bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a patient-specific tapering protocol at discharge decreases total opioid dose prescribed for 6 weeks after elective primary spine surgery
Authors: Joo Sarah S , Hunter Oluwatobi O , Tamboli Mallika , Leng Jody C , Harrison T Kyle , Kassab Kate , Keeton Jody D , Skirboll Stephen , Tharin Suzanne , Saleh Emam , Mudumbai Seshadri C , Wang Rachel R , Kou Alex , Mariano Edward R
Published: April 2020

Background and objectives

At our institution, we developed an individualized discharge opioid prescribing and tapering protocol for joint replacement patients and implemented the same protocol for neurosurgical spine patients. We then tested the hypothesis that this protocol will decrease the oral morphine milligram equivalent (MME) dose of opioid prescribed postdischarge after elective primary spine surgery.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we identified all consecutive elective primary spine surgery cases 1 year before and after introduction of the protocol. This protocol used the patient’s prior 24-hour inpatient opioid consumption to determine discharge opioid pill count and tapering schedule. The primary outcome was total opioid dose prescribed in oral MME from discharge through 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital opioid consumption in MME, hospital length of stay, MME prescribed at discharge, opioid refills, and rates of minor and major adverse events.

Results

Eighty-three cases comprised the final sample (45 preintervention and 38 postintervention). There were no differences in baseline characteristics. The total oral MME (median (IQR)) from discharge through 6 weeks postoperatively was 900 (420–1440) preintervention compared with 300 (112–806) postintervention (p<0.01, Mann-Whitney U test), and opioid refill rates were not different between groups. There were no differences in other outcomes.

Conclusions

This patient-specific prescribing and tapering protocol effectively decreases the total opioid dose prescribed for 6 weeks postdischarge after elective primary spine surgery. Our experience also demonstrates the potential generalizability of this protocol, which was originally designed for joint replacement patients, to other surgical populations.
Cockeysville marble: a heritage stone from Maryland, USA
Authors: Hannibal Joseph T. , Schnabel Lorraine
Published: April 2020

By virtue of its use in iconic monuments and historic buildings in the USA, Cockeysville marble, a dolomitic to calcitic lower Paleozoic (Cambrian/Ordovician) marble quarried in Baltimore County and adjacent areas in Maryland, is proposed as a potential Global Heritage Stone Resource. The most important use of this stone was for the Washington Monument in Washington, DC whose construction began in 1848; the second most important use was for the 108 columns of the United States Capitol's wings, completed in 1868. It was also used for two of the oldest major marble monuments in the USA, Baltimore's Battle Monument (dedicated in 1827) and Washington Monument (completed in 1829), as well as Baltimore's City Hall, Buffalo's Adkins Art Museum, Detroit's Fisher Building and parts of St Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. During the nineteenth century white Cockeysville was most desired, but a colourful variety, Mar Villa marble, was also used in the first decades of the twentieth century. Cockeysville marble is no longer quarried for dimension stone. All Cockeysville used outdoors has weathered to a lesser or great extent, but early testing indicating that the dolomitic marble would be more durable has proved to be true.
Carbon Support Microstructure Impact on High Current Density Transport Resistances in PEMFC Cathode
Authors: Ramaswamy Nagappan , Gu Wenbin , Ziegelbauer Joseph M. , Kumaraguru Swami
Published: April 2020

Cell voltages at high current densities (HCD) of an operating proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cathode suffer from losses due to the local-O2 and bulk-H+ transport resistances in the catalyst layer. Particularly, the microstructure of high surface area carbon (HSC) support upon which both the platinum catalyst and ionomer are dispersed play a pivotal role in controlling the reactant transport to the active site in the catalyst layer. In this study, we perform a systematic analysis of the underlying microstructure of platinum-cobalt catalyst dispersed on various HSC supports in terms of their surface area and pore-size distribution. The carbon microstructure was found to strongly influence the PtCo nanoparticle dispersion, catalyst layer ionomer distribution and transport losses governing the performance at HCD. Catalyst layer electrochemical diagnostics carried out to quantify local-O2 transport resistance and bulk-H+ transport resistance in the cathode were found to be directly correlated to the micropore (<2 nm) and macropore (>8 nm) surface areas of the carbon support, respectively. Finally, a 1D-performance model has been developed to assimilate our understanding of the catalyst layer microstructure and transport resistances at HCD.
Strong correlation between air-liquid interface cultures and in vivo transcriptomics of nasal brush biopsy
Authors: Ghosh Baishakhi , Park Bongsoo , Bhowmik Debarshi , Nishida Kristine , Lauver Molly , Putcha Nirupama , Gao Peisong , Ramanathan Murugappan , Hansel Nadia , Biswal Shyam , Sidhaye Venkataramana K.
Published: April 2020

Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures are ex vivo models that are used extensively to study the epithelium of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However, the in vitro conditions impose a milieu different from that encountered in the patient in vivo, and the degree to which this alters gene expression remains unclear. In this study we employed RNA sequencing to compare the transcriptome of fresh brushings of nasal epithelial cells with that of ALI-cultured epithelial cells from the same patients. We observed a strong correlation between cells cultured at the ALI and cells obtained from the brushed nasal epithelia: 96% of expressed genes showed similar expression profiles, although there was greater similarity between the brushed samples. We observed that while the ALI model provides an excellent representation of the in vivo airway epithelial transcriptome for mechanistic studies, several pathways are affected by the change in milieu.
A method for translational rat ex vivo lung perfusion experimentation
Authors: Ohsumi Akihiro , Kanou Takashi , Ali Aadil , Guan Zehong , Hwang David M. , Waddell Thomas K. , Juvet Stephen , Liu Mingyao , Keshavjee Shaf , Cypel Marcelo
Published: April 2020

The application of ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has significantly increased the successful clinical use of marginal donor lungs. While large animal EVLP models exist to test new strategies to improve organ repair, there is currently no rat EVLP model capable of maintaining long-term lung viability. Here, we describe a new rat EVLP model that addresses this need, while enabling the study of lung injury due to cold ischemic time (CIT). The technique involves perfusing and ventilating male Lewis rat donor lungs for 4 h before transplanting the left lung into a recipient rat and then evaluating lung function 2 h after reperfusion. To test injury within this model, lungs were divided into groups and exposed to different CITs (i.e., 20 min, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h and 24 h). Experiments involving the 24-h-CIT group were prematurely terminated due to the development of severe edema. For the other groups, no differences in the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]) were observed during EVLP; however, lung compliance decreased over time in the 18-h group ( P = 0.012) and the [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] of the blood from the left pulmonary vein 2 h after transplantation was lower compared with 20-min-CIT group ( P = 0.0062). This new model maintained stable lung function during 4-h EVLP and after transplantation when exposed to up to 12 h of CIT.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances the efficiency of functional brain network communication during auditory attentional control
Authors: Zink Nicolas , Kang Kathleen , Li Shu-Chen , Beste Christian
Published: April 2020

As compared with sham stimulation, application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) enhances θ-oscillation-based network efficiency but has no impact on θ-oscillation power. Individual differences in θ-oscillation-based network efficiency correlated with performance efficiency under the sham stimulation.
Light-evoked glutamate transporter EAAT5 activation coordinates with conventional feedback inhibition to control rod bipolar cell output
Authors: Bligard Gregory W. , DeBrecht James , Smith Robert G. , Lukasiewicz Peter D.
Published: April 2020

Excitatory amino acid transporter 5 (EAAT5) glutamate transporters have a chloride channel that is strongly activated by glutamate, which modulates excitatory signaling. We found that EAAT5 is a major contributor to feedback inhibition on rod bipolar cells. Inhibition to rod bipolar cells is also mediated by GABA and glycine. GABA and glycine mediate the early phase of feedback inhibition, and EAAT5 mediates a more delayed inhibition. Together, inhibitory transmitters and EAAT5 coordinate to mediate feedback inhibition, controlling neuronal output.
Comparison of the Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Five Lonicera Flowers by HPLC-DAD/MS-DPPH and Chemometrics
Authors: Zhou Rong-rong , Liu Xue-hui , Chen Lin , Huang Jian-hua , Liang Xue-juan , Wan Dan , Zhang Shui-han , Huang Lu-qi
Published: April 2020

The Lonicera plants (family Caprifoliaceae) with strong antioxidant activity are used as potential health-supporting phytochemicals. Studying the detailed relationships between bioactive compounds and their antioxidant activity is important for further comprehensive development and application of them. In this paper, the antioxidant capacities and compositions of five species of Lonicera flowers were investigated by using the online HPLC-DAD/MS-DPPH method. Results indicated that the samples contained higher amounts of phenols had better antioxidant activity. Furthermore, principal component analysis and linear regression were further used to analyze the correlations between antioxidant capacity and compounds and find the compounds having higher contribution to antioxidant activity. 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, methyl-5-O-caffeoylquinate, 1,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid were screened as stronger antioxidant candidates. In this study, HPLC-DAD/MS and antioxidant activity methods were combined together to analyze the compounds’ information and activity assays of Lonicera, which might provide more evidence for its quality control.
A Real-World Study of Prognosis of N0M0 Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Hepatic Resection Based on SEER Database
Authors: Zhu Guangxi , Wang Wensheng , Liu Qin , Chen Dongfeng , Wen Liangzhi
Published: April 2020

Aim. To develop and validate a simple-to-use nomogram for prediction of 3-/5-year survival in patients with N0M0 hepatocellular carcinoma after curative liver resection. Patients and Methods. Patients diagnosed HCC with hepatic resection in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included to identify prognostic factors of overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression were used to create a nomogram. Results. We identified 4856 HCC with hepatic resection from the SEER database. A nomogram to predict long-term survival with a C-index 0.667 (95% CI, 0.653 to 0.681) is more efficient than TNM staging with a lower C-index 0.613 (95% CI, 0.597 to 0.629). The C-index was confirmed to be 0.663 (95% CI, 0.640 to 0.686) through validation, suggesting a good discrimination and a good prediction capability. Conclusions. The nomogram is a simple and effective screening tool for assessing the prognosis of HCC with hepatic resection and assists with the planning of individual postoperative surveillance protocols.
Physical Activity among Adults with Low Socioeconomic Status Living in Industrialized Countries: A Meta-Ethnographic Approach to Understanding Socioecological Complexities
Authors: Rawal Lal B. , Smith Ben J. , Quach Henry , Renzaho Andre M. N.
Published: April 2020

Introduction. This article is a meta-ethnographic analysis of qualitative studies to explore complex social ecological aspects (individual, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem) of physical activity among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups living in industrialized countries. Method. Using MeSH keywords, we searched major electronic databases including Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO in order to identify relevant publications published between January 2000 and October 2018. We included 19 qualitative studies which met inclusion criteria and were focused on physical activity determinants among adults. Results. Determinants emerging from these studies were grouped into six themes: (i) urban environment, (ii) financial constraints, (iii) work-life integration, (iv) community engagement, (v) social support, and (vi) psychosocial factors. After conceptualising these six themes into a social ecological model, we identified potential research gaps for physical activity among adults with low socioeconomic status living in industrialized countries. Conclusion. Our major insight was that, in industrialized countries, physical activity overlooks potential strengths to maintain health and well-being of those people with low socioeconomic status. A more complex understanding of contradictions between positive and deficit frames would lead to more critical insights of research gaps of physical activity in adult population with low socioeconomic status.
The Class III PI3K/Beclin-1 Autophagic Pathway Participates in the mmLDL-Induced Upregulation of ETA Receptor in Mouse Mesenteric Arteries
Authors: Xie Xi , Chen Chen , Xu Cang-Bao , Lin Jie , Cao Lei , Chen Gen , Li Jie
Published: April 2020

Minimally modified low-density lipoprotein (mmLDL) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The current study explored the effect of mmLDL on the endothelin type A (ETA) receptor in mouse mesenteric arteries in vivo, as well as the role of autophagy in this process. mmLDL was injected via the caudal vein, and the Class III PI3K autophagic pathway inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was injected intraperitoneally. The animals were divided into physiological saline (NS), mmLDL, and mmLDL + 3-MA groups. The dose-effect curve of endothelin-1- (ET-1-) induced mesenteric artery contraction was measured using myography, while ETA receptor mRNA expression was detected using real-time polymerase chain reactions, and the protein levels of the ETA receptor, class III PI3K, Beclin-1, LC3 II/I, p62, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB were observed using Western blot analysis. mmLDL significantly strengthened ET-1-induced contraction (the Emax value increased from 184.87 ± 7.46% in the NS group to 319.91 ± 20.31% in the mmLDL group (P<0.001), and the pEC50 value increased from 8.05 ± 0.05 to 9.11 ± 0.09 (P<0.01). In addition to upregulating the protein levels of Class III PI3K, Beclin-1, and LC3 II/I and downregulating that of p62, mmLDL significantly increased the mRNA expression and protein level of the ETA receptor and increased the protein level of p-NF-κB. However, these effects were significantly inhibited by 3-MA. mmLDL activates autophagy via the Class III PI3K/Beclin-1 pathway and upregulates the ETA receptor via the downstream NF-κB pathway. Understanding the effect of mmLDL on the ETA receptor and the underlying mechanisms may provide a new idea for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Classification of Continuous Sky Brightness Data Using Random Forest
Authors: Priyatikanto Rhorom , Mayangsari Lidia , Prihandoko Rudi A. , Admiranto Agustinus G.
Published: April 2020

Sky brightness measuring and monitoring are required to mitigate the negative effect of light pollution as a byproduct of modern civilization. Good handling of a pile of sky brightness data includes evaluation and classification of the data according to its quality and characteristics such that further analysis and inference can be conducted properly. This study aims to develop a classification model based on Random Forest algorithm and to evaluate its performance. Using sky brightness data from 1250 nights with minute temporal resolution acquired at eight different stations in Indonesia, datasets consisting of 15 features were created to train and test the model. Those features were extracted from the observation time, the global statistics of nightly sky brightness, or the light curve characteristics. Among those features, 10 are considered to be the most important for the classification task. The model was trained to classify the data into six classes (1: peculiar data, 2: overcast, 3: cloudy, 4: clear, 5: moonlit-cloudy, and 6: moonlit-clear) and then tested to achieve high accuracy (92%) and scores (F-score = 84% and G-mean = 84%). Some misclassifications exist, but the classification results are considerably good as indicated by posterior distributions of the sky brightness as a function of classes. Data classified as class-4 have sharp distribution with typical full width at half maximum of 1.5 mag/arcsec2, while distributions of class-2 and -3 are left skewed with the latter having lighter tail. Due to the moonlight, distributions of class-5 and -6 data are more smeared or have larger spread. These results demonstrate that the established classification model is reasonably good and consistent.
Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial/Antioxidant Activity ofCynodon dactylon(L.) Pers. Rhizome Methanolic Extract
Authors: Savadi Samira , Vazifedoost Mohsen , Didar Zohre , Nematshahi Mohammad Mahdi , Jahed Eisa
Published: April 2020

A proper use of medicinal plants requires accurate scientific information and understanding of their chemical constituents. The therapeutic effects in the plants are due to the chemical compounds therein.Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers. of the family Poaceae is a perennial, pan-tropical species of grass which is a well-known traditional medicine and has a renowned position for treatment of many symptoms and diseases. The chemical composition, free radical scavenging activity, and antimicrobial properties of the methanolic extract ofC. dactylonrhizomes against selected bacterial and fungal strains were investigated using disk-diffusion method. The results indicated that the major fatty acid structures ofC. dactylonmethanolic extract were palmitic acid (36.40%), oleic acid (28.26%), and linoleic acid (17.01%). Alpha-tocopherol (151.39 mg·kg−1) and sitosterol (3199.62 mg·kg−1) were the main tocopherols and sterols, respectively. According to the instrumental analysis, the total phenolic compounds of methanolic extract were equal to 917.08 mg·kg−1and the main compound was hydroquinone (66.89%). Antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract at concentrations of 100–1000 ppm was 9.81–67.87%, which is significantly different from the 200 ppm synthetic antioxidant (BHT) with free radical scavenging activity equal to 48.93% (p<0.05). The antimicrobial study revealed that the methanolic extract ofC. dactylonrhizomes was effective against all of the bacterial pathogens and the antibacterial activity increased with an increase in the concentration of extract. Therefore, the largest zone of inhibition was observed againstBacillus cereus(18.3 ± 0.4 mm) andEscherichia coli(16.8 ± 0.5 mm) at 1000 ppm. The highest resistance was observed withPseudomonas aeruginosa(inhibition zone of 12.8 ± 0.15 mm). Methanolic extract at 200 ppm had no effect against fungusAspergillus niger. However, at 1000 ppm concentration, an inhibition zone with a diameter of 14.4 ± 0.45 mm was formed.
Ocular Findings in Infants with Microcephaly Caused by Presumed Congenital Infection by Zika Virus in Sergipe
Authors: Valadares Marco , Pedroso Anne Carolyne Lelis Oliveira , Santana Alessandro , da Silva Angela Maria , Costa Isabela Soares , Almeida Maria Luiza Doria , Almeida Roque Pacheco de
Published: April 2020

This study aims at identifying ocular findings in infants with microcephaly associated with presumed intrauterine infection by ZIKV. A cross-sectional study included 62 outpatient infants with congenital microcephaly, presumably secondary to maternal ZIKV infection. The included infants had head circumference below −2 standard deviations, with negative maternal serology for toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, and HIV. Assessment of ocular alterations was performed through review of their medical records. Forty two (67.7%) of the children analyzed presented some degree of ocular alteration. Findings in the posterior segment occurred in 29 (46.8%) patients, including atrophy of the retinal pigmentary epithelium in 15 (24.2%) patients, chorioretinal scars in 14 (22.6%) patients, retinal coloboma in 6 (9.7%) patients, and punctate retinal hemorrhage in 1 (1.6%) patient. Other ocular alterations were seen in 15 (24.2%) patients, including pathological strabismus in 11 (17.7%) patients, congenital cataracts in 2 (3.2%) patients, and nystagmus in 2 (3.2%) patients. Functional alterations were seen in four (6.5%) children. More than one change occurred in 11 (17.7%) children, eight of whom had head circumferences below −3 standard deviations. Changes in both the eyes occurred in 22 (35.5%) children, while 20 (32.3%) children had unilateral involvement. Among the 42 children with any ocular alteration, 27 (64.3%) children presented with severe microcephaly (head circumference with standard deviation lower than −3). The majority of children with microcephaly, presumably secondary to maternal ZIKV infection, present ocular alterations, with a higher frequency of involvement in the fundus. Severe ocular alterations are related to severe microcephaly.
Changes in Urinary Microalbumin Levels after Correction of Hyperuricemia in Patients with Gout: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Vaidya Binit , Pudasaini Kalpana , Nakarmi Shweta
Published: April 2020

Background. Gout is commonly associated with metabolic syndrome. Strong association between the serum uric acid level and microalbuminuria has also been observed in various studies. Aim. To observe the change in urinary microalbumin after urate-lowering treatment in patients with gout and microalbuminuria. Methodology. A prospective, observational study was conducted at a tertiary-level rheumatic center (NCRD) in Kathmandu, Nepal. Adults diagnosed with gout using the 2015 ACR/EULAR criteria and microalbuminuria were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. Sociodemographic profile and clinical history were recorded at baseline. Serum uric acid levels, spot urinary microalbumin (MAU) excretion, blood sugar, lipid profile, and blood pressure were measured at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up. A paired t-test was used to compare the change in mean MAU after treatment. Results. A total of 778 patients diagnosed with gout were screened for microalbuminuria. Among them, 114 (14.6%) had urinary microalbumin levels of >30.0 mg/L during presentation. Mean MAU level among those with microalbuminuria was 132.4±124.6 mg/L. Thirty-five patients had concomitant HTN and were put on ARBs (20 mg of telmisartan). All received 40 mg of febuxostat. In patients with ARBs, MAU reduced significantly after 3 months of treatment with ARBs. Reduction in MAU in those without ARBs was seen after the 6-month follow-up, and the change was statistically significant. Conclusions. There is significant reduction in MAU after the use of urate-lowering drugs in patients with gout.
Immunosuppressant-Induced Oxidative Stress and Iron: A Paradigm Shift from Systemic to Intrahepatic Abnormalities
Authors: Akhtar Tasleem , Ali Gibran , Sheikh Nadeem
Published: April 2020

Immunosuppressants are used clinically to lower rejection rates in transplant patients. Unfortunately, the adverse side effects of these immunosuppressants can be severe, which is one of the rationales that life expectancy of individuals after transplant still significantly falls short of that of the general population. The current experimental setup was designed to analyze the tacrolimus-induced hepatic iron overload in Wistar rats. Four experimental groups were orally given 1 ml of aqueous suspension of tacrolimus (12 mg/kg) through oral gavage, and rats were sacrificed after 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of tacrolimus dose. Hepatic hepcidin expression was found to be significantly augmented along with the upregulation of Tf and TfR1, Ferritin-L, Ferritin-H, TNF-α, and HO-1 gene expression at 6 and 12 h, and downregulation of Fpn-1, Hjv, and Heph at 6 h was detected. Significant downregulation of IL-6, IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ at all study time points was also observed. Serum iron level was decreased while serum hepcidin level was found to be significantly increased. Iron staining showed blue-stained hemosiderin granules within the hepatocytes, sinusoidal spaces, and portal areas at 12 and 24 h time points and remarkable fall of iron contents in the splenic red pulp. These results suggest that the use of tacrolimus leads to the onset of an intrahepatic acute-phase response-like reaction and causes iron overload in hepatic cells by altering the expression of key proteins involved in iron metabolism.
The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Visuospatial Working Memory Assessment (VWMA) for Children
Authors: Wangkawan Thitiya , Lai Cynthia , Munkhetvit Peeraya , Yung Trevor , Chinchai Supaporn
Published: April 2020

The visuospatial working memory plays a crucial role in the occupational performance of children including daily living and academic achievement. Unfortunately, relevant visuospatial working memory tests in the occupational therapy setting are lacking. Therefore, it is of clinical interest to develop new assessment tools in this area. The present study is aimed at summarizing the development of the visuospatial working memory assessment (VWMA) and assessing its psychometric properties. The results revealed that the score of item-objective congruence index (IOC) was 1.0 in overall items of assessment. The Cronbach alpha test confirmed that the internal consistency of VWMA showed good reliability in both types of the assessment, with the total score of computerized tests being .88 and the tabletop tests being .81. The computerized test was found to have excellent test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values ranging from .88 to .99. The tabletop test was found to have a fair to good test-retest reliability with the ICC values ranging from .51 to .63. As regards construct validity, the results revealed that the tasks in the computerized test identified a significant difference between the control group, normal children, and children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group. The exception to this was theN-back task in which the independent samplet-test of computerized test ranged from 1.61 to 6.23. The results of the tabletop test revealed a significant difference between normal children and the children in the ADHD group over all tasks in which the independent samplet-test ranged from 3.05 to 8.40. In conclusion, good psychometric properties established as regards content validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity provide evidence to support the position that the new VWMA is appropriate for children.
Comparative Study of PPARγ Targets in Human Extravillous and Villous Cytotrophoblasts
Authors: Liu Fulin , Rouault Christine , Guesnon Mickael , Zhu Wencan , Clément Karine , Degrelle Séverine A. , Fournier Thierry
Published: April 2020

Trophoblasts, as the cells that make up the main part of the placenta, undergo cell differentiation processes such as invasion, migration, and fusion. Abnormalities in these processes can lead to a series of gestational diseases whose underlying mechanisms are still unclear. One protein that has proven to be essential in placentation is the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which is expressed in the nuclei of extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVCTs) in the first trimester and villous cytotrophoblasts (VCTs) throughout pregnancy. Here, we aimed to explore the genome-wide effects of PPARγ on EVCTs and VCTs via treatment with the PPARγ-agonist rosiglitazone. EVCTs and VCTs were purified from human chorionic villi, cultured in vitro, and treated with rosiglitazone. The transcriptomes of both types of cells were then quantified using microarray profiling. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered and submitted for gene ontology (GO) annotation and pathway analysis with ClueGO. The online tool STRING was used to predict PPARγ and DEG protein interactions, while iRegulon was used to predict the binding sites for PPARγ and DEG promoters. GO and pathway terms were compared between EVCTs and VCTs with clusterProfiler. Visualizations were prepared in Cytoscape. From our microarray data, 139 DEGs were detected in rosiglitazone-treated EVCTs (RT-EVCTs) and 197 DEGs in rosiglitazone-treated VCTs (RT-VCTs). Downstream annotation analysis revealed the similarities and differences between RT-EVCTs and RT-VCTs with respect to the biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components, and KEGG pathways affected by the treatment, as well as predicted binding sites for both protein-protein interactions and transcription factor-target gene interactions. These results provide a broad perspective of PPARγ-activated processes in trophoblasts; further analysis of the transcriptomic signatures of RT-EVCTs and RT-VCTs should open new avenues for future research and contribute to the discovery of possible drug-targeted genes or pathways in the human placenta.
Can a Simple Geriatric Assessment Predict the Outcome of TURP?
Authors: Eredics Klaus , Meyer Christine , Gschliesser Tanja , Lodeta Branimir , Heissler Ortwin , Kunit Thomas , Madersbacher Stephan
Published: April 2020

Purpose: To determine the impact of a simple preoperative geriatric assessment on the outcome in older patients with recurrent urinary retention who underwent desobstructive surgery. Patients and Methods: Patients aged 75 years or older with recurrent urinary retention referred for TURP entered this prospective, multicentre study. Several demographic, intra- and postoperative parameters were assessed. Preoperative geriatric assessment was performed by the 7-item Canadian Study of Health and Ageing (CSHA) frailty scale (1: very fit, 7: severely frail; completion takes less than a minute). The main outcome parameters were successful voiding rates at discharge and 3 months postoperatively. Results: A total of 54 patients were recruited; 42 (77.8%) patients had a CSHA index of 1–3 and were considered as “fit”, the remaining 12 (22.2%) formed the “frail” group (CSHA index 4–7). Age was identical in both cohorts (79.5 ± 3.7 vs. 79.7 ± 3.3 years); differences were demonstrable for the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (p = 0.001), the number of daily medications (>4: 32 vs. 75%, p = 0.02), falls within the past 6 months (12 vs. 33%), and the necessity of home/nursing care (5 vs. 42%, p = 0.004). Intra- and perioperative complications, duration of postoperative catheterization, and length of hospitalization were identical in both cohorts. The success rate at discharge was 80.6% in fit and 75.0% in frail patients; the respective values at 3 months were 95.2 and 83.3%. Conclusions: A simple 1-min geriatric assessment tool can predict – to a certain extent – the outcome of desobstructive surgery in older patients with recurrent urinary retention. Fit patients achieve an excellent outcome while frail patients might benefit from a more in-depth urodynamic/geriatric evaluation.
A terminologia: um instrumento ao serviço da inovação pedagógica no Espaço Europeu do Ensino Superior
Authors: Fréjaville Rosa Maria
Published: April 2020

Neste artigo apresentam-se algumas reflexões sobre a importância da Terminologia em formações multilíngues especializadas no âmbito do ensino das línguas aplicadas no ensino superior, com especial incidência no sistema de ensino superior francês. Se tivermos em conta a política linguística de construção do Espaço Europeu do Ensino Superior (EEES) e os diversos contributos que desde o século XX a Terminologia tem vindo a oferecer não só ao sistema de comunicação especializada, aos sistemas informáticos inteligentes, mas também a diversas profissões (mediadores linguísticos e culturais, tradutores) e novas necessidades (multilinguissimo e interculturalidade), verificaremos que o ensino (teórico e prático) da Terminologia nas formações universitárias se torna um elemento incontornável. A sociedade do conhecimento não se pode concretizar sem a aquisição da competência terminológica que se manifesta, tradicionalmente, pela utilização de terminologias e de discursos especializados em variadas situações e em diferentes contextos de produção/recepção comunicativa.
Protected Code Stroke
Authors: Khosravani Houman , Rajendram Phavalan , Notario Lowyl , Chapman Martin G. , Menon Bijoy K.
Published: April 2020

Background and Purpose—

Hyperacute assessment and management of patients with stroke, termed code stroke, is a time-sensitive and high-stakes clinical scenario. In the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the ability to deliver timely and efficacious care must be balanced with the risk of infectious exposure to the clinical team. Furthermore, rapid and effective stroke care remains paramount to achieve maximal functional recovery for those needing admission and to triage care appropriately for those who may be presenting with neurological symptoms but have an alternative diagnosis.

Methods—

Available resources, COVID-19-specific infection prevention and control recommendations, and expert consensus were used to identify clinical screening criteria for patients and provide the required nuanced considerations for the healthcare team, thereby modifying the conventional code stroke processes to achieve a protected designation.

Results—

A protected code stroke algorithm was developed. Features specific to prenotification and clinical status of the patient were used to define precode screening. These include primary infectious symptoms, clinical, and examination features. A focused framework was then developed with regard to a protected code stroke. We outline the specifics of personal protective equipment use and considerations thereof including aspects of crisis resource management impacting team role designation and human performance factors during a protected code stroke.

Conclusions—

We introduce the concept of a protected code stroke during a pandemic, as in the case of COVID-19, and provide a framework for key considerations including screening, personal protective equipment, and crisis resource management. These considerations and suggested algorithms can be utilized and adapted for local practice.
ترتيب الموادّ ضمن الجذر الواحد: مقارَبة تراثيّة لمناهج المعجميّين العرب
Authors: بعلبكي رمزي منير
Published: April 2020

In the Arabic lexicographical tradition, there are three major systems for the arrangement of roots, namely, the phonetic-permutative, the alphabetical and the rhyme systems. The internal arrangement of the material within each root, however, is a much more intricate subject. Several lexica almost completely lack any system of internal arrangement. Yet, there are a few relatively late authors who seriously tried to address this problem by adopting a system of arranging lexical items based either on morphological or semantic criteria. This study examines the development of the method of morphological arrangement in the tradition and argues that al-Ṣaġānī (d. 650/1252) was the first to apply it systematically in his al-ʿUbāb al-zāḫir. It then argues that Ibn Sīda (d. 458/1066) was the first to introduce in al-Muḥkam a system of internal arrangement based on the semantic fields of each root and that Ibn Manẓūr’s (d. 711/1311) Lisān al-ʿArab is primarily based on the semantic groups of Ibn Sīda with proper rearrangement of material from his four other sources.
Journeying into the Diplomatic Unknown: The Vergesellschaftung of the German Auswärtiges Amt
Authors: Bartonek Emilie
Published: April 2020

All branches of modern governments struggle to adapt to social and political changes today, in an age when such changes follow each other with speed, and change the very fabric of society. Foreign ministries are doubly challenged as they not only are confronted with the changes of their domestic environment, but they also have to navigate the international arena which is another stage of frequent upheavals. As a consequence, the German Federal Foreign Office has ventured on a path of continuing reforms that have led to new structures in the organisation, human resources management and the use of new technologies. Compared to former ages, the German foreign ministry has turned into a complex, multifaceted bureaucratic apparatus with fluid borderlines, recognisably more of the same nature as German society as a whole.
Disabling Stereotypes: the Perception and Representation of Disability in Swahili Oral and Written Literature
Authors: Acquaviva Graziella
Published: April 2020

This article aims to investigate the ways in which the various forms of physical and mental disabilities are perceived and represented in Swahili oral and written literature (proverbs and some selected Swahili novels and short stories). Thinking about the concept of disability as a cultural construct – strictly connected to a rooted belief system – and to local policies related to the problem of social exclusion that in recent years have increasingly developed in the Swahili-speaking East African context, disability continues to be an interesting research topic. Although the movement for the rights of the people with disabilities (PWD) dates back to the colonial period, local media (newspapers and television) continue to propose images of deformed bodies feeding the stereotype of the disabled as a representation of the “other”, creating ever more discrimination. In such a context full of contradictions I will try to explore the role of literature and media in its educational and popularizing function and, in particular, how disabled people are perceived in collective imaginary.
The Nabhānīs: A Sketch for Understanding
Authors: al-Salimi Abdulrahman
Published: April 2020

The Nabhānī State first appeared in Oman in the 6th/12th century and lasted till the 11th/17th century. During this period the fall of Baghdad, which occurred in 656/1258, led to a number of radical political and cultural changes in the Gulf region, and the aim of the present study is to re-evaluate the conclusions of the (2002) study against a wider background. In doing so it will firstly re-evaluate the original and modern sources dealing with that period. Secondly, it will take a broader look at the political and regional situation at that time and its impact on the course of Oman’s historical development – in other words, it will consider Omani history within a regional context. Thirdly, it will look for the roots of that state and relate it more accurately to Oman’s historical chronology and regional context.
Nomenclatural novelties and typification of names in Scorzonera sensu lato (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) for the Italian vascular flora

Authors: BARTOLUCCI FABRIZIO , GALASSO GABRIELE , CONTI FABIO
Published: April 2020

According to recent molecular study, the genus Scorzonera sensu lato is polyphyletic. A revised circumscription of this genus was proposed with the recognition of seven genera: Scorzonera sensu stricto, Gelasia, Lipschitzia, Pseudopodospermum, Pterachaenia, Ramaliella, and Takhtajaniantha. Accordingly, a taxonomic treatment of the genus Scorzonera sensu lato for the Italian vascular flora is presented. Nomenclatural types for six names are designated here: Scorzonera calcitrapifolia var. decumbens, S. columnae, S. deliciosa, S. neapolitana, S. trachysperma var. undulata, and S. villosa. Furthermore, the following new combinations are proposed: Gelasia villosa subsp. columnae, Pseudopodospermum hispanicum subsp. asphodeloides, P. hispanicum subsp. neapolitanum, and P. undulatum subsp. deliciosum.
Can the Issuance of Hazardous-Weather Warnings Inform the Attribution of Extreme Events to Climate Change?
Authors: Durran Dale R.
Published: April 2020

When extreme weather occurs, the question often arises whether the event was produced by climate change. Two types of errors are possible when attempting to answer this question. One type of error is underestimating the role of climate change, thereby failing to properly alert the public and appropriately stimulate efforts at adaptation and mitigation. The second type of error is overestimating the role of climate change, thereby elevating climate anxiety and potentially derailing important public discussions with false alarms. Long before societal concerns about global warming became widespread, meteorologists were addressing essentially the same trade-off when faced with a binary decision of whether to issue a warning for hazardous weather. Here we review forecast–verification statistics such as the probability of detection (POD) and the false alarm ratio (FAR) for hazardous-weather warnings and examine their potential application to extreme-event attribution in connection with climate change. Empirical and theoretical evidence suggests that adjusting tornado-warning thresholds in an attempt to reduce FAR produces even larger reductions in POD. Similar tradeoffs between improving FAR and degrading POD are shown to apply using a rubric for the attribution of extreme high temperatures to climate change. Although there are obviously significant differences between the issuance of hazardous-weather warnings and the attribution of extreme events to global warming, the experiences of the weather forecasting community can provide qualitative guidance for those attempting to set practical thresholds for extreme-event attribution in a changing climate.
A critical review of the paper ‘The earliest datable noctilucent cloud observation (Parma, Italy, AD 1840)’
Authors: Dalin Peter
Published: April 2020

In the present critical review, my aim is to address serious calculation mistakes made by the authors. I do not want to review their interpretation of a given observation on 18 June 1840 made by Antonio Colla, who was a professor of Astronomy and Meteorology at the University of Parma. There is no sense interpreting Colla’s observation since the basic astronomical calculations have been made incorrectly by the authors Chiara Bertolin and Fernando Domínguez-Castro. Summarizing, in theory and practice, astronomer Antonio Colla could not have observed noctilucent clouds (NLC) at Parma on 18 June 1840. That is why the conclusions of the present paper are not valid.
The role of geographical clusters in the success of reward-based crowdfunding campaigns
Authors: Nunzia Carbonara
Published: April 2020

This article studies whether some salient characteristics of the geographical area in which a crowdfunding campaign is launched affect its success. Drawing on a data set of 792 crowdfunded projects, we conduct an empirical study aimed at studying the role played by geographical clusters (GCs) in fostering the crowdfunding of new entrepreneurial ventures. The results offer insights into the phenomenon of crowdfunding and shed light on the role of GCs in the success of reward-based crowdfunding campaigns of early-stage entrepreneurial projects.
Indigenous Research Ethics Requirements: An Examination of Six Tribal Institutional Review Board Applications and Processes in the United States
Authors: Kuhn Nicole S. , Parker Myra , Lefthand-Begay Clarita
Published: April 2020

Tribal Institutional Review Boards (TIRBs) in the United States assert their rights within sovereign nations by developing ethical research processes that align with tribal values to protect indigenous knowledge systems and their community from cultural appropriation, exploitation, misuse, and harm. We reviewed six TIRB applications and processes to gain a better understanding about their requirements and research ethics. We located 48 activated and deactivated TIRBs in a database, mapped them in relation to tribal reservation lands, and then conducted in-depth content analysis. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of building relationships, becoming fully acquainted with the TIRB’s operating environment before seeking research approval, and issues related to tribal data management practices.
Hand–eye calibration and grasping pose calculation with motion error compensation and vertical-component correction for 4-R(2-SS) parallel robot
Authors: Zhang Qian , Gao Guo-Qin
Published: April 2020

Due to motion constraint of 4-R(2-SS) parallel robot, it is difficult to calculate the translation component of hand–eye calibration based on the existing model solving method accurately. Additionally, the camera calibration error, robot motion error, and invalid calibration motion poses make it difficult to achieve fast and accurate online hand–eye calibration. Therefore, we propose a hand–eye calibration method with motion error compensation and vertical-component correction for 4-R(2-SS) parallel robot by improving the existing eye-to-hand model and solving method. Firstly, the eye-to-hand model of single camera is improved and the robot motion error in the improved model is compensated to reduce the influence of camera calibration error and robot motion error on model accuracy. Secondly, the vertical-component of hand–eye calibration is corrected based on vertical constraint between calibration plate and end effector in parallel robot to calculate the pose and motion error in calibration of 4-R(2-SS) parallel robot accurately. Thirdly, the nontrivial solution constraint of eye-to-hand model is constructed and adopted to remove invalid calibration motion poses and plan calibration motion. Finally, the proposed method was verified by experiments with a fruit sorting system based on 4-R(2-SS) parallel robot. Compared with random motion, the existing model, and solving method, the average time of online calibration based on planned motion decreases by 29.773 s and the average error of calibration based on the improved model and solving method decreases by 151.293. The proposed method can improve the accuracy and efficiency of hand–eye calibration of 4-R(2-SS) parallel robot effectively and further realize accurate and fast grasping.
A joint framework for underwater sequence images stitching based on deep neural network convolutional neural network
Authors: Sheng Mingwei , Tang Songqi , Cui Zhuang , Wu Wanqi , Wan Lei
Published: April 2020

Panoramic stitching technology provides an effective solution for expanding visual detection range of the autonomous underwater vehicle. However, absorption and scattering of light in the water seriously deteriorate the underwater imaging in terms of distance and quality, especially the scattering sharply decreases the underwater image contrast and results in serious blur. This reduces the number of matching feature points between the underwater images to be stitched, while fewer matched points generated make image registration and stitching difficult. To solve the problem, a joint framework is established, which firstly involves a convolutional neural network-like algorithm composed of a symmetric convolution and deconvolution framework for underwater image enhancement. Then, it proposes an improved convolutional neural network-random sample consensus method based on VGGNet-16 framework to generate more correct matching feature points for image registration. The fusion method based on Laplacian pyramid is applied to eliminate artificial stitching traces and correct the position of stitching seam. Experimental results indicate that the proposed framework can restore the color and detail information of underwater images and generate more effective and sufficient matching feature points for underwater sequence images stitching.