bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual-Source Procurement Strategy of Cross-Border E-Commerce Supply Chain considering Members’ Risk Attitude
Authors: Zhao Zhao , Liu Zheng , Qian Qingshan , Li Lingling , Zhao Yuanjun , Zhu Yuqing
Published: June 2022

The risk attitude of decision-makers will significantly affect the decision-making of enterprise risk management. Specifically, high risk represents the potential premise of high return for risk preference decision-makers, and for risk-averse decision-makers, the increase of risk degree will stimulate decision-makers’ aversion to uncertainty and turn to seek safer business strategies. Although there are many pieces of literature on the risk preference of decision-makers, they usually only assume the risk attitude of one party and rarely consider the risk attitude of suppliers and retailers in the scenario of cross-border e-commerce at the same time. Therefore, under the background of supply disruption, for the cross-border e-commerce supply chain composed of cross-border suppliers, overseas suppliers, overseas retailers, and consumers, combined with the risk attitude preference of enterprise subjects, this paper constructs the mean-variance model dominated by overseas retailers and reversely solves the risk-aversion attitude of a single cross-border supplier. When a single overseas retailer maintains a risk-aversion attitude and both cross-border suppliers and overseas retailers hold a risk-neutral or risk-aversion attitude, the pricing of products in different channels is analyzed. Finally, an example is given to analyze the impact of supply disruption probability, risk-aversion coefficient, channel distribution coefficient, and other parameters on purchase price, market demand, target profit, and utility. It is of great practical significance for improving the stability of cross-border e-commerce supply chain system and reducing revenue loss to study how different degrees of risk-aversion attitudes of cross-border suppliers and overseas retailers affect enterprise procurement pricing strategy, target profit, and utility in case of supply disruption.
Endpoints of Generalized Contractions in
F
-Metric Spaces with Application to Integral Equations
Authors: Mlaiki Nabil , Ahmad Jamshaid , Al-Mazrooei Abdullah Eqal
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this article is to introduce locally

α

-

ζ

-multivalued contraction and rational Ćirić type

α

-

ζ

-multivalued contraction in the context of

F

-metric spaces and prove some endpoint results. We provide a nontrivial example to show the authenticity of our main result. Our results generalize some well-known results of literature. We also present some endpoint results in both graphic

F

-metric spaces and ordered

F

-metric spaces. As an application of our main result, we investigate the solution of an integral equation.
Mathematical Physics Modelling and Prediction of Oil Spill Trajectory for a Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) System
Authors: Ju Xuanze , Li Zili , Dong Baohui , Meng Xianwu , Huang Shuguang
Published: June 2022

The catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) system usually moored a heavy oil tanker; due to its complex working mechanism and special working environment, oil spill accidents are easy to happen. Once the oil spill accident happens, it not only causes huge economic loss, but also kills the marine ecological environment. Oil spill trajectory model considers almost all weathering processes including evaporation, emulsification, dispersion, dissolution, photooxidation, sedimentation, and biodegradation. Model simulations indicated that both tidal currents and wind drag force have significant effect in oil spill movement. The dominant wind in the area is South-westerly wind during the summer monsoon and North-easterly wind during the winter monsoon, but South-westerly wind is far stronger and last longer than the North-easterly wind. As a result, oil spill trajectory is most likely towards offshore to North-east during the summer period (April to September). During the winter period (November–January), oil spill would move towards shore under North-westerly winds. Once oil reaches shore, it would stay at shore permanently and eventually sink to seabed or beach in the simulation. Although the model does not consider longshore drift by waves, oil movement along shore by waves would be a slow process. Therefore, the impact of oil spill during the winter monsoon would be limited to local area around Ras Markaz.
Research on the Distribution Regularity of Air Volume in the Pipelines of Mining Ventilation Clothing
Authors: You Bo , Yang Jiao , Zhang Yixin , Li Gang , Zeng Xuemin , Wang Siqi , Luo Xiao
Published: June 2022

In order to study the air volume distribution regularity of mine ventilation clothing, the influence of ventilation clothing of different pipeline structures on air flow distribution is discussed. By establishing the simulation models of three different structures and using software simulation, the air volume distribution under different ventilation air volume and different pipeline structures is analyzed; the relationship between the air volume of the pipelines and the frictional resistance along the course is studied. The results demonstrated that the air volume of the pipelines farther from the ventilation inlet in the transverse type and longitudinal type is larger, while the air volume of the pipelines close to the ventilation inlet is smaller, and the air volume of the intermediate pipelines is medium and relatively stable; regularity of air volume distribution in pipelines: transverse type > spiral type > longitudinal type. Total air volume in the ventilation tubes: spiral type > longitudinal type > transverse type, with the increase of ventilation volume, the air volume in the spiral type tube increases greatly, and a small increase in air volume for transverse type and longitudinal type. Based on the data obtained from the transverse type simulation, the air volume of the pipelines airflow is inversely proportional to the frictional resistance along the course.
Mechanical Properties and Electrical Resistivity of the Friction Stir Spot-Welded Dissimilar Al–Cu Joints
Authors: Mohanraj N. , Kumar N. Mathan , Prathap P. , Ganeshan P. , Raja K. , Mohanavel V. , Karthick Alagar , Muhibbullah M.
Published: June 2022

Alternative methods for dissimilar metal joining particularly aluminium and copper have gain interest in manufacturing sectors. Friction stir spot welding was carried out on the AA6061 and C11000 wires of 2 mm diameter. This research paper reported the results on microstructures and mechanical properties of the spot-welded joints, and also special attention is provided for electrical resistivity of the welds. The microstructures reveal the information of grain structure and bonding. The width of diffusion layer significantly reduced with low dwell times. For a plunge depth of 1 mm, the maximum tensile strength (294 MPa) is achieved during the higher rotational speed (1400 rpm). For the same plunge depth, lower tensile strength values are exhibited by the joint produced using the lower rotational speed (800 rpm). Hardness of the weld region recorded 70 HV which is less than Cu (115 HV) and greater than Al (40 HV). FSSW joints (0.30 to 0.34 μΩ) offered higher range of electrical resistivity than that of base metal (0.02 μΩ). The results highlighted in this paper might be helpful for both academic researchers and industrialists.
Alternate-Day Ketogenic Diet Feeding Protects against Heart Failure through Preservation of Ketogenesis in the Liver
Authors: Guo Yanjie , Liu Xiaoxie , Li Tao , Zhao Juanhua , Yang Yanni , Yao Yanni , Wang Lan , Yang Beibei , Ren Gui , Tan Yanzhen , Jiang Shan
Published: June 2022

As heart failure develops, the heart utilizes ketone bodies at increased rates, indicating an adaptive stress response. Thus, increasing ketone body availability exerts protective effects against heart failure. However, although it is the widely used approach for increasing ketone body availability, the ketogenic diet shows limited cardioprotective effects against heart failure. This study was aimed at examining the effects of the ketogenic diet on heart failure and the underlying mechanisms. Pressure overload-induced heart failure was established by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. Continuous ketogenic diet feeding for 8 weeks failed to protect the heart against heart failure. It showed no significant effects on cardiac systolic function and fibrosis but aggravated cardiac diastolic function in TAC mice. Specifically, it induced systemic lipid metabolic disorder and hepatic dysfunction in TAC mice. It decreased the content of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase (HMGCL), a key enzyme in ketogenesis, and impaired the capacity of hepatic ketogenesis in TAC mice. It preserved the capacity of hepatic ketogenesis and exerted cardioprotective effects against heart failure, increasing cardiac function and decreasing cardiac fibrosis, in liver-specific HMGCL-overexpressed TAC mice. Importantly, we found that alternate-day ketogenic diet feeding did not impair the capacity of hepatic ketogenesis and exerted potent cardioprotective effects against heart failure. These results suggested that alternate-day but not continuous ketogenic diet protects against heart failure through preservation of ketogenesis in the liver.
Water Resource Accounting Modeling and Analysis Adapting to the Development of Market Economy under the Sustainable Development Strategy of Big Data
Authors: Chen Shen , Zhu Jing , Chen Shuai
Published: June 2022

As the world’s average population continues to increase, residents’ demand for water resources continues to increase. Traditional water resource management models and accounting methods have been unable to adapt to the development of the era of big data. We urgently need to establish a new accounting model to realize the sustainable use of water resources under the sustainable development strategy. Based on the above situation, starting from the development of water resource management and market economy, this paper models and analyzes the water resource accounting of sustainable development strategies in the big data environment. First of all, according to the needs of fine accounting of water resources, we start with the microcontrol principle of accounting. We take the basic principles of the accounting identity and responsibility right generation system as the basic method of water resource accounting. This paper proposes an accounting system framework for water resource accounting accounts and related statements. In the sustainable development strategy, the impact of human wading activities on water resources and ecological environment is discussed. Finally, the application of water basin accounting is analyzed in detail. The results show that under the sustainable development strategy, the water resource accounting model integrated into the market economy development can improve the utilization rate of modern water resources and further improve and realize the concept of sustainable development.
Research on the Effect of MT+FES Training on Sensorimotor Cortex
Authors: Wang Yuan-xing , Luo Zhi-zeng
Published: June 2022

Purpose. Aiming at the motor recovery of patients with unilateral upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke, we propose a mirror therapy (MT) training method, which uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to identify movements on one side and control the other side to perform functional electrical stimulation (FES) while mirror therapy is used. And we verify the effect of this training method by analyzing the activity changes of the sensorimotor cortex. Method. Ten subjects (6 men and 4 women) were randomly divided into two groups according to 3 men and 2 women in each group: the experimental group (

n
=
5

) received FES+MT training, and the control group (

n
=
5

) received MT training. Both groups were trained at a fixed time at 9 : 00 am every day, each time lasting 20 minutes, once a day, 5 days a week, continuous training for 4 weeks, and the training action was elbow flexion training. During the training of the elbow flexion exercise, the experimental group applied FES with a frequency of 30 Hz, a pulse width of 100

μ
s

, and a current of 10 mA to the muscles corresponding to the elbow flexion exercise, and rested for 10 s after 10-s stimulation. We collect the EEG of the elbow flexion motor imagery of all subjects before and after training, and calculate the eigenvalue

E

, and analyze the effect of FES+MT training on the activity of the cerebral sensorimotor cortex. Results. After repeated measure (RM) two-way ANOVA of the two groups, comparing the subjects’ μ rhythm elbow flexion motor imagery eigenvalue E, the experimental group (after training) > the control group (after training) > before training. Conclusion. The FES+MT training method has obvious activation effect on the cerebral sensorimotor cortex.
Research on Prediction of Physical Fitness Test Results in Colleges and Universities Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Wang Jiwen , Wu Binghui , Jiang Yun , Yuan Yidan
Published: June 2022

All-round development strategy of quality education makes primary and secondary school students not only pursue the improvement of achievement but also carry out physical exercise. Physical training is the material basis for students to study other disciplines, and the core is to improve students’ own physical quality and increase their physique. Having a strong body helps students have certain physical strength to study in other courses. In recent years, in the background of the scientific era, college students in China obviously have some problems, such as insufficient awareness of physical exercise and serious decline in physical fitness. Nowadays, teenagers are addicted to games and go out to become members of the low-headed people. Nowadays, it is very unhealthy for teenagers to go out with their mobile phones as “low-headed people.” In order to avoid college students getting rid of this living condition, colleges and universities carry out physical fitness tests every year to promote contemporary college students to strengthen exercise. College students, as the main force in the future construction of the motherland, should not only master professional knowledge but also improve their physical fitness. Good health is the greatest capital in one’s life. Every year, some students fail to pass the physical fitness test in universities. It stands to reason that college students are in the age of high youth, and physical fitness test should be a piece of cake for them. In the face of the inconsistency between the predicted results and the actual results, this paper analyzes this. Based on the above situation, With the aim of improving students’ training efficiency and physical performance, the physical performance prediction model of deep learning is designed and analyzed to predict the performance, analyze the influencing factors of the model and how to reduce the influencing components of the factors, and analyze and compare the performance of various prediction models to find out the best model, so as to make the predicted value closer to the true value.
System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
Authors: Zhang Jianwu , Li Zixiao , Tong Shanhu
Published: June 2022

We studied a shipping container integrated with phase change material (PCM) based thermal energy storage (TES) units for cold chain transportation applications. A 40 ft container was used, which was installed with ten plate-like TES units containing PCM and a charging loop. An appropriate PCM was selected for meeting the requirement of the transportation of fresh vegetables (7-12°C). The charging loop was linked to a separate charging facility via quick coupling valves. The discharging performance of the container under dynamic conditions was investigated. The COP of the system was estimated to be 1.73. Economic analyses showed that energy and operation costs of the PCM-based container were, respectively, 71.3% and 85.6% lower than the same container but powered by a diesel engine (called reefer container). The results also showed that the PCM-based container was able to maintain not only the temperature range (7-12°C) but also the humidity range (85-95%), leading to better quality and longer shelf-life of the goods.
Prediction of Diabetes through Retinal Images Using Deep Neural Network
Authors: Ragab Mahmoud , AL-Ghamdi Abdullah S. AL-Malaise , Fakieh Bahjat , Choudhry Hani , Mansour Romany F. , Koundal Deepika
Published: June 2022

Microvascular problems of diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, can be seen in the eye’s retina, and the retinal images are being used to screen for and diagnose the illness manually. Using deep learning to automate this time-consuming process might be quite beneficial. In this paper, a deep neural network, i.e., convolutional neural network, has been proposed for predicting diabetes through retinal images. Before applying the deep neural network, the dataset is preprocessed and normalised for classification. Deep neural network is constructed by using 7 layers, 5 kernels, and ReLU activation function, and MaxPooling is implemented to combine important features. Finally, the model is implemented to classify whether the retinal image belongs to a diabetic or nondiabetic class. The parameters used for evaluating the model are accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The implemented model has achieved a training accuracy of more than 95%, which is much better than the other states of the art algorithms.
Lower Expression of TWEAK is Associated with Poor Survival and Dysregulate TIICs in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: He Zhengxi , Wang Sai , Wu Jinchun , Xie Yangchun , Li Bin
Published: June 2022

Background. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and the most subtype is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) greatly impact the prognosis of LUAD. Tumor necrosis factor–like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), signal via its receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), dysregulates immune cell recruitment within tumor environment, thus promoting the progression of autoimmune diseases and cancer. We aimed to explore its role in LUAD. Methods. The expression level of TWEAK was explored in Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0 (TIMER2.0) and Oncomine databases. The Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) and Lung Cancer Explorer (LCE) databases were applied to evaluate the survival in correlation to TWEAK expression. TIICs were assessed with TIMER2.0 and TIDE datasets. The expression of TWEAK protein was detected in LUAD cell lines and also in tissue samples from LUAD patients via western blotting or combination with immunochemistry. Results. Our results showed that TWEAK was downregulated in LUAD tumors compared to normal tissues in TIMER2.0, Oncomine, cell lines, and clinical specimens. Poor survival was uncovered in lower TWEAK expression of LUAD patients in LCE (

meta
−
HR
=
0.84

[95% CI, 0.76-0.92]) and TCGA (

Continuous
 
Z
=
−
1.97

,

p
=
0.0486

) and GSE13213@PRECOG (

Continuous
 
Z
=
−
4.25

,

p
=
2.12
e
−
5

) in TIDE. Multiple tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) were found closely correlated with TWEAK expression in LUAD, especially hematopoietic stem cell (

Rho
=
0.505

,

p
=
2.78
e
−
33

), common lymphoid progenitor (

Rho
=
−
0.504

,

p
=
3.79
e
−
33

), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) (

Rho
=
−
0.615

,

p
=
1.36
e
−
52

). Conclusion. Lower level of TWEAK was linked with poor survival and aberrant recruitment and phenotype of TIICs in LUAD, which might motivate immune escape and weaken the effects of immunotherapy.
Application of Nanostent Materials Combined with Sports Rehabilitation Therapy in the Treatment of Hip Injury in Outdoor Sports Athletes
Authors: Li Dan
Published: June 2022

With the rapid development of outdoor sports in our country, the condition of hip joint injury of athletes appears constantly. With the continuous progress of modern biotechnology and iatrotechnique, nanomaterials are also gradually used in the treatment of biological medicine. The purpose of this study is to use nanoscaffold materials in combination with athletics rehabilitation therapy to treat and analyze hip injuries in athletes. In this study, 290 patients with hip injuries in our hospital from June to October 2019 were studied. The hip joint injury patients were divided into the control group and the experimental group according to sex and age. The recovery of the hip joint injury in normal condition, the recovery in the pharmacotherapy, and the recovery in the combined therapy with the nanoscaffold material were compared. The function of nanoscaffold materials in experiments can be determined by detecting changes in related indicators in vivo. The results showed that there were 48 cases of ligament injury, accounting for 67.7% of hip joint injury. 22 cases had muscle and tendon injury, and 12 cases had articular cartilage injury and bursa injury. There was no significant difference in red blood cells, lymphocytes, and white blood cells after nanoscaffold material drug delivery therapy, while parathyroid hormone and osteocalcin changed greatly, which indicated that nanoscaffold material carrier therapy could promote the absorption and treatment of drugs in hip joint. Therefore, the research conclusions of this paper is that nanoscaffold material combined with rehabilitation therapy can effectively treat athletes with hip joint injury. It will contribute to the research and practical application of nanomaterials in modern medicine.
Impact of Venture Capital on the Dividend Policy of Listed Companies and Management Platform Design
Authors: Zheng Lina , Yao YongGang
Published: June 2022

This paper uses the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2003 to 2019 to study the impact of venture capital holdings on the dividend policy of listed companies. The research findings show that venture capital holdings increase the willingness to pay cash dividends and the payment level. This conclusion still stands after using the PSM matching method and other robustness methods, indicating that there is causality between venture capital holdings and the dividend policy of listed companies. Further research finds that the course of action for venture capital holdings to increase the willingness of listed companies to pay cash dividends and their dividend payment level is to increase the dividend payout ratio by alleviating the company’s agency level. Further research finds that different types of venture capital will also have an impact on the dividend policy. Foreign investment venture capital organizations are more favorable for increasing the willingness of listed companies to pay cash dividends and their dividend payment level. In addition, the impact of venture capital holdings on the dividend policy is more obvious in the central and western regions where economic development is relatively backward and is less obvious in the eastern regions. Based on J2EE, a venture capital information management platform is designed and developed. The research of this paper shows that venture capital shareholding plays an important role in promoting dividend payment of listed companies, and has enriched the research results of the value-added role of venture capital. At the same time, from the perspective of dividend policy, it has brought to light the corporate governance effectiveness of venture capital and has provided certain theoretical evidence for the assertion that capital can better serve the real economy.
Lurbinectedin Inhibits the EWS–WT1 Transcription Factor in Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Authors: Gedminas Jenna M. , Kaufman Rebecca , Boguslawski Elissa A. , Gross Amy C. , Adams Marie , Beddows Ian , Kitchen-Goosen Susan M. , Roberts Ryan D. , Grohar Patrick J.
Published: June 2022

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare pediatric sarcoma with poor overall survival. This tumor is absolutely dependent on the continued expression and activity of its defining molecular lesion, the EWS–WT1 transcription factor. Unfortunately, the therapeutic targeting of transcription factors is challenging, and there is a critical need to identify compounds that inhibit EWS–WT1. Here we show that the compound lurbinectedin inhibits EWS–WT1 by redistributing the protein within the nucleus to the nucleolus. This nucleolar redistribution interferes with the activity of EWS–WT1 to reverse the expression of over 70% of the transcriptome. In addition, the compound blocks the expression of the EWS–WT1 fusion protein to inhibit cell proliferation at the lowest GI50 ever reported for this compound in any cell type. The effects occur at concentrations that are easily achievable in the clinic and translate to the in vivo setting to cause tumor regressions in multiple mice in a xenograft and PDX model of DSRCT. Importantly, this mechanism of nucleolar redistribution is also seen with wild-type EWSR1 and the related fusion protein EWS–FLI1. This provides evidence for a “class effect” for the more than 18 tumors driven by EWSR1 fusion proteins. More importantly, the data establish lurbinectedin as a promising clinical candidate for DSRCT.
Suppression of SIN3A by miR-183 Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Davenport Mackenzie L. , Davis Mara R. , Davenport Baylea N. , Crossman David K. , Hall Aaron , Pike Jason , Harada Shuko , Hurst Douglas R. , Edmonds Mick D.
Published: June 2022

Recent work has established that SWI-independent-3 (SIN3) chromatin modification complexes play key roles in cancer progression. We previously demonstrated that knockdown of SIN3A expression promotes human breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis; however, the levels of SIN3A in patient breast carcinoma are not known. We therefore examined SIN3A mRNA and protein in patient tissues and determined that SIN3A expression is lower in breast carcinoma relative to normal breast. Given the 3′—untranslated region (UTR) of SIN3A has several conserved binding sites for oncogenic miRNA, we hypothesized that SIN3A is targeted by miRNA and found that ectopic miR-183 results in decreased SIN3A in breast carcinoma cell lines. Functionally, we demonstrate that miR-183 promotes breast cancer cell migration and invasion in a SIN3A-dependent manner and ectopic miR-183 promotes metastasis in vivo. Patients with breast cancer with high levels of miR-183 and low levels of SIN3A have the shortest overall survival. Given the critical link between metastasis and survival in patients with breast cancer, it is of utmost importance to identify clinically relevant genes involved in metastasis. Here, we report for the first time the aberrant expression of the putative metastasis suppressing gene SIN3A in human breast cancers and propose a mechanism of SIN3A suppression by miR-183.

Implications:

SIN3A expression is decreased in metastatic breast cancer in part due to miR-183.
Constitutive β-Catenin Overexpression Represses Lncrna MIR100HG Transcription via HDAC6-Mediated Histone Modification in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Peng Jian , Ma Yiming , Zhao Xinhua , Yang Xu , Wang Hongying
Published: June 2022

Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a critical role in colonic carcinogenesis. However, non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) transcriptionally regulated by β-catenin are largely unknown. Herein, we found that lncRNA MIR100HG (lnc-MIR100HG) negatively correlated with target genes of β-catenin from The Cancer Genome Atlas colorectal carcinoma database, which was verified in 48 paired colorectal carcinoma specimens. In addition, constitutive overexpression of β-catenin decreased primary and mature lnc-MIR100HG levels, whereas blockage of β-catenin activity with siRNA or inhibitors significantly increased their expression. DNA pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed the binding of β-catenin/TCF4 to the MIR100HG promoter. Moreover, β-catenin–forced expression reduced the enrichment of H3K27Ac, an active transcription marker, on the promoter, whereas β-catenin inhibition reversed this effect. Furthermore, HDAC6 was recruited to the MIR100HG promoter and downregulated H3K27Ac enrichment in a β-catenin–dependent manner. Besides, HDAC6 was upregulated and negatively correlated with lnc-MIR100HG in colorectal carcinoma specimens. Functional studies showed that lnc-MIR100HG overexpression induced cell-cycle G0–G1 arrest and repressed cell proliferation via p57 upregulation in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, we found that ectopic β-catenin transcriptionally repressed lnc-MIR100HG expression through HDAC6-mediated histone modification in colorectal carcinoma. Lnc-MIR100HG regulates the cell cycle through p57.

Implications:

It provides a novel downstream mechanism highlighting β-catenin action during colon carcinogenesis and may shed light for further therapeutic approaches.
Retention and Evaluation of Precision and Generic Prevention Materials for Melanoma: A Qualitative Study Comparing Young Adults and Adults
Authors: Crowder Sylvia L. , Buro Acadia W. , Lacson John Charles A. , Kim Youngchul , Sutton Steven K. , Roetzheim Richard G. , Vadaparampil Susan T. , Stern Marilyn , Kanetsky Peter A.
Published: June 2022

A randomized trial was conducted to examine whether providing precision prevention materials incorporating melanocortin-1 receptor genetic risk information would increase intention to practice melanoma preventive behaviors. Here, we determine retention/evaluation of prevention materials for adolescent and young adults (AYA) 18 to 39 years old versus adults aged 40+ at 6 and 12 months as an a priori adjunct analysis to the primary research question. Using qualitative methodology, open-ended questions probing most important information from prevention materials and additional comments were collected at 6 and 12 months after baseline. Descriptive statistics were performed on demographic/self-reported characteristics. Two independent researchers applied qualitative thematic content analysis to identify major themes in open-ended questions. Of the 1,134 participants randomized, 906 completed at least one of the follow-up surveys and contributed to analyses of intervention efficacy. Five major thematic categories emerged from the open-ended response data: (i) tips and tricks for sun protection; (ii) cancer prevention; (iii) risk factors and genetics; (iv) general information; and (v) intervention comments. Across all ages, the most important information retained were sun protection techniques in the generic prevention materials group and identifying the importance of genetic risk factors/implementing lifestyle behavior changes in the precision prevention materials group. For additional comments, AYA participants in the generic prevention materials group preferred more scientific information including statistics and citations for references while adults were more likely to state they already knew cancer prevention techniques. Results provide unique qualitative evaluation of AYA versus adult retention of prevention materials for melanoma that enhance quantitative findings.

Prevention Relevance:

It is important to evaluate information within groups defined by periods of the life trajectory, e.g., AYA and adults, to best inform preferences, knowledge, and motivation for behavior change. By assessing retention, evidence-based interventions can be designed to better support public health messaging and encourage positive health behaviors.
Clinical Characteristics and Quality of Life in Adults Initiating Medical Marijuana Treatment
Authors: Buonomano Lydia S. , Mitnick Matthew M. , McCalmont Thomas R. , Syracuse Paulina , Dugosh Karen L. , Festinger David S. , Lent Michelle R.
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Despite the rising availability and use of medical marijuana (MM) in the USA, little is known about the demographics, clinical characteristics, or quality of life of MM patients. This study describes the demographic characteristics and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of MM patients who are initiating treatment in Pennsylvania. Methods: Two-hundred adults naive to MM and referred for any of the 23 state-approved qualifying conditions were recruited at three MM dispensaries in Pennsylvania between September 2020 and March 2021. All participants consented to the study; completed semi-structured interviews that included demographic questionnaires, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7); provided height and weight measurements; and allowed access their dispensary medical records. Results: Participants had a mean age of 48.5 ± 15.6 years, predominantly identified as female (67.5%), and were most commonly referred for chronic pain (63.5%) and/or anxiety (58.5%). Additionally, 46.0% were living with obesity as determined by BMI. Relative to a normative sample, participants reported diminished HRQoL in several domains, most notably in role limitations due to physical health (M = 46.0 ± 42.0), role limitations due to emotional problems (M = 52.5 ± 42.3), energy and fatigue (M = 39.8 ± 20.2), and pain (M = 49.4 ± 26.0). Discussion/Conclusion: Patients initiating MM treatment experienced low HRQoL in multiple domains. Future studies could evaluate the relationship between HRQoL and patients’ decisions to pursue MM treatment, as well as changes in HRQoL with MM use over time.
Association between Early Cognitive Impairment and Short-Term Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kiyohara Takuya , Kumai Yasuhiro , Yubi Tomohiro , Ishikawa Eiichi , Wakisaka Yoshinobu , Ago Tetsuro , Kitazono Takanari
Published: June 2022

Background: Little is known about the association between poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and functional outcome in the acute care phase of ischemic stroke and the influence of the clinical condition of acute stroke on this association. We examined this issue, taking into account stroke-related factors, in a hospital-based prospective study of patients with acute ischemic stroke. The same analysis was also performed after subsequent rehabilitation to investigate whether the association observed in the acute care phase persisted after that. For comparison, the same analysis was performed for pre-stroke dementia (PreSD). Methods: We included in the study a total of 923 patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to a hospital from 2012 to 2020 in Japan. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination and Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices test at an average of 6.3 days after stroke onset. The subjects were divided into three groups with normal cognition, PSCI, and PreSD. Study outcome was a poor functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of ≥3 at the end of acute care (median 21 days after admission). Among total subjects, 460 were also assessed for poor functional outcome after rehabilitation (median 77 days after admission). A logistic regression model was applied in this study. Results: Patients with PSCI and PreSD had higher median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores than those with normal cognition (median [IQR]: 3 [2–6], 4 [2–12], and 2 [1–4], respectively). The age- and sex-adjusted cumulative incidence of poor functional outcome was significantly higher in patients with PSCI and PreSD than in those with normal cognition in the acute care and rehabilitation phases. In the acute care phase, these associations remained significant after adjustment for stroke-related factors and other confounders (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] for PSCI vs. normal cognition: 3.28 [2.07–5.20]; for PreSD: 2.39 [1.40–4.08]). Similar results were observed in the rehabilitation phase (for PSCI: 2.48 [1.31–4.70]; for PreSD: 3.92 [1.94–7.92]). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PSCI, as well as PreSD, is possibly associated with the development of poor functional outcome in the acute care phase of ischemic stroke, and this association continues thereafter.
Activated Platelets, the Booster of Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Complications
Authors: Gong Shuiqin , Wang Chenyu , Xiong Jiachuan , Zhao Jinghong , Yang Ke
Published: June 2022

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global public health problem nowadays. As cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of death in advanced CKD patients, much attention has been paid to resolving their cardiovascular complications. However, managing CKD and cardiovascular complications is still a big challenge for nephrologists, as satisfactory treatments are still lacking. Platelets, the second most abundant cells in the blood, are the major participants of hemostasis, thrombosis, and wound healing. In recent years, platelets have been reported in various physiological and pathological processes, including CKD and CKD-related CVDs.
O Professor Ulisses Leite Gomes e sua contribuição para o estudo da anatomia e taxonomia de elasmobrânquios (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)
Authors: Soares Karla Diamantina de Araújo , Gadig Otto Bismarck Fazzano , Santos Hugo Ricardo Secioso
Published: June 2022

Este artigo é uma homenagem ao professor e ictiólogo brasileiro Ulisses Leite Gomes, uma das maiores referências em morfologia e taxonomia de elasmobrânquios no mundo, e que agora está se aposentando após 40 anos de serviços prestados à Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). Aqui, contamos um pouco de sua história e de sua trajetória nos estudos de tubarões e raias e suas importantes contribuições para o conhecimento desse grupo. Ao final, apresentamos depoimentos de ex-alunos(as) e colegas de profissão, que gentilmente se unem a nós nessa homenagem, representando toda a comunidade acadêmica ictiológica.
Reflexões sobre uma antropologia das sociedades complexas
Authors: Montero Paula
Published: June 2022

O artigo faz uma reflexão das condições atuais que determinam a reflexão antropológica das sociedades complexas. Para tanto, procura fazer um balanço dos principais conceitos que orientam a construção histórica da disciplina - tais como o conceito de homem e de cultura - tentando avaliar sua adequação para a análise das realidades contemporâneas. O amor propõe novos caminhos interpretativos para superar alguns dos impasses - tais como o relativismo cultural que a Antropologia enfrenta hoje diante de seus novos objetos
Diretrizes para apresentação de dissertações e teses da USP: parte I (ABNT) 2.ed
Authors: Funaro Vânia Martins Bueno de Oliveira , Pestana Maria Cláudia , Garcia Eliana Maria , Rebello Maria Alice de França Rangel , Ayello Maria Aparecida B. , Carvalho Maria José de J. , Nascimento Maria Marta , Paschoalino Rosana A. , Cardoso Suely Campos , Lombardi Valéria de Vilhena
Published: June 2022

O Sistema Integrado de Bibliotecas da Universidade de São Paulo – SIBi/USP, dentre suas propostas voltadas à padronização dos trabalhos científicos, publica trabalhos no sentido de orientar os alunos de pós-graduação na elaboração de suas teses e dissertações geradas na Universidade. Neste sentido, dando sequência a este trabalho, traz a público a atualização das “Diretrizes para apresentação de dissertações e teses da USP: documento eletrônico e impresso”. Para facilitar a consulta às normas o Grupo responsável pela atualização elaborou o trabalho em quatro partes, cada parte enfocando uma norma específica: Parte I (ABNT – Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas), Parte II (APA – American Psychological Association), Parte III (ISO – International Organization for Standardization) e Parte IV (Vancouver). Este documento apresenta a 2ª edição revisada das Diretrizes publicada em 2009, de acordo com a norma ABNT atualizada.
Methadone Blockade of Cardiac Inward Rectifier K
+
Current Augments Membrane Instability and Amplifies U Waves on Surface ECGs: A Translational Study
Authors: Klein Michael G. , Krantz Mori J. , Fatima Naheed , Watters Ashlie , Colon‐Sanchez Dayan , Geiger Robert M. , Goldstein Robert E. , Solhjoo Soroosh , Mehler Philip S. , Flagg Thomas P. , Haigney Mark C.
Published: June 2022

Background

Methadone is associated with a disproportionate risk of sudden death and ventricular tachyarrhythmia despite only modest inhibition of delayed rectifier K
+
current (
I
Kr
)
,
the principal mechanism of drug‐associated arrhythmia. Congenital defects of inward rectifier K
+
current (
I
K1
) have been linked to increased U‐wave amplitude on ECG and fatal arrhythmia. We hypothesized that methadone may also be a potent inhibitor of
I
K1
, contributing to delayed repolarization and manifesting on surface ECGs as augmented U‐wave integrals.

Methods and Results

Using a whole‐cell voltage clamp, methadone inhibited both recombinant and native
I
K1
with a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration IC50) of 1.5 μmol/L, similar to that observed for
I
Kr
block (half‐maximal inhibitory concentration of 2.9 μmol/L). Methadone modestly increased the action potential duration at 90% repolarization and slowed terminal repolarization at low concentrations. At higher concentrations, action potential duration at 90% repolarization lengthening was abolished, but its effect on terminal repolarization rose steadily and correlated with increased fluctuations of diastolic membrane potential. In parallel, patient ECGs were analyzed before and after methadone initiation, with 68% of patients having a markedly increased U‐wave integral compared with premethadone (lead V3; mean +38%±15%,
P
=0.016), along with increased QT and T
Peak
to T
End
intervals, likely reflective of
I
Kr
block.

Conclusions

Methadone is a potent
I
K1
inhibitor that causes augmentation of U waves on surface ECG. We propose that increased membrane instability resulting from
I
K1
block may better explain methadone’s arrhythmia risk beyond
I
Kr
inhibition alone. Drug‐induced augmentation of U waves may represent evidence of blockade of multiple repolarizing ion channels, and evaluation of the effect of that agent on
I
K1
may be warranted.
Review of Long-Term Blood Pressure Control After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Mullen Michael T. , Anderson Craig S.
Published: June 2022

Blood pressure (BP) is the most important modifiable risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Elevated BP is associated with an increased risk of ICH, worse outcome after ICH, and in survivors, higher risks of recurrent ICH, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and cognitive impairment/dementia. As intensive BP control probably improves the chances of recovery from acute ICH, the early use of intravenous or oral medications to achieve a systolic BP goal of <140 mm Hg within the first few hours of presentation is reasonable for being applied in most patients. In the long-term, oral antihypertensive drugs should be titrated as soon as possible to achieve a goal BP <130/80 mm Hg and again in all ICH patients regardless of age, location, or presumed mechanism of ICH. The degree of sustained BP reduction, rather than the choice of BP-lowering agent(s), is the most important factor for optimizing risk reduction, with varying combinations of thiazide-type diuretics, long-acting calcium channel blockers, ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, being the mainstay of therapy. As most patients will require multiple BP-lowering agents, and physician inertia and poor adherence are major barriers to effective BP control, single-pill combination therapy should be considered as the choice of management where available. Increased population and clinician awareness, and innovations to solving patient, provider, and social factors, have much to offer for improving BP control after ICH and more broadly across high-risk groups. It is critical that all physicians, especially those managing ICH patients, emphasize the importance of BP control in their practice.
Rho-Kinase Inhibition Improves the Outcome of Focal Subcortical White Matter Lesions
Authors: Aykan Sanem A. , Xie Hongyu , Zheng Yi , Chung David Y. , Kura Sreekanth , Han Lai James , Erdogan Taylan D. , Morais Andreia , Tamim Isra , Yagmur Damla , Ishikawa Hidehiro , Arai Ken , Abbas Yaseen M. , Boas David A. , Sakadzic Sava , Ayata Cenk
Published: June 2022

Background:

Subcortical white matter lesions are exceedingly common in cerebral small vessel disease and lead to significant cumulative disability without an available treatment. Here, we tested a rho-kinase inhibitor on functional recovery after focal white matter injury.

Methods:

A focal corpus callosum lesion was induced by stereotactic injection of N
5
-(1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine in mice. Fasudil (10 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered daily for 2 weeks, starting one day after lesion induction. Resting-state functional connectivity and grid walk performance were studied longitudinally, and lesion volumes were determined at one month.

Results:

Resting-state interhemispheric functional connectivity significantly recovered between days 1 and 14 in the fasudil group (
P
<0.001), despite worse initial connectivity loss than vehicle before treatment onset. Grid walk test revealed an increased number of foot faults in the vehicle group compared with baseline, which persisted for at least 4 weeks. In contrast, the fasudil arm did not show an increase in foot faults and had smaller lesions at 4 weeks. Immunohistochemical examination of reactive astrocytosis, synaptic density, and mature oligodendrocytes did not reveal a significant difference between treatment arms.

Conclusions:

These data show that delayed fasudil posttreatment improves functional outcomes after a focal subcortical white matter lesion in mice. Future work will aim to elucidate the mechanisms.
“Here Lyes the Body of Cicely Negro”: Enslaved Women in
Colonial Cambridge and the Making of New England History
Authors: Maskiell Nicole Saffold
Published: June 2022

Gravestones for early eighteenth-century enslaved Cambridge women, Cicely and Jane, have sat for centuries largely unexplored by scholars despite the markers' close proximity to Harvard University. This essay re-centers the lives and stories of such women, using their gravestones as a fulcrum to explore gender, race, memory, and the construction of early New England history.
Imperial Landed Endowments (Vakıf Çiftliks) in the Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Empire: The Case of Pertevniyal Valide Sultan’s Endowments in Thessaly
Authors: Öncel Fatma
Published: June 2022

This article takes Pertevniyal Valide Sultan’s endowments as a case study and proposes an original contribution to the literature by discussing the transformation of Ottoman endowment management throughout the nineteenth century. The account books of landed estates (çiftliks), other endowment documents, and the Ottoman imperial archives constitute the basis of explaining different phases of estate management practices for endowments in the Thessaly region of northern Greece. The main argument is that, in contrastto the administration of earlier endowments in the region, the central administration of Pertevniyal Valide Sultan’s endowments expanded its control over its provincial revenue sources. This transformation became possible with the help of negotiations and alliances with several imperial and provincial institutions. This article also contributes to understanding social and economic life in Ottoman çiftliks by analysing land, production, and taxation relations in Thessaly.
The Circle of Karma and Siddhartha
Authors: Prakash Singh Vijay
Published: June 2022

For a long time, Herman Hesse’s celebrated Siddhartha (1922) popularized a version of Buddhism in the West. However, by comparing it to Kunzang Choden’s The Circle of Karma (2005), the first Bhutanese novel published in English, with its similar plot of a seeker, this essay finds the ways it displays a Westernized ideal of Buddhism. Unlike The Circle of Karma, Siddhartha actually relies on Western ideas of individualism and self-reliance.