bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine for Primary Hypertension: A Bayesian Network Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Chen Zhe , Shi Qingyang , Tan Lizi , Peng Yingying , Liu Chunxiang , Zhang Junhua
Published: April 2020

Background. Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine (TCPM) is now being used more and more extensively for primary hypertension in China. However, the comparative efficacy and safety of it need more clarified evidence. Thus, we conducted a Bayesian network meta‐analysis to compare TCPMs with other interventions. Methods. We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to April 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with diagnosis of primary hypertension that compared the efficacy of TCPMs with antihypertension drugs (ADs). Two researchers screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated risk of bias independently. The primary outcomes were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The secondary outcomes were adverse effects (AEs), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG). We used the Bayesian network meta‐analysis to compare interventions and described the categorical variable and the continuous variable as odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD), respectively. Besides, we ranked all interventions via the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) values and conducted metaregression with nine covariates as additional analysis. Results. We included 192 studies with 23366 patients diagnosed as primary hypertension in total. For SBP reduction, eighteen interventions were significantly better than AD. Among them, Yinxingye (YXY) + AD (MD = −12, 95% CrI [−16, −8.5]) was superior to others in the rank plot with SUCRA 0.91. For DBP reduction, sixteen interventions were significantly better than AD. Among them, Qinggan Jiangya (QGJY) + AD (MD = −8.7, 95% CrI [−12, −5.5]) and Qiju Dihuang (QJDH) + AD (MD = −8.8, 95% CrI [−12, −5.2]) were superior to others in the rank plot with SUCRA 0.89. To summarize the SUCRA values, we found that QGJY + AD and YXY + AD had the most significant reductions for both SBP and DBP. YXY + AD was the best one for both TC (MD = −1.3, 95% CrI [−1.9, −0.64]) and TG (MD = −0.52, 95% CrI [−0.92, −0.11]) reductions. Considering adverse effects, we found two interventions had significant differences comparing with AD. Among them, YXY + AD was the best one with SUCRA of 0.01. Conclusion. In all TCPMs, QGJY + AD and YXY + AD may be the best options for hypertension. Meanwhile, YXY + AD can improve blood lipids in patients with hypertension. However, due to the vague reports of adverse effects and other limitations, more evidence, especially that provided by high‐quality studies, is needed to prove the advantages of TCMPs.
A Case Study on Computer-Based Analysis of the Stochastic Stability of Mechanical Structures Driven by White and Colored Noise: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Design an Effective Active Suspension System
Authors: Azizi Aydin
Published: April 2020

The goal of this research is to design an Artificial Intelligence controller for the active suspension system of vehicles. The Ring Probabilistic Logic Neural Network (RPLNN) architecture has been adopted to design the proposed controller, and the pavement condition has been modelled utilizing Gaussian white noise. The results show that the proposed RPLNN controller has an effective performance to reduce the unwanted stochastic effect of the road profile.
Kinetic Study of the Adsorption of Polyphenols from Olive Mill Wastewater onto Natural Clay: Ghassoul
Authors: Allaoui Safae , Naciri Bennani Mohammed , Ziyat Hamid , Qabaqous Omar , Tijani Najib , Ittobane Najim
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study is based on natural clay as an adsorbent in the elimination of polyphenols from olive mill wastewater (OMW). This clay was analyzed using XRD, SEM/EDX, FTIR, surface area measurement (BET method), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and then used in adsorption experiments. The results reveal that the best quantity of adsorption of polyphenols is 161 mg/g at the temperature of 25°C, but they decrease at 35°C and 45°C. A great agreement with pseudo-second-order and Freundlich model is represented by kinetic and isotherms models, and several parameters such as ΔG0, ΔS0, and ΔH0 were determined using the thermodynamic function relationship.
An Improved Sanitization Algorithm in Privacy-Preserving Utility Mining
Authors: Liu Xuan , Chen Genlang , Wen Shiting , Song Guanghui
Published: April 2020

High-utility pattern mining is an effective technique that extracts significant information from varied types of databases. However, the analysis of data with sensitive private information may cause privacy concerns. To achieve better trade-off between utility maximizing and privacy preserving, privacy-preserving utility mining (PPUM) has become an important research topic in recent years. The MSICF algorithm is a sanitization algorithm for PPUM. It selects the item based on the conflict count and identifies the victim transaction based on the concept of utility. Although MSICF is effective, the heuristic selection strategy can be improved to obtain a lower ratio of side effects. In our paper, we propose an improved sanitization approach named the Improved Maximum Sensitive Itemsets Conflict First Algorithm (IMSICF) to address this issue. It dynamically calculates conflict counts of sensitive items in the sanitization process. In addition, IMSICF chooses the transaction with the minimum number of nonsensitive itemsets and the maximum utility in a sensitive itemset for modification. Extensive experiments have been conducted on various datasets to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. The results show that IMSICF outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of minimizing side effects on nonsensitive information. Moreover, the influence of correlation among itemsets on various sanitization algorithms’ performance is observed.
Network Pharmacology Study of Heat‐Clearing and Detoxifying Traditional Chinese Medicine for Alzheimer′s Disease
Authors: Li Hongxing , Zhang Xinyue , Gu Lili , Wu Ningzi , Zhang Lingxi , Lu Jiaqi , Li Qin
Published: April 2020

This study aims to explore the possible homologous mechanism of 7 frequently‐used herbs for heat‐clearing and detoxification in traditional Chinese medicine (HDTCM) for treating Alzheimer′s disease (AD), one of the most common types of dementia, based on network pharmacology. Herbs that satisfied the criteria of containing chlorogenic acid, relating to AD and aligning with HDTCM, were simultaneously collected to determine whether they have anti‐AD effect based on a survey of the literature. Herb‐ingredient‐target‐disease networks were constructed by collecting information from the TCMSP and GeneCards public databases. The common targets of the herbs and AD were identified for conducting a Gene Ontology (GO) analyses and a Reactome pathway enrichment analysis. The results showed that PTGS1, IL‐6, CASP3, and VEGFA were the predicted key gene targets. The IL‐4 and IL‐13 signaling pathway, the ESR‐mediated signaling pathway, and the extranuclear estrogen signaling pathway were the significant pathways associated with the 7 herbs. This study revealed that the analogous anti‐AD mechanism of the 7 herbs of HDTCM may be associated with anti‐inflammation, which is a common effect of the chlorogenic acid and quercetin components.
Capturing the Signature of Topological Evolution from the Snapshots of Road Networks
Authors: Jang Gi Ung , Joo Jin Chul , Park Jeryang
Published: April 2020

Road networks serve as the backbone of cities, shaping urban structure as well as providing the critical function of transport for people, goods, and services. The design and management of resilient road infrastructure, therefore, is essential for building a sustainable city. Road networks grow and evolve over time, such that their topology shifts from an initially planned state to the one that emerges from self-organization and urban growth. In this work, we use a dual mapping approach to compare the topological features of road networks in 25 districts in Seoul, South Korea. By using average node degree as an indicator of the level of self-organization, we present that multiple topological variables including power-law exponent gradually shift as a network grows. By testing static error and attack tolerance of these networks, we also show that the gradual shift in topology also has an important implication in network resilience. We suggest a new method, inspired by Lorenz curve, for quantifying network vulnerability. This modified Lorenz curve enables calculating the relative impact of intensive attacks to random failures and shows that a more self-organized road network tends to become more vulnerable to selective attacks.
Short-Time Wind Speed Forecast Using Artificial Learning-Based Algorithms
Authors: Ibrahim Mariam , Alsheikh Ahmad , Al-Hindawi Qays , Al-Dahidi Sameer , ElMoaqet Hisham
Published: April 2020

The need for an efficient power source for operating the modern industry has been rapidly increasing in the past years. Therefore, the latest renewable power sources are difficult to be predicted. The generated power is highly dependent on fluctuated factors (such as wind bearing, pressure, wind speed, and humidity of surrounding atmosphere). Thus, accurate forecasting methods are of paramount importance to be developed and employed in practice. In this paper, a case study of a wind harvesting farm is investigated in terms of wind speed collected data. For data like the wind speed that are hard to be predicted, a well built and tested forecasting algorithm must be provided. To accomplish this goal, four neural network-based algorithms: artificial neural network (ANN), convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and a hybrid model convolutional LSTM (ConvLSTM) that combines LSTM with CNN, and one support vector machine (SVM) model are investigated, evaluated, and compared using different statistical and time indicators to assure that the final model meets the goal that is built for. Results show that even though SVM delivered the most accurate predictions, ConvLSTM was chosen due to its less computational efforts as well as high prediction accuracy.
Exploring the Occurrence Mechanisms of Acute Primary Angle Closure by Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Data of the Attack and Fellow Eyes
Authors: Wang Fenglei , Wang Dabo , Wang Ling
Published: April 2020

Purpose. To explore the anatomical characteristics and occurrence mechanisms of acute primary angle closure (APAC) by comparing the quantitative data of UBM images of the APAC and fellow eyes. Methods. 131 patients (262 eyes) were studied over five years by retrospective analysis. The quantitative data from UBM images including angle opening distance at 500 μm (AOD500), trabecular‐iris angle (TIA), iris convexity (IC), iris span (IS), iris‐lens angle (ILA), iris‐lens contact distance (ILCD), iris‐ciliary process angle (ICPA), and limbus‐ciliary body angle (LCBA) were retrospectively recorded; comparative analysis of the APAC and fellow eyes was performed. Results. The superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, and mean AOD500, TIA, IC, and LCBA (P < 0.001) were significantly smaller in APAC than in fellow eyes. Values of the lens thickness (LT), lens/axial length factor (LAF), lens position (LP), and relative lens position (RLP) were lower in APAC than in fellow eyes (P = 0.021; P = 0.025; P < 0.001; and P < 0.001). In APAC eyes, AOD500 was significantly positively correlated with IC, ILCD, and LCBA; TIA was significantly positively significantly correlated with IC, ILCD, and LCBA. In fellow eyes, AOD500 was significantly negatively correlated with ILA and significantly positively correlated with ILCD, ICPA, LCBA, axial length (AL), central anterior chamber depth (CACD), and LP; TIA was significantly negatively correlated with ILA and significantly positively correlated with IS, ILCD, ICPA, LCBA, AL, CACD, LP, and RLP. Conclusions. Multiple nonpupillary block factors (plateau iris, anterior attachment and insertion of the iris root, anterior shift of the lens, and anterior rotation of the ciliary body) promote the occurrence of APAC, and abnormal positional relationships of the iris, ciliary body, and lens may contribute to APAC.
Near Crack Line Elastic‐Plastic Field for Mode I Cracks under Plane Stress Condition in Rectangular Coordinates
Authors: Li Ya , Huang Feng , Wang Min , Zhao Chaohua , Yi Zhijian
Published: April 2020

By using the crack line analysis method, this paper carries out an elastic‐plastic analysis for mode I cracks under plane stress condition in an elastic perfectly plastic solid and obtains the general form of matching equations of the elastic stress field and the plastic stress field near the crack line in rectangular coordinate form. The analysis in rectangular coordinates in this paper avoids the conversion from rectangular coordinates into polar coordinates in the existing analysis and greatly simplifies the power series forms of the elastic stress field and plastic stress field near the crack line during the solving process. Furthermore, by focusing on a new problem, i.e., the center‐cracked plate with finite width under unidirectional uniform tension, this paper obtains the elastic stress field, plastic stress field, and the length of the elastic‐plastic boundary near the crack line by using the general form of the solution. When the dimensions of the plate tend to be infinite, the results of this paper are consistent with those obtained for an infinite plate with a mode I crack. Furthermore, the variation curves of the length of the elastic‐plastic boundary are also delineated in different sized center‐cracked plates, and the results are compared with those obtained under the small‐scale yielding conditions. The solving process and the results in this paper abandon the small‐scale yielding conditions completely. The method used in this paper not only makes the solving process simpler during the elastic‐plastic analysis near the crack line but also enriches the crack line analysis method.
Sema4D Aggravated LPS‐Induced Injury via Activation of the MAPK Signaling Pathway in ATDC5 Chondrocytes
Authors: Lei Jinlai , Fu Yahui , Zhuang Yan , Zhang Kun
Published: April 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic degenerative joint disease, and it remains the main cause of chronic disability in elderly individuals. Sema4D (semaphorin 4D) is involved in the immune system and related to bone injury, osteoporosis, osteoblast differentiation, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the role of Sema4D in OA remains unclear. Hence, the LPS‐stimulated chondrocyte cell injury model was constructed in this study to investigate the role of Sema4D in OA development. The results showed that Sema4D was increased in LPS‐treated ATDC5 cells, and the knockdown of Sema4D suppressed the decline of cell viability, the increase of cell apoptosis, and the increase of IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α secretion in ATDC5 cells induced by LPS. Meanwhile, Sema4D overexpression aggravated the cell injury triggered by LPS, and inhibiting Plexin B1 partly abolished the effect of Sema4D overexpression on LPS‐induced chondrocyte injury. Furthermore, silencing of Sema4D blocked the activation of the MAPK pathway in LPS‐stimulated ATDC5 cells. Enhanced Sema4D promoted the activation of the MAPK pathway in LPS‐stimulated ATDC5 cells. What is more, inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway abolished the promoting effect of Sema4D overexpression on LPS‐induced chondrocyte injury. Therefore, our study suggested that the knockdown of Sema4D protects ATDC5 cells against LPS‐induced injury through inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway via interacting with Plexin B1.
Energy Conservation, Singular Orbits, and FPGA Implementation of Two New Hamiltonian Chaotic Systems
Authors: Dong Enzeng , Liu Guanghan , Wang Zenghui , Chen Zengqiang
Published: April 2020

Since the conservative chaotic system (CCS) has no general attractors, conservative chaotic flows are more suitable for the chaos-based secure communication than the chaotic attractors. In this paper, two Hamiltonian conservative chaotic systems (HCCSs) are constructed based on the 4D Euler equations and a proposed construction method. These two new systems are investigated by equilibrium points, dynamical evolution map, Hamilton energy, and Casimir energy. They look similar, but it is found that one can be explained using Casimir power and another cannot be explained in terms of the mechanism of chaos. Furthermore, a pseudorandom signal generator is developed based on these proposed systems, which are tested based on NIST tests and implemented by using the field programmable gate array (FPGA) technique.
Formation and Detection of Highly Oxidized Hemoglobin Forms in Biological Fluids during Hemolytic Conditions
Authors: Nyakundi Benard Bogonko , Erdei Judit , Tóth Andrea , Balogh Enikő , Nagy Andrea , Nagy Béla , Novák László , Bognár László , Paragh György , Kappelmayer János , Jeney Viktória
Published: April 2020

Hemolytic diseases are characterized by an accelerated breakdown of red blood cells (RBCs) and the release of hemoglobin (Hb). Following, RBC lysis Hb oxidation occurs with the formation of different redox states of Hb (metHb and ferrylHb) and the release of heme. ferrylHb is unstable and decomposes to metHb with the concomitant formation of globin radicals and eventually covalently crosslinked Hb multimers. The goal of the present study was to determine the concentrations of the different redox states of Hb in biological samples during hemolytic conditions. We used plasma and urine samples of mice with intravascular hemolysis and human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples following intraventricular hemorrhage. Because ferrylHb is highly unstable, we also addressed the fate of this species. metHb and free heme time-dependently accumulate in plasma and CSF samples following intravascular hemolysis and intraventricular hemorrhage, respectively. ferrylHb is hardly detectable in the biological samples during hemolytic conditions. Underin vitroconditions, ferrylHb decomposes quickly to metHb, which process is associated with the formation of covalently crosslinked Hb multimers. We detected these covalently crosslinked Hb multimers in plasma, urine, and CSF samples during hemolytic conditions. Because globin modification is specific for these Hb forms, we propose to call this heterogeneous form of Hb produced during ferrylHb decomposition as globin-modified oxidized Hb (gmoxHb). Understanding the formation and the contribution of gmoxHb species to the pathogenesis of hemolytic conditions could have therapeutic implications in the treatment of hemolytic diseases.
Sirtuin 1: A Dilemma in Transplantation
Authors: Assadiasl Sara , Mooney Nuala , Mohebbi Bahareh , Fatahi Yousef , Soleimanifar Narjes
Published: April 2020

Sirtuin 1, a member of sirtuin family of histone deacetylase enzymes, has been implicated in a variety of physiologic and pathologic events, including energy metabolism, cell survival, and age-related alterations. In view of the anti-inflammatory properties of sirtuin 1 along with its protective role in ischemia reperfusion injury, it might be considered as contributing to the promotion of transplantation outcome. However, the potential ability of sirtuin 1 to induce malignancies raises some concerns about its overexpression in clinic. Moreover, despite the findings of sirtuin 1 implication in thymic tolerance induction and T regulatory (Treg) cells survival, there is also evidence for its involvement in Treg suppression and in T helper 17 cells differentiation. The identification of sirtuin 1 natural and synthetic activators leads to the proposal of sirtuin 1 as an eligible target for clinical interventions in transplantation. All positive and negative consequences of sirtuin 1 overactivation/overexpression in the allograft should therefore be studied thoroughly. Herein, we summarize previous findings concerning direct and indirect influences of sirtuin 1 manipulation on transplantation.
Efficacy of the Combined Administration of Systemic and Intra-Articular Tranexamic Acid in Total Hip Arthroplasty Secondary to Femoral Neck Fracture: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Maalouly Joseph , Tawk Antonios , Ayoubi Rami , Al Rahbani Georges Katoul , Metri Aida , Saidy Elias , El-Hajj Gerard , Nehme Alexandre
Published: April 2020

Background. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is associated with substantial blood loss in the postoperative course. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a potent antifibrinolytic agent, routinely administered by intravenous (IV) and topical (intra-articular, IA) route, which can possibly interrupt the cascade of events due to hemostatic irregularities close to the source of bleeding. However, scientific evidence of combined administration of TXA in THA secondary to a femoral neck fracture is still meagre. The present study aims to compare the patients who were administered combined IV and topical TXA with a control group in terms of blood loss, transfusion rate, and incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and thromboembolism (TE). Patients and Methods. 195 patients with femoral neck fracture underwent THA and were placed into two groups: (1) IV and IA TXA group which had 58 patients and (2) no TXA control group which had 137 patients. In the TXA group, 1 g IV TXA was administered 30 minutes before incision, and 1 g IA TXA was administered intraoperatively after fascia closure. No drains were placed, and soft spica was applied to the hip. Results. Combined usage of IV and IA TXA showed better results when compared to the control group in terms of blood transfusion rate (31%) and hemoglobin drop (28%). No cases of DVT or TE were noted among the two study groups. Conclusion. Combined use of IV and IA TXA provided significantly better results compared to no TXA use with respect to all variables related to postoperative blood loss in THA. Moreover, TXA use is safe in terms of incidence of symptomatic DVT and TE.
Seismic Behavior of the Removable Links in Eccentrically Braced Frames with Semirigid Connections
Authors: Shi Qiang , Yan Shilin , Wang Xinwu , Sun Haisu , Zhao Yan
Published: April 2020

Eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) have good elastic stiffness, while semirigid joints can provide greater ductility and make all components easy to fabricate. With application of semirigid connections to EBFs, a seismic structure can be formed. After earthquake, damaged components can be easily replaced, and repair costs and maintenance time can be reduced. In order to study the seismic performance of this type of structure, four single‐story plane specimens were tested under low‐cycle cyclic loads. Also, a total of 7 EBF models were investigated through three‐dimensional, nonlinear finite element analysis. Good agreement is achieved between the simulation and experimental results. The results show that the failure modes of the EBFs with semirigid connections are the fracture at link end plate connection, and no obvious buckling deformation and cracks occur in the other components. The EBFs with semirigid connections exhibit good inelastic rotation ability, and the inelastic rotation of all specimens and models exceeds the limit of 2016 AISC specification. Due to the slip between members, the hysteretic curves of those new structures show different degrees of pinching phenomenon and it becomes more obvious with the increase of the length of links. By analyzing the strain of the bolts, it is found that the bolt strains of the joints of link‐to‐beam are the highest, while the bolt strains of the joints of beam‐to‐column and column‐to‐brace are smaller. This structure system shows higher energy dissipation capacity and good economic benefits.
The Moment-Independent Importance Analysis of Structural Seismic Requirements Based on Orthogonal Polynomial Estimation
Authors: Xu Zhaoxia , Wang Xiuzhen
Published: April 2020

The structural damping ratio, structural quality, yield strength, and elastic modulus of section steel, compressive strength, elastic modulus of concrete, yield strength, and elastic modulus of steel bars play important roles in the stability of the steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) frame structure, which are usually uncertain. However, their importance influence on the different seismic demands of SRC is rarely investigated simultaneously. In order to investigate the effects of the above parameters on four seismic demands (i.e., the top displacement, the maximum floor acceleration, the base shear force, and the maximum interstory displacement angle) of SRC frame structures, the orthogonal polynomial estimation method is first applied to the importance analysis of structural seismic demand based on the moment-independent method. Two engineering examples are performed to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. The results have the characteristics of fast convergence and are in good agreement with those obtained by the moment-independent method based on kernel density estimation. The variance importance index based on Monte Carlo (MC) method is also calculated for comparison. The influence of each random variable on the four structural seismic demands is basically the same. Therefore, the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are proved sufficiently.
Genetic Analysis of EGLN1 C127S Variant in Taiwanese Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Chiang Han-Lin , Chen Chiung Mei , Chen Yi-Chun , Chao Chih-Ying , Wu Yih-Ru , Lee-Chen Guey-Jen
Published: April 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder related to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuron degeneration and iron accumulation. As a cellular oxygen sensor, prolyl hydroxylase domain containing protein 2 (PHD2, encoded by egl-9 family hypoxia inducible factor 1, EGLN1) modifies hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF-α) protein for proteasomal destruction under normoxic condition. In addition, 2-oxoglutarate- (OG-) dependent dioxygenase activity of PHD2 is involved in the oxygen and iron regulation of iron-responsive element binding protein 2 (IRP2) stability. Previously increased expression of EGLN1 was found in the substantia nigra of the parkinsonian brain. We investigated the possible role of c.380 G > C (p.C127S) of EGLN1 gene in Taiwanese patients with PD. 479 patients and 435 healthy controls were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction and BsmAI restriction enzyme analysis were applied for analysis. An association between CC genotype and reduced PD risk in the recessive model (CC vs. GG + GC) was found. Our study provides a link between EGLN1 c.380 G > C SNP and the development of PD.
Effect of High Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitor Doses on the Development and Treatment of Sarcoid-Like Reaction
Authors: Al-Ghamdi Badr Rashed
Published: April 2020

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas that are most commonly observed in the lungs. Sarcoid-like reaction has been reported to develop in response to several immune modulator agents and antidepressants. In this report, a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis that was strongly related to the use of more than the average recommended dose of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications has been described. The patient, a 37-year-old, single, Caucasian woman, who suffered from severe depression and who presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath, low-grade fever, a dry cough, fatigue, and the loss of appetite, was diagnosed with this condition, and she failed to respond to the administered sarcoidosis treatment until the SSRI medications that she was using were discontinued; furthermore, she relapsed when one of these medications was reintroduced. Based on these observations, we were able to show a possible relationship between sarcoid-like reaction and SSRIs, and therefore, in the case of patients with interstitial lung diseases who are using SSRIs, we recommend that meticulous precautions be taken while planning their treatment and careful follow-ups be implemented to monitor their progress.
Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Argatroban and Heparins Reduces Granulocyte Migration: Possible Impact on ECLS-Therapy?
Authors: Bredthauer Andre , Kopfmueller Manuel , Gruber Michael , Pfaehler Sophie-Marie , Lehle Karla , Petermichl Walter , Seyfried Timo , Bitzinger Diane , Redel Andreas
Published: April 2020

Introduction. Anticoagulants such as argatroban and heparins (low-molecular-weight and unfractionated) play an immense role in preventing thromboembolic complications in clinical practice. Nevertheless, they can also have a negative effect on the immune system. This study is aimed at investigating the influence of these substances on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), whose nonspecific defense mechanisms can promote thrombogenesis.Methods. Blood samples from 30 healthy volunteers were investigated, whereby PMNs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and incubated with 0.8 μg/mL of argatroban, 1.0 U/mL of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), 1.0 U/mL of unfractionated heparin (UFH), or without drug (control). A collagen-cell mixture was prepared and filled into 3Dμ-slide chemotaxis chambers (IBIDI® GmbH, Germany). Stimulation was initiated by using a chemokine gradient of n-formyl-methionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), and microscopic observation was conducted for 4.5 hours. The cells’track lengthandtrack straightness, as well as the number of attracted granulocytes, level of ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, and NET (neutrophil extracellular traps) formation, were analyzed and categorized into migration distances and time periods.Results. All three anticoagulants led to significantly reduced PMN track lengths, with UFH having the biggest impact. The number of tracks observed in the UFH group were significantly reduced compared to the control group. Additionally, the UFH group demonstrated a significantly lower track straightness compared to the control. ROS production and NET formation were unaffected.Conclusion. Our data provide evidence that anticoagulants have an inhibitory effect on the extent of PMN migration and chemotactic migration efficiency, thus indicating their potential immune-modulatory and prothrombotic effects.
Meanings of Practice, Morals of Error
Authors: Xavier Manuel
Published: April 2020

This paper is about an unsuccessful scientific instrument. Since its conception, the four theodolites Portuguese naval officer, geographer, and later aviation pioneer Carlos Viegas Gago Coutinho (1869–1959) ordered from the Italian maker and engineer Angelo Salmoiraghi (1848–1939), which were used in surveying missions to the African colonies, caused problems and disagreements. From the user’s perspective, the instruments were poorly manufactured; from the maker’s perspective, the user’s incompetence was to blame. By focusing on a well-documented set of scientific instruments, I will analyse social features concerning scientific practice, material culture, and instrument trade. I will show how the meaning of an adapted and untrustworthy instrument changed during practice; how a crisis between distanced user and maker, concerning design, precision, and error, developed; and how a clash for scientific and professional authority intertwined moral and scientific attributes.
A Woodblock’s Career
Authors: Chen Jessie Wei-Hsuan
Published: April 2020

The Antwerp publishing house Officina Plantiniana was the birthplace of many important early modern botanical treatises. Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the masters of the press commissioned approximately 4,000 botanical woodblocks to print illustrations for the publications of the three Renaissance botanists – Rembert Dodoens, Carolus Clusius, and Matthias Lobelius. The woodcuts became one of the bases of early modern botanical visual culture, generating and transmitting the understanding of plants throughout the Low Countries and the rest of Europe. The physical blocks, which are preserved at the Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp, thus offer a material perspective into the development of early modern botany. By examining the 108 woodblocks made for Dodoens’ small herbal, the Florum (1568), and the printing history of a selected few, this article shows the ways in which the use of these woodblocks impacted visual botanical knowledge transfer in the early modern period.
From the Madhouse to the Docu-Museum
Authors: Sirgiovanni Elisabetta , Aruta Alessandro
Published: April 2020

The first electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) device for the treatment of psychiatric disorders was introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and Lucio Bini, two neuropsychiatrists at the Clinic for Nervous and Mental Diseases, La Sapienza University (Rome). No trace of what became of this device after its use at the clinic can be found until the 1960s, when it appears in a silent black-and-white video dedicated to the university’s recently rehoused and completely renovated Museum of the History of Medicine (MHM), where Cerletti’s original prototype is on display today. However, there is no record of the circumstances under which the electroshock apparatus prototype was transferred from the Clinic of Neuropsychiatry to the museum. Our investigation of this intriguing mystery has uncovered a number of pertinent details that allow us to view the history of the ECT device in a new light. It also emerges that Adalberto Pazzini, the founder of the MHM, played a larger role than was previously thought in this story.
Wood anatomy of historic French violin bows made of Pernambuco wood
Authors: Macedo Tahysa Mota , Costa Cecília Gonçalves , de Lima Haroldo Cavalcante , Barros Claudia Franca
Published: April 2020

Paubrasilia echinata is recognized as the best wood in the manufacture of high-quality bows for string instruments. The wood anatomy of five historic French violin bows of the 19th and 20th century made of Pernambuco wood were investigated in order to reveal the wood anatomic features of these historical bows, to determine which P. echinata morphotype (arruda, café or laranja) was used in their manufacture and to identify the state of origin of the wood. Five bow samples were compared to 33 P. echinata specimens from the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte. The wood anatomical features were compared by means of principal component analysis, which revealed the type of axial parenchyma and percentage of tissue to be the most important to sort specimens. The best wood anatomical features previously described for high-quality bows were corroborated here and the bows in general showed similar wood anatomical features. Based on wood anatomy we found that the violin bows were most similar to the samples from the arruda morphotype derived from the States of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte by presenting scanty, unilateral and vasicentric axial parenchyma without confluences forming bands, higher percentage of fibres and lower percentage of axial parenchyma. We can therefore suggest that the historical French violin bows studied here were all made of the arruda morphotype from the Brazilian Northeast region helping explain the preference of the French explorers for this region.
Jesuits in the North American Colonies and the United States
Authors: O’Donnell Catherine
Published: April 2020

From Eusebio Kino to Daniel Berrigan, and from colonial New England to contemporary Seattle, Jesuits have built and disrupted institutions in ways that have fundamentally shaped the Catholic Church and American society. As Catherine O’Donnell demonstrates, Jesuits in French, Spanish, and British colonies were both evangelists and agents of empire. John Carroll envisioned an American church integrated with Protestant neighbors during the early years of the republic; nineteenth-century Jesuits, many of them immigrants, rejected Carroll’s ethos and created a distinct Catholic infrastructure of schools, colleges, and allegiances. The twentieth century involved Jesuits first in American war efforts and papal critiques of modernity, and then (in accord with the leadership of John Courtney Murray and Pedro Arrupe) in a rethinking of their relationship to modernity, to other faiths, and to earthly injustice. O’Donnell’s narrative concludes with a brief discussion of Jesuits’ declining numbers, as well as their response to their slaveholding past and involvement in clerical sexual abuse.
A Review of Institutional and Developmental Issues in North-East India
Authors: Basumatary Nicodim , Panda Bhagirathi
Published: April 2020

Developmental issues of the North-Eastern States of India cannot be studied inisolation without accounting for the varied politico-socio-economic and institutional factors. This study covers a wide range of the socio-political issues and developmental gaps in the North-Eastern Region (NER) of India. It presents a broader picture and gives an understanding of the issues of governance and development prevailing in this region. Many issues pertain to paucity of developmental outcomes, ethnicity, demand for statehood, insurgency, absence of rule of law, corruption and so on, suggesting state’s ineffectiveness and people’s incompetence to take development to the front stage. An effort has also been made to trace the literature that deals with these issues.
Governance in the Sixth Schedule Areas in India’s North-East: Context, Content and Challenges
Authors: Datta Prabhat Kumar , Sen Panchali
Published: April 2020

Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the eastern range North-East (N-E) has the ‘seven sisters’—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, along with a small and beautiful cousin in the Himalayan fringes, namely, Sikkim. Nearly ninety-eight per cent of N-E is surrounded by international boundaries and two per cent with the rest of India. Often known as ‘the ethnic cauldron’, this region is the home of extraordinarily diverse mosaic of ethnic groups having distinctive social, cultural and economic identity, more akin to their South Asia neighbours than mainland India. It is a habitat of a good number of ethnic rebel groups whose agendas vary from complete session from India to fighting for ethnic identities and home lands. The primary objective of the colonial rule in N-E was to ensure its administrative insulation which might have largely contributed to the continuation of the backwardness of the N-E region. It is probably the only political region in the country where every large state is a region unto itself within a sub-continental nation. This uniqueness is found reflected in the legislations and institutions like the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, setting a nodal agency for the economic development of the region with a secretariat of its own and a separate Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region created in 2001. In this article, an attempt has been made to analyse the background, context, content and significance of the Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India which was incorporated to provide self-rule to the tribal population in the N-E India.
Negotiating, Opposing, and Transposing Dangerousness: A Relational Perspective on Young People’s Experiences of Secure Care
Authors: Enell Sofia , Wilińska Monika
Published: April 2020

This article analyses how young people, with experiences of secure care, relate to the contradictory images of children in child welfare: the child in danger and the dangerous child. The study is based in Sweden and consists of in-depth interviews with 16 youths conducted repeatedly (three times) over a period of 2 years. Using the perspective of relational sociology, we demonstrate how abstract images of children are materialized through the institutional practices of broken, interrupted, forbidden and forced relations. Within this context, young people are found to relate differently to being placed in the institution by negotiating, opposing and transposing. All practices display their unfolding agency and struggle to make sense of the experience. The restrictive practices seem to deny young people relations through which a sense of safety and care can be established. We conclude by putting into question the very foundations of secure care within child welfare services.
Effect of Periodontal Disease-associated Bacteria on the Formation of Dental Calculus: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Karaaslan Fatih , Demir Turgut , Barış Ozlem
Published: April 2020

Aim:

To investigate whether bacteria that play a major role in periodontal disease pathology and in the formation of dental plaque also affect the formation of dental calculus, which is a predisposing factor for the initiation and progression of periodontal diseases.

Materials and Methods:

This was an in vitro study, and cultures of bacteria were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University. Young cultures of bacteria of Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans), Streptococcus sanguinis ( S. sanguinis), Streptococcus gordonii ( S. gordonii), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ( A. actinomycetemcomitans), Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P. gingivalis), Fusobacterium nucleatum ( F. nucleatum), and Corynebacterium matruchotii ( C. matruchotii) were prepared in media containing their specific enriching factors. B2 solid, B4 solid, and B2 liquid media were used to determine active calcification, whereas the mineral salt basal (MSB) medium was used to observe passive calcification. Calcification in the media was measured under light microscopy and in MSB using a spectrophotometer and was recorded as the percent transmittance.

Results:

S. mutans, S. sanguinis, and S. gordonii showed calcification in the B2 medium. S. mutans, S. sanguinis, S. gordonii, and C. matruchotii demonstrated calcification in MSB. A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and F. nucleatum did not show any calcification.

Conclusions:

It was concluded that streptococci present in dental plaque take part in the formation of dental calculus, whereas periodontopathogens have no role in the formation of dental calculus.
The Study of Sexual Dimorphism in Lip Print Patterns Among Igbos in Anambra State of Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Okeke Chijioke Mmadueke , Ann Onyechege , Ukoha Ukoha Ukoha , Dimkpa Uchechukwu , Enemuo Ijeoma
Published: April 2020

Aim:

To characterize the lip print pattern in a study population and to ascertain its potential for sex determination.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 undergraduate students (144 males and 156 females). Simple random sampling was used. Lip prints were obtained with lipstick and were classified according to Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The prevalence of lip print patterns was presented as frequencies and percentages, and the test of significance of gender difference was done with chi-square at the 95 percent confidence interval.

Result:

No two lip print patterns were found to be the same. There was a significant difference in the lip print patterns of females and males. In females, the pattern with the highest frequency was type II (40.4%). This was followed by type I (36.5%), type III (13.5%), type V (7.1%), and type IV (2.6%). In males, the pattern with the highest frequency was type IV (28.5%). This was followed by type III (26.4%), types I and V (each 16.0%), and type II (13.2%). When both sexes were considered together, type II was the most frequent pattern.

Conclusion:

Lip print is unique to individuals and it has potential for sex determination. The most prevalent patterns in females and males were type II and type IV, respectively.
Prevalence of familial cluster headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: O’Connor Emer , Simpson Benjamin S. , Houlden Henry , Vandrovcova Jana , Matharu Manjit
Published: April 2020

Introduction

The population rate of familial cluster headache (CH) has been reported to be as high as 20% however this varies considerably across studies. To obtain a true estimate of family history in CH, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published data.

Methods

Our systematic review involved a search of electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL) to identify and appraise studies of interest utilising the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. To further ameliorate the accuracy of our analysis we included an additional unpublished cohort of CH patients recruited at a tertiary referral centre for headache, who underwent detailed family history with diagnostic verification in relatives. Data was extracted and meta-analysis conducted to provide a true estimation of family history.

Results

In total, we identified 7 studies which fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The estimated true prevalence of CH patients with a positive family history was 6.27% (95% CI:4.65–8.40%) with an overall I2 of 73%. Fitted models for gender subgroups showed higher estimates 9.26% (95% CI: 6.29–13.43%) in females. However the I2 for the female model was 58.42% and significant (p = 0.047).

Conclusion

Our findings estimate a rate of family history in CH to be approximately 6.27% (95% CI: 4.65–8.40%). While estimates were larger for female probands, we demonstrated high heterogeneity in this subgroup. These findings further support a genetic role in the aetiology of CH.
Sustained response to onabotulinumtoxin A in patients with chronic migraine: real-life data
Authors: Ornello Raffaele , Guerzoni Simona , Baraldi Carlo , Evangelista Luana , Frattale Ilaria , Marini Carmine , Tiseo Cindy , Pistoia Francesca , Sacco Simona
Published: April 2020

Background

Treatment with onabotulinumtoxin A (BT-A) is safe and effective for chronic migraine (CM). Several studies assessed possible predictors of response to treatment with BT-A, but there is little knowledge on the frequency and predictors of sustained response. The aim of this study was to evaluate sustained response to BT-A in patients with CM.

Main body

In this prospective open-label study, 115 patients with CM and treated with BT-A were consecutively enrolled in two Italian headache centers and followed up for 15 months. Anytime responders were defined as those patients who achieved a ≥ 50% reduction in headache days during any three-month treatment cycle compared with the 3 months prior to initiation of BT-A treatment. Sustained responders were defined as those who achieved a ≥ 50% reduction in headache days within the third treatment cycle and maintained response until the end of follow-up. Non-responders were defined as those patients who never achieved a ≥ 50% reduction in headache days during the follow-up. Headache characteristics prior to BT-A treatment were assessed in order to evaluate their ability in predicting treatment response.

The 115 enrolled patients (84.3% female; median age 50 years) had a median migraine duration of 30 years (interquartile range 22–38). At the end of follow-up, 66 patients (57.4%) were classified as anytime responders. Among the 51 patients who achieved a clinical response within the third month of treatment, 33 (64.7%) were sustained responders. Patients with sustained response had a lower CM duration (median 31 vs 65 months;P = 0.030) and a lower number of headache days (median 25 vs 30;P = 0.013) at baseline compared with non-responders.

Conclusions

About two thirds of patients who gain ≥50% response to BT-A within the third cycle of treatment maintain this positive response over time. More recent onset of CM and more headache-free days at baseline are associated with sustained response. We suggest not to delay preventive treatment of CM with BT-A, in order to increase the likelihood to achieve sustained clinical response.