bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sb2S3@YP Nanostructured Anode Material Synthesized by a Novel Vaporization-Condensation Method for Long Cycle-Life Sodium-Ion Battery
Authors: Chang Guoliang , Yin Xiuping , Shi Shanshan , Zhao Yufeng , Zhang Jiujun
Published: October 2020

Sb2S3 is recognized as a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries because of its low toxicity and high theoretical capacity of 946 mAh g−1. However, it usually suffers from a severe capacity decay during the charge/discharge processes mainly caused by their inferior electronic conductivities and large volume change. Currently, the preparation of Sb2S3-based anode materials is limited to conventional hydrothermal (solvothermal) or solution methods. In this study, a novel vaporization-condensation method is successfully employed to prepare nanocomposites between Sb2S3 and active carbon (YP80F carbon). During the vaporization-condensation process, Sb2S3 can be reformed and confined within the nanopores of YP80F carbon, obtaining surprising high performance anode materials (Sb2S3@YP samples) for Na-ion batteries. the nanopores of carbon can accommodate the large volume of Sb2S3 variation during charge/discharge process and enable a fast electron/Na-ion transfer. One of these Sb2S3@YP samples delivers a high capacity of 799.5 mAh g−1 at 1162 mA g−1, and maintains at 476.5 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles (based on the mass of Sb2S3). In addition, this vaporization-condensation method provides a significant strategy for preparing Sb2S3-based anode materials for long cycle-life sodium-ion batteries.
His bundle pacing shows similar ventricular electrical activation as sinus: selective and nonselective His pacing indistinguishable
Authors: Hirahara Annie M. , Lange Matthias , Shah Ankur , Khan Muhammad S. , Ranjan Ravi , Stoddard Greg , Dosdall Derek J.
Published: October 2020

Our high-density epicardial and endocardial electrical mapping study demonstrated that selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are more electrically similar to sinus rhythm compared with right ventricular and biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy pacing. Furthermore, small differences between selective and nonselective His bundle pacing, specifically a wider QRS in nonselective His pacing, do not translate into significant differences in the global activation pattern.
NO-induced vasodilation correlates directly with BP in smooth muscle-Na/Ca exchanger-1-engineered mice: elevated BP does not attenuate endothelial function
Authors: Wang Youhua , Zhang Jin , Wier W.Gil , Chen Ling , Blaustein Mordecai P.
Published: October 2020

Endothelium-dependent, ACh-induced vasodilation (EDV) is attenuated, and arterial myocyte Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCX1) are upregulated in many forms of hypertension. Surprisingly, mildly hypertensive smooth muscle-specific (SM)-NCX1 transgenic mice exhibited modestly enhanced EDV and augmented endothelium-independent vasodilation (EIV). Conversely, mildly hypotensive SM-NCX1-knockout mice had greatly attenuated EIV. These adaptations help compensate for NCX1 expression-induced alterations in cytosolic Ca2+ and blood pressure (BP) and belie the view that elevated BP, itself, causes the endothelial dysregulation in hypertension.
Multisensor-Based Autonomous Grasp Planning for Mobile Manipulator Navigation System with a Novel Soft Gripper
Authors: Zhang Heng , Hu Yingbai , Duan Jianghua , Gao Qing , Huo Langcheng , Wang Qiwen , Chen Yongquan
Published: October 2020

Mobile manipulators are widely used in different fields for transferring and grasping tasks such as in medical assisting devices, industrial production, and hotel services. It is challenging to improve navigation accuracies and grasping success rates in complex environments. In this paper, we develop a multisensor-based mobile grasping system which is configured with a vision system and a novel gripper set in an UR5 manipulator. Additionally, an error term of a cost function based on DWA (dynamic window approach) is proposed to improve the navigation performance of the mobile platform through visual guidance. In the process of mobile grasping, the size and position of the object can be identified by a visual recognition algorithm, and then the finger space and chassis position can be automatically adjusted; thus, the object can be grasped by the UR5 manipulator and gripper. To demonstrate the proposed methods, comparison experiments are also conducted using our developed mobile grasping system. According to the analysis of the experimental results, the motion accuracy of the mobile chassis has been improved significantly, satisfying the requirements of navigation and grasping success rates, as well as achieving a high performance over a wide grasping size range from 1.7 mm to 200 mm.
The Evaluation of the Effect of ICT in HIV Prevention in the General Population in China Based on an Information‐Motivation‐Behavioral Skill Model
Authors: Liang Xia , Yang Jun , Abdullah Abu S. , He Zhikui , Yang Li
Published: October 2020

Objectives. With an increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the application of information and communication technology (ICT) is considered as a helpful solution. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ICT in HIV prevention in the general population based on an information‐motivation‐behavioral skill (IMB) model. Methods. A national follow‐up study on the evaluation of ICT on HIV health education effects before and after large sample intervention was conducted in 16 provinces of China. ICT was used to carry out a six‐month educational program on the prevention of HIV for participants using the WeChat platform. The research group conducted a second questionnaire for participants to collect data and built the IMB model using Mplus 7.0 analysis software. Results. A total of 997 questionnaires were sent, and 957 effective questionnaires were recovered, a recovery rate of 96.0%. Before the ICT intervention, the scores of information was 15.68 ± 3.28, of motivation was 14.47 ± 4.26, of behavior skills was 2.26 ± 1.08, and of condom use was 2.19 ± 1.15. After the ICT intervention, the scores for information (18.54 ± 2.48), motivation (16.06 ± 4.11), behavior skills (4.74 ± 1.04), and condom use (2.64 ± 1.15) improved significantly. ICT use had a significant regression effect on motivation (β = 0.237, P < 0.001), behavior skills (β = 0.997, P < 0.001), and information (β = 0.441, P < 0.001), while motivation (β = 0.196, P < 0.001), behavior skills (β = 0.207, P < 0.001), and information (β = 0.092, P < 0.001) had a significant regression effect on condom use. Conclusions. The ICT intervention can not only improve information about HIV prevention, motivation, and behavior skills but also promote the use of condoms, so as to achieve the result of promoting behaviors that act to prevent AIDS within the general population.
A Deep Learning Method for Near-Real-Time Cloud and Cloud Shadow Segmentation from Gaofen-1 Images
Authors: Khoshboresh-Masouleh Mehdi , Shah-Hosseini Reza
Published: October 2020

In this study, an essential application of remote sensing using deep learning functionality is presented. Gaofen-1 satellite mission, developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) for the civilian high-definition Earth observation satellite program, provides near-real-time observations for geographical mapping, environment surveying, and climate change monitoring. Cloud and cloud shadow segmentation are a crucial element to enable automatic near-real-time processing of Gaofen-1 images, and therefore, their performances must be accurately validated. In this paper, a robust multiscale segmentation method based on deep learning is proposed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cloud and cloud shadow segmentation from Gaofen-1 images. The proposed method first implements feature map based on the spectral-spatial features from residual convolutional layers and the cloud/cloud shadow footprints extraction based on a novel loss function to generate the final footprints. The experimental results using Gaofen-1 images demonstrate the more reasonable accuracy and efficient computational cost achievement of the proposed method compared to the cloud and cloud shadow segmentation performance of two existing state-of-the-art methods.
Analysis of Asymmetric Piecewise Linear Stochastic Resonance Signal Processing Model Based on Genetic Algorithm
Authors: He Lina , Jiang Chuan
Published: October 2020

The stochastic resonance system has the advantage of making the noise energy transfer to the signal energy. Because the existing stochastic resonance system model has the problem of poor performance, an asymmetric piecewise linear stochastic resonance system model is proposed, and the parameters of the model are optimized by a genetic algorithm. The signal-to-noise ratio formula of the model is derived and analyzed, and the theoretical basis for better performance of the model is given. The influence of the asymmetric coefficient on system performance is studied, which provides guidance for the selection of initial optimization range when a genetic algorithm is used. At the same time, the formula is verified and analyzed by numerical simulation, and the correctness of the formula is proved. Finally, the model is applied to bearing fault detection, and an adaptive genetic algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of the system. The results show that the model has an excellent detection effect, which proves that the model has great potential in fault detection.
Correlation between Blood and CSF Compartment Cytokines and Chemokines in Subjects with Cryptococcal Meningitis
Authors: Okafor Elizabeth C. , Hullsiek Katherine H. , Williams Darlisha A. , Scriven James E. , Rhein Joshua , Nabeta Henry W. , Musubire Abdu K. , Rajasingham Radha , Muzoora Conrad , Schutz Charlotte , Meintjes Graeme , Meya David B. , Boulware David R.
Published: October 2020

Background. Though peripheral blood is a crucial sample to study immunology, it is unclear whether the immune environment in the peripheral vasculature correlates with that at the end-organ site of infection. Using cryptococcal meningitis as a model, we investigated the correlation between serum and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers over time. Methods. We analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of 160 subjects presenting with first episode cryptococcal meningitis for soluble cytokines and chemokines measured by Luminex assay. Specimens were collected at meningitis diagnosis, 1-week, and 2-week post cryptococcal diagnosis. We compared paired samples by Spearman’s correlation and the

p

value was set at <0.01. Results. Of the 21 analytes tested at baseline, there was no correlation detected between nearly all analytes. A weak negative correlation was found between serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of interferon-gamma (

Rho
=
−
0.214

;

p
=
.007

) and interleukin-4 (

Rho
=
−
0.232

;

p
=
.003

). There was no correlation at 1-week post cryptococcal diagnosis. However, at 2-week post cryptococcal diagnosis, there was a weak positive correlation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels (

Rho
=
0.25

;

p
=
.007

) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. No cytokine or chemokine showed consistent correlation overtime. Conclusion. Based on our analysis of 21 biomarkers, serum and cerebrospinal fluid immune responses do not correlate. There appears to be a distinct immune environment in terms of soluble biomarkers in the vasculature versus end-organ site of infection. While this is a model of HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis, we postulate that assuming the blood compartment is representative of the immune function at the end-organ site of infection may not be appropriate.
Human papillomavirus and Its Association with Other Sexually Transmitted Coinfection among Sexually Active Women from the Northeast of Brazil
Authors: Paula Almeida Cunha Ana , Kassandra Pereira Belfort Ilka , Pedro Belfort Mendes Francisco , Rodrigues Bastos dos Santos Gerusinete , Henrique de Lima Costa Lucas , de Matos Monteiro Pablo , Lemos Gaspar Renata , Borges Ferreira Mariele , de Sá Ferreira Alice , Cristina Moutinho Monteiro Sally , Castello Branco Vidal Flávia
Published: October 2020

Objective. To verify the association between HPV infection and the presence of coinfections (Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) in women in the state of Maranhão. Methods. HPV-DNA detection was performed by the nested PCR, using the primers PGMY09/11 and GP + 5/GP + 6. For the identification of sexually transmitted agents, conventional PCR was performed using the following primers: KL1/KL2 (Chlamydia trachomatis), TVA5/TVA6 (Trichomonas vaginalis), and HO1/HO3 (Neisseria gonorrhoeae). DNA-HPV positive samples were subjected to automated sequencing for genotyping. Results. Among the 353 women evaluated, 204 (57.8%) had HPV-DNA, of which 140 (68.6%) exhibited HPV/STIs, while 64 (31.4%) had the only HPV. T. vaginalis infection showed a positive association with HPV (

p
=
0.003

). Women without cervical lesions were predominant (327/92.6%); however, the largest number of lesions was reported in women who had HPV/coinfections (18/8.8%). Multiple regression analysis showed that both HPV only and the concomitant presence of HPV/STI were able to indicate the occurrence of epithelial lesions (R = 0.164; R2 = 0.027). Conclusion. The findings suggest that the presence of T. vaginalis can contribute to HPV infection, and HPV/IST association may influence the development of cervical intraepithelial lesions that are precursors of cervical cancer.
Experimental Study on Lateral Permeability Evolution of Sandstone under Seepage‐Damage Coupling
Authors: Pang Dongdong , Feng Feisheng , Jiang Guanghui , Xu Dongjing , Wang Xiaohan
Published: October 2020

To analyze the internal pore evolution law of aquifer rock in a coal mining front under the coupling effect of stress and seepage and the influence on the water inrush performance of the working face, research on the working face was conducted to improve the RTR‐1000 high‐temperature and high‐pressure rock triaxial mechanical testing system, using hollow cylindrical and complete sandstone samples and by considering the stress change law in the actual mining process as the reference loading path. At the initial stage of loading, the permeability of sandstone demonstrates a rapid downward trend within a small range of stress change, with a decline rate of 50%. At lower permeabilities, the fluctuation is small; the plastic and failure stages are transient, and the relationship curve between the horizontal permeability and the axial confining pressure of sandstone is divided into compaction, multiple fluctuations, surrender, and failure. In several stages, the sandstone lateral permeability experiment under the coupling effect of stress and seepage demonstrates that the permeability of the aquifer in the coal mining front is significantly reduced after the original rock stress is disturbed by mining, suggesting that the water inrush calculation of the traditional water‐flowing fractured zone and caving zone aquifer rock permeability experiment is inaccurate. Further research can deepen the stress and seepage coupling evolution process under the action of working face water inrush.
Hardware in the Loop Testing of Adaptive Inertia Weight PSO-Tuned LQR Applied to Vehicle Suspension Control
Authors: David Reddipogu Joshua Sunder , Elumalai Vinodh Kumar
Published: October 2020

This paper presents an adaptive inertia weight particle swarm optimization (AIWPSO) employed for solving the multiobjective weight optimization problem of LQR applied for the vehicle active suspension system (ASS). To meet the competing control objectives of ASS including the ride comfort, road handling, and suspension travel, the state feedback controller design for ASS is formulated as an optimization problem and an improved PSO is employed for finding the optimal weights of the linear-quadratic regulator (LQR). Specifically, for solving the premature convergence of the particles and imbalance between exploration and exploitation capabilities of PSO, an adaptive inertia weight that updates the velocity of the particles based on the success rate is used. The efficacy of the AIWPSO-tuned LQR is experimentally tested on a quarter-car ASS plant using the hardware in loop (HIL) testing for an uneven road surface. Experimental results highlight that, compared to conventional PSO-tuned LQR, the proposed scheme can significantly minimize the vehicle body acceleration due to irregular road profile while guaranteeing the minimum tire friction for passenger safety. The ISO 2361-1 standards adopted to evaluate the ride and health criteria substantiate that the proposed scheme reduces the vibration dose value by 25.34% for a bumpy road profile. Moreover, the cumulative power spectral density (CPSD) of vehicle body acceleration assessed in both low- and high-frequency regions manifests the significant improvement in the ride comfort.
Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis among Southern Jordanian Population
Authors: Al Warawreh Amjad M. , Al Tamimi Zaid H. , Al Qatawna Mohammad I. , Al Momani Aseel A. , Al Mhaidat Mohammed R. , El Naji Waddah S. , AlSaraireh Salem
Published: October 2020

Introduction. Jordan is one of the Middle Eastern countries that is classified as a poor water resource country. People in Jordan consume any available water. In the south of Jordan, water resources are limited. The drinking water contains high levels of fluoride, which in turn leads to augmented danger of both skeletal and dental fluorosis. Aims. This study is focused on evaluating the pervasiveness of dental fluorosis among patients of Karak City and assessing the degree and distribution of fluorosis. Materials and Methods. This research focuses on 2,512 patients ranging from 12 to 52 years old seeking dental treatment in the Dental Department at “Prince Ali ben Al Houssin Hospital” in Karak City. Dental fluorosis status was assessed by using Modified Dean’s Fluorosis Index.” The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. Results. The dental fluorosis prevalence within our sample was 39.9% in Karak City. Females were more influenced than males, and fluorosis was detected more often in those who drank tap water and was more common in a very mild and localized form. Conclusion. Fluorosis necessitates constant observation, and future study in terms of the intake in Jordan is recommended in terms of all sources. It would not be too soon to note that the supply of drinking water needs to be changed in South Jordan.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Heralding the Diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Report
Authors: Al-Attas Alawi Aqel , Aldayel Abdulrahman Yousef , Al Najjar Sara Abdullah , Alkhonezan Saleh Mansoor
Published: October 2020

Lymphoma is a prevalent type of lymphoid tissue malignancy that is seldom associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). In the majority of instances, both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are not proceeded by GBS. Here, we report on a case of a young patient with a manifestation and investigation suggestive of GBS, signaling an unconfirmed diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A cerebrospinal fluid test revealed an albuminocytological dissociation with a noteworthy rise in protein (2.32 g/L). The patient was initiated on intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment and then showed dramatic improvement after the third dose of IVIG. His constitutional presentation alongside high inflammatory labs prompted further investigation. An enhanced pan-computed tomography scan showed multiple enlarged mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes that were confirmed as Hodgkin’s lymphoma after biopsy. Brentuximab was initiated immediately after IVIG therapy. This case highlights consideration of Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a differential diagnosis under the auspices of GBS.
Schimmelpenning Syndrome with Large Nevus Sebaceous and Multiple Epidermal Nevi
Authors: Dwiyana Reiva Farah , Hazari Maryam Nissa , Diana Inne Arline , Gondokaryono Srie Prihianti , Effendi Raden Mohamad Rendy Ariezal , Gunawan Hendra
Published: October 2020

Epidermal nevus syndromes are a group of rare multiorgan disorders. Schimmelpenning syndrome is a clinical variant of epidermal nevus syndromes. This congenital syndrome is characterized by the existence of nevus sebaceous and usually accompanied by abnormalities of the eyes, skeletal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. A 2-year-old girl presented with large, hairless, yellowish-brown plaques on the scalp and face along with multiple brownish-black verrucose plaques and brownish-black macules on almost all parts of the body. The skin-colored verrucose tumors were also found on the lips and around the mouth. Histopathological examination of the lesion on the forehead revealed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and sebaceous gland hyperplasia supporting the diagnosis of nevus sebaceous, while histopathological examination of the lesions on the lips and abdomen demonstrated hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and papillomatosis consistent with verrucous epidermal nevus. The pediatrician suspected that the patient had mental retardation; however, there were no neurological, cardiac, skeletal, nor ophthalmologic abnormalities. The lesions on the lips and around the mouth were excised, and it demonstrated a good result. To conclude, epidermal nevus syndrome (e.g., Schimmelpenning syndrome) should be considered in children born with nevus sebaceous.
Effectiveness of Endoscopic Pancreatic Stenting for Pancreatic Pseudocyst-Portal Vein Fistula
Authors: Kimura Atsushi , Hayashi Kazunao , Oda Chiyumi , Hosaka Kazunori , Kimura Naruhiro , Tominaga Kentaro , Ikarashi Satoshi , Tsuchiya Atsunori , Terai Shuji
Published: October 2020

Pancreatic pseudocyst-portal vein (PP-PV) fistula, mostly occurring after pseudocyst formation following acute/chronic pancreatitis, is a rare but life-threatening condition. The majority of treatments are based on conservative or surgical interventions. We report the case of a 70-year-old man with a PP-PV fistula and PV thrombosis. We adopted conservative treatment at first due to his mild symptoms. However, after resuming food intake, the patient had severe abdominal pain. Following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, we found that the pseudocyst was connected with the PV through the fistula. Subsequently, an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (ENPD) catheter was inserted into the main pancreatic duct to establish pancreatic drainage, which resulted in a decrease in the abdominal pain. After the ENPD tube had been exchanged for endoscopic pancreatic stenting, his abdominal pain did not recur. Therefore, this case demonstrated endoscopic treatment as an effective treatment option for PP-PV fistula.
Molecular Biomarkers according to Primary Tumor Location in Colorectal Cancer: Current Standard and New Insights
Authors: De Renzi Gianluigi , Gaballo Giulio , Gazzaniga Paola , Nicolazzo Chiara
Published: October 2020

According to the 2018 GLOBOCAN database, colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies and leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. During the last decades, considerable progress has been made in understanding the complex pathogenetic mechanisms involved in this neoplastic disease. Due to the need to improve treatment responses and clinical outcomes of colorectal cancer patients, the identification of new molecular biomarkers became a crucial spot in clinical oncology. As biological indicators of a specific pathological or physiological process, molecular markers play a central role in cancer detection, diagnosis, outcome prediction, and treatment choice. Considering the existing evidence that malignancies originating from distinct colonic regions behave differently, it is clear that specific biomarkers can be associated to right- or left-sided colon carcinomas, reflecting the distinct molecular signatures of these different tumor entities. The aim of this review is to summarize the main differences among tumors arising from proximal and distal colon in terms of current and emerging biomarkers.
Inhibition of LncRNA MALAT1 Attenuates Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion Injury via Regulating AQP4 Expression
Authors: Jin Jing , Wang Hongwei , Zheng Xiaoxiao , Xie Shangzhi , Zheng Li , Zhan Renya
Published: October 2020

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) including MALAT1 have been shown to have critical roles in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI). However, the underlying mechanism of MALAT1 in CIRI has not been elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the function and potential regulatory mechanism of MALAT1 in cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury. We established the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/RX) model in vivo and in vitro, and then Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), RT-qPCR, flow cytometry analysis, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) analysis, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were used to examine cell viability, MALAT1, aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression, LDH release, and infarct volume, respectively. The level of AQP4 was remarkably upregulated in CIRI 24 h/48 h or OGD/RX 24 h/48 h compared with the sham group. Knockdown of AQP4 could alleviate OGD/RX-induced injury through enhancing cell viability and reducing LDH release and the rate of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, we found that MALAT1 was also increased in OGD/RX 24 h/48 h and silencing of MALAT1 could decrease AQP4. Inhibition of MALAT1 could also protect OGD/RX-induced injury, while the protective effect of MALAT1 siRNA on cerebral ischemic reperfusion was disappeared after transfection with AQP4 plasmid, indicating that MALAT1 may play a protective role in brain stroke through regulating AQP4. Taken together, our study provides evidence that MALAT1 is involved in ischemic stroke by inhibiting AQP4. Therefore, MALAT1 may serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in ischemic brain injury.
Subacute Thyroiditis in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Sohrabpour Saeed , Heidari Farrokh , Karimi Ebrahim , Ansari Reza , Tajdini Ardavan , Heidari Firouzeh
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Since December 2019, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness in Wuhan, China. The classic presentation of COVID-19 infection was described as fever, myalgia, cough, and fatigue. Whether coronavirus can directly attack the endocrine glands is unclear. Objective: Post-viral subacute thyroiditis (SAT, de Quervain thyroiditis) has been reported following other viral infection. A limited number of SAT after COVID-19 infection have been reported up to now. Methods: Here, we reported 6 patients with SAT and positive COVID-19 serology tests. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and imaging data were presented. Results: In this study, 6 patients (4 women and 2 men) with clinician manifestations and physical examination in favor of SAT were described. Cervical ultrasonography showed bilateral hypoechoic areas in the thyroid gland which was suggestive of SAT. Elevated C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, free thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, and undetectable thyrotropin were found in laboratory evaluations. Both IgM and IgG were positive for COVID-19 infection, but the PCR tests were negative in all patients. Patients had history of working in a COVID center and/or family member hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were followed up for 1 month and were treated effectively with steroids. Conclusion: This report may help physicians to identify lesser-known manifestations and complications of COVID-19. Early diagnosis of COVID-19 infection results in the prevention of further transmission.
Cardiac Imaging of Aortic Valve Area From 34 287 UK Biobank Participants Reveals Novel Genetic Associations and Shared Genetic Comorbidity With Multiple Disease Phenotypes
Authors: Córdova-Palomera Aldo , Tcheandjieu Catherine , Fries Jason A. , Varma Paroma , Chen Vincent S. , Fiterau Madalina , Xiao Ke , Tejeda Heliodoro , Keavney Bernard D. , Cordell Heather J. , Tanigawa Yosuke , Venkataraman Guhan , Rivas Manuel A. , Ré Christopher , Ashley Euan , Priest James R.
Published: October 2020

Background:

The aortic valve is an important determinant of cardiovascular physiology and anatomic location of common human diseases.

Methods:

From a sample of 34 287 white British ancestry participants, we estimated functional aortic valve area by planimetry from prospectively obtained cardiac magnetic resonance imaging sequences of the aortic valve. Aortic valve area measurements were submitted to genome-wide association testing, followed by polygenic risk scoring and phenome-wide screening, to identify genetic comorbidities.

Results:

A genome-wide association study of aortic valve area in these UK Biobank participants showed 3 significant associations, indexed by rs71190365 (chr13:50764607,
DLEU1
,
P
=1.8×10
−9
), rs35991305 (chr12:94191968,
CRADD
,
P
=3.4×10
−8
), and chr17:45013271:C:T (
GOSR2
,
P
=5.6×10
−8
). Replication on an independent set of 8145 unrelated European ancestry participants showed consistent effect sizes in all 3 loci, although rs35991305 did not meet nominal significance. We constructed a polygenic risk score for aortic valve area, which in a separate cohort of 311 728 individuals without imaging demonstrated that smaller aortic valve area is predictive of increased risk for aortic valve disease (odds ratio, 1.14;
P
=2.3×10
−6
). After excluding subjects with a medical diagnosis of aortic valve stenosis (remaining n=308 683 individuals), phenome-wide association of >10 000 traits showed multiple links between the polygenic score for aortic valve disease and key health-related comorbidities involving the cardiovascular system and autoimmune disease. Genetic correlation analysis supports a shared genetic etiology with between aortic valve area and birth weight along with other cardiovascular conditions.

Conclusions:

These results illustrate the use of automated phenotyping of cardiac imaging data from the general population to investigate the genetic etiology of aortic valve disease, perform clinical prediction, and uncover new clinical and genetic correlates of cardiac anatomy.
Four Decades of Music Research, Creation, and Education at Padua's Centro di Sonologia Computazionale
Authors: Canazza Sergio , Poli Giovanni De
Published: October 2020

Research in computer music at the University of Padua, Italy, began in the early 1970s and was formalized in 1979 by establishing the Centro di Sonologia Computazionale (CSC). Since its foundation, CSC has established itself as a leading research center in the field of computer music. This article describes the scientific and musical research activities of the center and of the composers and members who worked in association with it in its first four decades. The center's historical background with its musical and scientific precursors is also chronicled, as are important events at CSC. An outline of its scientific research activity is then traced, with aspects of the technical details in its different areas of activities, showing the distinctive research ethos and the changing priorities of the center. Research from the 1970s is also included, as it led to the foundation of the CSC. Moreover, selected musical works, representative of CSC works from historical and scientific points of view, are described. Finally, perspectives for future developments are discussed.
School Desegregation and Black Teacher Employment
Authors: Thompson Owen
Published: October 2020

Before the racial integration of schools in the southern United States, predominantly African American schools were staffed almost exclusively by African American teachers as well, and teaching constituted an extraordinarily large share of professional employment among southern Blacks. The large-scale desegregation of southern schools that occurred after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act represented a potential threat to this employment base, and this paper estimates how student integration affected Black teacher employment. Using newly assembled archival data from 759 southern school districts observed between 1960 and 1972, I estimate that a school district transitioning from fully segregated to fully integrated education, which approximates the experience of the modal southern district in this period, led to a 41.7% reduction in Black teacher employment. Additional results, including event-study specifications and models with extensive controls for concurrent policy changes, strongly suggest that these employment reductions were a causal effect of integration and not due to school district self-selection into desegregation. To study the broader impacts of reduced teaching employment, I estimate race-specific changes in occupations and earnings in the decennial Censuses and find that displaced southern Black teachers either entered lower skill occupations within the South or migrated out of the region to continue teaching and that integration-induced displacement led to substantial earnings reductions.
The Impact of Social Networks on EITC Claiming Behavior
Authors: Wilson Riley
Published: October 2020

Using the Social Connectedness Index (Bailey, Cao, Kuchler, Stroebel et al., 2018) to capture county-to-county Facebook linkages, I explore how county-level earned income tax credit (EITC) claiming behavior changes when the county's out-of-state social network is exposed to a newly implemented state EITC. Having more out-of-state friends face a state EITC shifts the composition of EITC claims toward more self-employment claiming. EITC-claiming households' income distribution also shifts, moving away from the EITC region with smaller credits, toward income levels that generate the largest EITC. This mimics the direct impacts of state-level EITC policies, consistent with social networks increasing information or salience about EITC policy.
The Byzantine Scholia to Aristotle and Empedocles’ Cosmic Cycle
Authors: Ferella Chiara
Published: October 2020

Some Byzantine scholia to Aristotle offer numerical indications on the time-length of some phases of Empedocles’ cosmic cycle. In recent years an interpretation has become established, according to which the scholia pro-vide evidence for a cycle with three periods: the Sphairos and two opposite phases of Love’s and Strife’s unfolding. This paper emphasizes, in contrast, that the picture of the cycle we can draw from the scholia is not as clear-cut as generally supposed. On the contrary, the scholia can be adapted to dif-ferent, even contrasting, reconstructions of the Empedoclean cycle. Moreo-ver, they seem to challenge the received idea of Empedocles’ cycle as the Sphairos and two symmetrical phases of increasing Love and Strife. Rather, they can conform to a picture of the cycle with two cosmic periods: a period of rest and union under Love (Sphairos) and a period of movement and separation under Strife. Ultimately, this contribution emphasizes the highly problematic nature of the scholia, indicates the difficulties in drawing whole cosmological systems from them and advises against any ‘orthodoxy’ in their interpretation.
Decoding a Narrative Allusion
Authors: Türel Tunç
Published: October 2020

In this paper an intertextual relationship between Ammianus’ Res gestae and Xenophon’s Anabasis is proposed and contextualized. This intertextuality, which occurs in the form of a narrative allusion, is founded upon the thematic and structural similarities shared between the death narratives of Julian in book 25.3.3-6 of the Res gestae and that of Cyrus in book 1.8.6, 19, 24-27 of the Anabasis. An attempt at interpreting this particular narrative allusion reveals that Ammianus constructed this allusion intentionally with two specific goals in his mind. First, he made a subtle retort to Gregory of Nazianzus’ negative comparison between Julian and Cyrus (Or. 5.13-14) by reversing Gregory’s comparison into a positive one, and second, which is of a more personal note, he cast himself by implication as Julian’s Xenophon in the Persian campaign of 363 CE, with whom he shares several loci of contact.
A History of International Law in the Vernacular
Authors: Cogan Jacob Katz
Published: October 2020

Histories of international law have typically focused on the origins of legal rules and doctrines, the decisions of courts and other formal tribunals, the views of professors and legal theorists and diplomats, and the evolution of the legal profession. That is, international legal histories have centered on the concerns of lawyers and states and have reflected a positivist vision of international lawmaking. We need a history of international law that focuses more on international law in action – the invocation, elaboration, and contestation of rules in and through their everyday application, not just by states, high-level state actors, legal theorists, and state-organized domestic and international institutions, but also by individuals, low-level officials, private groups, and nongovernmental actors and in places outside of the usual fora where ‘international law’ is said to be found. We need a history of international law in the vernacular.
The Politics of History in the Late Qing Era: William A. P. Martin and a History of International Law for China
Authors: Carrai Maria Adele
Published: October 2020

In the light of 19th-century attempts to universalize history and international law, the purpose of this article is to show how the theory of an Ancient Chinese international law matured and disseminated within one politics of history and helped generate another at the end of the Qing Dynasty. On the one hand, the middleman William Alexander Parsons Martin, who as part of his Christian mission and in order to make international law more acceptable to the Chinese, translated systematically international law into Chinese and attempted to universalize it by finding a proto-international law in Ancient China. On the other hand, Chinese scholars and officials sought to use Martin’s theory to universalize Confucianism and rectify international law according to what they believed to be their own superior morality and history.
Directionals and re-autonomization in Dutch modals
Authors: Nuyts Jan , Caers Wim
Published: October 2020

Modal auxiliaries in Present Day Dutch are going through a process of ‘re-autonomization’, i.e. they are increasingly used without a main verb elsewhere in the clause, in ways which are not possible in other Germanic languages. Many Germanic languages do allow omission of the main verb when a modal is combined with a directional phrase in the clause. This paper investigates whether the latter phenomenon may have been the cause of the former process in Dutch. A diachronic corpus study of the Dutch modals shows that the answer is negative. The paper offers an alternative suggestion as to how the re-autonomization trend may have emerged.
Reconstructing the PIE causative in a cross-linguistic perspective
Authors: Bozzone Chiara
Published: October 2020

This paper examines the function and distribution of *CoC-éye/o- presents (traditionally labelled as causatives/iteratives) in PIE in the light of recent theoretical and typological contributions on causative formations crosslinguistically. In particular, this paper argues that: 1. The oldest function of CoC-éye/o- presents in PIE is to derive causative presents to unaccusative base verbs, as well as to some transitive verbs with an affected subject. The development of the iterative meaning is secondary and einzelsprachlich. 2. In the daughter languages, the category developed in two different directions (following Shibatani & Pardeshi’s causative continuum), depending on its degree of productivity. In Greek and Latin, the category became unproductive and underwent a “causative/non-causative” split, whereby the iterative meaning developed under certain conditions. A parallel development of the causative morpheme in the Mayan language K’iche’ is discussed into detail. 3. In Vedic and Proto-Germanic, the category became more productive and did not develop iterative semantics.
Luwian and Sanskrit action nouns in *-i̯-eh2-
Authors: Sasseville David
Published: October 2020

The Luwian nominal class of common gender a-stems, which has been argued to reflect Proto-Indo-European stems in *-eh2-, has not yet been explored to a full extent. In Cuneiform Luwian, a number of action nouns in -a- c. derived from verbs in -i(ya)- (< *-i̯e/o-) have been noticed by scholars, but a larger analysis of all examples including Hieroglyphic Luwian is still lacking. It is the goal of the present paper to fill this gap. After a synchronic analysis of all examples, their stem formation will be compared to a similar derivational process found in Sanskrit. Consequently, the comparative evidence will shed light on the function of the suffix *-eh2- in Proto-Indo-European, including Anatolian.
The biting midges rule(s)—Professor Ryszard Szadziewski

Authors: SONTAG ELŻBIETA , PIELOWSKA-CERANOWSKA AGATA , KENTZER BARTŁOMIEJ , GWIZDALSKA-KENTZER MARTA , SZWEDO JACEK
Published: October 2020

Professor Ryszard Szadziewski’s adventure with entomology started in 1968 with his participation in the “Wielka Gra” (The Great Game) Polish TV 1 game show. With his mathematics and physics background and mind, he took a part in this contest as an amateur (it was one of the rules of the show). Even though he did not win this contest, he won entomology as a passion and profession.
How Were the Eastward-Moving Heavy Rainfall Events from the Tibetan Plateau to the Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Enhanced?
Authors: Zhao Yang , Chen Deliang , Deng Yi , Son Seok-Woo , Wang Xiang , Di Di , Pan Mengting , Ma Xiaodan
Published: October 2020

This study investigates eastward-moving summer heavy rainfall events in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (LRYR), which are associated with the Tibetan Plateau (TP) vortices. On the basis of rainfall data from gauges and additional atmospheric data from ERA-Interim, the dynamic and thermodynamic effects of moisture transport and diabatic heating are estimated to determine the physical mechanisms that support the eastward-moving heavy rainfall events. As the rainband moves eastward, it is accompanied by anomalous cyclonic circulation in the upper and middle troposphere and enhanced vertical motion throughout the troposphere. In particular, the rainfall region is located in the fore of the upper-level trough, which is ideal for baroclinic organization of the convective system and further development of the eastward-moving vortex. The large atmospheric apparent heat source (Q1) also contributes for lifting the lower-level air into the upper atmosphere and for enhancing the low-level convective motion and convergence during the heavy rainfall process. Piecewise potential vorticity inversion further verifies the crucial role that the diabatic heating played in developing the anomalous geopotential height favorable for the enhanced rainfall. The combined action of the dynamic and thermodynamic processes, as well as the rich moisture supply from the seas, synergistically sustained and enhanced the eastward-moving rainfall.
Rural Surgical Training in the United States: Delineating Essential Components Within Existing Programs
Authors: Rossi Isolina , Rossi Matthew , Mclaughlin Emily , Minor Derek , Smithson Lauren , Borgstrom David , Sarap Michael , Deveney Karen
Published: October 2020

Background

Rural access to surgical care has reached crisis level. Practicing in rural America offers unique challenges with limited resources and specialists. Most training programs do not provide enough exposure to the endoscopic or the surgical subspecialty skills to prepare a resident for an isolated rural environment. As awareness has increased, many programs have modified curriculum to address this need. The Advisory Council on Rural Surgery (ACRS) of the American College of Surgeons set out to delineate important components of rural training programs and measure to what degree the existing heterogeneous programs contain these components.

Study Design

The ACRS identified 4 essential components of rural surgical training based on literature and expert opinion. These components included rotations in a rural setting, broad exposure to surgical specialties, endoscopy experience, and lack of competing specialty learners. A list of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education programs from a prior publication was updated with the 2019 Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database self-identified “rural track” programs, reviewed, and categorized.

Results

We identified 39 programs that self-identified as having a rural emphasis. Depending on the extent of which 4 essential components were included, programs were categorized as either “Broad” (12 programs), “Basic” (20 programs), or “Indeterminate” (7 programs).

Conclusion

The ACRS described the optimal components of a rural surgical training program and identified which components are present in those surgical residencies which self-identified as having a rural focus. This information is valuable to students planning a future in rural surgery and benefits programs hoping to enhance their curriculum to meet this critical need.
Laparoscopic Liver Resection: A 7-Year Experience of 123 Resections in a Single Institution
Authors: Annie Lo Hoi Y. , Young Stephanie , Andrew DiFronzo Louis
Published: October 2020

There has been a significant increase in the use of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) over the past 2 decades. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes associated with LLR at a single tertiary care hospital. Patients with benign or malignant tumors who underwent LLR by a single surgeon from January 2012 to November 2019 were identified. There were 123 patients who underwent LLR in the study period; 52% were men, and the median age was 61 (24-90) years. Five patients (4.1%) had unplanned conversion to open resection. Ninety-five patients (77.2%) had a wedge resection or single segmentectomy, and 28 (22.8%) underwent resection of 2+ liver segments. Seventy-one cases (57.7%) were for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 24 (19.5%) for colorectal metastasis, and 28 (22.8%) were for other benign and malignant tumors. Median operative time was 239 (range 89-526) minutes. Mean estimated blood loss was 192 (range 0-1800) mL. The median length of stay (LOS) overall was 2 (range 0-9) days. From 2017 to 2019, the mean LOS was 1.2 days, compared to a mean LOS of 3.3 days from 2012 to 2016. More cases were performed as same-day surgery from 2017 onward; 19 patients (33.9%) had same-day surgery from 2017 to 2019, in comparison to only 1 patient (1.5%) in the period of 2012-2016 ( P < .0001). Overall, 28 patients (22.8%) experienced postoperative morbidity; major postoperative morbidity occurred in 4 patients (3.3%). The 90-day mortality was .8%, and the 30-day readmission rate was 5.7%. In conclusion, LLR can be performed safely to treat liver tumors, and LOS decreased over time. Although overall morbidity is moderate, serious morbidity is low, as was the readmission rate. Laparoscopic wedge resection may be a feasible option as an outpatient procedure in select patients.