bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Downregulation of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 in mouse preosteoblast cells treated with vitamin D receptor agonist
Authors: Kito Hiroaki , Morihiro Haruka , Sakakibara Yuka , Endo Kyoko , Kajikuri Junko , Suzuki Takayoshi , Ohya Susumu
Published: June 2020

The maturity of osteoblasts by proliferation and differentiation in preosteoblasts is essential for maintaining bone homeostasis. The beneficial effects of vitamin D on bone homeostasis in mammals have been demonstrated experimentally and clinically. However, the direct actions of vitamin D on preosteoblasts remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we found that the functional activity of intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (KCa3.1) positively regulated cell proliferation in MC3T3-E1 cells derived from mouse preosteoblasts by enhancing intracellular Ca2+ signaling. We examined the effects of treatment with vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist on the expression and activity of KCa3.1 by real-time PCR examination, Western blotting, Ca2+ imaging, and patch clamp analyses in mouse MC3T3-E1 cells. Following the downregulation of KCa3.1 transcriptional modulators such as Fra-1 and HDAC2, KCa3.1 activity was suppressed in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with VDR agonists. Furthermore, application of the KCa3.1 activator DCEBIO attenuated the VDR agonist-evoked suppression of cell proliferation rate. These findings suggest that a decrease in KCa3.1 activity is involved in the suppression of cell proliferation rate in VDR agonist-treated preosteoblasts. Therefore, KCa3.1 plays an important role in bone formation by promoting osteoblastic proliferation under physiological conditions.
Decoy Receptor 3 Promotes Preosteoclast Cell Death via Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced Fas Ligand Expression and the IL-1α/IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Pathway
Authors: Peng Yi-Jen , Peng Ching-Tsung , Lin Yi-Hsuan , Lin Gu-Jiun , Huang Shing-Hwa , Chen Shyi-Jou , Sytwu Huey-Kang , Cheng Chia-Pi
Published: June 2020

Purpose. Interleukin-1α(IL-1α) is a potent cytokine that plays a role in inflammatory arthritis and bone loss. Decoy receptor 3 (DCR3) is an immune modulator of monocytes and macrophages. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of DCR3 in IL-1α-induced osteoclastogenesis.Methods. We treated murine macrophages with DCR3 during receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa Β ligand- (RANKL-) plus IL-1α-induced osteoclastogenesis to monitor osteoclast formation by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Osteoclast activity was assessed using a pit formation assay. The mechanisms of inhibition were studied by biochemical analyses, including RT-PCR, immunofluorescent staining, flow cytometry, an apoptosis assay, immunoblotting, and ELISA.Results. DCR3 suppresses IL-1α-induced osteoclastogenesis in both primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and RAW264.7 cells as it inhibits bone resorption. DCR3 induces RANKL-treated osteoclast precursor cells to express IL-1α, secretory IL-1ra (sIL-1ra), intracellular IL-1ra (icIL-1ra), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Fas ligand and to activate IL-1α-induced interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4). The suppression of DCR3 during RANKL- or IL-1α-induced osteoclastogenesis may be due to the abundant secretion of IL-1ra, accumulation of ROS, and expression of Fas ligand in apoptotic osteoclast precursor cells.Conclusions. We concluded that there is an inhibitory effect of DCR3 on osteoclastogenesis via ROS accumulation and ROS-induced Fas ligand, IL-1α, and IL-1ra expression. Our results suggested that the upregulation of DCR3 in preosteoclasts might be a therapeutic target in inflammatory IL-1α-induced bone resorption.
Potential for Evaluation of Interwell Connectivity under the Effect of Intraformational Bed in Reservoirs Utilizing Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Liu Jinzi
Published: June 2020

Machine learning method has gradually become an important and effective method to analyze reservoir parameters in reservoir numerical simulation. This paper provides a machine learning method to evaluate the connectivity between injection and production wells controlled by interlayer in reservoir. In this paper, Back Propagation (BP) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are used to train the dynamic data with the influence of interlayer control connectivity in the reservoir layer as the training model. The dataset is trained with dynamic production data under different permeability, interlayer dip angle, and injection pressure. The connectivity is calculated by using the deep learning model, and the connectivity factor K is defined. The results show that compared with BP, CNN has better performance in connectivity, average absolute relative deviation (AARD) below 10.01% higher. Moreover, CNN prediction results are close to the traditional methods. This paper provides new insights and methods to evaluate the interwell connectivity in conventional or unconventional reservoirs.
A Convex Variational Model for Restoring SAR Images Corrupted by Multiplicative Noise
Authors: Yang Hanmei , Li Jiachang , Shen Lixin , Lu Jian
Published: June 2020

This paper studies a new convex variational model for denoising and deblurring images with multiplicative noise. Considering the statistical property of the multiplicative noise following Nakagami distribution, the denoising model consists of a data fidelity term, a quadratic penalty term, and a total variation regularization term. Here, the quadratic penalty term is mainly designed to guarantee the model to be strictly convex under a mild condition. Furthermore, the model is extended for the simultaneous denoising and deblurring case by introducing a blurring operator. We also study some mathematical properties of the proposed model. In addition, the model is solved by applying the primal-dual algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed method is promising in restoring (blurred) images with multiplicative noise.
Multiple Lump Solutions of the (4+1)-Dimensional Fokas Equation
Authors: Ma Hongcai , Bai Yunxiang , Deng Aiping
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we investigate multiple lump wave solutions of the new (4+1)-dimensional Fokas equation by adopting a symbolic computation method. We get its 1-lump solutions, 3-lump solutions, and 6-lump solutions by using its bilinear form. Moreover, some basic characters and structural features of multiple lump waves are explained by depicting the three-dimensional plots.
Uptake of Chromium by Portulaca Oleracea from Soil: Effects of Organic Content, pH, and Sulphate Concentration
Authors: Alyazouri Ayman , Jewsbury Roger , Tayim Hassan , Humphreys Paul , Al-Sayah Mohammad H.
Published: June 2020

Phytoextraction is an effective and environment-friendly approach for remediation of soil polluted with toxic metals. Portulaca oleracea is a potential hyperaccumulator of Cr(VI) from polluted soil. In this study, the effect of soil organic content, pH, and sulphate concentration on phytoextraction of Cr(VI) using Portulaca oleracea was investigated. Seedlings of Portulaca oleracea were grown in soils with (i) three organic content compositions, (ii) six levels of pH, and (iii) six concentrations of sulphate salts; all were irrigated with Cr(VI) solutions at 200 ppm concentration. Chromium concentration in different tissues of plants was monitored under the variant conditions. Results indicated that the uptake of Cr(VI) by Portulaca oleracea is favoured at (i) low organic content soil (0.42%), (ii) slightly alkaline pH range (∼8), and (iii) with sulphate concentration in the range of 300–600 ppm.
Efficient Coded-Block Delivery and Caching in Information-Centric Networking
Authors: Liu Yan , Cai Jun , Zhao Huimin , Yu Shunzheng , Ruan JianLiang , Lu Hua
Published: June 2020

Information-centric networking (ICN) provides request aggregation and caching strategies that can improve network performance by reducing content server loads and network traffic. Incorporating network coding into ICN can offer several benefits, but a consumer may receive the same coded block from multiple content routers since the coded block may be cached by any of the content routers on its forwarding path. In this paper, we introduce a request-specific coded-block scheme to avoid linear dependency of blocks that are utilizing in-network caching. Additionally, a non-cooperative coded caching and replacement strategy is designed to guarantee that the cached blocks can be reused. Our experimental results show that the proposed scheme has superior performance to conventional CCN and two network coding-based ICN schemes.
Mean Shift-Based Multisource Localization Method in Wireless Binary Sensor Network
Authors: Yu Xiaosheng , Chi Jianning , Wang Ying , Chu Hao
Published: June 2020

Source localization is one of the major research contents in the localization research of wireless sensor networks, which has attracted considerable attention for a long period. In recent years, the wireless binary sensor network (WBSN) has been widely used for source localization due to its high energy efficiency. A novel method which is based on WBSN for multiple source localization is presented in this paper. Firstly, the Neyman-Pearson criterion-based sensing model which takes into account the false alarms is utilized to identify the alarmed nodes. Secondly, the mean shift and hierarchical clustering method are performed on the alarmed nodes to obtain the cluster centers as the initial locations of signal sources. Finally, some voting matrices which can improve the localization accuracy are constructed to decide the location of each acoustic source. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can provide a desirable performance superior to some traditional methods in accuracy and efficiency.
Giant Isolated Omphalocele: Role of Prenatal Diagnosis in Prognostic Asessment and Perinatal Management
Authors: Cubo A. M. , Lapresa Alcalde M. V. , Gastaca I. , Rodríguez-Martín M. O. , Martín Seisdedos M. C. , Velasco Ayuso M. V. R. , Cebrián Muiños R. C. , Sayagués J. M.
Published: June 2020

Omphalocele is a congenital malformation of the abdominal wall consisting of a protrusion of the abdominal contents at the base of the umbilical cord. It has a high association with genetic and structural defects; however, if the latter is ruled out, its prognosis improves significantly. Prenatal diagnosis has a key role in this condition as omphalocele can be diagnosed by ultrasound in the first trimester scan, enabling a coordinated approach strategy to achieve the best perinatal results. We present a case report of a pregnant patient with a fetus having a giant omphalocele in which prenatal diagnosis played a decisive role, allowing the coordination of a multidisciplinary team, which was crucial in the immediate care of the newborn.
Study on the 2D Optimization Simulation of Complex Five-Hole Cutting Blasting under Different Lateral Pressure Coefficients
Authors: Gao Jing , Xie Shizhen , Zhang Xiantang , Wang Hongli , Gao Wenle , Zhou Hongmin
Published: June 2020

With the decrease and depletion of shallow coal resources, the depth of mining is increasing. The mechanism of high crustal stress blasting is not clear, and the effect of crustal stress on blasting effect is obvious. The law of the differential detonation is similar without crustal stress. The crustal stress of rock masses increases linearly with the increase in excavation depth, and the influence of crustal stress on blasting effect is great. In order to study the rock-breaking process of complex differential blasting under deep high crustal stress, the instantaneous detonation of each model and the priority detonation of the central hole are numerically simulated. The evolution law of the blasting crack and the method of optimizing blasting effect by differential blasting and increasing the aperture of the priority detonation hole under high crustal stress are put forward. The authors proposed a study on the 2D optimization simulation of complex five-hole cutting blasting under different lateral pressure coefficients of 400 m and 800 m with software ANSYS/LS-DYNA and analyzed the evolution rules of blasting cracks and lateral pressure coefficients. The results show that setting delayed detonation and hole diameter and optimizing blasthole spacing can optimize the rock-breaking effect under high crustal stress and different lateral pressure coefficients.
Proficient Photocatalytic and Sonocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants Using CuO Nanoparticles
Authors: Chauhan Moondeep , Kaur Navneet , Bansal Pratibha , Kumar Rajeev , Srinivasan Sesha , Chaudhary Ganga Ram
Published: June 2020

In recent years, due to the advancement in nanotechnology, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), especially sonocatalysis and photocatalysis, have become a topic of interest for the elimination of pollutants from contaminated water. In the research work reported here, an attempt has been made to study and establish a physicochemical mechanism for the catalytic activity of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) in AOPs using the degradation of dyes as model contaminants. CuO NPs exhibited brilliant sonocatalytic and photocatalytic activities for the degradation of a cationic dye (Victoria Blue) as well as an anionic dye (Direct Red 81). The degradation efficiency of CuO NPs was calculated by analysing the variation in the absorbance of dye under a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The influence of different operating parameters on the catalytic activity of CuO NPs, such as the amount of catalysts dose, pH of the solution, and the initial dye concentration, was thoroughly investigated. In addition, the kinetic process for the degradation was also examined. It was observed that both dyes exhibited and followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics relation. The rate constant for sonocatalysis was high as compared to photocatalysis. The rate constant for both sonocatalysis and photocatalysis was successfully established, and reusability tests were done to ensure the stability of the used catalysts. To get an insight into the degradation mechanism, experiments were performed by using ⋅OH radical scavengers. The efficacy of CuO NPs for dye decolorization was found to be superior for the sonocatalyst than the photocatalyst.
Determinants of Bicyclist Injury Severity Resulting from Crashes at Roundabouts, Crossroads, and T-Junctions
Authors: Shen Jinxing , Wang Tiantong , Zheng Changjiang , Yu Miao
Published: June 2020

This study explores the contributing factors that influence bicyclist injury severity at three types of intersection: roundabouts, crossroads, and T-junctions. Using bicycle-involved crash data in the UK over nine years (from 2009 to 2017), the bicyclist injury severity (with three severity levels: fatal injury, serious injury, and slight injury) was estimated using the generalized ordered logit (GOL) model and partial proportional odds (PPO) model. The marginal effects of each explanatory variable were computed to investigate the impacts on bicyclist injury severity occurring probabilities. A wide range of variables potentially affecting injury severity was considered, including bicyclist characteristics, intersection characteristics, environmental conditions, bicyclist movement and location preceding the crash, and types of collisions. Our findings show that the PPO model outperforms the GOL model for analyzing the factors that affect the bicyclist injury severity at intersections. The factors that affect cycling safety at various intersections show enormous differences. Specifically, nine variables have significant impacts on bicyclist injury severity at those three types of intersections. And there are only two variables, four variables, and eleven variables that have significant impact on bicyclist injury severity at roundabouts, crossroads, and T-junctions, respectively. The findings of this study can help decision makers better understand the spatial heterogeneity of the factors that influence the bicyclist injury severity at various intersections.
Identification of PDL1-Related Biomarkers to Select Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients for PD1/PDL1 Inhibitors
Authors: Wu Yanping , Lin Lianjun , Liu Xinmin
Published: June 2020

PD1/PDL1 inhibitors have been adopted for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, and PDL1 expression has been investigated as a predictive biomarker for PD1/PDL1 inhibitor therapy. However, PDL1 lacks diagnostic accuracy in differentiating patients who are likely or unlikely to benefit. So, it is urgent and clinically significant to identify other associated predictive biomarkers for PD1/PDL1 inhibitor therapy. Our work was to identify PDL1-related biomarkers that could improve the patient selection for PD1/PDL1 inhibitor treatment. We obtained 500 genes coexpressed with PDL1 in lung adenocarcinoma from the TCGA database. Then, we identified 125 out of 500 genes differentially expressed in lung adenocarcinoma. A total of 39 genes were distinguished with prognostic value and associated with overall survival. Median survival time analysis based on gene expression level, protein-protein interaction analysis, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, and significant GO and KEGG function consistency analyses were conducted to screen candidate biomarkers. Three candidate genes, BRCA1, BRIP1, and EREG, were identified to be functionally significantly coexpressed with PDL1. Functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction networks further showed that these genes mainly participated in immune response and cell activation. Additionally, to find potential adjuvant therapeutic targets in PD1/PDL1 inhibitor treatment, we performed transcription factor prediction analysis. A group of negative differential expression but PDL1-related biomarkers has been identified, which might help to assess the clinical management of lung cancer patients. A combination of potential biomarkers and adjuvant therapeutic targets with PDL1 will predict the response to PD1/PDL1 inhibitors more accurately and help with the patient selection for more personalized immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
Acute Stent Thrombosis Associated with Eptifibatide-Induced Profound Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Aljundi Amer , Rahhal Alaa , Dabdoob Wafer
Published: June 2020

Background. Eptifibatide is an inhibitor of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor that is commonly used in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Case. We describe a case of a 62-year-old female patient admitted with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary coronary intervention (primary PCI) with a drug-eluting stent placement. She developed profound thrombocytopenia within 8 hours of first administration of eptifibatide and subsequent acute stent thrombosis next day. Other causes of thrombocytopenia were excluded and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) showed good stent expansion and opposition to the coronary wall. Platelet count gradually returned to normal after discontinuation of eptifibatide. Conclusion. Although Eptifibatide has been associated with the development of thrombocytopenia, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report in the medical literature that associates acute stent thrombosis and eptifibatide-induced thrombocytopenia.
A Rare Case of SplenicPneumocystis jiroveciiin a HIV-Positive Patient
Authors: Abbas Hafsa , Patel Harish , Baiomi Ahmed , Niazi Masooma , Vakde Trupti , Chilimuri Sridhar
Published: June 2020

Introduction. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals with the CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3are at risk for opportunistic infections.Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungal pathogen, is a common cause of opportunistic infections with predominantly pulmonary involvement. DisseminatedP. jiroveciiiinfection presenting with hepatosplenic lesion is extremely rare.Case Summary. A 31-year-old male with HIV with and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with diarrhea for 3 weeks. He had splenomegaly and inguinal lymphadenopathy on physical examination. Laboratory parameters revealed anemia and hypoalbuminemia, while stool studies for infectious etiology and fecal leucocyte were negative. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen depicted consolidation of the lungs and a large splenic mass. He underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy which was consistent withP. jiroveciipneumonia. He also had a ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the splenic mass which revealed necrotizing granulomas withPneumocystis jiroveciiinfection on Grocott-Gomori's methenamine silver (GMS) stain and was initiated on treatment forP. jiroveciiwith sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim.Conclusion. Malignancy and atypical infection are key differentials in patients presenting with hepatosplenic lesions. HIV positive patients are at increased risk of AIDS-related lymphoma. Tissue diagnosis is often required for further evaluation. DisseminatedP. jiroveciipresenting with splenic mass and liver lesion is extremely rare.
Sugammadex-Associated Hypotension, Bradycardia, Asystole, and Death
Authors: Mirza Kazim , Landoski Kathryn , Thakar Dilip , Heir-Singh Jagtar , Jackson Timothy , Kassab Cynthia
Published: June 2020

On December 16, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States approved sugammadex (Bridion, Merck and Co), a modified gamma-cyclodextrin, to be used as a reversal agent. It is a first and unique selective nondepolarizing steroidal muscle relaxant (NDSMR) binding agent with a great affinity for rocuronium and vecuronium. However, there have been several recently published case reports of bradycardia and asystole immediately after sugammadex administration for the reversal. This report presents a case of sugammadex administration followed by rapidly progressing bradycardia leading to asystole and subsequent death. The family has provided the written consent to share this case report.
Application of Milk-Clotting Protease from Aspergillus oryzae DRDFS13 MN726447 and Bacillus subtilis SMDFS 2B MN715837 for Danbo Cheese Production
Authors: Mamo Jermen , Getachew Paulos , Samuel Kuria Mbugua , Assefa Fassil
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency, biochemical composition, and sensory quality of Danbo cheese produced using proteases derived from the fungus and bacterium compared to the commercial product. A fungal enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae DRDFS13MN726447 and a bacterial enzyme from Bacillus subtilis SMDFS 2B MN715837 were produced by solid-state and submerged fermentation, respectively. The crude enzyme from A. oryzae DRDFS13 and B. subtilis SMDFS 2B was partially purified by dialysis and used for Danbo cheese production using commercial rennet (CHY-MAX® Powder Extract NB, Christian Hansen, 2235 IMCU/g) as a control. The Danbo cheese produced using dialyzed fungal enzyme (E1) (267 U/mL), dialyzed bacterial enzyme (E2) (522 U/mL), and commercial rennet (C) were analyzed for body property, organoleptic characteristics, and proximate and mineral composition when fresh and after 2 months of ripening. There was no significant difference in the cheese yield (C = 9 kg, E1 = 8.6 kg, and E2 = 8.9 kg) among the three treatments. The body properties of Danbo cheese produced with the fungal enzyme (E1) were firm and acceptable as the control (C), whereas the Danbo cheese produced by bacterial enzymes has shown a watery body. The overall organoleptic characteristics of Danbo cheese produced by the fungal enzyme (5.3) were similar to control cheese produced by commercial rennet (5.5). Both cheese types were significantly different in organoleptic properties from Danbo cheese produced by the bacterial enzyme (4.9). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the proximate composition between the ripened Danbo cheese produced by fungal enzyme and the control cheese except for crude protein content. However, the ripened cheese products showed a significant difference in their mineral composition except for sodium. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the fungal enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae DRDFS 13 is more appropriate for Danbo cheese production than the bacterial enzyme from Bacillus subtilis SMDFS 2B. However, it requires further application of the enzymes for the production of other cheese varieties.
Unique Findings and Novel Treatment Strategy of a Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm Associated with a Significant Pericardial Effusion
Authors: Lawani Osayi , Ganim Rick
Published: June 2020

Giant coronary artery aneurysms are a rare, asymptomatic occurrence. Presently, there is a lack of substantial research performed in the U.S., likely due to its low prevalence. As we are increasingly becoming a global community, strengthening data for seemingly rare disease processes such as this need to be addressed, particularly when they can progress to involve complications such as pericardial effusion caused by aneurysmal rupture or infection. A popular treatment option for these aneurysms is polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents; they have been favorable with obtaining a high percentage of procedural success rates in aneurysms not associated with myocardial infarctions. In this paper, we present a case of a giant coronary artery aneurysm located in the left circumflex coronary artery that was complicated by a pericardial effusion. We will also present its unusual repair using a long drug-eluting stent as a scaffold to overlap covered coronary stents used to help exclude the aneurysm.
A Dictionary Learning Algorithm Based on Dictionary Reconstruction and Its Application in Face Recognition
Authors: Zheng Shijun , Zhang Yongjun , Liu Wenjie , Zou Yongjie , Zhang Xuexue
Published: June 2020

In recent years, dictionary learning has received more and more attention in the study of face recognition. However, most dictionary learning algorithms directly use the original training samples to learn the dictionary, ignoring noise existing in the training samples. For example, there are differences between different images of the same subject due to changes in illumination, expression, etc. To address the above problems, this paper proposes the dictionary relearning algorithm (DRLA) based on locality constraint and label embedding, which can effectively reduce the influence of noise on the dictionary learning algorithm. In our proposed dictionary learning algorithm, first, the initial dictionary and coding coefficient matrix are directly obtained from the training samples, and then the original training samples are reconstructed by the product of the initial dictionary and coding coefficient matrix. Finally, the dictionary learning algorithm is reapplied to obtain a new dictionary and coding coefficient matrix, and the newly obtained dictionary and coding coefficient matrix are used for subsequent image classification. The dictionary reconstruction method can partially eliminate noise in the original training samples. Therefore, the proposed algorithm can obtain more robust classification results. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs better in recognition accuracy than some state-of-the-art algorithms.
Blood Pressure Classification of 2017 Associated With Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Young Chinese Adults
Authors: Wu Shouling , Song Yongjian , Chen Shuohua , Zheng Mengyi , Ma Yihan , Cui Liufu , Jonas Jost B.
Published: June 2020

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association introduced new guidelines for blood pressure (BP) classification in 2017. We explored associations between the newly defined categories and eventual cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, stroke, and all-cause mortality in young Chinese adults. In the community-based Kailuan Study, 16 006 participants aged 18 to 40 years and examined at baseline in 2006/2007 underwent 2-yearly follow-up examinations up to 2016 to 2017. Taking the highest BP reading recorded by manual sphygmomanometry at baseline in 2006 to 2007, we categorized the BP according to the new guidelines. Outcome parameters were CVD events, stroke, and all-cause mortality. During follow-up (mean: 10.9±0.63 years), we observed 458 events (CVD, 167; stroke, 119; and all-cause death, 172). After multivariable adjustment, hazard ratios for CVD events were for elevated BP 0.80 (95% CI, 0.28–2.30), stage 1 hypertension 1.82 (95% CI, 1.12–2.94), and stage 2 hypertension 3.54 (95% CI, 2.18–5.77) versus normal BP. Similar results were obtained for stroke and all-cause death. In Cox regression analysis with BP category entered as time-dependent covariate, stage 1 hypertension was not associated with increased risk (
P
>0.10). In the subgroup of individuals taking antihypertensive medication during follow-up, none of the BP categories was significantly associated with the incidence of CVD events. During a mean follow-up of 10.9 years, the newly defined category of stage 1 hypertension in young untreated Chinese adults aged <40 years at baseline was associated with an increased risk for CVD, stroke, and all-cause mortality. This increased risk occurred, however, after progression to stage 2 hypertension. The data may help validating the new BP classification system for young adult Chinese.
Outcome of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention During Non–ST‐Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Elderly Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Holzmann Martin J. , Siddiqui Anwar J.
Published: June 2020

Background

There is a paucity of data on the benefit of revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (
PCI
) during non–ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction in patients aged >80 years with concurrent chronic kidney disease.

Methods and Results

Patients aged >80 years with chronic kidney disease, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (
eGFR
) <60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
with non–ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction, during 2011 to 2014 in Sweden retrieved from the SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web‐System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence‐Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) Registry. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios with 95% CIs for all‐cause mortality in patients with
PCI
versus no
PCI
treatment, stratified for
eGFR
. Logistic regression was used to evaluate adjusted odds for reinfarction and bleeding during hospitalization. Propensity score weighting analysis was also done as sensitivity analysis. In total, 12 821 patients were included, of whom 47%, 45%, and 8% had an
eGFR
of >60, 30 to 60, and 15 to <30 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
, respectively. Patients with
eGFR
30 to 60 and 15 to <30 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
, 22%, and 10%, respectively, underwent
PCI
, compared with 36% among patients with
eGFR
>60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
. During a mean follow‐up of 3.2 years, the absolute risk of death was 42%, 56%, and 76% in patients with
eGFR
>60, 30 to 60, and 15 to <30 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
, respectively. Patients who underwent
PCI
had a lower risk of death in all groups of
eGFR
(0.47 [95% CI, 0.42–0.53], 0.50 [95% CI, 0.45–0.56], and 0.44 [95% CI, 0.33–0.59], respectively). Patients with
eGFR
15 to <30 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
had a higher risk of bleeding with
PCI
. Propensity score weighting showed similar outcomes for mortality risk as the unweighted analysis in all the
eGFR
groups.

Conclusions

PCI
is rarely used in non–ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction elderly patients with chronic kidney disease, and it appears to offer a survival benefit.
Frequency and Predictors of Major Bleeding in Patients With Embolic Strokes of Undetermined Source
Authors: Mikulík Robert , Eckstein Jens , Pearce Lesly A. , Mundl Hardi , Rudilosso Salvatore , Olavarría Veroníca V. , Shoamanesh Ashkan , Chamorro Ángel , Martí-Fàbregas Joan , Veltkamp Roland , Öztürk Şerefnur , Tatlisumak Turgut , Peacock W. Frank , Berkowitz Scott D. , Connolly Stuart J. , Hart Robert G.
Published: June 2020

Background and Purpose:

Risks, sites, and predictors of major bleeding during antithrombotic therapies have not been well defined for patients with recent embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Methods:

Exploratory analysis of major bleeds defined by International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis criteria occurring among 7213 participants in international NAVIGATE (New Approach Rivaroxaban Inhibition of Factor Xa in a Global Trial) embolic stroke of undetermined source randomized trial comparing rivaroxaban 15 mg daily with aspirin 100 mg daily.

Results:

During a median follow-up of 11 months, 85 major bleeds occurred. The most frequent site was gastrointestinal (38%), followed by intracranial (29%). Assignment to rivaroxaban (hazard ratio [HR], 2.7 [95% CI, 1.7–4.3]), East Asia region (HR, 2.5 [95% CI, 1.6–3.9]), systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg (HR, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.2–3.8]), and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR, 1.2 per 10 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
decrease, [95% CI, 1.0–1.3]) were independently associated with presence of major bleeds. Five (6%) were fatal. Among 15 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, 2 (13%) were fatal. There was no evidence of an early high-risk period following initiation of rivaroxaban. The annualized rate of intracerebral hemorrhage was 6-fold higher among East Asian participants (0.67%) versus all other regions (0.11%; HR, 6.3 [95% CI, 2.2–18.0]). Distribution of bleeding sites was similar for rivaroxaban and aspirin.

Conclusions:

Among embolic stroke of undetermined source patients participating in an international randomized trial, independent predictors of major bleeding were assignment to rivaroxaban, East Asia region, increased systolic blood pressure, and impaired renal function. East Asia as a region was strongly associated with risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Estimated glomerular filtration rate should be a consideration for stratifying bleeding risk.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02313909.
Combining Imaging and Genetics to Predict Recurrence of Anticoagulation-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Biffi Alessandro , Urday Sebastian , Kubiszewski Patryk , Gilkerson Lee , Sekar Padmini , Rodriguez-Torres Axana , Bettin Margaret , Charidimou Andreas , Pasi Marco , Kourkoulis Christina , Schwab Kristin , DiPucchio Zora , Behymer Tyler , Osborne Jennifer , Morgan Misty , Moomaw Charles J. , James Michael L. , Greenberg Steven M. , Viswanathan Anand , Gurol M. Edip , Worrall Bradford B. , Testai Fernando D. , McCauley Jacob L. , Falcone Guido J. , Langefeld Carl D. , Anderson Christopher D. , Kamel Hooman , Woo Daniel , Sheth Kevin N. , Rosand Jonathan
Published: June 2020

Background and Purpose:

For survivors of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT)–associated intracerebral hemorrhage (OAT-ICH) who are at high risk for thromboembolism, the benefits of OAT resumption must be weighed against increased risk of recurrent hemorrhagic stroke. The ε2/ε4 alleles of the
apolipoprotein E
(
APOE
) gene, MRI-defined cortical superficial siderosis, and cerebral microbleeds are the most potent risk factors for recurrent ICH. We sought to determine whether combining MRI markers and
APOE
genotype could have clinical impact by identifying ICH survivors in whom the risks of OAT resumption are highest.

Methods:

Joint analysis of data from 2 longitudinal cohort studies of OAT-ICH survivors: (1) MGH-ICH study (Massachusetts General Hospital ICH) and (2) longitudinal component of the ERICH study (Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage). We evaluated whether MRI markers and
APOE
genotype predict ICH recurrence. We then developed and validated a combined
APOE
-MRI classification scheme to predict ICH recurrence, using Classification and Regression Tree analysis.

Results:

Cortical superficial siderosis, cerebral microbleed, and
APOE
ε2/ε4 variants were independently associated with ICH recurrence after OAT-ICH (all
P
<0.05). Combining
APOE
genotype and MRI data resulted in improved prediction of ICH recurrence (Harrell C: 0.79 versus 0.55 for clinical data alone,
P
=0.033). In the MGH (training) data set, CSS, cerebral microbleed, and
APOE
ε2/ε4 stratified likelihood of ICH recurrence into high-, medium-, and low-risk categories. In the ERICH (validation) data set, yearly ICH recurrence rates for high-, medium-, and low-risk individuals were 6.6%, 2.5%, and 0.9%, respectively, with overall area under the curve of 0.91 for prediction of recurrent ICH.

Conclusions:

Combining MRI and
APOE
genotype stratifies likelihood of ICH recurrence into high, medium, and low risk. If confirmed in prospective studies, this combined
APOE
-MRI classification scheme may prove useful for selecting individuals for OAT resumption after ICH.
Survey on request form content and result reporting in therapeutic drug monitoring service among laboratories in Czechia and Slovakia
Authors: Šálek Tomáš , Schneiderka Petr , Studená Barbora , Votroubková Michaela
Published: June 2020

Introduction:
The aim of the study was to investigate current practice and policies of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) service requesting and result reporting in Czechia and Slovakia.
Materials and methods:
All 149 laboratories that measure plasma drug concentrations were given an online questionnaire during a regular external quality assessment TDM cycle. The questionnaire consisted of 17 questions. The optimal TDM practice was defined as the application of all elements (age, body weight, time of sampling, date of the first administration, time of the last dose administration, the dose, the dosing interval, the route of administration, information on reason of testing, and information on other co–administered drugs) needed for reporting a recommendation for further drug dosing (positive response to question number 16).
Results:
The response rate was 69%, 103 out of 149 laboratories measuring drug concentrations. Only 12% (12 out of 103 laboratories) of the laboratories implemented all elements needed for optimal TDM practice and reported a recommendation. Both paper and electronic request forms were used by 77 out of 103 (75%) laboratories. A total of 69 out of 103 laboratories (67%) specified the type of sampling tube on their request form. Cystatin C was used for prediction of renal drug elimination by 24% (25 out of 103) of participants.
Conclusions:
Small number of laboratories implemented all elements needed for optimal TDM practice and report a recommendation on further dosing. Further efforts in education on optimal TDM practice as well as harmonization of service are desirable.
Case report of a phantom pheochromocytoma
Authors: Joyce Caroline M , Melvin Audrey , O’Shea Paula M , Costelloe Seán J , O’Halloran Domhnall J
Published: June 2020

Plasma free metanephrines or urinary fractionated metanephrines are the biochemical tests of choice for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma as they have greater sensitivity and specificity than catecholamines for pheochromocytoma detection. This case highlights the preanalytical factors which can influence metanephrine measurement and cause a false positive result. It describes a patient with a high pre-test probability of pheochromocytoma due to hypertension and a past medical history of adrenalectomy for a purported pheochromocytoma in her home country. When biochemical screening revealed grossly elevated urine normetanephrine in the presence of a previously identified right adrenal lesion, there was high clinical suspicion of a pheochromocytoma. However, functional imaging did not support this view which prompted additional testing with plasma metanephrines. Results for plasma and urine metanephrines were discordant and preanalytical drug interference was suspected. Patient medications were reviewed and sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory drug was identified as the most likely analytical interferent. Urinary fractionated metanephrines were re-analysed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and all metanephrines were within their reference intervals. This case illustrates how method-specific analytical drug interference prompted unnecessary expensive imaging, heightened patient anxiety and resulted in lengthy investigations for what turned out to be a phantom pheochromocytoma.
Stochastic Multichannel Ranking with Brain Dynamics Preferences
Authors: Pan Yuangang , Tsang Ivor W. , Singh Avinash K. , Lin Chin-Teng , Sugiyama Masashi
Published: June 2020

A driver's cognitive state of mental fatigue significantly affects his or her driving performance and more important, public safety. Previous studies have leveraged reaction time (RT) as the metric for mental fatigue and aim at estimating the exact value of RT using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals within a regression model. However, due to the easily corrupted and also nonsmooth properties of RTs during data collection, methods focusing on predicting the exact value of a noisy measurement, RT generally suffer from poor generalization performance. Considering that human RT is the reflection of brain dynamics preference (BDP) rather than a single regression output of EEG signals, we propose a novel channel-reliability-aware ranking (CArank) model for the multichannel ranking problem. CArank learns from BDPs using EEG data robustly and aims at preserving the ordering corresponding to RTs. In particular, we introduce a transition matrix to characterize the reliability of each channel used in the EEG data, which helps in learning with BDPs only from informative EEG channels. To handle large-scale EEG signals, we propose a stochastic-generalized expectation maximum (SGEM) algorithm to update CArank in an online fashion. Comprehensive empirical analysis on EEG signals from 40 participants shows that our CArank achieves substantial improvements in reliability while simultaneously detecting noisy or less informative EEG channels.
Any Target Function Exists in a Neighborhood of Any Sufficiently Wide Random Network: A Geometrical Perspective
Authors: Amari Shun-ichi
Published: June 2020

It is known that any target function is realized in a sufficiently small neighborhood of any randomly connected deep network, provided the width (the number of neurons in a layer) is sufficiently large. There are sophisticated analytical theories and discussions concerning this striking fact, but rigorous theories are very complicated. We give an elementary geometrical proof by using a simple model for the purpose of elucidating its structure. We show that high-dimensional geometry plays a magical role. When we project a high-dimensional sphere of radius 1 to a low-dimensional subspace, the uniform distribution over the sphere shrinks to a gaussian distribution with negligibly small variances and covariances.
Theory and Algorithms for Shapelet-Based Multiple-Instance Learning
Authors: Suehiro Daiki , Hatano Kohei , Takimoto Eiji , Yamamoto Shuji , Bannai Kenichi , Takeda Akiko
Published: June 2020

We propose a new formulation of multiple-instance learning (MIL), in which a unit of data consists of a set of instances called a bag. The goal is to find a good classifier of bags based on the similarity with a “shapelet” (or pattern), where the similarity of a bag with a shapelet is the maximum similarity of instances in the bag. In previous work, some of the training instances have been chosen as shapelets with no theoretical justification. In our formulation, we use all possible, and thus infinitely many, shapelets, resulting in a richer class of classifiers. We show that the formulation is tractable, that is, it can be reduced through linear programming boosting (LPBoost) to difference of convex (DC) programs of finite (actually polynomial) size. Our theoretical result also gives justification to the heuristics of some previous work. The time complexity of the proposed algorithm highly depends on the size of the set of all instances in the training sample. To apply to the data containing a large number of instances, we also propose a heuristic option of the algorithm without the loss of the theoretical guarantee. Our empirical study demonstrates that our algorithm uniformly works for shapelet learning tasks on time-series classification and various MIL tasks with comparable accuracy to the existing methods. Moreover, we show that the proposed heuristics allow us to achieve the result in reasonable computational time.
Salafī Islam in Cambodia: Institution Building, Transnational Networks and Patterns of Competition in a Muslim-Minority Context
Authors: Pall Zoltan , Pérez Pereiro Alberto
Published: June 2020

After the departure of the United Nations and the restoration of the monarchy in 1993, Cambodia’s Muslim minorities became an important hub of transnational Muslim networks and movements, including the Salafī movement, which is increasingly influential. This article will examine how Salafism has inserted itself into Cambodian society and what limits there may be to its continued growth.
A linguistic study on rhyming in the Beijing dialect/ 北京歌谣押韵的语言学研究
Authors: WÁNG Zhì Hào
Published: June 2020

Rhyming plays an important role in the study of Chinese phonology. Traditionally it is believed that there are two types of rhyming between finals: free rhyming and mixed rhyming. Finals which rhyme with each other freely constitute a rhyme group, while the rhyming between finals from different rhyme groups can only be mixed rhyming. By analyzing the rhyming in the modern Beijing dialect using a statistical method, we find a third type: semi-free rhyming, which is close to free rhyming. As a whole, these two types can be called pan-free rhyming. Thus, the definition of rhyme group must be revised as the maximum unit of pan-free rhyming, because free rhyming is no longer a transitive relation, i.e., when both final pairs A–B and B–C are free rhyming, A–C may be semi-free rhyming. As for the Beijing dialect, our statistical test results approve that non-érhuà finals are divided into 15 rhyme groups, and subsequent phonological analyses show that words in the same rhyme group share the same nucleus and coda. Besides finals, tones also function apparently in rhyming, but in a different way from the three types mentioned above. As more Chinese dialects are studied, the typology of rhyming in Chinese dialects can be analyzed, creating a useful reference for the study of Chinese historical phonology.
Research on Dental Disease Recognition Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Chen , Wilson Michael
Published: June 2020

Objective: To analyze and evaluate X-ray to help dentists formulate scientific Dental disease treatment program. Methods: A number of patients who came to our hospital for dental disease treatment were selected. The convolutional neural network and neural network algorithm
were used to segment the patient’s dental X-ray images to achieve dental image analysis and determine dental disease. Results: The result 13.3% higher than that is confirming the validity of the convolutional neural network in X-ray images of dental diseases. Conclusion:
Technology is a feasible method for diagnosing dental diseases and it is worthy of clinical promotion.
MRI Diagnosis of Lumbar Vertebral Margin Dissection in Athletes
Authors: Wang Ligang , Toress Puente
Published: June 2020

In order to provide molecular pathological basis for the study of the pathogenesis of posterior vertebrolysis and explore the feasibility of minimally invasive treatment (MED) for posterior vertebrolysis, MacNab modified three months after operation is used to evaluate the effect of
operation. All patients undergo lumbar spine radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results show that there is significant difference between one week after operation and one week after operation (P < 0.05), and there is significant difference between three months
after operation and one week after operation (P < 0.05). Surgical treatment has obvious effect on relieving low back pain and lower limb pain. It can be concluded that the MRI diagnosis of athletes’ posterior vertebrolysis can reflect the pathological morphology more comprehensively
and is of great significance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.