bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allostatic stress load and CMV serostatus impact immune response to maximal exercise in collegiate swimmers
Authors: Theall Bailey , Wang Haoyan , Kuremsky Connor A. , Cho Eunhan , Hardin Katelyn , Robelot Lyle , Marucci Jack , Mullenix Shelly , Lemoine Nathan , Johannsen Neil M. , Irving Brian A. , Spielmann Guillaume
Published: November 2019

Collegiate athletes are exposed to varying levels of academic and physical stressors, placing them at increased risk for stress-activated latent viral infections. However, the impact of allostatic stress load on the immune response to maximal exercise in athletes remains largely unknown. This study examined the effects of a 7-mo training period and cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus on immune cell response to high-intensity swim tests within a group of collegiate swimmers. Samples were collected from 15 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I swimmers (9 men, 6 women: 19.87 ± 0.64 yr) before and after exhaustive in-pool swims at 2 time points (V1: immediately post-season 1 and V3: beginning of season 2). An additional off-season (V2) time point was collected in a subset of 9 swimmers. Natural killer (NK) cell, B cell, and T cells were quantified by flow cytometry. Linear mixed models were used to determine the effects of exercise, time point, and CMV serostatus (α = 0.05). Resting senescent CD8+ T cells were higher in CMV-seropositive participants at V3 ( P = 0.005). CMV-seronegative participants had a decrease in resting senescent CD8+ T cells from V1 to V3 ( P = 0.021). After acute exercise, CMV-seropositive participants had lower naïve CD8+ T cells ( P < 0.001) and higher senescent CD8+ T cells ( P < 0.001). Increased cumulative stress levels did not appear to affect B-cell and NK-cell compartments. Immune response to exercise was impacted by CMV serostatus and allostatic stress load. Young CMV-seropositive athletes exposed to elevated stressors should be monitored to determine long-term effects of training and academic stressors.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Allostatic stress load is associated with impaired immune response to maximal exercise in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive subjects but not in CMV-seronegative young healthy adults.
Vigor of reaching, walking, and gazing movements: on the consistency of interindividual differences
Authors: Labaune Ombeline , Deroche Thomas , Teulier Caroline , Berret Bastien
Published: November 2019

Movement vigor is an important feature of motor control that is thought to originate from cortico-basal ganglia circuits and processes shared with decision-making, such as temporal reward discounting. Accordingly, vigor may be related to one’s relationship with time, which may, in turn, reflect a general trait-like feature of individuality. While significant interindividual differences of vigor have been typically reported for isolated motor tasks, little is known about the consistency of such differences across tasks and movement effectors. Here, we assessed interindividual consistency of vigor across reaching (both dominant and nondominant arm), walking, and gazing movements of various distances within the same group of 20 participants. Given distinct neural pathways and biomechanical specificities of each movement modality, a significant consistency would corroborate the trait-like aspect of vigor. Vigor scores for dominant and nondominant arm movements were found to be highly correlated across individuals. Vigor scores of reaching and walking were also significantly correlated across individuals, indicating that people who reach faster than others also tend to walk faster. At last, vigor scores of saccades were uncorrelated with those of reaching and walking, reaffirming that the vigor of stimulus-elicited eye saccades is distinct. These findings highlight the trait-like aspect of vigor for reaching movements with either arms and, to a lesser extent, walking.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Robust interindividual differences of movement vigor have been reported for arm reaching and saccades. Beyond biomechanics, personality trait-like characteristics have been proposed to account for those differences. Here, we examined for the first time the consistency of interindividual differences of vigor during dominant/nondominant arm reaching, walking, and gazing to assess the trait-like aspect of vigor. We found a significant consistency of vigor within our group of individuals for all tested tasks/effectors except saccades.
Next-generation neural mass and field modeling
Authors: Byrne Áine , O’Dea Reuben D. , Forrester Michael , Ross James , Coombes Stephen
Published: November 2019

The Wilson–Cowan population model of neural activity has greatly influenced our understanding of the mechanisms for the generation of brain rhythms and the emergence of structured brain activity. As well as the many insights that have been obtained from its mathematical analysis, it is now widely used in the computational neuroscience community for building large-scale in silico brain networks that can incorporate the increasing amount of knowledge from the Human Connectome Project. Here, we consider a neural population model in the spirit of that originally developed by Wilson and Cowan, albeit with the added advantage that it can account for the phenomena of event-related synchronization and desynchronization. This derived mean-field model provides a dynamic description for the evolution of synchrony, as measured by the Kuramoto order parameter, in a large population of quadratic integrate-and-fire model neurons. As in the original Wilson–Cowan framework, the population firing rate is at the heart of our new model; however, in a significant departure from the sigmoidal firing rate function approach, the population firing rate is now obtained as a real-valued function of the complex-valued population synchrony measure. To highlight the usefulness of this next-generation Wilson–Cowan style model, we deploy it in a number of neurobiological contexts, providing understanding of the changes in power spectra observed in electro- and magnetoencephalography neuroimaging studies of motor cortex during movement, insights into patterns of functional connectivity observed during rest and their disruption by transcranial magnetic stimulation, and to describe wave propagation across cortex.
The Degree of Hyperglycemia Excursion in Patients of Kidney Transplantation (KT) or Liver Transplantation (LT) Assessed by Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): Pilot Study
Authors: Jin Heung Yong , Lee Kyung Ae , Kim Yu Ji , Park Tae Sun , Lee Sik , Park Sung Kwang , Hwang Hong Pil , Yang Jae Do , Ahn Sung-Woo , Yu Hee Chul
Published: November 2019

Objective. This study used a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) to investigate the glucose profiles and assess the degree of hyperglycemic excursion after kidney or liver transplantation during the early period after operation. Methods. Patients to whom a CGMS was attached during a postoperative period of approximately one month after transplantation were included. The CGM data of 31 patients including 24 with kidney transplantation (KT) and seven with liver transplantation (LT) were analyzed. Results. Hyperglycemia over 126 mg/dL (fasting) or 200 g/dL (postprandial) occurred in 42.1% (8/19) and 16.7% (1/6) of KT and LT patients, respectively, during this early period after transplantation, except for patients with preexisting diabetes (5 KT, 1 LT). The average mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) and mean absolute glucose (MAG) levels were 91.18±26.51 vs. 65.66±22.55 (P<0.05) and 24.62±7.78 vs. 18.18±7.07 (P<0.05) in KT vs. LT patients, respectively, in patients without preexisting DM or PTDM patients who showed normal glucose levels. Average increase from the lowest level to the peak glucose value was higher in KT patients than LT patients (P<0.05). Conclusions. The transplanted organ also needs to be considered as an important factor affecting glucose control and the occurrence of more severe glucose excursions in patients who receive transplantation although immunosuppression agents are well-known important factors; however, our study was limited to the early posttransplantation period. Further studies involving CGM follow-up at regular intervals based on the time since transplantation are needed.
Analysis of Rear-End Crash on Thai Highway: Decision Tree Approach
Authors: Champahom Thanapong , Jomnonkwao Sajjakaj , Chatpattananan Vuttichai , Karoonsoontawong Ampol , Ratanavaraha Vatanavongs
Published: November 2019

Objective. Among crash types on Thai highways, rear-end crashes have been found to cause the largest number of fatalities. This study aims to find ways to decrease rear-end crashes and fatal rear-end crashes. Methods. Classification and regression tree (CART) was used to analyze the complicated relationship of variables of big data. The analysis was conducted by creating two models: (1) a model which indicates the causes of rear-end crashes by applying Quasi-Induced Exposure to at-fault driver characteristics; (2) a determined model which studies fatal crashes. Results. Predictor variables in the model of at-fault and not-at-fault drivers found that driver age is most significant, followed by number of lanes and median opening area. For the mode of fatality, the use of safety equipment was found to be of most importance. Conclusion. The model results can be used to develop guidelines for public awareness programs for motorists and to propose policy changes to the Department of Highway in order to reduce the severity of rear-end crashes. Moreover, this paper discusses the variables that may result in both the perspective of rear-end crash number and the fatality rate of rear-end crashes as strategies in future research.
Efficacy of Ivermectin, Liquid Paraffin, and Carbaryl against Mange of Farmed Rabbits in Central Kenya
Authors: Ogolla Kennedy O. , Chebet Joyce , Waruiru Robert M. , Gathumbi Peter K. , Okumu Paul O. , Aboge Gabriel O.
Published: November 2019

Mange is a common disease of rabbits globally, and knowledge of efficacy of drugs used in its treatment is critical for effective disease control. The current study evaluated the efficacy of three commonly used therapeutic agents in Kenya against mange. In a controlled laboratory trial, 20 adult rabbits were recruited for the study (16 of which were infested with mange, while 4 were mange-free). The 16 mange-infested rabbits were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups each consisting of 4 rabbits, while 4 mange-free rabbits formed the negative control group. Treatments were administered as follows: group 1 (G1) received two ivermectin injections at an interval of 14 days, group 2 (G2) was treated with a combination of carbaryl and liquid paraffin applied every other day up to the end of the experiment, group 3 (G3) was treated with liquid paraffin droplets applied daily until the lesion cleared, while group 4 (G4, infected-untreated) received distilled water applied topically on their ears and group 5 (G5, uninfected-untreated negative control) was not treated with any preparation. The lesions were scored and sampled daily to check the viability of the mites. A field efficacy trial of the test compounds was performed using 105 mange-infested rabbits. The results revealed that all the test agents: ivermectin, liquid paraffin, carbaryl-water, and carbaryl-liquid paraffin combination were effective against mange, recording the lesion score of zero for psoroptic mange by day 21 in the laboratory and field trials. Lesion scores in the treated groups were significantly reduced (p<0.05) at the termination of study compared with those of the positive control group in the laboratory trial. A point-biserial correlation revealed a strong association (rpb = 0.79,p<0.05) between the presence of viable mites and degree of psoroptic lesions in the field trial.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Increases SIRT1 Activity and β-Hydroxybutyrate Levels and Decreases Oxidative Stress in Patients with HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Corbi Graziamaria , Conti Valeria , Troisi Jacopo , Colucci Angelo , Manzo Valentina , Di Pietro Paola , Calabrese Maria Consiglia , Carrizzo Albino , Vecchione Carmine , Ferrara Nicola , Filippelli Amelia
Published: November 2019

Purpose. Exercise training induces beneficial effects also by increasing levels of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB). Up to date, no studies investigated the role of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation (ET-CR) programs on βOHB levels. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating whether a supervised 4-week ET-CR program was able to induce changes in Sirt1 activity and βOHB levels and to evaluate the possible relationship between such parameters, in Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) patients. Methods. A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted on patients consecutively admitted to the Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Units of “San Gennaro dei Poveri” Hospital in Naples, Italy. In fifty elderly patients affected by HFpEF, in NYHA II and III class, Sirt1 activity, Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), βOHB, and Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) levels were measured before and at the end of the ET-CR program. A control group of 20 HFpEF patients was also recruited, and the same parameters were evaluated 4 weeks after the beginning of the study. Results. ET-CR induced an increase of Sirt1 activity, βOHB levels, and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it was associated with a rise in NAD+ and NAD+/NADH ratio levels and a reduction in Ox-LDL. No changes affected the controls. Conclusion. The characterization of the ET-CR effects from a metabolic viewpoint might represent an important step to improve the HFpEF management.
Adaptive Autotuning Mathematical Approaches for Integrated Optimization of Automated Container Terminal
Authors: Zhong Meisu , Yang Yongsheng , Zhou Yamin , Postolache Octavian
Published: November 2019

With the development of automated container terminals (ACTs), reducing the loading and unloading time of operation and improving the working efficiency and service level have become the key point. Taking into account the actual operation mode of loading and unloading in ACTs, a mixed integer programming model is adopted in this study to minimize the loading and unloading time of ships, which can optimize the integrated scheduling of the gantry cranes (QCs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and automated rail‐mounted gantries (ARMGs) in automated terminals. Various basic metaheuristic and improved hybrid algorithms were developed to optimize the model, proving the effectiveness of the model to obtain an optimized scheduling scheme by numerical experiments and comparing the different performances of algorithms. The results show that the hybrid GA‐PSO algorithm with adaptive autotuning approaches by fuzzy control is superior to other algorithms in terms of solution time and quality, which can effectively solve the problem of integrated scheduling of automated container terminals to improve efficiency.
Stability of Moving Mass Control Spinning Missiles with Angular Rate Loops
Authors: Zheng Qiushi , Zhou Zhiming
Published: November 2019

Moving mass control (MMC) is a new control method in control field. It is a potential way to solve the problem of aerodynamic rudder control insufficiency caused by the low density of upper atmosphere, to reduce the high speed missile aerodynamic thermal load, and to solve the problem of rudder surface ablation. However, the spinning of the airframe and the movement of internal moving mass induce the serious dynamic cross‐coupling between pitch and yaw channels, which may lead to system instability in the form of a divergent coning motion. In this paper, the mathematical model of the MMC missile is established, and the angular motion equation is finally obtained by some linearized assumptions. Then, the sufficient and necessary conditions of coning motion stability for MMC missiles with angular rate loops under fast and slow spinning rates are analytically derived and further verified by numerical simulations. It is noticed that the upper bound of the control gain is affected by the location of the moving mass and the spinning rate of the missile.
Circ_MDM2_000139, Circ_ATF2_001418, Circ_CDC25C_002079, and Circ_BIRC6_001271 Are Involved in the Functions of XAV939 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Yu Haixiang , Xu Lei , Liu Zhengjia , Guo Bo , Han Zhifeng , Xin Hua
Published: November 2019

Background. The small molecule inhibitor XAV939 could inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. This study was conducted to identify the key circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in XAV939-treated NSCLC cells. Methods. After grouping, the NCL-H1299 cells in the treatment group were treated by 10 μM XAV939 for 12 h. RNA-sequencing was performed, and then the differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) were analyzed by the edgeR package. Using the clusterprofiler package, enrichment analysis for the hosting genes of the DE-circRNAs was performed. Using Cytoscape software, the miRNA-circRNA regulatory network was built for the disease-associated miRNAs and the DE-circRNAs. The DE-circRNAs that could translate into proteins were predicted using circBank database and IRESfinder tool. Finally, the transcription factor (TF)-circRNA regulatory network was built by Cytoscape software. In addition, A549 and HCC-827 cell treatment with XAV939 were used to verify the relative expression levels of key DE-circRNAs. Results. There were 106 DE-circRNAs (including 61 upregulated circRNAs and 45 downregulated circRNAs) between treatment and control groups. Enrichment analysis for the hosting genes of the DE-circRNAs showed that ATF2 was enriched in the TNF signaling pathway. Disease association analysis indicated that 8 circRNAs (including circ_MDM2_000139, circ_ATF2_001418, circ_CDC25C_002079, and circ_BIRC6_001271) were correlated with NSCLC. In the miRNA-circRNA regulatory network, let-7 family members⟶circ_MDM2_000139, miR-16-5p/miR-134-5p⟶circ_ATF2_001418, miR-133b⟶circ_BIRC6_001271, and miR-221-3p/miR-222-3p⟶circ_CDC25C_002079 regulatory pairs were involved. A total of 47 DE-circRNAs could translate into proteins. Additionally, circ_MDM2_000139 was targeted by the TF POLR2A. The verification test showed that the relative expression levels of circ_MDM2_000139, circ_CDC25C_002079, circ_ATF2_001418, and circ_DICER1_000834 in A549 and HCC-827 cell treatment with XAV939 were downregulated comparing with the control. Conclusions. Let-7 family members and POLR2A targeting circ_MDM2_000139, miR-16-5p/miR-134-5p targeting circ_ATF2_001418, miR-133b targeting circ_BIRC6_001271, and miR-221-3p/miR-222-3p targeting circ_CDC25C_002079 might be related to the mechanism in the treatment of NSCLC by XAV939.
A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Polymorphisms and Psoriasis
Authors: Wang Lijuan , Zhou Hongying
Published: November 2019

Background: Some previous studies already explored associations between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms and psoriasis, with conflicting findings. Here, we aimed to better analyze the relationship between TNF-α polymorphisms and psoriasis in a larger pooled population by performing a meta-analysis. Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI for related articles. We calculated OR and 95% CI to estimate whether there are genetic associations between TNF-α polymorphisms and psoriasis. Results: Twenty-nine studies were included for this meta-analysis. TNF-α-238 G/A (dominant comparison: OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.34–0.59; recessive comparison: OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03–2.57; overdominant comparison: OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.71–2.85; allele comparison: OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.36–0.62) and -857 C/T (dominant comparison: OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.41–0.80; overdominant comparison: OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.12–2.23; allele comparison: OR 0.62, 95% CI 0. 0.47–0.82) polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with psoriasis in the general population. Subgroup analyses indicated that the –238 G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with psoriasis in Caucasians and East Asians, the –308 G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with psoriasis in East Asians, and the –857 C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with psoriasis in Caucasians. Conclusions: TNF-α –238 G/A, –308 G/A and –857 C/T polymorphisms could be used to identity individuals with elevated susceptibility to psoriasis in certain populations.
The Influence of Antiretroviral Therapy on Hepatitis C Virus Viral Load and Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Coinfected Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Soares Jorge , Ferreira António , Silva-Pinto André , Almeida Francisco , Piñeiro Carmela , Serrão Rosário , Sarmento António
Published: November 2019

Background: The role of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for Hepatitis C viral load (HCV-VL) and liver fibrosis is poorly understood. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of ART on HCV-VL and liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients followed at a tertiary university hospital. Results: In total, 143 patients were included. In 61 patients, ART initiation was accompanied by an increase in HCV-VL and a decrease in HIV viral load (HIV-VL), whereas ART suspension led to a decrease in HCV-VL and an increase in HIV-VL. Among the 55 HIV-suppressed patients who switched to a raltegravir (RAL)-containing regimen, median HCV-VL levels decreased significantly, while switching to a rilpivirine-containing regimen did not yield a significant reduction. Discussion: If the ­treatment of chronic hepatitis starts before ART, ART initiation should be delayed as much as possible. If ART has been started, it is advisable to wait 1 year before initiating chronic hepatitis treatment. RAL as the third agent in an ART regimen could be beneficial in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, in comparison to other antiretroviral drugs. Conclusion: The start and the suspension of ART significantly interferes with HCV-VL in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
Serum Asprosin Concentrations Are Increased and Associated with Insulin Resistance in Children with Obesity
Authors: Wang Min , Yin Chunyan , Wang Ling , Liu Yusheng , Li Honggang , Li Min , Yi Xiaoqing , Xiao Yanfeng
Published: November 2019

Objective: Asprosin, a novel peptide that has recently discovered as an important regulatory adipokine, is relevant to obesity in animals and adult humans. Little is known about its roles in children. The aim of the current study was to determine the potential role of asprosin and explore its relationship to various obesity-related markers in children with obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 119 Chinese children, including 79 children with obesity and 40 lean controls. Anthropometric parameters, clinical data, and circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), adiponectin, leptin, and asprosin levels were measured. Results: Serum asprosin concentrations were significantly elevated in children with obesity compared with lean controls. Children with insulin resistance (IR) had higher asprosin levels than non-IR group. Asprosin was positively correlated with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), diastolic blood pressure, homoeostasis model of IR (HOMA-IR), leptin-to-adiponectin ratio, TNF-α independent of their body mass index, SDs score, and age. In multivariable linear regression analysis, WHR and HOMA-IR were associated with the circulating level of asprosin. Conclusions: Circulating asprosins are increased in children with obesity and associated with IR. It may be proposed as a novel marker to predict advanced disease.
Matters of Life and Death: Why Do Older Patients Choose Conservative Management?
Authors: Saeed Fahad , Adams Hugh , Epstein Ronald M.
Published: November 2019

Background: Although many older patients with end-stage renal disease and limited prognoses prefer conservative management (CM), it is not widely offered in the United States. Moreover, there is a dearth of US-based literature reporting clinical experience with shared decision making regarding CM of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We describe the clinical experience of 13 patients who opted for CM at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s CKD clinic during 2016–2017. Main outcomes include: (1) reason for choosing CM, (2) completion of advance directives, (3) location of death, and (4) utilization of hospice service. Patients’ reasons for choosing CM were categorized into 4 broad categories based on a review of their electronic medical records. A retrospective chart review conducted by 2 reviewers determined the status of advance care planning, hospice referral, and place of death. Results: The mean age of these patients was 81.8 years (SD 7.3). Their reasons for choosing CM included: poor prognoses; a wish to maintain their quality of life; their desire for a dignified life closure; and the intention to protect family members from having to see them suffer, based on their own memory of having witnessed a relative on dialysis previously. A total of 8 patients died: all received hospice services, 6 died at home, one at a nursing home, and one at a hospital. Advance care planning was completed in 100% of the cases. Symptoms were managed in collaboration with primary care physicians. Conclusion: Patients’ decisions to choose CM were influenced by their values and previous experience with dialysis, in addition to comorbidities and limited prognoses. Promoting the choice of CM in the United States will require training of clinicians in primary palliative care competencies, including communication and decision-making skills, as well as basic symptom management proficiencies.
Occurrence of an Abscopal Radiation Recall Phenomenon in a Glioblastoma Patient Treated with Nivolumab and Re-Irradiation
Authors: van Seggelen Wouter O. , De Vos Filip Y. , Röckmann Heike , van Dijk Marijke R. , Verhoeff Joost J.C.
Published: November 2019

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most frequent primary brain tumor. The clinical course of glioblastoma is almost invariably fatal. Combined chemo-irradiation with temozolomide is currently the standard of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma and concurrent Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody is being studied for de novo glioblastoma. We present a 62-year old patient with glioblastoma, which was discovered during evaluation of sudden-onset moderate ataxia. Following craniotomy of the glial tumour he received chemo radiation. During this first-line treatment the patient participated in the CA209–548 phase III placebo controlled study investigating the addition of concurrent nivolumab. One month after the last administration of nivolumab after 60 weeks of study participation, magnetic resonance imaging scan showed progressive disease. Therefore stereotactic re-irradiation was given. Five days after completing radiation therapy and 50 days after his last nivolumab course he developed a mild diffuse generalized pruritic maculopapular exanthema. Skin biopsy was very indicative for a drug hypersensitivity reaction. The maculopapular rash and pruritus was successfully treated with moderate potency topical corticosteroids and prednisone. With the introduction of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors and other immunotherapies tweaking the immune system to target cancer cells one can argue that once local radiation triggers a local immune mediated hypersensitivity reaction as seen in radiation recall dermatitis, the subsequent hypersensitivity reaction which would traditionally only be a local reaction is now possible to advance to more pronounced (systemic) reactions as seen in an abscopal effect. Therefore, we propose a combined name to coin this effect, the abscopal radiation recall phenomenon.
Retroperitoneal Castleman’s Disease
Authors: Shimokihara Kota , Kawahara Takashi , Kasahara Ryo , Kasuga Jun , Sugiura Shinpei , Tajiri Ryosuke , Uemura Hiroji , Chiba Kimio
Published: November 2019

Castleman’s disease was first reported in 1954 by Castleman et al. and identified as an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder. In most cases, Castleman’s diseases are detected in the chest, head, and neck. A 71-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to a retroperitoneal tumor in the para-aortic area by computed tomography (CT). Positron emission tomography-CT revealed an uptake in this tumor, suggesting malignant diseases. Laparoscopic tumorectomy was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was Castleman’s disease, hyaline vascular type. No evidence of recurrence was observed 20 months after surgery. We herein report a rare case of retroperitoneal Castleman’s disease.
Low Lipid Levels and High Variability are Associated With the Risk of New‐Onset Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Lee Hyun‐Jung , Lee So‐Ryoung , Choi Eue‐Keun , Han Kyung‐Do , Oh Seil
Published: November 2019

Background

While high levels of lipids and lipid variability are established risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, their roles in the development of atrial fibrillation (
AF
) are unclear, with previous studies suggesting a “cholesterol paradox.”

Methods and Results

A nationwide population‐based cohort of 3 660 385 adults (mean age 43.4 years) from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, with ≥3 annual lipid measurements from 2009 to 2012 and without a history of
AF
or prescription of lipid‐lowering medication before 2012, were identified. Total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were measured, and lipid variability was calculated using variability independent of the mean. The cohort was divided into quartiles by lipid levels and lipid variability and followed up for incident
AF
. During a median 5.4 years of follow‐up,
AF
was newly diagnosed in 27 581 (0.75%).
AF
development was inversely associated with high lipid levels (for top versus bottom quartile; total cholesterol,
HR
0.78, 95%
CI
0.76–0.81; low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol,
HR
0.81, 95%
CI
0.78–0.84; high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol,
HR
0.94, 95%
CI
0.91–0.98; triglycerides,
HR
0.88, 95%
CI
0.85–0.92). Meanwhile,
AF
development was associated with high lipid variability (for top versus bottom quartile; total cholesterol,
HR
1.09, 95%
CI
1.06–1.13; low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol,
HR
1.12, 95%
CI
1.08–1.16; high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol,
HR
1.08, 95%
CI
1.04–1.12; triglycerides,
HR
1.05, 95%
CI
1.01–1.08). Men showed greater risk reduction with high triglyceride levels and greater risk with high triglyceride variability for incident
AF
.

Conclusions

Low cholesterol levels and high cholesterol variability were associated with a higher risk of
AF
development.
Clinical Implications of the New York Heart Association Classification
Authors: Caraballo César , Desai Nihar R. , Mulder Hillary , Alhanti Brooke , Wilson F. Perry , Fiuzat Mona , Felker G. Michael , Piña Ileana L. , O'Connor Christopher M. , Lindenfeld Joanne , Januzzi James L. , Cohen Lawrence S. , Ahmad Tariq
Published: November 2019

Background

The New York Heart Association (
NYHA
) classification has served as a fundamental tool for risk stratification of heart failure (
HF
) and determines clinical trial eligibility and candidacy for drugs and devices. However, its ability to adequately stratify risk is unclear.

Methods and Results

To compare
NYHA
class with objective assessments and survival in patients with
HF
, we performed secondary analyses of 4 multicenter National Institutes of Health–funded
HF
clinical trials that included patients classified as
NYHA
class
II
or III: TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist), DIG (The Effect of Digoxin on Mortality and Morbidity in Patients With Heart Failure), HF‐ACTION (Efficacy and Safety of Exercise Training in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure), and GUIDE‐IT (Guiding Evidence‐Based Therapy Using Biomarker Intensified Treatment in Heart Failure). Twenty‐month cumulative survival was compared between classes using Kaplan–Meier curves and the log rank test.
NT
‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro–B‐type natriuretic peptide), Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (
KCCQ
) scores, 6‐minute walk distances, left ventricular ejection fraction, and cardiopulmonary test parameters were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests and percentage overlap using kernel density estimations. Cumulative mortality varied significantly across
NYHA
classes and
HF
clinical trials (likelihood ratio,
P
<0.001). Mortality at 20 months for
NYHA
class
II
ranged from 7% for patients in
HF
‐
ACTION
to 15% in
GUIDE
‐
IT
, whereas mortality for
NYHA
class
III
ranged from 12% in
TOPCAT
to 26% in
GUIDE
‐
IT
. There was substantial percentage overlap in values for
NT
‐pro
BNP
levels (79% and 69%),
KCCQ
scores (63% and 54%), 6‐minute walk distances (63% and 54%), and left ventricular ejection fraction (88% and 83%). Similarly, there was substantial overall in values for minute ventilation–carbon dioxide production relationship (71%), maximal oxygen uptake (54%), and exercise duration (53%).

Conclusions

The
NYHA
system poorly discriminates
HF
patients across the spectrum of functional impairment. These findings raise important questions about the need for improved phenotyping of these patients to facilitate risk stratification and response to interventions.
Sectarian Marital Practice: Rethinking the Role of Sexuality in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Authors: Grossman Maxine L.
Published: November 2019

Dead Sea Scrolls scholarship has historically emphasized a binary between the celibate yaḥad of the Community Rule and the marrying edah of the Damascus Document and Rule of the Congregation. An early focus on celibacy has given way in recent years to arguments for the near ubiquity of marriage in the scrolls movement. In place of dichotomies of marriage and celibacy, the complexities of sexuality in the scrolls are best understood in terms of a sexually-limiting sectarian marital practice. This marital practice is grounded in a theology of perfection and is best understood in light of sociological approaches to the evidence in the scrolls. In addition to better explaining the evidence for sexuality in the scrolls, a reading from this perspective may, potentially, shed light on the perennial question of whether the movement began with marriage or celibacy as its prevailing social norm.
Female Agency by the Dead Sea: Evidence from the Babatha and Salome Komaïse Archives
Authors: Esler Philip F.
Published: November 2019

The Babatha archive contains thirty-five legal papyri dating from 94 to 132 CE. They belonged to a Judean woman Babatha, from Maoza on the south-eastern shore of the Dead Sea, where date cultivation was a valuable cash crop. The Salome Komaïse archive, also concerning a family of date farmers from Maoza, consists of six papyri dated from 29 January 125 to 7 August 131. Both archives were deposited by their owners in the same cave in Wadi Ḥever at the end of the Bar Kokhba revolt. Maoza formed part of Nabatea until the kingdom became the Roman province of Arabia in 106. These papyri provide a rich array of evidence relating to the life of Babatha, Salome Komaïse and her mother Salome Grapte, and of other women, Judean and Nabatean, in this context. Particularly noteworthy is that women possessed considerable wealth, in cash and real property, and regularly acted as business-women, including by loans to their husbands. The papyri also reveal seizure of assets and frequent recourse to litigation by these women in defence of their rights. Although this was a patrilineal and patrilocal culture, the papyri provide striking examples of potent female agency, as women deployed and protected their wealth by every legal means.
Die Philologische Freiheit des Humanisten Johannes Reuchlin
Authors: Roth Ulli
Published: November 2019

Im folgenden wird eine Psalmentibersetzung aus dem Hebräischen dem berühmten Hebraisten Johannes Reuchlin zugeschrieben, interpretiert und erstmals ediert. Die Interpretation gliedert sich in vier Abschnitte. In einem ersten Schritt wird die Überlieferungsfrage geklärt. Danach wird die Übersetzung in Reuchlins Lehrtätigkeit an der Universität Tübingen 1521/22 eingeordnet. Der dritte Abschnitt beleuchtet auf dem Hintergrund der Schriften Reuchlins, welche generelle Bedeutung die hebräische Sprache in seinem Denken hat. Der vierte Abschnitt stellt seine Übersetzung in den Kontext anderer zeitgenössischer Psalmenübersetzungen und hebt anhand von Beispielen ihre Besonderheit heraus. Leitfrage dieser einführenden Darstellung ist, inwieweit sich “Freiheit” als ein Grundzug der philologischen Arbeit des Humanisten Johannes Reuchlin herausstellen läßt.
“Feingesponnen uno Grobgewirkt”
Authors: Bozza Maik
Published: November 2019

Sollten die Probleme der Forschung im Umgang mit dem Springinsfeld letztlich Auswirkung einer von Simplicissimus perfekt betriebenen Manipulation am Leser sein? – Dieser Manipulation bis zum Druckort “Paphlagonia” auf der Spur, wird untersucht, ob sich Springinsfeld nicht gerade in seinem ‘sproden’ Erzählen gegenüber den Bekehrungsversuchen des angeblich um sein Seelenheil besorgten Simplicissimus widerspenstig zeigt. Die gleichwohl abschließend behauptete Einkehr der Titelfigur auf “den Christlichen Weeg eines Gottseeligen Lebens” – Springinsfelds ‘Zähmung’ wird post mortem propagiert – lenkt den Blick auf die Funktion dieses Missionierungseifers im Kontext der Selbstinszenierung des Simplicissimus.
Isaac Clauß: Le Royaume de la Cocqueterie Oder Beschreibung des New-Entdeckten Schnäblerlandes (1659)
Authors: Schäfer Walter Ernst
Published: November 2019

Einer der bedeutenden Vermittler zwischen französischer und deutscher Literatur im 17. Jahrhundert ist Isaac Clauß (1613-ca.1663) aus Straßburg. Seine Sensibilität für kulturelle Neuerungen zeigt sich in der Übersetzung von Hédelin d’ Aubignacs Histoire du temps, ou Relation véritable du royaume de Coquetterie (1654), einer der schärfsten Satiren auf die Preziösen, aber auch auf die konventionalisierten Umgangsformen der Pariser Salons. Die Arbeit untersucht Intentionen und Strukturen der französischen Vorlage und der Übersetzung. Sie reiht die Schrift in die Folge von Satiren am Oberrhein ein, die von Fischart bis zu Moscherosch reicht, mit dem Clauß gut bekannt, wenn nicht befreundet war.
بجنوب سيناء ﻣُﻜَﺘَّﺐ دراسة تحليلية لنقوش نبطية من وادي
Authors: محمود سالم غانم
Published: November 2019

The Nabataeans were a group of nomads living in the Arabian Desert, who grouped together and centered on a rather vast area for over 400 years. At this peak, the Nabataeans stretched from modern-day Madain Saleh to Damascus, and from Western Iraq to Peninsula of Sinai according to some historians. No one is sure how large their Empire really was. They were elusive and mysterious, while their caravans traveled widely. It is difficult to be certain of the borders of their kingdom, or the extent of their travel.

Wadi Mukattab in South Sinai is also known as the Valley of the Inscriptions; in this Valley, there are numerous Nabataean inscriptions. In this paper, the Nabataeans in Wadi Mukattab will be studied through their inscriptions in detail; we will also illustrate the Arabian Egyptian relations during the Roman period.
البعد الديني وأثره في التشكيل الزخرفي، على مجموعة من التراكيب الرخامية الإسلامية الباقية بمحافظة المنوفية ﺗﻄﺒﻴﻘﺎً (ﻡ ۱۹۱۲ - ۱۸۸۱ / ھ ۱۳۳۱ - ۱۲۹۹)
Authors: محمود سعد الجندي
Published: November 2019

The art and archaeological study of a unique collection of marble compositions in Sersmos village, Menoufia Governorate, which are not registered as Islamic monuments, is very significant given the fact of a few number of these particular marble compositions in cemeteries in rural regions compared with a large number of wooden compartments.

This research is conducted for detailed descriptive study of characteristics and art features of each composition to highlight the religious dimension and its impact on the decorations; writings, in particular Quranic verses, doaa, funeral and historical writings. The research studies these holy verses and their significance and compatibility with the nature and function of the compositions. In addition, the decorations include plants, lush trees, flowers and the fruits of Paradise represent a prominent role in the decorative formation.

The research adopts a descriptive approach through field study for the decorative formation of this unique collection. In addition, adopts an analytical approach through sources and references, and their characteristics and features to highlight the religious impact in implementation. Also, a comparative study with other contemporary compositions.

The research views the risks and challenges to this unique unregistered collection, and recommends immediate protection and registration as Islamic monuments in order to maintain their significant value.
Are Siloviki Still Undemocratic? Elite Support for Political Pluralism during Putin’s Third Presidential Term
Authors: Rivera and David W. Rivera Sharon Werning
Published: November 2019

Will Vladimir Putin’s penchant for staffing the state with siloviki undermine the prospects for democratization after he leaves office? The answer to this question hinges on whether Russian military and security officers currently possess a less liberal worldview than do civilian elites, yet little to no research has examined this question in close to a decade. In an effort to fill this gap in existing knowledge, this article investigates the orientations of influential Russians toward several core components of liberal democracy on the basis of a survey conducted in 2016. We find that attitudinal differences between siloviki and civilians persist into this decade. As was the case in both the 1990s and 2000s, elites with professional backgrounds in the force structures were less supportive of political pluralism and individual rights than were those with purely civilian resumés. In addition, active-duty officers were even less liberal than either their retired former colleagues or lifelong civilians. Finally, unlike the situation that apparently prevailed at the very end of Putin’s second presidential term, conventional military officers now espouse nearly identical levels of support for political pluralism as do officers entrusted with internal security.
Control Over the Security Services in Periods of Political Uncertainty: A Comparative Study of Russia and China
Authors: Petrov Nikolay , Rochlitz Michael
Published: November 2019

Control over the security services is a key ingredient of political survival in authoritarian regimes. This is particularly true during periods of leadership succession and high political uncertainty. In this paper, we compare the strategy used by Vladimir Putin towards the siloviki – the Russian security services – with that employed by Xi Jinping towards the Chinese security services. We find that in both countries, the security services have been significantly strengthened in recent years, while at the same time extensive anti-corruption campaigns have been used to eliminate key officials within the security structures. We argue that both developments can be seen as elements of a strategy to increase control over the public, while eliminating potential competition from regime insiders, in view of a deteriorating economic situation, and the constitutional (or quasi-constitutional) term limits faced by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in 2024 and 2022, respectively.
The Chinese Communist Party since 1949: Organization, Ideology, and Prospect for Change
Authors: Brødsgaard Kjeld Erik , Chen Gang
Published: November 2019

Research on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the world’s largest political party, has seen a revival in recent years. Today, studies of the CCP are a key part of any attempt to understand China’s development trajectory in the post-1949 era. This review takes a new and closer look at how the study of the CCP has evolved in terms of themes, concepts, and areas of research. In the following we explore nine topics: Party organization, cadre management, cadre advancement and training, Party ideology, Party reform and adaptation, local Party work, the Party and business, the Party and corruption, and the Party and the law. Combining the pieces of the puzzle provides the picture of a political machine and organization of amazing durability.
Characteristics, Origins, and Impacts of Summertime Extreme Precipitation in the Lake Mead Watershed
Authors: Sierks Michael D. , Kalansky Julie , Cannon Forest , Ralph F. M.
Published: November 2019

The North American monsoon (NAM) is the main driver of summertime climate variability in the U.S. Southwest. Previous studies of the NAM have primarily focused on the Tier I region of the North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME), spanning central-western Mexico, southern Arizona, and New Mexico. This study, however, presents a climatological characterization of summertime precipitation, defined as July–September (JAS), in the Lake Mead watershed, located in the NAME Tier II region. Spatiotemporal variability of JAS rainfall is examined from 1981 to 2016 using gridded precipitation data and the meteorological mechanisms that account for this variability are investigated using reanalyses. The importance of the number of wet days (24-h rainfall ≥1 mm) and extreme rainfall events (95th percentile of wet days) to the total JAS precipitation is examined and shows extreme events playing a larger role in the west and central basin. An investigation into the dynamical drivers of extreme rainfall events indicates that anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking (RWB) in the midlatitude westerlies over the U.S. West Coast is associated with 89% of precipitation events >10 mm (98th percentile of wet days) over the Lake Mead basin. This is in contrast to the NAME Tier I region where easterly upper-level disturbances such as inverted troughs are the dominant driver of extreme precipitation. Due to the synoptic nature of RWB events, corresponding impacts and hazards extend beyond the Lake Mead watershed are relevant for the greater U.S. Southwest.
Fairness, Social Support, and School Violence: Racial Differences in the Likelihood of Fighting at School
Authors: James Katie , Watts Stephen J. , Evans Sara Z.
Published: November 2019

When students feel their teachers or school rules are unfair, support from adults at school mitigates the deleterious impact of perceived injustice on school violence. We test whether there is racial variation in this strain-coping mechanism–antisocial behavior relationship. We document a relationship between perceived school fairness and adult support on fighting among racial minorities but not White students. Among White students, stronger perceptions of school fairness are associated with reduced probabilities of fighting regardless of social support. Among racial minorities, social support buffers the harmful impact of perceived injustice on fighting. Findings show that fair treatment is especially important in the context of low support and support is especially important in the context of unjust treatment for racial minorities.