bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiogenetics: genetic testing in the diagnosis and management of patients with aortic disease
Authors: Thakker Prashanth D , Braverman Alan C
Published: December 2020

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection have a potent genetic underpinning with 20% of individuals having an affected relative. Heritable thoracic aortic diseases (HTAD) may be classified as syndromic (including Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and others) or non-syndromic (without recognisable phenotypes) and relate to pathogenic variants in multiple genes affecting extracellular matrix proteins, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling and smooth muscle contractile function. Clinical and imaging characteristics may heighten likelihood of an underlying HTAD. HTAD should be investigated in individuals with thoracic aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection, especially when occurring in younger individuals, in those with phenotypic features and in those with a family history of aneurysm disease. Screening family members for aneurysm disease is important. Consultation with a medical geneticist and genetic testing of individuals at increased risk for HTAD is recommended. Medical management and prophylactic aortic surgical thresholds are informed by an accurate clinical and molecular diagnosis.
Multidimensional risk score to stratify community-dwelling older adults by future fall risk using the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) framework
Authors: Helsel Brian C , Kemper Karen A , Williams Joel E , Truong Khoa , Van Puymbroeck Marieke
Published: December 2020

Background

The Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) screening algorithm aligns with current fall prevention guidelines and is easy to administer within clinical practice. However, the stratification into low, moderate and high risk categories limits the meaningful interpretation of the fall-related risk factors.

Methods

Baseline measures from a modified STEADI were used to predict self-reported falls over 4 years in 3170 respondents who participated in the 2011–2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study. A point method was then applied to find coefficient-based integers and 4-year fall risk estimates from the predictive model. Sensitivity and specificity estimates from the point method and the combined moderate and high fall risk STEADI categories were compared.

Results

There were 886 (27.95%) and 387 (12.21%) respondents who were classified as moderate and high risk, respectively, when applying the stratification method. Falls in the past year (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.61 to 2.89), multiple falls (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.89 to 4.55) and a fear of falling (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.45 to 2.16) were among the significant predictors of 4-year falls in older adults. The point method revealed integers that ranged from 0 (risk: 27.21%) to 44 (risk: 99.71%) and a score of 10 points had comparable discriminatory capacity to the combined moderate and high STEADI categories.

Conclusion

Coefficient-based integers and their risk estimates can provide an alternative interpretation of a predictive model that may be useful in determining fall risk within a clinical setting, tracking changes longitudinally and defining the effectiveness of an intervention.
Update on the treatment options for canine hyperadrenocorticism
Authors: Schofield Imogen , Geddes Rebecca , Fenn Joe , Ramsey Ian
Published: December 2020

Background

Canine hyperadrenocorticism (or Cushing's syndrome) occurs due to a functional pituitary or adrenal tumour, resulting in excessive circulatory glucocorticoids, which produce the classical clinical signs in affected dogs. Although management of the disease traditionally focuses on treating these endocrine consequences, the pathology reflects an oncological disease with the possibility of progression of the underlying neoplasia. Surgical options for these tumours are now becoming increasingly available and successful.

Aim of the article

This article covers how to distinguish between pituitary and adrenal hyperadrenocorticism as well as outlining the treatment options for this important disease in dogs.
Effective communication: filters and perception
Authors: Aylott Anne‐Marie Svendsen
Published: December 2020

One of the most challenging everyday tasks in practice can be ensuring effective communication within and between teams. Although seemingly straightforward, communication can be fraught with differing opinions and interpretations. This article explores how individuals may interpret words differently, and how this may translate into specific actions.
Prognostic Value of Estimated Plasma Volume in Patients with Chronic Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Lin Yuyao , Xue Yanbo , Liu Jing , Wang Xiqiang , Wei Linyan , Bai Ling , Ma Aiqun
Published: December 2020

Assessing congestion is challenging but important to patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, there are limited data regarding the association between estimated plasma volume status (ePVS) determined using hemoglobin/hematocrit data and outcomes in patients with stable CHF. We prospectively analyzed 231 patients; the median follow-up period was 35.6 months. We calculated ePVS at admission using the Duarte and Strauss formula, derived from hemoglobin and hematocrit ratios and divided patients into three groups. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or heart failure rehospitalization. Among 274 patients (61.98 years of age, 2.3% male), the mean ePVS was 3.98±0.90 dL/g. The third ePVS tertile had a higher proportion of primary outcome (71.4%) than the first or second tertile (48.1% and 59.7%, respectively; p=0.013). On multivariable Cox analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, higher ePVS remained significantly associated with increased rate of primary outcome (adjusted HR 1.567, 95% CI 1.267 to 1.936; p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that the occurrence of primary outcome, all-cause mortality and rehospitalization increased progressively from first to third tertiles (p=0.006, 0.014 and 0.001; respectively). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve of ePVS for primary outcome was 0.645. ePVS determined using hemoglobin and hematocrit was independently associated with clinical outcomes for patients with stable CHF. Our study thus further strengthens the evidence that ePVS has important prognostic value in patients with stable CHF.

Trial registration number ChiCTR-ONC-14004463.
Effect of Rosiglitazone on Circulating Malondialdehyde (Mda) Level in Diabetes Based on a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Eight Clinical Trials
Authors: Majidi Ziba , Hosseinkhani Shaghayegh , Amiri-Dashatan Nasrin , Emamgholipour Solaleh , Tutunchi Sara , Hashemi Javad , Ghorbani Fatemeh , Koushki Mehdi
Published: December 2020

Patients with type 2 diabetes have high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and clinical data suggest a reducing effect of rosiglitazone (RSG) on the level of MDA in these patients. However, the results of available studies on the level of MDA in RSG-treated patients are not univocal. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of RSG on the level of MDA. We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed, the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for related controlled trials until July 2020. Eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Extracted data from each study were combined using a random-effects model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity. Eight trials with 456 subjects met the inclusion criteria. The results significantly showed the reducing effect of RSG on circulating MDA level (−0.47 μmol/mL; 95% CI −0.93 to −0.01; p=0.04; I2=82.1%; p heterogeneity=0.00) in individuals with T2D. No publication bias was observed with Begg's rank correlation (p=0.71) and Egger's linear regression (p=0.52) tests. Subgroup analyses showed that an intervention dose of 8 mg/day in serum samples was found to have a reducing effect on the level of MDA (−0.56 μmol/mL; 95% CI −0.98 to −0.14; p=0.008; I2=11.4%; p heterogeneity=0.32). Random-effects meta-regression did not show any significant association between the level of MDA and potential confounders including RSG dose, treatment duration, and sex. In conclusion, we found a significant reduction in MDA concentration in subjects with T2D who received a dose of 8 mg of RSG daily.
Association of Rs12997 Variant in the Acvr1 Gene: A Member of Bone Morphogenic Protein Signaling Pathway with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in a Saudi Cohort
Authors: Kondkar Altaf A , Azad Taif A , Sultan Tahira , Osman Essam A , Almobarak Faisal A , Al-Obeidan Saleh A
Published: December 2020

We investigated the association between variants rs12997 in activin A receptor type I ( ACVR1) and rs1043784 in BMP6 located in the 3’ untranslated region, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The retrospective case-control study used TaqMan real-time PCR assay to genotype 400 subjects, including 150 patients with POAG and 250 controls. The minor ‘G’ allele of rs12997 in ACVR1 showed significant association with POAG (p=0.027, OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.03 to 1.87). Likewise, rs12997 genotypes showed moderate association with POAG in recessive (p=0.048, OR=1.80, 95% CI=1.01 to 3.20) and log-additive models (p=0.030, OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.03 to 1.87), but did not survive Bonferroni correction. Rs1043784 in BMP6 showed no associations. Furthermore, rs12997 G/G genotype significantly (p=0.033) increased the risk of POAG (twofolds) independent of age, sex and rs1043784 genotypes in regression analysis. However, clinical variables such as intraocular pressure and cup/disc ratio showed no association with both the polymorphisms. To conclude, the study shows a modest association between rs12997 in the ACVR1 gene, a member of the bone morphogenic protein signaling pathway and POAG. However, the results need further replication in large population-based cohorts and different ethnicities to validate its role as an important genetic biomarker.
Navigating radial artery loops in neurointerventions
Authors: Luther Evan , Burks Joshua , Abecassis Isaac Josh , Nada Ahmed , Heath Rainya , Berry Katherine , McCarthy David J , Saini Vasu , Silva Michael , Huang Eric , Strickland Allison , Yavagal Dileep R , Peterson Eric C , Levitt Michael R , Starke Robert M
Published: December 2020

Background

Although studies continue to demonstrate lower complications in neurointerventions using transradial access (TRA) compared with transfemoral approaches, anatomic radial variants can be difficult to navigate and remain one of the frequent causes of access site conversion.

Objective

To evaluate predictors of TRA failure in neuroendovascular patients with radial loops and suggest a protocol for managing these anomalies.

Methods

A prospective collection of patients undergoing TRA at participating institutions from July 2018 to September 2020 was reviewed. Patients with a radial loop were identified. Patient demographics and procedural characteristics were evaluated to determine predictors of both TRA failure and successful reduction of the radial loop.

Results

We identified 32 transradial neurointerventions in which patients had radial loops. Twenty-two (68.8%) were identified by diagnostic angiography, and the majority were performed for evaluation or treatment of an aneurysm (56.3%). TRA failure occurred in 13 (40.6%) of the cohort and happened more frequently in patients over 60 years of age (p=0.01) and those with recurrent radial artery diameters ≤2 mm (p=0.02). Of the 19 patients who had successful TRA, 12 (63.2%) procedures were performed through the recurrent radial artery.

Conclusion

Although radial loops are associated with high transradial failure rates, our results suggest that the presence of a loop is not an absolute contraindication to TRA. Therefore, we recommend attempting loop navigation using our protocol. Patient age, vascular tortuosity, and recurrent radial artery size should help dictate when to convert to an alternative access site.
International teleproctoring in neurointerventional surgery and its potential impact on clinical trials in the era of COVID-19: legal and technical considerations
Authors: Orru' Emanuele , Marosfoi Miklos , Patel Neil V , Coon Alexander L , Wald Christoph , Repucci Nicholas , Nicholson Patrick , Pereira Vitor M , Wakhloo Ajay K
Published: December 2020

Background

Existing travel restrictions limit the mobility of proctors, significantly delaying clinical trials and the introduction of new neurointerventional devices. We aim to describe in detail technical and legal considerations regarding international teleproctoring, a tool that could waive the need for in-person supervision during procedures.

Methods

International teleproctoring was chosen to provide remote supervision during the first three intracranial aneurysm treatments with a new flow diverter (currently subject of a clinical trial) in the US. Real-time, high-resolution transmission software streamed audiovisual data to a proctor located in Canada. The software allowed the transmission of images in a de-identified, HIPAA-compliant manner.

Results

All three flow diverters were implanted as desired by operator and proctor and without complication. The proctor could swap between images from multiple sources and reported complete spatial and situational awareness, without any significant lag or delay in communication. Procedural times and radiologic dose were similar to those of uncomplicated, routine flow diversion cases at our institution.

Conclusions

International teleproctoring was successfully implemented in our clinical practice. Its first use provided important insights for establishing this tool in our field. With no clear horizon for lifting the current travel restrictions, teleproctoring has the potential to remove the need for proctor presence in the angiography suite, thereby allowing the field to advance through the continuation of trials and the introduction of new devices in clinical practice. In order for this tool to be used safely and effectively, highly reliable connection and high-resolution equipment is necessary, and multiple legal nuances have to be considered.
Outcomes of pediatric thyroidectomy: a cross-sectional evaluation
Authors: Azari Sarah , Randolph Jackson , Shi Harry , Hoover Travis , Weaver Daniel , Mattioni Jillian , Chennupati Sri Kiran
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Pediatric thyroidectomy is performed by a variety of surgical specialties. Thyroidectomy can result in a number of complications. Previous studies cite that the most common complications in children are pain and transient hypocalcemia. The purposes of this report are to assess the adverse events of thyroidectomies performed in the pediatric population and to assess the relationship between surgical specialties and postoperative thyroidectomy complications.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of cases from January 1, 2014 through November 1, 2015 using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for patients undergoing excision of cyst or adenoma of the thyroid, unilateral thyroid lobectomy, or total thyroidectomy.

Results

Of the 344 patients who underwent thyroidectomy, 10 (2.9%) experienced at least one complication. The most common complications were readmission, surgical site infections, and wound disruption. There was a statistically significant association between complication incidence and surgical specialty (p=0.006). Pediatric otolaryngology had a statistically significantly higher number of complications than pediatric surgery (p<0.008).

Conclusion

Overall, the incidence of adverse events following pediatric thyroidectomy was low.
Flow liquefaction potential of loose sand: stress path envelope and energy-based evaluation
Authors: Pan K. , Yang Z.X. , Cai Y.Q.
Published: December 2020

Flow liquefaction, which is characterized by sudden collapse following the unstable behavior of saturated loose sand, may lead to the most catastrophic consequence of all liquefaction-related phenomena. This note presents a systematic experimental investigation into the flow liquefaction potential of sand under various initial and cyclic shear conditions. The cyclic flow liquefaction responses are compared with the monotonic shear results under an identical initial testing condition. It is found that the effective stress path of a monotonic test appears to envelop that of its corresponding cyclic test. The energy-based liquefaction potential evaluation indicates that the accumulative dissipated energy is uniquely correlated not only with the pore pressure and axial strain induced in sand, but also with the degraded stiffness during cyclic loading. Furthermore, the energy capacity for triggering the flow liquefaction appears to be intimately related to the cyclic resistance of sand; this signifies the potential applicability of energy-based liquefaction potential evaluation using strength data available in conventional analysis.
Immobilization as a powerful bioremediation tool for abatement of dye pollution: a review
Authors: Saha Purbasha , Bhaskara Rao K.V.
Published: December 2020

Dyes are xenobiotic compounds widely used by textile, leather, paper, printing, food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Decolorization and dye degradation in the effluents is a prime hurdle in its treatment, and there is still a shortage of economically attractive and easy-to-operate treatments that can eliminate dye pollution. In recent years, chemical-based treatments are being replaced by greener technologies at the laboratory and industrial scale to combat dye pollution. It is noteworthy that immobilization is a biotechnological tool that greatly enhances bioremediation’s potential. The present review has covered the basic concepts of immobilization, including the different immobilization techniques and the various carriers used for immobilization. The efficient immobilization of a biocatalyst depends on the proper choice of a carrier combined with a suitable immobilization technique. Hence, this review provides a comparative analysis of the different immobilization techniques and carriers used. Further, there is an in-depth discussion on the potential of immobilized enzymes and cells as bioremediation agents for dye degradation. Nearly all the studies indicated that immobilization enhanced the biodecolorization of colored wastewater compared with free systems. Further, the potential of immobilized systems for large scale industrial implementation was also examined. The article ends with a note on the loopholes of research on immobilization and future scopes of this technique.
TRADE LIBERALIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE STRUCTURE OF INVESTMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Authors: MARKS ANDREW
Published: December 2020

The objective of this paper is to assess whether trade liberalisation has improved the structure of investment from domestic to export capacity in the Australian manufacturing sector. This has critical implications for export growth at a time of losses in the domestic marker emanating from the move towards free trade and hence production in this sector. The empirical results reveal trade liberalisation has played a major role in re-orienting investment towards export capacity which promotes quicker export growth thereby offsetting the losses in the domestic market and hence safeguarding manufacturing production.
A method for underwater acoustic signal classification using convolutional neural network combined with discrete wavelet transform
Authors: Kim Kyong-Il , Pak Myong-Il , Chon Bong-Pil , Ri Chun-Hyok
Published: December 2020

The detection and classification of underwater targets such as fish are one of the major tasks of the underwater acoustic signal processing and are very important for scientific, fisheries and ocean engineering and economic fields. The convolutional neural network (CNN) combined with the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) (namely CNN_DWT) not only reduces the data processing dimension of signals and the computational costs of the signal analysis, but also improves the performance of target detection and classification. This paper proposes a new CNN to classify the images that reflected the underwater acoustic signal in the database that is made up of the scalogram of underwater acoustic signals. Also, in order to attain greater accuracy and comparable efficiency to the spatial domain processing, we convert the data to the wavelet domain. Also, we propose a deep learning method for the classification of underwater acoustic signals using the new CNN combined with DWT. Next, through the simulation experiment, we evaluate our new method for underwater acoustic signal classification using the CNN combined with DWT, by comparing with classical methods. Comparing the proposed method to spatial domain CNN and classical methods, the experimental results reveal a substantial increment in classification accuracy and noise robustness. And the learning curves show that the proposed CNN_DWT does not generate the overfitting problem and its generalization ability is high. The proposed CNN_DWT improves the classification accuracy and convergence of underwater acoustic signals than the classical CNNs. The noise robustness of the proposed CNN_DWT is higher than those of classical CNNs and back-propagation neural networks (BPNNs) for the classification of underwater acoustic signals. Experimental results show that the classification performance of new CNN combined with DWT is higher than those of classical CNNs and BPNNs for the classification of underwater acoustic signals.
Harmony search Hawks optimization-based Deep reinforcement learning for intrusion detection in IoT using nonnegative matrix factorization
Authors: Om Prakash P. G. , Maram Balajee , Nalinipriya G. , Cristin R.
Published: December 2020

With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), the security of the network layer in IoT is getting more attention in recent decades. Various intrusion detection methods were developed in the existing research works, but the capability to detect malicious and intrusion activities in the complex Internet environment poses a challenging task in IoT. Hence, an effective and optimal intrusion detection mechanism, named Harmony Search Hawks Optimization-based Deep Reinforcement Learning (HSHO-based Deep RL), is proposed in this research to detect malicious network activities. The proposed Harmony Search Hawks Optimization (HSHO) algorithm is designed by integrating Harmony Search (HS) with the Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) algorithm. However, the optimal detection result that is effectively achieved through the fitness measures such that the minimum fitness value is only declared as the optimal solution. The Deep Reinforcement Learning (Deep RL) classifier effectively detects the malicious or intruder behaviors and generates a satisfactory result. By reducing the dimensionality of data using nonnegative matrix factorization, the data is optimally fit to perform intrusion detection process in the IoT environment. The proposed HSHO-based Deep RL obtained better performance in terms of the metrics like accuracy (96.925%), True Positive Rate (TPR; 96.90%), and True Negative Rate (TNR; 97.920%) with respect to [Formula: see text]-fold.
Rapid microwave synthesis of Cu2Se thermoelectric material with high conductivity
Authors: Wang Yongpeng , Wang Wenying , Zhao Haoyu , Bo Lin , Wang Lei , Li Fujin , Zuo Min , Zhao Degang
Published: December 2020

In this study, the dense bulk Cu2Se thermoelectric (TE) materials were prepared by microwave melting and hot pressing sintering. The effects of different cooling processes on the microstructure and TE properties of Cu2Se were investigated. The results showed that the Cu2Se TE material prepared by microwave synthesis had high electrical conductivity, which was about 105 S⋅m[Formula: see text]. The annealing process can lead to grain growth of Cu2Se and the formation of micropores in the Cu2Se, which deteriorated the thermal conductivity. The Cu2Se material prepared by the microwave melting and slow cooling process had the best TE performance, and the ZT value can reach 0.68 at 700 K.
Influence of solution pH value on the selective catalytic reduction performance of Mn/TiO2 catalyst
Authors: Fang Jing-Rui , Chen Ge , Sun Yong , Liu Yao-Jun , Ma Teng-Kun , Shi Xin-Chao
Published: December 2020

Mn/TiO2 catalyst was prepared via a rheological phase method by selectively changing the precursor solution pH values (acid, neutral, alkaline) and investigated for the low temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3. Various characterization methods such as N2 adsorption, XRD, XPS, and H2-TPD were conducted to probe the physical and chemical properties of the catalyst samples. The contents and distributions of Mn[Formula: see text], Mn[Formula: see text], and Mn[Formula: see text] of the catalysts were tested quantitatively by chemical titration. The catalysts with high content of Mn[Formula: see text] and Mn[Formula: see text] and superior specific surface area prepared under neutral and alkaline condition exhibit better catalytic activity at low temperature.
The linear 2-arboricity of 1-planar graphs without 3-cycles
Authors: Zhang Lu , Liu Juan
Published: December 2020

The linear 2-arboricity la[Formula: see text] of a graph [Formula: see text] is the least integer [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] can be partitioned into [Formula: see text] edge-disjoint forests, whose component trees are paths of length at most 2. In this paper, we prove that if [Formula: see text] is a 1-planar graph without 3-cycles and with maximum degree [Formula: see text], then la[Formula: see text].
pH-Dependent Interactions of Apolipophorin-III with a Lipid Disk
Authors: Peng Yunhui , Kelle Rudolfs , Little Chandler , Michonova Ekaterina , Kornev Kostantin G. , Alexov Emil
Published: December 2020

Apolipophorin-III (ApoLp-III) is required for stabilization of molecular shuttles of lipid fuels in insects and is found to contribute to the insect immune reaction. Rearrangement of its five [Formula: see text]-helices enables ApoLp-III to reversibly associate with lipids. We investigate computationally the conformational changes of ApoLp-III and the pH-dependence of the binding free energy of ApoLp-III association with a lipid disk. A dominant binding mode along with several minor, low population, modes of the ApoLp-III binding to a lipid disk was identified. The pH-dependence of the binding energy for ApoLp-III with the lipid disk is predicted to be significant, with the pH-optimum at pH[Formula: see text]. The calculations suggest that there are no direct interactions between the lipid head groups and titratable residues of ApoLp-III. In the physiological pH range from 6.0 to 9.0, the binding free energy of ApoLp-III with the lipid disk decreases significantly with respect to its optimal value at pH 8.0 (at pH[Formula: see text], it is 1.02[Formula: see text]kcal/mol and at pH[Formula: see text] it is 0.23[Formula: see text]kcal/mol less favorable than at the optimal pH[Formula: see text]), indicating that the pH is an important regulator of ApoLp-III lipid disk association.
A Dilatometric Study of Graphite Electrodes during Cycling with X-ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Michael H. , Iacoviello F. , Heenan T. M. M. , Llewellyn A. , Weaving J. S. , Jervis R. , Brett D. J. L. , Shearing P. R.
Published: December 2020

Graphite is the most commonly used anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). Understanding the mechanisms driving the dimensional changes of graphite can pave the way to methods for inhibiting degradation pathways and possibly predict electrochemical performance loss. In this study, correlative microscopy tools were used alongside electrochemical dilatometry (ECD) to provide new insights into the dimensional changes during galvanostatic cycling. X-ray computed tomography (CT) provided a morphological perspective of the cycled electrode so that the effects of dilation and contraction on effective diffusivity and electrode pore phase volume fraction could be examined. During the first cycle, the graphite electrode underwent thickness changes close to 9% after lithiation and, moreover, it did not return to its initial thickness after subsequent delithiation. The irreversible dilation increased over subsequent cycles. It is suggested the primary reason for this dilation is electrode delamination. This is supported by the finding that the electrode porosity remained mostly unchanged during cycling, as revealed by X-ray CT.
Adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in obesity
Authors: Kawai Tatsuo , Autieri Michael V. , Scalia Rosario
Published: December 2020

Several lines of preclinical and clinical research have confirmed that chronic low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue is mechanistically linked to metabolic disease and organ tissue complications in the overweight and obese organism. Despite this widely confirmed paradigm, numerous open questions and knowledge gaps remain to be investigated. This is mainly due to the intricately intertwined cross-talk of various pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling cascades involved in the immune response of expanding adipose depots, particularly the visceral adipose tissue. Adipose tissue inflammation is initiated and sustained over time by dysfunctional adipocytes that secrete inflammatory adipokines and by infiltration of bone marrow-derived immune cells that signal via production of cytokines and chemokines. Despite its low-grade nature, adipose tissue inflammation negatively impacts remote organ function, a phenomenon that is considered causative of the complications of obesity. The aim of this review is to broadly present an overview of adipose tissue inflammation by highlighting the most recent reports in the scientific literature and summarizing our overall understanding of the field. We also discuss key endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators and analyze their mechanistic role(s) in the pathogenesis and treatment of adipose tissue inflammation. In doing so, we hope to stimulate studies to uncover novel physiological, cellular, and molecular targets for the treatment of obesity.
LRRC8A homohexameric channels poorly recapitulate VRAC regulation and pharmacology
Authors: Yamada Toshiki , Figueroa Eric E. , Denton Jerod S. , Strange Kevin
Published: December 2020

Swelling-activated volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) are heteromeric channels comprising LRRC8A and at least one other LRRC8 paralog. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of nonnative LRRC8A and LRRC8D homohexamers have been described. We demonstrate here that LRRC8A homohexamers poorly recapitulate VRAC functional properties. Unlike VRACs, LRRC8A channels heterologously expressed in Lrr8c−/− HCT116 cells are poorly activated by low intracellular ionic strength (µ) and insensitive to cell swelling with normal µ. Combining low µ with swelling modestly activates LRRC8A, allowing characterization of pore properties. VRACs are strongly inhibited by 10 µM 4-[(2-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1 H-inden-5-yl)oxy]butanoic acid (DCPIB) in a voltage-independent manner. In contrast, DCPIB block of LRRC8A is weak and voltage sensitive. Cryo-EM structures indicate that DCPIB block is dependent on arginine 103. Consistent with this, LRRC8A R103F mutants are insensitive to DCPIB. However, an LRRC8 chimeric channel in which R103 is replaced by a leucine at the homologous position is inhibited ∼90% by 10 µM DCPIB in a voltage-independent manner. Coexpression of LRRC8A and LRRC8C gives rise to channels with DCPIB sensitivity that is strongly µ dependent. At normal intracellular µ, LRRC8A + LRRC8C heteromers exhibit strong, voltage-independent DCPIB block that is insensitive to R103F. DCPIB inhibition is greatly reduced and exhibits voltage dependence with low intracellular µ. The R103F mutation has no effect on maximal DCPIB inhibition but eliminates voltage dependence under low µ conditions. Our findings demonstrate that the LRRC8A cryo-EM structure and the use of heterologously expressed LRRC8 heteromeric channels pose significant limitations for VRAC mutagenesis-based structure-function analysis. Native VRAC function is most closely mimicked by chimeric LRRC8 homomeric channels.
Inhibitory corticotropin-releasing factor neurons in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex promote stress-resilient behavior in male rodents
Authors: Vidrascu Elena M. , Robertson Madeline M.
Published: December 2020

Adaptive behavior in response to adverse experiences facilitates faster recovery and less time spent engaging in maladaptive behaviors that contribute to psychopathology, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Dysregulation of activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in these disorders, with stress further exacerbating these negative effects. Corticotropin-releasing factor is an important regulator of the stress-response system and may have a differential involvement in individuals who are especially susceptible to negative stress-related outcomes. A recent study by Chen et al. (Chen P, Lou S, Huang ZH, Wang Z, Shan QH, Wang Y, Yang Y, Li X, Gong H, Jin Y, Zhang Z, Zhou Z. Neuron 106: 301–315, 2020) has identified a novel subtype of GABAergic CRF interneurons in the dorsomedial PFC that, upon activation, can promote active responses and resilient behavior in response to stress.
Increased speech contrast induced by sensorimotor adaptation to a nonuniform auditory perturbation
Authors: Parrell Benjamin , Niziolek Caroline A.
Published: December 2020

To date, the speech motor learning evoked in sensorimotor adaptation studies has had little ecological consequences for communication. By inducing complex, nonuniform acoustic errors, we show that adaptation can be leveraged to cause an increase in speech sound contrast, a change that has the capacity to improve intelligibility. This study is relevant for models of sensorimotor integration across motor domains, showing that complex alterations to sensory feedback can successfully drive changes relevant to ecological behavior.
Recurrent Thyroid Storm Caused by a Complete Hydatidiform Mole in a Perimenopausal Woman
Authors: Jayasuriya Anuradha , Muthukuda Dimuthu , Dissanayake Preethi , Subasinghe Shyama
Published: December 2020

Background. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) which includes hydatidiform mole, invasive mole, placental site trophoblastic tumor, and choriocarcinoma is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism due to excess production of placental human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone (hCG) by tumor cells. Molecular mimicry between hCG and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) leads to continuous stimulation of TSH receptor by extremely high levels of hCG seen in these tumors. Consequently, biochemical and clinical hyperthyroidism ensues and it is potentially complicated by thyrotoxic crisis which is fatal unless urgent therapeutic steps are undertaken. Case Description. We present a 49-year-old perimenopausal woman who presented with recurrent thyroid storm and high output cardiac failure. The initial workup revealed suppressed TSH, high-free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels with increased vascularity of the normal-sized thyroid on ultrasonography. She was managed with parenteral beta blockers, steroids, and high-dose carbimazole. Her lower abdominal tenderness led to further investigations which revealed tremendously elevated beta-hCG and a snow storm appearance on transabdominal ultrasound suggestive of GTD. She underwent curative surgery and was diagnosed with complete hydatidiform mole postoperatively by histology. Conclusion. Recurrent thyroid crisis in gestational trophoblastic disease is an exceedingly rare presentation and that is highly fatal. This case highlights the importance of early detection and treatment of the etiology of thyrotoxicosis to eliminate mortality.
A Novel HDF‐Based Data Compression and Integration Approach to Support BIM‐GIS Practical Applications
Authors: Pan Zeyu , Shi Jianyong , Jiang Liu
Published: December 2020

Constructing a fully mapped virtual world is the premise of establishing the digital twin system; thus, the integration of BIM (Building Information Modeling) and GIS (Geographic Information System) constitutes a fundamental part of the mature digital twin. Although quite a few theoretical unified data models of BIM and GIS integration have been presented in precedent research, the practical web‐based applications and software support for real‐world city information modeling are still difficult to achieve. One of the challenges is storage inefficiency. It thence leads to burdens in exchange and analysis, which hugely impede the realization of virtual‐real fusion. To address that issue, in this research, we contribute to exploring an HDF‐ (Hierarchical Data Format‐) based, innovative, and synthesized scheme with three significant technical processes. First, data reorganization trims the original data with efficient redundancy elimination and reordering for IFC‐SPF (IFC STEP Physical File) and XML‐encoded CityGML (City Geography Markup Language). Next, bidirectional transformation methods for BIM and GIS modeling data, images, and analytical data into HDF are proposed. They retain the entities and relationships in modeling data and can further improve the compactness and accessibility by ultimately 60%–80% which saves 497,612 KB from 565,152 KB in the test of ZhongChun transformation substation. Finally, data aggregation enhances the bond of the integrated model and heterogeneous data resources from the transformed HDF files. The case studies show that the approach proposed in this paper could reach high efficiency for practicability of the BIM + GIS integration model. This light‐weight integration method can further improve the front‐end service responsiveness in digital twin applications.
Influence of Disc Specimen Configuration on Its Three-Dimensional Dynamic Stress Balance
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Yu Bingxin , Li Xiaojun , Wang Longfei , Zhang Xulong
Published: December 2020

In order to investigate the dynamic stress balance of different configurations of rock specimens, three-dimensional finite element models of SHPB were established. Five types of configuration disc specimens with a diameter of 75 mm and a thickness of 30 mm were impacted at a speed of 5 m/s using a special-shaped bullet. The propagation laws of stress wave on the contact surface of the specimen-bar and the inside of the specimen were analyzed, and the time history of the stress balance factors at different positions of the specimen was obtained. The results show that the amplitudes of the transmitted waves corresponding to the five types of disc specimens with different configurations have obvious differences, and the stress propagation in the specimen has three-dimensional characteristics. According to the ease of achieving stress balance, the five configuration specimens are ordered by notched semicircular bending disc, flattened Brazilian disc, cracked straight-through flattened Brazilian disc, Brazilian disc, and cracked straight-through Brazilian disc specimen. Among them, only the first three configurations of the specimen reached the stress balance. The dynamic stress balance is affected by the disc loading mode, end contact conditions, the presence of prefabricated cracks, and disc thickness. In addition, as the disc loading end is a processed platform, it is beneficial to achieve stress balance. Prefabricated cracks are not conducive to achieving stress balance. The loading method of the notched semicircular bending disc is more conducive to achieving stress balance. This research has a certain guiding significance for selecting suitable specimen configuration and research methods to carry out rock dynamic fracture experiments.
O discurso da interdição em Crônica da casa assinada
Authors: Terra Ernani
Published: December 2020

Neste artigo, discute-se como se manifesta o discurso da interdição no romance Crônica da casa assassinada, de Lúcio Cardoso. A partir da oposição fundamental natureza vs. cultura, procura-se demonstrar que as relações não-prescritas são sancionadas pragmaticamente com a segregação dos atores a determinados espaços. Instauram-se, portanto, na narrativa duas ordens de espaço: o das relações prescritas e o das não-prescritas. No romance, as relações não-prescritas são as homossexuais e o incesto, sendo este considerado interdito. Os espaços de segregação, levando-se em conta a categoria verticalidade, correspondem ao baixo. Na articulação alto vs. baixo, o primeiro é o espaço da cultura, das coerções sociais, das relações prescritas; o segundo é o espaço da natureza, das pulsões individuais, das relações não-prescritas. A fundamentação teórica é a Semiótica de linha francesa e a metodologia consistiu num recorte do romance em que se selecionaram sujeitos que, em seus percursos narrativos, buscam entrar em conjunção com objetos-valor, considerados interditos pelo destinador social.
As ficções epistolares de uma Crônica
Authors: Rodrigues Leandro Garcia
Published: December 2020

O romance Crônica da casa assassinada, obra máxima de Lúcio Cardoso, possui inúmeras possibilidades de significado e interpretação; uma delas, certamente, diz respeito à sua estrutura de romance epistolar. Este artigo tem o objetivo de analisar criticamente a dimensão da ficção epistolar na economia desse romance: tramas, organização, enredo, foco narrativo e as inúmeras cartas trocadas pelos personagens, o que fornece um destacado diferencial à obra do autor curvelano.
Antiochus III’s Decree for Jerusalem and the Persian Decrees in Ezra-Nehemiah and LXX 1 Esdras
Authors: Honigman Sylvie
Published: December 2020

The article endorses the view that the royal decrees for the Jerusalem temple inserted in Ezra-Nehemiah (and First Esdras) are not genuine, and explores the historical conditions in which they were composed. It points to similarities between the topical content of Antiochus III’s decree issued in 200/198 BCE (Josephus, Ant. 12.138–144) and that of the Persian decrees, and argues that the latter were based on the former. They were composed in the context of the Maccabean crisis, when it was claimed that Jason cancelled the privileges (political and fiscal) which Antiochus had granted (2 Macc 4:7–15), as a legitimizing precedent to Antiochus’ decree. Moreover, the Persian decrees were used to explore the economic aspect of the relationship between the local community and imperial ruler in Hellenistic times (taxes and euergetism), and to provide a template for he ideal (Hellenistic) imperial king.
Implicit Bias Within Public Reporting: A Virtual Reality Experiment Examining “Suspicious” Activity
Authors: Carson Jennifer V. , Politte Hailey
Published: December 2020

Campaigns like that of the Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something, Say Something” are intended to increase public reporting of “terrorism-related behaviors.” Yet given prior research on whom the general public considers to be a terrorist, it is likely these types of programs are instead affected by pejorative automatic associations. With this in mind, we inquire: Does implicit bias affect public reporting within a suspicious activity scenario? Through a randomized experiment using virtual reality technology, we find evidence of such bias, as manifested in whether participants indicated they would call the police when presented with a Middle Eastern male. We conclude effective counterterrorism programming should involve an awareness campaign component detailing what terrorism truly looks like in the United States.
The interactive effects of socialization tactics and work locus of control on newcomer work adjustment, job embeddedness, and voluntary turnover
Authors: Peltokorpi Vesa , Feng Jie , Pustovit Sasha , Allen David G , Rubenstein Alex L
Published: December 2020

Previous research has tended to focus on general best practices for onboarding organizational newcomers. In this study, we shift the conversation to instead address the question: for whom are certain socialization tactics more or less beneficial? Whereas institutionalized socialization tactics provide considerable structure intended to reduce uncertainty and help newcomers adjust, less is known about whether and how individual psychological differences cause some newcomers to react differently to the same socialization tactics. To examine the interplay between organizational socialization efforts and newcomer individual differences, we hypothesize that newcomers’ work locus of control moderates the relationship between socialization tactics and voluntary turnover. We also examine the indirect role of newcomer work adjustment—role clarity, work mastery, social integration—and job embeddedness in transmitting the interaction between socialization tactics and work locus of control to turnover. Data collected from 676 newcomers at four time points over 12 months in various organizations provided general support for our hypotheses: newcomers with an external work locus of control showed higher social integration and embeddedness and lower turnover under institutionalized socialization tactics, but lower social integration and embeddedness and higher turnover under individualized tactics. Their turnover was also reduced (about nine times) from individualized to institutionalized tactics. In contrast, newcomers with an internal work locus of control were less influenced by either socialization tactic approach in terms of their social integration, embeddedness, or turnover.
Deployment of reserve requirements into the power systems considering the cost, lost, and reliability parameters based on sustainable energy
Authors: Tur Mehmet Rida
Published: December 2020

Electric power systems allocate a certain amount of production capacity to provide uninterrupted power, which should be optimal and reliable. Thus, the power system can continue to operate regularly and sustainably without the need for a sudden interruption of some production units or an unforeseen load increase. For this, the optimum amount of reserves should be kept ready, which is one of the serious resources used by the power system to prevent fundamentally unpredictable failures. In this study, while the unit is being allocated, three parameters will be considered in determining the optimum reserve amount, which are the units with production costs, line losses, and reliability. In the system used as 22 Bus, each of these three impressive factors was analysed for the appropriate spinning reserve cost by adding an account and compared with eight different case studies. As a result of the calculations, the most reasonable cost of the result, in which line losses have a very low effect, evaluated in terms of production cost and reliability. As a result, when the reserve is allocated to the units in power systems, the right policy for the most appropriate planning is proposed to ensure sustainable and uninterrupted electricity.
A Girardian Approach to LaVeyan Satanism: Theological Perspectives
Authors: Andrade Gabriel
Published: December 2020

This article addresses some convergences in Rene Girard and Anton LaVey’s understandings of Satan. Rene Girard understood Satan as the representation of both mimetic desire and the scapegoat mechanism, both of which have detrimental influences on human culture. In that sense, in continuation with Christian orthodoxy, Girard did not find any positive aspect in Satanism. By contrast, Anton LaVey had a more positive approach to Satan. LaVey was an unsophisticated Nietzschean, who nevertheless understood well that the German philosopher’s views were not dissimilar to what Satan represents. Rene Girard’s understanding of who (or what) Satan is, makes this clearer.