bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Multicriteria Decision-Making Method for the Selection of Sponge City Schemes with Shapley–Choquet Aggregation Operators
Authors: Chi Yuanying , Bai Guoqing , Dong Hua
Published: January 2021

The construction of sponge cities is of great strategic significance to solving the urban water resource problem in the future. According to the policy guidance of sponge city construction, the evaluation index system of sponge city construction projects is constructed. In order to overcome the interference caused by the interaction between indexes, a nonadditive measure and Shapley function are combined to determine the weights of attribute indexes, and the generalized Shapley interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic Choquet averaging (GS-IVIULCA) operator is used to calculate the comprehensive evaluation value of the schemes. On this basis, a new evaluation method of sponge city construction project selection under an uncertain information environment is presented and empirically evaluated. The results show that the index weight of rainwater collection and utilization is the largest, indicating that decision makers pay more attention to the ecological and environmental benefits of this item in the sponge city construction process.
Analysis of Cervical Spine Alignment Change after Modified Kurokawa Cervical Laminoplasty in the Patients with Cervical Myelopathy and Straight Cervical Spine
Authors: Cui Shangbin , Wei Fuxin , Liu Xizhe , Liu Shaoyu
Published: January 2021

Laminoplasty is widely used to decompress the spinal cord in patients with multilevel cervical lesions. Straight cervical alignment may not be a good candidate for laminoplasty because of postoperation progression of kyphosis and loss of cervical spine range of motion (ROM). However, clinical outcomes of laminoplasty did not show a strong and consistent effect based on cervical sagittal alignment. Moreover, the kyphosis progression and ROM change after operation for the patients with preoperative strange cervical alignment are still unclear. This study is to evaluate the change of cervical alignment and ROM in patients with straight cervical alignment after modified Kurokawa cervical laminoplasty. Thirty patients with multiple‐level cervical spondylosis (CSM) and straight cervical alignment were included. All patients underwent laminoplasty with the reconstruction of the spinous process‐ligament‐muscular complex (SPLMC). The modified JOA score was analyzed for clinical assessment. The change of cervical alignment, ROM, T1 slope, and intervertebral disc space Cobb angle were analyzed for radiological assessment. The average JOA score at preoperative and 2 years follow‐up were 7.8 ± 1.4 and 13.6 ± 2.1, respectively. The recovery ratio was 63%. At the 2 years follow‐up, there were 18 patients who acquired lordotic cervical alignment. 10 patients remained as straight cervical curve, and 2 patients’ cervical alignment developed mild kyphosis. 28 out of 30 patients showed improvement of cervical alignment. The cervical alignment was improved from 1.29 ± 10.04° preoperative to 9.58 ± 8.65° postoperative. However, the ROM decreased from 36.8 ± 18.92 preoperative to 25.08 ± 12.10° postoperative. A positive correlation was found between the C2/4 angle change and cervical alignment change, T1 slope and cervical alignment, cervical alignment, and neutral position flexion reserved ROM. A negative correlation was found between the C1/2 angle change and cervical alignment change. Laminoplasty with a reconstruction of SPLMC followed by appropriate postoperative muscle exercises may be an encouraging way to maintain or improve physiological alignment and prevent postoperation kyphosis deformity for the CSM patients with straight cervical alignment at 2 years follow‐up.
Molecular Targets and Associated Signaling Pathways of Jingshu Granules in Ovarian Cysts Based on Systemic Pharmacological Analysis
Authors: Xu Jili , Xu Yincong , Zhu Ye , Li Zhihui , Wang Xiaoping
Published: January 2021

Background. More than a third of women could develop ovarian cysts during their lifetime. Jingshu granules are used for the treatment of gynecological disease of primary dysmenorrhea. However, the molecular mechanisms of Jingshu granules in ovarian cysts are still unreported. We aimed to find the active ingredients, molecular targets, and potential signaling pathways of Jingshu granules in ovarian cysts by using the systemic pharmacological analysis. Methods. Firstly, the effect of Jingshu granules on female hormones and reproductive organs of young female rats was evaluated. Secondly, candidate pharmaceutical ingredients of Jingshu granules were retrieved from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform. Potential protein targets for the active ingredients in Jingshu granules were then identified according to the oral bioavailability and drug‐likeness indices. Thirdly, ovarian cyst‐related gene targets were screened based on different databases. Finally, enrichment analysis was used to analyze the potential biological function of intersection targets between Jingshu granules and ovarian cysts. Results. In young female rats, Jingshu granules reduced the secretion of estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin and could affect the development of the uterus. This suggested that Jingshu granules played roles in hormone secretion and reproduction. From the TCMSP, a total of 1021 pharmaceutical ingredients of Jingshu granules were retrieved. After further screening, a total of 166 active ingredients and 159 protein targets of Jingshu granules were identified. In addition, 4488 gene targets of ovarian cysts were screened out. After taking the intersection, a total of 110 intersection targets were identified between potential protein targets of Jingshu granules and gene targets of ovarian cysts. In the functional analysis of 110 intersection targets, 8 signaling pathways including progesterone‐mediated oocyte maturation (MAPK8 and CDK1 involved), GnRH signaling pathway (JUN involved), T cell receptor signaling pathway and Toll‐like receptor signaling pathway (MAPK1 involved), NOD‐like receptor signaling pathway (TNF, IL6, and IL1B involved), p53 signaling pathway (CDK2 and CDK4 involved), VEGF signaling pathway (MAPK14 involved), and PPAR signaling pathway (PPARG involved) were obtained. Conclusion. Our study revealed that Jingshu granules could function in patients with ovarian cysts through a number of molecular targets and signaling pathways. Our study may provide a new field into the mechanisms of Jingshu granules in ovarian cysts, from the molecular to the signaling pathway level.
High Expression of Interleukin-2 Receptor Subunit Gamma Reveals Poor Prognosis in Human Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wang De-Ping , Zhao Rong , Qi Yue-Hong , Shen Jing , Hou Jia-Yi , Wang Mei-Yue , Bi Xiao-Gang , Guo Xiao-Qing , Cao Ji-Min
Published: January 2021

Precision medicine for gastric cancer (GC) is still an unsolved issue, because most available target drugs are not specifically designed for GC. Exploring novel signaling molecules with target value for GC is in urgent need. This study aimed to reveal that interleukin-2 receptor subunit gamma (IL2RG) is such a key molecule in human GC progression. GC tissues and paracancerous gastric tissues were collected from 7 patients (5 males and 2 females) during tumor radical excision surgery. These tissues were used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with RNA-seq and serial bioinformatics analyses including Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA), and survival analysis. RT-qPCR and western blotting were performed to compare the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL2RG between GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric tissues as well as between GC cell line SGC-7901 and normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. Results showed striking elevations of IL2RG both in the mRNA and protein levels in GC tissues and human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell line compared, respectively, with the adjacent normal gastric tissues and normal GES-1 cells, and higher IL2RG expression was associated with lower survival. Analyses on the GSE29272 and GSE15459 datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus verified that IL2RG was highly expressed in GC patients and was associated with poor overall survival. In addition, molecular docking showed that a small molecule, resatorvid (TAK 242), might be an inhibitor of IL2RG. We conclude that IL2RG is overexpressed in advanced GC and is associated with low survival. IL2RG may serve as a biomarker of GC progression and poor prognosis.
Square-Mean Pseudo Almost Periodic Solutions for Quaternion-Valued Stochastic Neural Networks with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Hou Yuanyuan , Dai Lihua
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we are concerned with a class of quaternion-valued stochastic neural networks with time-varying delays. Firstly, we cannot explicitly decompose the quaternion-valued stochastic systems into equivalent real-valued stochastic systems; by using the Banach fixed point theorem and stochastic analysis techniques, we obtain some sufficient conditions for the existence of square-mean pseudo almost periodic solutions for this class of neural networks. Then, by constructing an appropriate Lyapunov functional and stochastic analysis techniques, we can also obtain sufficient conditions for square-mean exponential stability of the considered neural networks. All of these results are new. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of our main results.
Ursodeoxycholic Acid at 18–22 mg/kg/d Showed a Promising Capacity for Treating Refractory Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Authors: Xiang Xinyu , Yang Xiaoli , Shen Mengyi , Huang Chen , Liu Yifeng , Fan Xiaoli , Yang Li
Published: January 2021

Aim. To compare the response between the current recommended dosage 13–15 mg/kg/d and 20 mg/kg/d dose of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients who do not respond completely to a standard dose of UDCA. Methods. We included 73 patients with poor response and randomized them into two groups to investigate whether increasing the dosage of UDCA was beneficial to nonresponders. Patients assigned to the 13–15 mg/kg/d group continued with standard therapy, and participants in the 18–22 mg/kg/d group switched to the higher dosage (18–22 mg/kg/d), with a follow-up of 12 months for both groups. The primary endpoints were the rate of response at 6 months and drug side effects. Results. According to the Paris 2 criteria, patients receiving 18–22 mg/kg/d UDCA achieved a response rate of 59.4% compared with 36.1% in the standard dosage group (

P
=
0.046

) at 6 months, respectively. At 12 months, the high-UDCA-dosage group achieved a response rate of 59.4% compared with 47.2% in the standard dosage group (

P
=
0.295

), respectively. Additionally, the risk score predicted by the UK-PBC model was lower in high-dosage UDCA-treated patients than in the standard dosage group (all

P
<
0.05

). Side effects include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, rash, and newly developed high blood pressure, which were mild and tolerated. Conclusions. Patients treated with the high UDCA dosage showed some advantages over those who continued the standard dosage in terms of biochemical remission and disease progression, indicating that standard therapy with UDCA for 6 months and then another 1 year with high UDCA dosage for nonresponders could be a treatment option before second-line therapy is recommended.
Identification of Genes Universally Differentially Expressed in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Shi Yidan , Qi Lishuang , Chen Haifeng , Zhang Jiahui , Guan Qingzhou , He Jun , Li Meifeng , Guo Zheng , Yan Haidan , Li Ping
Published: January 2021

Owing to the remarkable heterogeneity of gastric cancer (GC), population‐level differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified using case‐control comparison cannot indicate the dysregulated frequency of each DEG in GC. In this work, first, the individual‐level DEGs were identified for 1,090 GC tissues without paired normal tissues using the RankComp method. Second, we directly compared the gene expression in a cancer tissue to that in paired normal tissue to identify individual‐level DEGs among 448 paired cancer‐normal gastric tissues. We found 25 DEGs to be dysregulated in more than 90% of 1,090 GC tissues and also in more than 90% of 448 GC tissues with paired normal tissues. The 25 genes were defined as universal DEGs for GC. Then, we measured 24 paired cancer‐normal gastric tissues by RNA‐seq to validate them further. Among the universal DEGs, 4 upregulated genes (BGN, E2F3, PLAU, and SPP1) and 1 downregulated gene (UBL3) were found to be cancer genes already documented in the COSMIC or F‐Census databases. By analyzing protein‐protein interaction networks, we found 12 universally upregulated genes, and we found that their 284 direct neighbor genes were significantly enriched with cancer genes and key biological pathways related to cancer, such as the MAPK signaling pathway, cell cycle, and focal adhesion. The 13 universally downregulated genes and 16 direct neighbor genes were also significantly enriched with cancer genes and pathways related to gastric acid secretion. These universal DEGs may be of special importance to GC diagnosis and treatment targets, and they may make it easier to study the molecular mechanisms underlying GC.
Serial Stimulation of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells with Covalently Stabilized Bispecific T-cell Engagers Generates Antitumor Immunity While Avoiding Anergy
Authors: Kharkwal Shalu Sharma , Johndrow Christopher T. , Veerapen Natacha , Kharkwal Himanshu , Saavedra-Avila Noemi A. , Carreño Leandro J. , Rothberg Samantha , Zhang Jinghang , Garforth Scott J. , Jervis Peter J. , Zhang Lianjun , Donda Alena , Besra Amareeta K. , Cox Liam R. , Almo Steven C. , Howell Alan , Evans Elizabeth E. , Zauderer Maurice , Besra Gurdyal S. , Porcelli Steven A.
Published: January 2021

CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) mediate strong antitumor immunity when stimulated by glycolipid agonists. However, attempts to develop effective iNKT cell agonists for clinical applications have been thwarted by potential problems with dose-limiting toxicity and by activation-induced iNKT cell anergy, which limits the efficacy of repeated administration. To overcome these issues, we developed a unique bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) based on covalent conjugates of soluble CD1d with photoreactive analogues of the glycolipid α-galactosylceramide. Here we characterize the in vivo activities of iNKT cell–specific BiTEs and assess their efficacy for cancer immunotherapy in mouse models using transplantable colorectal cancer or melanoma tumor lines engineered to express human Her2 as a tumor-associated antigen. Systemic administration of conjugated BiTEs stimulated multiple iNKT cell effector functions including cytokine release, secondary activation of NK cells, and induction of dendritic cell maturation and also initiated epitope spreading for tumor-specific CD8+ cytolytic T-cell responses. The antitumor effects of iNKT-cell activation with conjugated BiTEs were further enhanced by simultaneous checkpoint blockade with antibodies to CTLA-4, providing a potential approach for combination immunotherapy. Multiple injections of covalently stabilized iNKT cell–specific BiTEs activated iNKT cells without causing iNKT cell anergy or exhaustion, thus enabling repeated administration for effective and nontoxic cancer immunotherapy regimens.

Significance:

Covalently stabilized conjugates that engage the antigen receptors of iNKT cells and target a tumor antigen activate potent antitumor immunity without induction of anergy or depletion of the responding iNKT cells.
Ferroptosis Inducers Are a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Advanced Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ghoochani Ali , Hsu En-Chi , Aslan Merve , Rice Meghan A. , Nguyen Holly M. , Brooks James D. , Corey Eva , Paulmurugan Ramasamy , Stoyanova Tanya
Published: January 2021

Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death induced by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation and lipid reactive oxygen species in cells. It has been recently demonstrated that cancer cells are vulnerable to ferroptosis inducers (FIN). However, the therapeutic potential of FINs in prostate cancer in preclinical settings has not been explored. In this study, we demonstrate that mediators of ferroptosis, solute carrier family 7 member 11, SLC3A2, and glutathione peroxidase, are expressed in treatment-resistant prostate cancer. We further demonstrate that treatment-resistant prostate cancer cells are sensitive to two FINs, erastin and RSL3. Treatment with erastin and RSL3 led to a significant decrease in prostate cancer cell growth and migration in vitro and significantly delayed the tumor growth of treatment-resistant prostate cancer in vivo, with no measurable side effects. Combination of erastin or RSL3 with standard-of-care second-generation antiandrogens for advanced prostate cancer halted prostate cancer cell growth and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. These results demonstrate the potential of erastin or RSL3 independently and in combination with standard-of-care second-generation antiandrogens as novel therapeutic strategies for advanced prostate cancer.

Significance:

These findings reveal that induction of ferroptosis is a new therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer as a monotherapy and in combination with second-generation antiandrogens.
An Empirical Study on the Operative Treatment of Symptomatic Urolithiasis in Germany
Authors: Reicherz Alina , Sahin Rüveyde , Häuser Lorine , Noldus Joachim , Bach Peter
Published: January 2021

Purpose: The guidelines of the German, European, and American Urological Associations on urolithiasis advise against general ureteral stenting before and after an uncomplicated ureterorenoscopy (URS). However, German and European guidelines state that stenting prior to URS facilitates stone extraction and reduces intraoperative complications. According to the published literature, German practice seems to deviate from recommendations. This nationwide survey aimed to evaluate the treatment modalities of urolithiasis. Methods: In November 2018 and March 2019, a total of 199 urological hospital departments in Germany were anonymously surveyed about operative care of symptomatic urolithiasis. The response rate was 72.9%. The survey consisted of 25 questions about diagnostics, surgical technique, and aftercare of the URS. This questionnaire is available in the appendix. Results: A primary URS is performed in ≤10% in 49.6% of the hospitals. In every second urological department (49.7%), the German Diagnosis Related Group (G-DRG) system influences the period of pre-stenting before a secondary URS. After a secondary URS, which is performed in 53.8% of the departments in over 80% of the patients, 14% of the departments omit stenting. The standard for stenting seems to be a 28-cm-long 7 Charrière double-J stent in Germany. Conclusion: In Germany, the percentage of primary URS is low, and a ureter stenting is performed in most of the urological departments after URS. Delaying therapy due to economic aspects is the standard in almost half of all urological departments.
Population-Based Analysis of Secular Trends in Age at Death in Trisomy 18 Syndrome in Japan from 1975 to 2016
Authors: Suto Maiko , Isayama Tetsuya , Morisaki Naho
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Despite changes in prenatal diagnostic methods and perceptions regarding the prognosis of and treatment options for patients with trisomy 18 syndrome, data on the secular changes in patient survival are limited. This study aimed to investigate the survival pattern for such patients. Methods: To investigate the general patient survival patterns, we used data from the vital statistics database of deaths in Japan from 1975 to 2016. We described demographic factors, such as sex, gestational age at delivery, and surgical history, for patients whose primary cause of death was trisomy 18 syndrome. Results: The proportions of deaths within 24 h of birth (4.0% in 1975–1980 to 21.9% in 2011–2016) and at age ≥1 year (8.9% in 1975–1980 to 17.7% in 2011–2016) increased. The median survival time was higher for females, infants born after 37 weeks of gestation, and those who received surgical intervention. The median survival time tripled among patients who received surgical intervention (61.5 days in 1995–2005 to 182.5 days in 2006–2016), and the proportion of such patients increased (from 3.8% in 1995 to 24.1% of the entire affected population in 2016). Discussion/Conclusion: In Japan, the median survival time of infants with trisomy 18 increased over time, and the proportion of death within 24 h and at ≥1 year increased. Greater acknowledgement of the possible benefits of surgical intervention likely led to the increased provision of interventions and contributed to the increased survival time.
Kombinationstherapie mit Ambrisentan und Tadalafil bei CTD-PAH: Viel hilft viel?
Authors: Xanthouli Panagiota
Published: January 2021

Objectives: To evaluate initial combination therapy with ambrisentan plus tadalafil (COMB) compared with monotherapy of either agent (MONO), and the utility of baseline characteristics and risk stratification in predicting outcomes, in patients with connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) and the systemic sclerosis (SSc)-pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) subpopulation. Methods: This post hoc analysis of the Ambrisentan and Tadalafil in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (AMBITION) study included patients with CTD-PAH from the modified intention-to-treat population. Time to clinical failure (TtCF) was assessed by baseline characteristics, treatment assignment and risk group (low, intermediate and high) at baseline and week 16. TtCF was compared between groups using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression modelling. Results: The analysis included 216 patients (COMB, n = 117; MONO, n = 99). The risk of clinical failure was lower with COMB versus MONO (risk reduction: CTD-PAH 51.7%, SSc-PAH 53.7%), particularly in patients with haemodynamic parameters characteristic of typical PAH without features of left heart disease and/or restrictive lung disease at baseline. The risk of clinical failure was lower with COMB versus MONO in the baseline low-risk group (HR not calculated due to no events in COMB), baseline intermediate-risk group (HR 0.519, 95% CI 0.297 to 0.905) and in the week 16 low-risk group (HR 0.069, 95% CI 0.009 to 0.548). Conclusions: The benefit of COMB over MONO was demonstrated in patients with CTD-PAH, particularly in those with typical PAH haemodynamic characteristics at baseline. COMB is appropriate for patients categorised as low risk and intermediate risk at baseline and low risk at follow-up. Trial registration number: NCT01178073.
Diquafosol zur Behandlung der Keratokonjunktivitis sicca: 12-Monats-Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Studie
Authors: Bachmann Björn
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Diquafosol is a P2Y2 receptor agonist that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED) in short-term studies; however, its long-term safety and effectiveness have not been evaluated in a real-world setting. Methods: This prospective, multicentre, open-label observational study was conducted in patients with DED over 12 months. Safety endpoints included the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and serious ADRs. Effectiveness endpoints included change from baseline in keratoconjunctival staining score, tear film break-up time (BUT) and Dry Eye-related Quality of Life Score (DEQS). Results: A total of 580 patients were included, most of whom were female (82.9%). The proportion of patients who completed 12 months of observation was 55.0%, the most common reason for discontinuation was patient decision (54.6%). The incidence of ADRs was 10.7% and was highest during the first month of treatment (5.5%); no serious ADRs were reported. Compared with baseline, significant improvements in all effectiveness outcomes, including keratoconjunctival fluorescein staining score, BUT and DEQS summary score, were observed at each evaluation during the treatment period (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The present, real-world study showed that diquafosol 3.0% ophthalmic solution was well tolerated and effective in the long-term treatment of DED.
Psoriasis: Anti-IL17-Antikörper auch bei älteren Menschen einsetzbar
Authors: Braun-Falco Markus
Published: January 2021

Anti-interleukin-17 agents have recently been developed for the treatment of psoriasis. This study evaluated the tolerance and effectiveness of anti-interleukin-17 agents for psoriasis in elderly patients in daily practice. A multicentre, retrospective study was performed, involving psoriatic patients aged ≥65 years who had received an anti-interleukin-17 agent, including secukinumab, ixekizumab or brodalumab. A total of 114 patients were included: 72 received secukinumab, 35 ixekizumab, and 7 brodalumab. Treatment was stopped in 32 patients (28.9%), because of relapses in 14 patients (41.2%), primary failures in 11 patients (32.4%), or adverse events in 7 patients (20.6%). The 3 most frequently reported adverse events were injection site reactions (n = 4), oral candidiasis (n = 3), and influenza-like illness (n = 3). Regarding effectiveness, 80 patients (70%) reached a Physician Global Assessment score of 0/1, 6 months after treatment initiation. In conclusion, anti-interleukin-17 therapy appears to be an effective and safe therapeutic option for psoriasis treatment in patients aged ≥ 65 years.
Sustained Improvement in Diastolic Reserve Following Percutaneous Pericardiotomy in a Porcine Model of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Jain C. Charles , Pedrotty Dawn , Araoz Philip A. , Sugrue Alan , Vaidya Vaibhav R. , Padmanabhan Deepak , Arunachalam Shivaram P. , Lerman Lilach O. , Asirvatham Samuel J. , Borlaug Barry A.
Published: January 2021

Background:

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is increasing in prevalence, but few effective treatments are available. Elevated left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling pressures represent a key therapeutic target. Pericardial restraint contributes to elevated LV end-diastolic pressure, and acute studies have shown that pericardiotomy attenuates the rise in LV end-diastolic pressure with volume loading. However, whether these acute effects are sustained chronically remains unknown.

Methods:

Minimally invasive pericardiotomy was performed percutaneously using a novel device in a porcine model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Hemodynamics were assessed at baseline and following volume loading with pericardium intact, acutely following pericardiotomy, and then again chronically after 4 weeks. Cardiac structure was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Results:

The increase in LV end-diastolic pressure with volume loading was mitigated by 41% (95% CI, 27%–45%,
P
<0.0001; ΔLV end-diastolic pressure reduced from +9±3 mm Hg to +5±3 mm Hg,
P
=0.0003, 95% CI, −2.2 to −5.5). The effect was sustained at 4 weeks (+5±2 mm Hg,
P
=0.28 versus acute). There was no statistically significant effect of pericardiotomy on ventricular remodeling compared with age-matched controls. None of the animals developed hemodynamic or pathological indicators of pericardial constriction or frank systolic dysfunction.

Conclusions:

The acute hemodynamic benefits of pericardiotomy are sustained for at least 4 weeks in a swine model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, without excessive chamber remodeling, pericarditis, or clinically significant systolic dysfunction. These data support trials evaluating minimally invasive pericardiotomy as a novel treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in humans.
The Rights of Elders in Ireland during COVID-19
Authors: Ó Cathaoir Katharina , Gundersby Rognlien Ida
Published: January 2021

This article reflects on COVID-19 restrictions imposed on elders in Ireland through the lens of the right to private and family life (Article 8 ECHR), focusing on stay at home orders and recommendations advising elders to avoid social contact. Furthermore, we examine restrictions on visiting nursing homes given the high death toll in that setting. In our analysis, we zero in on the principles of foreseeability and proportionality, highlighting areas of concern and aspects that we submit should be considered in a proportionality assessment. Ultimately, we argue that it is a mistake to view the COVID-19 pandemic solely as an emergency. In this manner, the solutions suggested through the law – restrictions on movement and visitation bans – are too narrow and fail to address the underlying structures, such as, issues in the healthcare system, the limited home help for elderly and poor conditions in nursing homes.
Reformed Orthodoxy and the Libertas philosophandi in the Netherlands
Authors: Krop Henri
Published: January 2021

In Reformed lands within seventeenth-century Europe, universities were granted the ‘liberty to philosophise.’ Yet what did this mean in practice? In the first part of this paper, the notion of ‘orthodoxy’ will be outlined, and it will be explained how, according to Gisbertus Voetius, ‘Christian Freedom’ and the ‘Libertas philosophandi’ might go together. Orthodoxy, however, implied a clearly defined confession as well, circumscribing true faith. As a result, ‘academic freedom,’ though real in some ways, was necessarily limited. In the second part of this paper, the examples of Antonius Walaeus and Abraham Heidanus will show how both the new and the old philosophy might be presented as being consistent with orthodoxy in seventeenth-century Holland.
Inviting individual voice to second language academic writing
Authors: Lehman Iga Maria , Anderson Robin
Published: January 2021

Our purpose in this paper is to present the findings of a study aimed at investigating how second language (L2) student-writers construct their identities as academic authors in tertiary education. We consider the restraints institutionalized text production can place on the constitution of writer identity, and call for pedagogical approaches to writing to take on board our findings to better help students in the process of finding their unique authorial voice. While the specific socio-cultural and institutional contexts within which people write limit possibilities for their self-representation, we argue that student writers should be encouraged to bring their own life histories and sense of the self to their texts. The study follows the notion of writer voice as proposed by Lehman (2018). She proposes categorising writer voice into three main types: individual, collective and depersonalized. As these three aspects of voice are predominantly cued through metadiscourse features we employed a three-dimensional analytic rubric designed by Lehman (2018) in order to identify and analyze the potential of individual voice in the facilitation and enhancement of academic writing in a second language (see Lehman, 2018).
Institutional perspective on writing for international publication
Authors: Wojtaszek Adam
Published: January 2021

The paper focuses on the institutional background of the publishing practices of Polish scholars, with special emphasis on publications in English. The University of Silesia in Katowice represents a Polish Higher Education Institution which places significant emphasis on international publications. On the basis of two data collection instruments, a report on point-winning publications (2017–2020) and a survey conducted among 197 faculty members, the author portrays the publication-related situation of the university and its most important determinants. Besides the facts pertaining to the distribution of point-winning publications among disciplines and languages, the article address such important issues as the authors’ strategies employed in the preparation of English language manuscripts, language-related issues articulated by the reviewers, and reasons for not publishing in English. A connection is made between the institutional context in which scholarly texts are composed and the strategic choices made by the authors in the process of manuscript drafting.
Encyonema oblonga (Bacillariophyta, Cymbellaceae), a new species from Shanxi Province, China

Authors: LIU QI , LI JIAJIA , WANG QUANXI , Kociolek JOHN PATRICK KOCIOLEK Patrick , Xie Shulian
Published: January 2021

A new species, Encyonema oblonga Liu & Xie, is collected during a survey of the freshwater diatom flora of Manghe River, Shanxi, China. The valves of this new species are oblong with rounded apices and have the features typical of Encyonema, including complex areolae. We compare the new species with the most similar taxa, E. leei, E. leei var. sinensis and E. appalachianum and consider that  E. leei var. sinensis is the valid name.  The morphology of E. oblonga is documented with light and scanning electron microscopy.
Improved Climatology of Tropical Cyclone Precipitation from Satellite Passive Microwave Measurements
Authors: Yang Song , Lao Vincent , Bankert Richard , Whitcomb Timothy R. , Cossuth Joshua
Published: January 2021

Accurate precipitation climatology is presented for tropical depression (TD), tropical storm (TS), and tropical cyclone (TC) over oceans using the recently-released, consistent and high quality precipitation datasets from all passive microwave sensors covering 1998-2012 along with the Automated Rotational Center Hurricane Eye Retrieval (ARCHER)-based TC center positions. Impacts with respect to the direction of both TC movement and the 200-850 hPa wind shear on the spatial distributions of TC precipitation are analyzed. The TC eyewall contraction process during its intensification is noted by a decrease in the radius of maximum rainrate with an increase in TC intensity. For global TCs, the maximum rainrate with respect to the direction of TC movement is located in the down-motion quadrants for TD, TS, and Cat 1-3 TCs, and in a concentric pattern for Cat 4-5 TCs. A consistent maximum TC precipitation with respect to the direction of the 200-850 hPa wind shear is shown in the down shear left quadrant (DSLQ). With respect to direction of TC movement, spatial patterns of TC precipitation vary with basins and show different features for weak and strong storms. The maximum rainrate is always located in DSLQ for all TC categories and basins, except the Southern Hemisphere basin where it is in the down shear right quadrant (DSRQ). This study not only confirms previously published results on TC precipitation distributions relative to vertical wind shear direction, but also provides a detailed distribution for each TC category and TS, while TD storms display an enhanced rainfall rate ahead of the down shear quadrants.
A Closer Look at Power-Law Scaling Applied to Sea Surface Temperature from Scripps Pier Using Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Breaker Laurence C. , Carroll Dustin
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study is to extract more information about the scaling exponents we obtain from sea surface temperature (SST) because their information content is limited to a single value. We examine the application of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to power-law scaling using SST from Scripps Pier, California. The daily observations we employ extend from 1920 to 2009, a period of 90 years. The annual cycle and the long-term trend were first removed. The decomposition produced a total of 15 modes. The scaling exponents were then calculated separately for each mode from the EMD. We have examined the distribution of scaling exponents with respect to the ensemble, and then with respect to the individual modes for the oceanic processes that we may infer from them. The first three modes are antipersistent and contain about one-quarter of the total variance. The pattern of modes that was obtained is continuous and relatively smooth beyond mode 3 with increasing values up to mode 8 and generally decreasing values thereafter. The pattern exhibits intramodal correlation, as expected, and intermodal correlation as well. Intermodal correlation is likely due, for the most part, to long-range persistence. The annual cycle in SST at Scripps Pier is a dominant feature in the record and contains almost 70% of the variance. A method for removing the annual cycle that is not based on removing the mean value is introduced and is recommended for future use.
Closing Achievement Gaps: Examining the Roles of School Background and Process
Authors: Wu Huang , Shen Jianping , Spybrook Jessaca , Gao Xingyuan
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of school background and school process in closing achievement gaps between White and non-White students in science. To answer the research questions, a series of two-level hierarchical linear models (HLM) was performed on the fourth-grade U.S. portion of the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data. Results indicate that (a) the science achievement gap between White and non-White students is 0.21 standard deviation, holding student and school background constant; (b) the science achievement gap varies across schools; (c) none of the school background variables are associated with the achievement gap in a school; and (d) school emphasis on student academic learning is not only associated with higher school-level science achievement, but also with a narrower science achievement gap between White and non-White students. However, teacher collaboration is not associated with school-level science achievement but is associated with a larger achievement gap. Implications, limitations, and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Analysing Opportunities for India in Global Value Chains in Post COVID-19 Era
Authors: Bagaria Nidhi
Published: January 2021

In recent years, trade in intermediate goods has increased manifold with the emergence of global value chains (GVCs). China has emerged as one of the leading countries in the whole GVC network; many countries, including the USA, are heavily dependent on China for the intermediates in the manufacturing sector. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns in many countries, including China, have disrupted the supply in GVCs. This situation has led to the search for alternative markets for intermediates for the sustainable-production process. This study looks at how India can be an alternative avenue for the USA in place of China in the GVC network. It investigates the extent of participation of the countries under study in the GVCs and the gains resulting from it. The main focus of the research is to determine the emerging opportunities for India in GVCs, through correlating the USA industries which are vulnerable to disruption in GVCs as caused by China to those industries of India in which India enjoys a comparative advantage. The analysis reveals that in the ‘textiles, wearing apparel, leather and related products’ and ‘chemicals and non-metallic mineral products’ industries, India could be a replacement of China for the USA.

JEL Codes: F10, F13, F15
Graphene-based metal matrix nanocomposites: Recent development and challenges
Authors: Ranjan Rachit , Bajpai Vivek
Published: January 2021

This articles reviews till-date available literature on metal matrix composites reinforced with graphene, CNT and other carbonaceous materials. The article has a special focus on the mechanical, tribological and challenges associated with the fabrication of nanocomposites. Simultaneously, it reviews the synthesis, strengthening mechanism and applications of graphene along with research gap associated with graphene metal matrix nanocomposites (GMMNC). Carbonaceous nanofillers, e.g. Graphene, are known to have extraordinary mechanical, thermal and electrical properties along with multifaceted characteristics. These materials have the potential to become an ideal material in numerous application which requires reinforcement. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) suffers various challenges starting from its synthesis to the uniform distribution within the matrix material. Our concern is to give details on the challenges associated with graphene and metal matrix composites along with the solution so that new research can be done at its ease. Section 1 of the article gives a detailed analysis of various carbonaceous reinforcement materials. Preparation, processing and dispersion technique for graphene and composite material is given in section 2. Section 3 of the article deals with different matrix material used in MMNC along with the properties and challenges associated with it in tabulated form. Strengthening mechanism used for the enhancement of mechanical properties of composites is described in section 4, whereas, Section 5 deals with the applications and Research gap.
Oral Organoids: Progress and Challenges
Authors: Gao X. , Wu Y. , Liao L. , Tian W.
Published: January 2021

Oral organoids are complex 3-dimensional structures that develop from stem cells or organ-specific progenitors through a process of self-organization and re-create architectures and functionalities similar to in vivo organs and tissues in the oral and maxillofacial region. Recently, striking advancements have been made in the construction and application of oral organoids of the tooth, salivary gland, and tongue. Dental epithelial and mesenchymal cells isolated from tooth germs or derived from pluripotent stem cells could generate tooth germ–like organoids by self-organization in a specific culture system. Tooth organoids can also be constructed based on tissue engineering principles by seeding stem cells on a scaffold with the bioregulatory functions of odontogenic differentiation. Two main approaches have been used to construct salivary gland organoids: 1) incubation of salivary gland–derived stem/progenitor cells in a 3-dimensional culture system to form the structure of the gland through mimicking regenerative processes and 2) inducing of pluripotent stem cells to generate embryonic salivary glands by replicating the development process. Taste bud organoids can be generated by embedding isolated circumvallate papilla tissue in Matrigel with a mixture of growth factors, while lingual epithelial organoids have been constructed using lingual stem cells in a suitable culture system containing specific signaling molecules. These oral organoids usually maintain the main functions and characteristic structures of the corresponding organ to a certain extent. Furthermore, using cells isolated from patients, oral organoids could replicate specific diseases such as maxillofacial tumors and tooth dysplasia. Until now, oral organoids have been applied in the study of mechanisms of tooth development, pathology and regeneration of the salivary gland, and precision therapeutics for tongue cancer. These findings strongly demonstrate that the organoid technique is a novel paradigm for the study of the development, pathology, and regeneration of oral and maxillofacial tissue.
Interdisciplinary approaches to researching L2 lexical acquisition, processing, and use: An introduction to the special issue
Authors: Elgort Irina , Siyanova-Chanturia Anna
Published: January 2021

Lexical knowledge is complex, multidimensional, and difficult to pin down to a set of defined components. The development, organization, and use of lexical knowledge in the first and additional languages are studied in a number of neighbouring disciplines beyond second language acquisition and applied linguistics, including psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, computational linguistics, and language education. In this introduction, we highlight how the five articles in this special issue hone our understanding of different aspects of second language (L2) lexical knowledge, its acquisition, and use by adopting innovative research design, methods, and approaches to data collection and analysis from these distinct but related disciplines, affording new theoretical and empirical insights.
Differences among institutions in the prevalence of and indications for urinary catheterization of advanced cancer patients at palliative care units: A multicenter prospective cohort study (EASED)
Authors: Higashibata Takahiro , Hisanaga Takayuki , Hagiwara Shingo , Shimokawa Miho , Yabuki Ritsuko , Odagiri Takuya , Ito Tetsuya , Kamura Rena , Maeda Isseki , Kosugi Kazuhiro , Mori Masanori , Morita Tatsuya , Tsuneto Satoru , Hamano Jun
Published: January 2021

Background:

Studies on the appropriate use of urinary catheters for cancer patients at the end of life are limited.

Aim:

To clarify the differences among institutions in the prevalence of and indications for urinary catheterization of advanced cancer patients at palliative care units.

Design:

Pre-planned secondary analysis of a multicenter, prospective cohort study; East-Asian collaborative cross-cultural Study to Elucidate the Dying process (EASED).

Setting/participants:

This study enrolled consecutive advanced cancer patients admitted to palliative care units between January and December 2017. The final study group comprised 1212 patients from 21 institutions throughout Japan.

Results:

Out of the 1212 patients, 380 (31.4%; 95% confidence interval, 28.7%–34.0%) underwent urinary catheterization during their palliative care unit stay, and the prevalence of urinary catheterization in patients who died at palliative care units by institution ranged from 0.0% to 55.4%. When the 21 participating institutions were equally divided into three groups according to the institutional prevalence of catheterization, patients with difficulty in moving safely, exhaustion on movement, and restlessness or agitation were more likely to be catheterized in institutions with a high prevalence of catheterization than in those with a low or moderate prevalence ( p < 0.008, p = 0.008, and p < 0.008, respectively).

Conclusion:

This study revealed that the institutional prevalence of urinary catheterization in advanced cancer patients at palliative care units widely varied. Further studies are needed to establish the appropriate use of urinary catheters, especially in patients with difficulty in moving safely, exhaustion on movement, and restlessness or agitation.
Prenatal diagnosis of fetal right ventricular diverticulum with massive pericardial effusion in one of monochorionic diamniotic twins: a case report with a favorable outcome following in utero pericardiocentesis
Authors: Wang Yunan , Liu Chang , Yin Aihua , Zhao Xin , He Wei , Xiong Ying , Fang Liyuan , Wu Jing
Published: January 2021

Background

Congenital ventricular diverticulum is a rare abnormality that may occur as an isolated malformation. Most cases are accompanied by pericardial effusion. Prenatal counseling can be difficult because the prognosis is uncertain and there is no consensus approach to prenatal management. Case presentation: We describe a case of congenital cardiac diverticulum complicated by large pericardial effusion in one of monochorionic diamniotic twins. The case was diagnosed by ultrasonography at 21 weeks of gestation. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis at 22 weeks resulted in complete resolution of the effusion and led to a favorable fetal outcome. We summarize the interventions and pregnancy outcomes in cases of cardiac diverticula reported in the literature.

Conclusions

Better awareness of clinical features, in utero therapies, and pregnancy outcomes could help define and improve prenatal management of congenital ventricular diverticula.