Between Evidence and Facts: An Argumentative Perspective of Legal Evidence

In this paper, we will present an argumentative view of legal evidence. In an argumentation-based litigation game, the only purpose of the suitor (S) or the respondent (R) is to maximize their own legal rights while the purpose of the trier (T) is to maintain judicial fairness and justice. Different selections of evidence and different orders of presenting evidence will lead to different case-facts and even adjudicative results, the purpose of litigation is to reconcile a balance among the three parties - S, R, and T

Empirical approximation to invariant measures of non-degenerate McKean--Vlasov dynamics

This paper studies the approximation of invariant measures of McKean--Vlasov dynamics with non-degenerate additive noise. While prior findings necessitated a strong monotonicity condition on the McKean--Vlasov process, we expand these results to encompass dissipative and weak interaction scenarios. Utilizing a reflection coupling technique, we prove that the empirical measures of the McKean--Vlasov process and its path-dependent counterpart can converge to the invariant measure in the Wasserstein metric. The Curie--Weiss mean-field lattice model serves as a numerical example to illustrate empirical approximation.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur

Rab7 GTPase controls lipid metabolic signaling in myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is a critical neutral lipid metabolic enzyme that regulates metabolic reprogramming in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) through over-activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Affymetrix GeneChip microarray analysis of MDSCs from LAL deficient mouse (lal-/-) revealed upregulation of Rab7 GTPase protein, which belongs to a superfamily of small-molecular-weight GTPase known to regulate intracellular membrane trafficking from early to late endosomes and lysosomes. Here, the physical protein-protein interaction between Rab7 GTPase and mTOR has been detected by co-immunoprecipitation in the cell extract of wild type HD1A and lal-/- MDSC-like HD1B myeloid cell lines. The GST pull down assay using the recombinant GST-Rab7 GTPase fusion protein showed that Rab7 GTPase interacts with the mTOR N-terminal heat repeat domain. Rab7 GTPase siRNA knocking down reversed the altered lysosome/mTOR distribution and expression levels in HD1B cells. Rab7 GTPase siRNA knocking down in isolated bone marrow lal-/- MDSCs or HD1B cells not only reduced over-activation of mTOR and its downstream effector S6, but also decreased glucose consumption, decreased ROS over-production, and increased healthy mitochondria by membrane potential measurement. Inhibition of Rab7 GTPase led to reduced lal-/- MDSCs differentiation from bone marrow Lin- progenitor cells, reduced lal-/- MDSCs trans-endothelial migration, and reversed lal-/- MDSCs suppression of T cell proliferation. Furthermore, inhibition of Rab7 GTPase reduced lal-/- MDSCs ability to stimulate tumor cell proliferation in vitro, tumor growth in vivo, and tumor invasion. Together, these results showed that Rab7 GTPase is critically involved in MDSCs homeostasis and pathogenic functions

Repairing Process Models with Non-Free-Choice Constructs Based on Token Replay

A method of repairing process models with non-free-choice constructs is proposed based on logical Petri nets, aiming at the problem of low precision in the existing repair methods. An extended successor matrix of transitions is determined according to the distance between any two transitions. There are two types of choice-construct transitions. One is a non-free-choice construct transition, and the other is a general choice construct transition. The type of choice-construct transitions can be determined based on the extended successor matrix and the relationship between the front and back sets of transitions. The location of the deviations is calculated by an improved replaying method. Finally, a model can be repaired according to remaining-token places and missing-token places. Based on the experiments on real event logs, the method proposed in this paper has a better performance in fitness, precision, and simplicity compared with its peers

Influence of Atorvastatin/Probucol Combination on Blood Lipid and Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels in Patients with Cerebral Infarction

Purpose: To explore effects of atorvastatin in combination with probucol on blood lipid and serum Creactive protein of patients with cerebral infarction.Methods: In total, 120 patients with confirmed cerebral infarction were randomly divided into test and control groups (n = 60 each). Control group was given atorvastatin 20 mg, once every night, while test group received 0.5 g probucol twice daily plus atorvastatin 20 mg nightly. The treatment for both groups lasted for six months. Changes in carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), plaque area, vulnerability, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level (hs-CRP) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were observed before and after treatment and compared between groups. In 6-month follow up, incidence of newly occurred or reoccurred cerebral ischemic stroke were observed and compared between groups. Occurrence of severe untoward reaction was also noted.Results: In test group, LDL level significantly decreased after treatment, (p < 0.01), and when compared to control group (p < 0.05). CIMT, plaque area and number of vulnerable plaque after treatment were significantly different compared to the values prior to treatment and control group (p < 0.05). Incidence of cerebral ischemic stroke was similarly lower for the test group than control after treatment (p < 0.05). Both groups did not develop any severe untoward reaction.Conclusion: Atorvastatin, in combination with probucol, can be used to regulate blood lipid, lower LDL level, reduce number of vulnerable plaque, stabilize and reverse plaque, and lower risk of cerebral ischemic stroke of carotid atherosclerostic plaque. This work provides a theoretical basis and intervention measure for preventing ischemic stroke.Keywords: Probucol, Atorvastatin, C-reactive protein, Cerebral infarction, Carotid plaque, Blood lipi

3,4-Bis[4-(4-meth­oxy­phen­oxy)phen­yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione

The title compound, C31H25NO6, has a structure related to other 3,4-diaryl-substituted maleic anhydride derivatives which have been shown to be useful as photochromic materials. The dihedral angles between the maleimide ring system and the benzene rings bonded to it are 44.48 (3) and 17.89 (3)°, while the angles between each of the latter rings and the corresponding ether bridging connected meth­oxy­benzene rings are 78.61 (8) and 72.67 (7)°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by C—H⋯O inter­actions

Responses of the Ocular Anterior Segment and Refraction to 0.5% Tropicamide in Chinese School-Aged Children of Myopia, Emmetropia, and Hyperopia

Purpose. To investigate the changes of anterior segment after cycloplegia and estimate the association of such changes with the changes of refraction in Chinese school-aged children of myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia. Methods. 309 children were recruited and eligible subjects were assigned to three groups: hyperopia, emmetropia, or myopia. Cycloplegia was achieved with five cycles of 0.5% tropicamide. The Pentacam system was used to measure the parameters of interest before and after cycloplegia. Results. In the myopic group, the lenses were thinner and the lens position was significantly more posterior than that of the emmetropic and hyperopic groups in the cycloplegic status. The correlations between refraction and lens thickness (age adjusted; r=0.26, P<0.01), and lens position (age adjusted; r=-0.31, P<0.01) were found. After cycloplegia, ACD and ACV significantly increased, while ACA significantly decreased. Changes in refraction, ACD, ACV, and ACA were significantly different among the three groups (P<0.05, all). Changes of refraction were correlated with changes of ACD (r=0.41, P<0.01). Conclusions. Myopia presented thinner lenses and smaller changes of anterior segment and refraction after cycloplegia when compared to emmetropia and hyperopia. Changes of anterior chamber depth were correlated with refraction changes. This may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between anterior segment and myopia

Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency after treatment with retifanlimab: a case report

With advancements in medical oncology, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the first-line treatment for many malignancies. ICIs play a significant role in improving cancer prognosis, but a series of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including immune-related endocrine events (irEEs), caused by ICIs have also aroused concerns. Rapid clinical identification of irAEs caused by ICIs is particularly important. We describe a case of secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (AI) after PD-1 treatment in a postoperative patient with endometrial cancer. A 73-year-old female patient developed anorexia, nausea, vomiting, malaise, electrolyte disturbances, ineffective symptomatic treatment, and decreased serum adrenocorticotropin and cortisol levels six months after retifanlimab treatment. The vomiting resolved, and the electrolyte levels were corrected after 3 days of treatment with glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone, intravenous, 200 mg/day). When patients present with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as poor appetite and nausea, not only symptomatic treatment but also a search for the etiology behind the symptoms is needed, especially in immunotherapy patients who should undergo a thorough evaluation of the endocrine system and be alert for adrenocortical insufficiency