bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time to Resolution of Triggering after Steroid Injection for First Presentation Trigger Digits
Authors: Yak Ryan Siqi , Lundin Anna-Carin , Tay Poi Hoon , Chong Alphonsus KS. , Sebastin Sandeep Jacob
Published: April 2020

Background: Steroid injection is a proven treatment for trigger digits. The time taken for resolution of triggering following an injection is a question often asked by patients and one that has not been adequately addressed in existing literature. The aim of this study was to determine the time taken for triggering to resolve after a single steroid injection in patients presenting for the first time with a trigger digit.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in patients with first presentation of a grade II or grade III trigger digit(s) that received a steroid injection. Data with regards to age, gender, digit(s) involved, duration of symptoms, trigger grade, and presence of diabetes were collected. They were given a stamped addressed postcard with instructions to fill in the date that the triggering resolved and mail the postcard back to us. If the postcard was not received at three weeks, we contacted the patient by telephone to ask for the date of resolution of trigger.

Results: 56 patients with 66 trigger digits were included in the study. 52 out of 66 digits (79%) had resolution of the trigger at one month. The mean duration for resolution of trigger was 8.8 days (range 1–30 days).

Conclusions: Patients can be counselled that a steroid injection is effective in resolving the trigger in 79% of trigger digits presenting for the first time and that the mean time taken for resolution of triggering is 8.8 days. It is recommended to wait for at least one month before considering another injection or alternative treatments.
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at Elbow in an Adult Patient with Macrodactyly
Authors: Tolerton Sarah K. , Sinisi Marco , O’Donnell Paul , Horwitz Maxim D.
Published: April 2020

We describe a case of an adult patient presenting with cubital tunnel syndrome in the setting of previously undiagnosed macrodactyly. Early diagnosis and management of macrodactyly is important to help prevent symptoms associated with compromised peripheral nerves and reduce the likelihood of the permanent motor and sensory sequelae of prolonged nerve compression.
Under-explored plays and frontier basins of the UK continental shelf (UKCS)
Authors: Bagguley Jo
Published: April 2020

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Under-explored plays and frontier basins of the UK continental shelf collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/under-explored-plays-and-frontier-basins-of-the-uk-continental-shelf
Deaf Anthropology
Authors: Friedner Michele , Kusters Annelies
Published: April 2020

Deaf anthropology is a field that exists in conversation with but is not reducible to the interdisciplinary field of deaf studies. Deaf anthropology is predicated upon a commitment to understanding deafnesses across time and space while holding on to “deaf” as a category that does something socially, politically, morally, and methodologically. In doing so, deaf anthropology moves beyond compartmentalizing the body, the senses, and disciplinary boundaries. We analyze the close relationship between anthropology writ large and deaf studies: Deaf studies scholars have found analytics and categories from anthropology, such as the concept of culture, to be productive in analyzing deaf peoples’ experiences and the sociocultural meanings of deafness. As we note, however, scholarship on deaf peoples’ experiences is increasingly variegated. This review is arranged into four overlapping sections titled Socialities and Similitudes; Mobilities, Spaces, and Networks; Modalities and the Sensorium; and Technologies and Futures.
Evolving the Materials Genome: How Machine Learning Is Fueling the Next Generation of Materials Discovery
Authors: Suh Changwon , Fare Clyde , Warren James A. , Pyzer-Knapp Edward O.
Published: April 2020

Machine learning, applied to chemical and materials data, is transforming the field of materials discovery and design, yet significant work is still required to fully take advantage of machine learning algorithms, tools, and methods. Here, we review the accomplishments to date of the community and assess the maturity of state-of-the-art, data-intensive research activities that combine perspectives from materials science and chemistry. We focus on three major themes—learning to see, learning to estimate, and learning to search materials—to show how advanced computational learning technologies are rapidly and successfully used to solve materials and chemistry problems. Additionally, we discuss a clear path toward a future where data-driven approaches to materials discovery and design are standard practice.
What Do Platforms Do? Understanding the Gig Economy
Authors: Vallas Steven , Schor Juliet B.
Published: April 2020

The rapid growth of the platform economy has provoked scholarly discussion of its consequences for the nature of work and employment. We identify four major themes in the literature on platform work and the underlying metaphors associated with each. Platforms are seen as entrepreneurial incubators, digital cages, accelerants of precarity, and chameleons adapting to their environments. Each of these devices has limitations, which leads us to introduce an alternative image of platforms: as permissive potentates that externalize responsibility and control over economic transactions while still exercising concentrated power. As a consequence, platforms represent a distinct type of governance mechanism, different from markets, hierarchies, or networks, and therefore pose a unique set of problems for regulators, workers, and their competitors in the conventional economy. Reflecting the instability of the platform structure, struggles over regulatory regimes are dynamic and difficult to predict, but they are sure to gain in prominence as the platform economy grows.
Modeling of Dynamic Hysteresis Characters for the Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: He Yongling , He Rong , Guo Bin , Zhang Zhengjie , Yang Shichun , Liu Xinhua , Zhao Xichang , Pan Yuwei , Yan Xiaoyu , Li Shen
Published: April 2020

The strategies of battery management system (BMS) rely heavily on sets of models to represent the lithium-ion batteries. However, the hysteresis voltage response of the batteries, which is mainly caused by the polarization of the electrodes, will inevitably have influence on the accuracy and real-time performance of the model’s SOC-OCV curve, more or less. In this work, a dynamic Prandtl–Ishlinskii model is established to present a certain magnitude of hysteresis regarding not only the major OCV boundaries but also the different minor loops of partial charge and discharge. The relationship between SOC and hysteresis behavior of the battery’s voltage is investigated through a self-designed pulsed-current test over a range of operating temperatures. Finally, the dynamic performance of the model is verified by the results obtained from the electric vehicle under dynamic driving cycle. The proposed model can significantly improve the accuracy of the model based SOC estimator as well as the robustness in terms of initial voltage error and current error.
The Application of Artificial Neural Networks and Logistic Regression in the Evaluation of Risk for Dry Eye after Vitrectomy
Authors: Yang Wan-Ju , Wu Li , Mei Zhong-Ming , Xiang Yi
Published: April 2020

Supervised machine-learning (ML) models were employed to predict the occurrence of dry eye disease (DED) after vitrectomy in this study. The clinical data of 217 patients receiving vitrectomy from April 2017 to July 2018 were used as training dataset; the clinical data of 33 patients receiving vitrectomy from August 2018 to September 2018 were collected as validating dataset. The input features for ML training were selected based on the Delphi method and univariate logistic regression (LR). LR and artificial neural network (ANN) models were trained and subsequently used to predict the occurrence of DED in patients who underwent vitrectomy for the first time during the period. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the ML models. The AUCs with use of the LR and ANN models were 0.741 and 0.786, respectively, suggesting satisfactory performance in predicting the occurrence of DED. When the two models were compared in terms of predictive power, the fitting effect of the ANN model was slightly superior to that of the LR model. In conclusion, both LR and ANN models may be used to accurately predict the occurrence of DED after vitrectomy.
Active Fault Tolerance Control Based on Consistent Matrix for Multimotor Synchronous System
Authors: Mao Haijie , Li Wei , Feng Xiaolin , Zhang Haochuan
Published: April 2020

This paper presents an active fault-tolerant method to mitigate sensor failures in multimotor synchronous control. First, inspired by the construction of the coupling matrix in complex network synchronous output, a consistent matrix is designed based on structural redundancy in synchronous control. This consistent matrix has two advantages: one is that it can reflect different sensor output similarities and the other one is that it can detect, locate, and estimate the sensor fault. Then, the fault information is integrated into the design of tolerance control with an improved mean feedback mechanism. The proposed method is suitable for both single and multiple fault situations, and its effectiveness is finally verified by both MATLAB simulation and the ABB semiphysical experimental platform.
Prediction of Unconfined Compression Strength for Saline‐Alkaline Soils Mixed with Cement and Wheat Straw
Authors: Xing Guoqi , Liu Changjiang , Xuan Wei , Pan Yueyue , Zhang Bing , Zhao Yue
Published: April 2020

A series of unconfined compression tests were performed to investigate the influence of wheat straws on the unconfined compression strength for saline‐alkaline soils and saline‐alkaline soils mixed with cement. In unconfined compression tests, 20 groups of soil specimens were prepared at five different percentages of wheat straws content (i.e., 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.25% by weight of saline‐alkaline soils) and four different percentages of cement content (i.e., 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% by weight of saline‐alkaline soils), and unconfined compression tests were carried out after 3‐, 7‐, 14‐, 28‐, and 56‐day curing periods. Test results indicated that the inclusion of wheat straws within saline‐alkaline soils and saline‐alkaline soils mixed with cement leads to an increase in the unconfined compressive strength of specimens and also changed the brittle behavior to a more ductile one for specimens. In addition, based on the results from unconfined compression tests, a formula for predicting the unconfined compression strength of specimens related to cement content, wheat straw content, curing periods, etc., was determined, and comparing with the results from unconfined compression tests, it had higher precision in predicting the unconfined compression strength of specimens.
Analysis of Factors Affecting a Driver’s Driving Speed Selection in Low Illumination
Authors: Liu Jing , Cai Jing , Lin Shanshan , Zhao Jianyou
Published: April 2020

To better understand a driver’s driving speed selection behaviour in low illumination, a self-designed questionnaire was applied to investigate driving ability in low illumination, and the influencing factors of low-illumination driving speed selection behaviour were discussed from the driver’s perspective. The reliability and validity of 243 questionnaires were tested, and multiple linear regression was used to analyse the comprehensive influence of demographic variables, driving speed in a low-illumination environment with street lights and driving ability on speed selection behaviour in low illumination without street lights. Pearson’s correlation test showed that there was no correlation among age, education, accidents in the past 3 years, and speed selection behaviour in low illumination, but gender, driving experience, number of night-driving days per week, and average annual mileage were significantly correlated with speed selection behaviour. In a low-illumination environment, driving ability has a significant influence on a driver’s speed selection behaviour. Technical driving ability under low-illumination conditions of street lights has the greatest influence on speed selection behaviour on a road with a speed limit of 120 km/h (β = 0.51). Risk perception ability has a significant negative impact on speed selection behaviour on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h and 120 km/h (β = −0.25 and β = −0.34, respectively). Driving speed in night-driving environment with street lights also has a positive influence on speed selection behaviour in low illumination (β = 0.61; β = 0.28; β = 0.37).
Multimodal α‐Glucosidase and α‐Amylase Inhibition and Antioxidant Effect of the Aqueous and Methanol Extracts from the Trunk Bark of Ceiba pentandra
Authors: Nguelefack Telesphore Benoit , Fofie Christian Kuete , Nguelefack-Mbuyo Elvine Pami , Wuyt Adeline Kaptue
Published: April 2020

Postprandial hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are important factors that worsen the health condition of patients with type 2 diabetes. We recently showed that extracts from Ceiba pentandra mitigate hyperglycemia in dexamethasone‐ and high diet/streptozotocin‐induced diabetes. Herein, we evaluated the postprandial regulatory properties and the antioxidant effects of the aqueous (AE) and methanol (ME) extracts from the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra. The phytochemical analysis of AE and ME was performed using the LC‐MS technique and the total phenolic and flavonoid assays. Both extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit superoxide anion (O2•ـ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), protein oxidation, alpha‐amylase, and alpha‐glucosidase activities. The mode of enzyme inhibition was also determined in a kinetic study. AE and ME were both rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. ME was 2.13 and 1.91 times more concentrated than AE in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, respectively. LC‐MS allowed the identification of 5 compounds in both extracts. ME and AE inhibited O2•ـ with IC50 of 51.81 and 34.26 μg/ml, respectively. On H2O2, they exhibited IC50 of 44.84 and 1.78 μg/ml, respectively. Finally, they exhibited IC50 of 120.60 and 140.40 μg/ml, respectively, in the inhibition of protein oxidation induced by H2O2, while showing IC50 of 39.26 and 97.95 μg/ml on the protein oxidation induced by AAPH. ME and AE inhibited alpha‐amylase with IC50 of 6.15 and 54.52 μg/ml, respectively. These extracts also inhibited alpha‐glucosidase, demonstrating IC50 of 76.61 and 86.49 μg/ml. AE exhibited a mixed noncompetitive inhibition on both enzymes, whereas ME exhibited a competitive inhibition on α‐amylase and a pure noncompetitive inhibition on α‐glucosidase. These results demonstrate that ME and AE scavenge reactive oxygen species and prevent their effects on biomolecules. Besides, ME and AE inhibit carbohydrate digestive enzymes. These properties may contribute to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia and regulate glycemia in diabetic patients.
Computational Evaluation of Surgical Design for Multisegmental Complex Congenital Tracheal Stenosis
Authors: Zhu Limin , Gong Xiaolei , Liu Jinlong , Li Youjin , Zhong Yumin , Shen Juanya , Xu Zhuoming
Published: April 2020

Multisegmental complex congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is an uncommon but potentially life‐threatening malformation of the airway. Staged surgery is indicated for the complex pathophysiology of the abnormal trachea. Surgical intervention to fix the stenotic segments may result in different postoperative outcomes. However, only few studies reported the design of surgical correction for multisegmental CTS. We used computer‐aided design (CAD) to simulate surgical correction under different schemes to develop a patient‐specific tracheal model with two segmental stenoses. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to compare the outcomes of different designs. Aerodynamic parameters of the trachea were evaluated. An obvious interaction was found between the two segments of stenosis in different surgical designs. The surgical corrective order of stenotic segments greatly affected the aerodynamic parameters and turbulence flows downstream of tracheal stenosis and upstream of the bronchus. Patient‐specific studies using CAD and CFD minimize the risk of staged surgical correction and facilitate quantitative evaluation of surgical design for multiple segments of complex CTS.
Emergency Transportation Problem Based on Single-Valued Neutrosophic Set
Authors: Lu Lin , Luo Xiaochun
Published: April 2020

Emergency events are full of large number of uncertain information. The existence of these uncertain information leads to less research on emergency logistics involving transshipment scenarios. In this paper, a new emergency transport model is proposed, which simulates the scenario of emergency transport from the logistics center to each disaster site and between each disaster site. The single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) is applied to transform the emergency transshipment problem into a multiattribute decision-making problem in ambiguous and uncertain environments. Technology for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is extended to the single-valued neutrosophic environment to rank and optimize the alternative transshipment routes. Firstly, the attribute weight is determined by using the entropy weight method; secondly, the scoring function of the single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy number is defined; thirdly, the TOPSIS method is used to rank the decision-making; finally, the feasibility and rationality of the proposed method are verified by an emergency operation example.
Enhanced Wound Healing- and Inflammasome-Associated Gene Expression in TNFAIP3-Interacting Protein 1- (TNIP1-) Deficient HaCaT Keratinocytes Parallels Reduced Reepithelialization
Authors: Shamilov Rambon , Ackley Tyler W. , Aneskievich Brian J.
Published: April 2020

TNIP1 protein is a widely expressed, cytoplasmic inhibitor of inflammatory signaling initiated by membrane receptors such as TLRs which recognize pathogen-associated and damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs). Keratinocyte TNIP1 deficiency sensitizes cells to PAMPs and DAMPs promoting hyperresponsive expression and secretion of cytokine markers (e.g., IL-8 and IL-6) relevant to cases of chronic inflammation, like psoriasis, where TNIP1 deficiency has been reported. Here, we examined the impact of TNIP1 deficiency on gene expression and cellular responses (migration and viability) relevant to acute inflammation as typically occurs in wound healing. Using siRNA-mediated TNIP1 expression knockdown in cultured HaCaT keratinocytes, we investigated TNIP1 deficiency effects on signaling downstream of TLR3 agonism with low-concentration poly (I:C), a representative PAMP/DAMP. The combination of TNIP1 knockdown and PAMP/DAMP signaling disrupted expression of specific keratinocyte differentiation markers (e.g., transglutaminase 1 and involucrin). These same conditions promoted synergistically increased expression of wound-associated markers (e.g., S100A8, TGFβ, and CCN2) suggesting potential benefit of increased inflammatory response from reduced TNIP1 protein. Unexpectedly, poly (I:C) challenge of TNIP1-deficient cells restricted reepithelialization and reduced cell viability. In these cells, there was not only increased expression for genes associated with inflammasome assembly (e.g., ASC, procaspase 1) but also for A20, a TNIP1 partner protein that represses cell-death signaling. Despite this possibly compensatory increase in A20 mRNA, there was a decrease in phospho-A20 protein, the form necessary for quenching inflammation. Hyperresponsiveness to poly (I:C) in TNIP1-deficient keratinocytes was in part mediated through p38 and JNK pathways. Taken together, we conclude that TNIP1 deficiency promotes enhanced expression of factors associated with promoting wound healing. However, the coupled, increased potential priming of the inflammasome and reduced compensatory activity of A20 has a net negative effect on overall cell recovery potential manifested by poor reepithelialization and viability. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized role for TNIP1 protein in limiting inflammation during successful progression through early wound healing stages.
Cooperative Innovation in the Medical Supply Chain Based on User Feedback
Authors: Chen Ran , Hou Gui-sheng , Wang Yu
Published: April 2020

Given the importance of users in medical innovation, positive user participation can boost the cooperative innovation process within the medical supply chain. A stochastic differential model based on user feedback is proposed to study the relationship between user feedback and the medical supply chain. The stability and sensitivity of the medical supply chain is analysed through different parameters. The results show that the effect of patient feedback and suggestions from hospitals on the innovation level of medical services and medical products is positive, such that the impact of the innovation level of medical services on users and the effect of patient feedback are positively related to marginal profits and that cooperative innovation is beneficial for medical product and service innovation and the improvement of demand and profits.
Viral Load Suppression after Enhanced Adherence Counseling and Its Predictors among High Viral Load HIV Seropositive People in North Wollo Zone Public Hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia, 2019: Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Diress Gedefaw , Dagne Samuel , Alemnew Birhan , Adane Seteamlak , Addisu Amanuel
Published: April 2020

Background. The World Health Organization currently encourages enhanced adherence counseling for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive people with a high viral load count before a treatment switch to the second-line regimen, yet little is known about viral load suppression after the outcome of enhanced adherence counseling. Therefore, this study aimed to assess viral suppression after enhanced adherence counseling sessions and its predictors among high viral load HIV seropositive people.Methods. Institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 235 randomly selected HIV seropositive people who were on ART and had a high viral load (>1000 copies/ml) from June 2016 to January 2019. The proportion of viral load suppression after enhanced adherence counseling was determined. Time to completion of counseling sessions and time to second viral load tests were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier curve. Log binomial regression was used to identify predictors of viral re-suppression after enhanced adherence counseling sessions.Result. The overall viral load suppression after enhanced adherence counseling was 66.4% (60.0–72.4). The median time to start adherence counseling session after high viral load detected date was 8 weeks (IQR 4–8 weeks), and the median time to complete the counseling session was 13 weeks (IQR 8–25 weeks). The probability of viral load suppression was higher among females (ARR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.02–1.19) and higher educational status (ARR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.25–2.16). The probability of viral load suppression was lower among people who had 36–59 months duration on ART (ARR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.130–0.9491) and people who had > 10,000 baseline viral load count (ARR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.28–0.71).Conclusion. This study showed that viral suppression after enhanced adherence counseling was near to the WHO target (70%) but highlights gaps in time to enrolment into counseling session, timely completion of counseling session, and repeat viral load testing after completing the session.
Analysis of Coupled System of Implicit Fractional Differential Equations Involving Katugampola–Caputo Fractional Derivative
Authors: Ahmad Manzoor , Jiang Jiqiang , Zada Akbar , Shah Syed Omar , Xu Jiafa
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we study the existence and uniqueness of solutions to implicit the coupled fractional differential system with the Katugampola–Caputo fractional derivative. Different fixed-point theorems are used to acquire the required results. Moreover, we derive some sufficient conditions to guarantee that the solutions to our considered system are Hyers–Ulam stable. We also provided an example that explains our results.
The Adverse Impact of Glaucoma on Psychological Function and Daily Physical Activity
Authors: Huang Wenbin , Gao Kai , Liu Yaoming , Liang Mengyin , Zhang Xiulan
Published: April 2020

Purpose. To evaluate the impact of glaucoma on vision-related quality of life and physical activity. Methods. This study included 50 glaucoma patients and 50 healthy control subjects. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from all subjects. A Chinese version of the NEI VFQ-25 was used to evaluate the quality of life. Objective physical activity was assessed by wearing an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Results. No significant difference was found in sociodemographic data between the two groups (all p<0.05). Visual acuity and visual field scores were worse in the glaucoma group than in the control group (all p<0.001). The VFQ-25 scores indicated significantly lower scores for ocular pain, social function, mental health, role difficulties, and color vision in the glaucoma group than in the normal group (all p<0.05). The average daily step count was lower in the glaucoma group than in the normal group. High, moderate, and low average daily step counts in the glaucoma group were associated with early-, moderate-, and advanced-stage glaucoma, respectively, while the step count was significantly lower in the advanced-stage glaucoma group than in the control group p=0.037. A positive relationship was found between the average daily step count and social function and mental health (both p<0.05). Conclusions. We demonstrated an adverse impact of glaucoma on psychological function and daily physical activity. Social function and mental health showed declines in glaucoma patients, and physical activity was limited in patients with advanced-stage glaucoma.
Urinary Tract Infections among Indonesian Pregnant Women and Its Susceptibility Pattern
Authors: Rosana Yeva , Ocviyanti Dwiana , Halim Melissa , Harlinda Friza Yossy , Amran Rahmah , Akbar Wafridha , Billy Matthew , Akhmad Syadza Rhizky Putri
Published: April 2020

Pregnant women are usually at risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) such as asymptomatic bacteriuria. In the current multidrug-resistance era, appropriate diagnosis and treatment should be provided to avoid complications in pregnant women in developing countries, which have limited facilities, such as Indonesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro susceptibility tests. Urinary isolates were collected from 715 pregnant women who visited eight Community Health Centers in Jakarta, Indonesia, between 2015 and 2017. We identified bacterial uropathogens from samples that were positive for nitrite/leukocyte esterase (LE), using two types of VITEK cards. Since noncompliance among patients is a major problem, fosfomycin-trometamol 3 g single-dose sachets were given to the patients, and the side effects of the medication and neonatal outcomes were reported. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 10.5% of the 715 pregnant women. Escherichia coli was the most common etiological factor (26.7%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%), Streptococcus agalactiae (9.3%), Enterobacter cloacae (5.3%), Enterococcus faecalis (5.3%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (4%), Acinetobacter baumannii (4%), and others. Out of 76 pregnant women who took fosfomycin-trometamol, two complained of diarrhea that subsided without medication and fever that responded to paracetamol. Neonatal outcomes showed 100% full-term and normal-weight babies. E. coli, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing E. coli, was 100% susceptible to fosfomycin. Nitrite/LE test results are often used as evidence for empiric antibiotic administration for treating asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy, but the diagnosis should be confirmed using culture tests. Based on in vitro susceptibility patterns and medication outcomes, fosfomycin-trometamol single dose could be administered to noncompliant UTI patients, including pregnant women.
C-reactive Protein and Future Risk of Clinical and Molecular Subtypes of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Bodén Stina , Myte Robin , Harbs Justin , Sundkvist Anneli , Zingmark Carl , Löfgren Burström Anna , Palmqvist Richard , Harlid Sophia , Van Guelpen Bethany
Published: April 2020

Background:

Inflammation has been implicated in colorectal cancer etiology, but the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and colorectal cancer risk is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between prediagnostic plasma CRP concentrations and the risk of clinical and molecular colorectal cancer subtypes.

Methods:

We used prospectively collected samples from 1,010 matched colorectal cancer case–control pairs from two population-based cohorts in Northern Sweden, including 259 with repeated samples. Conditional logistic regression and linear mixed models were used to estimate relative risks of colorectal cancer, including subtypes based on BRAF and KRAS mutations, microsatellite instability status, tumor location, stage, lag time, and (using unconditional logistic regression) body mass index.

Results:

CRP was not associated with colorectal cancer risk, regardless of clinical or molecular colorectal cancer subtype. For participants with advanced tumors and blood samples <5 years before diagnosis, CRP was associated with higher risk [OR per 1 unit increase in natural logarithm (ln) transformed CRP, 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.73]. CRP levels increased over time, but average time trajectories were similar for cases and controls (Pinteraction = 0.19).

Conclusions:

Our results do not support intertumoral heterogeneity as an explanation for previous inconsistent findings regarding the role of CRP in colorectal cancer etiology. The possible association in the subgroup with advanced tumors and shorter follow-up likely reflects undiagnosed cancer at baseline.

Impact:

Future efforts to establish the putative role of chronic, low-grade inflammation in colorectal cancer development will need to address the complex relationship between systemic inflammatory factors and tumor microenvironment, and might consider larger biomarker panels than CRP alone.
Are Immunohistochemical Markers Useful in Phenotypic Gastric Cancer Classification?
Authors: Di Pinto Federica , Armentano Raffaele , Arborea Graziana , Schena Nicolò , Donghia Rossella , Valentini Anna Maria
Published: April 2020

To identify useful markers for prognostic and therapeutic purposes, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) provided a molecular classification of gastric cancers (GCs). Previous studies have used immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) to define immunophenotypic surrogate markers of the molecular alterations. Some critical issues concerning the correct definition of immunophenotypic groups have emerged in these studies that employed tissue microarrays (TMAs). We performed an immunophenotypic classification by evaluating MLH1, p53, HER2, E-cadherin, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) on the whole section of the surgical GC samples compared to most of the studies conducted on TMAs. We also investigated the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1, a known therapeutic target. We identified the following immunophenotypic groups: EBV (2.9%); mismatch repair deficient (MMR-D) (7.2%); overexpressed p53 and/or HER2+ (61.4%); aberrant E-cadherin (11.4%); and normal pattern (17.1%). The use of surgical samples emphasized that some immunohistochemical markers were not useful for properly classifying the GC specimens. We can state that EBV (significantly correlated to PD-L1 expression) and MMR-D GCs are well-defined groups, mutually exclusive, and easily assessable with IHC and CISH, and could be candidates for immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. As regards p53, our findings suggest that IHC assessment may be responsible for a misclassification of GC groups. Immunohistochemical evaluation of E-cadherin needs to be standardized, particularly in terms of the heterogeneous cytoplasmic/membranous staining pattern. Whether to consider the normal-pattern group as a separate category remains to be clarified. Because GC specimens with known therapeutic targets account for only 40%, we suggest reviewing the immunophenotypic classification to find new therapeutic targets, such as PD-L1, MLH1, and HER2.
Transient and Persistent AKI and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery
Authors: Gameiro Joana , Duarte Inês , Marques Filipe , Fonseca José Agapito , Jorge Sofia , Rosa Rosário , Lopes José António
Published: April 2020

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent diagnosis in surgical patients which has a detrimental effect on short-term and long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictive factors of transient and persistent postoperative AKI in patients submitted to major abdominal surgery and to characterize the impact of AKI on in-hospital mortality. Methods: This study was a cross-examination of a retrospective analysis of clinical data of 450 patients who underwent major abdominal surgery from January 2010 to February 2011. Only AKI developing in the first 48 h after surgery was considered. AKI was diagnosed using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) classification based on both serum creatinine (SCr) and urine output criteria. Persistent and transient AKI were defined according to the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) workgroup definitions. Results: In our study, 22.4% of patients developed AKI in the first 48 h post-surgery (n = 101), and 48% of patients had persistent AKI (n = 49), defined as postoperative AKI, with a duration of more than 48 h. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.06 [1.00–1.11], p = 0.039), hypertension (adjusted OR 4.60 [1.17–18.11], p = 0.029), and higher preoperative SCr (adjusted OR 22.67 [4.00–128.46], p < 0.001) were independent predictors of persistent AKI. The overall in-hospital mortality was 6.4% (n = 29). Persistent AKI was associated with higher mortality than transient AKI (51.9 vs. 20.7%; unadjusted OR 13.03 [5.78–29.36], p < 0.001; adjusted OR 4.20 [1.02–17.27], p = 0.047). Conclusion: In this cohort of patients submitted to major abdominal surgery, persistent AKI was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in contrast to transient AKI.
A Rare Presentation of Poorly Differentiated Lung Carcinoma with Duodenal Metastasis and Literature Review
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed , Nasir Umair M. , Delle Donna Paul , Swantic Vanessa , Ahmed Shahida , Lenza Christopher
Published: April 2020

Lung cancer is a common malignancy which is frequently found to metastasize to distant sites including bone, liver, and adrenal glands. There are rare reports of metastases to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, with the duodenum being the most uncommon. We present a rare case of a poorly differentiated lung carcinoma metastasizing to the duodenum. This case enhances the medical literature as it provides additional distinct features to the clinical and histological presentation of metastatic lung carcinoma to the GI tract. A 61-year-old male with a history of poorly differentiated lung carcinoma presented with worsening dizziness, fatigue, and early satiety. He had extensive workup done in the past for hemoptysis including a computerized tomography scan of the chest which showed a new lobulated, apical lesion and hilar lymphadenopathy. He ultimately had a transthoracic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the mass and was later diagnosed with poorly differentiated lung carcinoma. On examination, the patient was noted to be pale, tachycardic, and hypotensive. The patient was noted to have an acute drop in his hemoglobin requiring fluid resuscitation, multiple blood transfusions, and evaluation with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. He was found to have an oozing ulcer in the third portion of the duodenum whose biopsies showed poorly differentiated carcinoma with areas of neuroendocrine differentiation, similar to his lung biopsy results, which was consistent with metastatic lung carcinoma.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Blinded Comparison of Unilateral and Bilateral Stimulation in Two Patients
Authors: Krüger Marie T. , Hu Amanda , Honey Christopher R.
Published: April 2020

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising new therapy for patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD). The preliminary results from our randomized controlled trial showed good clinical effects with unilateral left thalamic stimulation in 6 right- handed patients. This suggests that the pathological process underpinning SD may have a “hemisphere dominant” pathway. We describe 2 patients with concurrent essential tremor and SD who had previously undergone bilateral thalamic DBS for their limb tremor. Both patients experienced an unanticipated improvement of their SD symptoms. One patient was right-handed, and the other was mixed left-handed. To investigate the amount of SD improvement following DBS therapy in each hemisphere, 4 different settings were tested: both sides on, left side on, right side on, and both sides off. Both patients most improved following bilateral stimulation. There was, however, a powerful unilateral benefit in both patients with only a small additional benefit from bilateral stimulation. The right-handed patient improved most with left-hemisphere stimulation whereas the mixed left-handed patient improved most with right hemisphere stimulation. There was some discrepancy between the two tests applied in the second patient reflecting the known difficulties to evaluate vocal symptom improvement in SD. We discuss the possible correlation of handedness and speech hemisphere dominance as well as the need for more reliable tests to measure SD severity. Ultimately, we recommend a bilateral approach for future studies, using a patient perception test as the primary outcome and functional imaging to further investigate the correlation of handedness and the amount of hemisphere dominance in SD.
Constructing and Cleaning Identity Graphs in the LOD Cloud
Authors: Raad Joe , Beek Wouter , van Harmelen Frank , Wielemaker Jan , Pernelle Nathalie , Saïs Fatiha
Published: April 2020

In the absence of a central naming authority on the Semantic Web, it is common for different data sets to refer to the same thing by different names. Whenever multiple names are used to denote the same thing, owl:sameAs statements are needed in order to link the data and foster reuse. Studies that date back as far as 2009, observed that the owl:sameAs property is sometimes used incorrectly. In our previous work, we presented an identity graph containing over 500 million explicit and 35 billion implied owl:sameAs statements, and presented a scalable approach for automatically calculating an error degree for each identity statement. In this paper, we generate subgraphs of the overall identity graph that correspond to certain error degrees. We show that even though the Semantic Web contains many erroneous owl:sameAs statements, it is still possible to use Semantic Web data while at the same time minimising the adverse effects of misusing owl:sameAs.
Jesuit and Dominican Collaboration and Rivalry in Biblical Studies
Authors: Viviano, O.P. Benedict Thomas
Published: April 2020

In the twentieth century, the Dominicans and the Jesuits have gone from being adversaries to rivals to collaborators in the contentious field of modern biblical studies. In 1890, the Dominican Marie-Joseph Lagrange founded the École Biblique in Jerusalem, which quickly became the premier school in the Catholic Church for the growing field of modern biblical studies. Opposition to this project grew among the Jesuits, led by Leopold Fonck, who in 1910 founded a rival school in Rome, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, which garnered papal favor and exclusive rights to confer pontifical degrees. Tensions in biblical studies between the two groups persisted until 1943 when they collaborated on ghost-writing the papal encyclical Divino afflante spiritu. Their relationship continued to improve, so that by the time of the Second Vatican Council, they collaborated strongly on its constitution on divine revelation, Dei verbum.
Tazarcus, a new phylogenetically unplaced genus of two flightless weevils
with metapleural ridge from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)
Authors: GREBENNIKOV VASILY V.
Published: April 2020

This paper reports new flightless forest litter weevils discovered in Tanzania. They are classified into two species of the genus Tazarcus gen. nov.: T. aeaea sp. nov. (the type species; from South Pare and West Usambara) and T. ogygia sp. nov. (Rubeho). Both new species inhabit the archipelago-type Eastern Arc Mountain rainforests renowned for the high diversity of their biota. Adults of Tazarcus are recognizable by their relatively small size (length of pronotum and elytra in dorsal view 2.0–3.4 mm), the short and straight rostrum covered dorsally with dense velvety pilosity, an antennal funicle with seven segments, a prosternal canal, procoxae separated, a lack of hind wings and effaced elytral shoulders. Remarkably, adults of Tazarcus possess a short longitudinal ridge on each metapleuron, which bears a line of serration likely homologous to sclerolepidia. A phylogenetic analysis of 72 terminals and 3134 aligned positions from one mitochondrial and two nuclear ribosomal fragments corroborated the monophyly of the new genus, of both new species and of all three sampled populations but did not identify the sister group of Tazarcus. Three other weevil taxa with adults possessing a similarly shaped metapleural ridge (the African Thrombosternus Marshall and Allocycloteres Voss and an unidentified species of Molytinae from Madagascar) did not cluster with Tazarcus, suggesting multiple origins of this structure. Tazarcus is taxonomically classified as incertae sedis in a non-monophyletic subfamily “Molytinae”. Images and DNA sequences of all 72 herein analysed specimens are available online at dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-VGDS011.
MiR-425-5p/RAB2B Promotes the Proliferation, Invasion and Migration of Glioma Cells
Authors: Fan Xiangyun , Zhang Qiang , Geng Xuechuan , Tian Xia , He Xining , Xia Jialin
Published: April 2020

Aim/Background: Glioma is a malignant brain tumor with the characteristics of rapid growth, diffuse invasion and therapeutic resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) recently have be studied for the treatment of glioma. Here, we conducted cell-based experiments to analyze the role of miR-425-5p
by targeting RAB2B in glioma though regulating the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells. Methods: The qRT-PCR analysis detected the expression level of miR-425-5p in glioma cells. The transfection efficiency was verified by qRT-PCR. Cell viability, cell apoptosis, and
the expression of cell cycle regulators were determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry and western blot analysis, respectively. And, the invasion and migration of glioma cells were assessed by wound-healing experiment and transwell assay. Result: Among five kinds of human glioma cell lines
(U251, SHG44, LN229, T98G), the U251 cell line was chosen for the subsequent experiment. MiR-425-5p overexpression inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells and promoted the glioma cells apoptosis. In addition, RAB2B was demonstrated to be a target of miR-129-5p.
RAB2B inhibition could also inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells and promoted the glioma cells apoptosis. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that miR-425-5p could inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration, and promoted apoptosis of glioma cells
by downregulation of RAB2B.
MCP-1-Induced Protein 1 Relieved Liver Fibrosis by Suppressing the TGF-β/Smad Pathway and Epithelial and Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Sun Hongjia , Zhang Chen , Huang Yumei , Wang Ting , Yao Liqiong
Published: April 2020

Liver fibrosis is a kind of lesion caused by damaged hepatocytes that may contribute to diverse severe liver diseases if not treated promptly. MCPIP1 was a protein which could protect the liver from ischemia reperfusion and LPS induced inflammation response. But whether MCPIP1 could
alleviate liver fibrosis was not revealed. In our research, we used CCl4 on rats to construct the liver fibrosis animal model. Moreover, TGF-β1 was used to induce LX2 cells so as to establish the fibrotic cell model. Then we detected the expression of MCPIP1 in these
tissues and cells. After that, the cellular morphology of LX2 cells was observed and the levels of α-SMA, collagen I, desmin, E-cadherin, Slug, N-cadherin, p-Smad3, Smad3 and Smad4 in LX2 cells were detected with western-blotting. The results showed that the expression of MCPIP1
was decreased in the liver fibrosis tissues and that TGF-β1 induced LX2 cells. In addition, the shape of TGF-β1 induced LX2 cells to gradually become spindle shaped. Furthermore, the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, desmin, Slug, N-cadherin, p-Smad3 and
Smad4 was enhanced in TGF-β1-induced LX2 cells. However, the levels of these proteins were further suppressed after the overexpression of MCPIP1. MCPIP1 alleviated liver fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad pathway and EMT which was induced by the TGF-β/Smad
pathway.
A Review on the Application of the Solid Waste for Building Material
Authors: Fodzi Muhammad Haikal Mohd , Marsi Noraini , Rus Anika Zafiah Muhd , Awang Mariah , Huzaisham Athirah , Singam Rupashinii A/P Thana
Published: April 2020

The present study is an attempt to take an overview on the application of the solid waste for building material such as concrete, cement, tiles, roof, brick and geopolymer. According to the Global Environment Centre (GEC), 23,000 tons of wastes were produce every day, expected rise
to 30,000 tons by 2020 and only 5% have been recycled in Malaysia. Increasing of population, rapid urbanization and industrialization affected the increasing of the number of solid waste produced. Based on Department of Statistic Malaysia (DOSM), the population growth rate of 1.1% at 2018
with estimated 32.4 million populations compared to 2017 with 32.0 million populations and estimation of the waste increase by 2020 will occur. This review discusses the incorporation of the solid waste such as fly ash, polystyrene, plastic, sludge, glass and timber dust affect the physical
and mechanical properties of the building materials. In addition, this paper reviews the recycling and reusing method of the different solid waste that can be applied to building materials. Most of the building materials such as concrete and bricks mix with the different solid waste show the
positive effect by producing the lightweight materials, increased in water absorption, compressive strength, the plasticity of the materials and increasing of energy saving based on various research reviews. The findings and the potential application of the different solid waste in building
material may help increasing the sustainable development.