bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Li2+ Doping on the Structural and Optical Properties of CaO Synthesized by Sol–Gel Process
Authors: Lalou Nadir , Kadari Ahmed
Published: August 2019

This work proposes the synthesis of nanocrystalline calcium oxide (CaO) pure and doped with different concentrations of lithium (Li[Formula: see text]) ions by sol–gel process. Calcium nitrate (Ca(NO[Formula: see text]4H2O; 99.99%) and lithium nitrate (LiNO3; 99.99%) were used as precursors. The synthesized powders were characterized by several techniques such as: UV-Vis transmission spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The main objective of this paper is to study the influence of lithium (Li[Formula: see text] ratio) on the structural and optical properties of synthesized powders. The band gap values decreased with the increasing of Li[Formula: see text] ions in CaO lattice; the slight change in the band gap was directly related to the energy transfer between the CaO excited states and the 2s levels of Li[Formula: see text] ions. The influence of Li[Formula: see text] doping on the physical properties of CaO nanocrystalline will be studied for the first time in this work; no literature has previously published this kind of impurities.
Experimental and theoretical studies of tumor growth
Authors: Sun Hao , Eswothy Timothy , Robert Kerlin P. , Li Jiaoyan , Zhang L. G. , Lee James D.
Published: August 2019

Most biological phenomena commonly involve growth and expansion mechanics. In this work, we propose an innovative model of cancerous growth which posits that an expandable tumor can be described as a poroelastic medium consisting of solid and fluid components. To verify the feasibility of the model, we utilized an established epithelial human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) to generate an in vitro tumorsphere system to observe tumor growth patterns in both constrained and unconstrained growth environments. The tumorspheres in both growth environments were grown with and without the FDA-approved anti-breast cancer anthracycline, Doxorubicin (Dox), in order to observe the influence small molecule drugs have on tumor-growth mechanics. In our biologically informed mechanical description of tumor growth dynamics, we derive the governing equations of the tumor’s growth and incorporate them with large deformation to improve the accuracy and efficiency of our simulation. Meanwhile, the dynamic finite element equations (DFE) for coupled displacement field and pressure field are formulated. Moreover, the porosity and growth tensor are generalized to be functions of displacement and pressure fields. We also introduce a specific porosity and growth tensor. In both cases, the formalism of continuum mechanics and DFE are accompanied by accurate numerical simulations.
The Improved Antlion Optimizer and Artificial Neural Network for Chinese Influenza Prediction
Authors: Hu Hongping , Li Yangyang , Bai Yanping , Zhang Juping , Liu Maoxing
Published: August 2019

The antlion optimizer (ALO) is a new swarm‐based metaheuristic algorithm for optimization, which mimics the hunting mechanism of antlions in nature. Aiming at the shortcoming that ALO has unbalanced exploration and development capability for some complex optimization problems, inspired by the particle swarm optimization (PSO), the updated position of antlions in elitism operator of ALO is improved, and thus the improved ALO (IALO) is obtained. The proposed IALO is compared against sine cosine algorithm (SCA), PSO, Moth‐flame optimization algorithm (MFO), multi‐verse optimizer (MVO), and ALO by performing on 23 classic benchmark functions. The experimental results show that the proposed IALO outperforms SCA, PSO, MFO, MVO, and ALO according to the average values and the convergence speeds. And the proposed IALO is tested to optimize the parameters of BP neural network for predicting the Chinese influenza and the predicted model is built, written as IALO‐BPNN, which is against the models: BPNN, SCA‐BPNN, PSO‐BPNN, MFO‐BPNN, MVO‐BPNN, and ALO‐BPNN. It is shown that the predicted model IALO‐BPNN has smaller errors than other six predicted models, which illustrates that the IALO has potentiality to optimize the weights and basis of BP neural network for predicting the Chinese influenza effectively. Therefore, the proposed IALO is an effective and efficient algorithm suitable for optimization problems.
A High-Throughput Method as a Diagnostic Tool for HIV Detection in Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated by Different Reprogramming Methods
Authors: Hübscher Daniela , Rebs Sabine , Haupt Luis , Borchert Thomas , Guessoum Celina Isabell , Treu Franziska , Köhne Steffen , Maus Andreas , Hambrecht Mario , Sossalla Samuel , Dressel Ralf , Uy Angela , Jakob Mark , Hasenfuss Gerd , Streckfuss-Bömeke Katrin
Published: August 2019

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a unique opportunity for generation of patient-specific cells for use in translational purposes. We aimed to compare iPSCs generated by different reprogramming methods regarding their reprogramming efficiency, pluripotency capacity, and the possibility to use high-throughput PCR-based methods for detection of human pathogenic viruses. iPSCs from skin fibroblasts (FB), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were generated by using three different reprogramming systems including chromosomal integrating and nonintegrating methods. Reprogramming efficiencies were in accordance with the literature, indicating that the parental cell type and the reprogramming method play a major role for the reprogramming efficiencies (FB: STEMCCA: 1.30±0.18, Sendai virus: 1.37±0.01, and episomal plasmids: 0.04±0.02; PBMCs: Sendai virus: 0.002±0.001, episomal plasmids: 0) but result in the same characteristics of pluripotency. We found the highest reprogramming efficiencies for MSC with 3.32±1.2 by using episomal plasmids. Since GMP standard working procedures and screening units need virus contamination-free cell lines, we studied HIV-1 contamination in the generated iPSCs. We used the high-throughput cobas® 6800/8800 system, which is normally used for detection of HIV-1 in plasma of patients, and found that footprint-free reprogramming methods as episomal plasmids and Sendai virus are useful for the described virus detection method. This fast, cost-effective, robust, and reliable assay demonstrates the feasibility to use high-throughput PCR-based methods for detection of human pathogenic viruses in ps-iPSC lines that were generated with nongenome integrating reprogramming methods.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicentre Trial of the Effects of a Shrimp Protein Hydrolysate on Blood Pressure
Authors: Musa-Veloso Kathy , Paulionis Lina , Pelipyagina Tetyana , Evans Mal
Published: August 2019

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel, 8-week study, the efficacy of a daily dose of 1200 mg of protein hydrolysate from Coldwater Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) on ambulatory and office blood pressure was investigated in 144 free-living adults with mild to moderate hypertension. The primary outcomes of the study were daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure and office blood pressure. During the 8-week intervention period and in the intention-to-treat analysis (n=144), there were significant reductions in the group consuming the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate relative to the placebo group in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure at 4 weeks (p=0.014) and at 8 weeks (p=0.002), and in office systolic blood pressure at 2 weeks (p=0.031) and 4 weeks (p=0.010), with a trend toward significance at 8 weeks (p=0.087). By 8 weeks, significant and favourable improvements in the group consuming the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate relative to the placebo group were also observed for several secondary outcomes, including 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure, daytime ambulatory diastolic blood pressure, and daytime and 24-hour ambulatory mean arterial pressure. Also by Week 8, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in the distribution of subjects across National Institutes of Health-defined blood pressure categories (i.e., Normotensive, Prehypertensive, Stage 1 hypertension, and Stage 2 hypertension), with a more favourable distribution in the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate group than in the placebo group (p=0.006). Based on exploratory analyses conducted only in participants in the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate group, angiotensin II levels were significantly reduced relative to baseline. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.govNCT01974570.
Serum Exosomal MicroRNAs Predict Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Events in Patients with Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Wu Xu , Wu Chengzhi , Gu Wenyu , Ji Haiying , Zhu Lei
Published: August 2019

Background. Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) treatment commonly causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with high mortality. This study was aimed at evaluating whether microRNAs (miRNAs) in circulating exosomes have the predictive values for patients at risk of developing ARDS due to SCAP. Methods. ARDS/ALI-relevant miRNAs were obtained by literature search. Exosomes in serum were isolated by ultracentrifugation method and identified by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Then the miR profiling in the exosomes using real-time PCR was analyzed in SCAP patients with or without ARDS. Moreover, multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio of miRNA for the occurrence of ARDS and prognosis. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated to discriminate ARDS cases. Finally, the Kaplan-Meier curve using log-rank method was performed to test the equality for survival distributions with different miRNA classifiers. Results. A total of 53 SCAP patients were finally recruited. Ten miRNAs were picked out. Further, a subset of exosomal miRNAs, including the miR-146a, miR-27a, miR-126, and miR-155 in ARDS group exhibited significantly elevated levels than those in non-ARDS group. The combined expression of miR-126, miR-27a, miR-146a, and miR-155 predicted ARDS with an area under the curve of 0.909 (95 % CI 0.815 –1). Only miR-126 was selected to have potential to predict the 28-day mortality (OR=1.002, P=0.024) with its median value classifier. Conclusions. The altered levels of circulating exosomal microRNAs may be useful biologic confirmation of ARDS in patients with SCAP.
Lung Function and Relevant Clinical Factors in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants with Chronic Lung Disease: An Observational Study
Authors: Chen I-Ling , Chen Hsiu-Lin
Published: August 2019

Background. Chronic lung disease (CLD), most commonly seen in premature infants who required mechanical ventilation, is associated with functional consequences on lungs and respiratory morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the lung function of premature infants before discharge and their relevant factors related to the lung function.Methods. Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, who required respiratory support soon after birth and were admitted to a hospital in Taiwan, were enrolled. Infants with a need for supplemental oxygen or positive-pressure ventilation support at the postmenstrual age (PMA) of 36 weeks were diagnosed with CLD. Lung function was examined once using EXHALYZER® D before infants were ready for discharge.Results. Forty-five VLBW preterm infants received the lung function test before discharge, 27 of whom were diagnosed with CLD. The gestational age (p=0.001) and birth weight (p<0.001) were smaller in the CLD group than in the no-CLD group. Furthermore, infants with CLD required a longer duration of respiratory support (p<0.001). The postnatal age and PMA were higher and body size was bigger in infants with CLD on lung function measurement. However, lung function was comparable between the groups. The functional residual capacity and tidal volume were associated with body size upon measuring lung function among all VLBW premature infants. FRC was positively correlated with the body length on measuring lung function in those with CLD.Conclusion. In our study, we showed FRC was positively related to the PMA and body length and tidal volume was positively correlated with the body weight and length on lung function measurement in VLBW preterm infants before discharge. Moreover, FRC was positively correlated with the body length on measuring lung function in those with CLD. The lung volume, ventilation, and respiratory mechanics on discharge were comparable between CLD and no-CLD groups.
Online Prediction of Milling Inner Hole Roundness Error Based on Accurate SSEM Value Extraction
Authors: Hu Zhenbang , Jiang Gedong , Mei Xuesong , Yun Xialun , Zhang Yun
Published: August 2019

To improve the machining accuracy and production efficiency of precision components with deep hole structures, an online prediction method of the inner hole roundness error, which cannot be directly measured in real time during the machining process, is proposed in this paper. For online prediction of the workpiece roundness error (WRE) during machining, a predictive model based on correlation analysis and a proportional method is proposed according to the spindle synchronous error motion (SSEM) by three‐probe method testing. To improve the prediction accuracy of the WRE, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is introduced for optimizing a probe mounting angle of a three‐probe method, and a harmonic wavelet method for SSEM feature extraction is proposed. Using the PSO algorithm, the optimal probe mounting angle of the three‐probe method is obtained, the influence of spindle surface roundness on SSEM is eliminated, and the higher‐order harmonic suppression of the three‐probe method is avoided effectively. By the harmonic wavelet method, the accurate SSEM extraction is enhanced and the WRE prediction accuracy is promoted. The experiments show that the inner hole roundness error online prediction method proposed in this paper has high prediction accuracy.
Effect of Strain Rate on Hot Ductility of a Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Wang Zhenhua , Ma Wenyuan , Wang Chengming
Published: August 2019

Duplex stainless steels (DSSs) often have bad hot workability. In this study, specimens of 2205 DSS were hot tensioned over a strain rate range from 0.005 s–1 to 50 s–1 to examine the hot ductility. The crack morphology was observed, and the dependence of hot ductility on the strain rate was analyzed. From 0.005 s–1 to 0.5 s–1, both the total elongation and the reduction in area increased with the strain rate. The reduction in area exhibited a small decrease when the strain rate was greater than 0.5 s–1. More than 85% of cracks formed between the ferrite and austenite, and no less than 70% of crack tips propagated between the ferrite and austenite. When the strain rate was increased from 0.005 s–1 to 0.5 s–1, dynamic recrystallization was promoted in the austenite, and the number fraction of low-angle grain boundaries in the ferrite was improved. The higher strain rate reduced the difference between ferrite and austenite in hardness, which improved the hot ductility. For 2205 DDS, the suggested strain rate is 0.5 s–1 and above to avoid surface and edge cracking during hot forging or hot rolling. The findings will be of value for the understanding of hot ductility of DSSs and other dual-phase alloys.
Competing Endogenous RNA and Coexpression Network Analysis for Identification of Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutics in association with Metastasis Risk and Progression of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Pang Xiaocong , Zhao Ying , Wang Jinhua , Li Wan , Xiang Qian , Zhang Zhuo , Wu Shiliang , Liu Ailin , Du Guanhua , Cui Yimin
Published: August 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasm in men. Despite the high incidence, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of PCa are still largely unknown, which limits the therapeutic options and leads to poor prognosis. Herein, based on the expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we investigated the interactions between long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA by constructing a competing endogenous RNA network. Several competing endogenous RNAs could participate in the tumorigenesis of PCa. Six lncRNA signatures were identified as potential candidates associated with stage progression by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. In addition, 32 signatures from the coexpression network had potential diagnostic value for PCa lymphatic metastasis using machine learning algorithms. By targeting the coexpression network, the antifungal compound econazole was screened out for PCa treatment. Econazole could induce growth restraint, arrest the cell cycle, lead to apoptosis, inhibit migration, invasion, and adhesion in PC3 and DU145 cell lines, and inhibit the growth of prostate xenografts in nude mice. This systematic characterization of lncRNAs, microRNAs, and mRNAs in the risk of metastasis and progression of PCa will aid in the identification of candidate prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic drugs.
An Angle Compared Index with Hybrid of Changes in the Ratio and Amplitude for Quantitative Evaluation of Disease Risk, Biological Function, and Biomarker Efficacy
Authors: Xiaojun Jin , Hui Liu
Published: August 2019

Objective. The purpose of this study was to describe variations of different cardinal frequency by using angle compared index (ACI). Methods. The basic principle of the analysis model is to comprehensively consider changes in both the ratio and absolute value as follows: ACI = arctan Pd⁎(1-Pc) / [Pc⁎(1-Pd)] + arctan (Pd - Pc) - 45, where Pd represent percentage of disease occurrence in disease group and Pc represent that in control group. The range of ACI was (0~90). Thus, ACIs from different cardinal frequency are comparable. Results. When biomarkers with similar ratio value, absolute value, or ACI but different positive frequencies were combined, although three indexes (ratio value, absolute value, or ACI) increased after two single biomarkers were combined, only ACI increased with similar amplitudes after two single biomarkers with the same ACI at different positive frequencies were combined. Conclusion. The ACI provides a better understanding power of biomarker and may be a relatively good index for evaluating the complex events represented by different cardinal frequency from new systems.
MCOLN1 Promotes Proliferation and Predicts Poor Survival of Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hu Zhan-Dong , Yan Jun , Cao Kai-Yue , Yin Zhi-Qi , Xin Wei-Wei , Zhang Ming-Fang
Published: August 2019

Background. MCOLN1 (mucolipin subfamily, member 1) was first identified as an autophagic regulator, which was essential for efficient fusion of both autophagosomes and late endosomes with lysosomes. This study is aimed at investigating the role of MCOLN1 in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was conducted to evaluate the expression level of MCOLN1 in 82 human PDAC tumor tissues. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) analysis was performed to assess the prognosis of patients. Colony formation and MTT assays [3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide] were performed to measure the proliferation capacity of tumor cells. The expression level of related genes was measured by RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and western blot assays. The animal model was used to examine the effects of indicated protein on tumorigenesis in vivo. Results. The results of IHC showed that a high level of MCOLN1 expression was associated with the poor clinical characteristics of PDAC patients. OS and RFS were significantly worse in patients with high MCOLN1 expression. Silencing of MCOLN1 dramatically blocked the proliferation of PDAC cells. Mechanism studies confirmed that knockdown of MCOLN1 decreased the expression of Ki67 and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), two markers of cell proliferation. In vivo, MCOILN1 depletion reduced the formation and growth of tumors in mice. Conclusion. The high level of MCOLN1 expression was associated with poor clinical outcomes of PDAC patients. MCOLN1 ablation could inhibit PDAC proliferation of both in vitro and in vivo, which provide a new insight and novel therapeutic target for the treatment of PDAC.
Poor Glycaemic Control Is Associated with Increased Lipid Peroxidation and Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Gunawardena Harshi Prasadini , Silva Renuka , Sivakanesan Ramiah , Ranasinghe Pathmasiri , Katulanda Prasad
Published: August 2019

Glycaemic control is the main focus of managing diabetes and its complications. Hyperglycaemia induces oxidative stress favouring cellular damage and subsequent diabetic complications. The present study was conducted to compare the plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and individual antioxidant marker antioxidant status of type 2 diabetics (T2D) with good ((+) GC) and poor ((-) GC) glycaemic control with prediabetic (PDM) and normoglycaemic (NG) individuals. T2D (n=147), PDM (n=47), and NGC (n=106) were recruited as subjects. T2D and PDM had lower plasma TAG than NG subjects. T2D and PDM had significantly higher GPx activity and plasma MDA concentrations than NG. PDM showed the highest SOD activity. T2D (-) GC showed significantly elevated GPx activity and higher MDA level and significantly lower SOD activity among all study groups. Lower plasma TAC and higher plasma MDA indicate the presence of oxidative stress in T2D and PDM. Elevated GPx activity in T2D, PDM, and particularly in T2D (-) GC suggests a compensatory response to counteract excess lipid peroxidation in the hyperglycaemic state. Decline in SOD activity advocates the presence of glycation and excess lipid peroxidation in T2D.
Late Brain Involvement after Neonatal Immune Activation
Authors: Dias Paula , Freiberger Viviane , Ventura Letícia , Bragagnolo Daiane , Dutra Matheus L. , Horewicz Verônica V. , Comim Clarissa M.
Published: August 2019

The neonatal immune system is still immature, which makes it more susceptible to the infectious agents. Neonatal immune activation is associated with increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, causing an inflammatory cascade in the CNS and altering behavioral and neurochemical parameters. One of the hypotheses that has been studied is that neuroinflammation may be involved in neurodegenerative processes, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluate visuospatial memory, cytokines levels, and the expression of tau and GSK-3βproteins in hippocampus and cortex of animals exposed to neonatal endotoxemia. C57BL/6 mice aging two days received a single injection of subcutaneous lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At 60,120, and 180 days of age, visual-spatial memory was evaluated and the hippocampus and cortex were dissected to evaluate the cytokines levels and expression of tau and GSK-3βproteins. The animals exposed to LPS in the neonatal period present with visuospatial memory impairment at 120 and 180 days of age. Here there was an increase of TNF-αand IL-1βlevels in the hippocampus and cortex only at 60 days of age. Here there was an increase in the expression of GSK-3βin hippocampus of the animals at 60, 120, and 180 days of age. In the cortex, this increase occurred in the 120 and 180 days of age. Tau protein expression was high in hippocampus and cortex at 120 days of age and in hippocampus at 180 days of age. The data observed show that neonatal immune activation may be associated with visuospatial memory impairment, neuroinflammation, and increased expression of GSK-3βand Tau proteins in the long term.
Improvement in Carbonation Resistance of Portland Cement Mortar Incorporating γ-Dicalcium Silicate
Authors: Chen Zhengxin , Lee Yunsu , Cho Hyeongkyu , Lee Hanseung , Lim Seungmin
Published: August 2019

In this study, γ-dicalcium silicate (γ-C2S) was incorporated into ordinary Portland cement (OPC) to sequester CO2 to enhance the carbonation resistance of cement-based composite materials. γ-C2S can react with CO2 rapidly to form vaterite and high dense SiO2 gel which could block the pores off and then inhibit further diffusion of CO2 into the system. Cement mortar specimens containing 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40% γ-C2S as cement replacement were prepared. After water curing for 28 days followed by curing in an environmental chamber for 28 days, the specimens were then exposed to an accelerated carbonation with 5% CO2 concentration for 28 days. The carbonation depth of the cement mortar with a low replacement rate (5% and 10%) was lower than that of the OPC mortar at all ages due to the sequestration of CO2 by γ-C2S. However, the cement mortar with a high replacement rate (20% and 40%) showed less carbonation resistance due to the dilution effect of γ-C2S replacement and increase in initial porosity caused by nonhydraulic characteristic of γ-C2S.
Understanding the Radial Force of Stroke Thrombectomy Devices to Minimize Vessel Wall Injury: Mechanical Bench Testing of the Radial Force Generated by a Novel Braided Thrombectomy Assist Device Compared to Laser-Cut Stent Retrievers in Simulated MCA Vessel Diameters
Authors: Katz Jeffrey M. , Hakoun Abdullah M. , Dehdashti Amir R. , Chebl Alex B. , Janardhan Vikram , Janardhan Vallabh
Published: August 2019

Background: Recent reports have raised various concerns about the risk of vessel wall injury while withdrawing current laser-cut stent retrievers during active strut apposition to the vessel walls. The development of braided thrombectomy assist devices in conjunction with aspiration systems may be gentler on the fragile brain vessels and more optimized with regard to the radial force (RF) for vessel diameters of proximal (M1) and distal (M2) large vessel occlusions (LVOs). Methods: Mechanical bench testing of the RF was performed using a radial compression station mounted on a tensile testing machine. The total RF in newtons (N) generated in vessels with diameters ranging from 2.25 to 3 mm as seen in proximal LVOs (∼M1), and in vessel diameters ranging from 1.5 to 2.24 mm as seen in distal LVOs (∼M2), was measured. The outer diameter of each stent was recorded, and an RF ≤1 N was grouped as “low,” while an RF >1 N was grouped as “high” for this analysis. Results: The total RFs of all laser-cut stent retrievers were all higher in the simulated M2 vessels (>1 N) than in the M1 vessels (<1 N), whereas the total RFs of the braided thrombectomy assist devices were uniformly low in both the simulated M1 and the simulated M2 vessels. Conclusions: Novel braided thrombectomy assist devices in conjunction with aspiration systems have lower RFs than existing laser-cut stent retrievers in M1 and M2 vessel diameters. Further in vivo studies are needed to delineate the impact of lowering the RF on vessel wall integrity.
Unmet Needs in Ophthalmology: A European Vision Institute-Consensus Roadmap 2019–2025
Authors: Cursiefen Claus , Cordeiro Francesca , Cunha-Vaz José , Wheeler-Schilling Thomas , Scholl Hendrik P.N. ,   on behalf of the EVI Steering Board
Published: August 2019

Purpose: To define unmet needs in ophthalmology that can realistically be addressed in the next 5 years (2019–2025) and describe potential avenues for research to address these challenges. Methods: Outcomes of a consensus process within the European Vision institute (Brussels) are outlined. Disease areas that are discussed comprise glaucoma, retinal dystrophies, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, corneal diseases, cataract and refractive surgery. Results: Unmet needs in the mentioned disease areas are discussed and realistically achievable research projects outlined. Conclusions: Considerable progress can be made in the ophthalmic field and patient-relevant outcomes in the near future.
A importância da tomada da palavra na escola
Authors: Silveira Paulo Henrique Fernandes
Published: August 2019

Um dos princípios que regem o capitalismo e a sociedade de consumo é o de que as mercadorias devem ser rapidamente consumidas para que os consumidores acreditem estar sempre precisando de novas. Como bem percebeu Lacan, essa lógica é oposta à do desejo que tem como objeto o próprio desejar. Nesses termos, para que a escola não seja incorporada à lógica da sociedade de consumo, a partir das análises de Lajonquière sobre as relações entre a mestria e a tomada da palavra, este texto sugere a possibilidade de uma escola que abra uma perspectiva para o desejo de desejar.
A escola no registro da fantasia
Authors: Revah Daniel
Published: August 2019

A fantasia da escola perfeita impulsionou a escola moderna desde seus primórdios, resultando em várias figuras dessa instituição. O artigo focaliza algumas dessas figuras, a começar pela que surge sob a forma da escola-máquina e que, posteriormente, quando a natureza humana desponta como limite ao que é da ordem da máquina, dá lugar a novas figuras. Argumenta-se que o ideal de perfeição presente nos discursos pedagógicos resultou em modalidades diversas de pensar e efetivar a escolarização, sem que necessariamente tenha inviabilizado a escola quanto a seu papel na transmissão de certo legado cultural e como agência socializadora das novas gerações. Entretanto, nas últimas décadas houve uma mudança importante, perceptível no Brasil desde a década de 1990, quando avaliações quantitativas começam a ser utilizadas para definir de forma clara e precisa o grau de perfeição da escola, assim tendendo a inviabilizar a própria educação escolar. O que desde então se acentua é a tendência de anular a necessária distância em relação àquele ideal e, dessa maneira, quanto mais a escola busca alcançar esse ideal consumado, sem falhas, tanto mais se debilita e se consome.
Educa-me ou te mato!
Authors: Gurski Rose
Published: August 2019

Temos pensado que a repetição da errância e da marginalidade na trajetória escolar de meninos e meninas que chegam à socioeducação acaba colocando a escola em um lugar complicado, um real não simbolizado em suas vidas. Ao não estarem incluídos nos sonhos e nas utopias educativas de nosso país, ao não serem sonhados como sujeitos educáveis e escolarizáveis, lhes apresentamos, enquanto sociedade, o que eles verbalizam: suas vidas se reduzem a matar ou morrer, ou seja, se encontram com o real da morte. Nesse contexto, abrimos algumas questões que irão nortear este artigo: o que se passa com esses adolescentes que migram da instituição escolar para a socioeducativa? O que temos feito, ou deixado de fazer, para que esses jovens não colem na escola e não se interessem pelo crime? Por que acabam por fazer suas trajetórias de vida junto ao tráfico e não nos bancos escolares? Qual a transmissão que aí não se faz? Que jovens a escola brasileira considera como “seus”?
Linguagem, cognição e psiquismo: análise do brincar de dois bebês com histórico de sofrimento psíquico
Authors: Souza Ana Paula Ramos de , Hoogstraten Antônia Motta Roth Jobim van , Rechia Inaê Costa , Silva Maria Fernanda Almeida , Nunes Sabrina Felin , Santos Tamires Dias dos
Published: August 2019

Este artigo analisa a evolução linguística e cognitiva de dois bebês em sofrimento psíquico, um deles com risco para estruturação autista e outro não autista, e compara dois instrumentos de identificação do risco psíquico, os Indicadores Clínicos de Risco/Referência ao Desenvolvimento Infantil (IRDI) e o Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT). A análise do brincar evidenciou atraso de linguagem e cognitivo em ambos os casos, sendo esse atraso mais importante no caso de risco para autismo. O IRDI conseguiu diferenciar melhor a direção da estruturação psíquica do que o M-CHAT.
O paradoxo da unidade na dualidade: elementos para a clínica dos casos-limite
Authors: Pondé Cristiana De Aguiar , Peixoto Jr. Carlos Augusto
Published: August 2019

O artigo irá aprofundar o debate acerca dos primórdios da constituição psíquica e sua relação com a etiologia dos casos-limite. Assim, apesar de não se tratar de um artigo sobre a infância, eixo principal desta revista, ele aporta a uma discussão teórica sobre a constituição psíquica e sobre a importância das interações iniciais da vida na etiologia dos casos-limite. Em seu primeiro eixo, discutiremos os primórdios do psiquismo como fonte de subsídios para uma clínica dos casos-limite, já que estes casos são compreendidos como marcados por traumas no âmbito das primeiras relações de objeto. Observa-se, na relação transferencial com estes pacientes, mecanismos de defesa verticais, como cisões, mais frequentemente do que mecanismos de defesa horizontais, como o recalque. O recalque foi o conceito central para a constituição da técnica psicanalítica clássica. Este fato faz com que nos defrontemos com a necessidade de refinamento da técnica analítica para abordar de forma mais eficaz estes casos que desafiam a técnica clássica. Neste sentido, estudaremos, no segundo eixo deste trabalho, a contratransferência sob uma perspectiva da intersubjetividade e da valorização da qualidade da relação analítica.
Androgenic Effects on Ventricular Repolarization
Authors: Salem Joe-Elie , Yang Tao , Moslehi Javid J. , Waintraub Xavier , Gandjbakhch Estelle , Bachelot Anne , Hidden-Lucet Francoise , Hulot Jean-Sebastien , Knollmann Bjorn C. , Lebrun-Vignes Benedicte , Funck-Brentano Christian , Glazer Andrew M. , Roden Dan M.
Published: August 2019

Background:

Male hypogonadism, arising from a range of etiologies including androgen-deprivation therapies (ADTs), has been reported as a risk factor for acquired long-QT syndrome (aLQTS) and torsades de pointes (TdP). A full description of the clinical features of aLQTS associated with ADT and of underlying mechanisms is lacking.

Methods:

We searched the international pharmacovigilance database VigiBase for men (n=6 560 565 individual case safety reports) presenting with aLQTS, TdP, or sudden death associated with ADT. In cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells from men, we studied electrophysiological effects of ADT and dihydrotestosterone.

Results:

Among subjects receiving ADT in VigiBase, we identified 184 cases of aLQTS (n=168) and/or TdP (n=68; 11% fatal), and 99 with sudden death. Of the 10 ADT drugs examined, 7 had a disproportional association (reporting odds ratio=1.4–4.7;
P
<0.05) with aLQTS, TdP, or sudden death. The minimum and median times to sudden death were 0.25 and 92 days, respectively. The androgen receptor antagonist enzalutamide was associated with more deaths (5430/31 896 [17%];
P
<0.0001) than other ADT used for prostate cancer (4208/52 089 [8.1%]). In induced pluripotent stem cells, acute and chronic enzalutamide (25 µM) significantly prolonged action potential durations (action potential duration at 90% when paced at 0.5 Hz; 429.7±27.1 (control) versus 982.4±33.2 (acute,
P
<0.001) and 1062.3±28.9 ms (chronic;
P
<0.001), and generated afterdepolarizations and/or triggered activity in drug-treated cells (11/20 acutely and 8/15 chronically). Enzalutamide acutely and chronically inhibited delayed rectifier potassium current, and chronically enhanced late sodium current. Dihydrotestosterone (30 nM) reversed enzalutamide electrophysiological effects on induced pluripotent stem cells.

Conclusions:

QT prolongation and TdP are a risk in men receiving enzalutamide and other ADTs.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT03193138.
Regulation of YAP by Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 in Endothelial Cells Controls Blood Pressure Through COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE
2
Cascade
Authors: Yao Liu , He Jinlong , Li Bochuan , Yan Meng , Wang Hui , Tan Lu , Liu Mingming , Lv Xue , Lv Huizhen , Zhang Xu , Chen Chen , Wang Daowen , Yu Ying , Huang Yu , Zhu Yi , Ai Ding
Published: August 2019

Endothelial cells regulate vascular tone by producing both relaxing and contracting factors to control the local blood flow. Hypertension is a common side effect of mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) inhibitors. However, the role of endothelial mTORC1 in hypertension remains elusive. The present study aimed to determine the role of endothelial mTORC1 in Ang II (angiotensin II)–induced hypertension and the underlying mechanism. Endothelial mTORC1 activity was increased by Ang II both in vitro and in vivo. Blood pressure was higher in
Tie-2-Cre
–mediated regulatory associated protein of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin;
Raptor
) heterozygous-deficient (
Tie2Cre-Raptor

KD

) mice than control mice both before and after Ang II infusion. Acetylcholine-evoked endothelium-dependent relaxation of mesenteric arteries was impaired in
Tie2Cre-Raptor

KD

mice. Treatment with indomethacin or a specific COX (cyclooxygenase)-2 inhibitor, NS-398, but not L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation in
Raptor

flox
/−

mice to a similar extent as in
Tie2Cre-Raptor

KD

mice. Metabolomic profiling revealed that the plasma content of prostaglandin E
2
was reduced in
Tie2Cre-Raptor

KD

mice with or without Ang II infusion. In endothelial cells, reduction of the protein level of YAP (yes-associated protein) with
siRNA
-mediated
RPTOR
deficiency was autophagy dependent and transcriptionally regulated the expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 (microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1). Hence, overexpression of YAP in endothelial cells enhanced the mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and mPGES-1 and reversed the endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in
Tie2Cre-Raptor

KD

mice. The present results demonstrate that suppression of mTORC1 activity in endothelial cells reduces prostaglandin E
2
production and causes hypertension by reducing YAP-mediated COX-2/mPGES-1 expression.
Androgen Receptor Blockade Differentially Regulates Blood Pressure in Growth-Restricted Versus Ovarian Deficient Rats
Authors: Davis Gwendolyn K. , Intapad Suttira , Newsome Ashley D. , Coats Laura E. , Bamrick Daniel R. , Ojeda Norma B. , Alexander Barbara T.
Published: August 2019

Low birth weight is associated with a greater prevalence of hypertension in women by age 60; yet, the mechanisms involved are unknown. We previously reported that hypertension in female growth-restricted offspring that is associated with early reproductive senescence and a shift in the testosterone-to-estradiol ratio at 12 months of age is abolished by AR (androgen receptor) blockade in conjunction with downregulation of renal AT1aR (angiotensin type 1a receptor) mRNA expression. These data suggest androgen-mediated activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension that develops in female growth-restricted offspring with aging. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that androgen-mediated increased blood pressure is specific to female growth-restricted offspring. Control and growth-restricted rats underwent sham or ovariectomy at 10 months of age. Vehicle or flutamide (8 mg/kg/day; subcutaneous), an AR antagonist, was administered at 11.5 months of age for 2 weeks followed by measurement of blood pressure. Loss of ovarian hormones was associated with a 10 mm Hg increase in blood pressure in control compared with intact counterparts accompanied by a 1.8-fold increase in renal AT1aR mRNA expression. Treatment with flutamide had no effect on blood pressure or renal AT1aR mRNA expression in ovariectomized controls. Although blood pressure was significantly decreased in flutamide-treated ovariectomized growth-restricted, flutamide had no effect on the increase in renal AT1aR mRNA expression. Therefore, these findings suggest the effect of AR blockade on blood pressure is specific to intact growth-restricted offspring and that mechanisms of postmenopausal hypertension may differ between normal and low birth weight women.
Description of two new damselflies, Protosticta zhengi and Sinosticta sylvatica, from China (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae)
Authors: YU XIN , BU WENJUN
Published: August 2019

Two new species of Platystictidae (Sinosticta sylvatica, holotype male: China, Hainan, Diaoluoshan Nature Reserve, 620m, 29-V-2007; and Protosticta zhengi, holotype male; China, Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Menghun, 750m, 30-V-1958; both deposited in Institute of Entomology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China) are described, and a key is provided for the identification of all described species of Sinosticta Wilson.
A new species of Leptonema Guérin (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from southeastern Brazil
Authors: DUMAS LEANDRO LOURENÇO , NESSIMIAN JORGE LUIZ
Published: August 2019

The net-spinning caddisfly genus Leptonema Guérin contains about 120 species, making it the largest genus in the subfamily Macronematinae (Hydropsychidae) and one of the most diverse in the order Trichoptera (Flint et al. 1987; Flint 2008). Most species are large, with wingspans of about 60 mm. They inhabit all types of running waters and generally comprise a significant proportion of invertebrate biomass in these waterways (Flint et al. 1987). In the New World, the genus is extremely diverse, with 106 species widely distributed from the southwestern United States to northern Chile and central Argentina, including the Antilles (Flint 2008). Another 18 species occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar (Munõz-Quesada 1997). Flint, McAlpine & Ross (1987) revised the whole genus, and also considered biogeographic and phylogenetic aspects. Brazil has 26 recorded species (Paprocki et al. 2004; Flint 2008).
An essay on precision in morphometric measurements in anurans: inter-individual, intra-individual and temporal comparisons
Authors: BERNAL MANUEL HERNANDO , CLAVIJO JAIRO ALFONSO
Published: August 2019

Morphometric comparisons among specimens continue being an important tool for biological and taxonomical studies and are indispensable for the description of new species. However, there are few works that have been done to compare the precision of the measurements that different investigators take in live or preserved animals with different body sizes and time of preservation. Herein we evaluate statistically this information. The results indicate that there are significant differences among the measurements taken by different people (inter-individual comparisons), but not within each of them (intra-individual comparisons). Also, there are temporal differences in the morphometric measurements among living animals, freshly preserved specimens and specimens after five months of preservation. These results demonstrate that morphometric measurements must be made by just one person and that for any morphometric analysis it is important to keep in mind the preservation time differences of the animals in the museums.
Erratum: Licciano, M. Giangrande, A. and Gambi, M. C. (2009) A new genus of Sabellidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from Antartica, with discussion of relationships among plesiomorphic genera within Sabellinae. Zootaxa, 2226, 28-42.
Authors: LICCIANO M. , GIANGRANDE A. , GAMBI M. C.
Published: August 2019

(Erratum)
Diversity and Distribution of Conidae from the TamilNadu Coast of India (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Conidae)
Authors: FRANKLIN J. BENJAMIN , SUBRAMANIAN K. A. , FERNANDO S. ANTONY , KRISHNAN K. S.
Published: August 2019

A survey of the marine gastropod genus Conus Linnaeus was conducted along the TamilNadu Coast of India to explore the regional geographic distribution and diversity. The 60 species observed increased the number of Indian Conidae from 77 to 81. Conus imperialis Linné, C. mitratus Hwass in Bruguière, C. striolatus Kiener and C. violaceus Gmelin are newly recorded from the study area. Conus amadis Gmelin was the most widely distributed species. The highest diversity (48 species) occurred in the Gulf of Mannar, followed by 22 species from northern, six from southern, and five from the Palk Bay regions. We suggest that the rich diversity recorded in the Gulf of Mannar reflects the physical conditions, microhabitats and required resources such as food and shelter that favour the occurrence of the large number of Conus species.
Eriophyoid mites on Fagaceae with descriptions of seven new genera and eleven new species (Acari: Eriophyoidea)
Authors: XUE XIAO-FENG , WANG ZHEN , SONG ZI-WEI , HONG XIAO-YUE
Published: August 2019

Up to now, 64 genera and 178 eriophyoid mite species are known to occur on the Fagaceae. We described and illustrated herein seven new genera and eleven new eriophyoid species associated with plants in the family Fagaceae, collected from eleven provinces in China. They are: Bariella spinishieldis sp. nov. on Quercus sp.; Calesalquia tiantangzhaica gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Quercus sp.; Acaphyllisa quinqueridges sp. nov. on Cyclobalanopsis glauca; Jiangsuacarus huaguoshanensis gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Quercus sp.; Spinacarus guniujiangensis gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Cyclobalanopsis glauca; Calvittacus chenius sp. nov. on Quercus chenii; Cereusacarus maopingensis gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Cyclobalanopsis glauca; Neovittacus shitaicus gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Quercus sp.; Paracaliphytoptus yangensis gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Cyclobalanopsis glauca; Shaanxicarus glaucaer gen. nov. & sp. nov. on Cyclobalanopsis glauca; and Rhyncaphytoptus qimenensis sp. nov. on Cyclobalanopsis glauca. An updated checklist and a key to the eriophyoid mite genera on the Fagaceae are provided. Three new combinations are given: Jiangsuacarus abietis (Kuang & Luo, 2005) comb. nov. on Abies fabri (Pinaceae); Jiangsuacarus dolichocladae (Song, Xue & Hong, 2008) comb. nov. on Bambusa dolichoclada (Poaceae); and Coptophylla querci (Chandrapatya & Boczek, 2000), comb. nov. on Quercus mespilifolioidea (Fagaceae).
Revision of New World Spalangiinae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)
Authors: GIBSON GARY A. P.
Published: August 2019

Spalangia Latreille and Playaspalangia Yoshimoto, the only two genera classified in Spalangiinae (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) are revised for the New World. Thirty-one species of Spalangia and a single species of Playaspalangia, P. rothi Yoshimoto, are recognized from the New World. One further name, Spalangia tarsalis Brèthes, is treated as a nomen dubium. European species of Spalangia not yet known from the New World are also discussed and illustrated relative to regional species, but are not treated formally. The following new synonymies are proposed: Spalangia erythromera brachyceps Bouček under Spalangia erythromera Förster n. syn., Spalangia bakeri Kieffer under Spalangia chontalensis Cameron n. syn., and Spalangia lanaiensis Ashmead under Spalangia impunctata Howard n. syn. Spalangia simplex Perkins is newly recorded from the New World and the following 13 species are described as new: Spalangia alyxia n. sp., Spalangia flavicrus n. sp., Spalangia imitator n. sp., Spalangia innuba n. sp., Spalangia leiopleura n. sp., Spalangia masneri n. sp., Spalangia nigroides n. sp., Spalangia noyesi n. sp., Spalangia plaumanni n. sp., Spalangia rugosifrons n. sp., Spalangia stictocephala n. sp., Spalangia stictocyla n. sp., and Spalangia xanthoscapa n. sp. The 2 genera and the 32 regional species of Spalangiinae are keyed, described and illustrated, and regional hosts and distributions are summarized for each species. Distribution maps document the known range of each of the species in the New World. For purposes of comparison of morphologically similar species, 7 informal species groups are recognized in Spalangia to include 29 of the 31 New World species: the attae-group (S. attae Burks, S. rugosifrons, S. stictocyla and S. stictocephala), the cameroni-group (S. cameroni Perkins, S. longepetiolata Bouček and S. gemina Bouček), the drosophilae- group (S. bethyloides Bouček, S. drosophilae Ashmead, S. flavicrus, S. impunctata, S. innuba, S. leiopleura and S. plaumanni), the endius group (S. endius Walker and S. nigripes), the nigra-group (S. alyxia, S. chontalensis, S. masneri, S. nigra Latreille, S. nigroides and S. nigroaenea Curtis), the noyesi-group (S. noyesi and S. xanthoscapa), and the subpunctata-group (S. erythromera, S. fuscipes, S. haematobiae Ashmead, S. imitator and S. subpunctata Förster).
Two new species of Callibaetis Eaton (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Southeastern Brazil
Authors: CRUZ P. V. , SALLES F. F. , HAMADA N.
Published: August 2019

Two new species of Callibaetis are described based on nymphs and adults of both genders. Specimens were collected in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, in the Southeastern region of Brazil. With the description of C. fluminensis sp. n. and C. capixaba sp. n. we increase the number of species in the genus Callibaetis in Brazil to eleven.