bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nano-Tribological Analysis by Molecular Dynamics Simulation—A Review
Authors: Zhang L. C. , Mylvaganam K.
Published: November 2018

The advent of super computers for large scale atomic simulations and the invention of proximal testing devices such as atomic force microscope, friction force microscope, surface force apparatus, nanoScratcher etc., have led to the development of micro- and nano-tribology. This paper
reviews some fundamental concepts and steps involved in molecular dynamics modeling of nanotribology together with some significant aspects such as the mechanisms of wear and friction, the scale effect of asperity contact size on friction, and the deformation induced by two-body and three-body
contact sliding on the atomic scale with a focus on the authors' work on copper and silicon. Studies on diamond-copper sliding reveal that there exist four distinct regimes of deformation, and that no-wear deformation can be achieved by using a lower sliding speed, a smaller tip radius and
a better lubrication. The variation of the frictional force is a function of contact area in all regimes except that in the cutting regime where the conventional friction law still holds. Investigations into the diamond-silicon sliding show that the amorphous phase transformation is the main
deformation in silicon. In a two-body contact sliding, the deformation of silicon falls into no-wear, adhering, ploughing, and cutting regimes while in a three-body sliding it falls into no-wear, condensing, adhering, ploughing and no-damage wear regimes.
Transmission Spectra of Two-Dimensional Quantum Structures
Authors: Manouchehri Kia , Wang J. B.
Published: November 2018

To study the ballistic transport of charge carriers in nano-structured quantum devices, a highly efficient numerical technique is developed, which provides continuous transmission spectra for arbitrarily complex potential geometries in two dimensions. We apply the proposed method to
single and double barrier structures and compare the results with those obtained using standard techniques for computing transmission coefficients. Excellent numerical agreement as well as considerable computational saving is demonstrated.
Energy Spectrum of a Particle Within a Confined Double Well Potential
Authors: Marin J. L. , Campoy G. , Riera R.
Published: November 2018

The energy levels of a particle within a confined double well potential are studied in this work. The spectrum of the particle can be obtained by solving the corresponding Schrödinger equation but, for practical purposes, we have used a numerical approach based in the diagonalization
of the matrix related to the Hamiltonian when the wavefunction is represented as an expansion in terms of "a particle-in-a-box" basis functions. The results show that, in the symmetric confining case, the energy levels are degenerate and a regular pairwise association between them is observed,
similarly as it occurs in the free case. Moreover, when the confining is asymmetric, the degeneration is partially lifted but the pairwise association of the energy levels becomes irregular. The lifting of the degeneration in the latter case is addressed to the lack of symmetry or distortion
of the system, namely, to a sort of Jahn-Teller effect which is common in the energy levels of diatomic molecules, to which a double well potential can be crudely associated. In the symmetric case, the states with nodes at the origin are recognized to be the same as those of the harmonic oscillator
confined by two impenetrable walls, in such a way that the system presented in this work would be interpreted as half the solution of the problem of a particle within a confined four well potential. The latter suggests the existence of a sort of hidden symmetry which remains to be studied
in a more detailed way.
Adaptive Programming of Unconventional Nano-Architectures
Authors: Lawson John W. , Wolpert David H.
Published: November 2018

Novel assembly processes for nanocircuits could present compelling alternatives to the detailed design and placement currently used for computers. The resulting architectures however may not be programmable by standard means. In this paper, nanocomputers with unconventional architectures
are programmed using adaptive methods. The internals of the device are treated as a "black box" and programming is achieved by manipulating "control voltages." Learning algorithms are used to set the controls. As examples, logic gates and simple arithmetic circuits are implemented. Additionally,
similar methods allow for reconfiguration of the devices, and makes them resistant to certain kinds of faults.
Disentangling the Relationship Between Race and Attitudes Toward the Police: Police Contact, Perceptions of Safety, and Procedural Justice
Authors: Wheelock Darren , Stroshine Meghan S. , O’Hear Michael
Published: November 2018

Recent incidents involving police shootings of unarmed men of color have increased tensions between communities and police departments across the United States. In response, scholars have intensified efforts to understand the factors that shape attitudes toward the police. The current study examines individual and aggregate factors that influence satisfaction with the police. To this end, we address three research questions: (a) are there significant racial/ethnic differences in satisfaction with police; (b) do these differences persist after accounting for experiences with the police, perceptions of safety, and aggregate measures; and (c) can procedural justice help explain racial variation in attitudes toward the police? Study findings highlight the importance of perceptions of safety in explaining racial/ethnic variation in attitudes toward the police.
Impact of a Motivational Intervention and Interactive Feedback on Electricity and Water Consumption: A Smart Housing Field Experiment
Authors: Legault Lisa , Bird Stephen , Powers Susan E. , Sherman Amanda , Schay Alan , Hou Daqing , Janoyan Kerop
Published: November 2018

Many interventions designed to curb energy use are ineffective because they fail to inspire individuals to engage in proenvironmental behavior and interact meaningfully with energy information. This field experiment targeted individuals’ personal motivations and goals in combination with sensor-recorded energy feedback to decrease electricity and water consumption. Residents from 77 “smart” apartments were randomly assigned to attend a multifaceted motivational program and set action-oriented energy goals. Participants were also randomly assigned to receive interactive energy feedback. Continuous electricity and water data were then collected for 3 months. Those who received the motivational intervention used significantly less hot water than those who did not receive the intervention. Moreover, those exposed to action-focused feedback used significantly less electricity than those who did not receive the feedback—an effect that was more pronounced in the motivation condition. Results support the use of interventions directed at personal proenvironmental motivations and action-focused group goals.
Enhancing physical activity in cardiac patients who report hopelessness: Feasibility testing of an intervention
Authors: Dunn Susan L , Robbins Lorraine B , Smith Sandi W , Ranganathan Rajiv , DeVon Holli A , Collins Eileen G , Hong Hyokyoung G , Tintle Nathan L
Published: November 2018

Objective:

Hopelessness is present in 27% of patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), can persist for 12 months and is associated with lack of physical activity (PA). No interventions have been tested to increase PA in IHD patients who report hopelessness. This study evaluated the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of the Heart Up! intervention, designed to reduce hopelessness through enhanced PA in IHD patients. It was hypothesised that increased PA would be identified in the intervention group.

Setting:

Patients were recruited from a large teaching hospital in the Midwestern USA. Data collection occurred in the patient’s home at 1 and 8 weeks after hospital discharge.

Methods:

A three-group design was used. Eligible patients were randomised to (1) motivational social support (MSS) from a nurse, (2) MSS from a nurse with social support from a significant other support (SOS) or (3) control. MSS-only and MSS-SOS recipients received motivational interviewing followed by 6 weeks of social support text messages from a nurse. MSS-SOS participants additionally received social support text messages from a significant other. Control participants received the usual care. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention rates, patient acceptability and patient satisfaction. An accelerometer measured PA.

Results:

Of the 156 patients screened for the study, 43 met the inclusion criteria. Of eligible patients, 69.8% ( n = 30) enrolled and 67% ( n = 20) completed the study. Patients in the MSS and MSS-SOS groups expressed satisfaction with the intervention components (86% with motivational interviewing, 77% with nurse texts and 100% with significant other texts). Although differences were not statistically significant, a medium effect size for change in PA was identified in the MSS-SOS group compared to the other two groups.

Conclusion:

Study findings demonstrate the feasibility of the Heart Up! intervention and support testing its efficacy in a randomised controlled trial.
Development of metal–graphene-filled hybrid composites: Characterization of mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties
Authors: Rad Saeed Doagou , Islam Aminul , Alnasser Ammar
Published: November 2018

Production and properties of thermally and electrically conductive polymeric composites containing conductive micro and nano fillers are investigated. Mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the produced nano and hybrid Polyamide 6–based composites filled with graphene nanoplatelets and metal microfibers are studied. The influence of nanofiller content and geometrical characteristics on the thermal conductivity of the composites are studied through experiments and finite element modeling. The results show the influence of nanoplatelets aspect ratio and lateral dimension on the thermal conductivity of the composites. Furthermore, combination of graphene nanoplatelets and metallic micro-scale fillers leads to significant improvements in thermal and electrical conductivities. In fact, graphene nanoplatelets act as conductive bridges in minuscule gaps to increase the number of contacts in the constructed network. The combination of the two different fillers increased the mechanical properties up to 120% compared to the metal reinforced composites, indicating stronger interfaces between the fillers and polymeric matrix. Rheological investigations also confirm the effectiveness of hybridization. Furthermore, the influence of annealing on the conductivities of the specimens are studied. Adding an annealing step following the nanofiller inclusion within the composites resulted in 151 and 72% enhancement in the thermal and electrical conductivities, respectively. Stress relaxation and reorientation of metal fibers in combination with additionally constructed nanofiller networks have been attributed to the observed enhancements. The involved mechanisms in the observed behaviors are studied using optical and electron microscopies.
Pocket Political Education: A New Tool from United for a Fair Economy
Authors: O’Malley Riahl
Published: November 2018

At the time of this writing, the richest 1 percent owns nearly 40 percent of private wealth in the United States. The bottom 50 percent owns just 1 percent of that same pie. Meanwhile, the median black family owns just ten cents for every dollar of wealth owned by white families. Women make up three-quarters of the low-wage workforce and 36 percent of low-wage workers are women of color. Thanks to movements like Occupy, Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and the hard work of movement educators around the country, consciousness around economic, racial, and gender inequality is growing. And yet while more are aware these problems exist, few see the links between them or agree on how we can solve them. Pocket Political Education from United for a Fair Economy supports interactive dialogue that helps working people connect the dots between economic, racial, and gender inequality to inform their strategic action for change. The tool is highly adaptable so that organizers and educators working in diverse contexts can create spaces for consciousness-raising that move people and groups to action.
A Longitudinal Study of Allostatic Load in Later Life: The Role of Sex, Birth Cohorts, and Risk Accumulation
Authors: van Deurzen Ioana , Vanhoutte Bram
Published: November 2018

Are challenging life courses associated with more wear and tear on the biological level? This study investigates this question from a life-course perspective by examining the influence of life-course risk accumulation on allostatic load (AL), considering the role of sex and birth cohorts. Using biomarker data collected over three waves (2004, 2008, and 2012) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing ( N = 3,824) in a growth curve framework, AL trajectories over a period of 8 years are investigated. Our results illustrate that AL increases substantially in later life. Men have higher AL than women, but increases are similar for both sexes. Older cohorts have both higher levels and a steeper increase of AL over time. Higher risk accumulation over the life course goes hand in hand with higher AL levels and steeper trajectories, contributing to the body of evidence on cumulative (dis)advantage processes in later life.
Behind the Wheel: Process Evaluation of a Safe-Transport Program for Older Drivers Delivered in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Coxon Kristy , Hunter Kate , Chevalier Anna , Brown Julie , Clarke Elizabeth , Rogers Kris , Boufous Soufiane , Ivers Rebecca , Keay Lisa
Published: November 2018

This process evaluation explores relationships between program outcomes and intervention implementation in a trial evaluating “Behind the Wheel,” an education-based safe-transport program for older drivers. Participants (intervention group) were 190 Sydney drivers aged ⩾75 years ( M = 80 ± 4years). Process measures included fidelity, dose delivered, and received. Outcomes were self-reported driving regulation and objectively measured driving exposure. Relationships were explored using regression models. Older drivers who took ownership of driving retirement and self-regulation by developing plans were more likely to reduce their weekly driving, (β = 38 km, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [7.5,68.7]), and night driving (β = 7 km, 95% CI = [3.5, 10.4]). Drivers of older age (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.1/year older, 95% CI = [1.05, 1.3]) had greater odds of developing driving retirement plans. Female drivers ( OR = 2.7,95% CI = [1.1, 6.9]), drivers with poorer function ( OR = 1.2/5-point decrease on DriveSafe, 95% CI = [1.04, 1.4]), and worse health ( OR = 1.2/additional medication, 95% CI = [1.02, 1.5]) had greater odds of developing safe mobility plans. This program had greatest impact with older, lower functioning drivers. A stronger message was delivered and received, as intended, to older drivers with lower function and poorer health. Our logic model can help channel resources to drivers who benefit most.
Sweet Solutions for Analgesia in Neonates in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Huang Rui-Rui , Xie Ri-Hua , Wen Shi Wu , Chen Shao-Lin , She Qin , Liu Yan-Nan , Harrison Denise
Published: November 2018

Introduction

High-quality synthesized evidence of sweet taste analgesia in neonates exists. However, Chinese databases have never been included in previous systematic reviews of sweet solutions for procedural pain.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of Chinese literature evaluating analgesic effects of sweet solutions for neonates. Data sources: Wang Fang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Data extraction and analysis: Two authors screened studies for inclusion and conducted risk of bias ratings and data extraction. A third author resolved any conflicts. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.2 software, on mean differences in pain outcomes using random effects models.

Results

Thirty-one trials (4999 neonates) were included; 26 trials used glucose, 4 used sucrose, and 1 trial evaluated both solutions. Sweet solutions reduced standardized mean pain scores (n = 21 studies; −1.68, 95% confidence interval −2.08, −1.27) and cry duration (n = 6 studies; −25.60, 95% confidence interval −36.47, −14.72 s) but not heart rate change (n = 7 studies; −17.64, 95% confidence interval −52.71, 17.43). No included studies cited the previously published systematic reviews of sweet solutions.

Conclusions

This systematic review of Chinese databases showed the same results as previously published systematic reviews. No trials included in this review cited the English systematic reviews, highlighting a parallel research agenda.
Effect of wheat straw oxidation on thermoplastic starch composites: Mechanical, thermal, and rheological process behaviors
Authors: Peng Yin , Zha Dongdong , Bin Guo , Bengang Li , Panxin Li
Published: November 2018

The objective of this work is to evaluate the reinforced effect of wheat straw (WS) after oxidation in thermoplastic corn starch (TPS).The mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break) of TPS and oxidized wheat straw (OWS)/TPS composites were evaluated by the tensile measurements. The composites were characterized further using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and torque measurements. In general, OWS played a key role for enhanced mechanical and thermal properties in composites, and the composites had slightly poorer rheological processing behaviors, compared to the TPS. The highest tensile strength (7.66 MPa) was achieved using WS oxidized with 0.045 mol·L−1 sodium periodate. The damage and erosion produced on WS after oxidation positively affected the properties of the composites. With respect to the findings of this study, it may be stated that OWS can be used as a promising natural filler for other composites.
Secure Attachment and Career Indecision: The Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence
Authors: Phang Ayoung , Fan Weihua , Arbona Consuelo
Published: November 2018

Over the past few decades, researchers have been trying to understand the career decision-making process from interpersonal and affective perspectives. Previous findings suggest that secure attachment is negatively linked to career indecision, but the extent to which other variables mediate this relation is less clear. The present study was designed to identify underlying mechanism in the relation between attachment and career indecision. This was done by examining a model which links secure attachment with career indecision through the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Participants included 362 female undergraduate students from a large Southern University. A path model was tested to investigate (a) the direct association of attachment to three dimensions of career indecision (lack of readiness, lack of information, and inconsistent information) and (b) whether emotional intelligence mediates the relations between attachment and the career indecision dimensions, while controlling students’ age. Results indicated a very good fit for the proposed path model. With two exceptions, results provided support for the study’s hypothesis regarding the direct and mediated links in the model; all paths were in the expected direction. Results of the study provide support for the notion that different antecedents may explain career decision-making difficulties, and therefore, college women may require diverse intervention approaches
Examining Retention and Transfer in Relation to Incoming Student Data for First-Generation and Continuing-Generation Students: What Differences Exist?
Authors: Radunzel Justine
Published: November 2018

First-generation (FG) students are generally less likely than their continuing-generation (CG) peers to persist and complete a degree. Using student data available at initial enrollment, this multi-institutional study examines retention and transfer at the second year in relation to academic readiness, financial resources, college intentions, enrollment attributes, and other demographic characteristics to determine whether the predictors and their effects differ between FG and CG students beginning at 4-year institutions. Students’ college intentions and enrollment attributes are included as possible barriers to academic and social integration at the initial institution. The study finds that parental education gaps in outcomes persist even after statistically controlling for incoming student information, and the effects of some predictors differ by parental education. The implications of the findings for early identification of students at risk of leaving their initial institution and for informing retention and transfer strategies that are aimed at equipping FG students for success are discussed.
Balloon Angioplasty Versus Bailout Stenting for Isolated Chronic Total Occlusions in the Popliteal Artery
Authors: Elens Maxime , Verhelst Robert , Mastrobuoni Stefano , Bosiers Michel J. , Possoz Julien , Lacroix Valérie , Astarci Parla
Published: November 2018

Aims:

Stenting of the popliteal artery (PA) is generally considered inappropriate due to the high mechanical stress and bending of the artery during knee flexion. Nevertheless, vessel recoil remains problematic following angioplasty procedure for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) and adjunctive stenting may be required. The purpose of this study is to compare balloon angioplasty alone versus bailout stenting for isolated CTO of the PA.

Materials and Methods:

Between March 2012 and October 2016, 43 patients were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with balloon alone (PTA, n = 16) or bailout stenting percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS, n = 27) for de novo CTO of PA. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups with regard to patient demographics and lesions characteristics (calcification severity and lesion length). The median lesion lengths were 67 mm (39.5-78.5) in the PTA group and 94 mm (50-114) in the PTAS group ( p = 0.14). The primary outcome measure was primary patency; secondary outcomes were technical success, primary assisted patency, major amputation, and increased Rutherford classification.

Results:

Technical success rate was 37% and 96.3% in the PTA and PTAS groups, respectively. There was no statistical difference in 12-month primary patency rate (65.8% versus 58.7%; p = 0.15) and primary assisted patency at 12 months (75.2 versus 69.2; p = 0.47) between the 2 groups. Freedom from target lesion revascularization at 12 months was not significantly different, with 85.7% and 81.6% ( p = 0.2) in the PTA and PTAS groups, respectively. One amputation occurred in the PTA group.

Conclusion:

This small cohort suggests that stenting as a bailout procedure in CTO of the PA provides similar results to successful balloon angioplasty. Stenting should only be performed after suboptimal balloon angioplasty with vessel recoil. Due to the large lost to follow-up, strong evidence of a therapy over the other cannot be formulated. Larger studies with longer and stronger follow-up are needed to confirm those results.
The History of the Development of Melt Blowing Technology
Authors: McCulloch John G.
Published: November 2018

Almost a half century ago development efforts were initiated by very different entities, in widely different locations, to demonstrate one step processes to convert polymer to web:

• Major fiber producers (DuPont, Freudenberg, Monsanto) began work on converting polymer (PE, PET, Nylon) into continuous “cold drawn” filaments and integrating the conversion of these filaments into a random-laid bonded nonwoven fabric.

• An oil company (Exxon), building on the earlier work (1950's) of the Naval Research Labs to produce fine fibers, began work on converting their recently commercialized PP polymer into discontinuous, or continuous, “hot drawn” filaments and integrating these filaments into a random-laid self bonded nonwoven web having average fiber sizes 2–5 microns (fine fibered webs) to 100+ fibers (coarse fibered webs).

As a result of these early development efforts, three different, but related melt spinning nonwoven processes have achieved significant commercial importance, with tremendous benefits to consumers worldwide:

• Spunbond process

• Melt blowing process

• Flash spinning process

This presentation will summarize the development of the melt blowing process from conceptualization to current state-of-the-art. Important product, process and equipment developments are detailed in the 50 year growth of the melt blowing process from a laboratory concept to a 125 million pound a year U.S. and Canadian commercial business and substantial additional worldwide consumption. Today, spunbond and melt blown processes are used for approximately 54% of the total 18.6 million square yards U.S. nonwoven market.
Glenohumeral fusion in adults with sequelae of obstetrical brachial plexus injury: a report of eight cases
Authors: Belkheyar Zoubir , Belkacem Djeffel Amar , Cambon-Binder Adeline
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes of glenohumeral fusion performed in adulthood in patients with poor recovery after obstetric brachial plexus injury. We reviewed eight patients with obstetrical brachial plexus injury who had undergone shoulder arthrodesis. The mean age was 28 years (range 16 to 55). All of the patients had active periscapular and elbow flexor muscles. At an average follow-up of 20 months, the active range of abduction and external rotation of the affected shoulder was 67° (range 50° to 85°) and 21° (range 0° to 40°), respectively. All of the patients were satisfied with the outcome of the intervention. Fusion was obtained between 3 and 6 months, and none of the patients experienced residual pain. Shoulder fusion improved the active shoulder abduction and external rotation in adults with residual obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis.

Level of evidence: IV
Inotuzumab ozogamicin for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Savoy J. Michael , Welch Mary Alma , Nasnas Patrice E. , Kantarjian Hagop , Jabbour Elias
Published: November 2018

Therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with multiagent cytotoxic chemotherapy has not been as successful as that for pediatric patients. The advent of targeted monoclonal antibodies against common cell surface antigens (i.e. CD19, CD20, and CD22) has resulted in improved outcomes without additional toxicities. Inotuzumab ozogamicin is an anti-CD22 antibody–drug conjugate approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. It improved outcomes compared with standard salvage chemotherapy. Its combination with low-intensity chemotherapy in the relapse setting and in frontline elderly patients is promising.
Pre-hospital risk assessment in suspected non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: A prospective observational study
Authors: van Dongen Dominique N , Tolsma Rudolf T , Fokkert Marion J , Badings Erik A , van der Sluis Aize , Slingerland Robbert J , van ’t Hof Arnoud WJ , Ottervanger Jan Paul
Published: November 2018

Background:

Pre-hospital risk stratification of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) by the complete HEART score has not yet been assessed. We investigated whether pre-hospital risk stratification of patients with suspected NSTE-ACS using the HEART score is accurate in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Methods:

This is a prospective observational study, including 700 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS. Risk stratification was performed by ambulance paramedics, using the HEART score; low risk was defined as HEART score ⩽ 3. Primary endpoint was occurrence of MACE within 45 days after inclusion. Secondary endpoint was myocardial infarction or death.

Results:

A total of 172 patients (24.6%) were stratified as low risk and 528 patients (75.4%) as intermediate to high risk. Mean age was 53.9 years in the low risk group and 66.7 years in the intermediate to high risk group ( p<0.001), 50% were male in the low risk group versus 60% in the intermediate to high risk group ( p=0.026). MACE occurred in five patients in the low risk group (2.9%) and in 111 (21.0%) patients at intermediate or high risk ( p<0.001). There were no deaths in the low risk group and the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in this group was 1.2%. In the high risk group six patients died (1.1%) and 76 patients had myocardial infarction (14.4%).

Conclusions:

In suspected NSTE-ACS, pre-hospital risk stratification by ambulance paramedics, including troponin measurement, is accurate in differentiating between low and intermediate to high risk. Future studies should investigate whether transportation of low risk patients to a hospital can be avoided, and whether high risk patients benefit from immediate transfer to a hospital with early coronary angiography possibilities.
Fascin-1 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker Associated With Tumor Invasiveness in Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Authors: Poli Giada , Ruggiero Carmen , Cantini Giulia , Canu Letizia , Baroni Gianna , Armignacco Roberta , Jouinot Anne , Santi Raffaella , Ercolino Tonino , Ragazzon Bruno , Assie Guillaume , Mannelli Massimo , Nesi Gabriella , Lalli Enzo , Luconi Michaela
Published: November 2018

Context

Novel tumor markers are urgently needed to better stratify adrenocortical cancer (ACC) patients and improve therapies for this aggressive neoplasm.

Objective

To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of the actin-bundling protein fascin-1 (FSCN1) in adrenocortical tumors.

Design, Setting and Participants

A local series of 37 malignant/37 benign adrenocortical tumors at Careggi University Hospital and two independent validation ACC cohorts (Cochin, TCGA) from the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors were studied.

Main Outcome Measures

FSCN1 expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR in ACC specimens; overall and disease-free survival associated with FSCN1 expression were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared with that of Ki67 labeling index and tumor stage.

Results

Despite the low diagnostic power, in the Florence ACC series, FSCN1 immunohistochemical detection appeared as an independent prognostic factor, also refining results obtained with staging and Ki67 labeling index. The robust prognostic power of FSCN1 levels was further confirmed in two independent ACC cohorts. A positive correlation was found between FSCN1 and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), with a substantially higher expression of both factors in ACCs at advanced stages and with at least one of the three Weiss score parameters associated with invasiveness. Moreover, we demonstrated FSCN1 role in promoting cell invasion in a human ACC cell line only in the case of increased SF-1 dosage.

Conclusions

These findings show that FSCN1 is a novel independent prognostic marker in ACC and may serve as a potential therapeutic target to block tumor spread.
Soma-germ line interactions and a role for muscle in the regulation of C. elegans sperm motility
Authors: Chavez Daniela R. , Snow Angela K. , Smith Joseph R. , Stanfield Gillian M.
Published: November 2018

The development of highly differentiated sperm cells that are specialized for navigating to and fusing with an oocyte is essential for sexual reproduction. As a major part of differentiation, sperm undergo extensive post-meiotic maturation en route to the oocyte. This is regulated largely by soma-derived cues. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this process is called sperm activation, and it transforms immotile spermatids into migratory fertilization-competent cells. Here, we show that the negative regulator of sperm activation, SWM-1, is produced in an unexpected cell type: body wall muscle. SWM-1 is secreted into the body cavity and enters the gonad; there, it is present with its likely target, TRY-5, a spermiogenesis activator. We show that, in addition to SWM-1, the somatic gonad and body fluid can exchange other factors, suggesting that soma-germ line transfer could affect other reproductive processes. In addition, we show that SWM-1 may have a separate role in the sperm migratory environment, to which it is contributed by both males and hermaphrodites. These findings reveal that late stages in gamete differentiation can be regulated at the whole-organism level by broadly secreted factors.

This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview.
The microRNAs let-7 and miR-278 regulate insect metamorphosis and oogenesis by targeting the juvenile hormone early-response gene Krüppel-homolog 1
Authors: Song Jiasheng , Li Wanwan , Zhao Haihong , Gao Lulu , Fan Yuning , Zhou Shutang
Published: November 2018

Krüppel-homolog 1 (Kr-h1), a zinc-finger transcription factor, inhibits larval metamorphosis and promotes adult reproduction by transducing juvenile hormone (JH). Although the transcriptional regulation of Kr-h1 has been extensively studied, little is known about its regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Using the migratory locust Locusta migratoria as a model system, we report here that the microRNAs let-7 and miR-278 bound to the Kr-h1 coding sequence and downregulated its expression. Application of let-7 and miR-278 mimics (agomiRs) significantly reduced the level of Kr-h1 transcripts, resulting in partially precocious metamorphosis in nymphs as well as markedly decreased yolk protein precursors, arrested ovarian development and blocked oocyte maturation in adults. Moreover, the expression of let-7 and miR-278 was repressed by JH, constituting a regulatory loop of JH signaling. This study thus reveals a previously unknown regulatory mechanism whereby JH suppresses the expression of let-7 and miR-278, which, together with JH induction of Kr-h1 transcription, prevents the precocious metamorphosis of nymphs and stimulates the reproduction of adult females. These results advance our understanding of the coordination of JH and miRNA regulation in insect development.
Laboratory validation and field usability assessment of a point-of-care test for serum bilirubin levels in neonates in a tropical setting
Authors: Thielemans Laurence , Hashmi Ahmar , Priscilla Dah Dah , Kho Paw Moo , Pimolsorntong Tekel , Ngerseng Thatsanun , Van Overmeire Bart , Proux Stephane , Nosten François , McGready Rose , Carrara Verena I. , Bancone Germana
Published: November 2018

Background: Screening and monitoring serum bilirubin (SBR) in neonates is crucial to prevent neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NH)-associated morbidity and mortality worldwide. A lack of resources is often a barrier for measuring SBR in developing countries. Reliable, cost-effective, easy to use point-of-care (POC) SBR tests are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the technical accuracy and usability of the Bilistick System (BS), a new bilirubin POC test, in a tropical setting.

Methods: This was a mixed-methods study, including laboratory validation of the BS, direct observation of technical procedures as performed by the midwives and midwives’ assessment of the device’s easiness of use through focus group discussions (FGD) and a self-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted in a field clinic of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit along the Thailand-Myanmar border between January and December 2017.

Results: A total of 173 samples were tested at a median age of 4 days. BS generated an error message—providing no SBR readout—in 48.6% of the tests performed. For the tests that yielded a result, the correlation coefficient (95% CI) between BS and routine laboratory bilirubinometer SBR was 0.87 (0.77-0.93). The accuracy decreased with increasing haematocrit and at higher humidity (≥75%). Direct observation of the operators using the device and analysis of the focus group discussions and questionnaires indicated that the BS was considered easy to use and required limited training.

Conclusions: This evaluation showed that the BS, in its current formulation, does not provide reliable results for measuring SBR in a tropical, low-resource setting  but has acceptable usability features.
Divide and Conquer: Recursive Likelihood Function Integration for Hidden Markov Models with Continuous Latent Variables
Authors: Reich Gregor
Published: November 2018

A common problem in the estimation of structural economic decision models is that only a subset of the information available to the decision maker is present in the data. Therefore, an econometrician estimating the model needs to “integrate out” these unobserved states. Until recently, all approaches to this problem involved Monte Carlo techniques, making maximum likelihood estimation difficult due to the presence of simulation noise. In “Divide and Conquer: Recursive Likelihood Function Integration for Hidden Markov Models with Continuous Latent Variables,” G. Reich develops an efficient and fully deterministic integration scheme to recursively integrate out unobserved states when computing the likelihood function. Moreover, he proves numerical error bounds and convergence rates that suggest that the method is highly efficient under appropriate smoothness conditions, which is confirmed in several examples. In particular, he estimates an extension of the famous bus engine replacement model of Rust (1987) allowing for serially correlated errors.
Tractable Sampling Strategies for Ordinal Optimization
Authors: Shin Dongwook , Broadie Mark , Zeevi Assaf
Published: November 2018

In “Tractable Sampling Strategies for Ordinal Optimization,” D. Shin, M. Broadie, and A. Zeevi analyze a problem of ordinal optimization where the objective is to select the best of several competing systems, when the probability distributions governing each system’s performance are not known but can be learned via sampling. The objective is to dynamically allocate samples within a finite sampling budget to maximize the likelihood of identifying the best system. An exact solution to this problem over any finite time horizon is difficult to characterize. In lieu of that, we introduce a family of practically implementable sampling policies and characterize the set of problem instances over which their performance (over a long time horizon) is essentially the best possible. Furthermore, we show via numerical testing that the proposed policies perform well compared with other benchmark policies over finite time horizons.
Black History Month: a provocation and a timeline
Authors: Williams Charlotte , Bernard Claudia
Published: November 2018

Interest in collecting social work histories has gathered pace with collections held by the Social Work History Network in Edinburgh University and Kings College, and several writers offering historical accounts of the development of social work. Few systematic accounts exist that specifically track the history of social work and social work education for engagement with black lives and with black communities, though there exists a considerable body of literature from which this history can be gleaned, some rapidly going into attrition. Here, we set out a timeline through a black British history that charts significant events, key moments, landmarks and publications, and legislative and policy turns that have relevance to the story of social work education in the UK. The timeline offers a mere snapshot, but nevertheless a useful one, in prompting deeper exploration of context, analysis and interpretation. We have consulted widely in the development of this timeline and offer it here as our contribution to Black History Month 2018.
Promoting Meaningful Encounters as a Way to Enhance Intercultural Competences
Authors: Carreño Bolivar Laura Lucia
Published: November 2018

This article aims at sharing an experience in which an Intercultural Competences based course was taught to university level students in a Colombian higher education institution. Topics such as minority groups, national identity and racism were included in the course syllabus in order to raise students´ awareness regarding the importance of interculturality.   Students´ posts and survey responses are shared in order to portray their perceptions regarding the course and its influence on the development of intercultural competences.
Promoting the Use of Local Literacies in EFL Pre-Service Teachers to Inspire their Teaching Practice
Authors: Nieto Gómez Yuly Andrea
Published: November 2018

Involving teachers and students in an interaction with their community can provide opportunities to develop literacies from a critical viewpoint. From this perspective, an active exploration and transformation of socio cultural realities can be promoted. This article will serve as a reflection on the theory of community-based pedagogies as a means of fostering pre-service language teachers’ commitment in the construction of an alternative curriculum. Additionally, it calls for the appreciation of cultural context as a text for shaping and reconstructing the world, where learners explore their everyday understandings and practices, and teachers become authors of a curriculum that engages with material realities (Luke & Woods, 2009). Thus, it promotes inquiry in early teaching experiences as a source for creating new alternatives and functional understandings through problem posing involving diversity, creativity, and reflections as the main core in the curriculum (Short & Burke, 1991). Moreover, it supports valuing local knowledge (Canagarajah, 2005) as the foundation of an inclusive learning environment that empowers prospective teachers to envision their practice as an emancipatory exercise that demands relating the community to the classroom dynamic. Finally, it concludes that exploring socio cultural assets with the aim of enriching the EFL curriculum can inspire a context-sensitive practice that transforms both pre-service teachers and students’ lived experiences.
Community based pedagogy as an eye–opening for pre-service teachers’ initial connections with the school curriculum
Authors: Lastra Sandra Patricia , Acosta Deyssi , Durán Norma Constanza
Published: November 2018

Today more than ever it is critical to guide future teachers in the direction of understanding how people participate and constitute social reality as a seedbed to create more significant language curriculums that respond to school students’ needs and empower them to act more critically in their worlds. This article discusses the way pre-service teachers started to become aware of the need to establish relationships between community resources (linguistic, social, and cultural) and their role as individuals and teachers to enact critical pedagogy. This qualitative exploration was developed with three different groups of students in an English undergraduate program in a public university. Data were gathered by means of community mapping reports (Kreztmann & Mckinght, 1993) and presentations, students’ insights into community based pedagogy in teacher education (Schecter, Solomon, & Kittmer, 2003), and pedagogical projects designed and carried out in the schools where they did the teaching practicum. The outcomes of this study brought to light how pre-service began making connections between the principles of community based pedagogy and the language curriculum in the schools. Findings demonstrate the way they encouraged their students to explore their communities from different perspectives and promoted students’ role of inquirers of themselves and their contexts.
Strengthening Local Identity by Writing Chronicles in the EFL Classroom
Authors: Flórez González Alba Milena
Published: November 2018

This action research study sought to incorporate students’ local identity as the set of traditions, language, history and norms of conduct as a potential element to enhance the foreign language learning process. The purpose of this study was to strengthen local cultural identity in high school students, facilitating a meaningful foreign language learning process and promoting the active participation of students in their local communities (Sharkey, Clavijo, & Ramirez, 2016), through inter-generational dialogue. The research questions proposed were: a) what were the perceptions students had about their local identity? and b) how did high school students strengthen their identity by writing chronicles in English class about their family history? Findings posit the impact of the study on students’ perception about their local identity, how they proudly identify themselves as Villanuevas (people from Villanueva), their active involvement in the community by fostering an intergenerational communication, the improvement on the students’ L2 competence as well as the impact of the sutdy on the researcher teaching process and its cross curricular influence.
Community-Based Approaches to Foreign Language Education
Authors: Comber Barbara
Published: November 2018

Learning how to recognise and make student and community assets the subject of curriculum is at the core of teachers’ designs and enactments of critical and inclusive pedagogies. However, this era of globalisation and standardisation, where education is increasingly seen as a commodity that underscores economic competitiveness, has made space for local knowledge production, hard to find. Knowing how to incorporate community problems in school-based student-led inquiries, whilst meeting authorised learning outcomes, is also challenging. At the same time there are particular pressures on language teachers where states extol the benefits of English, or another foreign language literacy for global competitiveness. Yet, educational researchers and teacher educators know the potential power of working with students’ assets and motivations to enhance language and literacy learning in classrooms. Community based approaches to language education in various places in Latin America are explored in this issue with contributions from teacher-researchers, collaborative teams, teacher educators and university-based researchers.
La historia del rock en Colombia desde los años 60 hasta la actualidad (parte 1)
Authors: Ortegón Munevar Camilo Andrés
Published: November 2018

Este artículo se ocupa de la primera parte de una breve historia del rock en Colombia en el contexto más amplio del rock en Latinoamérica a partir de los años 60. Su propósito fundamental es visibilizar el trabajo de algunos bateristas que tuvieron un papel clave en la historia local de rock. Se trata de un texto realizado por un baterista interesado en el trabajo pionero de bateristas colombianos que aportaron interesantes ideas compositivas para el desarrollo del rock en Colombia.
The implementation of human resources information system and it’s benefit for organizations
Authors: Suharti Lieli , Sulistyo Priyanto Ratna
Published: November 2018

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of the implementation of the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) on time efficiency, cost efficiency, quality of information, and managerial satisfaction. Using data of 80 respondents who are managers and staff working in HR department of companies in Central Java and Yogyakarta, we find that the implementation of HRIS affects time efficiency and managerial satisfaction. However, our study also find that the hypothesis concerning that the implementation of HRIS affects cost efficiency and quality of information is not supported.