bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hyaluronic Acid Improves Hydrogen Peroxide Modulatory Effects on Calcium Channel and Sodium-Potassium Pump in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Abbasi Ardeshir , Pakravan Nafiseh , Hassan Zuhair Mohammad
Published: December 2020

Maintaining homeostasis of ion concentrations is critical in cancer cells. Under hypoxia, the levels of channels and pumps in cancer cells are more active than normal cells suggesting ion channels as a suitable therapeutic target. One of the contemporary ways for cancer therapy is oxidative stress. However, the effective concentration of oxidative stress on tumor cells has been reported to be toxic for normal cells as well. In this study, we benefited from the modifying effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) on H2O2, as a free radical source, to make a gradual release of oxidative stress on cancer cells while preventing/decreasing damage to normal cells under normoxia and hypoxic conditions. To do so, we initially investigated the optimal concentration of HA antioxidant capacity by the DPPH test. In the next step, we found optimum H2O2 dose by treating the 4T1 breast cancer cell line with increasing concentrations (0, 10, 20, 50,100, 200, 500, and 1000 μM) of H2O2 alone or H2O2 + HA (83%) for 24 hrs. The calcium channel and the sodium-potassium pumps were then evaluated by measuring the levels of calcium, sodium, and potassium ions using an atomic absorption flame spectrophotometer. The results revealed that treatment with H2O2 or H2O2+ HA led to an intracellular increase of calcium, sodium, and potassium in the normoxic and hypoxic circumstances in a dose-dependent manner. It is noteworthy that H2O2 + HA treatment had more favorable and controllable effects compared with H2O2 alone. Moreover, HA optimizes the antitumor effect of oxidative stress exerted by H2O2 making H2O2 + HA suitable for clinical use in cancer treatment along with chemotherapy.
The Safe Administration of Remdesivir in a Patient with Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Hemodialysis
Authors: Peyko Vincent , Ladd Helena , Cutrona Anthony
Published: December 2020

Remdesivir is a nucleoside analog prodrug with broad-spectrum antiviral activity, including against coronaviruses. This has prioritized the inclusion of remdesivir in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinical trials. The United States Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for remdesivir. This emergency use authorization does not recommend the use of remdesivir in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 30 mL/min unless the benefits outweigh the risks. To date, there are no studies and scant information in the literature evaluating remdesivir utilization in patients with eGFR less than 30 mL/min or receiving hemodialysis. With little utilization data for patients with acute or chronic kidney injury, remdesivir may not be considered, leaving this patient population without the opportunity of a potentially beneficial treatment option. We present a case of one patient with eGFR less than 30 mL/min that required hemodialysis in which remdesivir was safely initiated, with therapy completed without any serious adverse events.
A Cognition Knowledge Representation Model Based on Multidimensional Heterogeneous Data
Authors: Zhong Dong , Zhu Yi-An , Wang Lanqing , Duan Junhua , He Jiaxuan
Published: December 2020

The information in the working environment of industrial Internet is characterized by diversity, semantics, hierarchy, and relevance. However, the existing representation methods of environmental information mostly emphasize the concepts and relationships in the environment and have an insufficient understanding of the items and relationships at the instance level. There are also some problems such as low visualization of knowledge representation, poor human-machine interaction ability, insufficient knowledge reasoning ability, and slow knowledge search speed, which cannot meet the needs of intelligent and personalized service. Based on this, this paper designs a cognitive information representation model based on a knowledge graph, which combines the perceptual information of industrial robot ontology with semantic description information such as functional attributes obtained from the Internet to form a structured and logically reasoned cognitive knowledge graph including perception layer and cognition layer. Aiming at the problem that the data sources of the knowledge base for constructing the cognitive knowledge graph are wide and heterogeneous, and there are entity semantic differences and knowledge system differences among different data sources, a multimodal entity semantic fusion model based on vector features and a system fusion framework based on HowNet are designed, and the environment description information such as object semantics, attributes, relations, spatial location, and context acquired by industrial robots and their own state information are unified and standardized. The automatic representation of robot perceived information is realized, and the universality, systematicness, and intuition of robot cognitive information representation are enhanced, so that the cognition reasoning ability and knowledge retrieval efficiency of robots in the industrial Internet environment can be effectively improved.
Polymodal Activation and Desensitization of TRPV1 Receptor in Human Odontoblasts-Like Cells with Eugenol
Authors: Latorre Karen L. , Baldion Paula A.
Published: December 2020

Dentinal hypersensitivity is a frequent reason for dental consultation, and its pathophysiology has not been fully clarified. Previous findings have made it possible to establish a relationship between the cellular sensory capacity and the activation of the polymodal transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), which is responsible for the nociceptive response and whose desensitization could cause analgesia. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the expression, localization, and functional activity of TRPV1 in human odontoblasts-like-cells (hOLCs) and the effect of eugenol (EUG) on its activation and desensitization. Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) were obtained from third molars and were characterized using flow cytometry, and their differentiation potential toward the osteoblastic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages was investigated. Subsequently, the hDPSCs underwent odontogenic differentiation for 7, 14, and 21 days, and their phenotype (odontogenic markers dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP)) was evaluated using immunofluorescence. The TRPV1 gene expression in hOLCs was estimated using RT-qPCR, and its localization was analyzed using immunofluorescence. Half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) from both eugenol (EUG) and capsaicin (CAP) was determined; in addition, receptor activation was evaluated against chemical, thermal, and pH stimuli. For the statistical analysis, a one-way ANOVA with a Tukey post hoc test (

p
<
0.05

) was used. After establishing the in vitro model of hOLCs and the membrane location of TRPV1, its chemical activation with EUG and CAP was demonstrated, as well as its thermal activation at ≥ 43°C and with an acidic (<6) or basic pH (between 9 and 12). Receptor desensitization was achieved after 20 min of exposure to two concentrations of EUG (603.5 and 1000 µM). These findings represent a stepping-stone for the construction of a pulp pain study model oriented toward a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.
Maximum Penetration of Distributed Generations and Improvement of Technical Indicators in Distribution Systems
Authors: Nguyen Thuan Thanh , Nguyen Thang Trung , Nguyen Ngoc Au
Published: December 2020

Increasing the possible capacity of distributed generations (DGs) supplying to distribution system (DS) is a highly effective solution to attract the investment of distributed generation (DG) installation in the DS. However, the presence of DGs will affect the technical indicators of the DS. This paper determines solutions of the DG placement problem for maximizing the size of distributed generations (DGs) and improving the technical indicators consisting of power loss reduction, increasing of balance among feeders and balance among branches, and voltage deviation reduction. A max-min method is proposed to combine the membership objective functions. The location and size of DGs are optimized based on an improved cuckoo search algorithm (ICSA). The simulation results for the 84-node system show that the proposed multiobjective problem not only helps to increase the capacity of DGs but also improves the technical factors. Moreover, the DG’s uncertainty is also validated to show its negative impacts on the technical indicators of the DS. Furthermore, ICSA is worthy for finding the optimal solution for the DG placement problem.
Iron (III)-Quercetin Complex: Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and MRI Cell Tracking toward Potential Applications in Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Papan Phakorn , Kantapan Jiraporn , Sangthong Padchanee , Meepowpan Puttinan , Dechsupa Nathupakorn
Published: December 2020

In cell therapy, contrast agents T1 and T2 are both needed for the labeling and tracking of transplanted stem cells over extended periods of time through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Importantly, the metal-quercetin complex via coordination chemistry has been studied extensively for biomedical applications, such as anticancer therapies and imaging probes. Herein, we report on the synthesis, characterization, and labeling of the iron (III)-quercetin complex, “IronQ,” in circulating proangiogenic cells (CACs) and also explore tracking via the use of a clinical 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner. Moreover, IronQ had a paramagnetic T1 positive contrast agent property with a saturation magnetization of 0.155 emu/g at 1.0 T and longitudinal relaxivity (r1) values of 2.29 and 3.70 mM−1s−1 at 1.5 T for water and human plasma, respectively. Surprisingly, IronQ was able to promote CAC growth in conventional cell culture systems without the addition of specific growth factors. Increasing dosages of IronQ from 0 to 200 μg/mL led to higher CAC uptake, and maximum labeling time was achieved in 10 days. The accumulated IronQ in CACs was measured by two methodologies, an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-EOS) and T1-weighted MRI. In our research, we confirmed that IronQ has excellent dual functions with the use of an imaging probe for MRI. IronQ can also act as a stimulating agent by favoring circulating proangiogenic cell differentiation. Optimistically, IronQ is considered beneficial for alternative labeling and in the tracking of circulation proangiogenic cells and/or other stem cells in applications of cell therapy through noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging in both preclinical and clinical settings.
A Fast Algorithm for Solving a Class of the Linear Complementarity Problem in a Finite Number of Steps
Authors: Achik Yamna , Idmbarek Asmaa , Nafia Hajar , Agmour Imane , El foutayeni Youssef
Published: December 2020

The linear complementarity problem is receiving a lot of attention and has been studied extensively. Recently, El foutayeni et al. have contributed many works that aim to solve this mysterious problem. However, many results exist and give good approximations of the linear complementarity problem solutions. The major drawback of many existing methods resides in the fact that, for large systems, they require a large number of operations during each iteration; also, they consume large amounts of memory and computation time. This is the reason which drives us to create an algorithm with a finite number of steps to solve this kind of problem with a reduced number of iterations compared to existing methods. In addition, we consider a new class of matrices called the E-matrix.
Out-of-Plane Free Vibration and Forced Harmonic Response of a Curved Beam
Authors: Mao Hancheng , Yu Guangbin , Liu Wei , Xu Tiantian
Published: December 2020

Based on the governing differential equation of out-of-plane curved beam, the wave propagation behavior, free vibration, and transmission properties are presented theoretically in this paper. Firstly, harmonic wave solutions are given to investigate the dispersion relation between frequency and wave number, cut-off frequency, displacement, amplitude ratio, and phase diagram. The frequency spectrum results are obtained to verify the work by Kang and Lee. Furthermore, natural frequencies of the single and composite curved beam are calculated through solving the characteristic equation in the case of free-free, clamped-clamped, and free-clamped boundaries. Finally, the transfer matrices of the out-of-plane curved beam are derived by combining the continuity between the different interfaces. The transmissibility curves of the single and composite curved beam are compared to find the vibration attention band. This work will be valuable to extend the study of the out-of-plane vibration of curved beams.
Evaluation of the Effect of Probiotic Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 on Mutans Streptococci and Lactobacilli Levels in Saliva and Plaque: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study in Children
Authors: Ratna Sudha M. , Neelamraju Jayanthi , Surendra Reddy M. , Kumar Manoj
Published: December 2020

Background. Probiotic organisms are known to reduce caries causing microorganisms mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. Aim of the Study. To evaluate the effect of probiotic Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 on mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels in saliva and plaque in children. Introduction. Dental caries or tooth decay is because of the demineralization of the tooth enamel leading to the breakdown of the enamel causing cavities to be formed. Demineralization of the tooth happens because of the acid secreted by bacteria like mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. It is now suggested that probiotic usage prevents the overgrowth of these pathogenic microbes, thereby reducing caries activity. Methodology. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 48 children with ages ranging from 5 to 15 years were divided into two groups, the probiotic and placebo groups. Chewable tablets with and without probiotic Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 were administered for two weeks. Stimulated saliva samples and plaque were collected at baseline and at the end of 14 days to measure the pH, mutans streptococci, and lactobacilli count of saliva and plaque using chairside kits. Results. A statistically significant reduction in mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts of both saliva and plaque samples was observed in the B. coagulans Unique IS2 treated group after 14 days of administration compared to the baseline and placebo group (using paired t-test). Conclusion. Probiotic Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 (2 billion cfu) chewable tablet is effective in reduction and inhibition of caries causing mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels in saliva and plaque in children.
Stability and Coexistence of a Diffusive Predator-Prey System with Nonmonotonic Functional Response and Fear Effect
Authors: Feng Xiaozhou , Sun Hao , Xiao Yangfan , Xiao Feng
Published: December 2020

This paper investigates the diffusive predator-prey system with nonmonotonic functional response and fear effect. Firstly, we discussed the stability of the equilibrium solution for a corresponding ODE system. Secondly, we established a priori positive upper and lower bounds for the positive solutions of the PDE system. Thirdly, sufficient conditions for the local asymptotical stability of two positive equilibrium solutions of the system are given by using the method of eigenvalue spectrum analysis of linearization operator. Finally, the existence and nonexistence of nonconstant positive steady states of this reaction-diffusion system are established by the Leray–Schauder degree theory and Poincaré inequality.
Aprendiendo de Europa
Authors: Giolito Eugenio , Perticará Marcela
Published: December 2020

Frente a la evolución de los contagios y la cercanía de las celebraciones de fin de año, el jueves 3 de diciembre se anunció un nuevo conjunto de medidas, entre las que está el hacer retroceder de fase a ocho comunas, algunas de las cuales pasan de la tres a la 2 y otras de fase 4 a fase 3. La reacción de las autoridades al aumento en los contagios, frente al ejemplo de lo que han sido las segundas olas en Europa, está fundada. Se teme que tengamos situaciones más dramáticas que las vividas a mediados de año, durante las semanas de peak de muertes. Continuar leyendo...
Segundo retiro del 10%
Authors: Romero Rafael
Published: December 2020

Durante la tramitación del primer retiro del 10% de los fondos mantenidos en las AFPs, muchos parlamentarios en sus intervenciones planteaban que lo aprobaban por única vez y que se justificaba por la situación de emergencia que vivía el país. Recordemos que el retiro fue universal y no se aplicó impuesto a la renta. Se estima que cerca de 2.000.000 de personas quedaron con saldo cero. Durante la discusión del segundo retiro, propuesto inicialmente por varios diputados, el discurso general fue que el Gobierno no fue efectivo en apoyar a los ciudadanos que están enfrentando las dificultades asociadas a la pandemia, por lo que debía ser universal y no gravable por el impuesto a la renta. Continuar leyendo...
LncIHAT Is Induced by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 and Promotes Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: Chen Lin , Bao Lei , Niu Yanling , Wang Jennifer E. , Kumar Ashwani , Xing Chao , Wang Yingfei , Luo Weibo
Published: December 2020

Hypoxia induces thousands of mRNAs and miRNAs to mediate tumor malignancy. However, hypoxia-induced long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcriptome and their role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have not been defined. Here we identified hypoxia-induced lncRNA transcriptome in two human TNBC cell lines by whole transcriptome sequencing. AC093818.1 was one of 26 validated lncRNAs and abundantly expressed in TNBC in vitro and in vivo. 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends assays revealed that the isoform 2 was a dominant AC093818.1 transcript in TNBC cells and thus referred to as lncIHAT (lncRNA induced by hypoxia and abundant in TNBC). Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) but not HIF2 bound to the hypoxia response element at the promoter of lncIHAT to activate its transcription in hypoxic TNBC cells. LncIHAT promoted TNBC cell survival in vitro and tumor growth and lung metastasis in mice. Mechanistically, lncIHAT was required for the expression of its proximal neighboring oncogenic genes PDK1 and ITGA6 in TNBC cells and tumors. Reexpression of PDK1 and ITGA6 rescued survival and growth of lncIHAT knockdown TNBC cells in vitro. Collectively, these findings uncovered lncIHAT as a new hypoxia-induced oncogenic cis-acting lncRNA in TNBC.

Implications:

This study systematically identified hypoxia-induced lncRNA transcriptome in TNBC and sheds light on multiple layers of regulatory mechanisms of gene expression under hypoxia.
Lentinan Inhibited the Activation of Th2 Cells in Allergic Mice by Reducing the Amplitude of Changes in Biological Rhythm
Authors: Yang Shuai , Chew Huifang , Jiang Yuchi , Cheng Lei , Guo Xiaoya , Che Huilian , Sun Na
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Biological rhythm is inextricably linked to the physiological mechanisms of allergic diseases, but the exact mechanisms are still poorly understood. Clinical studies have reported rhythmic fluctuations in allergic diseases. The search for natural and harmless active ingredients based on biological rhythm with which to regulate allergic diseases is essential for the control of food allergy. Methods: In this study, mice were treated at different time points to determine the link between the severity of allergic reactions and the circadian clock genes. The mice were treated with lentinan, either continuously or discontinuously, to assess their clinical symptoms, vascular permeability, immune cells, cytokines, and clock genes. Specifically, rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells were treated with lentinan and the rhythmic changes of cell degranulation were measured. Results: The results in different models showed that the allergic reactions in mice treated at different time points were significantly different and thus related to fluctuations in biological rhythm. Treatment with lentinan was found to reduce the amplitude of changes in the clock genes, such as the activation of Per and Cry proteins in allergic mice, as well as to regulate biological rhythm in cells, inhibit the activation of Th2 cells, and alleviate allergic reactions. Furthermore, lentinan changed the rhythm of degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells. Conclusion: Lentinan was, therefore, determined to successfully alleviate allergic reactions by reducing the amplitude of changes in the body’s biological rhythm, inhibiting the activation of Th2 cells, and affecting the immune microenvironment.
Hypothyroidism after Percutaneous Patent Ductus Arteriosus Device Closure in an Extremely Preterm Infant: Possible Role of Iodinated IV Contrast
Authors: Piatek Monika , Schneider Douglas J. , Smith W. Jackson , Hanna Mina , Abu Jawdeh Elie G.
Published: December 2020

We report a case of contrast-induced hypothyroidism in an extremely preterm infant after percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device closure. Iodine-induced hypothyroidism after exposure to iodine-containing antiseptics and contrast media has been previously reported in extremely preterm infants. However, this is the first report of contrast-induced hypothyroidism in an extremely preterm infant undergoing percutaneous PDA device closure. This is timely, given percutaneous PDA device closure is more frequently utilized. Guidelines for screening thyroid function pre and post contrast-requiring procedures may be warranted. Hypothyroidism if left untreated can have detrimental effects on developing brain, especially in the preterm population. Therefore, the earlier detection and treatment of iodine-induced hypothyroidism is imperative.
Survey on Acceptance of Passive Technology Monitoring for Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Josephy-Hernandez Sylvia , Norise Catherine , Han Jee-young , Smith Kara M.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Digital biomarkers may act as a tool for early detection of changes in cognition. It is important to understand public perception of technologies focused on monitoring cognition to better guide the design of these tools and inform patients appropriately about the associated risks and benefits. Health care systems may also play a role in the clinical, legal, and financial implications of such technologies. Objective: To evaluate public opinion on the use of passive technology for monitoring cognition. Methods: This was a one-time, Internet-based survey conducted in English and Spanish. Results: Within the English survey distributed in the USA (n = 173), 58.1% of respondents would be highly likely to agree to passive monitoring of cognition via a smartphone application. Thirty-eight percent of those with a higher degree of experience with technology were likely to agree to monitoring versus 20% of those with less experience with technology (p = 0.003). Sixty-two percent of non-health-care professionals were likely to agree to monitoring versus 45% of health-care workers (p = 0.012). There were significant concerns regarding privacy (p < 0.01). We compared the surveys answered in Spanish in Costa Rica via logistic regression (n = 43, total n = 216), adjusting for age, education level, health-care profession, owning a smartphone, experience with technology, and perception of cognitive decline. Costa Rican/Spanish-speaking respondents were 7 times more likely to select a high probability of agreeing to such a technology (p < 0.01). English-speaking respondents from the USA were 5 times more likely to be concerned about the impact on health insurance (p = 0.001) and life insurance (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Understanding public perception and ethical implications should guide the design of digital biomarkers for cognition. Privacy and the health-care system in which the participants take part are 2 major factors to be considered. It is the responsibility of researchers to convey the ethical and legal implications of cognition monitoring.
A Meta-Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Patients with Posterior Circulation Stroke after Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Xun Kai , Mo Jiahang , Ruan Shunyi , Dai Jinyao , Zhang Wenting , Lv Yuqi , Du Nannan , Chen Shengyue , Shen Zefeng , Wu Yuanxi
Published: December 2020

Background: Posterior circulation stroke is characterized by poor prognosis because its optimal thrombolysis “time window” is always missed. After mechanical thrombectomy (MT), the recanalization rate of posterior circulation obstruction is significantly increased, but prognosis remains poor. To best manage patients, prognostic factors are needed to inform MT triaging after posterior circulation stroke. Methods: A systematic literature search was done for the period through April 2020. Studies included those with posterior circulation stroke cases that underwent MT. The primary outcome measure in this study was the modified Rankin Scale on day 90. Results: No outcome differences were found in gender, atrial fibrillation, smoking, and coronary artery disease (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90–1.28; OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.82–1.26; OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 0.94–1.68; and OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.58–1.22, respectively). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and previous stroke correlated with poorer prognosis (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.48–0.77; OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.50–0.73; and OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.55–0.99, respectively). However, hyperlipidemia correlated with better prognosis (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.58). Conclusion: Our analysis indicates that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or previous stroke correlate with poorer outcomes. Intriguingly, hyperlipidemia correlates with better prognosis. These factors may help inform triage decisions when considering MT for posterior circulation stroke patients. However, large, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these observations.
Verdecktes Lungenkarzinom bei einem Patienten mit granulomatöser Polyangiitis
Authors: Xie Cheng , Stoddart Catriona , Bewes James , Peschl Heiko , Luqmani Raashid , Benamore Rachel
Published: December 2020

Die Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis ist eine systemische nekrotisierende Vaskulitis, von der kleine bis mittlere Blutgefäße betroffen sind. Die Diagnosestellung kann dadurch erschwert werden, dass die klinischen und radiologischen Befunde Ähnlichkeiten mit Infektionen und malignen Erkrankungen aufweisen. Serologische und histopathologische Untersuchungen können bei der Sicherung der Diagnose sehr hilfreich sein, können aber auch falsche Sicherheit erzeugen. Wir stellen einen einzigartigen Fall des gleichzeitigen Bestehens einer Vaskulitis und eines Plattenepithelkarzinoms in derselben kavernösen pulmonalen Raumforderung vor. Der Fall unterstreicht, wie wichtig es ist, Auffälligkeiten im Krankheitsverlauf früh zu bemerken, um rechtzeitig handeln zu können.
Impossivelmente
Authors: Silva Avani Souza
Published: December 2020

Ficção.
Modernismo e a consagração do supra-sujeito
Authors: Maior Dionísio Vila
Published: December 2020

O presente estudo pretende apresentar uma reflexão incidindo em algumas potencialidades informativas comprometidas com a perceção de alguns modernistas portugueses (sobretudo Fernando Pessoa e os seus heterónimos, Almada Negreiros e Mário de Sá-Carneiro) como autores que, de alguma forma, procuraram, pelo reduto poético e narrativo, uma determinada “plenitude”. Essa perceção encontra-se ligada à ideia de “sujeito com qualidades sublimadas”, que tem a audácia de querer uma determinada “totalidade”.
Single-Cell Analysis of Blood-Brain Barrier Response to Pericyte Loss
Authors: Mäe Maarja A. , He Liqun , Nordling Sofia , Vazquez-Liebanas Elisa , Nahar Khayrun , Jung Bongnam , Li Xidan , Tan Bryan C. , Chin Foo Juat , Cazenave-Gassiot Amaury , Wenk Markus R. , Zarb Yvette , Lavina Barbara , Quaggin Susan E. , Jeansson Marie , Gu Chengua , Silver David L. , Vanlandewijck Michael , Butcher Eugene C. , Keller Annika , Betsholtz Christer
Published: December 2020

Rationale:

Pericytes are capillary mural cells playing a role in stabilizing newly formed blood vessels during development and tissue repair. Loss of pericytes has been described in several brain disorders, and genetically induced pericyte deficiency in the brain leads to increased macromolecular leakage across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the molecular details of the endothelial response to pericyte deficiency remain elusive.

Objective:

To map the transcriptional changes in brain endothelial cells resulting from lack of pericyte contact at single-cell level and to correlate them with regional heterogeneities in BBB function and vascular phenotype.

Methods and Results:

We reveal transcriptional, morphological, and functional consequences of pericyte absence for brain endothelial cells using a combination of methodologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing, tracer analyses, and immunofluorescent detection of protein expression in pericyte-deficient adult
Pdgfb
ret/ret
mice. We find that endothelial cells without pericyte contact retain a general BBB-specific gene expression profile, however, they acquire a venous-shifted molecular pattern and become transformed regarding the expression of numerous growth factors and regulatory proteins. Adult
Pdgfb
ret/ret
brains display ongoing angiogenic sprouting without concomitant cell proliferation providing unique insights into the endothelial tip cell transcriptome. We also reveal heterogeneous modes of pericyte-deficient BBB impairment, where hotspot leakage sites display arteriolar-shifted identity and pinpoint putative BBB regulators. By testing the causal involvement of some of these using reverse genetics, we uncover a reinforcing role for angiopoietin 2 at the BBB.

Conclusions:

By elucidating the complexity of endothelial response to pericyte deficiency at cellular resolution, our study provides insight into the importance of brain pericytes for endothelial arterio-venous zonation, angiogenic quiescence, and a limited set of BBB functions. The BBB-reinforcing role of ANGPT2 (angiopoietin 2) is paradoxical given its wider role as TIE2 (TEK receptor tyrosine kinase) receptor antagonist and may suggest a unique and context-dependent function of ANGPT2 in the brain.
Neural Evidence Suggests Both Interference and Facilitation from Embedding Regularity into Visual Search
Authors: Vaskevich Anna , Nishry Alon , Smilansky Yotam , Luria Roy
Published: December 2020

In this work, we relied on electrophysiological methods to characterize the processing stages that are affected by the presence of regularity in a visual search task. EEG was recorded for 72 participants while they completed a visual search task. Depending on the group, the task contained a consistent-mapping condition, a random-mapping condition, or both consistent and random conditions intermixed (mixed group). Contrary to previous findings, the control groups allowed us to demonstrate that the contextual cueing effect that was observed in the mixed group resulted from interference, not facilitation, to the target selection, response selection, and response execution processes (N2-posterior-contralateral, stimulus-locked lateralized readiness potential [LRP], and response-locked LRP components). When the regularity was highly valid (consistent-only group), the presence of regularity drove performance beyond general practice effects, through facilitation in target selection and response selection (N2-posterior-contralateral and stimulus-locked LRP components). Overall, we identified two distinct effects created by the presence of regularity: a global effect of validity that dictates the degree to which all information is taken into account and a local effect of activating the information on every trial. We conclude that, when considering the influence of regularity on behavior, it is vital to assess how the overall reliability of the incoming information is affected.
Prism Adaptation in M1
Authors: Panico Francesco , Fleury Lisa , Trojano Luigi , Rossetti Yves
Published: December 2020

During prism adaptation (PA), active exposure to an optical shift results in sustained modifications of the sensorimotor system, which have been shown to expand to the cognitive level and serve as a rehabilitation technique for spatial cognition disorders. Several models based on evidence from clinical and neuroimaging studies offered a description of the cognitive and the neural correlates of PA. However, recent findings using noninvasive neurostimulation call for a reexamination of the role of the primary motor cortex (M1) in PA. Specifically, recent studies demonstrated that M1 stimulation reactivates previously vanished sensorimotor changes 1 day after PA, induces after-effect strengthening, and boosts therapeutic effects up to the point of reversing treatment-resistant unilateral neglect. Here, we articulate findings from clinical, neuroimaging, and noninvasive brain stimulation studies to show that M1 contributes to acquiring and storing PA, by means of persisting latent changes after the behavioral training is terminated, consistent with studies on other sensorimotor adaptation procedures. Moreover, we describe the hierarchical organization as well as the timing of PA mechanisms and their anatomical correlates, and identify M1 as an anatomo-functional interface between low- and high-order PA-related mechanisms.
Translating Inspired Language, Transforming Sacred Texts: An Introduction
Authors: Eryılmaz Fatma Sinem
Published: December 2020

In late medieval-early modern Iberia, translations of sacred texts often involved changes beyond those concerning linguistic and cultural frameworks. The sacred nature of the source text turned it into a potentially powerful tool for a variety of purposes. Translations were used to advance didactic and cultural policies and to disseminate political and religious propaganda. They became building blocks for communal identities under fatal threat. When need be, they could be manipulated both as weapons of self-defense or of belligerent attack against rival religiosities and institutions that harbored them. The power generated by the divine authority that spoke through sacred texts also made their translations and their translators, targets of suspicion and victims of strict control, and at times, destruction. The five articles that I introduce represent a wide spectrum of these possibilities as they examine translation projects of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim sacred texts and the transformations they catalyzed.
Bible Translation by Jews and Christians in Medieval Catalan-Speaking Territories
Authors: Casanellas Pere
Published: December 2020

Despite bans on the reading or possession of Bibles in the vernacular, numerous medieval Catalan translations of the Bible survive, in particular a complete Bible from the fourteenth century, some ten psalters, and a fifteenth-century version of the four Gospels. Moreover, Catalan was the second Romance language in which a full Bible was printed (1478), following the Tuscan Bible of 1471. Most of these translations were commissioned by Christians for the use of Christians. In some cases, however, it is clear that the translators were converted Jews. In some others, the translations appear to have been written by Jews for Jewish readers. We also find one case in which Catalan was the source rather than the target language: the first extant translation of the four Gospels into Hebrew (late fifteenth century) was undertaken, probably by a Jew, using the aforementioned fourteenth-century Catalan Bible.
Free Choice Theory and the Justification of Enslavement in the Early Sokoto Caliphate
Authors: Kariya Kota
Published: December 2020

The Sokoto Caliphate, which was based on Islamic law, depended considerably on widespread systematic slavery in political, economic, and social spheres. According to Islamic law, it is only permitted, in principle, to enslave non-Muslims or unbelievers, and ʿUthmān b. Fūdī, the founder of the Caliphate, labeled his principal enemies (i.e. the rulers of the Hausa states and Bornu and their followers) as apostate unbelievers. However, Muslim jurists historically presented conflicting views regarding the permissibility of enslaving apostates. Faced with this legal disagreement, ʿUthmān, referring to numerous preceding scholars, argued that it was permissible to choose any one of several juristic views regarding a legal issue on which scholars disagreed. By the employment of this “free choice theory”, he justified the enslavement of those whom he labeled as apostates and consequently authorized the enslavement of all kinds of people whom he had categorized as unbelievers living in and around Hausaland.
Excerpta Historica Constantiniana: An Encyclopaedia from Tenth-Century Byzantium?
Authors: Rafiyenko Dariya
Published: December 2020

When approaching Byzantine-Greek texts that organize knowledge in one way or another, Byzantinists encounter similar issues to those facing Arabists working on pre-modern Arabic literature. In this article, I discuss two of these more specifically: (1) The layout of the medieval manuscripts has been hitherto systematically neglected, although many manuscripts contain chapter headings, lists of contents and other features that provide “reading aids” or “finding devices” and thus offer clues as to how the text they contain were conceived and designed to be read; and (2) The term “encyclopaedia” has been used in too vague a fashion with regard to Byzantine works of the tenth to twelfth centuries CE and has to be reconsidered.

This article discusses both issues with reference to the example of the Excerpta historica Constantiniana (henceforth, Excerpta), apparently a reference work, written in Ancient Greek in Constantinople in the tenth century CE. The goal is to make a description of the Excerpta available to Arabists, laying the ground for future study of the two traditions in comparative perspective.
Fingernails Torn from Flesh: Intiz̤ār Ḥusain, Rām Laʿl, and Travel Writing across the India-Pakistan Border
Authors: Majchrowicz Daniel
Published: December 2020

Studies on the Partition of India have historically examined the years immediately before and after 1947, drawing heavily on Urdu fiction. Recent historiographic advances, however, emphasize “partitioning” to convey partition’s prolonged, indeterminate, and ongoing nature. This article suggests that the Urdu travel account is a primary literary space to negotiate the long-term signification of Partition and, as such, exemplifies processes of partitioning. It argues for the existence of a distinct category, the “cross-border travel account,” offering a critical and comparative reading of works by Intiz̤ār Ḥusain and Rām Laʿl to explore how the genre negotiates the legacy and future of Partition.
The authorship of the name of the megatooth shark Carcharocles (Lamniformes, Otodontidae)

Authors: GREENFIELD TYLER
Published: December 2020

The megatooth sharks, family Otodontidae, have a complicated taxonomic history. The latest debate concerns the genera Otodus Agassiz, 1838 and Carcharocles Jordan & Hannibal in Jordan, 1923. It is argued either to use Otodus for the whole obliquus-megalodon anagenetic lineage (Shimada et al. 2017) or to split it into Otodus and Carcharocles based on the absence or presence of tooth serrations, respectively (Perez et al. 2018). Although referring to an important taxon, the authorship of the nomen Carcharocles has been consistently cited from the wrong publication. Recent authors (e.g., Cappetta 2012; Pimiento et al. 2013; Ehret & Ebersole 2014; Carrillo-Briceño et al. 2015; Boessenecker 2016; Perez et al. 2018) have attributed it to Jordan & Hannibal (1923). However, the paper by Jordan & Hannibal (1923) was published after the book by Jordan (1923), which contains the actual naming of Carcharocles.
Protest, Internet Activism, and Sociopolitical Change in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mateos Oscar , Erro Carlos Bajo
Published: December 2020

Sub-Saharan Africa has been the scene of a sizeable wave of social and political protests in recent years. These protests have many aspects in common, while at the same time there is a certain historic continuity connecting them to previous protests, with which they also have much in common. What makes them new, however, is a hybrid nature that combines street protest and online action, making them similar to protests occurring in other parts of the world during the same period. Based on a literature review and field work on three countries, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this article addresses some of the main features of what some authors have called the “third wave of African protests.” The study points out how the digital environment is galvanizing a new process of popular opposition and enabling both greater autonomy for actors promoting the protests and greater interaction at the regional level. With the sociopolitical impact in the short and medium term still uncertain, the third wave of African protests is giving birth to a new political and democratic culture in the region as a whole.
Analysis of a Modified Two-Stage Approach to Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis Without Fecal Diversion in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Marulanda Kathleen , Purcell Laura N. , Egberg Matthew D. , Mangat Sabrina A. , McCauley Christopher J. , Chaumont Nicole , Sadiq Timothy S. , Hayes-Jordan Andrea A. , Phillips Michael R.
Published: December 2020

Background

Fecal diversion after ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) remains controversial. We hypothesize that a modified two-stage IPAA omitting diverting ileostomy (DI) after IPAA, found to be safe in adults, would produce similar results in children.

Methods

Retrospective, single-institution study of children (≤18 years) undergoing staged total proctocolectomy with IPAA from 2014 to 2020. Traditional two-stage and three-stage approaches including DI after IPAA were compared to two-stage approach without DI.

Results

32 patients were included; of these, 7 (22%), 14 (44%), and 11 (34%) patients underwent traditional two-stage, modified two-stage, or three-stage IPAA, respectively. Following IPAA, modified two-stage patients had shorter operative time, decreased opioid utilization, quicker return to regular diet, and shorter stoma duration. After IPAA, there was similar postoperative length of stay, complication rates, readmissions, visits to the emergency department, or unplanned return to the operating room (OR) within 30 days. Anastomotic leak occurred in 2 patients; both were managed nonoperatively without evidence of pouch dysfunction.

Conclusion

Modified two-stage IPAA with omission of DI after the IPAA stage is safe to perform in pediatric UC patients. Prospective studies with larger sample sizes are needed to identify risk factors associated with operative complications.
Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes of Accidental Hypothermia: A Multicenter Study of Regional Care
Authors: Rasmussen Jessica M. , Cogbill Thomas H. , Borgert Andrew J. , Frankki Susan M. , Kallies Kara J. , Roberts Jennifer C. , Cullinane Daniel C. , Renier Colleen , Woehrle Theo , Eyer Steven D. , Zein Eddine Savo Bou , Beckman Marshall , Waller Christine J.
Published: December 2020

Background

Hypothermia is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening condition. We hypothesized (1) advanced rewarming techniques were more frequent with increased hypothermia severity, (2) active rewarming is increasingly performed with smaller intravascular catheters and decreased cardiopulmonary bypass, and (3) mortality was associated with age, hypothermia severity, and type.

Methods

Trauma patients with temperatures <35°C at 4 ACS-verified trauma centers in Wisconsin and Minnesota from 2006 to 2016 were reviewed. Statistical analysis included chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. A P value < .05 was considered significant.

Results

337 patients met inclusion criteria; primary hypothermia was identified in 127 (38%), secondary in 113 (34%), and mixed primary/secondary in 96 (28%) patients. Hypothermia was mild in 69%, moderate in 26%, and severe in 5% of patients. Intravascular rewarming catheter was the most frequent advanced modality (2%), used increasingly since 2014. Advanced techniques were used for primary (12%) vs. secondary (0%) and mixed (5%) ( P = .0002); overall use increased with hypothermia severity but varied by institution. Dysrhythmia, acute kidney injury, and frostbite risk worsened with hypothermia severity ( P < .0001, P = .031, and P < .0001, respectively). Mortality was greatest in patients with mixed hypothermia (39%, P = .0002) and age >65 years (33%, P = .03). Thirty-day mortality rates were similar among severe, moderate, and mild hypothermia ( P = .44).

Conclusion

Advanced rewarming techniques were used more frequently in severe and primary hypothermia but varied among institutions. Advanced rewarming was less common in mixed hypothermia; mortality was highest in this subgroup. Reliance on smaller intravascular catheters for advanced rewarming increased over time. Given inconsistencies in management, implementation of guidelines for hypothermia management appears necessary.
Is There a Bias Against Obese Patients in the Treatment of Breast Cancer?
Authors: Wang Melinda , Huang Julian , Chagpar Anees B.
Published: December 2020

Background

Patient and tumor characteristics often coincide with obesity, potentially affecting treatment decision-making in obese breast cancer patients. Independent of all of these factors, however, it is unclear whether obesity itself impacts the decision to offer patients undergoing mastectomy breast reconstruction, postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT), or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We sought to determine whether implicit bias against obese breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy plays a role in their treatment.

Methods

Medical records of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy from January 2010 to April 2018 from a single institution were retrospectively reviewed, separated into obese (BMI ≥30) and nonobese (BMI <30) categories, and compared using nonparametric statistical analyses.

Results

Of 972 patients, 291 (31.2%) were obese. Obese patients were more likely to have node-positive, triple-negative breast cancers ( P = .026) and were also more likely to have other comorbidities such as a history of smoking ( P = .026), hypertension ( P < .001), and diabetes ( P < .001). Receipt of immediate reconstruction and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy did not vary between obese and nonobese patients. While obese patients were more likely to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (26.5% vs. 18.1%, P = .004) and PMRT (33.0% vs. 23.4%, P = .003), this did not remain significant when controlling for comorbidities and clinicopathologic confounders.

Conclusion

Obese patients present with more aggressive tumors and often have concomitant comorbidities. Independent of these factors, however, differences in the treatment of patients undergoing mastectomy do not seem to be affected by an implicit bias against obese patients.