bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of Physical Activity With Survival and Progression in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Results From Cancer and Leukemia Group B (Alliance)/SWOG 80405
Authors: Guercio Brendan J. , Zhang Sui , Ou Fang-Shu , Venook Alan P. , Niedzwiecki Donna , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Innocenti Federico , O’Neil Bert H. , Shaw James E. , Polite Blase N. , Hochster Howard S. , Atkins James N. , Goldberg Richard M. , Sato Kaori , Ng Kimmie , Van Blarigan Erin , Mayer Robert J. , Blanke Charles D. , O’Reilly Eileen M. , Fuchs Charles S. , Meyerhardt Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2019

PURPOSE

Regular physical activity is associated with reduced risk of recurrence and mortality in patients with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer. Its influence on patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has been largely unexplored.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study nested in Cancer and Leukemia Group B (Alliance)/SWOG 80405 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00265850 ), a National Cancer Institute–sponsored phase III trial of systemic therapy for mCRC. Within 1 month after therapy initiation, patients were invited to complete a validated questionnaire that reported average physical activity over the previous 2 months. On the basis of responses, we calculated metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours per week to quantify physical activity. The primary end point of the clinical trial and this companion study was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS) and first grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events. To minimize confounding by poor and declining health, we excluded patients who experienced progression or died within 60 days of activity assessment and used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to adjust for known prognostic factors, comorbidities, and weight loss.

RESULTS

The final cohort included 1,218 patients. Compared with patients engaged in less than 3 MET hours per week of physical activity, patients engaged in 18 or more MET hours per week experienced an adjusted hazard ratio for OS of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.02; PTrend= .06) and for PFS of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.99; PTrend= .01). Compared with patients engaging in less than 9 MET hours per week, patients engaging in 9 or more MET hours per week experienced an adjusted hazard ratio for grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.62 to 0.86; PTrend< .001).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with mCRC in Cancer and Leukemia Group B (Alliance)/SWOG 80405, association of physical activity with OS was not statistically significant. Greater physical activity was associated with longer PFS and lower adjusted risk for first grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events.
Plasma Metabolomics to Identify and Stratify Patients With Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Authors: Wildberg Charlotte , Masuch Annette , Budde Kathrin , Kastenmüller Gabi , Artati Anna , Rathmann Wolfgang , Adamski Jerzy , Kocher Thomas , Völzke Henry , Nauck Matthias , Friedrich Nele , Pietzner Maik
Published: August 2019

Objective

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is one of the presymptomatic states of type 2 diabetes mellitus and requires an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diagnosis. Our aims were twofold: (i) characterize signatures of small molecules predicting the OGTT response and (ii) identify metabolic subgroups of participants with IGT.

Methods

Plasma samples from 827 participants of the Study of Health in Pomerania free of diabetes were measured using mass spectrometry and proton-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Linear regression analyses were used to screen for metabolites significantly associated with the OGTT response after 2 hours, adjusting for baseline glucose and insulin levels as well as important confounders. A signature predictive for IGT was established using regularized logistic regression. All cases with IGT (N = 159) were selected and subjected to unsupervised clustering using a k-means approach.

Results and Conclusion

In total, 99 metabolites and 22 lipoprotein measures were significantly associated with either 2-hour glucose or 2-hour insulin levels. Those comprised variations in baseline concentrations of branched-chain amino ketoacids, acylcarnitines, lysophospholipids, or phosphatidylcholines, largely confirming previous studies. By the use of these metabolites, subjects with IGT segregated into two distinct groups. Our IGT prediction model combining both clinical and metabolomics traits achieved an area under the curve of 0.84, slightly improving the prediction based on established clinical measures. The present metabolomics approach revealed molecular signatures associated directly to the response of the OGTT and to IGT in line with previous studies. However, clustering of subjects with IGT revealed distinct metabolic signatures of otherwise similar individuals, pointing toward the possibility of metabolomics for patient stratification.
A Knotty Problem: Consumer Access and the Regulation of Provider Networks
Authors: Haeder Simon F. , Weimer David L. , Mukamel Dana B.
Published: August 2019

In order to increase access to medical services, expanding coverage has long been the preferred solution of policy makers and advocates alike. The calculus appeared straightforward: provide individuals with insurance, and they will be able to see a provider when needed. However, this line of thinking overlooks a crucial intermediary step: provider networks. As provider networks offered by health insurers link available medical services to insurance coverage, their breadth mediates access to health care. Yet the regulation of provider networks is technically, logistically, and normatively complex. What does network regulation currently look like and what should it look like in the future? We take inventory of the ways private and public entities regulate provider networks. Variation across insurance programs and products is truly remarkable, not grounded in empirical justification, and at times inherently absurd. We argue that regulators should be pragmatic and focus on plausible policy levers. These include assuring network accuracy, transparency for consumers, and consumer protections from grievous inadequacies. Ultimately, government regulation provides an important foundation for ensuring minimum levels of access and providing consumers with meaningful information. Yet, information is only truly empowering if consumers can exercise at least some choice in balancing costs, access, and quality.
Gendering Genesis, Looking for the Human
Authors: Tonstad Linn Marie
Published: August 2019

In response to Joy Ladin's trans theology, this essay asks about the nature of textuality and the symbolic, what it means to read a text like Genesis for gender, and the centrality of the human to the text and to the practice of interpretation.
Myths We Live By
Authors: Plaskow Judith
Published: August 2019

In responding to Joy Ladin's reparative reading of Genesis 1–3, the article argues that what is most salient about the biblical narrative is its inscription of male dominance and linking of male dominance to compulsory heterosexuality. In Genesis 1, the existence of a male/female binary is declared foundational to creation. In Genesis 2, we learn that this binary is not innocent, that however much the woman is like the man, the man, in telling the story, has allotted precedence to himself. In Genesis 3, male precedence is depicted as affirmed by God in a way that ties it to both Eve's gender role and heterosexual coupledom. While this is not a reading that is recuperative from a transgender perspective, it does show clearly what is potentially at stake in a transgender critique. If the creation narrative ties together sexual differentiation, gender roles, male dominance, and heterosexuality, questioning the notion of a sexual binary and the necessary entanglement of sex and gender threatens—or promises—to unravel this whole fabric. Every node in the complex interconnections posited by Genesis is based on a binary: male/female, masculine/feminine, male/masculine over female/feminine, homosexual/heterosexual. To challenge the seemingly clear and irrefutable given, the male/female binary, is to leave the others without foundation.
Circulating tumor cells exit circulation while maintaining multicellularity, augmenting metastatic potential
Authors: Allen Tyler A. , Asad Dana , Amu Emmanuel , Hensley M. Taylor , Cores Jhon , Vandergriff Adam , Tang Junnan , Dinh Phuong-Uyen , Shen Deliang , Qiao Li , Su Teng , Hu Shiqi , Liang Hongxia , Shive Heather , Harrell Erin , Campbell Connor , Peng Xinxia , Yoder Jeffrey A. , Cheng Ke
Published: August 2019

Metastasis accounts for the majority of all cancer deaths, yet the process remains poorly understood. A pivotal step in the metastasis process is the exiting of tumor cells from the circulation, a process known as extravasation. However, it is unclear how tumor cells extravasate and whether multicellular clusters of tumor cells possess the ability to exit as a whole or must first disassociate. In this study, we use in vivo zebrafish and mouse models to elucidate the mechanism tumor cells use to extravasate. We found that circulating tumor cells exit the circulation using the recently identified extravasation mechanism, angiopellosis, and do so as both clusters and individual cells. We further show that when melanoma and cervical cancer cells utilize this extravasation method to exit as clusters, they exhibit an increased ability to form tumors at distant sites through the expression of unique genetic profiles. Collectively, we present a new model for tumor cell extravasation of both individual and multicellular circulating tumor cells.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Stanisław Barącz. Osobowość twórcza niewidomego poety (fragmenty)
Authors: Łukasiewicz Maria
Published: August 2019

Stanisław Barącz. The Creative Personality of a Blind PoetThe poetry of Stanisław Barącz (1864-1936), a blind artist associated with Lwów, belongs to the literary output of the Young Poland period. It involves poems and translations from foreign languages (German and French), as well as texts set to Karol Szymanowski’s music. The poet had an Armenian background, he was involved in the communal life of Polish Armenians in Lwów and he also translated Armenian poetry. Maria Łukasiewicz, a student of Stanisław Pigoń, in her 1952 work (which is published here for the first time) performed an in-depth and unique in scholarly literature analysis of the works of this forgotten poet. She performs a holistic overview of the author’s own works and his translations from other languages, and she discusses the following: themes and thematic motifs, composition, literary technique (style, the study of stanzaic forms, musical elements, work with a text), focusing on the crucial problem of the creative imagination of the blind poet (the visual and colour-related aspects). She also compares Barącz’s poetry with the creative works of the Young Poland period.
Apontamentos para a atuação do Profissional de Educação Física na Atenção Básica à Saúde: um ensaio
Authors: Loch Mathias Roberto , Dias Douglas Fernando , Rech Cassiano Ricardo
Published: August 2019

O objetivo deste ensaio foi apresentar uma proposta de síntese para a atuação do profissional de Educação Física (PEF) no contexto da Atenção Básica à Saúde (ABS) do Brasil. São apresentadas 15 itens, elaborados a partir de experiências vivenciadas no campo de atuação pelos autores, bem como na literatura. Posteriormente, a clareza e pertinência dos itens foram avaliadas por 33 PEF de nove diferentes municípios brasileiros que atuavam ou tinham atuado anteriormente na ABS. Apesar de os itens apresentados não terem o objetivo de competir ou substituir as diretrizes do Ministério da Saúde ou das secretarias estaduais ou municipais, espera-se que possam ser úteis para os PEF que atuam na ABS, bem como para a formação dos PEF que pretendem atuar neste contexto.
Not so long ago, and not so far away: Where is there room for oppressed people in fandom?
Authors: Goward Shonda L.
Published: August 2019

The word fandom has come to mean a group of people who share the common interest in a thing, and is often associated with comic books, science fiction and fantasy art. For racially minoritized and/or working-class fans, fandom is complicated because their love of the art can only go so far because often they do not see themselves represented in the art itself. Thus, one cannot begin to discuss the nuances of how the lives of people of colour and/or working-class people are represented until they are in the work at all. This article discusses the author’s inability to engage in a fan-based pedagogy in her work both as an educator in the classroom and as an administrator because it would mostly include students from the dominant ethnic and class groups and leave her own groups still ‘othered’ on campus.
Nervous laughter: Comedy, disabilities and the reconstitution of space
Authors: Nevárez Araújo Daniel
Published: August 2019

Comedy has historically assigned a position of Different (to use Susan Wenll’s term, which substitutes for the more stigmatizing term Other) to those it uses as the butt of the joke, or rather it makes jokes at the expense of those deemed different. As a matter of fact, a cursory look at some comedic texts reveals that, quite often, comedy amplifies the social positionality of the excluded. We laugh at specific identities, bodies, tendencies and even traits seen as making the object of the joke inferior. Disabled people consistently find themselves in that position as a particular identity or type of body that serves as the object of jokes. That said, over the last decade, there has been an increase in people with disabilities engaging in and creating their own comedic material, particularly of the stand-up variety. Disabled comedians demand a reassessment of the rules of propriety, tact and respectability in comedic spaces. Thus disabled comedians elicit nervous laughter from their audiences as the audiences grapple with a body and identity they greatly ignore out in the open social landscape and are now invited to laugh with.
Sonic transmissions
Authors: Bobnič Robert
Published: August 2019

At the end of last December, Staš Vrenko, Slovenian artist and explorer of sound matter, displayed a system of unique sound machines entitled Loops in Transmission that could be seen, heard and used at Osmo/za. We hear the whirring of machines produced by electromathematical processes. But Vrenko is not interested in what we hear but in what sonicity is produced by the media machines that we handle every day. Half-way between sonic art and DIY engineering, Vrenko’s piece uses the support of media and archaeological theory to open the exploration of events in the media-technological time and their implicitly sonic nature. By doing so, it also explores the sound ontology of media environment. These are also the emphases tackled in this review.
What we talk about when we talk about generation
Authors: Sinanović Muanis
Published: August 2019

In the first part, the article explores the probably prevailing use of the term ‘generation’ in Slovenian culture and journalism in the 2010s. It delineates the network of institutions and discourses in the play of symbolic and economic power, as well as the conclusion or the transformation of the discussed social formation. The second part wishes to attribute new mental and political connotations by perceiving it as an age group, which has, like never before, been shaped in the global symbolic world and is facing global problems.
The Marko Brecelj Golden Series
Authors: Dobovšek Zala
Published: August 2019

The article reflects upon the four-act performance It Was My Pleasure More than Once, places it in the wider context of Brecelj’s engagement and questions the contemporary effects of such activism and the policy of persevering. Brecelj’s soft-terrorist actions, continuous candidacies for the mayor of Koper and interventions enter complex relationships of artistic expression and legislation. He embodies the autonomous idea of sustainable performance, permanent rebellion and continuous usurpation of space.
Insights on the Cenozoic Geology of North Beirut (Harbour Area): Biostratigraphy; Sedimentology and Structural history
Authors: Noujaim Clark Germaine , Boudagher-Fadel Marcelle
Published: August 2019

The biostratigraphy and sedimentology of the outcrops and bedrock exposed in archaeological excavations around the harbour area of Beirut (~5 km
2) unlock the geological and structural history of that area, which in turn are key to understanding the hydrocarbon and hydrogeological potential of the region. A key location (Site 2) of a studied outcrop section and newly uncovered bedrock is on the northern foothill cliff of East Beirut (Achrafieh). The outcrop section of carbonates is of Eocene beds overlain by conformable Miocene beds. The excavation of the slope bordering the outcrop uncovers a bedrock section of an early Pliocene shoreline of carbonate/siliciclastic sands at its base and a beach-rock structure at top. The age of the shoreline section is dated by an assemblage of
planktonic foraminifera including
Sphaeroidinellopsis subdehiscens,
Sphaeroidinella

dehiscens, and
Orbulina universa. The Eocene carbonates of Site 2 extend the coverage of the previously reported Eocene outcrops in the harbour area. They form a parasequence of thin bedded chalky white limestones that includes the youngest fossil fish deposits in Lebanon (
Bregmaceros filamentosus). The deposits are dated as early Priabonian by their association with the planktonic foraminiferal assemblage of
Porticulasphaera tropicalis,
Globigerinatheka barri,
Dentoglobigerina venezuelana,

Globigerina praebulloides,
Turborotalia centralis and
Borelis sp. The Middle Miocene carbonates that conformably overlie the early Priabonian parasequence, include a planktonic foraminiferal assemblage of
Globigerinoides trilobus, Orbulina universa and

Borelis melo. Elsewhere, in the harbour area, the preserved Eocene limestones are equally directly overlain by conformable Miocene carbonate parasequences of the Langhian - Serravallian age. Younger argillaceous limestone beds of the Mio/Pliocene age occur in the eastern central part of the harbour area and enclose an assemblage of
Truncorotalia crassaformis,
Globorotalia inflata, and
Orbulina universa. The three markers of old and recently raised structural blocks in the harbour area are a Lutetian/Bartonian marine terrace in the south west corner, a lower Pliocene shoreline carbonate section in the north east side and a Holocene raised beach of marine conglomerates in the north east corner of the area. The locations of these paleo-shorelines, less than 2 kms apart, indicate a progressive platform narrowing of North Beirut since the Paleogene. This study underpins the geological complexity of the region and contributes to understanding the underlying geology which will be needed for future archaeological, hydrocarbon and hydrogeological exploration.
Un espectro se cierne sobre Entre Ríos: una aproximación a la acción de los comunistas en la provincia, 1931-1943
Authors: Leyes Rodolfo
Published: August 2019

El presente trabajo busca reconstruir la actividad política de los comunistas en la provincia de Entre Ríos en el periodo 1931-1943. Siendo el Partido Comunista uno de los de mayor crecimiento en el periodo pre-peronista nos permitirá conocer mejor el estado de aquella fuerza al momento del golpe de junio de 1943. Por lo tanto, nuestra propuesta, resulta relevante debido a la inexistencia de trabajos específicos para una provincia pampeana y periférica. La reconstrucción del proceso histórico se realizará con una variedad de fuentes, algunas inéditas, tal es el caso de los fondos documentales confidenciales del Archivo General de la Nación, complementando con medios de prensa sindical, comercial y de diversos partidos y localidades.
Long Term Effect of Fibre Supplement and Reduced Energy Intake on Body Weight and Blood Lipids in Overweight Subjects
Authors: Birketvedt Grethe Støa , Aaseth Jan , Florholmen Jon R. , Ryttig Kjeld
Published: August 2019

A weight-reducing potential has been ascribed to high dietary fibre intake. To investigate the practical reliability of this hypothesis, fifty-three moderately overweight females (BMI > 27.5 kg/m2) on reduced energy intake (1200kcal/day) were treated for 24 weeks with a fibre supplement on a randomly, double-blind, placebo-controlled basis. The fibre was administered as an initial dose of 6 g and a maintenance dose of 4 g. Body weight and blood pressure were recorded weekly during the first 3 months and thereafter every second week. Blood samples were drawn at start and at end of the study. Initial body weights were 75.6 ± 1.6 kg in the fibre group versus 75.5 ± 1.6 kg in the placebo group. After treatment, mean weight loss in the fibre group was 8.0 kg versus 5.8 kg in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced in both groups without differences between the groups. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid were significantly reduced in the group with reduced energy intake, whereas no additional effect was observed when fibre was supplemented. Serum concentrations of potassium and sodium did not change significantly. The results suggest that a dietary fibre supplement in combination with a hypocaloric diet is of value as an adjunct in the management of overweight.
Data analytics to reduce stop-on-fail test in electronics manufacturing
Authors: Herrera Ana Elsa Hinojosa , Stoyanov Stoyan , Bailey Chris , Walshaw Chris , Yin Chunyan
Published: August 2019

The use of data driven techniques is popular in smart manufacturing. Machine learning, statistics or a combination of both have been used to improve processes in electronic manufacturing. This paper presents the application of classical techniques to reduce production cycle time by compacting a production test sequence. This set of tests is run on stop-on-fail scenario for quality assurance of an electronical device. Data generated in the production test-set on stop-on-fail scenario challenges the traditional application of the data driven techniques, because of the missing data characteristic. The developed computational procedures handle this application-specific data attribute. The novelty of this work is in the algorithm developed, which applies classical techniques in an iterative environment, as a strategy to analyse incomplete datasets. Results show that the method can reduce a production test set with parametric and non-parametric tests by building an accurate prognostic model. The results can reduce production cycle time and costs. The paper details and provides discussions on the advantages and limitations of the proposed algorithms.
On the asymptotics of degree structure of configuration graphs with bounded number of edges
Authors: Pavlov Yurii L. , Cheplyukova Irina A.
Published: August 2019

We consider configuration graphs with N vertices. The degrees of vertices are independent identically distributed random variables having the power-law distribution with positive parameter

$\tau .$We study properties of random graphs such that the sum of vertex degrees does not exceed n and the parameter is a random variable uniformly distributed on the interval

$\left[ a,\,\,b \right],0<a<b<\infty .$We find limit distributions of the number

${{\mu }_{r}}$of vertices with degree r for various types of variation of N, n and r.
„Institution“ als Scharnierkonzept zwischen Herrschaft und Widerstand
Authors: Anderl Felix , Wallmeier Philip
Published: August 2019

Soziale Bewegungen fordern Herrschaftsstrukturen heraus und werden gleichzeitig von diesen geprägt und eingehegt. Im Rahmen dieses Aufsatzes machen wir einen konzeptionellen Vorschlag zur empirischen Erforschung dieses dialektischen Verhältnisses indem wir „Institution“ als Scharnierkonzept zwischen Herrschaft und Widerstand vorstellen. Wir zeigen an zwei Fallstudien, dass sich auf diese Weise auch die ansonsten schwer greifbare Ausformung transnationaler neoliberaler Herrschaft in ihrer Wirkungsweise verstehen lässt. An den Extrembeispielen eines stark institutionalisierten transnationalen Advocacy-Netzwerks bei der Weltbank und der anti-institutionellen Kommunenbewegung in den USA zeigen wir, dass Bewegungen - ob sie Institutionen nahestehen oder sich von diesen zurückziehen - von neoliberaler Herrschaft durch einen institutionellen Umarmungsgestus eingehegt werden.
Genetic, epigenetic and biochemical regulation of succinate dehydrogenase function
Authors: Moosavi Behrooz , Zhu Xiao-lei , Yang Wen-Chao , Yang Guang-Fu
Published: August 2019

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), complex II or succinate:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) is a crucial enzyme involved in both the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), the two primary metabolic pathways for generating ATP. Impaired function of SDH results in deleterious disorders from cancer to neurodegeneration. SDH function is tailored to meet the energy demands in different cell types. Thus, understanding how SDH function is regulated and how it operates in distinct cell types can support the development of therapeutic approaches against the diseases. In this article we discuss the molecular pathways which regulate SDH function and describe extra roles played by SDH in specific cell types.
LncRNA MALAT1 inhibits hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell injury via targeting the microRNA-320a/RAC1 axis
Authors: Zhu Rongrong , Hu Xiao , Xu Wei , Wu Zhourui , Zhu Yanjing , Ren Yilong , Cheng Liming
Published: August 2019

Angiogenesis is believed to protect against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cell injury. MALAT1 and microRNA-320a (miR-320a) are involved in cancer angiogenesis. To investigate the function of the MALAT1/miR-320a axis in H/R-induced cell injury, human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) angiogenesis was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell migration, cell adhesion and tube formation assays. The expression of MALAT1 and miR-320a was revealed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The direct binding relationship between miR-320a and MALAT1 was detected by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assays. The data indicated that H/R induces angiogenesis injury and that the expression of MALAT1 was augmented in H/R-stimulated HUVECs. Overexpression of MALAT1 alleviated H/R-stimulated HUVEC dysfunction, whereas silencing of MALAT1 exerted the opposite effects. MALAT1 also reduced miR-320a levels in HUVECs. Overexpression of miR-320a repressed the function of MALAT1 on H/R-stimulated HUVECs, whereas inhibition of miR-320a exerted the opposite effect. Additionally, miR-320a inhibition alleviated H/R-stimulated HUVEC injury via RAC1. Taken together, this investigation concluded that MALAT1 represses H/R-stimulated HUVEC injury by targeting the miR-320a/RAC1 axis.
Coordinate transformation parameters in Nepal by using neural network and SVD methods
Authors: Ansari Kutubuddin , Gyawali Prabin , Pradhan Prachand Man , Park Kwan-Dong
Published: August 2019

The present study computes B-W extension model (extended Bursa-Wolf model) coordinate transformation parameters from World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84) to the Everest datum namely Everest (1830) and Everest (1956) using records of coordinate measurements from Global Positioning System (GPS) observable across Nepal region. Synthetic or modeled coordinates were determined by using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) methods. We studied 9-transformation parameters with the help of the ANN technique and validated the outcomes with the SVD method. The comparative analysis of the ANN, as well as SVD methods, was done with the observed output following one way ANOVA test. The analysis showed that the null hypothesis for both datums were acceptable and suggesting all models statistically significantly equivalent to each other. The outcomes from this study would complement a relatively better understanding of the techniques for coordinate transformation and precise coordinate assignment while assimilating data sets from different resources.
Does Foreign Direct Investment Encourage State Militarization and Reduce Societal Security? An Empirical Test, 1980–2017
Authors: de Soysa Indra
Published: August 2019

Scholars debate the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on poor societies. Apparently, FDI could embolden governments to securitize rather than reform, an argument put forth recently by (Kishi, Roudabeh, Maggio, Guiseppe, & Raleigh, Clionadh. (2017). Foreign investment and state conflicts in Africa.Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy,23(3),https://doi.org/10.1515/peps-2017-0007) who supply evidence within a sample of Sub Saharan African countries showing that FDI increases the number of conflict events. This study takes a critical view of their argument on conceptual and methodological grounds. Using new data for the entire world as well as a sample of developing countries, this study directly tests securitization as militarization measured as military spending and the size of armed forces and finds that several alternative measurements of the stock and flow of FDI reduces militarization, results that are robust to fixed effects estimations, Heckman selection models, and models with and without controls for ongoing armed conflict and interstate tension. Testing an Africa-only sample yields no statistically significant effects either way, but compared to the global sample, an interaction of FDI in Africa does show a positive effect. This result, however, is substantively very slight compared with the net effect of the African region where military spending is unusually greater than in other regions, but size of armed forces are smaller. These results are replicated using a measure of societal security capturing more than just the absence of war as measured by the World Economic Forum’s data. If FDI increases security without increasing militarization, then FDI is potentially a sound source of finance for poor countries. Case-study-based research might usefully unpack the political economy of defence spending in Africa and identify precisely how TNCs can be implicated in the story. Our results show, however, that generally, FDI might actually reduce militarization while increasing societal security beyond just the absence of armed violence.
Epac2 Elevation Reverses Inhibition by Chondroitin Sulfate ProteoglycansIn Vitroand Transforms Postlesion Inhibitory Environment to Promote Axonal Outgrowth in anEx VivoModel of Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Guijarro-Belmar Alba , Viskontas Mindaugas , Wei Yuting , Bo Xuenong , Shewan Derryck , Huang Wenlong
Published: August 2019

Millions of patients suffer from debilitating spinal cord injury (SCI) without effective treatments. Elevating cAMP promotes CNS neuron growth in the presence of growth-inhibiting molecules. cAMP's effects on neuron growth are partly mediated by Epac, comprising Epac1 and Epac2; the latter predominantly expresses in postnatal neural tissue. Here, we hypothesized that Epac2 activation would enhance axonal outgrowth after SCI. Usingin vitroassays, we demonstrated, for the first time, that Epac2 activation using a specific soluble agonist (S-220) significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth of postnatal rat cortical neurons and markedly overcame the inhibition by chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and mature astrocytes on neuron growth. We further investigated the novel potential of Epac2 activation in promoting axonal outgrowth by anex vivorat model of SCI mimicking post-SCI environmentin vivoand by delivering S-220 via a self-assembling Fmoc-based hydrogel that has suitable properties for SCI repair. We demonstrated that S-220 significantly enhanced axonal outgrowth across the lesion gaps in the organotypic spinal cord slices, compared with controls. Furthermore, we elucidated, for the first time, that Epac2 activation profoundly modulated the lesion environment by reducing astrocyte/microglial activation and transforming astrocytes into elongated morphology that guided outgrowing axons. Finally, we showed that S-220, when delivered by the gel at 3 weeks after contusion SCI in male adult rats, resulted in significantly better locomotor performance for up to 4 weeks after treatment. Our data demonstrate a promising therapeutic potential of S-220 in SCI, via beneficial effects on neurons and glia after injury to facilitate axonal outgrowth.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDuring development, neuronal cAMP levels decrease significantly compared with the embryonic stage when the nervous system is established. This has important consequences following spinal cord injury, as neurons fail to regrow. Elevating cAMP levels encourages injured CNS neurons to sprout and extend neurites. We have demonstrated that activating its downstream effector, Epac2, enhances neurite outgrowthin vitro, even in the presence of an inhibitory environment. Using a novel biomaterial-based drug delivery system in the form of a hydrogel to achieve local delivery of an Epac2 agonist, we further demonstrated that specific activation of Epac2 enhances axonal outgrowth and minimizes glial activation in anex vivomodel of spinal cord injury, suggesting a new strategy for spinal cord repair.
Melatonin enhances porcine embryo development via the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway
Authors: Kim Eui Hyun , Kim Geon A , Taweechaipaisankul Anukul , Lee Seok Hee , Qasim Muhammad , Ahn Curie , Lee Byeong Chun
Published: August 2019

Oxidative stress (OS) is a major problem during in vitro culture of embryos. Numerous studies have shown that melatonin, which is known to have antioxidant properties, prevents the occurrence of OS in embryos. However, the molecular mechanisms by which melatonin prevents OS in embryos are still unclear. The present study suggests a possible involvement of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant-responsive element (Nrf2/ARE) signaling pathway, which is one of the prominent signals for OS prevention through Nrf2 activation, connecting melatonin, OS prevention and porcine embryonic development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin (10−7 M) on porcine embryonic development via the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway; brusatol (50 nM; Nrf2 specific inhibitor) was used to validate the mechanism. Treatment of porcine embryo with melatonin significantly increased formation rates of blastocysts and their total cell numbers and also upregulated the expression of Nrf2/ARE signaling and apoptosis-related genes (MT2, NRF2, UCHL, HO-1, SOD1 and BCL-2). Furthermore, the expression of proteins (NRF2 and MT2) was also upregulated in the melatonin-treated group. Concomitantly, brusatol significantly inhibited these effects, upregulating the expression of KEAP1 and BAX, including the expression level of KEAP1 protein. These results provide evidences that melatonin prevents OS through Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in porcine in vitro fertilization -derived embryos.
HMGB1-mediated apoptosis and autophagy in ischemic heart diseases
Authors: Foglio Eleonora , Pellegrini Laura , Germani Antonia , Russo Matteo Antonio , Limana Federica
Published: August 2019

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and its consequences are the most common and lethal heart syndromes worldwide and represent a significant health problem. Following MI, apoptosis has been generally seen as the major contributor of the cardiomyocyte fate and of the resultant myocardial remodeling. However, in recent years, it has been discovered that, following MI, cardiomyocytes could activate autophagy in an attempt to protect themselves against ischemic stress and to preserve cardiac function. Although initially seen as two completely separate responses, recent works have highlighted the intertwined crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy. Numerous researches have tried to unveil the mechanisms and the molecular players involved in this phenomenon and have identified in high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a highly conserved non-histone nuclear protein with important roles in the heart, one of the major regulator. Thus, the aim of this mini review is to discuss how HMGB1 regulates these two responses in ischemic heart diseases. Indeed, a detailed understanding of the crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy in these pathologies and how HMGB1 regulates them would be of tremendous help in developing novel therapeutic approaches aimed to promote cardiomyocyte survival and to diminish tissue injury following MI.
Individualised Approaches for Catheter Ablation of AF: Patient Selection and Procedural Endpoints
Authors: Johner Nicolas , Namdar Mehdi , Shah Dipen C
Published: August 2019

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of AF ablation, but studies have reported improved efficacy with high rates of repeat procedures. Because of the large interindividual variability in the underlying electrical and anatomical substrate, achieving optimal outcomes requires an individualised approach. This includes optimal candidate selection as well as defined ablation strategies with objective procedure endpoints beyond PVI. Candidate selection is traditionally based on coarse and sometimes arbitrary clinical stratification such as AF type, but finer predictors of treatment efficacy including biomarkers, advanced imaging and electrocardiographic parameters have shown promise. Numerous ancillary ablation strategies beyond PVI have been investigated, but the absence of a clear mechanistic and evidence-based endpoint, unlike in other arrhythmias, has remained a universal limitation. Potential endpoints include functional ones such as AF termination or non-inducibility and substrate-based endpoints such as isolation of low-voltage areas. This review summarises the relevant literature and proposes guidance for clinical practice and future research.
PHASE BEHAVIOUR OF FIRST - ORDER SYSTEMS
Authors: Yankov Kaloyan
Published: August 2019

The phase-plane method gives possibility to study the stability of systems described by linear and nonlinear differential equations. The article is devoted to the capabilities of MathCad for analysis of first order differential equations. An algorithm is proposed and Mathcad's specific operators for the construction and analysis of phase trajectories are described. Approaches for calculation of equilibrium points and determination the type of bifurcation in function of parameter are described. The proposed algorithm is applied to the dose-response curve of the antibiotic tubazid.
MANAJEMEN PROGRAM PEMBINAAN AKHLAK KARIMAH PESERTA DIDIK MELALUI EKSTRAKURIKULER
Authors: Prayoga Ari
Published: August 2019

Dewan pembina belum seluruhnya merumuskan program pembinaan hingga ke indikator capaian ekstrakurikuler, pelaksanaan pertemuan pembinaan yang kurang maksimal, belum terjalinnya koordinasi antar pembina terkait agenda ekstrakurikuler. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap proses-proses perencanaan, pelaksanaan, evaluasi, dan hasil pembinaan akhlak jariah peserta didik melalui ekstrakurikuler di Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 2 Sumedang. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara terstruktur, observasi partisipatif, dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan; pertama, perencanaan dilakukan pada rapat umum musyawarah awal tahun akademik meliputi perumusan agenda kegiatan, kompetensi capaian ekstrakurikuler, anggaran; kedua, pelaksanaan pembinaan peserta didik dalam menanamkan nilai-nilai akhlak karimah melalui motivasi, memberikan contoh/keteladanan dalam bersikap dan sharing antar anggota; ketiga, evaluasi secara keseluruhan dilaksanakan pada rapat musyawarah akhir semester dengan seluruh sivitas akademik. Penilaian dilakukan melalui tingkah laku sehari-hari dan laporan dari orang tua wali; keempat, hasil dari pembinaan yaitu: persaingan yang sehat, menjaga nama baik lembaga, tepat waktu, taat kepada tuntunan Allah dan Rasul, bersemangat juang tinggi, pantang menyerah, toleransi, cermat, teliti, objektif, disiplin, tanggung jawab, kasih sayang, gotong royong, kesetia kawanan, saling menghormati, sopan santun, jujur dan adil.
BRINCADEIRAS E BRINQUEDOS NA ATUALIDADE: BREVE CONTRIBUIÇÃO ARTICULANDO A INFÂNCIA E A ESCOLA
Authors: Silva Daniela De castro , Homrich Marcele Teixeira
Published: August 2019

Este breve estudo analisa as brincadeiras e brinquedos na atualidade articulando a infância e a escola. Utilizou-se de pesquisa bibliográfica desenvolvida através de três pontos: primeiro apresenta-se sucintamente elementos referentes a história da infância, do brinquedo e da escola. Após, trata-se das características dos brinquedos e infância da atualidade, ao fim articulando a relação da instituição escolar com a nova infância e os brinquedos. O estudo mostrou que as mudanças sociais que ocorreram na história influenciaram na formação da infância contemporânea e na relação desta com os brinquedos e brincadeiras, cabendo a escola a tarefa articular passado e presente, assim como produzir reflexões acerca das produções da atualidade.
NADA ESTÁ PARADO: A EXPERIÊNCIA-NIETZSCHE E O COTIDIANO EDUCACIONAL
Authors: Bedin da Costa Luciano
Published: August 2019

Este artigo faz uma leitura do cotidiano educacional através da filosofia de Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), discutindo conceitos como: experiência, niilismo, ressentimento, má consciência, força e vontade de potência. A teoria nietzschiana é utilizada como ferramenta para pensar o cotidiano vivido nas práticas em educação, rompendo com a inércia dos discursos lamentosos e niilistas. O que chamamos de Experiência-Nietzsche envolve um outro olhar, uma grande saúde e uma ética para escaparmos das cristalizações e produzirmos com as diferenças.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: experiência, Nietzsch, niilismo, formação, vontade de potência
A docência em “celas de aula”: desafios dos professores de educação física em escolas prisionais
Authors: Custodio Glauber Cesar Cruz , Nunes Célia Maria Fernandes
Published: August 2019

Na Educação prisional são ofertadas diversas disciplinas, dentre elas a Educação Física. Este artigo apresenta dados de uma pesquisa que buscou investigar possíveis desafios enfrentados por professores de Educação Física em escolas prisionais. Eles revelaram diversos desafios em suas ações docentes, dentre eles, destaca-se os limites para o desenvolvimento da Educação Física em razão das aulas acontecerem somente dentro da sala/cela e com diversas restrições. Essa situação limita o alcance dos propósitos educacionais da disciplina em virtude de suas necessidades específicas, e estabelecem um paradoxo, pois quando se pensa na disciplina pressupõe a presença de movimento e práticas corporais.
Satisfacción docente y su influencia en la satisfacción del alumnado
Authors: Vicente Coronado Mª Soledad , López Arroyo Patricia , Trejo Martín Carmen , González Ballester Sergio
Published: August 2019

En la actualidad, una de las profesiones más afectadas por el Burnout o síndrome de quemado, como se pone de manifiesto en numerosas investigaciones (Ilaja y Reyes, 2016), es la docencia. Esta profesión está marcada por sentimientos contradictorios, ya que los docentes sienten satisfacción por la importancia de la labor que llevan a cabo y por el trato constante con sus alumnos, pero, al mismo tiempo, se enfrentan a constantes conflictos que surgen a raíz de las exigencias del contexto educativo. Entre estas exigencias encontramos la falta de colaboración de las familias, la falta de atención y motivación del alumnado y la limitación de recursos y de libertad para llevar a cabo su labor.Por otro lado, la satisfacción del alumno está influenciada por diferentes factores, tanto internos al individuo (motivación, intereses, implicación en el aprendizaje, etc.), como externos, en los que podríamos enmarcar la labor del docente. Por ello el objetivo de nuestro trabajo es, a través de una revisión teórica y, posteriormente una comprobación empírica, tratar de conocer en qué medida la satisfacción del docente influye en la satisfacción de su alumnado. Para llevara a cabo esta investigación hemos seleccionado una muestra intencional, en concreto hemos seleccionado docentes de un Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria, el Valles de Gata, de la localidad de Hoyos, Cáceres, y sus alumnos correspondientes. El cuestionario elegido es la Escala de Satisfacción Laboral para Profesores (ESL-VP) de Anaya y Suárez (2007) y además un cuestionario elaborado para los estudiantes. Tras analizar los resultados comprobamos que la satisfacción docente influye en la satisfacción del alumnado.
Perfil motivacional temprano de estudiantes con dificultades de acceso al léxico y comprensión lectora en educación primaria
Authors: Mercader Ruiz Jessica , Badenes-Gasset Presentación Ana , Abellán Roselló Laura , Siegenthaler Hierro Rebeca
Published: August 2019

El objetivo del presente estudio retrospectivo consistió en determinar el perfil motivacional temprano de distintos grupos de estudiantes categorizados en función de su nivel de rendimiento lector en acceso al léxico y comprensión en 2º de Educación Primaria. La muestra inicial estuvo compuesta por 208 preescolares de 5 a 6 años y sus tutores, de los cuales 179 volvieron a ser evaluados dos años más tarde. En Educación Infantil, los maestros y maestras cumplimentaron la escala de estimación Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale (PLBS; McDermott, Green, Francis, y Stott, 2000) que evalúa distintas conductas relacionadas con la motivación hacia el aprendizaje (competencia-motivación, atención-persistencia y actitud hacia el aprendizaje). Dos años más tarde, se administró la Batería de Evaluación de los Procesos Lectores (PROLEC-R; Cuetos, Rodríguez, Ruano, y Arribas, 2007). Los participantes se categorizaron en 4 grupos en función de su rendimiento en tareas de acceso al léxico y comprensión del PROLEC-R (Cuetos et al., 2007): dificultades en acceso al léxico (DAL, n = 27); dificultades en comprensión lectora (DCL, n = 69); dificultades en ambos dominios (DAL+DCL = 32) y rendimiento medio (RM, n = 51). Los resultados revelaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos en todas las variables de motivación hacia el aprendizaje evaluadas en Educación Infantil, con un peor funcionamiento de los grupos con dificultades en comparación con los estudiantes con rendimiento medio. Se destaca una mayor afectación de los grupos DAL+DCL y DAL en comparación con los estudiantes con DCL en la capacidad para persistir ante las tareas (atención-persistencia). Se comentan las implicaciones de estos hallazgos para la investigación y la práctica psicoeducativa.
Maestros y maestras ante situaciones de acoso y ciberacoso escolar
Authors: Sidera Francesc , Rostan Carles , Serrat Elisabet , Ortiz Robinson
Published: August 2019

El objetivo de este estudio se centra en conocer el punto de vista y comportamiento de los maestros y maestras de educación infantil y primaria en situaciones de acoso escolar. Un total de 220 docentes han participado en el estudio (182 mujeres y 38 hombres; edad media = 42.24 años), respondiendo a un cuestionario en línea sobre algunos aspectos relacionados con el acoso escolar. Los resultados muestran que solo un 24.1 % se consideran preparados para afrontar situaciones de acoso o ciberacoso. Además, un 45.2 % afirma haber observado situaciones de acoso o ciberacoso en las aulas donde ha realizado docencia. En estos casos, las acciones que más frecuentemente llevan a cabo implican hablar con el agresor y la víctima, los compañeros de clase, el equipo directivo y las familias del agresor y de la víctima. Los comportamientos menos frecuentes implican castigar al agresor y hablar con los profesionales del centro, como por ejemplo, el psicólogo. Finalmente, los maestros y maestras consideran que las acciones que ayudarían más a prevenir y reducir el acoso y el ciberacoso son: concienciar sobre las consecuencias del acoso, animar a los alumnos y alumnas a informar de las situaciones de acoso, implementar programas y protocolos de actuación adecuados y formación a los docentes y a las familias. Estos resultados se discuten en el marco de otros estudios sobre la percepción y las actuaciones de los maestros y maestras en situaciones de acoso y ciberacoso escolar, así como dentro de las prácticas más efectivas para su prevención y reducción.