bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proximity Measurement for Hierarchical Categorical Attributes in Big Data
Authors: El Ouazzani Zakariae , Braeken An , El Bakkali Hanan
Published: July 2021

Nearly most of the organizations store massive amounts of data in large databases for research, statistics, and mining purposes. In most cases, much of the accumulated data contain sensitive information belonging to individuals which may breach privacy. Hence, ensuring privacy in big data is considered a very important issue. The concept of privacy aims to protect sensitive information from various attacks that may violate the identity of individuals. Anonymization techniques are considered the best way to ensure privacy in big data. Various works have been already realized, taking into account horizontal clustering. The L-diversity technique is one of those techniques dealing with sensitive numerical and categorical attributes. However, the majority of anonymization techniques using L-diversity principle for hierarchical data cannot resist the similarity attack and therefore cannot ensure privacy carefully. In order to prevent the similarity attack while preserving data utility, a hybrid technique dealing with categorical attributes is proposed in this paper. Furthermore, we highlighted all the steps of our proposed algorithm with detailed comments. Moreover, the algorithm is implemented and evaluated according to a well-known information loss-based criterion which is Normalized Certainty Penalty (NCP). The obtained results show a good balance between privacy and data utility.
ECG Abnormalities in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Bronchiectasis and Factors Associated with High Probability of Abnormality
Authors: Alhamed Alduihi Fatima
Published: July 2021

Background. Bronchiectasis is an important reason for morbidity and mortality according to the last records that referred to high incidence rate of disease. Cardiovascular problems are common in pulmonary diseases, in general, and it can symptom by ECG abnormalities. The objective of this study was to define the most ECG abnormalities in patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis and to study the correlation between the cardiac disorder and the other risk factors of the exacerbation. Materials and Methods. A prospective single-center observational cohort study was done at Aleppo University Hospital for patients with AEB between October 2017 and September 2018. They were divided into 2 groups (normal ECG vs. abnormal). Patients with COPD, cystic fibrosis, new diagnosis of ischemic accident through the last 6 months of the study, and treatment with macrolides or fluoroquinolones through the last 3 months of the study were excluded. We study the percent of abnormalities through the AEB and the percentage of the most common abnormalities. Results. 67 patients were included in the study (44 males and 23 females) with a mean age of

52.85
±
21.456

. ECG abnormalities were recorded in 43 patients, and it was more common in men (67.44% of cases). Advanced age and survival state had a statistical significance (

p
=
0.003

, 0.023), respectively, between the 2 groups. Right axis deviation (RAD) is the most common abnormality (23.3%) followed by sinus tachycardia (20.9%), and it is close to T-depression (18.6%). AF was the most common arrhythmia from all recorded arrhythmias (6.98% from all cases). Positive sputum cultures were recorded in 55.8%, and the most common isolated pathogen factor was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Recurrent pneumonia was seen in 30.2% of all patients with abnormal ECG. We find a high prevalence of ECG abnormalities in patients with Oximetry (90-95%, 39.5%), and the opportunity for abnormalities is equal in the 2 age groups (45–59 and more than 75) that reflexed the possibility of cardiac disorders in any age in patients with AEB. Conclusions. ECG abnormalities are common in AEB, and it can happen in any age and any value of Oximetry. It needs more attention because of the prognosis of the cardiac morbidity.
Explosion Disaster Distribution Characteristics and Outlet Open‐Close Effect of Turning Roadway
Authors: Lv Pengfei , Ju Minghua , Zhang Jiaxu , Pang Lei , Yang Kai , Liu Kaiyuan , Liu Mengyuan
Published: July 2021

In this study, under the open‐close conditions of a roadway outlet, ANSYS/LS‐DYNA was used to build models of explosions on roadways with 0° and 90° bending angles, to compare and analyze the shock wave propagation characteristics and variation laws. Combined with the damage degree classification of shock wave overpressure to human body, the destructive effect zoning of explosion in roadway under the condition of opening and closing of roadway entrance was studied. The results showed that as the bending angle increased, the peak overpressure attenuation of the shock waves became prominent, and the arrival time for the same distance increased. The closure of the roadway outlet had a distance effect on the peak overpressure of the shock waves. The explosion shock waves caused the peak overpressure to rise sharply owing to the reflection and stacking effects near the closure. In the far zone of the outlet, the attenuation of the shock waves was too fast and had minimal impact on the peak overpressure. In addition, the existence of the roadway closure increased the damage area and the severity of the blast wave to human body as a whole. With an increase in the bending angle, the damage range and severity decreased.
FCGR2A Could Function as a Prognostic Marker and Correlate with Immune Infiltration in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Dai Yongmei , Chen Wenhan , Huang Junpeng , Cui Tongjian
Published: July 2021

Objective. We aim to investigate the correlation between FCGR2A mRNA level and prognosis of head and neck squamous cancer (HNSC) in public databases. In addition, we investigated the correlation between FCGR2A expression and clinicopathological characteristics and tumor‐infiltrating immune cells in HNSC patients. Methods. FCGR2A mRNA expression in multiple cancers was analyzed based on Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. A protein‐protein interaction network was obtained based on the STRING database. The 10 proteins most closely related to FCGR2A (i.e., CD3G, PLCG2, LAT, LYN, SYK, FCGR3A, PIK3R1, HCK, ITGAM, and ITGB2) were screened, followed by establishing the protein‐protein interaction network. The correlation between FCGR2A expression and immunocytes was investigated, together with the effects of FCGR2A on the metastasis, recurrence, and survival of HNSC. Results. FCGR2A expression in several carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that of adjacent tissues. Significant differences were noticed in the HNSC samples and the adjacent tissue samples except the seven samples of grade 4. There were statistical differences between the FCGR2A expression in tissues of grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 (P < 0.05). In the tissues of grade 4, the expression of FCGR2A was the lowest. The FCGR2A protein was a type of II‐a receptor in γFc of the low‐affinity immunoglobulin, which could bind with the Fc region of the immunoglobulin γ. There was a correlation between the FCGR2A gene and the distal HNSC metastasis. FCGR2A gene expression was correlated with the survival and prognosis. The GSE65858 dataset was selected for the validation. The FCGR2A expression was significantly correlated with total survival (P = 0.0107) and progression‐free survival (P = 0.0362). Conclusions. Our findings shed light on the importance of FCGR2A in HNSC and illustrated a potential relationship between FCGR2A and tumor‐immune interactions.
Fault-Tolerant Control for N-Link Robot Manipulator via Adaptive Nonsingular Terminal Sliding Mode Control Technology
Authors: Shi Nannan , Luo Fanghui , Kang Zhikuan , Wang Lihui , Zhao Zhuo , Meng Qiang , Hou Weiqin
Published: July 2021

An adaptive nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (ANTSMC) scheme for the n-link robot manipulator is presented in this study, which can achieve faster convergence and higher precision tracking compared with the linear hyperplane-based sliding mode control. Novel adaptive updating laws based on the actual tracking error are employed to online adjust the upper bound of uncertainty, which comprehensively consider both the tracking performance and chattering eliminating problem. The stability analysis of the proposed ANTSMC is verified using the Lyapunov method with the existence of the parameter uncertainty and the actuator faults. Numerical simulation studies the comparison of performance between ANTSMC and the conventional nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (NTSMC) scheme to validate the advantages of the proposed control algorithm.
Dynamic Optimization of Government Data Transmission Based on Blockchain Technology
Authors: Peng Sheng , Zhu Linkai , Cai Zhiming , Liu Wenjian , He Chunjiang , Tang Weikang
Published: July 2021

With the development of terminal technology and the expansion of application fields, the Internet of Things’ application value and service requirements continue to increase. Efficient data transmission is a reliable guarantee for the development and application of the Internet of Things. Blockchain technology provides a solution for storing and delivering distributed data. On this basis, taking the Industrial Internet of Things as the research object, a blockchain-based data transmission optimization method was established. First, an undirected complete graph model is used to describe the network scene. A matrix grid model is used to replace the randomly distributed set of data nodes. Then, a double optimization method is proposed. We designed the mathematical description and modeling method of the lattice matching decision problem and designed the artificial neural network to find the optimal solution to the problem. Finally, an example is used to verify the government data transmission method’s technical performance and packet loss rate. It has achieved at least 20% and 30% improvements in optimizing the network life of static aggregation nodes and data transmission, respectively. While improving the robustness of the network, it also shows a stable advantage in terms of network energy efficiency indicators.
Effects of Trichoderma and Foliar Fertilizer on the Vegetative Growth of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Seedlings
Authors: Syam Netty , Hidrawati  , Sabahannur St. , Nurdin Akbar
Published: July 2021

Black pepper is a high nutrient-demanding crop; however, high application rates of the chemical fertilizer may give a negative impact on the environment and human health. Coapplication of the chemical fertilizer with biological fertilizers or biological agents is very important to support growth and high yield. This field experiment was carried out to study the effect of Trichoderma harzianum and foliar fertilization on the vegetative growth of black pepper. The study was conducted for 4 months. The research method was arranged in a factorial based on randomized block design (RBD). The first factor was the application of Trichoderma (50 g, 75 g, and 100 g per plant), and the second one was foliar fertilizers (1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and without foliar fertilizer as the control). The treatments were repeated three times. The results showed that the application of both Trichoderma and foliar fertilizer affected the rate of shoot growth, the number of leaves, and the emergence time on black pepper seedlings under the nursery conditions. The application of 50 g/plant of Trichoderma and 1.5% of the foliar fertilizer resulted in 26% longer shoot length and 54% more leaves and accelerated the appearance of shoots 10 days earlier compared to without Trichoderma and the foliar fertilizer.
A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis of RBM8A Based on Data Mining
Authors: Mei Nan , Chen Heyan , Zhao Ni , Yi Ye , Li Chunli
Published: July 2021

Background. As a member of the exon junction complex (EJC), RNA-binding motif protein 8A (RBM8A) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of mRNA and multiple activities of an organism. Immunotherapy has been proven to be a staple type of cancer treatment. However, the role of RBM8A and immunity across cancer types is unclear. Objective. This study aims to visualize the expression, prognosis, mutations, and coexpressed gene results of RBM8A across cancer types and to explore the link between RBM8A expression and immunity. Methods. In this study, data were collected from multiple online databases. We analyzed the data using the HPA, UALCAN Database, COSMIC, cBioPortal, Cancer Regulome tools, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, and TIMER website. Results. For the expression of RBM8A in normal tissues, higher expression of RBM8A was observed in immune-related cells than in nonimmune organs. The expression level of RBM8A was related to tumor type. Missense mutations in RBM8A were found in most tumors and affected the prognosis of carcinomas with coexpressed genes. RBM8A was strongly associated with immune-infiltrating cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors, especially in LIHC. Conclusions. RBM8A is a gene worth exploring and may be a unique immune target in the future.
Predictive Immune-Checkpoint Blockade Classifiers Identify Tumors Responding to Inhibition of PD-1 and/or CTLA-4
Authors: Krijgsman Oscar , Kemper Kristel , Boshuizen Julia , Vredevoogd David W. , Rozeman Elisa A. , Ibanez Molero Sofia , de Bruijn Beaunelle , Cornelissen-Steijger Paulien , Shahrabi Aida , Del Castillo Velasco-Herrera Martin , Song Ji-Ying , Ligtenberg Maarten A. , Kluin Roelof J.C. , Kuilman Thomas , Ross-Macdonald Petra , Haanen John B.A.G. , Adams David J. , Blank Christian U. , Peeper Daniel S.
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

Combining anti–PD-1 + anti–CTLA-4 immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) shows improved patient benefit, but it is associated with severe immune-related adverse events and exceedingly high cost. Therefore, there is a dire need to predict which patients respond to monotherapy and which require combination ICB treatment.

Experimental Design:

In patient-derived melanoma xenografts (PDX), human tumor microenvironment (TME) cells were swiftly replaced by murine cells upon transplantation. Using our XenofilteR deconvolution algorithm we curated human tumor cell RNA reads, which were subsequently subtracted in silico from bulk (tumor cell + TME) patients' melanoma RNA. This produced a purely tumor cell–intrinsic signature (“InTumor”) and a signature comprising tumor cell–extrinsic RNA reads (“ExTumor”).

Results:

We show that whereas the InTumor signature predicts response to anti–PD-1, the ExTumor predicts anti–CTLA-4 benefit. In PDX, InTumorLO, but not InTumorHI, tumors are effectively eliminated by cytotoxic T cells. When used in conjunction, the InTumor and ExTumor signatures identify not only patients who have a substantially higher chance of responding to combination treatment than to either monotherapy, but also those who are likely to benefit little from anti–CTLA-4 on top of anti–PD-1.

Conclusions:

These signatures may be exploited to distinguish melanoma patients who need combination ICB blockade from those who likely benefit from either monotherapy.
Role of B Cells in Responses to Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy and Overall Survival of Cancer Patients
Authors: Kim Sangwoo S. , Sumner Whitney A. , Miyauchi Sayuri , Cohen Ezra E.W. , Califano Joseph A. , Sharabi Andrew B.
Published: July 2021

The role of B cells in the tumor microenvironment and B-cell–mediated antitumor immune responses remains relatively understudied. Recent seminal studies have discovered that B cells and associated tertiary lymphoid structures correlate with responses to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy and are prognostic for overall survival of cancer patients. B-cell subsets have remarkable functional diversity and include professional antigen-presenting cells, regulatory cells, memory populations, and antibody-producing plasma cells. Importantly, secreted antibodies can independently activate innate immune responses and induce the cancer immunity cycle. Thus, B cells and B-cell–mediated antibody responses comprise the largely underappreciated second arm of the adaptive immune system and certainly deserve further attention in the field of oncology. Here, we review the known functions of B cells in the tumor microenvironment, the contribution of B cells to the antitumor activity of immunotherapies, and the role of B cells in the overall survival of cancer patients.
Coexistence of a Homozygous Chromosome 4q35.2 Deletion and Hidden IQSEC2 Pathogenic Variant in a Child with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Karaman Mercan Tuğba , Altiok Clark Ozden , Erkal Ozgur , Nur Banu , Mihci Ercan , Karaman Birsen , Senol Abdullah Utku , Berker Karauzum Sibel
Published: July 2021

Terminal deletions in the long arm of chromosome 4 are an uncommon event, with a worldwide incidence of approximately 0.001%. The majority of these deletions occur de novo. Terminal deletion cases are usually accompanied by clinical findings that include facial and cardiac anomalies, as well as intellectual disability. In this study, we describe the case of a 2-year-old girl, the fourth child born to consanguineous parents. While her karyotype was normal, a homozygous deletion was identified in the chromosome 4q35.2 region by subtelomeric FISH. A heterozygous deletion of the chromosome 4q35.2 region was observed in both parents. According to the literature, this is the first report of a case that has inherited a homozygous deletion of chromosome 4qter from carrier parents. Subsequent array-CGH analyses were performed on both the case and her parents. Whole-exome sequencing was also carried out to determine potential variants. We detected a NM_001111125.3:c.2329G>T (p.Glu777Ter) nonsense variant of the IQSEC2 gene in the girl, a variant that is related to X-linked intellectual disability.
Common ABCB4 and ABCB11 Genotypes Are Associated with Idiopathic Chronic Cholestasis in Adults
Authors: Jüngst Christoph , Justinger Christina , Fischer Janett , Berg Thomas , Lammert Frank
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Pathogenic mutations in genes encoding the hepatocanalicular transporters ATP8B1, ABCB11 and ABCB4 are causative for progressive cholestatic liver disease in children. In adults, less severe variants such as the common ABCB4 c.711A>T polymorphism have been associated with intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy and elevated liver enzymes. Hence, our aim was to study the role of common polymorphisms in adult patients with chronic unexplained cholestasis. Methods: Screening of outpatients of two university hospitals identified a cohort of 94 patients with chronic cholestasis of unknown origin after thorough exclusion of other causes. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan assays, and frequencies for the ABCB4 rs2109505 (c.711A>T), rs1202283 (c.504T>C), ABCB11 rs2287622 (p.A444V) and rs497692 (c.3084A>G) variants of the study cohort were compared to a cohort of 254 healthy controls. Results: The dominating symptoms of the patients were pruritus and jaundice, though the majority of them did not report symptoms at inclusion. Advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis was present in 11 patients (11.7%) only. Genotyping revealed the presence of the ABCB4 c.711A>T risk variant in 79 patients (84%), a frequency that is significantly (p = 0.037) higher than that in controls (71%). The ABCB11 p.A444V variant was also more frequent in cholestatic patients (p = 0.042). Conclusion: The common ABCB4 c.711A>T and ABCB11 p.A444V polymorphisms are more prevalent in adult patients with idiopathic cholestasis than in healthy controls and may therefore represent risk factors for the development of chronic cholestatic liver disease.
O observador fotográfico em Contemplação, de Franz Kafka
Authors: Lugão Juliana
Published: July 2021

O presente artigo busca investigar como a fotografia, técnica em expansão no início do século 20, se faz presente na escrita de Contemplação (1912), de Franz Kafka. A técnica se faz presente em outros textos em prosa do autor, mas em Contemplação Kafka incorpora a fotografia à escrita. Em cartas, o autor se refere ao conjunto de prosas curtas publicado em 1912 como um retrato pessoal muito mais fidedigno do que a própria técnica fotográfica seria capaz de produzir. A partir da análise textual da narrativa breve “O passageiro”, ao lado das referências de Franz Kafka em seus Diários e Cartas, desenvolve-se aqui a hipótese de que há uma íntima relação da escrita do autor com a nova técnica de então.
As Muitas Faces do Exílio de um “Judeu Sem Deus”: A Herança Paterna de Sigmund Freud
Authors: Wels Érica Schlude
Published: July 2021

Em sua Selbstdarstellung (2011 [1924]), Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), ressalta as origens judaicas e, nessa linhagem, o êxodo que marca sua família: percurso que desemboca em Viena e, posteriormente, em Londres, estação final. As marcas do exílio nos escritos freudianos reforçam o vínculo com o judaísmo, índice da herança paterna. O episódio do “gorro na lama”, descrito na Interpretação dos Sonhos (2019 [1900]), como a humilhação do pai de Freud, Jakob, aos olhos da criança que aspirava a sonhos de grandeza, assim como o presente do Velho Testamento (Derrida 2001; Yerushalmi 1992), abrem portas para outras questões centrais nas teorias freudianas. O pai, a “judeidade” (Fuks 2000), remetem às reflexões de Freud sobre religião, notadamente nas obras Totem & Tabu (2012 [1913]), O Futuro de uma ilusão (2014 [1927]), Moisés e o Monoteísmo (2018 [1939]). Dessas, o Moisés de Freud é o texto derradeiro, cujas raízes ligam-se ao povo judeu. Outros temas, como o anti-semitismo, as vantagens das “teses universalistas” da intelectualidade judaica, (Said 2004), o isolamento e a resistência (Gay 1990) são igualmente importantes para os estudos psicanalíticos. Ser judeu é ser o Outro, e por isso, transitar pelo (des)território psicanalítico: da pulsão, da escuta das histéricas, da sexualidade infantil, da insistência da neurose, do valor do sonho.
Donkeys in transition
Authors: Rodrigues João Brandão , Raw Zoe , Santurtun Eduardo , Cooke Fiona , Clancy Cara
Published: July 2021

Donkeys have a long history in the development of human societies. Typically referred to as a beast of burden, traditional uses for donkeys have included the transportation of goods and people, use in agricultural and forestry activities, to access water, and provide citizens in low- and middle-income countries a means of making an income for communities. However, the rise of mechanization, the development of modern farming techniques, and the increasing availability of motorized vehicles have led to donkeys and mules becoming redundant from traditional roles in many parts of the world. We provide examples of where donkeys have successfully transitioned from traditional roles to new, non-traditional roles in Europe and North America, and demonstrate that, although the roles and use of donkeys and mules are changing in a rapidly developing world, we can learn lessons from the past and apply them to current challenges. As the need for working equids declines in transport and agriculture, they still hold great value for recreational, therapeutic, and environmentally friendly methods of animal traction.
Un Kant contemporáneo y necesario
Authors: Travaglia Marcos
Published: July 2021

Reseña de Voluntad omnilateral y finitud de la tierra. Una lectura de la filosofía política de Kant, de Macarena Marey (Adrogué, La Cebra, 2021)
La violencia ejercida sobre el ingenio de los indígenas: una lectura desde Spinoza
Authors: Busarello Flávia Roberta , Espinosa Rubio Luciano
Published: July 2021

Spinoza afirma na proposição 31 da Ética III que por natureza todos os sujeitos desejam que os demais vivam conforme seu ingenium. A partir dessa proposição o presente artigo procura refletir sobre os povos indígenas que vivem em contexto urbano na cidade de Blumenau/Santa Catarina. Para a análise, são utilizas as impressões de uma pesquisa ação--participante realizada com mulheres indígenas que migraram para a cidade há mais de cinco anos. No texto é observado que a legislação do Estatuto do Índio é uma das formas que mantém a sobreposição do ingenium branco sobre o indígena. A partir da análise é afirmado que a sobreposição de um ingenium sobre o outro é uma forma de violência afetiva que reproduz a colonização na atualidade.
Burden of Cardiomyopathic Genetic Variation in Lethal Pediatric Myocarditis
Authors: Kontorovich Amy R. , Tang Yingying , Patel Nihir , Georgievskaya Zhanna , Shadrina Mariya , Williams Nori , Moscati Arden , Peter Inga , Itan Yuval , Sampson Barbara , Gelb Bruce D.
Published: July 2021

Background:

Acute myocarditis (AM) is a well-known cause of sudden death and heart failure, often caused by prevalent viruses. We previously showed that some pediatric AM correlates with putatively damaging variants in genes related to cardiomyocyte structure and function. We sought to evaluate whether deleterious cardiomyopathic variants were enriched among fatal pediatric AM cases in New York City compared with ancestry-matched controls.

Methods:

Twenty-four children (aged 3 weeks to 20 years) with death due to AM were identified through autopsy records; histologies were reviewed to confirm that all cases met Dallas criteria for AM and targeted panel sequencing of 57 cardiomyopathic genes was performed. Controls without cardiovascular disease were identified from a pediatric database and matched by genetic ancestry to cases using principal components from exome sequencing. Rates of putative deleterious variations (DV) were compared between cases and controls. Where available, AM tissues underwent viral analysis by polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

DV were identified in 4 of 24 AM cases (16.7%), compared with 2 of 96 age and ancestry-matched controls (2.1%,
P
=0.014). Viral causes were proven for 6 of 8 AM cases (75%), including the one DV+ case where tissue was available for testing. DV+ cases were more likely to be female, have no evidence of chronic inflammation, and associate with sudden cardiac death than DV− cases.

Conclusions:

Deleterious variants in genes related to cardiomyocyte integrity are more common in children with fatal AM than controls, likely conferring susceptibility. Additionally, genetically mediated AM may progress more rapidly and be more severe.
From Normal Cognition to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Impact of Orthostatic Hypotension
Authors: Xia Xin , Wang Rui , Vetrano Davide L. , Grande Giulia , Laukka Erika J. , Ding Mozhu , Fratiglioni Laura , Qiu Chengxuan
Published: July 2021

The role of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in the continuum of cognitive aging remains to be clarified. We sought to investigate the associations of OH with dementia, cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND), and CIND progression to dementia in older adults while considering orthostatic symptoms. This population-based cohort study included 2532 baseline (2001–2004) dementia-free participants (age ≥60 years; 62.6% women) in the SNAC-K (Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen) who were regularly examined over 12 years. We further divided the participants into a baseline CIND-free cohort and a CIND cohort. OH was defined as a decrease by ≥20/10 mm Hg in systolic/diastolic blood pressure upon standing and further divided into asymptomatic and symptomatic OH. Dementia was diagnosed following the international criteria. CIND was defined as scoring ≥1.5 SDs below age group-specific means in ≥1 cognitive domain. Data were analyzed with flexible parametric survival models, controlling for confounding factors. Of the 2532 participants, 615 were defined with OH at baseline, and 322 were diagnosed with dementia during the entire follow-up period. OH was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.40 for dementia (95% CI, 1.10–1.76), 1.15 (0.94–1.40) for CIND, and 1.54 (1.05–2.25) for CIND progression to dementia. The associations of dementia and CIND progression to dementia with asymptomatic OH were similar to overall OH, whereas symptomatic OH was only associated with CIND progression to dementia. Our study suggests that OH, even asymptomatic OH, is associated with increased risk of dementia and accelerated progression from CIND to dementia in older adults.
Liver X Receptor Agonist AZ876 Induces Beneficial Endogenous Cardiac Lipid Reprogramming and Protects Against Isoproterenol‐Induced Cardiac Damage
Authors: Ritter Daniel , Goeritzer Madeleine , Thiele Arne , Blumrich Annelie , Beyhoff Niklas , Luettges Katja , Smeir Elia , Kasch Juliane , Grune Jana , Müller Oliver J. , Klopfleisch Robert , Jaeger Carsten , Foryst‐Ludwig Anna , Kintscher Ulrich
Published: July 2021

Background

It is known that dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids may improve cardiac function. However, relatively high daily doses are required to achieve sufficient cardiac concentrations of beneficial omega‐3 fatty acids. The liver X receptor (LXR) is a nuclear hormone receptor and a crucial regulator of lipid homeostasis in mammals. LXR activation has been shown to endogenously reprogram cellular lipid profiles toward increased polyunsaturated fatty acids levels. Here we studied whether LXR lipid reprogramming occurs in cardiac tissue and exerts cardioprotective actions.

Methods and Results

Male 129SV mice were treated with the LXR agonist AZ876 (20 µmol/kg per day) for 11 days. From day 6, the mice were injected with the nonselective β‐agonist isoproterenol for 4 consecutive days to induce diastolic dysfunction and subendocardial fibrosis while maintaining systolic function. Treatment with isoproterenol led to a marked impairment of global longitudinal strain and the E/e' ratio of transmitral flow to mitral annular velocity, which were both significantly improved by the LXR agonist. Histological examination showed a significant reduction in isoproterenol‐induced subendocardial fibrosis by AZ876. Analysis of the cardiac lipid composition by liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry revealed a significant increase in cardiac polyunsaturated fatty acids levels and a significant reduction in saturated fatty acids by AZ876.

Conclusions

The present study provides evidence that the LXR agonist AZ876 prevents subendocardial damage, improves global longitudinal strain and E/e' in a mouse model of isoproterenol‐induced cardiac damage, accompanied by an upregulation of cardiac polyunsaturated fatty acids levels. Cardiac LXR activation and beneficial endogenous cardiac lipid reprogramming may provide a new therapeutic strategy in cardiac disease with diastolic dysfunction.
The phylogenetic position of the enigmatic Assam day gecko Cnemaspis cf. assamensis (Squamata: Gekkonidae) demonstrates a novel biogeographic connection between Northeast India and south India-Sri Lanka
Authors: Agarwal Ishan , Kamei Rachunliu G. , Mahony Stephen
Published: July 2021

Northeast Indian biodiversity has long been considered to have a stronger affinity to Southeast Asian rather than Peninsular Indian fauna, however, few molecular phylogenetic studies have explored this hypothesis. In Asia, the polyphyletic gekkonid genus Cnemaspis sensu lato is comprised of two distantly related groups; one primarily from South Asia with some members in Southeast Asia, and the other exclusively from Southeast Asia. Cnemaspis assamensis is a systematically obscure and geographically isolated species (>1400 km from its nearest congeners) from the Brahmaputra River Valley in Northeast India. We provide the first molecular phylogenetic assessment of this species based on a partial ND2 gene fragment. Cnemaspis assamensis is determined to be a deeply divergent (Oligocene) member of the South Asian radiation and is sister to the podihuna clade which is endemic to Sri Lanka. The biogeographic implications of this find are discussed and this is suspected to represent a rare example of true disjunction between the wet zones of Northeast India and southern India/Sri Lanka. These results further emphasise the importance of Northeast India as a refuge for unique ancient faunal lineages.
Kafka’s “Frightened Mouse”
Authors: Snir Reuven
Published: July 2021

Existentialist doctrine and neo-Sufi Arabic poetry share the conviction of the worthlessness of human existence – strangeness, alienation, wondering about the meaning and purpose of life, and deep depression after the tragic nature of human existence are imprinted on the character of man by the very nature of his humanness. Two short literary texts, one by the Austrian novelist Franz Kafka (1883–1924) and the other by the Egyptian poet Ṣalāḥ ʿAbd al-Ṣabūr (1931–1981), deal with such topics of the human existence presenting a new original vision. A mouse is the central figure of both of them. Despite the worthlessness of human existence, both texts offer some kind of hope and spiritual quest, a salvation in which death could be the gate to true life.
Computerized patterning method of Cliptronic jacquard structures
Authors: Li Xinxin , Zhang Aijun , Chen Jonathan Y.
Published: July 2021

Cliptronic fabric is referred to as one of the most luxurious and complicated knitted fabrics because of the exceptionally complex yarn-cutting technique and Cliptronic jacquard structures. Cliptronic jacquard principles and the single-end selection mechanism were first studied to theoretically reveal its patterning algorithm. To realize computerized design, the pattern image was transferred to jacquard bitmap. Certain grid units were defined in a form of mathematical matrixes for representing offset data of jacquard elements, including half-gauge fall-plate, full-gauge inlay, and half-gauge yarn selection jacquard systems. Additionally, for generating superior and clear pattern contours, boundary grids which connect various jacquard effects required a further adjustment and a detailed designing discipline was concluded. The researched patterning algorithm of Cliptronic structures positively helps to expand product range and enhance fabrication efficiency.
nurse Vowels in Scottish Standard English: Still Distinct or Merged?
Authors: Li Zeyu , Gut Ulrike , Schützler Ole
Published: July 2021

While nearly all dialects on the British Isles have undergone the nurse merger, a process which merged the Middle English vowels /ɪ ɛ ʊ/ into the vowel /ə/ (which was later lengthened to /ɜ:/) in pre-rhotic positions, Scottish Standard English (SSE) is traditionally described as having retained a three-way distinction in these contexts. However, the gradual loss of this contrast has been observed in some varieties of Scottish English. This study investigates phonetic realizations within the nurse lexical set in SSE speech. 1227 tokens of the nurse vowel produced by ninety-two speakers were drawn from broadcast news, broadcast talks, legal presentations, non-broadcast talks, and unscripted speeches from the Scottish component of the International Corpus of English (ICE Scotland). The first two formants (F1 and F2) were measured, transformed into Bark and normalized. A Bayesian linear mixed-effects regression model showed that in purely acoustic terms, the vowels in fir, fern, and fur are not merged and have a distinct F1 and F2. However, the pre-rhotic items are distinct from the reference categories kit, dress, and strut in being more centralized, and in some genres fir and fern are more strongly drawn towards the center of the vowel space (and each other) than fur is. While the social variables age and gender do not influence realizations of the nurse vowels in formal Scottish English at this general level, orthography and the realization of the following /r/ have a clear effect. Inspection of individual speakers further shows that several types of partial merger of these vowels exist; it is argued that this perspective is needed to understand variation within the SSE nurse lexical set.
“There’s No Sense to It”: A Posthumanist Ethnography of Agency in Methamphetamine Recovery
Authors: Brookfield Samuel , Selvey Linda , Maher Lisa , Fitzgerald Lisa
Published: July 2021

The orthodox construction of agency within addiction recovery discourse is built upon a fault line between two conflicting principles: that people who use drugs in harmful ways cannot control their behavior, but that they can also regain that control through intentional effort. The conceptual confusion inherent in this framework can harm people using drugs by producing inadequate accounts of commonly invoked aspects of recovery such as “triggers,” “self-control,” and “addictive behavior.” This ethnographic study involved qualitative interviews and observations with nine people over 6 months as they engaged in recovery from harmful methamphetamine use, to explore their experiences of agency, and how these experiences could be shaped by the discourse of volition/compulsion. Thematic analysis was conducted using a posthumanist theoretical framework. We found “relapse triggers” to be diffuse aspects of particular environments rather than specific stimuli, able to provoke what would normally be considered conscious, intentional behavior rather than only autonomic or “mindless” processes. Participants also described their identities as internally divided and multiple, with drug related behaviors separated from their true selves. Finally, agency was experienced as emergent and distributed rather than as a particular resource located within individuals. Attending to these complex experiences of agency can help resolve the tension between loss of control and personal responsibility for people who use drugs, by renegotiating the historically imposed categorical distinction between volitional and compelled actions, and the cultural constructions of “addictive” versus “normal” behavior.
Making People Matter: Moving Toward a Humanity-Based Public Administration
Authors: Ford Michael R.
Published: July 2021

In this article, I demonstrate how a humanity-driven approach to Public Administration (PA) can be used to resolve macro-level value conflicts. I define a humanity-driven approach to PA as one that prioritizes human emotion, lived-experience, perceptions, and acceptance at all stages of governing. I then present three value conflicts in PA, and apply a humanity-driven approach to reclassify conflicts into value hierarchies that provide a roadmap for conducting future research and theory development. The work builds on existing research prioritizing social equity, lived experience, and the resident-state interaction in the application of the administrative state.
The Japanese empathy questionnaire (EmQue) for preschool children: Psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender
Authors: Takamatsu Reina , Tsou Yung-Ting , Kusumi Takashi , Rieffe Carolien
Published: July 2021

Empathy is assumed to be a universal human motivation to act altruistically toward others. Developmental models of empathy explaining when and how children acquire the capacity to empathize have been proposed. However, the existing knowledge is largely built upon studies conducted in the Western context. To fill this gap, a cross-culturally validated measure of empathy for children is needed. The purpose of this study was to assess the Japanese version of the Empathy Questionnaire (EmQue), a parent-reported measure of empathy in preschool children, including its construct validity, measurement invariance across genders, and reliability. A total of 550 children aged 1–6 years participated in this study ( M age = 4.17 years, SD = 1.21). Their mothers completed the Japanese EmQue. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the hypothesized three-factor structure (emotional contagion, attention to others’ feelings, and prosocial actions) in the 13-item Japanese EmQue. The internal consistencies of the three scales were high. Measurement invariance across gender groups was also supported. Overall, the results demonstrate that the Japanese EmQue is a reliable and valid measure of the empathy of Japanese preschool children. It can serve as a tool in future studies to elucidate the role of culture in shaping empathy in early childhood.
Exploration of interventions to enhance return-to-work for cancer patients: A scoping review
Authors: Guo Yu-Jie , Tang Jue , Li Jia-Mei , Zhu Ling-Li , Xu Jia-Shuo
Published: July 2021

Objective:

With the increasing incidence and earlier onset of cancer, more and more cancer patients are facing the problems of return-to-work. This review is to explore the types, contents, and results of return-to-work interventions for cancer patients.

Methods:

This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR List. Three Chinese databases and five English databases were searched from the establishment of databases to 31 March, 2021. Article selection and data extraction were conducted by two researchers.

Results:

Thirty-two studies and 1916 cancer patients with mainly breast and gastrointestinal cancer were included. According to the contents, interventions could be divided into four types: (1) physical interventions ( n = 6), including high-intensity exercise, low-to-moderate intensity exercise, yoga, and upper limb functional training, (2) psychological interventions ( n = 2), including early active individualized psychosocial support and mindfulness-based recovery, (3) vocational interventions ( n = 14), including making work plans, educational leaflets, vocational consultations, electronic health intervention, and interventions targeting at employers, (4) multidisciplinary interventions ( n = 10), including any combination of above interventions. Physical exercises, making working plans, vocational consultations, educational leaflets, two combinations of vocational and physical interventions were validated to have positive results in enhancing cancer patients’ return-to-work.

Conclusions:

Return-to-work interventions for cancer patients are diversified and can be divided into physical, psychological, vocational, and multidisciplinary interventions. Medical staffs can utilize physical exercises, making working plans, vocational consultation, educational leaflets, combinations of vocational and physical interventions to enhance cancer patients’ return-to-work. Other interventions still need to be developed and validated.
Increasing dietary choline attenuates spatial memory deficits resulting from exposure to the chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin
Authors: Johns Bethany E , Ficken Melissa , Engberg Melanie E , Wecker Lynn , Philpot Rex M
Published: July 2021

Background:

Choline supplementation (+Ch) improves cognitive function in impaired animals and humans. Chemotherapy-related cognitive deficits (CRCDs) occur in cancer patients, and these deficits persist following treatment, adversely impacting quality of life. To date, there are no approved treatments for this condition.

Aim:

Because +Ch improves impaired memory, it was of interest to determine whether +Ch can attenuate spatial memory deficits induced by the chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclophosphamide (CYP).

Methods:

Female BALB/C mice, 64 days of age, were trained in the Morris water maze and baseline performance determined on day 15. Following baseline assessment, mice were placed on +Ch diet (2.0% Ch) or remained on standard diet (0.12% Ch). Mice received intravenous injections of DOX (2.5 mg/kg) and CYP (25 mg/kg), or equivalent volumes of saline (0.9% NaCl), on days 16, 23, 30, and 37, and spatial memory was assessed weekly from day 22 to 71.

Results:

DOX and CYP produced a prolonged impairment in spatial memory as indicated by an increased latency to the correct zone ( p < 0.05), and a decrease in time in the correct zone ( p < 0.05), % of total swim distance in the correct zone ( p < 0.05) and % entries to the correct zone ( p < 0.05). These effects were attenuated by +Ch.

Conclusion:

Although it remains to be determined whether this effect extends to other cognitive domains and whether +Ch is prophylactic or therapeutic, these findings suggest that +Ch may be an effective intervention for CRCDs.
Gift giving in the neoliberal city: Polanyi's substantivism and the exchange of density for affordable housing in Vancouver
Authors: Hyde Zachary
Published: July 2021

The policy of density agreements, allowing extra density for condominium developers in exchange for affordable housing units, is seen as an example of the neoliberalization of urban governance in North American and European cities. The consensus of scholarship on urban neoliberalism has suggested this practice is indicative of the rise of the entrepreneurial, market-orientated local state. Through a study of urban development in Vancouver, British Columbia. I illustrate how exchanging density for affordable housing also operates on the basis of gift giving. In doing so I integrate Karl Polanyi's framework of substantivism, which highlights various forms of economic exchange including markets, redistribution, and reciprocity, into research on urban governance. Applying the principles of substantivism to the case of Vancouver, I argue that reciprocity obfuscates the negative effects of the privatization of affordable housing provision by making social welfare contingent on increasing profits for developers, concealing the role of political power in land-use decisions, and gentrifying low-income neighbourhoods. These findings hold implications for the study of urban politics, the neoliberalization of affordable housing, and urban-economic research more generally.
Performance Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures Modified with Recycled Polyethylene via the Wet Process
Authors: Yin Fan , Fortunatus Mawazo , Moraes Raquel , Elwardany Michael D. , Tran Nam , Planche Jean-Pascal
Published: July 2021

The plastics and asphalt pavement industries have shown increasing interest in recycling waste plastics in asphalt because of potential environmental benefits. One approach to incorporating recycled plastics in asphalt is the wet process, which requires mechanical blending of recycled plastics into the asphalt binder as polymer modifiers. This study was aimed at exploring the use of recycled polyethylene (rPE) and a reactive elastomeric terpolymer (RET), which was used as a potential compatibilizer to rPE, for asphalt modification. Moreover, the study evaluated the impact of both modifiers on the bond strength characteristics of asphalt-aggregate systems as well as on the rutting and cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures. To this end, a battery of laboratory performance tests was conducted on asphalt mixtures containing binders: one neat; two rPE modified; and one styrene-butadiene-styrene modified. One rPE modified binder was formulated by adding 3% rPE to a PG 58-28 neat binder, while the other was modified with 3% rPE, RET, and polyphosphoric acid. Test results indicated that the rPE-plus-RET modified binder yielded an asphalt-aggregate system with enhanced moisture resistance, before and after oxidative aging. When compared with the control mixture, using rPE alone or rPE plus RET for asphalt modification significantly improved the rutting resistance. However, the rPE and rPE-plus-RET modified mixtures were found to be more susceptible to intermediate-temperature fatigue cracking at both short-term and long-term aging conditions. Finally, adding rPE or rPE plus RET did not have a significant impact on the mixture reflective cracking and thermal cracking resistance after long-term aging.