bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond AREDS Formulations, What Is Next for Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration (iAMD) Treatment? Potential Benefits of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Apocarotenoids as Neuroprotectors
Authors: Camelo Serge , Latil Mathilde , Veillet Stanislas , Dilda Pierre J. , Lafont René
Published: December 2020

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the commonest cause of severe visual loss and blindness in developed countries among individuals aged 60 and older. AMD slowly progresses from early AMD to intermediate AMD (iAMD) and ultimately late-stage AMD. Late AMD encompasses either neovascular AMD (nAMD) or geographic atrophy (GA). nAMD is defined by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and hemorrhage in the subretinal space at the level of the macula. This induces a rapid visual impairment caused by the death of photoreceptor cells. Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies is the standard treatment of nAMD but adds to the burden of patient care. GA is characterized by slowly expanding photoreceptor, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration patches progressively leading to blindness. There is currently no therapy to cure GA. Late AMD continues to be an unmet medical need representing a major health problem with millions of patients worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation are recognized as some of the main risk factors to developing late AMD. The antioxidant formulation AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Studies), contains β-carotene, which has been replaced by lutein and zeaxanthin in AREDS2, are given to patients with iAMD but have a limited effect on the incidence of nAMD and GA. Thus, to avoid or slowdown the development of late stages of AMD (nAMD or GA), new therapies targeting iAMD are needed such as crocetin obtained through hydrolysis of crocin, an important component of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), and norbixin derived from bixin extracted from Bixa orellana seeds. We have shown that these apocarotenoids preserved more effectively RPE cells against apoptosis following blue light exposure in the presence of A2E than lutein and zeaxanthin. In this review, we will discuss the potential use of apocarotenoids to slowdown the progression of iAMD, to reduce the incidence of both forms of late AMD.
The Unusual Late-Onset Graves’ Disease following Hashimoto’s Related Hypothyroidism: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Sukik Aseel , Mohamed Sara , Habib Mhd-Baraa , Sardar Sundus , Tanous Bashar , Tahtouh Raad , Mohamed Mouhand F. H.
Published: December 2020

Background. The shift of Graves’ disease (GD) to Hashimoto’s disease- (HD-) related hypothyroidism is well established. However, the opposite is rare. This is likely to the loss of critical thyroid mass available for stimulation by thyroid hormone receptor stimulating antibody, making this shift unusual. Herein, we report a young lady with a late shift from HD into GD and present a scoping literature review. Case presentation. We report a twenty-five-year-old lady with a sixteen-year-history of Hashimoto’s-related hypothyroidism stable on levothyroxine. While following in the clinic, she started developing thyrotoxic symptoms in the form of anxiety, weight loss, and palpitation. Physical examination was remarkable for mild exophthalmos. The thyroid function test confirmed hyperthyroidism. Levothyroxine-induced hyperthyroidism was initially suspected; however, the symptoms did not improve despite reducing and stopping levothyroxine. Subsequent workup confirmed the diagnosis of GD. Discussion and Conclusion. This case highlights a unique association that has significant diagnostic and management implications. This shift should be considered when hyperthyroidism persists despite reducing or stopping levothyroxine. The diagnosis is made utilizing antibody titers and radioiodine update scan. While the management depends on the disease’s stage and the treating physician preference, antithyroid agents can be used initially. Following up these patients is essential as the shift can be transient.
Experimental Investigation on Hydroabrasive Erosion of Steel Fiber UHPC and Rubber UHPC
Authors: Li Shuangxi , Tang Liang , Shi Wenyou , Zhong Congchun
Published: December 2020

Steel fiber ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC) and rubber ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC) adopt the methods of “rigidity overcomes rigidity” and “softness overcomes rigidity,” respectively, to resist the abrasion and cavitation erosion caused by water flow carrying large solid particles. The above two have been applied in engineering successfully, but there are differences in material properties, mechanical properties, and microstructures. In this study, we will analyze the difference of abrasion resistance performance of the above two kinds of UHPC, in terms of, for example, compressive strength, abrasion resistance strength, abrasion rate, and microstructure in different ages, so as to provide a new material and method. The results indicate that the steel fiber UHPC compressive strength is higher than that of rubber UHPC (containing 1% steel fiber), and the abrasion resistance performance of steel fiber UHPC is lower than that of rubber UHPC (containing 1% steel fiber) when the rubber content is 10% and 12.5%. With the increase of steel fiber content, the compressive strength of steel fiber UHPC is not significantly improved, and the influence of water‐binder ratio (W/B) on UHPC is higher than that of steel fiber content. With the increase of rubber content, the rubber UHPC compressive strength decreases, abrasion resistance strength decreases, and abrasion rate increases. The cement paste‐aggregate interface transition zone (ITZ) of steel fiber UHPC and rubber UHPC has few internal voids and high compactness; however, the ITZ of steel fiber UHPC is denser than that of rubber UHPC.
Study on Heterogeneity of Pore Throats at Different Scales and Its Influence on Seepage Capacity in Different Types of Tight Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Qi Chunyan , Liu Yun , Dong Fengjuan , Liu Xixiang , Yang Xing , Shen Yan , Huang Hai
Published: December 2020

The carbonate reservoirs in the middle Sichuan area have undergone complicated tectonics, resulting in various types of reservoir space, large secondary changes, and multiple complexities. Taking the tight carbonate gas reservoir of the Deng-4 member in this area as an example, based on casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, and high-pressure mercury injection experiments, the reservoir space and microstructural characteristics of the micropore throats were studied, and the influence of the microscale heterogeneity in different types of reservoirs on the seepage capacity was analyzed by applying fractal theory. The results showed that the reservoir space in the tight carbonate rock of the Deng-4 member in the study area could be divided into 3 types: pore-hole-fracture, pore-hole, and pore types. The distribution characteristics of the pore throat diameter were multimode wide type, double-mode high and low asymmetrical type, and single-mode concentrated type. The fractal dimension and seepage capability of the pore throat increased successively in sizes from less than 0.1 μm to 0.1~1.0 μm and greater than 1.0 μm. On the one hand, the development of karst caves and fractures controlled the percolation ability of tight carbonate reservoirs; on the other hand, it enhanced the heterogeneity of the micropore throat structure. However, the development degree of dissolved pores and microfractures has a weak contribution to the connectivity and seepage capacity of the reservoir space. Acidification, fracturing, and other measures can be adopted to enhance the connectivity between pores to improve the productivity of the gas reservoir. This study provides a scientific basis for the efficient exploration and development of tight carbonate reservoirs.
Research on the Impact of Green Finance and Fintech in Smart City
Authors: He Zheng , Liu Zhengkai , Wu Hui , Gu Xiaomin , Zhao Yuanjun , Yue Xiaoguang
Published: December 2020

The green development level reflected in the green finance index and the evaluation of the degree of green development in smart cities have important practical effects on economic transformation. For promoting the transformation and upgrading of finance, we select 2013–2019 data and construct a distributed lag model to analyse the important role played by green finance and financial technology in the construction of smart cities. In the paper, we find green finance promotes the construction of smart cities, and only it will not appear until nine months late. Financial technology has an opposite impact on the construction of smart cities, this is mainly because the research and marketization of financial technology are higher, and the cost is also higher. This influence will appear in the next 14 months.
Interim Storage of the Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor: Radiation Safety Analysis
Authors: Nguyen Kien-Cuong , Le Vinh-Vinh , Huynh Ton-Nghiem , Luong Ba-Vien , Nguyen Nhi-Dien , Tran Hoai-Nam
Published: December 2020

Radiation safety analysis of a new interim storage of the Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor (DNRR) for keeping spent high enriched uranium (HEU) fuel bundles during the core conversion to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel had been performed and presented. The photon source and decay heat of the spent HEU fuel bundles were calculated using the ORIGEN2.1 code. Gamma dose rates of the spent fuel interim storage were evaluated using the MCNP5 code with various scenarios of water levels in the reactor tank and cooling time. The radiation safety analysis shows that the retention of 106 spent HEU fuel bundles at the interim storage together with a core of 92 LEU fuel bundles meets the requirements of radiation safety. The results indicate that in the most severe case, i.e., the complete loss of water in the reactor tank, the operators still can access the reactor hall to mitigate the accident within a limited time. Particularly, in the control room, the dose rate of about 1.4 μSv/his small enough for people to work normally.
Interactions of Consanguinity and Number of Siblings with Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Kakaje Ameer , Alhalabi Mohammad Marwan , Ghareeb Ayham , Karam Bahjat , Mansour Bassam , Zahra Bayan , Hamdan Othman
Published: December 2020

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common malignancy in children. Consanguinity has a high prevalence in developing countries and increases the probability of homozygosity for many genes which may affect ALL and its prognosis. We conducted a study to explore the impact of consanguinity and number of siblings on ALL as there are currently no studies to describe this effect. Data were collected from patients’ records from the Children’s University Hospital of Damascus University, which is the major cancer centre for children in Syria. This study included 193 children with ALL over one year. Number of siblings was not with the French–American–British (FAB) classification, gender, ALL subtype, or risk of ALL children. When comparing consanguinity degrees and complete blood counts at diagnosis, significant contradicting data were found in the third‐degree and fourth‐degree consanguinity when compared to one another and to not having consanguineous parents as third degree consanguinity was associated with normal platelets but lower WBC counts, and fourth‐degree consanguinity was associated with normal haemoglobin levels and WBC counts, but lower platelet counts. Having consanguineous parents was also associated with acquiring ALL at an older age, L2 FAB classification, having a positive family history for malignancies, and not having hepatosplenomegaly (P < 0.05). Although L2 is known to be a poor prognosis indicatory, no association was found with consanguinity and risk. Finally, no association was found with ALL subtype or risk (P > 0.05). Although consanguinity and number of siblings have affected some variables and prognostic features of childhood ALL, the aetiology is not clear and we need further studies to clarify such an association as this will help in optimising therapy and accurately determine the risk.
Comparison of the Effects of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Total Abdominal Hysterectomy on Sexual Function and Quality of Life
Authors: Beyan Emrah , İnan Abdurrahman H. , Emirdar Volkan , Budak Adnan , Tutar Sadettin O. , Kanmaz Ahkam G.
Published: December 2020

It is known that benign gynecological diseases negatively affect sexual function. For this reason, hysterectomy provides improvement in sexual function as well as symptoms such as bleeding and pain. The effects of abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), which are the two most common types of hysterectomy today, are not clear. In our study, we investigated the effects of TAH and TLH on sexual function and quality of life as well as intraoperative and postoperative results. In 329 TLH and 126 TAH patients, we compared both and between themselves preoperatively and postoperatively by using the standardized and validated female sexual function index (FSFI) and European quality of life five‐dimension scale (EQ‐5D). In conclusion, we found that both types of hysterectomy were effective in improving sexual function, and we concluded that improvement in the laparoscopy group was statistically higher. Patients who require hysterectomy for benign gynecological reasons should be informed that TLH has a more positive effect on sexual function as well as other advantages, and if the patients’ main complaint is sexual dysfunction, TLH should be preferred compared to TAH.
Dropped Head Syndrome Treated with Physical Therapy Based on the Concept of Athletic Rehabilitation
Authors: Mori Toshio , Mataki Kentaro , Shimizu Yukiyo , Matsuba Kai , Miura Kosei , Takahashi Hiroshi , Koda Masao , Kamada Hiroshi , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: December 2020

Patients with dropped head syndrome (DHS) show severe cervical kyphosis, i.e., chin-on-chest deformity, and their activities of daily living are impaired considerably. However, the therapeutics for DHS, especially conservative treatment, have not been fully established. A 75-year-old woman suffered from DHS, which she developed from neck pain due to cervical spondylosis. Examinations showed atrophy and dysfunction of her cervical extensor muscles. For this patient, we created a special program of physical therapy based on the concept of athletic rehabilitation and provided her the athletic rehabilitation-based physical therapy (AR-PT). After starting AR-PT, the patient’s neck pain was relieved. She recovered from DHS, and the atrophy of her cervical extensor muscles improved. This study suggests that our program of AR-PT improves cervical extensor muscle insufficiency in patients with DHS and corrects their cervical kyphosis.
An Indoor Positioning Algorithm for Wearable Device Using Deep Learning Regression Prediction Model in IoT Applications
Authors: Li Aichuan , Yi Shujuan
Published: December 2020

To solve the problem of low positioning accuracy and ease environmental impact of wearable devices in the Internet of things, a wearable device indoor positioning algorithm based on deep learning was proposed. Firstly, a basic model of deep learning composed of an input layer, hidden layer, and output layer is proposed to realize the continuous prediction and positioning with higher accuracy. Secondly, the automatic stacking encoder is trained with signal strength data, and features are extracted from a large number of signal strength samples with noise to build the location fingerprint database. Finally, the stacking automatic coding machine is used to obtain the signal strength characteristics of the points to be measured, which are matched with the signal strength characteristics in the fingerprint database, and the location of the points to be measured is estimated by the nearest neighbor algorithm. The experimental results show that the indoor positioning algorithm based on the stacking automatic coding machine has higher positioning accuracy, and the average error of points on the complete path can reach within 3 m in 93% cases.
Real-Time Energy Management Strategy Based on Driver-Action-Impact MPC for Series Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ruan Shumin , Ma Yue
Published: December 2020

Precise prediction of future vehicle information can improve the control efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles. Nowadays, most prediction models use previous information of vehicles to predict future driving velocity, which cannot reflect the impact of the driver and the environment. In this paper, a real-time energy management strategy (EMS) based on driver-action-impact MPC is proposed for series hybrid electric vehicles. The proposed EMS consists of two modules: the velocity prediction module and the real-time MPC module. In the velocity prediction module, a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network model, which is trained by the traffic data derived from a VR-based driving simulator, is adopted to predict the future driving information by using driver action information and current vehicle’s velocity. The obtained future driving velocity is treated as the inputs of the real-time MPC module, which outputs the control variables to act on the underlying controllers of power components by solving a standard quadratic programming (QP) problem. Compared with the rule-based strategy, a 5.6% average reduction of fuel consumption is obtained. The effectiveness of real-time computation of the EMS is validated and verified through a hardware-in-the-loop test platform.
Dextromethorphan Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Epigenetic Histone Regulation in the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Expression in Primary Rat Microglia
Authors: Yang Yung-Ning , Yang Yu-Chen S. H. , Wu Pei-Ling , Yang Chun-Hwa , Kuo Kuang-Che , Yang San-Nan
Published: December 2020

The activation of microglial cells plays an important role in the cascade of events leading to inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Precision therapeutics require that adjunctively feasible drugs be found to prevent microglial cell activation and prevent inflammation-mediated neuronal injury. Dextromethorphan (DM) has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated animals; however, it remains unclear whether epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in microglial cells are involved in such DM-mediated neuroprotective effects. In this study, DM simultaneously suppressed LPS-induced activation of tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α expression and subsequent caspase-3 signaling in primary microglial cells associated with notable morphological changes. Furthermore, therapeutic action sites of DM involved differential enhanced trimethylation of H3K4 modifications in the promoter region of tnf-α gene locus in primary microglial cells. In summary, DM may exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects through differential epigenetic histone modifications of TNF-α expression in microglial cells and might therefore raise the possibility of providing an adjunctively beneficial role for a tentative therapeutic strategy in neurodegenerative diseases resulting from inflammation.
Renal Dysfunction following Direct Current Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation: Incidence and Risk Factors
Authors: Grüner-Hegge Nicolai , Kella Danesh K. , Padmanabhan Deepak , Deshmukh Abhishek J. , Mehta Ramila , Hodge David , Melduni Rowlens M. , Greene Eddie L. , Friedman Paul A.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Emerging data suggest that cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). However, limited data are available regarding the incidence and risk factors for AKI after direct current cardioversion (DCCV) of AF. Methods: All patients undergoing DCCV at Mayo Clinic between 2001 and 2012 for AF were prospectively enrolled in a database. All patients with serum creatinine (SCR) values pre- and post-cardioversion were reviewed for AKI, defined as a ≥25% decline in eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) from baseline value within 7 days of the DCCV. Results: Of the 6,427 eligible patients, 1,256 (19.5%) patients had pre- and post-DCCV SCR available and formed the cohort under study. The mean age was 70.4 (SD 11.7) years, and 67.3% were male. During the study period, 131 (10.4%) patients suffered from AKI following DCCV. AKI was independently associated with inpatient status (OR 26.79; 95% CI 3.69–194.52), CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.11–1.41), prior use of diuretics (OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.03–2.46), and absence of CKD (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.04–2.49), and was independent of the success of the DCCV. None of the patients required acute dialysis during the study outcome period. Conclusion: AKI following DCCV of AF is common, self-limited, and without the need for replacement therapies.
Are We Overradiating Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Authors: Hadi Yousaf B. , Khan Adnan Aman , Naqvi Syeda F.Z. , Khan Salman , Thompson Jesse , Kupec Justin T.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Protracted exposures to small doses of radiation, even cumulative effective doses (CED) as low as 50–100 mSv, may increase the risk for malignancy. Medical radiation exposure has not been rigorously examined for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We examined medical radiation exposure in patients with IBS at a tertiary care center in the USA. Methods: Patients diagnosed with IBS at our institute from 2009 to 2018 were included in a retrospective cohort study. Medical charts were examined to calculate total and annual CED. Results: 221 patients were included; mean CED was 40.32 mSv (SD: 54.36). Fifty-nine participants (26.7%) received >50 mSv of CED with 27 participants (12.2%) exceeding 100 mSv. Conventional imaging, nuclear medicine, and fluoroscopy accounted for 74.08, 12.93, and 12.98% of total CED, respectively. CT scans contributed to 66.61% of total CED. Outpatient orders accounted for 37.96% of total CED, while 31.4% of total CED was ordered in the emergency department. Population-specific high total CED was calculated as 105.65 mSv. Multivariable binomial logistic regression model found that comorbid anxiety, chronic pain medication use, and diarrhea-predominant IBS were independently positively associated with population-specific high CED exposure. No significant temporal trend in peri-diagnostic mean CED was found. Conclusion: Patients with IBS receive high amounts of medical radiation, with 1 in 4 patients reaching at-risk levels of 50 mSv or more. Usage of pain medication at home, comorbid anxiety, and IBS-D are independently linked to an increased risk of high CED.
Rapid Response to Certolizumab Pegol in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Case Report
Authors: Esme Pelin , Akoglu Gulsen , Caliskan Ercan
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of hair follicles which usually affects patients’ quality of life negatively. Although there are various therapeutic approaches including topical and systemic antibiotics, retinoids, biological agents, and also surgical modalities, there is no curative treatment option and clinical management of HS is still challenging. Case Presentation: Herein, we present a 43 year-old man with HS who had used different treatments in 15 years. The patient showed improvement initially with adalimumab, then exhibited secondary unresponsiveness after 18 months. While worsening of HS was recorded due to increased discharge under secukinumab, no additional benefit was observed with methotrexate. He was not willing to undergo surgical procedures due to previous surgical experience. Finally, certolizumab pegol has been started to patient with similar dosing to psoriasis patients. Sartorius, 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS), and dermatological life quality index (DLQI) scores regressed from 171 to 105, 9/10 to 3/10, and 27 to 19 after 3 months with certolizumab pegol treatment. Discussion/Conclusion: Certolizumab pegol is a humanized antigen-binding fragment of a monoclonal antibody which binds to TNF-alpha. However, certolizumab pegol is only approved for plaque psoriasis in dermatology; it is likely to be a promising effective agent for HS, especially in challenging cases.
Diverticular Disease of the Appendix Is Associated with Complicated Appendicitis
Authors: Chia Ming Li , Chan Shaun Wen Yang , Shelat Vishal G.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Diverticular disease of the vermiform appendix (DDA) has an incidence of 0.004 to 2.1% in appendicectomy specimens. DDA is variably associated with perforation and malignancy. We report a single-center experience of DDA. The primary aim is to validate the association of DDA with complicated appendicitis or malignancy, and the secondary aim is to validate systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) scores. Methods: The histopathology reports of 2,305 appendicectomy specimens from January 2011 to December 2015 were reviewed. Acute appendicitis was found in 2,164 (93.9%) specimens. Histology of the remaining 141 (6.1%) patients revealed: normal appendix (n = 110), DDA (n = 22), endometriosis of appendix (n = 6), and an absent appendix (n = 3). Patient demographics, clinical profile, operative data, and perioperative outcomes of DDA patients are studied. Modified Alvarado score, Andersson score, SIRS criteria, and qSOFA scores were retrospectively calculated. Results: The incidence of DDA was 0.95%. Ten patients (45.5%) had diverticulitis. The mean age of DDA patients was 39.5 years (range 23–87), with male preponderance (n = 12, 54.5%). The median Modified Alvarado score was 8 (range 4–9), and the median Andersson score was 5 (range 2–8). Fourteen patients (63.6%) had SIRS, and none had a high qSOFA score. Eight patients (36.4%) had complicated appendicitis (perforation [n = 2] or abscess [n = 6]). Eleven (50%) patients underwent laparoscopic appendicectomy. There were three 30-day readmissions and no mortality. Conclusion: DDA is a distinct clinical pathology associated with complicated appendicitis.
Heart Size Corrected Electrical Dyssynchrony and Its Impact on Sex-Specific Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Salden Odette A.E. , van Stipdonk Antonius M.W. , den Ruijter Hester M. , Cramer Maarten Jan , Kloosterman Mariëlle , Rienstra Michiel , Maass Alexander H. , Prinzen Frits W. , Vernooy Kevin , Meine Mathias
Published: December 2020

Background:

Women are less likely to receive cardiac resynchronization therapy, yet, they are more responsive to the therapy and respond at shorter QRS duration. The present study hypothesized that a relatively larger left ventricular (LV) electrical dyssynchrony in smaller hearts contributes to the better cardiac resynchronization therapy response in women. For this, the vectorcardiography-derived QRS area is used, since it allows for a more detailed quantification of electrical dyssynchrony compared with conventional electrocardiographic markers.

Methods:

Data from a multicenter registry of 725 cardiac resynchronization therapy patients (median follow-up, 4.2 years [interquartile range, 2.7–6.1]) were analyzed. Baseline electrical dyssynchrony was evaluated using the QRS area and the corrected QRS area for heart size using the LV end-diastolic volume (QRSarea/LVEDV). Impact of the QRSarea/LVEDV ratio on the association between sex and LV reverse remodeling (LV end-systolic volume change) and sex and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality, LV assist device implantation, or heart transplantation was assessed.

Results:

At baseline, women (n=228) displayed larger electrical dyssynchrony than men (QRS area, 132±55 versus 123±58 μVs;
P
=0.043), which was even more pronounced for the QRSarea/LVEDV ratio (0.76±0.46 versus 0.57±0.34 μVs/mL;
P
<0.001). After multivariable analyses, female sex was associated with LV end-systolic volume change (β=0.12;
P
=0.003) and a lower occurrence of the composite outcome (hazard ratio, 0.59 [0.42–0.85];
P
=0.004). A part of the female advantage regarding reverse remodeling was attributed to the larger QRSarea/LVEDV ratio in women (25-fold change in β from 0.12 to 0.09). The larger QRSarea/LVEDV ratio did not contribute to the better survival observed in women. In both volumetric responders and nonresponders, female sex remained strongly associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59 [0.36–0.97];
P
=0.036; and 0.55 [0.33–0.90];
P
=0.018, respectively).

Conclusions:

Greater electrical dyssynchrony in smaller hearts contributes, in part, to more reverse remodeling observed in women after cardiac resynchronization therapy, but this does not explain their better long-term outcomes.
Sudden Cardiac Death Prediction in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cadrin-Tourigny Julia , Bosman Laurens P. , Wang Weijia , Tadros Rafik , Bhonsale Aditya , Bourfiss Mimount , Lie Øyvind H. , Saguner Ardan M. , Svensson Anneli , Andorin Antoine , Tichnell Crystal , Murray Brittney , Zeppenfeld Katja , van den Berg Maarten P. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Wilde Arthur A.M. , Krahn Andrew D. , Talajic Mario , Rivard Lena , Chelko Stephen , Zimmerman Stefan L. , Kamel Ihab R. , Crosson Jane E. , Judge Daniel P. , Yap Sing-Chien , Van der Heijden Jeroen F. , Tandri Harikrishna , Jongbloed Jan D.H. , van Tintelen J. Peter , Platonov Pyotr G. , Duru Firat , Haugaa Kristina H. , Khairy Paul , Hauer Richard N.W. , Calkins Hugh , te Riele Anneline S.J.M. , James Cynthia A.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). A model was recently developed to predict incident sustained VA in patients with ARVC. However, since this outcome may overestimate the risk for SCD, we aimed to specifically predict life-threatening VA (LTVA) as a closer surrogate for SCD.

Methods:

We assembled a retrospective cohort of definite ARVC cases from 15 centers in North America and Europe. Association of 8 prespecified clinical predictors with LTVA (SCD, aborted SCD, sustained, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator treated ventricular tachycardia >250 beats per minute) in follow-up was assessed by Cox regression with backward selection. Candidate variables included age, sex, prior sustained VA (≥30s, hemodynamically unstable, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator treated ventricular tachycardia; or aborted SCD), syncope, 24-hour premature ventricular complexes count, the number of anterior and inferior leads with T-wave inversion, left and right ventricular ejection fraction. The resulting model was internally validated using bootstrapping.

Results:

A total of 864 patients with definite ARVC (40±16 years; 53% male) were included. Over 5.75 years (interquartile range, 2.77–10.58) of follow-up, 93 (10.8%) patients experienced LTVA including 15 with SCD/aborted SCD (1.7%). Of the 8 prespecified clinical predictors, only 4 (younger age, male sex, premature ventricular complex count, and number of leads with T-wave inversion) were associated with LTVA. Notably, prior sustained VA did not predict subsequent LTVA (
P
=0.850). A model including only these 4 predictors had an optimism-corrected C-index of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.69–0.80) and calibration slope of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.94–0.98) indicating minimal over-optimism.

Conclusions:

LTVA events in patients with ARVC can be predicted by a novel simple prediction model using only 4 clinical predictors. Prior sustained VA and the extent of functional heart disease are not associated with subsequent LTVA events.
Screening of Multiple Biomarkers Associated With Ischemic Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Hijazi Ziad , Wallentin Lars , Lindbäck Johan , Alexander John H. , Connolly Stuart J. , Eikelboom John W. , Ezekowitz Michael D. , Granger Christopher B. , Lopes Renato D. , Pol Tymon , Yusuf Salim , Oldgren Jonas , Siegbahn Agneta
Published: December 2020

Background

To explore the pathophysiological features of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), we evaluated the association between 268 plasma proteins and subsequent ischemic stroke in 2 large AF cohorts receiving oral anticoagulation.

Methods and Results

A case‐cohort sample of patients with AF from the ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) trial, including 282 cases with ischemic stroke or systemic embolism and a random sample of 4124 without these events, during 1.9 years of follow‐up was used for identification. Validation was provided by a similar case‐cohort sample of patients with AF from the RE‐LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long‐Term Anticoagulation Therapy) trial, including 149 cases with ischemic stroke/systemic embolism and a random sample of 1062 without these events. In plasma obtained before randomization, 268 unique biomarkers were measured with OLINK proximity extension assay panels (CVD II, CVD III, and Inflammation) and conventional immunoassays. The association between biomarkers and outcomes was evaluated by random survival forest and adjusted Cox regression. According to random survival forest or Cox regression analyses, the biomarkers most strongly and consistently associated with ischemic stroke/systemic embolism were matrix metalloproteinase‐9, NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), osteopontin, sortilin, soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2, and trefoil factor‐3. The corresponding hazard ratios (95% CIs) for an interquartile difference were as follows: 1.18 (1.00–1.38), 1.55 (1.28–1.88), 1.28 (1.07–1.53), 1.19 (1.02–1.39), 1.23 (1.05–1.45), and 1.19 (0.97–1.45), respectively.

Conclusions

In patients with AF, of 268 unique biomarkers, the 6 biomarkers most strongly associated with subsequent ischemic stroke/systemic embolism represent fibrosis/remodeling (matrix metalloproteinase‐9 and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2), cardiac dysfunction (NT‐proBNP), vascular calcification (osteopontin), metabolism (sortilin), and mucosal integrity/ischemia (trefoil factor‐3).

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique Identifiers: NCT00412984 and NCT00262600.
Thomas Hutchinson's Enemies List: Unmasking Conspiracy and Wickedness in the Patriot Cause
Authors: Tyler John W.
Published: December 2020

Conspiracy theories in American politic are as American as apple pie. Bernard Bailyn first noted in 1965 the tendency of leading advocates of independence to suspect a design by of wicked ministers of the king. What has been less commented upon was the tendency of Thomas Hutchinson and other leading loyalists to charge their opponents with similar evil doing.
“after Mr. Robinson's pattern”: Plymouth and the shaping of the New England Way
Authors: Bremer Francis J.
Published: December 2020

When Boston entered its pandemic lockdown in early March, it forced the cancellation of the Congregational Library's symposium “1620: New Perspectives on the Pilgrim Legacy.” With the cooperation of the director of the library, the Rev. Stephen Butler Murray, the four presenters—Carla Gardina Pestana, David Silverman, John G. Turner, and Francis Bremer—agreed to have the QUARTERLY publish revised versions of their talks with Kenneth P. Minkema as the guest editor of the papers. Far from seeing Plimoth as a minor backwater in the English settlement of Massachusetts, each of the essays situates the history of Plymouth Colony in more complex contexts: in its web of Atlantic connections, in the Indigenous identification of Anglo settlement as a cause of mourning, in its participation in the processes of enslavement, and in its larger impact upon the puritan, New England Way.
Introduction
Authors: Parker Julie Faith , Garroway Kristine Henriksen
Published: December 2020

This Introduction provides a framework for this special volume on Children in the Bible and Childist Interpretation. First, we acquaint unfamiliar readers with the term “childist” and the history of childist interpretation within biblical studies. We briefly outline the hallmarks of the field and explain the specific ways in which this volume moves childist interpretation forward. A paragraph on each article summarizes the overall content of the separate contributions. We conclude by offering the reasons why childist biblical interpretation matters not only for the study of children in the biblical world but for children in the modern world as well.
Moses’s Slow Speech: Hybrid Identity, Language Acquisition, and the Meaning of Exodus 4:10
Authors: Garroway Kristine Henriksen
Published: December 2020

In changing our focus to examine the children and the childhoods of the characters in the Bible we can gain new insights into the biblical text. This essay applies childist interpretation to a question that has long puzzled scholars: What did Moses mean when he said: “I am heavy (כבד) of speech and heavy (כבד) of tongue” (Exod 4:10). Scholars have suggested it meant Moses had a speech impediment or that he lost his ability to speak Egyptian eloquently during his years in Midian. I suggest, however, that these previous answers have overlooked a crucial stage in Moses’ development: his childhood. Moses’ unique childhood and transition from Hebrew slave child to adopted Egyptian prince creates within him a hybrid identity. His hybrid identity, in turn, manifested itself in Hebrew language attrition, which causes him to protest that he is “heavy of speech and tongue.”
The Argument for a Woman’s Authorship of the Hou Honglou meng
Authors: Epstein Maram
Published: December 2020

This article argues Hou Honglou meng (Later Dream of the Red Chamber; in circulation by 1796), the earliest sequel to the 120-chapter Dream of the Red Chamber, was likely written by a woman. The author of Hou Honglou meng makes the reborn Lin Daiyu the central protagonist of the novel. Over the duration of thirty chapters, Daiyu transitions from the role of daughter, to bride and daughter-in-law, and finally to mother. This pragmatic Daiyu has no patience for the romantic cult of qing values of the parent novel; instead, her sentimental attachments are directed toward her natal family, and her expressed will is to escape marriage in order to pursue Daoist transcendence. Daiyu returns to life as an extremely practical household manager who revives the fortunes of the Jia family. This image of an empowered Daiyu who insists on her autonomy from Baoyu, who is still obsessed with his qing-based yearning, conforms to the types of protagonists found in female-authored tanci. The article concludes with the argument that the prolific woman of letters Yun Zhu (1771-1833) deserves serious consideration as the author of Hou Honglou meng.
Reforming the Relations of the Sexes: Zhou Zuoren’s Translation and Imitation of William Blake’s Poems about Love and Sexuality
Authors: Yan Hanjin
Published: December 2020

This article probes into the motivation behind Zhou Zuoren’s (1885-1967) translation and imitation of the English poet William Blake’s (1757-1827) poems about love and sexuality in the May Fourth era. It situates Zhou’s approach to Blake’s poems in the contemporary context of the New Culture Movement and traces the Japanese and English sources that informed Zhou’s reading of Blake. By analyzing Zhou’s selective use of his foreign sources and his calculated translation of Blake’s poems, it argues that Zhou’s appropriation of Blake was driven by his agenda for unfettered sexuality, free love, and women’s emancipation, i.e. the reform of the relations of the sexes in China. This study goes on to investigate Zhou’s reference to and imitation of Blake in the controversy over a young poet’s writing of love poems in 1922. It further contends that Zhou’s concern for sex relations was part and parcel of his vision of modern Chinese poetry, which resonates with his earlier and far-reaching proposal for a literature of humanity that profited from Blake’s theory of the unity of body and soul.
The Jubilee Calendar
Authors: Mayshar Joram
Published: December 2020

I propose that the jubilee legislation intended to provide an alternative calendar system to replace the prevailing one, based on the year of the reigning monarch. In that alternative calendar, the Day of Atonement on which the jubilee was declared was to serve as the substitute for the date of the king’s accession to the throne. This proposal provides a new interpretation of Lev 25:20–22 and resolves multiple difficulties on the alignment of the sabbatical and jubilee year-counts. It implies that the jubilee cycle was intended to be forty-nine years long, with coincidence of the jubilee fallow and that of the seventh sabbatical year.
Nothobranchius furzeri as an emerging model for mate choice: female choice revealed by animations
Authors: Johnson Bernadette D. , Fox Avrie , Wright Landon R. , Carney Ginger E. , Robison Barrie D. , Jones Adam G.
Published: December 2020

The African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) is the shortest-lived vertebrate research model. It is also sexually dimorphic, making it suitable for studying sexual selection. We take advantage of a natural tail colour polymorphism in males and investigate female responses to computer animations of males that differ in this phenotype. Our findings indicate that GRZ (Gonarezhou) females prefer animated males with traits specific to their strain (a yellow tail with a black band) compared to males exhibiting traits from another strain of the same species (a red tail). When females were simultaneously shown animations of both males, they spent significantly more time on the side of the tank where the yellow-tailed animation was visible, and significantly more time interacting with the yellow-tailed animation. Given these repeatable responses and the availability of genomic resources, N. furzeri represents an excellent, untapped model for studying the genetic basis of preferences and reproductive behaviours.
MicroRNA expression profiles of the cuttlefish (Sepiella japonica) during embryonic development
Authors: Wang Liyun , Li Shaogang , Xu Lele , Li Yongqin , Chen Huaxu , Chen Daohai
Published: December 2020

The Japanese spineless cuttlefish (Sepiella japonica) is an important economic species and model animal. Many studies suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important regulatory role in the embryonic development of this species. However, comparative miRNA profiles during embryogenesis of cuttlefish have not been reported before. Therefore, in this study, miRNA profiles were obtained from embryos of S. japonica from eye primordium formation to larval growing stage by miRNA sequencing. A total of 1528 known miRNAs and 203 novel miRNAs were identified during different development stages. Among which, 62 differentially expressed miRNAs among different development stages were identified. GO analysis indicated that the potential target genes for these differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in many GO terms including intracellular membrane-bounded organelle, cell morphogenesis, regulation of developmental process, etc. In addition, miRNA-mRNA network analysis indicated that many of the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in integral component of the membrane. In conclusion, our work provided a global view of miRNA expression profiles during embryonic development of S. japonica.
How Jewish is International Law?
Authors: Ben-Nun Gilad
Published: December 2020

This study attempts to explain why so many East-Central European Jewish international jurists played such cardinal roles in the elaboration of some of the most important treaties of modern international law post World War II. Borrowing from the biographies of Jacob Robinson, Isaac Lewin, Hersch Lauterpacht, Georg Cohn and others who served as key drafters of treaties such as the 4th Geneva Convention for Civilians and the 1951 Refugee Convention, the paper points to structural similarities between Talmudic law and international law, which help further explain the evident ‘Jewish disproportion’ in the making of many of the international system’s bedrock treaties post World War II. It argues that the biographical combination of Talmudic and rabbinical jurisprudence, coupled with a secular education in public international law, which was biographically mutual to most of these jurists helped them to fulfil the important drafting roles they undertook in the making of these treaties.
Establishment, Breakup, and Amalgamation of Ethnic Local Governments in Ethiopia: Towards Understanding the Legal And Political Matrix
Authors: Dessalegn Beza
Published: December 2020

Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism manages the diversity problem by giving ethnic territorial homelands to the constituent ethnic groups. This, in ethnically diverse regions, has meant the establishment of ethnically defined local governments. However, as the clear mismatch between available local governments and the number of constituent ethnic communities demonstrate, many are left without a local government of their own – resulting in rife inter-communal tensions. This has also proved to be a fertile ground for competing ethnic nationalisms to flourish and proliferate at sub-regional levels. As a result, some local governments were broken apart after their establishment to arrest ethnic conflicts that followed while others were amalgamated to maintain regional territorial integrity. By using the snnp region as a case study, this article argues that the political atmosphere, propelled by political exigencies, dictates the establishment, breakup, and amalgamation of ethnically defined local governments, while constitutional principles are side-lined.
The Exclusive Economic Zone, Territory, and Territorial Jurisdiction in the Rome Statute
Authors: Kearney Michael
Published: December 2020

This article responds to the position adopted by the icc’s Office of the Prosecutor in 2020, that criminal conduct which takes place in the Exclusive Economic Zone (eez, Zone) is in principle outside the territory of coastal states, and is not encompassed under Article 12(2)(a) of the Rome Statute. Having considered the genesis and function of the Zone, and reviewed the law of the sea jurisprudence, the article identifies a tension between the Prosecutor’s goal of reconciling ‘human realities’ and territorial jurisdiction in general terms, and the manner by which the Office has approached the specific question of territory and jurisdiction with regards the Zone. The article proposes that while coastal state jurisdiction over Rome Statute crimes in the Zone was not enumerated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the exercise of such jurisdiction is not incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty.
The Racialization of the Jewish Question
Authors: Goldstein Warren S.
Published: December 2020

This article explores how the Jewish Question went from being a question of whether to give Jews, as a religious minority, citizenship, to a racial theory of a conflict between the Aryan and Semitic races. It explores the origins of Christian anti-Judaism in Europe and describes how it flared up during the Crusades, Inquisition, and Pogroms. It then describes how and explains why the Jewish Question became pseudo-secularized into a pseudo-scientific racial anti-Semitism, which culminated in the Final Solution.
Between Boundaries, towards Decolonial Possibilities in a Feminist Classroom
Authors: Seedat Fatima , Nadar Sarojini
Published: December 2020

This paper theorises the teaching and learning of feminist approaches to the Bible and the Qurʾan in a Master’s course with a historically Christian focus. It draws on a critical review of an assessment task, and our pedagogical experiences as teachers, to consider how students made meaning within this decolonial pedagogical space, which explored feminist approaches to the two sacred texts. Our analysis shows, our work as teachers was to hold onto the tension in the space between two feminist approaches to sacred texts, and to not succumb to the pressure to release, trivialise or exacerbate that tension.