bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of vasti morphology on peak sprint cycling power of a human musculoskeletal simulation model
Authors: Bobbert Maarten F. , Casius L. J. Richard , van der Zwaard Stephan , Jaspers Richard T.
Published: December 2019

Fascicle length of m. vastus lateralis in cyclists has been shown to correlate positively with peak sprint cycling power normalized for lean body mass. We investigated whether vasti morphology affects sprint cycling power via force-length and force-velocity relationships. We simulated isokinetic sprint cycling at pedaling rates ranging from 40 to 150 rpm with a forward dynamic model of the human musculoskeletal system actuated by eight leg muscles. Input of the model was muscle stimulation over time, which was optimized to maximize the average power output over a pedal cycle. This was done for a reference model and for models in which the vasti had equal volume but different morphology. It was found that models with longer muscle fibers but a reduced physiological cross-sectional area of the vasti produced a higher sprint cycling power. This was partly explained by better alignment of the peak power-pedaling rate curve of the vasti with the corresponding curves of the other leg muscles. The highest sprint cycling power was achieved in a model in which the increase in muscle fiber length of the vasti was accompanied by a concomitant shift in optimum knee angle. It was concluded that muscle mechanics can partly explain the positive correlations between fascicle length of m. vastus lateralis and normalized peak sprint cycling power. It should be investigated whether muscle fiber length of the vasti and optimum knee angle are suitable training targets for athletes who want to concurrently improve their sprint and endurance cycling performance.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We simulated isokinetic sprint cycling at pedaling rates ranging from 40 to 150 rpm with a forward dynamic model of the human musculoskeletal system actuated by eight leg muscles. We selectively modified vasti morphology: we lengthened the muscle fibers and reduced the physiological cross-sectional area. The modified model was able to produce a higher sprint cycling power.
Multifeature Interactive Fusion Model for Aspect‐Based Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Zeng Biqing , Han Xuli , Zeng Feng , Xu Ruyang , Yang Heng
Published: December 2019

Aspect‐based sentiment analysis (ABSA) is a fine‐grained sentiment analysis technology. In recent years, neural networks are widely used to extract features of aspects and contexts and proven to have a dramatic improvement in retrieving the sentiment feature from comments. However, due to the increasing complexity of comment information, only considering sentence or word features, respectively, may cause the loss of key text information. Besides, characters have more microscopic features, so the fusion of features between three different levels, such as sentences, words, and characters, should be taken into consideration for exploring their internal relationship among different granularities. According to the above analysis, we propose a multifeature interactive fusion model for aspect‐based sentiment analysis. Firstly, the text is divided into two parts: contexts and aspects; then word embedding and character embedding are associated to further explore the potential features. Secondly, to establish a close relationship between contexts and aspects, features fusion of both aspects and contexts are exploited in our model. Moreover, we apply the attention mechanism to calculate fusion weight of features, so that the key features information plays a more significant role in the sentiment analysis. Finally, we experimented on the three datasets of SemEval2014. The results of experiment showed that our model has a better performance compared with the baseline models.
Novel Intelligent Approach for Peak Shear Strength Assessment of Rock Joints on the Basis of the Relevance Vector Machine
Authors: Xia Caichu , Huang Man , Qian Xin , Hong Chenjie , Luo Zhanyou , Du Shigui
Published: December 2019

This study mainly establishes a novel intelligent assessment model for peak shear strength of rock joints based on the relevance vector machine (RVM). RVM is a state‐of‐the‐art soft computing technique that has been rarely utilized in joint shear strength assessment. To establish the hybrid intelligent model, three‐dimensional scanning tests and direct shear tests on 36 granite joint specimens were conducted. The peak shear strength ratio (τp/σn) is perceived as an explanation of four types of influencing factors, including joint surface roughness, strength of rock material, basic friction angle, and normal stress. In particular, the compressive strength and tensile strength of rock material are first considered together. A total of 36 experimental data were used in this study to train the RVM model to predict the peak shear strength of rock joints. The performance of the RVM model was assessed using the direct shear test data of rock joints collected from previous researches. Four different kinds of kernel functions were adopted to obtain the optimal model. Results show that the proposed model is significantly efficient in predicting the peak shear strength of rock joints. The proposed model is also a promising tool for peak shear strength of rock joints and provides a new research approach to research the mechanical properties of rock joints.
Adaptive Multi‐Switching Synchronization of High‐Order Memristor‐Based Hyperchaotic System with Unknown Parameters and Its Application in Secure Communication
Authors: Xiong Zhili , Qu Shaocheng , Luo Jing
Published: December 2019

This article investigates an adaptive multi‐switching synchronization for two identical high‐order memristor‐based hyperchaotic systems with uncertain parameters. Firstly, the dynamic characteristics of two high‐order memristor hyperchaotic systems with uncertain parameters are analyzed. Then, an adaptive multi‐switching controller is designed to realize the multi‐switching synchronization of the two high‐order hyperchaotic systems, and the unknown parameters of the systems are identified to their true values. Furthermore, numerical simulation results testify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Finally, the proposed algorithm applied in secure communication of masking encryption and image encryption is validated by statistical analysis.
High-Performance Anticorrosive Polyester Coatings on Mild Steel in Mixed Acid Mixtures Environments
Authors: Ahmad Bashir , Ahmad Nasir M. , Yasir Muhammad , Khan Zulfiqar A. , Rafiq Sikander
Published: December 2019

Mild steel sample was selected from acid storage tanks used in industry as a substrate, and two advanced technological polymeric resin-based coatings were developed, designated as LAM-P resin based which is LAM-P/FR coating and LAM-V resin based which is LAM-V/FR coating. These coatings were applied over steel samples by using the hand lay-up process. FTIR test was conducted to confirm complete curing, and SEM analyses were used to investigate surface morphology. A series of electrochemical tests were performed in acidic environment (mixed acid solution 56% H2SO4 + 26% HNO3 + 18% H2O by weight). The results indicated successful development of LAM-P/FR and LAM-V/FR to obtain coatings with desirable characteristics such as anticorrosion, thickness, adhesion, stability, charge store and more resistance to acidic environments. EIS data for mixed acid storage media demonstrated that LAM-V/FR coating has higher strength in mixed acid solution, higher values of impedance and phase shift, higher value of Rpore, and low value of Cc; corrosion rate percentage reduction is 96% of LAM-P/FR and 99.96% of LAM-V/FR compared to bare mild steel sample. The outcomes of this study can lead to assist in design guidelines for anticorrosive coating for industrial applications.
Some Curvature Properties on Lorentzian Generalized Sasakian-Space-Forms
Authors: Ma Rongsheng , Pei Donghe
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we investigate the Lorentzian generalized Sasakian-space-form. We give the necessary and sufficient conditions for the Lorentzian generalized Sasakian-space-form to be projectively flat, conformally flat, conharmonically flat, and Ricci semisymmetric and their relationship between each other. As the application of our theorems, we study the Ricci almost soliton on conformally flat Lorentzian generalized Sasakian-space-form.
BuPiHeWei Decoction Ameliorates 5-Fu-Induced Intestinal Mucosal Injury in the Rats by Regulating the TLR-4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Sun Zhi-gao , Hu Ya-zhuo , Wang Yu-guo , Feng Jian , Dou Yong-qi
Published: December 2019

BuPiHeWei (BPHW) decoction, a classic Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) prescription, has been widely used in clinical practice to relieve digestive symptoms caused by chemotherapy, such as diarrhea and vomiting. The present study aimed to investigate whether BPHW decoction exerted a protective role in the 5-Fu-induced intestinal mucosal injury in the rats by regulating the mechanisms of TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway. There were 35 Sprague Dawley rats randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, 5-Fu group, 5-Fu + BPHW decoction group (10.5 g/kg, for five continuous days), and 5-Fu + Bacillus licheniformis capsule group (0.2 g/kg, for five continuous days). Animal models were established by intraperitoneal injection of 5-Fu (30 mg/Kg, for five consecutive days). At the end of the treatment period, body weight, diarrhea score, and histological examination were examined. Furthermore, the expression of TLR-4/NF-κB pathway was detected to reveal its mechanism. The results showed that BPHW decoction effectively reduced diarrhea score and increased body weight and height of villi after 5-Fu chemotherapy. In addition, BPHW decoction could significantly inhibit the expression of TLR-4, NF-κB, and inflammatory factors (including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the intestine, and the efficacy was significantly higher than that of Bacillus licheniformis capsule. In summary, BPHW decoction might be considered an effective drug to alleviate intestinal mucosal injury in the rats induced by 5-Fu.
Preview Tracking Control for Continuous‐Time Singular Interconnected Systems
Authors: Xie Hao , Liao Fucheng , Deng Jiamei
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes and investigates a problem of preview tracking control for a class of continuous‐time singular interconnected systems. Firstly, the related items are deleted to obtain several isolated subsystems with low dimensions. An error system is constructed for each isolated subsystem so that the tracking error is included in the state vector of the error system; then, the tracking problem is transformed into a regulation problem. Secondly, the preview tracking controller is designed for each error system and obtained controllers are combined as the controller of the error system of the singular interconnected system. Thirdly, the Lyapunov function method is utilized to determine the constraints of the related terms so that the closed‐loop system of the error system of the singular interconnected system is stable under the action of the controller obtained. Finally, the preview tracking controller of the singular interconnected system is obtained from the relationship between the error system and the original system. A numerical simulation algorithm for continuous‐time singular systems is also proposed in this paper. The numerical simulation illustrates the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Effect of Moxibustion on Intestinal Microbiome in Acute Gastric Ulcer Rats
Authors: He Qi-da , Huang Miao-sen , Zhang Long-bin , Shen Jia-cheng , Lian Lin-yu , Zhang Yuan , Chen Bao-hua , Liu Cai-chun , Qian Lin-chao , Liu Mi , Yang Zong-bao
Published: December 2019

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), moxibustion had been used for thousands of years. Many clinical case reports and scientific studies had proved that moxibustion had a good effect in treating acute gastric ulcer (AGU). Some studies had shown that the relative content and species of bacteria in the intestinal would be changed when gastric mucosal injury happened. However, there was little research on the effect of intestinal microbiome with AGU rats that were treating by moxibustion. This study is aimed at analyzing the effect of fecal microbiome in rats with AGU by the 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Male SD rats were established by orally feeding once with 70% ethanol at 4 ml/kg except the control group, then treated by moxibustion in the stomach meridian group (“Liangmen,” “Zusanli”) and the gallbladder meridian group (“Riyue,” “Yanglingquan”) for 5 days. The 16S rDNA sequencing technology analysis of feces combined with histopathological methods and molecular biological detection methods was used to evaluate the therapeutic mechanism of moxibustion on AGU. AGU brought cause changes in the number and species of intestinal bacteria. Moxibustion on stomach meridian group could reduce the area of gastric mucosal injury and regulate the relative content of GAS and EGF. Moreover, moxibustion on the stomach meridian group could increase the relative content and species of beneficial bacteria in the intestine of rats with AGU. The relative abundance of intestinal probiotics was significantly upregulated in Alphaproteobacteria, Actinomycetales, and Bacillales. In addition, moxibustion might promote the repair of gastric mucosal injury by increasing the number and species of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.
Postural Stability in Adolescent Girls with Progressive Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Wiernicka Marzena , Kotwicki Tomasz , Kamińska Ewa , Łochyński Dawid , Kozinoga Mateusz , Lewandowski Jacek , Kocur Piotr
Published: December 2019

The aim of this work was to analyze postural stability of girls having progressive form of idiopathic scoliosis and undergoing specific period of the adolescent growth spurt. Twenty-seven girls, aged 13.4 ± 1.2 years, presenting structural idiopathic scoliosis, thoracic or thoracolumbar pattern, radiological Cobb angle 41.7 ± 17.4° (study group) and 37 healthy girls (control group) were included. The groups were sex, age, height, weight, and BMI matched. Postural stability examination was performed using two stabilometric platforms with visual control (eyes open) at three stages: (1) both legs’ stance, (2) left leg stance, and (3) right leg stance. The Center of Pressure (COP) sway path length, the area and the displacement amplitude were compared. For the double stance, no difference in postural stability parameters between the groups was found. However, for the right leg stance, the total sway path length was longer (p=0.04) and the mean amplitude of the lateral COP displacement was increased (p=0.03) in the scoliotic group. In conclusion, for double stance, the adolescent girls with progressive form of idiopathic scoliosis revealed fair postural stability compared to control group. An impaired postural control was observed during right leg stance.
The Aircraft Pose Estimation Based on a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Fu Daoyong , Li Wei , Han Songchen , Zhang Xinyan , Zhan Zhaohuan , Yang Menglong
Published: December 2019

The pose estimation of the aircraft in the airport plays an important role in preventing collisions and constructing the real‐time scene of the airport. However, current airport target surveillance methods regard the aircraft as a point, neglecting the importance of pose estimation. Inspired by human pose estimation, this paper presents an aircraft pose estimation method based on a convolutional neural network through reconstructing the two‐dimensional skeleton of an aircraft. Firstly, the key points of an aircraft and the matching relationship are defined to design a 2D skeleton of an aircraft. Secondly, a convolutional neural network is designed to predict all key points and components of the aircraft kept in the confidence maps and the Correlation Fields, respectively. Thirdly, all key points are coarsely matched based on the matching relationship and then refined through the Correlation Fields. Finally, the 2D skeleton of an aircraft is reconstructed. To overcome the lack of benchmark dataset, the airport surveillance video and Autodesk 3ds Max are utilized to build two datasets. Experiment results show that the proposed method get better performance in terms of accuracy and efficiency compared with other related methods.
Oligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis Slow the Progress of Aging Mice by Regulating the Key Microbiota-Metabolite Pairs
Authors: Xin Yang , Diling Chen , Tianlu Chen , Jun Zhao , Xiaocui Tang , Yinrui Guo , Ou Shuai , Tianming Deng , Guoyan Hu
Published: December 2019

The gut microbiota is considered an important factor in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Active research on the association between the metabolome and the gut microbiome is ongoing and can provide a large amount of beneficial information about the interactions between the microbiome and the metabolome. Previous studies have shown that the oligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis (OMO) can delay the progress of AD in model animals by regulating the diversity of the gut microbiome and metabolic components, and the correlation between the gut microbiome and metabolic components still needs to be further verified. This study applied a new two-level strategy to investigate and ensure the accuracy and consistency of the results. This strategy can be used to determine the association between the gut microbiome and serum metabolome in APP/PS1 transgenic mice and C57BL/6J male mice. The “4C0d-2 spp.-Cholesterol,” “CW040 spp.-L-valine,” “CW040 spp.-L-acetylcarnitine,” “RF39 spp.-L-valine,” “TM7-3 spp.-L-valine,” and “TM7-3 spp.-L-acetylcarnitine” associations among specific “microbiota-metabolite” pairs were further identified based on univariate and multivariate correlation analyses and functional analyses. The key relevant pairs were verified by an independent oligosaccharide intervention study, and the gut microbiome and serum metabolome of the OMO intervention group were similar to those of the normal group. The results indicate that OMO can significantly suppress Alzheimer’s disease by regulating the key microbiota-metabolite pairs. Therefore, this two-level strategy is effective in identifying the principal correlations in large datasets obtained from combinations of multiomic studies and further enhancing our understanding of the correlation between the brain and gut in patients with AD.
Thermal Stabilization of Polyoxymethylene by PEG-Functionalized Hydroxyapatite: Examining the Effects of Reduced Formaldehyde Release and Enhanced Bioactivity
Authors: Król-Morkisz Klaudia , Karaś Ewelina , Majka Tomasz M. , Pielichowski Krzysztof , Pielichowska Kinga
Published: December 2019

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) (HA-g-PEG) of different molar mass was used as a thermal stabilizer to prepare polyoxymethylene (POM) composites by a melt processing method. The chemical and crystalline structure of (HA-g-PEG) and POM/HA-g-PEG composites was investigated by means of FTIR and XRD. The thermal properties, degree of crystallinity, and melting behaviour of POM-based composites were analysed with TG, DSC, and TOPEM DSC methods. The tensile strength, Young’s modulus, toughness, and wettability of POM were investigated as well. A preliminary assessment of bioactivity, in vitro chemical stability, and formaldehyde release from POM/HA-g-PEG composites by Schiff’s test was also performed. An SEM/EDX method was used to observe the morphology of POM/HA-g-PEG composites. The results indicate that the addition of 1% HA-g-PEG slightly increases the melting temperature and degree of crystallinity. In small amounts, HA-g-PEG particles probably act as nucleating agents for the POM crystallization process. Incorporation of 5% HA-g-PEG to POM caused a decrease in the crystallinity of the polymer matrix, as a result, some mechanical properties of POM/HA-g-PEG composites also decreased. The thermal stability of POM/HA-g-PEG composites improved significantly from 309°C for unmodified POM to 342°C for POM/10.0% HA-g-PEG 600. The most effective thermal stabilizer was synthesized with the lowest mass-average molar mass PEG. The in vitro bioactivity test confirmed that, as the average molar mass of PEG in HA-g-PEG hybrids increased, POM-based composites indicated higher bioactivity. The in vitro chemical stability analysis results showed that both the POM matrix and the HA-g-PEG additive remain stable during the whole incubation time. Importantly, after seven days of dynamic incubation, no formaldehyde was detected in all filtrates, which is crucial in biomedical applications, among others.
An Exome Sequencing Study of 10 Families with IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Stapleton Caragh P. , Kennedy Claire , Fennelly Neil K. , Murray Susan L. , Connaughton Dervla M. , Dorman Anthony M. , Doyle Brendan , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. , Conlon Peter J.
Published: December 2019

Background: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a heterogeneous disorder with a strong genetic component. The advent of whole exome sequencing (WES) has accelerated the discovery of genetic risk factors underlying familial disorders. Objectives: We set out to test whether damaging variants in known kidney disease genes explain a proportion of IgAN cases recruited in Ireland. Methods: We performed WES in 10 Irish families with multiple affected members having kidney disease where at least one member had biopsy confirmed IgAN. Candidate variants were identified based on being shared between affected family members, minor allele frequency, function and predicted pathogenicity. Pathogenicity of variants was determined according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Results: We detected candidate variants in 3 of 10 families. We identified a likely pathogenic variant in COL4A5 in one family and a variant of unknown significance (VUS) in COL4A3 in another. Variants in COL4A5 and COL4A3 are known to cause Alport syndrome. In the third family, we identified a VUS in LMX1B, a gene associated with Nail-patella syndrome. Conclusions: We identified a number of cases of familial IgAN where the families harbored variants in known kidney disease-related genes indicating that potentially a number of cases of familial IgAN are mistaken for other familial kidney disorders. However, the majority of families studied did not carry a candidate variant in a known kidney disease causing gene indicating that there may be >1 underlying genetic mechanism present in these families.
The Clinical Spectrum of McCune-Albright Syndrome and Its Management
Authors: Spencer Tiahna , Pan Kristen S. , Collins Michael T. , Boyce Alison M.
Published: December 2019

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare, mosaic disorder presenting along a broad clinical spectrum. Disease arises from somatic-activating GNAS mutations, leading to constitutive Gαs activation and ligand-independent signaling of the Gαs-coupled protein receptor. The phenotype is largely determined by location and extent of tissues in which the GNAS mutation is expressed, as well as the pathophysiologic effects of Gαs activation within these tissues. Patients pre­sent clinically with a variable combination of fibrous dysplasia of bone (FD), café-au-lait skin macules, and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies. In bone, Gαs leads to impaired differentiation of skeletal stem cells and formation of discrete, expansile FD lesions, resulting in fractures, pain, and functional impairment. A systematic approach to diagnosis and management is critically important to optimize outcomes for patients with FD/MAS. There are no medical therapies capable of altering the disease course in FD; however, screening and treatment for endocrinopathies can mitigate some skeletal morbidities. This review summarizes current understanding of MAS pathophysiology, describes the spectrum of clinical features, and includes a detailed discussion of the recommended approach to diagnosis and management.
Novel Model Predicts Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Jiang Shimin , Fang Jinying , Yu Tianyu , Liu Lin , Zou Guming , Gao Hongmei , Zhuo Li , Li Wenge
Published: December 2019

Background: Clinical indicators for accurately distinguishing diabetic nephropathy (DN) from non-diabetic renal disease in type 2 diabetes (T2D) are lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting DN in T2D patients with kidney disease. Methods: A total of 302 consecutive patients with T2D who underwent renal biopsy at China-Japan Friendship Hospital between January 2014 and June 2019 were included in the study. The data were randomly split into a training set containing 70% of the patients (n = 214) and a validation set containing the remaining 30% of patients (n = 88). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to develop a prediction nomogram incorporating the candidates selected in the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model. Discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the prediction model were assessed using a concordance index (C-index), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis. Both internal and external validations were assessed. Results: A multivariable model that included gender, diabetes duration, diabetic retinopathy, hematuria, glycated hemoglobin A1c, anemia, blood pressure, urinary protein excretion, and estimated glomerular filtration rate was represented as the nomogram. The model demonstrated very good discrimination with a C-index of 0.934 (95% CI 0.904–0.964). The calibration plot diagram of predicted probabilities against observed DN rates indicated excellent concordance. The C-index value was 0.91 for internal validation and 0.875 for external validation. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the novel nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion: The novel model was very useful for predicting DN in patients with T2D and kidney disease, and thereby could be used by clinicians either in triage or as a replacement for biopsy.
Au Pays de(s) intégré(s) de Gabriel Kuitche Fonkou : de la problématique de l’intégration belliciste à la reconstruction identitaire
Authors: Ngnintedem Guilioh Merlain Vokeng
Published: December 2019

Le roman de Gabriel Kuitche Fonkou laisse découvrir un univers  manichéen dans lequel interagissent les cultures bamiléké, fang-béti et autres. Dans un tel contexte, l’espace multiculturel devient le théâtre d’un champ de positionnement ; ce qui complexifie la coexistence entre les cultures et les peuples. Cela signifie que l’abolition des distances culturelles ne rend pas toujours faciles la compréhension entre les peuples et les relations entre groupes ethniques.  Au Pays de(s) intégré(s) met en scène les enjeux et logiques identitaires. Ainsi, Kuitche Fonkou révèle le caractère conflictuel et ambivalent de ces lieux identitaires et montre la complexité des relations sociales qui jouent à la croisée des appartenances ethniques et socioéconomiques dans un pays où l’intégration nationale est considérée comme le facteur principal d’unité. En nous servant des trois modèles de sociétés multiculturelles proposées par Lüsebrink  et en prenant appui sur la notion d’ « ethnicisation » théorisée par David Simo, cet article vise à montrer que chez Kuitche Fonkou, l’ethnie est instrumentalisée et devient l’objet principal de la loyauté, le but et le moyen de toute action. Il apparaîtra au final que ce professeur-écrivain camerounais cherche à fabriquer un modèle culturel et identitaire qui brise les barrières ethnico-tribales.
A fantástica encenação da dança macabra medieval em "Le Temps Retrouvé"
Authors: Nogueira Luciana Persice
Published: December 2019

Este artigo propõe abordar a cena do bal de têtes, momento apoteótico do romance Le Temps Retrouvé, de Marcel Proust, como um enclave do gênero fantástico na prosa proustiana. Artifício expressionista do autor para veicular o sentimento de estranhamento diante da passagem do tempo, a recorrência ao fantástico permite impregnar o texto literário de uma estética que mescla elementos da arquitetura gótica, de tendências contemporâneas vanguardistas, e do universo do teatro. Será observada a preparação, por meio de “umbrais” ao longo do tomo, para a cena, e a sequência de personagens secundários que a habitam, e desfilam diante dos olhos do narrador como atroz ciranda de vultos caquéticos, declinados em múltiplas formas de decrepitude. Seu comentário permite evidenciar a construção de uma sucessão de camadas de interpretações de atos e fatos, materializada na velhice de cada qual. Das linhas do excipit do livro depreende-se, circularmente, a inspiração inicial que orientou o projeto de escritura do romance: os estudos medievalistas que informaram o trabalho da tradução de títulos de John Ruskin, e que remetem ao estudo sobre a dança macabra feito por Emile Mâle.
UM CLÁSSICO SOBRE EDUCAÇÃO LITERÁRIA: “O DIREITO À LITERATURA”, DE ANTONIO CANDIDO
Authors: Dalvi Maria Amélia
Published: December 2019

Considerando a indagação sobre o que seria um clássico, a partir de Italo Calvino (2009), e afim à defesa de que entre os objetivos da educação estaria a apropriação dos clássicos, a partir de Demerval Saviani (2003), este estudo: a) justifica o reconhecimento do ensaio “O direito à literatura”, de Antonio Candido, como um clássico; b) destaca a importância desse texto para os estudos em “Educação Literária”; e c) apresenta possibilidades de crítica e reinvenção do seminal ensaio de Antonio Candido. Metodologicamente, retomam-se dados quanti-qualitativos sobre a “onipresença” do ensaio em artigos, dissertações e teses dedicados à educação literária.
LENDO MURILO MENDES NA SALA DE AULA, COM ANTONIO CANDIDO
Authors: Correia Éverton Barbosa
Published: December 2019

Com a primeira publicação em 1985, Na sala de aula é um volume que reúne uma coleção de seis ensaios sobre momentos distintos do desenvolvimento da poesia luso-brasileira sob a escrita de Antonio Candido. Quando o crítico se volta para a apreciação da poesia algo de seus escritos anteriores repercute no seu desempenho, a considerar que teoria e historiografia literárias se fazem modalidades discursivas que constituem o seu ofício. Tomando o último capítulo do volume, no qual a obra de Murilo Mendes é apreciada, intenta-se demonstrar a estratégia de leitura utilizada pelo crítico em larga escala, ainda que restrita à ilustração de um único poema.
Plasma Albumin and Incident Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Ronit Andreas , Kirkegaard-Klitbo Ditte M. , Dohlmann Tine L. , Lundgren Jens , Sabin Caroline A. , Phillips Andrew N. , Nordestgaard Børge G. , Afzal Shoaib
Published: December 2019

Objective:

We studied the association of plasma albumin with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and explored potential mechanisms behind the association in the CGPS (Copenhagen General Population Study). We also performed a meta-analysis to summarize the association between plasma albumin and CVD in individuals without preexisting CVD.

Approach and Results:

We included 100 520 individuals without prior CVD with 8247 incident CVD events developed during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Rates of CVD outcomes were calculated using Cox regression and Fine and Gray competing-risks regression. The association of plasma albumin and CVD was approximately linear and confounder adjustment had little influence on the effect estimates, except for some attenuation after CRP (C-reactive protein) adjustment. In analyses according to subtypes of CVD events, the hazard ratios for each 10 g/L lower plasma albumin were 1.17 (95% CI, 1.08–1.28) for ischemic heart disease, 1.25 (95% CI, 1.09–1.43) for myocardial infarction, 1.37 (95% CI, 1.21–1.54) for any stroke, and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.28–1.68) for ischemic stroke. In the meta-analysis, we combined estimates from prospective and nested case-control studies investigating the association of plasma albumin with CVD. The meta-analysis included 14 studies with 150 652 individuals (12 studies reported events totaling 11 872). The risk ratio for a CVD event per 10 g/L lower plasma albumin was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.43–2.68) in previous studies and 1.85 (95% CI, 1.39–2.47) including our study with 57% weight in the meta-analysis. Exploratory analyses of the mechanism of the association indicated that it was probably not due to fatty acid binding but may be due to the regulation of plasma albumin by inflammation.

Conclusions:

There is a robust, independent association of low plasma albumin with CVD, partly explained by plasma albumin as a negative acute-phase reactant.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=95796
. Unique identifier: CRD42018095796
Longitudinal RNA-Seq Analysis of the Repeatability of Gene Expression and Splicing in Human Platelets Identifies a Platelet
SELP
Splice QTL
Authors: Rondina Matthew T. , Voora Deepak , Simon Lukas M. , Schwertz Hansjörg , Harper Julie F. , Lee Olivia , Bhatlekar Seema C. , Li Qing , Eustes Alicia S. , Montenont Emilie , Campbell Robert A. , Tolley Neal D. , Kosaka Yasuhiro , Weyrich Andrew S. , Bray Paul F. , Rowley Jesse W.
Published: December 2019

Rationale:

Longitudinal studies are required to distinguish within versus between-individual variation and repeatability of gene expression. They are uniquely positioned to decipher genetic signal from environmental noise, with potential application to gene variant and expression studies. However, longitudinal analyses of gene expression in healthy individuals—especially with regards to alternative splicing—are lacking for most primary cell types, including platelets.

Objective:

To assess repeatability of gene expression and splicing in platelets and use repeatability to identify novel platelet expression quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and splice QTLs.

Methods and Results:

We sequenced the transcriptome of platelets isolated repeatedly up to 4 years from healthy individuals. We examined within and between individual variation and repeatability of platelet RNA expression and exon skipping, a readily measured alternative splicing event. We find that platelet gene expression is generally stable between and within-individuals over time—with the exception of a subset of genes enriched for the inflammation gene ontology. We show an enrichment among repeatable genes for associations with heritable traits, including known and novel platelet expression QTLs. Several exon skipping events were also highly repeatable, suggesting heritable patterns of splicing in platelets. One of the most repeatable was exon 14 skipping of
SELP
. Accordingly, we identify rs6128 as a platelet splice QTL and define an rs6128-dependent association between
SELP
exon 14 skipping and race. In vitro experiments demonstrate that this single nucleotide variant directly affects exon 14 skipping and changes the ratio of transmembrane versus soluble P-selectin protein production.

Conclusions:

We conclude that the platelet transcriptome is generally stable over 4 years. We demonstrate the use of repeatability of gene expression and splicing to identify novel platelet expression QTLs and splice QTLs. rs6128 is a platelet splice QTL that alters
SELP
exon 14 skipping and soluble versus transmembrane P-selectin protein production.
Mitochondrial Deacetylase Sirt3 Reduces Vascular Dysfunction and Hypertension While Sirt3 Depletion in Essential Hypertension Is Linked to Vascular Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Dikalova Anna E. , Pandey Arvind , Xiao Liang , Arslanbaeva Liaisan , Sidorova Tatiana , Lopez Marcos G. , Billings Frederic T. , Verdin Eric , Auwerx Johan , Harrison David G. , Dikalov Sergey I.
Published: December 2019

Rationale:

Hypertension represents a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure and affects 30% of the adult population. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to hypertension, but specific mechanisms are unclear. The mitochondrial deacetylase Sirt3 (Sirtuin 3) is critical in the regulation of metabolic and antioxidant functions which are associated with hypertension, and cardiovascular disease risk factors diminish Sirt3 level.

Objective:

We hypothesized that reduced Sirt3 expression contributes to vascular dysfunction in hypertension, but increased Sirt3 protects vascular function and decreases hypertension.

Methods and Results:

To test the therapeutic potential of targeting Sirt3 expression, we developed new transgenic mice with global Sirt3OX (Sirt3 overexpression), which protects from endothelial dysfunction, vascular oxidative stress, and hypertrophy and attenuates Ang II (angiotensin II) and deoxycorticosterone acetate–salt induced hypertension. Global Sirt3 depletion in
Sirt3
−/−
mice results in oxidative stress due to hyperacetylation of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2), increases HIF1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1), reduces endothelial cadherin, stimulates vascular hypertrophy, increases vascular permeability and vascular inflammation (p65, caspase 1, VCAM [vascular cell adhesion molecule-1], ICAM [intercellular adhesion molecule-1], and MCP1 [monocyte chemoattractant protein 1]), increases inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidney, reduces telomerase expression, and accelerates vascular senescence and age-dependent hypertension; conversely, increased Sirt3 expression in Sirt3OX mice prevents these deleterious effects. The clinical relevance of Sirt3 depletion was confirmed in arterioles from human mediastinal fat in patients with essential hypertension showing a 40% decrease in vascular Sirt3, coupled with Sirt3-dependent 3-fold increases in SOD2 acetylation, NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) activity, VCAM, ICAM, and MCP1 levels in hypertensive subjects compared with normotensive subjects.

Conclusions:

We suggest that Sirt3 depletion in hypertension promotes endothelial dysfunction, vascular hypertrophy, vascular inflammation, and end-organ damage. Our data support a therapeutic potential of targeting Sirt3 expression in vascular dysfunction and hypertension.
Myocardial Effects of Aldosterone Antagonism in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: McDiarmid Adam K. , Swoboda Peter P. , Erhayiem Bara , Bounford Katrina A. , Bijsterveld Petra , Tyndall Keith , Fent Graham J. , Garg Pankaj , Dobson Laura E. , Musa Tarique A. , Foley James R. J. , Witte Klaus K. , Kearney Mark T. , Greenwood John P. , Plein Sven
Published: December 2019

Background

Spironolactone may have prognostic benefit in selected patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This study assessed the myocardial tissue effects of spironolactone in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Methods and Results

A 1:1 randomized controlled study of 6 months of spironolactone versus control in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The primary outcome was change in myocardial extracellular volume fraction by cardiovascular magnetic resonance as a surrogate of diffuse fibrosis. Of 55 randomized patients, 40 (20 women; age, 75.2±5.9 years) completed follow‐up (19 treatment, 21 control). A significant change in extracellular volume over the study period was not seen (treatment, 28.7±3.7% versus 27.7±3.4% [
P
=0.14]; controls, 27.6±3.4% versus 28.3±4.4% [
P
=0.14]); however, the rate of extracellular volume expansion was decreased by spironolactone (−1.0±2.4% versus 0.8±2.2%). Indexed left ventricular mass decreased with treatment (104.4±26.6 versus 94.0±20.6 g/m
2
;
P
=0.001) but not in controls (101.4±29.4 versus 104.0±32.8 g/m
2
;
P
=0.111). Extracellular mass decreased by 13.8% (15.1±4.8 versus 13.0±3.4 g/m
2
;
P
=0.003), and cellular mass decreased by 8.3% (37.6±10.0 versus 34.3±7.9 g/m
2
;
P
=0.001) with spironolactone, but was static in controls.

Conclusions

Spironolactone did not lead to significant change in extracellular volume. However, spironolactone did decrease rate of extracellular expansion, with a decrease in the mass of both cellular and extracellular myocardial compartments. These data point to the mechanism of action of spironolactone in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, including a direct tissue effect with a reduction in rate of myocardial fibrosis.
Cross-species testing of nuclear markers in Pelophylax water frogs in Greece and examination of their power to detect genetic admixture
Authors: Sagonas Kostas , Karameta Emmanouela , Kotsakiozi Panayiota , Poulakakis Nikos
Published: December 2019

The genus Pelophylax has been considered a model organism for understanding hybridization. Despite being the most diverse within the Western Palearctic group of Pelophylax, the ridibundus/bedriagae lineage that includes six species, remains largely understudied, revealing many knowledge gaps in regards to their evolution and conservation. Using genetic data from populations among species inhabiting contact zones could prove vital in filling these gaps. We tested 17 microsatellite markers for cross-species amplification in mainland Pelophylax species distributed in southern Balkans and evaluated their power to successfully detect population/species structure. Importantly, we examined their potential for identifying hybrids and backcrosses between known hybridized species. We detected 12 highly polymorphic loci that cross-amplified all species that showed no significant Linkage Disequilibrium and were able to discriminate among species and between parental and hybrids. We suggest their future use in genetic studies for the genus Pelophylax in Greece, including the identification of contact zones.
Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities for IGO-Like Entities
Authors: Lapaš Davorin
Published: December 2019

Contemporary international relations have resulted not only in the establishment of intergovernmental organizations (‘IGOs’), but also in the emergence of certain IGO-like entities which are entering into ‘diplomatic-like’ relations with states, characterised by privileges and immunities similar to those provided under classic diplomatic law. This paper analyses such diplomatic-like relations between states and a number of these IGO-like entities primarily in relation to so-called ‘trans-governmental organizations’ (‘TGOs)’. In addition, organizations composed of formally non-state entities, but with an undoubtedly public purpose, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (‘ICRC’) or the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (‘IFRC’), as well as other so-called ‘advanced’ non-governmental organizations (‘NGOs’), will also be discussed due to their participation in legally regulated international, diplomatic-like relations with states and IGOs.
The Rise of Memory Laws in Poland
Authors: Belavusau Uladzislau
Published: December 2019

This article focuses on the growing body of Polish memory laws, including the 2016 ‘Street De-Communization’ Law and the 2018 Law on historical expression that introduced changes to the Act of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance. The analysis zooms in on, in particular, the often-overlooked component of the 2018 Law that requires the investigation of historical crimes of ‘Ukrainian nationalists’, as well as the wider context of ‘memory wars’ through memory laws in Central and Eastern Europe. The examination concludes that there is a discrepancy between the rationale to adopt this legislation in Poland, namely to counteract historical disinformation, and the legal solutions contained in the 2018 Law.
World Heritage, Secularisation, and the New “Public Sacred” in East Asia
Authors: Rots Aike P.
Published: December 2019

The category “heritage” is quickly gaining importance for the study of religion, not least in East Asia. Since the 1990s, Japanese governments, entrepreneurs, and NGO s have invested heavily in heritage preservation, production, and promotion, and other East Asian countries have followed suit. UNESCO recognition is sought after by various state and private actors, who see it as a useful tool for validating and popularising select historical narratives and for acquiring national and international legitimacy. These developments have led to far-reaching transformations in worship sites and ritual practices. Drawing on recent Japanese examples, and comparing these to cases elsewhere in the region, this article constitutes a first step towards a theory of the heritagisation of religion in East Asia. It argues that the heritagisation of worship sites often entails a process of deprivatisation, turning them into public properties that are simultaneously secular and sacred. The article distinguishes between three patterns, which many worship sites and ritual practices that have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage or Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, in Japan and beyond, follow: 1) heritage-making constitutes a type of secularisation, 2) it gives rise to new processes of sacralisation, and 3) this enables mass tourism that can lead to far-reaching transformations. Focusing on the first two patterns, the article shows how heritage-making leads to the reconfiguration of sites and practices as national, public, and secular sacred properties.
The Reasons of Social Change and the Role of Mentoring Therein; Its Methods and Contexts from a Qur’anic Perspective (أسباب التغيير الاجتماعي ودور التربية فيه، أساليبها وميادينها من منظور قرآني)
Authors: Haracic Nedim , Yusoff M. Y. Zulkifli Mohd
Published: December 2019

Social change is considered to be a continuous process that occurs within specific laws and causes in accordance to its comprehensiveness, profoundness, and context of occurrence. Change may occur within the human self, which is considered the starting point of changing society as a whole. Change may also occur within a specific social class, which may experience change at the root, or a change of rule in accordance with the laws of recurrence, conflict, or consecutive observation, while it may be global change. All forms of change are subject to the laws set by the Creator, as He made for each type of change its own reasons, which may be numerous and complicated. However, the most powerful side usually relates to the role of humans, who may make it good and positive, or bad and negative. Mentoring and education are among the most important ways through which change can be made. The essence of what the Qur’an advocates as a whole is to mentor people and to educate them, and to advocate positive change. The Qur’anic method of change is, at essence, that of mentoring by applying various methods in specific contexts.
God’s Seduction in Heaven and the Turning Point in Satan’s Character: The Qurʾanic Perspective
Authors: Zarasi Mohammad , Kanani Iman , Ramchahi Abdollatif Ahmadi
Published: December 2019

This article examines what can be learnt from the Qurʾanic dialogue between Allah and Iblīs (Satan), focusing on both the conceptual framework and the events that occurred. The verses in which the angels and Iblīs were commanded to bow down to Adam, the latter’s refusal, Allah’s questioning as to the disobedience of Iblīs, the response and subsequent expulsion of Iblīs from heaven, his request for respite and its approval, his promises of revenge, and the ultimate fate of Iblīs are all examined. The study suggests that the dialogue between Allah and Iblīs was a key turning point in human history and determined fundamental aspects of life. Iblīs’ transformation into a vengeful enemy of man is the central event of this dialogue, and his character was completely changed at this point.