bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting the Link between Stock Prices and Indices with Machine Learning in R Programming Language
Authors: Cao Mengya
Published: December 2021

This paper provides an in-depth analysis machine study of the relationship between stock prices and indices through machine learning algorithms. Stock prices are difficult to predict by a single financial formula because there are too many factors that can affect stock prices. With the development of computer science, the author now uses many computer science techniques to make more accurate predictions of stock prices. In this project, the author uses machine learning in R Studio to predict the prices of 35 stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and to study the interaction between the prices of four indices in different countries. Further, it is proposed to find the link between stocks and indices in different countries and then use the predictions to optimize the portfolio of these stocks. To complete this project, the author used Linear Regression, LASSO, Regression Trees, Bagging, Random Forest, and Boosted Trees to perform the analysis. The experimental results show that the MRDL deep multiple regression model proposed in this paper predicts the closing price trend of stocks with a mean square error interval [0.0043, 0.0821]. Additionally, 80% of the proposed DMISV, KDJSV, MACDV, and DKB stock buying and selling strategies have a return greater than 10%. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed buying and selling strategies and stock price trend prediction methods in this paper. Compared with other algorithms, the accuracy of the algorithm in this study is increased by 15%, and the efficiency of prediction is increased by 25%.
Relationship between Volleyball Sports Nutrition Food and Sports Athletes’ Training and Physical Health Based on Medical Image Recognition
Authors: Liu Jian
Published: December 2021

As we all know, the dietary nutrition of athletes has a great influence on physical condition and exercise ability. A good diet pattern is the basis of a reasonable diet for athletes. It helps to improve the function and physical state of athletes. This article is aimed at studying the impact of nutritious food on athletes’ training and physical health. This article proposes the relevant technology of medical image recognition, which is used to study the relationship between nutritious food and the health of volleyball players and athletes, and proposes methods such as weighing method, meal review method, and measurement method, and the purpose is to exercise nutritional research and provide new ideas and methods. In addition, 200 female volleyball players were randomly selected for comparative analysis. The experimental results in this paper show that the energy intake and energy consumption of the female intervention group maintained a balance after the intervention, and there was a significant change in the negative balance state before the intervention. The energy consumption changed from

−
158.2
±
156.2

to

−
157.2
±
129.6

. The number of athletes whose weight is close to the ideal range has increased from 44.8% to 48.5%.
Prediction of Fluid Viscosity in Multiphase Reservoir Oil System by Machine Learning
Authors: Shao Lihua , Ji Ru , Du Shuyi , Song Hongqing
Published: December 2021

It is important to realize rapid and accurate prediction of fluid viscosity in a multiphase reservoir oil system for improving oil production in petroleum engineering. This study proposed three viscosity prediction models based on machine learning approaches. The prediction accuracy comparison results show that the random forest (RF) model performs accurately in predicting the viscosity of each phase of the reservoir, with the lowest error percentage and highest

R

2

values. And the RF model is tremendously fast in a computing time of 0.53 s. In addition, sensitivity analysis indicates that for a multiphase reservoir system, the viscosity of each phase of the reservoir is determined by different factors. Among them, the viscosity of oil is vital for oil production, which is mainly affected by the molar ratio of gas to oil (MR-GO).
Dihydroartemisinin Induces Ferroptosis in HCC by Promoting the Formation of PEBP1/15‐LO
Authors: Su Ying , Zhao Danli , Jin Chun , Li Zhanghao , Sun Sumin , Xia Siwei , Zhang Yuxin , Zhang Zili , Zhang Feng , Xu Xuefen , Shao Jiangjuan , Zhang Biyun , Zheng Shizhong
Published: December 2021

Relevant researches have recognized the vital role of inducing ferroptosis in the treatment of tumor. The latest findings indicate that PEBP1/15‐LO can play an essential role in the process of cell death. However, its role in regulating ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (simplified by HCC) remains unclear. The previous research of our team has proved that DHA can induce ferroptosis of hepatic stellate cells. In this study, we found that DHA could also induce ferroptosis in HCC cells. Interestingly, DHA induced ferroptosis by promoting the formation of PEBP1/15‐LO and promoting cell membrane lipid peroxidation. In addition, we also found that DHA had no obvious regulatory effect on 15‐LO, but it could promote PEBP1 protein expression. Importantly, we discovered the upregulation of PEBP1 induced by DHA was related to the inhibition of its ubiquitination degradation. In vivo experiments have also obtained consistent results that DHA can inhibit tumor growth and affect the expression of ferroptosis markers in tumor tissues, which would be partially offset by interference with PEBP1.
Prediction of College Students’ Employment Rate Based on Gray System
Authors: Yao Hexia , Dahlan Hj. A. Malek Mohd
Published: December 2021

College students’ employment is affected by many factors such as economy and policy, which makes the prediction error of college students’ employment rate large. In order to solve this problem, a prediction method of college students’ employment rate based on the gray system is designed. Firstly, it analyzes the current research status of college students’ employment rate prediction, finds out the causes of errors, then collects the historical data of college students’ employment rate, fits the change characteristics of college students’ employment rate through the gray system, and establishes the prediction model of college students’ employment rate. Finally, the simulation test is realized by using the employment rate data of college students. The results show that the gray system can reflect the change characteristics of college students’ employment rate and obtain high-precision college students’ employment rate prediction results. The prediction error is less than that of other college students’ employment rate prediction methods. We achieved an average accuracy of 95.22% as compared to 92.3% and 87.7% of other proposed systems. The prediction results can provide some reference information for the university employment management department.
KDM1A Identified as a Potential Oncogenic Driver and Prognostic Biomarker via Multi-Omics Analysis
Authors: Li Lingyue , Wang Yiyu , Mou Yuan , Wu Hao , Qin Ye
Published: December 2021

Background. Lysine-specific demethylase 1A (KDM1A) is a histone demethylation enzyme and a crucial epigenetic factor for multiple pathological pathways that mediate carcinogenesis and immunogenicity. Although increasing evidence supposes the association between KDM1A and cancers, no systematic multi-omics analysis of KDM1A is available. Methods. We systematically evaluated the KDM1A expression of various cancer and normal tissues and the unique relationship between KDM1A expression and prognosis of cancer cases based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) database. The genetic variations, phosphorylation, and DNA methylation of KDM1A were analyzed via various tools. We further analyzed the correlation of KDM1A expression and fibroblasts and immune cell infiltration score of TCGA samples via TIMER2.0. Results. KDM1A was highly expressed in 17 types of total 33 cancers, while it expressed low levels in only 4 cancers. High KDM1A expression was associated with worse survival status in various cancers. KDM1A expression was positively correlated with the cancer-associated fibroblasts and myeloid-derived suppressor cells infiltration levels in most cancer types. Additionally, KDM1A in most cancer types was negatively correlated with Th1 cell infiltration and positively correlated with Th2 cells. Moreover, spliceosome, cell cycle, and RNA transport pathways were involved in the functional mechanisms of KDM1A via enrichment analysis. Conclusions. Our study describes the epigenetic factor KDM1A as an oncogene and prognostic biomarker. Our findings provide valuable guidance for further analysis of KDM1A function in pathogenesis and potential clinical treatment.
Antipharyngitis Effects of Syringa oblata L. Ethanolic Extract in Acute Pharyngitis Rat Model and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Ir-Idoids in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Cells
Authors: Zhu Wen-Bo , Su Fa-Zhi , Sun Yan-Ping , Yang Bing-You , Wang Qiu-Hong , Kuang Hai-Xue
Published: December 2021

Acute pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharyngeal mucous membrane and submucous lymphoid tissues. Unsatisfactory treatment and repeated occurrences might cause chronic pharyngitis and other complications. Syringa oblata L. (S. oblata) is a traditional Chinese medicine that exhibited a significant therapeutic effect on various inflammatory diseases. Its commercial drug Yan Li Xiao (YLX) capsule is used as a cure for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as bacillary dysentery, tonsillitis, bronchitis, and acute gastroenteritis. However, studies about S. oblata relieving acute pharyngitis are rare. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the chemical profile of S. oblata, and the bioactive phytoconstituents were isolated and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. An ammonia-induced acute pharyngitis rat model was established to estimate the protective effect of S. oblata in vivo for the first time. The severity of pharyngitis was observed by appearance index and HE staining. The cytokines expression was performed by ELISA. Crucial proteins expression associated with TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways were analyzed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of isolated compounds was evaluated by suppressing lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced NO generation and regulating the cytokines levels in RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that S. oblata exhibited a protective effect in the ammonia-induced acute pharyngitis rat model, and the compounds exert potential anti-inflammatory properties against LPS-activated RAW 254.7 cells.
Concrete Spalling Severity Classification Using Image Texture Analysis and a Novel Jellyfish Search Optimized Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Hoang Nhat-Duc , Huynh Thanh-Canh , Tran Van-Duc
Published: December 2021

During the phase of building survey, spalling and its severity should be detected as earlier as possible to provide timely information on structural heath to building maintenance agency. Correct detection of spall severity can significantly help decision makers develop effective maintenance schedule and prioritize their financial resources better. This study aims at developing a computer vision‐based method for automatic classification of concrete spalling severity. Based on input image of concrete surface, the method is capable of distinguishing between a minor spalling in which the depth of the broken‐off material is less than the concrete cover layer and a deep spalling in which the reinforcing steel bars have been revealed. To characterize concrete surface condition, image texture descriptors of statistical measurement of color channels, gray‐level run length, and center‐symmetric local binary pattern are used. Based on these texture‐based features, the support vector machine classifier optimized by the jellyfish search metaheuristic is put forward to construct a decision boundary that partitions the input data into two classes of shallow spalling and deep spalling. A dataset consisting of 300 image samples has been collected to train and verify the proposed computer vision method. Experimental results supported by the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test point out that the newly developed method is highly suitable for concrete spall severity classification with accuracy rate = 93.33%, F1 score = 0.93, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.97.
Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH): A Case of Indolent Pulmonary Nodules Diagnosed with Robotic-Assisted Navigational Bronchoscopy
Authors: Purdy Adam , Ido Firas , Stahlnecker Deborah
Published: December 2021

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is an atypical pulmonary disorder with limited understanding. Given the rare nature of this disease, it is essential to obtain adequate tissue pathology to confirm the diagnosis. This disease is mainly diagnosed in middle-aged, nonsmoking females, and it is now accepted as a precursor lesion to pulmonary carcinoid tumors. DIPNECH presents with characteristic radiographic and histologic findings, but its diagnosis, management, and prognosis are often underrecognized and poorly understood. Those with symptoms may present with shortness of breath, wheezing, and persistent cough and are often misdiagnosed with reactive airway disease. Pulmonary function testing may reveal airflow obstruction and air trapping. Imaging is characterized by multiple lung nodules, typically less than 5 mm in size, with a background mosaic attenuation on computed tomography imaging. Histologically, DIPNECH can be suspected based on the presence of hyperplastic neuroendocrine cells. DIPNECH is considered a precursor to invasive neuroendocrine tumor, and up to 50% of patients may have a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor at the time of presentation. Here, we present the case of a 46-year-old female with a history of ulcerative colitis on mesalamine who presented with a 6-month history of ongoing shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, and cough. She was initially diagnosed with asthma before imaging later revealed as multiple pulmonary nodules with a diffuse mosaic pattern. Using robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy, she underwent sampling of a dominant 1.8 cm right middle lobe pulmonary nodule and pathology was consistent with low-grade neuroendocrine tumor.
Analysis on Decision‐Making Changes of Multilevel Governments and Influencing Factors in Watershed Ecological Compensation
Authors: Wang Yuansheng , Wu Xiaojing , Shen Juqin , Chi Chen , Gao Xin
Published: December 2021

Watershed ecological compensation has been widely accepted as a system to promote the cooperation of various stakeholders to solve the problem of transboundary water pollution, but the existing research does not fully consider the impact of compensation fee paid by different governments on stakeholders’ decision‐making. Therefore, this paper constructs a tripartite game model between upstream governments, downstream governments, and the central government by using evolutionary game theory and determines the influence of different factors on the decision‐making process of each player through simulation. The results show the following: (1) the initial probability significantly affects the decision‐making behavior of each player; (2) daily supervision of the central government and the reduction of the environmental protection cost can promote the implementation of watershed ecological compensation; (3) the fine to downstream governments makes the decisions of the central government and downstream governments change periodically; and (4) the increase of ecological compensation fee urges downstream governments to choose noncompensation, and compensation fee paid by the central government has a critical value.
Predictive Control‐Based Completeness Analysis and Global Calibration of Robot Vision Features
Authors: Lou Jingjing
Published: December 2021

This paper provides an in‐depth study and analysis of robot vision features for predictive control and a global calibration of their feature completeness. The acquisition and use of the complete macrofeature set are studied in the context of a robot task by defining the complete macrofeature set at the level of the overall purpose and constraints of the robot vision servo task. The visual feature set that can fully characterize the macropurpose and constraints of a vision servo task is defined as the complete macrofeature set. Due to the complexity of the task, a part of the features of the complete macrofeature set is obtained directly from the image, and another part of the features is obtained from the image by inference. The task is guaranteed to be completely based on a robust calibration‐free visual serving strategy based on interference observer that is proposed to complete the visual serving task with high performance. To address the problems of singular values, local minima, and insufficient robustness in the traditional scale‐free vision servo algorithm, a new scale‐free vision servo method is proposed to construct a dual closed‐loop vision servo structure based on interference observer, which ensures the closed‐loop stability of the system through the Q‐filter‐based interference observer, while estimating and eliminating the interference consisting of hand‐eye mapping model uncertainty and controlled robot input interference. The equivalent interference consisting of hand‐eye mapping model uncertainty, controlled robot input interference, and detection noise is estimated and eliminated to obtain an inner‐loop structure that presents a nominal model externally, and then an outer‐loop controller is designed according to the nominal model to achieve the best performance of the system dynamic performance and robustness to optimally perform the vision servo task.
Vitamin B12 Attenuates Acute Pancreatitis by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Improving Mitochondria Dysfunction via CBS/SIRT1 Pathway
Authors: Yuan Jiyan , Wei Zeliang , Xin Guang , Liu Xubao , Zhou Zongguang , Zhang Yi , Yu Xiuxian , Wan Chengyu , Chen Qingqiu , Zhao Weiyu , Wang Xueling , Dong Yuman , Chen Zhen , Chen Xiaoting , Niu Hai , Huang Wen
Published: December 2021

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, which is characterized by a rapid depletion of glutathione (GSH). Cysthionine‐β‐synthase (CBS) is a key coenzyme in GSH synthesis, and its deficiency is related to a variety of clinical diseases. However, whether CBS is involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis remains unclear. First, we found that CBS was downregulated in both in vivo and in vitro AP models. The pancreatic damage and acinar cell necrosis related to CBS deficiency were significantly improved by VB 12, which stimulated clearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by conserving GSH. Furthermore, EX‐527 (a specific inhibitor of SIRT1) exposure counteracted the protective effect of VB 12 by promoting oxidative stress and aggravating mitochondrial damage without influencing CBS, indicating that vitamin B12 regulates SIRT1 to improve pancreatical damage by activating CBS. In conclusion, we found that VB 12 protected acute pancreatitis associated with oxidative stress via CBS/SIRT1 pathway.
Diagnosing the Stage of Hepatitis C Using Machine Learning
Authors: Butt Muhammad Bilal , Alfayad Majed , Saqib Shazia , Khan M. A. , Ahmad Munir , Khan Muhammad Adnan , Elmitwally Nouh Sabri
Published: December 2021

Hepatitis C is a prevalent disease in the world. Around 3 to 4 million new cases of Hepatitis C are reported every year across the globe. Effective, timely prediction of the disease can help people know about their Stage of Hepatitis C. To identify the Stage of disease, various noninvasive serum biochemical markers and clinical information of the patients have been used. Machine learning techniques have been an effective alternative tool for determining the Stage of this chronic disease of the liver to prevent biopsy side effects. In this study, an Intelligent Hepatitis C Stage Diagnosis System (IHSDS) empowered with machine learning is presented to predict the Stage of Hepatitis C in a human using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The dataset obtained from the UCI machine learning repository contains 29 features, out of which the 19 most reverent are selected to conduct the study; 70% of the dataset is used for training and 30% for validation purposes. The precision value is compared with the proposed IHSDS with previously presented models. The proposed IHSDS has achieved 98.89% precision during training and 94.44% precision during validation.
Effect of Alloying Composition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ultranarrow Gap Welded Joints of U71Mn Rail Steel
Authors: Gong Lian , Liu Hui , Lv Cheng , Zhao Lijun
Published: December 2021

A new welding method, ultranarrow gap welding with constrained arc by flux band, is proposed to compensate for the low quality of rail thermite welded joints. This article presents the results of research on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ultranarrow gap welded joints of U71Mn rail steel made using three types of alloying composition content flux bands. Results indicated that the base metal metallographic microstructure consisted mainly of pearlitic, the HAZ was mainly composed of fine pearlite, and the microstructure of the welded bead was composed of acicular ferrite, while the weld grain size decreased as the alloy composition increased. The average hardness noticeably changed in weld metal as the alloy composition increased, and when the alloy composition reached 19%, the hardness was equivalent to the base material. The average hardness value of the HAZ (35.8 HRC) was higher than that of the base metal (24.8 HRC). The tensile strength increased, and the percentage elongation after fracture decreased with increasing alloying composition from 9% to 19%. The impact absorbing energies were decreased as the alloying composition increased. Consequently, all the mechanical properties of rail ultranarrow gap welding were higher than those of the standard requirements of the rail flash welding. And the optimal alloying composition of flux band was 19%.
Exosomes Secreted by Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Attenuate Diabetes in Mice
Authors: Sharma Rajni , Kumari Manju , Mishra Suman , Chaudhary Dharmendra K. , Kumar Alok , Avni Batia , Tiwari Swasti
Published: December 2021

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is an innovative approach in diabetes due to its capacity to modulate tissue microenvironment and regeneration of glucose-responsive insulin-producing cells. In this study, we investigated the role of MSC-derived exosomes in pancreatic regeneration and insulin secretion in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated and characterized from umbilical cord blood (UCB). Exosomes were isolated and characterized from these MSCs. Diabetes was induced in male C57Bl/6 mice by streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) for five consecutive days. The diabetic mice were administered (i.v.) with MSC (

1
×

10

5

umbilical cord blood MSC cells/mice/day), their derived exosomes (the MSC-Exo group that received exosomes derived from

1
×

10

5

MSC cells/mice/day), or the same volume of PBS. Before administration, the potency of MSCs and their exosomes was evaluated in vitro by T cell activation experiments. After day 7 of the treatments, blood samples and pancreatic tissues were collected. Histochemistry was performed to check cellular architecture and β cell regeneration. In body weight, blood glucose level, and insulin level, cell proliferation assay was done to confirm regeneration of cells after MSC and MSC-Exo treatments. Hyperglycemia was also attenuated in these mice with a concomitant increase in insulin production and an improved histological structure compared to mice in the PBS-treated group. We found increased expression of genes associated with tissue regeneration pathways, including Reg2, Reg3, and Amy2b in the pancreatic tissue of mice treated with MSC or MSC-Exo relative to PBS-treated mice. MicroRNA profiling of MSC-derived exosomes showed the presence of miRs that may facilitate pancreatic regeneration by regulating the Extl3-Reg-cyclinD1 pathway. These results demonstrate a potential therapeutic role of umbilical cord blood MSC-derived exosomes in attenuating insulin deficiency by activating pancreatic islets’ regenerative abilities.
An Immune-Related Long Noncoding RNA Signature as a Prognostic Biomarker for Human Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Wang Ziwei , Liu Yan , Zhang Jun , Zhao Rong , Zhou Xing , Wang Hongbo
Published: December 2021

Background. Endometrial cancer is among the most common malignant tumors threatening the health of women. Recently, immunity and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have been widely examined in oncology and shown to play important roles in oncology. Here, we searched for immune-related lncRNAs as prognostic biomarkers to predict the outcome of patients with endometrial cancer. Methods. RNA sequencing data for 575 endometrial cancer samples and immune-related genes were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) gene sets, respectively. Immune-related lncRNAs showing a coexpression relationship with immune-related genes were obtained, and Cox regression analysis was performed to construct the prognostic model. Survival, independent prognostic, and clinical correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic model. Immune infiltration of endometrial cancer samples was also evaluated. Functional annotation of 12 immune-related lncRNAs was performed using GSEA software. Prognostic nomogram and survival analysis for independent prognostic risk factors were performed to evaluate the prognostic model and calculate the survival time based on the prognostic model. Results. Twelve immune-related lncRNAs (ELN-AS1, AC103563.7, PCAT19, AF131215.5, LINC01871, AC084117.1, NRAV, SCARNA9, AL049539.1, POC1B-AS1, AC108134.4, and AC019080.5) were obtained, and a prognostic model was constructed. The survival rate in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in the low-risk group. Patient age, pathological grade, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, and risk status were the risk factors. The 12 immune-related lncRNAs correlated with patient age, pathological grade, and FIGO stage. Principal component analysis and functional annotation showed that the high-risk and low-risk groups separated better, and the immune status of the high-risk and low-risk groups differed. Nomogram and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves effectively predicted the prognosis of endometrial cancer. Additionally, age, pathological grade, FIGO stage, and risk status were all related to patient survival. Conclusion. We identified 12 immune-related lncRNAs affecting the prognosis of endometrial cancer, which may be useful as therapeutic targets and molecular biomarkers.
Application of Saliva Inhibition to Detect Underlying Alloantibodies in Bombay Blood Group
Authors: Wang Lingbo , Crennan Michael , Benic Angela , Chiu Derek , Morris Fiona , Jackson Denise E.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The Bombay phenotype is a rare blood group determined by the absence of H antigens. Bombay individuals produce anti-H, a clinically significant antibody that react against all ABO blood group. Anti-H can mask underlying alloantibody during antibody investigation, a challenge in current transfusion practice. The aim of this article is to explore saliva inhibition, a novel method to detect underlying alloantibody in Bombay individuals. Case Presentation: The case is a 93-year-old female transfused with pre-donated autologous blood for a surgery. We determined anti-H subclass and thermal amplitude, secretor status, and optimal ratio of saliva and Bombay plasma. Plasma samples containing anti-H were spiked with anti-Fy(a) to determine the effectiveness of saliva inhibition in uncovering underlying alloantibodies. Results: Anti-H was confirmed to be predominately IgM with broad thermal amplitude. Tube immediate spin (IS) showed stronger anti-H reactivity compared to column agglutination technology (CAT). Spiked anti-Fy(a) was successfully detected using saliva inhibition method. Conclusion: Tube IS appears more sensitive to anti-H. Saliva inhibition appears to be a promising method to detect underlying alloantibody in the plasma of Bombay phenotype individuals.
Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Is Still an Underdiagnosed Entity with Poor Prognosis
Authors: Łoń Izabela , Wieliczko Monika , Lewandowski Jacek , Małyszko Jolanta
Published: December 2021

Background: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of inflammatory and fibrous retroperitoneal tissue that often encircles abdominal organs including the aorta and ureters. Data on the incidence of this disease are limited. Summary: The disease may be idiopathic or secondary to infections, malignancies, drugs, or radiotherapy. The idiopathic form is an immune-mediated entity and a part of the broader spectrum of idiopathic diseases termed chronic periaortitis, characterized by a morphologically similar fibroinflammatory changes in the aorta and surrounding tissues. Taking into account the dominant symptoms and clinical characteristics of patients with periaortitis, 2 subtypes of disease could be distinguished. The vascular subtype includes patients with nondilated aorta or with inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm, both with and without involvement of adjacent structures and with numerous risk factors for atherosclerosis. In the renoureteral subtype, obstructive uropathy manifesting with hydronephrosis and acute kidney injury is the predominant finding. Due to the variety of symptoms, diagnosis of RPF remains challenging, difficult, and often delayed. A series of diagnostic tests should be performed, in order to confirm the diagnosis idiopathic RPF. Laboratory workup includes evaluation of inflammatory indices and immunological studies. A biopsy and histopathological evaluation may be necessary to confirm diagnosis and differentiate the disease. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography are the modalities of choice for the diagnosis and follow-up of this disease. Management of ureteral obstruction, hydronephrosis, and aortic aneurysms often requires surgical evaluation and treatment. The pharmacological treatment of RPF has been evaluated in a few randomized trials and is mainly based on observational studies. Steroid therapy remains the gold standard of treatment. Key Messages: Nowadays, multidisciplinary team approach with clinical and diagnostic experience in both primary and secondary RPF as well as 2 major subtypes should be offered. Centers specialized in rare diseases with collaboration with other units and referral system yield the best possible outcomes.
Filosofia e beleza muntu-angolana
Authors: Batsîkama Patrício
Published: December 2021

A discussão estética em torno da dinâmica da produção artística entre a arte clássica (tida como arte tradicional pelos etnólogos coloniais) e a arte contemporânea produzida por africanos (patentes nas galerias da arte) tem sido tímida. Três razões são levantadas. A primeira é a falta de estudos para sua sistematização e classificação. A segunda tem a ver com a polémica a volta da filosofia africana. A terceira versa-se na ausência de pesquisadores nas arenas internacionais para discutir a questão. Depois de ter discutido essa possibilidade no Congresso Mundial de Filosofia (Universidade Nacional de Seul, 2008) e no Congresso Internacional da Estética (Université de Beijing, 2013), expomos o presente artigo, escolhemos a discussão sobre filosofia e beleza na arte clássica em África, optando num discurso estético que poderá servir também para arte contemporânea.
Kourouma: a forja de um francês africanizado diante de um sistema literário mundial
Authors: Bampoky Providence
Published: December 2021

Partindo do argumento de Moretti (2000) de que o romance moderno desponta nas culturas periféricas não como desenvolvimento autônomo, mas como uma conciliação entre influência formal estrangeira e conteúdos locais, busco pensar, neste artigo, como Kourouma manipula a língua do colonizador para expressar nela sentimentos e realidades imaginadas na sua língua materna - o malinké[1] e como ocorre dentro do sistema literário mundial esta luta pelo reconhecimento.
 
[1] O termo designa o indivíduo que pertence ao grupo étnico malinké, mas também designa a língua. Tradicionalmente, agricultores, artesãs e de religião muçulmana altamente influenciados pelas crenças animistas, os malinkés estão agrupados na Guiné, no Mali, na Costa do Marfim, no Senegal, na Gâmbia, na Serra Leoa, no Burkina Faso, na Guiné-Bissau, na Libéria e no Gana.
Apresentando o WReC: uma entrevista com Neil Lazarus, Sharae Deckard e Michael Niblett
Authors: Waller Thomas
Published: December 2021

Esta entrevista aborda a teoria da literatura-mundial do Warwick Research Collective (WReC), que se define como ‘a literatura do sistema-mundo capitalista’, por meio duma discussão com três membros do grupo: Neil Lazarus, Sharae Deckard e Michael Niblett. Ao longo da entrevista, abrangemos a conjuntura disciplinar que deu origem à debate crescente da literatura mundial e que estimulou o grupo a juntar-se e a formular a sua teoria; os quadros conceptuais principais que informam as suas leituras, como a análise do sistema-mundo e ‘a lei do desenvolvimento desigual e combinado’ de Leon Trotsky; a sua engajamento com os teóricos brasileiros Roberto Schwarz e Michael Löwy; e o papel da tradução na sua concepção materialista da produção literária global. O trabalho do WReC é uma das mais sofisticadas tentativas de levar por diante a tradição marxista na crítica literária para enfrentar os contornos socioculturais cambiantes do mundo contemporâneo. Esta entrevista procura clarificar as proposições centrais do coletivo assim como problematizar algumas áreas de contenção.
Hippo Pathway Effector Tead1 Induces Cardiac Fibroblast to Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming
Authors: Singh Vivek P. , Pinnamaneni Jaya P. , Pugazenthi Aarthi , Sanagasetti Deepthi , Mathison Megumi , Martin James F. , Yang Jianchang , Rosengart Todd K.
Published: December 2021

Background

The conversion of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes may regenerate myocardial tissue from cardiac scar through in situ cell transdifferentiation. The efficiency transdifferentiation is low, especially for human cells. We explored the leveraging of Hippo pathway intermediates to enhance induced cardiomyocyte generation.

Methods and Results

We screened Hippo effectors Yap (yes‐associated protein), Taz (transcriptional activator binding domain), and Tead1 (TEA domain transcription factor 1; Td) for their reprogramming efficacy with cardio‐differentiating factors Gata4, Mef2C, and Tbx5 (GMT). Td induced nearly 3‐fold increased expression of cardiomyocyte marker cTnT (cardiac troponin T) by mouse embryonic and adult rat fibroblasts versus GMT administration alone (
P
<0.0001), while Yap and Taz failed to enhance cTnT expression. Serial substitution demonstrated that Td replacement of TBX5 induced the greatest cTnT expression enhancement and sarcomere organization in rat fibroblasts treated with all GMT substitutions (GMTd versus GMT: 17±1.2% versus 5.4±0.3%,
P
<0.0001). Cell contractility (beating) was seen in 6% of GMTd‐treated cells by 4 weeks after treatment, whereas no beating GMT‐treated cells were observed. Human cardiac fibroblasts likewise demonstrated increased cTnT expression with GMTd versus GMT treatment (7.5±0.3% versus 3.0±0.3%,
P
<0.01). Mechanistically, GMTd administration increased expression of the trimethylated lysine 4 of histone 3 (H3K4me3) mark at the promoter regions of cardio‐differentiation genes and mitochondrial biogenesis regulator genes in rat and human fibroblast, compared with GMT.

Conclusions

These data suggest that the Hippo pathway intermediate Tead1 is an important regulator of cardiac reprogramming that increases the efficiency of maturate induced cardiomyocytes generation and may be a vital component of human cardiodifferentiation strategies.
Comparative Effectiveness of Early Rhythm Control Versus Rate Control for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Kim Daehoon , Yang Pil‐Sung , You Seng Chan , Jang Eunsun , Yu Hee Tae , Kim Tae‐Hoon , Pak Hui‐Nam , Lee Moon‐Hyoung , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Sung Jung‐Hoon , Joung Boyoung
Published: December 2021

Background

Rhythm control is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes than usual care among patients with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated the effects of rhythm control compared with rate control on the incidence of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death stratified by timing of treatment initiation.

Methods and Results

We conducted a retrospective population‐based cohort study including 22 635 patients with AF newly treated with rhythm control (antiarrhythmic drugs or ablation) or rate control in 2011 to 2015 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Propensity overlap weighting was used. Compared with rate control, rhythm control initiated within 1 year of AF diagnosis decreased the risk of stroke. The point estimates for rhythm control initiated at selected time points after AF diagnosis are as follows: 6 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66–0.87), 1 year (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66–0.93), and 5 years (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.45–2.24). The initiation of rhythm control within 6 months of AF diagnosis reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure: 6 months (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74–0.95), 1 year (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82–1.13), and 5 years (HR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.34–6.17). The risks of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death did not differ between rhythm and rate control regardless of treatment timing.

Conclusions

Early initiation of rhythm control was associated with a lower risk of stroke and heart failure–related admission than rate control in patients with recently diagnosed AF. The effects were attenuated as initiating the rhythm control treatment later.
Introduction to Hemodynamic Forces Analysis: Moving Into the New Frontier of Cardiac Deformation Analysis
Authors: Vallelonga Fabrizio , Airale Lorenzo , Tonti Giovanni , Argulian Edgar , Milan Alberto , Narula Jagat , Pedrizzetti Gianni
Published: December 2021

The potential relevance of blood flow for describing cardiac function has been known for the past 2 decades, but the association of clinical parameters with the complexity of fluid motion is still not well understood. Hemodynamic force (HDF) analysis represents a promising approach for the study of blood flow within the ventricular chambers through the exploration of intraventricular pressure gradients. Previous experimental studies reported the significance of invasively measured cardiac pressure gradients in patients with heart failure. Subsequently, advances in cardiovascular imaging allowed noninvasive assessment of pressure gradients during progression and resolution of ventricular dysfunction and in the setting of resynchronization therapy. The HDF analysis can amplify mechanical abnormalities, detect them earlier compared with conventional ejection fraction and strain analysis, and possibly predict the development of cardiac remodeling. Alterations in HDFs provide the earliest signs of impaired cardiac physiology and can therefore transform the existing paradigm of cardiac function analysis once implemented in routine clinical care. Until recently, the HDF investigation was possible only with contrast‐enhanced echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, precluding its widespread clinical use. A mathematical model, based on the first principle of fluid dynamics and validated using 4‐dimensional‐flow‐magnetic resonance imaging, has allowed HDF analysis through routine transthoracic echocardiography, making it more readily accessible for routine clinical use. This article describes the concept of HDF analysis and reviews the existing evidence supporting its application in several clinical settings. Future studies should address the prognostic importance of HDF assessment in asymptomatic patients and its incorporation into clinical decision pathways.
The International Politics of Carbon Dioxide Removal: Pathways to Cooperative Global Governance
Authors: Maher Bryan , Symons Jonathan
Published: December 2021

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios that limit warming to 1.5°C require that, in addition to unprecedented reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, between 100 and 1,000 metric gigatons of CO2 be removed from the atmosphere before 2100. Despite this, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is not yet firmly on national or global policy agendas. Owing to uncertainty about both technical potential and social license, it is unclear whether CDR on the required scale will even be feasible. This article asks what scholarship about the provision of global public goods can tell us about governing CDR. We identify four areas where new international cooperative efforts—likely performed by small clubs of motivated actors—could amplify existing CDR policy responses: development of CDR accounting and reporting methodologies, technology development and prototype deployment for technically challenging CDR, development of incentives for CDR deployment, and work on governance and accountability mechanisms that respond to social justice impacts and social license concerns.
The Frisians as a Chosen People
Authors: Mol Johannes A. , Smithuis Justine
Published: December 2021

Five late-medieval historical chronicles from Frisia present a series of legends about the Frisians, concerning their origin and the acquisition of their freedom. Each of these legends opens with a concrete parallel from the history of the Jewish people, making it clear that the Frisians, too, enjoyed God’s exceptional protection. This article tries to establish when and why these works were written. The many divergences between the five texts demonstrate that many more versions and copies were once in circulation. In particular, the chronicles were intended to reach the inhabitants of Frisia west of the Lauwers. It can be shown that the base versions of the vernacular editions were written between 1464 and 1479. One of the places where editing of these took place was the Cistercian abbey of Klaarkamp. However, the author of the Latin base text, the Historia Frisiae, does not seem to have been a monk given that his work has a more militant character than the popular versions. Nevertheless, all of the texts were intended to reinforce of the patriotic awareness of the Frisians at a time when their political autonomy was threatened by the dukes of Burgundy.
An Investigation of Changing Attitudes and Behaviors and Problematic Internet Use in Children Aged 8 to 17 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kamaşak Tülay , Topbaş Murat , Ozen Nalan , Esenülkü Gülnur , Yıldız Nihal , Şahin Sevim , Acar Arslan Elif , Çil Elif , Kart Pınar Özkan , Cansu Ali
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyle, habits, and behavioral differences in children, and their changing internet use habits.

Methods

The research was planned as a cross-sectional study involving 4892 children aged 8 to 17 years attending schools in the city center of Trabzon, Turkey. Children’s daily living activities, social habits, mood and temperament changes, and internet use were investigated before and during the pandemic. In terms of problematic internet use, internet addiction rates were evaluated using the validated Turkish-language version of the Parent-Child Internet Addiction Scale (PCIAT-20).

Results

The children’s mean age was 13 ± 2.45 years, and 17.1% (n = 837) exhibited problematic internet use features on the PCIAT-20. Problematic internet use was higher in boys and in children older than 13 years. The presence of COVID-19 infection among members of the household, quarantine measures, attending private schools, the mother’s occupation, the time spent by the mother and father on their mobile phones, and high parental education levels were associated with a high level of internet addiction. Families also described significant changes in their children’s temperament and character compared with the pre-pandemic period.

Conclusion

The prevalence of problematic internet use increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous studies from Turkey. Children were also more introverted, irritable, and pessimistic during the pandemic.
Effect of Music on Pain in Cancer Patients in Palliative Care Service: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Düzgün Gönül , Karadakovan Ayfer
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to investigate the effect of music on pain, anxiety, comfort, and functional capacity of cancer patients who received care in a palliative care unit. The population of this randomized controlled trial consisted of cancer patients hospitalized in the palliative care service between July 2018 and July 2019. The study included 60 patients (30 interventions/30 controls). The patients in the intervention group were given a total of six music sessions, 10 minutes each with the Turkish classical music in maqams of their choice (Hejaz or Rast accompanied by an expert tambour (drum) player). There was a significant difference between the mean total pain scores, anxiety, comfort, and functional capacity scores of the patients in the intervention and control groups before and after music therapy. Music therapy decreased the level of pain. It is demonstrated that Turkish classical music therapy improved the pain, anxiety, comfort, and functional capacity in the palliative care unit.
Rhetoric and Rights: Citizenship and the Politics of Persuasion
Authors: Rees Peter
Published: December 2021

This article examines the relevance of rhetorical analysis for the theory and practice of rights-claiming. Recent work in the field of human rights proposes that what is important about rights is not what they ‘are’ but what they ‘do’. Utilising performative theory, they suggest that rights-claiming is best understood as a perlocutionary practice of persuasion. The question is, ‘How might rights claims be most persuasive?’ This article applies insights from the field of rhetoric to investigate how practices of rights-claiming by migrants in France contest French citizenship. It argues that rights claims are ethico-political negotiations of a political situation and that such practices are persuasive when they mobilise transcendent principles embedded within particular political communities. Rhetorical analysis explains how rights can be both inventive and efficacious. In so doing, this article extends the human rights literature by providing a refined rights-claiming analytic.
Loneliness and Off-Topic Verbosity Among Young Adults and Older Adults
Authors: Barnett Michael D. , Smith Leah N. , Sandlin Alexzandra M. , Coldiron Allyson M.
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Off-topic verbosity (OTV) refers to prolonged speech that derails from the initial conversational topic by including more loosely associated speech and becoming increasingly more unfocused and distant from the initial topic. Previous research has suggested that, among older adults, loneliness may be associated with greater OTV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of the relationship between loneliness and OTV among young adults ( n = 62) and older adults ( n = 80). Methods: Participants completed a measure of loneliness and provided speech samples, which were transcribed and rated for OTV. Results: Results indicated some relationship between loneliness and tangentiality of speech, particularly among older adults. Discussion: Overall, loneliness may be associated with greater OTV in older adults, which could further explain the connection between increased loneliness and worse health outcomes in older adulthood.