bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects for direct searches for light Higgs bosons at the ILC with 250 GeV
Authors: Drechsel P. , Moortgat-Pick G. , Weiglein G.
Published: October 2020

The particle discovered in the Higgs boson searches at the LHC with a mass of about 125 GeV is compatible within the present uncertainties with the Higgs boson predicted in the Standard Model (SM), but it could also be identified with one of the neutral Higgs bosons in a variety of beyond the SM (BSM) theories with an extended Higgs sector. The possibility that an additional Higgs boson (or even more than one) could be lighter than the state that has been detected at 125 GeV occurs generically in many BSM models and has some support from slight excesses that were observed above the background expectations in Higgs searches at LEP and at the LHC. The couplings between additional Higgs fields and the electroweak gauge bosons in BSM theories could be probed by model-independent Higgs searches at lepton colliders. We present a generator-level extrapolation of the limits obtained at LEP to the case of a future$$e^+e^-$$e+e-collider, both for the search where the light Higgs boson decays into a pair of bottom quarks and for the decay-mode-independent search utilising the recoil method. We find that at the ILC with a centre-of-mass energy of 250 GeV, an integrated luminosity of 500 fb$$^{-1}$$-1and polarised beams, the sensitivity to a light Higgs boson with reduced couplings to gauge bosons is improved by more than an order of magnitude compared to the LEP limits and goes much beyond the projected indirect sensitivity of the HL-LHC with 3000 fb$$^{-1}$$-1from the rate measurements of the detected state at 125 GeV.
Roughness-Length-Based Characteristic Analysis of Intracranial EEG and Epileptic Seizure Prediction
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Yang Rendi , Zhou Weidong
Published: October 2020

To identify precursors of epileptic seizures, an EEG characteristic analysis is carried out based on a roughness-length method, where fractal dimensions and intercept values are extracted to measure the structure complexity and the amplitude roughness of EEG signals in different phases. Using the significant changes of the fractal dimension and intercept in the preictal phase with respect to those in the interictal phase, a patient-specific seizure prediction algorithm is then proposed by combining with a gradient boosting classifier. The probabilistic outputs of the trained gradient boosting classifier are further processed by threshold comparison and rule-based judgment to distinguish preictal EEG from interictal EEG and to generate seizure alerts. The prediction algorithm was evaluated on 20 patients’ intracranial EEG recordings from the Freiburg EEG database, which contains the preictal periods of 65 seizures and 499[Formula: see text]h interictal EEG. Setting the seizure prediction horizon as 2[Formula: see text]min, averaged sensitivity values of 90.42% and 91.67% with averaged false prediction rates of 0.12/h and 0.10/h were achieved for seizure occurrence periods of 30 and 50[Formula: see text]min, respectively. These results demonstrate the ability of fractal dimension and intercept metrics in predicting the occurrence of seizures.
Signatures of minimal length from Casimir–Polder forces with neutrons
Authors: Pinto Fabrizio
Published: October 2020

In this paper, dispersion forces between neutrons are suggested as a probe of the fundamental structure of spacetime. Corrections to standard expressions for the interparticle potentials are obtained through computer algebra system strategies and a novel heuristic argument for comparison with field theory computations. It is confirmed that, to first order in the deformation parameter, the unretarded ([Formula: see text]) van der Waals potential is unchanged. The modified retarded Casimir–Polder potential, obtained from the minimal length zero-point field, compares satisfactorily in both sign and magnitude with rigorous calculations. It is shown that low energy neutron scattering can provide a gain in excess of [Formula: see text] orders of magnitude over atomic physics experiments in constraining corrections due to the existence of a minimal length.
MACHINING OF HARDSTONE QUARTZ WITH MODIFIED AJM PROCESS USING HOT SiC ABRASIVES: ANALYSIS, MODELING, OPTIMIZATION, AND COST ANALYSIS
Authors: PRADHAN SUBHADIP , DAS SUDHANSU RANJAN , NANDA BASANTA KUMAR , JENA PANKAJ CHARAN , DHUPAL DEBABRATA
Published: October 2020

Machining of hard and brittle materials such as engineering ceramics, glass, and silicon is a formidable task. Unlike cutting processes employing plasma and lasers, better machining capabilities of abrasive jet machining are characterized by thermally damaged free surface which is highly competitive as well as important for survival of materials in service. In this paper, an attempt has been made to combine hot abrasives and compressed air to form a hot abrasive air jet. This study aims to analyze the cutting performance in hot-abrasive jet machining (HAJM) of hardstone quartz concerning surface roughness, taper angle (TA), and material removal rate (MRR). Combined approach of Box–Behnken design — analysis of variance, response surface methodology, and statistical technique (here desirability function approach), followed by computational approach (here genetic algorithm), is, respectively, employed for experimental investigation, predictive modeling, and multi-response optimization. Thereafter, the effectiveness of proposed two multi-objective optimization techniques is evaluated by confirmation test and subsequently, the best optimal solution (i.e. at air pressure of 7[Formula: see text]kgf/cm2, abrasive temperature of [Formula: see text]C, stand-off distance of 4 mm) is used for economic analysis. Result shows that the most significant parameter is abrasive temperature for surface roughness, whereas it is pressure in case of both TA and MRR. Applications of hot abrasives in AJM process have shown attention in enhancing the cutting performance for material removal. Due to lower percentage contribution of error (6.68% to Rz, 9.89% to TA, and 6.42% in case of MRR), a higher correlation coefficient ([Formula: see text]) was obtained with the quadratic regression model, which showed values of 0.92, 0.9, and 0.93 for surface roughness, TA, and MRR, respectively.
Quantum arithmetic operations based on quantum fourier transform on signed integers
Authors: Şahin Engin
Published: October 2020

The quantum Fourier transform (QFT) brings efficiency in many respects, especially usage of resource, for most operations on quantum computers. In this study, the existing QFT-based and non-QFT-based quantum arithmetic operations are examined. The capabilities of QFT-based addition and multiplication are improved with some modifications. The proposed operations are compared with the nearest quantum arithmetic operations. Furthermore, novel QFT-based subtraction, division and exponentiation operations are presented. The proposed arithmetic operations can perform nonmodular operations on all signed numbers without any limitation by using less resources. In addition, novel quantum circuits of two’s complement, absolute value and comparison operations are also presented by using the proposed QFT-based addition and subtraction operations.
How Do Urbanization and Urban Agglomeration Affect CO2 Emissions in South Asia? Testing Non-Linearity Puzzle with Dynamic STIRPAT Model
Authors: FAN Hongzhong , HASHMI Shujahat Haider , HABIB Yasir , ALI Minhaj
Published: October 2020

The issue of urbanization has gained much importance over the last few decades due to its significant influence on economic growth and environmental quality, especially in developing countries. The non-linearity puzzle has been a long-debated issue, and prior studies provide mixed evidence. This study addresses the issue of urbanization using the measure of urban agglomeration and investigates the non-linear relation between urbanization and CO2 emissions at the regional level. The South Asian region represents approximately one-fourth of the world population and its urbanization needs to be addressed properly. This paper uses the annual data over the period of 1974–2014 for four South Asian countries, namely, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The panel cointegration tests establish the long-run relation between urbanization, urban agglomeration, economic growth, trade openness, energy consumption, financial development, and CO2 emissions. The fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) model further confirms the existence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in South Asia. Moreover, urbanization has an inverted U-shaped relation with CO2 emissions, while urban agglomeration has a U-shaped nexus with CO2 emissions for overall sample. The bidirectional causal relationship has also been confirmed between urbanization and CO2 emissions, between urban agglomeration and CO2 emissions, between financial development and CO2 emissions both in the long-run and short-run. On the other hand, unidirectional causality runs from economic growth, trade openness, and energy consumption to CO2 emissions in the long-run. The rising trend of urban agglomeration in metropolitan cities in South Asia is adversely affecting the environment. The current study has implications for policymakers and respective governments to adhere to more stringent urban planning.
Uncertainty assessment applied to marine subsurface datasets
Authors: Kint Lars , Hademenos Vasilis , De Mol Robin , Stafleu Jan , van Heteren Sytze , Van Lancker Vera
Published: October 2020

A recently released voxel model quantifying aggregate resources of the Belgian part of the North Sea includes lithological properties of all Quaternary sediments and modelling-related uncertainty. As the underlying borehole data come from various sources and cover a long time-span, data-related uncertainties should be accounted for as well. Applying a tiered data-uncertainty assessment to a composite lithology dataset with uniform, standardized lithological descriptions and rigorously completed metadata fields, uncertainties were qualified and quantified for positioning, sampling and vintage. The uncertainty on horizontal positioning combines navigational errors, on-board and off-deck offsets and underwater drift. Sampling-gear uncertainty evaluates the suitability of each instrument in terms of its efficiency of sediment yield per lithological class. Vintage uncertainty provides a likelihood of temporal change since the moment of sampling, using the mobility of fine-scale bedforms as an indicator. For each uncertainty component, quality flags from 1 (very uncertain) to 5 (very certain) were defined and converted into corresponding uncertainty percentages meeting the input requirements of the voxel model. Obviously, an uncertainty-based data selection procedure, aimed at improving the confidence of data products, reduces data density. Whether or not this density reduction is detrimental to the spatial coverage of data products, will depend on their intended use. At the very least, demonstrable reductions in spatial coverage will help to highlight the need for future data acquisition and to optimize survey plans. By opening up our subsurface model with associated data uncertainties in a public decision support application, policy makers and other end users are better able to visualize overall confidence and identify areas with insufficient coverage meeting their needs. Having to work with a borehole dataset that is increasingly limited with depth below the seabed, engineering geologists and geospatial analysts in particular will profit from a better visualization of data-related uncertainty.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Mapping the Geology and Topography of the European Seas (EMODnet) collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/EMODnet
Neural control of gut homeostasis
Authors: Abdullah Nasser , Defaye Manon , Altier Christophe
Published: October 2020

The gut-brain axis is a coordinated communication system that not only maintains homeostasis, but significantly influences higher cognitive functions and emotions, as well as neurological and behavioral disorders. Among the large populations of sensory and motor neurons that innervate the gut, insights into the function of primary afferent nociceptors, whose cell bodies reside in the dorsal root ganglia and nodose ganglia, have revealed their multiple crosstalk with several cell types within the gut wall, including epithelial, vascular, and immune cells. These bidirectional communications have immunoregulatory functions, control host response to pathogens, and modulate sensations associated with gastrointestinal disorders, through activation of immune cells and glia in the peripheral and central nervous system, respectively. Here, we will review the cellular and neurochemical basis of these interactions at the periphery, in dorsal root ganglia, and in the spinal cord. We will discuss the research gaps that should be addressed to get a better understanding of the multifunctional role of sensory neurons in maintaining gut homeostasis and regulating visceral sensitivity.
Repetitive antegrade contraction: a novel response to sustained esophageal distension is modulated by cholinergic influence
Authors: Carlson Dustin A. , Kou Wenjun , Masihi Melina , Acharya Shashank , Baumann Alexandra J. , Donnan Erica N. , Kahrilas Peter J. , Pandolfino John E.
Published: October 2020

Repetitive antegrade contraction, a unique, patterned, motor response to sustained esophageal distension, is observed on functional luminal imaging probe panometry in healthy controls and patients with normal esophageal motility; however, the mechanisms related to this response are unclear. Among healthy, asymptomatic volunteers, cholinergic inhibition with atropine reduced the vigor and triggering of distension-induced esophageal contractility, although the rate at which contractions occurred in a repetitive antegrade contraction pattern was unchanged by atropine.
Lysyl oxidase directly contributes to extracellular matrix production and fibrosis in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Nguyen Xinh-Xinh , Nishimoto Tetsuya , Takihara Takahisa , Mlakar Logan , Bradshaw Amy D. , Feghali-Bostwick Carol
Published: October 2020

Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in fibroproliferative disorders such as systemic sclerosis (SSc) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a copper-dependent amine oxidase whose primary function is the covalent crosslinking of collagens in the extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigated the role of LOX in the pathophysiology of SSc. LOX mRNA and protein levels were increased in lung fibroblasts of SSc patients compared with healthy controls and IPF patients. In vivo, bleomycin induced LOX mRNA expression in lung tissues, and LOX activity increased in the circulation of mice with pulmonary fibrosis, suggesting that circulating LOX parallels levels in lung tissues. Circulating levels of LOX were reduced upon amelioration of fibrosis with an antifibrotic peptide. LOX induced ECM production at the transcriptional level in lung fibroblasts, human lungs, and human skin maintained in organ culture. In vivo, LOX synergistically exacerbated fibrosis in bleomycin-treated mice. Further, LOX increased the production of interleukin (IL)-6, and the increase was mediated by LOX-induced c-Fos expression, the nuclear localization of c-Fos, and its engagement with the IL-6 promoter region. Our findings demonstrate that LOX expression and activity correlate with fibrosis in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. LOX induced ECM production via upregulation of IL-6 and nuclear localization of c-Fos. Thus, LOX has a direct pathogenic role in SSc-associated fibrosis that is independent of its crosslinking function. Our findings also suggest that measuring circulating LOX levels and activity can be used for monitoring response to antifibrotic therapy.
Attenuation of pulmonary injury by an inhaled MMP inhibitor in the endotoxin lung injury model
Authors: Gerber Adam , Goldklang Monica , Stearns Kyle , Ma Xinran , Xiao Rui , Zelonina Tina , D’Armiento Jeanine
Published: October 2020

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by pulmonary edema and poor gas exchange resulting from severe inflammatory lung injury. Neutrophilic infiltration and increased pulmonary vascular permeability are hallmarks of early ARDS and precipitate a self-perpetuating cascade of inflammatory signaling. The biochemical processes initiating these events remain unclear. Typically associated with extracellular matrix degradation, recent data suggest matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are regulators of pulmonary inflammation. To demonstrate that inhalation of a broad MMP inhibitor attenuates LPS induced pulmonary inflammation. Nebulized CGS27023AM (CGS) was administered to LPS-injured mice. Pulmonary CGS levels were examined by mass spectroscopy. Inflammatory scoring of hematoxylin-eosin sections, examination of vascular integrity via lung wet/dry and bronchoalveolar lvage/serum FITC-albumin ratios were performed. Cleaved caspase-3 levels were also assessed. Differential cell counts and pulse-chase labeling were utilized to determine the effects of CGS on neutrophil migration. The effects of CGS on human neutrophil migration and viability were examined using Boyden chambers and MTT assays. Nebulization successfully delivered CGS to the lungs. Treatment decreased pulmonary inflammatory scores, edema, and apoptosis in LPS treated animals. Neutrophil chemotaxis was reduced by CGS treatment, with inhalation causing significant reductions in both the total number and newly produced bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells infiltrating the lung. Mechanistic studies on cells isolated from humans demonstrate that CGS-treated neutrophils exhibit decreased chemotaxis. The protective effect observed following treatment with a nonspecific MMP inhibitor indicates that one or more MMPs mediate the development of pulmonary edema and neutrophil infiltration in response to LPS injury. In accordance with this, inhaled MMP inhibitors warrant further study as a potential new therapeutic avenue for treatment of acute lung injury.
Inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium channels exacerbates anoxic coma inLocusta migratoria
Authors: Van Dusen Rachel A. , Shuster-Hyman Hannah , Robertson R. Meldrum
Published: October 2020

We demonstrate the involvement of ATP-sensitive K+(KATP) channels during recovery from spreading depolarization (SD) induced via anoxic coma in locusts. KATPinhibition using glybenclamide impaired ion homeostasis across the blood-brain barrier, resulting in a longer time to recovery of transperineurial potential following SD. Comparison with ouabain indicates that the effects of glybenclamide are not mediated by the Na+/K+-ATPase but are a result of KATPchannel inhibition.
Inference of Process Capability Index Cpy for 3-Burr-XII Distribution Based on Progressive Type-II Censoring
Authors: EL-Sagheer Rashad M. , Hasaballah Mustafa M.
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we discussed the estimation of the index Cpy for a 3-Burr-XII distribution based on Progressive Type-II censoring. The maximum likelihood and Bayes method have been used to obtain the estimating of the index Cpy. The Fisher information matrix has been used to construct approximate confidence intervals. Also, bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs) of the estimators have been obtained. The Bayesian estimates for the index Cpy have been obtained by the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Also, the credible intervals are constructed by using MCMC samples. Two real-datasets have been discussed using the proposed index.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytokines in Patients with Neurosyphilis: The Significance of Interleukin‐10 for the Disease
Authors: Li Wurong , Wu Wenqing , Chang Haoxiao , Jiang Meijuan , Gao Junhua , Xu Yun , Xu Dongmei , Yin Linlin , Zhang Xinghu
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines in neurosyphilis (NS), analyze the differences between asymptomatic NS (ANS) and symptomatic NS (SNS), and explore the diagnostic value of these cytokines. We enrolled 45 patients with a diagnosis of NS, including 18 patients with ANS and 27 patients with SNS, whose cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected before penicillin therapy. Twelve patients with syphilis but non‐NS (NNS) were also included. We measured the CSF levels of interleukin‐ (IL‐) 1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐17A, IL‐21, and tumor necrosis factor‐ (TNF‐) α; the CSF levels of the microglial activation marker soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2); and the CSF levels of the neuronal injury marker neurofilament light proteins (NFL) using the human cytokine multiplex assay or ELISA. Of the measured cytokines in the CSF, only IL‐10 levels were significantly increased in NS patients compared to NNS patients (p < 0.001). In a subgroup analysis, the CSF levels of IL‐10 were significantly elevated in SNS patients compared to ANS and NNS patients (p = 0.024 and p < 0.001, respectively). The CSF IL‐10 levels had a significant correlation with the markers of microglial activation and neuronal injury, and they also correlated with CSF rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer, CSF white blood cell (WBC) count, and CSF protein concentration. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of CSF IL‐10 in the diagnosis of NS and ANS were 0.920 and 0.891, respectively. The corresponding sensitivities/specificities were 86.7%/91.7% and 83.3%/91.7%, respectively. Therefore, the excessive production of IL‐10 might facilitate bacterial persistent infection, play an important role in the pathogenesis of NS, and associate with the progression of the disease. CSF IL‐10 concentration had a useful value in the diagnosis of NS, especially in ANS.
On Some Metric Inequalities and Applications
Authors: Aydi Hassen , Samet Bessem
Published: October 2020

We derive a new inequality in metric spaces and provide its geometric interpretation. Some applications of our result are given, including metric inequalities in Lebesgue spaces, matrices inequalities, multiplicative metric inequalities, and partial metric inequalities. Our main result is a generalization of that obtained by Dragomir and Gosa.
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Expedites the Healing Process in Contact Frostbite
Authors: Hassan Waseem , Buabeid Manal Ali , Kalsoom Umme , Bakht Sahar , Akhtar Imran , Iqbal Furqan , Arafa El-Shaimaa A.
Published: October 2020

Frostbite is caused due to extreme vulnerability to cold, resulting in damage of deeper and superficial tissues alike. In this study, we report the anti‐inflammatory and wound‐healing properties of aqueous methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa (Cs.Cr) against contact frostbite. Thirty rats were divided into five groups including three treatment groups with increasing doses of Cs.Cr, a standard drug group receiving acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and a metal bar‐induced frostbite group. Frostbite injury was induced by a 3 × 3.5 cm metal bar frozen up to ‐79°C on shaved skin for continuous 3 minutes. Wounded area percentages were recorded to measure the healing rate in response to Cs.Cr administration. Haematological parameters and malondialdehyde content were also noted. On treatment with Cs.Cr, the healing rate is drastically increased and lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde was decreased in a dose‐dependent manner. Results were compared with frostbite and ASA (standard drug group). These results indicate that Cs.Cr possesses excellent wound‐healing properties against frostbite injury and can prove to be a prospective compound in such conditions.
Differential Expression and Bioinformatic Analysis of the circRNA Expression in Migraine Patients
Authors: Lin Jinghan , Shi Shanshan , Chen Qihui , Pan Yonghui
Published: October 2020

Background. CircRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that have recently been described and shown to regulate miRNA functionality. While recent studies have suggested such circRNAs to be associated with pain related diseases in humans, no comprehensive migraine‐related circRNA profiles have been generated, and there is currently no clear understanding of whether they can serve as regulators of migraine pathology. Methods. We initially conducted a circRNA microarray analysis of the plasma of migraine patients and healthy controls. Based upon these data, we then selected 8 differentially expressed circRNAs and confirmed their expression in more migraine patient plasma samples via real‐time PCR. We then performed functional and pathway enrichment analyses. Lastly, using a robust rank aggregation approach, we constructed a ceRNA network according to predicted circRNA–miRNA and miRNA–mRNA pairs in these migraine patient samples. Results. We were able to detect 2039 circRNAs in our patient samples, with 794 of 1245 these circRNAs being up‐ and downregulated in migraine patients relative to controls, respectively (fold change ≥ 1.5, p < 0.01). A qRT‐PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of hsa_circRNA_100236, hsa_circRNA_102413, and hsa_circRNA_000367 was significantly enhanced in migraine patients, whereas the expression of hsa_circRNA_103809, hsa_circRNA_103670, and hsa_circRNA_101833 was significantly reduced in these individuals relative to healthy controls. We found these differentially regulated circRNAs to be associated with numerous predicted biological processes, with enrichment analyses suggesting that they may modulate the PI3K‐Akt signaling so as to promote inflammation to drive migraine development. However, further research will be needed to formally test these mechanistic possibilities and to validate these circRNAs as potential biomarkers of migraine patients. Conclusions. Our results offer new potential insights into the mechanistic basis of this condition and suggest that hsa_circRNA_000367 and hsa_circRNA_102413 may offer value as regulators of migraine pathology.
Reduction of Graphene Oxide by Laser Scribing in Different Atmospheres and Application in Humidity Sensing
Authors: Scardaci Vittorio , Fichera Luca , Fragalà Maria E. , Tuccitto Nunzio , Marletta Giovanni , Compagnini Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Laser scribing, by far proposed as a method for efficiently transforming graphene oxide into reduced graphene, has been employed, using a CW laser beam, to study the modifications of graphene oxide scribed under different controlled atmospheres, including air, N2, Ar, and a 95 : 5 (v/v) Ar/H2 mixture. We have found that laser scribing effects, including chemical composition, order degree, and electrical properties, strongly depend upon the atmosphere during the irradiation. The electrical properties of the various materials, obtained in different atmospheres, have been evaluated with respect to the sensing properties towards humidity, the materials produced in pure Argon yielding the highest sensitivity and the fastest response, while related Raman microspectroscopy measurements showed that both Ar and Ar-H2 mixture produce the highest order among the various samples. The results stress the importance and the potentialities of controlling the irradiation atmosphere in order to tune the composition and electrical properties of the laser-scribed graphene oxide materials.
Vitamin E and Selenium Treatment Alleviates Saline Environment-Induced Oxidative Stress through Enhanced Antioxidants and Growth Performance in Suckling Kids of Beetal Goats
Authors: Mahmood Nasir , Hameed Amjad , Hussain Tarique
Published: October 2020

Salinity is a worldwide, threatening problem affecting socioeconomic status globally. Saline land comprises salt content in soil, plants, and drinking water. Livestock farming is the worthy option for proper utilization of saline land in a cost-effective approach. Animals reared on this land experience a variety of stresses. Such stresses promote oxidative stress and reduced animal performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidative function of vitamin E and selenium (Se) on pregnant/nonpregnant animals reared on the saline environment. A total of 36 multiparous pregnant (n=18) and nonpregnant (n=18) goats weighing about 38-45 (average 41.5) kg were equally divided into control and supplemented groups. The experiment lasted from 120 days of gestation to 15 days after parturition for pregnant goats and 0 to 45 days for nonpregnant cyclic goats (>50 days post-kidding). The supplemented group was administered vitamin E (1000 mg/kg BW) and selenium (3 mg/50 kg BW), while the control group was kept on normal saline (0.9% NaCl) with the same route 15 days apart. The blood samples were collected with 15 days apart during the entire experimental period of 45 days and subjected to assessment of enzymatic/nonenzymatic antioxidants, hydrolytic enzymes, oxidants, stress metabolic biomarkers, Se, and progesterone concentration of (pregnant) animals. Results revealed that vitamin E and Se supplementation significantly enhanced the activity of enzymatic (catalase and peroxidase) and nonenzymatic antioxidants such as total phenolic/flavonoid content and vitamin C and increased blood plasma level of Se concentration in comparison with the control group (P<0.01). Exposure to antioxidant supplementation mitigated lipid peroxidation and enhanced progesterone level and total antioxidant capacity (P<0.01) as compared to the control group in pregnant goats. Administration of vitamin E and selenium promoted kid survival rate (100%) along with increased initial birth weight, daily average weight gain, and total weight gain in comparison with the control group. Besides, the twinning rate and sex ratio were also recorded in pregnant animals. It is concluded that vitamin E and Se supplementation ameliorated salinity-induced oxidative stress, improved antioxidant status, and enhanced reproductive and growth performance of suckling kids reared on saline land.
Degradation of the Organochlorinated Herbicide Diuron by Rainforest Basidiomycetes
Authors: Henn Caroline , Arakaki Ricardo M. , Monteiro Diego Alves , Boscolo Mauricio , da Silva Roberto , Gomes Eleni
Published: October 2020

The main organochlorinated compounds used on agricultural crops are often recalcitrant, affecting nontarget organisms and contaminating rivers or groundwater. Diuron (N‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐N ′,N ′‐dimethylurea) is a chlorinated herbicide widely used in sugarcane plantations. Here, we evaluated the ability of 13 basidiomycete strains of growing in a contaminated culture medium and degrading the xenobiotic. Dissipation rates in culture medium with initial 25 mg/L of diuron ranged from 7.3 to 96.8%, being Pluteus cubensis SXS 320 the most efficient strain, leaving no detectable residues after diuron metabolism. Pycnoporus sanguineus MCA 16 removed 56% of diuron after 40 days of cultivation, producing three metabolites more polar than parental herbicide, two of them identified as being DCPU and DCPMU. Despite of the strong inductive effect of diuron upon laccase synthesis and secretion, the application of crude enzymatic extracts of P. sanguineus did not catalyzed the breakdown of the herbicide in vitro, indicating that diuron biodegradation was not related to this oxidative enzyme.
RiPerC Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia Injury through Regulation of miR-98/PIK3IP1/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Dengwen , Mei Li , Long Ruichun , Cui Can , Sun Yi , Wang Sheng , Xia Zhengyuan
Published: October 2020

Background. Cerebral ischemic stroke is a refractory disease which seriously endangers human health. Remote ischemic perconditioning (RiPerC) by which the sublethal ischemic stimulus is administered during the ischemic event is beneficial after an acute stroke. However, the regulatory mechanism of RiPerC that relieves cerebral ischemic injury is still not completely clear. Methods. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of RiPerC in a rat model of ischemia induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected intracerebroventricularly with miR-98 agomir, miR-98 antagomir, or their negative controls (agomir-NC, antagomir-NC) 2 h before MCAO or MCAO+RiPerC followed by animal behavior tests and infraction volume measurement at 24 h after MCAO. The expression of miR-98, PIK3IP1, and tight junction proteins in rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissues was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot (WB). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the rat serum. Results. The results showed that in MCAO group, the expression of PIK3IP1 was upregulated, but decreased after RiPerC treatment. Then, we found that PIK3IP1 was a potential target of miR-98. Treatment with miR-98 agomir decreased the infraction volume, reduced brain edema, and improved neurological functions compared to control rats. But treating with miR-98 antagomir in RiPerC group, the protective effect on cerebral ischemia injury was canceled. Conclusion. Our finding indicated that RiPerC inhibited the MCAO-induced expression of PIK3IP1 through upregulated miR-98, thereby reducing the apoptosis induced by PIK3IP1 through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus reducing the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Limited Renal Intravascular Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Quintero Vega Guillermo Enrique , Osorio Daniel , de la Hoz Valle José Antonio , Rodríguez Feria Daniela
Published: October 2020

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is characterized by the proliferation of cancerous cells into the intraluminal space of the blood vessels. It has a low incidence rate of 0.095 cases per 1,000,000. The clinical presentation is insidious and unspecific, often delaying the diagnosis. IVLBCL can be diagnosed through body images and histopathology analysis. This neoplasm averages a 60% response rate to current chemotherapy treatment, favoring rituximab, and doxorubicin-based regimen if it is diagnosed in time. Here, we present the case of a 56-year-old man admitted to our hospital with a fever who was eventually diagnosed with IVLBCL. He presented to the consultation with anemia, fever, and splenomegaly. An infection panel, a bone marrow biopsy, and a PET-CT scan were performed and ruled out the possibility of infections and neoplasms. The patient later developed edematous syndrome. As a result, a renal biopsy was performed which tested positive for intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. Currently, the patient has been in complete remission for 33 months. Along with presenting this specific case, we also reviewed previously published cases of IVLBCL to illustrate the renal involvement of this pathology.
Management of the Uncommon Bladder Cancers: A Single-Center Experience over 10 Years
Authors: Kadouri Youssef , Lachkar Salim , Dergamoun Hamza , El Sayegh Hachem , Benslimane Lounis , Nouini Yassine
Published: October 2020

Background. Under the name of uncommon bladder cancers are gathered rare histological entities which represent less than 5% of bladder tumors. There is not a clear and consensual therapeutic management for these entities. Purpose. To review a single-institution 10-year experience with rare form of bladder cancers detailing the diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcome. Materials and Methods. We performed a retrospective review of 27 medical records of rare bladder cancer form treated at our center between February 2006 and February 2015. The clinicopathologic features are reported with emphasis on treatment and survival. Results. Mean patient age was 65.5 ± 20 yr and 70% of patients were males. Smoking background was found in 16 cases, chronic bladder irritation factors were found in 12 cases, and past urinary tract infection was found in 11 cases. The main symptom was total hematuria (93%) causing an anemia in 16 cases. The two mean histological forms were epidermoid carcinoma (37%) and adenocarcinoma (22%). 26% of patients were found to have extended invasive tumors (T4) at diagnosis. Metastatic disease was confirmed in 8 cases. Our patients were managed by a wide range of therapeutic modalities as total cystectomy with bilateral lymph node dissection (63%), palliative chemotherapy (30%), or concomitant radiochemotherapy (7%). 55.6% of patients were alive one year after diagnosis. Epidermoid carcinoma has the best prognosis followed by leiomyosarcoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma. Neuroendocrine carcinoma has the worst outcome. The overall 5-year survival rate is 33.3%. Conclusion. The rarity and small size of these tumors justify the absence of clear and consensual therapeutic management. No role of total cystectomy concerning the conclusions could be drawn but elements suggest this may be the treatment of choice. The highly aggressive nature of those lesions justifies an aggressive and fast therapy when feasible which gives the best outcomes.
Potential Antioxidant Activity of Calcium and Selected Oxidative Stress Markers in Lead- and Cadmium-Exposed Workers
Authors: Szlacheta Zbigniew , Wąsik Marta , Machoń-Grecka Anna , Kasperczyk Aleksandra , Dobrakowski Michał , Bellanti Francesco , Szlacheta Patryk , Kasperczyk Sławomir
Published: October 2020

Occupational lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure occurs during processing and casting of nonferrous metals such as zinc. In contrast to Pb and Cd, Ca is essential for living organisms due to its important role in a multitude of functions, from cell signaling to bone growth. Pb and Cd exposure affects calcium metabolism in various ways. The aim of this study was to investigate the blood levels of Pb, Cd, and Ca and the levels of selected oxidative stress biomarkers in workers exposed to Pb and Cd. Population groups included 264 male employees in a lead-zinc smelter. The study population was divided into two subgroups based on the median of Ca serum level (2.42 mmol/l): the low-Ca-level group (L-Ca group) and the high-Ca-level group (H-Ca group). Ca level was significantly higher in the H-Ca group than in the L-Ca group due to the study design (by 26%). The level of zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) was significantly higher in the L-Ca group than in the H-Ca group by 13%, while the blood lead levels (PbB) were similar in the examined groups. The level of cadmium (CdB) was significantly higher in the L-Ca group than in the H-Ca group by 33%. From oxidative stress markers in serum, only the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and ceruloplasmin (CER) were significantly higher in the L-Ca group than in the H-Ca group, by 12% and 4%, respectively. The correlation analysis showed negative correlations between Ca level and the levels of PbB, ZPP, CdB, and MDA. The presented results indicate that Ca level modulates the serum concentration of Cd and has an impact on Pb-induced impairment of heme synthesis. The higher Ca levels may lead to a decrease in the concentration of lipid peroxidation products. Moreover, serum calcium level seems to be able to modify the level of acute-phase proteins. Obtained results suggest that higher Ca level may be useful in reducing Cd level in occupationally exposed workers.
Molecular Targets and Pathways Contributing to the Effects of Wenxin Keli on Atrial Fibrillation Based on a Network Pharmacology Approach
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Zhang Xiaolin , Zhang Xi , Cai Yi , Cheng Minghui , Yan Chenghui , Han Yaling
Published: October 2020

Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The traditional Chinese medicine Wenxin Keli (WXKL) can effectively improve clinical symptoms and is safe for the treatment of AF. However, the active substances in WXKL and the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects on AF remain unclear. In this study, the bioactive compounds in WXKL, as well as their molecular targets and associated pathways, were evaluated by systems pharmacology. Materials and Methods. Chemical constituents and potential targets of WXKL were obtained via the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP). The TTD, DrugBank, DisGeNET, and GeneCards databases were used to collect AF‐related target genes. Based on common targets related to both AF and WXKL, a protein interaction network was generated using the STRING database. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGGs) pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Network diagrams of the active component‐target and protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) were constructed using Cytoscape. Results. A total of 30 active ingredients in WXKL and 219 putative target genes were screened, including 83 genes identified as therapeutic targets in AF; these overlapping genes were considered candidate targets for subsequent analyses. The effect of treating AF was mainly correlated with the regulation of target proteins, such as IL‐6, TNF, AKT1, VEGFA, CXCL8, TP53, CCL2, MMP9, CASP3, and NOS3. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these targets are associated with the inflammatory response, oxidative stress reaction, immune regulation, cardiac energy metabolism, serotonergic synapse, and other pathways. Conclusions. This study demonstrated the multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel characteristics of WXKL, providing a basis for further studies of the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of WXKL in AF.
Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of the Effects of Tai Chi on Blood Pressure
Authors: Dong Xiaosheng , Ding Meng , Yi Xiangren
Published: October 2020

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of Tai Chi on blood pressure (BP) using the meta‐analysis. Methods. This paper used 6 e‐resource databases, and randomized controlled trials on the role of Tai Chi on blood pressure were retrieved. Besides, the meta‐analysis was conducted according to the guidelines of the Moose‐recommendations and applied with Review Manager 5.3, and the risk of bias assessment was performed with the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The inclusion, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were independently finished by two researchers. Results. There are 24 trials meeting the criteria of inclusion and the results were reviewed. The meta‐analysis indicates that, compared with no exercise, Tai Chi had the influence of lowering systolic blood pressure (mean difference = −6.07, 95%CI (−8.75, −3.39), P < 0.00001) and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference MD = −3.83, 95%CI (−4.97, −2.69), P < 0.00001). No significant discrepancies in all outcomes between Tai Chi and other aerobic exercises were discovered. Conclusion. Tai Chi can significantly reduce systolic and diastolic pressure than inactivity. However, Tai Chi does not show advantages in reducing blood pressure compared to other aerobic exercises. The trial is registered with CRD42020175306.
The Time Course of Perceptual Closure of Incomplete Visual Objects: An Event-Related Potential Study
Authors: Liu Chenyang , Sha Sha , Zhang Xiujun , Bian Zhiming , Lu Lin , Hao Bin , Li Lina , Luo Hongge , Wang Xiaotian , Wang Changming , Chen Chao
Published: October 2020

Perceptual organization is an important part of visual and auditory information processing. In the case of visual occlusion, whether the loss of information in images could be recovered and thus perceptually closed affects object recognition. In particular, many elderly subjects have defects in object recognition ability, which may be closely related to the abnormalities of perceptual functions. This phenomenon even can be observed in the early stage of dementia. Therefore, studying the neural mechanism of perceptual closure and its relationship with sensory and cognitive processing is important for understanding how the human brain recognizes objects, inspiring the development of neuromorphic intelligent algorithms of object recognition. In this study, a new experiment was designed to explore the realistic process of perceptual closure under occlusion and intact conditions of faces and building. The analysis of the differences in ERP components P1, N1, and Ncl indicated that the subjective awareness of perceptual closure mainly occurs in Ncl, but incomplete information has been processed and showed different manners compared to complete stimuli in N170 for facial materials. Although occluded, faces, but not buildings, still maintain the specificity of perceptual processing. The Ncl by faces and buildings did not show significant differences in both amplitude and latency, suggesting a “completing” process regardless of categorical features.
Trace Element Status and Environmental Implications of Soils and Zea mays from Farmed Dumpsites in the Bamenda Metropolis, North-West Cameroon
Authors: Nelson Alakeh Mofor , Buleng Tamungang Njoyim Estella , Kenneth Mbene , Njumbo Blaise Yuhinwenkeh , Biosengazeh Nchofua Festus
Published: October 2020

This study assessed some physicochemical and trace element properties of soils and Zea mays from farmed dumpsites in the Bamenda metropolis, North-West Cameroon. The growth in population and metal workshops in Bamenda has resulted in the dumping of large quantities of wastes on agricultural soils. Thus, the fear of these agricultural soils and crops being contaminated by waste dumped on them is a call for concern because most of the populations rely on agriculture for survival. A soil and Zea mays sample each was collected from three farmed dumpsites (Nkwen, Mankon, and Bamendakwe) in the Bamenda metropolis and analyzed for physicochemical and trace element properties using standard procedures. The results of physicochemical analysis revealed that the soils had pH values ranging from 5.63 to 7.49, average organic matter, low total nitrogen, high C/N ratio, and high CEC, and the soil textural class was clay loam for soils of Nkwen and sandy loam for soils of Mankon and Bamendakwe. The content of bases in Zea mays was high compared to those in the soil. The concentration of Fe (14635.6 µg/g) in soils of Bamendakwe and Cu (157.17 µg/g) and Zn (1438.36 µg/g) in soils of Mankon had values which were above the permissible limit. The concentration of Zn (114.48 µg/g) in the plant sample of Mankon together with the concentration of Fe in all three plant samples had values above permissible limits. Natural origins and domestic waste were identified as the major sources of trace metals in the soils. Thus, there are potential health hazards related to consuming crops from such soils. Bioremediation techniques can be used to recover heavy metals from such soils. Furthermore, the mobilization of nutrient ions and immobilization of heavy metals by induced liming could be important in sustainable agricultural production and soil environmental protection of the soils studied.
Resolving Interoperability Issues of Precision and Array with Null Value of Web Services Using WSIG-JADE Framework
Authors: Chawla Jaspreet , Ahlawat Anil Kr , Gautam Jyoti
Published: October 2020

Web services and agent technology play a significant role while resolving the issues related to platform interoperability. Web service interoperability organization (WS-I) provided the guidelines to remove the interoperability issues using basic profile 1.1/1.2 product. However, issues are still arising while transferring the precision values and an array with null values between different platforms like JAVA and .NET. As in a precision issue, JAVA supports data precision up to the 6th value and .NET up to the 5th value after the decimal and after increasing their limits, the whole number gets rounded off. In array with a null value issue, JAVA treats null as a value but .NET treats null as an empty string. To remove these issues, we use the WSIG-JADE framework that helps to build and demonstrate a multiagent system that does the mapping and conversions between agents and web services. It limits the number of digits to the 5th place after the decimal thereby increasing the precision in data sets, whereas it treats null as an empty string so that string length remains the same for both the platforms thereby helping in the correct count of data elements.