bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate forcing of terrestrial carbon sink during the Middle Jurassic greenhouse climate: Chronostratigraphic analysis of the Yan’an Formation, Ordos Basin, North China
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Wang Tiantian , Ramezani Jahandar , Lv Dawei , Wang Chengshan
Published: December 2020

Exploring the relationship between coal deposits as an important terrestrial carbon sink and orbital forcing of climate is critical for understanding the global carbon cycle and climate change. The Jurassic greenhouse period, characterized by extensive coal reserves widely distributed in the mid-latitude terrestrial basins, marks a significant coal-forming interval in Earth's history. However, understanding of the processes that controlled the formation and distribution of coal at this time is inadequate. The Yan’an Formation of the Ordos Basin in north central China is among the largest and most extensively studied Jurassic coal reservoirs of the world. Here we establish a high-resolution age framework for the Yan’an Formation derived from integrated, high-precision U-Pb zircon geochronology using chemical abrasion-isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) on interstratified ash beds and cyclostratigraphy based on centimeter-scale magnetic susceptibility. Accordingly, the main coal-forming interval of the Yan’an Formation spanned ca. 174.0 Ma to <171.7 Ma, which coincided with the onset of the Middle Jurassic. The spectral analyses of the Yan’an Formation coal seams demonstrate a strong correlation to minima in the 405 k.y. orbital eccentricity cycles, suggesting a strong climate control on lake level fluctuations and clastic sediment input. Finally, we explore the cyclicity of a large set of published marine carbon isotope data from western Tethys and its phase relationship to cyclic coal deposition in the Ordos Basin. Our resutls underscore the role of terrestrial organic carbon burial in the global carbon cycle during the Middle Jurassic.
Co-movement of prices between biofuel co-products in Canada: ethanol, electricity, and pellets
Authors: Doll C. , Hauer G. , Qiu F. , Luckert M.
Published: December 2020

The potential emergence of a second-generation ethanol industry in Canada will depend on future production technologies and prices. Financial viability might be improved by producing cellulosic ethanol with co-products such as lignin pellets or electricity. Financial returns to ethanol production will depend on price variability and possible price spillovers among ethanol and its co-products. We use a multivariate BEKK–GARCH approach to investigate past mean price interactions and volatility spillovers between ethanol and electricity prices. Wood pellets are investigated in a univariate framework because of data constraints. Results show substantial price interactions and volatility spillovers among these products. If a second-generation ethanol industry emerges, co-production of products from common feedstocks may strengthen already established relationships between the prices of these energy products. These conditions could create increased risk and the clustering of high–low price fluctuations among co-products. For investors, results suggest that risk reduction strategies should protect against correlated volatility. For policy makers, results suggest that policies that target one commodity may lead to unintended impacts on co-product(s). In sum, understanding links between markets is important for designing future policies and for insights into how a second-generation ethanol industry may emerge.
Consumption of spiders by the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and the long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada
Authors: Maucieri D.G. , Barclay R.M.R.
Published: December 2020

Intraspecific variation in diet and (or) foraging behaviour is one way in which species are able to occupy wide geographical areas with variable environments. The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus (Le Conte, 1831)), a primarily aerial insectivorous bat, consumes spiders in low temperatures at the start and end of summer in Northwest Territories, Canada, but it consumes spiders all summer, even during high aerial insect abundance, in Alaska, USA. There are no competitors of M. lucifugus in Alaska, but there are in Northwest Territories, suggesting that aerial insect abundance and competition from gleaning bats influences when M. lucifugus consumes spiders. In the Kananaskis area of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada, we investigated spider consumption by M. lucifugus and the long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis (H. Allen, 1864)), a species more adept at gleaning, to better understand when bats consume spiders. Fecal sample analysis indicated that M. evotis consumed spiders all season long, with greater consumption when the bats were caught near water. Myotis lucifugus did not consume spiders at all. This suggests that M. lucifugus opportunistically consumes spiders when encountered, but does not encounter them in Kananaskis where it forages primarily over open water, unlike in Northwest Territories where it forages in the interior of forests and may encounter spiders more frequently.
Shear viscosity to electrical conductivity ratio in the quasiparticle models
Authors: Mykhaylova Valeriya
Published: December 2020

We examine the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity η to electrical conductivity σ ratio, as well as the specific shear viscosity and the scaled electrical conductivity in QCD with light and strange quarks. Our calculations are performed in kinetic theory under the relaxation time approximation combined with the quasiparticle model. We compute all transport parameters using the isotropic and transport cross sections and compare our results to a class of quasiparticle models for the QGP with Nf = 2 + 1. The results depending on different schemes are examined. The ratio (η∕s)∕(σ∕T) quantifies the relation between the relaxation times of gluons and quarks and specifies their comparative role in the evolution of the QGP. We find an excellent agreement with the (η∕s)∕(σ∕T) ratio deduced from the dynamical quasiparticle model in which the quasiparticles are characterized not only by their effective masses but also by finite widths.
HOW WILL THE LAND REVENUE POLICY REFORM AFFECT CHINA’S ECONOMY? A SIMULATION ANALYSIS BASED ON GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM
Authors: HU HAISHENG , DONG WANHAO , HSU CHIEN-LUNG , PAN JIUN-NAN
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is to simulate the effect of land revenue policy reform in China under the shock of tax policy reform. To this end, this research has built a computable general equilibrium model and collected data from China’s input–output table for 2017 to construct the China land revenue social accounting matrix for 2017. Five scenarios of land reform policy have been considered. The first scenario concerns a reduction in the construction land supply; the simulation shows that the reform will lead to increasing real estate prices, which will result in a crowding-out effect for the manufacturing industry. The second scenario involves levying a property tax nationwide, which will restrain the trend of the increase in the real estate price and increase the local governments’ revenue, although household income and economic growth will be restrained. The third scenario has to do with a reduction in the deed tax. The simulation shows that this reform can alleviate the negative impact on the economy. The fourth scenario is related to a combination of the first and second scenarios, which will lead to a decrease in employment demand and an increase in land financial revenue. Finally, the fifth scenario is also a combined policy involving the first, second and third scenarios, which will result in higher urban and rural household income than the fourth scenario.
THE INFERENCE OF THE CHANGES OF AXONAL TRANSPORT OF OPTIC NERVE BY DEFORMATIONS OF LAMINA CRIBROSA
Authors: LIU YUSHU , MA LIPING , GAO WEI , LIU ZHICHENG , WANG SHOUXIN , LIU LIU , GUO XUEQIAN , QIAN XIUQING , LI LIN
Published: December 2020

Understanding the relationship between the changes in the axonal transport of the optic nerve (ON) and lamina cribrosa (LC) deformation will be helpful to estimate the degree of axonal transport block by measuring the LC deformation in vivo. First, the changes in the axonal transport of the ON were studied using an acute high intraocular pressure (IOP) model, which was established by perfusing saline water into the anterior chamber of cats. The IOP of cat was unilaterally elevated to and maintained at 30, 40, and 50[Formula: see text]mmHg. The axonal transport of the ON was examined by confocal laser scanning microscope. Then the deformations and stress distributions of the LC and ON were calculated using a three-dimensional finite element model of the LC microstructure including ON. The results showed axonal transport changes of ON increased with elevation of the IOPs. While Young’s modulus of the LC and ON were assumed as 0.1[Formula: see text]MPa and 0.03[Formula: see text]MPa, the numerical simulation results showed that LC had displacements of 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04[Formula: see text]mm backward at the IOPs of 30, 40, and 50[Formula: see text]mmHg, respectively. The calculated compressive strain applied to the ON were 0.0425, 0.0567, and 0.0709 under 30, 40, and 50[Formula: see text]mmHg IOP, respectively. The results of strain and stress analysis of LC and ON showed that the deformation of LC would compress the ON. The axonal transport abnormalities could be inferred by measuring the LC deformation in vivo.
PRIOR TRADING OUTCOMES AND SUBSEQUENT PORTFOLIO RISKS: USING SECURITIES DEALER IN TAIWAN AS AN EXAMPLE
Authors: LIU YONG-CHIN , CHEN HSIANG-JU , HSU WEI-TING
Published: December 2020

This study examines whether the investment behavior of securities dealers is consistent with the predictions of the house money and break-even effects. Using the stock portfolios, dealers hold in Taiwan from 1996 to 2013 as a sample, we test the relationship between trading gains/losses and subsequent changes in portfolio risk. The results show that only gains with low risks, not all gaining situations, cause subsequent risk preferences, and regardless of the size of the trading loss, there is not a significant change in subsequent risk. Controlling dealers’ characteristics, industry competition, and the stock market condition, the evidence shows that the house money effect on dealer behavior exists after earning low-risk profits and does not support the break-even effect. These results are qualitatively unchanged after robustness checks that primarily exclude dealer overconfidence effect and ensure that the risk-taking behavior under low risks results in a decrease in gains and thus not a rational behavior.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL LENDING ACTIVITY FOR BANKING SYSTEMS STABILITY
Authors: ZEDDA STEFANO , PATANÉ MICHELE , MIGGIANO LUANA
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we analyzed the role of banks’ traditional lending on systemic stability. Firstly, we quantified the effect of correlation among banks’ results on systemic risk through Monte Carlo simulation. Secondly, we verified how traditional lending affects banks’ results correlation. Finally, combining the two effects, we assessed the importance of bank traditional lending on financial stability. Our results suggest that banks devoting a higher share of their assets to traditional lending show a lower correlation of their comprehensive income, thus having a mitigation effect on systemic stability.
BFree
Authors: Kortbeek Vito , Bakar Abu , Cruz Stefany , Yildirim Kasim Sinan , Pawełczak Przemysław , Hester Josiah
Published: December 2020

Building and programming tiny battery-free energy harvesting embedded computer systems is hard for the average maker because of the lack of tools, hard to comprehend programming models, and frequent power failures. With the high ecologic cost of equipping the next trillion embedded devices with batteries, it is critical to equip the makers, hobbyists, and novice embedded systems programmers with easy-to-use tools supporting battery-free energy harvesting application development. This way, makers can create untethered embedded systems that are not plugged into the wall, the desktop, or even a battery, providing numerous new applications and allowing for a more sustainable vision of ubiquitous computing. In this paper, we present BFree, a system that makes it possible for makers, hobbyists, and novice embedded programmers to develop battery-free applications using Python programming language and widely available hobbyist maker platforms. BFree provides energy harvesting hardware and a power failure resilient version of Python, with durable libraries that enable common coding practice and off the shelf sensors. We develop demonstration applications, benchmark BFree against battery-powered approaches, and evaluate our system in a user study. This work enables makers to engage with a future of ubiquitous computing that is useful, long-term, and environmentally responsible.
Toward Lightweight In-situ Self-reporting
Authors: Yan Xinghui , Raj Shriti , Huang Bingjian , Park Sun Young , Newman Mark W.
Published: December 2020

In-situ self-reporting is an important measurement method used for capturing daily experience data right-in-the-moment in dynamic contexts. Research has been conducted to reduce the demand placed on users for manually reporting data in context. In this regard, smartwatches offer inherent benefits for making self-reporting more convenient and facilitate data gathering. However, self-reporting on the small touchscreen under various contextual conditions can be burdensome and challenging. In this study, to gain insights into designing smartwatch-based self-report interfaces, we conducted an exploratory user study with eight design probes and twenty-four participants under three simulated scenarios: walking, gaming, and social chatting. Findings showed that users' subjective perception of interface features (e.g., input methods and option layouts) varied with changes in context. Participants leveraged different features (e.g., hierarchical layout and discrete input) to micro-schedule self-report tasks (i.e., create one or multiple opportune moments) or to conduct eyes-free interaction with the assistance of smartwatch attributes (e.g., the physical frame of a smartwatch). We discuss implications for smartwatch-based self-report interface designs by considering context and designing interface features to support users' coping strategies.
FORTNIoT
Authors: Coppers Sven , Vanacken Davy , Luyten Kris
Published: December 2020

Ubiquitous environments, such as smart homes, are becoming more intelligent and autonomous. As a result, their behavior becomes harder to grasp and unintended behavior becomes more likely. Researchers have contributed tools to better understand and validate an environments' past behavior (e.g. logs, end-user debugging), and to prevent unintended behavior. There is, however, a lack of tools that help users understand the future behavior of such an environment. Information about the actions it will perform, and why it will perform them, remains concealed. In this paper, we contribute FORTNIoT, a well-defined approach that combines self-sustaining predictions (e.g. weather forecasts) and simulations of trigger-condition-action rules to deduce when these rules will trigger in the future and what state changes they will cause to connected smart home entities. We implemented a proof-of-concept of this approach, as well as a visual demonstrator that shows such predictions, including causes and effects, in an overview of a smart home's behavior. A between-subject evaluation with 42 participants indicates that FORTNIoT predictions lead to a more accurate understanding of the future behavior, more confidence in that understanding, and more appropriate trust in what the system will (not) do. We envision a wide variety of situations where predictions about the future are beneficial to inhabitants of smart homes, such as debugging unintended behavior and managing conflicts by exception, and hope to spark a new generation of intelligible tools for ubiquitous environments.
Understanding Physical Practices and the Role of Technology in Manual Self-Tracking
Authors: Abtahi Parastoo , Ding Victoria , Yang Anna C. , Bruzzese Tommy , Romanos Alyssa B. , Murnane Elizabeth L. , Follmer Sean , Landay James A.
Published: December 2020

Self-tracking practices enable users to record and analyze their personal data. In recent years, non-digital forms of manual self-tracking, such as bullet journaling, have gained popularity. We conduct a survey (N = 404) and follow-up interviews (N = 18) to better understand users' motivations for physical tracking, the challenges they face with their current practices, and their perceptions of both digital and physical tracking tools. We find that for some users, physical practices are a structured and constructive creative outlet and a form of artistic expression. While the resulting physical artifacts may not easily enable retrospective reflection over long-term data, they preserve personal traces in a unique and tangible form that is meaningful to users. Moreover, the reflective power of physical tracking stems from the interaction with the physical materiality, the slow pace of these practices, the creative exploration they facilitate, and the associated digital disconnect. We conclude with design implications for future technologies, including ways digital tools might extend current physical practices and support richly reflective self-tracking.
MIFF
Authors: Song Yiwei , Liu Yunhuai , Qiu Wenqing , Qin Zhou , Tan Chang , Yang Can , Zhang Desheng
Published: December 2020

Human Mobility Extraction with cellular Signaling Data (SD) is essential for human mobility understanding, epidemic control, and wireless network planning. SD log the detailed interactions between cellphones and cellular towers, but suffer from a spatio-temporal uncertainty problem due to cellular network tower-level load rebalancing (switching users between towers) and cellphone usage activities. To date, most models focus on utilizing better data like RSSI or GPS, do not directly address uncertainty. To address the SD uncertainty issue, we utilize two insights based on (i) individuals' regular mobility patterns and (ii) common co-movement mobility patterns between cellphone users as suggested by fundamental human mobility nature. Accordingly, we design a Multi-Information Fusion Framework (MIFF) to assist in extracting road-level human mobility based on cell-tower level traces. To evaluate the effectiveness of MIFF, we conduct experiments on one-month SD obtained from a cellular service operator, and SD manually collected by handheld mobile devices in two cities in China. Four transportation modes, namely railways, cars, buses, and bikes are evaluated. Experimental results show that with MIFF, our road-level trajectory extraction accuracy can be improved by 5.0% on Point correct matching index and 68.5% on Geographic Error on average.
User-Based Collaborative Filtering Mobile Health System
Authors: Kao Hsien-Te , Yan Shen , Hosseinmardi Homa , Narayanan Shrikanth , Lerman Kristina , Ferrara Emilio
Published: December 2020

Mobile health systems predict health conditions based on multimodal signals. Users are often reluctant to provide their health status over privacy concerns. It is challenging to make health predictions without sufficient historical data from the users. In this paper, we propose a user-based collaborative filtering mobile health system. The system requests users to provide a few health labels. These labels are used to determine cohort similarity and discarded afterward to ensure privacy protection. The cohorts are designed to maximize user similarity across health labels, variable relationships, and sensor data. Our system predicts users based on the health information from their cohort. We empirically evaluate the system by conducting a ten-week longitudinal study to assess the health conditions of 212 hospital workers using mobile devices, wearables, and sensors. The results show successful cohort assignments with five health labels. Health predictions achieve promising performance without historical data. Our system demonstrates strong interpretability, predictability, and usability.
Degradation of a Lignin Model Compound by ROS Generated In Situ through Controlled ORR in Ionic Liquid
Authors: Jiang Haomin , Cheng Yujuan , Wang Zhaohui , Bai Zhiqun , Tang Yang , Sun Yanzhi , Wan Pingyu , Chen Yongmei
Published: December 2020

The cleavage of the linkage bonds among the C9 units in lignin molecules via selective oxidation method to obtain small-weight aromatic compounds is an important way to lignin valorisation. In this study, the cleavage pathways of bonds in a lignin model compound, GGE (guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether), by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ generated through electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an aprotic ionic liquid ([BMIM]BF4) was investigated. The results indicated that when the main ROS was ·OOH, coniferyl alcohol, guaiacol and vanillin were detected as the degradation products which is supposed to be caused by β-O-4 bonds cleavage; Otherwise, when HO2
− was the main ROS, coniferyl alcohol could not be detected and the degradation reaction is believed to be trigerred by C
α
-C
β
bonds cleavage.
Multiple Intravenous Injections of Valproic Acid‐Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Human‐Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Improved Cardiac Function in an Acute Myocardial Infarction Rat Model
Authors: Guo Shuyuan , Zhang Yusen , Zhang Yanmin , Meng Fanhua , Li Minghua , Yu Zhendong , Chen Yun , Cui Guanghui
Published: December 2020

Mounting evidence indicates that the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injection is safe and efficacious for treating cardiomyopathy; however, there is limited information relating to multiple intravenous injections of human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived mesenchymal stem cell (hiPSC‐MSC) and long‐term evaluation of the cardiac function. In the current study, MSC‐like cells were derived from human‐induced pluripotent stem cells through valproic acid (VPA) induction and continuous cell passages. The derived spindle‐like cells expressed MSC‐related markers, secreted angiogenic and immune‐regulatory factors, and could be induced to experience chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation. During the induction process, expression of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition‐ (EMT‐) related gene N‐cadherin and vimentin was upregulated to a very high level, and the expression of pluripotency‐related genes Sox2 and Oct4 was downregulated or remained unchanged, indicating that VPA initiated EMT by upregulating the expression of EMT promoting genes and downregulating that of pluripotency‐related genes. Two and four intravenous hiPSC‐MSC injections (106 cells/per injections) were provided, respectively, to model rats one week after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Cardiac function parameters were dynamically monitored during a 12‐week period. Two and four cell injections significantly the improved left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fractional shortening; four‐injection markedly stimulated angiogenesis reduced the scar size and cell apoptosis number in the scar area in comparison with that of the untreated control model rats. Although the difference was insignificant, the hiPSC‐MSC administration delayed the increase of left ventricular end‐diastolic dimension to different extents compared with that of the PBS‐injection control. No perceptible immune reaction symptom or hiPSC‐MSC‐induced tumour formation was found over 12 weeks. Compared with the PBS‐injection control, four injections produced better outcome than two injections; as a result, at least four rounds of MSC injections were suggested for AMI treatment.
Clinical and Radiologic Characteristics, Surgical Outcomes, and Its Possible Origins of Chondroma of the Dural Convexity
Authors: Guo Jing , Fang Qiuyue , Cheng Jianhua , Li Chuzhong , Gui Songbai , Zhang Yazhuo , Cao Lei
Published: December 2020

Chondroma of the dural convexity (CDC) is a benign and extremely rare type of intracranial chondroma. In this study, we reported five CDCs in a single center and reviewed the available literature to determine the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes and possible origins of the disease. The clinical data of five patients (4 females) who confirmed to be CDC between 2000 and 2019 in our single center was collected together with 22 cases from literatures. The clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes were reviewed and analyzed. Among all the available CDC cases, the mean age was 31 ± 13.7 years; the mean tumor volume was 42.3 ± 40.9 cm3, showing a female predominance (63% vs. 37%). The tumors showed calcification in 88.2% cases (15/17) on CT scans and hypointense on T1WI (15/19, 78.9%), mixed intense on T2WI (10/18, 55.6%), and inhomogeneous enhancement without dural tail sign after administration of gadolinium (20/21, 95.2%). Almost all the tumors were misdiagnosed as meningiomas preoperatively. In addition, almost all image available CDC lesions (24/25, 96%) located across the cranial sutures indicating that the tumor originated from ectopic chondrocytes from adjacent skull sutures. No tumors recurred after total resection in follow‐up. CDCs are characterized with female predominance and may originate from ectopic chondrocytes from adjacent skull sutures. The lesion with inhomogeneous contrast enhancement without dural tail sign and avascular in cerebral angiography are key points to be differentiated from meningioma. The most effective treatment is total resection.
One-Year Clinical Outcome of Inspiron Stent in All-Comers Population (Analysis from 790 Consecutive Patients)
Authors: Falcão Felipe , Cantarelli Fabiano , Cantarelli Rodrigo , Mota Flávio , Navarro Manuela , Mota Henrique , Santos Martinelly , Cruz Daniel , Sansônio André , Parente Marcelo , Oliveira Flávio
Published: December 2020

Aims. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of the InspironTM coronary stent (Scitech Medical™, Goiás, Brazil). The InspironTM sirolimus-eluting stent uses an ultrathin L-605 cobalt-chromium alloy with a 75 μm strut thickness platform coated with an abluminal biodegradable polymer. The polymer is eliminated from the body through the tricarboxylic acid cycle in 6–9 months, releasing 80% of the drug within 30 days after its deployment. Methods. It was a prospective, single-center registry. To represent clinical practice, all patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were included in this registry. There were no exclusion criteria. Clinical follow-ups were performed at twelve months. The endpoints were the occurrence of all-cause death, definite stent thrombosis, and new revascularization. Results. Between November 2017 and May 2019, 790 patients were included (1067 lesions). The mean age was 60.42 ± 14.94 years, and 74.7% presented with acute coronary syndrome. Diabetes mellitus was present in 43.9% of patients, and previous myocardial infarction and previous percutaneous coronary intervention were present in 17.9% and 11.3%, respectively. Angiographic success was achieved in 99.1%. The incidence of all-cause death was 11.5% (6.2% in-hospital and 5.3% in the follow-up) and definitive stent thrombosis was 0.2%. New revascularization was performed in only 5.8% (target lesion revascularization: 2.2%; progression of disease in another lesion: 3.6%). Based on the multivariate regression analysis, only chronic renal failure was an independent predictor of adverse events (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.22–8.92). Conclusion. The result of this single-center registry demonstrates the safety and excellent performance of the InspironTM stent in daily clinical practice with a low rate of adverse cardiac events.
Neutrophil‐Derived Semaphorin 4D Induces Inflammatory Cytokine Production of Endothelial Cells via Different Plexin Receptors in Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Huang Junhua , Wu Shouzhen , Cao Sancheng , Zhu Xieying , Zhang Shuwan
Published: December 2020

Inflammation of endothelial cells (ECs) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Kawasaki disease (KD). Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is the first semaphorin shown to have immunoregulatory functions by interacting with its receptors—plexin Bs. Recently, Sema4D has been reported to exert a proinflammatory effect on the endothelium and to be involved in cardiovascular disease. However, the role of Sema4D in KD remains unknown. This study was aimed at revealing the change of soluble Sema4D (sSema4D) in the serum of patients with KD and the effect of the sSema4D‐plexin axis on the production of proinflammatory cytokines from human coronary endothelial cells (HCAECs) stimulated with sera from KD patients. Our results showed that serum sSema4D levels were specifically elevated in KD patients, especially in those with CALs, and correlated positively with disease severity and serum concentrations of interleukin‐ (IL‐) 1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8. The disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 17‐ (AMAM17‐) mediated Sema4D shedding from neutrophils contributed to the elevation of sSema4D in the serum of KD patients. Furthermore, we found that Sema4D induced IL‐1β production of HCAECs via plexin B2, whereas it promoted IL‐6 and IL‐8 production via plexin B1. Moreover, the expression of both plexin B1 and plexin B2 was upregulated in HCAECs treated with KD sera, and silencing of the two plexin receptors suppressed the overexpression of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8 in KD serum‐treated HCAECs. Thus, our findings indicated that sSema4D released from neutrophils participates in the pathogenesis of KD‐CALs by promoting inflammatory cytokine production of ECs via both plexin B1 and plexin B2, and Sema4D may be a novel predictor for KD‐CALs and a candidate therapeutic target for anti‐inflammatory strategies of KD.
Therapeutic Effect of Ginsenoside Rd on Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Mice: Regulation of Inflammation and Treg/Th17 Cell Balance
Authors: Jin Bo , Zhang Chixiao , Geng Yu , Liu Mei
Published: December 2020

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease. Inflammatory infiltrates and demyelination of the CNS are the major characteristics of MS and its related animal model-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Immoderate autoimmune responses of Th17 cells and dysfunction of Treg cells critically contribute to the pathogenesis of MS and EAE. Our previous study showed that Ginsenoside Rd effectively ameliorated the clinical severity in EAE mice, but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of Ginsenoside Rd on EAE in vivo and in vitro and also explored the potential mechanisms for alleviating the injury of EAE. The results indicated that Ginsenoside Rd was effective for the treatment of EAE in mice and splenocytes. Ginsenoside Rd treatment on EAE mice ameliorated the severity of EAE and attenuated the characteristic signs of disease. Ginsenoside Rd displayed the therapeutic function to EAE by modulating inflammation and autoimmunity, via the downregulation of related proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17, upregulation of inhibitory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10, and modulation of Treg/Th17 imbalance. And the Foxp3/RORγt/JAK2/STAT3 signaling was found to be associated with this protective function. In addition, analysis of gut microbiota showed that Ginsenoside Rd also had modulation potential on gut microbiota in EAE mice. Based on this study, we hypothesize that Ginsenoside Rd could be a potential and promising agent for the treatment of MS.
A Case of a Stafne Bone Defect Associated with Sublingual Glands in the Lingual Side of the Mandible
Authors: Hayashi Kamichika , Onda Takeshi , Iwasaki Takahiro , Takata Mitsuru , Mori Kiyotaka , Matsuda Hiroyuki , Watanabe Shinya , Tamura Hidetoshi , Shibahara Takahiko , Takano Masayuki
Published: December 2020

A Stafne bone defect from the mandibular anterior to the premolar region is an extremely rare case. A case of a Stafne bone defect extending from the mandibular anterior to the premolar region was presented. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested that salivary gland tissue connected to the sublingual glands was involved in the formation of the cavity. The patient was a 68-year-old man who was examined at our hospital’s emergency outpatient department after a traffic accident. He was referred to our department for the treatment of contusions of the lips and oral cavity. A bone defect in the lingual side of the mandible from the right anterior to the right premolar region was incidentally detected on CT. CT showed a rounded cavity in the lingual side of the mandible that had a lingual opening, was monocystic, and had a cortical margin. The margin of the cavity was relatively dull and regular. MRI showed that the tissue filling the cavity in the lingual side of the mandible had similar signal intensity as the sublingual glands and was contiguous with the normal sublingual glands. Based on these findings, the bone defect was diagnosed as a Stafne bone defect filled with salivary gland tissue connected to the sublingual gland tissue.
Potential Role of Hypothalamic and Plasma Ghrelin in the Feeding Behavior of Obese Type 2 Diabetic Rats with Intraventricular Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Intervention
Authors: Lu Ke , Chen Xiaoyan , Deng Xuelian , Long Juan , Yan Jianhua
Published: December 2020

Objective: To investigate the relationship of central and peripheral ghrelin during an exendin-4 (Ex-4) intervention to feeding in obese type 2 diabetic rodents. Methods: Animal models of diet-induced obesity (DIO) and type 2 diabetes were developed using male Sprague-Dawley rats fed with a high-fat diet and induced into DIO-streptozotocin diabetic rats. Ex-4 or the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist exendin fragment-[9-39] (Ex-9) was intracerebroventricularly (ICV) administered. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to investigate potential predictors of food intake after Ex-4 administration. Results: ICV administration of Ex-4 significantly inhibited feeding and decreased weight, plasma active ghrelin, hypothalamic ghrelin, and gastric ghrelin levels. The changes in hypothalamic ghrelin and plasma ghrelin could predict the amount of 8-h average food intake. Central preadministration of Ex-9 followed by treatment with Ex-4 could inhibit the decrease in feeding at 0.5, 2, and 8 h. It could also inhibit the decrease in hypothalamic ghrelin at 0.5, 2, and 8 h, as well as in plasma and gastric ghrelin at 2 and 8 h. Conclusions: In a GLP-1 receptor-dependent manner, central and peripheral ghrelin play a vital role in the inhibition of feeding by Ex-4 administration. Hypothalamic ghrelin, but not plasma ghrelin, may be involved in central Ex-4 inhibition of feeding in the very early feeding period.
Ultraviolet-B Radiation Stress-Induced Toxicity and Alterations in Proteome of Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Kumar Jay , Ghosh Paushali , Kumar Ashok
Published: December 2020

Deinococcus radiodurans is a polyextremophilic bacterium capable to survive and grow at high doses of ionizing radiation. Besides resistance to ionizing radiation, the bacterium is also resistant to toxic chemicals and desiccation. This study deals with the effects of non-ionizing radiation (ultraviolet-B) on survival, alterations in proteomic profile, and gene expression in D. radiodurans. Exposure of culture to UV-B caused decrease in the percentage survival with increasing duration, complete killing occurred after 16 h. D. radiodurans also showed enhancement in the generation of reactive oxygen species and activities of antioxidative enzymes. Separation of proteins by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed major changes in number and abundance of different proteins. Twenty-eight differentially abundant protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS analysis and divided into 8 groups including unknown proteins. Gene expression of a few identified proteins was also analyzed employing qRT-PCR, which showed differential expression corresponding to the respective proteins. In silico analysis of certain hypothetical proteins (HPs) suggested that these are novel and as yet not reported from D. radiodurans subjected to UV-B stress. These HPs may prove useful in future studies especially for assessing their significance in the adaptation and management of stress responses against UV-B stress.
A Challenging Case of Gamma Delta T-Cell Lymphoma with Precursor T-Cells and Marked Eosinophilia: A Case Report
Authors: Kohla Samah , Ibrahim Feryal , Bilal Ilham , Al Kuwari Einas , Al-Sabbagh Ahmad
Published: December 2020

Gamma-delta (γδ) T-cell lymphomas are very rare and aggressive neoplasms. We describe here a challenging case of γδ T-cell neoplasm composed of γδ mature T-cells and γδ precursor T-cells with marked eosinophilia that is inapplicable to the current 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. A 3-year-old female child who was presented with fever and marked leukocytosis. Peripheral blood smear showed marked lymphocytosis, marked eosinophilia, neutrophilia, monocytosis, and 5% circulating blasts. CT scan showed anterior mediastinal mass, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. The patient underwent a bone marrow examination and a biopsy taken from the mediastinal mass. Peripheral blood and bone marrow findings were consistent with a γδ T-cell neoplasm with increased blasts and eosinophilia. The patient was sequentially treated with imatinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor), acute lymphoblastic leukemia protocol (BFM 2009) then shifted to lymphoma protocol (LMP 96). In conclusion, we report a unique rare case of γδ T-cell neoplasm with a combination of mature and immature γδ T-cells and eosinophilia that is inapplicable to the current 2016 WHO classifications. This case raises a challenging concept of a mature T-cell lymphoma arising in an immature T-cell neoplasm. It also highlights the need to target all neoplastic components to eradicate the disease.
Energy Drink Effects on Hemodynamics and Endothelial Function in Young Adults
Authors: Higgins John P. , Liras George N. , Liras Ioannis N. , Jacob Robin , Husain Farzan , Pabba Krishna C. , Schultea Mikayla
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Cardiovascular side effects associated with energy drink consumption may be related to effects on vascular endothelial function, heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram parameters. We sought to measure them following energy drink consumption. Methods: Forty-four healthy non-smoking young volunteer medical students, at an average age of 24.7 years (range 23–27 years, 34 males), with an average BMI of 23.4, received electrocardiograms and had their heart rates and blood pressures taken. Subjects then underwent baseline testing of endothelial function using the technique of endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) with high-resolution ultrasound. The subjects then drank an energy drink (24 oz Monster Energy Drink®). Hemodynamic measurements were repeated 15 and 90 min later. FMD and the electrocardiogram were repeated 90 min later. The FMD was calculated as the ratio of the post-cuff release and the baseline diameter. Results: Energy drink consumption resulted in a significantly attenuated peak FMD response (mean ± SD): baseline 5.1 ± 4.1% versus post-energy drink (2.8 ± 3.8%; p = 0.004). In addition, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate increased after 15 min. Diastolic blood pressure and heart rate remained increased 90 min following energy drink consumption. There were no significant changes in electrocardiogram parameters. Conclusion: Energy drink consumption was associated with an acute significant impairment in endothelial function in young healthy adults as well as with significant hemodynamic changes. As energy drinks are becoming more popular, it is important to study their effects to better determine safe consumption patterns.
Stroke Care in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Zhang Li-Li , Guo Yi-Jia , Lin Ya-Peng , Hu Ren-Zhong , Yu Jian-Ping , Yang Jie , Wang Xia
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic disease globally. The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College has adopted telestroke to make stroke care accessible in remote areas. During the period January 2020 to March 2020, there was no COVID-19 case reported in our stroke center. A significant reduction of stroke admission was observed between the ischemic stroke group (235 vs. 588 cases) and the intracerebral hemorrhage group (136 vs. 150 cases) when compared with the same period last year (p < 0.001). The mean door-to-needle time (DNT) and door-to-puncture time (DPT) was 62 and 124 min, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, a significant change was observed in DNT (62 ± 12 vs. 47 ± 8 min, p = 0.019) but not in DPT (124 ± 58 vs. 135 ± 23 min, p = 0.682). A total of 46 telestroke consultations were received from network hospitals. Telestroke management in the central hospital was performed on 17 patients. Of them, 3 (17.6%) patients had brain hernia and died in hospital and 8 (47.1%) patients were able to ambulation at discharge and had a modified Rankin Scale of 0–2 at 3 months. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted stroke care significantly in our hospital, including prehospital and in-hospital settings, resulting in a significant drop in acute ischemic stroke admissions and a delay in DNT. The construction of a telestroke network enabled us to extend health-care resources and make stroke care accessible in remote areas. Stroke education and public awareness should be reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: Risk Factors and Outcomes: A Single-Center Experience in Brazil
Authors: Doher Marisa Petrucelli , Torres de Carvalho Fabrício Rodrigues , Scherer Patrícia Faria , Matsui Thaís Nemoto , Ammirati Adriano Luiz , Caldin da Silva Bruno , Barbeiro Bruna Gomes , Carneiro Fabiana Dias , Corrêa Thiago Domingos , Ferraz Leonardo José Rolim , Dos Santos Bento Fortunato Cardoso , Pereira Virgílio Gonçalves , Batista Marcelo Costa , Monte Júlio Cesar Martins , Santos Oscar Fernando Pavão , Bellomo Rinaldo , Serpa Neto Ary , Durão Marcelino de Souza
Published: December 2020

Background: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 may develop multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, including acute kidney injury (AKI). We report the incidence, risk factors, associations, and outcomes of AKI and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between March 2020 and May 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors for the development of AKI and use of RRT. The primary outcome was 60-day mortality after ICU admission. Results: 101 (50.2%) patients developed AKI (72% on the first day of invasive mechanical ventilation [IMV]), and thirty-four (17%) required RRT. Risk factors for AKI included higher baseline Cr (OR 2.50 [1.33–4.69], p = 0.005), diuretic use (OR 4.14 [1.27–13.49], p = 0.019), and IMV (OR 7.60 [1.37–42.05], p = 0.020). A higher C-reactive protein level was an additional risk factor for RRT (OR 2.12 [1.16–4.33], p = 0.023). Overall 60-day mortality was 14.4% {23.8% (n = 24) in the AKI group versus 5% (n = 5) in the non-AKI group (HR 2.79 [1.04–7.49], p = 0.040); and 35.3% (n = 12) in the RRT group versus 10.2% (n = 17) in the non-RRT group, respectively (HR 2.21 [1.01–4.85], p = 0.047)}. Conclusions: AKI was common among critically ill COVID-19 patients and occurred early in association with IMV. One in 6 AKI patients received RRT and 1 in 3 patients treated with RRT died in hospital. These findings provide important prognostic information for clinicians caring for these patients.
Classicismo moderno. Margherita Sarfatti e o Novecento Italiano, entre Brasil e Estados Unidos
Authors: Magalhães Ana Gonçalves
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo tem por objetivo analisar a presença da crítica de arte ita- liana, Margherita Sarfatti (1880-1961), na América do Sul, e seu papel na formação do núcleo inicial do acervo do Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (MAM) - atualmente pertencente ao acervo do Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo (MAC USP). Fundadora do chamado Novecento Italiano, em plena era fascista, na Itá- lia, Sarfatti teve um papel relevante na promoção da arte moderna italiana no continente americano, fazendo viagens ao Brasil, à Argentina e, mais tarde, aos Estados Unidos. Pretendemos, portanto, analisar comparativamente como Sarfatti e sua noção de arte moderna italiana foram vistas pelo Brasil e pelos Estados Unidos, antes e depois da II Guerra Mundial, para assim entender a formação do primeiro acervo de arte moderna da América do Sul dentro do programa maior da diplomacia italiana, antes e depois da queda do Fascismo.
Contexto histórico da formação do Talian: algumas considerações
Authors: Ribeiro Alessandra , Maggio Giliola
Published: December 2020

O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar reflexões sobre o contexto histórico da formação do Talian. A língua constituiu-se no Brasil a partir do contato com os dialetos de origem italiana - que chegaram com a Primeira Grande Imigração - somados a empréstimos da língua portuguesa brasileira local, isto é, dos municípios da Região de Colonização Italiana do Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná e Espírito Santo. No presente estudo, sinalizamos para as possibilidades que constituíram o nome dessa língua. Além disso, destacamos a importância de se compreender as interinfluências das línguas em contato e como compreendemos que tais influências seriam naturais. Para finalizar, trazemos alguns autores e eventos midiáticos que trabalham em prol da divulgação desse idioma.
Para que serve a literatura?
Authors: Alves Cláudia Tavares , Barenghi Mario
Published: December 2020

No ensaio "Para que serve a literatura?", Mario Barenghi, crítico literário e professor de Literatura Italiana na Universidade de Milão Bicocca, pensa sobre quais seriam as múltiplas funcionalidades da literatura. Traçando um percurso que passa tanto por textos literários, quanto por textos teóricos, o ensaísta toca ainda importantes temas, como a experiência de ler e ensinar literatura.
Per una storia italiana del tempo presente: gli appalti, la mafia e il potere supplente della magistratura
Authors: Guerra Francesco
Published: December 2020

Il presente lavoro è un tentativo di ricostruire una delle pagine più nere della storia italiana recente, quella che si riferisce al periodo delle ‘stragi di mafia’ (1992-1993), proponendo un’interpretazione non convenzionale, in termini di lettura degli eventi e dal punto di vista più propriamente storiografico. In particolare, a partire da una delle ultime indagini coordinate da Giovanni Falcone e Paolo Borsellino, l’autore ha cercato di mostrare, soprattutto alla data della morte dei due magistrati, il collegamento tra sistema di gestione degli appalti, mafia e, entro una cornice prospettica, potere ‘supplente’ della magistratura.