bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tilianin Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuronal Damage in Rats with Vascular Dementia via p‐CaMKII/ERK/CREB and ox‐CaMKII‐Dependent MAPK/NF‐κB Pathways
Authors: Jiang Hailun , Ashraf Ghulam Md , Liu Mimin , Zhao Kaiyue , Wang Yu , Wang Linlin , Xing Jianguo , Alghamdi Badrah S. , Li Zhuorong , Liu Rui
Published: September 2021

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a common cause of cognitive decline and dementia of vascular origin, but the precise pathological mechanisms are unknown, and so effective clinical treatments have not been established. Tilianin, the principal active compound of total flavonoid extract from Dracocephalum moldavica L., is a candidate therapy for cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases in China. However, its potential in the treatment of VaD is unclear. The present study is aimed at investigating the protective effects of tilianin on VaD and exploring the underlying mechanism of the action. A model of VaD was established by permanent 2‐vessel occlusion (2VO) in rats. Human neurons (hNCs) differentiated from human‐induced pluripotent stem cells were used to establish an oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD) model. The therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of tilianin were identified using behavioral tests, histochemistry, and multiple molecular biology techniques such as Western blot analysis and gene silencing. The results demonstrated that tilianin modified spatial cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, oxidation, and apoptosis in rats with VaD and protected hNCs against OGD by increasing cell viability and decreasing apoptosis rates. A study of the mechanism indicated that tilianin restored p‐CaMKII/ERK1/2/CREB signaling in the hippocampus, maintaining hippocampus‐independent memory. In addition, tilianin inhibited an ox‐CaMKII/p38 MAPK/JNK/NF‐κB associated inflammatory response caused by cerebral oxidative stress imbalance in rats with VaD. Furthermore, specific CaMKIIα siRNA action revealed that tilianin‐exerted neuroprotection involved increase of neuronal viability, inhibition of apoptosis, and suppression of inflammation, which was dependent on CaMKIIα. In conclusion, the results suggested the neuroprotective effect of tilianin in VaD and the potential mechanism associated with dysfunction in the regulation of p‐CaMKII‐mediated long‐term memory and oxidation and inflammation involved with ox‐CaMKII, which may lay the foundation for clinical trials of tilianin for the treatment of VaD in the future.
Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide Alleviates Myocardial Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in the Heart of Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Song Xiaolong , Kong Junhong , Song Jun , Pan Renyou , Wang Lei
Published: September 2021

This research is aimed at studying the effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) extracted from the Lixinshui prescription on cardiac disease induced by hypertension in rats. Rat models of cardiovascular disease were established, and the associated factors were measured. The data showed that ASP treatment increased the ejection fraction and short axis shortening rate, while decreasing the LV end-diastolic diameter, LV end-systolic diameter, LV end-diastolic volume, and LV end-systolic volume in HHD rats. ASP downregulated the expression level of TGF-β1, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, fibronectin, vimentin, Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 and upregulated the expression level of Bcl-2 in LV of HHD rats. Meanwhile, ASP increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), tissue endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our findings indicated that ASP could prevent hypertensive heart disease by inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, suppressing the myocardial apoptosis, and alleviating oxidative stress.
Role of Internet of Things Technology in Promoting the Circulation Industry in the Transformation of a Resource‐Based Economy
Authors: Zhu Dongqing , Li Ting , Zhang Can , Ren Ying , Wang Huan , Duan Xia
Published: September 2021

In recent years, the business scale of my country’s circulation industry has continued to expand, and the output value has continued to increase. The leading role in guiding the transformation of the industrial economy has become more and more important. Based on this, this article discusses the research on the promotion of the Internet of Things technology to the circulation industry in the transformation of the resource‐based economy. The application of RFID technology and wireless sensor technology in the Internet of Things in the circulation industry can greatly improve work efficiency and information transmission accuracy. This article establishes the circulation industry based on the principles of science, system, safety, and relative independence. The evaluation index system analyzes the role of the circulation industry in the transformation of the resource‐based economy in terms of circulation scale, circulation structure, circulation efficiency, circulation innovation, etc., and uses the analytic hierarchy process and entropy method to analyze the collected data. With the support of RFID technology, the output value of the circulation industry in Province Y has reached 140.508 billion yuan in 2019, accounting for about 27% of the tertiary industry, and the number of employees in the circulation industry has also increased to 57.88%, which is a strong boost to the economy of Province Y. It has a greater contribution to the total economic volume. The research of this article has realized the economic transformation of resource‐based cities in the circulation industry and has a certain reference effect for the transformation and upgrading of similar cities.
The Antiviral Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide by Blocking the Interaction between SARS‐CoV‐2 and Its Potential Cell Surface Receptors
Authors: Dai Jing , Teng Xu , Jin Sheng , Wu Yuming
Published: September 2021

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is posing a great threat to the global economy and public health security. Together with the acknowledged angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2, glucose‐regulated protein 78, transferrin receptor, AXL, kidney injury molecule‐1, and neuropilin 1 are also identified as potential receptors to mediate SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Therefore, how to inhibit or delay the binding of SARS‐CoV‐2 with the abovementioned receptors is a key step for the prevention and treatment of COVID‐19. As the third gasotransmitter, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays an important role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recently, survivors were reported to have significantly higher H2S levels in COVID‐19 patients, and mortality was significantly greater among patients with decreased H2S levels. Considering that the beneficial role of H2S against COVID‐19 and COVID‐19‐induced comorbidities and multiorgan damage has been well‐examined and reported in some excellent reviews, this review will discuss the recent findings on the potential receptors of SARS‐CoV‐2 and how H2S modulates the above receptors, in turn blocking SARS‐CoV‐2 entry into host cells.
Bi-Objective Optimization for Vehicle Routing Problems with a Mixed Fleet of Conventional and Electric Vehicles and Soft Time Windows
Authors: Zhao Peixin , Liu Fanfan , Guo Yuanyuan , Duan Xiaoyang , Zhang Yunshu
Published: September 2021

With the growing interest in environmental protection and congestion, electric vehicles are increasingly becoming the important transportation means. However, electric vehicles currently face several adoption barriers including high purchasing price and limited travelling range, so the fleets where electric vehicles and conventional vehicles coexist are closer to the current fleet management status. Considering the impact of charging facilities and carbon emission, this paper proposes a vehicle routing problem with a mixed fleet of conventional and electric vehicles and soft time windows. A bi-objective programming model is established to minimize total operational cost and time penalty cost. Finally, the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is employed to deal with this problem. Furthermore, single-objective optimization is carried out for the two objectives, respectively, and the linear weighting method is also used to solve the problem. Through the contrast of these results and the NSGA-II results, the effectiveness of the algorithm in this paper is further verified. The results indicate that two objectives are contradictory to some extent and decision-makers need a trade-off between two objectives.
Exploration and Coordination of Complementary Multirobot Teams in a Hunter‐and‐Gatherer Scenario
Authors: Dadvar Mehdi , Moazami Saeed , Myler Harley R. , Zargarzadeh Hassan
Published: September 2021

The hunter‐and‐gatherer approach copes with the problem of dynamic multirobot task allocation, where tasks are unknowingly distributed over an environment. This approach employs two complementary teams of agents: one agile in exploring (hunters) and another dexterous in completing (gatherers) the tasks. Although this approach has been studied from the task planning point of view in our previous works, the multirobot exploration and coordination aspects of the problem remain uninvestigated. This paper proposes a multirobot exploration algorithm for hunters based on innovative notions of “expected information gain” to minimize the collective cost of task accomplishments in a distributed manner. Besides, we present a coordination solution between hunters and gatherers by integrating the novel notion of profit margins into the concept of expected information gain. Statistical analysis of extensive simulation results confirms the efficacy of the proposed algorithms compared in different environments with varying levels of obstacle complexities. We also demonstrate that the lack of effective coordination between hunters and gatherers significantly distorts the total effectiveness of the planning, especially in environments containing dense obstacles and confined corridors. Finally, it is statistically proven that the overall workload is distributed equally for each type of agent which ensures that the proposed solution is not biased to a particular agent and all agents behave analogously under similar characteristics.
Study of the Ground-State Energies of Some Nuclei Using Hybrid Model
Authors: Hussien R. , Sewailem Sh. M. , Abou-Salem L. I.
Published: September 2021

The quark-quark (QQ) interaction as a perturbed term to the nucleon-nucleon interaction (NN) without any coupling between them is studied in a hybrid model. This model is used to calculate the ground-state energies of 2H1 and 4He2 nuclei. In a semirelativistic framework, this model is encouraged for light nuclei and the instanton-induced interaction by using the QQ potential and the NN interaction for a small scale around the hadron boundaries. This hybrid model depends on two theories, the one-boson exchange potential (OBEP) and the Cornell-dressed potential (CDP) for QQ. A small effect of quark-quark interaction is obtained on the values of the ground-state energies, around 6.7 and 1.2 percentage for 2H1 and 4He2, respectively nuclei.
Clinical Profile and Treatment Outcomes in Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) for Carcinoma Nasopharynx: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Nazeer Farida , Rejnish Kumar R. , Rafi Malu , Bhattacharya Tapesh , Mullangath Prakasan Aparna , Naveen Kumar P. , George Preethi , Kunnambath Ramadas , Thommachan Kainickal Cessal
Published: September 2021

Objective. To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcome of carcinoma nasopharynx patients treated with the IMRT technique. Methods. Eighty-one nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who were treated with IMRT with or without chemotherapy between the period January 2011 and December 2014 at a comprehensive tertiary cancer center, Kerala, India, were included in the study. The mean age was 43 years (range 13–77 years), and majority of the patients were males (67.9%). The stagewise distribution of disease at presentation was 2 (2.5%) in stage I, 19 in stage II (23.5%), 31 (38.3%) in stage III, and 29 (35.8%) in stage IV. All patients were treated using simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) schedule using IMRT with 6 MV photon to a dose of 66 Gy in 30 fractions, 2.2 Gy per fraction prescribed to high-risk PTV; 60 Gy in 30 fractions, 2 Gy per fraction to intermediate risk PTV; and 54 Gy in 30 fractions, 1.8 Gy per fraction to low-risk PTV. Concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin was offered to patients with stage II and above disease. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5FU was given to patients with initially advanced disease (T3, T4, N2, and N3). Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The univariate analysis was performed using log-rank tests. Results. The 5-year locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were 87.5%, 87%, 61.6%, and 62.5%, respectively. The 5-year OS was 100% for stage I (n = 2), 67% for stage II (n = 19), 70.4% for stage III (n = 31), and 68.1% for stage IV (n = 29). The DFS at 5 years was 100% for stage I, 61.1% for stage II, 56.2% for stage III, and 84.8% for stage IV disease. The univariate analysis showed that age, nodal stage, and use of induction chemotherapy showed an improved trend towards OS, though the results were not statistically significant. The predominant pattern of failure in the present study was distant metastasis. Most patients who developed distant metastasis in our study had either an advanced T stage or N3 disease at presentation. Conclusion. The present study shows our initial experience with IMRT for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The compliance to RT was good in this study. The 5-year LRC and OS rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with IMRT were 87.5% and 62.5%. Distant metastasis was the main pattern of failure.
Effect of Expanded Polystyrene Particle Size on Engineering Properties of Clayey Soil
Authors: Liang Chuanyang , Wu Yuedong , Liu Jian , Wu Huiguo , Chen Dashuo , Liu Hui , Song Yuanzhuo
Published: September 2021

The particle size of expanded polystyrene (EPS) has an effect on engineering properties of EPS‐clay blends. However, the effect of differences between EPS particle size groups subdivided within 1–3 mm on engineering properties is usually ignored. In this study, different particle sizes of EPS pellets have been considered to separately investigate the effect on the optimum water content (OWC), maximum dry density (MDD), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), ductility, coefficient of permeability, and compression index of EPS‐clay blends. Results show that the MDD, ductility, hydraulic conductivity, and compression index of EPS‐clay blends do not increase with the increase in the EPS particle size in the range of 0.3–3 mm, while the OWC and UCS do not decrease. For a given EPS content, among samples with the EPS particle size of 0.3–1 mm, 1‐2 mm, and 2‐3 mm, the MDD and UCS of EPS‐clay blends with 1‐2 mm in EPS particle size are the largest, while the OWC, ductility, coefficient of permeability, and compression index are the smallest. Microstructure analyses reveal that, for samples with the EPS particle size of 1‐2 mm, the pore volume is lower and the microstructure is denser, which are the main reasons why the EPS particle size can influence engineering properties of EPS‐clay blends.
Long Noncoding RNA TTC39A-AS1 Promotes Breast Cancer Tumorigenicity by Sponging MicroRNA-483-3p and Thereby Upregulating MTA2
Authors: Zhou Zhaohui , Yang Ping , Zhang Binming , Yao Maohui , Jia Yali , Li Na , Liu Huimin , Bai Haiya , Gong Xiaojun
Published: September 2021

Introduction: In recent years, the regulatory activities of long noncoding RNAs have received increasing attention as an important research focus. This study aimed to characterize the expression and detailed roles of TTC39A antisense RNA 1 (TTC39A-AS1) in breast cancer (BC), in addition to concentrating on its downstream mechanisms. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine the expression levels of TTC39A-AS1, microRNA-483-3p (miR-483-3p), and metastasis-associated gene 2 (MTA2). Further, the detailed functions of TTC39A-AS1 in BC cells were confirmed using the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay, flow cytometric analysis, and Transwell cell migration and invasion assays. The targeting relationship between TTC39A-AS1, miR-483-3p, and MTA2 in BC was predicted via bioinformatics analysis and further confirmed by performing the luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Results: TTC39A-AS1 was present in high levels in BC; this result was confirmed in our sample cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Patients with BC with a high level of TTC39A-AS1 had a shorter overall survival than those with a low level of TTC39A-AS1. Functionally, the absence of TTC39A-AS1 accelerated cell apo­ptosis but retained cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, TTC39A-AS1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA in BC by sponging miR-483-3p and thereby indirectly increasing MTA2 expression. Finally, rescue experiments revealed that the tumor-inhibiting actions of TTC39A-AS1 knockdown on the malignant characteristics of BC cells could be reversed by inhibiting miR-483-3p or upregulating MTA2. Conclusion: The newly identified TTC39A-AS1/miR-483-3p/MTA2 pathway was revealed to be a critical regulator in the tumorigenicity of BC, possibly offering a novel therapeutic direction for the anticancer treatment of BC.
Therapeutic Potential of Human Nasal Inferior Turbinate-Derived Stem Cells: Microarray Analysis of Multilineage Differentiation
Authors: Park Sun Hwa , Kim Do Hyun , Lim Mi Hyun , Back Sang A. , Yun Byeong Gon , Jeun Jung Ho , Lim Jung Yeon , Kim Su Young , Hwang Se Hwan , Kim Sung Won
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Human nasal inferior turbinate-derived stem cells (hNTSCs) are attractive sources of adult stem cells for medical application because they can be easily obtained and cultivated with a highly proliferative capacity. The ability of hNTSCs to differentiate into chondrocytes, osteocytes, and neural cells makes them potential replacement therapeutic candidates in intractable disease. Nevertheless, detailed expression pattern of genes associated with trilineage differentiation (osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and neurogenesis) in hNTSCs has not been revealed yet. Methods: In this study, we aimed to evaluate gene expression patterns of various transcription factors and marker genes associated with a particular lineage (osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and neurogenesis) of differentiation of hNTSCs by DNA microarrays. Results: In microarrays, 36 transcripts such as E2F transcription factor 1, activating transcription factor 5, and AKR1B10 were upregulated and 36 transcripts such as CA9, PPFIA4, HAS2, and COL4A4 were downregulated in osteogenically differentiated hNTSCs. In chondrogenically differentiated hNTSCs, 3 transcripts (NUDT14, CPA4, and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor) were upregulated and 82 transcripts such as PTGS1, CLEC2D, and TET1 were downregulated. In neurally differentiated hNTSCs, 61 transcripts such as insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1, nerve growth factor receptor, FGF1, OLFML1, and EPGN were upregulated and 98 transcripts such as ACAN, RUNX2, and C21orf96 were downregulated. In gene ontology (GO) analysis, cell signal-related GO terms were highly expressed. By contrast, catalysis GO terms and GO terms related to oxidoreductase were overrepresented in chondrogenically differentiated hNTSCs and osteogenically differentiated hNTSCs, respectively. Conclusion: Considering overall results, hNTSCs-specific genetic information may promote further studies on intracellular mechanisms defining key features of these cells.
Destabilizing Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Chromosomes: Sizing up the Damage
Authors: Cornforth Michael N. , Bedford Joel S. , Bailey Susan M.
Published: September 2021

For long-term survival and evolution, all organisms have depended on a delicate balance between processes involved in maintaining stability of their genomes and opposing processes that lead toward destabilization. At the level of mammalian somatic cells in renewal tissues, events or conditions that can tip this balance toward instability have attracted special interest in connection with carcinogenesis. Mutations affecting DNA (and its subsequent repair) would, of course, be a major consideration here. These may occur spontaneously through endogenous cellular processes or as a result of exposure to mutagenic environmental agents. It is in this context that we discuss the rather unique destabilizing effects of ionizing radiation (IR) in terms of its ability to cause large-scale structural rearrangements to the genome. We present arguments supporting the conclusion that these and other important effects of IR originate largely from microscopically visible chromosome aberrations.
Cytogenetic Damage of Human Lymphocytes in Humanized Mice Exposed to Neutrons and X Rays 24 h After Exposure
Authors: Wang Qi , Lee Younghyun , Pujol-Canadell Monica , Perrier Jay R. , Smilenov Lubomir , Harken Andrew , Garty Guy , Brenner David J. , Ponnaiya Brian , Turner Helen C.
Published: September 2021

Detonation of an improvised nuclear device highlights the need to understand the risk of mixed radiation exposure as prompt radiation exposure could produce significant neutron and gamma exposures. Although the neutron component may be a relatively small percentage of the total absorbed dose, the large relative biological effectiveness (RBE) can induce larger biological DNA damage and cell killing. The objective of this study was to use a hematopoietically humanized mouse model to measure chromosomal DNA damage in human lymphocytes 24 h after in vivo exposure to neutrons (0.3 Gy) and X rays (1 Gy). The human dicentric and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays were performed to measure chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes in vivo from the blood and spleen, respectively. The mBAND assay based on fluorescent in situ hybridization labeling was used to detect neutron-induced chromosome 1 inversions in the blood lymphocytes of the neutron-irradiated mice. Cytogenetics endpoints, dicentrics and micronuclei showed that there was no significant difference in yields between the 2 irradiation types at the doses tested, indicating that neutron-induced chromosomal DNA damage in vivo was more biologically effective (RBE ∼3.3) compared to X rays. The mBAND assay, which is considered a specific biomarker of high-LET neutron exposure, confirmed the presence of clustered DNA damage in the neutron-irradiated mice but not in the X-irradiated mice, 24 h after exposure.
Sans Standardization: Effective Endoscope Reprocessing
Authors: Avasarala Sameer K. , Muscarella Lawrence F. , Mehta Atul C.
Published: September 2021

Bronchoscopy is a commonly performed procedure within thoracic and critical care medicine. Modern bronchoscopes are technologically advanced tools made of fragile electronic components. Their design is catered to allow maximum maneuverability within the semi-rigid tracheobronchial tree. Effective cleaning and reprocessing of these tools can be a challenge. Although highly functional, the design poses several challenges when it comes to reprocessing. It is a very important step, and lapses in the procedure have been tied to nosocomial infections. The process lacks universal standardization; several organizations have developed their own recommendations. Data have shown that key stakeholders are not fully versed in the essentials of endoscope reprocessing. A significant knowledge gap exists between those performing bronchoscopy and those who are stewards of effective endoscope reprocessing. To service as a resource for bronchoscopists, this study summarizes the steps of effective reprocessing, details the important elements within a health-care facility that houses this process, and reviews some of the current data regarding the use of disposable endoscopes.
Phase II Trial of the Combination of Temsirolimus and Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tumor Mutation Profiling
Authors: Kelley Robin K. , Joseph Nancy M. , Nimeiri Halla S. , Hwang Jimmy , Kulik Laura M. , Ngo Zoe , Behr Spencer C. , Onodera Courtney , Zhang Karen , Bocobo Andrea G. , Benson Al B. , Venook Alan P. , Gordan John D.
Published: September 2021

Background: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is upregulated in nearly half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and is associated with poor prognosis. In preclinical models of HCC, the combination of mTOR pathway inhibition with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib improves treatment efficacy. A prior phase I study of the allosteric mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus combined with sorafenib demonstrated acceptable safety at the recommended phase II dose. Methods: We conducted a single-arm, multicenter phase II trial of the combination of temsirolimus 10 mg intravenously weekly plus sorafenib 200 mg b.i.d. The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP) with efficacy target of median TTP of at least 6 months; secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate, safety, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker response. Next-generation tumor sequencing was performed as an exploratory endpoint. Results: Twenty-nine patients were enrolled, including 48% with hepatitis C virus infection and 28% with hepatitis B virus; 86% had Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage C disease. Among 28 patients evaluable for efficacy, the median TTP was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 5.3) months, with 14% of patients achieving TTP of at least 6 months. The median OS was 8.8 (95% CI: 6.8, 14.8) months. There were no complete or partial responses; 75% of patients had stable disease as best response. AFP decline by at least 50% was associated with prolonged TTP and OS. Serious adverse events occurred in 21%; the most common treatment-related adverse events of CTCAE grade 3 or higher were hypophosphatemia (36%), thrombocytopenia (14%), and rash (11%). There were no grade 5 events attributed to sorafenib or temsirolimus. Tumor next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in a subgroup of 24 patients with adequate tumor samples. Tumor mTOR pathway mutations were identified in 42%. There was no association between tumor mutation profile and OS or TTP. Conclusions: The combination of temsirolimus and sorafenib demonstrated acceptable safety but did not achieve the target threshold for efficacy in this phase II study. Tumor NGS including the presence of mTOR pathway mutations was not associated with treatment response in an exploratory subgroup analysis.
Comparative Stress Response of Black and Gold Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya) in Urban and Rural Environments of Northern Argentina
Authors: Fernández Julieta , Ponzio Marina F. , Cantarelli Verónica I. , Clennon Julie A. , Gennuso María Sol , Raño Mariana , Kowalewski Martin M.
Published: September 2021

The expansion of human populations associated with urbanization results in extensive modification of natural habitats. While many species cannot persist in these highly modified environments, some species adopt new strategies, which contribute to their survival. Several primate species have persisted in altered habitats, including members of the genus Alouatta. To improve our understanding of this interplay, we compared glucocorticoid (GCC) levels in male and female black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) in urban and rural areas in northeastern Argentina. Fecal samples (n = 60) were collected from adults and hormone extracts were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Monkeys living in urban areas (females: 109.15 ± 18.83; males: 106.15 ± 10.48) had lower GCClevels than monkeys living in rural areas (females: 152.01 ± 19.50; males:139,82 ± 10.85). Interestingly, males living in urban areas had lower GCC levels compared to those living in rural areas, whereas no differences were observed in GCC levels between females living in urban and rural areas. While these results suggest that urban areas may provide a release from intergroup competition for male howler monkeys, future work is needed to better understand the dynamics of this association to best inform management and conservation of this vulnerable species.
A judiciarização da política como instrumento de contenção da degradação populista da legitimidade democrática
Authors: Villas Bôas Filho Orlando
Published: September 2021

Este artigo pretende analisar o processo de judiciarização, tal como definido na “sociologia política do direito” proposta por Jacques Commaille, como instrumento de contenção da degradação populista da legitimidade democrática. Para tanto, realiza, em primeiro lugar, uma apresentação geral, sem pretensão de distanciamento crítico, da “sociologia política do direito” para, a partir dela, enfocar a questão da judiciarização. Em seguida, é mobilizada a tese de Pierre Rosanvallon acerca da complexificação da experiência democrática contemporânea que conduz à consideração de novas formas de legitimidade (imparcialidade, proximidade e reflexividade). Por fim, é feita uma breve reconstrução das características atribuídas por Rosanvallon ao fenômeno do populismo para, a partir daí, analisar como a degradação da legitimidade democrática por ele engendrada pode ser contida pela judiciarização.
Os licenciamentos urbanísticos: uma breve visão sobre o direito português
Authors: Oliveira Fernanda Paula
Published: September 2021

O presente texto visa apresentar a forma como os procedimentos de controlo administrativo de operações urbanísticas tem evoluído no ordenamento jurídico português, mostrando a forma como o legislador tem procurado dotar tais procedimentos de maior simplificação. Efetivamente, e como aqui se analisa, a busca por uma maior simplificação dos procedimentos de controlo da realização de operações urbanísticas sempre foi uma preocupação do legislador português, tendo-o traduzido nas múltiplas alterações legislativas ao regime que regula esta atividade e que é, atualmente, o Regime Jurídico da Urbanização e Edificação.
Métodos y estrategias didácticas para la enseñanza del derecho en la facultad de negocios: ¿o sería para la facultad de derecho?
Authors: Valério Marco Aurélio Gumieri
Published: September 2021

La enseñanza del Derecho se ha incluido en los planes de estudio de Las Facultades de Negocios en Brasil para desarrollar en los estudiantes una noción básica del Derecho contiguo a sus conocimientos profesionales, contribuyendo con una formación universalista cada vez más valorada en el mercado laboral. Aunque su valor sea inequívoco, la enseñanza del Derecho en las Facultades de Negocios enfrenta serias dificultades para adaptarse. La forma tradicional en que se estructura una clase de Derecho, que se basa en una pedagogía centrada en el maestro, se aplicó por completo, sin sufrir ningún ajuste. Los objetivos de este trabajo son: presentar una visión de la enseñanza del Derecho en el plan de estudios de las Facultades de Negocios, enumerando sus problemas, recursos y limitaciones; demostrar a los maestros que, a pesar de las dificultades que enfrenta la enseñanza del Derecho cada uno tiene que crear o reinventar sus didácticas, adaptándolas a las realidades específicas; proporcionar a los estudiantes herramientas prácticas y teóricas que los conduzcan a una comprensión completa de la materia; y alentar al profesor a crear un ambiente de enseñanza renovado en la experiencia educativa centrada en el estudiante como el tema principal del proceso de aprendizaje.
Certos interesses alemães na Alta Silésia polonesa: mudanças territoriais e proteção de minorias
Authors: Alamino Felipe Nicolau Pimentel
Published: September 2021

O artigo busca analisar o caso julgado pela Corte Permanente de Justiça Internacional relativo a certos interesses alemães na Alta Silésia Polonesa, demonstrando as alterações territoriais ocorridas na Europa no pós-Primeira Guerra Mundial com relação à proteção das minorias existentes naqueles territórios que passariam a compor novos Estados, explorando as alterações referentes à Alemanha e à Polônia com relação às suas populações.
Non-governmental organizations and the LGBTI community struggle for rights in Uganda
Authors: Zanin Henrique da Silveira
Published: September 2021

Despite several studies supporting that some pre-colonial African groups had non-normative sex practices, the African continent still provides limited protection for LGBTI individuals. In Uganda, this protection is non-existent due to the British colonial rule, an anti-Western nationalism and strong religious beliefs. These facts brought widespread disgust for LGBTI people over time and today there is an active anti-LGBTI lawmaking in Uganda. Violence towards LGBTI individuals led to the death of several activists, despite the existence of more than 500,000 people who identify themselves as LGBTI living in the country. Therefore, this paper describes the diverse issues that concern the LGBTI people in Uganda and surveys Ugandan pro-LGBTI non-governmental organizations, describing the type of work they have been doing. It was possible to find four organizations, which have been working in areas such as healthcare, labor and economic empowerment, legal aid, care and support, advocacy and cultural change, visibility and awareness. The various strategies they have been developing are supported by the literature with regard to LGBTI protection in Uganda, except for the care and aid category, which still lacks studies to support the development of counselling, social support to address loneliness issues and safety precautions. This paper suggests studies to be developed in this theme. The work developed by these few NGOs in different areas may be capable of producing local change and political pressure throughout time, as studies such as this one may do so.
Smart legal Contracts: Einsatzmöglichkeiten im recht und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen
Authors: Mello Gustavo Marchi de Souza
Published: September 2021

Das Ziel dieser Arbeit besteht darin, die neue Kategorie des smart contracts, d.h. automatische Softwareprogramme, die auf Blockchain-Plattform aufgebaut sind, aus rechtlicher Sicht zu untersuchen. Genauer gesagt wird untersucht, wie sie sich potenziell auf das Vertragsrechtsuniversum auswirken können, indem sie als Antwort des Rechts auf die Herausforderungen einer Gesellschaft in ständiger Entwicklung dienen. Insgesamt widmet sich die vorliegende Arbeit der Frage, ob diese Verträge tatsächlich ein innovatives Rechtsinstrument darstellen oder nicht – eine aufkeimende Frage, die noch einer Antwort bedarf. Die eigentlich rechtliche Seite der technisch sogenannten smart contracts, die in diesem Zusammenhang von Synergien zwischen Recht und Technik als smart legal contracts zu bezeichnet sind, soll geklärt werden. Auf diese Weise werden sowohl (i) seine rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen, als auch (ii) seine Einsatzmöglichkeiten im deutschen Recht, insbesondere was das Vertragsrecht betrifft, analysiert. Diese Untersuchung ist vor allem aufgrund des innovativen Potentials dieser obengenannten „Verträge“ in der Dynamik des Segments gerechtfertigt – unter den möglichen Innovationen kann man die Vereinfachung und Automatisierung von Vorgängen kraft des in den smart contracts innewohnenden Selbstausführungsmechanismus erwähnen.
Direito civil e Covid-19
Authors: Tomasevicius Filho Eduardo
Published: September 2021

Este artigo tem por finalidade a análise retrospectiva dos impactos da pandemia de COVID-19 no direito civil brasileiro. Esse fato jurídico, qualificado como hipótese de força maior, afetou contratos de locação e transporte aéreo, realização de espetáculos, eventos e reuniões com grande número de participantes, assim como a instalação de assembleias e reuniões, celebração de atos jurídicos e cumprimento de ordens judiciais. A análise teve como base o Código Civil de 2002 e os seguintes diplomas: Lei n. 14.010, de 10 de junho de 2020, intitulada de Regime Jurídico Emergencial e Transitório das relações jurídicas de Direito Privado (RJET) no período da pandemia do coronavírus (COVID-19); Lei n. 10.034/2020, sobre setor aéreo; Lei n. 14.046/2020, sobre cancelamentos de serviços e reservas de eventos nos setores de turismo e de cultura; e Lei n. 13.709 (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados), promulgada em 2018 e com vigência a partir de setembro de 2020. Cotejaram-se essas leis com a jurisprudência, especialmente a do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado de São Paulo, de modo a identificar em que casos os referidos textos legais foram ou não eficazes na solução dos desafios que surgiram por conta da pandemia. Ao final, foram apresentadas as conclusões acerca dos aspectos positivos e negativos observados ao longo do ano de 2020, para que se possam aproveitar as experiências com o intuito de aprimoramento da legislação vigente no Brasil.
HPV e o câncer de orofaringe
Authors: Voltolini Juliana Milioli , Santos Felipe Daniel Búrigo dos
Published: September 2021

Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo é revisar a produção científica internacional e nacional sobre o HPV e o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, com foco nos tumores de orofaringe. Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática de literatura, em que foi realizada uma busca bibliográfica por meio de recursos eletrônicos obtidos, em sua maioria, na base de dados PubMed, publicados entre o período de 1999 a 2019. Resultados: É possível afirmar que o HPV é um fator para a formação câncer de células espinocelulares da orofaringe(CCEO) e, entre os tipos de HPV, o HPV-16 é o tipo mais comum relacionado ao SCCOP. Conclusões: Tendo em vista o alto índice de morbidade e a alta taxa de pacientes que possuem o diagnóstico de câncer de cabeça e pescoço tardio, deve- -se levar em consideração que o diagnóstico precoce é de suma importância para estes pacientes.
Afonso Taunay, dicionarista científico
Authors: Magalhães Gildo
Published: September 2021

O historiador Afonso Taunay foi também um atento dicionarista de termos científicos e técnicos, aspecto pouco conhecido atualmente. Nesta resenha são apresentados três trabalhos seus, com destaque para suas posições nacionalistas que enfatizam a necessidade de dicionarizar assuntos já recorrentes em sua época, muitos deles ligados com inovações e áreas de estudos que se desenvolveram na primeira metade do século 20.
Radiation‐Induced Cardiovascular Disease: Review of an Underrecognized Pathology
Authors: Belzile‐Dugas Eve , Eisenberg Mark J.
Published: September 2021

Radiation therapy demonstrates a clear survival benefit in the treatment of several malignancies. However, cancer survivors can develop a wide array of cardiotoxic complications related to radiation. This pathology is often underrecognized by clinicians and there is little known on how to manage this population. Radiation causes fibrosis of all components of the heart and significantly increases the risk of coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, valvulopathy, arrhythmias, and pericardial disease. Physicians should treat other cardiovascular risk factors aggressively in this population and guidelines suggest obtaining regular imaging once symptomatology is established. Patients with radiation‐induced cardiovascular disease tend to do worse than their traditional counterparts for the same interventions. However, there is a trend toward fewer complications and lower mortality with catheter‐based rather than surgical approaches, likely because radiation makes these patients poor surgical candidates. When appropriate, these patients should be referred for percutaneous management of valvulopathy and coronary disease.
Productivity and interdisciplinary impacts of Organized Research Units
Authors: Hicks Daniel J.
Published: September 2021

Organized Research Units (ORUs) are nondepartmental units utilized by U.S. research universities to support interdisciplinary research initiatives, among other goals. This study examined the impacts of ORUs at one large public research university, the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), using a large corpus of journal article metadata and abstracts for both faculty affiliated with UCD ORUs and a comparison set of other faculty. Using regression analysis, I find that ORUs appeared to increase the number of coauthors of affiliated faculty, but did not appear to directly affect publication or citation counts. Next, I frame interdisciplinarity in terms of a notion of discursive space, and use a topic model approach to situate researchers within this discursive space. The evidence generally indicates that ORUs promoted multidisciplinarity rather than interdisciplinarity. In the conclusion, drawing on work in philosophy of science on inter- and multidisciplinarity, I argue that multidisciplinarity is not necessarily inferior to interdisciplinarity.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome: How COVID-19 Transformed Inpatient Pediatric Gastroenterology
Authors: Say Daphne S. , Ali Sabina , Srinath Arvind , Li B. U. K. , Venkatesh Rajitha D.
Published: September 2021

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted inpatient pediatric services across the United States, creating opportunities for innovation. A recent Webinar organized by the Telehealth for Pediatric GI Care Now working group and sponsored by the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition provided insights into how inpatient pediatric gastroenterology services were affected and how physicians adapted during the crisis. These findings suggest the use of telehealth technologies may augment family communication and facilitate multidisciplinary care in the future. We anticipate that these innovative applications of telehealth will comprise a part of a toolkit for gastroenterologists to be used during this public health emergency and beyond.
The Effect of Sanction Severity and Its Interaction With Procedural Justice
Authors: Yasrebi-De Kom Franziska M. , Dirkzwager Anja J. E. , Van Der Laan Peter H. , Nieuwbeerta Paul
Published: September 2021

Recent scholarship suggests that detention may have differential effects depending on situational factors. This longitudinal study tests an integrative theoretical framework with the aim to identify conditions under which detention deters from subsequent rule-violating behavior. We examined whether effects of experienced sanction severity on subsequent misconduct and reoffending behavior are dependent on procedural justice perceptions among Dutch adults in detention ( n = 763 and n = 765, respectively). The deterrent effect of sanction severity on misconduct was dependent on procedural justice. Increased sanction severity only deterred from subsequent misconduct when treatment was perceived as procedurally neutral to just. For individuals who were detained for the first time, a similar interaction effect was observed for reoffending behavior. The results support the added value of integrating deterrence theory with situational characteristics (i.e., procedural justice) to explain sanctioning effects and suggest that correctional staffs’ relationships with individuals in detention can contribute to order in prison and beyond.
Neoliberalism, the Alt-Right and the Intellectual Dark Web
Authors: Finlayson Alan
Published: September 2021

Drawing on research from digital media studies, political theory and rhetoric, this article explores online radical conservative and reactionary ‘ideological entrepreneurs’. It argues that online media are uniting an ‘ideological family’ around concepts of natural inequality and hostility to those who deny them. Placing this phenomenon in context, the article shows how online culture reinvigorates well-established discourses of opposition to bureaucrats, intellectuals and experts of all kinds, rejecting one version of the neoliberal state and of its personnel, a ‘new class’ understood to dominate through discursive, cultural power and imagined through the figures of the ‘Social Justice Warrior’ and the ‘Cultural Marxist’. In competing for a share of the marketplace of ideas, these ideological entrepreneurs promise insights – the revelations of the ‘red pill’ – critiquing ‘actually-existing’ neoliberalism yet insisting on the ‘rationality’ of governance through markets and promising adherents techniques for achieving success as liberated entrepreneurial selves.
Arguing about social distancing and family relationships
Authors: Johnson Amy J. , Bostwick Eryn N. , Morrissey Brittney S.
Published: September 2021

With the COVID-19 pandemic, families are having to coordinate their behaviors to face new challenges, such as negotiating the social distancing measures that the family will or will not take in their daily interaction. This study utilizes Family Communication Patterns Theory to examine conversations that young adults reported having with their family members about social distancing measures and what factors predicted the outcomes of these disagreements. A family’s level of conversation orientation and the interaction of conversation orientation and conformity orientation predicted change in relational closeness due to the argument and the perceived positivity level of predicted outcome value levels for future interaction with these family members. Additionally, level of conformity orientation predicted perceived relational harm from disagreements about social distancing.
Calibrating Wiedemann-99 Model Parameters to Trajectory Data of Mixed Vehicular Traffic
Authors: Anil Chaudhari Ankit , Srinivasan Karthik K. , Rama Chilukuri Bhargava , Treiber Martin , Okhrin Ostap
Published: September 2021

We propose a new methodology for calibrating Wiedemann-99 vehicle-following parameters for mixed traffic (different conventional vehicle classes) based on trajectory data. The existing acceleration equations of the Wiedemann model are modified to represent more realistic driving behavior. Exploratory analysis of simulation data revealed that different Wiedemann-99 model parameters could lead to similar macroscopic behavior, highlighting the importance of calibration at the microscopic level. Therefore, the proposed methodology is based on optimizing performance measures at the microscopic level (acceleration, speed, and trajectory profiles) to estimate suitable calibration parameters. Further, the goodness of fit for the observed data is sensitive to the numerical integration method used to compute vehicles’ velocity and position. We found that the calibrated parameters using the proposed methodology perform better than other approaches for calibrating mixed traffic. The results reveal that the calibrated parameter values and, consequently, the thresholds that delineate closing, following, emergency braking, and opening regimes, vary between two-wheelers and cars. The window (in the relative speed versus gap plot) for the unconscious following is larger for cars while the free-flow regime is more extensive for two-wheelers. Moreover, under the same relative speed and gap stimulus, two-wheelers and cars may be in different regimes and display different acceleration responses. Thus, accurate calibration of each vehicle’s parameters is essential for developing micro-simulation models for mixed traffic. The calibration analysis results of strict and overlapping staggered car following signify an impact of staggered car following compared with strict car following which demands separate calibration for strict and staggered following.