bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corneal neovascularisation following deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for corneal ectasia: incidence, timing and risk factors
Authors: Pellegrini Marco , Scorcia Vincenzo , Giannaccare Giuseppe , Lucisano Andrea , Vaccaro Sabrina , Battaglia Caterina , Yu Angeli Christy , Bovone Cristina , Busin Massimo , Spena Rossella
Published: May 2021

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, timing and risk factors of corneal neovascularisation (NV) after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) for corneal ectasia.

Methods

This study included 616 eyes who underwent DALK between 2012 and 2020 in two tertiary referral centres. In one centre topical corticosteroids were discontinued after complete suture removal 1 year after surgery, whereas in the other they were discontinued 3–4 months after surgery. The presence and severity of corneal NV was ascertained based on slit lamp photographs. Potential risk factors for corneal NV were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

The cumulative incidence of corneal NV was 8.7% at 1 year after surgery and 13.2% at 5 years. Mean time interval from surgery to development of corneal NV was 12.8±16.2 months, with 68.9% of cases occurring before complete suture removal. Early discontinuation of topical steroids, older age and ocular allergy were associated with an increased risk of developing corneal NV (respectively, HR=2.625, HR=1.019, HR=3.726, all p<0.05).

Conclusions

The risk of corneal NV is higher in the first year following DALK. Early discontinuation of topical steroids, ocular allergy and older age are significant predictors of corneal NV.
Predicting outcome following mild traumatic brain injury: protocol for the longitudinal, prospective, observational Concussion Recovery (CREST) cohort study
Authors: Gozt Aleksandra Karolina , Hellewell Sarah Claire , Thorne Jacinta , Thomas Elizabeth , Buhagiar Francesca , Markovic Shaun , Van Houselt Anoek , Ring Alexander , Arendts Glenn , Smedley Ben , Van Schalkwyk Sjinene , Brooks Philip , Iliff John , Celenza Antonio , Mukherjee Ashes , Xu Dan , Robinson Suzanne , Honeybul Stephen , Cowen Gill , Licari Melissa , Bynevelt Michael , Pestell Carmela F , Fatovich Daniel , Fitzgerald Melinda
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a complex injury with heterogeneous physical, cognitive, emotional and functional outcomes. Many who sustain mTBI recover within 2 weeks of injury; however, approximately 10%–20% of individuals experience mTBI symptoms beyond this ‘typical’ recovery timeframe, known as persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Despite increasing interest in PPCS, uncertainty remains regarding its prevalence in community-based populations and the extent to which poor recovery may be identified using early predictive markers.

Objective

(1) Establish a research dataset of people who have experienced mTBI and document their recovery trajectories; (2) Evaluate a broad range of novel and established prognostic factors for inclusion in a predictive model for PPCS.

Methods and analysis

The Concussion Recovery Study (CREST) is a prospective, longitudinal observational cohort study conducted in Perth, Western Australia.CRESTis recruiting adults aged 18–65 from medical and community-based settings with acute diagnosis of mTBI.CRESTwill create a state-wide research dataset of mTBI cases, with data being collected in two phases.Phase Icollates data on demographics, medical background, lifestyle habits, nature of injury and acute mTBI symptomatology. InPhase II, participants undergo neuropsychological evaluation, exercise tolerance and vestibular/ocular motor screening, MRI, quantitative electroencephalography and blood-based biomarker assessment. Follow-up is conductedviatelephone interview at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after injury. Primary outcome measures are presence of PPCS and quality of life, as measured by the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale and the Quality of Life after Brain Injury questionnaires, respectively. Multivariate modelling will examine the prognostic value of promising factors.

Ethics and dissemination

Human Research Ethics Committees of Royal Perth Hospital (#RGS0000003024), Curtin University (HRE2019-0209), Ramsay Health Care (#2009) and St John of God Health Care (#1628) have approved this study protocol. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12619001226190.
Factors affecting the risk of relapsing-onset and progressive-onset multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hedström Anna Karin , Hillert Jan , Olsson Tomas , Alfredsson Lars
Published: May 2021

Objective

It has been debated whether the different clinical disease courses in multiple sclerosis (MS) are the consequence of different pathogenic mechanisms, with distinct risk factors, or if all MS clinical phenotypes are variations of similar underlying disease mechanisms. We aimed to study environmental risk factors and their interactions with human leucocyte antigen DRB1*15:01 with regards to relapsing-onset and progressive-onset MS.

Methods

We used two Swedish population-based case–control studies, including 7520 relapsing-onset cases, 540 progressive-onset cases and 11 386 controls matched by age, sex and residential area. Logistic regression was used to estimate ORs with 95% CIs for associations between the different MS phenotypes and a number of environmental and lifestyle factors. Interaction between the DRB1*15:01 allele and environmental risk factors was evaluated on the additive scale.

Results

All environmental and lifestyle factors associated with risk of developing MS apply to both relapsing-onset and progressive-onset disease. Smoking, obesity and Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) antibody levels were associated with increased risk of both MS phenotypes, whereas snuff use, alcohol consumption and sun exposure were associated with reduced risk. Additive interactions between DRB1*15:01 and smoking, obesity, EBNA-1 antibody levels and sun exposure, respectively, occurred to increase MS risk regardless of the clinical phenotype.

Interpretation

Our finding that the same environmental and lifestyle factors affect both relapsing-onset and progressive-onset MS supports the notion that the different clinical phenotypes share common underlying disease mechanisms.
Insights into the Connaught sequence of the Timiskaming varve series from Frederick House Lake, northeastern Ontario
Authors: Brooks Gregory R.
Published: May 2021

A sub-bottom acoustic profile survey encountered a mass transport deposit (MTD) bed, 5–7 m thick, interbedded within glaciolacustrine deposits of glacial Lake Ojibway at Frederick House Lake, Ontario, Canada. Analysis of the thickness patterns of rhythmic couplets in recovered core samples revealed that the Connaught sequence, the youngest of the Timiskaming varve series, immediately underlie and overlie the MTD. Comparison to regional published varve series reveals two possible interpretations for the varve numbering: varve (v) 2066 to v2115, which requires the inference of a 55 varve year (vyr) disconformity just below the Connaught sequence, while the alternative numbering, v2011a to v2060a (a = alternative), extends continuously from older varves. Circumstantial evidence supporting the alternative numbering is as follows: (i) the uncertainty of applying a common 55 vyr disconformity to three varve series located up to 23 km apart and which otherwise exhibit closely matching thickness plots; (ii) the lack of evidence of an erosive unconformity in the sub-bottom acoustic profiles from Frederick House Lake; and (iii) the uncertain varve count within a key part of the Matagami series, located about 300 km away and from which the 55 vyr disconformity is extrapolated. At Frederick House Lake, the alternative numbering indicates that the maximum position of the Cochrane ice advance and the Connaught varves may be, in effect, contemporary in age. More broadly, the alternative numbering indicates that the youngest known varve that formed before the terminal drainage of glacial Lake Ojibway is v2074a rather than v2129 in the original numbering.
A Lower Devonian age for the Corvock Granite and its significance for the structural history of South Mayo and the Laurentian margin of western Ireland
Authors: Graham John R. , Riggs Nancy R.
Published: May 2021

The Silurian Croagh Patrick succession, which crops out just south of a fundamental Caledonian structural zone near Clew Bay, western Ireland, is a series of psammites and pelites with a strong penetrative cleavage. These rocks are intruded by the Corvock granite. A suite of minor intrusions associated with the granite contains the regional cleavage whereas the Corvock granite is undeformed. New U–Pb dates are 413 +7 / –4 Ma for a strongly cleaved sill and 410 ± 4 Ma for the main granite, and closely constrain the age of crystallization of the granite and coeval cleavage formation as Lower Devonian (Lochkovian or Pragian), implying syn- to late-kinematic granite emplacement. These data are consistent with evidence for strong sinistral shear shown by the Ox Mountains granodiorite just to the northeast dated at 412.3 ± 0.8 Ma. This Devonian cleavage is superimposed on Ordovician rocks of the South Mayo Trough. The localisation of the strong deformation is interpreted as being due to its position at a restraining bend during regional sinistral motion on a segment of the Fair Head – Clew Bay Line to the north. Contemporaneous deformation in the syn-kinematic Donegal batholith suggests a transfer of sinistral motion to this intra-Grampian structure rather than simple along-strike linkage to the Highland Boundary Fault in Scotland. Our new data indicate diachronous deformation during the late Silurian and early Devonian history of the Irish and Scottish Caledonides and also support previous interpretations of diachronous deformation between these areas and the Appalachian orogens.
Radial and circular motion of photons and test particles in the Schwarzschild black hole with quintessence and string clouds
Authors: Mustafa G. , Hussain Ibrar
Published: May 2021

The null and timelike geodesic motion in the vicinity of the Schwarzschild black hole in the presence of the string cloud parameter a and the quintessence field parameter q is studied. The ranges for both the parameters a and q are determined, which allow the existence of the black hole. In the radial motion of photon, the coordinate time t first decreases with the increasing values of both the parameters a and q and then in the close proximity of the horizon of the black hole, there is a turning point, after which the effect of the quintessence field is just opposite on the time t. For the massive particles, the proper time $$\tau $$
τ
decreases with increasing values of the parameter a and increases with increase in the value of the parameter q. In the same case of the massive particles, the coordinate time t decreases with increase in the values of both the parameters a and q. Further, it is found that for test particles, the stable circular orbits exist in this spacetime for small values of both the parameters i.e., for $$0<a\ll 1$$

0
<
a
≪
1

and $$0<q\ll 1$$

0
<
q
≪
1

. It is observed that the radii of the null circular orbits increase as the values of the parameters a and q increase. While in the case of the timelike geodesics, the radii of the circular orbits increase as the value of the parameter a increases, and they decrease as the value of the parameter q increases.
W-boson production in TMD factorization
Authors: Gutierrez-Reyes Daniel , Leal-Gomez Sergio , Scimemi Ignazio
Published: May 2021

At hadron colliders, the differential cross section for W production can be factorized and it is sensitive transverse momentum dependent distributions (TMD) for low boson transverse momentum. While, often, the corresponding non-perturbative QCD contributions are extrapolated from Z boson production, here we use an existing extraction (based on the code Artemide) of TMD which includes data coming from Drell–Yan and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering, to provide checks and predictions for the W case. Including fiducial cuts with different configurations and kinematical power corrections, we consider transverse momentum dependent cross sections within several intervals of the vector boson transverse mass. We perform the same study for the $$p_T^{W^-}/p_T^{W^+}$$

p
T

W
-

/

p
T

W
+

and $$p_T^Z/p_T^W$$

p
T
Z

/

p
T
W

distributions. We compare our predictions with recent extractions of these quantities at ATLAS and CMS and results from TeVatron. The results encourage a broader experimental and phenomenological work, and a deeper study of TMD for the W case.
Behcet’s Disease in Southeast Asia. Clinical Features, Genetic Study, and Review of Recent Treatment
Authors: Louthrenoo Worawit
Published: May 2021

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, and ocular inflammations. It also can affect other organs such as blood vessels, nervous, gastrointestinal, and articular systems. The disease has a worldwide distribution, but is more prevalent in countries along the Silk Road. Genetic study has shown that the disease is associated with the presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*51/B%51:01. BD is considered an uncommon disease in Southeast Asia, and only a few case series have been reported. This article reviews the clinical manifestations and genetic association of BD in Southeast Asian countries and compares them with those in East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. It also updated the treatment of BD, particularly the use of biologic agents.
Age and origin of accreted ocean plate stratigraphy in the North Qilian belt, NE Tibet Plateau: evidence from microfossils and geochemistry of cherts and siltstones
Authors: Yan Zhen , Xiao Wenjiao , Aitchison Jonathan C. , Yuan Chao , Liu Chuanzhou , Fu Changlei
Published: May 2021

The accretionary complex (AC) in the North Qilian belt comprises coherent and chaotic units consisting of bedded cherts, pelagic mudstone, shale, turbidites, basalt, limestone, blueschist, eclogite lenses and ophiolitic mélange. Cherts from the Donggoukou and Biandukou outcrops in the north of the blueschist belt contain abundant Middle Ordovician radiolarians together with rare conodonts. Well-preserved radiolarians also occur in cherts associated with high-pressure/low-temperature rocks in the Baijingsi AC outcrop. Conodonts of Floian–Dapingian age and Middle Ordovician radiolarians also occur in the Shihuigou AC. Geochemical analysis of 23 cherts reveals variable SiO
2
contents (74.56–97.16 wt%) and high mean Al/(Al  +  Fe  +  Mn) ratios ranging from 0.35 to 0.85, indicating a non-hydrothermal origin. Ce/Ce* and La
N
/Yb
N
ratios of 0.70–1.22 and 0.67–1.59 respectively are high and variable, similar to those of associated muddy siltstone (0.59–0.96 and 1.14–1.55, respectively), suggesting near-trench deposition with associated terrigenous input. Together with the metamorphic ages of blueschists and eclogites, the North Qilian belt AC formed by accretion of ocean plate stratigraphic successions in response to subduction of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean prior to 450 Ma.

Supplementary material:
Appendices 1-6 are available at:
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5418275

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Fold-and-thrust belts collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/fold-and-thrust-belts
Near-optimal Distributed Triangle Enumeration via Expander Decompositions
Authors: Chang Yi-Jun , Pettie Seth , Saranurak Thatchaphol , Zhang Hengjie
Published: May 2021

We present improved distributed algorithms for variants of the triangle finding problem in the

model. We show that triangle detection, counting, and enumeration can be solved in

rounds using
expander decompositions
. This matches the triangle enumeration lower bound of

by Izumi and Le Gall [PODC’17] and Pandurangan, Robinson, and Scquizzato [SPAA’18], which holds even in the

model. The previous upper bounds for triangle detection and enumeration in

were

and

, respectively, due to Izumi and Le Gall [PODC’17].

An

-expander decomposition of a graph

is a clustering of the vertices

such that (i) each cluster

induces a subgraph with conductance at least

and (ii) the number of inter-cluster edges is at most

. We show that an

-expander decomposition with

can be constructed in

rounds for any

and positive integer

. For example, a

-expander decomposition only requires

rounds to compute, which is optimal up to subpolynomial factors, and a

-expander decomposition can be computed in

rounds, for any arbitrarily small constant

.

Our triangle finding algorithms are based on the following generic framework using expander decompositions, which is of independent interest. We first construct an expander decomposition. For each cluster, we simulate

algorithms with small overhead by applying the
expander routing
algorithm due to Ghaffari, Kuhn, and Su [PODC’17] Finally, we deal with inter-cluster edges using recursive calls.
LPWAN in the TV White Spaces
Authors: Rahman Mahbubur , Ismail Dali , Modekurthy Venkata P. , Saifullah Abusayeed
Published: May 2021

Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) is an enabling Internet-of-Things technology that supports long-range, low-power, and low-cost connectivity to numerous devices. To avoid the crowd in the limited ISM band (where most LPWANs operate) and cost of licensed band, the recently proposed Sensor Network over White Spaces (SNOW) is a promising LPWAN platform that operates over the TV white spaces. As it is a very recent technology and is still in its infancy, the current SNOW implementation uses the Universal Software Radio Peripheral devices as LPWAN nodes, which has high costs (≈$750 USD per device) and large form-factors, hindering its applicability in practical deployment. In this article, we implement SNOW using low-cost, low form-factor, low-power, and widely available commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices to enable its practical and large-scale deployment. Our choice of the COTS device (TI CC13x0: CC1310 or CC1350) consequently brings down the cost and form-factor of a SNOW node by 25× and 10×, respectively. Such implementation of SNOW on the CC13x0 devices, however, faces a number of challenges to enable link reliability and communication range. Our implementation addresses these challenges by handling peak-to-average power ratio problem, channel state information estimation, carrier frequency offset estimation, and near-far power problem. Our deployment in the city of Detroit, Michigan, demonstrates that CC13x0-based SNOW can achieve uplink and downlink throughputs of 11.2 and 4.8 kbps per node, respectively, over a distance of 1 km. Also, the overall throughput in the uplink increases linearly with the increase in the number of SNOW nodes.
How Do Electoral Gender Quotas Affect Policy?
Authors: Clayton Amanda
Published: May 2021

Electoral gender quotas now exist in a majority of national legislatures worldwide. In general, quotas are followed by greater legislative attention to the interests and priorities of women as a group. Across cases, effects have been most pronounced on issues related to women's rights, public health, and poverty alleviation. Quotas can influence policy in two general ways: First, quotas may send cues to all officeholders, prompting broad changes in legislator behavior among both men and women. Second, quotas typically bring more women into legislatures, causing a shift in aggregate legislator preferences and increasing women's ability to collectively influence legislative decisions. Yet, the positive effects of quotas are not universal, and some research reveals instances in which quotas have led to limited policy changes or even to more gender-inegalitarian outcomes. I suggest several variables that may moderate the relationship between quota adoption and policy change, including underexplored dimensions of quota design.
New High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Based on Poly(ethylene imine) Crosslinked Poly(ether ketone cardo)
Authors: Jin Yaping , Liu Ruihong , Che Xuefu , Wang Ting , Yang Jingshuai
Published: May 2021

A concept of macromolecular crosslinking is applied to prepare high temperature proton exchange membranes (HT-PEMs). Through a simple lactamization procedure, a series of crosslinked membranes are synthesized based on poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and poly(ether ketone cardo) (PEKcardo). PEI with abundant amino groups endows crosslinked membranes with superior phosphoric acid (PA) absorption capability, resulting in high conductivities. The rigid PEKcardo matrix and constructed crosslinking network significantly improve the dimensional and mechanical stabilities. As an example, the 92%PEI-PEKcardo with a PA doping content of 304%PA achieves a conductivity of 0.107 S cm−1 at 180 °C without humidifying and a tensile strength of 4.6 MPa at room temperature. The fuel cell performance of abovementioned membrane demonstrates the technical feasibility of the x%PEI-PEKcardo membrane for the HT-PEM fuel cell. This work provides a straightforward method to prepare low-cost and high-performance electrolyte membranes for both fuel cell and other energy devices, such as the vanadium redox flow battery.
Bonding Performance and Interface Contamination in Atomic Diffusion Bonding of Wafers Using Ti Thin Films
Authors: Amino T. , Uomoto M. , Shimatsu T.
Published: May 2021

Room-temperature bonding performance of wafers using thin Ti films was examined as a function of waiting time t
w in vacuum between film deposition and bonding. The surface free energy at bonded interface γ decreased as t
w increased. However, results indicated that a γ value greater than 6.1 J m−2 is obtainable even at t
w of 1 h or more at vacuum chamber base pressures lower than 1 × 10–6 Pa. Bonding apparatuses of three types with different vacuum base pressures were used for this study, but γ values obtained using the equipment showed an almost quantitatively identical reduction as the calculated total amount of residual gas adsorption on Ti film surfaces, G
a, increased. This finding indicates that the interface contamination evaluated as G
a played a dominant role in determining the γ reduction. Structural analysis revealed that the formation of reactive Ti–O layers on film surfaces prevented the crystal lattice rearrangement between Ti film surfaces, thereby leading to γ reduction. A few Langmuir of H2O adsorption prevented the crystal lattice rearrangement to a considerable degree. Moreover, surface roughness reduction of Ti films was effective at maintaining high bonding performance for a long waiting time.
“Should I stay or should I go now?” Recovery time effect on walking capacity in symptomatic peripheral artery disease
Authors: de Müllenheim Pierre-Yves , Rouvière Laurent , Emily Mathieu , Chaudru Ségolène , Kaladji Adrien , Mahé Guillaume , Le Faucheur Alexis
Published: May 2021

This study demonstrated that there is a significant and mostly logarithmic effect of recovery time on walking capacity in people with symptomatic PAD. This study revealed that a median work-to-rest ratio >1:1 leads to the resumption of walking with unrecovered ischemia and precludes the restoration of full walking capacity, whereas a work-to-rest ratio ≤1:2 allowed walking capacity to fully be restored.
Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Inanimate Surfaces and Equipment in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Kiros Teklehaimanot , Damtie Shewaneh , Eyayu Tahir , Tiruneh Tegenaw , Hailemichael Wasihun , Workineh Lemma
Published: May 2021

Background. Hospital‐acquired infections have remained a serious cause of mortality, morbidity, and extended hospitalization. Bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces of the hospital environment and equipment is considered a major contributing factor to the development of several nosocomial infections worldwide. The hospital environment and many devices are an important reservoir of many clinically important bacterial agents including multidrug‐resistant pathogens. Therefore, this systematic review and meta‐analysis are aimed at investigating bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns of inanimate surfaces and equipment in Ethiopia. Methods. An exhaustive literature search was carried out using the major electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Wiley online library to identify potentially relevant studies without date restriction. Original articles which address the research question were identified, screened, and included using the PRISMA flow diagram. Data extraction was prepared in Microsoft Excel, and data quality was assessed by using 9‐point Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Then, data were exported to STATA 16.0 software for analyses of pooled estimation of outcome measures. Estimation of outcome measures at a 95% confidence interval was performed using DerSimonian‐Laird’s random‐effects model. Finally, results were presented via text, figures, and tables. Results. A total of 18 studies with 3058 bacterial isolates recovered from 3423 swab specimens were included for systematic review and meta‐analysis. The pooled prevalence of bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment was found 70% (95% CI: 59, 82). Among the Gram‐negative bacterial species, the prevalence of ampicillin‐resistant K. pneumoniae was the highest 80% (95% CI: 78, 92) followed by Citrobacter species 78% (95% CI: 57, 83). Conclusion. This study has shown a high prevalence of bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment in Ethiopia.
Some Weighted Sum Formulas for Multiple Zeta, Hurwitz Zeta, and Alternating Multiple Zeta Values
Authors: He Yuan , Chen Zhuoyu
Published: May 2021

We perform a further investigation for the multiple zeta values and their variations and generalizations in this paper. By making use of the method of the generating functions and some connections between the higher-order trigonometric functions and the Lerch zeta function, we explicitly evaluate some weighted sums of the multiple zeta, Hurwitz zeta, and alternating multiple zeta values in terms of the Bernoulli and Euler polynomials and numbers. It turns out that various known results are deduced as special cases.
Tolvaptan Response in a Hyponatremic Newborn with Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone
Authors: Zeybek Cengiz , Bozat Ali Dinç , Calisici Erhan , Bolat Ahmet , Saygili Karagol Belma
Published: May 2021

The use of tolvaptan to treat both euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia has rapidly increased in recent years. However, data on its effects on children, especially newborns and infants, are limited. Here, we present a newborn who developed syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone following an intracranial hematoma drainage operation who was unresponsive to conventional treatments. The infant was successfully treated with tolvaptan, a competitive inhibitor of the vasopressin V2 receptor.
AWSMOTE: An SVM-Based Adaptive Weighted SMOTE for Class-Imbalance Learning
Authors: Wang Jia-Bao , Zou Chun-An , Fu Guang-Hui
Published: May 2021

In class-imbalance learning, Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is a widely used technique to tackle class-imbalance problems from the data level, whereas SMOTE blindly selects neighboring minority class points when performing an interpolation among them and inevitably brings collinearity between the generated new points and the original ones. To combat these problems, we propose in this study an adaptive-weighting SMOTE method, termed as AWSMOTE. AWSMOTE applies two types of SVM-based weights into SMOTE. A kind of weight is used in variable space to combat the drawbacks of collinearity, while another weight is utilized in sample space to purposefully choose those support vectors from the minority class as the neighboring points in the interpolation. AWSMOTE is compared with SMOTE and its improved versions with six simulated datasets and 22 real-world datasets. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed approach.
Study on Twisted Product Almost Gradient Yamabe Solitons
Authors: Kim Byung Hak , Choi Jin Hyuk , Lee Sang Deok
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we first study gradient Yamabe solitons on the twisted product spaces. Then, we classify and characterize the warped product and twisted product spaces with almost gradient Yamabe solitons. We also study the construction of almost gradient Yamabe solitons in the Riemannian product spaces.
Combining AFM13, a Bispecific CD30/CD16 Antibody, with Cytokine-Activated Blood and Cord Blood–Derived NK Cells Facilitates CAR-like Responses Against CD30+ Malignancies
Authors: Kerbauy Lucila N. , Marin Nancy D. , Kaplan Mecit , Banerjee Pinaki P. , Berrien-Elliott Melissa M. , Becker-Hapak Michelle , Basar Rafet , Foster Mark , Garcia Melo Luciana , Neal Carly C. , McClain Ethan , Daher May , Nunez Cortes Ana Karen , Desai Sweta , Inng Lim Francesca Wei , Mendt Mayela Carolina , Schappe Timothy , Li Li , Shaim Hila , Shanley Mayra , Ensley Emily L. , Uprety Nadima , Wong Pamela , Liu Enli , Ang Sonny O. , Cai Rong , Nandivada Vandana , Mohanty Vakul , Miao Qi , Shen Yifei , Baran Natalia , Fowlkes Natalie W. , Chen Ken , Muniz-Feliciano Luis , Champlin Richard E. , Nieto Yago L. , Koch Joachim , Treder Martin , Fischer Wolfgang , Okamoto Oswaldo Keith , Shpall Elizabeth J. , Fehniger Todd A. , Rezvani Katayoun
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

Natural killer (NK)-cell recognition and function against NK-resistant cancers remain substantial barriers to the broad application of NK-cell immunotherapy. Potential solutions include bispecific engagers that target NK-cell activity via an NK-activating receptor when simultaneously targeting a tumor-specific antigen, as well as enhancing functionality using IL12/15/18 cytokine pre-activation.

Experimental Design:

We assessed single-cell NK-cell responses stimulated by the tetravalent bispecific antibody AFM13 that binds CD30 on leukemia/lymphoma targets and CD16A on various types of NK cells using mass cytometry and cytotoxicity assays. The combination of AFM13 and IL12/15/18 pre-activation of blood and cord blood–derived NK cells was investigated in vitro and in vivo.

Results:

We found heterogeneity within AFM13-directed conventional blood NK cell (cNK) responses, as well as consistent AFM13-directed polyfunctional activation of mature NK cells across donors. NK-cell source also impacted the AFM13 response, with cNK cells from healthy donors exhibiting superior responses to those from patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. IL12/15/18-induced memory-like NK cells from peripheral blood exhibited enhanced killing of CD30+ lymphoma targets directed by AFM13, compared with cNK cells. Cord-blood NK cells preactivated with IL12/15/18 and ex vivo expanded with K562-based feeders also exhibited enhanced killing with AFM13 stimulation via upregulation of signaling pathways related to NK-cell effector function. AFM13–NK complex cells exhibited enhanced responses to CD30+ lymphomas in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

We identify AFM13 as a promising combination with cytokine-activated adult blood or cord-blood NK cells to treat CD30+ hematologic malignancies, warranting clinical trials with these novel combinations.
(Chemo)Radiotherapy–Immunotherapy Combinations: Time to Get Tailored?
Authors: Mondini Michele , Deutsch Eric
Published: May 2021

Chemoradiotherapy is considered an immunogenic anticancer treatment. Data obtained during the course of chemoradiotherapy treatment of patients with cervical cancer show heterogeneous changes in the tumor immune landscape, highlighting the need for patient selection to rationally design successful combined immunotherapies. Blood-based biomarkers could be valuable to perform such stratification.

See related article by Chen et al., p. 3990
Infraestrutura verde: conceitos, tipologias e terminologia no Brasil
Authors: Santos Maria Fernanda Nóbrega dos , Enokibara Marta
Published: May 2021

A Infraestrutura Verde (IV) tem se destacado na última década enquanto frente de pesquisa interdisciplinar, capaz de agregar questões ambientais, econômicas e sociais no desenvolvimento de projetos urbanos mais sustentáveis. Para alcançar tais objetivos, é necessária a inclusão de profissionais de formações diversas nos projetos, que muitas vezes possuem acepções distintas do seu significado e abrangência. Desse modo, o presente trabalho se propõe a apresentar um panorama atual das publicações sobre IV no Brasil, com o objetivo de identificar os conceitos, tipologias e terminologia. Foram levantados 1146 documentos publicados em português (entre 1999-2018) que continham o termo IV, sendo 235 artigos em periódicos nacionais indexados. Desse material, 75 artigos apresentaram uma definição de IV, que são o corpus de pesquisa e compuseram uma ampla base de dados sobre o tema da IV no Brasil, disponibilizada como material suplementar deste artigo. Além de autores da área de Arquitetura, Urbanismo e Paisagismo, foram identificadas outras áreas: Geografia, Direito, Ciências Biológicas, Engenharia Civil, Engenharia Ambiental, Gestão e Análise Ambiental, Engenharia Florestal e Publicidade e Propaganda. Ao todo, foram citadas 40 referências bibliográficas para definir a IV e observa-se uma tendência dos estudos atuais em enfocar tipologias para manejo de águas pluviais. Destaca-se, ainda, a divergência na terminologia usada: dos 125 termos catalogados para designar as tipologias de IV, apenas 65 são citados por mais de um autor, corroborando a necessidade e importância de estudos transversais sobre o tema.
Epidemiology of Heart Failure
Authors: Roger Véronique L.
Published: May 2021

Designated as an emerging epidemic in 1997, heart failure (HF) remains a major clinical and public health problem. This review focuses on the most recent studies identified by searching the Medline database for publications with the subject headings HF, epidemiology, prevalence, incidence, trends between 2010 and present. Publications relevant to epidemiology and population sciences were retained for discussion in this review after reviewing abstracts for relevance to these topics. Studies of the epidemiology of HF over the past decade have improved our understanding of the HF syndrome and of its complexity. Data suggest that the incidence of HF is mostly flat or declining but that the burden of mortality and hospitalization remains mostly unabated despite significant ongoing efforts to treat and manage HF. The evolution of the case mix of HF continues to be characterized by an increasing proportion of cases with preserved ejection fraction, for which established effective treatments are mostly lacking. Major disparities in the occurrence, presentation, and outcome of HF persist particularly among younger Black men and women. These disturbing trends reflect the complexity of the HF syndrome, the insufficient mechanistic understanding of its various manifestations and presentations and the challenges of its management as a chronic disease, often integrated within a context of aging and multimorbidity. Emerging risk factors including omics science offer the promise of discovering new mechanistic pathways that lead to HF. Holistic management approaches must recognize HF as a syndemic and foster the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches to address major contributors to the persisting burden of HF including multimorbidity, aging, and social determinants of health.
Expression of Resistin, Chemerin, and Chemerin’s Receptor in the Unstable Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque
Authors: Yanofsky Russell , Sancho Carina , Gasbarrino Karina , Zheng Huaien , Doonan Robert J. , Jaunet Fanny , Steinmetz-Wood Samantha , Veinot John P. , Lai Chi , Daskalopoulou Stella S.
Published: May 2021

Background and Purpose:

Unstable carotid plaques are a common cause of ischemic strokes. Identifying markers that reflect/contribute to plaque instability has become a prominent focus in cardiovascular research. The adipokines, resistin and chemerin, and ChemR23 (chemerin receptor), may play a role in carotid atherosclerosis, making them potential candidates to assess plaque instability. However, the expression and interrelationship of resistin and chemerin (and ChemR23) protein and mRNA within the carotid atherosclerotic plaque remains elusive. Thus, we investigated herein, the association between plaque mRNA and protein expression of resistin and chemerin (and ChemR23) and carotid plaque instability in humans, and whether sex differences exist in the relationship between these adipokines and plaque instability.

Methods:

Human carotid plaques were processed for immunohistochemical/mRNA analysis of resistin, chemerin, and ChemR23. Plaque instability was assessed by gold-standard histological classifications. A semi-quantitative scoring system was used to determine the intensity of adipokine expression on macrophages/foam cells, as well as the percentage of inflammatory cells stained positive. Plaque adipokine protein expression was also digitally quantified and mRNA expression was assessed by qRT-PCR.

Results:

Resistin and chemerin mRNA expression was 80% and 32% lower, respectively, in unstable versus stable plaques (
P
<0.05), while no difference in ChemR23 mRNA expression was observed. In contrast, greater resistin staining intensity and percentage of cells stained positive were detected in unstable versus stable plaques (
P
<0.01). Similarly, chemerin and ChemR23 staining intensity and percentage of cells stained were positively associated with plaque instability (
P
<0.05). No strong sex-specific relationship was observed between adipokines and plaque instability.

Conclusions:

This study examined the relationship between resistin, chemerin, and ChemR23, and carotid plaque instability, with a specific analysis at the plaque level. We reported a positive association between plaque instability and protein levels of resistin, chemerin, and ChemR23 but a negative association with resistin and chemerin mRNA expression. This suggests these adipokines exert proinflammatory roles in the process of carotid atherosclerosis and may be regulated via a negative feedback regulatory mechanism.
Paul Kammerer and epigenetics – a reappraisal of his experiments
Authors: Nahm Michael
Published: May 2021

During recent years, the scientific interest in the work of Austrian biologist Paul Kammerer (1880‒1926) has risen again. This development can largely be attributed to advances in the fields of epigenetics and epigenetic inheritance, and it resulted in provocative discussions. This article contributes to enhancing the knowledge about Kammerer’s publications in two respects. First, I provide a brief overview and contextualization of Kammerer’s main works on phenotypic plasticity and its inheritance, some of which seem little known at present. Thereafter, to ensure an accurate transmission of the historical record, I comment on recently published suggestive information about what Kammerer did and wrote, chiefly referring to Kammerer’s original writings on fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) and cave salamanders (Proteus anguinus). Although the exact contents of Kammerer’s writings remain controversial and must be regarded with caution, his writings need to be treated objectively and accurately to avoid historical record distortion and to render the performance of adequate replications of his experiments possible.
Warher
Authors: Sevada Sune , Hovakimyan Laura , Khachatryan Silvia
Published: May 2021

“Warher” is a short story from the 2019 book Addiction written by Sune Sevada – a young Armenian writer and journalist, whose work has received much widespread recognition and acclaim. “Warher” is a story of love and struggle, an emotional outburst depicting the lives of those who remain behind, as the men go to war. Sevada’s short story is particularly significant in that it provides a testimony of the just recent war waged on the people and lands of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) by the Turkish and Azeri governments, where a small group of people had to defend their indigenous lands, families, and their homes against millions. Through detailed descriptions and hidden symbols, the story gives the readers a deep understanding of these events, and more specifically, the emotional struggles of the women and children, who live in constant fear and terror, anxiously await the fate of their loved ones fighting in war.
ԿԻԼԻԿՅԱՆ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ԲԵՐԴԵՐՆ ՈՒ ՔԱՂԱՔՆԵՐՆ ԸՍՏ ՄՈՒՍՈՒԼՄԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԱՂԲՅՈՒՐՆԵՐԻ
Authors: Danielyan (ԳԱԳԻԿ ԴԱՆԻԵԼՅԱՆ) Gagik
Published: May 2021

Ամփոփում

Կիլիկեան Հայաստանի պատմութեան ուսումնասիրողները մինչ օրս անբավարար ուշադրութիւն են դարձրել այս պետութեան տեղագրական և պատմաաշխարհագրական նկարագրութեանը։ Հայկական պետութեան բազմաթիւ ամրոցների աշխարհագրական տեղադրութեան եւ ճարտարապետական դիմագծի վերաբերեալ միայն սուղ տեղեկութիւններ ունենք։ Կիլիկեան Հայաստանի շատ բերդամրոցների մասին էլ առհասարակ տուեալների չենք տիրապետում։ Անշուշտ, իրավիճակը բոլորովին այլ կը լինէր, եթէ հայագիտութիւնը զանազան պատմական աղբիւրներից իրեն յայտնի տեղեկութիւնները առկայ հնագիտական տուեալների հետ համեմատելու եւ համադրելու հնարաւորութիւն ունենար։ Պատճառներից մէկն էլ այն է, որ հայագէտները մինչ օրս հիմնականում անտեսել են օտար սկզբնաղբիւրները։ Տուեալ դէպքում խօսքը մասնաւորապէս միջնադարեան մուսուլմանական պատմաաշխարհագրական գրականութեան մասին է, որ պարունակում է թեմայի վերաբեալ հայագիտութեանը մինչ այժմ անյայտ կամ քիչ յայտնի որոշ կարեւոր տեղեկութիւններ։ Սոյն յօդուածը նուիրուած է մի ծովափնեայ բերդամրոցի, որի մասին հայկական աղբիւրներն առհասարակ լուռ են։ Այնուամենայնիւ, ժամանակի մուսուլմանական եւ այլ օտար աղբիւրներում եւ վաւերագրերում պահպանուել են թէկուզեւ շատ կցկտուր, բայց կարեւոր տեղեկութիւններ նրա պատմութեան վերաբերեալ։ Ֆրանկները ծովափնեայ այս բերդամրոցը Կանամելլա կամ Կարամելլա են անուանել։ Արաբալեզու պատմագրութեան մէջ այն ալ-Թինի կամ Հիսն ալ-Թինաթ է կոչուել։ Փորձ է արուած մէկտեղ հաւաքել եւ համադրել Թ.-ԺԴ. դդ. արաբալեզու եւ այլ օտարալեզու պատմական եւ աշխարհագրական երկերում, ուղեգրութիւններում, վաւերագրերում եւ քարտէզներում այս ծովափնեայ բերդամրոցի վերաբերեալ պահպանուած բոլոր վկայութիւններն ու յիշատակութիւնները։
Two new species of Pterostylis (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae) from the Sunset Country, Victoria, Australia

Authors: REITER NOUSHKA , KOSKY WILLIAM , CLEMENTS MARK
Published: May 2021

In northwestern Victoria, Australia, the Pterostylis (Orchidaceae) section Oligochaetochilus ‘rufa group’ comprises several little studied and poorly collected taxa. We surveyed populations of the rufa group in the Sunset Country, collecting information on the habitat and vegetation community. Fourteen sites were surveyed for plants with affinities to P. biseta and P. exelsa. We measured 23 morphological traits for each of 31 field-collected and seven herbarium specimens from this area. Multivariate analyses were undertaken, with cluster analysis and ordination performed on range-standardised data. Three distinct groups were present in both an ordination and dendrogram, with key diagnostic characters relating to the labellum. These groups were compared against other morphologically similar species of Pterostylis. Our analyses confirmed one of these groups as P. biseta, which is widespread in northwestern Victoria, and two as previously undescribed, putatively rare taxa, described here.
Synopsis of Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae) in midwestern Brazil, including taxonomic updates, a new species, and a reestablishment of C. neglectus
Authors: DE OLIVEIRA CELLINI CASTRO , DE MELO ANDRÉ LAURÊNIO , DA SILVA MARCOS JOSÉ
Published: May 2021

A synopsis of the genus Cnidoscolus is presented for the midwestern region of Brazil, which resulted from the analysis of about 1,200 specimens from 62 national and foreign herbaria, including type collections. Observations of populations in field were also made. Nine species are recognized, one of which, C. mcvaughii, is new to science. It is described and illustrated, and comments about its geographic distribution, morphological relationships, systematic position, phenology, and conservation status are provided, as well as images and a map. The other species are contrasted by a dichotomous key. Also, distributional information, maps, conservation evaluations, images and morphologically diagnoses are included. Eight synonymizations, one lectotypification, a neotypifcation, and the re-establishment of C. neglectus are proposed.
Helping Solve the “Other” Taxonomic Impediment: Completing the Eight Steps to Total Enlightenment and Taxonomic Nirvana
Authors: EVENHUIS NEAL L.
Published: May 2021

Simply put: despite over ten years of recognizing the problem and giving it a catchy phrase, we still lack the taxonomic expertise to effectively describe the remaining biodiversity on earth. How can we enjoy and protect something if we don’t know it is out there to enjoy and protect?
Free Fatty Acid from Waste Palm Oil Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Immobilized on Surface Graphene Oxide as a New Adsorbent for Simultaneously Detecting Hazardous Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Phthalate Esters in Food Extracts
Authors: Mohamad Sharifah , Bakhshaei Shabnam , Abdul Manan Ninie Suhana , Parmin N. A. , Mahmad Rozi Siti Khalijah
Published: May 2021

A newly synthesized free fatty acids from waste palm oil functionalized magnetic nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of graphene oxide (FFA@MNP-GO) was successfully synthesized and characterized in this research. The combinations of long alkyl chain of free fatty acid with graphene
oxide that consists of large delocalized 77-electron systems and abundant of hydrophilic groups with hydroxyl, epoxide and carboxylic groups offer the determination of simultaneous wide range of polarities of organic pollutants in real matrices through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and 77-77
interactions. The fabricated adsorbent was successfully applied as a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) adsorbent for the simultaneous separation of selected phthalate esters (PAEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in apple and cabbage extracts prior to their high performance
liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) determination. Factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as amount of adsorbent, desorption solvent, volume of desorption solvent, extraction time, desorption time, pH and sample volume were investigated and optimized. The results
revealed that under optimal conditions, the detection limit of selected PAEs and PAHs were in the range of 0.56-0.97 ng mL-1 and 0.02–0.93 ng mL-1, respectively. The spiked recoveries of real apple and cabbage extracts for PAEs and PAHs were in the range of 81.5-117.6%
with good relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 5) less than 10% and 86.7-118.2% with acceptable RSDs (n = 5) ranging from 1.5 to 11.0%, respectively. This study reported for the first time the use of MSPE procedure for simultaneous determination of chosen PAHs and PAEs in real samples including
apple and cabbage extracts by using new adsorbent, FFA@MNP-GO.
Monoolein Cubic Phase Including Hydrophobized Modified Gelatin and Poly(ethyleneimine) and Its Effect on the Stability of Retinyl Palmitate
Authors: Kim Jin Ah , Parkt Soo Chan , Alle Madhusudhan , Park Seok Ho , Kim Tae Hoon , Kim Jin-Chui
Published: May 2021

Retinyl palmitate (RP) was added in monoolein (MO) cubic phase including decanoyl poly(ethyleneimine) (DePEI) and decanoyl gelatin (DeGel) in its water channel. RP, DePEI, and DeGel was incorporated In the cubic phase without structural disintegration, as confirmed by transmission electron
microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetric and polarized optical microscopic analysis showed that adding the additives reduces phase transition temperature of cubic phase by 2 °C to 3 °C. The time-dependent chemical stability of RP added in the cubic phase was analyzed for 4 weeks
at 5 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C, and 40 °C, using RP loaded in o/w emulsion as a control. The chemical stability of RP added in cubic phase containing DePEI and DeGel was somewhat higher as compared to the RP added in the cubic phase without DeGel/DePEI, possibly because DeGel/DePEI
complex might shield RP from its environment by blocking the water channels inside the cubic phase. Moreover, the chemical stability of RP added in the cubic phase was comparatively higher than RP added in o/w emulsion.