bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Posttranscriptional regulation of thiamin transporter-1 expression by microRNA-200a-3p in pancreatic acinar cells
Authors: Ramamoorthy Kalidas , Anandam Kasin Yadunandam , Yasujima Tomoya , Srinivasan Padmanabhan , Said Hamid M.
Published: July 2020

The findings of this study show, for the first time, that the membrane transporter of vitamin B1, i.e., thiamin transporter-1 (THTR-1), is subject to regulation by microRNAs (specifically miR-200a-3p) in mouse and human primary pancreatic acinar cells (PACs). The results also show that this posttranscriptional regulation has functional consequences on the ability of PACs to take in the essential micronutrient thiamin.
Phosphorylation of key podocyte proteins and the association with proteinuric kidney disease
Authors: Feng Di
Published: July 2020

Podocyte dysfunction contributes to proteinuric chronic kidney disease. A number of key proteins are essential for podocyte function, including nephrin, podocin, CD2-associated protein (CD2AP), synaptopodin, and α-actinin-4 (ACTN4). Although most of these proteins were first identified through genetic studies associated with human kidney disease, subsequent studies have identified phosphorylation of these proteins as an important posttranslational event that regulates their function. In this review, a brief overview of the function of these key podocyte proteins is provided. Second, the role of phosphorylation in regulating the function of these proteins is described. Third, the association between these phosphorylation pathways and kidney disease is reviewed. Finally, challenges and future directions in studying phosphorylation are discussed. Better characterization of these phosphorylation pathways and others yet to be discovered holds promise for translating this knowledge into new therapies for patients with proteinuric chronic kidney disease.
Source Term Derivation and Radioactive Release Evaluation for JRTR Research Reactor under Severe Accident
Authors: Xoubi Ned
Published: July 2020

The source term for the JRTR research reactor is derived under an assumed hypothetical severe accident resulting in generation of the most severe consequences. The reactor core is modeled based on the reactor technical design specifications, and the fission products inventory is calculated by using the SCALE/TRITON depletion sequence to perform burnup and decay analyses via coupling the NEWT 2-D transport lattice code to the ORIGEN-S fuel depletion code. Fifty radioisotopes contributed to the evaluation, resulting in a source term of 3.7 × 1014 Bq. Atmospheric dispersion was evaluated using the Gaussian plume model via the HOTSPOT code. The plume centerline total effective dose (TED) was found to exceed the IAEA limits for occupational exposure of 0.02 Sv; the results showed that the maximum dose is 200 Sv within 200 m from the reactor, under all the weather stability classes, after which it starts to decrease with distance, reaching 0.1 Sv at 1 km from the reactor. The radiation dose plume centerlines continue to the exceed international basic safety standards annual limit of 1 mSv for public exposure, up to 80 km from the reactor.
Distance-Based Formation Control for Quadrotors with Collision Avoidance via Lyapunov Barrier Functions
Authors: Ghommam Jawhar , Luque-Vega Luis F. , Saad Maarouf
Published: July 2020

In this paper, group formation control with collision avoidance is investigated for heterogeneous multiquadrotor vehicles. Specifically, the distance-based formation and tracking control problem are addressed in the framework of leader-follower architecture. In this scheme, the leader is assigned the task of intercepting a target whose velocity is unknown, while the follower quadrotors are arranged to set up a predefined rigid formation pattern, ensuring simultaneously interagent collision avoidance and relative localization. The adopted strategy for the control design consists in decoupling the quadrotor dynamics in a cascaded structure to handle its underactuated property. Furthermore, by imposing constraints on the orientation angles, the follower will never be overturned. Rigorous stability analysis is presented to prove the stability of the entire closed-loop system. Numerical simulation results are presented to validate the proposed control strategy.
Factors Associated with Utilization of Complete Postnatal Care Service in Baglung Municipality, Nepal
Authors: Chhetri Sita , Shah Rajani , Rajbanshi Laxmi
Published: July 2020

Background. Postnatal period is six weeks after birth. It is critical but is the most neglected period. A large proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur during 48 hours following childbirth. The utilization of the recommended three postnatal checkups within seven days after delivery, which plays a vital role in preventing maternal and neonatal deaths, is low in Nepal. Objective. This study is aimed at identifying the factors associated with the utilization of complete postnatal care (PNC) among mothers. Method. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 318 mothers in wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Baglung municipality, Nepal. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews. Descriptive analysis and comparison of characteristics of women/families with complete vs. partial postnatal checkups using multivariable logistic regression were done. Results. Among 314 respondents receiving at least one PNC, 78% had partial and 22% had complete PNC. Relatively advantaged caste/ethnicity- Brahman/Chhetri (aOR=3.18, 95% CI: 1.24-8.12) and Janajati (aOR=2.87, 95% CI: 1.09-7.53) - compared to Dalits, husbands working as a job holder in Nepal (aOR=3.49, 95% CI: 1.50-8.13), and delivery in a private hospital (aOR=11.4, 95% CI: 5.40-24.2) were associated with having complete PNC. Conclusion. Although PNC attendance at least once was high, utilization of complete PNC was low. More focus to mothers from disadvantaged caste/ethnicity, those whose husbands are in foreign employment, and improvement in quality of care in government health facilities may increase the use of complete PNC.
Prototype Steam Turbine for Solar Power Production
Authors: Millien Kawira
Published: July 2020

Fabrication of a prototype direct drive steam turbine using locally available materials provides a means to supply power and process heat for off‐grid areas, which are not accessible due to rugged terrain. The use of solar power technologies to provide clean power and heat will mitigate environmental pollution and global warming that are caused by combustion of fossil fuels and other carbon‐based power sources. The energy density of fossil fuels is higher than that of nonconcentrated solar power, which makes them a better option compared to nonconcentrated solar power sources. The high cost of steam thermal turbines and the limited technical skills on utilization of local materials for steam turbine construction have hampered the realization of potential of producing both small‐ and large‐scale power in Africa. The design of the single‐stage blade wheel system solar thermal turbine was done using AutoCAD 2010. The blades were made from encapsulated rice husk particle boards, and the steam casing was made from 0.0015 galvanized black iron sheet. Compensation for more stages was done by sending the fluid exiting from the turbine into the solar collector for reheating. It was coupled to a single‐phase generator and gearbox. The rotor was made of galvanized iron tube. The turbine’s average efficiency was obtained as 61.6% and average isentropic efficiency was 55.3%. The combined gearbox and generator approximate efficiency was 54.7%. Locally available heat transfer fluids were used for solar thermal collection. The prototype turbine was designed to produce 500 W of power. It had a heat rate ratio of 0.08. The turbine inlet conditions were as follows: average temperature of 112.8°C, average pressure of 2.7 × 105 Nm−2, average enthalpy of 3156 kJ/kg, and average steam flow rate of 243.3 kg/hr. Outlet conditions were as follows: outlet average temperature of 97.3°C, average steam flow rate of 102.0 kg/hr, average pressure of 1.20 × 105 Nm−2, and enthalpy of 2103 kJ/kg. With use of 6 M sodium chloride solution, the turbine inlet conditions were as follows: enthalpy of 3789.1 kJ/kg at a pressure of 3.0 × 105 Nm−2 and its enthalpy at exit was 2346.3 kJ/kg at a pressure of 1.05 × 105 m−2 which can provide process heat and power for off‐grid areas.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in a Patient with Disseminated Histoplasmosis
Authors: Swaminathan Neeraja , Vinicius Jorge M. , Serrins Jesse
Published: July 2020

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare condition characterized by an overwhelming inflammatory cascade activation which is often associated with rapid progression and high mortality. It may be familial with an underlying genetic mutation or triggered by infection, malignancy, and autoimmune disease. Disseminated histoplasmosis caused by histoplasma capsulatum is a granulomatous fungal disease seen typically in immunocompromised patients with varied clinical manifestations and requires long-term antifungal therapy. We present the case of a 61-year-old immunocompromised female with significant travel history who came with fever, pancytopenia, and liver failure raising suspicion for HLH that prompted a bone marrow biopsy procedure. Hemophagocytic figures consistent with HLH and numerous encapsulated fungi resembling histoplasma were visualized. She was treated with intravenous (IV) liposomal amphotericin B. Etoposide chemotherapy and interleukin-1 (IL-1) antagonist anakinra were deferred in order to limit her immunosuppression, and treatment was focused on antifungal therapy.
Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients Diagnosed with Postpartum Depression: A Nationwide Population‐Based Study
Authors: Li Jung-Miao , Lin Cheng-Li , Liao Ke-Ru , Liao Chung-Chih
Published: July 2020

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of most common postnatal complications, affecting approximately 10%–15% of women after childbirth annually. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining popularity as the choice of treatment for PPD in Taiwan. Hence, our aim was to analyze the utilization of TCM among PPD patients in Taiwan. A cross‐sectional study was conducted using a random sample of one million beneficiaries selected from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. We identified patients with PPD who had received either TCM treatment or non‐TCM treatment from the database during 2000–2012. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the use of TCM. A total of 653 patients with PPD were enrolled. The majority of patients with PPD were 26–30 years old, lived in a highly urbanized area of Taipei, had a monthly income <20,000 NT$, and were private enterprise employees. Around 52.7% of PPD patients had the motivation to seek TCM services. Younger women, who resided in central and southern Taiwan and who had used TCM one year before PPD diagnosis, were more likely to use TCM services. PPD patients who underwent TCM treatment had a lower overall medical expenditure than non‐TCM users. Most TCM users chose simple Chinese herbal medicine. The coexisting factors that made PPD patients to seek TCM services were respiratory or oral infections. We demonstrated the characteristics of those that seek TCM for PPD, which may provide useful insights to health care providers towards resource allocation.
Low Expression of DDX60 Gene Might Associate with the Radiosensitivity for Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Xin Dongrun , Liu Jingfang , Gu Jincheng , Ji Yujie , Jin Jiawei , Sun Lu , Tai Qingliang , Cao Jianping , Tian Ye , Qin Hualong , Tang Zaixiang
Published: July 2020

DEXD/H box helicase 60 (DDX60) is a new type of DEAD-box RNA helicase, which is induced to express after virus infection. It might involve in antiviral immunity by promoting RIG-I-like receptor-mediated signal transduction. In addition, previous studies had shown that the expression of DDX60 is related to cancer, but there was still a lack of relevant research in breast cancer. In this study, we used the information of patients with breast cancer in the TCGA database for statistical analysis and found that the breast cancer patients with low expression of DDX60 exhibited radiosensitivity. Comparing the radiotherapy groups with the nonradiotherapy groups, for patients with low expression of DDX60, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) values for radiotherapy were 0.244 (0.064–0.921) and 0.199 (0.062–0.646) in the training and validation datasets, with the p values 0.040 and 0.007, respectively. However, for patients with high expression of DDX60, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) values were 3.582 (0.627–20.467) and 2.421 (0.460–12.773), with the p values 0.054 and 0.297, respectively. These results suggested that the expression of DDX60 might strongly associate with individualized radiosensitivity in patients with breast cancer.
Early Left Ventricular Thrombus Formation in a COVID-19 Patient with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Sharma Harish , George Sudhakar
Published: July 2020

Background. Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to localised haemostasis. LVT is typically seen 3-12 days following AMI and is seldom seen within the first 24 hours. LVT increases the risk of mortality due to systemic thromboembolism. Patients with Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) are potentially hypercoagulable and this may promote early development of LVT. Case. A 50-year-old man with no past medical history was admitted with a severe diabetic ketoacidosis following a 4-day history of cough and fever. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 and required intensive care treatment for ventilation and haemofiltration. After returning to ward-based care, the patient developed chest pain and electrocadiographic changes consistent with an acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Emergency percutaneous coronary intervention was performed to the left anterior descending artery. However, the patient developed diuretic-resistant pulmonary oedema and a bedside echocardiogram revealed significant LVT despite only 4 hours of chest pain. The thrombus was associated with the anteroseptal wall of the left ventricle which was hypokinetic but not aneurysmal. An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was inserted, but the patient developed ipsilateral lower limb ischaemia due to the formation of thrombus in the femoral artery and irreversible cardiogenic shock from which he ultimately succumbed. Conclusion. COVID-19-positive patients are potentially hypercoagulable, and MI in this population may precipitate LVT earlier than expected. Consideration should be made for routine early screening of post-MI COVID-19 patients for LVT. If detected, anticoagulation may reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality in this high-risk group.
A Genetic Vaccine Encoding Shared Cancer Neoantigens to Treat Tumors with Microsatellite Instability
Authors: Leoni Guido , D'Alise Anna Morena , Cotugno Gabriella , Langone Francesca , Garzia Irene , De Lucia Maria , Fichera Imma , Vitale Rosa , Bignone Veronica , Tucci Fabio Giovanni , Mori Federica , Leuzzi Adriano , Di Matteo Elena , Troise Fulvia , Abbate Adele , Merone Rossella , Ruzza Valentino , Diodoro Maria Grazia , Yadav Mahesh , Gordon-Alonso Monica , Vanhaver Cristophe , Panigada Maddalena , Soprana Elisa , Siccardi Antonio , Folgori Antonella , Colloca Stefano , van der Bruggen Pierre , Nicosia Alfredo , Lahm Armin , Catanese Maria Teresa , Scarselli Elisa
Published: July 2020

Tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) are caused by a defective DNA mismatch repair system that leads to the accumulation of mutations within microsatellite regions. Indels in microsatellites of coding genes can result in the synthesis of frameshift peptides (FSP). FSPs are tumor-specific neoantigens shared across patients with MSI. In this study, we developed a neoantigen-based vaccine for the treatment of MSI tumors. Genetic sequences from 320 MSI tumor biopsies and matched healthy tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas database were analyzed to select shared FSPs. Two hundred nine FSPs were selected and cloned into nonhuman Great Ape Adenoviral and Modified Vaccinia Ankara vectors to generate a viral-vectored vaccine, referred to as Nous-209. Sequencing tumor biopsies of 20 independent patients with MSI colorectal cancer revealed that a median number of 31 FSPs out of the 209 encoded by the vaccine was detected both in DNA and mRNA extracted from each tumor biopsy. A relevant number of peptides encoded by the vaccine were predicted to bind patient HLA haplotypes. Vaccine immunogenicity was demonstrated in mice with potent and broad induction of FSP-specific CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses. Moreover, a vaccine-encoded FSP was processed in vitro by human antigen-presenting cells and was subsequently able to activate human CD8 T cells. Nous-209 is an “off-the-shelf” cancer vaccine encoding many neoantigens shared across sporadic and hereditary MSI tumors. These results indicate that Nous-209 can induce the optimal breadth of immune responses that might achieve clinical benefit to treat and prevent MSI tumors.

Significance:

These findings demonstrate the feasibility of an “off-the-shelf” vaccine for treatment and prevention of tumors harboring frameshift mutations and neoantigenic peptides as a result of microsatellite instability.
Berberine Promotes the Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Alveolar Osteoblasts through Regulating the Expression of miR-214
Authors: Liu Min , Xu Zhengmao
Published: July 2020

Introduction and Objective: Alveolar osteoblasts have critical functions during alveolar bone regeneration. Berberine (BBR) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to play important roles in regulating osteoblast differentiation. The study aimed to investigate the role and mechanisms of BBR in osteogenic differentiation of human alveolar osteoblasts (HAOBs) and determine miR-214 expression in the process. Methods: Healthy human alveolar bones were cultured in vitro and prepared for morphological observation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. The third generation of HAOBs was used for cell transfection and treated by different concentrations of BBR. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to detect the effect of BBR and increased miR-214 on the proliferation of HAOBs. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of osteogenic differentiation-related genes and miR-214 level, respectively. Results: The ALP staining results were positive, indicating that cultured cells were HAOBs. Different concentrations of BBR significantly promoted the proliferation of HAOBs and increased the expression levels of ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and osterix (OSX). Moreover, the expression of miR-214 was reduced as BBR concentrations increased, and the increase of miR-214 reversed the BBR-induced proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of HAOBs. Conclusion: BBR could promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of HAOBs through downregulating the expression of miR-214.
Predictive and Diagnostic Value of Nasal Nitric Oxide in Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Authors: Lv Hao , Liu Pei-Qiang , Xiang Rong , Zhang Wei , Chen Shi-Ming , Kong Yong-Gang , Xu Yu
Published: July 2020

Background: A hallmark of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (eCRSwNP) is mucosal eosinophil-predominant inflammation. Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is a known biomarker of eosinophilic inflammation in the upper airway. However, the utility of nNO measurement in the upper airway remains controversial. The present study aimed to compare the use of other clinical parameters with nNO to prediagnose patients with eCRSwNP from Central China. Methods: From June 2019 to December 2019, 70 patients with CRSwNP undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled. nNO measurements were performed in all of these subjects. Computed tomography scans, full blood count with differential analysis, and determination of total immunoglobulin E (total IgE) and plasma cytokines were performed before surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the predictive potential of the clinical parameters. Results: We recruited 24 patients with eCRSwNP and 46 with noneosinophilic CRSwNP (non-eCRSwNP). In patients with eCRSwNP, nNO levels were significantly higher than those in patients with non-eCRSwNP (p < 0.0001). Blood eosinophil percentages and counts, total IgE, and CT-derived ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus ratio (E/M ratio) were all significantly higher compared with those in patients with non-eCRSwNP (p < 0.05). To diagnose eCRSwNP, the highest area under the curve (0.803) was determined for nNO. At a cutoff of >329 parts per billion (ppb), the sensitivity was 83.30% and the specificity was 71.70%. However, the levels of plasma cytokines Th1/Th2 were not significantly different between the histological types of CRSwNP (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Measurement of nNO is useful for the early diagnosis of eCRSwNP.
Erratum: Small mammal diversity in Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest of the southernmost Brazilian Pampa: the importance of owl pellets for rapid inventories in human-changing ecosystems
Authors: Stutz Narla Shannay , Hadler Patrícia , Cherem Jorge José , Pardiñas Ulyses Francisco José
Published: July 2020

It corrects the article: http://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2020.60.25
Mortality from gastroschisis in the state of Rio de Janeiro: a 10-year series
Authors: Barreiros Camilla Ferreira Catarino , Gomes Maria Auxiliadora De Souza Mendes , Gomes Júnior Saint Clair Dos Santos
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVE: To analyze mortality and associated factors in a series of gastroschisis at birth in the state of Rio de Janeiro in a 10-year period (2005 to 2014). METHOD: A retrospective cohort study, which related the databases of the Live Births Information System and the Mortality Information System by probabilistic linkage. Final database was constructed in two stages: preparation of the two initial databases and establishment of relationships between them. RESULTS: Preterm newborns and those with low birthweight had higher risk of death, with statistical significance (p = 0.03 and p = 0.006, respectively). Regarding place of birth, although death frequency was higher in maternity units than in general hospitals (p = 0.04; OR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–1.0), it was observed that a unit characterized as a general hospital had a high birth frequency (61.2%). Furthermore, the comparative analysis of the risk of death between this unit and others showed a 7.5 higher risk of death in general hospitals and 3.2 higher in maternity units, with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Moreover, births in level II intensive care units had 3.9 times more risk of death compared with level III (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study foments the discussion of two possible strategies in the treatment of gastroschisis in newborns. First, the centralization of care in tertiary units, enabling malformation care to be analyzed in a more detailed and standardized manner. Second, and perhaps more feasible, the elaboration of clinical guidelines to standardize immediate care for gastroschisis in babies born outside tertiary centers, as well as the standardization of their transportation until arrival at the tertiary center.
Value in Healthcare Initiative
Authors: Joynt Maddox Karen E. , Bleser William K. , Das Sandeep R. , Desai Nihar R. , Ng-Osorio Jackie , O’Brien Emily , Psotka Mitchell A. , Wadhera Rishi K. , Weintraub William S. , Konig Madeleine
Published: July 2020

In spring 2018, the American Heart Association convened the Value in Healthcare Summit to begin an important conversation about the challenges patients with cardiovascular disease face in accessing and deriving quality and value from the healthcare system. Following the summit and recognizing the collective momentum it created, the American Heart Association, in collaboration with the Robert J. Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University, launched the Value in Healthcare Initiative—Transforming Cardiovascular Care. Four areas of focus were identified, and learning collaboratives were established and proceeded to conduct concrete, actionable problem solving in 4 high-impact areas in cardiovascular care: Value-Based Models, Partnering with Regulators, Predict and Prevent, and Prior Authorization. The deliverables from these groups are being disseminated in 4 stand-alone articles, and their publication will initiate further work to test and evaluate each of these promising areas of reform. This article provides an overview of the initiative’s findings and highlights key cross-cutting themes for consideration as the initiative moves forward.
Ca
2+
-Dependent NOX5 (NADPH Oxidase 5) Exaggerates Cardiac Hypertrophy Through Reactive Oxygen Species Production
Authors: Zhao Guo-Jun , Zhao Chang-Ling , Ouyang Shan , Deng Ke-Qiong , Zhu Lihua , Montezano Augusto C. , Zhang Changjiang , Hu Fengjiao , Zhu Xue-Yong , Tian Song , Liu Xiaolan , Ji Yan-Xiao , Zhang Peng , Zhang Xiao-Jing , She Zhi-Gang , Touyz Rhian M. , Li Hongliang
Published: July 2020

NOX5 (NADPH oxidase 5) is a homolog of the gp91
phox
subunit of the phagocyte NOX, which generates reactive oxygen species. NOX5 is involved in sperm motility and vascular contraction and has been implicated in diabetic nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and stroke. The function of NOX5 in the cardiac hypertrophy is unknown. Because NOX5 is a Ca
2+
-sensitive, procontractile NOX isoform, we questioned whether it plays a role in cardiac hypertrophy. Studies were performed in (1) cardiac tissue from patients undergoing heart transplant for cardiomyopathy and heart failure, (2) NOX5-expressing rat cardiomyocytes, and (3) mice expressing human NOX5 in a cardiomyocyte-specific manner. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in mice by transverse aorta coarctation and Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion. NOX5 expression was increased in human failing hearts. Rat cardiomyocytes infected with adenoviral vector encoding human NOX5 cDNA exhibited elevated reactive oxygen species levels with significant enlargement and associated increased expression of ANP (atrial natriuretic peptides) and β-MHC (β-myosin heavy chain) and prohypertrophic genes (
Nppa
,
Nppb
, and
Myh7
) under Ang II stimulation. These effects were reduced by N-acetylcysteine and diltiazem. Pressure overload and Ang II infusion induced left ventricular hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and contractile dysfunction, responses that were exaggerated in cardiac-specific
NOX5
trangenic mice. These phenomena were associated with increased reactive oxygen species levels and activation of redox-sensitive MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase). N-acetylcysteine treatment reduced cardiac oxidative stress and attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in
NOX5
trangenic. Our study defines Ca
2+
-regulated NOX5 as an important NOX isoform involved in oxidative stress- and MAPK-mediated cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction.
Infarction of the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum in the Age of COVID-19
Authors: Sparr Steven A. , Bieri Phyllis L.
Published: July 2020

Background and Purpose:

Ischemic infarction of the corpus callosum is rare and infarction isolated to the corpus callosum alone rarer still, accounting for much <1% of ischemic stroke in most stroke registries. About half of callosal infarctions affect the splenium.

Methods:

During a 2-week period, at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City, 4 patients at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx were found to have ischemic lesions of the splenium of the corpus callosum, 2 with infarction isolated to the corpus callosum.

Results:

All patients tested positive for COVID-19 and 3 had prolonged periods of intubation. All had cardiovascular risk factors. Clinically, all presented with encephalopathy and had evidence of coagulopathy and raised inflammatory markers.

Conclusions:

Infarction of the splenium of the corpus callosum is exceedingly rare and a cluster of such cases suggests COVID-19 as an inciting agent, with the mechanisms to be elucidated.
Consistent Unsupervised Estimators for Anchored PCFGs
Authors: Clark Alexander , Fijalkow Nathanaël
Published: July 2020

Learning probabilistic context-free grammars (PCFGs) from strings is a classic problem in computational linguistics since Horning (1969). Here we present an algorithm based on distributional learning that is a consistent estimator for a large class of PCFGs that satisfy certain natural conditions including being anchored (Stratos et al., 2016). We proceed via a reparameterization of (top–down) PCFGs that we call a bottom–up weighted context-free grammar. We show that if the grammar is anchored and satisfies additional restrictions on its ambiguity, then the parameters can be directly related to distributional properties of the anchoring strings; we show the asymptotic correctness of a naive estimator and present some simulations using synthetic data that show that algorithms based on this approach have good finite sample behavior.
Lectotypification of Artemisia rutifolia var. ruoqiangensis (Asteraceae, Anthemideae)

Authors: GUO XIN-QIANG , WANG LONG , YANG QIN-ER
Published: July 2020

The holotype of Artemisia rutifolia var. ruoqiangensis (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), S.K. Wu et al. 2755 (HNWP), was found to be a mixed sheet consisting of two taxa, A. frigida and A. rutifolia var. ruoqiangensis. Lectotypification is proposed for A. rutifolia var. ruoqiangensis herein.
Transient Overturning Compensation between Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Basins
Authors: Sun Shantong , Thompson Andrew F. , Eisenman Ian
Published: July 2020

Climate models consistently project (i) a decline in the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) and (ii) a strengthening of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds in response to anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing. These two processes suggest potentially conflicting tendencies of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC): a weakening AMOC due to changes in the North Atlantic but a strengthening AMOC due to changes in the Southern Ocean. Here we focus on the transient evolution of the global ocean overturning circulation in response to a perturbation to the NADW formation rate. We propose that the adjustment of the Indo-Pacific overturning circulation is a critical component in mediating AMOC changes. Using a hierarchy of ocean and climate models, we show that the Indo-Pacific overturning circulation provides the first response to AMOC changes through wave processes, whereas the Southern Ocean overturning circulation responds on longer (centennial to millennial) time scales that are determined by eddy diffusion processes. Changes in the Indo-Pacific overturning circulation compensate AMOC changes, which allows the Southern Ocean overturning circulation to evolve independently of the AMOC, at least over time scales up to many decades. In a warming climate, the Indo-Pacific develops an overturning circulation anomaly associated with the weakening AMOC that is characterized by a northward transport close to the surface and a southward transport in the deep ocean, which could effectively redistribute heat between the basins. Our results highlight the importance of interbasin exchange in the response of the global ocean overturning circulation to a changing climate.
Elite Trust and the Populist Threat to Stable Democracy
Authors: Higley John
Published: July 2020

One aspect of elite theory holds that democratic stability depends heavily on elites trusting each other to keep distributive issues from reaching acute degrees impelling power seizures. This presumes that agreement about the distribution of valued things is seldom deep or wide in large publics. When distributive issues rise to clear public consciousness, the tendency is toward civil strife. Populists assail and undermine elite trust and the management of politics by elites. They thereby weaken an important basis of democratic stability. I argue that the rise of populist leaders to power leads to an erosion of elite trust, which makes distributive issues more acute and threatens the stability of democratic institutions.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Uses Ensemble Storytelling Processes to Overcome Enslavement in Corporate Supply Chains
Authors: Rosile Grace Ann , Boje David M. , Herder Richard A. , Sanchez Mabel
Published: July 2020

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has successfully combated modern-day slavery by transforming the ways that over a dozen major brands, including Taco Bell, Subway, and Wal-Mart, manage their supply chains. The CIW’s efforts over more than 20 years have effectively stopped enslavement practices, including abuses such as wage theft and peonage indebtedness. We conducted a field ethnography, interviews, and archival analyses to understand this success. We find that the CIW employs a decentered, egalitarian, and ensemble approach to their multiplicities of alliances by collectively “animating” themselves and their partners through ensemble leadership. This combination of alliances, along with worker-driven monitoring, brings life to the CIW motto “We are all leaders.” Translating this motto into daily practice is how the CIW virtually eradicates enslavement practices in corporate supply chains.
Globalization: A missed opportunity
Authors: Bazoli Giovanni
Published: July 2020

One of the paradoxical reasons for the 2008 financial crash was that the competition between the Western and Eastern blocs was played out and won not militarily but rather on the grounds of economic efficiency. Because the primacy of the West had been established by economics and not armaments, not only did the West forgo the construction of a new global governance, but it also failed to reinforce the existing one, which might have avoided the risks of unbridled capitalism. The 20-year period between 1989 and 2008 highlighted a radicalization of the capitalist model on which developed Western societies were based, together with a distorted conception of the corporation. The relationship between democracy and free market is asymmetrical: democracy cannot survive without a free market, while the free market functions even in the absence of democracy. In fact, one of the reasons why several Italian banks such as Intesa Sanpaolo were less affected by the 2008 crisis than other institutions around the world was precisely that they relied less on financial risk than on credit. However, the West seems to have now lost the capacity of vision that the United States and the founding fathers of the European Union demonstrated at the end of the Second World War. Must the West, therefore, resign itself to a marginal role in world affairs, or does it still have a chance to regain an influential role in a fairer and more solidarity-orientated global order?
Investigations on system integration method and dynamic performance of electromechanical actuator
Authors: Zheng Shicheng , Fu Yongling , Wang Deyi , Zhang Wensen , Pan Junlin
Published: July 2020

A highly integrated electromechanical actuator was developed in this article, which aims at fulfilling the requirements of high power-to-weight ratio, high efficiency, high integration and low volume in military equipment. Three different transmission schemes were proposed for the integrated electromechanical actuator according to the differences in integration methods. Comparative analysis was conducted on the specific structures of the integrated electromechanical actuator and the categories and performance of the planetary roller screw, which is the key unit of the integrated electromechanical actuator. An integrated electromechanical actuator was designed based on the project requirements. A mathematical model was established and the system transfer function was derived. Based on this, a simulation model of the position loop system was established using the AMESim software and the effects of some related parameters, such as friction, backlash and stiffness, on the dynamic performance of the system were investigated. The related theory and simulation results were experimentally validated by a self-developed integrated electromechanical actuator research prototype combined with the related test system. The data obtained from the step response tests, sinusoidal response tests and repeat locating accuracy tests indicated that the developed integrated electromechanical actuator prototype is of rapid, accurate and stable position tracking capability.
Telling the Right Story at the Right Time: Women Seeking Asylum with Stories of Trafficking into the Sex Industry
Authors: Jobe Alison
Published: July 2020

Exploring the (re)emergence of human trafficking as a global social problem, this article presents an analysis of asylum determinations where claims for Asylum and/or Humanitarian Protection included accounts of trafficking to the UK. The article traces the emergence of trafficking as a credible claim for refugee status and argues that this recognition was time-specific and story-specific. Trafficking victims were identified by the UK Home Office where a claimant’s narrative mirrored the narrowly defined female ‘sex trafficking victim’ presented in campaigns and fictional depictions of human trafficking in the early 21st century. Through an exploration of the work that trafficking stories did in establishing an ‘ideal’ trafficking victim in asylum determinations, this article illustrates how social problems and legal judgments can be profoundly shaped by situated and strategic storytelling. These findings develop an understanding of the social construction of, and relationships between, social conditions and micro-meso-macro narratives of identity.
Reduced risk for hospitalization due to hyponatraemia in lithium treated patients: A Swedish population-based case–control study
Authors: Falhammar Henrik , Skov Jakob , Calissendorff Jan , Lindh Jonatan D , Mannheimer Buster
Published: July 2020

Background:

Many drugs used in psychiatry have been reported to cause hyponatraemia. However, lithium may be an exception due to its potential for causing nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, but clinical data are largely absent. The objective of this investigation was to study the association between lithium therapy and hospitalization due to hyponatraemia.

Methods:

This study was a register-based case–control investigation of the general Swedish population. Patients hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of hyponatraemia ( n=11,213) were compared with matched controls ( n=44,801). Analyses using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for co-medication, diseases, previous hospitalizations and socioeconomic factors were deployed to calculate the association between severe hyponatraemia and the use of lithium. Additionally, newly initiated (⩽90 days) and ongoing lithium therapy was studied separately.

Results:

Compared with controls, the unadjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for hospitalization due to hyponatraemia was 1.07 (0.70–1.59) for lithium. However, after adjustment for confounding factors the risk was reduced (adjusted OR: 0.53 (0.31–0.87)). Newly initiated lithium therapy was not significantly associated with hyponatraemia (adjusted OR 0.73 (0.35–5.38)). In contrast, for ongoing therapy the corresponding adjusted OR was significantly reduced (adjusted OR: 0.52 (0.30–0.87)).

Conclusions:

A marked inverse association was found between ongoing lithium therapy and hospitalization due to hyponatraemia.
The µ-opioid system in midline thalamic nuclei modulates defence strategies towards a conditioned fear stimulus in male mice
Authors: Bengoetxea Xabier , Goedecke Lena , Blaesse Peter , Pape Hans-Christian , Jüngling Kay
Published: July 2020

Background:

Nuclei located in the dorsal midline thalamus, such as the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), are crucial to modulate fear and aversive behaviour. In addition, the PVT shows a dense expression of µ-opioid receptors (MORs) and could mediate the anxiolytic effects of opioids.

Methods:

We analysed the contribution of MORs in the dorsal midline thalamus (i.e. the PVT) to the performance of mice in a classical fear conditioning paradigm. We locally injected a specific agonist (DAMGO), an antagonist (CTAP) of MOR or saline as a control into the dorsal midline thalamus of male mice, prior to fear extinction training. We assessed freezing as a typical measure of fear and extended our analysis by evaluation of aversive, non-aversive and neutral behavioural features using compositional data analysis.

Results:

Pharmacological blockade of MORs through CTAP in the dorsal midline thalamus induced a fear memory extinction deficit, as evidenced by maintained freezing during extinction sessions. Stimulation of MORs by DAMGO resulted in an overall increase in locomotor activity, associated with decreased freezing during recall of extinction. Compositional data analysis confirmed the freezing-related pharmacological effects and revealed specific differences in basic behavioural states. CTAP-treated mice remained in an aversive state, whereas DAMGO-treated mice displayed predominantly neutral behaviour.

Conclusions:

Fear extinction requires the integrity of the µ-opioid system in the dorsal midline thalamus. Pharmacological stimulation of MOR and associated facilitation of fear extinction recall suggest a potential therapeutic avenue for stress-related or anxiety disorders.
Floral-like enhancement might reflect an active liver tuberculous lesion to avoid systemic hematogenous dissemination by surgery: A case report
Authors: Liu Yong-Qian , Yuan Wei-Feng , Liu Xin-Yi , Zhao Xin-Xiang
Published: July 2020

After primary dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus infection that is localized in liver, disease progression and changes to immune function in the body occur. Various forms of tuberculosis, including granuloma, caseous necrosis, liquefactive necrosis, fibrosis, and calcification, occur that could be presented at different stages, and imaging examination shows findings that are consistent with these stages. Not all liver tuberculosis patients are suitable for liver resection, and preoperative imaging examination and pathological immunohistochemical results could be used to determine whether tuberculosis was active, avoid unnecessary liver resection, and prevent the postoperative spread of tuberculosis. Here, we reported a case of miliary tuberculosis, pelvic tuberculosis, and tuberculous abscess of the thigh muscle in a 51-year-old man after liver lesion resection. The liver lesion was confirmed to be tuberculosis by surgical pathology, which is rare and has not been previously reported. The purpose of this case report is to remind radiologists of the importance of the floral-like enhancement and to estimate whether liver tuberculosis is active. This will help to guide clinicians to determine the timing of surgery, avoid unnecessary liver resection, and avoid hematogenous transmission.
Ovarian metastasis from malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Naldi Giuseppe , Bergomi Serenella , Visca Paolo , Cecere Fabiana Letizia
Published: July 2020

Background:

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive disease of the pleura with a dismal prognosis. Distant metastases most commonly occur in the liver, spleen, and thyroid gland. To our knowledge, ovarian metastases have never been described.

Case description:

We describe a case of a woman with recurrent malignant pleural mesothelioma presenting a single ovarian metastasis, surgically resected.

Conclusions:

This case report highlights the importance of using a complete staging protocol in patients with MPM to improve patient management. A whole-body computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast enhancement and possibly positron emission tomography–CT should be performed to identify any distant metastases before deciding on treatment strategy.
Socializing Singlehood: Personal, Interpersonal, and Sociocultural Factors Shaping Black Women’s Single Lives
Authors: Moorman Jessica D.
Published: July 2020

Popular discourse characterizes single Black women as desperate and dysfunctional, constructions of single status that reinforce broader stereotypes of Black women. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about how Black women define singlehood for themselves. The relative omission of Black women’s self-defined experiences of unmarried life from research is a gap that limits scholarly understandings of singlehood and Black women’s lives. To address this gap, 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted with single, cisgender, heterosexual Black women aged 25–46 years from diverse educational and marital history backgrounds. Thematic analysis yielded nine themes across sociocultural (complex portrayals and liberation), interpersonal (advice, support, and judgment), and personal (purpose, security, freedom, and frustration) life domains. Participants enacted a range of strategies in unmarried life including strategic singlehood, the intentional practice of maintaining single status to foster growth, maintain freedom, or ensure safety. Differences in singlehood were observed by maternal status, age, and marital history. Findings suggest singlehood is socialized through scripting and gendered racial socialization processes. Media featuring single Black women, advice and judgments from family, and shifting gender roles for women contributed to single socialization processes. Study findings suggest new directions for practice, research, and policy. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684320939070
Out-of-plane shear property analysis of Nomex honeycomb sandwich structure
Authors: Liu Yue , Liu Wei , Gao Weicheng
Published: July 2020

Honeycomb sandwich structure finds immense applications in aerospace manufacturing and other similar fields. The Nomex honeycomb sandwich structural material exhibits a complex structure and boundary conditions, making it difficult to obtain exact solutions for the equivalent out-of-plane shear modulus and shear strength of the Nomex honeycomb using current analytical methods. To this end, based on the energy method, the Kelsey model is simplified in this paper. Then, distribution of the shear forces in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the Nomex honeycomb core is analysed using the simplified model. Considering the effect of the wall thickness of the honeycomb core on the ultimate strength, the analytical expressions of the out-of-plane shear modulus and shear strength of the Nomex honeycomb are proposed. The shear properties and failure process of the Nomex honeycomb in two directions are then analysed experimentally. The accuracy of the analytical expressions of the equivalent shear modulus and shear strength is verified experimentally. The equivalent out-of-plane shear modulus and shear strength of the honeycomb was demonstrated to be effectively predicted by the analytical approach.
Evaluation of physicochemical and mechanical properties with the in vitro degradation of PCL/nHA/MWCNT composite scaffolds
Authors: Díaz Esperanza , Aresti Jon , León Joseba
Published: July 2020

The fabrication of biodegradable magnetic poly(caprolactone)(PCL)/nanohydroxyapatite (nHA)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite scaffolds by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) for bone regeneration is reported in this study. The magnetism tests completed on the porous matrices pointed to their ferromagnetic behavior. Both in-vitro degradation and mechanical properties are studied over eight weeks in a phosphate buffered solution (PBS) at 37°C. The addition of MWCNTs at quantities of up to 5% modified the structural morphology of the composite, producing regular structures with repetitive patterns. As from that quantity, the electrostatic charge of the nanotubes within an aqueous solution was insufficient for acceptable distribution of the nanoparticles, by means of ultrasonic dispersion. It resulted in an acceleration of the degradation behavior that was clear from the mechanical properties that weakened by up to 20%. The thermal properties were also influenced in that they formed shorter chains, which could be ordered with greater ease, as a consequence of the ester hydrolysis process.