bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influences of Daily Life Habits on Risk Factors of Stroke Based on Decision Tree and Correlation Matrix
Authors: Shao Zeguo , Xiang Yuhong , Zhu Yingchao , Fan Aiqin , Zhang Peng
Published: June 2020

Purpose. To explore the influences of smoking, alcohol consumption, drinking tea, diet, sleep, and exercise on the risk of stroke and relationships among the factors, present corresponding knowledge-based rules, and provide a scientific basis for assessment and intervention of risk factors of stroke. Methods. The decision tree C4.5 algorithm was optimized and utilized to establish a model for stroke risk assessment; then, the main risk factors of stroke (including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, body mass index (BMI), history of stroke, family history of stroke, and transient ischemic attack (TIA)) and daily habits (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, drinking tea, diet, sleep, and exercise) were analyzed; corresponding knowledge-based rules were finally presented. Establish a correlation matrix of stroke risk factors and analyze the relationship between stroke risk factors. Results. The accuracy of the established model for stroke risk assessment was 87.53%, and the kappa coefficient was 0.8344, which was superior to that of the random forest and Logistic algorithm. Additionally, 37 knowledge-based rules that can be used for prevention of risk factors of stroke were derived and verified. According to in-depth analysis of risk factors of stroke, the values of smoking, exercise, sleep, drinking tea, alcohol consumption, and diet were 6.00, 7.00, 8.67, 9.33, 10.00, 10.60, and 10.75, respectively, indicating that their influence on risk factors of stroke was reduced in turn; on the one hand, smoking and exercise were strongly associated with other risk factors of stroke; on the other hand, sleep, drinking tea, alcohol consumption, and diet were not firmly associated with other risk factors of stroke, and they were relatively tightly associated with smoking and exercise. Conclusions. Establishment of a model for stroke risk assessment, analysis of factors influencing risk factors of stroke, analysis of relationships among those factors, and derivation of knowledge-based rules are helpful for prevention and treatment of stroke.
Availability and Utilization of WHO Lifesaving Medicines for Children under Five in Public Health Facilities of the Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Tujo Tidenek Mulugeta , Gurmu Tadesse Gudeta
Published: June 2020

Background. The increased morbidity and mortality rates in children under five in developing countries are mostly attributed to poor availability and failure of prescribing lifesaving medicines. This study was aimed at evaluating the availability and utilization of the WHO-recommended priority lifesaving medicines for children under five in public health facilities. Method. A cross-sectional survey complemented with a qualitative method was conducted in 14 health centers and four hospitals in the Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. In the facilities, we assessed the availability within the last half year and on the day of the visit. Utilization of the medicines was assessed through a review of patient records of the last one year. Twelve in-depth interviews were carried out to collect the qualitative data, and the analysis was executed using thematic analysis. Results. For treatment of pneumonia, amoxicillin dispersible tablets and gentamycin injection were available in 94.4% of the facilities. For treatment of malaria, artemether/lumefantrine was available in 61.1% of the facilities. For pain management, paracetamol tablets were available in 94.4% of the facilities. AZT+3TC+NEV for HIV/AIDS management was available in all facilities. At least one essential medicine was out of stock in the past six months with the average duration of 33.6 days in health centers and 28.25 days in hospitals. Oral rehydration salt and zinc (84.7%) and AZT+3TC+NEV (100%) had better utilization. However, for almost all cases, other nonpriority medicines were highly prescribed. Lack of administrative commitment, supply of near expiry products, complexity of diseases, and lack of customized child formulations were among the challenges of availability and utilization of those medicines. Conclusions. The overall availability of lifesaving medicines on the day of the visit was fairly good but with poor utilization in almost all facilities. Some products were not available for considerable length of time in the past six months.
A Cross-Sectional Examination of Patterns of Sedentary Behavior and Cardiometabolic Risk in Community-Dwelling Adults Aged 55 Years and Older
Authors: McAlister Kelsey L. , Rubin Daniela A. , Fisher Koren L.
Published: June 2020

Introduction. Sedentary behavior (SB) is highly prevalent among older adults, with more than 25% engaging in 6 hours or more of SB daily. SB has been associated with several cardiometabolic biomarkers in younger adults; however, there is a paucity of research in older populations. This study examined associations between patterns of SB and cardiometabolic biomarkers in community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older. Methods. Data were drawn from a convenience sample of 54 community-dwelling individuals (12 males, 42 females; mean age = 72.6 ± 6.8 years, range = 56–89 years). Cardiometabolic biomarkers assessed included systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index, waist circumference, and fasting blood glucose and cholesterol parameters. SB was assessed via accelerometry over a 7-day period, and measures included daily time in SB, number and length of sedentary bouts, the number and length of breaks between sedentary bouts, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and light physical activity (LPA). Associations between the SB measures and each cardiometabolic risk factor were examined using separate stepwise multiple regression models, controlling for sex, MVPA, and accelerometer wear time. Isotemporal substitution models were used to examine the change in cardiometabolic outcomes when SB is replaced by an equal duration of either LPA or MVPA. Results. Adjusted regression analyses showed that daily sedentary time was positively associated with DBP (β = 0.052, ∆R2 = 0.112, p=0.022) and inversely associated with HDL cholesterol (β = −0.111, ∆R2 = 0.121, p=0.039). Sedentary bout length was also associated with DBP and HDL cholesterol (β = 0.575, ∆R2 = 0.152, p = 0.007; β = −1.529, ∆R2 = 0.196, p=0.007, respectively). Replacement of 10 minutes of SB a day with LPA was associated with improved DBP and HDL cholesterol (p≤0.05). No other significant associations (p≤0.05) were found. Conclusion. Sitting for prolonged periods of time without interruption is unfavorably associated with DBP and HDL cholesterol. Prospective studies should identify causal relationships and observe specific changes in cardiometabolic profiles in older populations.
Agricultural Model for Allocation of Crops Using Pollination Intelligence Method
Authors: Ejieji C. N. , Akinsunmade A. E.
Published: June 2020

An agricultural model for allocation of crops is considered in this work using Pollination Intelligence Method. The model was constructed to solve farmer’s decision making in allocating crops to a piece of land using market price, known yield of crops, cost incurred during planting, and the total amount of land available. A new class of metaheuristic method called Flower Pollinated Algorithm is also presented in this work to solve the designed model. An improved version of the Flower Pollinated Algorithm called Pollination Intelligence Algorithm using an iterative scheme to override the switch parameter in Flower Pollinated Algorithm is also presented and used in solving the designed model. A case study of a farmer in Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, was used to implement the model, and the results obtained suggested that instead of allocating crops to land randomly based on farmer’s intuition, cost of planting, yield of crops, and market price were factors that must be considered by farmers for optimal profit before planting crops.
Synthesis and In Vitro Antimicrobial and Anthelminthic Evaluation of Naphtholic and Phenolic Azo Dyes
Authors: Adu Joseph Kwasi , Amengor Cedric Dzidzor Kodjo , Mohammed Ibrahim Nurudeen , Amaning-Danquah Cynthia , Owusu Ansah Charles , Gbadago Dorcas Dzifa , Sarpong-Agyapong Joseph
Published: June 2020

The antimicrobial activity of 2-naphtholic and phenolic azo compounds was determined against seven microbial species, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pyrogenes (clinical), and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Salmonella typhi (clinical), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 251922), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), using the high-throughput spot culture growth inhibition assay (HT-SPOTi). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for the active azo dyes. All the azo compounds (A1–B4) were screened for anthelmintic activity against adult Ghanaian earthworms, Hyperiodrilus spp. As part of the systematic investigation for biological activity, all the azo compounds exhibited good antimicrobial activity against the seven human pathogenic microorganisms. All the compounds exhibited anthelminthic activity against adult Ghanaian earthworms, Hyperiodrilus spp.
Two Thalamic Regions Screened Using Laser Capture Microdissection with Whole Human Genome Microarray in Schizophrenia Postmortem Samples
Authors: Bakshi Kalindi , Kemether Eileen M.
Published: June 2020

We used whole human genome microarray screening of highly enriched neuronal populations from two thalamic regions in postmortem samples from subjects with schizophrenia and controls to identify brain region-specific gene expression changes and possible transcriptional targets. The thalamic anterior nucleus is reciprocally connected to anterior cingulate, a schizophrenia-affected cortical region, and is also thought to be schizophrenia affected; the other thalamic region is not. Using two regions in the same subject to identify disease-relevant gene expression differences was novel and reduced intersubject heterogeneity of findings. We found gene expression differences related to miRNA-137 and other SZ-associated microRNAs, ELAVL1, BDNF, DISC-1, MECP2 and YWHAG associated findings, synapses, and receptors. Manual curation of our data may support transcription repression.
The Effectiveness of Teaching Nursing Ethics via Scenarios and Group Discussion in Nurses’ Adherence to Ethical Codes and Patients’ Satisfaction with Nurses’ Performance
Authors: Izadi Fatemeh , Bijani Mostafa , Fereidouni Zhila , Karimi Shahnaz , Tehranineshat Banafsheh , Dehghan Azizallah
Published: June 2020

Background. There are shortcomings in nurses’ adherence to ethical principles in practice. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of teaching nursing ethics via scenario-based learning and group discussion in nurses’ adherence to codes of ethics and patients’ satisfaction with nurses’ performance. Methods. Using a quasiexperimental design, the present study employed questionnaires which measure nurses’ compliance with nursing codes of ethics and patients’ satisfaction with nursing care before, immediately after, and one month after intervention. The collected data were analyzed using the independent t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test in SPSS v.22. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The nurses (n = 80) and patients (n = 160) from various units of two university hospitals in the south-west of Iran participated in the present study. Results. The pretest mean scores of the intervention and control groups in patient rights and patients’ satisfaction with nursing care were not significantly different (p=0.07, p=0.21). Yet, there were statistically significant differences between the groups’ mean scores as calculated immediately after (p<0.001, p<0.001) and one month after intervention (p<0.001, p<0.001). Conclusion. Employment of new approaches to teach nursing ethical principles improves compliance with nursing ethical codes and patients’ satisfaction with nurses’ performance.
Optimal Reinsurance-Investment Problem under Mean-Variance Criterion with n Risky Assets
Authors: Yang Peng
Published: June 2020

Based on the mean-variance criterion, this paper investigates the continuous-time reinsurance and investment problem. The insurer’s surplus process is assumed to follow Cramér–Lundberg model. The insurer is allowed to purchase reinsurance for reducing claim risk. The reinsurance pattern that the insurer adopts is combining proportional and excess of loss reinsurance. In addition, the insurer can invest in financial market to increase his wealth. The financial market consists of one risk-free asset and n correlated risky assets. The objective is to minimize the variance of the terminal wealth under the given expected value of the terminal wealth. By applying the principle of dynamic programming, we establish a Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation. Furthermore, we derive the explicit solutions for the optimal reinsurance-investment strategy and the corresponding efficient frontier by solving the HJB equation. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate how the optimal reinsurance-investment strategy changes with model parameters.
Complex Network Filtering and Compression Algorithm Based on Triangle-Subgraph
Authors: Ren Shuxia , Wu Tao , Zhang Shubo
Published: June 2020

Compressing the data of a complex network is important for visualization. Based on the triangle-subgraph structure in complex networks, complex network filtering compression algorithm based on the triangle-subgraph is proposed. The algorithm starts from the edge, lists nodes of the edge and their common node sets to form a triangle-subgraph set, parses the triangle-subgraph set, and constructs new complex network to complete compression. Before calculating the set of triangle-subgraph, node importance ranking algorithm is proposed to extract high- and low-importance nodes and filter them to reduce computational scale of complex networks. Experimental results show that filtering compression algorithm can not only improve the compression rate but also retain information of the original network at the same time; sorting result analysis and SIR model analysis show that the sorting result of node importance sorting algorithm has accuracy and rationality.
Understanding the Impact of the PC5 Resource Grid Design on the Capacity and Efficiency of LTE-V2X in Vehicular Networks
Authors: Lopez Leandro Miguel , Mendoza Charmae Franchesca , Casademont Jordi , Camps-Mur Daniel
Published: June 2020

Vehicular communications will foster mobility services and enable mass adoption of future autonomous vehicles, interchanging huge amount of data acquired from vehicles’ sensors. 3GPP Release 14 presents the first standard for supporting V2X in LTE. Several enhancements are introduced, including a new arrangement of the physical resource grid, where subchannels are the minimum resource unit instead of Resource Blocks. The resource grid is defined by several design parameters, some of them with constraints imposed by 3GPP specifications, that affect the maximum message transmission rate and efficiency of the system. Moreover, the optimum choice of these parameters is closely linked to message length, which is another variable parameter. This paper provides an analysis of the relationship between these design parameters (Resource Block per Subchannel, Transport Block Size Index, and coding rate), message size, and the system’s maximum capacity and efficiency. In doing so, we do not consider channel reuse or radio transmission characteristics because the focus of this paper is trying to find the resource grid design parameters that optimize system capacity, which is a very important aspect to consider by V2X operators.
[Retracted] Three‐Dimensional Mapping of Medial Wall in Unstable Pertrochanteric Fractures
Authors: Zhang Yingqi , Sun Yeqing , Liao Shenghui , Chang Shimin
Published: June 2020

Objective. Unstable pertrochanteric fractures are usually treated with internal fixation, and the integrity of the anteromedial cortex is an important factor for stability and healing. In this study, we described and analyzed the three‐dimensional mapping technology and morphological characteristics of pertrochanteric fractures. Methods. Fifty‐nine pertrochanteric fractures (OTA/AO 2007 types 31A2) were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomographic (CT) images for all fractures were superimposed on a standard template. Medial wall integrity was analyzed, and three‐dimensional fracture maps were created. Results. Pertrochanteric fractures always have a posterior defect in the medial cortex. The mean width of the defect, in our study, was 21.5 mm (SD: 6.1 mm, range: 10–40 mm), 56.3% (SD: 13.7%, range: 27.5‐100%). Bone segments that contact by the anteromedial cortex were 16.5 mm (SD: 5.3 mm, range: 0‐29 mm). Conclusion. The integrity of the anteromedial cortex should be considered during internal fixation of femoral trochanteric fractures. These morphological characteristics could be used to form postoperative cortical contact and improve stability of the fixation. Three‐dimensional mapping technology can help establish a typical fracture model, thereby improving doctors’ understanding of fracture characteristics.
Inferior Dislocation of Shoulder Complicated with Undisplaced Greater Tuberosity Fracture, Rupture of the Supraspinatus Tendon, and Brachial Plexus Injury in the Elderly: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Vasiliadis Angelo V. , Kalitsis Christos , Kantas Theofanis , Biniaris George
Published: June 2020

Inferior dislocation of the shoulder, also called luxatio erecta, is a rare form of the otherwise common shoulder dislocation. It appears in less than 0.5% of all shoulder dislocations. An awareness of associated potential axillary artery injury, brachial plexus complications, and rotator cuff tears is important in this rare entity and should be excluded with a high index of suspicion. In our case report, we have an 83-year-old female who inferiorly dislocated her dominant shoulder with brachial plexus injury and musculotendinous injury, which was caused by an accidental fall. The dislocation was manually reduced at the emergency department. After 18 months of conservative treatment with physical therapy, the range of motion and muscle strength of the shoulder recovered to a satisfactory mobile level according to the patient’s demands.
Recruiting Medical Students for a First Responder Project in the Social Age: Direct Contact Still Outperforms Social Media
Authors: Marx David , Greif Robert , Egloff Mike , Balmer Yves , Nabecker Sabine
Published: June 2020

Introduction. Efficient recruitment of first responders (FRs) is crucial for long-term success of any FR project. FRs are laypersons who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), medical professionals, and firemen, police officers, and other professions with a duty of help. As social media are widely used for rapid communication, we carried out a prospective observational study to test the hypothesis that recruitment of FRs via social media is more efficient than recruitment via direct face-to-face contact. Methods. Following ethics committee agreement, we informed 600 medical students about becoming FRs when they attended a didactic lecture about the FR project or during their mandatory CPR-course. Furthermore, recruitment was opened to medical students through Facebook, which accessed ∼1,000 medical students to see if they expressed interest in becoming FRs. All of the recruited students successfully completed the FR training. We then used an online questionnaire to ask these students how they had been recruited. Results. Out of 63 registered student FRs, 59 responded to the online questionnaire. Overall, 15.3% of these FR students were recruited via social media. The majority (78.0%) were recruited through direct contact. Conclusions. Despite widespread use of social media, over three-quarters of these medical students were recruited to the FR project via direct personal contact. This suggests that the advantage of a larger reachable population using social media does not outweigh the impact of personal contact with experts.
Reduced Nhe1 (Na
+
-H
+
Exchanger-1) Function Protects ApoE-Deficient Mice From Ang II (Angiotensin II)–Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Liu Cong-Lin , Liu Xin , Wang Yunzhe , Deng Zhiyong , Liu Tianxiao , Sukhova Galina K. , Wojtkiewicz Gregory R. , Tang Rui , Zhang Jin-Ying , Achilefu Samuel , Nahrendorf Matthias , Libby Peter , Wang Xiaofang , Shi Guo-Ping
Published: June 2020

IgE-mediated activation of Nhe1 (Na
+
-H
+
exchanger-1) induces aortic cell extracellular acidification and promotes cell apoptosis. A pH-sensitive probe pHrodo identified acidic regions at positions of macrophage accumulation, IgE expression, and cell apoptosis in human and mouse abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) lesions. Ang II (angiotensin II)–induced AAA in Nhe1-insufficient
Apoe
−/−
Nhe1
+/−
mice and
Apoe
−/−
Nhe1
+/+
littermates tested Nhe1 activity in experimental AAA, because
Nhe1
−/−
mice develop ataxia and epileptic-like seizures and die early. Nhe1 insufficiency reduced AAA incidence and size, lesion macrophage and T-cell accumulation, collagen deposition, elastin fragmentation, cell apoptosis, smooth muscle cell loss, and MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) activity. Nhe1 insufficiency also reduced blood pressure and the plasma apoptosis marker TCTP (translationally controlled tumor protein) but did not affect plasma IgE. While pHrodo localized the acidic regions to macrophage clusters, IgE expression, and cell apoptosis in AAA lesions from
Apoe
−/−
Nhe1
+/+
mice, such acidic areas were much smaller in lesions from
Apoe
−/−
Nhe1
+/−
mice. Nhe1-FcεR1 colocalization in macrophages from AAA lesions support a role of IgE-mediated Nhe1 activation. Gelatin zymography, immunoblot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that Nhe1 insufficiency reduced the MMP activity, cysteinyl cathepsin expression, IgE-induced apoptosis, and NF-κB activation in macrophages and blocked IgE-induced adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells. A near-infrared fluorescent probe (LS662) together with fluorescence reflectance imaging of intact aortas showed reduced acidity in AAA lesions from Nhe-1-insufficient mice. This study revealed extracellular acidity at regions rich in macrophages, IgE expression, and cell apoptosis in human and mouse AAA lesions and established a direct role of Nhe1 in AAA pathogenesis.
Longitudinal Changes in Cardiac Structure and Function in Severe Obesity: 11‐Year Follow‐Up in the Utah Obesity Study
Authors: Litwin Sheldon E. , Adams Ted D. , Davidson Lance E. , McKinlay Rodrick , Simper Steven C. , Ranson Lauren , Hunt Steven C.
Published: June 2020

Background

Progressive cardiac remodeling and worsening myocardial function over time have been proposed as potential mediators of heart failure in obesity.

Methods and Results

We serially assessed cardiac structure and function in 254 subjects participating in a longitudinal study of obesity. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic features were determined at baseline and 2‐, 6‐, and 11‐year follow‐up. We measured body mass index (
BMI
) exposure as the area under the curve of the
BMI
at each of the 4 visits. At enrollment, mean age of the subjects was 47 years, 79% were women, mean
BMI
was 44 kg/m
2
, 26% had diabetes mellitus, 48% had hypertension, and 53% had hyperlipidemia. Between baseline and 11 years,
BMI
increased by 1.1 and 0.3 kg/m
2
in men and women, respectively. There were modest increases in left ventricular (
LV
) end‐diastolic volume,
LV
mass, and left atrial volume, and significant decreases in early/late mitral diastolic flow velocity ratio and E wave deceleration time. However, there were no significant changes in
LV
ejection fraction or ratio of early mitral diastolic flow velocity/early mitral annular velocity, whereas right ventricular fractional area change increased. Significant predictors of the change in
LV
mass were male sex, baseline
BMI
,
BMI
area under the curve, and change in
LV
stroke volume, but not smoking, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions

In long‐standing, persistent severe obesity, there was evidence of cardiac remodeling over a period of 11 years, but no clear worsening of systolic or diastolic function. Measures of remodeling were most strongly related to
BMI
. The observed changes might predispose to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, but are not classic for an evolving dilated cardiomyopathy.
Incidence of Hypertension Among US Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, 2008 to 2017
Authors: Elfassy Tali , Zeki Al Hazzouri Adina , Cai Jianwen , Baldoni Pedro L. , Llabre Maria M. , Rundek Tatjana , Raij Leopoldo , Lash James P. , Talavera Gregory A. , Wassertheil‐Smoller Sylvia , Daviglus Martha , Booth John N. , Castaneda Sheila F. , Garcia Melawhy , Schneiderman Neil
Published: June 2020

Background

Among
US
Hispanics/Latinos, the largest ethnic minority population in the United States, hypertension incidence has not been thoroughly reported. The goal of this study was to describe the incidence of hypertension among
US
Hispanic/Latino men and women of diverse Hispanic/Latino background.

Methods and Results

We studied 6171 participants of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, a diverse group of self‐identified Hispanics/Latinos from 4
US
urban communities, aged 18 to 74 years, and free from hypertension in 2008 to 2011 and re‐examined in 2014 to 2017. Hypertension was defined as self‐reported use of anti‐hypertension medication, or measured systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg, or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg. Results were weighted given the complex survey design to reflect the target population. Among men, the 6‐year age‐adjusted probability of developing hypertension was 21.7% (95%
CI
, 19.5–24.1) and differed by Hispanic/Latino background. Specifically, the probability was significantly higher among men of Cuban (27.1%; 95%
CI
, 20.2–35.2) and Dominican (28.1%; 95%
CI
, 19.5–38.8) backgrounds compared with Mexican Americans (17.6%; 95%
CI
: 14.5–21.2). Among women, the 6‐year age‐adjusted probability of developing hypertension was 19.7% (95%
CI
, 18.1–21.5) and also differed by Hispanic/Latino background. Specifically, the probability was significantly higher among women of Cuban (22.6%; 95%
CI
, 18.3–27.5), Dominican (23.3%; 95%
CI
, 18.0–29.5), and Puerto Rican (28.2%; 95%
CI
, 22.7–34.4) backgrounds compared with Mexican Americans (16.0%; 95%
CI
, 13.9–18.4).

Conclusions

Hypertension incidence varies by Hispanic/Latino background, with highest incidence among those of Caribbean background.
Novel Role for Tranilast in Regulating NLRP3 Ubiquitination, Vascular Inflammation, and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Chen Suwen , Wang Yadong , Pan Yamu , Liu Yao , Zheng Shuang , Ding Ke , Mu Kaiyu , Yuan Ye , Li Zhaoyang , Song Hongxian , Jin Ying , Fu Jian
Published: June 2020

Background

Aberrant activation of the
NLRP
3 (nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain, leucine‐rich repeat–containing receptor family pyrin domain‐containing 3) inflammasome is thought to play a causative role in atherosclerosis.
NLRP
3 is kept in an inactive ubiquitinated state to avoid unwanted
NLRP
3 inflammasome activation. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that pharmacologic manipulating of
NLRP
3 ubiquitination blunts the assembly and activation of the
NLRP
3 inflammasome and protects against vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Since genetic studies yielded mixed results about the role for this inflammasome in atherosclerosis in low‐density lipoprotein receptor– or apolipoprotein E–deficient mice, this study attempted to clarify the discrepancy with the pharmacologic approach using both models.

Methods and Results

We provided the first evidence demonstrating that tranilast facilitates
NLRP
3 ubiquitination. We showed that tranilast restricted
NLRP
3 oligomerization and inhibited
NLRP
3 inflammasome assembly. Tranilast markedly suppressed
NLRP
3 inflammasome activation in low‐density lipoprotein receptor– and apolipoprotein E–deficient macrophages. Through reconstitution of the
NLRP
3 inflammasome in human embryonic kidney 293T cells, we found that tranilast directly limited
NLRP
3 inflammasome activation. By adopting different regimens for tranilast treatment of low‐density lipoprotein receptor– and apolipoprotein E–deficient mice, we demonstrated that tranilast blunted the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Mice receiving tranilast displayed a significant reduction in atherosclerotic lesion size, concomitant with a pronounced decline in macrophage content and expression of inflammatory molecules in the plaques compared with the control group. Moreover, tranilast treatment of mice substantially hindered the expression and activation of the
NLRP
3 inflammasome in the atherosclerotic lesions.

Conclusions

Tranilast potently enhances
NLRP
3 ubiquitination, blunts the assembly and activation of the
NLRP
3 inflammasome, and ameliorates vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in both low‐density lipoprotein receptor– and apolipoprotein E–deficient mice.
Cumulative Exposure to Long Working Hours and Occurrence of Ischemic Heart Disease: Evidence From the CONSTANCES Cohort at Inception
Authors: Fadel Marc , Li Jian , Sembajwe Grace , Gagliardi Diana , Pico Fernando , Ozguler Anna , Evanoff Bradley A. , Baer Michel , Tsutsumi Akizumi , Iavicoli Sergio , Leclerc Annette , Roquelaure Yves , Siegrist Johannes , Descatha Alexis
Published: June 2020

Background

Long‐working hours (
LWH
) are a probable risk factor for ischemic heart diseases (
IHD
); however, no previous study has considered duration of exposure to
LWH
when addressing this topic. We aimed to determine the association between cumulative exposure to
LWH
and
IHD
while accounting for relevant confounders.

Methods and Results

In this retrospective study, we included all baseline participants from the French population‐based cohort
CONSTANCES
. Part‐time employees and those who reported a cardiac event in the 5 years before
LWH
exposure were excluded. From self‐administered questionnaires and clinical examinations, we obtained participants’ age, sex, body mass index, occupational status, smoking habits, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, familial history of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, exposure to
LWH
, and its duration. We defined
LWH
as working for >10 hours daily for at least 50 days per year. The main outcome was reported history of
IHD
, ie, myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, during a clinical examination. Of 137 854 included participants, 69 774 were men. There were 1875 cases (1.36%) of
IHD
, and exposure to
LWH
was reported by 42 462 subjects (30.8%) among whom 14 474 (10.50%) reported exposure for at least 10 years. Overall, exposure to
LWH
for ≥10 years was associated with an increased risk of
IHD
, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.24 (1.08–1.43),
P
=0.0021. In stratified analyses, this effect was not observed in women, but was significant amongst men, aOR 1.28 (1.11–1.48),
P
=0.0008.

Conclusions

This large population‐based study supports an association between cumulative exposure to
LWH
and
IHD
in men. Future research should consider relevant strategies for reducing
LWH
exposure and duration.
In Search of Order: Portrayal of Communists in Cold War Italy
Authors: Forlenza Rosario
Published: June 2020

This article analyzes the battle between Italian Communists and anti-Communists during the early Cold War. Without denying the critical role of high politics or the rivalry between Washington and Moscow, the article places the home front at the center of its analysis, using a bottom-up perspective. Drawing on the rhetoric, remembrances, and visual propaganda produced by Communists and anti-Communists alike, the article shifts the focus of attention away from governments and diplomacy and toward imagination and culture as agents of historical change. Looking beyond the institutional-administrative sphere of politics, the article explores the aspirations, emotions, expectations, and hopes formulated by Italians under conditions of existential uncertainty. The article concludes that the Cold War in Italy was, above all else, an internal contest between two parties over what the recent past meant and what would ensure a just and stable order for society.
“Is This the End of Perestroika?” International Reactions to the Soviet Use of Force in the Baltic Republics in January 1991
Authors: Bergmane Una
Published: June 2020

This article examines the official U.S. reaction to the Soviet government's use of force in the Baltic republics in January 1991, not only showing the complexity of the U.S. position but also demonstrating how reactions in Washington became harsher in the space of a week, eroding the previous “Gorbachev first” attitude. The article identifies the main reasons for this shift, especially West European reactions, domestic pressures, and growing concerns that violence in the Baltics marked the end of perestroika. The analysis sheds light on a larger debate between Kristina Spohr and Celeste Wallander about Western attitudes toward the Baltic question at the Cold War endgame. The article is based on newly available archival materials in the United States and France as well as on documents from the archives of the Gorbachev Foundation in Moscow and in the Latvian State Archives.
“We Are Not a Nonproliferation Agency”: Henry Kissinger's Failed Attempt to Accommodate Nuclear Brazil, 1974–1977
Authors: Patti Carlo , Spektor Matias
Published: June 2020

In the aftermath of India's first nuclear explosion in 1974, U.S. officials concluded that Brazil posed a growing proliferation risk, and they proposed to target Brazil with a new set of nonproliferation policies that included the denial of fuel-cycle technologies. However, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger expressed doubt that such an approach would curb Brazilian nuclear ambitions. Pushing back against influential voices in the U.S. Congress, the State Department, and the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Kissinger argued that Brazil should be allowed to proceed with its plans to master the nuclear fuel cycle in exchange for U.S. assistance and new nonproliferation commitments. He justified this attitude on the grounds of alliance politics (Brazil was too important a pillar of U.S. Cold War policy in Latin America) and the interests of key domestic constituencies (U.S. private companies eyed Brazil's burgeoning nuclear industry). The Brazilian government responded well to Kissinger's approach and would have struck a deal if the transition to the Carter administration had not rendered the bargain untenable.
Reviving Zenobia: The Last Days and Forgotten Life of Martha E. Hunt, Transcendendalist
Authors: Fuller Randall
Published: June 2020

The story of Zenobia in The House of the Seven Gables is taken from the suicide of Martha Hunt. Standing at the periphery of the Transcendentalists in Concord, Hunt embraced its lessons of equality for women and its transformative intellectual lessons; however, the intellectual promise of her associations turned to despair and led to her suicide illustrating the darker side of the movement.
Revolutions and Insurrections: TheNorth American Reviewand Haiti, 1821–1829
Authors: Almog Asaf
Published: June 2020

The New England based, conservative periodical North American Review published two reviews of Haiti, in 1821 and 1829. The reviews were starkly different in content and tone. This essay contextualizes the two reviews, using them as a mirror for the transformation of New England's political elite and its acceptance of the emerging racialist tenets of American nationalism. The essay thus sheds light on our understanding of antebellum nationalism and its nature.
Beyond Republicanism, Back to Constitutionalism: The Creation of the American Republic at Fifty
Authors: Gienapp Jonathan
Published: June 2020

Jonathan Gienapp, Stanford University, and Brendan McConville, Boston University reflect on the historiographic and scholarly contributions of Gordon Wood's The Creation of the American Republic.
Legal Mutilation and Moral Exclusion: Disputations on Integrity and Deformity in Early China
Authors: Galvany Albert , Graziani Romain
Published: June 2020

This article examines attitudes evidenced in pre-imperial and Han sources (ritual compendia, historical chronicles, legal codes, administrative texts, and philosophical literature) towards visually repulsive individuals, in particular those who have undergone a penal mutilation. We start from the perception of bodily harm in the light of legal and ritual norms and the moral imperative of physical integrity, and then set out to analyze the concrete outcomes of mutilation visited upon certain kinds of offenders. Finally, we focus on three stories in the Zhuangzi, whose imaginary dialogues illustrate the way their authors try to change the social perception of outcasts in a context that was clearly adverse to their possible rehabilitation.
What the Single Bamboo Slip Found in Mawangdui Tomb M2 Tells Us about Text and Ritual in Early China
Authors: Waring Luke
Published: June 2020

A single bamboo slip was found at Mawangdui tomb M2 inside the passageway leading to the pit where Li Cang (d. ca. 186 BCE), the Marquis of Dai and Prime Minister of Changsha, was buried. Though almost entirely unnoticed in previous scholarship, the M2 slip has much to tell us about the overlapping textual, ritual, administrative, and funerary practices of early Western Han China. I offer a description of the slip, translations of its contents, a consideration of how it was used at the tomb site, and an analysis of what its archaeological context tells us about the use of talismans in Western Han burials. Specifically, I show that the slip originally formed part of a multi-piece tomb inventory manuscript, and that it was removed and ritually deposited inside the passageway in order to protect the tomb from robbers and malevolent spirits.
The Invention of the “Eminent Monk”: Understanding the Biographical Craft of the Gaoseng zhuan through the Mingseng zhuan
Authors: Lee Sangyop
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the compilation process of Huijiao’s (497-554)
Gaoseng zhuan by utilizing the manuscript fragments of
Baochang’s (ca. 466–?) Mingseng zhuan. I first
question the long-standing assumption that the Mingseng zhuan
was the “base text” of the Gaoseng zhuan, and
propose to redefine the relationship between the two monastic biography
collections more loosely by using the notion of “narrative
community.” I then suggest that, despite the possible absence of a direct
textual relation between the two collections, due to the Mingseng
zhuan being more representative of the Buddhist narrative community
of early medieval China, the comparison of the two collections is nonetheless
germane to understanding the compilation process of the Gaoseng
zhuan. Lastly, by comparing the lists of contents of the two
collections I identify and analyze distinctive patterns in Huijiao’s
selection and organization of monastic biographies that helped him perfect the
idealized abstraction of the “eminent monk.”
The Limits of “Civilianization”: The New Policies and Shaanxi’s Territorial Administration in the Late Northern Song
Authors: Ong Chang Woei
Published: June 2020

Previous scholarship has examined various aspects of the origin, development, and eventual collapse of military programs under the New Policies introduced by Wang Anshi (1021-1086), but less attention has been paid to them within a framework of regional analysis. The manuscripts discovered in 1907-1909 at Khara-Khoto in Inner Mongolia contain a wealth of information on daily administration and legal disputes in the military regions of Shaanxi during the early twelfth century. They show that by the early twelfth century, military establishments under the New Policies had become an integral part of Northern Song territorial administration. Therefore, if we confine our analysis to the usual three-tiered hierarchical arrangement of circuits, prefectures, and counties, we will not be able to fully discern the spatial organization of the Song state and the changes it underwent over time.
The Living City of the Dead: Representation of Life in the Cemeteries in Two Egyptian Novels
Authors: Al Saadi Tania
Published: June 2020

The City of the Dead is a large area on the periphery of Cairo where people live in house-like tombs. This study focuses on two Egyptian novels Šakāwā l-miṣrī l-faṣīḥ (1981-1985) by Yūsuf al-Qaʿīd and Madad (2014) by Maḥmūd al-Wirwārī, in which living in the cemeteries is portrayed as a paradoxical reality where life and death overlap. Limits between the two are blurred, and this creates a confusing situation where landmarks are lost and moral values are subverted. This situation echoes the characters’ personal dilemmas and the uncertain historical context in which they live. This article sheds light on the representation of life in the cemeteries and the concrete and symbolic function of this space. It also discusses this representation within the portrayal of peripheries and marginal spaces in contemporary Egyptian fiction, and explores the way the two novels—published several decades apart—use this ambivalent space to relate their respective historical realities.
Crime News Consumption and Fear of Violence: The Role of Traditional Media, Social Media, and Alternative Information Sources
Authors: Näsi Matti , Tanskanen Maiju , Kivivuori Janne , Haara Paula , Reunanen Esa
Published: June 2020

In this article, we examine the correlates of fear of violence in the cross-media landscape. The study draws on the Finnish National Crime Victim Survey ( n = 6,141, respondents aged 15–74 years). First, we examine from what information and media sources respondents receive information on violent crime. We then examine how consumption of different types of media and information sources on violent crime associates with the contemporary experience of fear of street violence, avoidance behavior due to threat of violence, and perceived threat of terrorism to oneself. We also examine whether this association remains when age, gender, education, past victimization, and economic strain are adjusted for.
The Effect of Maximum Daily Temperature on Outdoor Violence
Authors: Cruz Erik , D’Alessio Stewart J. , Stolzenberg Lisa
Published: June 2020

Although temperature aggression theory maintains that a high temperature engenders more aggressive behavior by irritating individuals, routine activity theory asserts that violent crime increases as temperature rises because of enhanced interaction among the public in outdoor settings. We investigate the effect of maximum daily temperature on whether crime victims are physically injured during the commission of an outdoor criminal offense in Cleveland, Ohio. We focus on violent crimes occurring outdoors because most U.S. households have central air-conditioning or room air conditioners. Two autoregressive integrative moving average (ARIMA) analyses provide support for routine activity theory because although maximum daily temperature has a strong positive effect on the frequency of violent crimes occurring outdoors, it has little influence on the physical injury of crime victims.
Preparing Teachers for Relationships With Students: Two Visions, Two Approaches
Authors: Theisen-Homer Victoria
Published: June 2020

Meaningful teacher–student relationships are linked to a range of positive student outcomes. However, there is limited research on how teacher education programs attempt to prepare teachers to form relationships with students. This article employs comparative case methodology to explore how two different teacher residency programs—No Excuses Teacher Residency and Progressive Teacher Residency—attempt to prepare their teacher residents to form meaningful relationships with students. Drawing on theoretical work by Martin Buber and Paulo Freire, this article finds two very different approaches to teacher–student relationships: Instrumental and Reciprocal. It concludes by discussing the implications of each.
Assessing the Impacts of Misclassified Case-Mix Factors on Health Care Provider Profiling: Performance of Dialysis Facilities
Authors: Mu Yi , Chin Andrew I. , Kshirsagar Abhijit V. , Bang Heejung
Published: June 2020

Quantitative metrics are used to develop profiles of health care institutions, including hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics. These profiles serve as measures of quality of care, which are used to compare institutions and determine reimbursement, as a part of a national effort led by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States. However, there is some concern about how misclassification in case-mix factors, which are typically accounted for in profiling, impacts results. We evaluated the potential effect of misclassification on profiling results, using 20 744 patients from 2740 dialysis facilities in the US Renal Data System. In this case study, we compared 30-day readmission as the profiling outcome measure, using comorbidity data from either the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medical Evidence Report (error-prone) or Medicare claims (more accurate). Although the regression coefficient of the error-prone covariate demonstrated notable bias in simulation, the outcome measure—standardized readmission ratio—and profiling results were quite robust; for example, correlation coefficient of 0.99 in standardized readmission ratio estimates. Thus, we conclude that misclassification on case-mix did not meaningfully impact overall profiling results. We also identified both extreme degree of case-mix factor misclassification and magnitude of between-provider variability as 2 factors that can potentially exert enough influence on profile status to move a clinic from one performance category to another (eg, normal to worse performer).
The Shapes of Relations: Anthropology as Conceptual Morphology
Authors: Holbraad Martin
Published: June 2020

Building critically on anthropology’s “ontological turn,” this article isolates conceptualization (as distinct from explanation and interpretation) as a core concern for anthropological thinking: anthropology as the activity of transfiguring the contingency of ethnographic materials in the formal language of conceptual relations and distinctions. Focusing on works by Mauss and Evans-Pritchard, as well as my own research, the article articulates the morphological character of such a project. While akin also to philosophy, such attention to the “shapes” of conceptual relations is analogous to the practice of art in its concern for the expressive potentials of these acts of conceptual transfiguration.
Co-infection of neurocysticercosis with Japanese encephalitis: coincidence or synchronism?
Authors: Takia Lalit , Angurana Suresh K , Suthar Renu , Nallasamy Karthi , Ahuja Chirag K
Published: June 2020

We report the case of an eight-year-old boy who presented with an acute encephalitis and was confirmed to have Japanese encephalitis (JE). In addition, we found the vesicular stage of neurocysticercosis (NCC). The co-occurrence of JE and NCC was thought to be synergistic as there is some evidence that in presence of NCC, the neuroinvasiveness and virulence of JE is greater and associated with poor outcome.