bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The involvement of renal afferents in the maintenance of cardiorenal diseases
Authors: Veiga Amanda C. , Milanez Maycon I. O. , Campos Ruy R. , Bergamaschi Cassia T. , Nishi Erika E.
Published: November 2020

Elevated sympathetic vasomotor activity is a common feature of cardiorenal diseases. Therefore, the sympathetic nervous system is an important therapeutic target, particularly the fibers innervating the kidneys. In fact, renal denervation has been applied clinically and shown promising results in patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in the cardiorenal protection induced by renal denervation have not yet been fully clarified. This mini-review highlights historical and recent aspects related to the role of renal sensory fibers in the control of cardiorenal function under normal conditions and in experimental models of cardiovascular disease. Results have demonstrated that alterations in renal sensory function participate in the maintenance of elevated sympathetic vasomotor activity and cardiorenal changes; as such, renal sensory fibers may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiorenal diseases. Although it has not yet been applied in clinical practice, selective afferent renal denervation may be promising, since such an approach maintains efferent activity and can provide more refined control of renal function compared with total renal denervation. However, more studies are needed to understand the mechanisms by which renal afferents partially contribute to such changes, in addition to the need to evaluate the safety and advantages of the approach for application in the clinical practice.
Intrinsic Brain Abnormalities in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection with Cognitive Impairment: A Preliminary Resting‐State fMRI Study
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Hong , Shi Jia-Yan , Zhan Chuanyin , Zhang Ling , Chen Hua-Jun
Published: November 2020

Purpose. Patients with a hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently exhibit various neuropsychiatric complications such as cognitive decline. This study is aimed at investigating alterations in regional and network‐level neural function in patients with HCV infection and examining the association between these alterations and patients’ cognition dysfunction. Methods. The study included 17 patients with HCV infection and 17 healthy controls. These individuals had undergone resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging as well as cognitive assessment using a battery of tests that were collectively called the “psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES)” examination. Analyses of amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and seed‐based functional connectivity (FC) were conducted to assess, respectively, regional neural function and functional integration. Results. HCV‐infected patients performed significantly worse in cognitive tests. In the HCV group, ALFF decreased in Region 1 (left medial frontal gyrus and bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus) and Region 2 (right middle and superior frontal gyrus). The HCV group showed lower FC between Region 1 and right middle frontal gyrus, whereas they presented an increase in FC between Region 2 and the left supramarginal gyrus/superior temporal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus. No significant correlation was observed between ALFF/FC measurements and PHES result. Conclusion. This preliminary study presents additional evidence that HCV infection affects brain function, including local intrinsic neural activity and global functional integration.
Microcatheter‐Assisted Circumferential Trabeculotomy versus Conventional Trabeculotomy for the Treatment of Childhood Glaucoma: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Ling Ling , Ji Kaibao , Li Ping , Hu Zhe , Xing Yiqiao , Yu Yifeng , Zhou Wentian
Published: November 2020

Background. The aim of the current meta‐analysis was to compare the efficacy of microcatheter‐assisted circumferential trabeculotomy (Group 1) with that of conventional trabeculotomy (Group 2) for the treatment of childhood glaucoma. Methods. Published studies were systematically searched via the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for dichotomous variables. Mean ± the standard deviation, mean difference, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for continuous variables. Heterogeneity was assessed. Random effects modeling and RevMan version 5.30 were used to analyze the data. Results. Five eligible studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Mean postoperative intraocular pressures were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 at 3 months (P = 0.03), 6 months (P = 0.03), and 12 months (P = 0.007) postoperatively. The complete success rates were higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 at 3 months (P = 0.008), 6 months (P = 0.01), and 12 months (P = 0.004) postoperatively, as were the respective qualified success rates (P = 0.04, P = 0.0007, and P = 0.001). The pooled estimate indicated lower antiglaucoma medication use in Group 1, especially at 1 month postoperatively (P = 0.003). Conclusions. Microcatheter‐assisted circumferential trabeculotomy resulted in excellent intraocular pressure control, higher success rates, and the utilization of less medication than conventional trabeculotomy for childhood glaucoma. Therefore, microcatheter‐assisted circumferential trabeculotomy may be recommended as the initial procedure for the treatment of childhood glaucoma.
Study of Working Medium Performance by Acoustic Emission in EDM Machining of Ti6Al4V
Authors: Guo Chengbo , Sun Shufa , Di Shichun , Wei Dongbo
Published: November 2020

In electrical discharge machining (EDM), the working medium plays an important role in the material removal process. Lots of methods have been utilized to study this process, but a widely accepted explanation about this process has not been yet accomplished. In this study, the acoustic emission (AE) sensor was fixed on EDM machine to study the material removal process by observing the expansion and contraction process of gas bubble surrounding the discharge plasma. The machining performance in different working mediums was studied for Ti‐6Al‐4V machining in air, kerosene, and water‐based emulsion. Discharge in different working mediums would result in different material removal rates and surface quality. The difference of AE wave frequency domain distribution for discharge in different working mediums was studied. It was observed that the frequency of acoustic emission wave generated by discharge in different working mediums would be different. The characteristic difference of single AE wave generated by discharge in air, kerosene, and water‐based emulsion was compared. It was found that the duration time and peak amplitude of acoustic emission wave generated by discharge in different working mediums were different, and the acoustic emission wave generated by discharge in water‐based emulsion would last longer and get higher peak amplitude compared to discharge in air and kerosene. The significant difference of AE wave generated by discharge in water‐based emulsion from that in kerosene was found. Based on the acoustic emission wave observation, the special characteristic of the material removal process for discharge in water‐based emulsion was found.
Integrated Network and Experimental Pharmacology for Deciphering the Medicinal Substances and Multiple Mechanisms of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in Osteoarthritis Therapy
Authors: Xiao Wenyu , Sun Weibing , Lian Hui , Shen Juexin
Published: November 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently the most common joint disorder worldwide. In last decades, herbal remedies have achieved a significant advancement in the treatment of OA. Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJS), an herbal formula consisting of 15 medicinal herbs, has a long‐time practice in OA therapy in China. However, its therapeutic mechanisms have not been comprehensively elucidated. In the present work, integrated network and experimental pharmacology were performed for investigating the therapeutic substances and mechanisms of DHJS. Based on network analysis, the contribution of each herb to OA therapy was evaluated. Furthermore, a series of potential targets and signaling pathways were enriched, which could be involved in the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of DHJS. Further experimental results indicated that DHJS attenuated TNFα, IL‐6, MMP‐1, MMP‐9, MMP‐13, and ADAMTs‐5 expression, inhibited NF‐κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathway, activated AMPK‐SIRT1 signaling pathway, and suppressed chondrocyte apoptosis, which synergistically contributed to OA therapy. Our work demonstrated that DHJS could be very promising for OA therapy through synergistically acting on multitargets and multipathways.
A New Megastigmane Glucoside and Other Constituents from Desmodium gangeticum
Authors: Dang Hau Viet , Do Giang Hoang , Ngo Phuong Thi , Nguyen Tien Dat , Le Ha Minh
Published: November 2020

A new megastigmane glycoside, gangeticoside (1), and three known compounds leonuriside A (2), methyl benzoate 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and tortoside A (4) were isolated from the aerial part of Desmodium gangeticum. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 3 exhibited strong effect with the IC50 values of 22.3, 15.6, 7.3 μM, respectively.
Improved ML-Based Technique for Credit Card Scoring in Internet Financial Risk Control
Authors: Fan Shuangshuang , Shen Yanbo , Peng Shengnan
Published: November 2020

With the rapid development of China’s Internet finance industry and the continuous growth of transaction amount in recent years, a variety of financial risks have increased, especially credit risk in the financial industry. Also, the credit risk evaluation is usually made by using the application card scoring model, which has the shortcomings of strict data assumption and inability to process complex data. In order to overcome the limitations of the credit card scoring model and evaluate credit risk better, this paper proposes a credit evaluation model based on extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost) machine learning (ML) algorithm to construct a credit risk assessment model for Internet financial institutions. At the same time, an Internet lending company in China is taken as a case study to compare the performance of the traditional credit card scoring model and the proposed machine learning (ML) algorithm model. The results show that ML algorithm has a very significant advantage in the field of Internet financial risk control, it has more accurate prediction results and has no particularly strict assumptions and restrictions on data, and the process of processing data is more convenient and reliable. We should increase the application of ML in the field of financial risk control. The value of this paper lies in enriching the related research of financial technology and providing a new reference for the practice of financial risk control.
The Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatic Steatosis Assessed by Controlled Attenuation Parameter in Thai Chronic Hepatitis C Patients
Authors: Sirinawasatien A. , Techasirioangkun T.
Published: November 2020

Aims. To describe the prevalence of hepatic steatosis using a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and to identify the determinants associated with steatosis in Thai chronic hepatitis C patients. Patients and Methods. An observational study was conducted among consecutive chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE, FibroScan®) with CAP and followed up at Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between June 2018 and May 2019. Hepatic steatosis (i.e., steatosis grades S1-3) was defined by the CAP cutoff value of ≥248 (dB/m). VCTE with CAP assessments and medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and the prevalence and determinants of hepatic steatosis were analyzed. Results. A total of 197 eligible patients, of whom 127 (64.5%) were male, were included. The mean age was 54.52 years (SD 9.49 years), and 41.1% of subjects had a body

mass
 
index
≥
25

. The prevalence of hepatic steatosis was 26.9%. The mean liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was 21.50 kPa (SD 15.58 kPa), and 61.9% of the study population had cirrhosis, which was defined as

LSM
≥
12.5

 kPa. Genotype (GT) 3 was predominant at 40.1%, followed by GT1 at 38.1% and GT6 at 21.8%. The median serum hepatitis C virus viral load was 1,100,000 IU/mL (range 5,824-20,436,840). The significant determinants of hepatic steatosis were obesity (aOR 8.58 (95% CI: 3.41-21.54)) and diabetes mellitus (aOR 3.30 (95% CI: 1.24-8.78)). Conclusion. A large proportion of these Thai chronic hepatitis C patients (26.9%) had hepatic steatosis, which was strongly associated with host metabolic factors, e.g., obesity (

BMI
≥
25

) and diabetes mellitus. These cofactors contributed to the progression of liver disease to cirrhosis and required concurrent management with antiviral therapy.
Optimization Model of Traffic Sensor Layout considering Traffic Big Data
Authors: Sun Xu , Bai Zixiu , Lin Kun , Jiao Pengpeng , Lu HuaPu
Published: November 2020

In order to improve the accuracy, reliability, and economy of urban traffic information collection, an optimization model of traffic sensor layout is proposed in this paper. Considering the impact of traffic big data, a set of impact factors for traffic sensor layout is established, including system cost, multisource data sharing, data demand, sensor failures, road infrastructure, and sensor type. The impacts of these influential factors are taken into account in the traffic sensor layout optimization problem, which is formulated in the form of multiobjective programming model that includes minimum system cost, maximum truncation flow, minimum path coverage, and an origin-destination (OD) coverage constraint. The model is solved by the tolerant lexicographic method based on a genetic algorithm. A case study shows that the model reflects the influence of multisource data sharing and fault conditions and satisfies the origin-destination coverage constraint to achieve the multiobjective optimization of traffic sensor layout.
Fog-Based Distributed Networked Control for Connected Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Wang Zhuwei , Guo Yuehui , Gao Yu , Fang Chao , Li Meng , Sun Yang
Published: November 2020

With the rapid developments of wireless communication and increasing number of connected vehicles, Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) enable cyberinteractions in the physical transportation system. Future networks require real-time control capability to support delay-sensitive application such as connected autonomous vehicles. In recent years, fog computing becomes an emerging technology to deal with the insufficiency in traditional cloud computing. In this paper, a fog-based distributed network control design is proposed toward connected and automated vehicle application. The proposed architecture combines VANETs with the new fog paradigm to enhance the connectivity and collaboration among distributed vehicles. A case study of connected cruise control (CCC) is introduced to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed architecture and control design. Finally, we discuss some future research directions and open issues to be addressed.
Interactive Dual Attention Network for Text Sentiment Classification
Authors: Zhu Yinglin , Zheng Wenbin , Tang Hong
Published: November 2020

Text sentiment classification is an essential research field of natural language processing. Recently, numerous deep learning-based methods for sentiment classification have been proposed and achieved better performances compared with conventional machine learning methods. However, most of the proposed methods ignore the interactive relationship between contextual semantics and sentimental tendency while modeling their text representation. In this paper, we propose a novel Interactive Dual Attention Network (IDAN) model that aims to interactively learn the representation between contextual semantics and sentimental tendency information. Firstly, we design an algorithm that utilizes linguistic resources to obtain sentimental tendency information from text and then extract word embeddings from the BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) pretraining model as the embedding layer of IDAN. Next, we use two Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) networks to learn the long-range dependencies of contextual semantics and sentimental tendency information, respectively. Finally, two types of attention mechanisms are implemented in IDAN. One is multihead attention, which is the next layer of BiLSTM and is used to learn the interactive relationship between contextual semantics and sentimental tendency information. The other is global attention that aims to make the model focus on the important parts of the sequence and generate the final representation for classification. These two attention mechanisms enable IDAN to interactively learn the relationship between semantics and sentimental tendency information and improve the classification performance. A large number of experiments on four benchmark datasets show that our IDAN model is superior to competitive methods. Moreover, both the result analysis and the attention weight visualization further demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Physical Therapy for Gait, Balance, and Cognition in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Longhurst Jason , Phan Jason , Chen Elbert , Jackson Steven , Landers Merrill R.
Published: November 2020

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine if a pragmatic physical therapy (PT) program was associated with improved cognition, gait, and balance in individuals with cognitive impairment. This study investigated these associations for individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in order to better characterize outcomes to PT for each diagnostic group. Methods. Data before and after one month of physical therapy were extracted from patient records (67 with AD, 34 with VaD, 35 with DLB, and 37 with MCI). The mean number of PT sessions over a month was 3.4 (±1.8). Outcomes covered the domains of gait, balance, and cognition with multiple outcomes used to measure different constructs within the balance and gait domains. Results. All groups showed improvements in balance and at least one gait outcome measure. Those with MCI improved in every measure of gait and balance performance. Lastly, cognition as measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment improved in individuals in the AD, VaD, and MCI groups. Conclusion. While this retrospective analysis is not appropriate for causal inference, results of one month of physical therapy were associated with decreases in gait, balance, and cognitive impairment in individuals with AD, VaD, DLB<, and MCI. Clinical Implications. While physical therapy is not typically a primary treatment strategy for individuals with cognitive impairment, the results of this study are consistent with the literature that demonstrates improvement from physical therapy for other neurodegenerative diseases. Further clinical and research exploration for physical therapy as a primary treatment strategy in these populations is warranted.
Quantitative Analysis of Macular Retina Using Light Reflection Indices Derived from SD-OCT for Pituitary Adenoma
Authors: Sun Min , Zhang Hongming , Chen Xinjian , Zhang Qimi
Published: November 2020

Purpose. To quantitatively investigate the macular retinal light reflection characteristic using optical property indices derived from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans with depth attenuation compensation for pituitary adenoma. Methods. This study included 38 patients (mean age 44.66 ± 13.77 years old) with diagnosis of pituitary adenoma and 43 age-matched controls. All SD-OCT scans were light attenuation compensated by a depth-resolved model. Attenuation coefficient, the corrected intensity, and the retinal layer thickness were deduced for macular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer combined with inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), as well as comparing between patients and controls by statistical methods. Results. Attenuation coefficients of RNFL and GCIPL among patients were significantly lower compared to the controls with

P

values equal to or less than 0.001. The mean values of the corrected optical intensity were decreased in the patients without universally significant differences. Significant decreases in thickness existing in the RNFL of patients, especially in the superonasal (SN) quadrant and inferonasal (IN) quadrant (decrease ratio = 9.64% and 13.02%, both with

P
<
0.001

). The thickness of RNFL was significantly associated with the attenuation coefficient (standardized beta = 0.335,

P
=
0.002

). The performances of attenuation coefficient were better than the corrected optical intensity and the thickness (the values of the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves = 0.751 and 0.758, both with

P
<
0.001

) in discriminating pituitary adenoma patients from controls. Conclusions. The retinal light reflection characteristics were debilitated in patients with pituitary adenoma. The potential of attenuation coefficients of RNFL and GCIPL in distinguishing patients with pituitary adenoma from controls was validated by the comparison of the derived optical property indices.
Cinacalcet as a First-Line Treatment in Neonatal Severe Hyperparathyroidism Secondary to Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR) Mutation
Authors: Gulcan-Kersin Sinem , Kirkgoz Tarik , Eltan Mehmet , Rzayev Turkay , Ata Pinar , Bilgen Hulya , Ozek Eren , Bereket Abdullah , Turan Serap
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) is a rare cause of neonatal hypercalcemia caused by a loss of function mutation in the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). Hypercalcemia in NSHPT can be life-threatening. Maintenance of serum calcium within a safe range is the primary goal of treatment through hydration, forced diuresis, and bisphosphonate treatment, nevertheless most cases require parathyroidectomy. We report a case with NSHPT diagnosed on the first day of life (DoL) and successfully treated with cinacalcet as the first-line treatment from the 2nd DoL up to the age of 18 months. Case Report: A full-term baby evaluated for weight loss at postnatal 14th hour and found to have hypercalcemia (14.4 mg/dL, reference range [RR]: 8.0–11.3). Despite hydration and diuresis, hypercalcemia persisted. Further evaluation revealed a parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of 1,493 pg/mL (RR: 15–65) and urine Ca/Cr of 0.09 mg/mg (RR: 0.03–0.81). Cinacalcet treatment was initiated on the 2nd DoL with the diagnosis of NSHPT due to hypocalciuric hypercalcemia and elevated PTH level. Ca levels decreased to normal levels on the 7th DoL. She was discharged from hospital at postnatal day 15 on cinacalcet treatment and still continued at 18 months of age. Sequencing of CaSR revealed a novel homozygous c.1836G>A (p.G613E) mutation in the patient, for which the parents and sister were heterozygous. Conclusion: This case represents the youngest age at cinacalcet initiation and the longest duration without parathyroidectomy in a homozygous NSHPT and demonstrates that cinacalcet is an effective first-line treatment in patients who are responsive to this treatment modality and allows avoiding/delay in surgical intervention in NSHPT.
Effect of Short-Term Sunlight Exposure on Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in Vitamin D3-Insufficient, Prehypertensive Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Park Jin-Woo , Kim Kyoung-Ah , Lee Min-Goo , Park Ji-Young
Published: November 2020

Introduction: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of short-term sunlight exposure on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) in vitamin D3-insufficient, prehypertensive patients. Methods: Twenty prehypertensive male participants were prospectively enrolled in this pilot study. BP and PR were measured using 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and endocrine biomarkers were assessed. Results: Sunlight exposure decreased 24-hour systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and PR (SBP: 132.6 mm Hg to 129.3 mm Hg, DBP: 77.6 mm Hg to 75.7 mm Hg, and PR: 76.1 bpm to 71.3 bpm, p values: 0.0011, 0.0012, and <0.0001, respectively). The decrement patterns of SBP, DBP, and PR during nighttime (SBP: 123.5 mm Hg to 117.9 mm Hg, DBP: 72.2 mm Hg to 68.0 mm Hg, and PR: 68.2 bpm to 59.1 bpm, p values: 0.0015, 0.0003, and <0.0001, respectively) were more profound compared between daytime and nighttime. Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 were significantly increased (p = 0.0001) but aldosterone levels were significantly decreased (p = 0.0014) after sunlight exposure. In addition, an inverse relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and aldosterone levels was observed (R = –0.4709, p = 0.0419). Discussion/Conclusion: The pilot study gives promising results that it is worthwhile to evaluate short-term sunlight exposure as a potentially effective approach in decreasing BP and PR in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-insufficient prehypertensive patients in a larger trial with a control group.
Survey on Physicians’ Knowledge and Training Needs in Genetic Counseling in Germany
Authors: Dick Julia , Aue Viktoria , Wesselmann Simone , Brédart Anne , Dolbeault Sylvie , Devilee Peter , Stoppa-Lyonnet Dominique , Schmutzler Rita K. , Rhiem Kerstin
Published: November 2020

Background: In recent years, germline testing of women with a risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer has increased rapidly. This is due to lower costs for new high-throughput sequencing technologies and the manifold preventive and therapeutic options for germline mutation carriers. The growing demand for genetic counseling meets a shortfall of counselors and illustrates the need to involve the treating clinicians in the genetic testing process. This survey was undertaken to assess their state of knowledge and training needs in the field of genetic counseling and testing. Methods: A cross-sectional survey within the European Bridges Study (Breast Cancer Risk after Diagnostic Gene Sequencing) was conducted among physician members (n = 111) of the German Cancer Society who were primarily gynecologists. It was designed to examine their experience in genetic counseling and testing. Results: Overall, the study revealed a need for training in risk communication and clinical recommendations for persons at risk. One-third of respondents communicated only relative disease risks (31.5%) instead of absolute disease risks in manageable time spans. Moreover, almost one-third of the respondents (31.2%) communicated bilateral and contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy as an option for healthy women and unilateral-diseased breast cancer patients without mutations in high-risk genes (e.g. BRCA1 or BRCA2). Most respondents expressed training needs in the field of risk assessment models, the clinical interpretation of genetic test results, and the decision-making process. Conclusion: The survey demonstrates a gap of genetic and risk literacy in a relevant proportion of physicians and the need for appropriate training concepts.
Update on Lupus Nephritis: Looking for a New Vision
Authors: Morales Enrique , Galindo Maria , Trujillo Hernando , Praga Manuel
Published: November 2020

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most common manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting approximately 40% of patients with lupus. It represents a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and 10% of patients with LN will develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Therefore, there are a number of areas for improvement in the field of LN such as the search for new clinical biomarkers with a more accurate correlation with lupus activity and the redefinition of the histological classification into different subgroups in order to guide a personalized treatment. Although the role of protocol repeat kidney biopsies in LN is controversial, recent publications suggest that repeat histological assessment can be useful in guiding therapeutic decisions that may yield toward precision medicine. In the last decade, LN therapy has remained largely unchanged, with a probability of achieving complete or partial remission not exceeding 60–70%. Thus, optimization of old treatment strategies and search for new agents are urgently needed in order to improve outcomes such as mortality or development of ESKD. Future trials should focus in addressing unanswered issues such as the appropriate dose and duration of immunosuppressive treatment, timing of steroid withdrawal, and drug toxicity. In addition, data are still lacking regarding pregnancy and kidney transplantation in LN and knowledge about these important areas is essential for the management of a subset of patients with SLE. In summary, several major gaps are still present in the therapeutic approach and follow-up of patients with LN. The development of new clinical trial designs will be crucial in the search to improve long-term outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Surgery: Potential and Challenges
Authors: Bodenstedt Sebastian , Wagner Martin , Müller-Stich Beat Peter , Weitz Jürgen , Speidel Stefanie
Published: November 2020

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently achieved considerable success in different domains including medical applications. Although current advances are expected to impact surgery, up until now AI has not been able to leverage its full potential due to several challenges that are specific to that field. Summary: This review summarizes data-driven methods and technologies needed as a prerequisite for different AI-based assistance functions in the operating room. Potential effects of AI usage in surgery will be highlighted, concluding with ongoing challenges to enabling AI for surgery. Key Messages: AI-assisted surgery will enable data-driven decision-making via decision support systems and cognitive robotic assistance. The use of AI for workflow analysis will help provide appropriate assistance in the right context. The requirements for such assistance must be defined by surgeons in close cooperation with computer scientists and engineers. Once the existing challenges will have been solved, AI assistance has the potential to improve patient care by supporting the surgeon without replacing him or her.
Patrimônio Cultural: preservação, salvaguarda e conservação de bens culturais
Authors: Spinelli Jayme
Published: November 2020

This article is about the work experience in the field of preservation and conservation of cultural property, provides guidance and ways to procedures and attitudes relating to such matters, important and vital in this age of so much uncertainty
Gralhas em Machado de Assis: bibliofilia e estudo das formas materiais de edição, correção e circulação de uma obra
Authors: Salla Thiago Mio
Published: November 2020

Based on the examination of the famous typographical error that appears in the second edition of Machado de Assis, Poesias Completas, published in 1902, the present article seeks to examine the particularities related to the work of publication and correction of this book that arouses the desire of bibliophiles. Throughout this process, we aim to shed light on the trajectory of the obscure Eduardo Lemos, an employee of the publishing house Garnier, who manually corrected the unsold copies of the book, and examine the different implications of the typo committed in that case. Thus, in a specific way, we intended to promote the approximation between particularities inherent to the bibliophilia and the study of the material forms of inscription and transmission of the book culture.
Representações e redes transatlânticas: relações França-Brasil nos escritos de um viajante oitocentista
Authors: Barel Ana Beatriz Demarchi
Published: November 2020

This text presents the results of Ana Beatriz Demarchi Barel’s research projects as a resident researcher at the Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin – BBM-USP. The project was intended to study and analyze two texts that are part of the set of works written by Ferdinand Denis, one of the most important actors of France-Brazil relations in the nineteenth century, refer to Lettres Familières et Fragment du Journal Intime of Ferdinand Denis to Bahia (1816-1819). This book, organized by Professor Leon Bourdon and published in 1957 by Coimbra Editora Limitada, belongs to a collection of the BBM-USP and remains, to this day, very little worked, which defines a gap in the Franco-Brazilian literary historiography. The project deepens the reading of the epistolary material of Ferdinand Denis, seeking to trace the network of contacts evoked in the correspondence of Ferdinand Denis and his relation with Brazil.
Biblioteca Mindlin: a alegria da pesquisa
Authors: Martins Ana Luiza
Published: November 2020

A autora rememora as lembranças de sua experiência no convívio com Guita e José Mindlin na biblioteca pessoal do casal, hoje, Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Minlin – BBM-USP. Relembra detalhes dos aspectos físicos do espaço e menciona algumas obras e textos que eram encontrados lá e a relação de Mindlin com eles. Recorda que a biblioteca era visitada por pesquisadores acadêmicos, mas também por jornalistas, escritores, bibliófilos e estudiosos do livro e que, dessas visitas, no início, eram realizadas pesquisas informais, que, posteriormente, foram sistematizadas e organizadas com regularidade, das quais resultaram obras fundamentais para a cultura nacional.
A Cultura em processo de mudanças extremas
Authors: Coelho Neto José Teixeira
Published: November 2020

O artigo aborda as culturas computacionais, essas que já estão à nossa volta, em diversos âmbitos sociais, desde multinacionais a best-sellers. Como essas culturas já estão bem implantadas entre nós, o autor defende que a sociedade deve estar atento a elas, já que o que já está instalado entre nós diz muito sobre o que vem pela frente. Desse modo, o artigo mantém com o leitor um diálogo prospectivo. Não se volta para trás, não é retrospectiva. O papel prospectivo é o papel que cabe à ciência
Festa e Trabalho: a encenação Tupinambá na entrada em Rouen de Henrique II em 1550
Authors: Cardoso João Marcos
Published: November 2020

The article analyses the representations of the presence of fifty Brazilian natives in the Henry II entry into Rouen, France, in 1550. The main source of these representations is the book C’est la deduction du sumptueux ordre plaifantz (...), printed in 1551, where there are both a textual and an iconographic representation of the theater played by the Tupinamba indians. The aim of the analysis is to reveal how the glowing terms used to depict the alliance between the Tupinamba indians and the Normans hide the intention to explore the Brazilian natives workforce by the French conquerors.
Simplicidade alegre de um Bibliófilo
Authors: Giordano Claudio
Published: November 2020

Este artigo traz uma apresentação do livro O Bibliófilo Aprendiz, por ocasião do lançamento de sua quinta edição brasileira. O livro foi escrito por Rubens Borba de Moraes, bibliófilo que decidiu compartilhar as particularidades de sua forma de lazer, o colecionismo de livros.
Em busca de bibliófilos esquecidos
Authors: Lemos Antonio Agenor Briquet de
Published: November 2020

Letters from Rubens Borba de Moraes to the Portuguese bookseller Antonio Tavares de Carvalho, from 1961 to 1985, document commercial transactions and how their mutual understanding helped the bibliophile to enrich his collection. Names of book collectors are mentioned in the letters about whom information is very scarce, v. g., Jerônimo Ferreira das Neves, Jacques Renout and William Gropp. Information about them and the bookseller Antônio Tavares de Carvalho were collected in a few sources.
Bibliofilia e sua recíproca
Authors: Calil Carlos Augusto
Published: November 2020

Evocando a memória de grandes bibliófilos, tais como José Mindlin, Rubens Borba de Moraes e Mário de Andrade, o texto trata da bibliofilia e de algumas das trajetórias guiadas por ela. É abordada a relação entre um livro e seu dono por meio de uma breve investigação das condições desse relacionamento, explicitando também as consequências da bibliofilia para além do bibliófilo, que ao exercer seu amor pelo livro e pela leitura, os compartilha com a sociedade
Ensaio sobre o experimental no curta-metragem brasileiro contemporâneo
Authors: Stefanini Isabella
Published: November 2020

Emprestando dos escritos e o estilo do Jairo Ferreira, o ensaio retoma o que já foi o exercício experimental no país e investiga o que o passado pode dizer sobre o que significa inovar no presente. O curta-metragem foi essencial para a iniciação no cinema dos grandes nomes do Cinema Novo: Cacá Diegues, Glauber Rocha, Rogério Sganzerla, Paulo César Saraceni – todos experimentaram no formato menor. Embora hoje seja ainda verdade que muitos dos novos cineastas começam fazendo carreira em festivais com filme curta, cineasta amador não é sinônimo de cineasta experimental. Os festivais de cinema do país institucionalizaram o termo “experimental” como um dos possíveis gêneros de realização de um filme. Por meio da análise de três curtas-metragens nacionais realizados entre 2010 e 2017, o ensaio busca investigar o que é realmente a atividade de cinema de invenção no Brasil hoje. São apresentadas, ainda, hipóteses sobre a intersecção das cenas de produção de filme curta e a de filme experimental como ambas práticas marginais ao grande público, que é majoritariamente alimentado pela lógica narrativo-industrial do cinema mainstream. Entre pensamentos da história das artes, a reprodutibilidade técnica e a emancipação do cinema, o ensaio traz também o debate de arte versus indústria, ou o trabalho de artistas e o de fazedores de filmes.
Molecular phylogeny of several species of Hoplolaimina (Nematoda: Tylenchida) associated with turfgrass in Korea, with comments on their morphology
Authors: Mwamula Abraham Okki , Lee Gayeong , Kim Yeong Ho , Kim Young Ho , Lee Kwang-Soo , Lee Dong Woon
Published: November 2020

Seven species belonging to Suborder Hoplolaimina are characterised using integrative taxonomy, considering both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the 28S-rRNA, ITS-rRNA and COI gene sequences. It is evident that, as more populations of Pratylenchus zeae are continuously characterised, the species continues to display an ever-increasing intraspecific genetic variation within the 28S-rRNA and ITS-rRNA genes. However, the COI gene sequences exhibit minimum intraspecific variation and thus might be the most powerful DNA barcoding marker for the precise identification of P. zeae and should therefore be recommended as a complementary technique in the identification process of the species. Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne graminicola and Heterodera pratensis are characterised herein for the first time in Korea, while the presence in Korea of P. penetrans, P. scribneri, H. avenae, and M. marylandi, is molecularly confirmed.
The Legal Combat of Financial Crimes: A Comparative Assessment of the Enforcement Regimes in Nigeria and South Africa
Authors: Ojukwu-Ogba Nelson , Osode Patrick C
Published: November 2020

Financial crimes are debilitating problems for economies, especially emerging ones. The scourge of financial crimes includes money laundering, fraud, drug and human trafficking, terrorism financing, bribery, embezzlement, market manipulation, tax evasion, identity theft, forgery and cybercrime. These problems are so intractable and potentially destructive that the collective effort to prevent or contain them has gone global. The imperative of enhanced transparency and financial system integrity, not only in national financial systems but also in the international financial order, has become inevitable. This has resulted in the landmark frameworks of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the G7’s Financial Action Task Force. This paper discusses the legal combat of financial crimes in two major African economies: Nigeria and South Africa, with particular emphasis on money laundering and terrorism financing due to their direct negative macro-economic implications for any economy. The focus on the twin problems in those two economies is based on their pre-eminent position in Africa. The paper examines the legal frameworks for the prevention or containment of the scourge in the two countries and interrogates measures that could engender their effective control.
Directed Reflective Equilibrium: Thought Experiments and How to Use Them
Authors: Slavny Adam , Spiekermann Kai , Lawford-Smith Holly , Axelsen David V.
Published: November 2020

In this paper we develop a new methodology for normative theorising, which we call Directed Reflective Equilibrium. Directed Reflective Equilibrium is based on a taxonomy that distinguishes between a number of different functions of hypothetical cases, including two dimensions that we call representation and elicitation. Like its predecessor, Directed Reflective Equilibrium accepts that neither intuitions nor basic principles are immune to revision and that our commitments on various levels of philosophical enquiry should be brought into equilibrium. However, it also offers guidance about how different types of cases ought to be sequenced to achieve this result. We argue that this ‘directional’ approach improves, in various ways, upon the non-directional approach of traditional Reflective Equilibrium.
Interactions between Air Pollution and Terrestrial Ecosystems: Perspectives on Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: He Cenlin , Clifton Olivia , Felker-Quinn Emmi , Fulgham S. Ryan , Juncosa Calahorrano Julieta F. , Lombardozzi Danica , Purser Gemma , Riches Mj , Schwantes Rebecca , Tang Wenfu , Poulter Benjamin , Steiner Allison L.
Published: November 2020

Interactions between air pollution and terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in the Earth system. However, process-based knowledge of air pollution–terrestrial ecosystem interactions is limited, hindering accurate quantification of how changes in tropospheric chemistry, biogeochemical cycling, and climate affect air quality and its impact on humans and ecosystems. Here we summarize current challenges and future directions for advancing the understanding of air pollution–ecosystem interactions by synthesizing discussions from a multidisciplinary group of scientists at a recent Integrated Land Ecosystem–Atmosphere Processes Study (iLEAPS) early-career workshop. Specifically, we discuss the important elements of air pollution–terrestrial ecosystem interactions, including vegetation and soil uptake and emissions of air pollutants and precursors, in-canopy chemistry, and the roles of human activities, fires, and meteorology. We highlight the need for a coordinated network of measurements of long-term chemical fluxes and related meteorological and ecological quantities with expanded geographic and ecosystem representation, data standardization and curation to reduce uncertainty and enhance observational syntheses, integrated multiscale observational and modeling capabilities, collaboration across scientific disciplines and geographic regions, and active involvement by stakeholders and policymakers. Such an enhanced network will continue to facilitate the process-level understanding and thus predictive ability of interactions between air pollution and terrestrial ecosystems and impacts on local-to-global climate and human health.
The Andes and the Southeast Pacific Cold Tongue Simulation
Authors: Xu Weixuan , Lee Jung-Eun
Published: November 2020

Current climate models significantly overestimate precipitation and temperature over the southeast Pacific. Previous studies show that the Andes influence the southeast Pacific climate, but because they are a narrow mountain range, these effects are not well represented with the smoothing in low-resolution climate models. We hypothesize that the elevation of the Andes in low-resolution climate models is too low, allowing too much airflow across the mountains. Using the Community Earth System Model (CESM) version 1.2.2 with a slab-ocean setting, we blocked the low-level airflow across the mountains by adjusting the height of the Andes. Our results show that using higher Andes in the model enhances the anticyclonic motion and increases the subsidence of air in the southeast Pacific. The evaporative cooling from the strengthened surface wind and the radiative cooling from the formation of low-level clouds lower the sea surface temperature (SST) in the southeast Pacific. The enhanced descent over the southeast Pacific inhibits precipitation. We also performed a sensitivity test, varying the elevation of the Andes from 0 to 6 km, and analyzed the resulting energy budget and climate in both hemispheres. An increase of the elevation of the Andes causes the energy flux equator (EKE) to shift northward, as a result of the decrease of the energy absorption in the Southern Hemisphere. Our research suggests that the Andes act as a barrier in maintaining the climate over the southeast Pacific Ocean, and this effect is not well represented in low-resolution climate models.
Improving Afternoon Thunderstorm Prediction over Taiwan through 3DVar-Based Radar and Surface Data Assimilation
Authors: Chen I-Han , Hong Jing-Shan , Tsai Ya-Ting , Fong Chin-Tzu
Published: November 2020

Recently, the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan developed a WRF- and WRF data assimilation (WRFDA)-based convective-scale data assimilation system to increase model predictability toward high-impact weather. In this study, we focus on afternoon thunderstorm (AT) prediction and investigate the following questions: 1) Is the designation of a rapid update cycle strategy with a blending scheme effective? 2) Can surface data assimilation contribute positively to AT prediction under the complex geography of Taiwan island? 3) What is the relative importance between radar and surface observation to AT prediction? 4) Can we increase the AT forecast lead time in the morning through data assimilation? Consecutive ATs from 30 June to 8 July 2017 are investigated. Five experiments, each having 240 continuous cycles, are designed. Results show that employing continuous cycles with a blending scheme mitigates model spinup compared with downscaled forecasts. Although there are few radar echoes before AT initiation, assimilating radar observations is still crucial since it largely corrects model errors in cycles. However, assimilating surface observations is more important compared with radar in terms of extending forecast lead time in the morning. Either radar or surface observations contribute positively, and assimilating both has the highest QPF score. Assimilating surface observations systematically improves surface wind and temperature predictions based on 240 cases. A case study demonstrates that the model can capture the AT initiation and development by assimilating surface and radar observations. Its cold pool and outflow boundary prediction are also improved. In this case, the assimilation of surface wind and water vapor in the morning contributes more compared with temperature and pressure.