bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Lipid Profile and Clinical Manifestations in SCA Children
Authors: da Guarda Caroline Conceição , Yahouédéhou Sètondji Cocou Modeste Alexandre , Santiago Rayra Pereira , Fernandes Camila Felix de Lima , Neres Joelma Santana dos Santos , Oliveira Antonio Mateus de Jesus , Aleluia Milena Magalhães , Figueiredo Camylla Vilas Boas , Fonseca Cleverson Alves , Fiuza Luciana Magalhães , Carvalho Suellen Pinheiro , de Oliveira Rodrigo Mota , Nascimento Valma Maria Lopes , Rocha Larissa Carneiro , Gonçalves Marilda Souza
Published: August 2020

Introduction. Clinical complications in sickle cell anemia (SCA) are heterogeneous and involve several molecules. It has been suggested that SCA individuals present a dyslipidemic phenotype and that lipid parameters are associated with severe clinical complications, such as pulmonary hypertension. We sought to investigate associations between lipid parameters and clinical manifestations, as well as other laboratory parameters in a population of pediatric SCA patients.Methods. Our cross-sectional evaluation included 126 SCA patients in steady state and who were not undergoing lipid-lowering therapy. Hematological and biochemical parameters were characterized, and previous clinical manifestations were investigated.Results. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were increased in patients with a previous history of pneumonia, which also positively correlated with HbS levels. Decreased LDL-C levels were also associated with leg ulcers and anemia. Elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were associated with pain crises, increased viscosity, and decreased hemolysis. Several studies have determined that lipids play a role in the vascular impairment seen in SCA, which was corroborated by our findings.Conclusions. In sum, our results suggest that total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels are associated with hemolysis and anemia markers and, most importantly, with clinical complications related to vasculopathy in SCA.
Evans Syndrome Associated with Pregnancy and COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Vadlamudi Gayathri , Hong Leah , Keerthy Madhurima
Published: August 2020

Background. Evans syndrome (ES) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by autoimmune hemolytic anemia along with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Few case reports of ES in pregnancy have been published, and ES may be difficult to distinguish from other diagnoses more common in pregnancy. Guidelines for treatment of ES are not well-defined. Case. A 23-year-old multigravid woman in active labor was found to have severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. She was diagnosed with ES and started on immunosuppressive treatments for persistent immune thrombocytopenic purpura. In the postpartum period, she was found to have coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and acute pulmonary embolism. Conclusion. Evans syndrome is a challenge to diagnose in pregnancy and poses important considerations for intrapartum and postpartum management.
Electrolytic Manganese Residue‐Modified Asphalt Performance Test and Micromechanism Analysis
Authors: Fu Tao , Pang Bin , Li Haoxu , Liang Junlin , Bao Huiming
Published: August 2020

The aim of this paper is to study the feasibility of using an electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) as modified asphalt. In this paper, after grinding the electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) into asphalt, the electrolytic manganese residue‐ (EMR‐) modified asphalt was prepared with different mix ratios. The three major indicators of the modified asphalt were studied, and its modification mechanism was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The adhesion force, surface energy, and dissipation energy of the asphalt before and after modification were analyzed by a force curve. The results show that the surface energy of the electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is increased after grinding, the high temperature performance of the asphalt is improved, and the temperature sensitivity of the asphalt is decreased; however, the low‐temperature performance is not improved obviously. When the powder oil ratio is 9%, the comprehensive performance of the asphalt is the best. The results of the infrared spectrum analysis show that the mixture of the electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) and asphalt does not produce new functional groups, and thus, the preparation method is a physical modification method. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show that the electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) can enhance the high‐temperature stability of asphalt. It is found that the stability and antideformation ability of the modified asphalt improved.
Nuevas atribuciones del director nacional del servicio de impuestos internos
Authors: O´Ryan Christian Opitz
Published: August 2020

En el presente artículo, analizaremos dos de las nuevas facultades que la ley 21.210 de 2020 entregó al Director Nacional del Servicio de Impuesos Internos y que dicen relación con una mayor certeza jurídica y seguridad tributaria. Estas son: a) la facultad de absolver consultas de particulares, sobre la aplicación de normas particulares; y b) la facultad del Director de pronunciarse acerca del recurso jerárquico, en contra de una resolución que rechaza una reposición administrativa voluntaria, en especial a la situación ocurrida hasta antes de la dictación de esta ley. Finalmente, daremos algunas conclusiones de estas nuevas facultades.
Association of Known Melanoma Risk Factors with Primary Melanoma of the Scalp and Neck
Authors: Wood Renee P. , Heyworth Jane S. , McCarthy Nina S. , Mauguen Audrey , Berwick Marianne , Thomas Nancy E. , Millward Michael J. , Anton-Culver Hoda , Cust Anne E. , Dwyer Terence , Gallagher Richard P. , Gruber Stephen B. , Kanetsky Peter A. , Orlow Irene , Rosso Stefano , Moses Eric K. , Begg Colin B. , Ward Sarah V.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Scalp and neck (SN) melanoma confers a worse prognosis than melanoma of other sites but little is known about its determinants. We aimed to identify associations between SN melanoma and known risk genes, phenotypic traits, and sun exposure patterns.

Methods:

Participants were cases from the Western Australian Melanoma Health Study (n = 1,200) and the Genes, Environment, and Melanoma Study (n = 3,280). Associations between risk factors and SN melanoma, compared with truncal and arm/leg melanoma, were investigated using binomial logistic regression. Facial melanoma was also compared with the trunk and extremities, to evaluate whether associations were subregion specific, or reflective of the whole head/neck region.

Results:

Compared with other sites, increased odds of SN and facial melanoma were observed in older individuals [SN: OR = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.92–1.80, Ptrend = 0.016; Face: OR = 4.57, 95% CI = 3.34–6.35, Ptrend < 0.001] and those carrying IRF4-rs12203592*T (SN: OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.12–1.63, Ptrend = 0.002; Face: OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.10–1.50, Ptrend = 0.001). Decreased odds were observed for females (SN: OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.37–0.64, P < 0.001; Face: OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53–0.82, P < 0.001) and the presence of nevi (SN: OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49–0.89, P = 0.006; Face: OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.52–0.83, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Differences observed between SN melanoma and other sites were also observed for facial melanoma. Factors previously associated with the broader head and neck region, notably older age, may be driven by the facial subregion. A novel finding was the association of IRF4-rs12203592 with both SN and facial melanoma.

Impact:

Understanding the epidemiology of site-specific melanoma will enable tailored strategies for risk factor reduction and site-specific screening campaigns.
Changes in HPV Seroprevalence from an Unvaccinated toward a Girls-Only Vaccinated Population in the Netherlands
Authors: Pasmans Hella , Hoes Joske , Tymchenko Liza , de Melker Hester E. , van der Klis Fiona R.M.
Published: August 2020

Background:

In the Netherlands, bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was included in the National Immunization Program for 12-year-old girls in 2010 (vaccination coverage, 45%–60%). We examined possible changes in HPV seroprevalence in the HPV-unvaccinated Dutch population aged 0–89 years, comparing prevaccination data with data of approximately 6 years after implementation of national vaccination.

Methods:

Serum samples of men and women were used from two cross-sectional population-based serosurveillance studies performed before (2006–07, n = 6,384) and after (2016–17, n = 5,645) implementation of HPV vaccination in the Netherlands. Seven high-risk HPV-specific antibodies (HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) were tested in a virus-like particle-based multiplex immunoassay.

Results:

Type-specific HPV seroprevalence increased in women between 2006–07 and 2016–17. Also, a higher seroprevalence for at least one type in women >15 years was found in 2016–17 (31.7%) compared with 2006–07 (25.2%). In men, overall HPV seroprevalence remained similar; however, a lower seroprevalence was found for HPV16 in 2016–17 (7.5%) compared with 2006–07 (10.6%).

Conclusions:

Our results indicate an increase in high-risk HPV types in women and a rather stable exposure in men. No clear effects of the strategy of girls-only vaccination were observed in men, probably because of the short time after introduction combined with suboptimal coverage.

Impact:

No herd immunity has been observed yet in a population with suboptimal HPV vaccination coverage.
Circulating Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and Risk of Total and 19 Site-Specific Cancers: Cohort Study Analyses from the UK Biobank
Authors: Qian Frank , Huo Dezheng
Published: August 2020

Background:

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been implicated in several malignancies, but few studies have examined multiple cancers simultaneously. We sought to conduct systematic assessments of the association between IGF-1 and cancer risk.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective analysis between IGF-1 and incident total and 19 site-specific cancers among 412,645 individuals enrolled in the UK Biobank with follow-up to 2016. IGF-1 was measured using blood samples provided at the baseline examination. HR and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated with multivariable-adjusted Cox models with IGF-1 modeled both in sex-specific quintiles and continuously.

Results:

Participants were followed for a median of 7.2 years. We observed positive associations between circulating IGF-1 and overall cancer risk for both men (HR = 1.03 per 5-nmol/L increment in IGF-1; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06) and women (HR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06). For specific sites, we observed positive associations for breast (HR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07–1.14), prostate (1.09; 95% CI, 1.05–1.12), colorectum (1.07; 95% CI, 1.02–1.11), melanoma (1.08; 95% CI, 1.01–1.15), kidney (1.10; 95% CI, 1.00–1.20), and thyroid (1.22; 95% CI, 1.05–1.42) and inverse associations for lung (0.91; 95% CI, 0.86–0.96), ovaries (0.86; 95% CI, 0.77–0.95), head and neck (0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99), and liver (0.32; 95% CI, 0.26–0.38). The inverse association between IGF-1 and lung cancer was observed only in ever-smokers (HRever-smoker = 0.88 vs. HRnever-smoker = 1.14; Pinteraction = 0.0005). Analyses comparing extreme quintiles were consistent.

Conclusions:

IGF-1 is modestly associated with increased risk of total cancer in both men and women but demonstrated divergent associations for site-specific cancers.

Impact:

Our study suggests that IGF-1 could serve as a target for cancer prevention or treatment.
Targeting Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Restores BRAF Inhibitor Sensitivity in BRAFi-resistant Melanoma
Authors: Marusak Charles , Thakur Varsha , Li Yuan , Freitas Juliano T. , Zmina Patrick M. , Thakur Vijay S. , Chang Mayland , Gao Ming , Tan Jiufeng , Xiao Min , Lu Yiling , Mills Gordon B. , Flaherty Keith , Frederick Dennie T. , Miao Benchun , Sullivan Ryan J. , Moll Tabea , Boland Genevieve M. , Herlyn Meenhard , Zhang Gao , Bedogni Barbara
Published: August 2020

Purpose:

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an intriguing, yet understudied component of therapy resistance. Here, we investigated the role of ECM remodeling by the collagenase, MT1-MMP, in conferring resistance of v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF)-mutant melanoma to BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) therapy.

Experimental Design:

Publicly available RNA-sequencing data and reverse phase protein array were used to determine the relevance of MT1-MMP upregulation in BRAFi-resistant melanoma in patients, patient-derived xenografts, and cell line–derived tumors. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of MT1-MMP, inhibition via the selective MT1-MMP/MMP2 inhibitor, ND322, or overexpression of MT1-MMP was used to assess the role of MT1-MMP in mediating resistance to BRAFi.

Results:

MT1-MMP was consistently upregulated in posttreatment tumor samples derived from patients upon disease progression and in melanoma xenografts and cell lines that acquired resistance to BRAFi. shRNA- or ND322-mediated inhibition of MT1-MMP synergized with BRAFi leading to resensitization of resistant cells and tumors to BRAFi. The resistant phenotype depends on the ability of cells to cleave the ECM. Resistant cells seeded in MT1-MMP uncleavable matrixes were resensitized to BRAFi similarly to MT1-MMP inhibition. This is due to the inability of cells to activate integrinβ1 (ITGB1)/FAK signaling, as restoration of ITGB1 activity is sufficient to maintain resistance to BRAFi in the context of MT1-MMP inhibition. Finally, the increase in MT1-MMP in BRAFi-resistant cells is TGFβ dependent, as inhibition of TGFβ receptors I/II dampens MT1-MMP overexpression and restores sensitivity to BRAF inhibition.

Conclusions:

BRAF inhibition results in a selective pressure toward higher expression of MT1-MMP. MT1-MMP is pivotal to an ECM-based signaling pathway that confers resistance to BRAFi therapy.
Intraoperative Stereotactic Frame Registration Using a Three-Dimensional Imaging System with and without Preoperative Computed Tomography for Image Fusion
Authors: Spatz Jordan M. , Conner Andrew K. , Young Jacob S. , Starr Philip A.
Published: August 2020

Background: The O-arm O2 imaging system (OAO2) is an intraoperative cone beam 3D tomogram imaging tool with a wide enough field of view to perform intraoperative fiducial registration with standard stereotactic frames. However, the OAO2 3D images (cone beam CT) provide limited tissue contrast, which may reduce the accuracy of fusion to a preoperative targeting MRI for planning awake deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgeries. Therefore, most users obtain a preoperative CT scan to use as the reference exam for computational fusion with the preoperative targeting MRI and the intraoperative OAO2 cone beam CT. Objective: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the discrepancy between stereotactic coordinates of deep brain targets on MRI derived from intraoperative OAO2 fiducial registration with and without the use of preoperative CT as the reference for image fusion. Methods: Preoperative stereotactic CT/MRI and intraoperative OAO2 cone beam CT were retrospectively evaluated for 27 consecutive DBS patients, using two commercial surgical planning software packages (BrainLab Elements and Medtronic Stealth 8). The anterior commissure, posterior commissure, and left subthalamic nucleus were identified on preoperative MRI. Each patient had intraoperative fiducial registration using the OAO2 with a Leksell headframe. For each subject, the reference scan for image fusion was set as either the preoperative CT or the preoperative MRI (volumetric T1 with contrast). Computed stereotactic coordinates for each target were then compared. Results: For 8 of 27 subjects, a discrepancy greater than 1.0 mm for at least one designated target was observed utilizing the Medtronic Stealth S8 planning station when a preoperative CT scan was not used. An additional 5 (5/27) had a discrepancy greater than 2 mm. The most common discrepancy was in the z axis. No coordinate discrepancies greater than 1 mm were observed utilizing BrainLab Elements. Conclusions: Caution is advised in fusing intraoperative OAO2 images directly to preoperative MRI without a preoperative CT as the reference exam for image fusion, as the specific fusion algorithm employed may unpredictably affect targeting accuracy.
Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Current Strategies, Unfocussed Aspects, Challenges, and Alternatives
Authors: Borse Swapnil P. , Chhipa Abu Sufiyan , Sharma Vipin , Singh Devendra Pratap , Nivsarkar Manish
Published: August 2020

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for >90% of the cases of diabetes in adults. Resistance to insulin action is the major cause that leads to chronic hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. T2DM is the consequence of activation of multiple pathways and factors involved in insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Also, the etiology of T2DM involves the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors. This interplay can be governed efficiently by lifestyle modifications to achieve better management of diabetes. The present review aims at discussing the major factors involved in the development of T2DM that remain unfocussed during the anti-diabetic therapy. The review also focuses on lifestyle modifications that are warranted for the successful management of T2DM. In addition, it attempts to explain flaws in current strategies to combat diabetes. The employability of phytoconstituents as multitargeting molecules and their potential use as effective therapeutic adjuvants to first line hypoglycemic agents to prevent side effects caused by the synthetic drugs are also discussed.
O cinema de Naomi Kawase e o corpo como matéria fílmica
Authors: Codato Henrique , Oliveira Eduardo Dos Santos
Published: August 2020

Este ensaio pretende fazer uma visita ao cinema autorreferente da diretora japonesa Naomi Kawase a fim de conhecer um pouco mais sobre as práticas performativas por ela empregadas nas (e com as) imagens. Buscamos entender como, em alguns de seus trabalhos, a cineasta inscreve seu próprio corpo na materialidade do filme, transformando-o também em matéria filmica. A investigação conceitual acionada procura dar ênfase ao que acontece, de maneira particular, na confluência de vozes e de forças que compõem o cinema de Kawase.
Algorithmic cinema and collective memory
Authors: Drew Jesse , Drew Glenda
Published: August 2020

The Pixeldust project is a contributory, interactive video/audio/text engine that can be output to many different forms of exhibition. It is conceived of as a form of algorithmic filmmaking, that blends the aesthetics and visual power of cinema with the flexibility and mutability of computer programming.  Written in the Processing language, the Pixeldust engine accepts photographic portraits, disassembles them into component pixels and particles that lie like dust in the bottom of the projected screen, then dramatically sweeps them up and crystallizes them into a complete portrait accompanied by the spoken word attributed to the portrayed person. Pixeldust is a platform that encourages individuals and communities to share their own examples of inspirational people.
Acalasia Cricofaríngea Stefanes
Authors: Rodriguez V. S. C. , Padilha J. G. , Canola J. C.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo
Emprego de n-butil-cianoacrilato associado ou não à sutura na síntese de gastrotomias em ratos (Rattus norvegicus)
Authors: Terzella S. , Barbudo-Selmi G. R. , Banks A. G. , Selmi A. L. , Lins B. T. , Simões A.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Prolapso de uretra em cão da raça maltês. Relato de caso
Authors: Marcondes Santos M. , Chierichetti A. L. , Tonini P. L. J. , Fragata F. S.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Aspectos ultra-sonográgicos da cavidade abdominal de ferrets
Authors: Schaeffter C. O. D. , Iuliano A. A. L. , Miracca R. B.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Valores hematológicos e bioquímicos de grupos de papagaios-de-cara-roxa (Amazona brasiliensis)
Authors: Locatelli-Dittrich R. , Cavalheiro M. L. , Schmidt-Popazoglo E. M. S. , Tanikawa C. Y. , Curotto S. M. R. , Ostrowski M. A. B. , Mangrich-Rocha R. M. , Toledo M. S.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Onicopatia associada a vasoconstrição de arteríolas dos dígitos
Authors: Gonzalez R. , Silva P. T. D. , Michalany N.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Penfigóide bolhoso. Relato de caso
Authors: Franco M. B. , Baudi D. L. K. , Werner J. , Sincero P. C. , Sprea G. , Champion T. , Silva G. B.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Aspectos ultra-sonográficos modo B, doppler colorido e power doppler nas alterações focais e/ou multifocais do parênquima esplênico de cães com suspeita de processos neoplásicos não linfóides
Authors: Iwasaki M. , Froes T. R. , Torres L. N. , Castro P. F. , Galeazzi V. S. , Cortopassi S. R. G. , Guerra J. L.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Estudo radiográfico de lesões pulmonares na espécie canina
Authors: Rocha A. D. , Oliveira S. M.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Utilização da ressonância magnética na avaliação anatômica do crânio normal de cão
Authors: Hage M. C. F. N. S. , Kamikawa L. , Benedicto H. G. , Lorigados C. A. B. , Iwasaki M. , Bombonato P. P. , Rabbani S. R. , Shinohara J. L. , Sterman F. A. , Yuri D.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Hipertemia não pirogênica. Relato de casos
Authors: Marcondes Santos M. , Fragata F. S. , Merlo A. , Sakai S. P.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Megaesôfago em gato. Relato de caso
Authors: Ushikoshi W. S. , Lorigados C. A. B. , Penha M. G. B.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Reinfeccção de cães por Babesia Canis: aspectos clínicos, hematológicos e imunidade humoral
Authors: Costa C. P. F. , Brandão L. P. , Hasegawa M. Y. , Hagiwara M. K.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Acupuntura e fitoterapia chinesa como medicina complementar em alterações locomotoras em cães. Relato de 3 casos
Authors: Hayashi A. M. , Shiguihara C. A. , Torro C. A.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Uso da citologia aspirativa do parênquima testicular no diagnóstico de Azoospermia em um cão da raça pastor alemão
Authors: Cavalcanti G. A. de O. , Barreto Filho J. B. , Costa G. M. , Silva F. B. , Mian G. F.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Maloclusão em chinchilas
Authors: Venceslau A. , Corrêa H. L. , Gioso M. A.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Mixossarcoma em cavidade abdominal em Boxer. Relato de caso
Authors: Maria P. P. , Manzan M. R.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Linfoma felino de grandes grânulos. Relato de caso
Authors: Marcondes Santos M. , Franchini M. L. , Merlo A. , Silva P. T. D. , Fragata F. S. , Kozu F. O. , Felizzola C. R.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Fraturas mandibulares em cães. Estudo retrospectivo
Authors: Lopes F. M. , Leon Roman M. A. , Ferro D. G. , Correa H. L. , Venturini M. A. F. A. , Gioso M. A.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Avaliação do perfil hematológico e bioquímico do sangue de cão com Ehrlichia platys realizada no laboratório de análises clínicas da Unidade Hospitalar para Animais de Companhia (UHAC) da PUC-PR. Relato de caso
Authors: Silva C. C. V. da , Mangrich-Rocha R. M. V. , Moreira J. L. , Thoms E.
Published: August 2020

O artigo não apresenta resumo.
Defining Endothelial Cell-Derived Factors That Promote Pericyte Recruitment and Capillary Network Assembly
Authors: Kemp Scott S. , Aguera Kalia N. , Cha Byeong , Davis George E.
Published: August 2020

Objective:

We sought to identify and investigate the functional role of the major endothelial cell (EC)-derived factors that control pericyte recruitment to EC tubes and pericyte-induced tube maturation during capillary network formation.

Approach and Results:

We identify PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor)-BB, PDGF-DD, ET (endothelin)-1, TGF (transforming growth factor)-β, and HB-EGF (heparin-binding epidermal growth factor), as the key individual and combined regulators of pericyte assembly around EC tubes. Using novel pericyte only assays, we demonstrate that PDGF-BB, PDGF-DD, and ET-1 are the primary direct drivers of pericyte invasion. Their addition to pericytes induces invasion as if ECs were present. In contrast, TGF-β and HB-EGF have minimal ability to directly stimulate pericyte invasion. In contrast, TGF-β1 can act as an upstream pericyte primer to stimulate invasion in response to PDGFs and ET-1. HB-EGF stimulates pericyte proliferation along with PDGFs and ET-1. Using EC-pericyte cocultures, individual, or combined blockade of these EC-derived factors, or their pericyte receptors, using neutralizing antibodies or chemical inhibitors, respectively, interferes with pericyte recruitment and proliferation. As individual factors, PDGF-BB and ET-1 have the strongest impact on these events. However, when the blocking reagents are combined to interfere with each of the above factors or their receptors, more dramatic and profound blockade of pericyte recruitment, proliferation, and pericyte-induced basement membrane deposition occurs. Under these conditions, ECs form tubes that become much wider and less elongated as if pericytes were absent.

Conclusions:

Overall, these new studies define and characterize a functional role for key EC-derived factors controlling pericyte recruitment, proliferation, and pericyte-induced basement membrane deposition during capillary network assembly.
LMNA
Missense Mutation Causes Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay and Severe Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kato Koichi , Ohno Seiko , Sonoda Keiko , Fukuyama Megumi , Makiyama Takeru , Ozawa Tomoya , Horie Minoru
Published: August 2020

Background:

LMNA
is a known causative gene of dilated cardiomyopathy and familial conduction disturbance. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, normally caused by nonsense mutations, is a safeguard process to protect cells from deleterious effects of inappropriate proteins from mutated genes. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay induced by nonstop codon mutations is rare. We investigated the effect of an
LMNA
missense mutation identified in 2 families affected by cardiac laminopathy.

Methods:

Genomic DNA and total RNA were isolated from patients’ peripheral blood lymphocytes or cardiac tissue.
LMNA
-coding exons were screened by direct sequencing. Complementary DNAs were generated by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from total RNA. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the
LMNA
complementary DNA amount by using specific primers for lamins A and C. A minigene splicing reporter experiment was performed to assess the effect of detected variants on RNA splicing. The protein expressions of both isoforms were analyzed by Western blotting.

Results:

We detected a missense variant c.936 G>C (p. Q312H) at the end of exon 5 of
LMNA
by genomic DNA sequencing in 2 unrelated families affected by dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiac conduction disturbance. This variant was previously reported in a French family suffering from muscular dystrophy and cardiac conduction disturbance. Sequencing of complementary DNA demonstrated that the mutated allele was absent. By quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, we confirmed a 90% reduction in
LMNA
complementary DNA. The minigene splicing reporter assay demonstrated a splicing error by the variant. Western blot analysis revealed that lamin A and C expressions were reduced far >50%.

Conclusions:

We report an
LMNA
missense mutation found in 2 families, which disrupted a normal splicing site, led to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, and resulted in severe cardiac laminopathy.
Robustness of the Comparative Observational Evidence Supporting Class I and II Cardiac Surgery Procedures
Authors: Gaudino Mario , Hameed Irbaz , Robinson N. Bryce , Naik Ajita , Weidenmann Viola , Ruan Yongle , Tam Derrick , Girardi Leonard N. , Fremes Stephen
Published: August 2020

Background

Current cardiac surgery guidelines give Class I and II recommendations to valve‐sparing root replacement over the Bentall procedure, mitral valve (MV) repair over replacement, and multiple arterial grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery based on observational evidence. We evaluated the robustness of the observational studies supporting these recommendations using the E value, an index of unmeasured confounding.

Methods and Results

Observational studies cited in the guidelines and in the 3 largest meta‐analyses comparing the procedures were evaluated for statistically significant effect measures. Two E values were calculated: 1 for the effect‐size estimate and 1 for the lower limit of the 95% CI. Thirty‐one observational studies were identified, and E values were computed for 75 effect estimates. The observed effect estimates for improved clinical outcomes with valve‐sparing root replacement versus the Bentall procedure, MV repair versus replacement, and grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery versus single internal thoracic artery could be explained by an unmeasured confounder that was associated with both the treatment and outcome by a risk ratio of more than 16.77, 4.32, and 3.14, respectively. For MV repair versus replacement and grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery versus single internal thoracic artery, the average E values were lower than the effect sizes of the other measured confounders in 33.3% and 60.9% of the studies, respectively. For valve‐sparing root replacement versus the Bentall procedure, no study reported effect sizes for associations of other covariates with outcomes.

Conclusions

The E values for observational evidence supporting the use of valve‐sparing root replacement, MV repair, and grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery over the Bentall procedure, MV replacement, and grafting with single internal thoracic artery are relatively low. This suggests that small‐to‐moderate unmeasured confounding could explain most of the observed associations for these procedures.
Brazilian Atlantic rainforest endangered biodiversity: a new species of the Dichotomius sericeus (Harold, 1867) species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Authors: SILVA FERNANDO A.B. , MOURA ANA BEATRIZ GOMES , ARAÚJO JOSIVAL FRANCISCO , DE MOURA RITA DE CASSIA
Published: August 2020

Dichotomius valoisae new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Dichotomiini) from Santa Luzia do Itanhi, Sergipe, Brazil, is described based on external differences from its congeners. Diagnostic characters and a brief discussion about its conservation status are provided, as well as an updated identification key to the Dichotomius sericeus (Harold) species group.
Effect of Cu, S Co-Doping on Properties of AgSnO2 Contact Material
Authors: Jingqin Wang , Zhou Liu , Ling Chen , Shuangmiao Yu , Yancai Zhu
Published: August 2020

The stability, elastic properties and conductive properties of Cu-doped SnO2, S-doped SnO2 and Cu, S-codoped SnO 2were studied by using the first-principles calculation method based on the density functional theory. The corresponding doped SnO2 powders
were prepared by sol–gel method, while AgSnO2–Cu and AgSnO2–Cu–S contacts were obtained by powder metallurgy method for experimental verification. No diffraction peaks were associated with Cu and S in the XRD patterns of the doped SnO2
powders, indicating that the doped SnO2 retained the tetragonal crystal structure. The doping formation energy of Cu, S co-doped system was found to be lower than that of Cu single doping system and S single doping system. The bulk modulus, shear modulus and Young's modulus of the
co-doped system became lower, the ability to resist compression deformation and shear deformation was also weakened, while its toughness was greatly improved. The hardness of the AgSnO2–Cu–S contact was 103.55 HV, which is less than the hardness of the AgSnO2–Cu
contact (112.86 HV). The calculations indicated that Cu, S co-doping could narrow the band gap, reduce the hole effective mass and the acceptor ionization energy, improve the hole mobility, and enhance the conductivity of the material. The electrical contact simulation experiments showed that
the conductive properties, arc corrosion resistance and welding resistance of AgSnO2–Cu–S contact were better than those of the AgSnO2–Cu contact. The conductivity of AgSnO2–Cu–S contact was 29.948 mS · m–1,
the contact resistance was 1.109 Ωm ; the average arc duration and average arc energy were 1.480 ms and 171.65 mJ, respectively.
Plasma Oxidation Followed by Vapor Removal for Enhancing Intactness of Transferred Large-Area Graphene
Authors: Zhang Pan , Dai Xiaojun , Wu Li-Ping , Cai Huaqiang , Gai Jing-Gang
Published: August 2020

Transfering large-area graphene from the metal substrate to the target substrate is crucial to its wide potential applications in electromagnetic shielding, supercapacitor, DNA sequencing, seawater desalination, wearable electronics devices, display devices for OLEDs and touch-screen.
Polymethyl methacrylate assisted transfer is being widely adopted, however, this technique tends to destroy graphene and to produce polymethyl methacrylate residues on the graphene surface. Here, we reduced the damage of graphene by improving the hydrophilicity and adhesion of graphene and
substrate using O2 plasma followed by heat treatment, and removed the polymethyl methacrylate residuals on the surface of graphene using hot acetone vapor. Both monolayer and multilayer graphene stacks were transferred onto the target substrate with dramatically improved surface
hydrophilicity (contact angle decreased from 57.8° to 6.0°), and neither damage nor undesired residues were found. Especially, in the whole test band (400–1100 nm), all transferred graphene stacks exhibited transmittances higher than 90%. This work may bring opportunities for
exploitation of large-area chemical-vapor-deposited graphene in wider transparent and ultra-thin photovoltaic devices fields.
Elucidating the Relationship Between Structure and Property of Waterborne Polyurethane-Cellulose Nanocrystals Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Li Ya-Yu , Jing Wei-Wen , Wang Jian-Hua , Li Jun-Fang
Published: August 2020

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are promising polymer reinforcements owning to their biocompatibility and high elastic modulus, low density, nano size, and inherent biocompatibility. The waterborne polyurethane-cellulose nanocrystals (WPU-CNCs) nanocomposite films were prepared using
the conventional solvent casting technique over a whole composition. The mechanical performance, optical transmittance, amphiphilicity, water vapor permeability (WVP), and oxygen permeability (OP) of these WPU-CNCs films were evaluated. The incorporation of CNCs into WPU resulted in a significant
enhancement of Young's modulus and tensile strength. The WVP of nanocomposite films had a lowest value at CNCs content of 50 wt.%. Upon the increase of CNCs content from 0 to 90 wt.%, the transmission path of oxygen molecular through the nanocomposite films became more tortuous, leading to
drastic decrease in the OP. These WPU-CNCs nanocomposite films with high strength, optical transparency, water vapor and oxygen barrier properties have the potential applications in biomedical, furniture coating, and food packaging fields.
Synthesis of Novel Biomaterial for the Treatment of Sepsis in Rats
Authors: Zhou Jia , Liu Kai , Sun Zhilu , Wang Tao
Published: August 2020

In this research, glutamine (GLN) and L-Tyrosine were synthesized into AL-GLN synthetic biomaterials to explore their protective effect on the myocardium of sepsis symptoms. In the process of preparation, acyl chloride method was used to generate, which was generated by acylation reaction
and ammonolysis reaction. In the ammonolysis reaction, the original ammonia water reaction was replaced by the ammonia water/dimethylformamide (DMF) system. The biomaterial was characterized, and it was confirmed that the product recovery rate could be maximized by adjusting the pH value to
9 during crystallization stage, and the purity could be increased from 94.23% to 98.45% after some technological improvement. During the experiment of myocardial protection in sepsis, 60 SPF rats were selected for the experiment and divided into three groups, namely the unmodified surgery
group, the GLN group and the AL-GLN group. Rats with sepsis were obtained by cecum ligation and perforation. The myocardial apoptosis index and the gene expression of Bcl-2/p53mRNA were detected at 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after operation in different groups. The results showed that the expression
of Bcl-2mRNA in the surgical group was significantly down-regulated compared with that in the surgical group (P < 0.05), the expression of Bcl-2mRNA in the GLN group was significantly increased compared with that in the surgical group (P < 0.05), and the expression of p53mRNA
in the AL-GLN group was first decreased and then slowly increased compared with that in the surgical group (P < 0.05).
The Performance of Cemented Femoral Prosthesis Based on New Gel Materials
Authors: Kong Daliang , Du Chao , Peng Chuangang
Published: August 2020

In view of the problems in hip replacement, a new gel material is developed and incorporated into cemented femoral prosthesis. The material precipitates hydroxyapatite (HA) onto silk fibroin (SF) by biomimetic method, namely silk fibroin hydroxyapatite (SF–HA). Through X-ray diffraction
(XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, HA precipitates on SF. Taking the gel time as the standard, 5 groups of gel materials are selected. Through in vitro degradation experiments, the degradation rate of these materials is 45%∼55%. Cell experiments (mouse L929 cells,
osteoblasts HO-F) show that these cells have no cytotoxicity and support the growth of osteoblasts. In addition, in the vivo experiment (two groups), one group was treated with gelatin materials and the other group is treated with bone cement prosthesis transplantation directly. Comparing
the indexes before and after operation, it proves that the new gel material has great application value in hip replacement surgery.
Weather Generator–Based Downscaling of EAWM Strength Prediction to the Climate of a Korean Basin
Authors: Kim Moosup , Kim Seon Tae , Jeong Yeomin
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we propose a downscaling method that statistically describes a local-scale climate from large-scale circulations using the case of a Korean basin during boreal winter. Specifically, since the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) affects the climate of the Korean Peninsula, we make a weather generator model describing the response of the basin climate to the monsoon strength. Moreover, it operates on the basis of a tercile probabilistic prediction of the EAWM strength to generate diverse scenarios of daily weather sequence during the season, which can be utilized in evaluation of the climate impact. We evaluate the prediction skills of operational hindcasts for several existing EAWM indices by applying a multinomial logistic regression method to choose the most suitable index for the downscaling. In the weather generator model, the precipitation model part is designed to be fully parametric. Its parameter values are allowed to vary according to the monsoon strength so that they can represent the climate variability of precipitation. In the temperature model part, the daily temporal variations of the temperature over the Korean basin are decomposed into several oscillations with different frequencies. Since the slowly varying oscillations significantly respond to the monsoon strength, the proposed downscaling scheme is based on the statistical simulation of oscillations according to the monsoon strength. The proposed downscaling scheme is evaluated in terms of the reproducibility of the climate characteristics for a given EAWM strength and the informativeness for predicting monthly climate characteristics.
Predictive Skill Assessment for Land Water Storage in CMIP5 Decadal Hindcasts by a Global Reconstruction of GRACE Satellite Data
Authors: Jensen Laura , Eicker Annette , Stacke Tobias , Dobslaw Henryk
Published: August 2020

The evaluation of decadal climate predictions against observations is crucial for their benefit to stakeholders. While the skill of such forecasts has been verified for several atmospheric variables, land hydrological states such as terrestrial water storage (TWS) have not been extensively investigated yet due to a lack of long observational records. Anomalies of TWS are globally observed with the satellite missions GRACE (2002–2017) and GRACE-FO (since 2018). By means of a GRACE-like reconstruction of TWS available over 41 years, we demonstrate that this data type can be used to evaluate the skill of decadal prediction experiments made available from different Earth system models as part of both CMIP5 and CMIP6. Analysis of correlation and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) reveals that for the global land average the initialized simulations outperform the historical experiments in the first three forecast years. This predominance originates mainly from equatorial regions where we assume a longer influence of initialization due to longer soil memory times. Evaluated for individual grid cells, the initialization has a largely positive effect on the forecast year 1 TWS states; however, a general grid-scale prediction skill for TWS of more than 2 years could not be identified in this study for CMIP5. First results from decadal hindcasts of three CMIP6 models indicate a predictive skill comparable to CMIP5 for the multimodel mean in general, and a distinct positive influence of the improved soil–hydrology scheme implemented in the MPI-ESM for CMIP6 in particular.
Climatology and Variability of the Evaporative Stress Index and Its Suitability as a Tool to Monitor Australian Drought
Authors: Nguyen Hanh , Otkin Jason A. , Wheeler Matthew C. , Hope Pandora , Trewin Blair , Pudmenzky Christa
Published: August 2020

The seasonal cycle of the evaporative stress index (ESI) over Australia, and its relationship to observed rainfall and temperature, is examined. The ESI is defined as the standardized anomaly of the ratio of actual evapotranspiration to potential evapotranspiration, and as such, is a measure of vegetation moisture stress associated with agricultural or ecological drought. The ESI is computed using the daily output of version 6 of the Bureau of Meteorology’s landscape water balance model [Australian Water Resource Assessment Landscape (AWRA-L)] on a 5-km horizontal grid over a 45-yr period (1975–2019). Here we show that the ESI exhibits marked spatial and seasonal variability and can be used to accurately monitor drought across Australia, where ESI values less than negative one indicate drought. While the ESI is highly correlated with rainfall as expected, its relationship with temperature only becomes significant during the warmer seasons, suggesting a threshold above which temperature may affect vegetation stress. Our analysis also shows that the ESI tends to be strongly negative (i.e., indicating drought) during El Niño and positive phases of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), when conditions tend to be anomalously hot and dry. A negative phase of the southern annular mode also tends to drive negative ESI values during austral spring with a one-month delay.
Cluster Analysis Tailored to Structure Change of Tropical Cyclones Using a Very Large Number of Trajectories
Authors: Kremer Tobias , Schömer Elmar , Euler Christian , Riemer Michael
Published: August 2020

Major airstreams in tropical cyclones (TCs) are rarely described from a Lagrangian perspective. Such a perspective, however, is required to account for asymmetries and time dependence of the TC circulation. We present a procedure that identifies main airstreams in TCs based on trajectory clustering. The procedure takes into account the TC’s large degree of inherent symmetry and is suitable for a very large number of trajectories . A large number of trajectories may be needed to resolve both the TC’s inner-core convection as well as the larger-scale environment. We define similarity of trajectories based on their shape in a storm-relative reference frame, rather than on proximity in physical space, and use Fréchet distance, which emphasizes differences in trajectory shape, as a similarity metric. To make feasible the use of this elaborate metric, data compression is introduced that approximates the shape of trajectories in an optimal sense. To make clustering of large numbers of trajectories computationally feasible, we reduce dimensionality in distance space by so-called landmark multidimensional scaling. Finally, k-means clustering is performed in this low-dimensional space. We investigate the extratropical transition of Tropical Storm Karl (2016) to demonstrate the applicability of our clustering procedure. All identified clusters prove to be physically meaningful and describe distinct flavors of inflow, ascent, outflow, and quasi-horizontal motion in Karl’s vicinity. Importantly, the clusters exhibit gradual temporal evolution, which is most notable because the clustering procedure itself does not impose temporal consistency on the clusters. Finally, TC problems are discussed for which the application of the clustering procedures seems to be most fruitful.
Do Socioeconomic Disparities Exist in Postoperative Opioid Prescription and Consumption?
Authors: Srinivasan Maya Lakshmi , Zaveri Shruti , Nobel Tamar , Khetan Prerna , Divino Celia M.
Published: August 2020

Background

Since 1999, >200 000 people in the United States have died from a prescription opioid overdose. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is one important risk factor. This study investigates socioeconomic disparities in postoperative opioid prescription and consumption.

Methods

September 2018-April 2019, 128 patients were surveyed postoperatively regarding opioid consumption. The neighborhood disadvantage was calculated using area deprivation index (ADI). The top 3 quartiles were “high SES” and the bottom quartile “low SES.”

Results

The study population included 96 high SES patients, median ADI 6 (2-12.3) and 32 low SES, median ADI 94.5 (81.3-97.3). For both, median Oxycodone 5 mg prescribed was 20 pills. 29.2% of high SES consumed 0 pills, 40.6% consumed 1-9 pills, and 27.1% consumed 10+ pills. 25.0% of low SES consumed 0 pills, 46.9% consumed 1-9 pills, and 18.8% consumed 10+ pills. No significant difference in opioid prescription ( P = .792) or consumption ( P = .508) between SES groups.

Discussion

Patients of all SES are prescribed and consumed opioids in similar patterns with no significant difference in postoperative pain following ambulatory surgery.
Changes in ET-1, Plasma Neuropeptide Y, and CGRP in Child Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Complicated With Pulmonary Hypertension Before and After Operation
Authors: Liu Zheng , Zhang Mingming , Huo Qiang , Zhu Tao
Published: August 2020

This study aims to explore the changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1), plasma neuropeptide Y, and calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) in child patients before and after operation. A total of 80 child patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) complicated with pulmonary hypertension (PH) were enrolled and divided into control group (n = 40, conservative treatment for various reasons) and observation group (n = 40, active preoperative preparation and timely operative intervention) according to different treatments. There were positive correlations between systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) and ET-1, plasma neuropeptide Y, while negative correlation between sPAP and CGRP. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the levels of ET-1, plasma neuropeptide Y, and CGRP in PH-CHD were significantly changed after interventions, which provides new leads as alternative biomarkers to assess the efficacy of treatments against PH-CHD.