bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcription factor EB and TFE3: new metabolic coordinators mediating adaptive responses to exercise in skeletal muscle?
Authors: Markby Greg Robert , Sakamoto Kei
Published: August 2020

In response to the increased energy demands of contractions, skeletal muscle adapts remarkably well through acutely regulating metabolic pathways to maintain energy balance and in the longer term by regulating metabolic reprogramming, such as remodeling and expanding the mitochondrial network. This long-term adaptive response involves modulation of gene expression at least partly through the regulation of specific transcription factors and transcriptional coactivators. The AMPK-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) pathway has long been known to orchestrate contraction-mediated adaptive responses, although AMPK- and PGC1α-independent pathways have also been proposed. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) and TFE3, known as important regulators of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagic processes, have emerged as new metabolic coordinators. The activity of TFEB/TFE3 is regulated through posttranslational modifications (i.e., phosphorylation) and spatial organization. Under nutrient and energy stress, TFEB and TFE3 are dephosphorylated and translocate to the nucleus, where they activate transcription of their target genes. It has recently been reported that exercise promotes nuclear translocation and activation of TFEB/TFE3 in mouse skeletal muscle through the Ca2+-stimulated protein phosphatase calcineurin. Skeletal muscle-specific ablation of TFEB exhibits impaired glucose homeostasis and mitochondrial biogenesis with reduced metabolic flexibility during exercise, and global TFE3 depletion results in diminished endurance and abolished exercise-induced metabolic benefits. Transcriptomic analysis of the muscle-specific TFEB-null mice has demonstrated that TFEB regulates the expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis. This review aims to summarize and discuss emerging roles for TFEB/TFE3 in metabolic and adaptive responses to exercise and contractile activity in skeletal muscle.
MAD2B contributes to parietal epithelial cell activation and crescentic glomerulonephritis via Skp2
Authors: Ye Chen , Xiong Wei , Lei Chun-Tao , Tang Hui , Su Hua , Yi Fan , Zhang Chun
Published: August 2020

Mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint protein 2 (MAD2B), a well-known anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) inhibitor and a small subunit of DNA polymerase-ζ, is critical for mitotic control and DNA repair. Previously, we detected a strong increase of MAD2B in the glomeruli from patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) rats, which predominantly originated from activated parietal epithelial cells (PECs). Consistently, in vitro MAD2B was increased in TNF-α-treated PECs, along with cell activation and proliferation, as well as extracellular matrix accumulation, which could be reversed by MAD2B genetic depletion. Furthermore, we found that expression of S phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), an APC/CCDH1 substrate, was increased in the glomeruli of anti-GBM rats, and TNF-α-stimulated PECs and could be suppressed by MAD2B depletion. Additionally, genetic deletion of Skp2 inhibited TNF-α-induced PEC activation and dysfunction. Finally, TNF-α blockade or glucocorticoid therapy administered to anti-GBM rats could ameliorate MAD2B and Skp2 accumulation as well as weaken PEC activation. Collectively, our data suggest that MAD2B has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of glomerular PEC activation and crescent formation through induction of Skp2 expression.
Vitamin K deficiency: an emerging player in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification and an iatrogenic consequence of therapies in advanced renal disease
Authors: Levy David S. , Grewal Rickinder , Le Thu H.
Published: August 2020

Vascular calcification is a known complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of vascular calcification in patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD stages 3–5 has been shown to be as high as 79% ( 20 ). Vascular calcification has been associated with increased risk for mortality, hospital admissions, and cardiovascular disease ( 6 , 20 , 50 , 55 ). Alterations in mineral and bone metabolism play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification in CKD. As CKD progresses, levels of fibroblast growth factor-23, parathyroid hormone, and serum phosphorus increase and levels of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D decrease. These imbalances have been linked to the development of vascular calcification. More recently, additional factors have been found to play a role in vascular calcification. Matrix G1a protein (MGP) in its carboxylated form (cMGP) is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. Importantly, carboxylation of MGP is dependent on the cofactor vitamin K. In patients with CKD, vitamin K deficiency is prevalent and is exacerbated by warfarin, which is frequently used for anticoagulation. Insufficient bioavailability of vitamin K reduces the amount of cMGP available, and, therefore, it may lead to increased risk of vascular calcification. In vitro studies have shown that in the setting of a high-phosphate environment and vitamin K antagonism, human aortic valve interstitial cells become calcified. In this article, we discuss the pathophysiological consequence of vitamin K deficiency in the setting of altered mineral and bone metabolism, its prevalence, and clinical implications in patients with CKD.
Loss Architecture Search for Few-Shot Object Recognition
Authors: Yue Jun , Miao Zelang , He Yueguang , Du Nianchun
Published: August 2020

Few-shot object recognition, which exploits a set of well-labeled data to build a classifier for new classes that have only several samples per class, has received extensive attention from the machine learning community. In this paper, we investigate the problem of designing an optimal loss function for few-shot object recognition and propose a novel few-shot object recognition system that includes the following three steps: (1) generate a loss function architecture using a recurrent neural network (generator); (2) train a base embedding network with the generated loss function on a training set; (3) fine-tune the base embedding network using the few-shot instances from a validation set to obtain the accuracy and use it as a reward signal to update the generator. This procedure is repeated and implemented in the reinforcement learning framework for finding the best loss architecture such that the embedding network yields the highest validation accuracy. Our key insight is to create a search space of the loss function architectures and evaluate the quality of a particular loss function on the dataset of interest. We conduct experiments on three popular datasets for few-shot learning. The results show that the proposed approach achieves better performance than state-of-the-art methods.
Flocculation Performance and Kinetics of Magnetic Polyacrylamide Microsphere under Different Magnetic Field Strengths
Authors: Yu Wentian , Wang Chen , Wang Gengliang , Feng Qing
Published: August 2020

In this study, the flocculation performance and kinetics of magnetic cationic polyacrylamide (MCPAM) microspheres, compared with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), were systematically investigated under different magnetic field strengths. Flocculation performance was observed by jar test experiment. The density of flocs was estimated by the determination of floc settlement velocity and image analysis. The frequency distribution of floc size was measured with a Malvern Mastersizer instrument. When the diatomite suspension was treated by MCPAM and CPAM, the residual diatomite turbidity was 16.28 NTU and 244.13 NTU, respectively. The maximum turbidity removal efficiency of MCPAM was about 99.65% under 1000 Gauss magnetic field, which was higher than that (94.75%) of CPAM. The synergy of gravitational and magnetic fields for MCPAM promoted the formation of larger flocs with higher growth rates compared with CPAM. The effective density range of flocs in the MCPAM flocculation was increased to 10–252 kg m−3. The kinetic constants were calculated by monitoring the frequency of floc collisions. The increase of kinetic constant (k) to 25.81 × 10−11 s−1 suggested that interaction of contact and collision between magnetic flocs was sufficient. According to the evolution of the size and density of flocs under the synergy of gravitational and magnetic fields, the magnetic flocculation rate equation dN/dt=−1/9μρ−ρlg+ρkmHdH/dXai2−aj2−ai2e9μt/2ai2ρ+aj2e9μt/2aj2ρai+aj2 was derived. The study of magnetic flocculation kinetics can provide theoretical support for magnetic flocculation and is critical for the analysis of solid-liquid separation processes.
Decision and Coordination of Low-Carbon E-Commerce Supply Chain with Government Carbon Subsidies and Fairness Concerns
Authors: Han Qiang , Wang Yuyan , Shen Liang , Dong Wenquan
Published: August 2020

More low-carbon products help fight climate change and environmental problems. Governments consider encouraging the manufacturer’s initiative of producing low-carbon products by providing subsidies. However, when the manufacturer sells low-carbon products through the e-commerce platform, fairness concerns arise because of the profit difference. So, this paper builds game models to study decision behavior in the low-carbon e-commerce supply chain when the manufacturer receives government carbon subsidies and has fairness concerns. Our findings show that consumers’ preference for low-carbon products will be conducive to the operation of the supply chain. So it is necessary to popularize low-carbon products. The effect of government subsidies on supply chain decisions is different from fairness concerns. Government subsidies are positive factors in the supply chain operation, which can stimulate the manufacturer to make low-carbon products as expected and choose the high quality-high price development mode. This will help improve the profit of enterprises in the supply chain but cannot effectively stimulate the e-commerce platform to increase its service level. By contrast, the manufacturer’s fairness concerns are negative factors, which make the manufacturer prefer to adopt a low quality-low price development mode to improve their utility. This offsets the positive effect of government subsidies. It turns out that the profit of both node enterprises and the supply chain system has declined. But, fairness concerns are an important way to express the manufacturer’s demand. Finally, the joint allocation contract of cost and profit designed by comprehensively considering the effect of government subsidies and fairness concerns can make the supply chain coordinated. However, even as positive factors, only within a specific range do government subsidies help coordinate the supply chain, but not the more, the better.
Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap Technique versus Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling for Vitrectomy in Highly Myopic Eyes with Macular Hole-Induced Retinal Detachment: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ling Ling , Liu Yao , Zhou Baixing , Gao Feifei , Hu Zhe , Tian Man , Xing Yiqiao , Ji Kaibao , Sun Tao , Zhou Wentian
Published: August 2020

Background. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare morphological and functional outcomes between vitrectomy with the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique and vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling in highly myopic eyes with macular hole- (MH-) induced retinal detachment (MHRD).Methods. The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were comprehensively searched from inception to November 10, 2019, for published studies comparing the two techniques for the treatment of MHRD. The outcomes in the collected articles included the postoperative MH closure rate, retinal reattachment rate, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Review Manager (version 5.3) was used for analyses.Results. In total, seven retrospective studies comparing the inverted ILM flap technique with ILM peeling for the treatment of MHRD were included. The MH closure rate was significantly higher in the inverted ILM flap group than in the ILM peeling group at 6 and 12 months after initial surgery (OR = 15.39; 95% CI: 6.68 to 35.43;P<0.00001and OR = 12.58, 95% CI: 3.51 to 45.08;P=0.0001), while the retinal reattachment rate was similar in both groups at 6 months after initial surgery (OR = 2.40; 95% CI: 0.89 to 6.50;P=0.08). Besides, the postoperative BCVA was significantly better in the inverted ILM flap group than in the ILM peeling group at 12 months after initial surgery (MD = −0.35; 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.18;P<0.0001).Conclusions. Thus, the MH closure rate and postoperative BCVA may be better with the inverted ILM flap technique than with ILM peeling for myopic MHRD, while the postoperative retinal reattachment rate appears to be similar with both techniques. Therefore, in the future, vitrectomy with the inverted ILM flap technique should be preferred over standard ILM peeling technique for the treatment of MHRD in highly myopic eyes.
Metal-Working Fluids Exposure and a Rare Frontoethmoid Lesion
Authors: Shahidi Shayan , Nassimizadeh Abdul , Sandison Ann , Ahmed Shahzada
Published: August 2020

This case report describes a unique nasal mass that was difficult to diagnose clinically and histologically. The patient was a middle-aged man employed as a metalworker, and he presented with a unilateral nasal obstruction and a mass arising from the right middle meatus. After a series of investigations, he underwent right-sided sphenoethmoidectomy with excision of a nasal lesion. The surgical specimen presented a major diagnostic challenge for the pathologists and clinicians involved. A series of discussions amongst two different head and neck expert teams combined with detailed clinicopathological correlation resulted in a diagnosis of a granulomatous lesion or pseudotumour related to the ingestion of water-soluble cutting oils, or “Suds oil,” as they are more commonly called. Although occupational exposures to certain inhalants, such as wood dust and formaldehyde, are well-known risk factors for sinonasal lesions, here we present a rare association between a sinonasal lesion and another inhalant, Suds oil, that has not been previously reported in the literature.
Dual Role of Bacteria in Carcinoma: Stimulation and Inhibition
Authors: Al-Hilu Suad A , Al-Shujairi Wisam H
Published: August 2020

Although what unifies the carcinogenic microorganisms has not been determined by multiple studies, the role of bacteria in the development of neoplasms has not been properly elucidated. In this review, we discuss links between the bacterial species and cancer, with focus on immune responses for the stimulation of tumor cells such as induction of inflammation. Finally, we will describe the potential therapeutic strategies of bacteria on target tumors to improve treatment while mitigating adverse reactions. Cancer is a series of genetic changes that transform normal cells into tumor cells. These changes come from several reasons, including smoking, drinking alcohol, sunlight, exposure to chemical or physical factors, and finally chronic infection with microorganisms, including bacteria. In fact, bacterial infections are not carcinogenic, but recently it was discovered that the association between bacteria and cancer is through two mechanisms, the first stimulating chronic inflammation and the second producing carcinogenic metabolites. While bacteria are carcinogenic agents also, they have a dual role eliminating and removing tumor cells. However, the traditional cancer treatments that include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy increase the chances of survival, and there are many side effects of these therapies, including the high toxicity of tissues and normal cells, could not penetrate the tumor cells, and resistance of these therapies by tumor cells. Therefore, the world has turned to an alternative solution, which is the use of genetically engineered microorganisms; thus, the use of living bacteria targeting cancerous cells is the unique option to overcome these challenges. Bacterial therapies, whether used alone or combination with chemotherapy, give a positive effect to treat multiple conditions of cancer. Also, bacteria can be used as vectors for drug, gene, or therapy, and this is a great step to treat cancer. Thus, we review the mechanisms underlying the interaction of the microbiota residents with cancer. Cancer-associated bacteria differ from those in healthy human and are linked with gene-expression profile. We also discuss how live bacteria interact with tumor microenvironments to induce tumor regression through colonization and spread. Finally, we provide past and ongoing clinical trials that include bacteria targeting tumors.
Serological Evidence of Rickettsia Exposure among Patients with Unknown Fever Origin in Angola, 2016-2017
Authors: Barradas P. F. , Neto Z. , Mateus T. L. , Teodoro A. C. , Duarte L. , Gonçalves H. , Ferreira P. , Gärtner F. , Sousa R. , Amorim I.
Published: August 2020

Spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) is one among the aetiologies that cause fever of unknown origin in Angola. Despite their occurrence, there is little information about its magnitude in this country either because it is misdiagnosed or due to the lack of diagnostic resources. For this purpose, eighty-seven selected malaria- and yellow fever-negative serum specimens collected between February 2016 and March 2017 as part of the National Laboratory of Febrile Syndromes, from patients with fever (≥37.5°C) for at least 4 days and of unknown origin, were screened for Rickettsia antibodies through an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Serological results were interpreted according to the 2017 guidelines for the detection of Rickettsia spp. Three seroreactive patients had detectable IgM antibodies to Rickettsia with an endpoint titre of 32 and IgG antibodies with endpoint titres of 128 and 256. These findings supported a diagnosis of Rickettsia exposure amongst these patients and highlight that rickettsioses may be among the cause of unknown febrile syndromes in Angola. Therefore, physicians must be aware of this reality and must include this vector-borne disease as part of aetiologies that should be considered and systematically tested in order to delineate appropriate strategies of diagnostic and control of Rickettsia in Angola.
Investigation of Droplets Distribution and Reaction Kinetics on SO2 Removal in Flue Gas via Venturi Scrubber
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Cui Wenyue , Wang Chen , Wu Tao , Zhao Xiaohang
Published: August 2020

This paper investigates the problem of gas-liquid flow SO2 removal in nonquiescent flue gas. Using venturi scrubber as the prototype, the population balance model (PBM) combined with the CFD is implemented to characterize the droplets behaviors. Discrete methods as class model (CM) and various quadrature-based moment models (QBMMs) are applied to numerically solve the population balance equations (PBEs). Taking NaOH solution as the reaction kinetics, the sulfur removal efficiency simulation with CM and different QBMMs methods is validated through the operation measurements. The comparison results show that the CM can achieve better accuracy with more bins, which showed the minimal error 3.6%, consisting 30 bins. However, the computational time of the CM is approximately 19.3 times as long as QBMMS. Among the QBMMs, the ECQMOM approach enjoys the best balance between the simulation efficiency and accuracy, while EQMOM shows the least computational load and CQMOM wins the minimal calculation precision. This result will provide sufficient reference for engineers working in the field of the droplets distribution in the venturi scrubber design.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Polyethylene Glycol versus Oral Sodium Phosphate for Bowel Preparation in Unsedated Colonoscopy
Authors: Yang Dong , Tao Ke , Chen Geng , Zhang Luping , He Qingying , Xu Hong
Published: August 2020

Aim. To identify the most effective laxative for bowel preparation in unsedated colonoscopy. Methods. Between April 2019 and April 2020, a total of 586 outpatients scheduled for unsedated colonoscopy at the First Hospital of Jilin University (Changchun, China) were randomized into one of two groups, namely, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) group or the oral sodium phosphate solution (OSP) group. The cleaning efficiency and other relevant clinical parameters were compared between the two groups. Results. Each group consisted of 293 patients. There were no significant differences in gender, body mass index, and history of abdominal surgery between the two groups. There were more cases of laxative intolerance in the PEG group than in the OSP group (7.5% vs. 0.7%, P<0.05). After tube insertion, we found that the cleaning efficiency of OSP was better than that of PEG (P<0.05). After cleaning, there was no significant difference in bowel cleanliness between the two groups (P>0.05). The colonoscopic insertion time of the PEG group was significantly shorter than that of the OSP group (10.0 vs. 12.0 min, P=0.002), and colonoscopic insertion was more difficult in the OSP group than in the PEG group (P=0.036). The VAS score of the PEG group patients was significantly lower than that of OSP group patients (4.0±1.3 vs. 5.2±1.7, P≤0.001). There were no significant differences in the cecal intubation rate and the detection rate of polyps and ulcers/erosion between the two groups. Conclusion. The cleaning efficiency and tolerability of OSP were preferable to those of PEG, but there was no significant difference in bowel cleanliness after washing the colon and suctioning the fluid. Compared with patients of the OSP group, those of the PEG group required a shorter colonoscopic insertion time and reported a more comfortable experience. Therefore, for cases that are tolerant of PEG, PEG is a better choice for unsedated colonoscopy.
n-Dimensional Fractional Frequency Laplace Transform by the Inverse Difference Operator
Authors: Meganathan M. , Abdeljawad Thabet , Xavier G. Britto Antony , Jarad Fahd
Published: August 2020

With the study of extensive literature on the Laplace transform with one and two variables and its properties, applications are available, but there is no work on n-dimensional Laplace transform. In this research article, we define n-dimensional fractional frequency Laplace transform with shift values. Several theorems are derived with properties of the Laplace transform. The results are numerically analyzed and discussed through MATLAB.
A Review on Machine Learning-Based Radio Direction Finding
Authors: You Ming-Yi , Lu An-Nan , Ye Yun-Xia , Huang Kai , Jiang Bin
Published: August 2020

The research and applications of radio direction-finding technology based on machine learning are reviewed. Detailed application scenarios are summarized with focus on the advantages of machine learning-based direction-finding models. Important elements such as problem formulation and model inputs and outputs are introduced in detail. Finally, some valuable future research topics are discussed.
Referred Trigeminal Facial Pain from Occipital Neuralgia Occurring Much Earlier than Occipital Neuralgia
Authors: Son Byung-chul
Published: August 2020

We report a very rare case in which a patient believed to have auriculotemporal neuralgia due to the repeated recurrence of paroxysmal stabbing pain in the preauricular temporal region for four years developed occipital neuralgia, which finally improved with decompression of the greater occipital nerve (GON). The pain of occipital neuralgia has been suggested to be referred to the frontoorbital (V1) region through trigeminocervical interneuronal connections in the trigeminal spinal nucleus. However, the reports of such cases are very rare. In occipital neuralgia, the pain referred to the ipsilateral facial trigeminal region reportedly also occurs in the V2 and V3 distributions in addition to that in the V1 region. In the existing cases of referred trigeminal pain from occipital neuralgia, continuous aching pain is usually induced, but in the present case, typical neuralgic pain was induced and diagnosed as idiopathic auriculotemporal neuralgia. In addition, recurrent trigeminal pain occurred for four years before the onset of occipital neuralgia. If the typical occipital neuralgia did not develop in four years, it would be impossible to infer an association with the GON. This case shows that the clinical manifestations of referred trigeminal pain caused by the sensitization of the trigeminocervical complex by chronic entrapment of the GON can be very diverse.
Strong Ground Pressure Mechanism and Control at the Longwall Top Coal Caving with a Single Key Stratum in Goaf
Authors: Yang Ke , Chi Xiaolou , Liu Wenjie , Dou Litong , Wei Zhen
Published: August 2020

A strong ground pressure in the multiseam environment manifested by rib spalling and roadway deformation at the fully mechanized working face was assessed by a comprehensive combination of field measurements, physical simulations, and theoretical analysis for two coal seams in the Buertai Coal Mine in China. A structural model of overlying stratum collapse at the working face with the key stratum breaking instability was proposed, the mechanism of strong ground pressure at the longwall top coal caving working face with a single key stratum in goaf was identified, and respective control countermeasures were developed. The latter implied the directional hydraulic fracturing for supporting the key stratum-surrounding rocks, which effectively reduced the cyclic weighting intensity and weighting interval in the working face with a single key stratum in the goaf. The working face cyclic breaking interval was assessed at 30 m. After the key stratum collapse, soft rocks underwent synergistic deformation and a cutting-type failure. The goaf effect on the hydraulic support resistance in the fully mechanized working face was assessed, and cutting blocks from the overlying stratum collapse were identified as the main sources of strong ground pressure.
SIC-Coding Schemes for Underlay Two-Way Relaying Cognitive Networks
Authors: Son Pham Ngoc , Duy Tran Trung , Ho-Van Khuong
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we propose an underlay two-way relaying scheme with the successive interference cancellation (SIC) solution in which two secondary sources transmit simultaneously their data to each other through secondary relays. The proposed scheme is operated in only two time slots and under an interference constraint of a primary receiver, denoted as the UTW-2TS scheme. In the UTW-2TS scheme, the secondary relays employ the SIC operation to decode successively the data from received broadcast signals and then encode these data by two techniques: digital network coding (DNC) enforced by XOR operations (denoted as the UTW-2TS-DNC protocol) and superposition coding (SC) enforced by power domain additions (denoted as the UTW-2TS-SC protocol). A selected secondary relay which subjects to maximize decoding capacities and to minimize collection time of channel state information in two protocols UTW-2TS-DNC and UTW-2TS-SC experiences residual interferences from imperfect SIC operations. Outage probabilities and throughputs are solved in terms of exact closed-form expressions to evaluate the system performance of the proposed protocols. Simulation and analysis results provide performance enhancement of the proposed protocols UTW-2TS-DNC and UTW-2TS-SC owing to increase the number of the cooperative secondary relays, the interference constraints, and the distances from the secondary network to the primary receiver. The best throughputs are pointed at optimal interference power allocation coefficients and optimal locations of the selected secondary relay. Considering the same power consumption, the UTW-2TS-DNC protocol outperforms the UTW-2TS-SC protocol. Finally, the simulation results are collected to confirm the exact analysis values of the outage probabilities and throughputs.
Chitosan-Based Coatings Incorporated with Cinnamon and Tea Extracts to Extend the Fish Fillets Shelf Life: Validation by FTIR Spectroscopy Technique
Authors: Haghighi Maryam , Yazdanpanah Sedigheh
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active coatings prepared from the chitosan on the quality parameters of fish fillets. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties were improved by addition of tea and cinnamon extracts. Different quality parameters including free fatty acids (FFA), thiobarbituric acid value (TBA), trimethylamine (TMA), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), whiteness, and pH of coated and noncoated samples were evaluated during storage for 20 d at 5 ± 1°C. Moreover, FTIR characterization (i.e., wavenumber and absorbance values) was used to investigate the oxidative stability. Extracts addition to chitosan coating had noticeable influence on reducing FFA and TBA. Moreover, modified chitosan coating decreased TVBN and TMA significantly. Based on FTIR finding, control sample showed the highest oxidation value, while the treated samples with chitosan\incorporated with tea and cinnamon extracts (CTCECS) had the lowest oxidation. The results showed that FTIR technique could be successfully applied to monitor the lipid oxidation of fish fillet. Therefore, FTIR provides a fast approach to study the compositional changes of food products rather than conventional chemical analysis. The findings of our research showed that chitosan coating modified with tea and cinnamon extracts could be used as a novel active packaging to prolong the shelf life quality of fish fillet.
Crack Initiation Behaviors of Granite Specimens Containing Crossing‐Double‐Flaws with Different Lengths under Uniaxial Loading
Authors: Pan Haiyang , Yin Dawei , Jiang Ning , Xia Zhiguo
Published: August 2020

Crack initiation is an important stage in the failure process of rock masses. In this paper, crack initiation behaviors (crack initiation model, crack initiation location, crack initiation angle, and crack initiation stress) of granite specimens containing crossing‐double‐flaws with different lengths were investigated using PFC2D software. Crack initiation models were all tensile wing cracks, which did not exactly initiate from the main flaw with a length of 30 mm. They can initiate from the secondary flaw with a length 20 mm at α of 30° (included angle between main flaw and horizontal direction) and β of 90° (included angle between main and secondary flaws) and from main and secondary flaws at α of 30° and β of 60°. These were mainly induced by the superposition of stress fields around the main and secondary flaws as β varied from 0° to 90°, especially the tensile force concentration zones superposition. The tensile forces concentration zone around flaw shrank towards flaw tips with the increase of flaw’s inclinations measured horizontally. Under stress field superposition effects, the crack initiation stress decreased firstly and then increased with β at α of 30° and 45°. Crack initiation locations were close to flaw tips but not restricted to them. The distances between crack initiation locations and flaw tips, and the crack initiation angles depended on the flaw where first macrocracks initiated from. Microdisplacement field distributions of granite specimens to reveal the mesomechanism of crack initiation behaviors were discussed.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Unused and Expired Medication Disposal among Patients Visiting Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
Authors: Gidey Meles Tekie , Birhanu Alem Habtu , Tsadik Afewerki Gebremeskel , Welie Abraham Gebrezgabiher , Assefa Brhane Teklebrhan
Published: August 2020

Background. Accumulation of unused and expired medicines at home is a source of environmental hazards and public health problems due to lack of awareness on appropriate medicine disposal methods. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of unused and expired medicine disposal among patients visiting Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods. A descriptive cross‐sectional study was conducted among 384 patients who visited Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital outpatient pharmacy from April to June 2019. Convenience sampling was used to recruit the participants, and data was collected by a face‐to‐face interview using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics on sample characteristics was computed, and results were presented in the form percentage using table and statements. Results. Out of the 384 respondents included in the study, 205 (53.4%) of them were males. More than half (199 (51.8%)) of the respondents did not correctly knew about medicine waste, and 233 (60.7%) of them did not have any prior information regarding medicine waste disposal instruction. But 351 (91.4%) of the participants correctly responded that inappropriate unused and expired medicine disposal can cause environmental harm. Above half (218 (56.8%)) of the respondents “agreed” about the potential risks related to having unused/expired medicines at home, and 206 (53.6%) of them “strongly agreed” that children are more vulnerable. One hundred fifty‐nine respondents had unused/expired medicines in their homes. The most commonly used disposal practice for unused medicines were throwing them in a household trash as reported by 297 (77.3%) followed by flushing unused medications in toilet/sink 152 (39.6%). Throwing them away in household garbage and flushing them in toilet/sink were also the most commonly preferred disposal practice for expired medicines. Conclusion. The majority of the study participants dispose unused and expired medicine in household garbage and toilet/sink. This is against the recommendations of both national and international policies and guidelines on safe and appropriate pharmaceutical waste disposal.
Infiltration by IL22-Producing T Cells Promotes Neutrophil Recruitment and Predicts Favorable Clinical Outcome in Human Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tosti Nadia , Cremonesi Eleonora , Governa Valeria , Basso Camilla , Kancherla Venkatesh , Coto-Llerena Mairene , Amicarella Francesca , Weixler Benjamin , Däster Silvio , Sconocchia Giuseppe , Majno Pietro Edoardo , Christoforidis Dimitri , Tornillo Luigi , Terracciano Luigi , Ng Charlotte K.Y. , Piscuoglio Salvatore , von Flüe Markus , Spagnoli Giulio , Eppenberger-Castori Serenella , Iezzi Giandomenica , Droeser Raoul Andre
Published: August 2020

Immune cell infiltration in colorectal cancer effectively predicts clinical outcome. IL22, produced by immune cells, plays an important role in inflammatory bowel disease, but its relevance in colorectal cancer remains unclear. Here, we addressed the prognostic significance of IL22+ cell infiltration in colorectal cancer and its effects on the composition of tumor microenvironment. Tissue microarrays (TMA) were stained with an IL22-specific mAb, and positive immune cells were counted by expert pathologists. Results were correlated with clinicopathologic data and overall survival (OS). Phenotypes of IL22-producing cells were assessed by flow cytometry on cell suspensions from digested specimens. Chemokine production was evaluated in vitro upon colorectal cancer cell exposure to IL22, and culture supernatants were used to assess neutrophil migration in vitro. Evaluation of a testing (n = 425) and a validation TMA (n = 89) revealed that high numbers of IL22 tumor-infiltrating immune cells were associated with improved OS in colorectal cancer. Ex vivo analysis indicated that IL22 was produced by CD4+ and CD8+ polyfunctional T cells, which also produced IL17 and IFNγ. Exposure of colorectal cancer cells to IL22 promoted the release of the neutrophil-recruiting chemokines CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL3 and enhanced neutrophil migration in vitro. Combined survival analysis revealed that the favorable prognostic significance of IL22 in colorectal cancer relied on the presence of neutrophils and was enhanced by T-cell infiltration. Altogether, colorectal cancer–infiltrating IL22-producing T cells promoted a favorable clinical outcome by recruiting beneficial neutrophils capable of enhancing T-cell responses.
Synergistic Inhibition of Renal Fibrosis by Nintedanib and Gefitinib in a Murine Model of Obstructive Nephropathy
Authors: Feng Liu , Li Wang , Chao Yu , Huan Qin , Lu Fang , Yi Wang , Jun Wang , Binbin Cui , Na Liu , Shougang Zhuang
Published: August 2020

Background: Our recent studies demonstrated that both nintedanib, an FDA-approved quadruple kinase inhibitor, and gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, protect against obstructive kidney disease. It remains unknown whether they have a synergistic effect. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of combined administration of nintedanib and gefitinib on renal fibrosis in a murine model of renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Results: Combined treatment with nintedanib and gefitinib after UUO resulted in a greater antifibrotic effect compared with their individual application. Mechanistically, administration of nintedanib blocked UUO-induced phosphorylation of multiple kinase receptors associated renal fibrosis, including platelet-derived growth factor receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, and Src family kinase, while gefitinib inhibited EGFR phosphorylation. Their combination also exhibited a more pronounced effect in reducing expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), increasing expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and suppressing renal proinflammatory cytokine expression and macrophage infiltration in the injured kidney. Furthermore, simultaneous administration of nintedanib and gefitinib was more potent in inhibiting UUO-induced renal phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), nuclear factor-κB, and Smad-3 compared with monotherapy. In cultured renal interstitial fibroblasts, cotreatment with these 2 inhibitors also had synergistic effects in abrogating transforming growth factor β1-induced activation of renal fibroblasts and phosphorylation of Akt, STAT3, and Smad3. Conclusions: Combined application of nintedanib and gefitinib has a synergistic antifibrotic effect in the kidney and may hold translational potential for the treatment of chronic kidney disease.
Natural Hair Supplement: Friend or Foe? Saw Palmetto, a Systematic Review in Alopecia
Authors: Evron Evyatar , Juhasz Margit , Babadjouni Arash , Mesinkovska Natasha Atanaskova
Published: August 2020

Saw palmetto (SP), a botanical extract with antiandrogenic properties, has gained commercial popularity for its purported benefits on hair regrowth. To summarize published evidence on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of supplements containing SP in the treatment of alopecia, we conducted a PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane database search using the following terms: (saw palmetto and hair loss), (saw palmetto and androgenetic alopecia), and (saw palmetto and natural supplement and alopecia). Five randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and 2 prospective cohort studies demonstrated positive effects of topical and oral supplements containing SP (100–320 mg) among patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and telogen effluvium. Sixty percent improvement in overall hair quality, 27% improvement in total haircount, increased hair density in 83.3% of patients, and stabilized disease progression among 52% were noted with use of various topical and oral SP-containing supplements. SP was well tolerated and not associated with serious adverse events in alopecia patients. Although robust high-quality data are lacking, supplements containing SP may be a treatment option for patients with AGA, telogen effluvium, and self-perceived hair thinning. Further large-scale RCTs focusing on the sole contribution of SP to hair growth outcomes are needed to confirm efficacy and determine long-term adverse events.
Contributions to Progress in Ophthalmology from Switzerland: From the 16th to the 21st Century
Authors: Gerste Ronald D.
Published: August 2020

There are numerous contributions to the development of ophthalmology from Switzerland, a country that holds a very special place in the history of medicine from the age of Paracelsus and Vesal to the current time. This review gives an overview over these contributions and the pioneers, among them Johann Friedrich Horner, Hans Goldmann, Jules Gonin, and Walter Rudolf Hess, one of only two ophthalmologists ever awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. A leading role in this evolution of modern ophthalmology has been played by physicians from Basel, home of Switzerland’s oldest university.
Doppler Activity and Ultrasonographic Detection of Intra-Abdominal Fistulas Are Predictors of Surgery in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Rueda García Jose Luis , Suárez-Ferrer Cristina , Poza Cordón Joaquín , Martín-Arranz Eduardo , Sánchez Azofra María , García Ramírez Laura , Noci Jesús , Martín-Arranz María Dolores
Published: August 2020

Bakground and Aim: Predictors of the need for surgery in sticturing Crohn’s disease (SCD) are lacking. Bowel ultrasound (US) is a harmless, noninvasive, and inexpensive diagnostic procedure that has proven to be a valuable tool in the management of Crohn’s disease (CD). Our aim was to identify ultrasonographic findings in SCD that may associate with a higher risk of surgery, allowing us to make early choices regarding treatment election in this specific group of patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, case-control study. Twenty-four patients diagnosed with SCD between 2013 and 2017 with a past history of stricture-related surgery were included and then matched with 46 non-operated controls. Prior US from patients in both groups were analyzed. US features considered for analysis were as follows: bowel wall thickness, degree of parietal vascularization (measured by Doppler activity), prestenotic dilation, involvement of mesenteric fat, and newly detected concomitant fistulas or abscess. Results: Doppler activity (p < 0.001), enteroenteric fistulas (p = 0.04), enteromesenteric fistulas (p = 0.003), and associated abscess (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with the need for surgery in the short-term period. Multivariate analysis showed strong association of these features with the risk of surgery but failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusion: US features may potentially be used as point-of-care tools to aid clinicians in the assessment of the surgical risk in patients with SCD.
Caracterização geológica, geoquímica e aerogeofísica dos granitoides arqueanos da porção sul do Domínio Rio Maria
Authors: Almeida José De Arimatéia Costa de , Oliveira Vinícius Eduardo Silva de , Rocha Jorge Luis Sousa , Feio Gilmara Regina De Lima , Rocha Marcílio Cardoso , Rocha Karla Petrúcia Pedroso da
Published: August 2020

As informações geológicas da porção sul do Domínio Rio Maria, Província Carajás (sudeste do Cratón Amazônico), são escassas. Dados aerogeofísicos e de campo permitiram definir a assinatura aerogeofísica das unidades geológicas, identificar enxames de diques (NE-SW, NW-SE e N-S) e reconhecer distintos padrões estruturais (NE-SW, NW-SE e N-S e E-W) na porção sul do Domínio Rio Maria. Três grupos de granitoides foram distinguidos nessa região: 1) associação tonalítica-trondhjemítica; 2) leucomonzogranitos e; 3) leucogranodioritos. Observa-se aumento do conteúdo de SiO2, K2O e Rb e das razões alcáli-feldspato/plagioclásio, K2O/Na2O, FeOt/(FeOt + MgO), e decréscimo das proporções de TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3t,CaO, MgO, Sr e Zr no sentido grupo 1 → grupo 2. Os grupos 1 e 3 registram similaridades geoquímicas. No entanto, o grupo 1 exibe teores mais elevados de CaO e mais baixos de K2O e Rb em relação ao grupo 3. Essas rochas apresentam moderada a alta razão La/Yb e ausência de anomalia de európio. Já o grupo 2 mostra enriquecimento dos (ETRL) e moderado fracionamento dos (ETRP), com moderada a pronunciada anomalia negativa de Eu. O grupo 1 representa as rochas mais antigas do Tonalito Arco Verde (2,96 ± 0,02 Ga), enquanto as rochas dos grupos 2 e 3 mostram fortes analogias com os leucogranitos potássicos e com os leucomonzogranitos-granodioritos ricos em Ba e Sr do Domínio Rio Maria, respectivamente. A integração dos dados multifontes permite assumir que a granitogênese arqueana do Domínio Rio se estende por pelo menos 80 km a sul da cidade de Redenção, e as séries granitoides aflorantes nessa porção são análogas àquelas presentes na região de Pau D’Arco, Rio Maria, Bannach e Xinguara.
Effects of Intensive Versus Standard Office-Based Hypertension Treatment Strategy on White-Coat Effect and Masked Uncontrolled Hypertension
Authors: Ghazi Lama , Cohen Laura P. , Muntner Paul , Shimbo Daichi , Drawz Paul E.
Published: August 2020

Guidelines recommend using out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurements to confirm the diagnoses of hypertension and in the titration of antihypertensive medication. The prevalence of out-of-office BP phenotypes for an office systolic/diastolic BP goal <140/90 mm Hg has been reported. However, the prevalence of these phenotypes when targeting an office systolic/diastolic BP goal <120/80 is unknown. The SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) Ambulatory BP Ancillary study evaluated out-of-office BP using ambulatory BP monitoring in 897 participants 27 months after randomization to intensive versus standard BP targets (office systolic BP <120 versus <140 mm Hg). We used office and daytime BP to assess the proportion of participants with white-coat effect (standard target: office BP ≥140/90 mm Hg and daytime BP <135/85 mm Hg versus intensive target: office BP ≥120/80 mm Hg and daytime BP <120/80 mm Hg) and masked uncontrolled hypertension (standard target: office BP <140/90 mm Hg and daytime BP ≥135/85 mm Hg versus intensive target: office BP <120/80 mm Hg and daytime BP ≥120/80 mm Hg) in each treatment arm. The prevalence of white-coat effect and masked uncontrolled hypertension was 9% and 34%, in both treatment groups. Among participants with uncontrolled office BP, white-coat effect was present in 20% and 23% in the intensive and standard groups, respectively. Among participants with controlled office BP, masked uncontrolled hypertension was present in 62% and 56% in the intensive and standard groups, respectively. In conclusion, a more intensive BP target resulted in a similar proportion of patients with white-coat effect and masked uncontrolled hypertension compared with a standard target.
Quantification of Renal Sympathetic Vasomotion as a Novel End Point for Renal Denervation
Authors: Pellegrino Peter Ricci , Zucker Irving H. , Chatzizisis Yiannis S. , Wang Han-Jun , Schiller Alicia M.
Published: August 2020

Renal sympathetic denervation, a potentially revolutionary interventional treatment for hypertension, faces an existential problem due to the inability to confirm successful ablation of the targeted renal sympathetic nerves. Based on the observation that renal sympathetic nerve activity exerts rhythmic, baroreflex-driven, and vasoconstrictive control of the renal vasculature, we developed a novel technique for identifying rhythmic sympathetic vascular control using a time-varying, 2-component Windkessel model of the renal circulation. This technology was tested in 2 different animal models of renal denervation; 10 rabbits underwent chronic, surgical renal denervation, and 9 pigs underwent acute, functional renal denervation via intrathecal administration of ropivacaine. Both methods of renal denervation reduced negative admittance gain, negative phase shift renal vascular control at known sympathetic vasomotor frequencies, consistent with a reduction in vasoconstrictive, baroreflex-driven renal sympathetic vasomotion. Classic measures like mean renal blood flow and mean renal vascular resistance were not significantly affected in either model of renal denervation. Renal sympathetic vasomotion monitoring could provide intraprocedural feedback for interventionists performing renal denervation and serve more broadly as a platform technology for the evaluation and treatment of diseases affecting the sympathetic nervous system.