bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alterations of Serum Uric Acid Level and Gut Microbiota After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy in a Hyperuricemic Rat Model
Authors: Lu Cunlong , Li Yu , Li Long , Kong Ying , Shi Tuo , Xiao Hai , Cao Shougen , Zhu Houxin , Li Zequn , Zhou Yanbing
Published: March 2020

Background

The objective of this study was to observe alterations of serum uric acid (SUA) level and gut microbiota after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) surgery in a hyperuricemic rat model.

Method

We performed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) surgery in a hyperuricemic rat model. Serum uric acid (UA), xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, IL-6, TNF-α and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level changes, and 16S rDNA of gut microbiota were analyzed.

Results

After the surgery, the RYGB and SG procedures significantly reduced body weight, serum UA, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS levels, and XO activity. In addition, the RYGB and SG procedures altered the diversity and taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota. Compared with Sham group, RYGB and SG procedures were enriched in the abundance of phylumVerrucomicrobiaand speciesAkkermansia muciniphila, while the speciesEscherichia coliwas reduced.

Discussion

We here concluded that bariatric surgery-induced weight loss and resolution of inflammatory remarkers as well as changes of gut microbiota may be responsible for the reduced XO activity and SUA level. To have a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of UA metabolism following bariatric surgery, further research is needed.
Immunohistochemical Profile and 47-Gene Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Solid Tumor Panel Analysis of a Series of 13 Strumal Carcinoids
Authors: Theurer S. , Ingenwerth M. , Herold T. , Herrmann K. , Schmid K. W.
Published: March 2020

Strumal carcinoid is an extraordinary rare tumor of the ovary consisting of thyroid tissue intermixed with neuroendocrine tumor component. The cellular origin of strumal carcinoids has been an area of debate. There is also little data on detailed immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics of these neoplasms. For this reason, this series investigated the characteristics of a series of 13 strumal carcinoids using immunohistochemical markers and a 47-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) solid tumor panel analysis. Both cellular components showed thyroglobulin expression in all tumors. TTF-1 expression was noted in both cellular components of 11 cases. Chromogranin A was positive in both components of most tumors (n = 12, 92.3% in the neuroendocrine component and n = 10, 76.9% in the thyroid follicular component). Synaptophysin stained the neuroendocrine component of all cases, and it was also identified in the follicular thyroid component of a single case. All tumors were negative for CDX2 and calcitonin. ISLET1 was positive in the neuroendocrine component of 8 cases (6.5%). With the exception of one case, all tumors were positive for SSTR2a. The tumors were associated with a low Ki67 labeling index. All cases were microsatellite stable and no pathogenic mutations were identified using a 47-gene NGS solid tumor analysis. This series underscored that strumal carcinoids are distinct neuroendocrine tumors. The synchronous expression for thyroid follicular epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation biomarkers may suggest a precursor cell origin displaying mixed-amphicrine differentiation. While strumal carcinoids can be diagnosed by their typical morphology and immunohistochemical profile, frequent SSTR expression may serve as a potential theranostic biomarker in the management of affected patients. In addition, the absence of common driver mutations in the NGS solid tumor panel may suggest that these neoplasms seem to be genetically unrelated to follicular epithelial–derived thyroid tumors and potentially different than other commonly identified well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms. Therefore, further studies focusing on molecular characteristics of this entity are still needed.
Mindfulness-Based Programs in the Workplace: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Vonderlin Ruben , Biermann Miriam , Bohus Martin , Lyssenko Lisa
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Given the complex demands of many workplaces, there is growing interest in the potential beneficial effects of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) for employees. This meta-analysis systematically synthesizes the results of randomized controlled studies conducted in various workplace settings.

Methods

Eligible studies were identified by a systematic literature search in four electronic databases and complementary manual search strategies through 11/2018. Random-effects models were used to synthesize data across 56 studies including n = 2689 participants and n = 2472 controls. The validity of synthesized effect size estimates was analyzed for heterogeneity and influential cases (outliers). Risk of bias was assessed following Cochrane recommendations.

Results

Analyses of between-group effects indicated that MBPs effectively reduce stress, burnout, mental distress, and somatic complaints, while improving mindfulness, well-being, compassion, and job satisfaction—all with small to large effect sizes ranging from Hedge’s g = 0.32 to 0.77. Results were maintained in follow-up assessments ≤ 12 weeks. Heterogeneity among primary studies was not explained consistently by program or participant characteristics in the exploratory moderator analyses. Results on work engagement and productivity were limited by low numbers of primary studies with outliers among their effect sizes.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis provides evidence that MBPs effectively promote the health and well-being of employees in various occupational settings. Further research is needed to investigate potential benefits on work-related outcomes and effects for longer-term follow-ups.
Hybrid renewable energy systems for desalination
Authors: Esmaeilion Farbod
Published: March 2020

Water and energy are two key factors in human life that always control the growth and development of human societies. Climate changes, increasing the population in urban areas and industrialization, have increased the demands for freshwater around the world. Estimates show that a small percentage of all freshwater produced in the world is from renewable sources. By developing the technology, lowering equipment prices and increasing attention to the environmental problems of fossil fuels, utilizing renewable energy is growing. By providing a wide variety of conventional desalination methods driven by various types of renewable energy technologies in the world, water and energy legislators should choose different methods to meet the needs based on the local potentials by paying attention to the desalination processes and power systems. In some cases, concentrated solar power for thermal desalination or electricity generated by the photovoltaic plants for membrane desalination systems can be used in arid areas. Definitely, the most problem of using renewable sources is their unsteady natures, which using storage systems or combining with other renewable sources can solve this problem. This chapter provides extensive information about renewables, desalination and performance analysis of power systems. Reverse osmosis technique is a practical process in desalination which 69% of desalination plants use this system. Solar energy is an important source of energy for hybrid systems. The geothermal has a steady performance at a specified depth. Ultimately, obtained results from energy and exergy analysis would have provided a better insight.
Chasing myrtle rust in New Zealand: host range and distribution over the first year after invasion
Authors: Toome-Heller M. , Ho W. W. H. , Ganley R. J. , Elliott C. E. A. , Quinn B. , Pearson H. G. , Alexander B. J. R.
Published: March 2020

After the detection of the myrtle rust pathogen, Austropuccinia psidii, in New Zealand, a biosecurity response was initiated, including a wide-spread surveillance programme. Through an intensive public awareness initiative, the general public was highly engaged in reporting myrtle rust infections and added significant value to the surveys by reporting first detections from most of the areas that are now known to be infected. During the first year of the response, Austropuccinia psidii was found in areas that were predicted to be at high infection risk in previous modelling studies. Significant surveillance resources were deployed to different parts of the country and the response surveillance team contributed to most of the new host species finds. Twenty -four species and six hybrids of Myrtaceae have been confirmed to be naturally infected by myrtle rust in New Zealand. Eleven of these are new host records globally and three were previously recorded only as experimental hosts.
mRNA level of ROCK1, RHOA, and LIMK2 as genes associated with apoptosis in evaluation of effectiveness of adalimumab treatment
Authors: Krawczyk Agata , Strzałka-Mrozik Barbara , Grabarek Beniamin , Wcisło-Dziadecka Dominika , Kimsa-Dudek Magdalena , Kruszniewska-Rajs Celina , Gola Joanna
Published: March 2020

Background

Psoriasis is a multifactorial autoimmune disease, which underlies the abnormalities of the apoptotic process. In cases of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, biological treatment is used. This study aimed to determine any changes in the expression of the genes associated with apoptosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with adalimumab and to assess any phenotypic modifications based on changes in dermatological indexes.

Methods

The study included 20 patients with psoriatic arthritis treated biologically and 20 healthy volunteers. The research material consisted of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from which the total RNA was isolated. Changes in the gene expression were determined using oligonucleotide microarrays and RT-qPCR. The clinical condition was assessed based on selected indicators: PASI, BSA [%], DAS28, and DLQI, which were determined every 3 months.

Results

There were changes in the expression of genes associated with apoptosis. Significant differences were found for ROCK1, RhoA, and LIMK2 expression profiles in PBMCs. At the initial stage of treatment, a decrease in the PASI and BSA rates was observed. At the later stages, the values of these indicators increased once again. There were correlations between the changes in these genes’ expression and the dermatological markers.

Conclusion

Adalimumab influences the expression of genes related to apoptosis and the values of dermatological indicators of patients. Changes in the expression level of genes associated with apoptosis suggest that ROCK1, RhoA, and LIMK2 may be genes that can potentially be indicators of treatment effectiveness and lack of response to biological treatment.
Energy accumulation in mechanical resonance and its use in drive systems of impact machines
Authors: Fiebig Wieslaw , Wróbel Jakub
Published: March 2020

An innovative method utilizing the phenomenon of mechanical resonance in machine drive systems of impact machines has been described. Energy accumulated in mechanical resonance is typically multiple times larger than the continuously supplied excitation energy. The amount of accumulated energy depends on the amplitude of vibration, mass and stiffness of system and present energy dissipation mechanisms. This form of energy can be extracted periodically each time after the amplitude of vibration reaches its maximum value. This effect could be implemented in drive systems of periodically operating machines, such as punching machines and presses. Significant reduction of energy demand in machines that use mechanical resonance in comparison with conventional machines was confirmed by means of simulations and experiments. Accumulation of the energy at mechanical resonance and its sequential extraction were presented together with a new prototype resonance punching press.
Evaluating the impact of new aircraft separation minima on available airspace capacity and arrival time delay
Authors: Itoh E. , Mitici M.
Published: March 2020

Although the application of new, reduced aircraft separation minima can directly increase runway throughput, the impact thereof on the traffic flow of aircraft arriving at the destination airport has not been discussed yet. This paper proposes a data-driven and queue-based modeling approach and presents an analysis of the impact on the delay time of arriving aircraft in the airspace within a radius of 100 nautical miles around an airport. The parameters of our queuing model were estimated by analysing the data contained in the radar tracks and flight plans for flights that arrived at Tokyo International Airport during the 2 years of 2016 and 2017. The results clarified the best arrival strategy according to the distance from the arrival airport: The combination of airspace capacity control and reduction of the flight time and separation variance is the most powerful solution to mitigate delays experienced by arriving traffic while also allowing an increase in the amount of arrival traffic. The application of new wake vortex categories would enable us to increase the arrival traffic to 120%. In addition, the arrival delay time could be minimised by implementing the proposed arrival traffic strategies together with automation support for air traffic controllers.
The International Law of Co-Progressiveness as a Response to the Problems Associated with “Relative Normativity”
Authors: Yee Sienho
Published: March 2020

Prosper Weil misfired his volleys by targeting his protestations at relative normativity in international law. In itself, relative normativity is unavoidable and beneficial. The enduring value of his celebrated 1983 article “Towards Relative Normativity in International Law?” lies in identifying the various problems that he associated with relative normativity. These problems deserve serious attention and conscientious responses in order to assure the health of the international legal system as well as the international community. The idea of an international law of co-progressiveness that I have developed, though not intended as a direct response to these problems, does come with a toolkit full of responses that would go a long way to solving those problems or at least reducing them to a minimum.
Evaluating the potential impact of an emergency department extracorporeal resuscitation (ECPR) program: a health records review
Authors: McDonald Laura , Mastoras George , Hickey Michael , McDonald Bernard , Kwok Edmund S.H.
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in refractory cardiac arrest (ECPR) is an emerging resuscitative therapy that has shown promising results for selected patients who may not otherwise survive. We sought to identify the characteristics of cardiac arrest patients presenting to our institution to begin assessing the feasibility of an ECPR program.

Methods

This retrospective health records review included patients aged 18–75 years old presenting to our academic teaching hospital campuses with refractory nontraumatic out-of-hospital or in-emergency department (ED) cardiac arrest over a 2-year period. Based on a scoping review of the literature, both “liberal” and “restrictive” ECPR criteria were defined and applied to our cohort.

Results

A total of 179 patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 60 years, and patients were predominantly male (72.6%). The initial rhythm was ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation in 49.2%. The majority of arrests were witnessed (69.3%), with immediate bystander CPR performed on 53.1% and an additional 12% receiving CPR within 10 minutes of collapse. Median prehospital time was 40 minutes (interquartile range, 31–53.3). Two-thirds of patients (65.9%) were identified as having a reversible cause of arrest and favorable premorbid status was identified in nearly three quarters (74.3%). Our two sets of ECPR inclusion criteria revealed that 33 and 5 patients (liberal and restrictive criteria, respectively), would have been candidates for ECPR.

Conclusion

At our institution, we estimate between 6% and 40% of ED refractory cardiac arrest patients would be candidates for ECPR. These findings suggest that the implementation of an ECPR program should be explored.
The role of iconicity, construal, and proficiency in the online processing of handshape
Authors: OCCHINO CORRINE , ANIBLE BENJAMIN , MORFORD JILL P.
Published: March 2020

abstract

Iconicity has traditionally been considered an objective, fixed, unidimensional property of language forms, often operationalized as transparency for experimental purposes. Within a Cognitive Linguistics framework, iconicity is a mapping between an individual’s construal of form and construal of meaning, such that iconicity is subjective, dynamic, and multidimensional. We test the latter alternative by asking signers who differed in ASL proficiency to complete a handshape monitoring task in which we manipulated the number of form–meaning construals that target handshapes participated in. We estimated the interaction of iconicity, proficiency, and construal density using mixed-effects models for response time and accuracy with crossed random effects for participants and items.

Results show a significant three-way interaction between iconicity, proficiency, and construal density such that less-proficient signers detected handshapes in more iconic signs faster than less iconic signs regardless of the handshape they were monitoring, but highly proficient signers’ performance was only improved by iconicity for handshapes that participate in many construals. Taken in conjunction with growing evidence of the subjectivity of iconicity, we interpret these results as support for the claim that construal is a core mechanism underlying iconicity, both for transparent and systematic language-internal form–meaning mappings.
Link between East Asian summer monsoon and sedimentation in river-mouth sandbars since the early Holocene preserved in the Yangtze River subaqueous delta front
Authors: Xu Gang , Liu Jian , Gugliotta Marcello , Saito Yoshiki , Chen Lilei , Zhang Xin , Hu Gang
Published: March 2020

This paper presents geochemical and grain-size records since the early Holocene in core ECS0702 with a fine chronology frame obtained from the Yangtze River subaqueous delta front. Since ~9500 cal yr BP, the proxy records of chemical weathering from the Yangtze River basin generally exhibit a Holocene optimum in the early Holocene, a weak East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) period during the middle Holocene, and a relatively strong EASM period in the late Holocene. The ~8.2 and ~4.4 cal ka BP cooling events are recorded in core ECS0702. The flooding events reconstructed by the grain-size parameters since the early Holocene suggest that the floods mainly occurred during strong EASM periods and the Yangtze River mouth sandbar caused by the floods mainly formed in the early and late Holocene. The Yangtze River-mouth sandbars since the early Holocene shifted from north to south, affected by tidal currents and the Coriolis force, and more importantly, controlled by the EASM. Our results are of great significance for enriching both the record of Holocene climate change in the Yangtze River basin and knowledge about the formation and evolution progress of the deltas located in monsoon regions.
Cooling management effects on dry matter intake, metabolic hormones levels and welfare parameters in dairy cows during heat stress
Authors: Kleinjan-Elazary Alona , Ben-Meir Yehoshav , Gacitua Haim , Levit Harel , Fridman Avia , Shinder Dima , Jacoby Shamay , Miron Joshua , Halachmi Ilan , Gershon Eran
Published: March 2020

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that intensive cooling management during the summer improves the secretion of metabolic hormones in dairy cows. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the effect of different cooling managements on the different ghrelin isoforms and leptin secretion of 20 Israeli-Holstein dairy cows during 5 weeks during heat stress. The cows were divided into two groups: one was exposed to 5 cooling sessions per day (5 CS) and the other to 8 cooling sessions per day (8 CS). Blood was collected and leptin and ghrelin isoforms level were radioimmunoassayed. Analysis of the interaction between coolings and the week of the experiment showed that the 8 CS group consumed more food and produced more milk, although neither difference was statistically significant. In addition, the 8 CS group exhibited higher blood levels of acyl-ghrelin and leptin as compared to the 5 CS group. Conversely, the blood levels of total ghrelin were lower in the cows exposed to 8 CS as compared to cows from the 5 CS treatment. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found only between total ghrelin levels and the weeks, but not with other parameters examined. We further compared digestibility as well as stress parameters between the groups. We found that the 8 CS group cows ruminated and lay down more hours during a day and simultaneously had better activity time. No significant difference was detected between groups in milk yield and digestibility parameters. Our results suggest that intensive cooling management during the hot season influences the levels of metabolic hormones in the circulation and helps to mitigate the detrimental effect of heat stress on dairy cow welfare and production.
Emerging Markets Are Catching Up: Economic or Financial Integration?
Authors: Akbari Amir , Ng Lilian , Solnik Bruno
Published: March 2020

We propose a simple metric to measure two aspects of market integration, namely, economic integration (defined as a common cash-flow dynamic) and financial integration (defined as a common risk-pricing dynamic) and then examine their evolution through time while controlling for volatility. We find that developed (DEV) countries exhibit greater degrees of financial and economic integration than emerging (EMG) markets. Although the financial integration gap between these markets remains large throughout the sample period, the EMG economies are catching up with their DEV counterparts in recent years; their level of economic integration has reached that of DEV countries.
Anionic food color tartrazine enhances antibacterial efficacy of histatin-derived peptide DHVAR4 by fine-tuning its membrane activity
Authors: Ricci Maria , Horváti Kata , Juhász Tünde , Szigyártó Imola , Török György , Sebák Fanni , Bodor Andrea , Homolya László , Henczkó Judit , Pályi Bernadett , Mlinkó Tamás , Mihály Judith , Nizami Bilal , Yang Zihuayuan , Lin Fengming , Lu Xiaolin , Románszki Loránd , Bóta Attila , Varga Zoltán , Bősze Szilvia , Zsila Ferenc , Beke-Somfai Tamás
Published: March 2020

Here it is demonstrated how some anionic food additives commonly used in our diet, such as tartrazine (TZ), bind to DHVAR4, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) derived from oral host defense peptides, resulting in significantly fostered toxic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but not against mammalian cells. Biophysical studies on the DHVAR4–TZ interaction indicate that initially large, positively charged aggregates are formed, but in the presence of lipid bilayers, they rather associate with the membrane surface. In contrast to synergistic effects observed for mixed antibacterial compounds, this is a principally different mechanism, where TZ directly acts on the membrane-associated AMP promoting its biologically active helical conformation. Model vesicle studies show that compared to dye-free DHVAR4, peptide–TZ complexes are more prone to form H-bonds with the phosphate ester moiety of the bilayer head-group region resulting in more controlled bilayer fusion mechanism and concerted severe cell damage. AMPs are considered as promising compounds to combat formidable antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections; however, we know very little on their in vivo actions, especially on how they interact with other chemical agents. The current example illustrates how food dyes can modulate AMP activity, which is hoped to inspire improved therapies against microbial infections in the alimentary tract. Results also imply that the structure and function of natural AMPs could be manipulated by small compounds, which may also offer a new strategic concept for the future design of peptide-based antimicrobials.
On where God isn't: excrement and the philosophy of religion; two Jewish perspectives
Authors: LEBENS SAMUEL
Published: March 2020

Milan Kundera suggests that human excrement poses a special problem for classical theism. Is there really a problem here, and if there is, how might the theist respond? This article explores Jewish sources in order to construct a real philosophical problem from Kundera's concern, and suggests two responses to that problem, both, once again, drawn from the Jewish tradition.
Reproductive traits and age of barbeled plunderfishes from the Weddell Sea
Authors: La Mesa Mario , Donato Fortunata , Riginella Emilio , Papetti Chiara , Parker Elyse , Near Thomas J.
Published: March 2020

The genus Pogonophryne is the most species-rich genus of barbeled plunderfishes (Artedidraconidae) and includes more than 25 poorly known species endemic to the Southern Ocean. In this study, we provide new data on the age and reproductive traits of some species of Pogonophryne from the southern Weddell Sea, inferred through otolith reading and histological analyses of gonads. Individual age estimates ranged between 16 and 18 years for Pogonophryne barsukovi and Pogonophryne immaculata and between 10 and 22 years for Pogonophryne scotti. As is commonly found in notothenioids, P. barsukovi followed a group-synchronous type of ovarian development, with pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes forming two well-separated egg-size groups. A single spawning female in the sample produced ~1097 eggs and 7.9 eggs g-1. The sample of P. immaculata consisted exclusively of developing males, with testes composed of cysts of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. Pogonophryne scotti was the most abundant species, including relatively small males at immature or developing stages of gonad development. Larger females were regressing, being characterized by ovaries with postovulatory follicles and atretic oocytes. Based on the macroscopic and histological analyses of gonads, the spawning season would take place in autumn for P. barsukovi and P. immaculata and in spring–early summer for P. scotti.
Introduction: Historicizing Sayyid-ness: Social Status and Muslim Identity in South Asia
Authors: GAUTIER LAURENCE , LEVESQUE JULIEN
Published: March 2020

The introduction to the special issue provides a framework to think about the changing conceptions of Sayyid-ness in various historical contexts in South Asia. First, we review some of the sociological and anthropological literature on caste among South Asian Muslims, to argue for a contextualised and historicised study of Muslim social stratification in Muslims’ own terms. Second, we throw light on the fact that Sayyid-ness, far from being a transhistorical fact, may be conceptualised differently in different socio-political and historical contexts. For instance, Sayyid pedigree was at times downplayed in favour of a more encompassing Ashraf identity in order to project the idea of a single Muslim community. Far from projecting an essentialising image of Sayyid-ness, by focusing on historical change, the articles in this collection de-naturalise Sayyids’ and Ashraf's social superiority as a ‘well-understood and accepted fact’. They further shift attention from the debate on ‘Muslim caste’, often marred by Hindu-centric assumptions, to focus instead on social dynamics among South Asian Muslims ‘in their own terms’. In so doing, these studies highlight the importance of the local, while pointing to possible comparisons with Muslim groups outside South Asia.
FINITE FIELD EXTENSIONS WITH THE LINE OR TRANSLATE PROPERTY FOR -PRIMITIVE ELEMENTS
Authors: COHEN STEPHEN D. , KAPETANAKIS GIORGOS
Published: March 2020

Let $r,n>1$ be integers and $q$ be any prime power $q$ such that $r\mid q^{n}-1$. We say that the extension $\mathbb{F}_{q^{n}}/\mathbb{F}_{q}$ possesses the line property for $r$-primitive elements property if, for every $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC},\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}\in \mathbb{F}_{q^{n}}^{\ast }$ such that $\mathbb{F}_{q^{n}}=\mathbb{F}_{q}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D703})$, there exists some $x\in \mathbb{F}_{q}$ such that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}+x)$ has multiplicative order $(q^{n}-1)/r$. We prove that, for sufficiently large prime powers $q$, $\mathbb{F}_{q^{n}}/\mathbb{F}_{q}$ possesses the line property for $r$-primitive elements. We also discuss the (weaker) translate property for extensions.
Property and Social Citizenship: Social Policy beyond the North
Authors: Pellissery Sony , Lødemel Ivar
Published: March 2020

This article examines how the property rights in land have come to be a constitutive element of social citizenship. Reviewing the theoretical developments on the idea of social citizenship since Marshall’s seminal essay onCitizenship and Social Class(1950), this introductory article identifies four processes which bring property rights to the centre stage of social rights. First, recognition of entitlement beyond ownership opens up different social functions of property. Social citizenship as a tool is able to demand contextually appropriate rights from the bundle of rights that property is constituted of. Second, the idea of social citizenship is global today, and has transcended nation-state boundaries. How trade and communications impact property in land shapes the realisation of social rights. Three, active citizens contribute to the creation of public spaces in emerging urban residential areas. Citizens make social claims on such spaces through radical forms of insurgent citizenship. Four, planning as a tool, which organises property for the realisation of citizens’ social rights, is able to meet the competing objectives of human rights and speculative profiteering by real estate owners. These four aspects become essential to understand how social citizenship is unfolding, particularly in the Global South.
Enhancing meaning in the face of advanced cancer and pain: Qualitative evaluation of a meaning-centered psychosocial pain management intervention
Authors: Winger Joseph G. , Ramos Katherine , Steinhauser Karen E. , Somers Tamara J. , Porter Laura S. , Kamal Arif H. , Breitbart William S. , Keefe Francis J.
Published: March 2020

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to obtain patient evaluations of the content, structure, and delivery modality of Meaning-Centered Pain Coping Skills Training (MCPC), a novel psychosocial intervention for patients with advanced cancer and pain. MCPC aims to help patients connect with valued sources of meaning in their lives (e.g., family relationships), while providing training in evidence-based cognitive and behavioral skills (e.g., guided imagery) to reduce pain.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients with stage IV solid tumor cancers and persistent pain. Transcripts were analyzed using methods from applied thematic analysis.

Results

When evaluating MCPC's educational information and skills training descriptions, participants described ways in which this content resonated with their experience. Many coped with their pain and poor prognosis by relying on frameworks that provided them with a sense of meaning, often involving their personally held religious or spiritual beliefs. They also expressed a need for learning ways to cope with pain in addition to taking medication. A few participants offered helpful suggestions for refining MCPC's content, such as addressing common co-occurring symptoms of sleep disturbance and fatigue. Concerning MCPC's structure and delivery modality, most participants preferred that sessions include their family caregiver and described remote delivery (i.e., telephone or videoconference) as being more feasible than attending in-person sessions.

Significance of results

Participants were interested in an intervention that concurrently focuses on learning pain coping skills and enhancing a sense of meaning. Using remote delivery modalities may reduce access barriers (e.g., travel) that would otherwise prevent many patients from utilizing psychosocial services.
Hunting the Northern Lights
Authors: Brekke Asgeir
Published: March 2020

When a tragic accident occurred in November 1962 in the coalmine of Kings Bay Company in Ny‐Ålesund, Svalbard, (78°55´N, 11°56´E) it led to the fall of the labour government that had been ruling Norway since the Second World War. A year later the mine was closed, the infrastructure left unattended, and the community of Ny‐Ålesund evacuated. The Norwegian government was then facing a challenge as it had to establish a new activity in the village in order to keep the sovereignty over the territory. This was in the middle of the Cold War. The Russian population on Svalbard was about twice as large as the Norwegian, while the production of the Russian mines was approximately half the output of the Norwegians. An empty village with well‐developed infrastructure on Svalbard was therefore an enticement for the Soviet Union.
Large‐Scale Characteristics of Tropical Convective Systems Through the Prism of Cloud Regime
Authors: Jin Daeho , Oreopoulos Lazaros , Lee Dongmin , Tan Jackson , Kim Kyu‐myong
Published: March 2020

We employ the cloud regime concept to identify large‐scale tropical convective systems and investigate their characteristics in terms of organization and precipitation. The tropical cloud regimes (TCRs) are derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer cloud optical thickness and cloud top pressure two‐dimensional joint histograms. We focus on the TCRs that have relatively low cloud top pressures and high cloud optical thicknesses, as well as heavy precipitation, namely, TCR1 (convective core‐dominant), TCR2 (various high clouds), and TCR3 (anvils). The horizontal size of aggregates of TCR1, TCR2, or TCR3 occurrences (TCR123) is identified as the number of contiguous 1° × 1° grid cells occupied by either of these three TCRs. For the small‐ to intermediate‐size aggregates (TCR123 size 20 to 160 one‐degree grid cells), there is large variability in the fraction of the aggregate each TCR occupies, but generally, TCR2 exhibits the highest fraction. As the total system size grows, the variability shrinks and for the largest systems ratios eventually converge to 0.3, 0.2, and 0.5 for TCR1, TCR2, and TCR3, respectively. The mean precipitation of convective core‐rich TCR1 is generally high for the systems of intermediate size (80–160 one‐degree grid cells) but with the highest mean coming from smaller systems of 20–40 grid cells. For the largest systems, their mean precipitation in areas containing cores (TCR1) are relatively low with suppressed variation. The mean precipitation rates of TCR2 and TCR3 in a TCR123 aggregate tend to be stronger when accompanying TCR1 mean precipitation rate is also high.
Satellite‐Terrestrial Channel Characterization in High‐Speed Railway Environment at 22.6 GHz
Authors: Ma Lei , Guan Ke , Yan Dong , He Danping , Leonor Nuno R. , Ai Bo , Kim Junhyeong
Published: March 2020

The integration of satellite and terrestrial communication systems plays a vital role in the fifth‐generation mobile communication system (5G) for the ubiquitous coverage, reliable service, and flexible networking. Moreover, the millimeter wave (mmWave) communication with large bandwidth is a key enabler for 5G intelligent rail transportation. In this paper, the satellite‐terrestrial channel at 22.6 GHz is characterized for a typical high‐speed railway (HSR) environment. The three‐dimensional model of the railway scenario is reconstructed and imported into the Cloud Ray‐Tracing (CloudRT) simulation platform. Based on extensive ray‐tracing simulations, the channel for the terrestrial HSR system and the satellite‐terrestrial system with two weather conditions are characterized, and the interference between them are evaluated. The results of this paper can help for the design and evaluation for the satellite‐terrestrial communication system enabling future intelligent rail transportation.
Debates—Does Information Theory Provide a New Paradigm for Earth Science?
Authors: Kumar Praveen , Gupta Hoshin V.
Published: March 2020

The basis for all knowledge is “information” that we compile about the world, expressed through models that support understanding, prediction, and decision making. This overview paper provides a contextual basis for the four papers that make up the “debate series” compiled under the above title. We briefly introduce Information Theory, discuss how “information” can be considered to be both a “physical” quantity and a “probabilistic” basis for representing incompleteness in knowledge, discuss the core motivation for this debate series, and briefly summarize the major arguments advanced by each of the debate papers. Our purpose is to facilitate an understanding of how these papers are related and how they approach the debate series question from different perspectives, while pointing to future directions for research. Finally, we invite further discourse and debate to advance the understanding and prediction of natural system dynamics using Information Theory, including the assessment of its limitations and complementarity to existing physics and machine learning approaches. Ultimately, our goal is to press for the development of philosophical and methodological advances that will enable the Earth science community to address some of the compelling unsolved problems in our field.
PROM2 promotes gemcitabine chemoresistance via activating the Akt signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Li Wenbin , Zhu Yue , Zhang Kelin , Yu Xianhuan , Lin Haoming , Wu Wenrui , Peng Yaorong , Sun Jian
Published: March 2020

In recent years, the deoxycytidine analogue gemcitabine (2′,2′,-difluorodeoxycytidine) has become the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for patients with pancreatic cancer. However, due to the intrinsic resistance of pancreatic cancer cells, gemcitabine-based chemotherapy yields limited disease control, with >85% disease progression at 6 months from diagnosis. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms of chemoresistance is a critical step in improving cancer therapy, especially for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We show PROM2, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is ubiquitously upregulated in pancreatic cancer cell. We also found higher PROM2 expression is associated with shortened overall and disease-free survival times in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We provide evidence that PROM2 promotes chemoresistance to gemcitabine both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that PROM2 could directly interacted with Akt and activates the Akt signaling pathway, which thus inhibiting gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. As further evidence, we show PROM2 expression and Akt phosphorylation both promote gemcitabine chemoresistance, and cause poorer survival in clinical samples with pancreatic cancer. Combining gemcitabine with the Akt inhibitor MK-2206 facilitated significant tumor shrinkage and dramatically elevated the survival status in mice xenografted with pancreatic cancer cells. Our findings not only establish PROM2 as a novel positive regulator of the Akt signaling pathway and a candidate prognostic indicator of gemcitabine response, but also provide a neo-therapeutic approach for patients resistant to gemcitabine treatment.
Evaluating the efficacy of multiple myeloma cell lines as models for patient tumors via transcriptomic correlation analysis
Authors: Sarin Vishesh , Yu Katharine , Ferguson Ian D. , Gugliemini Olivia , Nix Matthew A. , Hann Byron , Sirota Marina , Wiita Arun P.
Published: March 2020

Multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines are routinely used to model the disease. However, a long-standing question is how well these cell lines truly represent tumor cells in patients. Here, we employ a recently described method of transcriptional correlation profiling to compare similarity of 66 MM cell lines to 779 newly diagnosed MM patient tumors. We found that individual MM lines differ significantly with respect to patient tumor representation, with median R ranging from 0.35 to 0.54. ANBL-6 was the “best” line, markedly exceeding all others (p < 2.2e−16). Notably, some widely used cell lines (RPMI-8226, U-266) scored poorly in our patient similarity ranking (48 and 52 of 66, respectively). Lines cultured with interleukin-6 showed significantly improved correlations with patient tumor (p = 9.5e−4). When common MM genomic features were matched between cell lines and patients, only t(4;14) and t(14;16) led to increased transcriptional correlation. To demonstrate the utility of our top-ranked line for preclinical studies, we showed that intravenously implanted ANBL-6 proliferates in hematopoietic organs in immunocompromised mice. Overall, our large-scale quantitative correlation analysis, utilizing emerging datasets, provides a resource informing the MM community of cell lines that may be most reliable for modeling patient disease while also elucidating biological differences between cell lines and tumors.
XCL1 expression correlates with CD8-positive T cells infiltration and PD-L1 expression in squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary
Authors: Tamura Ryo , Yoshihara Kosuke , Nakaoka Hirofumi , Yachida Nozomi , Yamaguchi Manako , Suda Kazuaki , Ishiguro Tatsuya , Nishino Koji , Ichikawa Hiroshi , Homma Keiichi , Kikuchi Akira , Ueda Yutaka , Takei Yuji , Fujiwara Hiroyuki , Motoyama Teiichi , Okuda Shujiro , Wakai Toshifumi , Inoue Ituro , Enomoto Takayuki
Published: March 2020

Molecular characteristics of carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary (MCT) remain unclear due to its rarity. We analyzed RNA-sequencing data of 2322 pan-cancer [1378 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 6 adenosquamous carcinomas (ASC), and 938 adenocarcinomas (AC)] including six carcinomas arising from MCT (four SCCs, one ASC, and one AC). Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis showed that gene expression profiles of carcinomas arising from MCT were different between each histological type and that gene expression profiles of SCCs arising MCT (MCT-SCCs) was apparently similar to those of lung SCCs. By epidermis-associated pathways activity based on gene set enrichment analysis, 1030 SCCs were divided into two groups: epidermis-signature high (head and neck, esophagus, and skin) and low (cervix, lung, and MCT). In addition to pan-SCC transcriptome analysis, cytokeratin profiling based on immunohistochemistry in the independent samples of 21 MCT-SCCs clarified that MCT-SCC dominantly expressed CK18, suggesting the origin of MCT-SCC was columnar epithelium. Subsequently, we investigated differentially expressed genes in MCT-SCCs compared with different SCCs and identified XCL1 was specifically overexpressed in MCT-SCCs. Through immunohistochemistry analysis, we identified XCL1 expression on tumor cells in 13/24 (54%) of MCT-SCCs but not in MCTs. XCL1 expression was also significantly associated with the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cells and PD-L1 expression on tumor cells. XCL1 produced by tumor cells may induce PD1/PD-L1 interaction and dysfunction of CD8-positive T cells in tumor microenvironment. XCL1 expression may be a novel biomarker for malignant transformation of MCT into SCC and a biomarker candidate for therapeutic response to an anti-PD1/PD-L1 therapy.
High-mobility group AT-hook 1 promotes cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy via autophagy inhibition
Authors: Wu Qing-Qing , Liu Chen , Cai Zhulan , Xie Qingwen , Hu Tongtong , Duan Mingxia , Wu Haiming , Yuan Yuan , Tang Qizhu
Published: March 2020

High-mobility group AT-hook1 (HMGA1, formerly HMG-I/Y), an architectural transcription factor, participates in a number of biological processes. However, its effect on cardiac remodeling (refer to cardiac inflammation, apoptosis and dysfunction) in diabetic cardiomyopathy remains largely indistinct. In this study, we found that HMGA1 was upregulated in diabetic mouse hearts and high-glucose-stimulated cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of HMGA1 accelerated high-glucose-induced cardiomyocyte inflammation and apoptosis, while HMGA1 knockdown relieved inflammation and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes in response to high glucose. Overexpression of HMGA1 in mice heart by adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) delivery system deteriorated the inflammatory response, increased apoptosis and accelerated cardiac dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. Knockdown of HMGA1 by AAV9-shHMGA1 in vivo ameliorated cardiac remodeling in diabetic mice. Mechanistically, we found that HMGA1 inhibited the formation rather than the degradation of autophagy by regulating P27/CDK2/mTOR signaling. CDK2 knockdown or P27 overexpression blurred HMGA1 overexpression-induced deteriorating effects in vitro. P27 overexpression in mice heart counteracted HMGA1 overexpression-induced increased cardiac remodeling in diabetic mice. The luciferase reporter experiment confirmed that the regulatory effect of HMGA1 on P27 was mediated by miR-222. In addition, a miR-222 antagomir counteracted HMGA1 overexpression-induced deteriorating effects in vitro. Taken together, our data indicate that HMGA1 aggravates diabetic cardiomyopathy by directly regulating miR-222 promoter activity, which inhibits P27/mTOR-induced autophagy.
Clarithromycin inhibits autophagy in colorectal cancer by regulating the hERG1 potassium channel interaction with PI3K
Authors: Petroni Giulia , Bagni Giacomo , Iorio Jessica , Duranti Claudia , Lottini Tiziano , Stefanini Matteo , Kragol Goran , Becchetti Andrea , Arcangeli Annarosa
Published: March 2020

We have studied how the macrolide antibiotic Clarithromycin (Cla) regulates autophagy, which sustains cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer. We found Cla to inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, by modulating the autophagic flux and triggering apoptosis. The accumulation of cytosolic autophagosomes accompanied by the modulation of autophagic markers LC3-II and p62/SQSTM1, points to autophagy exhaustion. Because Cla is known to bind human Ether-à-go-go Related Gene 1 (hERG1) K+channels, we studied if its effects depended on hERG1 and its conformational states. By availing of hERG1 mutants with different gating properties, we found that fluorescently labelled Cla preferentially bound to the closed channels. Furthermore, by sequestering the channel in the closed conformation, Cla inhibited the formation of a macromolecular complex between hERG1 and the p85 subunit of PI3K. This strongly reduced Akt phosphorylation, and stimulated the p53-dependent cell apoptosis, as witnessed by late caspase activation. Finally, Cla enhanced the cytotoxic effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the main chemotherapeutic agent in CRC, in vitro and in a xenograft CRC model. We conclude that Cla affects the autophagic flux by impairing the signaling pathway linking hERG1 and PI3K. Combining Cla with 5-FU might be a novel therapeutic option in CRC.