bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shenzhiling Oral Liquid Protects STZ‐Injured Oligodendrocyte through PI3K/Akt‐mTOR Pathway
Authors: Liu Zhenhong , Qin Gaofeng , Mana Lulu , Huang Shuaiyang , Wang Yahan , Wang Pengwen
Published: July 2020

White matter degeneration and demyelination are nonnegligible pathological manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The damage of myelin sheath consisting of oligodendrocytes is the basis of AD’s unique early lesions. Shenzhiling oral liquid (SZL) was the effective Chinese herbal compound approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AD in China, which plays the exact therapeutic role in clinical AD patients. However, its molecular mechanism remains unclear to date. For this purpose, an in vitro mode of streptozotocin‐ (STZ‐) induced rat oligodendrocyte OLN‐93 cell injury was established to mimic the pathological changes of myelin sheath of AD and investigate the mechanism of SZL protecting injured OLN‐93 cell. The results showed that STZ can decrease cell viability and downregulate the activity of PI3K/Akt‐mTOR signalling pathway and the expression of myelin sheath‐related proteins (MBP, MOG, and PLP) in OLN‐93 cells. Both SZL‐medicated serum and donepezil (positive control) can protect cells from STZ‐caused damage. SZL‐medicated serum increased OLN‐93 cell viability in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner and enhanced the activity of PI3K/Akt‐mTOR signalling pathway. The inhibitor of PI3K (LY294002) inhibited the protective effect of SZL‐medicated serum on the STZ‐injured OLN‐93 cells. Furthermore, rapamycin, the inhibitor of mTOR, inhibited the promotion of cell viability and upregulation of p‐mTOR and MBP caused by SZL‐medicated serum. In conclusion, our data indicate that SZL plays its therapeutic role on AD by promoting PI3K/Akt‐mTOR signalling pathway of oligodendrocytes. Thus, the present study may facilitate the therapeutic research of AD.
Age-Related Maintenance of the Autophagy-Lysosomal System Is Dependent on Skeletal Muscle Type
Authors: Fernando Raquel , Castro José Pedro , Flore Tanina , Deubel Stefanie , Grune Tilman , Ott Christiane
Published: July 2020

The skeletal muscle plays an important role in maintaining whole-body mechanics, metabolic homeostasis, and interorgan crosstalk. However, during aging, functional and structural changes such as fiber integrity loss and atrophy can occur across different species. A commonly observed hallmark of aged skeletal muscle is the accumulation of oxidatively modified proteins and protein aggregates which point to an imbalance in proteostasis systems such as degradation machineries. Recently, we showed that the ubiquitin-proteasomal system was impaired. Specifically, the proteasomal activity, which was declining in aged M. soleus (SOL) and M. extensor digitorum longus (EDL). Therefore, in order to understand whether another proteolytic system would compensate the decline in proteasomal activity, we aimed to investigate age-related changes in the autophagy-lysosomal system (ALS) in SOL, mostly consisting of slow-twitch fibers, and EDL, mainly composed of fast-twitch fibers, from young (4 months) and old (25 months) C57BL/6JRj mice. Here, we focused on changes in the content of modified proteins and the ALS. Our results show that aged SOL and EDL display high levels of protein modifications, particularly in old SOL. While autophagy machinery appears to be functional, lysosomal activity declines gradually in aged SOL. In contrast, in old EDL, the ALS seems to be affected, demonstrated by an increased level of key autophagy-related proteins, which are known to accumulate when their delivery or degradation is impaired. In fact, lysosomal activity was significantly decreased in old EDL. Results presented herein suggest that the ALS can compensate the high levels of modified proteins in the more oxidative muscle, SOL, while EDL seems to be more prone to ALS age-related alterations.
Men with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes May Have Different Change Patterns in Free Testosterone
Authors: Ding Bo , Li Feng-fei , Zhai Xiao-fang , Ye Lei , Hu Yun , Ma Jian-hua
Published: July 2020

Objective. Type 2 diabetic (T2D) male patients with low total testosterone (TT) levels are at an increasing risk of all‐cause mortality. However, the levels of TT in male patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) remain largely unknown. Research Design and Methods. This was a single‐center, open, observational study. The inclusion criteria were male patients who were diagnosed with LADA, and sex, body mass index, C‐peptide, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels matched with those of T2D patients. Islet function/sensitivity and sex hormone concentrations were determined at baseline and 1‐year follow‐up. The primary endpoint was the changes in androgen levels from baseline to 1‐year follow‐up in patients with LADA. Results. Our data showed that TT and Bio‐T levels remained unchanged, while FT levels significantly decreased from baseline to 1‐year follow‐up in patients with T2D. However, TT, Bio‐T, and FT concentrations dramatically increased in the LADA group from baseline to 1‐year follow‐up. Furthermore, a Spearman analysis showed that changes of TT, FT, and Bio‐T levels from baseline to endpoint were significantly negatively correlated with Δ homeostasis model assessment‐2 IR (ΔHOMA2‐IR), respectively. Conclusions. The FT change patterns in patients with LADA may differ from those in patients with T2D. Our data also indicated the significant negative correlation between insulin sensitivity and changes of TT, FT, and Bio‐T levels along with the diabetic duration in patients with T2D and LADA.
Shrinkage Mechanism of Laterite Modified by Lime and Metakaolin
Authors: Tan Yunzhi , Hu Yan , Chen Rui , Sun Wenjing
Published: July 2020

In this study, effects of metakaolin and lime on the microstructural characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), shrinkage, suction, and shear resistance of laterite were investigated. Soil samples treated with 5 wt% of lime (LaL) or 4 wt% metakaolin and 5 wt% of lime (LaLM) were prepared. Samples with an optimal water content of 32% were compacted and cured for 180 days, followed by saturation and dehydration until the desirable water content of the samples was attained. Then, the UCS, shrinkage, and suction and shear resistance of the samples at a normal stress of 200 kPa were determined. In addition, scanning electron microscopy imaging as well as mercury intrusion porosimetry tests were performed to examine the microstructural changes. Results indicate that the shrinkage of treated soil samples is significantly improved in comparison with that of the untreated soil samples. Lime effectively improves the UCS and shearing resistance of laterite. Moreover, metakaolin is composed of amorphous silicon and aluminium oxides and shared edge‐face structures on the microscopic scale; hence, it can considerably capture calcium ions from a lime solution, generating cementitious hydrates in the interaggregates of laterite. Results also revealed that the combination of 5 wt% of lime and 4 wt% of metakaolin can improve the UCS and shearing resistance, but the linear shrinkage is particularly restrained, significantly decreasing by 4 times compared with that of the lime‐treated soil sample and by 8 times compared with that of the untreated soil sample. The study results demonstrate that metakaolin and lime can be effectively used to improve laterite in lieu of the conventional lime treatment for mitigating geotechnical engineering disasters.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Mite Aquaporin DerfAQP1 from the Dust Mite Dermatophagoides farinae (Acariformes: Pyroglyphidae)
Authors: Wang Li-lei , Yu Li-li , Zhou Ying , Wu Mei-li , Teng Fei-xiang , Wang Nan , Cui Yu-bao
Published: July 2020

Aquaporins are a large family of transmembrane channel proteins that facilitate the passive but highly selective transport of water and other small solutes across biological membranes. House dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) is the major source of household immunogens, and we have recently reported six cDNA sequence encoding aquaporins from this mite species. To better understand the structure and role of mite aquaporin, we constructed a tertiary structure for DerfAQP1 by homology modeling from the X‐ray structure of malaria aquaporin PfAQP (Protein Data Bank code No. 3C02) and conducted molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation arranged seven water molecules in a single file through the pores of the DerfAQP1. Further, two conserved Asn‐Pro‐Ala motifs were located on Asn203 and Asn77; residues Arg206, Trp57, Met190, Gly200, and Asp207 constituted an extracellular vestibule of the pore; and residues His75, Val80, Ile65, and Ile182 constituted the cytoplasmic portions. The overall free energy profile for water transport through DerfAQP1 revealed an energy barrier of ~2.5 kcal/mol. These results contribute to the understanding of mite physiology and pathology.
The Range of the Spectral Projection Associated with the Dunkl Laplacian
Authors: Ben Said Salem , Mejjaoli Hatem
Published: July 2020

For s∈ℝ, denote by Pksf the “projection” of a function f in Dℝd into the eigenspaces of the Dunkl Laplacian Δk corresponding to the eigenvalue −s2. The parameter k comes from Dunkl’s theory of differential-difference operators. We shall characterize the range of Pks on the space of functions f∈Dℝd supported inside the closed ball BO,R¯. As an application, we provide a spectral version of the Paley-Wiener theorem for the Dunkl transform.
Cyr61 Promotes Inflammation of a Gouty Arthritis Model in Rats
Authors: Zhou Mi , Ze Kan , Hua Liang , Liu Liu , Kuai Le , Zhang Ming , Li Bin , Wang Yifei , Li Xin
Published: July 2020

Background. Cyr61 is considered a novel proinflammatory factor. Gouty arthritis (GA) is a self-limited inflammatory reaction caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. In this study, we assessed the role of Cyr61 in the inflammatory process of GA.Methods. We investigated the expression of Cyr61 in MSU-induced rat gout models and MSU-stimulated rat fibroblast-like synovial (FLS) cells. After inhibiting the expression of Cyr61, levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were detected by ELISA, qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical methods. We probed the downstream NF-κB signaling pathway using the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC, and levels of NF-κB and p-NF-κB were detected by western blot and qPCR.Results. Our results demonstrate that Cyr61 plays a potent role in the formation of local inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Cyr61 was highly expressed in synovial tissues of gout models, and the expression of Cyr61 protein was also significantly increased in MSU-stimulated FLS cells. Cyr61 promoted MSU-induced acute inflammation via the NF-κB signaling pathway.Conclusions. Our study has revealed that Cyr61 is an important regulatory factor for the initiation of inflammation in GA. The high expression of Cyr61 protein can induce synovial cells to produce many inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, partly in an NF-κB-dependent manner. Thus, inhibition of Cyr61 could be a new target and strategy for the prevention and treatment of GA.
Influence of Seismic Source Parameters on the Excitation Wavelet in Seismic Explorations Based on Numerical Simulation
Authors: Qiu Ruohua , Dong Zhaoxing , Qi Yanjun , Wang Yanhui , Xie Lidong , Liu Honghua
Published: July 2020

Explosives are the most common seismic source in seismic explorations, whose excitation effect is closely associated with their properties, weight, buried depth, and charging constitution. This study analyzes the influence of seismic source parameters on the features of the explosion wavelet. The explosion process of the seismic source in marine carbonate is numerically simulated with the finite element software LS‐DYNA. We consider three parameters, including buried depth, charge weight, and decoupling coefficient. To verify the simulation outcomes, we also carry out field observations. The appropriate buried depth of the explosive should be determined according to stratum lithology. As the charge weight increases, low‐frequency energy of the source wavelet increases rapidly. The optimum charge weight is 16–18 kg, and the ideal charging structure is in a concentrated, short‐column shape. Compared with the buried depth and charge weight, the decoupling coefficient shows more noticeable influence on the excitation effect of the source wavelet, and the optimum coefficient lies between 2.5 and 3. The results of this study may provide reference data for designing explosion parameters in field seismic explorations.
Conservative Treatment for Right Ventricular Free Wall Rupture in a Patient with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Firdaus Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd , Rahim Nur Syahirah Abdul , Rusdi Nurtasneem , Idris Nor Saadah , Mohd Said Mohd Ridzuan , Abidin Imran Zainal
Published: July 2020

Ventricular wall rupture possesses a high mortality rate in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We presented a case of a ninety-year-old gentleman who presented with acute inferolateral myocardial infarction in cardiogenic shock and right ventricular free wall rupture. He was treated conservatively and survived.
A Patient with Milky Urine: Nonparasitic Chyluria and Silver Nitrate Sclerotherapy
Authors: Sivashankar M. , Nandasena A. C. N.
Published: July 2020

Chyluria has become a rare clinical presentation in Sri Lanka, which may have a direct correlation with the low prevalence of lymphatic filariasis following the use of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole mass drug administration (MDA) for five rounds between 2002 and 2006. Here we report a 50-year-old male who presented with milky urine and progressive weight loss, diagnosed as having nonparasitic chyluria. The patient was initially managed with a trail of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 6 mg/kg/day for 21 days and a low-fat diet with an unsatisfactory response. Subsequent management with endoscopic instillation of 0.5% silver nitrate brought in him a quick response, which was maintained for a year. Endoscopic sclerotherapy is considered a safer, effective and a minimally invasive treatment option for symptomatic patients.
Perceptual Characteristics of Chinese Speech Intelligibility in Noise Environment
Authors: Song Hui , Zhang Siyu
Published: July 2020

Speech intelligibility is affected by various interfering factors in a speech transmission system. Noise is one of the most common affecting factors. Subjective listening experiments were, respectively, carried out in pink noise, speech noise, and white noise-interfering environment. The perceptual characteristics of the initials, finals, tones, and syllable intelligibility were analyzed, and the function relationships between Chinese speech intelligibility and SNR in noise environment were concluded, which could be used to evaluate or predict the Chinese speech intelligibility under noise transmission conditions.
Study on Buckling Behavior of Tapered Friction Piles in Soft Soils with Linear Shaft Friction
Authors: Liu Junxiu , Shao Xianfeng , Cheng Baoquan , Cao Guangyong , Li Kai
Published: July 2020

The buckling instability of long slender piles in soft soils is a key consideration in geoengineering design. By considering both the linear shaft friction and linear lateral stiffness of the soft soil, the buckling behaviors of a tapered friction pile embedded in heterogeneous soil are extensively studied. This study establishes and validates an analytical model to formulate the equilibrium equations and boundary conditions and then numerically solves the boundary value problem to obtain the critical buckling load and buckling shape by using software Matlab. The effects of boundary conditions, tapered ratio, stiffness ratio, friction ratio, lateral stiffness, and shaft friction on the buckling behavior of the friction pile are extensively explored. This study demonstrates that the buckling load decreases with the increase of friction ratio of the linear shaft friction. There exists an optimal tapered ratio corresponding to the maximum dimensionless buckling load in the tapered friction pile with linear shaft friction. The result means that the linear shaft friction should be considered in designing the tapered friction piles in heterogeneous soils. The results also have potential applications in the fields of growing of tree roots in soils, moving of slender rods in viscous fluids, penetrating of fine rods in soft elastomers, etc.
A Client Bootstrapping Protocol for DoS Attack Mitigation on Entry Point Services in the Cloud
Authors: Almohri Hussain M. J. , Almutawa Mohammad , Alawadh Mahmoud , Elish Karim
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a client bootstrapping protocol for proxy-based moving target defense system for the cloud. The protocol establishes the identity of prospective clients who intend to connect to web services behind obscure proxy servers in a cloud-based network. In client bootstrapping, a set of initial line of defense services receive new client requests, execute an algorithm to assign them to a proxy server, and reply back with the address of the chosen proxy server. The bootstrapping protocol only reveals one proxy address to each client, maintaining the obscurity of the addresses for other proxy servers. Hiding the addresses of proxy servers aims to lower the likelihood that a proxy server becomes the victim of a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. Existing works address this problem by requiring the solution of computationally intensive puzzles from prospective clients. This solution slows the progression of attacks as well as new clients. This paper presents an alternative idea by observing that limited capacity of handling initial network requests is the primary cause of denial-of-service attacks. Thus, the suggested alternative is to utilize cost-effective high-capacity networks to handle client bootstrapping, thus thwarting attacks on the initial line of defense. The prototype implementation of the protocol using Google’s firebase demonstrates the proof of concept for web services that receive network requests from clients on mobile devices.
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and Scheduled Pretransplant Plasmapheresis: A Timely Diagnosis of Nail-Patella Syndrome Avoided More Futile Immunosuppression
Authors: Trimarchi H.
Published: July 2020

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histopathological pattern of injury. As such, it encompasses a wide variety of dissimilar entities with different pathophysiologic mechanisms. Although ultrastructural morphological characteristics can specifically diagnose certain diseases and genetic mutations can also be unravelled, this ideal situation is generally not available worldwide. In this respect, when proteinuria with or without nephrotic syndrome is encountered and FSGS is the histological lesion, patients start to be prescribed different regimes of immunosuppression, which should only be indicated in cases of primary FSGS, a rare entity that is elusive to response and can hardly be precisely diagnosed. We present a 35-year-old female patient with a life-long diagnosis of FSGS and a heavy burden of immunosuppressants, which had been unable to manage the persistent proteinuria that eventually led to end-stage kidney disease. She was referred to us to organize the kidney transplant. Plasmapheresis had been previously suggested to her to prevent the relapse of primary FSGS. A genetic test disclosed that the patient was heterozygous for LMX1B, and the diagnosis of nail-patella syndrome was made. In this entity, immunosuppression is not indicated, and there is no recurrence of the disease in the transplanted allograft.
An Intelligent Planning-Based Modeling Method for Diagnosis and Repair
Authors: Li Chuang , Ouyang Dantong , Wang Xiaoyu , Wei Wei
Published: July 2020

Planning and model-based diagnosis are both branches of artificial intelligence. In model-based diagnosis, multiresults may be gotten which lead to an uncertain diagnosis. We use the landmark method from planning to designing an event sequence to get a reaction. A method that uses planning to repair in local results of incremental diagnosis is proposed. Firstly, a model is established on model-based diagnosis and planning. Incremental diagnosis results are used as the initial state of planning, and the heuristic search method is used to find the solution to an unfaulty state. Two algorithms with different strategies are designed for diagnosis and repair: one is to repair all possible faults and use controllable events to repair them, and the other is to test through the feedback of controllable events and observable events to get the only solution and repair them. At the same time, the efficiency of the incremental diagnosis method is improved based on heuristics.
Combined Acetabulum Fracture and Hip Dislocation in an 18-Year-Old Female at 35-Week Gestation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Young Joseph R. , Vignaly Lauren , Carroll Jeremy , Ross Phillip , Mori Benjamin Villacres , Czajka Cory M.
Published: July 2020

Caring for an injured, pregnant patient can be a management challenge. We report the case of an 18-year-old female who sustained a left acetabulum fracture with a concurrent hip dislocation at 35 weeks’ gestation following a motor vehicle accident. Through an interdisciplinary, team-based approach, the patient was guided through obstetric delivery and orthopedic surgical fracture fixation without complication. By being familiar with the unique challenges in management posed by pregnant patients, orthopedic surgeons can be better equipped to minimize morbidity and mortality in this patient population while maximizing clinical outcomes.
Factors Associated with Brachial‐Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in an Apparently Healthy Chinese Population
Authors: Chen Liangmei , Liu Xiaomin , Jia Linpei , Dong Zheyi , Wang Qian , Chen Yizhi , Wang Yong , Zheng Ying , Nie Sasa , Song KangKang , Zhao Delong , Duan Shuwei , Li Zuoxiang , Feng Zhe , Sun Xuefeng , Cai Guangyan , Zhang Weiguang , Chen Xiangmei
Published: July 2020

Purpose. To investigate the factors influencing brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in an apparently healthy Chinese population, especially the associations between baPWV and indices of blood pressure (BP). Methods. A total of 1123 participants with no history of hypertension were enrolled in this study, and the baPWV and BP of all four limbs were measured along with other covariates. Correlation analyses and multivariate linear regression models were used to identify factors associated with baPWV. Results. A total of 1123 participants (male 43.3%, mean age: 58.4 ± 13.9 years) were included. The average baPWV was 14.87 ± 3.21 m/s, and no difference was found between the sexes. Age was positively correlated with baPWV (r = 0.65, p < 0.01), especially in females (r = 0.71 versus 0.56 in males). The correlation coefficient between age and baPWV increased markedly after the age of 65 years. In addition, the resting heart rate (RHR), waist‐hip ratio, glomerular filtration rate, and plasma glucose level were significantly correlated with baPWV (r = 0.25, 0.22, ‐0.43, and 0.25, respectively; p < 0.01). BP parameters were highly positively correlated with baPWV, especially systolic BP (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP). Multivariate regression revealed that age, BP parameters, and RHR were independently correlated with baPWV (p < 0.01) after adjusting for confounding factors. The standardized coefficients of SBP were greater than those of PP, followed by diastolic BP (DBP). Conclusion. BaPWV increased with age, especially after 65 years. Age, BP, and RHR were independent factors associated with baPWV. The effect of SBP on baPWV was more prominent than that of PP.
Clinical Characteristics and Prevalence of Comorbidities according to Metformin Use in Korean Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Chin Sang Ouk , Ha In Gyoon , Rhee Sang Youl , Jeong Su Jin , Chon Suk , Kim Sung Hoon , Ahn Kyu Jeung , Baik Sei Hyun , Park Yongsoo , Nam Moon Suk , Lee Kwan Woo , Woo Jeong Taek
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims. This study was designed to identify the clinical characteristics of Korean patients with type 2 diabetes according to metformin use. Methods. This cross-sectional study based on the Korean National Diabetes Program 2 registry used its baseline clinical data collected from seven participating university hospitals in Korea. Patients with no significant changes in their oral hypoglycemic agents and no diabetes-related complications within the year prior to participation were enrolled. Patients’ clinical characteristics according to metformin use were analyzed. Results. Among 858 subjects included in the analyses, 706 were metformin users and 152 were nonmetformin users. Metformin users were significantly younger and had higher and glycated hemoglobin with significantly lower rates of accompanying microvascular complications such as retinopathy, cataracts, overt proteinuria, renal insufficiency, and peripheral neuropathy than nonusers. Meanwhile, there was a significantly lower prevalence of malignancy and depression among metformin users. These associations remained significant in multivariate analyses. The prevalence rate of macrovascular complications was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions. There were significant differences with respect to clinical characteristics and comorbidity prevalence according to metformin use among Korean type 2 diabetes patients. Long-term follow-up of these patients is necessary to observe how this difference will affect clinical outcomes for these patients.
Impact of Galectins in Resistance to Anticancer Therapies
Authors: Navarro Pilar , Martínez-Bosch Neus , Blidner Ada G. , Rabinovich Gabriel A.
Published: July 2020

Galectins are an endogenous family of β-galactoside-binding proteins that play complex and multifaceted roles at various stages of cancer progression, including modulation of tumor cell proliferation, signaling, adhesion, migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immune escape. Recently, galectins have been implicated as major therapeutic determinants that confer sensitivity or resistance to a wide range of anticancer modalities including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapies, antiangiogenic therapies, and immunotherapies. Here, we present an integrated approach to the pleiotropic functions of galectins and discuss their emerging roles with respect to mechanisms of resistance or sensitivity to anticancer therapies. Taken together, these findings suggest that targeting galectins and/or their glycosylated ligands may help to overcome resistance and to increase the clinical efficacy of anticancer strategies.
Beneficial Effects of Modified Atkins Diet in Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIIa
Authors: Olgac Asburce , İnci Aslı , Okur İlyas , Biberoğlu Gürsel , Oğuz Deniz , Ezgü Fatih Süheyl , Kasapkara Çiğdem Seher , Aktaş Emine , Tümer Leyla
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Glycogen storage disease Type III (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by the deficiency of glycogen debranching enzyme, encoded by the AGL gene. Two clinical types of the disease are most prevalent: GSD IIIa involves the liver and muscle, whereas IIIb affects only the liver. The classical dietetic management of GSD IIIa involves prevention of fasting, frequent feeds with high complex carbohydrates in small children, and a low-carb-high-protein diet in older children and adults. Recently, diets containing high amount of fat, including ketogenic and modified Atkins diet (MAD), have been suggested to have favorable outcome in GSD IIIa. Methods: Six patients, aged 3–31 years, with GSD IIIa received MAD for a duration of 3–7 months. Serum glucose, transaminases, creatine kinase (CK) levels, capillary ketone levels, and cardiac parameters were followed-up. Results: In all patients, transaminase levels dropped in response to MAD. Decrease in CK levels were detected in 5 out of 6 patients. Hypoglycemia was evident in 2 patients but was resolved by adding uncooked cornstarch to diet. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that GSD IIIa may benefit from MAD both clinically and biochemically.
Procedural Patterns and Safety of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Authors: Loring Zak , Holmes DaJuanicia N. , Matsouaka Roland A. , Curtis Anne B. , Day John D. , Desai Nihar , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. , Feld Gregory K. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Frankel David S. , Hurwitz Jodie L. , Knight Bradley P. , Joglar Jose A. , Russo Andrea M. , Sidhu Mandeep S. , Turakhia Mintu P. , Lewis William R. , Piccini Jonathan P.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Catheter ablation is an increasingly used treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there are limited prospective, nationwide data on patient selection and procedural characteristics. This study describes patient characteristics, techniques, treatment patterns, and safety outcomes of patients undergoing AF ablation.

Methods:

A total of 3139 patients undergoing AF ablation between 2016 and 2018 in the Get With The Guidelines-Atrial Fibrillation registry from 24 US centers were included. Patient demographics, medical history, procedural details, and complications were abstracted. Differences between paroxysmal and patients with persistent AF were compared using Pearson χ
2
and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

Results:

Patients undergoing AF ablation were predominantly male (63.9%) and White (93.2%) with a median age of 65. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (67.6%), and patients with persistent AF had more comorbidities than patients with paroxysmal AF. Drug refractory, paroxysmal AF was the most common ablation indication (class I, 53.6%) followed by drug refractory, persistent AF (class I, 41.8%). Radiofrequency ablation with contact force sensing was the most common ablation modality (70.5%); 23.7% of patients underwent cryoballoon ablation. Pulmonary vein isolation was performed in 94.6% of de novo ablations; the most common adjunctive lesions included left atrial roof or posterior/inferior lines, and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. Complications were uncommon (5.1%) and were life-threatening in 0.7% of cases.

Conclusions:

More than 98% of AF ablations among participating sites are performed for class I or class IIA indications. Contact force-guided radiofrequency ablation is the dominant technique and pulmonary vein isolation the principal lesion set. In-hospital complications are uncommon and rarely life-threatening.
Who’s there? Third parties affect social interactions between spider monkey males
Authors: Saldaña Sánchez Amor Aline , Aureli Filippo , Busia Laura , Schaffner Colleen M.
Published: July 2020

Spider monkeys provide an intriguing opportunity to examine behavioural flexibility in relation to their social environment given their high degree of fission–fusion dynamics and the nature of male–male relationships. These characteristics allow us to examine how flexibility in social interactions is modulated by the perception of risk and uncertainty related to other group members. We investigated whether male–male interactions vary according to partner identity and presence of third parties in wild Geoffroy’s spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). We used proportion of approaches followed by an embrace, an indicator of risk and uncertainty, or by grooming, an affiliative behaviour. To confirm the monkeys’ perception of risk or uncertainty we used aggression rates and time spent vigilant. We collected data on eight adult spider monkey males: three of them belonged to one clique and the other five to another clique based on distinct patterns of residence. We found higher proportions of approaches followed by embraces and lower proportions of approaches followed by grooming between males of different cliques than between males of the same clique. In addition, we found higher aggression rates between males from different cliques. The proportions of approaches followed by embraces in the five-male clique were higher when the three-male clique was no longer in the group. The five males were more vigilant when the other three males were present in the group, indicating the monkeys perceived higher risk or uncertainty under these circumstances. We found lower proportions of approaches followed by grooming between two males when there was at least one other male in the subgroup than when there were only the two males. Our results provide evidence for behavioural flexibility in the interactions between spider monkey males as an example of how animals can cope with social challenges by adjusting their behaviour.
Acute salinity stress in gill Na+/K+-ATPase in the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus (Brachyura, Portunidae)
Authors: Huang Shaojun , Jiang Shan , Xu Qianghua
Published: July 2020

Na+/K+-ATPase is an important ion-transporting enzyme involved in osmoregulation. The swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus) is a commercially important edible crab species in China. At salinities lower than 10 or higher than 40, its production is seriously impacted; however, the mechanisms of how the Na+/K+-ATPase of swimming crabs responds to salinity changes, is unclear. In the current study, the Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunit (NAKA) and β-subunit (NAKB) cDNA of P. trituberculatus was identified. Multiple alignment was performed and the expression of NAKA and NAKB in the 6th gills under different salinity conditions were detected using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that NAKA and NAKB mRNA both increased significantly at day 1, but they were maintained at low levels when exposed to 40 salinity for a long time. The hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that ionocytes increased in size at 40 salinity, but decreased at 10 salinity. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that NAKA signals increased with exposure to 40 salinity for one day, but the signals were not strong at 10 salinity. Comparison of the conserved NAKA domain of P. trituberculatus and the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) showed that the polypeptide binding site (α-subunit/β-subunit interface) was different, which may be one of the reasons that P. trituberculatus is not as tolerant of fresh water as E. sinensis.
Repentance through Fear: Cosmic and Body Horror in Sheveṭ Musar
Authors: Briata Ilaria
Published: July 2020

One of the most notorious early modern musar compilations, Sheveṭ Musar, challenges its readers with an obscure and gory imagery that can be classified as horror. This article proposes an exploration of these horrific images of death, decomposition, and hell. In order to contextualize a selection of passages from Sheveṭ Musar, a state of the art concerning research on Jewish horror will be provided and integrated with references to horror scholarship in areas of literature where this topic has received more investigation. What characterizes horror in Sheveṭ Musar appears to be the didactic functionality of exciting negative emotions such as fear and disgust. This moralizing rhetorical mechanism will be illustrated through four different topics appearing throughout the tractate: (1) the literary strategy of terror; (2) the description of the physical and metaphysical processes of death; (3) a memento of the caducity of human life; and (4) anticipation of infernal damnation.
Advanced Digital Signal Processing Techniques on the Classification of the Heart Sound Signals
Authors: Zhong Meisu , Yang Yongsheng , Zhou Yamin , Octavian Postolache M. , Chandrasekar M. , Venkat Babu G. , Manikandan C. , Balaji V. S. , Saravanan S. , Elamaran V.
Published: July 2020

Speech processing subject primarily depends on the digital signal processing (DSP) methods, such as convolution, discrete Fourier transform (DFT), fast Fourier transforms (FFT), finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filters, FFT recursive and non-recursive
digital filters, FFT processing, random signal theory, adaptive filters, upsampling and downsampling, etc. Recursive and non-recursive digital filters are primarily deployed to absorb the signal of interest signals and to block the unwanted signals (noise). Broadly, low-pass, high-pass, band-pass,
and band-stop filters are implemented for filtering functions. In frequent, the DSP theories can be used for further biomedical engineering domains like biomedical imaging (MRI, ultrasound, CT, X-ray, PET) and genetic signal analysis-cum-processing too. In this article, the experiments such
as voiced/unvoiced detection, formants estimation using FFT and spectrograms, pitch estimation and tracking and yes/no sound classification are used. Also, the analysis of normal/abnormal heart sound signals using simple energy computation and the zero-crossing rate and their results are obtained.
For the entire study, the Matlab R2018a tool is used to obtain the simulation results. At last, the criticism, feedbacks, comments, reactions from the student are detailed for the exceptional development of the course.
The Use of Positron Emission Computed Tomography and Computed Tomography in the Treatment of Gynecological Malignant Tumor
Authors: Yang Lang , Hu. Xiaoxia
Published: July 2020

Objective: Investigating the value of 18Fluorine-Fluorodesoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) before and after the comprehensive treatment of gynecological malignant tumors is the study purpose. Method:
In this study, the patients with gynecological malignant tumor who are examined by 18F-FDG PET/CT test are taken as the study objects, supplemented by image fusion algorithm to achieve the best fusion effect. At the same time, routine imaging examination is performed and confirmed
by histopathology. Before and after comprehensive treatment, in terms of PET/CT, its predictive rate of positive as well as negative, sensitivity, specificity as well as accuracy are compared with conventional imaging. Results: Before comprehensive treatment, the positive predictive
rate of PET/CT diagnosis is 100%, the sensitivity is 95.00%, and the accuracy is 95.00%. The positive predictive rate of conventional imaging diagnosis is 100%, the sensitivity is 73.75%, and the accuracy is 73.75%. In terms of the PET/CT sensitivity as well as accuracy, conventional imaging
is lower than that of it. After comprehensive treatment, the positive predictive rate of PET/CT diagnosis is 96.30%, the negative predictive rate is 100.00%, the sensitivity is 100.00%, the specificity is 92.86%, and the accuracy is 95.50%. The positive predictive rate of conventional imaging
diagnosis is 94.87%, the negative predictive rate is 68.29%, the sensitivity is 74.00%, the specificity is 93.33%, and the accuracy is 81.25%. In terms of the above indexes, conventional imaging is lower than PET/CT diagnosis. Conclusion: When it is compared with conventional imaging,
18F-FDG PET/CT has higher accuracy. Besides, it is more comprehensive when diagnosing gynecological cancer before and after comprehensive treatment, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
Characteristics of the Onset, Withdrawal, and Breaks of the Western North Pacific Summer Monsoon in the 1949–2014 Period
Authors: Vega Inmaculada , Ribera Pedro , Gallego David
Published: July 2020

The western North Pacific summer monsoon (WNPSM) onset and withdrawal dates as well as its breaks have been determined throughout the 1949–2014 period by defining the monsoon daily directional index (MDDI). This index, developed exclusively with wind direction observations, is an upgrade of the monthly western North Pacific directional index. The onset date shows a high interannual variability, varying between early May and early August, whereas the WNPSM withdrawal shows a lower interannual variability, occurring between October and mid-November. The MDDI reflects the multibreak character of the WNPSM. Breaks, which tend to last a few weeks, are more likely to happen from mid-August to early September and from late June to mid-July. This bimodal distribution shows decadal variability. In addition, the monsoon dates determined by the MDDI show very good agreement with relationships previously described in literature, such as the influence of tropical Pacific SST on the monsoon onset/withdrawal and changes in tropical cyclone (TC) tracks related to monsoon breaks. The WNPSM tends to start earlier (later) and finish later (earlier) under eastern Pacific (EP) La Niña (El Niño) conditions, especially from the 1980s on. Central Pacific (CP) ENSO is also associated with the monsoon withdrawal, which is advanced (delayed) under CP El Niño (La Niña). TCs tend to move from the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea during active monsoon days whereas they tend to reach higher latitudes during inactive monsoon days, especially in August and July.
A Method for Probability Matching Based on the Ensemble Maximum for Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts
Authors: Qiao Xiaoshi , Wang Shizhang , Schwartz Craig S. , Liu Zhiquan , Min Jinzhong
Published: July 2020

A probability matching (PM) product using the ensemble maximum (EnMax) as the basis for spatial reassignment was developed. This PM product was called the PM max and its localized version was called the local PM (LPM) max. Both products were generated from a 10-member ensemble with 3-km horizontal grid spacing and evaluated over 364 36-h forecasts in terms of the fractions skill score. Performances of the PM max and LPM max were compared to those of the traditional PM mean and LPM mean, which both used the ensemble mean (EnMean) as the basis for spatial reassignment. Compared to observations, the PM max typically outperformed the PM mean for precipitation rates ≥5 mm h−1; this improvement was related to the EnMax, which had better spatial placement than the EnMean for heavy precipitation. However, the PM mean produced better forecasts than the PM max for lighter precipitation. It appears that the global reassignment used to produce the PM max was responsible for its poorer performance relative to the PM mean at light precipitation rates, as the LPM max was more skillful than the LPM mean at all thresholds. These results suggest promise for PM products based on the EnMax, especially for rare events and ensembles with insufficient spread.
Meaningful Activity and Boredom in the Transition from Homelessness: Two Narratives
Authors: Marshall Carrie Anne , Keogh-Lim Daniel , Koop Michelle , Barbic Skye , Gewurtz Rebecca
Published: July 2020

Background.

Few studies have examined boredom and meaningful activity during the transition from homeless to housed, and those that exist are retrospective.

Purpose.

To prospectively examine how meaningful activities and boredom are experienced during the process of leaving homelessness.

Method.

Using a mixed-methods case study design, we interviewed 13 homeless participants at baseline using a 92-item quantitative interview, followed by a semi-structured qualitative interview. Two participants were located six months later and were interviewed again using the same protocol. Quantitative data are presented descriptively. Qualitative data were analyzed using narrative analysis.

Findings.

Qualitative data revealed two unique narratives of boredom and meaningful activity engagement in the transition from homeless to housed, with opportunities for engagement in meaningful activity limited largely by the social and housing environments in which both participants were situated. Quantitative data indicates that boredom and meaningful activity changed little before and after homelessness. At both baseline and follow-up, boredom scores for both participants were comparable to a sample of participants who were exposed to a “boredom” condition in an experimental study ( Hunter, Dyer, Cribbie, & Eastwood, 2016 ).

Implications.

Formerly homeless persons may struggle to engage in meaningful activity, and boredom may negatively affect mental well-being. Research with larger samples is needed.
Green Building, Green Behavior? An Analysis of Building Characteristics that Support Environmentally Responsible Behaviors
Authors: Hamilton Erin M.
Published: July 2020

This study examines the environmentally responsible behaviors (ERBs) of undergraduates ( n = 575). ERBs were measured in an online survey and the influence of situational context on behavior was explored at two scales: 1) green versus non-green building and 2) building characteristics. The Positive Sustainable Built Environments model was used to analyze three building characteristics: Prime, Permit, and Invite. Prime refers to characteristics that prepare occupants to adopt ERBs via communicating a sustainable ethos or restoring attentional capacity (e.g., use of natural materials and views to nature). Permit refers to features that allow occupants to conserve resources (e.g., operable light switches). Invite pertains to features that explicitly encourage ERBs (e.g., signage prompting occupants to turn off lights). Regression results demonstrated that living in a green building had no significant impact on ERBs. However, the Prime and Invite building characteristics significantly predicted improved Energy, Water, and Materials conservation. Results yield implications for designers seeking to create sustainable buildings that promote ERBs.
His own Chernobyl: The embodiment of radiation and the resistance to nuclear extractivism in Nadine Gordimer’s Get a Life
Authors: Santayana Vivek
Published: July 2020

According to Gabrielle Hecht, nuclear energy in South Africa is mired in a wider history of colonial extractivism and racial oppression. Nadine Gordimer’s 2005 novel Get a Life critiques this politics of nuclear power and the way in which it extends the logic of colonialism to the exploitation of the non-human ecosystem in the interest of capital. However, the spatial and temporal scale of nuclear colonialism defy representation in discursive knowledge. This is because the threat posed by nuclear contamination, on both the non-human ecosystem and the people who have been exposed to radiation, is what Rob Nixon describes as a form of “slow violence”, dispersed across vast temporal and geographical scales that are unrepresentable within human understanding. In response, Get a Life marks a phenomenological shift in Gordimer’s strategies of engagement: through the ambiguities and contradictions of form, the novel demonstrates the reconfiguration in the human subject’s encounter with the non-human ecosystem following the impact of nuclear technology in neo-imperial contexts. Through the protagonist Paul Bannerman’s emerging radioactivity, the novel tentatively imagines a shared vulnerability of both human and non-human beings to nuclear catastrophe in a way that rejects the binary logic of human exploitation of the non-human landscape and characterizes what Donna Haraway terms “response-ability” towards the non-human. Through this embodied response-ability, Gordimer presents a new idiom that offers an alternative way of engaging with the unrepresentable scale of nuclear colonialism.
A Case Study on the Impact of a Web-Based Animated Storyline Module for Global Health Pedagogy: Student Perspectives
Authors: Ezezika Obidimma , Jarrah Mona
Published: July 2020

This study examined students’ perspectives on the impact of an animated storyline surrounding the Sustainable Developmental Goals. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with students who participated in the storyline to gain insight on its impact on their learning experience. Results suggest that animated storylines can provide students the opportunity to express empathy toward individuals and communities facing global health challenges, recognize their positionality in relation to others living in different circumstances, and can encourage students to retain and apply the knowledge gained to global health projects. Through the results of this study, we illustrate how storylines might be used to enhance global health pedagogy.