bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous Exposure to Low Doses of Ultrafine Black Carbon Reduces the Vitality of Immortalized Lung-Derived Cells and Activates Senescence
Authors: Salinas M. Esther , Gutiérrez Denisse A. , Varela-Ramírez Armando , Garza Kristine M.
Published: December 2020

Combustion-derived nanomaterials are noxious ultrafine (<100 nm) aerosol by-products of human activity. They pose threats to pulmonary health due to their small size, allowing them to penetrate alveoli causing detrimental responses downstream. Information regarding the cellular activity that connects nanocarbon particle exposure to poor pulmonary health remains lacking. We hypothesized that low-dose and long-term administrations of carbonaceous nanoparticles contribute to lung irritation by adversely affecting respiratory cells that function as the first line of defense. Responses to ultrafine black carbon (UBC), a key component of airborne pollutants, by human lung A549, murine lung LA4 epithelial cells, human peripheral-blood monocytes THP1, and murine macrophages RAW264.7 were investigated. The cells were first plated on day zero and were fed fresh UBC suspended in culture media on days one, four, and seven. The exposure regimen included three different concentrations of UBC. On day ten, all cells were harvested, washed, and assayed. The impact on cellular viability revealed that UBC was only moderately cytotoxic, while metabolic activity was significantly diminished in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, beta-galactosidase proportionally increased with UBC concentration compared to untreated cells, indicating that cellular senescence was promoted across all cell types. The implemented regimen caused minimal toxicity yet demonstrated different cellular modifications across the cell lines of both species, inducing changes to enzyme vitality and cellular fitness. The data suggested that compounding nanosized black carbon exposure could negatively impair overall pulmonary health by distinctively modifying intracellular behavior.
The Impact of microRNA Regulation on Immune Recovery in HIV‐1‐Infected Patients Treated during Acute Infection: A Pilot Study
Authors: Fu Yuping , Liu Yan , Liu Zhiying , Liu Lifeng , Yuan Lin , An Xizhao , Sun Jufeng , Zhang Tong , Wu Hao , Lian Shi , Su Bin
Published: December 2020

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs involved in a large range of cellular activities and can be used as biomarkers and indicators for diagnosis. We investigated the alterations in miRNA profiles in immune reconstituted vs. nonimmune reconstituted HIV‐1‐infected individuals to assess the association between miRNAs and the occurrence of immunological nonresponses, with the aim of searching for miRNA‐based biomarkers for these HIV‐1‐infected individuals. Thirteen immunological responders (IRs) and 12 immunological nonresponders (INRs) were recruited, and RNA was collected from the plasma samples of the 25 HIV‐1‐infected individuals at both baseline and after 24 months of maintaining virological suppression (VS). Next‐generation sequencing was used to detect miRNAs and evaluate the expression differences in miRNAs between IR and INR patients and between baseline and after 24 months of maintaining VS. Samples from 13 IRs and 11 INRs were successfully sequenced. The horizontal comparison of differentially expressed miRNAs between the groups and the longitudinal comparison of differentially expressed miRNAs between baseline and after 24 months of maintaining VS showed that a large proportion of miRNAs in INRs are downregulated compared to the levels in IRs. We also found that the miRNA let‐7d‐5p was downregulated in 9 INRs but only in 2 IRs by more than 2‐fold. The difference was significant. In summary, these results demonstrate for the first time that a large proportion of miRNAs are downregulated in INRs compared with IRs, and the miRNA let‐7d‐5p is a potential biomarker for INRs.
Sequencing and Characterization of Mitochondrial Protein‐Coding Genes for Schizothorax niger (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) with Phylogenetic Consideration
Authors: Akhtar Tasleem , Ali Ghazanfar , Shafi Nuzhat , Akhtar Wasim , Khan Abdul Hameed , Latif Zahid , Wali Abdul , Ain-ul-Batool Syeda , Khan Abdul Rehman , Mumtaz Sadia , Altaf Syed Iftikhar , Khawaja Sundus , Sadia  , Khalid Madiha , Rehman Fazal Ur , Javid Qudir
Published: December 2020

The present study was conducted to get more information about the genome and locate the taxonomic position of Schizothorax niger in Schizothoracinae through mitochondrial 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs). These PCGs for S. niger were found to be 11409 bps in length ranging from 165 (ATPase 8) to 1824 bps (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5) and encode 3801 amino acids. In these PCGs, 4 genes overlap on the similar strands, while one shown on the opposite one: ATPase 6+8 and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4+4L overlap by 7 nucleotides. Similarly, ND5‐ND6 overlap by 4 nucleotides, while ATP6 and COIII overlap by 1 nucleotide. Similarly, four commonly used amino acids in S. niger were Leu (15.6 %), Ile (10.12 %), Thr (8.12 %), and Ala (8.7 %). The results presented that COII, COIII, NDI, ND4L, and Cytb had substantial amino acid conservation as compared to the COI gene. Through phylogenetic analysis, it was observed that S. niger is closely linked with S. progastus, S. labiatus, S. plagiostomus, and S. nepalensis with high bootstrap values. The present study provided more genomic data to know the diversity of the mitochondrial genome and its molecular evolution in Schizothoracinae.
The Impact of R&D Input on Technological Innovation: Evidence from South Asian and Southeast Asian Countries
Authors: Lv Lei , Yin Yuchen , Wang Yuanchang
Published: December 2020

In the era of the rapid development of knowledge economy and science, all countries have thought highly of technical innovation and greatly increased the R&D input for it. However, the research on the impact of R&D input on technical innovation lacks specialized, cross-country, and cross-time investigations, and especially, the research on small countries such as South Asia and Southeast Asia where technical innovation is relatively backward. So, does R&D input in South Asia and Southeast Asia have an impact on technical innovation and to what extent? Let us analyze the panel data of 18 countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia from 2001 to 2018, use three methods of unit root test to test the stationarity of variables, adopt the Kao cointegration test to test a stable long-term relationship between the variables, and then, respectively, carry out the transnational regression analysis of the difference between patent applications, scientific journal articles, and the R&D input with multiple models. Finally, the heteroscedasticity robust fixed-effect model is found to be the most suitable for this study after the comparative analysis of multiple models. Through the fixed-effect intercepts of each country in the heteroscedasticity robust fixed-effect models, South Asian and Southeast Asian countries are divided into three levels, and each level lists a set of equations. So, the following conclusions are drawn: both R&D expenditure and manpower input in South Asia and Southeast Asia significantly promote technological innovation; the efficiency of both R&D expenditure and manpower input promoting technological innovation in South Asia and Southeast Asia is low and needs to be improved. These conclusions provide references for policymakers in some countries where technological innovation is relatively backward, especially in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal.
Lithium-Associated Hypercalcemia Presenting with Neuropsychiatric Manifestations in a Patient with Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Benjelloun Roukaya , Motaib Imane , Otheman Yassine
Published: December 2020

One of the overlooked adverse effects of lithium treatment is neuropsychiatric manifestations induced by hypercalcemia (LAH). Here, we present the case of a patient, with bipolar disorder under lithium, who presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms that revealed hyperparathyroidism-induced hypercalcemia. This case illustrates the importance of monitoring parathyroid function and calcium levels in patients under lithium, especially in premenopaused women. LAH may mimic symptoms of manic episodes and should be sought in the case of brutal onset of confusion, anxiety, and/or hallucinations in the course of a bipolar disorder.
Seismic Performance of Substrate for Vegetation Concrete from Large-Scale Shaking Table Test
Authors: Qu Honglue , Wang Chenxu , Huang Xiaole , Ding Yu , Huang Xue
Published: December 2020

The substrate for vegetation concrete is a new type of plant substrate used for slope protection. While it has demonstrated good performance in slope protection and a greening effect, the sustainability of ecological restoration projects is difficult and there are significant construction risks in areas with frequent earthquakes. In this study, a new type of substrate for vegetation concrete was developed for areas with frequent earthquakes, and a shaking table test was performed to evaluate the seismic performance. The test results indicated that the proposed substrate of the vegetation concrete displayed good stability under seismic excitation at earthquake intensities of V, VI, VII, and VIII. A comparison of several different reinforcement methods under seismic conditions indicated that wavy laying of a flexible net was the best reinforcement method. Through observation of the displacement time history curve and macroscopic phenomenon, the failure process of the substrate layer was obtained and consisted of the following three stages: cracking between substrate layer and bedrock, internal cracking of the substrate layer, and vibration crushing. Ultimately, the research results have significant reference value for ecological restoration projects using substrates for vegetation concrete in areas with frequent earthquakes.
Application Research of Intelligent Classification Technology in Enterprise Data Classification and Gradation System
Authors: Yu Lina , Wang Chunwei , Chang Huixian , Shen Sheng , Hou Fang , Li Yingwei
Published: December 2020

Classification and gradation system adopts different security protection schemes for different types of data by implementing classification and gradation management of data, which is an important pretechnical means for data security protection and prevention of data leakage. This paper introduces artificial intelligence classification, machine learning, and other means to learn and train enterprise documents according to the characteristics of enterprise sensitive data. The generated training model can intelligently identify and classify file streams, improving work efficiency and accuracy of classification and gradation. At the same time, the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of K-NN (K-Nearest Neighbors), DT (Decision Tree), and LinearSVC algorithms are compared. The experimental data shows that LinearSVC algorithm is applicable to high-dimensional data, with discrete, sparse data features and large number of features, which is more suitable for classification of sensitive data of enterprises.
An Immune‐Related Gene Panel for Preoperative Lymph Node Status Evaluation in Advanced Gastric Cancer
Authors: Yang Yuan , Zheng Ya , Zhang Hongling , Miao Yandong , Wu Guozhi , Zhou Lingshan , Wang Haoying , Ji Rui , Guo Qinghong , Chen Zhaofeng , Wang Jiangtao , Wang Yuping , Zhou Yongning
Published: December 2020

Background and Aim: Gastric cancer (GC) is the common leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Immune‐related genes (IRGs) may potentially predict lymph node metastasis (LNM). We aimed to develop a preoperative model to predict LNM based on these IRGs. Methods: In this paper, we compared and evaluated three machine learning models to predict LNM based on publicly available gene expression data from TCGA‐STAD. The Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) method was utilized to feature selection according to its relationships with LN status. The performance of the model was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) and F1 score. Results: The Naive Bayesian model showed better performance and was constructed based on 26 selected gene features, with AUCs of 0.741 in the training set and 0.688 in the test set. The F1 score in the training set and test set was 0.652 and 0.597, respectively. Furthermore, Naive Bayesian model based on 26 IRGs is the first diagnostic tool for the identification of LNM in advanced GC. Conclusion: These results indicate that our new methods have the value of auxiliary diagnosis with promising clinical potential.
Pre-Emptive OCT-Guided Angioplasty of Vulnerable Intermediate Coronary Lesions: Results from the Prematurely Halted PECTUS-Trial
Authors: Mol Jan-Quinten , Bom Michiel J. , Damman Peter , Knaapen Paul , van Royen Niels
Published: December 2020

Objectives. To assess the safety and efficacy of pre-emptive treatment of optical coherence tomography- (OCT-) derived vulnerable, non-flow-limiting, non-culprit lesions in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Background. Intracoronary imaging with OCT can aid in the decision to treat non-flow-limiting lesions by identifying vulnerable plaques. Pre-emptive treatment of these lesions might improve patient outcome by “sealing” these plaques. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) have theoretical benefit for this treatment because they dissolve completely over time. Methods. In patients presenting with MI, non-culprit lesions with a fractional flow reserve ≥0.8 were imaged with OCT. Vulnerable plaques were randomised to either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) placement or optimal medicinal therapy (OMT). The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, and unplanned revascularisation at 1-year follow-up. Results. The trial was stopped prematurely after retraction from the market of the Absorb BVS. At that time, a total of 34 patients were randomised. At two years, the composite endpoint occurred 3 times (18.8%) in the BVS group and 1 time (6.3%) in the OMT group. Apart from one elective PCI for stable angina in the OMT group, no target lesions in any group were revascularised. Conclusions. Pre-emptive stenting of vulnerable plaques had no evident benefit compared to conservative treatment. However, due to the low number of included patients, no definite conclusions could be drawn. Identifying and potentially treating vulnerable plaques remains an important target for future research. This trial is registered under https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/NL4177 on 08-12-2015.
Mobile Security: Threats and Best Practices
Authors: Weichbroth Paweł , Łysik Łukasz
Published: December 2020

Communicating mobile security threats and best practices has become a central objective due to the ongoing discovery of new vulnerabilities of mobile devices. To cope with this overarching issue, the goal of this paper is to identify and analyze existing threats and best practices in the domain of mobile security. To this extent, we conducted a literature review based on a set of keywords. The obtained results concern recognizable threats and established best practices in the domain of mobile security. Afterwards, this outcome was put forward for consideration by mobile application users (n = 167) via a survey instrument. To this end, the results show high awareness of the threats and their countermeasures in the domain of mobile applications. While recognizing the risks associated with physical and social factors, the majority of respondents declared the use of built-in methods to mitigate the negative impact of malicious software and social-engineering scams. The study results contribute to the theory on mobile security through the identification and exploration of a variety of issues, regarding both threats and best practices. Besides this, this bulk of up-to-date knowledge has practical value which reflects in its applicability at both the individual and enterprise level. Moreover, at this point, we argue that understanding the factors affecting users’ intentions and motivations to accept and use particular technologies is crucial to leverage the security of mobile applications. Therefore, future work will cover identifying and modeling users’ perceptions of the security and usability of mobile applications.
An Algorithm Based on Influence to Predict Invisible Relationship
Authors: Tian Junfeng , Xue Lizheng , Cai Hongyun
Published: December 2020

Research on social networks is at its peak in the current era of big data, especially in the field of computer research. Link prediction in social networks has attracted an increasing number of researchers. However, most of the current studies have focused on the prediction of the visible relationships between users, ignoring the existence of invisible relationships. The same as visible relationships, invisible relationships are also an indispensable part of social networks, and they can uncover more potential relationships between users. To better understand invisible relationship, definition, types, and characteristics of invisible relationship have been introduced in this paper. Also an influence algorithm is proposed to speculate on the existence of invisible edges between users. The algorithm is based on three indicators, namely, the occasional contact degree, interest coincidence degree, and the popularity of users, and it takes the influence as reference. By comparing with the threshold,

Θ

, defined in advance, users with relationships stronger than

Θ

are viewed as possessing invisible relationships. The feasibility and accuracy of the algorithm are proven by extensive numerical experiments compared with one well-known and widely used method, i.e., the common neighbors (CN).
Reservoir Landslide Physical Modelling under Ice‐Snow Melting and Reservoir Water Combined Action
Authors: Xiong Tongqiang , Li Jianlin , Wang Lehua , Deng Huafeng , Xu Xiaoliang
Published: December 2020

Extreme ice‐snow melting in winter affects the infiltration process of snow water on the slope surface significantly and plays an important role in the deformation stability of landslide. Variation in pore water pressure is regarded as an essential factor of landslide instability induced by snow water. In order to figure out the internal relationship between the infiltration process of snow water and the failure mode of deformation and instability of the accumulation landslide, the response law and deformation and failure mode of pore water pressure and soil pressure of landslide accumulation under different ice‐snow melting conditions are deeply studied based on the indoor large‐scale landslide model test. We have studied the physical model test under the combined action of reservoir water and ice‐snow melting. It reveals the seepage erosion deformation and failure mechanism. It undoubtedly provides references of great importance for the geological hazard governance of bank slope in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.
lncRNAs Are Involved in Sevoflurane Anesthesia‐Related Brain Function Modulation through Affecting Mitochondrial Function and Aging Process
Authors: Qu Yinyin , Li Hongyi , Shi Chengmei , Qian Min , Yang Ning , Wang Liwei , Gao Xingyu , Ni Cheng
Published: December 2020

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in brain function modulation and neurodegenerative diseases. However, whether lncRNA regulations are involved in the mechanisms of perioperative neurocognitive disorders, especially in anesthesia‐related brain dysfunction, remain unknown. Therefore, we explored the expression and regulation pattern profiles of lncRNAs in the hippocampus of aged rats after sevoflurane anesthesia. Three lncRNAs and 772 protein‐coding genes were identified by microarray analysis and evidenced by in vitro and in vivo experiments as differentially expressed. Functional annotation and differentially expressed‐ (DE‐) lncRNA‐mRNA coexpression networks reveal that DE‐lncRNAs are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, aging‐related metabolism alterations, DNA damage, and apoptosis, as well as neurodegenerative features during sevoflurane anesthesia. These results suggest that lncRNAs play roles in general anesthesia‐related brain function modulation during the perioperative context and provide insights into the lncRNA‐related modulation mechanisms and targets.
Application of Digital Image Correlation Technique for the Damage Characteristic of Rock‐like Specimens under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Chai Jing , Liu Yongliang , OuYang YiBo , Zhang Dingding , Du Wengang
Published: December 2020

The damage and degradation are the main influence factors of the instability of rock mass engineering. In this paper, the damage and deformation characteristics of the rock‐like samples are investigated under the uniaxial compression test, and the advanced digital image correlation (DIC) device is devoted to full‐field deformation data acquisition on the sample surface. Based on the full‐field deformation data, a new damage variable is proposed by the principal strain standard deviation to characterize the uniaxial compression damage process of the rock‐like samples. The results show that the newly presented damage variable can be utilized for the quantitative characterization of the sample damage. According to the characteristics of the damage variable, the damage evolution process of the rock‐like specimens under uniaxial compression can be divided into four stages: initial damage closure stage, linear elastic damage stage, elastic‐plastic damage stage, and plastic damage stage. From the stress‐strain curve, the cut‐off point from elastic to plastic deformation of the rock‐like specimen is also the turning point from micro to macro damage; after the point, the apparent initial damage starts to occur on the sample surface; furthermore, the damage of the specimen is accelerated in the plastic damage stage. When the overall damage variable reaches 0.5 or the damage variable of strain localization zone reaches 0.8, the macro crack forms, and the bearing capacity of the rock‐like specimen decreases rapidly. The findings are of great significance to the prediction of the damage process of rock mass engineering by digital image correlation.
Research on the Internal Financing Mechanism in the Innovation Chain
Authors: Liu Huihong , Ding Han , Zhou Xinmiao
Published: December 2020

It is of great significance to build an efficient and cooperative innovation system and support system under the background of China persisting in leading the development with innovation and speeding up the construction of an innovation-oriented country. The collaborative relationship and profit distribution of each innovation subject will be analyzed through the study of the innovation activity in the innovation chain. With consideration of the characteristics of the innovation chain such as high risk, financing difficulty, cooperative partnership and so on and using the internal financing mode of supply chain for reference, the game model of internal financing between members of the innovation chain will be established. The game equilibriums will be solved and analyzed, and the optimal equilibriums will be achieved by designing the contracts to establish the internal financing mechanisms in the innovative chain. For the risk asymmetry at each stage of the innovation chain, the contracts will be optimized to construct the risk sharing mechanism to control the risk of the internal financing in the innovation chain. In order to make innovations, this paper creates the financial support mode of the innovation chain, improves the innovation support system and increases the efficiency of the innovation chain.
Molecular Dynamics Characteristics and Model of Vehicle-Following Behavior
Authors: Jia Yanfeng , Qu Dayi , Ma Xiaolong , Lin Lu , Hong Jiale
Published: December 2020

The vehicle-following behavior is a self-organizing behavior that restores dynamic balance under the stimulation of external environmental factors. In fact, there are asymmetric problems in the process of acceleration and deceleration of drivers. The existing traditional models ignored the differences between acceleration and deceleration of vehicles. In order to solve this problem, the vehicles driving on the road are compared to interacting molecules. Vehicle-following characteristics are studied, and the molecular following model is established based on molecular dynamics. The model parameters under different conditions are calibrated considering the required safety distance by the vehicle and the reaction time of the driver. With the help of the vehicle running track graphs, speed, and acceleration graphs, the numerical simulations of the molecular following model and the classical optimal speed vehicle-following model are carried out. The results of the comparative analysis show that the acceleration in the process of acceleration and deceleration is not constant but more sensitive to the deceleration of the preceding vehicle than to the acceleration and more sensitive to the acceleration/deceleration of the short-distance vehicle than to the acceleration/deceleration of the long-distance vehicle. Therefore, the molecular following model can better describe the vehicle-following behavior, and the research results can provide a theoretical basis and a technical reference for the analysis of traffic flow dynamic characteristics and adaptive cruise control technology.
Beyond PS-LTE: Security Model Design Framework for PPDR Operational Environment
Authors: Kim Daegeon , Gu Do Hyung , Kim Huy Kang
Published: December 2020

National disasters can threaten national security and require several organizations to integrate the functionalities to correspond to the event. Many countries are constructing a nationwide mobile communication network infrastructure to share information and promptly communicate with corresponding organizations. Public Safety Long-Term Evolution (PS-LTE) is a communication mechanism adopted in many countries to achieve such a purpose. Organizations can increase the efficiency of public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) operations by securely connecting the services run on their legacy networks to the PS-LTE infrastructure. This environment allows the organizations to continue facilitating the information and system functionalities provided by the legacy network. The vulnerabilities in the environment, which differ from commercial LTE, need to be resolved to connect the network securely. In this study, we propose a security model design framework to derive the system architecture and the security requirements targeting the restricted environment applied by certain technologies for a particular purpose. After analyzing the PPDR operation environment’s characteristics under the PS-LTE infrastructure, we applied the framework to derive the security model for organizations using PPDR services operated in their legacy networks through this infrastructure. Although the proposed security model design framework is applied to the specific circumstance in this research, it can be generally adopted for the application environment.
Comparative Study of the Excavation Damage and Rockburst of the Deeply Buried Jinping II Diversion Tunnels Using a TBM and the Drilling‐Blasting Method
Authors: Yang Jing , Yang Xing-Guo , Zhou Jia-Wen , Liu Yong , Dong Bao-Shun , Li Hai-Bo
Published: December 2020

The rock mass failure induced by high in‐situ stresses during the excavation of deep diversion tunnels is one of the key problems in the construction of the Jinping II Hydropower Station. Based on the results of acoustic wave tests and rockburst statistical analysis conducted, this study focuses on the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) and rockburst events in the Jinping II diversion tunnels excavated using the tunnel boring machine (TBM) method and the drilling‐blasting method. The unloading failure mechanism and the rockburst induced by the two different excavation methods were compared and analyzed. The results indicate that, due to the different stress adjustment processes, the degree of damage to the surrounding rock mass excavated using the drilling‐blasting method was more serious than that using the TBM method. The EDZ induced by the TBM was usually distributed evenly along the edge of the excavation surface. While, the drilling‐blasting method was more likely to cause stress concentration, resulting in a deeper EDZ in local areas. However, the TBM excavation method can cause other problems in high in‐situ stress areas, such as strong rockbursts. The drilling‐blasting method is more prone to structural controlled failure of the surrounding rock mass, while the TBM method would induce high stress concentration near the edge of excavation and more widely distributed of stress adjustment induced failure. As a result, the scale and frequency of the rockburst events generated by the TBM were significantly greater than those caused by the drilling‐blasting method during the excavation of Jinping II diversion tunnels. The TBM method should be used carefully for tunnel excavation in high in‐situ stress areas with burial depths of greater than 2000 m. If it is necessary to use the TBM method after a comprehensive selection, it is suggested that equipment adaptability improvement, advanced prediction, and prediction technology be used.
Interaction between Cowpea Aphid-Borne Mosaic Virus Isolates and Its Effect on Passion Fruit Woodiness Disease on Passiflora edulis Sims and Passiflora ligularis Juss
Authors: Kiptui Lucy J. , Toroitich Faith J. , Kilalo Dora C. , Obonyo Meshack
Published: December 2020

In East Africa, passion fruit woodiness disease is caused by potyviruses, among which are Cowpea Aphid-Borne Mosaic Virus (CABMV) and Uganda Passiflora Virus (UPV). Previous studies suggest that synergistic interaction of viruses causes mild or severe outcomes of the disease. However, mixed infections of these viruses have not been documented. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the interaction between two CABMV isolates causing passion fruit woodiness disease in Kenya. Healthy plants were mechanically inoculated at six-leaf stage. Four treatments were used: CABMV isolate 1, CABMV isolate 2, mixture of the two isolates, and noninoculated control. The test plants were maintained in a screen house, and data on symptom severity and rate of disease development were recorded. ELISA test was conducted to confirm virus presence and distribution. The results indicate that the CABMV isolates used are systemic. There were various differences in disease progression, which was faster in the sweet passion variety than in the purple variety. However, the latter had a higher disease severity. Coinfected plants expressed severe symptoms compared to the singly infected ones, indicating synergistic interaction between the viral isolates. This implies that coinfection has adverse impact resulting in higher economic losses.
Random Vector Functional Link Network Optimized by Jaya Algorithm for Transient Stability Assessment of Power Systems
Authors: Pan Jianhong , Fan Jiashu , Dong Aidi , Li Yang
Published: December 2020

A novel transient stability assessment (TSA) approach using random vector functional link (RVFL) network optimized by Jaya algorithm, called Jaya-RVFL, is proposed for power systems in this paper. First, by extracting system-level features from phasor measurement unit (PMU) measurements as predictors, an RVFL-based TSA model is proposed. In order to improve the performance of RVFL classifiers, a quantile scaling approach is utilized to optimize the randomization range of input weights via the Jaya algorithm. The simulation results on IEEE 39-bus system and a real-world power system show that the presented method outperforms other popular methods comprising multilayer perception, probabilistic neural network, and support vector machine.
Tangeretin Inhibition of High-Glucose-Induced IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β1, and VEGF Expression in Human RPE Cells
Authors: Qin Dong , Jiang Yan-rong
Published: December 2020

Tangeretin, a natural compound extracted from citrus plants, has been reported to have antiproliferative, antidiabetic, anti-invasive, and antioxidant properties. However, the role of tangeretin in diabetic retinopathy (DR) is unknown. In the present study, we investigated whether tangeretin had any effect on the expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under high-glucose (HG) conditions. Our results illustrated that HG levels induced IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β1, and VEGF expression and that tangeretin significantly reduced HG-induced IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β1, and VEGF expression in human RPE cells. Moreover, tangeretin efficiently inhibited the activation of the protein kinase B (Akt) signalling pathway in HG-stimulated RPE cells. Therefore, tangeretin may serve a role in the treatment of DR.
Aspirin Use and Prostate Cancer among African-American Men in the Southern Community Cohort Study
Authors: Tang Wei , Fowke Jay H. , Hurwitz Lauren M. , Steinwandel Mark , Blot William J. , Ambs Stefan
Published: December 2020

Background:

The association of aspirin use with prostate cancer has been investigated, but few studies included African-American men. Here, we analyzed the relationship of aspirin intake with prostate cancer risk and mortality among African-American men in the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS).

Methods:

SCCS recruited 22,426 African-American men between 2002 and 2009. Aspirin use was assessed at enrollment. Our exposures of interest were any aspirin use (regular strength, low-dose or baby aspirin, or half tablets of aspirin) and regular strength aspirin. Each exposure variable was compared with nonusers. Associations between aspirin use and prostate cancer risk and mortality were examined with Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:

At enrollment, 5,486 men (25.1%) reported taking any aspirin and 2,634 men (12.1%) reported regular strength aspirin use. During follow-up (median, 13 years), 1,058 men developed prostate cancer, including 103 prostate cancer–specific deaths. Aspirin use was not associated with prostate cancer development [adjusted HR, 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.92–1.25 for any aspirin use and HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.78–1.19 for regular strength aspirin], but was suggestively associated with reduced prostate cancer mortality (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.39–1.14 for any aspirin use and HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17–1.00 for regular strength aspirin).

Conclusions:

Aspirin use at enrollment was tentatively associated with reduced prostate cancer mortality, but not risk, among African-American men in SCCS.

Impact:

Prospective SCCS data suggest that aspirin use may help prevent lethal prostate cancer among this high-risk group of men.
Combined BRAF, MEK, and CDK4/6 Inhibition Depletes Intratumoral Immune-Potentiating Myeloid Populations in Melanoma
Authors: Lelliott Emily J. , Mangiola Stefano , Ramsbottom Kelly M. , Zethoven Magnus , Lim Lydia , Lau Peter K.H. , Oliver Amanda J. , Martelotto Luciano G. , Kirby Laura , Martin Claire , Patel Riyaben P. , Slater Alison , Cullinane Carleen , Papenfuss Anthony T. , Haynes Nicole M. , McArthur Grant A. , Oliaro Jane , Sheppard Karen E.
Published: December 2020

Combined inhibition of BRAF, MEK, and CDK4/6 is currently under evaluation in clinical trials for patients with melanoma harboring a BRAFV600 mutation. While this triple therapy has potent tumor-intrinsic effects, the impact of this combination on antitumor immunity remains unexplored. Here, using a syngeneic BrafV600ECdkn2a−/−Pten−/− melanoma model, we demonstrated that triple therapy promoted durable tumor control through tumor-intrinsic mechanisms and promoted immunogenic cell death and T-cell infiltration. Despite this, tumors treated with triple therapy were unresponsive to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Flow cytometric and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of tumor-infiltrating immune populations revealed that triple therapy markedly depleted proinflammatory macrophages and cross-priming CD103+ dendritic cells, the absence of which correlated with poor overall survival and clinical responses to ICB in patients with melanoma. Indeed, immune populations isolated from tumors of mice treated with triple therapy failed to stimulate T-cell responses ex vivo. While combined BRAF, MEK, and CDK4/6 inhibition demonstrates favorable tumor-intrinsic activity, these data suggest that collateral effects on tumor-infiltrating myeloid populations may impact antitumor immunity. These findings have important implications for the design of combination strategies and clinical trials that incorporate BRAF, MEK, and CDK4/6 inhibition with immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with melanoma.
Enter the Matrix: Use of Secondary Matrix by Mouse Lemurs
Authors: Steffens Travis S. , Ramsay Malcolm S. , Andriatsitohaina Bertrand , Radespiel Ute , Lehman Shawn M.
Published: December 2020

Madagascar is home to many threatened and endemic primate species, yet this island has seen dramatic declines in lemur habitat due to forest loss. This forest loss has resulted in an increasingly fragmented forest landscape, with fragments isolated from each other by grasslands (i.e., matrix). The grassland matrix is not entirely homogeneous containing matrix elements such as isolated trees and shrubs and linear features such as drainage lines. Because most lemurs are predominantly arboreal, they may preferentially use matrix elements to facilitate dispersal between fragments for access to mates or reduce feeding competition, allowing gene flow between fragments of habitat. Therefore, it is important to understand to what degree they use the matrix. We investigated matrix use in two mouse lemurs, the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) and the golden-brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis) in a fragmented landscape in northwest Madagascar. We tested the predictions that: (1) lemurs use matrix less often than forest fragments, (2) if they use the matrix, then they will preferentially use matrix elements compared to grassland, and (3) M. murinus will disperse into the matrix further than M. ravelobensis. In 2011, we visually surveyed line transects in four areas containing matrix elements and four adjacent forest fragments during nocturnal walks. In 2017, we set up traplines in four areas of the matrix containing matrix elements, three areas that were grassland, and six traplines in adjacent fragments. We compared the relative abundance of mouse lemurs in matrix transects to fragmented forest transects, and the relative abundance of captured lemurs in matrix elements, grassland, and fragment traplines. We found that encounter rates of mouse lemurs did not significantly differ between the matrix and fragmented forest transects or traplines. Our sample size was too low to determine if the mean distance from the forest was greater for either Microcebus spp. Our study highlights that mouse lemurs do use matrix elements and there may be interspecific differences in use. Further research is needed to confirm species-specific matrix use, why mouse lemurs use matrix, and how much matrix elements facilitate movement for each species in fragmented landscapes.
Moderate Hydrogen Peroxide Postconditioning Ameliorates Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Cardiomyocytes via STAT3-Induced Calcium, ROS, and ATP Homeostasis
Authors: Wu Lan , Huang Wen-qing , Yu Cheng-chao , Li Yan-fei
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Moderate hydrogen peroxide postconditioning (H2O2PoC) activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to alleviate mitochondrial calcium overload during cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). However, the initial time window of STAT3-induced calcium hemostasis, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in H2O2PoC, and its regulated mechanism remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate H2O2PoC-induced homeostasis of calcium, ROS and ATP, and the role of STAT3 in the regulation. Methods: Isolated rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to H2O2PoC and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 inhibitor AG490 during I/R. Ca2+ transients, cell contraction, intracellular calcium concentration, ROS production, ATP contents, phosphorylation of STAT3, gene and protein expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), metallothionein 1 (MT1) and metallothionein 2 (MT2), as well as activities of mitochondrial complex I and complex II were detected. Results: Moderate H2O2PoC improved post-ischemic Ca2+ transients and cell contraction recovery as well as alleviated cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium overload, which were abrogated by AG490 in rat cardiomyocytes. Moderate H2O2PoC increased ROS production and rate of ROS production at early reperfusion in rat I/R cardiomyocytes, and this phenomenon was also abrogated by AG490. Notably, the expression of phosphorylated nuclear STAT3; gene and protein expression of MnSOD, MT1, and MT2; and activities of mitochondrial complex I and complex II were upregulated by moderate H2O2PoC but downregulated by AG490. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the cardioprotection of moderate H2O2PoC against cardiac I/R could be associated with activated STAT3 at early reperfusion to maintain calcium, ROS, and ATP homeostasis in rat cardiomyocytes.
COVID-19 in Renal Transplant Recipients: Case Series and a Brief Review of Current Evidence
Authors: Elhadedy Muhammed Ahmed , Marie Yazin , Halawa Ahmed
Published: December 2020

By April 26, 2020, infections related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected people from 210 countries and caused 203,818 reported deaths worldwide. A few studies discussed the outcome of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients. This short series demonstrates our experience in managing COVID-19 disease in renal transplant patients in the absence of strong evidence. We report 8 cases of kidney transplant recipients infected with COVID-19 (median age = 48.5 years; range = 21–71 years), including 4 males and 4 females. The most frequently associated comorbidity was hypertension. The most common presenting features were fever and cough. The main radiological investigation was a portable chest X-ray. Other common features included lymphopenia, high C-reactive protein, and a very high ferritin level. Overall, 1 patient was managed as an outpatient, the remaining 7 required hospital admission, 1 of them referred to the intensive therapy unit. Management included supportive treatment (intravenous fluid therapy, monitoring renal function, and symptomatic treatment with or without ward-based oxygen therapy depending on oxygen saturation) and discontinuation of the antiproliferative immunosuppressive drugs. Seven patients recovered and discharged home to self-isolate. One patient required intensive care treatment and mechanical ventilation. Supportive treatment could be sufficient for the management or to be tried first. We also found that short hospital stay with self-isolation on discharge reduces the burden on the health service and protect the staff and the public.
Epidemiology and Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Wang Feilong , Ran Linyu , Qian Chenchen , Hua Jing , Luo Zhibing , Ding Min , Zhang Xing , Guo Wei , Gao Shaoyong , Gao Weibo , Li Chaoping , Liu Zhongmin , Li Qiang , Ronco Claudio
Published: December 2020

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the epidemiological features and outcomes of AKI among COVID-19 patients with ARDS are unknown. Methods: We retrospectively recruited consecutive adult COVID-19 patients who were diagnosed with ARDS according to Berlin definition from 13 designated intensive care units in the city of Wuhan, China. Potential risk factors of AKI as well as the relation between AKI and in-hospital mortality were investigated. Results: A total of 275 COVID-19 patients with ARDS were included in the study, and 49.5% of them developed AKI during their hospital stay. In comparison with patients without AKI, patients who developed AKI were older, tended to have chronic kidney disease, had higher Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment score on day 1, and were more likely to receive invasive ventilation and develop acute organ dysfunction. Multivariate analysis showed that age, history of chronic kidney disease, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and albumin level were independently associated with the occurrence of AKI. Importantly, increasing AKI severity was associated with increased in-hospital mortality when adjusted for other potential variables: odds ratio of stage 1 = 5.374 (95% CI: 2.147–13.452; p < 0.001), stage 2 = 6.216 (95% CI: 2.011–19.210; p = 0.002), and stage 3 = 34.033 (95% CI: 9.723–119.129; p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this multicenter retrospective study, we found that nearly half of COVID-19 patients with ARDS experienced AKI during their hospital stay. The coexistence of AKI significantly increased the mortality of these patients.
Administração Pública no século XXI: planejamento, mobilidade urbana e desenvolvimento socioeconomico
Authors: Casimiro Lígia Maria Silva Melo de , Melo José Patrício Pereira
Published: December 2020

O planejamento é um instrumento público para a atuação administrativa eficiente, impessoal e democrática que, utilizado no processo de desenvolvimento socioeconômico, tem papel preponderante na elaboração de políticas públicas para o acesso e proteção dos direitos fundamentais sociais a serem promovidos pela Administração Pública, incluídos aqueles identificados no direito à cidade. Defende-se, portanto, que para que o Estado possa atuar na promoção do interesse público e, simultaneamente, lidar com problemas complexos como a escassez de recursos das mais diversas ordens, necessários a manutenção do bem-estar social, é obrigado a agir de modo racional e estratégico investindo, em especial, em planejamento para mobilidade urbana, como elemento funcional e condicionante para a promoção do desenvolvimento e do acesso aos direitos fundamentais.
Serviço público no século XXI: conceito e finalidades
Authors: Macera Paulo Henrique
Published: December 2020

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo revisitar o conceito de serviço público e suas utilidades contemporaneamente, levando-se em consideração o papel do Estado Regulador, os dispositivos constitucionais, as alterações legislativas em matéria de serviços públicos, dentre outros aspectos.
A responsabilidade civil do Estado no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro e a responsabilidade internacional do Estado perante a Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos: uma análise inter-relacional a partir do caso Ximenes Lopes versus Brasil
Authors: Lima Pereira Taís Mariana
Published: December 2020

O trabalho destina-se a analisar as inter-relações entre o Direito Administrativo e o Direito Internacional dos Direitos Humanos na questão concernente à responsabilidade do Estado, a partir da condenação do Brasil perante a Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos no caso Ximenes Lopes. Para tanto, serão tecidas breves considerações sobre os institutos da responsabilidade extracontratual do Estado no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro e da responsabilidade internacional do Estado, observadas as suas especificidades em relação à Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos. Ao final, verificar-se-á a necessidade de adequação das normas internas do Direito Administrativo às disposições dos tratados internacionais de Direitos Humanos, de modo que não apenas seja cumprida a sentença proferida pela Corte no referido caso, mas que os efeitos benéficos desta e de outras decisões irradiem para todo o ordenamento jurídico brasileiro.