bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Combined Live Probiotics Alleviating the Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Functional Bowel Disorders
Authors: Shi Jin , Gao Feng , Zhang Jie
Published: September 2020

Objective. Changes of the gut microbiota are related to the pathogenesis of functional bowel disorders (FBDs), and probiotic supplementation may be an effective treatment option. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of combined live probiotics on the gastrointestinal symptoms of FBDs via altering the gut microbiota. Methods. Patients with the gastrointestinal symptoms of FBDs attending the Outpatient Department, from July to November 2019, were recruited. After the bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder and colonoscopy, patients with normal result of colonoscopy were randomly divided into the probiotics group and control group. Patients in the probiotics group were prescribed with combined live Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium enteric-coated capsules for 4 weeks. Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) was measured by lactulose hydrogen breath test, and the microbial DNA was extracted from the fecal samples and the bacteria were classified by 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results. Twenty-five patients of each group were recruited, and there was no significant difference between the probiotics and control groups on baseline gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), positive rate of SIBO, and relative abundances of the gut microbiota at the phylum level. After 4 weeks of treatment, the values of the probiotics and control groups were as follows: GSRS 1.4±1.4 and 3.6±1.6 and positive rate of SIBO 28.0% and 56.0%, respectively. The median relative abundances of the gut microbiota were 1.01% and 5.03% Actinobacteria and 43.80% and 35.17% Bacteroidetes at the phylum level; 0.76% and 3.29% Bifidobacterium, 0.13% and 0.89% Cillinsella, 0.03% and 0.01% Enterococcus, 0.18% and 0.36% Lachnospiraceae, 0.10% and 0.16% Ruminococcus torques group, 1.31% and 2.44% Blautia, and 0.83% and 2.02% Fusicatenibacter at the genus level (P<0.05), respectively. Conclusion. Combined live probiotic supplementation after the bowel preparation can alter the gut microbiota, decontaminate SIBO, and alleviate the gastrointestinal symptoms of FBDs. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1900026472.
Comparison of the Atmospheric 200 hPa Jet’s Analyses between Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Advanced Dynamic Mode Decomposition Method
Authors: Gao Mei , Cao Xiao-Qun , Liu Bai-Nian , Han Zi-Hang , Hou Shi-Cheng , Yang Guo-Gui
Published: September 2020

In this paper, a frequently employed technique named the sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition (SPDMD) is proposed to analyze the velocity fields of atmospheric motion. The dynamic mode decomposition method (DMD) is an effective technique to extract dynamic information from flow fields that is generated from direct experiment measurements or numerical simulation and has been broadly employed to study the dynamics of the flow, to achieve a reduced-order model (ROM) of the complex high dimensional flow field, and even to predict the evolution of the flow in a short time in the future. However, for standard DMD, it is hard to determine which modes are the most physically relevant, unlike the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method which ranks the decomposed modes according to their energy content. The advanced modal decomposition method SPDMD is a variant of the standard DMD, which is capable of determining the modes that can be used to achieve a high-quality approximation of the given field. It is novel to introduce the SPDMD to analyze the atmospheric flow field. In this study, SPDMD is applied to extract essential dynamic information from the 200 hPa jet flow, and the decomposed results are compared with the POD method. To further demonstrate the extraction effect of POD/SPDMD methods on the 200 hPa jet flow characteristics, the POD/SPDMD reduced-order models are constructed, respectively. The results show that both modal decomposition methods successfully extract the underlying coherent structures from the 200 hPa jet flow. And the DMD method provides additional information on the modal properties, such as temporal frequency and growth rate of each mode which can be used to identify the stability of the modes. It is also found that a fewer order of modes determined by the SPDMD method can capture nearly the same dynamic information of the jet flow as the POD method. Furthermore, from the quantitative comparisons between the POD and SPDMD reduced-order models, the latter provides a higher precision than the former, especially when the number of modes is small.
Curcumin Regulates ERCC1 Expression and Enhances Oxaliplatin Sensitivity in Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells through Its Effects on miR‐409‐3p
Authors: Han Wei , Yin Hongli , Ma Hao , Wang Yi , Kong Desong , Fan Zhimin
Published: September 2020

Background. Oxaliplatin (L‐OHP) resistance is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of colorectal cancer. The resistance mechanism(s) of colorectal tumors to L‐OHP may be related to the regulation of ERCC1 by cancer‐expressed miRNAs, but no in‐depth studies on the miRNAs that affect drug resistance have been performed. Curcumin (Cur) can reverse the drug resistance of cancer cells, but its effects on ERCC1 expression and miRNA profiles in colorectal cancer have not been studied. Methods. To study the regulation effect of curcumin on ERCC1 expression and its effects on miRNAs, the L‐OHP‐resistant colorectal cancer cell line HCT116/L‐OHP was established. MTT assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to investigate apoptotic induction. Western blot and RT‐PCR analysis were used to evaluate the expression of drug‐associated ERCC1, Bcl‐2, GST‐π, MRP, P‐gp, and survivin. Results. HCT116//L‐OHP cell lines were successfully established. The combination of L‐OHP and curcumin could reduce L‐OHP resistance in vitro. In addition, combination therapy inhibited the expression of ERCC1, Bcl‐2, GST‐π, MRP, P‐gp, and survivin at the mRNA and protein level. Curcumin was found to inhibit ERCC1 through its ability to modulate miR‐409‐3p. Conclusion. Curcumin can overcome L‐OHP resistance in colorectal cancer cells through its effects on miR‐409‐3p mediated ERCC1 expression.
Effects of Malania oleifera Chun Oil on the Improvement of Learning and Memory Function in Mice
Authors: Wu Rui , Zhong Shaoqi , Ni Mengmei , Zhu Xuejiao , Chen Yiyi , Chen Xuxi , Zhang Lishi , Chen Jinyao
Published: September 2020

Background. The fruits of Malania oleifera Chun & S. K. Lee have been highly sought after medically because its seeds have high oil content (>60%), especially the highest known proportion of nervonic acid (>55%). Objective of the Study. The objective was to explore the effects of different doses of Malania oleifera Chun oil (MOC oil) on the learning and memory of mice and to evaluate whether additional DHA algae oil and vitamin E could help MOC oil improve learning and memory and its possible mechanisms. Methods. After 30 days of oral administration of the relevant agents to mice, behavioral tests were conducted as well as detection of oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase) and biochemical indicators (acetylcholine, acetyl cholinesterase, and choline acetyltransferase) in the hippocampus. Results. Experimental results demonstrated that MOC oil treatment could markedly improve learning and memory of mouse models in behavioral experiments and increase the activity of GSH‐PX in hippocampus and reduce the content of MDA, especially the dose of 46.27 mg/kg. The addition of DHA and VE could better assist MOC oil to improve the learning and memory, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and restrain the activity of AChE and also increase the content of ACh. Conclusion. Our results demonstrated that MOC oil treatment could improve learning and memory impairments. Therefore, we suggest that MOC oil is a potentially important resource for the development of nervonic acid products.
Energy Efficiency Augmentation in Massive MIMO Systems through Linear Precoding Schemes and Power Consumption Modeling
Authors: Asif Rao Muhammad , Arshad Jehangir , Shakir Mustafa , Noman Sohail M. , Rehman Ateeq Ur
Published: September 2020

Massive multiple-input multiple-output or massive MIMO system has great potential for 5th generation (5G) wireless communication systems as it is capable of providing game-changing enhancements in area throughput and energy efficiency (EE). This work proposes a realistic and practically implementable EE model for massive MIMO systems while a general and canonical system model is used for single-cell scenario. Linear processing schemes are used for detection and precoding, i.e., minimum mean squared error (MMSE), zero-forcing (ZF), and maximum ratio transmission (MRT/MRC). Moreover, a power dissipation model is proposed that considers overall power consumption in uplink and downlink communications. The proposed model includes the total power consumed by power amplifier and circuit components at the base station (BS) and single antenna user equipment (UE). An optimal number of BS antennas to serve total UEs and the overall transmitted power are also computed. The simulation results confirm considerable improvements in the gain of area throughput and EE, and it also shows that the optimum area throughput and EE can be realized wherein a larger number of antenna arrays at BS are installed for serving a greater number of UEs.
Enhanced Biometric Recognition for Secure Authentication Using Iris Preprocessing and Hyperelliptic Curve Cryptography
Authors: Rajasekar Vani , Premalatha J. , Sathya K.
Published: September 2020

Biometrics combined with cryptography can be employed to solve the conceptual and factual identity frauds in digital authentication. Biometric traits are proven to provide enhanced security for detecting crimes because of its interesting features such as accuracy, stability, and uniqueness. Although diverse techniques have been raised to address this objective, limitations such as higher computational time, minimal accuracy, and maximum recognition time remain. To overcome these challenges, an enhanced iris recognition approach has been proposed based on hyperelliptic curve cryptography (HECC). The proposed study uses the 2D Gabor filter approach for perfect feature extraction in iris preprocessing. A lightweight cryptographic scheme called HECC was employed to encrypt the iris template to avoid intentional attack by the intruders. The benchmark CASIA Iris V-4 and IITD iris datasets were used in the proposed approach for experimental analysis. The result analysis witnessed that the prime objective of the research such as lesser false acceptance rate, lesser false rejection rate, maximum accuracy of 99.74%, maximum true acceptance rate of 100%, and minimal recognition time of 3 seconds has been achieved. Also, it has been identified that the proposed study outperforms other existing well-known techniques.
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Point Mutation in Nkx3.1 Prolongs Protein Half-Life and Reverses Effects Nkx3.1 Allelic Loss
Authors: Bowen Cai , Shibata Maho , Zhang Hailan , Bergren Sarah K. , Shen Michael M. , Gelmann Edward P.
Published: September 2020

NKX3.1 is the most commonly deleted gene in prostate cancer and is a gatekeeper suppressor. NKX3.1 is haploinsufficient, and pathogenic reduction in protein levels may result from genetic loss, decreased transcription, and increased protein degradation caused by inflammation or PTEN loss. NKX3.1 acts by retarding proliferation, activating antioxidants, and enhancing DNA repair. DYRK1B-mediated phosphorylation at serine 185 of NKX3.1 leads to its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Because NKX3.1 protein levels are reduced, but never entirely lost, in prostate adenocarcinoma, enhancement of NKX3.1 protein levels represents a potential therapeutic strategy. As a proof of principle, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing to engineer in vivo a point mutation in murine Nkx3.1 to code for a serine to alanine missense at amino acid 186, the target for Dyrk1b phosphorylation. Nkx3.1S186A/−, Nkx3.1+/−, and Nkx3.1+/+ mice were analyzed over one year to determine the levels of Nkx3.1 expression and effects of the mutant protein on the prostate. Allelic loss of Nkx3.1 caused reduced levels of Nkx3.1 protein, increased proliferation, and prostate hyperplasia and dysplasia, whereas Nkx3.1S186A/− mouse prostates had increased levels of Nkx3.1 protein, reduced prostate size, normal histology, reduced proliferation, and increased DNA end labeling. At 2 months of age, when all mice had normal prostate histology, Nkx3.1+/− mice demonstrated indices of metabolic activation, DNA damage response, and stress response. These data suggest that modulation of Nkx3.1 levels alone can exert long-term control over premalignant changes and susceptibility to DNA damage in the prostate.

Significance:

These findings show that prolonging the half-life of Nkx3.1 reduces proliferation, enhances DNA end-labeling, and protects from DNA damage, ultimately blocking the proneoplastic effects of Nkx3.1 allelic loss.
STAT3Antisense Oligonucleotide Remodels the Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment to Enhance Immune Activation in Combination with Anti–PD-L1
Authors: Proia Theresa A. , Singh Maneesh , Woessner Richard , Carnevalli Larissa , Bommakanti Gayathri , Magiera Lukasz , Srinivasan Srimathi , Grosskurth Shaun , Collins Mike , Womack Chris , Griffin Matthew , Ye Minwei , Cantin Susan , Russell Deanna , Xie Mingchao , Hughes Adina , Deng Nanhua , Mele Deanna A. , Fawell Stephen , Barry Simon , Reimer Corinne , Barrett J. Carl , McCoon Patricia
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

Danvatirsen is a therapeutic antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that selectively targets STAT3 and has shown clinical activity in two phase I clinical studies. We interrogated the clinical mechanism of action using danvatirsen-treated patient samples and conducted back-translational studies to further elucidate its immunomodulatory mechanism of action.

Experimental Design:

Paired biopsies and blood samples from danvatirsen-treated patients were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and gene-expression analysis. To gain mechanistic insight, we used mass cytometry, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence analysis of CT26 tumors treated with a mouse surrogate STAT3 ASO, and human immune cells were treated in vitro with danvatirsen.

Results:

Within the tumors of treated patients, danvatirsen uptake was observed mainly in cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Gene expression analysis comparing baseline and on-treatment tumor samples showed increased expression of proinflammatory genes. In mouse models, STAT3 ASO demonstrated partial tumor growth inhibition and enhanced the antitumor activity when combined with anti–PD-L1. Immune profiling revealed reduced STAT3 protein in immune and stromal cells, and decreased suppressive cytokines correlating with increased proinflammatory macrophages and cytokine production. These changes led to enhanced T-cell abundance and function in combination with anti–PD-L1.

Conclusions:

STAT3 ASO treatment reverses a suppressive TME and promotes proinflammatory gene expression changes in patients' tumors and mouse models. Preclinical data provide evidence that ASO-mediated inhibition of STAT3 in the immune compartment is sufficient to remodel the TME and enhance the activity of checkpoint blockade without direct STAT3 inhibition in tumor cells. Collectively, these data provide a rationale for testing this combination in the clinic.
Characterization of Stromal Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes and Genomic Alterations in Metastatic Lobular Breast Cancer
Authors: Richard François , Majjaj Samira , Venet David , Rothé Françoise , Pingitore Julien , Boeckx Bram , Marchio Caterina , Clatot Florian , Bertucci François , Mariani Odette , Galant Christine , Eynden Gert van den , Salgado Roberto , Biganzoli Elia , Lambrechts Diether , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Pruneri Giancarlo , Larsimont Denis , Sotiriou Christos , Desmedt Christine
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) represents the second most common histologic breast cancer subtype after invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). While primary ILC has been extensively studied, metastatic ILC has been poorly characterized at the genomic and immune level.

Experimental Design:

We retrospectively assembled the multicentric EuroILC series of matched primary and metastatic samples from 94 patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ILC. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) were assessed by experienced pathologists. Targeted sequencing and low pass whole-genome sequencing were conducted to detect mutations and copy-number aberrations (CNAs). We compared the frequencies of the alterations in EuroILC with those from patients with ER-positive metastatic ILC (n = 135) and IDC (n = 563) from MSK-IMPACT.

Results:

Low sTIL levels were observed in ILC metastases, with higher levels in the mixed nonclassic histology. Considering ILC metastases from EuroILC and MSK-IMPACT, we observed that >50% of tumors harbor genomic alterations that have previously been associated with endocrine resistance. A matched primary/metastasis comparison in EuroILC revealed mutations (AKT1, ARID1A, ESR1, ERBB2, or NF1) and CNAs (PTEN or NF1 deletion, CYP19A1 amplification) associated with endocrine resistance that were private to the metastasis in 22% (7/32) and 19% (4/21) of patients, respectively. An increase in CDH1, ERBB2, FOXA1, and TBX3 mutations, in CDH1 deletions and a decrease in TP53 mutations was observed in ILC as compared with IDC metastases.

Conclusions:

ILC metastases harbor genomic alterations that may potentially explain endocrine resistance in a large proportion of patients, and present genomic differences as compared with IDC metastases.
Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil Does Not Display an Entourage Effect in Reducing Cancer Cell Viability in vitro
Authors: Raup-Konsavage Wesley M. , Carkaci-Salli Nurgul , Greenland Kelly , Gearhart Robert , Vrana Kent E.
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Several studies have found that cannabinoids, particularly delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD), have the ability to reduce cancer cell viability. An ongoing debate regarding the use of medical Cannabis revolves around the effectiveness of pure compounds versus intact plant material for treatment. Proponents for the use of intact plant material or botanical extracts argue that there is a synergistic effect between the different cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids; this is commonly referred to as the “entourage effect.” Our study was designed to test the validity of the proposed entourage effect in a narrow application using a cancer cell viability model. Materials and Methods: Six cancer cell lines, from 3 different types of human cancer were treated with 10 μM pure CBD or 10 μM CBD from hemp (Cannabis sativa) oil (obtained from 3 different commercial sources) for 48 h, and cell viability was measured with the MTS assay. Dose-response curves were then performed to compare the potencies of pure CBD to CBD oils. CBD concentrations were independently confirmed in the commercial oils, and cannabinoid and terpene composition were also compared. Results: CBD (10 μM) was able to reduce cell viability in 3 of the 6 cell lines tested, and this was found to be cell line specific and not specific to select cancers. None of the CBD oils tested were able to reduce viability to a greater extent than that of pure CBD. Additionally, dose-response curves found lower IC50 values for pure CBD compared to the most potent CBD oil tested. Interestingly, some oils actually appeared to protect cancer cells from the effects of CBD. Conclusions: We found that pure CBD was as potent or more potent at reducing cancer cell viability as the most potent oil tested, suggesting that there is no “entourage” effect under these specific in vitro conditions.
No rumo dos sertões inexplorados: a aventura da Bandeira Anhanguera de São Paulo à Serra do Roncador (1937)
Authors: Murari Luciana
Published: September 2020

Esse artigo busca descrever e analisar a trajetória da Bandeira Anhanguera, expedição realizada em 1937 sob a liderança de Hermano Ribeiro da Silva. O grupo, que partiu de São Paulo, ambicionava explorar a região localizada à margem esquerda do rio das Mortes, no Brasil central, tida como uma das extensões mais desconhecidas do território nacional. Visando produzir conhecimento científico e realizar contato com os indígenas xavantes, até então refratários ao contato com os brancos, o empreendimento buscou mobilizar a sociedade paulista, e para tal fez intenso uso dos meios de comunicação de massa, sobretudo o rádio e a imprensa escrita. A trajetória do grupo é, assim, reconstituída sumariamente, a partir da cobertura jornalística e dos relatos memorialísticos de três de seus participantes.
Uma História Global antes da Globalização? Circulação e espaços conectados na Idade Média
Authors: Cândido da Silva Marcelo
Published: September 2020

A História Global costuma ser definida como a análise da globalização econômica, cultural, tecnológica, bem como dos processos que lhe são associados: a emergência de uma sociedade de consumo planetária, a exploração do espaço, a ameaça nuclear, os riscos tecnológicos, os problemas ambientais etc. É evidente que, nessa acepção, a História Global não se adequa ao estudo das sociedades pré-modernas. Os fenômenos, desafios e ameaças que ocupam aqueles que adotam a História Global no estudo das sociedades anteriores ao século XVII não são os mesmos aos quais se interessam os estudiosos da Globalização. O objetivo deste artigo é discutir as possibilidades e os limites da História Global para o estudo das sociedades anteriores ao processo de Globalização.
Produzindo liberdade, escravidão e normas no Império português
Authors: Paes Mariana Armond Dias
Published: September 2020

Resenha do livro: 

PINHEIRO, Fernanda Domingos. Em defesa da liberdade: libertos, coartados e livres de cor nos tribunais do Antigo Regime português (Mariana e Lisboa, 1720-1819). Belo Horizonte: Fino Traço Editora, 2018.
Skeletal Muscle Pathology in Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: McDermott Mary M. , Ferrucci Luigi , Gonzalez-Freire Marta , Kosmac Kate , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Peterson Charlotte A. , Saini Sunil , Sufit Robert
Published: September 2020

This brief review summarizes current evidence regarding lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) and lower extremity skeletal muscle pathology. Lower extremity ischemia is associated with reduced calf skeletal muscle area and increased calf muscle fat infiltration and fibrosis on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Even within the same individual, the leg with more severe ischemia has more adverse calf muscle characteristics than the leg with less severe ischemia. More adverse computed tomography–measured calf muscle characteristics, such as reduced calf muscle density, are associated with higher rates of mobility loss in people with PAD. Calf muscle in people with PAD may also have reduced mitochondrial activity compared with those without PAD, although evidence is inconsistent. Muscle biopsy document increased oxidative stress in PAD. Reduced calf muscle perfusion, impaired mitochondrial activity, and smaller myofibers are associated with greater walking impairment in PAD. Preliminary evidence suggests that calf muscle pathology in PAD may be reversible. In a small uncontrolled trial, revascularization improved both the ankle-brachial index and mitochondrial activity, measured by calf muscle phosphocreatine recovery time. A pilot clinical trial showed that cocoa flavanols increased measures of myofiber health, mitochondrial activity, and capillary density while simultaneously improving 6-minute walk distance in PAD. Calf muscle pathological changes are associated with impaired walking performance in people with PAD, and interventions that both increase calf perfusion and improve calf muscle health are promising therapies to improve walking performance in PAD.
Platelets Can Associate With SARS-CoV-2 RNA and Are Hyperactivated in COVID-19
Authors: Zaid Younes , Puhm Florian , Allaeys Isabelle , Naya Abdallah , Oudghiri Mounia , Khalki Loubna , Limami Youness , Zaid Nabil , Sadki Khalid , Ben El Haj Rafiqua , Mahir Wissal , Belayachi Lamiae , Belefquih Bouchra , Benouda Amina , Cheikh Amine , Langlois Marc-André , Cherrah Yahia , Flamand Louis , Guessous Fadila , Boilard Eric
Published: September 2020

Rationale:

In addition to the overwhelming lung inflammation that prevails in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), hypercoagulation and thrombosis contribute to the lethality of subjects infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Platelets are chiefly implicated in thrombosis. Moreover, they can interact with viruses and are an important source of inflammatory mediators. While a lower platelet count is associated with severity and mortality, little is known about platelet function during COVID-19.

Objective:

To evaluate the contribution of platelets to inflammation and thrombosis in patients with COVID-19.

Methods and Results:

Blood was collected from 115 consecutive patients with COVID-19 presenting nonsevere (n=71) and severe (n=44) respiratory symptoms. We document the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA associated with platelets of patients with COVID-19. Exhaustive assessment of cytokines in plasma and in platelets revealed the modulation of platelet-associated cytokine levels in both patients with nonsevere and severe COVID-19, pointing to a direct contribution of platelets to the plasmatic cytokine load. Moreover, we demonstrate that platelets release their alpha- and dense-granule contents in both nonsevere and severe forms of COVID-19. In comparison to concentrations measured in healthy volunteers, phosphatidylserine-exposing platelet extracellular vesicles were increased in nonsevere, but not in severe cases of COVID-19. Levels of D-dimers, a marker of thrombosis, failed to correlate with any measured indicators of platelet activation. Functionally, platelets were hyperactivated in COVID-19 subjects presenting nonsevere and severe symptoms, with aggregation occurring at suboptimal thrombin concentrations. Furthermore, platelets adhered more efficiently onto collagen-coated surfaces under flow conditions.

Conclusions:

Taken together, the data suggest that platelets are at the frontline of COVID-19 pathogenesis, as they release various sets of molecules through the different stages of the disease. Platelets may thus have the potential to contribute to the overwhelming thrombo-inflammation in COVID-19, and the inhibition of pathways related to platelet activation may improve the outcomes during COVID-19.
Revision of Epironastes Carne, 1957 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini: Pseudoryctina) with description of the female, behaviours, and habitats
Authors: HUTCHINSON PAUL M. , ALLSOPP PETER G.
Published: September 2020

The genus Epironastes Carne, 1957 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini: Pseudoryctina) from southern Western Australia, Australia is revised. Teinogenys demarzi Endrődi, 1971 is transferred to Epironastes, becoming E. demarzi new combination and is redescribed. The female of E. abruptus Carne, 1957 is described. A female attributed to Epironastes nigrisetosus Carne, 1957 by Carne is re-assessed and is considered to be a female of Cavonus sculpturatus Blackburn, 1888. All four species, including E. limbatus Carne, 1957 and E. abruptus Carne, 1957, are redescribed. A key is given to identify males of all four species. New distributional records are presented, and behaviours and habits discussed.
Harnessing Local Forecasting Knowledge on Weather and Climate in Ghana: Documentation, Skills, and Integration with Scientific Forecasting Knowledge
Authors: Gbangou Talardia , Van Slobbe Erik , Ludwig Fulco , Kranjac-Berisavljevic Gordana , Paparrizos Spyridon
Published: September 2020

Improved weather and climate forecast information services are important to sustain small-scale crop production in many developing countries. Previous studies recognized the value of integrating local forecasting knowledge (LFK) with scientific forecasting knowledge (SFK) to support farmers’ decision-making. Yet, little work has focused on proper documentation, quality verification, and integration techniques. The skills of local and scientific forecasts were compared, and new integration approaches were derived over the coastal zone of Ghana. LFK indicators were documented, and farmers were trained to collect indicators’ observations and record rainfall in real time using digital tools and rain gauges, respectively, in 2019. Dichotomous forecasts verification metrics were then used to verify the skills of both local and scientific forecasts against rainfall records. Farmers use a diverse set of LKF indicators for both weather and seasonal climate time-scale predictions. LFK indicators are mainly used to predict rainfall occurrence, amount of seasonal rainfall, dry spell occurrence, and onset and cessation of the rainy season. The average skill of a set of LFK indicators in predicting one-day rainfall is higher than individual LFK indicators. Also, the skills of a set of LFK indicators can potentially be higher than the forecasts given by the Ghana Meteorological Agency for the Ada District. The results of the documentation and skills indicate that approaches and methods developed for integrating LFK and SFK can contribute to increasing forecast resolution and skills and reducing recurring tensions between the two knowledge systems. Future research and application of these methods can help improve weather and climate information services in Ghana.
“But I Ain’t a Judge:” The Therapeutic Jurisprudence Implications of the Use of Nonjudicial Officers in Criminal Justice Cases
Authors: Perlin Michael L.
Published: September 2020

The role of nonjudicial officers occupies a hidden space in the U.S. judicial system. Statutorily sanctioned in many jurisdictions, such officers have a wide range of duties and responsibilities, including hearing certain pretrial motions in criminal cases and making decisions as to conditions of probation for sex offenders. These latter officers are frequently not lawyers, and there is significant evidence that many of the basic rudiments of the criminal trial process are often not honored. There has been virtually no consideration of this phenomenon in the scholarly literature, and absolutely no consideration from the perspective of therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ). An investigation into TJ’s basic inquiry into whether legal rules, procedures, and lawyer roles need to be reshaped suggests that TJ is not practiced in the systems under discussion here.
A novel active disturbance rejection control with hyperbolic tangent function for path following of underactuated marine surface ships
Authors: Li Ronghui , Jia Baozhu , Fan Shaoyong , Pan Xinxiang
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a TADRC method via active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) with hyperbolic tangent function for path following of underactuated surface ships with input constraint, heading rate constraint, parameters uncertainties, as well as environment disturbances. The line of sight (LOS) guidance scheme that computes the desired heading angle on basis of cross tracking error and a look ahead distance, converts path following into heading control, and also renders good helmsman behavior. Moreover, hyperbolic tangent function is introduced to modify the linear extended state observer (LESO) to design a nonlinear observer (TESO) for promoting the estimation performance of the heading, heading rate and total disturbances including parameters uncertainties and environmental disturbances. Then, the linear error feedback control is modified by a nonlinear sliding mode control scheme with hyperbolic tangent function to handle the heading rate constraint and to obtain the better control action. Furthermore, the feedback control law is embedded in a standard Quadratic Programming (QP) cost function to handle the input constraints including rudder saturation and rudder rate limit. Finally, the comparison simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method for the underactuated ship’s path following.
Terror Management Theory and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pyszczynski Tom , Lockett McKenzie , Greenberg Jeff , Solomon Sheldon
Published: September 2020

Terror management theory is focused on the role that awareness of death plays in diverse aspects of life. Here, we discuss the theory’s implications for understanding the widely varying ways in which people have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that regardless of whether one consciously believes that the virus is a major threat to life or only a minor inconvenience, fear of death plays an important role in driving one’s attitudes and behavior related to the virus. We focus on the terror management theory distinction between proximal defenses, which are activated when thoughts of death are in current focal attention and are logically related to the threat at hand, and distal defenses, which are activated when thoughts of death are on the fringes of one’s consciousness and entail the pursuit of meaning, personal value, and close relationships. We use this framework to discuss the many ways in which COVID-19 undermines psychological equanimity, the diverse ways people have responded to this threat, and the role of ineffective terror management in psychological distress and disorder that may emerge in response to the virus.
Suicide linked to PUBG video gaming: A case report
Authors: Vidua Raghvendra Kumar , Bhargava Daideepya C , Chouksey Vivek Kumar , Mishra Alok Kumar
Published: September 2020

PUBG is an online multiplayer battle game played in India. It is causing addiction in teenagers and adolescents and they refuse any kind of interruption while playing. We report a college student who committed suicide by hanging when scolded by his parents for playing PUBG on his mobile phone and whose parents would not provide the internet pack recharge for it. There have been other cases in India, inviting a discussion to prevent addiction with a law to regulate its use.
The Sensitivity of the Bible Verse Selection Task to the Relationship between Christian Fundamentalism and Religious Outgroup Prejudice
Authors: Rouse Steven V.
Published: September 2020

Four different studies provide evidence to support the validity of the Bible Verse Selection Task (BVST) as a measure of the strength of Christian fundamentalist beliefs by showing correlations between BVST scores and measures of negativity toward people who often represent “outgroups” for Christians. That is, respondents who obtained high scores on the BVST (representing a greater tendency to select biblical passages associated with fundamentalism as most central to their faith or belief system) also showed a tendency to obtain high scores on measures of negative feelings, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes toward atheists, gay men, lesbian women, and Muslims. These relationships were generally consistent across both Christian-only samples and general samples, with statistically significant coefficients obtained for 30 of 32 predicted correlations. These results support the utility of this scale for research purposes.
Optimal policy learning for COVID-19 prevention using reinforcement learning
Authors: Uddin M Irfan , Ali Shah Syed Atif , Al-Khasawneh Mahmoud Ahmad , Alarood Ala Abdulsalam , Alsolami Eesa
Published: September 2020

COVID-19 has changed the lifestyle of many people due to its rapid human-to-human transmission. The spread started at the end of January 2020, and different countries used different approaches in terms of testing, sanitization, lock down and quarantine centres to control the spread of the virus. People are getting back to working and routine life activities with new normal standards of testing, sanitization, social distancing and lock down. People are regularly tested to identify those who are infected with COVID-19 and isolate them from general public. However, testing all people unnecessarily is an expensive operation in terms of resources usage. There must be an optimal policy to test only those who have higher chances of being COVID-19 positive. Similarly, sanitization is used for individuals and streets to disinfect people and places. However, sanitization is also an expensive operation in terms of resources, and it is not possible to disinfect each and every individual and street. Social separating or lock down or quarantine centres focuses are different methodologies that are utilised to control the human-to-human transmission of the infection and separate the individuals who are contaminated with COVID-19. However, lock down and quarantine centres are expensive operations in terms of resources as it disturbs the affairs of state and the growth of economy. At the same time, it negatively affects the quality of life of a society. It is also not possible to provide resources to all citizens by locking them inside homes or quarantine centres for infinite time. All these parameters are expensive in terms of resources and have an effect on controlling the spread of the virus, quality of life of human, resources and economy. In this article, a novel intelligent method based on reinforcement learning (RL) is built up that quantifies the unique levels of testing, disinfection and lock down alongside its impact on the spread of the infection, personal satisfaction or quality of life, resource use and economy. Different RL algorithms are actualized and agents are prepared with these algorithms to interact with the environment to gain proficiency with the best strategy. The examinations exhibit that deep learning–based algorithms, for example, DQN and DDPG are performing better than customary RL algorithms, for example, Q-Learning and SARSA.
Community-based Skill Building Intervention to Enhance Health Literacy Among Older Rural Adults
Authors: Shreffler-Grant Jean , Nichols Elizabeth G. , Weinert Clarann
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this article is to report the outcomes of a skill building intervention to improve general health literacy and health literacy about complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) among older rural adults. The intervention was implemented in eight rural communities. Descriptive statistics and general linear modeling were used for analysis. A total of 127 older adults completed the initial session and Time 1 questionnaire, 67 (51%) completed the intervention sessions and Time 2 questionnaire, and 52 (40.9%) completed the Time 3 questionnaire five months later. CAM health literacy scores and scores on one general health literacy measure were significantly higher at Time 2 compared to Time 1 and 3. The decline in scores over time suggests a need for continuing strategies to support older adults’ health literacy. Assisting older adults to make safe health care choices is a critical role for investigators, nurses, and other health care providers.
Quantitative volumetric assessment of baseline enhancing tumor volume as an imaging biomarker predicts overall survival in patients with glioblastoma
Authors: Auer Timo A , Della Seta Marta , Collettini Federico , Chapiro Julius , Zschaeck Sebastian , Ghadjar Pirus , Badakhshi Harun , Florange Julian , Hamm Bernd , Budach Volker , Kaul David
Published: September 2020

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the commonest malignant primary brain tumor and still has one of the worst prognoses among cancers in general. There is a need for non-invasive methods to predict individual prognosis in patients with GBM.

Purpose

To evaluate quantitative volumetric tissue assessment of enhancing tumor volume on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an imaging biomarker for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with GBM.

Material and Methods

MRI scans of 49 patients with histopathologically confirmed GBM were analyzed retrospectively. Baseline contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI sequences were transferred to a segmentation-based three-dimensional quantification tool, and the enhancing tumor component was analyzed. Based on a cut-off percentage of the enhancing tumor volume (PoETV) of >84.78%, samples were dichotomized, and the OS and intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable analyses, including variables such as sex, Karnofsky Performance Status score, O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase status, age, and resection status, were performed using the Cox regression model.

Results

The median OS and PFS were 16.9 and 7 months in the entire cohort, respectively. Patients with a CE tumor volume of >84.78% showed a significantly shortened OS (12.9 months) compared to those with a CE tumor volume of ≤84.78% (17.7 months) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–6.03; P = 0.01). Multivariable analysis confirmed that PoETV had a significant prognostic role (HR 2.47; 95% CI 1.08–5.65; P = 0.03).

Conclusion

We observed a correlation between PoETV and OS. This imaging biomarker may help predict the OS of patients with GBM.
Repeating is not believing: the transmission of conspiracy theories
Authors: Delouvée Sylvain
Published: September 2020

Conspiracy theories and rumors, as forms manifesting “social thought” (Rouquette, 1973), share processes and functions. The few studies dealing specifically with the question of belief in rumors questioned the link between adhesion and transmission (Allport & Lepkin 1943; Rosnow, 1991; Guerin & Miyazaki, 2006). The aim here will be to question the link between « knowledge », « adhesion » and « transmission » in conspiracy theories and rumors through two empirical studies. Can we know and transmit without adhering to? Can one know and adhere to without transmitting? Can we adhere to and transmit without actually « knowing »?
The Loss of a Parent to Suicide in Military Families
Authors: Thomas Jennifer S. , Baumann Steven L.
Published: September 2020

In this paper the authors explore the impact of loss of a parent to suicide on adolescents in military families using Marcia’s identity status theory and the Roy adaptation model (RAM). After describing a brief case study of a 13-year-old boy in a military family who lost his father in this manner, these two theories are applied to better understand his struggle to develop and maintain a healthy identity and adapt to numerous relocations, deployments, and then loss. The military family stressors are seen as weakening the resilience of children in such families, making them more vulnerable to the impact of parent loss. Implications for nurses and other healthcare professionals are discussed.
Disrupting Rhythms: Nurse Education and a Pandemic
Authors: Yancey Nan Russell
Published: September 2020

At times of perceived rapid and significant change, such as the world has experienced with the current COVID-19 pandemic, the unrepeatable ebb and flow of the paradoxical rhythms inherent in humanuniverse patterning seem to come to the forefront of awareness. What was previously known and familiar seemingly disintegrated in the emergence of the unfamiliar experience of a global quarantine. While difficulties abounded across the discipline of nursing, these challenges created new opportunities for visioning anew in thinking beyond the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. A challenge is presented to nurse administrators and faculty charged with preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the challenges of an unknowable future by thinking beyond the traditional boundaries of classroom and clinic to co-create new ways of living the teaching-learning mission of nurse education programs.
Types, norms, and normalisation: Hormone research and treatments in Italy, Argentina, and Brazil, c. 1900–50
Authors: Beccalossi Chiara
Published: September 2020

Displacing the physiological model that had held sway in 19th-century medical thinking, early 20th-century hormone research promoted an understanding of the body and sexual desires in which variations in sex characteristics and non-reproductive sexual behaviours such as homosexuality were attributed to anomalies in the internal secretions produced by the testes or the ovaries. Biotypology, a new brand of medical science conceived and led by the Italian endocrinologist Nicola Pende, employed hormone research to study human types and hormone treatments to normalise individuals who did not conform to accepted medical norms. Latin American medical doctors, eugenicists, and sexologists took up biotypology with enthusiasm. This article considers the case studies of Italy, Argentina, and Brazil, and analyses the work of medical doctors who adopted a biotypological mode of reasoning and employed to various extents hormone therapies in their practice. By focusing on hormone therapies that aimed to normalise secondary sexual characteristics and the sexual instinct, the article suggests that while the existence of normality was contested to the point that a number of medical scientists argued that no such thing existed, the pursuit of normality was carried out in very practical terms through the new medical technologies hormone research had introduced.
An exact solution for unsteady free convection flow of chemically reacting Al2O3−SiO2/water hybrid nanofluid
Authors: Suganya S , Muthtamilselvan M , Al-Amri Fahad , Abdalla Bahaaeldin
Published: September 2020

An unsteady natural convective boundary layer fluid flow of thick incompressible [Formula: see text] water hybrid nanofluid is discussed over an oscillating permeable stretching surface. The radiative and chemically reactive hybrid nanofluid flow is induced in rotating coordinates. Essential thermophysical properties of hybrid nanofluid are utilized. The boundary layer equations governing the present phenomena are converted into nondimensional form using appropriate dimension free transformations. The non dimensionalized partial differential equations are then solved analytically by Laplace transform technique and the exact solutions are attained. The performance of all the involving parameters are surveyed and the set of mathematical outputs for temperature, velocity and concentration are graphically depicted. The expressions for skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number have been derived and the numerical results are displayed through tables and graphs. Growth of heat transfer rate is observed by rising radiation parameter and frequency of oscillation. Important aspects of the present study in the physical ground are examined.