bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The metabolic adaptation mechanism of metastatic organotropism
Authors: Wang Chao , Luo Daya
Published: April 2021

Metastasis is a complex multistep cascade of cancer cell extravasation and invasion, in which metabolism plays an important role. Recently, a metabolic adaptation mechanism of cancer metastasis has been proposed as an emerging model of the interaction between cancer cells and the host microenvironment, revealing a deep and extensive relationship between cancer metabolism and cancer metastasis. However, research on how the host microenvironment affects cancer metabolism is mostly limited to the impact of the local tumour microenvironment at the primary site. There are few studies on how differences between the primary and secondary microenvironments promote metabolic changes during cancer progression or how secondary microenvironments affect cancer cell metastasis preference. Hence, we discuss how cancer cells adapt to and colonize in the metabolic microenvironments of different metastatic sites to establish a metastatic organotropism phenotype. The mechanism is expected to accelerate the research of cancer metabolism in the secondary microenvironment, and provides theoretical support for the generation of innovative therapeutic targets for clinical metastatic diseases.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria in China: incidence and antimicrobial resistance spectrum from a nationwide survey
Authors: Liu Chun-Fa , Song Yi-Meng , He Wen-Cong , Liu Dong-Xin , He Ping , Bao Jing-Jing , Wang Xin-Yang , Li Yan-Ming , Zhao Yan-Lin
Published: April 2021

Background

Information on the prevalence and resistance spectrum of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in China is mainly based on regional or local data. To estimate the proportion of NTM cases in China, a national survey of NTM pulmonary disease was carried out based on acid-fast positive sputum samples collected in 2013.

Methods

Sputum samples collected from enrolled presumptive cases in 72 nationwide tuberculosis surveillance sites from the 31 provinces in the mainland of China were cultured using L-J medium at the National tuberculosis reference laboratory (NTRL). MALDI-TOF MS identified the species of re-cultured strains, and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined to evaluate the drug susceptibility of NTM isolates. Data analysis used statistical software SPSS version 22.0 for Windows statistical package.

Results

Of 4917 mycobacterial isolates cultured, 6.4% [317/4917, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.8%–7.2%] were confirmed as NTM, among which 7.7% (287/3709, 95% CI 6.9%–8.6%) were from the southern region. In inland and coastal China, 87.7% (95% CI 78.7%–93.2%) and 50.0% (95% CI 43.7%–56.3%) of isolates, respectively, were slow-growing mycobacteria (SGM), with the remaining rapid growing mycobacteria (RGM). A total of 29 species were detected, Mycobacterium abscessus had higher clarithromycin-inducible resistance rates than M. massiliense (65.67% vs 2.22%). M. kansasii presented lower resistance rates in linezolid and moxifloxacin than M. avium-intracellulare complex (3.23% vs 66.67%, 0 vs 47.22%) and other SGM (3.23% vs 38%, 0 vs 26%).

Conclusions

More NTM pulmonary disease was observed in the south and coastal China (P < 0.01). SGM was widely distributed, and more RGM are present in southern and coastal China (P < 0.01). The antimicrobial resistance spectrum of different NTM species was significantly different and accurate species identification would be facilitated to NTM pulmonary disease treatment.
Psychological distress and associated factors of the primary caregivers of offspring with eating disorder during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wu Meng Ting , Guo Lei , Zhu Zhuo Ying , Peng Su Fang , Li Wei , Chen Han , Fan Juan , Chen Jue
Published: April 2021

Background

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic and posed serious challenges in many countries. A number of studies before the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that the primary caregivers of the ED patients are subjected to great burden, psychological pressure, and serious emotional problems. This study aimed to investigate the psychological distress level of the primary caregivers of ED offspring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

From March 6 to April 20, 2020, 378 questionnaires for primary caregivers of ED offspring and 1163 questionnaires for primary caregivers of healthy offspring were collected through an online crowdsourcing platform in mainland China. Valid questionnaires that met the criteria included 343 (90.74%) primary caregivers of ED offspring and 1085 (93.29%) primary caregivers of healthy offspring. Using Propensity Score Matching (PSM), 315 (83.33%) primary caregivers of ED offspring and 315 matched primary caregivers of healthy offspring were included in the statistical analysis. Depression, anxiety, perceived stress and social support were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Perceived Stress Scale-10 and Social Support Rating Scale, respectively.

Results

The rates of depression and anxiety of the primary caregivers of ED offspring were 20.6 and 16.5%, which were significantly higher than those of primary caregivers of healthy offspring (4.1 and 2.2%), all P < 0.001. Regression analysis found that perceived stress, social support, previous or present mental illness, family conflicts during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the severity of depression (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.041, P = 0.014); Perceived stress, social support, family conflicts during the COVID-19 pandemic and years of education had a significant impact on the severity of anxiety (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.002, P = 0.003).

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, primary caregivers of ED offspring experienced more psychological distress than that of primary caregivers of healthy offspring. ED caregivers with high perceived stress may have higher levels of depression and anxiety. ED caregivers with high social support, no mental illness and no family conflicts may have lower levels of depression. ED caregivers with high social support, no family conflicts, and high years of education may have lower levels of anxiety.
Expression and clinical prognostic value of m6A RNA methylation modification in breast cancer
Authors: Zheng Fangchao , Du Feng , Qian Haili , Zhao Jiuda , Wang Xue , Yue Jian , Hu Nanlin , Si Yiran , Xu Binghe , Yuan Peng
Published: April 2021

Background

N6-methyladenosine(m6A) methylation modification affects the tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis of breast cancer (BC). However, the expression characteristics and prognostic value of m6A modification in BC are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between m6A modification and clinicopathological characteristics, and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Three public cohorts and our clinical cohort were included: 1091 BC samples and 113 normal samples from the TCGA database, 1985 BC samples from the METABRIC database, 1764 BC samples from the KM Plotter website, and 134 BC samples of our clinical cohort. We collected date from these cohorts and analyzed the genetic expression, gene-gene interactions, gene mutations, copy number variations (CNVs), and clinicopathological and prognostic features of 28 m6A RNA regulators in BC.

Results

This study demonstrated that some m6A regulators were significantly differenially expressed in BCs and their adjacent tissues, and also different in various molecular types. All 28 studied m6A regulators exhibited interactions. KIAA1429 had the highest mutation frequency. CNVs of m6A regulators were observed in BC patients. The expression of the m6A regulators was differentially associated with survival of BC. Higher CBLL1 expression was associated with a better prognosis in BC than lower CBLL1 expression. Functional analysis showed that CBLL1 was related to the ESR1-related pathway, apoptosis-related pathway, cell cycle pathway and immune-related pathway in BC.

Conclusions

m6A RNA modification modulated gene expression and thereby affected clinicopathological features and survival outcomes in BC. CBLL1 may be a promising prognostic biomarker for BC patients.
The association of heat shock protein genetic polymorphisms with age-related hearing impairment in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Ning-Chia , Yang Hua-Ling , Dai Chia-Yen , Lin Wen-Yi , Hsieh Meng-Hsuen , Chien Chen-Yu , Ho Kuen-Yao
Published: April 2021

Background

Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) is a major disability among the elderly population. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) were found to be associated with ARHI in animal studies. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HSP genes with ARHI in an elderly population in Taiwan.

Methods

Participants ≥65 years of age were recruited for audiometric tests and genetic analyses. The pure tone average (PTA) of the better hearing ear was calculated for ARHI evaluation. The associations of HSPA1L (rs2075800 and rs2227956), HSPA1A (rs1043618) and HSPA1B (rs2763979) with ARHI were analyzed in 146 ARHI-susceptible (cases) and 146 ARHI-resistant (controls) participants.

Results

The “T” allele of HSPA1B rs2763979 showed a decreased risk of ARHI. The “TT” genotype of rs2763979 also showed a decreased risk of ARHI in the dominant hereditary model. For HSPA1L (rs2075800 and rs2227956) and HSPA1A (rs1043618), the haplotype “CAG” was related to a decreased risk of ARHI.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that HSP70 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to ARHI in the elderly population.

Graphical Abstract
Frictional stability of porous tuff breccia under subsurface pressure conditions and implications for shallow seismicity
Authors: Mizoguchi Kazuo , Uehara Shin-ichi , Hirose Takehiro , Iizuka Sachiko
Published: April 2021

Thick sediment layers frequently cover the Japan islands’ surface, and their frictional properties significantly affect the shallow slip behavior that occurs during earthquakes. However, laboratory data on the properties of the shallow zone remain limited. We collected tuff breccia samples from deep borehole cores in the Miocene “Green Tuff” formation, a major surface cover, and performed velocity-stepping friction tests on these samples under in situ stresses of 2 to 20 MPa to assess the velocity dependence of their frictional strength. The samples exhibit predominantly frictionally stable, velocity-strengthening behavior over the range of normal stresses tested, which supports the hypothesis that shallow sediment layers are seismically quiescent. This result is consistent with the low seismicity and attenuation of coseismic slip occurring in the shallow zone that is observed during regional earthquakes. Microstructural observations of the postmortem samples using optical and scanning electron microscopes indicate a fabric transition from boundary shear localization to distributed cataclastic flow with increasing normal stress. Our laboratory investigation of the depth-variable distribution of the frictional velocity dependence of a shallow sediment layer would provide further insight into the mechanical role for earthquake rupture dynamics and shallow seismicity.
Retrospective study of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases in Giza Governorate during the period of 2014–2018
Authors: El Malik Amany Rabea Abd , El Wahab Amany Ezz Elarab Abd , Eltrawy Heba H.
Published: April 2021

Background

Tuberculosis in Egypt is a main public health problem. Egypt is categorized among the mid-level incidence countries.The objective of this work isto study the epidemiology of TB in Giza Governorate during the period from 2014 to 2018.

Results

This study revealed that the total number of TB cases in Giza Governorate during the period from 2014 to 2018 was 3357 (2035 males and 1322 females including 199 children) with the highest number of cases in 2017 (n=770 cases). The highest incidence occurred in the age group 18–65 years (86.3%%, 78.8%, 83.8%, 84.2%, and 87.1%) and male gender (56.8%, 62.8%, 59.9%, 61.3%, and 61.5%) during the study period, respectively, and in urban residence, the higher percentage occurred in PTB than EPTB in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018 (66.2%, 58.9%, 57.3%, and 55.5%), respectively, while the incidence of the extra PTB was higher than PTB in 2017 (51.6% versus 48.4%). The increased incidence of new cases (92.9%, 89.6%, 92.7%, 91.8%, and 92.9%) during the 5 studied years are smear-positive and cure outcome (86.3%, 87.7%, 88.7%, 83.4%, and 83.4%, respectively)

Conclusion

Young, middle-aged male, and new smear-positive cases were highest in percentage. The highest percentage of PTB (66.2%) was registered in 2014, and the highest percentage of EPTB (51.6%) was registered in 2017. The increased percentage of cure outcome was during the period from 2014 to 2018 in Giza Governorate.
John Snow: Anesthesiologist, Epidemiologist, Scientist, and Hero
Authors: Holzman Robert S.
Published: April 2021

A 19th century physician was crucial to the establishment of 2 medical specialties—anesthesiology and public health. Everyone whose interest in public health has increased in the last year will be amazed at Dr John Snow’s career in anesthesiology. Those who recognize him as the first full-time physician anesthetist will be struck by his development of medical mapping during the Cholera Pandemic of 1848, resulting in one of the fundamental techniques of epidemiology and public health that has continued through today. Snow’s accomplishments in anesthesiology and epidemiology reflected a concatenation of science, focus, and creativity. His training in the early 19th century integrated science, medicine, and his keen interest in respiratory physiology. His early clinical exposure to colliery workers in Newcastle was likely influenced by the earlier development of pneumatic medicine. He was committed to the notion that chemistry, especially the use of medicinal gases, would be transformative for medicine. Thus, he was “primed” when the news of the American anodyne ether reached London in 1846. When the third cholera pandemic reached London shortly thereafter, in the fall of 1848, his academic and practical understanding of gas chemistry and pharmacology, respiratory physiology, and anesthetic agents led him to question the popularly promulgated miasma-based theories of transmission. His methodical investigations, research, and perseverance were mirrored in his scholarly work, numerous presentations, and public advocacy. He articulated many scientific principles essential to the early practice of anesthesia—anesthetic potency, quantitative dosing of anesthetic agents, engineering principles required for conserving the latent heat of vaporization, and minimizing the contribution of anesthetic equipment to airway resistance. He moved easily and methodically between these worlds of physiology, chemistry, engineering, clinical medicine, and public health. In his role as the first medical epidemiologist, Snow understood the power of medical mapping and the graphic presentation of data. He was a pioneer in 2 nascent fields of medicine that were historically and remain contemporarily connected.
The Precious Seed of Christian Virtue: Charity, Disability, and Belonging in Guatemala, 1871–1947
Authors: Vrana Heather
Published: April 2021

This article addresses the role of disability and disabled people in the construction of citizenship and nation through the ideologies and practices of charity from the 1870s through the 1940s. These periods of Guatemalan history are generally thought of as distinct: the Liberal triumph over Conservatives, Liberal dictatorship, and democratic revolution. To the contrary, practices of charity reveal the continuity of these political forms. This article explains the three models of charity that characterized modern Guatemala—caridad, beneficencia, and asistencia social—and outlines how they reflected understandings of the relationship between individuals and the state. It also provides a window into the daily lives of patients at the nation's insane asylum, leprosarium, and general hospital, who were not merely objects of charity but also political subjects who engaged charity models to gain access to resources, people, and mobility. In sum, this article integrates disability into broader historical narratives.
Visualization of X chromosome reactivation in mouse primordial germ cells in vivo
Authors: Haramoto Yoshikazu , Sakata Mino , Kobayashi Shin
Published: April 2021

X chromosome inactivation (XCI), determined during development, remains stable after embryonic cell divisions. However, primordial germ cells (PGCs) are exceptions in that XCI is reprogrammed and inactivated X chromosomes are reactivated. Although interactions between PGCs and somatic cells are thought to be important for PGC development, little is known about them. Here, we performed imaging of X chromosome reactivation (XCR) using the ‘Momiji’ mouse system, which can monitor the X chromosome's inactive and active states using two color fluorescence reporter genes, and investigated whether interactions would affect XCR in PGCs. Based on their expression levels, we found that XCR of the Pgk1 locus began at embryonic day (E)10.5 and was almost complete by E13.5. During this period, PGCs became distributed uniformly in the genital ridge, proliferated, and formed clusters; XCR progressed accordingly. In addition, XCR of the Pgk1 locus preceded that of the Hprt locus, indicating that the timing of epigenetic memory erasure varied according to the locus of each of these X-linked genes. Our results indicate that XCR proceeds along with the proliferation of PGCs clustered within the genital ridge.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
The initiation knot is a signaling center required for molar tooth development
Authors: Mogollón Isabel , Moustakas-Verho Jacqueline E. , Niittykoski Minna , Ahtiainen Laura
Published: April 2021

Signaling centers, or organizers, regulate many aspects of embryonic morphogenesis. In the mammalian molar tooth, reiterative signaling in specialized centers called enamel knots (EKs) determines tooth patterning. Preceding the primary EK, transient epithelial thickening appears, the significance of which remains debated. Using tissue confocal fluorescence imaging with laser ablation experiments, we show that this transient thickening is an earlier signaling center, the molar initiation knot (IK), that is required for the progression of tooth development. IK cell dynamics demonstrate the hallmarks of a signaling center: cell cycle exit, condensation and eventual silencing through apoptosis. IK initiation and maturation are defined by the juxtaposition of cells with high Wnt activity to Shh-expressing non-proliferating cells, the combination of which drives the growth of the tooth bud, leading to the formation of the primary EK as an independent cell cluster. Overall, the whole development of the tooth, from initiation to patterning, is driven by the iterative use of signaling centers.
Identification of in vivo Hox13-binding sites reveals an essential locus controlling zebrafish brachyury expression
Authors: Ye Zhi , Braden Christopher R. , Wills Andrea , Kimelman David
Published: April 2021

During early embryogenesis, the vertebrate embryo extends from anterior to posterior because of the progressive addition of cells from a posteriorly localized neuromesodermal progenitor (NMp) population. An autoregulatory loop between Wnt and Brachyury/Tbxt is required for NMps to retain mesodermal potential and, hence, normal axis development. We recently showed that Hox13 genes help to support body axis formation and to maintain the autoregulatory loop, although the direct Hox13 target genes were unknown. Here, using a new method for identifying in vivo transcription factor-binding sites, we identified more than 500 potential Hox13 target genes in zebrafish. Importantly, we found two highly conserved Hox13-binding elements far from the tbxta transcription start site that also contain a conserved Tcf7/Lef1 (Wnt response) site. We show that the proximal of the two elements is sufficient to confer somitogenesis-stage expression to a tbxta promoter that, on its own, only drives NMp expression during gastrulation. Importantly, elimination of this proximal element produces shortened embryos due to aberrant formation of the most posterior somites. Our study provides a potential direct connection between Hox13 and regulation of the Wnt/Brachyury loop.
Hysterosalpingography in the assessment of proximal tubal pathology: a review of congenital and acquired abnormalities
Authors: Zafarani Fatemeh , Ghaffari Firouzeh , Ahmadi Firoozeh , Soleimani Mehranjani Malek , Shahrzad Golam
Published: April 2021

Tubal and peritoneal disease are the main causes of infertility. Tubal pathology can be either congenital malformation or acquired, proximal or distal, unilateral or bilateral and transient or permanent. Several imaging methods such as laparoscopy, fluoroscopy, saline infusion sonography, and hysterosalpingography (HSG) have been used in the assessment of tubal and peritoneal pathology. Although laparoscopy is the modality of choice for investigating tubal patency and pelvic structure in many infertility centers, HSG is usually the initial diagnostic method for infertility workup because of its ease of performance, accuracy, and minimal risk of complications. This method provides useful information about size, contour, and anatomy of the inner surface of the fallopian tubes and is the gold standard for evaluation of tubal lumen. Tubal and peritubal pathology show various imaging manifestations on HSG. This review illustrates the radiographic features of congenital and acquired structural abnormalities of the proximal tubal pathology and along with etiology of proximal obstruction or occlusion will be described.
A signaling pathway-driven bioinformatics pipeline for predicting therapeutics against emerging infectious diseases
Authors: Scott Tiana M. , Jensen Sam , Pickett Brett E.
Published: April 2021

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), is a novel Betacoronavirus that was first reported in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. The virus has since caused a worldwide pandemic that highlights the need to quickly identify potential prophylactic or therapeutic treatments that can reduce the signs, symptoms, and/or spread of disease when dealing with a novel infectious agent. To combat this problem, we constructed a computational pipeline that uniquely combines existing tools to predict drugs and biologics that could be repurposed to combat an emerging pathogen.

Methods: Our workflow analyzes RNA-sequencing data to determine differentially expressed genes, enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms, and dysregulated pathways in infected cells, which can then be used to identify US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs that target human proteins within these pathways. We used this pipeline to perform a meta-analysis of RNA-seq data from cells infected with three Betacoronavirus species including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV; SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV; MERS), and SARS-CoV-2, as well as respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus to identify therapeutics that could be used to treat COVID-19. 

Results: This analysis identified twelve existing drugs, most of which already have FDA-approval, that are predicted to counter the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results were cross-referenced with interventional clinical trials and other studies in the literature to identify drugs on our list that had previously been identified or used as treatments for COIVD-19 including canakinumab, anakinra, tocilizumab, sarilumab, and baricitinib.

Conclusions: While the results reported here are specific to Betacoronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, our bioinformatics pipeline can be used to quickly identify candidate therapeutics for future emerging infectious diseases.
International Standards on Auditing
Authors: Arzumanova Lana , Orlova Natal'ya , Caregradskaya Yuliya , Sobol' Ol'ga
Published: April 2021

For graduate students, teachers, postgraduates and law students. The manual can be useful for the preparation of course papers and theses by students in the field of training "Jurisprudence", "State and municipal administration"."
El huerto educativo ante el cambio climático: Propuesta de una hipótesis de transición sobre el agua y la alimentación humana.
Authors: Guerrero Fernández Alicia , Nieto Ramos Marina , Herruzo Lucena Raquel , López Lozano Lidia , Rodríguez Marín Fátima , García Díaz Eduardo
Published: April 2021

La actual situación de crisis ecosocial y la problemática del cambio climático, exige preparar a la ciudadanía, desde el ámbito educativo, con estrategias de resiliencia y de adaptación a los cambios y a una nueva realidad de decrecimiento inevitable. Consideramos el huerto educativo como un recurso indispensable para hacer frente a este reto. El objetivo de este trabajo se centra en diseñar hipótesis de transición sobre el ciclo de nutrientes vinculado a la alimentación humana y al agua, basándonos en la idea de metabolismo ecosistémico. La metodología seguida se basa en un enfoque descriptivo cualitativo a través de un análisis de contenido, utilizando como datos las declaraciones de profesorado en formación inicial y en activo de Educación Infantil. Como resultado, se han diseñado dos hipótesis de transición vinculadas al agua y al ciclo de nutrientes. Se han establecido cinco niveles, siendo el último la propuesta deseable para abordar esa problemática. En conclusiones, se presentan algunas consideraciones que hemos obtenido tras la realización de las hipótesis que pueden servir de base para la creación de itinerarios de actividades que ayuden a comprender el problema del cambio climático
Evaluar competencias digitales en Educación Infantil desde las prácticas de aula
Authors: Ramírez Orellana Elena , Cañedo Hernández Isabel , Orgaz Baz Begoña , Martín-Domínguez Jorge
Published: April 2021

El presente trabajo pretende, por una parte, crear un instrumento para evaluar las habilidades digitales de alumnos de educación infantil (de 3 a 6 años de edad) partiendo de sus prácticas de aula; y por otra, valorar los niveles de autonomía adquiridos por los alumnos respecto de dichas habilidades. El estudio se realizó durante dos años escolares, recopilando datos de un total de 254 alumnos de 17 aulas con un recurso TIC en ocho escuelas. En primer lugar, los resultados ofrecen un instrumento diseñado y verificado en la práctica para la evaluación de las habilidades digitales. En segundo lugar, los resultados sobre autonomía destacan la importancia que tienen factores como la madurez, el contenido curricular y la naturaleza de la práctica en el aula para explicar la adquisición de habilidades digitales. Es importante subrayar la necesidad de realizar más estudios de evaluación de habilidades adoptando un enfoque centrado en las prácticas.
Competencia Digital Docente del profesorado de FP de Galicia
Authors: Casal Otero Lorena , Barreira Cerqueiras Eva María , Mariño Fernández Raquel , García Antelo Beatriz
Published: April 2021

La competencia digital docente es indispensable para optimizar procesos de enseñanza, facilitar el aprendizaje y favorecer la competencia digital del alumnado. Este estudio informa del grado de competencia digital docente del profesorado de Formación Profesional (FP) de Galicia, su actitud hacia las TIC y la influencia de la variable género en dicha competencia. La muestra la componen 249 docentes de 22 familias profesionales. Se utiliza una metodología cuantitativa, de corte exploratorio-descriptivo no experimental. Para la recogida de información se adaptó el cuestionario “DigCompEdu Check-In (Cabero-Almenara & Palacios-Rodríguez, 2020). Los resultados indican que el profesorado de FP de Galicia se sitúa en un nivel competencial medio (integrador y experto), tiene actitud favorable y el género es un factor influyente en el nivel de competencia digital docente en FP. La prospectiva de esta investigación es promover una revisión de los planes de estudio de formación inicial y contínua del profesorado de FP para avanzar en el logro la competencia digital docente.
Game—How to Share the Gains of Collaboration?
Authors: Barbarino Sergio , Boute Robert N.
Published: April 2021

Supply chain collaborations may generate substantial cost savings. Many such initiatives cease to exist, however, due to not reaching an agreement on how to share the gains. We describe an exercise to understand the challenges in collaborative gain sharing.

Funding: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (FP7 Transport) [Grant Agreement 284926].
Academic Motivation in Introductory Business Analytics Courses: A Bayesian Approach
Authors: Vaziri Stacey , Vaziri Baback , Novoa Luis J. , Torabi Elham
Published: April 2021

The MUSIC (eMpowerment, Usefulness, Success, Interest, Caring) Model of Academic motivation was developed to help instructors promote student motivation in the classroom. This study examines relationships among student perceptions of motivation and effort compared with their performance in undergraduate business analytics courses. Specifically, the study will attempt to answer the questions of whether students’ scores on the MUSIC model predict or explain effort, academic performance, course rating, and instructor rating. A Bayesian approach to linear regression is used to determine and understand the impact of the MUSIC model components on the aforementioned output measures.
Egressos de enfermagem e suas concepções sobre o mundo do trabalho
Authors: Mello Carolina Viegas de , Shoji Shino , Souza Norma Valéria Dantas de Oliveira , Medeiros Célia Regina Da Silva
Published: April 2021

Objetivos: identificar e analisar os aspectos facilitadores e limitadores dos graduandos de enfermagem em sua inserção profissional. Método: Estudo qualitativo e descritivo, desenvolvido em duas universidades federais do Rio de Janeiro. Os participantes foram 43 egressos dessas universidades, no qual foi aplicado um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. O tratamento dos dados ocorreu pela análise lexical com auxílio do software Iramuteq. Resultados: Constatou-se que, na Universidade A, os fatores facilitadores para a execução do trabalho foram autonomia, relacionamento interpessoal e equipe de trabalho. Os limitadores caracterizam-se como sobrecarga de trabalho, escassez de recursos humanos e de materiais, qualificação profissional e baixo reconhecimento. Na Universidade B, os fatores facilitadores foram condições laborais, trabalho em equipe e autonomia. Já os limitadores foram sobrecarga de trabalho, déficit de recursos humanos e de materiais e relacionamento interpessoal. Conclusão: Ressalta-se que os fatores dificultadores suplantaram os facilitadores e são necessárias intervenções e reformulações não apenas no ambiente de trabalho, mas também no campo da formação.
Período pós-parto e infecção pelo novo coronavírus: revisão de escopo
Authors: Oliveira Karoline Faria de , Oliveira Jacqueline Faria de , Wernet Monika , Paschoini Marina Carvalho , Ruiz Mariana Torreglosa
Published: April 2021

Objetivo: mapear as evidências disponíveis na literatura acerca dos manejos e desfechos da infecção pelo novo coronavírus no puerpério. Método: revisão de escopo conforme o Institute Joanna Briggs, desenvolvida em quatro fontes de dados eletrônicas. A extração, análise e síntese dos dados foi realizada por quatro pesquisadores independentes. Resultados: Nove publicações foram revisadas de 188 localizadas. Seis foram os países produtores das evidências, todas obtidas e publicadas em 2020. Vinte e um casos de COVID-19 no puerpério estiveram tratados nestas publicações, sendo 15 (71,4%) relativos a evoluções graves/exacerbação da doença e seis (28,6%) diagnosticados após a alta hospitalar. Conclusão: O mapeamento aponta para a ocorrência da infecção ou seu agravamento no período pós-parto, com indicativas ao monitoramento de sinais e sintomas, exploração diagnóstica e tratamento acurado e necessidade de acompanhamento próximo das mulheres diagnosticadas com COVID-19, sintomáticas ou não, no período pós parto.
Aedes aegypti: ESTUDO PILOTO SOBRE A EFETIVIDADE DE DELTAMETRINA E LAMBDA-CIALOTRINA EM CULICÍDEOS COM CAPACIDADE VETORIAL
Authors: Medeiros Camille Zambiase , Cruz Letícia Carolina da , Ehrhardt Alexandre
Published: April 2021

O Aedes aegypti é o mosquito vetor de maior estima para a saúde pública, sendo o transmissor de inúmeras doenças endêmicas no mundo. Os programas de controle vetorial utilizam como principal inseticida químico, os organofosforados e piretróides, que auxiliam contra a proliferação de criadouros. Porém, alguns fatores de resistência do Aedes, demonstram maior dificuldade para a vigilância e monitoramento. Com isso objetivou-se avaliar a efetividade de um produto com ação larvicida, a partir dos compostos Deltametrina 0,75% + Lambda-cialotrina 0,25%, em larvas expostas ao meio ambiente, em bairros com foco na cidade de Carazinho, Rio Grande do Sul. As larvas foram coletadas em locais com supostos criadouros, e armazenadas em recipientes até serem levadas ao laboratório para análise. Para todos os experimentos, foi utilizada uma diluição padrão indicada de uso, sendo rediluída nas proporções de: 1.000 μL, 500 µL, 200 μL, 100 µL, 50 μL e 25 µL em 100 mL de H2O.  Na avaliação das diluições testadas, foi possível observar um padrão de inibição com intervalo de tempo máximo de 30 minutos, havendo 100% de mortalidade, indicando alto nível de letalidade do produto em experimentação. Ao serem avaliadas as larvas de culicídeos selvagens expostas a aplicação do produto com ação larvicida na combinação dos piretróides DMT e LCT, o mesmo alcançou a efetividade desejada.
Re-reading Ibn-Khaldun in the 21st Century: Traveling Theory and the Question of Authority, Legitimacy, and State Violence in the Modern Arab World
Authors: Abozeid Ahmed
Published: April 2021

To illuminate the complicated relationship between the authorities and society in the contemporary Arab world, this paper draws on Ibn Khaldun's propositions. By applying Edward Said's notion of traveling theory, it traces, interrogates, and evaluates ways in which multiple readings of Ibn Khaldun's theory have been (re)formulated, transplanted, and circulated by other authors, and how these theories traveled from an earlier point to another time and place where they come into new prominence. Furthermore, it examines how three contemporary Arab thinkers (Abid Al-Jabri, Abdullah Laroui, and Nazih Ayubi) addressed and interpreted the heritage of Ibn Khaldun and his theory on state formation and authority constitutive in the Arab Islamic world (particularly the Sunni world). The paper concludes that, in comparison with Said's “traveling theory” intentions, the three modern Arabic readings of Ibn Khaldun's theory were not traveling as much as it was attempting to uproot, distort, suffocate, and even bury Ibn Khaldun's original theory, as well as obliterate and culturally appropriate the features of the original theory, and portray it as the opposite of progress and modernization, in favor of enhancing the dominance of Western epistemology.
Study on an artificial phenomenon observed in terahertz biological imaging
Authors: Yang Zhongbo , Zhang Muyang , Li Dandan , Chen Ligang , Fu Ailing , Liang Yanmei , Wang Huabin
Published: April 2021

Terahertz (THz) wave-based imaging of biological samples is an emerging but promising field. In the present work, we report an artificial phenomenon observed in imaging melanoma slices, which can lead to mistakenly interpretation of the experimental results. It was observed that a structure similar to but smaller than the sample contour appeared inside the melanoma slice image. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon was then investigated both experimentally and theoretically. By imaging a regular standard sample (vinyl coverslip) with a THz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system and reconstructing its images at 0.8 and 1.2 THz, we can clearly observe the afore-mentioned artifacts. The experimental results are highly consistent with the simulations based on the Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction theory in which possible optical aberrations were incorporated. It can be concluded that this artifact was caused by the frequency-dependent diffraction of the sample edge. The work demonstrated here is essential for correct interpretation of the images obtained by the THz-TDS technique.
Fringe analysis: single-shot or two-frames? Quantitative phase imaging answers
Authors: Trusiak Maciej
Published: April 2021

Conditions of the digital recording of the fringe pattern determine the phase reconstruction procedure, which in turn directly shapes the final accuracy and throughput of the full-field (non-scanning) optical measurement technique and defines the system capabilities. In this way, the fringe pattern analysis plays a crucial role in the ubiquitous optical measurements and thus is under constant development focused on high temporal/spatial resolution. It is especially valuable in the quantitative phase imaging technology, which emerged in the high-contrast label-free biomedical microscopy. In this paper, I apply recently blossomed two-frame phase-shifting techniques to the QPI and merge them with advanced adaptive interferogram pre-filtering algorithms. Next, I comprehensively test such frameworks against classical and adaptive single-shot methods applied for phase reconstruction in dynamic QPI enabling highest phase time-space-bandwidth product. The presented study systematically tackles important question: what is the gain, if any, in QPI realized by recording two phase-shifted interferograms? Counterintuitively, the results show that single-shot demodulation exhibited higher phase reconstruction accuracy than two-frame phase-shifting methods in low and medium interferogram signal-to-noise ratio regimes. Thus, the single-shot approach is promoted due to not only high temporal resolution but also larger phase-information throughput. Additionally, in the majority of scenarios, the best option is to shift the paradigm and employ two-frame pre-filtering rather than two-frame phase retrieval. Experimental fringe analysis in QPI of LSEC/RWPE cell lines successfully corroborated all novel numerical findings. Hence, the presented numerical-experimental research advances the important field of fringe analysis solutions for optical full-field measurement methods with widespread bio-engineering applications.
Efficient vision ray calibration of multi-camera systems
Authors: Bartsch Jonas , Sperling Yann , Bergmann Ralf B.
Published: April 2021

Vision ray calibration provides imaging properties of cameras for application in optical metrology by identifying an independent vision ray for each sensor pixel. Due to this generic description of imaging properties, setups of multiple cameras can be considered as one imaging device. This enables holistic calibration of such setups with the same algorithm that is used for the calibration of a single camera. Obtaining reference points for the calculation of independent vision rays requires knowledge of the parameters of the calibration setup. This is achieved by numerical optimization which comes with high computational effort due to the large amount of calibration data. Using the collinearity of reference points corresponding to individual sensor pixels as the measure of accuracy of system parameters, we derived a cost function that does not require explicit calculation of vision rays. We analytically derived formulae for gradient and Hessian matrix of this cost function to improve computational efficiency of vision ray calibration. Fringe projection measurements using a holistically vision ray calibrated system of two cameras demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. To the best of our knowledge, neither any explicit description of vision ray calibration calculations nor the application of vision ray calibration in holistic camera system calibration can be found in literature.
InAs/InP quantum dash buried heterostructure mode-locked laser for high capacity fiber-wireless integrated 5G new radio fronthaul systems
Authors: Zeb Khan , Lu Zhenguo , Liu Jiaren , Mao Youxin , Liu Guocheng , Poole Philip J. , Rahim Mohamed , Pakulski Grzegorz , Barrios Pedro , Jiang Weihong , Zhang Xiupu
Published: April 2021

We have developed and experimentally demonstrated a highly coherent and low noise InP-based InAs quantum dash (QDash) buried heterostructure (BH) C-band passively mode-locked laser (MLL) with a pulse repetition rate of 25 GHz for fiber-wireless integrated fronthaul 5G new radio (NR) systems. The device features a broadband spectrum providing over 46 equally spaced highly coherent and low noise optical channels with an optical phase noise and integrated relative intensity noise (RIN) over a frequency range of 10 MHz to 20 GHz for each individual channel typically less than 466.5 kHz and -130 dB/Hz, respectively, and an average total output power of ∼50 mW per facet. Moreover, the device exhibits low RF phase noise with measured RF beat-note linewidth down to 3 kHz and estimated timing jitter between any two adjacent channels of 5.5 fs. By using this QDash BH MLL device, we have successfully demonstrated broadband optical heterodyne based radio-over-fiber (RoF) fronthaul wireless links at 5G NR in the underutilized spectrum of around 25 GHz with a total bit rate of 16-Gb/s. The device performance is experimentally evaluated in an end-to-end fiber-wireless system in real-time in terms of error vector magnitude (EVM) and bit error rate (BER) by generating, transmitting and detecting 4-Gbaud 16-QAM RF signals over 0.5-m to 2-m free-space indoor wireless channel through a total length of 25.22 km standard single mode fiber (SSMF) with EVM and BER under 8.4% and 2.9 × 10−5, respectively. The intrinsic characteristics of the device in conjunction with its system transmission performance indicate that QDash BH MLLs can be readily used in fiber-wireless integrated systems of 5G and beyond wireless communication networks.
Wiggling instabilities of temporal localized states in passively mode-locked vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers
Authors: Hessel Denis , Gurevich Svetlana V. , Javaloyes Julien
Published: April 2021

We analyze the emergence of wiggling temporal localized states in a passively mode-locked vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser composed by a gain chip and a resonant saturable absorber mirror. We show that the wiggling instability stems from the interplay between the third-order dispersion induced by the micro-cavities and their frequency mismatch. The latter is identified as an experimentally crucial parameter defining the range of existence of stable emission. We reveal the homoclinic scenario underlying the wiggling phenomenon, and we show how it allows us to control the oscillation parameters.
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the N501Y SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in complex with ACE2 and 2 potent neutralizing antibodies
Authors: Zhu Xing , Mannar Dhiraj , Srivastava Shanti S. , Berezuk Alison M. , Demers Jean-Philippe , Saville James W. , Leopold Karoline , Li Wei , Dimitrov Dimiter S. , Tuttle Katharine S. , Zhou Steven , Chittori Sagar , Subramaniam Sriram
Published: April 2021

The recently reported “UK variant” (B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2 is thought to be more infectious than previously circulating strains as a result of several changes, including the N501Y mutation. We present a 2.9-Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the complex between the ACE2 receptor and N501Y spike protein ectodomains that shows Y501 inserted into a cavity at the binding interface near Y41 of ACE2. This additional interaction provides a structural explanation for the increased ACE2 affinity of the N501Y mutant, and likely contributes to its increased infectivity. However, this mutation does not result in large structural changes, enabling important neutralization epitopes to be retained in the spike receptor binding domain. We confirmed this through biophysical assays and by determining cryo-EM structures of spike protein ectodomains bound to 2 representative potent neutralizing antibody fragments.
CRISPR gRNA phenotypic screening in zebrafish reveals pro-regenerative genes in spinal cord injury
Authors: Keatinge Marcus , Tsarouchas Themistoklis M. , Munir Tahimina , Porter Nicola J. , Larraz Juan , Gianni Davide , Tsai Hui-Hsin , Becker Catherina G. , Lyons David A. , Becker Thomas
Published: April 2021

Zebrafish exhibit robust regeneration following spinal cord injury, promoted by macrophages that control post-injury inflammation. However, the mechanistic basis of how macrophages regulate regeneration is poorly understood. To address this gap in understanding, we conducted a rapid in vivo phenotypic screen for macrophage-related genes that promote regeneration after spinal injury. We used acute injection of synthetic RNA Oligo CRISPR guide RNAs (sCrRNAs) that were pre-screened for high activity in vivo. Pre-screening of over 350 sCrRNAs allowed us to rapidly identify highly active sCrRNAs (up to half, abbreviated as haCRs) and to effectively target 30 potentially macrophage-related genes. Disruption of 10 of these genes impaired axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury. We selected 5 genes for further analysis and generated stable mutants using haCRs. Four of these mutants (tgfb1a, tgfb3, tnfa, sparc) retained the acute haCR phenotype, validating the approach. Mechanistically, tgfb1a haCR-injected and stable mutant zebrafish fail to resolve post-injury inflammation, indicated by prolonged presence of neutrophils and increased levels of il1b expression. Inhibition of Il-1β rescues the impaired axon regeneration in the tgfb1a mutant. Hence, our rapid and scalable screening approach has identified functional regulators of spinal cord regeneration, but can be applied to any biological function of interest.
Secreted Wnt antagonists in scrub typhus
Authors: Ueland Thor , Astrup Elisabeth , Otterdal Kari , Lekva Tove , Janardhanan Jeshina , Prakash John A. J. , Thomas Kurien , Michelsen Annika E. , Aukrust Pål , Varghese George M. , Damås Jan K.
Published: April 2021

Background

The mechanisms that control local and systemic inflammation in scrub typhus have only been partially elucidated. The wingless (Wnt) signaling pathways are emerging as important regulators of inflammation and infection, but have not been investigated in scrub typhus.

Methodology/Principal findings

Plasma levels of secreted Wnt antagonists (i.e. DKK-1, sFRP-3, WIF-1 and SOST) were analyzed in patients with scrub typhus (n = 129), patients with similar febrile illness without O. tsutsugamushi infection (n = 31), febrile infectious disease controls, and in healthy controls (n = 31) from the same area of South India, and were correlated to markers of inflammation, immune and endothelial cell activation as well as for their association with organ specific dysfunction and mortality in these patients. We found i) Levels of SOST and in particular sFRP-3 and WIF-1 were markedly increased and DKK-1 decreased in scrub typhus patients at admission to the hospital compared to healthy controls. ii) In recovering scrub typhus patients, SOST, sFRP-3 and WIF-1 decreased and DKK-1 increased. iii) SOST was positively correlated with markers of monocyte/macrophage and endothelial/vascular activation as well as with renal dysfunction and poor outcome iv) Finally, regulation of Wnt pathways by O. tsutsugamushi in vitro in monocytes and ex vivo in mononuclear cells isolated from patients with scrub typhus, as evaluated by gene expression studies available in public repositories, revealed markedly attenuated canonical Wnt signaling.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings suggest that scrub typhus is characterized by attenuated Wnt signaling possibly involving dysregulated levels of several secreted pathway antagonists. The secreted Wnt antagonist SOST was strongly associated with renal dysfunction and poor prognosis in these patients.