the event of a fire due to the closed dark environment, a novel smoke detection method using infrared image processing technology is presented. Experiments were conducted under different environment pressures in the full-size cargo of civil aircraft. The results show that the proposed method can effectively detect smoke at the early stage of fire which is applicable for fire detection in civil aircraft cargoes.
Post-marketing reports of pancreatitis in eluxadoline-treated patients pre and post US label change
Authors: Cash Brooks D. , Lacy Brian E. , Watton Cheryl , Schoenfeld Philip S. , Weissman Darren
Published: April 2021

Background:

Eluxadoline, a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), underwent a change to its US prescribing information on 21 April 2017, contraindicating it in patients without a gallbladder due to increased risk of pancreatitis. This study aimed to elucidate the potential role of eluxadoline’s label change on the number of reported spontaneous adverse events (AEs) of pancreatitis.

Methods:

A pharmacovigilance database (Oracle Argus) was searched for eluxadoline use and spontaneously reported pancreatitis cases from 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2018. Pancreatitis cases were reported as a proportion of the total number of reported AE cases in the safety database. The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (AERS) was also interrogated for cases of pancreatitis concomitantly reported with eluxadoline use.

Results:

In patients who received eluxadoline, 273 reported cases of pancreatitis were recorded (total AEs n = 2191; 12.5%). When known, 28.2% of patients reporting pancreatitis had intact gallbladders (49/174). Eluxadoline was withdrawn in 97.5% of cases, with 87.1% of patients improving or recovered at time of reporting. Importantly, the reporting proportion of pancreatitis cases decreased from 14.4% to 8.9% post label change. Findings were supported by the AERS results, which demonstrated a decrease in reporting proportion from 21.2% to 12.8%.

Conclusions:

While cautious interpretation is warranted, post-marketing data indicate that the contraindication of eluxadoline in patients without a gallbladder led to reduced reported cases of pancreatitis, with no additional reports of moderately severe or severe cases. Eluxadoline is a safe and well-tolerated treatment option for IBS-D when used according to the label.
Initiating Insulin in the Emergency Center and Urgent Care to Prevent Hospital Admission for Patients with Hyperglycemia: A Unique Insulin Starter Kit
Authors: Davidson Janet L. , Bergenstal Richard M. , Conry Jessica A. , Taswell Ruth , Carlson Anders L.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Clinicians in the Emergency Center (EC) and Urgent Care (UC) can play a vital role in preventing hospital admissions and improving outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes or pre-existing diabetes who present with hyperglycemia and the need to initiate insulin.

Methods:

This article describes a unique EC/UC discharge insulin starter kit protocol with clinician instructions via an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) order set that includes: starting doses for insulin, a prescription for glucose monitoring supplies, and an emergent referral to diabetes education at International Diabetes Center. Patients receive insulin during the EC/UC visit and are provided an insulin pen to take home. Nurses from the EC or UC review and provide educational material on how to use an insulin pen, treating hypoglycemia and healthy eating. The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) sees patients within 24-72 hours after the referral is placed.

Results:

Within our single healthcare system’s EC and UC (multiple sites), the kit has enabled clinicians to metabolically stabilize patients and decrease the need for hospitalization without experiencing hypoglycemia. In the recent three years of use, of 42 patients given the insulin starter kit, there were only 2 patients with repeat EC/UC visits within the first six months (1 hyperglycemia and 1 hypoglycemia).

Conclusions:

An insulin starter kit and EMR-based order set initiated in the EC/UC setting is a tool that can be used to improve the quality of care for people with newly diagnosed or pre-existing diabetes experiencing significant hyperglycemia.
Two worlds colliding: Offenders’ rehabilitation and victims’ protection through mutual recognition of probation measures
Authors: Faraldo-Cabana Patricia
Published: April 2021

Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA explicitly combines offenders’ rehabilitation with other purposes, such as the improvement of the protection of victims. This article provides one of the first analysis of the aim of ‘victim protection’ in the Framework Decision and of its limited usefulness. The relationship between victims’ right after sentencing and the transfer of probation measures reveals a contradictory system unable to coordinate victims’ protection and compensation and offenders’ social rehabilitation.
Primary Pulmonary Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma: A Rare Malignant Lung Tumor
Authors: Kang Do Kyun , Kang Min Kyun , Heo Woon , Hwang Youn-Ho , Kim Ji Yeon
Published: April 2021

We report a case of a 56-year-old man with persistent right upper lobe cavitary mass. A chest computed tomography scan showed about 4-cm-sized mass with internal low attenuation and peripheral enhancement in right upper lobe apical segment. The lesion size increased over 1 month. Right upper lobectomy was performed with the intention to treat the lesion. Pathological examination showed primary pulmonary undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. We describe this rare lung disease to remind that primary pulmonary undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma could be the differential diagnosis of pulmonary cavitary mass lesions.
Association between the type of physical activity and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older adult residents of a semi-mountainous area in Japan
Authors: Kudo Noriko , Nishide Ritsuko , Mizutani Mayumi , Ogawa Shota , Tanimura Susumu
Published: April 2021

Background

Physical activity is reported to prevent metabolic syndrome. However, it is unclear whether exercise or daily physical activity is more beneficial for residents of semi-mountainous areas. This study aimed to identify whether daily physical activity is more beneficial than exercise for the prevention of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older residents in semi-mountainous areas.

Methods

We analyzed secondary data of 636 people who underwent a specific health checkup in a semi-mountainous area of Japan. Physical activity was classified into four types: inactivity (I-type; without exercise and without daily physical activity), only exercise (E-type; with exercise and without daily physical activity), only daily physical activity (D-type; without exercise and with daily physical activity), and full physical activity type (F-type; with exercise and with daily physical activity). We compared the means of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by these four types, followed by logistic regression analysis, to identify whether and to what extent the D-type was less likely to have metabolic syndrome than the E-type.

Results

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 28.5% (men 45.7%, women 15.8%). The proportions of men with exercise and daily physical activity were 38.7% and 52.8%, respectively. For women, the proportions were 33.0% and 47.1%, respectively. In women, the D-type had the significantly lowest BMI, smallest waist circumference, highest HDL-C, and lowest prevalence of metabolic syndrome of the four types; the same was not observed in men. Additionally, D-type activity was more strongly associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than E-type activity in women (adjusted odds ratio 0.24; 95% confidence interval 0.06–0.85, P = 0.028).

Conclusions

Compared to middle-aged and older women residents with exercise in a semi-mountainous area of Japan, those with daily physical activity may effectively prevent metabolic syndrome.
Deciphering hierarchical organization of topologically associated domains through change-point testing
Authors: Xing Haipeng , Wu Yingru , Zhang Michael Q. , Chen Yong
Published: April 2021

Background

The nucleus of eukaryotic cells spatially packages chromosomes into a hierarchical and distinct segregation that plays critical roles in maintaining transcription regulation. High-throughput methods of chromosome conformation capture, such as Hi-C, have revealed topologically associating domains (TADs) that are defined by biased chromatin interactions within them.

Results

We introduce a novel method, HiCKey, to decipher hierarchical TAD structures in Hi-C data and compare them across samples. We first derive a generalized likelihood-ratio (GLR) test for detecting change-points in an interaction matrix that follows a negative binomial distribution or general mixture distribution. We then employ several optimal search strategies to decipher hierarchical TADs withpvalues calculated by the GLR test. Large-scale validations of simulation data show that HiCKey has good precision in recalling known TADs and is robust against random collisions of chromatin interactions. By applying HiCKey to Hi-C data of seven human cell lines, we identified multiple layers of TAD organization among them, but the vast majority had no more than four layers. In particular, we found that TAD boundaries are significantly enriched in active chromosomal regions compared to repressed regions.

Conclusions

HiCKey is optimized for processing large matrices constructed from high-resolution Hi-C experiments. The method and theoretical result of the GLR test provide a general framework for significance testing of similar experimental chromatin interaction data that may not fully follow negative binomial distributions but rather more general mixture distributions.
Parallel analysis of global garlic gene expression and alliin content following leaf wounding
Authors: Yang Xuqin , Su Yiren , Wu Jiaying , Wan Wen , Chen Huijian , Cao Xiaoying , Wang Junjuan , Zhang Zhong , Wang Youzhi , Ma Deliang , Loake G. J. , Jiang Jihong
Published: April 2021

Background

Allium sativum(garlic) is an economically important food source and medicinal plant rich in sulfides and other protective substances such as alliin, the precursor of allicin biosynthesis. Cysteine, serine and sulfur is the precursor of alliin biosynthesis. However, little is known about the alliin content under abiotic stress or the mechanism by which it is synthesized.

Results

The findings revealed that the content of alliin was lowest in the garlic roots, and highest in the buds. Furthermore, alliin levels decreased in mature leaves following wounding. Transcriptome data generated over time after wounding further revealed significant up-regulation of genes integral to the biosynthetic pathways of cysteine and serine in mature garlic leaves.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that differential expression of cysteine, serine and sulfide-related genes underlies the accumulation of alliin and its precursors in garlic, providing a basis for further analyses of alliin biosynthesis.
Effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on Treg and FOXP3 in patients with digestive tract malignancies and different ABO blood types
Authors: Liu Yajun , Sun Junzhi , Xia Yun , Lyaker Michael R. , Yu Jianshe
Published: April 2021

Background

Blood transfusion can cause immunosuppression and lead to worse outcomes in patients with digestive tract malignancies; however, the specific mechanism behind this is not completely understood. One theory is that increased numbers of regulatory CD3+CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells (Tregs) and forkhead box protein-3 mRNA (FOXP3) expression in the blood after transfusion contribute to these outcomes. The effect of blood transfusion on immune function in patients with different ABO blood types is variable. This study investigates the effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 in the blood of patients with different ABO blood types and digestive tract malignancies.

Methods

Patients with digestive tract malignancies who underwent radical resection and received intraoperative blood transfusion were divided into four groups according to their blood types:blood group A, blood group B, blood group O and blood group AB (n = 20 for each group). Blood was collected from all patients before surgery, immediately after transfusion, 1 day after transfusion, and 5 days after transfusion. The number of Tregs was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of FOXP3 was detected by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

There was no significant difference in the number of Tregs or expression of FOXP3 mRNA among patients with different blood types before surgery. However, the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 increased after blood transfusion in all blood type groups. This increase was especially evident and statistically significant on the first day after blood transfusion when compared with measures obtained before the surgery. Measures returned to the preoperative level five days after surgery. There were significant differences in the increase of Tregs and expression of FOXP3 among patients with different blood types. The greatest increase was seen in patients with blood group B and the least in blood group A.

Conclusions

Intraoperative blood transfusion can lead to an increase in blood Tregs and FOXP3 expression in patients with digestive tract malignancies. Increases were greatest on the first day after surgery and differed among patients with different blood types. Increases were greatest in blood type B and least in blood type A.
Dynamic analysis of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy on magnetic resonance imaging: a case report
Authors: Huang Huasheng , Cao Liming , Chen Hong
Published: April 2021

Background

Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy is a rare and rapidly progressive leukoencephalopathy characterized by cognitive, motor, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, which is often misdiagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs and follow-up MRI of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy could help in establishing a diagnosis, but these features are not widely known by general neurologists.

Case presentation

A 34-year-old man was admitted for progressive weakness of the right limbs over 8 months. His father and sister had a similar clinical evolution. The primary neurological signs were hemiplegia, cognitive decline, dysarthria, pyramidal signs, ataxia and parkinsonism, and rapid disease progression. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis results were normal. Despite receiving treatment for improving cerebral metabolism and relieving the muscle spasm, his symptoms did not improve significantly. Brain MRI showed lesions concentrated in the corpus callosum and the deep white matter of the bilateral parieto-occipital lobes, periventricular areas, and corticospinal tracts. There was an enhanced lesion after a gadolinium-enhanced MRI scan. Over the 8-month progression, the lesions always exhibited restricted diffusion. The diffuse lesions gradually increased as the disease progressed. Genetic sequencing results showed a novel heterozygous missense mutation (c.2267 T > C p.L756P) in the CSF1R gene. The patient was treated with citicoline and idebenone for 4 days to improve cerebral metabolism, but his symptoms did not improve significantly.

Conclusion

The multiple lesions involving the pyramidal tract and white matter showed continuously restricted diffusion on brain imaging and gradually increased with disease progression.
Comparative study of combined vitrectomy with phacoemulsification versus vitrectomy alone for primary full-thickness macular hole repair
Authors: Valmaggia Christophe , Kostadinov Filip , Lang Corina , Guber Josef
Published: April 2021

Background

To assess the effectiveness and safety of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification versus vitrectomy alone in patients over 50 years with primary full-thickness macular holes (FTMH).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records related to 406 consecutive vitrectomies performed for primary FTMH. Phacovitrectomy was performed in 294 phakic eyes whereas vitrectomy alone in 112 pseudophakic eyes. The cases were divided into three groups according to the stage of the FTMH: stage 2 (n = 93), stage 3 (n = 270), or stage 4 (n = 43). The primary outcome measure was the closure of the FTMH. The secondary outcome measures were the evolution of visual acuity as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Results

Neither the primary nor the secondary outcomes differed between phacovitrectomy and vitrectomy alone for all three stages. The FTMH were closed in 375 eyes (92.4 %) after a first operation. The closure rate was higher for stage 2 (96.8 %) than for stages 3 (91.1 %) or 4 (90.75 %), but not significantly (P = 0.189). The mean visual acuity increased significantly from preoperatively LogMAR 0.68 (± SD 0.2) to LogMAR 0.43 (± SD 0.24) at the end of the follow-up (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Combined 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with phacoemulsification for primary FTMH repair in patients over 50 years is as efficient and safe when compared with vitrectomy only.

Trial registration

The study was approved on 30th April 2020 by the local ethics committee (Ethikkommission Ostschweiz, EKOS 20/074; BASEC Nr. 2020-01033).
Long-term ocular biometric variations after scleral buckling surgery in macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: Albanese Giuseppe Maria , Cerini Alberto , Visioli Giacomo , Marenco Marco , Gharbiya Magda
Published: April 2021

Background

Myopic shift and biometric ocular changes have been previously observed after scleral buckling (SB) surgery in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), but long term-term outcomes had not yet been explored. The purpose of present study is to evaluate long term ocular biometric changes in patients with primary macula-on RRD treated with SB.

Methods

In this retrospective, observational study, we reviewed the medical records of patients undergoing SB surgery for macula-on RRD. Ocular biometry was performed before and at the most recent visit after surgery. Axial length (AXL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior corneal astigmatism and spherical equivalent in treated eyes were compared before and after surgery as well as with those of fellow eyes.

Results

Thirty-four eyes of 17 patients with a mean age of 57.0 ± 8.9 years were included. The mean follow-up duration was 50.9 ± 21.9 months (median 53.0; range 12 to 82 months). A significant postoperative AXL increase of 0.83 mm and a concomitant myopic shift of 1.35 diopters was observed in the operated eyes (p <  0.0001). The preoperative AXL was the only predictive factor of AXL change after surgery (B = 0.152, 95% CI 0.059 to 0.245, β = 0.668, P = 0.003). Compared to fellow eyes, a postoperative ACD shallowing of 0.1 mm was found in operated eyes (p <  0.05), while there were no long-term changes of anterior corneal astigmatism.

Conclusions

We show that the preoperative AXL is the only predictive factor of AXL increase after SB surgery. Scleral encircling induces a concomitant long-term shallowing of the AC, therefore fourth generation intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulae should be used for patients requiring cataract surgery after SB.
Analytical validation of a real-time hydrolysis probe PCR assay for quantifying Plasmodium falciparum parasites in experimentally infected human adults
Authors: Wang Claire Y. T. , Ballard Emma L. , Pava Zuleima , Marquart Louise , Gaydon Jane , Murphy Sean C. , Whiley David , O’Rourke Peter , McCarthy James S.
Published: April 2021

Background

Volunteer infection studies have become a standard model for evaluating drug efficacy against Plasmodium infections. Molecular techniques such as qPCR are used in these studies due to their ability to provide robust and accurate estimates of parasitaemia at increased sensitivity compared to microscopy. The validity and reliability of assays need to be ensured when used to evaluate the efficacy of candidate drugs in clinical trials.

Methods

A previously described 18S rRNA gene qPCR assay for quantifying Plasmodium falciparum in blood samples was evaluated. Assay performance characteristics including analytical sensitivity, reportable range, precision, accuracy and specificity were assessed using experimental data and data compiled from phase 1 volunteer infection studies conducted between 2013 and 2019. Guidelines for validation of laboratory-developed molecular assays were followed.

Results

The reportable range was 1.50 to 6.50 log10 parasites/mL with a limit of detection of 2.045 log10 parasites/mL of whole blood based on a parasite diluted standard series over this range. The assay was highly reproducible with minimal intra-assay (SD = 0.456 quantification cycle (Cq) units [0.137 log10 parasites/mL] over 21 replicates) and inter-assay (SD = 0.604 Cq units [0.182 log10 parasites/mL] over 786 qPCR runs) variability. Through an external quality assurance program, the QIMR assay was shown to generate accurate results (quantitative bias + 0.019 log10 parasites/mL against nominal values). Specificity was 100% after assessing 164 parasite-free human blood samples.

Conclusions

The 18S rRNA gene qPCR assay is specific and highly reproducible and can provide reliable and accurate parasite quantification. The assay is considered fit for use in evaluating drug efficacy in malaria clinical trials.
Phenotypic alteration of macrophages during osteoarthritis: a systematic review
Authors: Zhu Xiaobo , Lee Chien-Wei , Xu Hongtao , Wang Yu-Fan , Yung Patrick S. H. , Jiang Yangzi , Lee Oscar K.
Published: April 2021

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) has long been regarded as a disease of cartilage degeneration, whereas mounting evidence implies that low-grade inflammation contributes to OA. Among inflammatory cells involved, macrophages play a crucial role and are mediated by the local microenvironment to exhibit different phenotypes and polarization states. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to uncover the phenotypic alterations of macrophages during OA and summarized the potential therapeutic interventions via modulating macrophages.

Methods

A systematic review of multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Medline) was performed up to February 29, 2020. Included articles were discussed and evaluated by two independent reviewers. Relevant information was analyzed with a standardized and well-designed template.

Results

A total of 28 studies were included. Results were subcategorized into two sections depending on sources from human tissue/cell-based studies (12 studies) and animal experiments (16 studies). The overall observation indicated that M1 macrophages elevated in both synovium and circulation during OA development, along with lower numbers of M2 macrophages. The detailed alterations of macrophages in both synovium and circulation were listed and analyzed. Furthermore, interventions against OA via regulating macrophages in animal models were highlighted.

Conclusion

This study emphasized the importance of the phenotypic alterations of macrophages in OA development. The classical phenotypic subcategory of M1 and M2 macrophages was questionable due to controversial and conflicting results. Therefore, further efforts are needed to categorize macrophages in an exhaustive manner and to use advanced technologies to identify the individual roles of each subtype of macrophages in OA.