bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutant Huntingtin affects toll-like receptor 4 intracellular trafficking and cytokine production in mast cells
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Marian Jesabel , Ibarra-Sánchez Alfredo , Román-Figueroa Abraham , Pérez-Severiano Francisca , González-Espinosa Claudia
Published: March 2020

Background

Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by the expression of a mutated variant of Huntingtin (mHtt), which results in the complex pathology characterized by a defective function of the nervous system and altered inflammatory responses. While the neuronal effects of mHtt expression have been extensively studied, its effects on the physiology of immune cells have not been fully described. Mast cells (MCs) are unique tissue-resident immune cells whose activation has been linked to protective responses against parasites and bacteria, but also to deleterious inflammatory allergic reactions and, recently, to neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods

Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were obtained from wild-type (WT-) and mHtt-expressing (R6/1) mice to evaluate the main activation parameters triggered by the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) and the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4. Degranulation was assessed by measuring the secretion of β-hexosaminidase, MAP kinase activation was detected by Western blot, and cytokine production was determined by RT-PCR and ELISA. TLR-4 receptor and Htt vesicular trafficking was analyzed by confocal microscopy. In vivo, MC-deficient mice (c-KitWsh/Wsh) were intraperitonally reconstituted with WT or R6/1 BMMCs and the TLR4-induced production of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was determined by ELISA. A survival curve of mice treated with a sub-lethal dose of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was constructed.

Results

R6/1 BMMCs showed normal β-hexosaminidase release levels in response to FcεRI, but lower cytokine production upon LPS stimulus. Impaired TLR4-induced TNF production was associated to the lack of intracellular dynamin-dependent TLR-4 receptor trafficking to perinuclear regions in BMMCs, a diminished ERK1/2 and ELK-1 phosphorylation, and a decrease inc-fosand TNF mRNA accumulation. R6/1 BMMCs also failed to produce TLR4-induced anti-inflammatory cytokines (like IL-10 and TGF-β). The detected defects were also observed in vivo, in a MCs-dependent model of endotoxemia. R6/1 andc-KitWsh/Wshmice reconstituted with R6/1 BMMCs showed a decreased TLR4-induced TNF production and lower survival rates to LPS challenge than WT mice.

Conclusions

Our data show that mHtt expression causes an impaired production of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators triggered by TLR-4 receptor in MCs in vitro and in vivo, which could contribute to the aberrant immunophenotype observed in HD.
Factors associated with the development of septic shock in patients with candidemia: a post hoc analysis from two prospective cohorts
Authors: Bassetti Matteo , Vena Antonio , Meroi Marco , Cardozo Celia , Cuervo Guillermo , Giacobbe Daniele Roberto , Salavert Miguel , Merino Paloma , Gioia Francesca , Fernández-Ruiz Mario , López-Cortés Luis Eduardo , Almirante Benito , Escolà-Vergé Laura , Montejo Miguel , Aguilar-Guisado Manuela , Puerta-Alcalde Pedro , Tasias Mariona , Ruiz-Gaitán Alba , González Fernando , Puig-Asensio Mireia , Marco Francesc , Pemán Javier , Fortún Jesus , Aguado Jose Maria , Soriano Alejandro , Carratalá Jordi , Garcia-Vidal Carolina , Valerio Maricela , Sartor Assunta , Bouza Emilio , Muñoz Patricia
Published: March 2020

Background

Almost one third of the patients with candidemia develop septic shock. The understanding why some patients do and others do not develop septic shock is very limited. The objective of this study was to identify variables associated with septic shock development in a large population of patients with candidemia.

Methods

A post hoc analysis was performed on two prospective, multicenter cohort of patients with candidemia from 12 hospitals in Spain and Italy. All episodes occurring from September 2016 to February 2018 were analyzed to assess variables associated with septic shock development defined according to The Third International Consensus Definition for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3).

Results

Of 317 candidemic patients, 99 (31.2%) presented septic shock attributable to candidemia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identifies the following factors associated with septic shock development: age > 50 years (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.03–6.41, p = 0.04), abdominal source of the infection (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.04–4.55, p = 0.04), and admission to a general ward at the time of candidemia onset (OR 0.21, 95% CI, 0.12–0.44, p = 0.001). Septic shock development was independently associated with a greater risk of 30-day mortality (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.08–4.24, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Age and abdominal source of the infection are the most important factors significantly associated with the development of septic shock in patients with candidemia. Our findings suggest that host factors and source of the infection may be more important for development of septic shock than intrinsic virulence factors of organisms.
Modeling ethanol production through gas fermentation: a biothermodynamics and mass transfer-based hybrid model for microbial growth in a large-scale bubble column bioreactor
Authors: Almeida Benalcázar Eduardo , Noorman Henk , Maciel Filho Rubens , Posada John A.
Published: March 2020

Background

Ethanol production through fermentation of gas mixtures containing CO, CO2 and H2 has just started operating at commercial scale. However, quantitative schemes for understanding and predicting productivities, yields, mass transfer rates, gas flow profiles and detailed energy requirements have been lacking in literature; such are invaluable tools for process improvements and better systems design. The present study describes the construction of a hybrid model for simulating ethanol production inside a 700 m3 bubble column bioreactor fed with gas of two possible compositions, i.e., pure CO and a 3:1 mixture of H2 and CO2.

Results

Estimations made using the thermodynamics-based black-box model of microbial reactions on substrate threshold concentrations, biomass yields, as well as CO and H2 maximum specific uptake rates agreed reasonably well with data and observations reported in literature. According to the bioreactor simulation, there is a strong dependency of process performance on mass transfer rates. When mass transfer coefficients were estimated using a model developed from oxygen transfer to water, ethanol productivity reached 5.1 g L−1 h−1; when the H2/CO2 mixture is fed to the bioreactor, productivity of CO fermentation was 19% lower. Gas utilization reached 23 and 17% for H2/CO2 and CO fermentations, respectively. If mass transfer coefficients were 100% higher than those estimated, ethanol productivity and gas utilization may reach 9.4 g L−1 h−1 and 38% when feeding the H2/CO2 mixture at the same process conditions. The largest energetic requirements for a complete manufacturing plant were identified for gas compression and ethanol distillation, being higher for CO fermentation due to the production of CO2.

Conclusions

The thermodynamics-based black-box model of microbial reactions may be used to quantitatively assess and consolidate the diversity of reported data on CO, CO2 and H2 threshold concentrations, biomass yields, maximum substrate uptake rates, and half-saturation constants for CO and H2 for syngas fermentations by acetogenic bacteria. The maximization of ethanol productivity in the bioreactor may come with a cost: low gas utilization. Exploiting the model flexibility, multi-objective optimizations of bioreactor performance might reveal how process conditions and configurations could be adjusted to guide further process development.
Resolvin D1 suppresses pannus formation via decreasing connective tissue growth factor caused by upregulation of miRNA-146a-5p in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Sun Weiwei , Ma Jinglan , Zhao Han , Xiao Chipeng , Zhong Hao , Ling Hanzhi , Xie Zhen , Tian Qingqing , Chen Huaijun , Zhang Tingting , Chen Mu , Jin Shengwei , Wang Jianguang
Published: March 2020

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and joint stiffness, finally leading to tissue destruction. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a critical factor in RA progression, which promotes fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) proliferation, pannus formation, and the damage of cartilage as well as bone. Resolvin D1 (RvD1) can promote inflammation resolution in acute inflammatory diseases, and recently, effects of RvD1 on chronic inflammatory diseases also attracted attention. This study aimed to examine the effect of RvD1 on pannus formation in RA and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Serum levels of RvD1 and CTGF were determined in RA patients and healthy persons by UPLC-MS/MS and ELISA respectively. The levels of CTGF and inflammatory factors were assessed by qRT-PCR and ELISA. MicroRNA expression profile was determined by miRNA microarray. The effects of CTGF, RvD1, and miR-146a-5p on angiogenesis were evaluated with tube formation and chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice were constructed to detect the effects of RvD1 and miR146a-5p on RA. STAT3 activation was determined by Western blotting.

Results

RvD1 levels decreased while CTGF levels increased in RA patients’ serum, and an inverse correlation of the concentrations of RvD1 and CTGF in the serum of RA patients was synchronously observed. In CIA mice, RvD1 suppressed angiopoiesis and decreased the expression of CTGF. Simultaneously, RvD1 significantly decreased CTGF and pro-inflammation cytokines levels in RA FLS. Furthermore, CTGF suppressed angiopoiesis and RvD1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of RA FLS and angiopoiesis. MiRNA microarray and qRT-PCR results showed that RvD1 upregulated miRNA-146a-5p. The transfection experiments demonstrated that miRNA-146a-5p could decrease inflammatory factors and CTGF levels. Moreover, miRNA-146a-5p decreased the proliferation of FLS and angiogenesis in vivo. MiRNA-146a-5p also suppressed angiogenesis and downregulated the expression of CTGF in CIA mice. Finally, Western blot results revealed that miRNA-146a-5p inhibited the activation of STAT3.

Conclusion

RvD1 is prone to alleviate RA progression through the upregulation of miRNA-146a-5p to suppress the expression of CTGF and inflammatory mediators, thereby decreasing pannus formation and cartilage damage.
Beneficial association of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins on the occurrence of possible Alzheimer’s disease after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Li Mingfei , Reisman Joel , Morris-Eppolito Benjamin , Qian Shirley X. , Kazis Lewis E. , Wolozin Benjamin , Goldstein Lee E. , Xia Weiming
Published: March 2020

Background

Pathological analysis of brain tissue from animals and humans with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) suggests that TBI could be one of the risk factors facilitating onset of dementia with possible Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but medications to prevent or delay AD onset are not yet available.

Methods

This study explores four medication classes (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), beta blockers, metformin, and statins) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for other indications and evaluates their influence when used in combination on the risk of possible AD development for patients with a history of TBI. We identified patients with history of TBI from an existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national database. Among 1,660,151 veterans who used VA services between the ages of 50 to 89 years old, we analyzed 733,920 patients, including 15,450 patients with a history of TBI and 718,470 non-TBI patients. The TBI patients were followed for up to 18.5 years, with an average of 7.7 ± 4.7 years, and onset of dementia with possible AD was recorded based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 or 10 codes. The effect of TBI on possible AD development was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression models adjusted by age, gender, race, and other comorbidities. The association of ACEI, beta blockers, metformin, statins, and combinations of these agents over time from the first occurrence of TBI to possible AD onset was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographics and comorbidities.

Results

Veterans with at least two TBI occurrences by claims data were 25% (odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (1.13, 1.37)) more likely to develop dementia with possible AD, compared to those with no record of TBI. In multivariable logistic regression models (propensity score weighted or adjusted), veterans taking a combination of ACEI and statins had reduced risk in developing possible AD after suffering TBI, and use of this medication class combination was associated with a longer period between TBI occurring and dementia with possible AD onset, compared to patients who took statins alone or did not take any of the four target drugs after TBI.

Conclusions

The combination of ACEI and statins significantly lowered the risk of development of dementia with possible AD in a national cohort of people with a history of TBI, thus supporting a clinical approach to lowering the risk of dementia with possible AD.
Combined ANN/EVOP Factorial Design Approach for Media Screening for Cost-effective Production of Alkaline Proteases from Rhizopus oryzae (SN5)/NCIM-1447 under SSF
Authors: Negi Sangeeta , Jain Sapna , Raj Anand
Published: March 2020

In order to achieve high yield of fungal protease in a very cost effective way and to meet its increased market demand, current study deals with the screening of various agro-wastes as carbon source for the production of protease from Rhizopus oryzae (SN5)/NCIM-1447 under solid state fermentation. Substrates and culture parameters such as wheat bran, soybean meal, black-gram husk, rice husk, mixture of wheat bran, soybean meal, nitrogen sources, pH, temperature and incubation time were first optimized with one factor at time strategy and then EVOP factorial and yield of alkaline protease was achieved 412.8 U/gds at 28 °C and pH = 6 after 72 h of fermentation taking wheat bran and soybean as a substrate in 4:1 ratio. Further artificial neural networks (ANN), was trained with data of EVOP and yield of protease was enhanced up to 422.6 U/gds with wheat bran: soyabean in ratio of 70:30, pH 6.2 at 30 °C. The evolved process and Rhizopus oryzae (SN5)/NCIM-1447 strain would be promising for protease production at industrial scale at low cost.
Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) crossbreeding husbandry practices in Turkey and Kazakhstan: An in-depth review
Authors: Dioli Maurizio
Published: March 2020

Hybridization between dromedaries and Bactrian camels has been carried out since ancient times in various areas of the Middle East and Central Asia. The primary force behind such practice was to obtain a better pack camel for trade caravans and military interventions. Today, camel hybridization is carried out systematically in only two areas: Turkey and Kazakhstan. In Turkey, camel cross-breeding is mainly done to obtain large animals for the annual camel wrestling competitions, while in Kazakhstan, cross-breeding is done to obtain camels that are more productive and better able to resist the harsh climate of Central Asia.
The role of camel production on household resilience to droughts in pastoral and agro-pastoral households in Uganda
Authors: Asiimwe Robert , Ainembabazi John Herbert , Egeru Anthony , Isoto Rosemary , Aleper Daniel Knox , Namaalwa Justine , Diiro Gracious M.
Published: March 2020

Recurrent and prolonged droughts have exacerbated the problems of pasture and water scarcity in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), hence, the need for immediate and long-term adaption strategies to such shocks. Camels are increasingly being integrated into mainstream livestock production systems as an adaptation strategy to droughts. However, rigorous empirical evidence remains scarce on the role of camel-rearing in household resilience to droughts. This study used cross-sectional data from 116 households in the Karamoja sub-region of Uganda to examine the effect of camel adoption on household resilience to drought. Resilience to drought was measured as an index constructed from consumption- and income-smoothing indicators using the principal component analysis (PCA) method. The effect of camel adoption on household resilience to droughts was estimated using Lewbel’s estimator. Descriptive statistics show that camel tropical livestock units (TLUs) constituted 25% of the total TLUs of the herd among adopting households. PCA analysis shows that income-smoothing factors (increased off-farm income and alternative sources of income) had the greatest contribution to resilience. Econometric results show that a unit increase in the proportion of camel TLUs significantly increased household resilience to droughts by 20%. The study recommends increased emphasis on income diversification both on-farm and off-farm across programmes that aim to build pastoral household resilience to droughts.
Experimental Study on Damage Evaluation, Pore Structure and Impact Tensile Behavior of 10-Year-Old Concrete Cores After Exposure to High Temperatures
Authors: Chen Xudong , Shi Dandan , Guo Shengshan
Published: March 2020

High temperatures impose a negative effect on the mechanical properties of concrete. An experimental setup designed by the theory of nonlinear resonance vibration, the method of mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) were used to test damage, porosity and mechanical properties of the pre-heated Brazilian discs of 10-year-old concrete respectively. According to the nondestructive test, the hysteretic nonlinearity parameters βh became larger as the temperature went up. The damage calculated by βh, which was 0, 0.57, 0.88 and 0.95 at 20 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C and 600 °C respectively, could be fitted by a power function. Based on MIP, the compound lognormal distribution model was used to simulate the pore size distributions. The quantitative relationship between porosity and damage was established by a power function, with the porosities of 13.96% at 20 °C, 15.77% at 200 °C, 19.17% at 400 °C and 20.22% at 600 °C. Finally, by the method of impact splitting tensile tests under gas pressures of 0.3 MPa, 0.4 MPa and 0.5 MPa, which represented impact velocity of 7.11 m/s, 10.26 m/s and 13.02 m/s respectively, the dynamic tensile strengths were obtained and the quantitative relationship between damage and macroscopic splitting tensile strength was established and the average value of exponential parameter b was 0.281.
Technologies for supporting high-order geodesic mesh frameworks for computational astrophysics and space sciences
Authors: Florinski Vladimir , Balsara Dinshaw S. , Garain Sudip , Gurski Katharine F.
Published: March 2020

Many important problems in astrophysics, space physics, and geophysics involve flows of (possibly ionized) gases in the vicinity of a spherical object, such as a star or planet. The geometry of such a system naturally favors numerical schemes based on a spherical mesh. Despite its orthogonality property, the polar (latitude-longitude) mesh is ill suited for computation because of the singularity on the polar axis, leading to a highly non-uniform distribution of zone sizes. The consequences are (a) loss of accuracy due to large variations in zone aspect ratios, and (b) poor computational efficiency from a severe limitations on the time stepping. Geodesic meshes, based on a central projection using a Platonic solid as a template, solve the anisotropy problem, but increase the complexity of the resulting computer code. We describe a new finite volume implementation of Euler and MHD systems of equations on a triangular geodesic mesh (TGM) that is accurate up to fourth order in space and time and conserves the divergence of magnetic field to machine precision. The paper discusses in detail the generation of a TGM, the domain decomposition techniques, three-dimensional conservative reconstruction, and time stepping.
ICT diffusion and the finance–growth nexus: a panel analysis on ECOWAS countries
Authors: Alimi Ahmed S. , Adediran Idris A.
Published: March 2020

In this study, we rely on the extension of the endogenous growth theory to consider the role of ICT diffusion in the finance–growth nexus theoretically informed via the supply-leading and demand-following theses. Motivated by current realities highlighting the significance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to modern societies, the study evaluates the foregoing research objective in ECOWAS countries over the 2005–2016 period based on the justification of the ICT diffusion into the ECOWAS region around the early 2000s. Innovatively, the study constructs an ICT diffusion index covering fixed telephone lines, mobile cellular subscription and Internet penetration as relevant media for ICT dispersion. We adopt the pooled mean group estimator on a dynamic panel ARDL model for robust analysis of the subject matter. We find that financial development (its main and alternative measure) alone inhibits growth of ECOWAS countries, but its interaction with ICT diffusion promotes economic growth in the region. The implication of our research findings for the West African region is that financial sector development efforts have to be strengthened by investment in ICT infrastructure, improved Internet penetration and further integration of electronic finance policies.
The edges of human performance in psychiatry
Authors: Samra Rajvinder
Published: March 2020

Developing a realistic multifactorial model of human performance in psychiatry will better inform interventions targeting clinician overwork and burnout, which contribute to risk and error in medicine. This heralds a new approach, allowing better detection by individuals, colleagues and automated systems, to responding to degraded performance in psychiatry.
Guidance Statement for the Management of Febrile Neutropenia in Pediatric Patients Receiving Cancer-Directed Therapy in Central America and the Caribbean
Authors: Melgar Mario , Reljic Tea , Barahona Guillermo , Camacho Kattia , Chang Alicia , Contreras Johanny , Espinoza Darrell , Estripeaut Dora , Gamero Mario , Luque Marco , Mentor Girlande , Zacasa Pamela , Homsi Maysam , Caniza Miguela A. , Kumar Ambuj , Mukkada Sheena
Published: March 2020

PURPOSE

Our objective was to provide regionally appropriate, resource-conscious recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with febrile neutropenia.

METHODS

A multinational panel of Central American and Caribbean clinicians who deliver pediatric oncology care prioritized clinically important questions and then used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to provide recommendations on the selected topics.

RESULTS

Twenty-two questions and 2 definitions were included in the guideline, which was intended to establish minimum care standards for pediatric patients treated in regional centers. Of all the included studies, 6.9% were conducted in low- and middle-income countries, and no studies were performed in countries represented on the panel.

CONCLUSION

The panel made recommendations on the basis of existing evidence but identified important gaps in knowledge from the region and from resource-limited settings that may affect the clinical applicability of these recommendations. These deficiencies suggest a research agenda that will enable future guidelines to be more responsive to the local context.
Fecal Immunochemical Test as a Screening Method for Colorectal Cancer in University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Labaeka Elizabeth O. , Irabor Achiaka E. , Irabor David O.
Published: March 2020

PURPOSE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease of public health importance because of the increasing incidence of the disease and presentation in advanced stage of the disease in Western Africa. CRC is amenable to screening because of the long course of premalignant lesions before final development of the disease. Despite this, the practice of CRC screening is inadequate at the sites in this study. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is one of the recommended noninvasive methods for CRC screening. It has a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 90%, and an overall accuracy of 95%. We aimed to determine the practicability of FIT for CRC screening in patients aged 40 to 75 years who attended primary care clinics in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 422 patients selected by systematic random sampling were recruited and offered free FIT screening. Participants with a positive finding had additional GI examination, including a digital rectal examination, proctoscopy, and colonoscopy, if no lesion was biopsied during proctoscopy.

RESULTS

The mean (± standard deviation) age of the respondents was 62 ± 9.61 years. The prevalence of a positive FIT in the study was 10.1%. The FIT was not completed by 3.8% of patients, and the rate of completion of additional evaluation after a positive FIT reduced as the investigations became invasive, with 36.8% and 71.1% noncompletion rates for proctoscopy and colonoscopy, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A FIT-based screening for age and risk-appropriate patients is practical in this environment, where the capacity and acceptability of colonoscopy are limited.
Vitamin B12 and Folate Concentrations in Recent-onset Type 2 Diabetes and the Effect of Metformin Treatment
Authors: Kanti Georgia , Anadol-Schmitz Evrim , Bobrov Pavel , Strassburger Klaus , Kahl Sabine , Zaharia Oana P , Sarabhai Theresia , Karusheva Yanislava , Burkart Volker , Markgraf Daniel F , Trenkamp Sandra , Ziegler Dan , Szendroedi Julia , Roden Michael ,   for the GDS Group, Roden M , Al-Hasani H , Buyken A E , Eckel J , Geerling G , Herder C , Icks A , Kotzka J , Kuß O , Lammert E , Markgraf D , Müssig K , Rathmann W , Szendrödi J , Ziegler D
Published: March 2020

Context

Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency are not only linked to hematological, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases, but are also associated with insulin resistance. Metformin can decrease vitamin B12 and folate concentrations.

Objective

To examine (1) effects of short-term metformin treatment on serum holotranscobalamin (holoTC) and folate and (2) their association with insulin sensitivity in recent-onset type 2 diabetes.

Design

This cross-sectional analysis comprised patients (known disease duration <12 months) on metformin monotherapy (MET, n = 123, 81 males, 53 ± 12 years) or nonpharmacological treatment (NPT, n = 126, 77 males, 54 ± 11 years) of the German Diabetes Study.

Main Outcome Measures

HoloTC (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), cobalamin, and folate (electrochemiluminescence); beta-cell function and whole-body insulin sensitivity, measured during fasting (HOMA-B, HOMA-IR) and intravenous glucose tolerance tests combined with hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp tests.

Results

HoloTC (105.4 [82.4, 128.3] vs 97 [79.7, 121.9] pmol/L) and folate concentrations (13.4 [9.3, 19.3] vs 12.7 [9.3, 22.0] nmol/L) were similar in both groups. Overall, holoTC was not associated with fasting or glucose-stimulated beta-cell function and insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Cobalamin measurements yielded similar results in representative subgroups. In NPT but not MET, folate levels were inversely correlated with HOMA-IR (r = –0.239, P = .007). Folate levels did not relate to insulin sensitivity or insulin secretion in the whole cohort and in each group separately after adjustment for age, body mass index, and sex.

Conclusions

Metformin does not affect circulating holoTC and folate concentrations in recent-onset type 2 diabetes, rendering monitoring of vitamin B12 and folate dispensable, at least during the first 6 months after diagnosis or initiation of metformin.
Conceptual problems of modern Russian symbolic policy in preserving the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War
Authors: Martynov Mihail
Published: March 2020

The article attempts to explain the problems faced by modern Russian politics of memory in connection with falsifications of the history of World War II. Attention is drawn to the reasons for the spread in the public mind of the opinion of the equal responsibility of Germany and the USSR in starting a war. It is shown that the reason for the difficulties of the Russian symbolic policy is the lack of a coherent theoretical construct that allows a logically consistent interpretation of the events of the political history of the first half of the twentieth century. It points to the uncritical acceptance by the Russian political science of the theory of totalitarianism and insufficient attention to the laws of the formation of fascist regimes in Western Europe. It is concluded that inclusion in the world economic system under the conditions of the A historical and comparative approach, comparing the features of using various conceptual foundations of events at the beginning of World War II, depending on the interests and goals of political actors. West inevitably turns out to be supplemented by the loss of sovereignty in the scientific and theoretical sphere.
Cognitive analysis of the personality of a politician by the example of M.N. Saakashvili
Authors: Bardina K. , Il'ichev A. , Moiseenko K. , Kurylev K.
Published: March 2020

For many years, the figure of Mikhail Nikolayevich Saakashvili evoked both positive and negative ratings of his political activity among the other world leaders. This ambiguous attitude towards the former Georgian leader cannot be unnoticed, so it seems interesting to us to study the personality of the former Georgian president. The main goal of the work was to analyze the political and psychological portrait of Mikhail Nikolayevich Saakashvili, in particular, how certain features of cognitive characteristics influenced the formation of the former leader of the Republic of Georgia as an individual, as well as her political decisions that influenced the country's external and internal course. The theoretical significance of the study lies in the use of certain methods of cognitive analysis, namely: operational coding and biography, coupled with the method of content analysis, in order to identify the interdependence of Saakashvili’s behavior in the political arena and its psychological characteristics built up over his life's journey. As the main result of the study, we can name a number of identified psychological traits of Mikhail Nikolaevich, directly affecting not only his life path in general, but also his political career in particular.
Russian Literature for Children and Juveniles in Slovak Translations
Authors: Biloveski V.
Published: March 2020

The paper discusses the Slovak translations of Russian literature for children and juveniles in the 20th century. It focuses on the translations which represent the classics of children’s reading for Slovak children and juveniles. It also compares the situation of translating Russian literature for children and juveniles into Slovak before 1989 and after that as well as and the quailty of translations in those two different periods of history of Slovakia.
Sport as a Social Institution
Authors: Kargin N. , Laamarti Yuliya
Published: March 2020

The application of the theory of activity to sports research and to scientific and methodological issues of providing training for highly qualified athletes holds great promise in the formulation and solution of relevant scientific and practical problems. In the course of the presentation of the material, the need was established to develop a unified methodological concept and create on this basis practically valuable model characteristics of an athlete of highest qualification.
A note on majorization properties of the Lieb function
Authors: Niezgoda Marek
Published: March 2020

In this note, the Lieb function $(A,B) \to \Phi (A,B) = \tr \exp ( A + \log B )$ for an Hermitian matrix $A$ and a positive definite matrix $B$ is studied. It is shown that $\Phi$ satisfies a majorization property of Sherman type induced by a doubly stochastic operator. The variant for commuting matrices is also considered. An interpretation is given for the case of the orthoprojection operator onto the space of block diagonal matrices.
Noise-Resilient Neural Network-Based Adversarial Attack Modeling for XOR Physical Unclonable Functions
Authors: Aseeri Ahmad
Published: March 2020

Authentication plays an essential role in preventing unauthorized access to data and resources on the Internet of Things. Classical security mechanisms fall short of achieving security requirements against many physical attacks due to the resource-constraint nature of IoT devices. Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have been successfully used for lightweight security applications such as devices authentication and secret key generation. PUFs utilize the inevitable variation of integrated circuits during the fabrication process to produce unique responses for individual PUF, hence not reproducible even by the manufacturer itself. However, PUFs are mathematically cloneable by machine learning-based methods. XOR arbiter PUFs are one group of PUFs that can withstand existing attack methods unless exceedingly long training time and large dataset size are applied. In this paper, large-sized XOR PUFs with 64-bit and 128-bit challenges were efficiently and effectively attacked using a carefully engineered neural network-based method. Our fine-tuned neural network-based adversarial models achieve 99% prediction accuracy on noise-free datasets and as low as 96% prediction accuracy on noisy datasets, using up to 55% smaller dataset size compared to existing works known to us. Revealing such vulnerabilities is essential for PUF developers to re-evaluate existing PUF designs, hence avoiding potential risks for IoT devices.
Eurobarometer surveys: another history of European gender equality policy?
Authors: Belot Céline , Jacquot Sophie
Published: March 2020

This article analyses Eurobarometer surveys as fully fledged instruments of the European gender equality policy since its emergence in the 1970s up until 2018. These surveys bring new data that allow for reanalysing the history of the gender equality policy, focusing on how public opinion is of interest to policymakers and how they use the results of these polls. The article shows that Eurobarometer surveys and the appeal to the ‘voice of the citizens’ have always had a legitimising function for gender equality, but that the purposes of this legitimisation have changed over time. Recently, in a context of low citizen support for the European Union political system, surveys have been integrated into the day-to-day routine of gender equality policymaking; however, they are also used by the European Parliament to reassert the shared values of the European Union.
Demonstration of wideband metal mesh filters for submillimeter astrophysics using flexible printed circuits
Authors: Uno Shinsuke , Takekoshi Tatsuya , Oshima Tai , Yoshioka Keisuke , Wuy Chin Kah , Kohno Kotaro
Published: March 2020

We developed a wideband quasi-optical band-pass filter covering 170–520 GHz by exploiting the recent advancements in commercially available flexible printed circuit (FPC) fabrication technologies. We designed and fabricated a three-layered stack of loaded hexagonal grid metal meshes using a copper pattern with a narrowest linewidth of

50

µ

m

on a polyimide substrate. The measured frequency passband shape was successfully reproduced through a numerical simulation using a set of parameters consistent with the dimensions of the fabricated metal meshes. FPC-based metal mesh filters will provide a new pathway toward the on-demand development of millimeter/submillimeter-wave quasi-optical filters at low cost and with a short turnaround time.
Influence of naturalness of chroma and lightness contrast modulation on colorfulness adaptation in natural images
Authors: Masumitsu Taishi , Mizokami Yoko
Published: March 2020

We investigated as to whether the naturalness of images modulated by a combination of chroma and lightness contrast affects the colorfulness perception. Four types of modulated images with different combinations of chroma and lightness contrast were used as adaptation stimuli. After adapting to one of the adaptation stimuli groups, observers judged the colorfulness of test images that were also modulated by the different combinations of chroma and lightness contrast. Our results showed that the combination of chroma and lightness contrast modulation affected the strength of colorfulness adaptation. The results also indicated that when adapting to images that exhibited high naturalness, the effect of colorfulness adaptation was strong. It was suggested that the naturalness of the chroma and lightness combination is an important factor for colorfulness adaptation.
Bandwidth analysis of optical parametric amplifier pumped by broadband pulses
Authors: Tamulienė Viktorija , Butkus Rytis , Stabinis Algirdas
Published: March 2020

We present analytical solutions to nonlinear coupling equations for parametric down-conversion of a broadband pump at large gain. The feasibility of analytical expressions is demonstrated for the case of a collinear type II parametric interaction in beta-barium borate crystal and group-velocity matching of signal and pump waves. The correlation function of amplified signal wave is obtained, and it is revealed that the bandwidth of a noise-seeded optical parametric amplifier increases with a decrease in pump pulse duration, especially for femtosecond pump pulses.
Soliton detuning of 68.5  THz in the near-infrared in a highly nonlinear suspended core tellurite fiber
Authors: Karpate Tanvi , Stepniewski Grzegorz , Pysz Dariusz , Rampur Anupamaa , Stepanenko Yuriy , Buczynski Ryszard , Klimczak Mariusz
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate an isolated phenomenon of soliton self-frequency shift over a bandwidth of 68.5 THz in the near-infrared spectral range. We designed, fabricated, and characterized a suspended core microstructured fiber made of highly nonlinear tellurite glass. The fiber is designed for a flat anomalous dispersion to leverage on Raman scattering-assisted frequency shift of a fundamental-order soliton. We demonstrate a prominent soliton with an input-power-based tunability in the spectral range from the 1560 nm central pump wavelength up to around 2400 nm central wavelength of the frequency-shifted soliton, when the fiber is pumped with 90 fs pulses from a commercial, fiber-based, mode-locked laser.
Blind back-propagation method for fiber nonlinearity compensation with low computational complexity and high performance
Authors: Zhou Junhe , Wang Yuheng , Zhang Yunwang
Published: March 2020

In this paper, a blind back-propagation (BP) method for fiber nonlinearity compensation with low computational complexity and high performance is proposed. The BP method compensates the fiber chromatic dispersion step by step. Between two linear steps, the proposed method compensates the fiber nonlinearity with the nonlinear tap coefficients optimized by the nonlinear least square method (NLSM). Unlike the traditional BP method, the proposed method takes into account the SPM, the intra-channel XPM and the intra-channel FWM effects while it is purely blind and requires no prior information of the transmission link except the total accumulated chromatic dispersion, e.g., the BP step in the proposed algorithm can be set as an arbitrary value which has no connection to the physical span length. The computational complexity of the proposed method is much lower (less than 50%) than the conventional BP method with one step per span, because of the reduction of the total number of steps. Meanwhile, the method improves the nonlinearity compensation performance in comparison to the standard BP method with one step per span at the optimal input power while maintaining the same computational complexity.
One-sided device-independent quantum key distribution for two independent parties
Authors: Xin Jun , Lu Xiao-Ming , Li Xingmin , Li Guolong
Published: March 2020

Remote distribution of secret keys is a challenging task in quantum cryptography. A significant step in this direction is the measurement-device independence quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD). For two remote (or independent) parties Alice and Bob who initially no share secret information, the MDI-QKD enables them to share a secret key by the measurement of an untrusted relay. Unfortunately, the MDI-QKD yields the assumption that the devices of both Alice and Bob have to be trusted. Here, we show that QKD between two independent parties can also be realized even if the device of either Alice or Bob is untrusted. We tackle the problem by resorting to the recently developed one-sided device-independent QKD protocol. We derive conditions on the extracted secret key to be unconditionally secure against arbitary attacks in the limit of asymptotic keys. In the presence of Gaussian states and measurements, we theoretically demonstrate our scheme is feasible, which could be an attractive candidate for long distance secret communication.
Partially coherent radially polarized fractional vortex beam
Authors: Zeng Jun , Liang Chunhao , Wang Haiyun , Wang Fei , Zhao Chengliang , Gbur Greg , Cai Yangjian
Published: March 2020

A new kind of partially coherent vector beam, named a partially coherent radially polarized fractional vortex (PCRPFV) beam, is introduced as a natural extension of the recently introduced scalar partially coherent fractional vortex beams [Zeng et al., Opt. Express 26, 26830 (2018)10.1364/OE.26.026830]. Realizability conditions and propagation formulas for a PCRPFV beam are derived. Statistical properties of a focused PCRPFV beam, such as average intensity, degree of polarization, state of polarization and cross-spectral density matrix, are illustrated in detail and compared with that of a partially coherent radially polarized integer vortex beam and a scalar partially coherent fractional vortex beam. It is found that the statistical properties of a PCRPFV beam are qualitatively different from these simpler beam classes and are strongly determined by the vortex phase (i.e., fractional topological charge) and initial coherence width. We demonstrate experimental generation of PCRPFV beams and confirm their behavior. Our results will be useful for the rotating and trapping of particles, the detection of phase objects, and polarization lidar systems.
Machine Learning for Optical Network Security Management
Authors: Furdek Marija , Natalino Carlos
Published: March 2020

We discuss the role of supervised, unsupervised and semi-supervised learning techniques in identification of optical network security breaches. The applicability, performance and challenges related to practical deployment of these techniques are examined.
Multi-Access Edge Computing Architecture Optimized for Performance Driven Radio Access Networks in 6G Era
Authors: Chang Gee-Kung , Alfadhli Yahya , Chen You-Wei
Published: March 2020

Perspective and challenge of the MEC implementation, merging with the RAN architecture for 6G mobile networks are discussed from futuristic use-cases point-of-view, including mobile operators and application developers. Featuring demonstrations with AI/ML are also highlighted.
Transceiver Technologies for Next-Generation PON (Tutorial)
Authors: van Veen Dora
Published: March 2020

We will review the specific requirements for upgrading passive optical networks and present recent research on high speed optical transmission for Next-Generation TDM-, TWDM- and WDM-PONs based on low cost optical and DSP technologies.
Period doubling of multiple dissipative-soliton-resonance pulses in a fibre laser
Authors: Hua Liming , Wang Shuai , Yang Xu , Yao Xiongquan , Li Lei , Komarov Andrey , Klimczak Mariusz , Shen Deyuan , Tang Dingyuan , Su Lei , Zhao Luming
Published: March 2020

We report on the experimental observation of the period doubling of multiple dissipative-soliton-resonance (DSR) pulses in an all-normal-dispersion fibre laser, based on a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror. By increasing the pump power, the transition from a single DSR pulse to multiple DSR pulses was observed, in addition to the typical linear pulse broadening, under a fixed pulse peak power. During this process, period doubling appeared because the DSR pulses can exhibit the characteristics of period doubling in a multi-pulse state. The typical DSR performance of a linear pulse duration change, versus the variation of pump power, can be maintained when the period doubling of multiple DSR pulses appears.
The Rhetorical Legacy of Wangari Maathai, Eddah M. Mutua, Alberto Gonzalez and Anke Wolbert (eds) (2018)
Authors: Ogbu Silk Ugwu
Published: March 2020

Lanham: Lexington Books, 221 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-49857-112-8, h/bk, $83.07
DECONSTRUCCIÓN DEL SISTEMA EDUCATIVO DESDE LA PERSPECTIVA DE GÉNERO Y EDUCACIÓN AFECTIVO-SEXUAL: REVISIÓN TEÓRICA DE PLANTEAMIENTOS EDUCATIVOS CURRICULARES Y FORMACIÓN DOCENTE DESDE LA MIRADA DE LAS PEDAGOGÍAS FEMINISTAS
Authors: Segura Fernández Raquel
Published: March 2020

El presente texto invita a toda la comunidad educativa a detenerse a reflexionar y movilizarse para actuar desde la pedagogía feminista e inclusiva. Se ha realizado revisión teórica de literatura especializada en materia educativa desde posicionamientos feministas y coeducativos, que cuestionan, de manera crítica y constructiva, la tradición pedagógica en la cual se engloba el sistema educativo, así como la descontextualización, neutralidad y posicionamiento apolítico de este, en temáticas vinculadas con la igualdad de género y diversidad afectivo-sexual. Este escrito parte del estudio de datos estadísticos extraídos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) que evidencian la desigual situación de la mujer en España. La revisión teórica plasma la necesidad de apostar por la educación desde una mirada feminista e inclusiva, crítica y reflexiva, que empodere a los y las profesionales del ámbito educativo, e impulse una verdadera deconstrucción del sistema educativo, apoyándose en un currículum formativo con perspectiva de género.
CEMENT PASTE CONTAINING MICRONIZED RECYCLED CONCRETE - INFLUENCE OF HARDENING ACCELERATORS ON THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Authors: Ďureje Jakub , Prošek Zdeněk
Published: March 2020

The article deals with the selection of a suitable hardening accelerator for cement composite material for mass production of masonry blocks. The blocks contain cement and finely ground recycled concrete in ratio 1:1. Three different hardening accelerators in different quantity were tested for possibility of fast removing formwork. The dynamic modulus of elasticity was measured by non-destructive resonance method to determine the initial strengths. The modulus of elasticity was measured 7 and 12 hours after sample production to determine the increase in initial strength. Subsequently, the modulus of elasticity was measured at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after production of the test specimens. The resulting moduli of elasticity were compared with reference samples.
DIAGNOSTICS OF UNFIRED EARTH WITH METHYLENE BLUE TEST
Authors: Plaček Otcovská Tereza , Mužíková Barbora , Padevět Pavel
Published: March 2020

Unfired earth is important historic building material. Final properties of unfired earth constructions are influenced by amount and kind of clay in earth mixtures. Methylene blue test is a method that helps determining the type and amount of clay in earth mixtures. This paper describes research focused on using methylene blue test for analysis of methylene blue dye absorption by montmorillonite clay. The first part of the paper describes principle of methylene blue test and course of experimental measurement. The second part deals with analysis of obtained results. On the basis of experimental measurement it can be stated that methylene blue test is influenced by the stirring time of earth samples with methylene blue solution and dependence between amount of methylene blue dye absorption and amount of montmorillonite clay in earth samples is linear.