bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flow-cytometric microglial sorting coupled with quantitative proteomics identifies moesin as a highly-abundant microglial protein with relevance to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Rayaprolu Sruti , Gao Tianwen , Xiao Hailian , Ramesha Supriya , Weinstock Laura D. , Shah Jheel , Duong Duc M. , Dammer Eric B. , Webster James A. , Lah James J. , Wood Levi B. , Betarbet Ranjita , Levey Allan I. , Seyfried Nicholas T. , Rangaraju Srikant
Published: May 2020

Background

Proteomic characterization of microglia provides the most proximate assessment of functionally relevant molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation. However, microglial proteomics studies have been limited by low cellular yield and contamination by non-microglial proteins using existing enrichment strategies.

Methods

We coupled magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of microglia with tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry (TMT-MS) to obtain a highly-pure microglial proteome and identified a core set of highly-abundant microglial proteins in adult mouse brain. We interrogated existing human proteomic data for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) relevance of highly-abundant microglial proteins and performed immuno-histochemical and in-vitro validation studies.

Results

Quantitative multiplexed proteomics by TMT-MS of CD11b + MACS-enriched (N = 5 mice) and FACS-isolated (N = 5 mice), from adult wild-type mice, identified 1791 proteins. A total of 203 proteins were highly abundant in both datasets, representing a core-set of highly abundant microglial proteins. In addition, we found 953 differentially enriched proteins comparing MACS and FACS-based approaches, indicating significant differences between both strategies. The FACS-isolated microglia proteome was enriched with cytosolic, endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomal proteins involved in protein metabolism and immune system functions, as well as an abundance of canonical microglial proteins. Conversely, the MACS-enriched microglia proteome was enriched with mitochondrial and synaptic proteins and higher abundance of neuronal, oligodendrocytic and astrocytic proteins. From the 203 consensus microglial proteins with high abundance in both datasets, we confirmed microglial expression of moesin (Msn) in wild-type and 5xFAD mouse brains as well as in human AD brains. Msn expression is nearly exclusively found in microglia that surround Aβ plaques in 5xFAD brains. In in-vitro primary microglial studies, Msn silencing by siRNA decreased Aβ phagocytosis and increased lipopolysaccharide-induced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In network analysis of human brain proteomic data, Msn was a hub protein of an inflammatory co-expression module positively associated with AD neuropathological features and cognitive dysfunction.

Conclusions

Using FACS coupled with TMT-MS as the method of choice for microglial proteomics, we define a core set of highly-abundant adult microglial proteins. Among these, we validate Msn as highly-abundant in plaque-associated microglia with relevance to human AD.
Informal support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in rural Uganda: a qualitative study
Authors: Nankinga Pia Ngoma , Maling Samuel , Chemali Zeina , Wakida Edith K. , Obua Celestino , Okello Elialilia S.
Published: May 2020

Background

The generation of people getting older has become a public health concern worldwide. People aged 65 and above are the most at risk for Alzheimer’s disease which is associated with physical and behavioral changes. This nurtures informal support needs for people living with dementia where their families together with other community members are the core providers of day to day care for them in the rural setting. Despite global concern around this issue, information is still lacking on informal support delivered to these people with dementia.

Objective

Our study aimed at establishing the nature of informal support provided for people with dementia (PWDs) and its perceived usefulness in rural communities in South Western Uganda.

Methods

This was a qualitative study that adopted a descriptive design and conducted among 22 caregivers and 8 opinion leaders in rural communities of Kabale, Mbarara and Ibanda districts in South Western Uganda. The study included dementia caregivers who had been in that role for a period of at least 6 months and opinion leaders in the community. We excluded trained health workers.

Results

The study highlights important forms of informal support offered to PWDs such as support in activities of daily living, enabling access to medical attention, recovering misplaced items, provision of herbal remedy, informal counseling, and sourcing carers from other families to offer presence and support in the hope to impact positively on behavioral outbursts and the frustration of living with dementia.

Conclusion

The study revealed various forms of informal support that are available for PWDs in South Western Uganda and stressed the role of caregivers and the perceived usefulness of the care provided.
Graphing and reporting heterogeneous treatment effects through reference classes
Authors: Watson James A. , Holmes Chris C.
Published: May 2020

Background

Exploration and modelling of heterogeneous treatment effects as a function of baseline covariates is an important aspect of precision medicine in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Randomisation generally guarantees the internal validity of an RCT, but heterogeneity in treatment effect can reduce external validity. Estimation of heterogeneous treatment effects is usually done via a predictive model for individual outcomes, where one searches for interactions between treatment allocation and important patient baseline covariates. However, such models are prone to overfitting and multiple testing and typically demand a transformation of the outcome measurement, for example, from the absolute risk in the original RCT to log-odds of risk in the predictive model.

Methods

We show how reference classes derived from baseline covariates can be used to explore heterogeneous treatment effects via a two-stage approach. We first estimate a risk score which captures on a single dimension some of the heterogeneity in outcomes of the trial population. Heterogeneity in the treatment effect can then be explored via reweighting schemes along this axis of variation. This two-stage approach bypasses the search for interactions with multiple covariates, thus protecting against multiple testing. It also allows for exploration of heterogeneous treatment effects on the original outcome scale of the RCT. This approach would typically be applied to multivariable models of baseline risk to assess the stability of average treatment effects with respect to the distribution of risk in the population studied.

Case study

We illustrate this approach using the single largest randomised treatment trial in severe falciparum malaria and demonstrate how the estimated treatment effect in terms of absolute mortality risk reduction increases considerably in higher risk strata.

Conclusions

‘Local’ and ‘tilting’ reweighting schemes based on ranking patients by baseline risk can be used as a general approach for exploring, graphing and reporting heterogeneity of treatment effect in RCTs.

Trial registration

ISRCTN clinical trials registry: ISRCTN50258054. Prospectively registered on 22 July 2005.
Commentary about mesenchymal stem cells and scarred vocal folds
Authors: Mattei Alexia , Magalon Jérémy , Velier Mélanie , Dignat-George Françoise , Giovanni Antoine , Sabatier Florence
Published: May 2020

A commentary to “Hertegård, S., Nagubothu, S.R., Malmström, E. et al. Treatment of vocal fold scarring with autologous bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stromal cells - first phase I/II human clinical study. Stem Cell Res Ther 11, 128 (2020)” concerning the surgical intervention including a scar resection, the use of the Voice Handicap Index, the surgical and regulatory points of view regarding the inclusion of patients with laryngeal carcinomas history, and the side effects of bone marrow harvesting.
Exclusive vital labeling of myonuclei for studying myonuclear arrangement in mouse skeletal muscle tissue
Authors: Hastings Robert Louis , Massopust Ryan T. , Haddix Seth G. , Lee Young il , Thompson Wesley J.
Published: May 2020

Background

The arrangement of myonuclei in skeletal muscle tissue has long been used as a biomarker for muscle health, but there is a dearth of in vivo exploration of potential effects of myonuclear organization on the function and regeneration of skeletal muscle because traditional nuclear stains are performed on postmortem tissue. Therefore, we sought a transgenic method to produce a selective and persistent myonuclear label in whole muscles of living mice.

Methods

We bred together a mouse line with skeletal muscle fiber-selective expression of Cre recombinase and a second mouse line with a Cre-inducible fluorescently tagged histone protein to generate a mouse line that produces a myonuclear label suitable for vital imaging and histology of fixed tissue. We tested the effectiveness of this vital label in three conditions known to generate abnormal myonuclear positioning. First, we injured myofibers of young mice with cardiotoxin. Second, this nuclear label was bred into a murine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Finally, we examined old mice from this line that have undergone the natural aging process. Welch’s t test was used to compare wild type and transgenic mice.

Results

The resulting mouse line transgenically produces a vital red fluorescent label of myonuclei, which facilitates their in vivo imaging in skeletal muscle tissue. Transgenic fluorescent labeling of myonuclei has no significant effect on skeletal muscle function, as determined by twitch and tetanic force recordings. In each muscle examined, including those under damaged, dystrophic, and aged conditions, the labeled myonuclei exhibit morphology consistent with established literature, and reveal a specialized arrangement of subsynaptic myonuclei at the neuromuscular junction.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results demonstrate that this mouse line provides a versatile tool to selectively visualize myonuclei within both living and fixed preparations of healthy, injured, diseased, and aged muscles.
Targeted beta therapy of prostate cancer with 177Lu-labelled Miltuximab® antibody against glypican-1 (GPC-1)
Authors: Yeh Mei-Chun , Tse Brian W. C. , Fletcher Nicholas L. , Houston Zachary H. , Lund Maria , Volpert Marianna , Stewart Chelsea , Sokolowski Kamil A. , Jeet Varinder , Thurecht Kristofer J. , Campbell Douglas H. , Walsh Bradley J. , Nelson Colleen C. , Russell Pamela J.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Chimeric antibody Miltuximab®, a human IgG1 engineered from the parent antibody MIL-38, is in clinical development for solid tumour therapy. Miltuximab® targets glypican-1 (GPC-1), a cell surface protein involved in tumour growth, which is overexpressed in solid tumours, including prostate cancer (PCa). This study investigated the potential of89Zr-labelled Miltuximab® as an imaging agent, and177Lu-labelled Miltuximab® as a targeted beta therapy, in a mouse xenograft model of human prostate cancer.

Methods

Male BALB/c nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with GPC-1-positive DU-145 PCa cells. In imaging and biodistribution studies, mice bearing palpable tumours received (a) 2.62 MBq [89Zr]Zr-DFO-Miltuximab® followed by PET-CT imaging, or (b) 6 MBq [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab® by Cerenkov imaging, and ex vivo assessment of biodistribution. In an initial tumour efficacy study, mice bearing DU-145 tumours were administered intravenously with 6 MBq [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab® or control DOTA-Miltuximab® then euthanised after 27 days. In a subsequent survival efficacy study, tumour-bearing mice were given 3 or 10 MBq of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab®, or control, and followed up to 120 days.

Results

Antibody accumulation in DU-145 xenografts was detected by PET-CT imaging using [89Zr]Zr-DFO-Miltuximab® and confirmed by Cerenkov luminescence imaging post injection of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab®. Antibody accumulation was higher (% IA/g) in tumours than other organs across multiple time points. A single injection with 6 MBq of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab® significantly inhibited tumour growth as compared with DOTA-Miltuximab® (control). In the survival study, mice treated with 10 MBq [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab® had significantly prolonged survival (mean 85 days) versus control (45 days), an effect associated with increased cancer cell apoptosis. Tissue histopathology assessment showed no abnormalities associated with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab®, in line with other observations of tolerability, including body weight stability.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate the potential utility of Miltuximab® as a PET imaging agent ([89Zr]Zr-DFO-Miltuximab®) and a beta therapy ([177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Miltuximab®) in patients with PCa or other GPC-1 expressing tumours.
Head and neck tumors angiogenesis imaging with 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD in comparison to 18F-FDG PET/CT: a pilot study
Authors: Durante Steve , Dunet Vincent , Gorostidi François , Mitsakis Periklis , Schaefer Niklaus , Delage Judith , Prior John O.
Published: May 2020

Background

Angiogenesis plays an important role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression. This pilot study was designed to compare the distribution of 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT for imaging αvβ3 integrins involved in tumor angiogenesis to 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with HNSCC.

Material and methods

Ten patients (aged 58.4 ± 8.3 years [range, 44–73 years], 6 males, 4 females) with a total of 11 HNSCC were prospectively enrolled. Activity mapping and standard uptake values (SUV) from both 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD and 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were recorded for primary tumor and compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The relation between the SUV of both tracers was assessed using the Spearman correlation.

Results

All HNSCC tumors were visible with both tracers. Quantitative analysis showed higher 18F-FDG SUVmax in comparison to 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD (14.0 ± 6.1 versus 3.9 ± 1.1 g/mL, p = 0.0017) and SUVmean (8.2 ± 3.1 versus 2.0 ± 0.8 g/mL, p = 0.0017). Both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptakes were neither correlated with grade, HPV status nor p16 protein expression (p ≥ 0.17).

Conclusion

All HNSCC tumors were detected with both tracers with higher uptake with 18F-FDG, however. 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD has a different spatial distribution than 18F-FDG bringing different tumor information.

Trial registration

NCT, NCT02666547. Registered 12.8.2012.
Porcine DNAJB6 promotes PCV2 replication via enhancing the formation of autophagy in host cells
Authors: Han Cong , Du Qian , Zhu Lei , Chen Nannan , Luo Le , Chen Qiao , Yin Jiatong , Wu Xingchen , Tong Dewen , Huang Yong
Published: May 2020

Hsp40/DnaJ family proteins play important roles in the infection process of various viruses. Porcine DNAJB6 (pDNAJB6) is a major member of this family, but its role in modulating the replication of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is still unclear. In the present study, pDNAJB6 was found to be significantly upregulated by PCV2 infection, and confirmed to be interacted with PCV2 capsid (Cap) protein and co-localized at both cytoplasm and nucleus in the PCV2-infected cells. Knockout of pDNAJB6 significantly reduced the formation of autophagosomes in PCV2-infected cells or in the cells expressing Cap protein, whereas overexpression of pDNAJB6 showed an opposite effect. In addition, the domain mapping assay showed that the J domain of pDNAJB6 (amino acids (aa) 1–99) and the C terminus of Cap (162-234 aa) were required for the interaction of pDNAJB6 with Cap. Notably, the interaction of pDNAJB6 with Cap was very important to promoting the formation of autophagosomes induced by PCV2 infection or Cap expression and enhancing the replication of PCV2. Taken together, the results presented here show a novel function of pDNAJB6 in regulation of porcine circovirus replication that pDNAJB6 enhances the formation of autophagy to promote viral replication through interacting with viral capsid protein during PCV2 infection.
CNN-based 3D object classification using Hough space of LiDAR point clouds
Authors: Song Wei , Zhang Lingfeng , Tian Yifei , Fong Simon , Liu Jinming , Gozho Amanda
Published: May 2020

With the wide application of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) in the collection of high-precision environmental point cloud information, three-dimensional (3D) object classification from point clouds has become an important research topic. However, the characteristics of LiDAR point clouds, such as unstructured distribution, disordered arrangement, and large amounts of data, typically result in high computational complexity and make it very difficult to classify 3D objects. Thus, this paper proposes a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based 3D object classification method using the Hough space of LiDAR point clouds to overcome these problems. First, object point clouds are transformed into Hough space using a Hough transform algorithm, and then the Hough space is rasterized into a series of uniformly sized grids. The accumulator count in each grid is then computed and input to a CNN model to classify 3D objects. In addition, a semi-automatic 3D object labeling tool is developed to build a LiDAR point clouds object labeling library for four types of objects (wall, bush, pedestrian, and tree). After initializing the CNN model, we apply a dataset from the above object labeling library to train the neural network model offline through a large number of iterations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves object classification accuracy of up to 93.3% on average.
The use of milk Fourier transform mid-infrared spectra and milk yield to estimate heat production as a measure of efficiency of dairy cows
Authors: Mesgaran Sadjad Danesh , Eggert Anja , Höckels Peter , Derno Michael , Kuhla Björn
Published: May 2020

Background

Transformation of feed energy ingested by ruminants into milk is accompanied by energy losses via fecal and urine excretions, fermentation gases and heat. Heat production may differ among dairy cows despite comparable milk yield and body weight. Therefore, heat production can be considered an indicator of metabolic efficiency and directly measured in respiration chambers. The latter is an accurate but time-consuming technique. In contrast, milk Fourier transform mid-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is an inexpensive high-throughput method and used to estimate different physiological traits in cows. Thus, this study aimed to develop a heat production prediction model using heat production measurements in respiration chambers, milk FTIR spectra and milk yield measurements from dairy cows.

Methods

Heat production was computed based on the animal’s consumed oxygen, and produced carbon dioxide and methane in respiration chambers. Heat production data included 168 24-h-observations from 64 German Holstein and 20 dual-purpose Simmental cows. Animals were milked twice daily at 07:00 and 16:30 h in the respiration chambers. Milk yield was determined to predict heat production using a linear regression. Milk samples were collected from each milking and FTIR spectra were obtained with MilkoScan FT 6000. The average or milk yield-weighted average of the absorption spectra from the morning and afternoon milking were calculated to obtain a computed spectrum. A total of 288 wavenumbers per spectrum and the corresponding milk yield were used to develop the heat production model using partial least squares (PLS) regression.

Results

Measured heat production of studied animals ranged between 712 and 1470 kJ/kg BW0.75. The coefficient of determination for the linear regression between milk yield and heat production was 0.46, whereas it was 0.23 for the FTIR spectra-based PLS model. The PLS prediction model using weighted average spectra and milk yield resulted in a cross-validation variance of 57% and a root mean square error of prediction of 86.5 kJ/kg BW0.75. The ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) was 1.56.

Conclusion

The PLS model using weighted average FTIR spectra and milk yield has higher potential to predict heat production of dairy cows than models applying FTIR spectra or milk yield only.
IL-6 and INF-γ levels in patients with brucellosis in severe epidemic region, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Lin Zhi-Qiang , Lin Guo-Yue , He Wen-Wen , Zhang Chi , Zhang Rui , Li Yuan-Da , Wang Fan , Qin Ying , Duan Li , Zhao Dou-Dou , Qu Xiao-Juan , Gao Hui , Jiang Hai
Published: May 2020

Background

The incidence of brucellosis, which is caused by the Brucella species of bacteria, is rapidly rising worldwide; however, few studies have investigated the immune response to this pathogen and clinical biochemical features. In this paper, we examined the levels of various cytokines and inflammatory factors as well as clinical course characteristics in patients with brucellosis, in order to provide evidence for the diagnosis, assessment, and prognosis of this infectious disease.

Methods

A total of 191 brucellosis inpatients (50 acute cases and 141 chronic cases), as well as 60 healthy control subjects, were included in the analysis. We investigated changes in the levels of six cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, INF-γ) and related clinical biochemical markers in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis in Xinjiang, China. Possible factors were statistically analyzed using the t test, χ2 test, z test and a multivariate logistic stepwise regression test.

Results

We found that IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels were higher in those with brucellosis than in controls (P <  0.05). With regard to disease progression, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in those with an acute infection compared to chronic cases (P <  0.05). We found that the expression of all six cytokines tested was closely related to the degree of brucellosis using univariate logistic regression; however, only IL-6 and INF-γ levels were independent factors associated with the severity of brucellosis.

Conclusions

Assessing cytokine levels in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis is not only useful for detecting the immune response, but can also be indicative of the severity of brucellosis. In particular, we propose IL-6 and INF-γ levels may be useful independent predictive factors in the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of brucellosis.
Long-term slow slip events along the Nankai trough delayed by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, Japan
Authors: Ozawa Shinzaburo , Kawabata Ryouji , Kokado Kensuke , Yarai Hiroshi
Published: May 2020

The Global Navigation Satellite System network in Japan detected transient crustal deformation along the Nankai trough, Japan, from June 2018. Time-dependent inversion analysis shows that a long-term slow slip event in northern Hyuga-nada Sea along the Nankai trough, Japan, started in June 2018 and decayed in October 2018. From October 2018, a slip area appeared in the Bungo channel and expanded to northern Hyuga-nada Sea and southwest Shikoku at the time of the maximum slip rate. The slip area in the middle of the Bungo channel started to abate around May 2019, with the slip in neighboring areas nearly stopping in August 2019. The estimated rupture propagation is different from those in the past Bungo channel SSEs, in which rupture propagated southwestward from the Shikoku side to the Kyushu Island side at the time of the maximum slip rate. Furthermore, the rupture in northern Hyuga-nada Sea preceded the Bungo channel SSE and reappeared together with the Bungo channel SSE at the time of the 2018–2019 event, though the northern Hyuga-nada Sea SSE followed the 2009–2011 Bungo channel SSE. There is a possibility that the differences in the rupture propagation and recurrence interval from the past events are due to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. The adjacent locked area along the Nankai trough subduction zone is a well-known seismic gap and the 2018–2019 SSE changed the stress state in favor of the occurrence of nearby subduction earthquakes.
A first case of ileocecal resection using a Senhance Surgical System in Japan
Authors: Kondo Hiroka , Yamaguchi Shigeki , Hirano Yasumitsu , Ishii Toshimasa , Obara Nao , Wang Liming , Asari Masahiro , Kato Takuya , Takayama Tetsuyoshi , Sugita Hirofumi , Sakuramoto Shinichi , Koyama Isamu
Published: May 2020

Background

Several manufacturers are in the process of developing various innovative systems and expect more options in the robot market. One of the latest systems, the Senhance® platform (TransEnterix Surgical Inc, Morrisville, NC, USA), has already been introduced in Europe and has also been approved for clinical use in Japan. We report the first case of colorectal resection using Senhance in Japan.

Case presentation

The patient was a 79-year-old Japanese man who visited a previous physician for positive fecal occult blood. Upon close inspection, the preoperative diagnosis was cT2N0M0 stage I. We performed surgery using Senhance. The operation time was 198 min, and the estimated amount of bleeding was 10 g. He was discharged after surgery without any major complications. However, it is also true that the operability of the conventional port arrangement was poor during the surgical operation.

Conclusion

We report the first Senhance-assisted ileocecal resection for colorectal cancer in Japan. In the future, we would like to find more ways to use it by accumulating more cases.
Correction to: First COVID-19 infections in the Philippines: a case report
Authors: Edrada Edna M. , Lopez Edmundo B. , Villarama Jose Benito , Salva Villarama Eumelia P. , Dagoc Bren F. , Smith Chris , Sayo Ana Ria , Verona Jeffrey A. , Trifalgar-Arches Jamie , Lazaro Jezreel , Balinas Ellen Grace M. , Telan Elizabeth Freda O. , Roy Lynsil , Galon Myvie , Florida Carl Hill N. , Ukawa Tatsuya , Villanueva Annavi Marie G. , Saito Nobuo , Nepomuceno Jean Raphael , Ariyoshi Koya , Carlos Celia , Nicolasora Amalea Dulcene , Solante Rontgene M.
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Does sociability quality of web-based collaborative learning information system influence students’ satisfaction and system usage?
Authors: Salam Maimoona , Farooq Muhammad Shoaib
Published: May 2020

The use of collaborative learning technologies is a stimulating element of collaborative learning process, where social interaction and collaboration are key factors. This research examines the impact of sociability quality on the usage of web-based collaborative learning information system (WBCLIS) and user satisfaction. We propose a theoretical model by integrating the construct of ‘sociability quality’ in the DeLone and McLean’s (Journal of Management Information Systems 19:9–30, 2003) updated information system success model. Proposed theoretical model was empirically validated, in a service-learning course with undergraduate students, where data was collected using an online questionnaire and evaluated through partial least square, structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) statistical approach. Results suggest that, sociability quality has a direct positive impact on the system use and overall user satisfaction, along with a strong indirect impact on the net benefits of the WBCLIS. Findings also confirmed that, system use and user satisfaction are strong predictors of the net benefits. These results about sociability quality, contribute significantly in the domain of IS success literature, by identifying a novel and critical IS success dimension. Further, theoretical contribution in the context of sociability quality for IS success, and practical implications entailing the use of WBCLIS in the domain of service learning are also discussed.
Factors affecting plagiarism among students at Jazan University
Authors: Elshafei Hanaa A. , Jahangir Tamanna M.
Published: May 2020

Background

Plagiarism has been described over the past decades as a multi-layer dishonesty phenomenon emerging in higher education. A number of research papers have described a host of factors such as gender, socialization, productivity benefit, study motivation, methodological uncertainty, or easy access to electronic information through the Internet and new technologies as the driving forces for plagiarism.

The effects of plagiarism are pervasive and no one is exempted. Neither unfamiliarity nor ignorance excludes a person from the compulsory plagiarism’s ethical and legal problems. Institutional misconduct threatens student integrity, academic reputation, and professional reputation along with legal ramifications and financial penalties.

Methodology

The goal of the study is to investigate students’ propensity to use the Internet to plagiarize, factors affecting their tendencies, and plagiarism reasons.

In this research, we analyze the perception of plagiarism and academic misconduct among students at Jazan University, study major dishonesty factors, and study students’ views on plagiarism and misconduct laws.

Results

Examination of the responses of the students to various plagiarism situations showed misunderstandings and misconceptions about many forms of plagiarism.

Conclusion

Our study emphasizes that the problem in our society is that students or budding innovators are being pressured to get involved in academic dishonesty in order to perform better. To have a safe environment, the amount of academic misconduct, theft, and plagiarism must definitely be reduced to a minimum.
Machine learning techniques for computer-aided classification of active inflammatory sacroiliitis in magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Faleiros Matheus Calil , Nogueira-Barbosa Marcello Henrique , Dalto Vitor Faeda , Júnior José Raniery Ferreira , Tenório Ariane Priscilla Magalhães , Luppino-Assad Rodrigo , Louzada-Junior Paulo , Rangayyan Rangaraj Mandayam , de Azevedo-Marques Paulo Mazzoncini
Published: May 2020

Background

Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to evaluate active inflammatory sacroiliitis related to axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The qualitative and semiquantitative diagnosis performed by expert radiologists and rheumatologists remains subject to significant intrapersonal and interpersonal variation. This encouraged us to use machine-learning methods for this task.

Methods

In this retrospective study including 56 sacroiliac joint MRI exams, 24 patients had positive and 32 had negative findings for inflammatory sacroiliitis according to the ASAS group criteria. The dataset was randomly split with ~ 80% (46 samples, 20 positive and 26 negative) as training and ~ 20% as external test (10 samples, 4 positive and 6 negative). After manual segmentation of the images by a musculoskeletal radiologist, multiple features were extracted. The classifiers used were the Support Vector Machine, the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and the Instance-Based Algorithm, combined with the Relief and Wrapper methods for feature selection.

Results

Based on 10-fold cross-validation using the training dataset, the MLP classifier obtained the best performance with sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 95.6% and accuracy = 84.7%, using 6 features selected by the Wrapper method. Using the test dataset (external validation) the same MLP classifier obtained sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 66.7% and accuracy = 80%.

Conclusions

Our results show the potential of machine learning methods to identify SIJ subchondral bone marrow edema in axSpA patients and are promising to aid in the detection of active inflammatory sacroiliitis on MRI STIR sequences. Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) achieved the best results.
Iso-UniK: lightweight multi-process unikernel through memory protection keys
Authors: Li Guanyu , Du Dong , Xia Yubin
Published: May 2020

Unikernel, specializing a minimalistic libOS with an application, is an attractive design for cloud computing. However, the Achilles’ heel of unikernel is the lack of multi-process support, which makes it less flexible and applicable. Many applications rely on the process abstraction to isolate different components. For example, Apache with the multi-processing module isolates a request handler in a process to guarantee security. Prior art tackles the problem by simulating multi-process with multiple unikernels, which is incompatible with existing cloud providers and also introduces high overhead. This paper proposes Iso-UniK, a new unikernel design enabling multi-task applications with the support of both functionality and isolation. Iso-UniK leverages a recent hardware feature, named Intel Memory Protection Key (Intel MPK), to provide lightweight and efficient isolation for multi-process in unikernel. Our design has three benefits compared with previous approaches. First, Iso-UniK does not need hypervisor support and is thus compatible with existing cloud computing platforms; second, Iso-UniK promises fast system calls with only 45 cycles; last, a process can be isolated with a flexible configuration. We have implemented a prototype based on OSv, a unikernel system supporting unmodified applications. Iso-UniK can achieve fast fork operation with only 66 μs for multi-process applications. Our evaluation shows that the isolation and multi-process support in Iso-UniK will not damage the applications’ performance.
Gut eukaryotic communities in pigs: diversity, composition and host genetics contribution
Authors: Ramayo-Caldas Yuliaxis , Prenafeta-Boldú Francesc , Zingaretti Laura M. , Gonzalez-Rodriguez Olga , Dalmau Antoni , Quintanilla Raquel , Ballester Maria
Published: May 2020

Background

The pig gut microbiome harbors thousands of species of archaea, bacteria, viruses and eukaryotes such as protists and fungi. However, since the majority of published studies have been focused on prokaryotes, little is known about the diversity, host-genetic control, and contributions to host performance of the gut eukaryotic counterparts. Here we report the first study that aims at characterizing the diversity and composition of gut commensal eukaryotes in pigs, exploring their putative control by host genetics, and analyzing their association with piglets body weight.

Results

Fungi and protists from the faeces of 514 healthy Duroc pigs of two sexes and two different ages were characterized by 18S and ITS ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. The pig gut mycobiota was dominated by yeasts, with a high prevalence and abundance ofKazachstaniaspp. Regarding protists, representatives of four genera (Blastocystis, Neobalantidium, Tetratrichomonas and Trichomitus) were predominant in more than the 80% of the pigs. Heritabilities for the diversity and abundance of gut eukaryotic communities were estimated with the subset of 60d aged piglets (N = 390). The heritabilities of α-diversity and of the abundance of fungal and protists genera were low, ranging from 0.15 to 0.28. A genome wide association study reported genetic variants related to the fungal α-diversity and to the abundance ofBlastocystisspp. Annotated candidate genes were mainly associated with immunity, gut homeostasis and metabolic processes. Additionally, we explored the association of gut commensal eukaryotes with piglet body weight. Our results pointed to a positive contribution of fungi from theKazachstaniagenus, while protists displayed both positive (BlastocystisandEntamoeba) and negative (Trichomitus) associations with piglet body weight.

Conclusions

Our results point towards a minor and taxa specific genetic control over the diversity and composition of the pig gut eukaryotic communities. Moreover, we provide evidences of the associations between piglets’ body weight after weaning and members from the gut fungal and protist eukaryote community. Overall, this study highlights the relevance of considering, along with that of bacteria, the contribution of the gut eukaryote communities to better understand host-microbiome association and their role on pig performance, welfare and health.
Suicide after contact with substance misuse services: a national registry study
Authors: Myhre Martin Ø. , Kildahl Anine T. , Walby Fredrik A.
Published: May 2020

Background

People with substance use disorders have a well-known increased risk for taking their own life. Previous research has mainly focused on suicide in mental health services, whereas there is limited knowledge regarding suicide after contact with substance misuse services.

Aims

The aim of the current study was to describe the utilisation of both mental health services and substance misuse services among people who have died by suicide within a year of contact with substance misuse services.

Method

We used an explanatory observational design, where all suicide deaths in the period from 2009 to 2016 were retrieved from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and linked with the Norwegian Patient Registry. The people who had been in contact with substance misuse services within a year before their death were included in the sample (n = 419). The analysis was stratified by gender, and variables with significant differences between men and women were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model.

Results

More women (73.5%) than men (60.6%) had contact with mental health services in their last year (P = 0.01). In the adjusted logistic regression model, poisoning was more common among women (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.81, 95% CI 1.09–3.02) and women were more likely to be diagnosed with a sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic use disorder (F14) in their last year (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.37–5.68).

Conclusions

This study highlights gender differences for suicide in substance misuse services, and the importance of collaboration and cooperation between substance misuse services and mental health services.
Humanism and the Hikari Event
Authors: Long Margherita
Published: May 2020

This article tells the story of one reader’s search for an environmental humanities approach to the work of Ōe Kenzaburō. When the Fukushima Power Plant melted down in March 2011, Ōe had already been an antinuclear activist for almost fifty years. Yet the conviction that drove his opposition had always been humanist rather than environmental. Even after the disaster, he continued to address nuclear toxicity as a problem to be tackled with the power of language: the power to resist, to speak truth, to participate in democracy. But what if what Ōe has been saying for decades implicitly about his disabled son Hikari’s musical sensibility were more interesting for an ecological politics than what he repeated explicitly after the disaster? This article discusses the Hikari figure’s relation to music in two texts, both referenced by Ōe in his post–3.11 activism: a 1991 short story called “Hi o megurasu tori” 火をめぐらす鳥 (“Light Circling Bird”), and a 2009 novel called Suishi 水死 (Death by Water). I read these texts along with Isabelle Stengers’s 2009 ecomanifesto In Catastrophic Times: Resisting the Coming Barbarism to argue that the disabled musician offers powerful tools for environmental engagement.
Curating Trans Erotic Imaginaries
Authors: Horak Laura
Published: May 2020

This article considers the archival, political, and ethical questions raised by curating a public exhibit of archival trans erotic material through a case study of the author's 2019 exhibit Trans Porn Imaginaries: A Half-Century of Transvestite Lawmen and Gendertrash from Hell, which presented materials from the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies' Sexual Representation Collection and the ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives at the University of Toronto's iSchool. The exhibit explored intersections between trans erotic representation and BDSM, gay liberation, Playboy's vision of straight male sexual cosmopolitanism, the feminist porn movement, and sex worker politics. In this article, the exhibit's curator discusses the importance of pornography to trans cultural production, the limits of the archive (especially when researching pornography), and the ethics and politics of putting trans sexual representations on display. Ultimately, the author argues that exhibits such as this one can demonstrate the breadth, diversity, and longevity of transness in popular erotic imaginaries and the creativity of earlier generations of trans cultural producers, as well as create the opportunity for some people to see themselves and their desires represented.
Do north-eastern German pharmacies recommend a necessary medical consultation for acute diarrhoea? Magnitude and determinants using a simulated patient approach
Authors: Langer Bernhard , Kunow Christian
Published: May 2020

Background: In Germany, non-pharmacists (pharmacy technicians and pharmaceutical technical assistants) are permitted to advise on and sell medications in addition to pharmacists. The aim of this study was to determine if pharmacists and non-pharmacists referred patients to a medical consultation for a scenario in which consulting a doctor was mandatory (‘appropriate outcome’) and what the quality of questioning and – if a medication was dispensed – the quality of information provided were in this context. The study also aimed to determine which factors predicted a necessary referral to a doctor.

Methods: A cross-sectional, covert simulated patient study was conducted in a random sample of community pharmacies stratified by location in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Each pharmacy was visited once by one of four trained investigators. They simulated a symptom-based request involving a grandmother with acute diarrhoea. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis using potential variables from bivariate analysis was carried out to determine the predictors for a referral to a doctor.

Results: All 199 planned visits were conducted. A necessary referral to a doctor was recommended in 59.8% (n=119) of all visits. The most commonly asked question was ‘for whom is the medication?’ (75.4%, n=150), while ‘clarification by a doctor’ was asked the least (17.6%, n=35). In 87.9% (n=175) of all visits a medication was dispensed. Multivariate analysis revealed that, unlike pharmacists, non-pharmacists have a 2.446 times higher likelihood of recommending a referral to a doctor (p = 0.044; 95% CI = 1.025–5.835).

Conclusions: In almost half of the visits a necessary referral to a doctor was not recommended. Furthermore, the quality of questioning and the quality of information were below expectations. Moreover, involvement of non‑pharmacists was surprisingly identified as a relevant factor influencing the appropriate outcome.
“Let the Sunshine In”: The Impact of Industry Payment Disclosure on Physician Prescription Behavior
Authors: Guo Tong , Sriram Srinivasaraghavan , Manchanda Puneet
Published: May 2020

Disclosing marketing payments to physicians resulted in a robust decline in both branded and generic prescriptions in three best-seller classes, likely because of physician self-monitoring.
Wholesale Price Discrimination in Global Sourcing
Authors: Cui Ruomeng , Li Jingyun , Li Meng , Yu Lili
Published: May 2020

Problem definition : We investigate wholesale price discrimination in a global sourcing marketplace. Academic/practical relevance : Previous research has found price discrimination in business-to-consumer markets, in which buyers are end customers. There is limited research on suppliers’ price-quoting behaviors and price discrimination in business-to-business (B2B) markets. It is unclear whether certain characteristics of B2B buyers, who are often representatives of firms and not end customers, would influence suppliers’ pricing decisions. Methodology : We collaborate with a global trading company that runs a field experiment on a B2B platform. Results : We find that there is no significant difference in the wholesale prices quoted to buyers selling in U.S. and South African markets. We also find that suppliers quote significantly higher wholesale prices to white buyers than to Asian and black buyers regardless of country. However, price discrimination disappears when buyers present market information to suppliers, providing the lowest wholesale price offered by other suppliers in the market, whereas price discrimination remains when buyers present social information to suppliers, thereby indicating the buyer is referred by a previous customer. In addition, we show that market information can help buyers obtain a lower wholesale price because it signals a lower willingness to pay. Social information, however, can reduce price quotes for only black and white buyers but not for Asian (particularly Chinese) buyers. Managerial implications : Our work can provide guidance to suppliers’ pricing strategies, buyers’ inquiry strategies, and B2B platforms’ information strategies to attract and retain users.
Exploring Students’ Perception and Belief of Extensive Reading Program in Improving Reading Ability and Language Competences
Authors: Anggraini Winda Ari
Published: May 2020

The aim of this research was to investigate students’ perception toward a small-scale project of extensive reading (ER) program. ER is believed can improve many aspects of language skills, including vocabulary, reading speed, listening, speaking, and writing (Day and Bamford, 1998; Renandya, 2007). Therefore, research participants were also asked about their view on reading ability and other linguistic competences improvement. This research utilized case study specifically focused on three students who showed outstanding progress through the project, using semi-structured interview for data collection. The paper concludes with positive results for both students’ perception and their reading ability and language competence.
Strategies to reduce Gram-negative infections: a community perspective
Authors: Aziz Ann-Marie
Published: May 2020

Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria continue to be on the rise, despite efforts by the Government and health service to curb their numbers. Most of these infections arise in the community. The case for targeting community-onset healthcare-associated infections is stark and requires a shift in focus from traditionally providing increased efforts in the hospital setting to a diversion of attention to the community. This article describes the challenges faced with increasing Gram-negative bloodstream infections and explores measures being taken to reduce transmission. As recent guidance has highlighted a proliferation within the community setting this article particularly focuses on a three-point plan for primary care. The strategies laid out are to reduce urinary tract infections, improve hydration and control antibiotic usage. Adopting these strategies will assist in reducing infection and targeting efforts where they are needed most.
Midwives in the midst of COVID-19
Authors: Kerelo Sydney
Published: May 2020

Midwives and healthcare professionals all over the globe are facing the pandemic head-on, utilising hand hygiene and sanitisation to prevent the virus from spreading
Reducing the incidence of stillbirth in black women
Authors: Esegbona-Adeigbe Sarah , Olayiwola Wendy
Published: May 2020

Black and black British women have an increased risk of stillbirth in the UK. The stillbirth rate for the UK in 2017 has reduced to 3.74 per 1 000 total births. However, mortality rates remain high for black or black British women, despite stillbirth rates for these groups reducing over the period 2015–2017 from 8.17–7.46 per 1 000 births ( Draper et al, 2019 ). These facts raise the question of why these trends continue and what steps can be taken to address this issue. This paper explores the possible reasons why black and black British women continue to be at increased risk for stillbirths. Recommendations will be made on reducing the risk of stillbirth and the importance of tailoring health services for black and black British women. For the purpose of this paper, the term ‘black women’ will be used for black and black British women.