bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Immunohistochemical Staining for Large T Antigen and Capsid Protein VP1 in BK Polyomavirus-Associated Nephropathy
Authors: Masutani Kosuke , Matsukuma Yuta , Tsuchimoto Akihiro , Okabe Yasuhiro , Doi Atsushi , Kaku Keizo , Nakamura Masafumi , Nakano Toshiaki , Tsuruya Kazuhiko , Kitazono Takanari
Published: November 2020

Aim: Most transplant centres use SV40 large T antigen (TAg) staining for the diagnosis and assessment of BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN). This study was performed to evaluate the significance of capsid protein VP1 expression in BKPyVAN. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining using anti-SV40 TAg and anti-BKPyV VP1 antibodies in 16 index biopsies and 12 re-biopsies of BKPyVAN and compared the patterns of positivity and the percentage of positive tubules by counting whole specimens. We investigated the correlation between serum creatinine increase from baseline and the percentage of positive tubules for both markers in 16 index biopsies. Results: In VP1 staining, positive findings were observed not only in the nuclei of tubular epithelial cells but also in the cytoplasm, cells shedding into the lumen, intra-tubular casts, and in the interstitium. Two of 28 biopsies (7.1%) showed TAg-positive and VP1-negative results, in which TAg-positive cells were detected only in a single tubule. The median (interquartile range) percentage of positive tubules was 2.8% (0.7–9.8%) for TAg and 1.4% (0.5–3.9%) for VP1 staining (p = 0.2). In 16 index biopsies, serum creatinine increases significantly correlated with the percentage of VP1-positive tubules (r = 0.49, p = 0.02), while this correlation revealed borderline significance with TAg-positive tubules. Conclusions: VP1 expression showed various patterns, but was detected in half as many tubules as TAg staining, which might lead to false negatives in the samples with minimal viral replication. However, increased VP1-positive tubules indicate advanced tubular damage and possible association with graft dysfunction.
Current Understandings of Myeloid Differentiation Inducers in Leukemia Therapy
Authors: Takahashi Shinichiro
Published: November 2020

Differentiation therapy using all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is well established. Several attempts have been made to treat non-APL, AML patients by employing differentiation inducers, such as hypomethylating agents (HMAs), and low-dose cytarabine (Ara-C) (LDAC), with encouraging results. Other than HMAs and LDAC, various inducers of myeloid cell differentiation have been identified. This review describes and categorizes these inducers, which include glycosylation modifiers, epigenetic modifiers, vitamin derivatives, cytokines, and chemotherapeutic agents. Some of these inducers are currently being used in clinical trials. I highlight the potential applications of glycosylation modifiers and epigenetic modifiers, which are attracting increasing attention in their use as differentiation therapy against AML. Among the agents described in this review, epigenomic modifiers seem particularly promising, and particular attention should also be paid to glycosylation modifiers. These drugs may signal a new era for AML differentiation therapy.
Infantile Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor of the Spine Presenting with Acute Hydrocephalus
Authors: Tsitsopoulos Parmenion P. , Marinos Konstantinos , Chochliourou Elpis , Theologou Marios , Nikolaidou Christina , Sdougka Maria , Tsonidis Christos A.
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Central nervous system atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) are aggressive lesions usually presenting during the first 3 years of life. These tumors have a dismal prognosis with most patients dying within 1 year from presentation. Primary spinal location in infants is very rare. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 4-month-old boy who presented with a history of hypotonia, poor head control, and gradually reduced level of consciousness, over the past week. Computed tomography (CT) showed acute hydrocephalus with no underlying intracranial pathology. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted acutely. Postoperatively, ventilator weaning was unsuccessful. MRI of the brain and whole spine revealed an intraspinal extradural contrast-enhancing heterogenous mass in the subaxial cervical spine extending to the thoracic cavity. A biopsy was taken through a transthoracic approach, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of ATRT. Several cycles of radiation therapy and chemotherapy were given but the tumor progressed both locally and intracranially. Eventually, pupils became dilated and fixed. Brain CT scan showed widespread ischemic lesions and an extensive intracranial tumor extension with massive bleeding. The child eventually died 110 days after admission. Conclusions: In infants presenting with acute hydrocephalus where an obvious intracranial cause is not detected, the whole neuraxis should be screened. However, despite aggressive measures and advances in multimodality treatment, prognosis of ATRT remains dismal.
Clinical and Pathological Analyses of Borderline Changes Cases after Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Shimizu Tomokazu
Published: November 2020

Aim: We aimed to perform a clinicopathological analysis of cases presenting with borderline changes (BC) after renal transplantation and discuss whether BC might be clinically or pathologically important. Materials and Methods: BC was diagnosed in 22 renal allograft biopsy specimens obtained from 20 renal transplant recipients between April 2010 and March 2019 after follow-up at the Department of Transplant Surgery, Kidney Center, Toda Chuo General Hospital. Results: BC was diagnosed at a median of 500 days following transplantation. Among the 22 renal allograft biopsy specimens showing evidence of BC, tubulitis was observed in all specimens. Interstitial inflammation was present in 18 specimens (82%), peritubular capillaritis in 14 (64%), interstitial fibrosis (ci) and tubular atrophy (ct) in 4 (18%), and C4d deposition in the peritubular capillary was present in 6 specimens (27%). Glomerulitis and intimal arteritis were not observed. There was no renal graft loss during the observation period, but deterioration of renal allograft function after biopsy occurred in 9 patients (45%). Conclusions: In BC, tubulitis and interstitial inflammation were the main constituents. Because glomerulitis was not observed in our study, we suspect that BC contributes to acute T-cell-mediated rejection. Although BC did not lead to renal graft loss, renal graft function deterioration was seen in nearly half of the patients after the renal graft biopsy. We conclude that BC is important clinically and pathologically and needs to be monitored and treated appropriately.
Interdigitation and Ellipsoid Zones Disruption Correlate with Visual Outcomes among Treatment-Naive Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Sharef Nardine , Kassem Rabea , Hecht Idan , Bar Asaf , Maharshak Idit , Burgansky-Eliash Zvia , Weinberger Yehonatan , Tuuminen Raimo , Achiron Asaf
Published: November 2020

Introduction: We have recently shown that defects in interdigitation and ellipsoid zones (IZ and EZ) can predict response to anti-VEGF therapy in a small group of treatment-naive diabetic macular edema (DME) patients. The aim of the current study is to further evaluate this association in a larger study group of patients over a longer follow-up time. Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 treatment-naive DME patients were analyzed in this retrospective study. The integrity of foveal IZ and EZ was evaluated using optical coherence tomography at the diagnosis of DME and following anti-VEGF injections. The defect size was correlated with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT). Results: The mean patients’ age at baseline was 63.0 ± 10.0 years. Patients underwent 3.9 ± 2.9 anti-VEGF injections for a mean of 9.1 ± 4.8 months. Following treatment, the mean Snellen visual acuity (VA) improved from 20/52 to 20/44 (p = 0.05), CMT decreased from 432.5 ± 141.4 μm to 375.2 ± 121.4 µm (p = 0.05) and IZ/EZ defect size decreased from 259.83 ± 375.94 µm to 65.34 ± 143.97 µm (p = 0.001). In patients with no IZ/EZ defects at baseline, the mean Snellen VA was better when compared to those with IZ/EZ defects (20/36 vs. 20/70, p = 0.031). The number of eyes with IZ/EZ defects decreased from 17 (57%) at baseline to 6 (20%) at end of follow-up (p < 0.01). BCVA gain correlated with IZ/EZ defect size reduction (r = 0.41, p = 0.02) but not with improvement in CMT (r = 0.28, p = 0.121). Conclusions: IZ/EZ defect size correlated not only with baseline BCVA but also predicted the change in BCVA after anti-VEGF treatment. Possible future automatic measurement of IZ/EZ defect size might prove helpful for the evaluation of treatment response.
On the Contemporary Relevance of Dependency Perspective: a Critical Appraisal
Authors: Özekin Muhammed Kürşad
Published: November 2020

Is dependency theory dead as an explanation of underdevelopment today? Today, a broad consensus answers this question in the affirmative. In contrast to this commonly-held contention, this study counter-argues that despite the need of refinement to account for the recent changes that have taken place in global economy, a certain strand of dependency analyses still maintains validity, and offers inspirations for those wanting to address limits and prospects of capitalist development. The study first critically surveys the barrage of criticisms levied against the dependency school, since any revisiting of this archaic line of thought might be quite easily subjected to an outright dismissal beforehand. Then, the study reveals that the conceptualization of dependency as elaborated by historical-structural dependency analyses still maintains validity, and when wisely applied to the new conditions, offers a basilar IPE framework to address the limits, prospects, and divergent patterns of development in today’s Global South.
Accessing the Right to Basic Education in South Africa: Four Years after the Ratification of the Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
Authors: Makapela Sicelo , Tanga Pius
Published: November 2020

This article examines access to the right to basic education enshrined in the South African Constitution. Underpinned by the human rights-based approach, the study employed survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews as methods of data collection. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the survey respondents contend that the post-apartheid state has fulfilled the right to basic education only to a small extent notwithstanding the existence of pre-schools, primary, and secondary schools located within a reasonable walking distance from the communities. Preference for the three classes was not equally distributed in the population, X2 (2, N= 500) = 99.68, p < 0.05. On the contrary, the majority of government participants interviewed rated the post-apartheid state fulfillment of the right to basic education in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality as fair. Overall, all the government participants had a moderate view regarding the fulfillment of the right.
The Coping Mechanisms Employed by Grandparent-Headed Families in Addressing Juvenile Delinquency in Hill Crest, Alice Township, Eastern Cape Province
Authors: Mugedya Samuel , Kang’ethe Simon M , Nomngcoyiya Thanduxolo
Published: November 2020

Literature studies have shown that older persons face an array of challenges, among them parenting a delinquent grandchild. This study adopted both a qualitative approach and paradigm, supported by an explorative and a descriptive case study design. The study sampled eleven participants, and data were collected using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with grandparents, a community committee member, and probation officers. Measures employed by grandparent households in tandem with the Department of Social Development were unearthed. These included, but were not limited to, corporal punishment, seeking assistance from relatives, seeking assistance from social workers, and creating attachment. This article recommends that the government prioritize the grandparents’ vulnerability to the dangers of parenting difficult children, either by freeing them from such a harmful environment, or putting measures in place to manage children in conflict with the law, with special attention to grandparent-headed households.
View. The Dutch Critical Care Triage Guideline on Covid-19: Not Necessarily Discriminatory
Authors: den Exter André
Published: November 2020

Recently, the Dutch Medical Doctors Association (Federatie Medisch Specialisten en de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Maatschappij tot bevordering der Geneeskunst) drafted the ‘Covid-19 triage guideline ICU admission’ that has age cut-offs that deprioritise or exclude the elderly. Such an age limit for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in case of a national emergency seems discriminatory, and thus, is it inappropriate to use, or not? The question is whether age in itself can be considered as an acceptable selection criterion.
CH4 and CO2 Adsorption Mechanism in Kaolinite Slit Nanopores as Studied by the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo Method
Authors: Xu Chenxi , Xue Haitao , Dong Qi , Lu Shuangfang , Chen Guohui , Zhang Yuying , Li Jinbu , Xue Qingzhong , Tong Maosheng , Pang Xiaoting , Ni Binwu
Published: November 2020

To confirm the rules and transformation conditions of shale gas adsorption and establish a model for evaluating the adsorption capacity of shale gas quantitatively, it is necessary to reveal the shale gas adsorption mechanism. The adsorption mechanism of CH4 and CO2
in Kaolinite slit nanopores has been studied under the simulated conditions of 90 °C and 30 or 50 MPa by the grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method. The results indicate that CH4 is controlled only by the Van der Waals forces on the mineral surface because CH4
is nonpolar, while CO2 is controlled by both Van der Waals forces and Coulomb forces due to a certain electric quadrupole moment, which makes the adsorption capacity of CO2 on kaolinite greater than that of CH4. Due to the overlapping adsorption potential on
the kaolinite surface of micropores (1 nm), the peak of the density profile is higher in the micropores than the peak in the mesopores (4 nm), resulting in the filling effect in the micropores. On the surface of the silicon-oxygen octahedron, the adsorption site for CH4 and CO2
is in the center of the silicone hexagon-ring, and CO2 with a quadrupole moment shifts near the polar oxygen atoms. In contrast, the adsorption sites of CH4 are relatively dispersed on the surface of the aluminum-oxygen octahedron with a hydroxyl group, while the adsorption
sites of CO2 are concentrated in the location of the aggregated oxygen atoms. When CH4 and CO2 coexist, CO2 tends to be adsorbed prior to CH4. With the proportion of CO2 increasing, the competitive adsorption effect is gradually
aggravated, which suggests the rationality of injecting CO2 to improve the recovery efficiency of shale gas. These findings can provide theoretical support for shale gas exploration and development.
Nano-Micron Exsolved Spinels in Titanomagnetite and Their Implications for the Formation of the Panzhihua Fe–Ti–V Oxide Deposit, Southwest China
Authors: Zhang Zhibin , Huang Fei , Li Yongli , Liu Kaijun , Zhao Fude
Published: November 2020

The nano-micron exsolved spinels with various mineralogical characteristics in titanomagnetite from Fe–Ti oxide gabbros in the Panzhihua Fe–Ti–V oxide deposit, SW China, have been studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) based on comparisons of physical and chemical conditions at different stratigraphic heights to investigate the compositional inheritance between titanomagnetite and exsolved spinel and further explore the relationship between the morphology and growth of exsolved spinels. Restored chemical data for titanomagnetite combined with evidence from petrography and whole-rock geochemistry imply fractional crystallization of the Panzhihua Fe–Ti–V oxide deposit, where the titanomagnetite of thick massive oxides at the bottom of the No. VIII orebody represents the early crystallizing phase characterized by high temperature and oxygen fugacity. The chemical variation in the exsolved spinel, which has the same trend as the restored composition of titanomagnetite, represents inheritance from the parent rock within the Panzhihua deposit. Exsolved spinel continuously adjusts morphology and grain size to decrease the total energy of the manganate-spinel system from fine-grained spinels parallel to the {100} plane of titanomagnetite to spinels with complex stellate morphology to bulky granular spinels with high degrees of idiomorphism. The unusual multiple magma replenishment during the mineralizing process and at different stratigraphic heights in the Panzhihua intrusion had an important influence on the thermal evolution history of the orebody, resulting in the identifiable spatial distribution patterns of spinel morphology and grain size. Using spinel exsolution as a discriminator for the provenance of magmatic ore deposits may provide intuitive and easy mineralogical evidence to qualitatively discuss the evolution of the metallogenetic environment and the ore-forming conditions for similar large mafic intrusions.
Adsorption of Ni2+ and Cu2+ Ions from Wastewater by a Silanized Zeolite Produced with a 3-Mercaptopropyl Trimethoxysilane Modification
Authors: Feng Youli , Tian Haojie , Mao Ning
Published: November 2020

Adsorption characteristics of a silanized zeolite for Ni2+ and Cu2+ ions in water solutions were analyzed by SEM, FTIR and XRD techniques. For ion removal, an optimum ratio of 1 g/L silanized zeolite was obtained for adsorbing a Ni2+ and Cu2+
solution. Equilibrium states at 220 and 108 min were reached for the adsorption of Ni2+ and Cu2+, respectively. In a pH range of 2–6, the modified zeolite demonstrated an excellent resistance to acids by exhibiting a high adsorption capacity, which increased with
a larger pH.
Characteristics of the Micro-Nanopore System in a Pelitic Dolomite Reservoir: A Case Study of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation in the Qingxi Depression Based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Experiments
Authors: Sun Weifeng , Ju Wei , Song Yan , Qin Yong
Published: November 2020

The Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation is an important tight oil reservoir in the Qingxi Depression of the Jiuxi Basin. The micro-nanopore system within the reservoir requires a comprehensive analysis to improve the production of tight oil there. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments have been widely used for the petrophysical characterization of sandstones and carbonates. In the present study, the NMR experiment was applied to obtain the characteristics of the micro-nanopore system and permeability in the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou pelitic dolomite reservoir. According to the distribution shape of the transversal relaxation time (T2) obtained under the 100% water-saturated condition (Sw), the samples are divided into four groups: (i) group I, two obvious peaks (P1 and P2); (ii) group II, an obvious high peak of P1 at 0.1˜1.0 ms and a relatively low peak of P2; (iii) group III, an obvious high peak of P2 and a relatively low peak of P1; and (iv) group IV, three peaks. In general, the distribution shape ofT2under the initial condition (Sini) is unimodal, with all its peaks lower than those under theSwcondition. The NMRT2spectrum reflects the distribution of the rock pore radius. Most of the pore radius distributions are bimodal, and the main pore radius ranges from 10 nm to 70 nm. Three patterns can be identified and determined based on the distribution of the pore radius: I—unimodal distribution, II—bimodal distribution and III—trimodal distribution. The results indicate that the porosity in the Xiagou reservoir ranges from 1.17% to 6.89%, with an average of 3.33%. The permeability ranges from 0.03×10−3μm2to 22.56×10−3μm2, with an average of 2.95×10−3μm2.
Nanoparticles Observed in a Shear Fracture of Dolomite and a Probable Formation Mechanism
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Cai Zhourong , Huang Qiangtai , Shao Tongbin , Song Maoshuang , Xiao Yang , Lu Lijuan
Published: November 2020

Nanoparticles have been extensively found in brittle faults or ductile shear zones, and their formation is closely related to shear movement along the fault plane. However, the formation mechanisms of these nanoparticles are not yet clear. In this study, dolomite samples were triaxially compressed, at a confining pressure of 200–300 MPa, a temperature between 27 °C and 900 °C and a strain rate of approximately 10−5s−1, with a Paterson designed gas medium high-temperature and high-pressure deformation apparatus (HTPDA). Samples deformed at room temperature were characterized by universal microcracks and undulatory extinctions in some grains; when at a temperature between 300 °C and 500 °C, well-developed mechanical twins dominated the microstructure, while at a temperature ≥800 °C, displacements of twin lamellae along a cleavage and a well-developed fracture zone could be seen. Nanoparticles of different shapes were discovered on the slip surfaces of a shear fracture or in microcracks by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Nanoparticles on deformed samples under low differential stress were usually of sporadic spherical shapes and uneven distribution; while deformed samples under high differential stress had more dense distributions that were identified. Moreover, grain-overlap and nanofine granulation could be recognized in high strain samples. Based on a mechanical data analysis and microstructural observations, it was suggested that the initial formation of nanoparticles was macroscopically determined by the differential stress subjected to the host rocks, and had nothing to do with temperature; whereas the aggregation morphology of the nanoparticles was related to the temperature during the formation and evolution processes of the nanoparticles.
Analysis of Developmental Characteristics and Dominant Factors of Pore-Fracture Systems in Lower Cambrian Marine Shale Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Niutitang Formation, Fenggang Block, Southern China
Authors: Shang Fu-Hua , Zhu Yan-Ming , Gao Hai-Tao , Wang Yang , Liu Rui-Yin , Meng Xian-Wei
Published: November 2020

Due to breakthroughs in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin and multiple strata around the basin, the northern part of Guizhou adjacent to the Sichuan Basin has become a key area for shale gas exploration. Compared with the Longmaxi Formation, the Niutitang Formation
displays greater TOC (total organic carbon) content, depositional thickness and distribution area, but the details remain undetermined. In the study area, the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation typically has high TOC content, maturity and brittle mineral content. The study area has experienced
multiple periods of tectonic movement, which have great influence on the fracture and pore characteristics. The fractures are mainly structural fractures and have obvious zoning. The primary types of pores are intraparticle pores, organic matter pores, and interparticle pores. Further, macropores
and mesopores less than 50 nm contribute most of the pore volume, while pores less than 2 nm contribute most of the specific surface area. Many factors affect the pore-fracture system, such as tectonism, TOC content, mineral composition, and sedimentary environment. Tectonic movements produce
fractures based on the changing stress field, but the degree of fracture development does not agree well with the degree of pore development. The TOC content has good positive correlations with the development of fractures and micropores, especially for nanoporosity, while clay minerals show
a negative correlation with the development of fractures but a strong positive correlation with the growth of micropores. Quartz displays a positive correlation with the development of fractures but no good correlation with pore development. Finally, the lithofacies, lithologies and mineral
compositions under the control of sedimentary environments are internal factors that can impact the development of pore-fracture systems.
Study on the Shale Gas Reservoir-Forming Characteristics of the Taiyuan Formation in the Eastern Qinshui Basin, China
Authors: Gao Hai-Tao , Zhu Yan-Ming , Shang Fu-Hua , Chen Chong-Yu
Published: November 2020

Shales are widely developed in the strata of the Carboniferous-Permian coal measures in the Qinshui Basin, and these shales have great potential for shale gas exploration. In this paper, the shales of the Taiyuan Formation in the eastern Qinshui Basin are studied. The shales of the
Taiyuan Formation in the study area are investigated through field investigation, organic geochemical testing, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high pressure mercury injection, low temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption and PetroMod simulation and through other tests to study
the reservoir characteristics, such as organic geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, pore permeability, and gas burial history. The results show that the shales of the Taiyuan Formation are well developed over the whole area with a thickness of more than 60 m. The average organic matter content
is 2.95%, and the kerogen type is type III. The shale maturity (average value is 2.45%) corresponds to the stage of high maturity evolution, indicating that a large amount of shale gas has been generated in this area. A high content of quartz and clay minerals indicates a high fracturability.
The nanopores in the shale reservoir are well developed at pore sizes between 2˜10 nm and greater than 1000 nm; however, the pores at the other pore sizes are poorly developed, resulting in weak pore connectivity in the reservoir. According to the results of the PetroMod simulation,
the shale of the Taiyuan Formation has undergone two subsidence and two uplift processes. The Yanshanian magmatic intrusion is the key factor for the rapid increase in gas production. In addition, the geological structure of the area is relatively simple, and the burial history and caprock
thickness are also the main controlling factors of gas generation and preservation. The shale-sandstone-shale combination and shale-coal-shale combination are the main models of shale gas preservation. This comprehensive study suggests that the shale gas of the Taiyuan Formation in the eastern
Qinshui Bain has good potential for exploration and development.
Identification and Applications of Micro to Macroscale Shale Lithofacies
Authors: Long Shengxiang , Peng Yongmin , Lu Jing , Zhu Tong , Sun Chuanxiang , Luo Jun
Published: November 2020

Systematic research and evaluations of shale gas reservoirs are critical in shale gas exploration and development. Previous studies in this field mainly depend on experimental analysis that is often overly simplified. Here, we report an integrated geological and engineering method that
combines the lithofacies division system with an identification and evaluation technology from the micro to macroscale. This method has been successfully applied in field sites. The key achievements of this method include the following: 1 Lithofacies refers to the rock or rock assemblage formed
in a specific depositional environment that has experienced a certain degree of diagenesis, which is a comprehensive term that contains information about the lithology, physical properties, gas content and fracturability. With the main rock type or several rock types combined as the basic
name, the shale lithofacies are classified and named by highlighting particular characteristics such as total organic carbon (TOC) and content of brittle minerals. 2 Based on the lithofacies classification and constrained by the equivalent sequence interfaces or thin layer interfaces, the
organic matter-rich shales in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation to the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Fuling gas field are longitudinally divided into 7 shale lithofacies. Furthermore, the organic carbonrich, high-silicon lithofacies is identified as the most favorable type for
shale gas reservoirs. 3 A set of marine shale lithofacies identification technologies was created using cross-referenced scales of conventional logging and image logging, as well as logging summarization. Lastly, 4 the lithofacies technologies reported here have been successfully applied in
multiple areas, including in the south and southeast of the Sichuan Basin and the Pengshui area. Applications in these areas include shale formation comparison and analysis, monitoring and analysis of horizontal well drilling, and assessment of fracturing stages in horizontal sections. The
lithofacies technology is proven to be efficient and applicable for comprehensive shale gas reservoir evaluation.
Nanopore Formation and Structural Changes in Black Shale During the Initial Weathering Stage: A Longmaxi Formation Profile in Northwestern Hunan, China
Authors: Zhuo Xi-Zhun , Niu Bin-Xue , Ju Yi-Wen , Zhang Lin-Yan , Yan Qing-Huan , Yang Jian-Lin
Published: November 2020

Understanding the controls on composition changes and porosity evolution in the critical zone of shale remains a major challenge. The aim of the present study is to develop a model of the changes in mineral compositions, chemical compositions and nanopore formation in shale during the
initial weathering stage. To understand these processes, we selected a Silurian shale profile rich in pyrite and organic matter located in South China. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and bulk elemental data, the variations in mineralogical and chemical compositions with depth were studied.
To characterize the full pore size spectrum and to gain insight into the nature of secondary pores and their relationship with weathering, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements and petrographic observations were combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. The results
show that Al and K are enriched slightly, while Ca and Na are depleted in the upper part of the weathering profile. Si, Mn and Ti are relatively stable from the bottom to the top of the profile. Quartz, feldspar, mica, illite and chlorite are the main minerals in the parent rock, and they
are relatively stable along the profile. The rock density gradually decreases from 2.6 g/cm3 to 2.1 g/cm3 from the bottom to the top, and the color of the shales changes from black to grayish yellow, but no secondary minerals are detected. The chemical weathering of black
shale is dominated by the oxidation of pyrite and organic matter, giving rise to color variation and nanopore formation. The increase in interparticle pores at the nanometer-micron scale is initiated by the dissolution of easily weathered components such as organic matter and pyrite. The removal
of clay minerals and tiny particles by groundwater seepage may be the main cause of porosity enhancement during the initial weathering stage. This study suggests that nanoporosity may play an important role in the process of fluid-rock interaction within black shale during the initial weathering
stage.
A Sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Method for Detecting Tetracycline in Milk
Authors: Yang Zichen , Ma Chaoqun , Gu Jiao , Wu Yamin , Zhu Chun , Li Lei , Gao Hui , Zhang Ye , Shang Yunpeng , Wang Chengwei , Chen Guoqing
Published: November 2020

Tetracycline, an animal antibiotic, may remain in milk to cause harm to human health. For economic reasons, the abuse of antibiotics is becoming more and more common. Therefore, the abuse of tetracycline has alarmed the dairy industry and many countries such as New Zealand, China, and the USA have proposed strict standards. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an emerging detection method which has been applied in food detection with the advantages of no complex pretreatment, fast detection, and weak water environment interference. Considering the abuse of antibiotics in dairy industry, we used polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) plasma cavity as SERS substrate to detect tetracycline in milk. We found that the enhancement ability of PDMS substrate is affected by addition of 4-amino-1-butanol and complex interplay in the milk--tetracycline system. The modified PDMS plasma cavity has high SERS sensitivity that allows us to achieve low detection limit of 0.28  μg/L. The correlation coefficient was 0.987. The detection of tetracycline in milk using PDMS substrate is quick (within 10 min) and it provides a possible method for in-site detection of tetracycline.
Differences in Opioid Overdose Mortality Rates Among Middle-Aged Adults by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, 1999-2018
Authors: Hoopsick Rachel A. , Homish Gregory G. , Leonard Kenneth E.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The types of opioids abused in the United States have changed from prescription opioids to heroin to fentanyl. However, the types of opioids abused may differ by demographic factors, especially among middle-aged adults. We examined national trends in opioid overdose mortality rates among middle-aged adults by race/ethnicity and sex.

Methods

Using 1999-2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research database, we examined overdose mortality rates per 100 000 population in 2018 among adults aged 45-64 that involved natural and semisynthetic opioids, heroin, synthetic opioids (excluding methadone), and methadone. We tested for significant differences in mortality rates by race/ethnicity and sex. We plotted drug-specific trends by race/ethnicity and sex from 1999 to 2018.

Results

In 2018, non-Hispanic White adults had the highest rates per 100 000 population of natural and semisynthetic overdose mortality (men: 8.7; women: 7.9; P < .001), and non-Hispanic Black adults had the highest rates of heroin (men: 17.7; women: 5.4; P < .001) and synthetic opioid (men: 36.0; women: 11.2; P < .001) overdose mortality. Men had significantly higher overdose mortality rates than women did for deaths involving natural and semisynthetic opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids, but not methadone. From 1999 to 2018, mortality rates increased sharply for heroin and synthetic opioids, increased modestly for natural and semisynthetic opioids, and decreased for methadone. The greatest increases were among non-Hispanic Black men for heroin overdose (3.3 in 1999 to 17.7 in 2018) and synthetic opioid overdose (0.1 in 1999 to 36.0 in 2018).

Conclusions

Policy making should consider unique subgroup risks and alternative trajectories of opioid use other than people being prescribed opioids, developing opioid use disorder, subsequently moving to heroin, and then to fentanyl.
Immunity to Environmental Crime, Harm and Violence: An Ongoing Pandemic and a Possible Narrative Vaccine
Authors: Brisman Avi
Published: November 2020

As of June 2020, there have been at least 2,540 mass shootings since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, CT, on December 14, 2012. Some have suggested that the repeated trauma of these massacres has created a collective “emotional numbness,” lessening our empathy. This article asks whether a similar phenomenon is occurring with respect to environmental crime and harm. It considers whether we have developed “compassion fatigue” regarding environmental violence and contemplates a “workout regimen” for empathy for Gaia’s suffering. In so doing, it seeks to engage with emerging work in the penumbra of narrative criminology and green cultural criminology.
Comparative Case Studies of Parking Reduction at Transit-Oriented Developments in the U.S.A.
Authors: Ewing Reid , Kim Keuntae , Sabouri Sadegh , Siddiq Fariba , Weinberger Rachel
Published: November 2020

This study addresses the question of parking supply and demand at transit-oriented developments (TODs) through comparative case studies of seven TODs in the U.S.A. As far as the authors can determine, this is one of the first studies to estimate peak parking generation rates for TODs. Developments are often characterized in relation to “D” variables—development density, land use diversity, urban design, destination accessibility and distance to transit. The seven TODs studied in this project are exemplary when it comes to the Ds. At the overall peak hour, just 51.2%–84.0% of parking spaces are filled. Because of limited use of shared parking, even these exemplary developments do not achieve their full potential. At the overall peak hour, parked cars would fill just 19.5%–69.4% of parking spaces if the developments were built to Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) standards. With one exception, peak parking demand is less than 60% of the parking supply guideline in the ITE Parking Generation manual. A sixth D, demand management (parking management), is mixed at the TODs studied. For one thing, there is a dearth of shared parking, though opportunities abound. Another area in which parking policies are not always smart is in bundled residential parking. At some TODs, a parking space/permit comes with each apartment whether the renters want it and use it or not. Such parking is effectively free. A third area in which parking policies are not always smart is in free commercial parking, the counterpart of bundled residential parking.
A Systematic Review of Basic Science and Animal Studies on the Use of Doxycycline to Reduce the Risk of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture/Transection
Authors: Kraeutler Matthew J. , Aliberti Gianna M. , Scillia Anthony J. , McCarty Eric C. , Mulcahey Mary K.
Published: November 2020

Background:

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) after injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is common.

Purpose:

To perform a systematic review of basic science and animal studies to determine the effect of doxycycline treatment on the prevention of PTOA after ACL rupture/transection.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases to identify basic science and animal studies evaluating the effect of doxycycline treatment on the prevention of PTOA of the knee joint after ACL/cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury. The search phrase used was “doxycycline cruciate ligament.” Inclusion criteria were basic science and animal studies evaluating the effect of oral administration of doxycycline in ACL/CCL-deficient animals with or without a control group.

Results:

Seven studies met inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Five studies were performed in dogs, 1 in rabbits, and 1 in mice. Overall, the effects of doxycycline treatment on the prevention of PTOA after ACL/CCL rupture/transection were mixed. In dogs, no significant effects of doxycycline treatment were found in terms of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, while a mouse study found significantly lower MMP-13 expression on the tibia in doxycycline-treated animals, suggesting that doxycycline may protect against proteoglycan loss and decrease osteoarthritis progression. Cartilage nitric oxide concentrations were lower in doxycycline-treated dogs compared with untreated dogs, suggesting decreased cartilage degradation among doxycycline-treated dogs, although there were no significant effects on cartilage stromelysin levels with no significant effects in terms of physiological remodeling or catabolism of cartilage. Bone formation or resorption was not found to be affected by doxycycline treatment. One study demonstrated a substantial beneficial effect of doxycycline on gross morphology of the medial femoral condyle. Doxycycline was found to conserve bone strain energy density and appeared to limit subchondral bone loss in 1 study.

Conclusion:

Based on the limited available animal studies, doxycycline appears to demonstrate some benefits in the prevention of PTOA after ACL/CCL rupture/transection. Additional studies are needed to further characterize the potential benefits, side effects, dosage, and duration of this treatment after ACL injury in human patients.
Please listen to us: Adolescent autistic girls speak about learning and academic success
Authors: Jacobs Pamela , Beamish Wendi , McKay Loraine
Published: November 2020

Limited research is available with a focus on adolescent Autistic girls and their needs during secondary schooling. Consequently, many issues are often not recognised and addressed by educators. The small-scale Australian research reported here explored the experiences of five Autistic girls during their first 2 years of secondary school, with data being gathered via an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Findings are presented from the perspective of the girls themselves and highlight the negative impact of sensory, communication, and social difficulties, as well as the influence of anxiety and executive dysfunction on their learning and academic success. Unique insights into how the girls feel about school and the anxiety they experience there, together with everyday barriers to learning they encounter provide some important messages to schools and teachers.
The impacts of weak links on topology discovery process in large-scale wireless multi-hop networks
Authors: Wenxing Liao , Xiaofei Shi , Xinying Chen
Published: November 2020

In wireless multi-hop networks, especially large-scale wireless multi-hop networks, obtaining the network topology is of vital significance. In fact, in both proactive and reactive routing protocols, before establishing an appropriate end-to-end route, the source node needs to obtain the global or local topology. Our previous research has studied the impacts of weak links on reactive routing protocols, which can also be considered as local topology discovery process. In this article, in order to get insight of the impacts of weak links on topology discovery process, especially the global topology discovery on which the proactive routing protocols rely, we apply a Markov chain to model the most common used topology discovery process in large-scale wireless multi-hop networks. Considering the fading characteristics of wireless channel, we analyze the impacts of weak links on topology discovery algorithms. Simulation and theoretical results show that, with the increase in the network scale, the weak links have great impacts on the stability and even on the feasibility of wireless multi-hop networks.
Distributed school leadership: Making sense of the educational infrastructure
Authors: Larsson Pär , Löwstedt Jan
Published: November 2020

Distributed leadership focuses on what teachers and school leaders do together, but also on how the situation mediates that interaction. This paper focuses on the importance and function of the situational dimension of practice. By framing situational aspects in terms of local educational infrastructure, it explores organizational components in the educational infrastructure and how they condition teachers’ sensemaking about their instructional practice. Two schools in the same school district in Sweden were purposively chosen to reflect significant variation in student outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, in addition to observations of meetings. The results show that an important function of the infrastructure is to facilitate and guide teachers’ sensemaking about their instructional practice and that these processes are influenced by the clarity of the school’s vision and the principal’s use of the infrastructure for sensegiving purposes. The outcome is an argument for studying school leadership through the lens of organizational components in the educational infrastructure
Real-world single-center experience with direct-acting antivirals for improvement of the liver fibrosis after chronic hepatitis C treatment
Authors: Lee Sun Hee , Shin Hyun Phil , Lee Joung Il
Published: November 2020

Background

Recently, new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are known to eradicate chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection and prevent the progression of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis may predispose to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. We investigated the effect of DAAs on liver fibrosis using non-invasive methods, and evaluated the correlations of these methods.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 68 patients with CHC who were treated with DAAs and reached sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment from January 2016 to October 2018. The degree of liver fibrosis was assessed using serum biomarkers, such as AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index. Liver stiffness was assessed using two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2 D-SWE). The pre- and post-treatment serum biomarker levels and SWE findings were evaluated and compared.

Results

A total of 68 patients with CHC were enrolled. The median age was 58 years (52.3–73 years) and 37 patients (54.4%) were female. After treatment, the median APRI was decreased from 0.701 to 0.328 (P < 0.0001), and the median FIB-4 was decreased from 2.355 to 1.860 (P < 0.0001). The median kPa in 2 D-SWE significantly reduced from 6.85 to 5.66 (P = 0.013). APRI and FIB-4 were significantly correlated pre- and post-treatment; however, the correlation between the serum biomarkers and 2 D-SWE was partially significant.

Conclusion

The serum fibrosis biomarkers and liver stiffness on 2 D-SWE were shown to be improved after the treatment with DAAs. Further research including larger number of patients is needed to compare the efficacy of each evaluating method.
Managing hyperglycemia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Improving outcomes using new technologies in intensive care
Authors: Valk Timothy , McMorrow Carol
Published: November 2020

Hyperglycemia is a significant risk for mortality in COVID-19 infections and is most dramatically noted in critically ill patients. Hyperglycemia and/or diabetes are noted in approximately 30%–40% of patients admitted with COVID-19 infections. Previous studies have shown a marked increase in mortality related to increased glucose concentrations and reduction with improved glucose control. In vivo and in vitro studies reveal the mechanisms by which hyperglycemia increases virulence and how glucose control and insulin reduce it. Optimal glucose control in intensive care is limited by manual sampling of glucose and intravenous insulin adjustment, as well as increased nursing workload and the need of protective equipment. Tools for safe and effective automation of glucose control in intensive care are discussed. A suitable closed loop device could save the lives of thousands of hospitalized hyperglycemic individuals infected with COVID-19 while protecting medical professionals from infection risk.
Latino/a Sociology: Toward a New Paradigm
Authors: Baca Zinn Maxine , Mirandé Alfredo
Published: November 2020

Despite the proliferation of significant scholarship on Latinos/as over the past four decades and the formal establishment of a Latina/o sociology section in the American Sociological Association in 1994, Latino/a sociology has yet to be systematically defined or fully developed. This essay isolates the underlying premises that mark this developing field. Latino/a sociology is grounded in the standpoints of Latinos/as and anchors its analyses in theories of race and racialization. Latino/a sociology also transcends disciplinary boundaries, incorporating developments in intersectionality, critical race theory, and postcolonial theories. Drawing from transnational perspectives—on migration, globalization, and the experiences of borders and borderlands—Latino/a sociology remains attuned to social processes across boundaries and is oriented to social justice and human rights. Here we propose a new paradigm for Latino/a sociology that moves beyond the Black-White binary to build more comprehensive understandings of race and racialization in the twenty-first century.