bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IN VIVO ASSESSMENT OF AMYLOID AND GLUCOSE SIGNATURES IN SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE SUBJECTS
Authors: YU XIAOFENG , ZHU ZHILONG , ZHENG SHUZHAN , JIANG JIAN , JIANG JUANJUAN , CHU ZHAOHU
Published: April 2021

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), characterized by self-perceived subtle cognitive impairment ahead of the appearance of explicit and measurable cognitive deficits, is regarded as the preclinical manifestation of the pathological change continuum of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We were committed to exploring the amyloid and glucose metabolic signatures related to imminent brain metabolic changes in SCD subjects. This study included 39 subjects (mean age = 71.9 years; 14 males and 25 females) diagnosed with SCD disease and 39 gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) (mean age = 75.2; 16 males and 23 females) with brain [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) images and [18F] florbetapir PET images. The standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) of PET images within the regions of interest (ROIs) were calculated. Inter-group SUVR differences were assessed by two-sample [Formula: see text]-testing and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses. A generalized linear model (GLM) was employed to evaluate the correlations between amyloid and FDG uptake. Compared with HCs, SCD subjects showed significantly increased amyloid SUVR, as well as significantly increased glucose SUVR in the olfactory, amygdala, thalamus, heschl gyrus, superior and middle temporal gyrus and temporal pole (all [Formula: see text]). The amyloid SUVR of thalamus was found to have a better ROC result (area under the curve (AUC): 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66–0.86) in the HC group, as was the case with the glucose SUVR of the middle temporal gyrus (AUC: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73–0.91). There were significant positive correlations between amyloid and glucose SUVRs ([Formula: see text]). The amyloid SUVR of the thalamus showed a significantly better main effect (odd ratio [Formula: see text] 2.91, 95% CI: 1.44–6.7, [Formula: see text]), and the glucose SUVR of the heschl gyrus indicated an enhanced main effect (odd ratio [Formula: see text] 5.08, 95% CI: 1.86–18.15, [Formula: see text]). SCD subjects demonstrated significant amyloid accumulation and glucose hypermetabolism in specific brain regions, and amyloid pathology overlapped with regions of glucose abnormality. These findings may advance the understanding of imminent pathological changes in the SCD stage and help to provide clinical guidelines for interventional management.
DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF A BILATERAL END-EFFECTER UPPER LIMB REHABILITATION ROBOT
Authors: ZHANG LEIGANG , GUO SHUAI , SUN QING
Published: April 2021

Studies have shown that rehabilitation training with the unaffected side guiding affected side is more consistent with the natural movement pattern of human upper limb compared with unilateral rehabilitation training, which is conducive to improve rehabilitation effect of the affected limb motor function. In this paper, a bilateral end-effector upper limb rehabilitation robot (BEULRR) based on two modern commercial manipulators is developed first, then the kinematics, reachability, and dexterity analysis of BEULRR are performed, respectively. Finally, a bilateral symmetric training protocol with the unaffected side guiding the affected side is proposed and evaluated through healthy human subject experiment testing based on BEULRR. The simulation results show that the developed BEULRR could perform spatial rehabilitation training and its rehabilitation training workspace can fully cover the physiological workspace of human upper limb. The preliminary experiment results from the healthy human subject show that the BEULRR system could provide reliable bilateral symmetric training protocol. These simulation and experiment results demonstrated that the developed BEULRR system could be used in bilateral rehabilitation training application, and also show that the BEULRR system has the potential to be applied to clinical rehabilitation training in the further step. In the close future, the proposed BEULRR and bilateral symmetric training protocol are planned to be applied in elderly volunteers and patients with upper limb motor dysfunction for further evaluating.
The waste rock of the Touro copper deposit in Galicia, Spain: challenges for its environmental characterization
Authors: Meuzelaar Tom , Núñez-Fernández Pablo , Martín-Izard Agustín , Arias-Prieto Daniel , Díaz-Riopa Fernando
Published: April 2021

Characterization of metamorphic rocks to evaluate waste material acid rock drainage potential is particularly challenging as commonly used laboratory methods can result in its significant underprediction. Static tests were conducted for over 300 samples from the Touro copper project and indicate that carbon-based methods frequently overestimate acid neutralization potential due to the presence of both graphite and manganese–iron carbonates. The Modified Sobek method more accurately accounts for the buffering capacity of carbonates and does not account for graphite, although aluminosilicate dissolution kinetics need to be evaluated in the context of sulfide oxidation rates. Historic sulfur assays for the project relied on methods insufficient to fully digest metamorphosed sulfides and required correction. The more aggressive Leco method provides accurate sulfur estimates and has now been adopted for the project.

Static test metrics such as the net neutralization potential or neutralization potential ratio, therefore, can give misleading results when incorrect characterization methods are employed. Such metrics should be considered as screening level, used with caution, and complemented with careful field and laboratory kinetic tests. Preliminary humidity cell testing of five Touro samples suggests that terminal pH values for cells that have become acidic closely match predicted net acid generation (NAG) pH values. The NAG pH test avoids some of the challenges associated with sulfur and carbon predictions in metamorphic rocks as it directly buffers sulfide oxidation acidity with available material neutralization potential. As such, NAG pH has been adopted as the accepted project metric for segregating acid-generating from non-acid-generating waste.

Supplementary material:
All Touro project static and kinetic test data are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5389948

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Hydrochemistry related to exploration and environmental issues collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrochemistry-related-to-exploration-and-environmental-issues
Confidence Intervals for Stochastic Arithmetic
Authors: Sohier Devan , Castro Pablo De Oliveira , Févotte François , Lathuilière Bruno , Petit Eric , Jamond Olivier
Published: April 2021

Quantifying errors and losses due to the use of Floating-point (FP) calculations in industrial scientific computing codes is an important part of the Verification, Validation, and Uncertainty Quantification process. Stochastic Arithmetic is one way to model and estimate FP losses of accuracy, which scales well to large, industrial codes. It exists in different flavors, such as CESTAC or MCA, implemented in various tools such as CADNA, Verificarlo, or Verrou. These methodologies and tools are based on the idea that FP losses of accuracy can be modeled via randomness. Therefore, they share the same need to perform a statistical analysis of programs results to estimate the significance of the results.

In this article, we propose a framework to perform a solid statistical analysis of Stochastic Arithmetic. This framework unifies all existing definitions of the number of significant digits (CESTAC and MCA), and also proposes a new quantity of interest: the number of digits contributing to the accuracy of the results. Sound confidence intervals are provided for all estimators, both in the case of normally distributed results, and in the general case. The use of this framework is demonstrated by two case studies of industrial codes: Europlexus and code_aster.
Improved Arithmetic of Complex Fans
Authors: Soylu Gültekin
Published: April 2021

Complex fans are sets of complex numbers whose magnitudes and angles range in closed intervals. The fact that the sum of two fans is a disordered shape gives rise to the need for computational methods to find the minimal enclosing fan. Cases where the sum of two fans contains the origin of the complex plane as a boundary point are of special interest. The result of the addition is then enclosed by circles in current methods, but under certain circumstances this turns out to be an overestimate. The focus of this article is the diagnosis and treatment of such cases.
[Retracted] Mediating Effect of Organizational Learning Capacity on the Relationship between Relational Embeddedness and Innovation Performance in Freight Logistics Service
Authors: Bai Pengxia , Wu Qunqi , Li Qian , Xue Chenlei , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2021

Cooperative innovation has become a critical method for freight logistics firms in supply chain management. The previous study has proved that relational embeddedness (RE) has a positive effect on service innovation performance. However, the influence of organizational learning capacity (OLC) has been widely ignored. This study focuses on explaining the mechanism of OLC on the relationship between RE and innovation performance of freight logistics service (IPFLS). Firstly, a theoretical model is constructed based on Social Network Theory, and four research hypotheses are presented. Secondly, a sample of 236 respondents from freight logistics firms in China is analyzed to test the hypotheses. Finally, several management implications and recommendations are suggested. The research results demonstrate that both RE and OLC have positive effects on IPFLS. Meanwhile, OLC partially mediates the relationship between RE and IPFLS. The findings provide practical guidance for managers to strengthen the relationship with partners and enhance OLC.
Falling-Point Recognition and Scoring Algorithm in Table Tennis Using Dual-Channel Target Motion Detection
Authors: Yang Bo , Chang Zijian , Chen Ying
Published: April 2021

In table tennis, the ball has numerous characteristics of high speed, small size, and changeable trajectory. Due to these characteristics, the human eye often cannot accurately judge the ball’s movement and position, leading to the problem of precise detection of the ball’s falling point and movement tracking. In sports, the use of machine learning for locating and detecting the ball and the use of deep learning for reconstructing and displaying the ball’s trajectories are considered futuristic technologies. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel algorithm for identifying and scoring points in table tennis based on dual-channel target motion detection. The proposed algorithm consists of multiple input channels to jointly learn different features of table tennis images. The original image is used as the input of the first channel, and then the Sobel operator is used to extract the first-order derivative feature of the original image, which is used as the input of the second channel. The table tennis feature information from the two channels is then fused and sent to the 3D neural network module. The fully connected layer is used to identify the table tennis ball’s drop point, compare it with a standard drop point, calculate the error distance, and give a score. We also constructed a data set and conducted experiments. The experimental results show that the method in this paper is effective in sports.
Research on the Optimization Strategy of Shopping Mall Spatial Layout in Hefei Based on Space Syntax Theory
Authors: Zhou Qinghua , Liu Ziqi
Published: April 2021

Shopping malls are an indispensable part of urban space and an important place for people to spend and socialize, with its internal space being the focus of shopping mall design. This paper studies the internal space of shopping malls using space syntax theory, quantitatively analyzes the three components of the spatial layout of Hefei shopping centers from a rational perspective, and explores the optimization of the spatial combination, node space configuration, and business layout of Hefei shopping centers in order to guide and optimize the internal space of the existing shopping center and provide a certain reference for the future internal space design of the shopping center.
A Decomposition-Ensemble Approach with Denoising Strategy for PM2.5 Concentration Forecasting
Authors: Xing Guangyuan , Zhao Er-long , Zhang Chengyuan , Wu Jing
Published: April 2021

To enhance the forecasting accuracy for PM2.5 concentrations, a novel decomposition-ensemble approach with denoising strategy is proposed in this study. This novel approach is an improved approach under the effective “denoising, decomposition, and ensemble” framework, especially for nonlinear and nonstationary features of PM2.5 concentration data. In our proposed approach, wavelet denoising approach, as a noise elimination tool, is applied to remove the noise from the original data. Then, variational mode decomposition (VMD) is implemented to decompose the denoised data for producing the components. Next, kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) as a popular machine learning algorithm is employed to forecast all extracted components individually. Finally, these forecasted results are aggregated into an ensemble result as the final forecasting. With hourly PM2.5 concentration data in Xi’an as sample data, the empirical results demonstrate that our proposed hybrid approach significantly performs better than all benchmarks (including single forecasting techniques and similar approaches with other decomposition) in terms of the accuracy. Consequently, the robustness results also indicate that our proposed hybrid approach can be recommended as a promising forecasting tool for capturing and exploring the complicated time series data.
Study on Flow Mechanism of a Morphing Supercritical Airfoil
Authors: Wang Yuanjing , Lv Binbin , Lei Pengxuan , Shi Wenkui , Yan Yu
Published: April 2021

In order to maintain the best performance in flight, a new concept, morphing aircraft, has been proposed, which can change the real‐time aerodynamic characteristics under different flight conditions. The key problem is to figure out the response of strong flow instability caused by structure changes during the morphing. To solve this problem, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel tests (WTT) were employed. The results show that the deformation of thickness and camber angle of the airfoil will significantly change the distribution of pressure and result in obvious hysteresis loops of lift and drag. With the increase of deformation frequency and amplitude, the instability increases correspondingly. Moreover, the unsteady effect caused by camber deformation is much stronger than that caused by thickness deformation. In addition, the flow structures on the airfoil, such as the shock strength and boundary separation location, have a delay in response to structure changes. Therefore, there will be a hysteresis between airfoil deformation and aerodynamic characteristics, which means strong flow instability.
Pulmonary Lobe Segmentation in CT Images Based on Lung Anatomy Knowledge
Authors: Peng Yuanyuan , Zhong Hualan , Xu Zheng , Tu Hongbin , Li Xiong , Peng Lan
Published: April 2021

In computed tomography (CT) images, pulmonary lobe segmentation is an arduous task due to its complex structures. To remedy the problem, we introduce a new framework based on lung anatomy knowledge for lung lobe segmentation. Firstly, the priori knowledge of lung anatomy is used to identify the fissure region of interest. Then, an oriented derivative of stick filter is applied to isolate plate-like structures from clutters for lobar fissure verification. Finally, a surface fitting model is employed to complete the incomplete fissure surface for lung lobe segmentation. Compared with manually segmented fissure references, the designed approach obtained a high median F1-score of 0.8865 in the left lung and obtained a high median F1-score of 0.9200 in the right lung. The average percentages of the segmented lung lobes in the lung lobe ground truth are 0.960, 0.989, 0.973, 0.920, and 0.985 for the left upper, left lower, right upper, right middle, and right lower lobes, respectively. The perfect performance of the proposed scheme is tested by visual inspection and quantitative evaluation.
Analysis of Tapered Timoshenko and Euler–Bernoulli Beams on an Elastic Foundation with Moving Loads
Authors: Abbas W. , bakr Omar K. , Nassar M. M. , Abdeen Mostafa A. M. , Shabrawy M.
Published: April 2021

This research studies the vibration analysis of Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko beams utilizing the differential quadrature method (DQM) which has wide applications in the field of basic vibration of different components, for example, pillars, plates, round and hollow shells, and tanks. The free vibration of uniform and nonuniform beams laying on elastic Pasternak foundation will be studied under three sets of boundary conditions, that is, mixing between being simply upheld and fixed while utilizing the DQM. The natural frequencies and deflection values were produced through the examination of both beam types. Results show great concurrence with solutions from previous research studies. The impact of the nonuniform cross-section area on the vibration was contemplated. A comparison between the results from both beams is obtained. The focus of this work is on studying the deflection difference between both beam theories at different beam dimensions as well as showing the shape of rotation of the cross section while applying a nodal point load equation to simulate the moving load. The results were discussed and a general contemplation about the theories was developed.
Characteristics of Flow Movement in Complex Canal System and Its Influence on Sudden Pollution Accidents
Authors: Luo Maoyi , Zhang Faxing , Song Zhaoming , Zhang Liyuan
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to determine the split ratio, flow-field structure, and effect of different shaped channels to sudden pollution accidents in a generalized complex canal system of a wetland park, both experimentally and numerically. The three-dimensional instantaneous velocities at a typical section of each channel in the generalized model were measured experimentally using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The results showed that the split ratio calculation formula of three parallel channels could be derived under the condition of considering the frictional head and the local head losses. The water depth, velocities, and pollutant diffusion were widely influenced by changes in the cross-sectional shape and channel plane shape. The pollutants were trapped by stable vortices and transverse circulation due to shear force and secondary flow, thus delaying the diffusion of pollutants. The research results reported herein can help provide technical support for the normal operation of complex canal systems.
A Computational Complexity‐Based Method for Predicting Scholars’ Ages through Articles’ Information
Authors: Zhang Jun , Su Xiaoyan , Hou Mingliang , Ren Jing
Published: April 2021

Many scholars have conducted in‐depth research on the evaluation and prediction of scholars’ scientific impact and meanwhile discovered various factors that affect the success of scholars. Among all these relevant factors, scholars’ ages have been universally acknowledged as one of the most important factors for it can shed light on many practical issues, e.g., finding supervisors, discovering rising stars, and research funding or award applications. However, due to the inaccessibility or the privacy issues of acquiring scholars’ personal data, there is little research to explore the true ages of scholars currently. Alternatively, scholars’ publications’ information can be obtained through various digital libraries. Inspired by this fact, we propose a novel scholar’s age prediction method based on their articles’ information. Our method first classifies factors that affect scholars’ ages into intuitive and complex types according to their computational complexity and then apply machine learning algorithms to predict the ages of scholars based on these factors. The experimental results on the real dataset demonstrate that our method can effectively predict the true ages of scholars. Given that there is no completely accurate dataset because of the continuous publication of academic papers, we then apply our method on the incomplete dataset. Nevertheless, our method still has high prediction accuracy in such situations.
Predictors of Treatment Outcomes among Pediatric Patients Hospitalized with Pneumonia in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Tsegaw Hilina , Yimam Mohammed , Nureye Dejen , Woldeselassie Workineh , Hambisa Solomon
Published: April 2021

Background. Pneumonia remains the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in young children in low- and middle-income countries. This study is aimed to assess predictors of treatment outcomes among pediatric patients hospitalized with pneumonia in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods. A facility-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric patients admitted with pneumonia, considering patient medical charts recorded for a 1-year period from February 2017 to February 2018. The sample size was computed based on a single population proportion formula and giving a total sample size of 207. The systematic random sampling method was employed to select patient cards from the sampling frame. The data extraction format was used to extract any relevant information from patient chart. The processed data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 21). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the patients’ baseline characteristics and related information. The logistic regression model was fitted to determine factors associated with treatment outcomes. To identify predictors of poor treatment outcome, the level of significance was set at

P
<
0.05

. Results. From a total of 207 patient charts reviewed, more than half (55.6%) of the study participants were males. Majority of patients, 130 (62.8%), were in the age range of 1 month–11 months. Furthermore, 191 (92.3%) patients had good treatment outcome. Patients who treated with ceftriaxone + azithromycin were less likely to have poor treatment outcome compared with patients who were placed on crystalline penicillin (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.01–0.83). On the contrary, patients who stayed ≥ 8 days were about 14.3 times more likely to have poor treatment outcome compared with patients who stayed ≤ 3 days (AOR = 14.3, 95% CI 1.35–151.1). Conclusion. Even though the study revealed good treatment outcome among the pediatric patients, particular consideration should be given to children in need of other interventions.
The Dynamic Response and Failure Model of Thin Plate Rock Mass under Impact Load
Authors: Li Feng , Dong Xinhui , Wang Yue , Liu Hanwu , Chen Chuang , Zhao Xin
Published: April 2021

The layered rock mass widely exists in mining, construction, transportation, and water conservancy projects, and the damage phenomena of plate crack and spalling often occurs in the process of coal and rock dynamic disaster in deep mining. Therefore, the rock mass nearby excavation surface is usually considered to be composed of layers of thin plate rock mass to reveal the damage and failure mechanism of rock mass. In the whole dynamic process of mining and coal and rock dynamic disaster, rock mass would bear the dynamic disturbance from mine earthquake, and at present, the mechanical characteristics of rock mass are mainly studied under static load, while dynamic mechanical response characteristics and the mechanisms of dynamic damage, failure, and disaster‐causing are still unclear. This study mainly focused on the dynamic response characteristic and failure mechanism of rock mass based on a rectangular thin plate model. The frequency equations and deflection equations of the thin plate rock mass with different boundary conditions (S‐F‐S‐F, S‐C‐S‐C, and C‐C‐C‐C) were established under free vibration by the thin plate model and the dual equation of the Hamilton system, and the deflection equations under impact load were derived based on the Duhamel integral. And then, the effective vibration modes of the thin plate rock mass with different boundary conditions and their natural frequencies were obtained by Newton’s iterative method. Based on the third‐strength theory and the numerical simulation results by LS‐DYNA, the maximum shear of the effective vibration modes and the processes of damage and failure under impact load were analyzed. The research results showed that the initial position of damage and failure may be determined by effective vibration mode with the lowest frequency; the develop tendency of which by the combined actions of other effective vibration modes and the effective vibration modes with lower frequency could have greater influence on the process of damage and failure of the thin plate rock mass, which are beneficial to revealing the mechanism of coal and rock dynamic disaster.
Crucial Music Components Needed for Speech Perception Enhancement of Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ab Shukor Nor Farawaheeda , Han Woojae , Lee Jihyeon , Seo Young Joon
Published: April 2021

Background: Although many clinicians have attempted music training for the hearing-impaired children, no specific effects have yet been reported for individual music components. This paper seeks to discover specific music components that help in improving speech perception of children with cochlear implants (CI) and to identify the effective training periods and methods needed for each component. Method: While assessing 5 electronic databases, that is, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science, 1,638 articles were found initially. After the screening and eligibility assessment stage based on the Participants, Intervention, Comparisons, Outcome, and Study Design (PICOS) inclusion criteria, 18 of 1,449 articles were chosen. Results: A total of 18 studies and 14 studies (209 participants) were analyzed using a systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. No publication bias was detected based on an Egger’s regression result even though the funnel plot was asymmetrical. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the largest improvement was seen for rhythm perception, followed by the perception of pitch and harmony and smallest for timbre perception after the music training. The duration of training affected the rhythm, pitch, and harmony perception but not the timbre. Interestingly, musical activities, such as singing, produced the biggest effect size, implying that children with CI obtained the greatest benefits of music training by singing, followed by playing an instrument and achieved the smallest effect by only listening to musical stimuli. Significant improvement in pitch perception helped with the enhancement of prosody perception. Conclusion: Music training can improve the music perception of children with CI and enhance their speech prosody. Long training duration was shown to provide the largest training effect of the children’s perception improvement. The children with CI learned rhythm and pitch better than they did with harmony and timbre. These results support the finding of past studies that with music training, both rhythm and pitch perception can be improved, and it also helps in the development of prosody perception.
Intestinale Dysbiose und Mikrobiomtransfer bei Autoimmunerkrankungen
Authors: Blumenstein Irina
Published: April 2021

Recent studies have shown that a number of common autoimmune diseases have perturbations of their intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis). These include: Celiac Disease (CeD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS), and Type 1 diabetes (T1D). All of these have intestinal microbiomes that are different from healthy controls. There have been numerous studies using animal models of single probiotics (monoclonal) or mixtures of probiotics (polyclonal) and even complete microbiota transfer (fecal microbial transfer-FMT) to inhibit or delay the onset of autoimmune diseases such as the aforementioned common ones. However, proportionally, fewer clinical trials have utilized monoclonal therapies or FMT than polyclonal therapies for treating autoimmune diseases, even though bacterial mono-therapies do inhibit the development of autoimmune diseases and/or delay the onset of autoimmune diseases in rodent models of those autoimmune diseases. In this review then, we review the previously completed and currently ongoing clinical trials that are testing bacterial therapies (FMT, monoclonal, and polyclonal) to treat common autoimmune diseases and discuss the successes in using bacterial monotherapies to treat rodent models of these common autoimmune diseases.
Hepatitis durch Checkpunkt-Therapie – periphere Immunaktivierung als möglicher Biomarker
Authors: Bengsch Bertram
Published: April 2021

Background & aims: Checkpoint inhibitor-related hepatitis (CPI-Hep) is an emerging clinical challenge. We aim to gain insights into the immunopathology of CPI-Hep by comprehensive characterisation of myeloid and lymphoid subsets. Methods: CPI-treated patients with or without related hepatitis (CPI-Hep; n = 22 and CPI-noHep; n = 7) were recruited. Phenotypic and transcriptional-profiling of peripheral immune subsets was performed and compared with 19 healthy controls (HC). In vitro monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMF) were assessed for activation and cytokine production. CD163, CCR2, CD68, CD3, CD8 and granzyme B expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (n = 4). Results: A significant total monocyte depletion was observed in CPI-Hep compared with HC (p = 0.04), along with a proportionate increase in the classical monocyte population (p = 0.0002) and significant upregulation of CCR2, CD163 and downregulation of CCR7. Soluble CD163 levels were significantly elevated in CPI-Hep compared with HC (p < 0.0001). In vitro MoMF from CPI-Hep showed enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CD8+ T cells demonstrated increased perforin, granzyme B, ICOS and HLA-DR expression in CPI-Hep. Transcriptional profiling supported activated monocyte and enhanced effector CD8+ T cell populations in CPI-Hep. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated co-localisation of CD8+/granzyme B+ T cells with CD68+CCR2+/ CD68+CD163+ macrophages in CPI-Hep liver tissue. Conclusions: CPI-Hep is associated with an activation of peripheral monocytes and enhanced cytotoxic, effector phenotype of CD8+ T cells. These changes were reflected by liver inflammation composed of CD163+/CCR2+ macrophage and CD8+ T cells.
A Call to Action for New Global Approaches to Cardiovascular Disease Drug Solutions
Authors: Figtree Gemma A. , Broadfoot Keith , Casadei Barbara , Califf Robert , Crea Filippo , Drummond Grant R. , Freedman Jane E. , Guzik Tomasz J. , Harrison David , Hausenloy Derek J. , Hill Joseph A. , Januzzi James L. , Kingwell Bronwyn A. , Lam Carolyn S.P. , MacRae Calum A. , Misselwitz Frank , Miura Tetsuji , Ritchie Rebecca H. , Tomaszewski Maciej , Wu Joseph C. , Xiao Junjie , Zannad Faiez
Published: April 2021

While we continue to wrestle with the immense challenge of implementing equitable access to established evidence-based treatments, substantial gaps remain in our pharmacotherapy armament for common forms of cardiovascular disease including coronary and peripheral arterial disease, heart failure, hypertension, and arrhythmia. We need to continue to invest in the development of new approaches for the discovery, rigorous assessment, and implementation of new therapies. Currently, the time and cost to progress from lead compound/product identification to the clinic, and the success rate in getting there reduces the incentive for industry to invest, despite the enormous burden of disease and potential size of market. There are tremendous opportunities with improved phenotyping of patients currently batched together in syndromic “buckets.” Use of advanced imaging and molecular markers may allow stratification of patients in a manner more aligned to biological mechanisms that can, in turn, be targeted by specific approaches developed using high-throughput molecular technologies. Unbiased “omic” approaches enhance the possibility of discovering completely new mechanisms in such groups. Furthermore, advances in drug discovery platforms, and models to study efficacy and toxicity more relevant to the human disease, are valuable. Re-imagining the relationships among discovery, translation, evaluation, and implementation will help reverse the trend away from investment in the cardiovascular space, establishing innovative platforms and approaches across the full spectrum of therapeutic development.
Genetic and Phenotypic Landscape of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Goli Rahul , Li Jian , Brandimarto Jeff , Levine Lisa D. , Riis Valerie , McAfee Quentin , DePalma Steven , Haghighi Alireza , Seidman J. G. , Seidman Christine E. , Jacoby Daniel , Macones George , Judge Daniel P. , Rana Sarosh , Margulies Kenneth B. , Cappola Thomas P. , Alharethi Rami , Damp Julie , Hsich Eileen , Elkayam Uri , Sheppard Richard , Alexis Jeffrey D. , Boehmer John , Kamiya Chizuko , Gustafsson Finn , Damm Peter , Ersbøll Anne S. , Goland Sorel , Hilfiker-Kleiner Denise , McNamara Dennis M. ,   The IMAC-2 and IPAC Investigators, Arany Zolt
Published: April 2021

Background:

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) occurs in ≈1:2000 deliveries in the United States and worldwide. The genetic underpinnings of PPCM remain poorly defined. Approximately 10% of women with PPCM harbor truncating variants in
TTN
(TTNtvs). Whether mutations in other genes can predispose to PPCM is not known. It is also not known if the presence of TTNtvs predicts clinical presentation or outcomes. Nor is it known if the prevalence of TTNtvs differs in women with PPCM and preeclampsia, the strongest risk factor for PPCM.

Methods:

Women with PPCM were retrospectively identified from several US and international academic centers, and clinical information and DNA samples were acquired. Next-generation sequencing was performed on 67 genes, including
TTN
, and evaluated for burden of truncating and missense variants. The impact of TTNtvs on the severity of clinical presentation, and on clinical outcomes, was evaluated.

Results:

Four hundred sixty-nine women met inclusion criteria. Of the women with PPCM, 10.4% bore TTNtvs (odds ratio=9.4 compared with 1.2% in the reference population; Bonferroni-corrected
P
[
P
*]=1.2×10
–46
). We additionally identified overrepresentation of truncating variants in FLNC (odds ratio=24.8,
P
*=7.0×10
–8
), DSP (odds ratio=14.9,
P
*=1.0×10
–8
), and BAG3 (odds ratio=53.1,
P
*=0.02), genes not previously associated with PPCM. This profile is highly similar to that found in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Women with TTNtvs had lower left ventricular ejection fraction on presentation than did women without TTNtvs (23.5% versus 29%,
P
=2.5×10
–4
), but did not differ significantly in timing of presentation after delivery, in prevalence of preeclampsia, or in rates of clinical recovery.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first extensive genetic and phenotypic landscape of PPCM and demonstrates that predisposition to heart failure is an important risk factor for PPCM. The work reveals a degree of genetic similarity between PPCM and dilated cardiomyopathy, suggesting that gene-specific therapeutic approaches being developed for dilated cardiomyopathy may also apply to PPCM, and that approaches to genetic testing in PPCM should mirror those taken in dilated cardiomyopathy. Last, the clarification of genotype/phenotype associations has important implications for genetic counseling.
Ischemic Stroke With Atrial Fibrillation: Characteristics and Time Trends 2006 to 2017 in the Dijon Stroke Registry
Authors: Gabet Amélie , Guenancia Charles , Duloquin Gauthier , Olié Valérie , Béjot Yannick
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

Because of the aging population, an increase in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is currently observed, thus leading to a rise in AF-related ischemic stroke (IS). We analyzed the current prevalence of AF among patients with IS, their characteristics, and temporal trends from 2006 to 2017 in the population-based Dijon Stroke Registry.

Methods:

We used data from the Dijon Stroke Registry, an ongoing population-based study that records all cases of acute stroke among residents of the city of Dijon. All patients with IS between 2006 and 2017 were included. Previous AF was defined if it was mentioned in the medical file before stroke and newly diagnosed AF if it was diagnosed during the diagnostic workup of patients with acute stroke.

Results:

During the period 2014 to 2017, among the 796 patients with IS recorded in the Dijon Stroke Registry, 239 (30.0%) had AF, of whom 79 (9.9% of total patients with IS) had newly diagnosed AF, and 98 (12.3%) had previous AF treated with oral anticoagulants. Patients with IS with AF had more disabilities and a higher initial severity according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale compared with those without AF. The age-adjusted prevalence of AF in patients with IS increased between 2006 and 2017 (+9% per time period), with an important increase in men aged 65 to 74 years (+81%) and women aged ≥85 years (+24%), and a significant decrease in women aged 65 to 74 years (−39%). The use of oral anticoagulant treatment in previous AF patients increased between 2006 and 2009 and 2014 and 2017 (29.3% to 61.3%,
P
<0.0001). However, 37.5% of patients with previous AF and CHADS
2
score ≥2 were not treated with OAC.

Conclusions:

The increase in AF prevalence in patients with IS could be related to a better diagnosis of this condition. The underuse of oral anticoagulation treatment was still observed.
Centrum Semiovale Perivascular Space and Amyloid Deposition in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Tsai Hsin-Hsi , Pasi Marco , Tsai Li-Kai , Huang Chi-Ching , Chen Ya-Fang , Lee Bo-Ching , Yen Ruoh-Fang , Gurol M. Edip , Jeng Jiann-Shing
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

We explored whether high-degree magnetic resonance imaging–visible perivascular spaces in centrum semiovale (CSO) are more prevalent in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) than hypertensive small vessel disease and their relationship to brain amyloid retention in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods:

One hundred and eight spontaneous ICH patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging and Pittsburgh compound B were enrolled. Topography and severity of enlarged perivascular spaces were compared between CAA-related ICH (CAA-ICH) and hypertensive small vessel disease–related ICH (non-CAA ICH). Clinical and image characteristics associated with high-degree perivascular spaces were evaluated in univariate and multivariable analyses. Univariate and multivariable models were performed to evaluate associations between the severity of perivascular spaces in CSO and amyloid retention in CAA-ICH and non–CAA-ICH cases.

Results:

Patients with CAA-ICH (n=29) and non–CAA-ICH (n=79) had similar prevalence of high-degree perivascular spaces in CSO (44.8% versus 36.7%;
P
=0.507) and in basal ganglia (34.5% versus 51.9%;
P
=0.131). High-degree perivascular spaces in CSO were independently associated with the presence of lobar microbleed (odds ratio, 3.0 [95% CI, 1.1–8.0];
P
=0.032). The amyloid retention was higher in those with high-degree than those with low-degree CSO-perivascular spaces in CAA-ICH (global Pittsburgh compound B standardized uptake value ratio, 1.55 [1.33–1.61] versus 1.13 [1.01–1.48];
P
=0.003) but not in non–CAA-ICH. In CAA-ICH, the association between cerebral amyloid retention and the degree of perivascular spaces in CSO remained significant after adjustment for age and lobar microbleed number (
P
=0.004).

Conclusions:

Although high-degree magnetic resonance imaging–visible perivascular spaces are equally prevalent between CAA-ICH and non–CAA-ICH in the Asian cohort, the severity of magnetic resonance imaging–visible CSO-perivascular spaces may be an indicator of higher brain amyloid deposition in patients with CAA-ICH.
The Globalization of the “New Wave”
Authors: Leonova Olga
Published: April 2021

Globalization in the XXI century is an objective phenomenon that manifests itself as a complex system with many nonlinear relationships between its subjects and objects. Globalization of the “new wave” has a number of specific characteristics and trends. They have led to the emergence of negative consequences and unexpected results of globalization. These tendencies do not presuppose the process of de-globalization, but they are a sign of the passage from one model of globalization to another, from the monocentric structure of the world to the polycentric one, which affords ground for its nomination as “non-global globalization”. The article compares the approaches and achievements of Russian and Western globalistics.
The Intertextual Rhetoric of the Apostrophe to Zion (11QPsa XXII, 1–15)
Authors: Kim Hyun Woo
Published: April 2021

Considerable agreement has existed concerning the intertextual relations between the Apostrophe to Zion (Ap Zion) and Third Isaiah. But I propose to reread Ap Zion as a literary and theological response to the most famous lament over Zion, exemplified in the book of Lamentations. The common acrostic feature and leitmotif of Zion shared by Lamentations and Ap Zion clearly reflect the latter’s deliberate attention to the former. In this reconsideration, I argue that the much-acclaimed intertextuality between Ap Zion and Third Isaiah is the consequence of the pre-established Isaianic inner-biblical allusion (Second Isaiah) to Lamentations. To expand on this proposal, the paper will explore the multilayered intertextuality between Lam 2, Isa 49, and Ap Zion through classifying their lexical, thematic, structural, and theological associations.
Dawud al-Fatani’s Thoughts on Marriage in Īḍāḥu l-Bāb li-Murīdi l-Nikāḥ bi-l-Ṣawāb
Authors: Noor Zanariah , Lee Nazirah
Published: April 2021

This paper examines Sheikh Dawud al-Fatani’s Īḍāḥu l-bāb li-murīdi l-nikāḥ bi-l-ṣawāb (“Explanation of the chapter for the one who desires a good marriage”), which outlines his understanding and mastery of the jurisprudence of Islamic family law. Al-Fatani is a renowned nineteenth-century Malay Muslim scholar, and his work is widely referred to in Islamic education institutions in the region. A close scrutiny of Īḍāḥu l-bāb offers a profound understanding of nineteenth-century Malay Muslims’ view of the institution of marriage. The foci of this paper include the general concept of marriage in Islam; guidelines on spouse selection; the obligations of both husband and wife; and the law on inter-religious marriage. In summary, al-Fatani shows that marriage requires a meticulous consideration of all parties involved; after all, family is a paramount social unit that needs to be preserved to ensure stability in the development of a society.
Islamic Heritage and Morisco Identity
Authors: Debasa Ana María Carballeira
Published: April 2021

Through an assessment of the data recorded in two books of habices (Span., libros de habices – inventories of goods from Islamic pious endowments) dated 1527 and 1530, this study examines the situation of Morisco women in the Alpujarra, a rural area of Granada, just three decades after the forced conversion of the Muslim population to Christianity. Various aspects of the economic and social position of these women are explored, paying particular attention to their participation in the legal framework related to property ownership and the transfer of their possessions in the form of bequests. Although the study focuses primarily on the Morisco period, its most immediate precedent, Islamic and Mudéjar Granada, is not forgotten.
Between City, King, and Empire: Will the Real “Lady of Byblos” Please Stand Up?
Authors: Stahl Michael J.
Published: April 2021

Who was the goddess known anciently as the “Lady of Byblos”? Typically, scholars have tried to answer this question by identifying the goddess’s “true” proper name. By contrast, this article emphasizes the goddess’s primary identification by the city of Byblos as a social-political community in order to analyze the Lady of Byblos’s role in shaping Late Bronze Age Byblos’s political landscape, which included imperial, royal, and collective modes of governance. The goddess’s place in Byblos’s political-religious economy thus serves as a fruitful case study for better conceptualizing through the lens of religion the complex range of potential interactions in the ancient world between centralizing and decentralizing political forces as parts of a single social-political system. In this way, the Lady of Byblos may “stand up” not only as an integral member of Byblos’s social order and religious life, but also as an example of the fundamental role that deities played in shaping ancient political realities.
The Italian Legislature and International and EU Obligations of Domestic Criminalisation
Authors: Longobardo Marco
Published: April 2021

This article explores the nature and content of international and EU obligations to adopt certain criminal domestic legislation, and the impact that they have on the Italian legislature. In light of relevant international, EU, and domestic law provisions, the article investigates what is required of Italy to implement obligations of domestic criminalisation. It is argued that the Italian legislature is bound to implement obligations of domestic criminalisation both under international law and the Italian constitutional law. The article ends with an overview of the legal consequences that Italy may face for failure to implement international and EU obligations of domestic criminalisation.
Subsistence Songs: Haitian téat Performances, Gendered Capital, and Livelihood Strategies in Jean Makout, Haiti
Authors: Schwartz Timothy T.
Published: April 2021

Examines how sexual and gender values in rural Haiti are expressed through 'téat', theatrical, songs and performances among girls from 10 to 20 years. Author describes how these sexual values relate to a concept of gendered capital, or what he calls a "sexual-moral economy", whereby men who want sex with women need to provide material rewards for this sexual access. He explains how this combines with certain gender socializations and views of men, unlike women, really needing sex, and socialized toward this, also by women, and thus from an early age to aggressively pursue women, and women on the other hand toward restraint, and to require material rewards. Author illustrates, through examples, how téat songs reflect and refer to these values, often through sexual metaphors. In addition, he shows how they relate to the wider social and gender context of matrifocality and subsistence strategies, notably the household, wherein women tend to be dominant over men, who supplied the house as expected price for her sex, manages production and reproduction of her daughters in it, instilling them also with the said sexual values, and with children seen as necessary for household work, as the women also engage in market activities outside of the house.