bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Bounds on Fourier Entropy and Min-entropy
Authors: Arunachalam Srinivasan , Chakraborty Sourav , Koucký Michal , Saurabh Nitin , de Wolf Ronald
Published: September 2021

Given a Boolean function f:{ -1,1} ^{n}→ { -1,1, define the
Fourier distribution
to be the distribution on subsets of [n], where each S ⊆ [n] is sampled with probability f ˆ (S)
2
. The Fourier Entropy-influence (FEI) conjecture of Friedgut and Kalai [28] seeks to relate two fundamental measures associated with the Fourier distribution: does there exist a universal constant C > 0 such that H(f
ˆ2
) ≤ C ⋅ Inf (f), where H
(fˆ2)
is the Shannon entropy of the Fourier distribution of
f
and Inf(f) is the total influence of
f

In this article, we present three new contributions toward the FEI conjecture:

(1)

Our first contribution shows that H(f
ˆ2
) ≤ 2 ⋅ aUC
⊕
(f), where aUC
⊕
(f) is the average unambiguous parity-certificate complexity of
f
. This improves upon several bounds shown by Chakraborty et al. [20]. We further improve this bound for unambiguous DNFs. We also discuss how our work makes Mansour's conjecture for DNFs a natural next step toward resolution of the FEI conjecture.

(2)

We next consider the weaker
Fourier Min-entropy-influence
(FMEI) conjecture posed by O'Donnell and others [50, 53], which asks if H ∞
fˆ2)
≤ C ⋅ Inf(f), where H ∞
fˆ2)
is the min-entropy of the Fourier distribution. We show H
∞
(fˆ2)
≤ 2⋅C
min
⊕
(f), where C
min
⊕
(f) is the minimum parity-certificate complexity of
f
. We also show that for all ε≥0, we have H
∞
(fˆ2)
≤2 log⁡(∥f
ˆ
∥1,ε/(1−ε)), where ∥f
ˆ
∥1,ε is the approximate spectral norm of
f
. As a corollary, we verify the FMEI conjecture for the class of read-
k
DNFs (for constant 
k
).

(3)

Our third contribution is to better understand implications of the FEI conjecture for the structure of polynomials that 1/3-approximate a Boolean function on the Boolean cube. We pose a conjecture: no
flat polynomial
(whose non-zero Fourier coefficients have the same magnitude) of degree
d
and sparsity 2
ω(d)
can 1/3-approximate a Boolean function. This conjecture is known to be true assuming FEI, and we prove the conjecture unconditionally (i.e., without assuming the FEI conjecture) for a class of polynomials. We discuss an intriguing connection between our conjecture and the constant for the Bohnenblust-Hille inequality, which has been extensively studied in functional analysis.
Total Face Irregularity Strength of Grid and Wheel Graph under K-Labeling of Type (1, 1, 0)
Authors: Mughal Aleem , Jamil Noshad
Published: September 2021

In this study, we used grids and wheel graphs

G
=

V
,
E
,
F

, which are simple, finite, plane, and undirected graphs with

V

as the vertex set,

E

as the edge set, and

F

as the face set. The article addresses the problem to find the face irregularity strength of some families of generalized plane graphs under

k

-labeling of type

α
,
β
,
γ

. In this labeling, a graph is assigning positive integers to graph vertices, graph edges, or graph faces. A minimum integer

k

for which a total label of all verteices and edges of a plane graph has distinct face weights is called

k

-labeling of a graph. The integer

k

is named as total face irregularity strength of the graph and denoted as

tfs

G

. We also discussed a special case of total face irregularity strength of plane graphs under

k

-labeling of type (1, 1, 0). The results will be verified by using figures and examples.
A PLA2R-IgG4 Antibody-Based Predictive Model for Assessing Risk Stratification of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy
Authors: Liu Xiaobin , Xue Jing , Guo Xiaoyi , Ding Yijie , Zhang Yi , Zhang Xiran , Huang Yiqing , Huang Biao , Hu Zhigang , Lu Guoyuan , Wang Liang
Published: September 2021

Background. Known as an autoimmune glomerular disease, idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is considered to be associated with phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in terms of the main pathogenesis. The quantitative detection of serum PLA2R-IgG and PLA2R-IgG4 antibodies by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) was determined, and the value of them, both in the clinical prediction of risk stratification in IMN, was observed in this study. Methods. 95 patients with IMN proved by renal biopsy were enrolled, who had tested positive for serum PLA2R antibodies by ELISA, and the quantitative detection of serum PLA2R-IgG and PLA2R-IgG4 antibodies was achieved by TRFIA. All the patients were divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups, respectively, which were set as dependent variables, according to proteinuria and renal function. Random forest (RF) was used to estimate the value of serum PLA2R-IgG and PLA2R-IgG4 in predicting the risk stratification of progression in IMN. Results. Out-of-bag estimates of variable importance in RF were employed to evaluate the impact of each input variable on the final classification accuracy. The variable of albumin, PLA2R-IgG, and PLA2R-IgG4 had high values (>0.3) of 0.3156, 0.3981, and 0.7682, respectively, which meant that these three were more important for the risk stratification of progression in IMN. In order to further assess the contribution of PLA2R-IgG and PLA2R-IgG4 to the model, we built four different models and found that PLA2R-IgG4 played an important role in improving the predictive ability of the model. Conclusions. In this study, we established a random forest model to evaluate the value of serum PLA2R-IgG4 antibodies in predicting risk stratification of IMN. Compared with PLA2R-IgG, PLA2R-IgG4 is a more efficient biomarker in predicting the risk of progression in IMN.
Septic Shock Immediately following Percutaneous Suprapubic Catheterization
Authors: Leeson Cale E. , Beaudry Brianna-Lee , Wignall Geoffrey R.
Published: September 2021

Suprapubic catheterization (SPC) is considered a safe and effective procedure for long-term bladder decompression. With proper technique and appropriate patient selection, significant complications of SPC are rare. Immediate postoperative septic shock (i.e., within the first 24 hours of surgery) is rarely reported. We report a case of an 83-year-old patient who developed septic shock within one hour of suprapubic catheterization for a chronic hypotonic bladder, highlighting the importance of early recognition of complications from SPC and prompt management to ensure positive outcomes.
Application of Next-Generation Sequencing Technology Based on Single Gene Locus in Species Identification of Mixed Meat Products
Authors: Liu Xinmei , Liu Zhiyang , Cheng Yiyu , Wu Haijing , Shen Wei , Liu Yan , Feng Qiushi , Yang Jun
Published: September 2021

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection is a commonly used method for species identification of meat products. However, this method is not suitable for the analysis of meat products containing multiple mixtures. This study aimed to test whether next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology could be used as a method for the certification of mixed meat products. In this study, five kinds of common meat (pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, and ducks) were mixed as samples with different proportions. The primers designed from mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear genome gene (growth hormone receptor, GHR), respectively, were used to detect these meats. The sequencing results of NGS were analyzed using a self-designed bioinformatics program. The fragments with similar sequences were classified and compared with the database to determine their species. The results showed that all five kinds of meat components could be correctly identified using these two primers. The meat composition could be detected as low as 0.5% in the mixed samples using the NGS technology targeting GHR gene fragments, which was superior to those targeting mitochondrial 16S rRNA. However, the quantitative detection of species in the mixture was not likely to be quite accurate due to the amplification bias of PCR amplification. These results showed that the NGS technology could be applied to identify meat species in mixtures.
Evaluation of Mast Cells in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Shrestha Ashish , Keshwar Shashi , Raut Toniya
Published: August 2021

Background. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are epithelial-derived pathologies which share inflammation as a common initial pathogenic-inducing state. Mast cell is a key immune modulating cell which is primarily involved in initiation and propagation of inflammation. The role of mast cell in OPMDs and OSCC has been an established fact; however, its definitive pathogenic correlation is still under study. The objective of the study was to evaluate the number of mast cell in OPMDs and OSCC using special stain correlating its probable role as a promoter or retarder of OSCC. Materials and Methods. Forty-five archival histopathologically confirmed cases each of OPMD and OSCC were studied for mast cells using toluidine blue and Alcian blue-safranin stain and compared with 10 normal oral mucosal tissues. Comparisons between the mast cells count was also performed between the two special stains. Results. Among 100 cases, 67% were males and 33% were females. The mean age was 41.68 ± 13.39; 55.06 ± 12.55; and 18.4 ± 2.54 years for OPMDs, OSCC, and normal, respectively. A statistically significant increase in mast cells among OPMDs (9.88 ± 7.9) and OSCC (6.711 ± 3.94) was observed compared to normal oral mucosa. The mast cell count reduced among OSCC in comparison to OPMDs which was significant as well. The mean mast cell count for Alcian blue-safranin stain was higher than toluidine blue stain. Conclusion. There is a decrease in mean mast cell count from OPMDs to OSCC which is suggestive of protective role of mast cell. Proper quantification of mast cells using specific stains can guide to define prognosis in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer.
Passive Localization of Moving Target with Channel State Information
Authors: Yang Xiaolong , Wang Jiacheng , Nie Wei , Wang Yong
Published: September 2021

With the popularity of wireless networks and smart devices, wireless signal‐based passive target sensing and localization have become a hot research topic and attracted numerous researchers’ interests. The existing passive localization solutions require multiple receivers, which is not practical for real‐world applications. In response to this compelling problem, in this paper, we propose a practical single access point‐based passive moving target localization system. Concretely, it first utilizes multiple antennas of the access point to form an antenna array and extended antenna, to capture channel state information (CSI) at different spatial locations. Then, leveraging the obtained CSI, the signal parameters, including the angle of arrival (AoA) and time of flight (ToF), are estimated. Based on the estimated signal parameters and the locations of the antenna array and extended antenna, finally, the passive localization of the moving target is realized. Comprehensive experiments are conducted under the real‐world scenario with two different test platforms, and the experimental results show the proposed algorithm’s median localization can reach 1.087 m when the number of antennas is 4 and the signal bandwidth is 80 MHz, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Cardioprotective Action of Glycyrrhizin on Diabetic Rats with Myocardial Remodeling
Authors: Chen Fuxu , Song Jie
Published: September 2021

Introduction. Cardiovascular disorders are one of the prominent causes of risks of mortality which accounts for high rate of the deaths at a global level. The risk of deadly myocardial infraction grows because of diabetes which even causes the development of heart failure. Objective. The objective of this study was to understand and study the effect of glycyrrhizin on diabetes suffering rats with myocardial remodeling. Materials and Methods. Streptozotocin was used for induction of diabetes, and 8–12 weeks later, the assessment of inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac damage was evaluated. Histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the effect in various groups. Western blotting was performed to understand the proteins expressed in diabetes, and also, their expression was noted in treatment groups. Results. There was a significant rise in TNF-α, dense fibrosis, and collagen deposits in the STZ diabetes group. The effects of hyperglycemia were significantly improved in the glycyrrhizin-treated group. DAPI, BrDu, and caspase staining was also performed to understand apoptosis in tissues where the diabetic groups reported significant apoptosis, while the effects were significantly lower in the treated group. Conclusion. All the observations indicate that glycyrrhizin has cardioprotective action in diabetic rats with myocardial remodeling and is due to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the myocardial layer.
On the

α
−
ψ

-Contractive Mappings in

C

∗

-Algebra Valued b-Metric Spaces and Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Omran Saleh , Masmali Ibtisam
Published: August 2021

In this paper, for a unital

C

∗

-algebra A, we introduce a version of

α

-

ψ

-contractive mappings in

C

∗

-algebra valued b-metric spaces, and we prove some Banach fixed point theorems and give some examples to illustrate our results.
Refined Path Planning for Emergency Rescue Vehicles on Congested Urban Arterial Roads via Reinforcement Learning Approach
Authors: Yan Longhao , Wang Ping , Yang Jingwen , Hu Yu , Han Yu , Yao Junfeng
Published: September 2021

Fast road emergency response can minimize the losses caused by traffic accidents. However, emergency rescue on urban arterial roads is faced with the high probability of congestion caused by accidents, which makes the planning of rescue path complicated. This paper proposes a refined path planning method for emergency rescue vehicles on congested urban arterial roads during traffic accidents. Firstly, a rescue path planning environment for emergency vehicles on congested urban arterial roads based on the Markov decision process is established, which focuses on the architecture of arterial roads, taking the traffic efficiency and vehicle queue length into consideration of path planning; then, the prioritized experience replay deep Q-network (PERDQN) reinforcement learning algorithm is used for path planning under different traffic control schemes. The proposed method is tested on the section of East Youyi Road in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. The results show that compared with the traditional shortest path method, the rescue route planned by PERDQN reduces the arrival time to the accident site by 67.1%, and the queue length at upstream of the accident point is shortened by 16.3%, which shows that the proposed method is capable to plan the rescue path for emergency vehicles in urban arterial roads with congestion, shorten the arrival time, and reduce the vehicle queue length caused by accidents.
Cardiovascular Properties of the Androgen‐Induced PCOS Model in Rats: The Role of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Joksimovic Jovic Jovana , Sretenovic Jasmina , Jovic Nikola , Rudic Jovan , Zivkovic Vladimir , Srejovic Ivan , Mihajlovic Katarina , Draginic Nevena , Andjic Marijana , Milinkovic Milica , Milosavljevic Zoran , Jakovljevic Vladimir
Published: September 2021

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaced reproductive endocrinopathy affecting 6‐20% of women of childbearing age. It was previously shown that women with PCOS have an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiodynamic parameters of isolated rats’ hearts, blood pressure levels, and histomorphological changes in the heart tissue following the androgen‐induced PCOS model in rats and the role of oxidative stress in the development of these CV properties of PCOS. 21‐day‐old female rats (n = 12) were divided into control and PCOS groups. PCOS was induced by administration of testosterone enanthate (1 mg/kg BW, daily) during 35 days. During the autoregulation protocol (40‐120 mmHg) on the Langendorff apparatus, ex vivo cardiodynamic parameters of retrogradely perfused hearts showed enhanced contractile function and increased lusitropic effects in the left ventricle (LV) in PCOS rats. Systolic and diastolic pressures in LV were elevated at all perfusion pressure values. Systemic arterial systolic blood pressure showed borderline elevation, while mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in PCOS rats. Histological evaluation of heart tissue depicted hypertrophic (8.3%) alterations in LV cardiomyocytes and increase (7.3%) in LV wall thickness. Oxidative stress parameters were altered in systemic circulation, coronary venous effluent (CVE), and heart tissue. Levels of superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione were decreased in blood and heart tissue, while catalase activity was not altered. Degree of lipid peroxidation was increased in circulation as well as heart tissue. Increased levels of O2- in CVE indicated the cardiotoxic effects in the rat PCOS model. The mentioned alterations of oxidative stress parameters in the blood, CVE, and heart could be recommended as potential contributors underlying the development of CV risk in PCOS women.
Research on the Influence Mechanism of the High‐Steep Slope on the Deformation Characteristics of Bridge Substructure
Authors: Zhang Yufang , Liu Hongyu , Li Jian , Li Jiaming , Huang Qidi , Ma Xianjie
Published: September 2021

With the development of the Chinese railway, the high‐steep slope is irreversible to be faced; especially under severe conditions such as heavy rainfall and earthquake, this kind of slope is prone to geological disasters, which seriously affects the safety and stability of the bridge substructure. Aiming to this, long‐term monitorization and numerical analysis were carried out in this research, and the influence mechanism of the high‐steep slopes on the stress and deformation characteristics of the bridge structure was studied. The research results show that under the effect of rainfall and earthquake, the original stress balance in the high‐steep slope is broken, and the possibility of landslide thrust increases; under the comprehensive impact of residual landslide thrust, traction force at slope foot, vertical gravity of bridge slab and vehicle, and the bridge cap will deform. Besides, the deformation of the bridge pier exceeds the allowable lateral displacement of the top of the bridge pier, reaching 111.7%∼112.4% of the limit, which seriously affects the stability of the bridge structure and the safety of the railway service. Therefore, by increasing the support strength of the slope foot and the diameter of the bridge pile foundation, the traction force of the slope foot can be reduced, and the sliding resistance of the bridge pile foundation can be improved so as the safety of the bridge structure can be promoted.
Utilizing DEMATEL for Value-Embedded e-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ocampo Lanndon , Abarca Cristy , Abarca Cristine , Godes Ninja , Pelola Esmeralda , Pensona Margie , Niñofranco Magel , Itallo Cherry Ann , Paler Cristine , Himang Celbert , Manalastas Rebecca , Himang Melanie , Ancheta Rosein
Published: September 2021

Lockdowns of various forms have prompted higher education institutions (HEIs) to suddenly shift from physical face-to-face classes to e-learning environments on an unprecedented scale in recent history. This sudden shift promotes the continuity of the teaching-learning process in HEIs despite the COVID-19 pandemic, at most on the positive side, while bringing forth challenges related to individual learners and academics. This work is based on a recently reported Values-Enhanced Technology Adoption (VETA) model, which incorporates individual values in technology acceptance modeling. Despite offering crucial insights into academics in evaluating e-learning adoption, the current literature suffers from drawbacks. Motivated by addressing these limitations, this work reevaluates the nine constructs of the VETA model using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). Results indicate that effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, price value, habit, security, tradition, conformity, achievement, power, and hedonism constructs cause performance expectancy, behavioral intention, and social influence. The DEMATEL captures and models the causal relationships between these constructs within an analytical framework, which induces some variations of the recent empirical findings. Finally, the perception of self-achievement among academics drives the intention to adopt e-learning. The findings offered in this work are crucial to the evolving literature of COVID-19 on education, particularly in informing the design of initiatives and measures to enhance e-learning.
Air Quality Prediction Model Based on Spatiotemporal Data Analysis and Metalearning
Authors: Zhang Kejia , Zhang Xu , Song Hongtao , Pan Haiwei , Wang Bangju
Published: August 2021

With the continuous improvement of people’s quality of life, air quality issues have become one of the topics of daily concern. How to achieve accurate predictions of air quality in a variety of complex situations is the key to the rapid response of local governments. This paper studies two problems: (1) how to predict the air quality of any monitoring station based on the existing weather and environmental data while considering the spatiotemporal correlation among monitoring stations and (2) how to maintain the accuracy and stability of the forecast even when the available data is severely insufficient. A prediction model combining Long Short‐Term Memory networks (LSTM) and Graph Attention (GAT) mechanism is proposed to solve the first problems. A metalearning algorithm for the prediction model is proposed to solve the second problem. LSTM is used to characterize the temporal correlation of historical data and GAT is used to characterize the spatial correlation among all the monitoring stations in the target city. In the case of insufficient training data, the proposed metalearning algorithm can be used to transfer knowledge from other cities with abundant training data. Through testing on public data sets, the proposed model has obvious advantages in accuracy compared with baseline models. Combining with the metalearning algorithm, it gives a much better performance in the case of insufficient training data.
Camellia sinensis in Dentistry: Technological Prospection and Scientific Evidence
Authors: Valadas Lídia Audrey Rocha , Oliveira Filho Rosueti Diógenes de , Rodrigues Neto Edilson Martins , Bandeira Mary Anne Medeiros , Fonteles Marta Maria de França , Passos Vanara Florêncio , Fiallos Ana Cristina de Mello , Lotif Mara Assef Leitao , Sena Nara Juliana Custodio de , Dantas Thereza Cristina Farias Botelho , Lima Soares Igor , Lobo Patricia Leal Dantas , Squassi Aldo Fabian
Published: September 2021

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate reports of patents for oral care formulations, based on Camellia sinensis (C. sinensis), deposited and granted in intellectual property banks. Methods. A survey was conducted through collection, treatment, and analysis of extracted information from patent reports selected. The documentary research was conducted in January 2021 on formulations with C. sinensis for dental applications, including since the first patent deposits until the current time. The risk of bias of clinical trials with these formulations was analyzed to verify the scientific evidence. The data extracted represent the distribution of the number of patents by banks, annual evolution of patent deposits, applicant of patents by country, distribution of patents according to International Patent Classification codes, and the types of patented products. Results. Data and information from 20 selected patents were extracted. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) were the banks with the largest number of patents for products/formulations with C. sinensis for oral care applications with 7 (35%) and 6 (30%) patent registrations, respectively. Other banks did not provide patents related to the search. Patents of compositions were the largest with 14 filings, and the remainder of formulations are represented specially by mouthwashes and toothpastes. As for clinical application, 18 patents were filed as products with antimicrobial and antibiofilm action, while 2 patents are directed to the treatment of xerostomia. In general, the aspects of the studies of clinical efficacy pointed to a low risk of bias. Conclusion. The study pointed out a small number of products protected by patents for Camellia sinensis for oral care indication, highlighting mainly mouthwash compositions and formulations. In the methodological parameters of clinical trials carried out with the formulations, the majority pointed out a low risk of bias.
Patient-Derived Xenografts to Study Cancer Metabolism: When Does X Mark the Spot?
Authors: Nabel Christopher S. , Vander Heiden Matthew G.
Published: September 2021

A major goal of cancer research is to understand the requirements for cancer growth and progression that can be exploited to treat patients. Model systems reduce the complexity and heterogeneity of human cancers to explore therapeutic hypotheses, however, some relevant aspects of human biology are not well represented by certain models, complicating the translation of preclinical findings to help patients. Here we discuss the advantages and limitations of patient-derived xenografts as a model system to study cancer metabolism, offering a framework to best use these models to address different types of metabolism-specific research questions.
LGR4: Not Just for Wnt Anymore?
Authors: Stevens Payton D. , Williams Bart O.
Published: September 2021

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein–coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) is best known for its role in regulating the ability of cells to respond to Wnt ligands. In this well-known role, LGR4 serves as a receptor for R-spondins and forms a complex with the ubiquitin E3 ligases ring finger protein 43 (RNF43) and zinc and ring finger 3 (ZNRF3). RNF43 and ZNRF3 ubiquitinate Frizzleds (FZD), which are a family of ten WNT receptors. This ubiquitination decreases FZD receptor levels on the cell surface, reducing Wnt ligands' ability to activate signaling. While there were some previous indications of Wnt-independent functions of LGR4, this WNT-centric view has remained predominant. In this issue of Cancer Research, Yue and colleagues report that LGR4 also functions to regulate signaling through the EGF receptor. This work was stimulated by observing that while high levels of LGR4 expression in breast tumors correlated with poor patient outcomes, LGR4 levels did not correlate with a well-established Wnt-associated gene signature in these same patients. In contrast, high levels of Lgr4 expression strongly correlated with EGFR signaling. Reducing Lgr4 expression also inhibited signaling through the EGFR, potentially via regulation of the Casitas B-lineage lymphoma ubiquitin E3 ligase. Consistent with this model, LGR4 could be coimmunoprecipitated with a complex that contained EGFR and was capable of inhibiting EGFR ubiquitination. The implications of this work and how it challenges our understanding of the contributions of Wnt signaling and EGFR signaling in cancer are discussed as our several interesting future directions.

See related article by Yue et al., p. 4441
The Updates of Podocyte Lipid Metabolism in Proteinuric Kidney Disease
Authors: Sun Yu , Cui Sijia , Hou Yunfeng , Yi Fan
Published: September 2021

Background: Podocytes, functionally specialized and terminally differentiated glomerular visceral epithelial cells, are critical for maintaining the structure and function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Podocyte injury is considered as the most important early event contributing to proteinuric kidney diseases such as obesity-related renal disease, diabetic kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and minimal change disease. Although considerable advances have been made in the understanding of mechanisms that trigger podocyte injury, cell-specific and effective treatments are not clinically available. Summary: Emerging evidence has indicated that the disorder of podocyte lipid metabolism is closely associated with various proteinuric kidney diseases. Excessive lipid accumulation in podocytes leads to cellular dysfunction which is defined as lipotoxicity, a phenomenon characterized by mitochondrial oxidative stress, actin cytoskeleton remodeling, insulin resistance, and inflammatory response that can eventually result in podocyte hypertrophy, detachment, and death. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of lipids in podocyte biological function and the regulatory mechanisms leading to podocyte lipid accumulation in proteinuric kidney disease. Key Messages: Targeting podocyte lipid metabolism may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with proteinuric kidney disease.
Serum Amino Acids Patterns and 4-Year Sarcopenia Risk in Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults
Authors: Yeung Suey S.Y. , Zhu Zoe L.Y. , Kwok Timothy , Woo Jean
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Dietary protein intake and serum amino acids (AAs) are factors controlling the rate of muscle protein synthesis and catabolism. This study examined the association between serum AAs patterns and incident sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Chinese older adults in Hong Kong aged ≥65 years attended a health check at baseline and 4-year follow-up. At baseline, fasting blood was collected to measure 17 serum AAs. Serum AAs patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Dietary protein intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A composite score was computed by summing the principal component score and sex-standardized protein intake. Six composite scores representing each AAs pattern were available for each participant. Sarcopenia was defined using the updated version of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Crude and adjusted multiple logistic regressions were performed to examine the associations between each of the 6 composite scores and sarcopenia over 4 years. Results are presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). To address multiple testing, a Bonferroni correction was applied using a corrected significance level of p < 0.008 (α 0.05/6 patterns). Results: Data of 2,610 participants (mean age 71.6 years, 45.4% men) were available. In men, serum AAs patterns characterized by high branched-chain AAs (BCAAs) (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69–0.87, p < 0.001) and tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.71–0.89, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia over 4-year follow-up. After adjusting for confounders, the associations were no longer significant. In women, serum AAs patterns characterized by glutamine, glutamic acid, and methionine (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11–1.47, p = 0.001) and arginine, taurine, and serine (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06–1.35, p = 0.003) were associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia. After adjusting for confounders, serum AAs pattern characterized by high BCAAs (adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25–1.86, p < 0.001) and arginine, taurine, and serine (adjusted OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09–1.56, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia. No association between other AAs patterns with incident sarcopenia was found. Conclusions: In community-dwelling Chinese older adults, serum AAs patterns characterized by high BCAAs and nonessential AAs (arginine, taurine, and serine) were associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia in women. Findings may allow identifying new targets for interventions.
Evaluation of Swallowing Function according to the Stage of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Parlak Mümüne Merve , Babademez Mehmet Ali , Alicura Tokgöz Sibel , Bizpınar Özlem , Saylam Güleser
Published: September 2021

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and swallowing difficulties may occur as the disease progresses. Dysphagia has many consequences, such as aspiration and pneumonia. In particular, in the advanced stage, approximately 70% of the causes of death in AD involve aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, it is vital to assess the presence or absence of dysphagia in AD. Objective: This study aims to describe swallowing difficulty across the stages of AD. Methods: Thirty-five AD patients were evaluated. The Mini-Mental State Examination was conducted. A bedside water swallow test (BWST) and the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) were administered. Finally, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was used to evaluate residual, aspiration and penetration conditions. Results: EAT-10 scores, BWST results, and penetration-aspiration status were statistically significantly different according to AD stage (p < 0.05). Among all patients, 74.3% had residue, 25.7% had penetration, and 2.9% had aspiration. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that swallowing dysfunction begins at a mild stage and progressively worsens toward the advanced stage in patients with AD. At all stages of AD, residue was observed, and this poses a risk for the development of penetration-aspiration. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the early dysphagia of individuals.
Benign Cardiac Neoplasms in the United States: A Thirteen-Year Review
Authors: Lima Neiberg de Alcantara , Byers-Spencer Kristina , Cwikla Kamil , Huffman Cuyler , Diaz Mireya , Melgar Thomas A. , Helmstetter Nicholas
Published: September 2021

Cardiac neoplasms are uncommon tumors. For epidemiological purposes, they can be divided into benign and malignant subtypes, with the former occurring at a significantly higher rate than the latter. Due to their uncommon nature, there are few data-driven studies examining the characteristics and trends of benign cardiac neoplasms. Our retrospective HCUP-NIS data review purports to illuminate some of the trends surrounding benign cardiac neoplasms and their associated co-occurrences. The data consisted of 482,872,274 weighted discharges. There were 45,568 weighted discharges that included a benign cardiac neoplasm. Benign cardiac neoplasms were more often observed in women (64.33%), and the average age was 63.8 years. The most common cardiovascular co-occurrences in patients with benign cardiac neoplasm were atrial tachyarrhythmias (28.93%), heart failure (19.61%), and embolic events such as stroke, myocardial infarct, or pulmonary embolism (19.82%). Other co-occurrences included pulmonary hypertension (7.55%), ventricular arrhythmias (3.23%), and other EKG abnormalities (3.70%). Procedures were numerous in patients with benign cardiac neoplasms. 43% of patients with this diagnosis had some form of cardiac surgery during their hospitalization. Overall, this study found low incidence of benign cardiac neoplasms in the USA during this 13-year study period. However, in the presence of benign cardiac neoplasms, our study showed that cardiovascular co-occurrences are not uncommon and may help to illuminate this otherwise rare diagnosis.
Utility of Fine-Needle Aspirations to Diagnose Pediatric Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Jia Margaret R. , Baran Julia A. , Bauer Andrew J. , Isaza Amber , Surrey Lea F. , Bhatti Tricia , McGrath Cindy , Jalaly Jalal , Mostoufi-Moab Sogol , Adzick N. Scott , Kazahaya Ken , Sisko Lindsay , Franco Aime T. , Escobar Fernando A. , Krishnamurthy Ganesh , Patel Tasleema , Baloch Zubair
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Risk of malignancy for pediatric thyroid nodules classified according to The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) is not well defined. Correlations between risk of malignancy and ancillary clinical data remain inconclusive. We report a single institutional experience of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to improve upon current management paradigm of thyroid nodules. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 575 thyroid nodules was performed of 324 patients who underwent 340 FNAs between 2008 and 2018 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Demographics, ultrasound (US) characteristics, FNA cytology, surgical pathology, and ancillary data were reviewed. Results: The rate of malignancy according to TBSRTC was 0.0% for category I, 0.8% for category II, 15.6% for category III, 54.5% for category IV, 100.0% for category V, and 100.0% for category VI. The cumulative Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) score was significantly correlated with benign and malignant nodules on pathology (p < 2.2e−16). Distribution of TI-RADS for cytologically indeterminate nodules with benign or malignant pathology revealed significant differences for composition (p = 3.20e−8) and echogenic foci (p = 0.005) but not for echogenicity (p = 0.445), shape (p = 0.160), margins (p = 0.220), and size (p = 0.105). Distributions of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels between benign and malignant patients was significant (p = 1.58e−3). Conclusions: Nodules with TI-RADS scores >3 should undergo FNA, irrespective of size; surgical resection is recommended for nodules classified as TBSRTC category IV and V due to high risk of malignancy. US surveillance instead of FNA can be performed for nodules with TI-RADS scores ≤3.
Jóvenes inmigrantes en la ciudad de São Paulo: acciones político-culturales, vida cotidiana y resistencias
Authors: Borelli Silvia , Soares Rosana , Paiva Maria Claudia , Klaus Priscila
Published: August 2021

(analítico)Este artículo es derivado de una investigación más amplia enfocada en cuatro colectivos de jóvenes inmigrantes en la ciudad de São Paulo y sus acciones político-culturales en la metrópoli. Basado en metodologías cualitativas, la investigación se construyó bajo el supuesto de entender las dimensiones históricas, políticas, antropológicas y comunicacionales que cruzan sus vidas. Los resultados contribuyen para la identificación de prácticas elaboradas y tejidas en la cotidianidad de sus productores y sus luchas por existencia, resistencia y re-existencia: a) las formas en las cuales ellos transforman, a través de acciones político culturales, territorios, espacios y lugares cotidianos, desplazando prejuicios; b) los nexos entre pertenencia, inclusión, integración y relaciones interculturales y transfronterizas; c) la contribución de los colectivos en el enfrentamiento de exclusiones y desigualdades en sus vidas cotidianas.
Palavras-chave: Juventud, inmigrante, cultura, política, vida cotidiana.
Cardiovascular Health Research in the Workplace: A Workshop Report
Authors: Calitz Chris , Pratt Charlotte , Pronk Nicolaas P. , Fulton Janet E. , Jinnett Kimberly , Thorndike Anne N. , Addou Ebyan , Arena Ross , Brown Alison G. M. , Chang Chia‐Chia , Latts Lisa , Lerner Debra , Majors Michiel , Mancuso Michelle , Mills Drew , Sanchez Eduardo , Goff David
Published: August 2021

Heart disease and stroke are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States, respectively. Employers have a unique opportunity to promote cardiovascular health, because >60% of US adults are employed, and most spend half of their waking hours at work. Despite the scope of the opportunity, <1 in 5 businesses implement evidence‐based, comprehensive workplace health programs, policies, and practices. Integrated, systems‐based workplace health approaches that harness data science and technology may have the potential to reach more employees and be cost‐effective for employers. To evaluate the role of the workplace in promoting cardiovascular health across the lifespan, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the American Heart Association convened a workshop on March 7, 2019, to share best practices, and to discuss current evidence and knowledge gaps, practical application, and dissemination of the evidence, and the need for innovation in workplace health research and practice. This report presents the broad themes discussed at the workshop and considerations for promoting worker cardiovascular health, including opportunities for future research.
Exosomal Micro‐RNA‐96 Derived From Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits Doxorubicin‐Induced Myocardial Toxicity by Inhibiting the Rac1/Nuclear Factor‐κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Lei Bo , Wu Xiaohong , Xia Kexin , Sun Hui , Wang Jinsong
Published: August 2021

Background

Exosomes are small membranous structures released from cells into the blood, regulating various biological processes. However, the role of exosomes in cardiotoxicity remains largely unclear. This study investigated the functional mechanism of exosomal microRNA‐96 (miR‐96) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in myocardial toxicity induced by doxorubicin.

Methods and Results

BMSCs were transfected with miR‐96 mimic, miR‐96 inhibitor, or the negative control before exosome isolation. The functional mechanism of BMSC‐derived exosomal miR‐96 was investigated in doxorubicin‐induced cell and rat models. The cardiac function, histological morphology, and fiber content of myocardium were examined. The expression levels of the following biomarkers were measured for assessment of cardiac injury: creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, cardiac troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, soluble suppression of tumorigenesis‐2, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay was used to measure the survival rate of cardiomyocytes. The expressions of miR‐96, Rac1, p‐IKKα/IKKα, p‐IKKβ/IKKβ, p‐IκBα/IκBα and p‐p65/p65 in myocardium and cardiomyocytes were also assessed. The targeting relationship between miR‐96 and Rac1 was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. miR‐96 was downregulated, Rac1 was upregulated and the nuclear factor‐κB signaling pathway was activated in doxorubicin‐induced cell and animal models. Doxorubicin decreased antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and increased myocardial injury biomarkers (creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, cardiac troponin I, and brain natriuretic peptide), proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, and interleukin‐6), malondialdehyde, and myocardial fibers. Exosomes derived from BMSCs ameliorated doxorubicin‐induced myocardial injuries. Overexpression of miR‐96 in exosomes derived from BMSCs further enhanced the protection of myocardium and cardiomyocytes against doxorubicin‐induced toxicity while miR‐96 knockdown abolished the protective effects of exosomes derived from BMSCs. Rac1 was a target gene of miR‐96. Rac1 inhibition could downregulate the expression of the nuclear factor‐κB signaling and further reverse the promotion of miR‐96 knockdown on doxorubicin‐induced myocardial toxicity.

Conclusions

BMSC‐derived exosomal miR‐96 protects myocardium against doxorubicin‐induced toxicity by inhibiting the Rac/nuclear factor‐κB signaling pathway.
Estimating the Population Benefits of Blood Pressure Lowering: A Wide‐Angled Mendelian Randomization Study in UK Biobank
Authors: Higgins Hannah , Mason Amy M. , Larsson Susanna C. , Gill Dipender , Langenberg Claudia , Burgess Stephen
Published: August 2021

Background

The causal relevance of elevated blood pressure for several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is uncertain, as is the population impact of blood pressure lowering. This study systematically assesses evidence of causality for various CVDs in a 2‐sample Mendelian randomization framework, and estimates the potential reduction in the prevalence of these diseases attributable to long‐term population shifts in the distribution of systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Methods and Results

We investigated associations of genetically predicted SBP as predicted by 256 genetic variants with 21 CVDs in UK Biobank, a population‐based cohort of UK residents. The sample consisted of 376 703 participants of European ancestry, aged 40 to 69 years at recruitment. Genetically predicted SBP was positively associated with 14 of the outcomes (
P
<0.002), including dilated cardiomyopathy, endocarditis, peripheral vascular disease, and rheumatic heart disease. Using genetic variation to estimate the long‐term impact of blood pressure lowering on disease in a middle‐aged to early late‐aged UK‐based population, population reductions in SBP were predicted to result in an overall 16.9% (95% CI, 12.2%–21.3%) decrease in morbidity for a 5–mm Hg decrease from a population mean of 137.7 mm Hg, 30.8% (95% CI, 22.8%–38.0%) decrease for a 10–mm Hg decrease, and 56.2% (95% CI, 43.7%–65.9%) decrease for a 22.7–mm Hg decrease in SBP (22.7 mm Hg represents a shift from the current mean SBP to 115 mm Hg).

Conclusions

Risk of many CVDs is influenced by long‐term differences in SBP. The burden of a broad range of CVDs could be substantially reduced by long‐term population‐wide reductions in the distribution of blood pressure.
Mendelian Randomization Analyses Suggest Childhood Body Size Indirectly Influences End Points From Across the Cardiovascular Disease Spectrum Through Adult Body Size
Authors: Power Grace M. , Tyrrell Jessica , Frayling Timothy M. , Davey Smith George , Richardson Tom G.
Published: September 2021

Background

Obesity is associated with long‐term health consequences including cardiovascular disease. Separating the independent effects of childhood and adulthood obesity on cardiovascular disease risk is challenging as children with obesity typically remain overweight throughout the lifecourse.

Methods and Results

This study used 2‐sample univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization to estimate the effect of childhood body size both independently and after accounting for adult body size on 12 endpoints across the cardiovascular disease disease spectrum. Univariable analyses identified strong evidence of a total effect between genetically predicted childhood body size and increased risk of atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins. However, evidence of a direct effect was weak after accounting for adult body size using multivariable Mendelian randomization, suggesting that childhood body size indirectly increases risk of these 8 disease outcomes via the pathway involving adult body size.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the effect of genetically predicted childhood body size on the cardiovascular disease outcomes analyzed in this study are a result of larger body size persisting into adulthood. Further research is necessary to ascertain the critical timepoints where, if ever, the detrimental impact of obesity initiated in early life begins to become immutable.