bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provenance evolution of Oligocene–Pliocene foreland deposits in the Dezful embayment to constrain Central Zagros exhumation history
Authors: Etemad-Saeed Najmeh , Najafi Mahdi , Vergés Jaume
Published: March 2020

This paper presents a detailed provenance analysis of the 6.5 km thick Oligocene–Pliocene foreland succession in the north Dezful embayment in Zagros, Iran. Using petrography, geochemistry and palaeoflow analysis, we determined three provenance shifts during the exhumation of the Zagros orogen. Above the Ahwaz sandstones, sourced from the Arabian craton, a sharp decrease in SiO
2
/Al
2
O
3
, Zr/Sc, Th/Sc, Th/Co and Th/Cr within the Gachsaran Fm. and the appearance of first-cycle sands derived from metamorphic and volcanic rocks at the base of the Aghajari Fm. characterize the onset of exhumation, rising topography and denudation of the Zagros orogenic system during the latest Oligocene and constitute the first shift. The second shift, in the middle Aghajari Fm., is marked by a distinct increase in radiolarian cherts and compatible/incompatible elements, indicating the exhumation of Neotethyan radiolarite–ophiolite allochthonous slices in the High Zagros Zone during the Tortonian (
c
. 9 Ma). Large quantities of carbonate clasts derived from the nearby growing Izeh Zone anticlines characterize the Messinian (
c
. 7 Ma) Bakhtyari conglomerates marking the third shift. In conclusion, a detailed hands-on provenance analysis of the clastic sedimentary sequences in the north Dezful embayment enabled us to determine catchment areas and shifts hitherto unstudied, thus contributing to the exhumation history of the Central Zagros orogenic system.

Supplementary material: Details of the petrography and geochemistry results are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4905558
Elevated MMP2 abundance and activity in mdx mice are alleviated by prenatal taurine supplementation
Authors: Ren Xiaoyu , Xu Hongyang , Barker Robert G. , Lamb Graham D. , Murphy Robyn M.
Published: March 2020

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive muscle-wasting disorder that leads to early death. The mdx mouse is a naturally occurring mutant model for DMD. It lacks dystrophin and displays peak muscle cell necrosis at ~28 days (D28), but in contrast to DMD, mdx mice experience muscle regeneration by D70. We hypothesized that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) and/or MMP9 play key roles in the degeneration/regeneration phases in mdx mice. MMP2 abundance in muscle homogenates, measured by calibrated Western blotting, and activity, measured by zymogram, were lower at D70 compared with D28 in both mdx and wild-type (WT) mice. Importantly, MMP2 abundance was higher in both D28 and D70 mdx mice than in age-matched WT mice. The higher MMP2 abundance was not due to infiltrating macrophages, because MMP2 content was still higher in isolated muscle fibers where most macrophages had been removed. Prenatal supplementation with the amino acid taurine, which improved muscle strength in D28 mdx mice, produced approximately twofold lower MMP2 activity, indicating that increased MMP2 abundance is not required when muscle damage is attenuated. There was no difference in MMP9 abundance between age-matched WT and mdx mice ( P > 0.05). WT mice displayed decreased MMP9 abundance as they aged. While MMP9 may have a role during age-related skeletal muscle growth, it does not appear essential for degeneration/regeneration cycles in the mdx mouse. Our findings indicate that MMP2 plays a more active role than MMP9 in the degenerative phases of muscle fibers in D28 mdx mice.
More than a cell biosensor: aryl hydrocarbon receptor at the intersection of physiology and inflammation
Authors: Guarnieri Tiziana , Abruzzo Provvidenza Maria , Bolotta Alessandra
Published: March 2020

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a highly conserved intracellular transcription factor, is activated by a plethora of ligands of both exogenous and endogenous nature. Besides activating xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, it is involved in the differentiation and development of hematopoietic, hepatic, nervous and immune systems. More and more data describe its role in the regulation of immune responses and in the onset and progression of inflammation. Particularly, established results view AhR as a downstream target of inflammatory molecules, since its transcription is regulated by the inflammatory cascade. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has been described to sustain early stages of inflammation and to influence the expression of AhR either directly, following signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation, or in combination with other inflammatory mediators, e.g., transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). In selected inflammatory milieus, once activated, AhR interacts with its targets including the IL-6 promoter, thus originating an autoinflammatory loop. This perspective review brings together evidence that, in some IL-6-driven pathways, AhR is a downstream target that amplifies the duration and extent of inflammation. Considering that many inflammatory mediators can also trigger the activities of AhR as biosensor and activator of xenobiotics metabolism, this issue is of pivotal importance. The individual susceptibly to some environmental ligands of AhR can be probably explained by considering the individual inflammatory state, which could additionally fuel the proinflammatory activity of AhR. Thus, AhR could be considered a transductor of a dynamic, bidirectional connection between internal and external environmental stimuli and the inflammatory response.
Rats are protected from the stress of chronic pressure overload compared with mice
Authors: Nishimura Koichi , Oydanich Marko , Zhang Jie , Babici Denis , Fraidenraich Diego , Vatner Dorothy E. , Vatner Stephen F.
Published: March 2020

The goal of this investigation was to compare the effects of chronic (4 wk) transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6J mice. TAC, after 1 day, induced similar left ventricular (LV) pressure gradients in both rats ( n = 7) and mice ( n = 7) (113 ± 5.4 vs. 103 ± 11.5 mmHg), and after 4 wk, the percent increase in LV hypertrophy, as reflected by LV/tibial length (51% vs 49%), was similar in rats ( n = 12) and mice ( n = 12). After 4 wk of TAC, LV systolic and diastolic function were preserved in TAC rats. In contrast, in TAC mice, LV ejection fraction decreased by 31% compared with sham, along with increases in LV end-diastolic pressure (153%) and LV systolic wall stress (86%). Angiogenesis, as reflected by Ki67 staining of capillaries, increased more in rats ( n = 6) than in mice ( n = 6; 10 ± 2 vs. 6 ± 1 Ki67-positive cells/field). Myocardial blood flow fell by 55% and coronary reserve by 28% in mice with TAC ( n = 4), but they were preserved in rats ( n = 4). Myogenesis, as reflected by c-kit-positive myocytes staining positively for troponin I, is another mechanism that can confer protection after TAC. However, the c-kit-positive cells in rats with TAC were all negative for troponin I, indicating the absence of myogenesis. Thus, rats showed relative tolerance to severe pressure overload compared with mice, with mechanisms involving angiogenesis but not myogenesis.
Olfactory receptor 78 participates in carotid body response to a wide range of low O2 levels but not severe hypoxia
Authors: Peng Ying-Jie , Gridina Anna , Wang Benjamin , Nanduri Jayasri , Fox Aaron P. , Prabhakar Nanduri R.
Published: March 2020

The current study demonstrates that olfactory receptor 78 (Olfr78), a G protein-coupled receptor, is an integral component of the hypoxic sensing mechanism of the carotid body to a wide range of low oxygen levels, but not severe hypoxia, and that Olfr78 participation does not require either lactate or any other short-chain fatty acids, proposed ligands of Olfr78.
Assessing explicit strategies in force field adaptation
Authors: Schween Raphael , McDougle Samuel D. , Hegele Mathias , Taylor Jordan A.
Published: March 2020

While the contribution of explicit learning has been increasingly studied in visuomotor adaptation, its contribution to force field adaptation has not been studied extensively. We employed two novel methods to assay explicit learning in a force field adaptation task and found that learners can voluntarily control aspects of compensatory force production and manually report it with their untrained limb. This supports the general viability of the contribution of explicit learning also in force field adaptation.
Bursting interneurons in the deep dorsal horn develop increased excitability and sensitivity to serotonin after chronic spinal injury
Authors: Thaweerattanasinp Theeradej , Birch Derin , Jiang Mingchen C. , Tresch Matthew C. , Bennett David J. , Heckman Charles J. , Tysseling Vicki M.
Published: March 2020

We investigate the firing characteristics of bursting deep dorsal horn (DDH) neurons following chronic spinal transection. DDH neurons in the chronic stage are different from those in the acute stage as noted by their increase in excitability overall and their differing responses serotonin (5-HT) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonists. Also, there is a strong relationship between DDH neuron activity and ventral root output. These results support a contribution of the bursting DDH neurons to muscle spasms following chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).
Improved Distributed Event-Triggered Control for Networked Control System under Random Cyberattacks via Bessel–Legendre Inequalities
Authors: Lu Hongqian , Guo Chaoqun , Hu Yue , Zhou Wuneng , Yan Shihao
Published: March 2020

The stability problem of networked control system (NCS) with cyberattacks and processing delay is considered under an event-triggered scheme. An improved distributed event-triggered mechanism is proposed, which optimizes the performance of system dynamics and decreases the network transmission load simultaneously. By means of Bessel–Legendre inequality method and constructing an active Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, a series of larger upper bounds of delay are obtained corresponding to the order of N. It is worth mentioning that the upper bound increases with N, which means that the conservatism of the stability criterion lowers. Finally, a distributed event-triggered controller is designed. The validity of the results is verified by numerical examples.
Reduced Occurrence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Chinese Infants Fed Minimally Processed Commercially Available Formula: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Authors: Sheng Xiao Yang , Buthmanaban Vanitha , van Lieshout Glenn A. A. , Parikh Panam
Published: March 2020

Healthy Chinese infants consuming one of four commercially available infant formulas (IF) were assessed on the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with suboptimal digestion of processed milk proteins. The IF differed in blocked lysine (BL) levels, a proxy indicator of heat processing as well as the nutritional quality of milk. A cross-sectional, observational study of one week was conducted in healthy, term, exclusively formula-fed Chinese infants (n = 452) fed with one of four commercially available IF (IF An = 106, BL 9%; IF Bn = 119, BL 12%; IF Cn = 113, BL 11%; IFD n = 114 BL 20%). Parents/caretakers were requested to report feeding quantity, gastrointestinal symptoms, crying behavior, and stool characteristics daily using subject dairy and Amsterdam Infant Stool Scale (AISS). Infants fed with IF A reported less “hard” and “watery” stools and more “soft/formed” stools. Higher percentages of score I (yellow/golden) or II (orange) and less green (score III) coloured stools were noted for IF A-fed infants compared to all other formulas according to AISS. Night time crying was also significantly lower in the IF A groups compared to all other formulas. Furthermore, a higher percentage of parents/caretakers of IF A-fed infants reported absence or no complaints of abdominal distension, burping, flatulence, diarrhea, and constipation. Results suggest lower occurrence of GI symptoms and lower crying time at night in infants fed with minimally processed formula (indexed by BL levels). Future studies are required to confirm the association between minimal processing of milk formula and improved gut comfort in healthy infants.
Feasibility Aspects of Exploring Exercise-Induced Neuroplasticity in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Johansson Hanna , Freidle Malin , Ekman Urban , Schalling Ellika , Leavy Breiffni , Svenningsson Per , Hagströmer Maria , Franzén Erika
Published: March 2020

Background. Recent studies indicate that exercise can induce neuroplastic changes in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Reports of feasibility outcomes from existing pilot trials however are, of date, insufficient to enable replication by others in larger definitive trials. Objective. To evaluate trial design for a definitive trial by exploring process and scientific feasibility. Methods. The trial design was a parallel-group RCT pilot with a 1 : 1 allocation ratio to either HiBalance or an active control group (HiCommunication). Both groups received one-hour sessions twice weekly, plus home exercises weekly, for 10 weeks. Participants with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease (PD) were recruited via advertisement. Assessment included physical performance, structural and functional MRI, blood sampling, neuropsychological assessment, and speech/voice assessment. Process and scientific feasibility were monitored throughout the study. Process feasibility involved recruitment, participant acceptability of assessments and interventions, assessment procedures (focus on imaging, blood sampling, and dual-task gait analysis), and blinding procedures. Scientific feasibility involved trends in outcome response and safety during group training and home exercises. Data are presented in median, minimum, and maximum values. Changes from pre- to postintervention are reported descriptively. Results. Thirteen participants were included (4 women, mean age 69.7 years), with a recruitment rate of 31%. Attendance rates and follow-up questionnaires indicated that both groups were acceptable to participate. Image quality was acceptable; however, diplopia and/or sleepiness were observed in several participants during MRI. With regard to dual-task gait performance, there appeared to be a ceiling effect of the cognitive tasks with seven participants scoring all correct answers at pretest. Blinding of group allocation was successful for one assessor but was broken for half of participants for the other. Conclusions. The overall trial design proved feasible to perform, but further strengthening ahead of the definitive RCT is recommended, specifically with respect to MRI setup, cognitive dual-tasks during gait, and blinding procedures. This trial is registered with NCT03213873.
Isolation, Characterization, and Screening of Antimicrobial-Producing Actinomycetes from Soil Samples
Authors: Sapkota Anupama , Thapa Aishwarya , Budhathoki Anupa , Sainju Muskan , Shrestha Prativa , Aryal Sagar
Published: March 2020

Actinomycetes are Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic fungus-like filamentous bacteria which remain on the top of the natural antibiotic producers. Due to the climatic and geographical diversity of Nepal, a wide range of microorganisms with potent source of antimicrobials are available. The objective of this study was to isolate, identify, and screen the potential antimicrobial-producing actinomycetes from soils covering different altitude range of Nepal. Forty-one isolates of actinomycetes were isolated from 11 soil samples collected from different locations in Nepal with altitude ranging from 1500 to 4380 meters. The isolates were identified on the basis of morphological study, different sugar utilization, protein utilization, and hydrolysis tests. They were also characterized on the basis of temperature and pH. Primary screening for antimicrobial activity was carried out against several test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) by the perpendicular streaking method, and secondary screening was carried out by the agar well diffusion method using ethyl acetate for solvent extraction. 70.7% of the isolates were identified as Streptomyces spp., 19.5% as Nocardia spp., and 9.5% as Micromonospora spp. 43.34% of actinomycete isolates was found to be potent antimicrobial producers from the primary screening among which 46.34% were effective against Gram-positive and 12.19% against Gram-negative test organisms. Isolate C7 (Micromonospora spp.) showed the best broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity during secondary screening. A total of 11 different types of pigments were observed to be produced by different isolates, of which, the yellow pigment was the most prominent. The association between elevation, pH, and pigment with the antimicrobial production was found to be insignificant. This finding can be of importance for further investigation towards obtaining broad-spectrum antibiotics for therapeutic purpose.
Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 199 as a Biomarker for Evaluating Patients with Choledocholithiasis
Authors: Gu Wang , Tong Zhong
Published: March 2020

Aims. Choledocholithiasis is a common and yet potentially debilitating disease of the biliary tract. While certain patients with this disease remain largely asymptomatic or experience mild discomfort, in several cases, patient can suffer biliary inflammation and other serious symptoms. Previous studies have detected elevated serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 199 in patients with choledocholithiasis. We wanted to know whether serum CA199 level in patients with choledocholithiasis is related to the level of inflammation in patients.Methods. In the present study, we separated a cohort of 135 choledocholithiasis patients into two groups based on their white blood cell counts, which were either3.5−9.5×109/L or≥9.5×109/L. We also divided patients into two groups according to CPR < 10 mg/L and CRP ≥ 10 mg/L. At the same time, the correlation between CA199 and CRP level was analyzed.Results. We then used a Rank-sum test to compare serum carbohydrate 199 levels between these groups, revealing significantly higher levels of this antigen in patients with a white cell count≥9.5×109/L (Z=−3.584,P<0.01). The two groups were grouped by CRP, and the CA199 level was compared. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). The correlation analysis between CA199 and CRP showed an obvious correlation (r=0.574).Conclusion. This suggests that in patients with choledocholithiasis, higher circulating carbohydrate antigen 199 levels may correspond to a higher degree of inflammation.
Metabolomic Analysis Reveals That the Mechanism of Astaxanthin Improves the Osteogenic Differentiation Potential in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Zhao Guangfeng , Zhong Huiming , Rao Taiwen , Pan Zhijun
Published: March 2020

At present, little research has been done on the metabolic phenotype of the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts. In this study, the effect of astaxanthin on improving osteogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells was studied by metabolomics. Results showed that L-methionine, L-tyrosine, and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid were upregulated in MSCs treated with astaxanthin, while L-lysine, L-pipecolic acid, L-histidine, L-arginine, D-fructose, and L-aspartic acid were downregulated in samples treated with astaxanthin. In addition, astaxanthin exhibited a significant dose-dependent relationship with these markers. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis revealed that AST mainly regulated phenylalanine metabolism; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis during the process of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Furthermore, the staining results showed that astaxanthin could actively promote the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. These findings clearly indicate that astaxanthin plays an important role in inducing osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, the changed metabolites can be used to monitor the differentiation process.
Fusing Logical Relationship Information of Text in Neural Network for Text Classification
Authors: Wang Heyong , Zeng Dehang
Published: March 2020

With the development of computer science and information science, text classification technology has been greatly developed and its application scenarios have been widened. In traditional process of text classification, the existing method will lose much logical relationship information of text. The logical relationship information of a text refers to the relationship information among different logical parts of the text, such as title, abstract, and body. When human beings are reading, they will take title as an important part to remind the central idea of the article, abstract as a brief summary of the content of the article, and body as a detailed description of the article. In most of the text classification studies, researchers concern more about the relationship among words (word frequency, semantics, etc.) and neglect the logical relationship information of text. It will lose information about the relationship among different parts (title, body, etc.) and have an influence on the performance of text classification. Therefore, we propose a text classification algorithm—fusing the logical relationship information of text in neural network (FLRIOTINN), which complements the logical relationship information into text classification algorithms. Experiments show that the effect of FLRIOTINN is better than the conventional backpropagation neural networks which does not consider the logical relationship information of text.
Assessment of Selected Parameters of Liver Fibrosis and Inflammation in Patients with Diagnosed Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Więcek Sabina , Woś Halina , Pogorzelski Andrzej , Kordys-Darmolinska Bożena , Mazurek Henryk , Grzybowska-Chlebowczyk Urszula
Published: March 2020

Changes in the liver and bile ducts observed in patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis result from inflammatory processes as well as fibrosis, remodeling, apoptosis, and cholestasis. As a consequence, portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and hepatic failure may develop. So far, the complexity of these processes has not been elucidated. Study Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the selected parameters of hepatitis and fibrosis (Fibrotest, Actitest, and APRI) in patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Material and Methods. The study included 79 patients with cystic fibrosis, aged 1 to 20 years (mean age 9.8 years), 49 girls (62%) and 30 boys (38%). The analysis involved the following: age, sex, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests evaluating pancreas function, parameters of liver damage, and cholestasis. Fibrotest, Actitest, and APRI were performed in all subjects. Results. Elevated parameters of hepatic cell damage (hypertransaminasemia) were found in 31/79 (39.2%) patients, while abnormal cholestasis parameters in 21/79 (26.6%). The abnormal results of Fibrotest were reported in 15% of patients (12/79), while of Actitest in 10% (8/79). In contrast, elevated APRI values were found in only 7.6% (6/79) of subjects. There was a statistically significant correlation between APRI and age (higher values were observed in younger children) and between Fibrotest and Actitest and pancreatic insufficiency (higher values were found in subjects without this abnormality). Moreover, Fibrotest values were significantly higher in girls. There was no correlation between Fibrotest, Actitest, and APRI values and the type of mutation. Conclusion. It appears that Fibrotest may be used as an early marker of liver fibrosis in patients with cystic fibrosis. Increased APRI values were only found in subjects with advanced hepatic lesions, most often in the form of portal hypertension.
A Financial Chaotic System Control Method Based on Intermittent Controller
Authors: Lu Xia
Published: March 2020

Finance is the core of modern economy. The security and stability of the financial system is the key to stable economic and social development. During the operation of the financial system, financial chaos such as the severe turbulence of the financial market and the financial crisis occurred due to deterministic instability, which brought a great negative impact on economic growth and social stability. For the financial chaotic system, an intermittent feedback controller is designed in this paper. By adjusting the controller parameters, the financial system can be controlled from chaotic to periodic evolution. First, the dynamic equations and controllers of the financial system are analyzed and the range of values of the controller parameters is theoretically obtained. Then, the influence of parameters on the system is studied, and the feasibility of the proposed method is proved by numerical simulation. Finally, the practical significance of the controller on the macrocontrol of the financial crisis is discussed. It is theoretically proven that when the financial crisis comes, the financial system can be stabilized more quickly through appropriate control methods.
Hepatoprotective Activity of BV‐7310, a Proprietary Herbal Formulation of Phyllanthus niruri, Tephrosia purpurea, Boerhavia diffusa, and Andrographis paniculata, in Alcohol‐Induced HepG2 Cells and Alcohol plus a Haloalkane, CCl4, Induced Liver Damage in Rats
Authors: Dey Debendranath , Chaskar Sunetra , Bhatt Narendra , Chitre Deepa
Published: March 2020

Excessive alcohol consumption is a worldwide threat with severe morbidity and mortality. Other than abstinence, there is still no FDA‐approved drug for alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Liver is the primary site of ethanol metabolism and hence gets the most damage from excessive drinking. It triggers multiple signalling events including inflammation, leading to an array of hepatic lesions like steatosis, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Similarly, when medications or xenobiotic compounds are ingested orally, the liver gets the highest exposure of those metabolites, which in turn can cause severe liver toxicity. BV‐7310 is a standardized mixture of four Ayurvedic plants, namely, Phyllanthus niruri, Tephrosia purpurea, Boerhavia diffusa, and Andrographis paniculata. In different systems of traditional medicine, each of these plants has been known to have use in gastrointestinal disorders. We wanted to assess the combined effect of these plant extracts on alcohol‐induced liver damage. First, we investigated the hepatoprotective activity of BV‐7310 against alcohol‐induced toxicity in human liver HepG2 cells. Ethanol treatment (120 mM for 48 hours) significantly showed toxicity (around 42%) in these cells, and coincubation with BV‐7310 prevented ethanol‐induced cell death in a dose‐dependent manner. Interestingly, the formulation BV‐7310 showed synergistic activity than any individual extract tested in this assay. BV‐7310 also showed potent antioxidant activity in 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Next, we induced hepatitis in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats using repeated alcohol (40%) dosing, and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 24 hours before termination. Both oral doses of BV‐7310 (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) protected the alcohol‐induced body weight loss and significantly improved the elevated levels of liver enzymes compared to the vehicle treated group. Thus, BV‐7310 prevents alcohol‐induced toxicity in both in‐vitro and in‐vivo models and could be beneficial for the treatment of ALD or other conditions, which may cause liver toxicity.
Affective Modulation after High-Intensity Exercise Is Associated with Prolonged Amygdalar-Insular Functional Connectivity Increase
Authors: Schmitt Angelika , Upadhyay Neeraj , Martin Jason Anthony , Rojas Vega Sandra , Strüder Heiko Klaus , Boecker Henning
Published: March 2020

Acute moderate exercise has been shown to induce prolonged changes in functional connectivity (FC) within affect and reward networks. The influence of different exercise intensities on FC has not yet been explored. Twenty-five male athletes underwent 30 min of “low”- (35%LT) intensity exercise bouts on a treadmill. Resting-state fMRI was acquired at 3 Tesla before and after exercise, together with the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Data of 22 subjects (3 dropouts) were analyzed using the FSL feat pipeline and a seed-to-network-based analysis with the bilateral amygdala as the seed region for determining associated FC changes in the “emotional brain.” Data were analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA. Comparisons between pre- and post-exercise were analyzed using a one-samplet-test, and a pairedt-test was used for the comparison between “low” and “high” exercise conditions (nonparametric randomization approach, results reported atp<0.05). Both exercise interventions induced significant increases in the PANAS positive affect scale. There was a significant interaction effect of amygdalar FC to the right anterior insula, and this amygdalar-insular FC correlated significantly with the PANAS positive affect scale (r=0.47,p=0.048) in the “high”-intensity exercise condition. Our findings suggest that mood changes after exercise are associated with prolonged alterations in amygdalar-insular FC and occur in an exercise intensity-dependent manner.
Primary Cognitive Factors Impaired after Glioma Surgery and Associated Brain Regions
Authors: Niki Chiharu , Kumada Takatsune , Maruyama Takashi , Tamura Manabu , Kawamata Takakazu , Muragaki Yoshihiro
Published: March 2020

Previous studies have shown that cognitive impairments in patients with brain tumors are not severe. However, to preserve the postsurgical QOL of patients with brain tumors, it is important to identify “primary” cognitive functions and associated brain regions that are more vulnerable to cognitive impairments following surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate primary cognitive factors affecting not only simple cognitive tasks but also several other cognitive tasks and associated brain regions. Patients with glioma in the left (n=33) and the right (n=21) hemisphere participated in the study. Seven neuropsychological tasks from five cognitive domains were conducted pre- and 6 months postoperation. Factor analyses were conducted to identify “primary” common cognitive functions affecting the task performance in left and right glioma groups. Next, lesion analyses were performed using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) to identify critical brain regions related to impairments of the primary cognitive functions. Factor analysis revealed two primary cognitive components in each glioma group. The first cognitive component in the left glioma group affected the digit span forward and backward tasks and concept shifting and the letter-digit substitution tasks. VLSM analysis revealed significant regions from the posterior middle temporal gyri to the supramarginal gyrus. The second cognitive component affected verbal memory, and verbal fluency tasks and VLSM analysis indicated two different significant regions, the medial temporal regions and the middle temporal gyrus to the posterior parietal lobes. The first cognitive component in the right glioma group affected positive and negative factor loadings on the task, such that the positive cognitive component affected only the Stroop color-word task. VLSM related to deficits of the Stroop task revealed significant regions in the anterior medial frontal cortex. On the other hand, the negative component affected concept shifting, word fluency, and digit span forward tasks, and VLSM revealed significant regions in the right inferior frontal cortex. It is suggested that primary cognitive functions related to specific brain regions were possibly affected by glioma resection.
Total Pancreatectomy for Malignant Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) Complicated by Gastropancreatic Fistulae
Authors: Basnayake Oshan , Wijerathne Pradeep , Jayarajah Umesh , Fernandopulle Nilesh , Sivaganesh Sivasuriya
Published: March 2020

Background. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas complicated by fistula formation to adjacent organs are an uncommon phenomenon. We present an IPMN of the pancreas with malignant transformation and multiple fistulae to the stomach and duodenum. Case Presentation. A 50-year-old female was referred for investigation of recent epigastric pain and a past history of recurrent pancreatitis. Imaging with computed tomography showed a gross dilatation of the entire pancreatic duct with a heterogeneous enhancement of the periductal parenchyma. A passage of oral contrast was noted from the greater curvature and pylorus of the stomach into the dilated duct suggestive of fistulae formation. Gastroduodenoscopy demonstrated these fistulae in the stomach and the proximal duodenum and an exophytic growth at the ampulla obliterating the view of ampullary opening. Endosonography- (EUS-) guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed cells with high-grade atypia. A total pancreatectomy, distal gastrectomy, and splenectomy were performed, and recovery was uneventful. Histology revealed a ductal adenocarcinoma arising from an intestinal type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia. A year and a half after surgery, she is healthy with good glycaemic control and nutritional status. Conclusion. This case highlights the importance investigating patients for the aetiology in recurrent acute pancreatitis and their follow-up. Awareness of cystic pancreatic neoplasms including IPMN is important to avoid misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Referral of these patients to centres with facilities for multidisciplinary input and specialised management is strongly recommended.
Bioactivities and Future Perspectives of Chaetoglobosins
Authors: Chen Jinhua , Zhang Wenzhou , Guo Qingfeng , Yu Weijiang , Zhang Yongna , He Baoxia
Published: March 2020

Chaetoglobosins belonging to cytochalasan alkaloids represent a large class of fungal secondary metabolites. To date, around 100 chaetoglobosins and their analogues have been isolated and identified over the years from a variety of fungi, mainly from the fungus Chaetomium globosum. Studies have found that chaetoglobosins possess a broad range of biological activities, including antitumor, antifungal, phytotoxic, fibrinolytic, antibacterial, nematicidal, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐HIV activities. This review will comprehensively summarize the biological activities and mechanisms of action of nature‐derived chaetoglobosins.
Using Preimplanted Deep Brain Stimulation Electrodes for Rescue Thalamotomy in a Case of Holmes Tremor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Razmkon Ali , Yousefi Omid , Vaidyanathan Janardan
Published: March 2020

Background: Chronic stimulation of the thalamus is a surgical option in the management of intractable Holmes tremor. Patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) can encounter infection as a postoperative complication, necessitating explantation of the hardware. Some studies have reported on the technique and the resulting efficacy of therapeutic lesioning through implanted DBS leads before their explantation. Case Description: We report the case of a patient with Holmes tremor who had stable control of symptoms with DBS of the nucleus ventralis intermedius of the thalamus (VIM) but developed localized infection over the extension at the neck, followed by gradual loss of a therapeutic effect as the neurostimulator reached the end of its service life. Three courses of systemic antibiotic therapy failed to control the infection. After careful consideration, we decided to make a rescue lesion through the implanted lead in the right VIM before explanting the complete DBS hardware. The tremor was well controlled after the rescue lesion procedure, and the effect was sustained during a 2-year follow-up period. Conclusion: This case and the previously discussed ones from the literature demonstrate that making a rescue lesion through the DBS lead can be the last plausible option in cases where the DBS system has to be explanted because of an infection and reimplantation is a remote possibility.
Prediction of Independent Gait in Acute Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia Using the Ability for Basic Movement Scale II Score
Authors: Uwatoko Hiroyuki , Nakamori Masahiro , Imamura Eiji , Imura Takeshi , Okada Kazunori , Matsumae Yoshikazu , Okamoto Hiroyuki , Wakabayashi Shinichi
Published: March 2020

Introduction: Since independent gait is an important factor for home discharge, early prediction of independent gait after stroke is essential. The revised version of the Ability for Basic Movement Scale II (ABMS II) has been developed and validated for assessment of basic movements poststroke. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the ABMS II score for independent gait in acute stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods: We included 67 patients with first stroke and a unilateral lesion who were admitted to the stroke care unit. We evaluated the gait on the 14th and 90th days from admission. Results: The ABMS II score was significantly higher in patients with independent gait on both the 14th and 90th days from admission. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a minimum score of 26 points was predictive of independent gait on the 14th day from admission. Similarly, a score of 15 points was predictive of independent gait on the 90th day from admission. Conclusions: The ABMS II score is a useful predictor of independent gait in acute stroke patients with hemiplegia.
Left Atrial Dynamics Is Altered in Young Adults With Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke: A Case‐Control Study Utilizing Advanced Echocardiography
Authors: Pirinen Jani , Järvinen Vesa , Martinez‐Majander Nicolas , Sinisalo Juha , Pöyhönen Pauli , Putaala Jukka
Published: March 2020

Background

Ischemic stroke in young individuals often remains cryptogenic. Some of these strokes likely originate from the heart, and atrial fibrosis might be one of the etiological mechanisms. In this pilot study, we investigated whether advanced echocardiography findings of the left atrium (
LA
) of young cryptogenic stroke patients differ from those of stroke‐free controls.

Methods and Results

We recruited 30 cryptogenic ischemic stroke patients aged 18 to 49 years and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched stroke‐free controls among participants of the
SECRETO
(Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young: Revealing the Etiology, Triggers, and Outcome) study (
NCT
01934725). We measured basic left ventricular parameters and detailed measures of the
LA
, including 4‐dimensional volumetry, speckle tracking epsilon, strain rate, and
LA
appendix orifice variation. Data were compared as continuous parameters and by tertiles. Compared with controls, stroke patients had smaller
LA
reservoir volumes (10.2 [interquartile range, 5.4] versus 13.2 [5.4]
mL
;
P
=0.030) and smaller positive epsilon values (17.8 [8.5] versus 20.8 [10.1];
P
=0.023). In the tertile analysis, stroke patients had significantly lower left atrial appendage orifice variation (3.88 [0.75] versus 4.35 [0.90] mm;
P
=0.043), lower
LA
cyclic volume change (9.2 [2.8] versus 12.8 [3.5]
mL
;
P
=0.023), and lower
LA
contraction peak strain rate (−1.8 [0.6] versus −2.3 [0.6];
P
=0.021). We found no statistically significant differences in left ventricular measures.

Conclusions

This preliminary comparison suggests altered
LA
dynamics in young patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke, and thus that
LA
wall pathology might contribute to these strokes. Our results await confirmation in a larger sample.
Effect of Angiotensin II on ENaC in the Distal Convoluted Tubule and in the Cortical Collecting Duct of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Deficient Mice
Authors: Wu Peng , Gao Zhong‐Xiuzi , Zhang Dan‐Dan , Duan Xin‐Peng , Terker Andrew S. , Lin Dao‐Hong , Ellison David H. , Wang Wen‐Hui
Published: March 2020

Background

Angiotensin II stimulates epithelial Na
+
channel (ENaC) by aldosterone‐independent mechanism. We now test the effect of angiotensin II on ENaC in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and cortical collecting duct (CCD) of wild‐type (WT) and kidney‐specific mineralocorticoid receptor knockout mice (KS‐MR‐KO).

Methods and Results

We used electrophysiological, immunoblotting and renal‐clearance methods to examine the effect of angiotensin II on ENaC in KS‐MR‐KO and wild‐type mice. High K
+
intake stimulated ENaC in the late DCT/early connecting tubule (DCT2/CNT) and in the CCD whereas low sodium intake stimulated ENaC in the CCD but not in the DCT2/CNT. The deletion of MR abolished the stimulatory effect of high K
+
and low sodium intake on ENaC, partially inhibited ENaC in DCT2/CNT but almost abolished ENaC activity in the CCD. Application of losartan inhibited ENaC only in DCT2/CNT of both wild‐type and KS‐MR‐KO mice but not in the CCD. Angiotensin II infusion for 3 days has a larger stimulatory effect on ENaC in the DCT2/CNT than in the CCD. Three lines of evidence indicate that angiotensin II can stimulate ENaC by MR‐independent mechanism: (1) angiotensin II perfusion augmented ENaC expression in KS‐MR‐KO mice; (2) angiotensin II stimulated ENaC in the DCT2/CNT but to a lesser degree in the CCD in KS‐MR‐KO mice; (3) angiotensin II infusion augmented benzamil‐induced natriuresis, increased the renal K
+
excretion and corrected hyperkalemia of KS‐MR‐KO mice.

Conclusions

Angiotensin II‐induced stimulation of ENaC occurs mainly in the DCT2/CNT and to a lesser degree in the CCD and MR plays a dominant role in determining ENaC activity in the CCD but to a lesser degree in the DCT2/CNT.
Art as Resistance in Postwar Lebanon
Authors: Chalabi Fares
Published: March 2020

This article attempts to read a number of contemporary Lebanese artists by using the Foucauldian-Deleuzian concept of regimes of visibility. The article shows how a specific aesthetical problematic pertaining to Post-War Lebanon unfolds in the electronic and digital regimes of visibility. Last, the article contrast the Lebanese artists with other artists operating in Europe and the U.S and propose other artistic strategies when dealing with the same regimes of visibility.
Introduction to “A Conversation between Chinese Artists and
Mexican Painter David Alfaro Siqueiros”
Authors: Cao Jing
Published: March 2020

In October 1956, the Mexican muralist David Siqueiros traveled Beijing and engaged in two dialogues with artists from the Chinese Artists’ Association. His visit came at an inflection point in China’s foreign and cultural policy. As Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated, China used cultural diplomacy to cultivate relationships with unaligned countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. China’s cultural policy mirrored this shift by relaxing its adherence to Soviet-style Socialist Realism and promoting new stylistic practices, including a revival of ink painting techniques. This policy shift re-animated a debate among Chinese artists over the best mode of representation for socialist art, with one side arguing that Soviet-style Socialist Realism was the only acceptable style, and the other advocating for the reform of Chinese ink painting techniques. Within this context, Siqueiros’s criticism of Soviet artists and his advice to follow Chinese stylistic traditions set off a rich discussion on new approaches to Socialist Realism within China.
Transfer of knowledge through international scientific mobility: Introduction of a network-based bibliometric approach to study different knowledge types
Authors: Aman Valeria
Published: March 2020

Although international mobility is associated with various positive outcomes, the process of knowledge transfer resulting from working abroad has not yet been sufficiently investigated. The main reason why the relationship between international mobility and knowledge transfer is still underresearched is that there are not yet reliable methods to identify knowledge transfer. The current study aims to close this research gap by introducing a network-based approach that is capable of indicating knowledge flows. Assuming that coauthorship constitutes one instance through which knowledge transfer can take place, the approach relies on coauthorship networks. In the first approach to be presented, the transfer of published knowledge is operationalized as the use of rarely cited publications. In the second approach, the transfer of methodological know-how is operationalized as the occurrence of lexical terms in abstracts of publications. The study focuses on German scientists who were internationally mobile and acted as knowledge transmitters between the country of mobility and Germany. The results show that the network-based approach is well suited to identifying the sources of knowledge, knowledge transmitters, and the recipients of knowledge. Moreover, the findings suggest that knowledge transfer processes are field specific.
Citation concept analysis (CCA) of Robert K. Merton’s book Social Theory and Social Structure: How often are certain concepts from the book cited in subsequent publications?
Authors: Crothers Charles , Bornmann Lutz , Haunschild Robin
Published: March 2020

Citations can be used in evaluative bibliometrics to measure the impact of papers. However, citation analysis can be extended by considering a multidimensional perspective on citation impact which is intended to receive more specific information about the kind of received impact. Bornmann, Wray, and Haunschild (2020) introduced the citation concept analysis (CCA) for capturing the importance and usefulness certain concepts (explained in publications) have in subsequent research. In this paper, we apply the method by investigating the impact various concepts introduced in Robert K. Merton’s book Social Theory and Social Structure has had. This book was to lay down a manifesto for sociological analysis in the immediate postwar period, and retains a major impact 70 years later. We found that the most cited concepts are “self-fulfilling” and “role” (about 20% of the citation contexts are related to one of these concepts). The concept “self-fulfilling” seems to be important especially in computer sciences and psychology. For “role,” this seems to be additionally the case for political sciences. These and further results of the study could demonstrate the high explanatory power of the CCA method.
Can altmetrics reflect societal impact considerations?: Exploring the potential of altmetrics in the context of a sustainability science research center
Authors: Kassab Omar , Bornmann Lutz , Haunschild Robin
Published: March 2020

Societal impact considerations play an increasingly important role in research evaluation. In particular, in the context of publicly funded research, proposal templates commonly include sections to outline strategies for achieving broader impact. Both the assessment of the strategies and the later evaluation of their success are associated with challenges in their own right. Ever since their introduction, altmetrics have been discussed as a remedy for assessing the societal impact of research output. On the basis of data from a research center in Switzerland, this study explores their potential for this purpose. The study is based on the papers (and the corresponding metrics) published by about 200 either accepted or rejected applicants for funding by the Competence Center Environment and Sustainability (CCES). The results of the study seem to indicate that altmetrics are not suitable for reflecting the societal impact of research that was considered: The metrics do not correlate with the ex ante considerations of an expert panel.