bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracellular adenosine enhances pulmonary artery vasa vasorum endothelial cell barrier function via Gi/ELMO1/Rac1/PKA-dependent signaling mechanisms
Authors: Verin Alexander D. , Batori Robert , Kovacs-Kasa Anita , Cherian-Shaw Mary , Kumar Sanjiv , Czikora Istvan , Karoor Vijaya , Strassheim Derek , Stenmark Kurt R. , Gerasimovskaya Evgenia V.
Published: May 2020

The vasa vasorum (VV), the microvascular network around large vessels, has been recognized as an important contributor to the pathological vascular remodeling in cardiovascular diseases. In bovine and rat models of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH), we have previously shown that chronic hypoxia profoundly increased pulmonary artery (PA) VV permeability, associated with infiltration of inflammatory and progenitor cells in the arterial wall, perivascular inflammation, and structural vascular remodeling. Extracellular adenosine was shown to exhibit a barrier-protective effect on VV endothelial cells (VVEC) via cAMP-independent mechanisms, which involved adenosine A1 receptor-mediated activation of Gi-phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt pathway and actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Using VVEC isolated from the adventitia of calf PA, in this study we investigated in more detail the mechanisms linking Gi activation to downstream barrier protection pathways. Using a small-interference RNA (siRNA) technique and transendothelial electrical resistance assay, we found that the adaptor protein, engulfment and cell motility 1 (ELMO1), the tyrosine phosphatase Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-2, and atypical Gi- and Rac1-mediated protein kinase A activation are implicated in VVEC barrier enhancement. In contrast, the actin-interacting GTP-binding protein, girdin, and the p21-activated kinase 1 downstream target, LIM kinase, are not involved in this response. In addition, adenosine-dependent cytoskeletal rearrangement involves activation of cofilin and inactivation of ezrin-radixin-moesin regulatory cytoskeletal proteins, consistent with a barrier-protective mechanism. Collectively, our data indicate that targeting adenosine receptors and downstream barrier-protective pathways in VVEC may have a potential translational significance in developing pharmacological approach for the VV barrier protection in PH.
Global phosphotyrosinylated protein profile of cell-matrix adhesion complexes of trabecular meshwork cells
Authors: Maddala Rupalatha , Rao Ponugoti Vasantha
Published: May 2020

Dysregulation of the mechanical properties and cell adhesive interactions of trabecular meshwork (TM) are known to impair aqueous humor drainage and elevate intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. The identity of regulatory mechanisms underlying TM mechanotransduction, however, remains elusive. Here we analyzed the phosphotyrosine proteome of human TM cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion complexes, which play a key role in sensing and transducing extracellular chemical and mechanical cues into intracellular activities, using a two-level affinity pull-down (phosphotyrosine antibody and titanium dioxide beads) method and mass spectrometry. This analysis identified ~1,000 tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins of TM cell-ECM adhesion complexes. Many consensus adhesome proteins were found to be tyrosine phosphorylated. Interestingly, several of the phosphotyrosinylated proteins found in TM cell-ECM adhesion complexes are known to be required for podocyte glomerular filtration, indicating the existence of molecular parallels that are likely relevant to the shared fluid barrier and filtration functions of the two mechanosensitive cell types.
S100A4 is secreted by airway smooth muscle tissues and activates inflammatory signaling pathways via receptors for advanced glycation end products
Authors: Wu Yidi , Zhang Wenwu , Gunst Susan J.
Published: May 2020

S100A4 is a low-molecular-mass (12 kDa) EF-hand Ca2+-binding S100 protein that is expressed in a broad range of normal tissue and cell types. S100A4 can be secreted from some cells to act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion on target cells and tissues. S100A4 has been reported in the extracellular fluids of subjects with several inflammatory diseases, including asthma. Airway smooth muscle plays a critical role in airway inflammation by synthesizing and secreting inflammatory cytokines. We hypothesized that S100A4 may play an immunomodulatory role in airway smooth muscle. Trachealis smooth muscle tissues were stimulated with recombinant His-S100A4, and the effects on inflammatory responses were evaluated. S100A4 induced the activation of Akt and NF-κB and stimulated eotaxin secretion. It also increased the expression of RAGE and endogenous S100A4 in airway tissues. Stimulation of airway smooth muscle tissues with IL-13 or TNF-α induced the secretion of S100A4 from the tissues and promoted the expression of endogenous receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and S100A4. The role of RAGE in mediating the responses to S100A4A was evaluated by expressing a mutant nonfunctional RAGE (RAGEΔcyto) in tracheal muscle tissues and by treating tissues with a RAGE inhibitor. S100A4 did not activate NF-κB or Akt in tissues that were expressing RAGEΔcyto or treated with a RAGE inhibitor, indicating that S100A4 mediates its effects by acting on RAGE. Our results demonstrate that inflammatory mediators stimulate the synthesis and secretion of S100A4 in airway smooth muscle tissues and that extracellular S100A4 acts via RAGE to mediate airway smooth muscle inflammation.
Genome-wide integration of microRNA and transcriptomic profiles of differentiating human alveolar epithelial cells
Authors: Castaldi Alessandra , Horie Masafumi , Rieger Megan E. , Dubourd Mickael , Sunohara Mitsuhiro , Pandit Kusum , Zhou Beiyun , Offringa Ite A. , Marconett Crystal N. , Borok Zea
Published: May 2020

The alveolar epithelium is comprised of two cell types, alveolar epithelial type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) cells, the latter being capable of self-renewal and transdifferentiation into AT1 cells for normal maintenance and restoration of epithelial integrity following injury. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of several biological processes, including cell differentiation; however, their role in establishment/maintenance of cellular identity in adult alveolar epithelium is not well understood. To investigate this question, we performed genome-wide analysis of sequential changes in miRNA and gene expression profiles using a well-established model in which human AT2 (hAT2) cells transdifferentiate into AT1-like cells over time in culture that recapitulates many aspects of transdifferentiation in vivo. We defined three phases of miRNA expression during the transdifferentiation process as “early,” “late,” and “consistently” changed, which were further subclassified as up- or downregulated. miRNAs with altered expression at all time points during transdifferentiation were the largest subgroup, suggesting the need for consistent regulation of signaling pathways to mediate this process. Target prediction analysis and integration with previously published gene expression data identified glucocorticoid signaling as the top pathway regulated by miRNAs. Serum/glucocorticoid–regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) emerged as a central regulatory factor, whose downregulation correlated temporally with gain of hsa-miR-424 and hsa-miR-503 expression. Functional validation demonstrated specific targeting of these miRNAs to the 3′-untranslated region of SGK1. These data demonstrate the time-related contribution of miRNAs to the alveolar transdifferentiation process and suggest that inhibition of glucocorticoid signaling is necessary to achieve the AT1-like cell phenotype.
H2S-stimulated bioenergetics in chicken erythrocytes and the underlying mechanism
Authors: Jin Zhuping , Zhang Quanxi , Wondimu Eden , Verma Richa , Fu Ming , Shuang Tian , Arif Hassan Mustafa , Wu Lingyun , Wang Rui
Published: May 2020

The production of H2S and its effect on bioenergetics in mammalian cells may be evolutionarily preserved. Erythrocytes of birds, but not those of mammals, have a nucleus and mitochondria. In the present study, we report the endogenous production of H2S in chicken erythrocytes, which was mainly catalyzed by 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase (MST). ATP content of erythrocytes was increased by MST-generated endogenous H2S under normoxic, but not hypoxic, conditions. NaHS, a H2S salt, increased ATP content under normoxic, but not hypoxic, conditions. ATP contents in the absence or presence of NaHS were eliminated by different inhibitors for mitochondrial electron transport chain in chicken erythrocytes. Succinate and glutamine, but not glucose, increased ATP content. NaHS treatment similarly increased ATP content in the presence of glucose, glutamine, or succinate, respectively. Furthermore, the expression and activity of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase were enhanced by NaHS. The structural integrity of chicken erythrocytes was largely maintained during 2-wk NaHS treatment in vitro, whereas most of the erythrocytes without NaHS treatment were lysed. In conclusion, H2S may regulate cellular bioenergetics as well as cell survival of chicken erythrocytes, in which the functionality of the electron transport chain is involved. H2S may have different regulatory roles and mechanisms in bioenergetics of mammalian and bird cells.
Quick compensatory mechanisms for tongue posture stabilization during speech production
Authors: Ito Takayuki , Szabados Andrew , Caillet Jean-Loup , Perrier Pascal
Published: May 2020

This study presents evidence of quick compensatory mechanisms in tongue motor control for speech production. The tongue posture is controlled not in relation to a specific tongue position, but to the shape of the tongue contour to achieve specific speech sounds. Modulation of compensatory responses due to task demands and mathematical simulations support the idea that the quick compensatory response is driven by a reflex mechanism.
Pressure-Driven Thermal Slip Flow in the Elliptical Channel with Radial Oscillatory Wall
Authors: Chuchalerm Nattawan , Wiwatanapataphee Benchawan , Sawangtong Wannika
Published: May 2020

This paper is aimed at presenting thermal slip flow driven by oscillatory pressure gradient in a deformable microchannel of elliptic cross-section. The fully developed flow of Newtonian fluid is considered, and Navier slip is applied on the boundary. The boundary value problem is formulated and applied to the coronary blood flow-heat transfer phenomenon during thermotherapy treatment. Its semianalytical solutions of velocity and temperature fields are carried out by the Ritz method. The effects of oscillatory wall and slip length on velocity and temperature fields of blood are investigated.
Active Learning for Constrained Document Clustering with Uncertainty Region
Authors: Balafar M. A. , Hazratgholizadeh R. , Derakhshi M. R. F.
Published: May 2020

Constrained clustering is intended to improve accuracy and personalization based on the constraints expressed by an Oracle. In this paper, a new constrained clustering algorithm is proposed and some of the informative data pairs are selected during an iterative process. Then, they are presented to the Oracle and their relation is answered with “Must-link (ML) or Cannot-link (CL).” In each iteration, first, the support vector machine (SVM) is utilized based on the label produced by the current clustering. According to the distance of each document from the hyperplane, the distance matrix is created. Also, based on cosine similarity of word2vector of each document, the similarity matrix is created. Two types of probability (similarity and degree of similarity) are calculated and they are smoothed for belonging to neighborhoods. Neighborhoods form the samples that are labeled by Oracle, to be in the same cluster. Finally, at the end of each iteration, the data with a greater level of uncertainty (in term of probability) is selected for questioning the oracle. In order to evaluate, the proposed method is compared with famous state-of-the-art methods based on two criteria and over a standard dataset. The result demonstrates an increased accuracy and stability of the obtained result with fewer questions.
The Effect of α‐Al(MnCr)Si Dispersoids on Activation Energy and Workability of Al‐Mg‐Si‐Cu Alloys during Hot Deformation
Authors: Wang Xiaoguo , Qin Jian , Nagaumi Hiromi , Wu Ruirui , Li Qiushu
Published: May 2020

The hot deformation behaviors of homogenized direct‐chill (DC) casting 6061 aluminum alloys and Mn/Cr‐containing aluminum alloys denoted as WQ1 were studied systematically by uniaxial compression tests at various deformation temperatures and strain rates. Hot deformation behavior of WQ1 alloy was remarkably changed compared to that of 6061 alloy with the presence of α‐Al(MnCr)Si dispersoids. The hyperbolic‐sine constitutive equation was employed to determine the materials constants and activation energies of both studied alloys. The evolution of the activation energies of two alloys was investigated on a revised Sellars’ constitutive equation. The processing maps and activation energy maps of both alloys were also constructed to reveal deformation stable domains and optimize deformation parameters, respectively. Under the influence of α dispersoids, WQ1 alloy presented a higher activation energy, around 40 kJ/mol greater than 6061 alloy’s at the same deformation conditions. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is main dynamic softening mechanism in safe processing domain of 6061 alloy, while dynamic recovery (DRV) was main dynamic softening mechanism in WQ1 alloy due to pinning effect of α‐Al(MnCr)Si dispersoids. α dispersoids can not only resist DRX but also increase power required for deformation of WQ1 alloy. The microstructure analysis revealed that the flow instability was attributed to the void formation and intermetallic cracking during hot deformation of both alloys.
The In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activities of Aqueous Extracts of Selected Ghanaian Herbal Plants
Authors: Cudjoe Elizabeth , Donu Dickson , Okonu Ruth E. , Amponsah Jones A. , Amoah Linda E.
Published: May 2020

Background. The asexual and sexual stages (gametocytes) of Plasmodium falciparum parasites are known to respond differently to antimalarial drugs. Herbal products with extended treatment regimens and inadequate dosing information are widely used to treat malaria in Ghana. This study set out to determine the in vitro activity of selected herbal extracts on the development of asexual and sexual stage malaria parasites. Methods. The 72-hour SYBR Green 1-based in vitro drug assay was used to determine the asexual parasite growth inhibitory effects exhibited by aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia, Polyalthia longifolia, Moringa oleifera, and Mangifera indica on the NF54, CamWT_C580Y, and IPC 4912 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The effects of exposure of asexual and early-stage NF54 gametocytes to varying concentrations of the aqueous herbal extracts were assessed by microscopy after 7 days of continuous culturing in the presence of the herbal extract. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening were also performed on the herbal extracts. Results. In the SYBR Green 1 assay, aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia exhibited moderate (IC50 of 5.8, 17.4, and 15.8 μg/ml) and Mangifera indica exhibited low (IC50 of 65.4, 96.7, and 81.7 μg/ml) activities against the NF54, Cam WT_C580Y, and IPC 4912 parasites, respectively, whilst Polyalthia longifolia and Moringa oleifera were inactive. Long-term treatment of NF54 parasites with 1 mg/ml of Polyalthia longifolia produced the highest densities of gametocytes and the least (56%) inhibition of asexual parasites on Day 7. Long-term treatment of NF54 parasites with 10 μg/ml Alchornea cordifolia resulted in complete parasite (asexual and gametocyte) clearance on Day 7. Conclusions. Alchornea cordifolia exhibited a ‘moderate’ activity against the three parasites tested in the 72-hour SYBR Green 1 assay and also effectively cleared both asexual parasites and gametocytes. Long-term treatment of malaria parasites with herbal extracts mimics a treatment regimen and should be used to determine the antimalarial properties of herbal extracts.
Seroprevalence of Leptospirosis among High-Risk Individuals in Morocco
Authors: El Azhari Mohamed , Picardeau Mathieu , Cherkaoui Imad , Anouar Sadat Mohamed , Moumni Houda , Marhoum El Filali Kamal , Ghazal Hassan , Maaroufi Abderrahmane , Hamdi Salsabil , El Mdaghri Naima , Bourhy Pascal
Published: May 2020

Background. Leptospirosis is an anthropozoonotic reemerging neglected infectious disease underreported in most developing countries. A cross-sectional study was performed between 17 and 23 February 2014 to estimate the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among high-risk populations in Casablanca (Morocco). Methods. A total of 490 human serum samples (97.6% males) were collected in 3 high-risk occupational sites including the biggest meat slaughterhouse (n = 208), a poultry market (n = 121), and the fish market (n = 161). A total of 125 human blood samples were also collected from the general population and used in this study as a control group. To detect the presence of anti-Leptospira, sera were screened with in-house IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive samples were tested by Microscopic Agglutination Technique (MAT) using a panel of 24 serovar cultures and cut point of 1 : 25. Results. Seroprevalence of leptospirosis among the control group was 10.4% (13/125). A high seropositivity among the overall seroprevalence of 24.1% (118/490) was observed in the high-risk groups of which 7.3% (36/490), 13.7% (67/490), and 3.1% (15/490) were for anti-Leptospira IgM, IgG, and both IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Most of the positive individuals were occupationally involved in poultry (37.2%), followed by the market fish (26.1%) and the meat slaughterhouse (14.9%) workers. Among all ELISA-positive serum samples, 20.3% (n = 24) had positive MAT responses, of which the Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 7) is the most common infecting serogroup followed by Javanica (4), Australis (2), and Sejroe, Mini, and Panama (one in each). In the remaining 8 MAT-positive sera, MAT showed equal titers against more than one serogroup. Conclusion. Individuals engaged in risk activities are often exposed to leptospiral infection. Therefore, control and prevention policies toward these populations are necessary.
TLR7 Polymorphism (rs179008 and rs179009) in HIV-Infected Individual Naïve to ART
Authors: Singh HariOm , Samani Dharmesh , Aggarwal Sumit
Published: May 2020

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the innate immune response to HIV infection. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TLR7 (Gln11Leu) gene has been associated with a rapid decline of CD4T cell count. Hence, we assessed the TLR7 (rs179008, Gln11Leu (A/T) and rs179009, IVS2-151 (A/G)) polymorphism in 150 HIV-infected individuals naïve to ART and 158 healthy controls. The genotyping of TLR7 Gln11Leu (A/T) and IVS2-151 (A/G) polymorphisms was done using the PCR-RFLP method. In univariate analysis, none of the genotype and haplotype of TLR7 Gln11Leu (A/T) and IVS2-151 (A/G) polymorphism differed significantly between HIV-infected individuals and healthy controls. The occurrence of TLR7 rs179009AG genotype in the codominant model and rs179009 AG-GG genotype in the dominant model was significantly reduced in HIV-infected individuals as compared to healthy controls (18.0% vs. 29.1%, OR=0.42, P=0.016; 26.7% vs. 36.7%, OR=0.52, P=0.016). TLR7 rs179009AG genotype was significantly underrepresented in the intermediate HIV disease stage compared with healthy controls (OR=0.03, P=0.04). TLR7 rs179009AG genotype expressed higher in tobacco-consuming HIV-infected individuals compared with nonusers (OR=1.71, P=0.47). In conclusion, rs179009 AG-GG and AG genotypes were found reduced in HIV-infected individuals as compared to healthy controls; their higher prevalence in health individuals clearly support that they are associated with reduced risk of acquisition of HIV-1 infection.
Spatiotemporal Changes and Simulation of the Architectural Ethnicity at World Heritage Sites under Tourism Development
Authors: Yang Xi , Peng Cong , Jiang Xueling , Wang Juan , Liu Jun
Published: May 2020

This study was the first to integrate the quantitative analysis and simulation of spatiotemporal processes into research on the ethnicity of tourist destinations. Selecting the world heritage site of Jiuzhaigou in China as a case study, we employed remote sensing images and field observation to obtain the spatial distribution data of the site’s architectural ethnicity of 2005 and 2015. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the mechanism driving changes in architectural ethnicity. Then, we proposed a Logistic-CA-Markov coupling model to analyse architectural ethnicity transformations and simulate the spatiotemporal patterns of the ethnicity of architecture at the site in 2025 and 2035. It was found that from 2005 to 2015, the overall architectural ethnicity at the heritage site trended downwards and displayed an uneven spatial distribution: weak ethnicity in the west and strong in the east. A tight relationship was found between the ethnicity of heritage architecture and the level of tourism development although the ethnicity of tourism architecture was weaker than that of nontourism architecture, and the ethnicity of tourism architecture was continuously strengthening. Factors affecting spatial changes in architectural ethnicity mainly included altitude, slope, distance from main transport lands and waters, and the original type of ethnicity. It is expected that, from 2015 to 2035, the overall architectural ethnicity in Jiuzhaigou will increase.
Effectiveness of Water Management towards Soil Moisture Preservation on Soybeans
Authors: Aminah Aminah , Abdullah Abdullah , Nuraeni Nuraeni , Palad Marliana S. , Rosada Ida
Published: May 2020

In this study, factorial randomized experiments were conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment to investigate an efficient and effective component of water management technology in increasing soybean yield. The soybeans were planted in polybags with 6 kg of Alfisol soil media and fertilizer. The bags were perforated with 16 holes at approximately 1 to 2 cm from the base and put into a water container. The container was immersed in water levels of 5 cm and 10 cm. The application of these immersions was carried out in four stages: 0 to 15 days after planting (DAP), 15 to 30 DAP, 30 to 45 DAP, and continued until harvest. Observations of growth were carried out on the greenness of leaves, plant height, leaf area, root length, and dry weight of plants, and soil water content was checked every two weeks. The yield measured after harvest consisted of the number of pods, the number of seeds/plants, weight of 100 seeds, and weight of seeds per plants. The water level had a significant effect on plant height, dry weight, leaf greenness, number of pods, and number of seeds/plants. The immersion stage has significant effects on plant height, harvest age, dry weight, leaf greenness, number of pods, and number of seeds/plants. Continuous immersion in a water level of 5 cm has shown the best yield on number of pods (20.81) and number of seeds per plant (162.94). This treatment increased seed yield (seed weight) approximately by 19.23% compared to the field capacity.
The Quality of Recovery after Dexamethasone, Ondansetron, or Placebo Administration in Patients Undergoing Lower Limbs Orthopedic Surgery under Spinal Anesthesia Using Intrathecal Morphine. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Moro Eduardo Toshiyuki , Ferreira Miguel Antônio Teixeira , Gonçalves Renyer dos Santos , Vargas Roberta Costa , Calil Samira Joverno , Soranz Maria Alice , Bloomstone Joshua
Published: May 2020

Intrathecal morphine is widely and successfully used to prevent postoperative pain after orthopedic surgery, but it is frequently associated with side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone or ondansetron when compared to placebo to reduce the occurrence of these undesirable effects and, consequently, to improve the quality of recovery based on patient’s perspective. Methods. One hundred and thirty-five patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia using bupivacaine and morphine were randomly assigned to receive IV dexamethasone, ondansetron, or saline. On the morning following surgery, a quality of recovery questionnaire (QoR-40) was completed. Results. No differences were detected in the global and dimensional QoR-40 scores following surgery; however, following postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge, pain scores were higher in patients receiving ondansetron compared with patients who received dexamethasone. Conclusion. Neither ondansetron nor dexamethasone improves the quality of recovery after lower limbs orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia using intrathecal morphine.
Clinical Impact of CD25/CD123 Coexpression in Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients
Authors: Aref Salah , El Agdar Mohamed , Khaled Nada , Ibrahim Lamyaa , El-Ghonemy Mohamed S.
Published: May 2020

This study aimed to determine the clinical impact of CD25+/CD123+ coexpression in adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cases. One hundred and twenty newly diagnosed B-ALL patients (≤60 years old) were included in this study. CD123 and CD25 expression on leukemic blast cells were assessed using flow cytometry. CD25+/CD123+ coexpression was detected in 40/120 B-ALL patients (33.3%). All B-ALL patients showed CD25+/CD123+ coexpression had lower induction of remission response and shorter overall survival as compared to B-ALL cases lacking coexpression. In conclusion, CD25+/CD123+ positive coexpression is a reliable flow cytometry marker for prediction of the outcome of adult B-ALL patients and could be used as a novel parameter for risk stratification of adult B-ALL cases.
Use of Artificial Neural Networks and Multiple Linear Regression Model for the Prediction of Dissolved Oxygen in Rivers: Case Study of Hydrographic Basin of River Nyando, Kenya
Authors: Ouma Yashon O. , Okuku Clinton O. , Njau Evalyne N.
Published: May 2020

The process of predicting water quality over a catchment area is complex due to the inherently nonlinear interactions between the water quality parameters and their temporal and spatial variability. The empirical, conceptual, and physical distributed models for the simulation of hydrological interactions may not adequately represent the nonlinear dynamics in the process of water quality prediction, especially in watersheds with scarce water quality monitoring networks. To overcome the lack of data in water quality monitoring and prediction, this paper presents an approach based on the feedforward neural network (FNN) model for the simulation and prediction of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Nyando River basin in Kenya. To understand the influence of the contributing factors to the DO variations, the model considered the inputs from the available water quality parameters (WQPs) including discharge, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, turbidity, temperature, total phosphates (TPs), and total nitrates (TNs) as the basin land-use and land-cover (LULC) percentages. The performance of the FNN model is compared with the multiple linear regression (MLR) model. For both FNN and MLR models, the use of the eight water quality parameters yielded the best DO prediction results with respective Pearson correlation coefficient R values of 0.8546 and 0.6199. In the model optimization, EC, TP, TN, pH, and temperature were most significant contributing water quality parameters with 85.5% in DO prediction. For both models, LULC gave the best results with successful prediction of DO at nearly 98% degree of accuracy, with the combination of LULC and the water quality parameters presenting the same degree of accuracy for both FNN and MLR models.
Performance Evaluation and Disruption Recovery for Military Supply Chain Network
Authors: Xiong Biao , Fan Rong , Wang Shuai , Li Bixin , Wang Can
Published: May 2020

The performance of military supply chain networks (MSCNs) against disruptions is an important consideration for defense logistics decision making, and it is crucial to evaluate it scientifically and accurately. This paper highlights the problem from the perspective of targeted defense strategies before being attacked and analyzes the acceptable recovery time against attacks. A topological structure model, with three exclusive features, in contrast with traditional networks, is used to describe the structure of military supply chain networks. In order to provide a platform for evaluating performance, a simulation method based on exploratory analysis is presented. Considering supply capability against disruptions and the acceptable recovery time for an MSCN after disruptions, evaluation metrics including supply capability and disruption recovery are proposed. By applying the model and algorithms to a POL supply network in a theater, we obtain the values of supply capability and disruption recovery against different disruptions. We also identify the key entities which can easily cause catastrophic failure to this network and which need to be protected against carefully. The results show that new evaluation metrics can capture important performance requirements for military supply chain networks. We also find that the proposed method in this paper can solve the problem of evaluating performance and analyzing disruption recovery in a feasible and effective manner.
Lysophosphatidic Acid Reduces Microregional Oxygen Supply/Consumption Balance after Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion
Authors: Weiss Harvey R. , Mellender Scott J. , Kiss Geza K. , Chiricolo Antonio , Liu Xia , Chi Oak Z.
Published: May 2020

Background: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a small phospholipid-signaling molecule, which can alter responses to stress in the central nervous system. Objective: We hypothesized that exogenous LPA would increase the size of infarct and reduce microregional O2 supply/consumption balance after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods: This was tested in isoflurane-anesthetized rats with middle cerebral artery blockade for 1 h and reperfusion for 2 h with or without LPA (1 mg/kg, at 30, 60, and 90 min after reperfusion). Regional cerebral blood flow was determined using a C14-iodoantipyrine autoradiographic technique. Regional small-vessel (20–60 µm in diameter) arterial and venous oxygen saturations were determined microspectrophotometrically. Results: There were no significant hemodynamic or arterial blood gas differences between groups. The control ischemic-reperfused cortex had a similar O2 consumption to the contralateral cortex. However, microregional O2 supply/consumption balance was significantly reduced in the ischemic-reperfused cortex with many areas of low O2 saturation (43 of 80 veins with O2 saturation below 50%). LPA did not significantly alter cerebral blood flow, but it did significantly increase O2 extraction and consumption of the ischemic-reperfused region. It also significantly increased the number of small veins with low O2 saturations in the reperfused region (76 of 80 veins with O2 saturation below 50%). This was associated with a significantly increased cortical infarct size after LPA administration (11.4 ± 0.5% control vs. 16.4 ± 0.6% LPA). Conclusion: This suggests that LPA reduces cell survival and that it is associated with an increase in the number of small microregions with reduced local oxygen balance after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.
Cerebral Hemodynamics Are Not Affected by the Size of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Authors: Kim Eun Sun , Kaiser Jeffrey R. , Rios Danielle R. , Bornemeier Renee A. , Rhee Christopher J.
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Although patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been implicated to play a role in the development of cerebral ischemia and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) through a cerebral steal phenomenon, there is conflicting data on the impact of PDA size on cerebral blood flow (CBF). Cerebral autoregulation is the brain’s innate protective mechanism to maintain constant CBF despite changes in blood pressure, and it is unclear if it is influenced by PDA hemodynamics. Objective: To delineate the relationship between PDA size and CBF velocity (CBFv) in premature infants. Methods: 113 premature infants born at 23–29 weeks’ gestation had echocardiograms performed during the first week after birth to evaluate for PDA. The infants were divided into 3 groups according to PDA size: none-to-small, moderate, or large. All infants had continuous recordings of umbilical artery blood pressure (ABP) and CBFv during the first week after birth. Critical closing pressure (CrCP) was calculated from ABP and CBFv tracings. Diastolic closing margin (DCM), defined as diastolic blood pressure minus CrCP, was calculated as a marker for the risk of developing IVH. Results: Infants with a large PDA (n = 16) had the lowest ABP across all phases of the cardiac cycle (systole [p = 0.003], mean [p = 0.005], and diastole [p = 0.012]) compared to infants with a moderate (n = 19) or none-to-small PDA (n = 78). Despite blood pressure being different, systolic, mean, and diastolic CBFv were not different across groups. Cerebral autoregulation, as measured during systole, was intact regardless of the PDA size. CrCP and DCM were also not different across groups. Conclusions: In this cohort, CBFv and cerebral autoregulation during systole were not influenced by PDA size. Intact cerebral autoregulation may play a role in maintaining CBFv regardless of PDA size and differences in ABP.
Deep Brain Stimulation Results in Greater Symptomatic Improvement in Tourette Syndrome than Conservative Measures: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mahajan Uma V. , Purger David A. , Mantovani Alessandra , Williams Nolan R. , Espil Flint M. , Han Summer S. , Stein Sherman C. , Halpern Casey H.
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a safe and effective therapy for refractory Tourette syndrome (TS). Recent studies have identified several neural targets as effective in reducing TS symptoms with DBS, but, to our knowledge, none has compared the effectiveness of DBS with conservative therapy. Methods: A literature review was performed to identify studies investigating adult patient outcomes reported as Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores after DBS surgery, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. Data were pooled using a random-effects model of inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis (n = 168 for DBS, n = 131 for medications, and n = 154 for behavioral therapy). Results: DBS resulted in a significantly greater reduction in YGTSS total score (49.9 ± 17.5%) than pharmacotherapy (22.5 ± 15.2%, p = 0.001) or psychotherapy (20.0 ± 11.3%, p < 0.001), with a complication (adverse effect) rate of 0.15/case, 1.13/case, and 0.60/case, respectively. Conclusion: Our data suggest that adult patients with refractory TS undergoing DBS experience greater symptomatic improvement with surprisingly low morbidity than can be obtained with pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy.
Sex-Specific Differences in Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes in Acute Stroke Patients from Qatar
Authors: Akhtar Naveed , Kate Mahesh , Kamran Saadat , Singh Rajvir , Bhutta Zain , Saqqur Maher , Elzouki Abdel-Naser , Babu Blessy , Bourke Paula , Morgan Deborah , Joseph Sujatha , Jose Namitha , Francis Reny , Imam Yahia , Amir Numan , Own Ahmed , Shuaib Ashfaq
Published: May 2020

Background: Sex differences may determine presentation, utility of treatment, rehabilitation, and occurrences of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in acute stroke (AS). Objective:The purpose of the study was to evaluate the short-term prognosis and long-term outcomes in MACEs in Qatari nationals admitted with AS. Methods: All AS patients admitted between January 2014 and February 2019 were included. We evaluated the preadmission modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, etiology and severity of symptoms, complications, and functional recovery at discharge and 90 days. MACEs were recorded for 5 years. Results: There were 891 admissions for AS (mean age 64.0 ± 14.2 years) (male, n = 519 [mean age ± SD 62.9 ± 14.1 years]; female, n = 372 [mean age ± SD 65.6 ± 14.2 years] p = 0.005). There were no differences in the preadmission mRS and severity of symptoms as measured on National Institute of Stroke Scale. At discharge, the outcome was better (mRS 0–2) in men (57.8 vs. 46.0%), p = 0.0001. This difference persisted at the 90-day follow-up (mRS 0–2, male 69.4% vs. female 53.2%, p = 0.0001). At the 90-day follow-up, more women died (total deaths 70; women 38 [10.2%] versus men 32 [6.2%], p = 0.03). MACEs occurred in 25.6% (133/519) males and 30.9% (115/372) females over the 5-year follow-up period (odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.57–1.0, p = 0.83). Conclusions: Female patients have a poor short-term outcome following an AS when corrected for age and comorbidities. While our study cannot explain the reasons for the discrepancies, higher poststroke depression and social isolation in women may be important contributory factors, and requires further studies are required to confirm these findings.
A Common Metric for Self-Reported Severity of Personality Disorder
Authors: Zimmermann Johannes , Müller Steffen , Bach Bo , Hutsebaut Joost , Hummelen Benjamin , Fischer Felix
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Dimensional models of personality disorders (PD) in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 share a focus on impairments in self and interpersonal functioning to represent the general features and severity of PD. This new perspective has led to the development of numerous measures for assessing individual differences in PD severity. While this improves choices for researchers and practitioners, it also poses the challenge of an increasing lack of standardization. Objective: The aim of this study is to establish a common metric across 6 widely used self-report measures of PD severity using item response theory models. Methods: 849 participants completed a survey including the Inventory of Personality Organization – 16-item version (IPO-16), the Level of Personality Functioning Scale – Brief Form 2.0, the Level of Personality Functioning Scale – Self-Report, the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis – Structure Questionnaire Short Form, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 – Brief Form Plus and the Standardized Assessment of Severity of Personality Disorder (SASPD). We fitted exploratory multidimensional graded response models and used bifactor rotation to extract a general factor across measures. Factor scores were linked to representative T scores using data from a representative survey of 2,502 participants who completed the IPO-16. Results: When using bifactor rotation in a 7-factor model, all items loaded positively on the general factor, and the general factor explained 65.5% of the common variance. With the exception of the SASPD, all measures provided highly discriminating items (factor loadings >0.70) for measuring the general factor and reached an acceptable reliability (>0.80) across a wide range of the latent continuum. We constructed a crosswalk table linking total scores of the 6 measures to each other and to representative T scores. Conclusions: Our results suggest that 6 different self-report measures of the severity of PD capture a strong common factor and can therefore be scaled along a single latent continuum. Our results may facilitate instrument-independent assessment of severity of PD and increase comparability across studies.
Interleukin-1β as a Predictor of Glucocorticoid Response in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Okuno Hiroaki , Ogino Haruei , Ihara Eikichi , Nishioka Kei , Iboshi Yoichiro , Chinen Takatoshi , Ochiai Toshiaki , Akiho Hirotada , Nakamura Kazuhiko , Gotoda Takuji , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: May 2020

Background/Aim: Currently, there are no established biomarkers to differentiate between glucocorticoid (GC)-resistant and GC-sensitive ulcerative colitis (UC); however, interleukin (IL)-1β could be one such candidate biomarker. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mucosally expressed IL-1β could predict the response to GC in patients with UC. Methods: A total of 27 mucosal tissue samples from 10 patients with GC-resistant UC (GC-resistant group), 9 patients with GC-sensitive UC (GC-sensitive group), and 8 control patients (control group) were analyzed by qRT-PCR for the expression of IL-1β, GC receptor α (GRα), GRβ, and other inflammatory mediators. Rachmilewitz endoscopic index (REI) between the GC-resistant and GC-sensitive groups was matched to avoid any potential influence of inflammation. Results: The REI did not significantly differ between the GC-resistant and GC-sensitive groups. Mucosally expressed IL-1β levels in the GC-resistant group were significantly higher than those in the GC-sensitive group. However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of GRα, GRβ, and other inflammatory mediators between the 2 groups. We could distinguish between the GC-resistant and GC-sensitive groups with a sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 77.8% based on mucosally expressed IL-1β. Conclusions: Mucosally expressed IL-1β can be used as a predictor of GC response in patients with UC.
Heterogeneity of Adult Rhinitis for Multimorbidity and Age at Onset among Non-Sensitized Rhinitis and Mono-/Poly-Sensitized Rhinitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jeong Jae Won , Lim Kyu-Hyoung , Lee Woo Hyun , Won Jun Yeon , Kwon Jae-Woo
Published: May 2020

Background: Recent studies have proposed that clinical and immunological differences exist between mono- and poly-sensitized subjects with allergic diseases, and poly-sensitization was related to multimorbidity of allergic diseases among children and adolescents. Objective: We compared the clinical characteristics and multimorbidity of allergic diseases between adult rhinitis patients mono- and poly-sensitized to common aeroallergens using a retrospective cross-sectional study for tertiary care subjects. Methods: The medical records of 1,615 patients who were clinically diagnosed with rhinitis by an otolaryngologist and evaluated with skin prick tests were reviewed. The severity of the rhinitis symptoms, comorbidities (asthma, conjunctivitis, and eczema), family history of allergic diseases, and the results of skin prick tests were evaluated. Results: There were 392 patients with mono-sensitized rhinitis (mono-sR), 325 with poly-sensitized rhinitis (poly-sR), and 898 with non-sensitized rhinitis (non-sR). Comorbid conjunctivitis and eczema were most common in poly-sR, followed by mono-sR, and least common in non-sR patients. The age at onset of rhinitis was clearly different between adult patients with non-sR and mono-/poly-sR, but not between patients with mono-sR and poly-sR. However, the age at onset of rhinitis was much younger in non-sR and mono-sR patients with conjunctivitis or eczema than those without such comorbidities. Conclusion: Thefrequency of comorbid conjunctivitis and eczema in adult rhinitis patients differed by a quantitative trait of immunoglobulin E sensitization. Depending on the multimorbidity of allergic diseases, onset age of rhinitis seems to be different in adult rhinitis patients.
Comparison of Outcomes between Obese and Non-Obese Patients in a Colorectal Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program: A Single-Center Cohort Study
Authors: Iranmanesh Pouya , Delaune Vaihere , Meyer Jeremy , Liot Emilie , Konrad Beatrice , Ris Frederic , Toso Christian , Buchs Nicolas Christian
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Obese patients are considered at increased risk of postoperative adverse events after colorectal surgery. Objective: The objective of the present study was to compare postoperative outcomes between obese and non-obese patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort including patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery and were included in an ERAS protocol between February 2014 and December 2017 at Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland, was performed. Postoperative outcomes of obese and non-obese patients were compared. Results: Data of 460 patients were analyzed, including 374 (81%) non-obese and 86 (19%) obese patients. Overall, there was no difference in postoperative outcomes between the 2 groups. Among patients undergoing oncologic surgery, obese subjects had a significantly higher rate of conversion to laparotomy (11.9 vs. 2.1%, p = 0.01) and longer time until return of bowel function (2.38 vs. 1.98 days, p = 0.03), without increased morbidity or longer length of stay. Conclusion: Obese and non-obese patients had similar postoperative outcomes after elective colorectal surgery with ERAS management. ERAS can potentially reduce the increased morbidity usually observed in obese patients following elective colorectal surgery.
Kidney Transplant Modifies the Architecture and Microenvironment of Basal Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Capasso Anna , Viggiano Davide , Lee Michael W. , Palladino Giuseppe , Bilancio Giancarlo , Simeoni Mariadelina , Capolongo Giovanna , Secondulfo Carmine , Ronchi Andrea , Caputo Alessandro , Zeppa Pio , Franco Renato
Published: May 2020

Background/Aims: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a frequent type of nonmelanoma skin cancer, which shows a greater prevalence in kidney-transplanted (KT) patients than in the general population. The study of this tumor in KT patients may allow us to understand the influence of the tumor inflammatory microenvironment on cancer behavior, and to design new image analysis methods to determine prognosis and apply personalized medicine. The major hypothesis of the present work is that antirejection drugs, by modifying the B-cell/T-cell balance, induce measurable differences in tumoral cell microarchitecture and in the inflammatory microenvironment in KT patients compared to nontransplanted controls. Methods: In this retrospective study in an Italian cohort including 15 KT patients and 15 control subjects from the general population who developed BCC, we analyzed tissue microarchitecture and inflammatory infiltrates of BCC using state-of-the-art nonlinear image analysis techniques such as fractal dimension and sample entropy of internuclear distances. Results: KT patients showed a nonsignificant trend to a greater number of nuclei in the basal cell layer compared to non-KT controls and subtle changes in the intact skin compared to controls. Similarly, the number of mitoses per unit length was almost doubled in the patients with KT compared to controls. However, when the number of mitotic cells was normalized by the total number of cells in the basal layer (mitotic index), these differences were not significant, although a clear trend was still present. Finally, KT patients showed a nonsignificant trend to an increased ­density of inflammatory cells close to the tumoral cell layer. When considering the intact skin, this difference was significant, with a 70% increase in the density of inflammatory cells. Conclusion: Data comparing the microarchitecture of BCC in normal subjects and KT patients are scanty, and the present study is the first to use nonlinear image analysis techniques to this aim. The observed differences underscore the relevance of T-cell suppression in cancer behavior. These data suggest that BCC develops in treated patients with specific biological characteristics which should be further analyzed in terms of therapeutic response.