bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Following the adverse outcome pathway from micronucleus to cancer using H2B-eGFP transgenic healthy stem cells
Authors: Hölzel Bastian Niklas , Pfannkuche Kurt , Allner Bernhard , Allner Hans Thomas , Hescheler Jürgen , Derichsweiler Daniel , Hollert Henner , Schiwy Andreas , Brendt Julia , Schaffeld Michael , Froschauer Alexander , Stahlschmidt-Allner Petra
Published: July 2020

In vitro assessment of genotoxicity as an early warning tool for carcinogenicity mainly relies on recording cytogenetic damages (micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges) in tumour-derived mammalian cell lines like V79 or CHO. The forecasting power of the corresponding standardised test is based on epidemiological evidence between micronuclei frequencies and cancer incidence. As an alternative to destructive staining of nuclear structures a fish stem cell line transgenic for a fusion protein of histone 2B (H2B) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was established. The cells are derived from koi carp brain (KCB) and distinguish from mammalian culturable cells by non-tumour-driven self-renewal. This technology enables the analysis of genotoxic- and malign downstream effects in situ in a combined approach. In proof-of concept-experiments, we used known carcinogens (4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide, colchicine, diethylstilbestrol, ethyl methanesulfonate) and observed a significant increase in micronuclei (MNi) frequencies in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration ranges for MNi induction were comparable to human/mammalian cells (i.e. VH-16, CHL and HepG2). Cannabidiol caused the same specific cytogenetic damage pattern as observed in human cells, in particular nucleoplasmic bridges. Metabolic activation of aflatoxin B1 and cyclophosphamide could be demonstrated by pre-incubation of the test compounds using either conventional rat derived S9 mix as well as an in vitro generated biotechnological alternative product ewoS9R. The presented high throughput live H2B-eGFP imaging technology using non-transformed stem cells opens new perspectives in the field of in vitro toxicology. The technology offers experimental access to investigate the effects of carcinogens on cell cycle control, gene expression pattern and motility in the course of malign transformation. The new technology enables the definition of Adverse Outcome Pathways leading to malign cell transformation and contributes to the replacement of animal testing. Summary: Complementation of genotoxicity testing by addressing initiating events leading to malign transformation is suggested. A vertebrate cell model showing "healthy" stemness is recommended, in contrast to malign transformed cells used in toxicology/oncocology.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) induce epigenetic alterations and promote human breast cell carcinogenesis in vitro
Authors: Pierozan Paula , Cattani Daiane , Karlsson Oskar
Published: July 2020

Gene–environment interactions are involved in the development of breast cancer, the tumor type that accounts for the majority of the cancer-related deaths among women. Here, we demonstrate that exposure to PFOS (10 µM) and PFOA (100 µM)—two contaminants ubiquitously found in human blood—for 72 h induced breast epithelial cell (MCF-10A cell line) proliferation and alteration of regulatory cell-cycle proteins (cyclin D1, CDK6, p21, p53, p27, ERK 1/2 and p38) that persisted after a multitude of cell divisions. The contaminants also promoted cell migration and invasion by reducing the levels of E-cadherin, occludin and β-integrin in the unexposed daughter cells. The compounds further induced an increase in global DNA methylation and differentially altered histone modifications, epigenetic mechanisms implicated in tumorigenesis. This mechanistic evidence for PFOS- and PFOA-induced malignant transformation of human breast cells supports a role of these abundant contaminants in the development and progression of breast cancer. Increased knowledge of contaminant-induced effects and their contribution to breast tumorigenesis is important for a better understanding of gene–environment interactions in the etiology of breast cancer.
Dynamical downscaling of unforced interannual sea-level variability in the North-West European shelf seas
Authors: Tinker Jonathan , Palmer Matthew D. , Copsey Dan , Howard Tom , Lowe Jason A. , Hermans Tim H. J.
Published: July 2020

Variability of Sea-Surface Height (SSH) from ocean dynamic processes is an important component of sea-level change. In this study we dynamically downscale a present-day control simulation of a climate model to replicate sea-level variability in the Northwest European shelf seas. The simulation can reproduce many characteristics of sea-level variability exhibited in tide gauge and satellite altimeter observations. We examine the roles of lateral ocean boundary conditions and surface atmospheric forcings in determining the sea-level variability in the model interior using sensitivity experiments. Variability in the oceanic boundary conditions leads to uniform sea-level variations across the shelf. Atmospheric variability leads to spatial SSH variability with a greater mean amplitude. We separate the SSH variability into a uniform loading term (change in shelf volume with no change in distribution), and a spatial redistribution term (with no volume change). The shelf loading variance accounted for 80% of the shelf mean total variance, but this drops to ~ 60% around Scotland and in the southeast North Sea. We analyse our modelled variability to provide a useful context to coastal planners and managers. Our 200-year simulation allows the distribution of the unforced trends (over 4–21 year) of sea-level changes to be quantified. We found that the 95th percentile change over a 4-year period can lead to coastal sea-level changes of ~ 58 mm, which must be considered when using smooth sea level projections. We also found that simulated coastal SSH variations have long correlation length-scales, suggesting that observations of interannual sea-level variability from tide gauges are typically representative of > 200 km of the adjacent coast. This helps guide the use of tide gauge variability estimates.
Emerging themes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Grech Olivia , Mollan Susan P. , Wakerley Benjamin R. , Alimajstorovic Zerin , Lavery Gareth G. , Sinclair Alexandra J.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare disorder characterised by raised intracranial pressure. The underlying pathophysiology is mostly unknown and effective treatment is an unmet clinical need in this disease. This review evaluates key emerging themes regarding disease characteristics, mechanisms contributing to raised intracranial pressure and advances in potential therapeutic targets.

Findings

IIH is becoming more common, with the incidence rising in parallel with the global obesity epidemic. Current medical management remains centred around weight management, which is challenging. Metabolic investigations of patients have identified specific androgen profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which suggest an endocrine dysfunction impacting CSF secretion in IIH. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) have been found to play a role in CSF dynamics in IIH and have formed the basis of the first clinical trials looking at new treatments.

Conclusions

Identification of novel molecular targets thought to underlie IIH pathology is now being translated to clinical trials.
Impact of haptic feedback on applied intracorporeal forces using a novel surgical robotic system—a randomized cross-over study with novices in an experimental setup
Authors: Miller Johanna , Braun Manuel , Bilz Johannes , Matich Sebastian , Neupert Carsten , Kunert Wolfgang , Kirschniak Andreas
Published: July 2020

Background

Most currently used surgical robots have no force feedback; the next generation displays forces visually. A novel single-port robotic surgical system called FLEXMIN has been developed. Through an outer diameter of 38 mm, two instruments are teleoperated from a surgeon’s control console including true haptic force feedback. One additional channel incorporates a telescope, another is free for special instrument functions.

Methods

This randomized cross-over study analyzed the effect of haptic feedback on the application of intracorporeal forces. In a standardized experiment setup, the subjects had to draw circles with the surgical robot as gently as possible. The applied forces, the required time spans, and predefined error rates were measured.

Results

Without haptic feedback, the maximum forces (median/IQR) were 6.43 N/2.96 N. With haptic feedback, the maximum forces were lower (3.57 N/1.94 N,p < 0.001). Also, the arithmetic means of the force progression (p < 0.001) and their standard deviations (p < 0.001) were lower. Not significant were the shorter durations and lower error rates. No sequence effect of force or duration was detected. No characteristic learning or fatigue curve was observed.

Conclusions

In the experiment setup, the true haptic force feedback can reduce the applied intracorporeal robotic force to one-half when considering the aspects maximum, means, and standard deviation. Other test tasks are needed to validate the influence of force feedback on surgical efficiency and safety.
The independence graph of a finite group
Authors: Lucchini Andrea
Published: July 2020

Given a finite group G, we denote by $$\Delta (G)$$

Δ
(
G
)

the graph whose vertices are the elements G and where two vertices x and y are adjacent if there exists a minimal generating set of G containing x and y. We prove that $$\Delta (G)$$

Δ
(
G
)

is connected and classify the groups G for which $$\Delta (G)$$

Δ
(
G
)

is a planar graph.
The Riesz representation theorem and weak∗ compactness of semimartingales
Authors: Kiiski Matti
Published: July 2020

We show that the sequential closure of a family of probability measures on the canonical space of càdlàg paths satisfying Stricker’s uniform tightness condition is a weak∗ compact set of semimartingale measures in the dual pairing of bounded continuous functions and Radon measures, that is, the dual pairing from the Riesz representation theorem under topological assumptions on the path space. Similar results are obtained for quasi- and supermartingales under analogous conditions. In particular, we give a full characterisation of the strongest topology on the Skorokhod space for which these results are true.
The importance of parental knowledge in the association between ADHD symptomatology and related domains of impairment
Authors: Dekkers Tycho J. , Huizenga Hilde M. , Bult Jente , Popma Arne , Boyer Bianca E.
Published: July 2020

Parents of children with ADHD experience several difficulties while raising their children and report lower levels of knowledge about their children’s life and behaviors. A recent study found that low levels of parental knowledge mediated the association between ADHD symptoms and risk-taking behavior (RTB) in adolescents. The current study aimed to investigate this previous finding further by replicating it, by taking peer influence into account as additional social factor of importance and by extending it and also investigate the role of parental knowledge in the association between ADHD symptoms and homework problems. Three studies were performed: study 1 (N=234) replicated previous work on parental knowledge mediating the association between ADHD symptoms and RTB, study 2 (pre-registered,N=313) added peer influence, and study 3 (pre-registered,N=315) assessed whether parental knowledge mediated the association between ADHD symptoms and homework behavior. Parental knowledge consistently mediated the association between ADHD symptoms on one hand and RTB and homework problems on the other, and also predicted stronger resistance to peer influence. Because parental knowledge was repeatedly linked to ADHD-related problems, it seems promising to include parental knowledge in treatment of ADHD-related problems in adolescents, by improving the parent-child relationship. Future studies should test more directly how improvement of the parent-child relationship can be used to optimize parental knowledge, which in its turn reduces ADHD-related problems.
Bellwether sites for evaluating changes in landslide frequency and magnitude in cryospheric mountainous terrain: a call for systematic, long-term observations to decipher the impact of climate change
Authors: Coe Jeffrey A.
Published: July 2020

Permafrost and glaciers are being degraded by the warming effects of climate change. The impact that this degradation has on slope stability in mountainous terrain is the subject of ongoing research efforts. The relatively new availability of high-resolution (≤ 10 m) imagery with worldwide coverage and short (≤ 30 days) repeat acquisition times, as well as the emerging field of environmental seismology, presents opportunities for making remote, systematic observations of landslides in cryospheric mountainous terrain. I reviewed the literature and evaluated landslide activity in existing imagery to select five ~ 5000-km2sites where long-term, systematic observations could take place. The five proposed sites are the northern and eastern flanks of the Northern Patagonia Ice Field, the Western European Alps, the eastern Karakoram Range in the Himalayan Mountains, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, and the Fairweather Range in Southeast Alaska. Systematic observations of landslide occurrence, triggers, size, and travel distance at these sites, especially if coupled with observations from in situ instrumental monitoring, could lead to a better understanding of changes in slope stability induced by climate change. The suggested sites are not meant to be absolute and unalterable. Rather, they are intended as a starting point and discussion starter for new work in this expanding landslide research frontier.
Excess centrosomes disrupt vascular lumenization and endothelial cell adherens junctions
Authors: Buglak Danielle B. , Kushner Erich J. , Marvin Allison P. , Davis Katy L. , Bautch Victoria L.
Published: July 2020

Proper blood vessel formation requires coordinated changes in endothelial cell polarity and rearrangement of cell–cell junctions to form a functional lumen. One important regulator of cell polarity is the centrosome, which acts as a microtubule organizing center. Excess centrosomes perturb aspects of endothelial cell polarity linked to migration, but whether centrosome number influences apical–basal polarity and cell–cell junctions is unknown. Here, we show that excess centrosomes alter the apical–basal polarity of endothelial cells in angiogenic sprouts and disrupt endothelial cell–cell adherens junctions. Endothelial cells with excess centrosomes had narrower lumens in a 3D sprouting angiogenesis model, and zebrafish intersegmental vessels had reduced perfusion following centrosome overduplication. These results indicate that endothelial cell centrosome number regulates proper lumenization downstream of effects on apical–basal polarity and cell–cell junctions. Endothelial cells with excess centrosomes are prevalent in tumor vessels, suggesting how centrosomes may contribute to tumor vessel dysfunction.
The Role of Homework Engagement, Homework-Related Therapist Behaviors, and Their Association with Depressive Symptoms in Telephone-Based CBT for Depression
Authors: Haller Elisa , Watzke Birgit
Published: July 2020

Background

Telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy (tel-CBT) ascribes importance to between-session learning with the support of the therapist. The study describes patient homework engagement (HE) and homework-related therapist behaviors (TBH) over the course of treatment and explores their relation to depressive symptoms during tel-CBT for patients with depression.

Methods

Audiotaped sessions (N = 197) from complete therapies of 22 patients (77% female, age: M = 54.1, SD = 18.8) were rated by five trained raters using two self-constructed rating scales measuring the extent of HE and TBH (scored: 0–4).

Results

Average scores across sessions were moderate to high in both HE (M = 2.71, SD = 0.74) and TBH (M = 2.1, SD = 0.73). Multilevel mixed models showed a slight decrease in HE and no significant decrease in TBH over the course of treatment. Higher TBH was related to higher HE and higher HE was related to lower symptom severity.

Conclusions

Results suggest that HE is a relevant therapeutic process element related to reduced depressive symptoms in tel-CBT and that TBH is positively associated with HE. Future research is needed to determine the causal direction of the association between HE and depressive symptoms and to investigate whether TBH moderates the relationship between HE and depressive symptoms.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02667366. Registered on 3 December 2015.
Modeling Epac1 interactions with the allosteric inhibitor AM-001 by co-solvent molecular dynamics
Authors: Bufano Marianna , Laudette Marion , Blondeau Jean-Paul , Lezoualc’h Frank , Nalli Marianna , Silvestri Romano , Brancale Andrea , Coluccia Antonio
Published: July 2020

The exchange proteins activated by cAMP (EPAC) are implicated in a large variety of physiological processes and they are considered as promising targets for a wide range of therapeutic applications. Several recent reports provided evidence for the therapeutic effectiveness of the inhibiting EPAC1 activity cardiac diseases. In that context, we recently characterized a selective EPAC1 antagonist named AM-001. This compound was featured by a non-competitive mechanism of action but the localization of its allosteric site to EPAC1 structure has yet to be investigated. Therefore, we performed cosolvent molecular dynamics with the aim to identify a suitable allosteric binding site. Then, the docking and molecular dynamics were used to determine the binding of the AM-001 to the regions highlighted by cosolvent molecular dynamics for EPAC1. These analyses led us to the identification of a suitable allosteric AM-001 binding pocket at EPAC1. As a model validation, we also evaluated the binding poses of the available AM-001 analogues, with a different biological potency. Finally, the complex EPAC1 with AM-001 bound at the putative allosteric site was further refined by molecular dynamics. The principal component analysis led us to identify the protein motion that resulted in an inactive like conformation upon the allosteric inhibitor binding.
Getting the best of both worlds: a framework for combining disaggregate travel survey data and aggregate mobile phone data for trip generation modelling
Authors: Bwambale Andrew , Choudhury Charisma F. , Hess Stephane , Iqbal Md. Shahadat
Published: July 2020

Traditional approaches to travel behaviour modelling primarily rely on household travel survey data, which is expensive to collect, resulting in small sample sizes and infrequent updates. Furthermore, such data is prone to reporting errors which can lead to biased parameter estimates and subsequently incorrect predictions. On the other hand, mobile phone call detail records (CDRs), which report the timestamped locations of mobile communication events, have been successfully used in the context of generating travel patterns. However, due to their anonymous nature, such records have not been widely used in developing mathematical models establishing the relationship between the observed travel behaviour and influencing factors such as the attributes of the alternatives and the decision makers. In this paper, we propose a joint modelling framework that utilises the advantages offered by both travel survey data and low-cost CDR data to optimise the prediction capacity of traditional trip generation models. In this regard, we develop a model that jointly explains the reported trips for each individual in the household survey data and ensures that the aggregated zonal trip productions are close to those derived from CDR data. This framework is tested using data from Dhaka. Bangladesh consisting of household survey data (65,419 persons in 16,750 households), mobile phone CDR data (over 600 million records generated by 6.9 million users), and aggregate census data. The model results show that the proposed framework improves the spatial and temporal transferability of the joint models over the base model which relies on household travel survey data alone. This serves as a proof-of-concept that augmenting travel survey data with mobile phone data holds significant promise for the travel behaviour modelling community, not only by saving the cost of data collection, but also improving the prediction capability of the models.
Using qualitative methods for a conceptual analysis of measures of health status and presenteeism prior to a mapping study
Authors: Jones Cheryl , Payne Katherine , Verstappen Suzanne M. M.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The inclusion of productivity in economic evaluations is a contentious issue. Methods are currently being developed to assess how it may feasibly be included for specific interventions, such as workplace interventions (WPIs), where productivity is a key outcome. Mapping (also called cross-walking or prediction modelling) may offer a solution. Prior to producing a mapping algorithm, it is recommended that the conceptual validity between ‘source’ and ‘target’ measures be understood first. This study aimed to understand the conceptual validity of two existing measures of health status (EQ-5D; SF-6D) and presenteeism to inform the potential for a subsequent mapping algorithm.

Methods

A purposive sample of individuals who were currently working and had either rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Individuals were recruited through support groups. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted until data saturation (no new emerging themes) was reached. Deductive and inductive framework analysis methods were used to identify key aspects of the conditions (themes) that impact on presenteeism (working at reduced levels of health).

Results

Twenty-two (RA = 10; AS = 9; PsA = 3) employed individuals were interviewed. Deductive analysis identified evidence which confirmed the domains included in the EQ-5D and SF-6D capture those key aspects of RA, AS and PsA that increase presenteeism. Inductive analysis identified an additional theme; mental clarity, not captured by the EQ-5D or SF-6D, was also found to have a direct impact on presenteeism.

Conclusions

The results of the study indicate conceptual validity of both health status measures to predict presenteeism. The next step is to develop a mapping algorithm for presenteeism.
Preservice Science Teachers’ Strategies in Scientific Reasoning: the Case of Modeling
Authors: Göhner Maximilian , Krell Moritz
Published: July 2020

The development of scientific reasoning competencies is a key goal of science education. To better understand the complex construct of scientific reasoning, which includes modeling as one style of reasoning, thorough investigations of the underlying processes are needed. Therefore, in this study, a typology of preservice science teachers’ modeling strategies was developed. Thirty-two preservice science teachers were videotaped while engaging in the modeling task of investigating a black box. Following a qualitative content analysis, sequences of modeling activities were identified. By transforming these sequences of modeling activities into state transition graphs, six types of modeling strategies were derived, differing in the homogeneity and complexity of their modeling processes. The preservice science teachers engaged in activities of (1) exploration only; (2a) exploration and development with a focus on development; (2b) exploration and development with a focus on exploration; (2c) exploration and development, balanced; (3a) exploration, development, and drawing predictions from a model once; or (3b) exploration, development, and repeatedly drawing predictions from a model. Finally, this typology is discussed regarding the process of its development and its potential to inform and guide further research as well as the development of interventions aiming to foster competencies in scientific modeling.
Effects of central apneas on sympathovagal balance and hemodynamics at night: impact of underlying systolic heart failure
Authors: Spiesshoefer Jens , Hegerfeld Nora , Gerdes Malte Frank , Klemm Sören , Gorbachevski Martha , Radke Robert , Tuleta Izabela , Passino Claudio , Jiang Xiaoyi , Sciarrone Paolo , Randerath Winfried , Dreher Michael , Boentert Matthias , Giannoni Alberto
Published: July 2020

Background

Increased sympathetic drive is the key determinant of systolic heart failure progression, being associated with worse functional status, arrhythmias, and increased mortality. Central sleep apnea is highly prevalent in systolic heart failure, and its effects on sympathovagal balance (SVB) and hemodynamics might depend on relative phase duration and background pathophysiology.

Objective

This study compared the effects of central apneas in patients with and without systolic heart failure on SVB and hemodynamics during sleep.

Methods

During polysomnography, measures of SVB (heart rate and diastolic blood pressure variability) were non-invasively recorded and analyzed along with baroreceptor reflex sensitivity and hemodynamic parameters (stroke volume index, cardiac index, total peripheral resistance index). Data analysis focused on stable non-rapid eye movement N2 sleep, comparing normal breathing with central sleep apnea in subjects with and without systolic heart failure.

Results

Ten patients were enrolled per group. In heart failure patients, central apneas had neutral effects on SVB (all p > 0.05 for the high, low, and very low frequency components of heart rate and diastolic blood pressure variability). Patients without heart failure showed an increase in very low and low frequency components of diastolic blood pressure variability in response to central apneas (63 ± 18 vs. 39 ± 9%; p = 0.001, 43 ± 12 vs. 31 ± 15%; p = 0.002). In all patients, central apneas had neutral hemodynamic effects when analyzed over a period of 10 min, but had significant acute hemodynamic effects.

Conclusion

Effects of central apneas on SVB during sleep depend on underlying systolic heart failure, with neutral effects in heart failure and increased sympathetic drive in idiopathic central apneas.
Needle tip force estimation by deep learning from raw spectral OCT data
Authors: Gromniak M. , Gessert N. , Saathoff T. , Schlaefer A.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Needle placement is a challenging problem for applications such as biopsy or brachytherapy. Tip force sensing can provide valuable feedback for needle navigation inside the tissue. For this purpose, fiber-optical sensors can be directly integrated into the needle tip. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to image tissue. Here, we study how to calibrate OCT to sense forces, e.g., during robotic needle placement.

Methods

We investigate whether using raw spectral OCT data without a typical image reconstruction can improve a deep learning-based calibration between optical signal and forces. For this purpose, we consider three different needles with a new, more robust design which are calibrated using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). We compare training the CNNs with the raw OCT signal and the reconstructed depth profiles.

Results

We find that using raw data as an input for the largest CNN model outperforms the use of reconstructed data with a mean absolute error of 5.81 mN compared to 8.04 mN.

Conclusions

We find that deep learning with raw spectral OCT data can improve learning for the task of force estimation. Our needle design and calibration approach constitute a very accurate fiber-optical sensor for measuring forces at the needle tip.
Use of age-dependent FRAX-based intervention thresholds for Singapore
Authors: Kanis John A. , Chandran Manju , Chionh Siok Bee , Ganeson Ganga , Harvey Nicholas C , Koh Woon-Puay , Kwok Timothy , Lau Tang Ching , Liu Enwu , Lorentzon Mattias , McCloskey Eugene V , Tan Kelvin Bryan , Vandenput Liesbeth , Johansson Helena
Published: July 2020

Summary

Assessment and treatment pathways based on age-specific intervention thresholds in Singapore using FRAX paths can be used to identify patients at high risk of fracture and avoid unnecessary treatment in those at low risk.

Purpose

Intervention thresholds for the treatment of osteoporosis have been based historically on the measurement of bone mineral density. The development of FRAX® has permitted a more accurate assessment of fracture risk. The aim of the present study was to explore treatment paths and characteristics of women selected for treatment in Singapore based on FRAX.

Methods

The approach to the setting of intervention and assessment thresholds used the methodology adopted by the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group for FRAX-based guidelines in the UK but based on the epidemiology of fracture and death in Singapore. The methodology was applied to women age 50 years or more drawn from the population-based Singapore Chinese Health Study (SCHS) cohort. Missing data for the calculation of FRAX was simulated using data from Chinese cohorts from Hong Kong.

Results

Intervention thresholds expressed as a 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture ranged from 2.9% at the age of 50 years increasing to 32% at the age of 90 years. A total of 1927 of 29,323 women (7%) had a prior fragility fracture and would be eligible for treatment for this reason. An additional 3019 women (10.3%) would be eligible for treatment on the basis of age-dependent thresholds. The mean BMD T-score of women so selected was −2.94.

Conclusion

Probability-based assessment of fracture risk using age-specific intervention thresholds was developed for Singapore to help guide decisions about treatment.
Fracture behavior and acoustic emission characteristics of sandstone samples with inclined precracks
Authors: Dou Litong , Yang Ke , Chi Xiaolou
Published: July 2020

Sandstone samples with precracks of different dip angles were collected from a coal mine roof and subjected to uniaxial compression tests, and acoustic emission (AE) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study how the crack dip angle affected the fracture mechanism. In the precracked sandstone samples, as the dip angle between the crack line and loading direction decreased, so did the peak stress and its completion time. The SEM observations revealed a fracture transition from tensile cleavage to shear slip, which was manifested by a microstructure change from aggregate to staggered. According to energy conversion, a decreased crack dip angle results in gradually decreasing total and dissipative peak energies, whose variation amplitudes at different stages are consistent with those of the peak stress of the samples. The decreased crack dip angle lowered the stress required to trigger the first appearance of AE energy peaks and ring-down counts, as well as shortening the period before the occurrence of the first AE peak signal. However, the AE energy and ring-down count during the failure stage after the stress peak increased gradually. A stepped increase was observed in the AE ring-down count curves, with each step corresponding to a jump in the stress-strain curve. From the characteristics of the AE signal of the fracture of a precracked rock sample, the occurrence of joints or faults in the rock mass can be reasonably inferred. This is expected to provide a new method and approach for predicting coal and rock dynamic disasters.
An Open-Access Arrhythmia Database of Wearable Electrocardiogram
Authors: Shen Qin , Gao Hongxiang , Li Yuwen , Sun Qi , Chen Minglong , Li Jianqing , Liu Chengyu
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Heart arrhythmias result from any disturbance in the rate, regularity, and site of origin or conduction of the cardiac electric pulse. Sporadic and underappreciated characteristics make diagnosis less timely, leading to stroke, heart failure, or even sudden death. Wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices are gradually becoming the main trend of intelligent diagnosis alongside the improvement of information transmission and computation power of the hardware. Therefore, a database for arrhythmia detection was planned to construct.

Methods

Collaborating with hospital, this study presents a bipolar limb two-lead wearable device by collecting a large amount of real-time data and giving rise to readily available ECG databases.

Results

In total, the database contains 2000 30-s recordings of sinus, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias collected from more than 200 voluntary patients who had been diagnosed with heart diseases, ranging in age from 18 to 82. Meanwhile, manual annotations by cardiologists were proposed to benefit and instruct non-medical researchers to design the algorithm reasonably.
Neurotrophic factors for disease-modifying treatments of Parkinson's disease: gaps between basic science and clinical studies
Authors: Chmielarz Piotr , Saarma Mart
Published: July 2020

Background

Neurotrophic factors are endogenous proteins promoting the survival of different neural cells. Therefore, they elicited great interest as a possible treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s Disease (PD). PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, scientifically characterized more than 200 years ago and initially linked with motor abnormalities. Currently, the disease is viewed as a highly heterogeneous, progressive disorder with a long presymptomatic phase, and both motor and non-motor symptoms. Presently only symptomatic treatments for PD are available. Neurohistopathological changes of PD affected brains have been described more than 100 years ago and characterized by the presence of proteinaceous inclusions known as Lewy bodies and degeneration of dopamine neurons. Despite more than a century of investigations, it has remained unclear why dopamine neurons die in PD.

Methods

This review summarizes literature data from preclinical studies and clinical trials of neurotrophic factor based therapies for PD and discuss it from the perspective of the current understanding of PD biology.

Results

Newest data point towards dysfunctions of mitochondria, autophagy-lysosomal pathway, unfolded protein response and prion protein-like spreading of misfolded alpha-synuclein that is the major component of Lewy bodies. Yet, the exact chain of events leading to the demise of dopamine neurons is unclear and perhaps different in subpopulations of patients.

Conclusions

Gaps in our understanding of underlying disease etiology have hindered our attempts to find treatments able to slow down the progression of PD.

Graphic abstract
Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measurement invariance across adolescence and diverse ethnic groups
Authors: Fisher Sycarah , Zapolski Tamika B. , Wheeler Lorey , Arora Prerna G. , Barnes‐Najor Jessica
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Ethnic identity is an important protective factor for various ethnic groups and developmental periods. Although existing measures assessing ethnic identity are well known, less is known about the measurement invariance of the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) across adolescent ethnic groups. The present study evaluates the factor structure of MEIM (Roberts et al., 1999) and tests the measurement invariance across early and middle adolescence and ethnic background (N = 4940).

Methods

Data from an ethnic minority sample of youth (54% girls; Mage = 13.88, grades 6th – 12th; 60% African American, 22% multi‐ethnic, 8% Latinx, 5% Asian, 5% American Indian) in the United States of America were examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multi‐group measurement invariance via a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework. Models for invariance were tested using full information maximum likelihood‐robust (FIML‐R) estimation in Mplus.

Results

CFA supported a three‐factor solution (i.e., cognitive clarity, behavioral engagement, and affective pride). The model indicated scalar invariance across early and middle adolescence and partial scalar invariance across the five self‐identified racial/ethnic minority groups. There were no grade differences on the ethnic identity factors. Among the racial/ethnic groups, multi‐ethnic youth reported the lowest levels on all three ethnic identity factors compared to the other groups.

Conclusions

Results of this study point to the validity of using the MEIM for meaningful comparisons of ethnic identity across ethnic groups and across early and middle adolescence. Implications for the interpretation and use of this measure with diverse adolescents are discussed.
Making ends meet on disability benefits
Authors: Morris Zachary A.
Published: July 2020

Decommodification, or the ability to maintain a reasonable standard of living when one is unable to participate in the labor market, is the principal objective of disability benefit programs. Prior research, however, has yet to fully investigate how well programs achieve this goal in the real world. This paper provides historical background on disability benefit programs and describes reforms made to these programs cross-nationally in the post-industrial era. The paper next evaluates how well disability benefit programs decommodify by drawing on data that encompasses nine countries and two disability policy regimes from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe. It concludes by discussing policy mechanisms to improve the decommodification objective of disability benefit programs, while presenting an agenda for future research.
From historical narrative to archaeological study: What can Arabic sources contribute to the study of ancient monuments?
Authors: Mkacher Anis
Published: July 2020

This article studies the way in which certain Arab authors presented ancient African remains, using three examples (the arch of Marcus Aurelius in Tripoli, the Zaghouan-Carthage aqueduct and the amphitheatre of El-Djem). These testimonies, in addition to being very original within the region, give valuable information, both historically and culturally, including the history of attitudes, on the different periods preceding the arrival of Islam in the region.
The Political Participation of Alevis: A Comparative Analysis of the Turkish Alevi Opening and the German Islam Conference
Authors: Arkilic Ayca , Gurcan Ayse Ezgi
Published: July 2020

This article focuses on the relationship between Alevis and the Turkish and German states. It does so by examining the Turkish Alevi Opening (2009–2010) and the German Islam Conference (2006–present), two unprecedented official platforms aimed at improving Alevis’ political participation. The study asks why such state-sponsored initiatives came into existence in Turkey and Germany, and why the German Islam Conference has proven more successful from the perspective of Alevis. It argues that even though the diffusion of EU norms and pressure from transnational advocacy networks have increased awareness regarding the Alevi issue, domestic factors have been more salient in the emergence and outcome of these initiatives in both countries.
Silent Cicadas and Noisy Burrowers: Kafka Inside Out in Thailand
Authors: Diamond Catherine
Published: July 2020

In 2015, the Unfolding Kafka Festival was initiated by Thai dancer/choreographer Jitti Chompee, exploring the writings of Franz Kafka as a source of creativity for performers in Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. Three of the presented artworks focus on the concept of metamorphosis, and the body’s interaction with the environments it both creates and inhabits. Inspired by Isabelle Schad’s dance Der Bau (The Burrow), Chompee and visual artist/scenographer Yoko Seyama created Silence of the Insects, which adopted the cicada as a model of bodily transformation. Together, the two dances and the installation form an assemblage that can be considered under the rubric of Una Chaudhuri’s concept of a ‘theatre of species’. Catherine Diamond is Professor of Theatre and Environmental Literature at Soochow University in Taiwan, and is the director/playwright of the Kinnari Ecological Theatre Project, creating new plays addressing environmental issues in Southeast Asia.
Staging the Unnatural: Zacky Pastrana and the Animal–Human Divide in the Victorian Melodrama For Ever
Authors: Ince Bernard
Published: July 2020

The melodrama For Ever, by Paul Meritt and George Conquest, first performed at the Surrey Theatre on 2 October 1882, was a controversial late-Victorian stage production that fed the period’s appetite for dramatic histrionics, exotic displays, and monstrosity. An ephemeral piece that enjoyed no literary archetypes and few revivals, the play’s raison d’être was Conquest’s portrayal of Zacky Pastrana, a ‘man-monkey’, and his unrequited love for the murderous Ruth – a theme unique in the context of simian-based drama. Central to the play’s infamy was the covert allusion to the age-old myth of unnatural unions between simians and humans, and, although condemned as absurd and revolting by some critics, and laughable by others, its notoriety ensured popular success. Drawing on the original script submitted to the Lord Chamberlain for licensing and censoring, and situating Pastrana among famous fictional monstrosities adapted from literature for the British stage, most significantly Caliban, this article is a thematic analysis of Conquest’s unique role. It highlights through a series of interrelated readings how Pastrana’s multidimensional otherness and hybrid fluidity serves as a site of conceptual contention located at the animal–human boundary, exposing the cultural tensions in late-Victorian Britain. Bernard Ince is an independent theatre historian who has contributed earlier studies of the Victorian and Edwardian theatre to NTQ.
Continental Drift: Is the Euro’s Fixed Exchange Rate Regime Undermining Cohesion Policy?
Authors: Day Christopher James
Published: July 2020

The ravages of two world wars and a desire to develop a politically and economically united Europe led to the establishment of the Eurozone in January 1999. The European Monetary Union was a grand experiment that brought 11 European nations under a single currency, the euro. Complexities associated with the implementation of effective fiscal, budgetary and banking coordination left the bloc vulnerable to asymmetries in the productivity and factor markets of its members. This article analyses how adoption of the euro, which prevented nominal exchange rate adjustments, impacted on the competitiveness and real economies of member states, thereby undermining the European Union’s key priority of creating balanced economic growth and productivity.
Career breaks, broken pensions? Long-run effects of early and late-career unemployment spells on pension entitlements
Authors: Bravo Jorge M. , Herce Jose A.
Published: July 2020

Unemployment periods and other career breaks have long-term scarring effects on future labour market possibilities, permanently affecting workers' retirement income and standard of living as pensioners. Previous literature has focused on the impact of job loss on working careers with little attention to its impact on pension wealth, particularly the extent to which longevity heterogeneity amplifies unemployment scars. This paper investigates the effect of single and multiple unemployment spells on the lifetime pension entitlements of earnings-related contributory pension schemes, considering the timing and duration of breaks, alternative lifecycle labour earnings profiles, scarring and restoration effects on labour market re-entry, the existence of pension credits and pension accruals for periods spent outside the labour market, longevity heterogeneity, and the accumulation and decumulation redistributive features of the pension scheme. Pension entitlements are estimated using a backward-looking simulation approach based on the actual Portuguese public pension system rules and stylized labour market profiles identified in the SHARE Job Episodes Panel data using a sequence analysis. Longevity heterogeneity is modelled using a stochastic mortality model with a frailty model. Our results show that the timing and duration of unemployment periods is critical, that scarring effects amplify pension wealth losses, that minimum pension provisions, pension credits and pension scheme redistributive features can partially mitigate the impact of unemployment periods on future entitlements, and that the presence of positive correlation between lifetime income and longevity career breaks can amplify the asymmetry in the distribution of pension entitlements across income groups.
The Politics of Marriage Equality: Confrontational Interest Groups and Nonconfrontational Officeholders
Authors: Baylor Christopher
Published: July 2020

The passage of marriage equality in Rhode Island offers insight into the role of organized groups and politicians in policymaking. Despite a Democratic legislature and popular support, marriage equality was initially defeated in 2011, in part due to concentrated opposition from the Catholic Church and the reluctance of Democratic officeholders to confront members of the same party on the issue. In the following primary elections, small interest groups in Rhode Island, with the help of national interest groups, helped raise the salience of marriage equality by campaigning against opponents, resulting in the release of a marriage equality bill from the Senate Judiciary Committee and its subsequent passage in a floor vote. One organized interest was responsible for blocking marriage equality in the legislature’s most significant bottleneck and different organized interests were responsible for enabling passage. The passage of marriage equality in Rhode Island shows that interest groups can enable as well as obstruct majority opinion.
Significance of viscous folding in the migmatites of Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex, eastern India
Authors: GOGOI Bibhuti , CHAUHAN Hiredya , HAZARIKA Gaurav , BARUAH Amiya , SAIKIA Mukunda , HAZARIKA Pallab Jyoti
Published: July 2020

To understand the physico-chemical processes associated with migmatisation is an interesting petrological problem. New developments in microfluidics and chaotic mixing experiments have helped us to better perceive these processes from the migmatic rocks of the Proterozoic Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC), eastern India. The migmatic rocks of CGGC have preserved folded leucocratic veins in amphibolites representing viscous folding. The viscous folding phenomenon occurred due to the interaction between leucosome and melanosome. Based on textural features and mineral chemical data interpretations, we infer that when granitic and pegmatitic magmas intruded the gneissic rocks and amphibolites of our study area, diffusion of heat and volatiles from the hotter felsic magmas to the colder country rocks initiated partial melting in the amphibolites, forming melanosomes. After their formation, the highly viscous felsic magmas veined into the melanosomes, by progressively melting them and then interacting, leading to chaotic mixing dynamics. The development of chaotic mixing allowed the leucosome to venture into the melanosome as veins by stretching and folding dynamics. As the leucocratic veins or leucosome traversed through the partially molten rock or melanosome due to advection, the veins underwent viscous folding owing to the exertion of compressional stress brought about by the viscosity difference between the two mediums. The occurrence of viscous folding exponentially increased the contact area between the leucosome and the melanosome, eventually leading to enhanced diffusion and augmented mixing between the two mediums. Evidence of mixing through elemental diffusion is well documented by the compositions of amphibole and biotite occurring in the leucosome and melanosome. These minerals show substitution of magnesium and ferrous ion that show linear variation between the endmember compositions.