bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Josephson dynamics of strongly interacting superfluid Fermi gases in double-well potentials
Authors: Li Ji , Wen Wen , Zhang Yuke , Ma Xiaodong
Published: December 2020

In this work, we study the nonlinear Josephson dynamics of Fermi superfluids in the crossover from Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid to a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a double-well potential. Under a two-mode approximation, we derive a full two-mode (fTM) model including all interaction energy terms. By solving the fTM model numerically, we study the zero-phase and [Formula: see text]-phase modes of Josephson oscillations in the BCS–BEC crossover. We find that in the strongly interacting regime the cross interaction terms not appearing in the two-mode model cannot be easily ignored. The cross interactions can alter the behaviors of Josephson dynamics substantially, and interestingly the alterations for the zero-phase and [Formula: see text]-phase modes are just opposite.
Effects of SiC nanowires on reliability of Sn58Bi-0.05GNSs/Cu solder joints
Authors: Jiang Nan , Zhang Liang , Xu Kai-Kai , Li Mu-Lan , Wang Feng-Jiang
Published: December 2020

In this work, SiC nanowires (SiC NWs) reinforced SBG (Sn-58Bi-0.05GNSs) composite solder was prepared using powder metallurgy route. The effect of SiC NWs on melting temperature, wetting behavior, shear properties, microstructure of the prepared solder joints and interfacial reaction were studied in detail. Results reveal that incorporating SiC NWs can develop the wetting behavior and shear properties of solder joint but has a little effect on melting temperature. The microstructure of solder is refined markedly with the addition of SiC NWs, which is one of the reasons for the increase in the shear strength of the solder joints. Additionally, the dimension of Cu6Sn5IMC grains diminishes with the doping of SiC NWs, which resulted in the thinning of Cu6Sn5IMC layer. Thence, the addition of SiC NWs may be an effective way to improve the reliability of solder joints.
Passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with few-layered MoSe2 saturable absorber
Authors: Gao Shang , Wang Wei
Published: December 2020

We fabricated few-layered MoSe2 nanosheets via the simple ultrasonic-assisted liquid phase exfoliation (UALPE) method. Typical characterizations and testing were exploited to confirm the nonlinear absorption properties of MoSe2 nanoflakes. A passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser emitting 1 [Formula: see text]m wavelength was demonstrated with the as-prepared MoSe2 saturable absorber (SA). The stable pulses were generated with a maximum output power of 215 mW and a shortest pulse width of 192 ns. The experimental data provided a solid base for the photonics applications of MoSe2 nanomaterials.
HOLOGRAPHIC CONVERGENT ELECTRON BEAM DIFFRACTION (CBED) IMAGING OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL CRYSTALS
Authors: LATYCHEVSKAIA T. , HAIGH S. J. , NOVOSELOV K. S.
Published: December 2020

Convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) performed on two-dimensional (2D) materials recently emerged as a powerful tool to study structural and stacking defects, adsorbates, atomic 3D displacements in the layers, and the interlayer distances. The formation of the interference patterns in individual CBED spots of 2D crystals can be considered as a hologram, thus the CBED patterns can be directly reconstructed by conventional reconstruction methods adapted from holography. In this study, we review recent results applying CBED to 2D crystals and their heterostructures: holographic CBED on bilayers with the reconstruction of defects and the determination of interlayer distance, CBED on 2D crystal monolayers to reveal adsorbates, and CBED on multilayered van der Waals systems with moiré patterns for local structural determination.
ESTIMATION OF SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND FLANK WEAR IN MILLING OF INCONEL 625 SUPERALLOY
Authors: AKGÜN MAHIR , DEMIR HALIL
Published: December 2020

The main objective of this work is to experimentally investigate and statistically evaluate the effects of the milling parameters on surface roughness (Ra) and flank wear (Vb) in the milling of Inconel 625. Thus, milling experiments on different cutting conditions with Physical vapor deposition (PVD) and Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coated inserts have been conducted on CNC milling machine according to Taguchi L18 orthogonal array. The effect levels of the milling conditions on Ra and Vb have been determined with analysis of variance (anova) at 95% confidence level. The analysis results indicate that the cutting tool is the most significant parameter affecting Ra while the feed rate is the most significant parameter affecting Vb. Then the linear and quadratic regression models have been applied in order to estimate Ra and Vb. The results show that a higher correlation coefficient ([Formula: see text] is obtained via the quadratic regression model with a value of 0.97 for both Ra and Vb. Finally, the verification results are in excellent agreement with experimental findings, regarding the surface roughness (Ra), and tool wear (Vb).
Studying the Influences of Temperature to the Liquid Ejection and Nanodroplet Formation
Authors: Nguyen Van Quang , Lin Jau-Wen , Pham Van Dong , Nguyen Van Thien , Phung Xuan Son , Nguyen Quoc Tuan , Thai Van Trong
Published: December 2020

The influences of temperature parameter for various values of 310[Formula: see text]K, 315[Formula: see text]K and 333[Formula: see text]K (Kelvin (K)) to liquid ejection through nozzle under the same magnitudes of nozzle diameter of 27.5 Angstrom (Å) and pressing force of [Formula: see text] Newton (N) were performed in this study by adopting the molecular dynamics simulation method. For the temperature values, almost all molecules were ejected out of the container through the nozzle and built up the liquid nanojets on the nozzle plate’s surface. Only the liquid jets separate out from the nozzle to form the nanodroplets for the temperature values of greater than or equal to 315[Formula: see text]K. Otherwise, the liquid nanodroplets were not formed for the case of temperature magnitude of 310[Formula: see text]K. Moreover, the witnesses are also provided in this research to explain for the separation of the nanojets from the nozzle plate’s surface to form the liquid nanodroplet.
Formal financial penetration and households’ welfare in Pakistan
Authors: Naz Mariam , Iftikhar Syed Faizan , Fatima Ambreen
Published: December 2020

The studies in recent era exhibit that the financial inclusion has become a scorching issue in playing its vital role while improving the lives of vulnerable and underprivileged households’ well-being. But, the microdata impact of financial inclusion on household welfare is not being analyzed to substantial extent in Pakistan yet. Therefore, it is imperative to examine the effects of financial inclusiveness on the living standards of individuals to persuade them toward formal financial inclusion. Thus, the study attempts to explore the link between an expanded formal financial system and poverty alleviation through smooth consumption levels, providing access to credit and investment facilities to the individuals. For this purpose, the household level data of Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) for the time-period of 2013–2014 to evaluate the microlevel effect of formal financial inclusion, realizing solitarily for the remittance receiving households have been used. The well-being of households receiving formal financial inflows got highly affected by facilitating the remittance receivers through instant, reliable and frequent transfer of funds. Therefore, the main objective of the study is to investigate the effect of formal financial transfers on the socio-economic status of remittance receiving and nonreceiving individuals. The outcomes of the study suggest that the household welfare is greatly influenced by the formal financial inclusiveness along with other variables such as annual income, education level of the family, number of earning members, loans borrowed by the family, land and building ownership, and the head employed are found to be positively and significantly determining the household’s welfare.
Volcanic processes and magmatic evolution of Tianchi volcano, Changbaishan
Authors: Wei Haiquan , Zhao Bo , Chen Zhengquan , Yu Hongmei
Published: December 2020

The Changbaishan volcanic field located on the Gaima (Gaema, Gaiman) Plateau has witnessed plateau-forming eruptions along with the uplift of the Gaima Plateau. The Tianchi basaltic lava shield volcano was formed at the main peak of Changbaishan, with cone construction eruptions that formed a huge and steep trachytic composite cone on the gentle lava shield. At the peak of the Millennium Eruption (ME), the height of the eruption column reached 25 km and the bulk volume of tephra was about 120 km
3
. The ME eventually formed Tianchi caldera, after which several eruptions occurred, albeit of a much smaller scale. The magmas involved in the shield-forming eruptions are characterized by both alkalic series trachybasalt and basaltic trachyandesite and subalkalic tholeiite and basaltic andesite. In the cone-construction and ignimbrite-forming eruption stages, the magma is completely composed of alkalic series trachyte and comendite. The largest negative Eu anomalies observed in ME magmas indicate that plagioclase was strongly crystallized and differentiated.
DSM-5 Level of Personality Functioning: Refocusing Personality Disorder on What It Means to Be Human
Authors: Sharp Carla , Wall Kiana
Published: December 2020

Level of Personality Functioning (LPF) represents the entry criterion (Criterion A) of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It is defined as a dimensional general severity criterion common to all personality disorders and conceptually independent of personality types or traits, and it represents maladaptive self (identity and self-direction) and interpersonal (empathy and intimacy) functioning. We review the history, measurement, and significance of LPF. We show that the inclusion of LPF in the AMPD is well justified if it is defined as a general adaptive failure of a subjective intrapsychic system needed to fulfill adult life tasks. If so defined, LPF distinguishes itself from maladaptive traits (Criterion B of the AMPD) and captures the contribution humans make as agentic authors to the interpretation and management of the self. While Criterion B maladaptive traits provide important descriptive nuance to manifestations of personality pathology, maladaptive LPF is conditional to the diagnosis of personality disorder.
Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of the Stainless Steel/α-PbO2-ZrO2/β-PbO2-ZrO2-CNT Composite Anode
Authors: Liu Jianhua , Chen Buming , Chen Sheng , Wang Shichuan , Guo Zhongcheng
Published: December 2020

A novel stainless steel/α-PbO2-ZrO2/β-PbO2-ZrO2 (30 g l−1)-CNT (10 g l−1) modified by carbon nanotube (CNT) and ZrO2 co-doping was prepared by pulse electrodeposition. The effect of ZrO2 and CNT concentration on the chemical composition, surface morphology, electrocatalytic activity and corrosion resistance of the composite anode materials was studied by anodic polarization curve (LSV), cyclic voltammetry curve (CV), Tafel curve, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the surface of the electrode modified by CNT (30 g l−1) and ZrO2 (10 g l−1) has a larger active area and smaller crystallite particles. The formed deposit is flat, dense and crack-free. The electrode has more corrosion resistance. Compared with the stainless steel/α-PbO2-ZrO2/β-PbO2 and the stainless steel/α-PbO2-ZrO2/β-PbO2-ZrO2 (30 g l−1) anode, the stainless steel/α-PbO2-ZrO2/β-PbO2-ZrO2 (30 g l−1)-CNT (10 g l−1) anode has a lower oxygen evolution potential, better electrocatalytic activity, and stronger corrosion resistance.
Emergency Tracheal Intubation in Patients with COVID-19: Experience from a UK Centre
Authors: Gandhi Ajay , Sokhi Jagdish , Lockie Chris , Ward Patrick A.
Published: December 2020

This retrospective observational case series describes a single centre’s preparations and experience of 53 emergency tracheal intubations in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure. The findings of a contemporaneous online survey exploring technical and nontechnical aspects of airway management, completed by intubation team members, are also presented. Preparations included developing a COVID-19 intubation standard operating procedure and checklist, dedicated airway trolleys, a consultant-led mobile intubation team, and an airway education programme. Tracheal intubation was successful in all patients. Intubation first-pass success rate was 85%, first-line videolaryngoscopy use 79%, oxygen desaturation 49%, and hypotension 21%. Performance was consistent across all clinical areas. The main factor impeding first-pass success was larger diameter tracheal tubes. The majority of intubations was performed by consultant anaesthetists. Nonconsultant intubations demonstrated higher oxygen desaturation rates (75% vs. 45%,p=0.610) and lower first-pass success (0% vs. 92%,p<0.001). Survey respondents (n = 29) reported increased anxiety at the start of the pandemic, with statistically significant reduction as the pandemic progressed (median: 4/5 very high vs. 2/5 low anxiety,p<0.001). Reported procedural/environmental challenges included performing tasks in personal protective equipment (62%), remote-site working (48%), and modification of normal practices (41%)—specifically, the use of larger diameter tracheal tubes (21%). Hypoxaemia was identified by 90% of respondents as the most challenging patient-related factor during intubations. Our findings demonstrate that a consultant-led mobile intubation team can safely perform tracheal intubation in critically ill COVID-19 patients across all clinical areas, aided by thorough preparation and training, despite heightened anxiety levels.
A Novel DIBR 3D Image Hashing Scheme Based on Pixel Grouping and NMF
Authors: Cui Chen , Wu Xujun , Yang Jun , Li Juyan
Published: December 2020

Most of the traditional 2D image hashing schemes do not take into account the change of viewpoint when constructing the final hash vector. This result in the classification accuracy rate is unsatisfactory when applied for depth-image-based rendering (DBIR) 3D image identification. In this work, pixel grouping based on histogram shape and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) are applied to design DIBR 3D image hashing with better robustness resisting to geometric distortions and higher classification accuracy rate for virtual image identification. Experiments show that the proposed hashing is robust against common signal and geometric distortion attacks, such as additive noise, blurring, JPEG compression, scaling, and rotation. Compared with the state-of-art schemes of traditional 2D image hashing, the proposed hashing achieves better performances under above attacks, especially for virtual image identification.
Scalable THz Network-On-Chip Architecture for Multichip Systems
Authors: Tahanian Esmaeel , Tajary Alireza , Rezvani Mohsen , Fateh Mansoor
Published: December 2020

While THz wireless network-on-chip (WiNoC) introduces considerably high bandwidth, due to the high path loss, it cannot be used for communication between far apart nodes, especially in a multichip architecture. In this paper, we introduce a cellular and scalable architecture to reuse the frequencies of the chips. Moreover, we use a novel structure called parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) that is suitable for interchip communication. The low-loss property of this waveguide lets us increase the number of chips. Each chip has a wireless node as a gateway for communicating with other chips. To shorten the length of intra- and interchip THz links, the optimum configuration is determined by leveraging the multiobjective simulating annealing (SA) algorithm. Finally, we compare the performance of the proposed THz multichip NoC with a conventional millimeter-wave one. Our simulation results indicate that when the system scales up from four to sixteen chips, the throughput of our design is decreased about

5.8
%

, while for millimeter-wave NoC, this reduction is about

21
%

. Furthermore, the average latency growth of our system is only

1
%

compared with about

40
%

increase for the millimeter-wave NoC.
A Privacy-Preserving Attack-Resistant Trust Model for Internet of Vehicles Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Junejo Muhammad Haleem , Ab Rahman Ab Al-Hadi , Shaikh Riaz Ahmed , Mohamad Yusof Kamaludin , Memon Imran , Fazal Hadiqua , Kumar Dileep
Published: December 2020

The Internet of things (IoT) and advancements of wireless technology have evolved intelligent transport systems to integrate billion of smart objects ready to connect to the Internet. The modern era of the Internet of things (IoT) has brought significant development in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) which transformed the conventional VANET into the Internet of Vehicle (IoV) to improve road safety and diminished road congestion. However, security threats are increasing due to dependency on infrastructure, computing, dynamic nature, and control technologies of VANET. The security threats of VANETs could be addressed comprehensively by increasing trustworthiness on the message received and transmitting node. Conversely, the presence of dishonest vehicles, for instance, Man in the Middle (MiTM) attackers, in the network sharing malicious content could be posed as a severe threat to VANET. Thus, increasing trustworthiness among nodes can lead to increased authenticity, privacy, accuracy, security, and trusted information sharing in the VANET. In this paper, a lightweight trust model is proposed, presented model identifying dishonest nodes and revoking its credential in the MiTM attack scenario. Furthermore, addressing the privacy and security requirement, the pseudonym scheme is used. All nodes in the VANET established trust provided by initially RSU, which is a trusted source in the network. Extensive experiments are conducted based on a variety of network scenarios to evaluate the accuracy and performance of the presented lightweight trust model. In terms of recall, precision, and F-score, our presented model significantly outperformed compared to MARINE. The simulation results have validated that the proposed lightweight model realized a high trust level with 40% of MiTM attackers and in terms of F-score 95%, whereas the MARINE model has 90%, which leads to the model to attain high detection accuracy.
The Poststroke Peripheral Immune Response Is Differentially Regulated by Leukemia Inhibitory Factor in Aged Male and Female Rodents
Authors: Davis Stephanie M. , Collier Lisa A. , Messmer Sarah J. , Pennypacker Keith R.
Published: December 2020

Background. The goal of this study was to determine whether leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes anti-inflammatory activity after stroke in a sex-dependent manner. Methods. Aged (18-month-old) Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes underwent sham surgery or permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Animals received three doses of intravenous LIF (125 μg/kg) or PBS at 6, 24, and 48 h before euthanization at 72 h. Spleen weights were measured immediately following euthanization. Western blot was used to measure protein levels of CCL8, CD11b, CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-12 p40, IL-3, and the LIF receptor (LIFR) in spleen tissue. ELISA was used to measure IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and IFNγ in spleen tissue. A Griess Assay was used to indirectly quantify NO levels via measurement of nitrite. Levels of cellular markers and inflammatory mediators were normalized to the baseline (sham) group from each sex. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA and followed by Fisher’s LSD post hoc test. Results. Aged female rats showed a significantly lower spleen weight after MCAO, but showed a significant increase in spleen size after LIF treatment. This effect was observed in aged male rats, but not to as great of an extent. CD11b levels were significantly higher in the spleens of MCAO+PBS males compared to their female counterparts, but there was no significant difference in CD11b levels between MCAO+LIF males and females. LIF significantly increased CXCL9 after LIF treatment in aged male and female rats. LIFR and IL-3 were upregulated after LIF treatment in aged females. Splenic nitrate increased after MCAO but decreased after LIF treatment in aged females. Splenic nitrate levels did not increase after MCAO but did increase after LIF treatment in aged males. The following cytokines/chemokines were not altered by sex or treatment: TNFα, IL-6, IL-12 p40, CCL8, IFNγ, and CXCL10. Conclusions. LIF treatment after permanent MCAO induces sex-dependent effects on the poststroke splenic response and the production of proinflammatory cytokines among aged rats.
Effect of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Thymoma Patients: A SEER-Based Study
Authors: Mou Haibo , Kong Yiyao , Wu Yingfang , Wu Ying , Yu Lanfang
Published: December 2020

Introduction: The role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for thymoma is under debate, especially in patients aged ≥60 years with an advanced stage (Masaoka stages III and IV). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PORT for thymoma in a population-based registry. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was conducted to compare the outcomes of thymoma patients with or without PORT. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Conditional inference tree analyses were performed for risk classification according to the study variables. Cox regression was performed to evaluate the prognostic effect of PORT in the specific subgroups. Results: A total of 2,236 patients were included. The conditional inference tree analysis identified that an age ≥60, a Masaoka stage ≥3, and the year of diagnosis were important factors when classifying patients into prognostic subgroups. PORT was found to be a protective predictor of OS in patients aged ≥60 years, those with a Masaoka stage III—IV, and those diagnosed after 2005. Further subgroup analyses revealed that PORT was significantly associated with a better OS (HR = 0.77) in patients aged ≥60 years, whereas it was not significantly associated with CSS. Conclusions: An older age (≥60 years) is critical for predicting survival outcomes in thymoma patients. Moreover, patients aged ≥60 years could benefit from PORT in terms of OS.
Laparoscopy-Assisted Repair for Intersigmoid Hernia
Authors: Nakaseko Yuichi , Haruki Koichiro , Neki Kai , Hashizume Ryosuke , Eto Ken , Yanaga Katsuhiko
Published: December 2020

Intersigmoid hernia is a rare clinical entity. Only 6 cases of laparoscopic repair for intersigmoid hernia have been reported since 1977. We herein report such a case, which was successfully diagnosed preoperatively and treated with laparoscopic repair. A 50-year-old man with a chief complaint of abdominal pain and vomiting was admitted for the treatment of small bowel obstruction. The patient had no history of abdominal surgery. Computed tomography showed a dilated small bowel and a closed loop of small bowel dorsal to the sigmoid colon and the sigmoid mesocolon. With a diagnosis of an incarcerated internal hernia, the patient underwent emergency laparoscopy-assisted surgery. Laparoscopy showed that the ileum had herniated into the intersigmoid fossa, and therefore the patient was diagnosed with an intersigmoid hernia. Because bowel ischemia was not observed, we reduced the incarcerated small bowel, and the hernial defect was widely opened. After operation, the patient developed ileus and was treated with transnasal ileus tube. Thereafter, the patient made a satisfactory recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 21. The patient is in good general condition without ileus 42 months postoperatively.
Social Expectations, Violence and Social-Moral Knowledge: Considerations for Developmental Research
Authors: Moreno Franklin
Published: December 2020

Violence associated with gangs known as maras in Honduras is an impetus for why people flee and migrate out of the country. Based on fieldwork with youth between the ages of 10 and 18 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, I discuss (a) that prevailing views of violence in developmental research need further elaboration in understanding the illicit and legal forms and functions of violence in a society that children and adolescents grow up in and (b) that a domain model of social-moral thinking offers more insight about violence and morality than a current model informing violence prevention in Honduras. Lastly, I conclude with a few implications for violence prevention efforts and future directions for developmental research.
Role and Function of Endocannabinoid System in Major Depressive Disease
Authors: Yarar Erhan
Published: December 2020

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a neuromodulator system with a crucial role in CNS and the reaction to endogenous and exogenous compounds and inflammation. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a basic part of the ECS which is the overwhelming causative and/or protective factor of major depressive disease (MDD). CBD interacts with brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) that responds to inflammation, dysregulations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and many more imbalances in MDD patients for which the ECS is a vital part to analyze, diagnose, and reflect the treatment. The ECS and MDD appear to have strong connections and interactions, so interest in ECS and CBD use in MDD patients is developing as a rescue resort.
Assessment of Endothelial and Microvascular Function in CKD: Older and Newer Techniques, Associated Risk Factors, and Relations with Outcomes
Authors: Theodorakopoulou Marieta P. , Schoina Maria , Sarafidis Pantelis
Published: December 2020

Background: Endothelium is the inner cellular lining of the vessels that modulates multiple biological processes including vasomotor tone, permeability, inflammatory responses, hemostasis, and angiogenesis. Endothelial dysfunction, the basis of atherosclerosis, is characterized by an imbalance between endothelium-derived relaxing factors and endothelium-derived contracting factors. Summary: Starting from the semi-invasive venous occlusion plethysmography, several functional techniques have been developed to evaluate microvascular function and subsequently used in patients with CKD. Flow-mediated dilatation of the forearm is considered to be the “gold standard,” while in the last years, novel, noninvasive methods such as laser speckle contrast imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy are scarcely used. Moreover, several circulating biomarkers of endothelial function have been used in studies in CKD patients. This review summarizes available functional methods and biochemical markers for the assessment of endothelial and microvascular function in CKD and discusses existing evidence on their associations with comorbid conditions and outcomes in this population. Key Messages: Accumulated evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction occurs early in CKD and is associated with target organ damage, progression of renal injury, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Novel methods evaluating microvascular function can offer a detailed, real-time assessment of underlying phenomena and should be increasingly used to shed more light on the role of endothelial dysfunction on cardiovascular and renal disease progression in CKD.
Evaluation of Liver Function and the Role of Biliary Drainage before Major Hepatic Resections
Authors: Yamamoto Yuzo
Published: December 2020

Background: Prevention of posthepatectomy liver failure is a prerequisite for improving the postoperative outcome of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. From this perspective, appropriate assessment of future liver remnant (FLR) function and the optimized preparation are mandatory. Summary: FLR volume ratio using CT volumetry based on 3-dimensional vascular imaging is the current assessment yardstick and is sufficient for assessing a normal liver. However, in a liver with underling parenchymal disease such as fibrosis or prolonged jaundice, weighing up the degree of liver damage against the FLR volume ratio is necessary to know the real FLR function. For this purpose, the indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test, monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) test, liver maximum capacity (LiMAX) test, 99mTc-labeled galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) scintigraphy, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and ALPlat (albumin × platelets) criterion are used. After the optimization of FLR function by means of portal vein embolization or associating liver partition and PVL (portal vein ligation) for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), SPECT scintigraphy with either 99mTc-GSA or 99mTc-mebrofenin compensates for misestimation due to the regional heterogeneity of liver function. The role of preoperative biliary drainage has long been debated, with the associated complications having led to a lack of approval. However, the recent establishment of safety and an improvement in success rates of endoscopic biliary drainage seem to be changing the awareness of the importance of biliary drainage. Key Messages: Appropriate selection of an assessment method is of prime importance to predict the FLR function according to the preoperative condition of the liver. Preoperative biliary drainage in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is gaining support due to the increasing safety and success rate, especially in patients who need optimization of their liver function before hepatectomy.
Anthropometrics and Metabolic Syndrome in Relation to Glucocorticoid Receptor Polymorphisms in Corticosteroid Users
Authors: Savas Mesut , Wester Vincent L. , van der Voorn Bibian , Iyer Anand M. , Koper Jan W. , van den Akker Erica L.T. , van Rossum Elisabeth F.C.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Corticosteroids are widely prescribed and their use has been linked to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. A pivotal role in the action of corticosteroids is reserved for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Here, we assessed the relationship of glucocorticoid sensitivity-altering GR polymorphisms with anthropometrics and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in corticosteroid users. Methods: In this population-based cohort study (Lifelines), we genotyped 10,621 adult participants for GR hypersensitive (1/2 copies BclI and/or N363S) and GR resistant (1/2 copies ER22/23EK and/or 9β) variants. We assessed the relationship between functional GR polymorphisms with BMI, waist circumference (WC), and MetS in users of corticosteroids. Results: Overall corticosteroid use was associated with a significantly higher BMI and WC in GR wild-type (WT) users (BMI, +0.63 kg/m2 [0.09–1.16], p = 0.022; WC, +2.03 cm [0.61–3.44], p = 0.005) and GR hypersensitive (BMI, +0.66 kg/m2 [95% CI, 0.31–1.01]; WC, +2.06 cm [1.13–2.98], both p < 0.001) but not in GR resistant users. Significantly higher WC in GR resistant carriers was observed only for inhaled corticosteroid users. With respect to MetS, again only GR WT users (odds ratio [OR] 1.44 [1.07–1.94], p = 0.017) and GR hypersensitives (OR 1.23 [95% CI, 1.00–1.50], p = 0.046) were more likely to have MetS; even more pronounced in only inhaled corticosteroid users (GR WT users, OR 1.64 [1.06–2.55], p = 0.027; GR hypersensitive users, OR 1.43 [1.08–1.91], p = 0.013). Conclusions: Polymorphisms associated with increased GR sensitivity and WT GR are related to increased BMI, WC, and an increased MetS presence in corticosteroid users, especially of the inhaled types, when compared to nonusers. The adverse effects of corticosteroid use are less pronounced in users harboring GR resistant polymorphisms.
Skeletal Muscle Function, Structure, and Metabolism in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Bekfani Tarek , Bekhite Elsaied Mohamed , Derlien Steffen , Nisser Jenny , Westermann Martin , Nietzsche Sandor , Hamadanchi Ali , Fröb Elisabeth , Westphal Julian , Haase Daniela , Kretzschmar Tom , Schlattmann Peter , Smolenski Ulrich C. , Lichtenauer Michael , Wernly Bernhard , Jirak Peter , Lehmann Gabriele , Möbius-Winkler Sven , Schulze P. Christian
Published: December 2020

Background:

Reduced exercise capacity in patients with heart failure (HF) could be partially explained by skeletal muscle dysfunction. We compared skeletal muscle function, structure, and metabolism among clinically stable outpatients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, HF with reduced ejection fraction, and healthy controls (HC). Furthermore, the molecular, metabolic, and clinical profile of patients with reduced muscle endurance was described.

Methods:

Fifty-five participants were recruited prospectively at the University Hospital Jena (17 HF with preserved ejection fraction, 18 HF with reduced ejection fraction, and 20 HC). All participants underwent echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6-minute walking test, isokinetic muscle function, and skeletal muscle biopsies. Expression levels of fatty acid oxidation, glucose metabolism, atrophy genes, and proteins as well as inflammatory biomarkers were assessed. Mitochondria were evaluated using electron microscopy.

Results:

Patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction showed compared with HF with reduced ejection fraction and HC reduced muscle strength (eccentric extension: 13.3±5.0 versus 18.0±5.9 versus 17.9±5.1 Nm/kg,
P
=0.04), elevated levels of MSTN-2 (myostatin-2), FBXO-32 (F-box only protein 32 [Atrogin1]) gene and protein, and smaller mitochondrial size (
P
<0.05). Mitochondrial function and fatty acid and glucose metabolism were impaired in HF-patients compared with HC (
P
<0.05). In a multiple regression analysis, GDF-15 (growth and differentiation factor 15), CPT1B (carnitine palmitoyltransferase IB)-protein and oral anticoagulation were independent factors for predicting reduced muscle endurance after adjusting for age (log10 GDF-15 [pg/mL] [B, −54.3 (95% CI, −106 to −2.00),
P
=0.043], log10 CPT1B per fold increase [B, 49.3 (95% CI, 1.90–96.77),
P
=0.042]; oral anticoagulation present [B, 44.8 (95% CI, 27.90–61.78),
P
<0.001]).

Conclusions:

Patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction have worse muscle function and predominant muscle atrophy compared with those with HF with reduced ejection fraction and HC. Inflammatory biomarkers, fatty acid oxidation, and oral anticoagulation were independent factors for predicting reduced muscle endurance.
Social Role Stress, Reward, and the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 in Midlife Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
Authors: Stewart Andrea L. , Magnani Jared W. , Barinas‐Mitchell Emma , Matthews Karen A. , El Khoudary Samar R. , Jackson Elizabeth A. , Brooks Maria M.
Published: December 2020

Background

Most women occupy multiple social roles during midlife. Perceived stress and rewards from these roles may influence health behaviors and risk factors. This study examined whether social role stress and reward were associated with the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 in a cohort of midlife women in the United States.

Methods and Results

Women (n=2764) rated how stressful and rewarding they perceived their social roles during cohort follow‐up (age range, 42–61 years). Body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, physical activity, diet, and smoking were assessed multiple times. All components were collected at the fifth study visit for 1694 women (mean age, 51 years). Adjusted linear and logistic regression models were used in analyses of the number of ideal components and the odds of achieving the ideal level of each component, respectively. Longitudinal analyses using all available data from follow‐up visits were conducted. At the fifth visit, more stressful and less rewarding social roles were associated with fewer ideal cardiovascular factors. Higher average stress was associated with lower odds of any component of a healthy diet and an ideal blood pressure. Higher rewards were associated with greater odds of ideal physical activity and nonsmoking. Longitudinal analyses produced consistent results; moreover, there was a significant relationship between greater stress and lower odds of ideal glucose and body mass index.

Conclusions

Perceived stress and rewards from social roles may influence cardiovascular risk factors in midlife women. Considering social role qualities may be important for improving health behaviors and risk factors in midlife women.
What Drives the Gender Wage Gap? Examining the Roles of Sorting, Productivity Differences, Bargaining, and Discrimination
Authors: Sin Isabelle , Stillman Steven , Fabling Richard
Published: December 2020

As in other OECD countries, women in New Zealand earn substantially less than men with similar observable characteristics. In this paper, we use fifteen years of linked employer-employee data to examine different explanations for this gender wage gap. We find an overall gender wage gap between 20% and 28%, of which gender differences in sorting across occupations explain 9%, across industries 16% to 19%, and across firms 5% to 9%, respectively. The remaining within-firm gender wage gap is still between 13% and 17%. Around 5 percentage points of this are explained by women being less willing to bargain or less successful at bargaining to capture firm-specific rents. Gender differences in productivity also explain at most 4.5 percentage points of this remaining gap. These results suggest that taste discrimination is also important for explaining why women are paid less than their relative contribution to firm output. Across-industry and over-time variation in the gender wage-productivity gap further support this conclusion.
“I Will Not Leave You Orphaned”
Authors: Asamoah-Gyadu J. Kwabena
Published: December 2020

This article responds to a simple question: What are the distinctive contributions of Pentecostalism to the making of world Christianity? We cannot touch on every conceivable point in the discussion, and thus for our purposes I identify seven major interrelated areas that ought to stimulate our thoughts in reflecting on Pentecostalism as a global movement influencing world Christianity today. This article is devoted neither to global pentecostal statistical returns, as important as that may be, nor to the different types of pentecostal/charismatic movements in the world. Rather, I focus on the critical importance of the experience of the Holy Spirit as the religious core of this stream of Christianity and the practical ways in which the Spirit has inspired pentecostal activity in the world.
The First Fifty Years of the Society for Pentecostal Studies
Authors: Menzies Glen W.
Published: December 2020

The Society for Pentecostal Studies has reached an important milestone: It is now fifty years old, what Robby Waddell calls “the Pentecost of SPS.” This article aims to tell the Society’s story over this past half-century and place that history within the larger context of the pentecostal and charismatic movements in order to shed light on the SPS’s identity and self-understanding.
How the Persian Qalam Caused the Chinese Brush to Break: The Bahram Mirza Album Revisited
Authors: Weis Friederike
Published: December 2020

This essay addresses the significance and status of Chinese art in sixteenth-century Iran through the lens of Safavid scholars, painters, and album compilers, as well as their patrons. It focuses on the album that Dust Muhammad compiled for Bahram Mirza, completed in 1544/45 and largely preserved in its original arrangement. A close examination of the relationship between the Chinese and Persianate paintings in this album—and comparisons with other paintings and drawings—demonstrates the ways in which Chinese artworks were perceived, adopted, and self-consciously adapted during Shah Tahmasp’s reign (r. 1524–76). Furthermore, my analysis of Dust Muhammad’s preface to the Barham Mirza Album and other important contemporary primary sources, such as the poem Āyīn-i Iskandarī (The Rules of Iskandar, 1543/44) by ʿAbdi Beg of Shiraz, reveals an early Safavid reluctance to embrace optical naturalism, which was strongly associated with the Chinese aesthetic. This analysis also elucidates the growing sense of a distinct pictorial style in Safavid Iran, which was thought to derive from an inner vision situated in the mind or heart of the painter. The mimetic abstraction of this Safavid-Shiʿi aesthetic, initially connected to Imam ʿAli, was considered superior to the optical naturalism of the Chinese aesthetic.
Naḫıls and Candy Gardens in the 1720 Ottoman Imperial Festival
Authors: Erdoğan İşkorkutan Sinem
Published: December 2020

In late July 1720 Sultan Ahmed III (r. 1703–30) and his high-ranking officials decided to host a circumcision festival in Istanbul that would start in mid-September and continue for three weeks. As noted in the narrative sources, among various other preparations that the officials had to take care of, the most urgent task was to construct large and small naḫıls (lit. “date palms”), consisting of wooden poles decorated with wax, fruit, flowers; and giant model candy gardens (sing. bāġçe-i şeker). Despite this concern, the sources do not provide substantial information regarding the construction of these objects. Interestingly, this lack of information is also evident in narrative sources related to previous imperial celebrations. By analyzing unknown archival documents and considering the textual and pictorial sources for the 1720 festival, this essay intends to elucidate the design and construction process of the splendid naḫıls and candy gardens, which were indispensable material objects in Ottoman imperial festivals.
An Idiosyncratic Building in Amasya? Early Ottoman Architecture and the Waqfiyya of the Yakub Pasha Çilehane-Mosque
Authors: Karataş Hasan
Published: December 2020

This article examines the waqfiyya of the earliest surviving Halveti lodge, the Yakub Pasha Çilehane-Mosque in Amasya. Built in 1412 by the Ottoman vizier Yakub Pasha for his shaykh, Gümüşlüoğlu Abdurrahman, the foundation of this building stands at the intersection of historical processes such as the development of Ottoman architecture and Sufism, and urban colonization in Anatolia during Ottoman expansion in the fifteenth century. The particular layout of the Çilehane contributes to debates on the role of form vs. function in the categorization and naming of early Ottoman T-shaped buildings. Its waqfiyya, however, is the earliest record of the practices, organization, and rituals of the Halveti Sufi order and the networks involved in its transfer from Iran to the Ottoman world. In addition to providing the Arabic text, translation, and photographs of the waqfiyya, the article discusses the potential of this recently unearthed document to contribute to the abovementioned fifteenth-century debates.
That’s what friends are for
Authors: Ramakers Bart
Published: December 2020

In 1534, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of religious life, Jan Donteclocke, a Franciscan tertiary from Bruges, threw a banquet for relatives, friends, and fellow brethren. What we know about it comes from a dinner play performed at the event, the Play of a jubilee, written by the Bruges rhetorician Cornelis Everaert. The play’s characters personify aspects of friendship: Benevolence, Affection, and Friendship itself. They presented the jubilarian with four Latin chronograms (on sheets or scrolls of paper or wooden panels) which contained the dates of Donteclocke’s birth, profession, ordination, and jubilee. Chronograms, because of their playful, riddle-like character, were ideal vehicles of humanist wit and ingenuity. The article discusses these chronograms as expressions of friendship and analyses how they may have sparked conversation among the dinner guests, thus attesting to a culture of spirited conviviality existing beyond the circles of learned humanists or well-to-do bourgeois.
On a new Melanosuchus species (Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) from Solimões Formation (Eocene-Pliocene), Northern Brazil, and evolution of Caimaninae
Authors: DE SOUZA-FILHO JONAS PEREIRA , GUILHERME EDSON , DE TOLEDO PETER MANN , DE SOUZA CARVALHO ISMAR , NEGRI FRANCISCO RICARDO , DA ROCHA MACIENTE ANDRÉA APARECIDA , CIDADE GIOVANNE M. , DA SILVA LACERDA MAURO BRUNO , DE SOUZA LUCY GOMES
Published: December 2020

The Solimões Formation (Eocene-Pliocene) is a well-known geological unit due to the great diversity of crocodylian species. Here we describe a new species of Melanosuchus, M. latrubessei sp. nov., from the Talismã locality, state of Amazonas, from the Upper Miocene of the Solimões Formation (Solimões Basin, Brazil). A new phylogenetic inference focused on Caimaninae is provided and the different evolutionary scenarios involving this new species are discussed. In addition, quantitative morphology studies are carried out and comments regarding the paleoecology aspects of this new species are made. M. latrubessei represents a medium-sized generalist predator, being proportional to the medium-sized M. niger. This new species inhabited the drainages of the Solimões Formation and was ecologically related to other taxa of crocodylians during the proto-Amazon Miocene. The evolutionary advantages of Melanosuchus genus are discussed to better understand the biogeographical occurrence of M. niger in South America, a species which survives to this day in contrast to several other species that became extinct during the Miocene-Pliocene periods. The extinction of the Miocene-Pliocene crocodylian taxa of the Solimões Formation, including Melanosuchus latrubessei, seems to be directly related with the uplift of the northern portions of the Andes, which generated significantly changes in drainages and Amazon paleoenvironments.
A new genus-level and two new species-level synonyms in the extinct genus Neolitochropus Lyubarsky & Perkovsky (Coleoptera: Cyclaxyridae)
Authors: GIMME MATTHEW L. , SZAWARYN KAROL
Published: December 2020

Gimmel et al. (2019) recently treated the two fossil taxa of the beetle family Cyclaxyridae (Cucujoidea), a family that is today represented only by two species in New Zealand (Gimmel et al. 2009). Gimmel et al. (2019) synonymized two species from European amber described within the family Phalacridae (Cucujoidea), Stilbus bedovoyi Lyubarsky & Perkovsky, 2011 and Neolitochropus hoffeinsorum Lyubarsky & Perkovsky, 2016, with Neolitochropus bedovoyi (Lyubarsky & Perkovsky, 2011) becoming the valid combination. They treated a total of 13 specimens of this species from across Rovno, Bitterfeld, and Baltic amber deposits, implying a widespread and abundant species in Eocene Europe whose life history, like extant forms, was likely tied to sooty molds (Gimmel et al. 2019).
Effect of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 on Bone Formation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Under High Glucose Environment by Regulating Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2(IGFBP-2)/p38 Pathway
Authors: Wang Guoliang , Dong Yujuan , Yan Hua
Published: December 2020

Diabetes easily affects the biological properties of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) promotes bone healing during osteoporotic fractures. However, IGF-1's effect on BMSCs high glucose is unclear. Rat BMSCs were assigned into control group,
high glucose group, and IGF-1 group in which BMSCs were transfected with pc-DNA 3.1-IGF-1 plasmid on the basis of high glucose followed by analysis of IGF-1, RUNX2 and OPN mRNA level by real time PCR, cell proliferation by MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, IGFBP-2 level by ELISA,
and p38 phosphorylation by Western blot. High glucose group showed significantly decreased IGF-1, RUNX2 and OPN mRNA level, reduced ALP activity, IGFBP-2 expression and p38 phosphorylation compared to control group (P < 0 05). Transfection of IGF-1 plasmid under high-glucose environment
significantly upregulated IGF-1, RUNX2 and OPN mRNA, increased ALP activity, IGFBP-2 expression and p38 phosphorylation compared to high-glucose group (P < 0 05). IGF-1 expression is reduced in high glucose environment. Up-regulation of IGF-1 can promote BMSCs osteogenic differentiation
through the IGFBP-2/p38 pathway.