bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covid-19: ¿Una oportunidad de cambio para el periodismo deportivo? Análisis de la cobertura deportiva de El País, El Mundo y La Vanguardia durante el estado de alarma = COVID-19: An opportunity for change in sports journalism? Analysis of the sports coverage of El País, El Mundo and La Vanguardia during the state of alarm
Authors: Hasbani Kermanchahi Victor , Ramon Xavier , Cortiñas-Rovira Sergi
Published: September 2021

El periodismo deportivo se ha caracterizado por la uniformidad y la baja diversidad temática, que se traduce en la excesiva focalización en determinados deportes, competiciones y protagonistas con alta capacidad de atracción económica. La crisis del Covid-19 ha ofrecido al periodismo deportivo la oportunidad de reexaminar sus estrategias y articular una agenda distintiva. A través del análisis del contenido de 1,409 piezas y 195 portadas, se examina la cobertura desarrollada por El País, El Mundo y La Vanguardia durante los primeros 65 días del estado de alarma, con el objetivo de determinar si los periódicos aprovecharon la crisis para desarrollar un periodismo deportivo más diverso. La crisis del Covid-19 no modificó las prioridades existentes, sino que intensificó la atención sobre aquellos deportes que ya acumulaban más poder mediático. En un escenario sin competiciones, la atención sobre el fútbol masculino y profesional permaneció intacta. La ‘futbolización’ contrasta con un escaso tratamiento del impacto de la pandemia sobre otras disciplinas minoritarias y el deporte femenino y adaptado. La prensa también fue ajena a varias temáticas, personajes y perspectivas de importancia a nivel mundial. Las disparidades en la agenda conllevan repercusiones sociales, económicas y deportivas de primer orden. AbstractSports journalism has been characterized by uniformity and low thematic diversity, which translates into excessive focus on certain sports, competitions and protagonists with a high capacity for economic attraction. The Covid-19 crisis has offered sports journalism the opportunity to reexamine its strategies and articulate a distinctive agenda. Through content analysis of 1,409 pieces and 195 front pages, the coverage developed by El País, El Mundo and La Vanguardia during the first 65 days of the state of alarm is examined, with the goal of determining whether newspapers took advantage of the crisis to develop a more diverse sports journalism. The Covid-19 crisis did not modify the existing priorities, but rather intensified attention on those sports that already accumulated more media power. In a landscape without competitions, the focus on men's and professional football remained intact. ‘Footballization’ contrasts with a scant treatment of the impact of the pandemic on other minority disciplines and women's and disability sport. The press was also oblivious to various themes protagonists and perspectives of worldwide importance. The disparities on the agenda carry major social, economic and sports repercussions.
A Proof of the Riemann Hypothesis Based on MacLaurin Expansion of the Completed Zeta Function
Authors: Zhang Weicun
Published: September 2021

The basic idea is to expand the completed zeta function $\xi(s)$ in MacLaurin series (infinite polynomial). Thus, by Lemma 3 and Lemma 4, and the fact that $\xi(s)=\xi(1-s)$, a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis can be achieved.
Coordinated Control of Single-Phase End-Users for Phase Load Balancing in Active Electric Distribution Networks
Authors: Grigoraș Gheorghe , Noroc Livia , Chelaru Ecaterina , Scarlatache Florina , Neagu Bogdan-Constantin , Ivanov Ovidiu , Gavrilaș Mihai
Published: September 2021

In the paper, a coordinated control methodology of single-phase (1-P) end-users switching oper-ations on the phases of an active electric distribution network (AEDN) has been proposed to ob-tain a minimum unbalance degree at the coupling common point (CCP) level with the main dis-tribution system. The phase load balancing (PLB) process considers the smart devices that switch from one phase to another phase the 1-P end-users (consumers and prosumers) to compensate for the phase load unbalance. The proposed methodology has been tested successfully in an AEDN belonging to a Romanian Distribution Network Operator (DNO) containing 114 end-users (104 consumers/10 prosumers) integrated into the Smart Metering System (SMS). The op-timal solution leads to a value of the objective function by 1.00004, represented by the unbalance factor, very close to the ideal target, 1.00. A comparative analysis was conducted considering other possible PLB cases (the consumer-level PLB and prosumer-level PLB), obtaining similar values of the UF (1.027 vs. 1.028), slightly higher than in the hybrid-level PLB. Also, the signifi-cant technical benefits were quantified through an energy-saving of 58.73% and decreasing the phase voltage unbalance rate by 91 % compared to the initial case (without PLB). These results emphasized the positive impact of the proposed coordinated control methodology on the PLB process and evidenced its effectiveness and applicability in the AEDNs.
Safety of Cerebrolysin for Neurorecovery After Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Twelve Randomized-Controlled Trials
Authors: Strilciuc Stefan , Vécsei László , Boering Dana , Pražnikar Aleš , Riederer Peter , Battistin Leontino
Published: September 2021

We performed a systematic search and meta-analysis of available literature to determine the safety profile of Cerebrolysin in acute ischemic stroke, filling existing safety information gaps and inconsistent results. We searched EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database, 1947 to March 2021), MEDLINE (1946 to March 2021), CENTRAL (1948 to March 2021) and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1995 to March 2021). Data collection and analysis was conducted using methods described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. All safety outcomes were analyzed based on risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals. The meta-analysis pooled 2202 patients from twelve randomized clinical trials, registering non-statistically significant (p>0.05) differences between Cerebrolysin and placebo throughout main and subgroup analyses. The lowest rate of Serious Adverse Events (SAE), as compared to placebo, was observed for the highest dose of Cerebrolysin (50 mL), highlighting a moderat reduction (RR = 0.6). We observed a tendency of superiority of Cerebrolysin regarding SAE in high dose treatment courses for moderate-severe ischemic stroke, suggesting some effect of the agent against adverse events. This comprehensive safety meta-analysis confirms the safety profile for patients treated with Cerebrolysin after acute ischemic stroke, as compared to placebo.
Insecticidal Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Spodoptera frugiperda under laboratory conditions in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: Pittarate Sarayut , Rajula Julius , Rahman Afroja , Vivekanandhan Perumal , Thungrabeab Malee , Mekchay Supamit , Krutmuang Patcharin
Published: September 2021

Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) is a major pest of corn, rice, and sorghum among other crops usually controlled using synthetic or biological insecticides. Currently, the new invention of nanotechnology is taking root in the agricultural industry as an alternative source of pest management that is target-specific, safe, and efficient. This study sought to determine the efficacy of commercial Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) towards S. frugiperda under labora-tory conditions. ZnO NPs were diluted into different concentrations (100- 500ppm), where the baby corn used to feed the S. frugiperda larvae was dipped. The development of the insect feeding on food dipped in ZnO solution was significantly (p<0.05) affected, and the number of days that the insect took to complete its life cycle had a significant difference compared to the control. There was a significant difference in the adults’ emergence at all the concentrations of ZnO NPs compared to the control, with over 90% of the eggs successfully going through the cycle until adult emergence. Additionally, several malformations were observed throughout the lifecycle of the insect. Also, the fecundity of the females was greatly affected. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of exploitation of ZnO nanoparticles not only to eradicate S. frugiperda but to significantly reduce their population in the ecosystem through deformations, reduced fecundity, reduced oviposition, and hatchability of eggs. It will be a valuable tool in integrated pest management regimens.
Is There a Glutathione Centered Redox Dysregulation Subtype of Schizophrenia?
Authors: Palaniyappan Lena , Park Min Tae M. , Jeon Peter , Limongi Roberto , Yang Kun , Sawa Akira , Théberge Jean
Published: September 2021

Schizophrenia continues to be an illness with poor outcome. Most mechanistic changes occur many years before the first episode of schizophrenia; these are not reversible after the illness onset. A developmental mechanism that is still modifiable in adult life may center on intracortical glutathione (GSH). A large body of pre-clinical data has suggested the possibility of notable GSH-deficit in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, studies of intracortical GSH are not conclusive in this regard. In this review, we highlight the recent ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies linking GSH to critical outcome measures across various stages of schizophrenia. We discuss the methodological steps required to conclusively establish or refute the persistence of GSH-deficit subtype and clarify the role of the central antioxidant system in disrupting the brain structure and connectivity in the early stages of schizophrenia. We propose in-vivo GSH quantification for patient selection in forthcoming antioxidant trials in psychosis. This review offers directions for a promising non-dopaminergic early intervention approach in schizophrenia.
An Optimization-Based Meta-Learning Model for MRI Reconstruction with Diverse Dataset
Authors: Bian Wanyu , Chen Yunmei , Ye Xiaojing , Zhang Qingchao
Published: September 2021

(1) Purpose: This work aims at developing a generalizable MRI reconstruction model in the meta-learning framework.
The standard benchmarks in meta-learning are challenged by learning on diverse task distributions. The proposed network learns the regularization function in a variational model and reconstructs MR images with various under-sampling ratios or patterns that may or may not be seen in the training data by leveraging a heterogeneous dataset.
(2) Methods: We propose an
unrolling network induced by learnable optimization algorithms (LOA) for solving our nonconvex nonsmooth variational model for MRI reconstruction. In this model, the learnable regularization function contains a task-invariant common feature encoder and task-specific learner represented by a shallow network. To train the network we split the training data into two parts: training and validation, and introduce a bilevel optimization algorithm. The lower-level optimization trains task-invariant parameters for the feature encoder with fixed parameters of the task-specific learner on the training dataset, and the upper-level optimizes the parameters of the task-specific learner on the validation dataset.
(3) Results: The PSNR increases 1.5 dB on average compared to the network trained through conventional supervised learning on the seen CS ratios. We test the result of quick adaption on the unseen tasks after meta-training, the average PSNR arises 1.22 dB compared to the conventional learning procedure that is directly trained on the unseen CS ratios in the meanwhile saving half of the training time. The average PSNR arises 1.87 dB for unseen sampling patterns comparing to conventional learning;
(4) Conclusion: We proposed a meta-learning framework consisting of the base network architecture, design of regularization, and bi-level optimization-based training. The network inherits the convergence property of the LOA and interpretation of the variational model. The generalization ability is improved by the designated regularization and bilevel optimization-based training algorithm.
Assessing the Weed-Suppressing Potential of Cotton Chromosome Substitution Lines Using the Stair-Step Assay
Authors: Fuller Mary Gracen , Saha Sukumar , Stelly David M , Jenkins Johnie N , Tseng Te Ming
Published: September 2021

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is a problematic common weed species, especially in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). With the wide use of chemical herbicide and herbicide-tolerant transgenic cotton lines, Palmer amaranth populations have developed tolerance to commonly used herbicides. It is imperative to develop alternative weed control methods to slow the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed populations and provide new sources for weed management. Eleven chromosome substitution (CS) cotton lines CS-B26lo, CS-T17, CS-B16-15, CS-B17-11, CS-B12, CS-T05sh, CS-T26lo, CS-T11sh, CS-M11sh, CS-B22sh, and CS-B22lo were screened for weed-suppressing abilities in this study. The cotton lines were tested using the established stair-step structure methodology, which provided scope to study the effect of individual CS lines on the growth and development of Palmer amaranth weed without any interference of other external factors in the greenhouse. Height (cm) and chlorophyll concentration (cci) were measured for each plant in the system. The data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using LSD mean comparisons of the genotypes at the P≤ .05 level. The 14th day after establishment resulted in the most significant variation in Palmer amaranth height reduction among the CS lines. Results indicated that CS-B22sh had the highest effect in reducing Palmer amaranth height and chlorophyll concentration with the most heightened susceptibility for Palmer amaranth. The cluster analysis revealed that Enlist® cotton, CS-CS-B22sh, and CS-T26lo were clustered in one group suggesting similar genetic potential with reference to Palmer amaranth growth and development. CS-B22sh showed novel genetic potential to control the growth and development of Palmer amaranth, a major weed in cotton fields. In the future, it will be interesting to investigate if CS-B22sh exudates from its root contain allelochemicals able to impede the growth and development of Palmer amaranth.
Second Harmonic Generation in Lithiated Silicon Nanowires: Derivations and Computational Methods
Authors: Boone Donald
Published: September 2021

This research will examine the computational methods to calculate the nonlinear optical process of second harmonic generation (SHG) that will be hypothesized to be present during lithium ion insertion into silicon nanowires. First it will be determined whether the medium in which SHG is conveyed is non-centrosymmetric or whether the medium is inversion symmetric where SHG as a part of the second-order nonlinear optical phenomenon does not exist. It will be demonstrated that the main interaction that determines SHG is multiphoton absorption on lithium ions. The quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) is used as the background that generates coherent states for electrons and photons that transverse the length of the silicon nanowire. The matrix elements of the Hamiltonian which represents the energy of the system will be used to calculate the probability density of second-order nonlinear optical interactions which includes collectively SHG, sum-frequency generation (SFG) and difference-frequency generation (DFG). As a result it will be seen that at varies concentrations of lithium ions (Li+) within the crystallized silicon (c-Si) matrix the second-order nonlinear optical process has probabilities substantial enough to create second harmonic generation that could possibly be used for such applications as second harmonic imaging microscopy.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 229: Orientalism vs. Occidentalism
Authors: Hussain Umer
Published: September 2021

Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Conor McGregor Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 229 battle was among the most controversial mixed martial art fights of the past decade. In this study, the author examined how the various popular media outlets from the Eastern and Western world portrayed Khabib Nurmagomedov after UFC 229. The author used Huntington’s (1993) clash of civilization thesis by grounding it in the Orientalism and Occidentalism paradigms to examine the phenomenon. Fairclough’s (1989, 1995) model for critical discourse analysis was employed to investigate the various Western and Eastern popular press and digital media platforms (i.e., newspapers, blogs, and sporting news websites). The author analyzed 57 (Western n = 38, Eastern n = 19) media reports per the inclusion criteria. The study results unveiled conflicting predispositions present in the Western and Eastern media for Khabib Nurmagomedov. This study contributes to the limited knowledge about how a Muslim man athlete with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds is seen contrarily in the Western and Eastern media. The author discusses the theoretical implications of the study.
Phenotype from SAMD9 Mutation at 7p21.1 Appears Attenuated by Novel Compound Heterozygous Variants at RUNX2 and SALL1
Authors: Sills E. Scott , Wood Samuel H
Published: September 2021

Sterile alpha motif domain-containing protein 9 (SAMD9) is a regulatory protein centrally involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mapped to 7p21.1, variants in SAMD9 have been reported in <50 pediatric cases worldwide, typically with early lethality. Germline gain-of-function SAMD9 variants are associated with MIRAGE Syndrome (myelodysplasia, infection, restricted growth, adrenal hypoplasia, genital anomalies, and enteropathy). Spalt like transcription factor 1 (SALL1) is a zinc finger transcriptional repressor located at 16q12.1 where only two transcript variants in SALL1 are known. RUNX2 (6p21.1) encodes a nuclear protein with a Runt DNA-binding domain critical for osteoblastic differentiation, skeletal morphogenesis, and serves as a scaffold for nucleic acids and regulatory factors involved in skeletal gene expression. RUNX2 and SALL1 are thus both ‘master regulators’ of tissue organization and embryo development. Here, we describe exome sequencing and copy number variants in two previously unknown mutations—R824Q in SAMD9, and Q253H in SALL1. A new multiexon 3’ terminal duplication in RUNX2 is also reported. This is the first known phenotype characterization for the intersection of all three variants in a healthy 46,XX adult. Focusing on developmental progress, ultrastructural renal anatomy, and selected reproductive aspects, we describe this unique genotype diagnosed incidentally during Covid-19 illness. Individual disruption in SAMD9, RUNX2, or SALL1 would be expected to give a bleak prognosis. However, the convergence discovered here appears to dampen severe pathology, perhaps by cross-gene silencing of effects normally deleterious when such changes occur alone.
Deterministic Sampling from Univariate Normal Distributions with Sierpinski Space-Filling Curves
Authors: Oliveira Hime
Published: September 2021

This work addresses the problem of sampling from Gaussian probability distributions by means of uniform samples obtained deterministically and directly from space-filling curves (SFCs), a purely topological concept. To that end, the well-known inverse cumulative distribution function method is used, with the help of the probit function,which is the inverse of the cumulative distribution function of the standard normal distribution. Mainly due to the central limit theorem, the Gaussian distribution plays a fundamental role in probability theory and related areas, and that is why it has been chosen to be studied in the present paper. Numerical distributions (histograms) obtained with the proposed method, and in several levels of granularity, are compared to the theoretical normal PDF, along with other already established sampling methods, all using the cited probit function. Final results are validated with the Kullback-Leibler and two other divergence measures, and it will be possible to draw conclusions about the adequacy of the presented paradigm. As is amply known, the generation of uniform random numbers is a deterministic simulation of randomness using numerical operations. That said, sequences resulting from this kind of procedure are not truly random. Even so, and to be coherent with the literature, the expression ”random number” will be used along the text to mean ”pseudo-random number”.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Use of Hyaluronic Acid Injections to Restore Interproximal Papillae
Authors: Sanchez-Perez Arturo , Rosa-Vela Tania , Mateos-Moreno Bibiana , Jornet-Garcia Alfonso , Navarro-Cuellar Carlos
Published: September 2021

The absence of interdental papillae leads to the appearance of black triangle. For most patients, the appearance of these triangles is an important reason for concern and affects their social relationships. Multiple reconstruction techniques have been developed with different degrees of success and predictability. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of hyaluronic acid (HA) injected into interproximal papillae six months after injection and to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. After a systematic review, five articles were selected: a clinical randomised controlled trial and four clinical trials. In total, eighty-five patients with a deficiency in upper papillae in the front of the maxilla and jaw were included in the study. The height variable was evaluated (mm) six months after HA injection. In total, one hundred and four interproximal papillae were studied. Three articles showed an important difference in favour of intervention. The total result regarding in the injection of AH was favourable with an approximate average filling of 0.7 mm in the height of the interdental papilla. The injection of HA for the reconstruction of deficient papillae in the region of the upper and lower maxilla was a possible option treatment strategy.
Crowdsourcing Task Assignment Mechanism Based on Employer Net Profit and Employee Satisfaction
Authors: Li Juan , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2021

Crowdsourcing task assignment has become an important task assignment model in the Internet economy era. In this paper, we study the crowdsourcing task assignment problem based on employer net profit and employee satisfaction. First, the reliability and interest of employees are modeled, based on which the mathematical expressions for employer net profit and employee satisfaction are given. Then, a multi-objective optimization problem is formulated to maximize employer net profit and employee satisfaction by jointly optimizing the task assignment matrix and task offer vector. Since the considered problem contains discrete variables, it cannot be solved directly by traditional optimization methods. Therefore, two low-complexity high-performance algorithms are proposed. The first algorithm is based on a fast non-dominated ranking genetic algorithm with an elite, which is able to explore the Pareto bound of the considered problem. The second algorithm is based on a reinforcement learning framework, which is able to maximize the weighted sum of employer net profit and employee satisfaction. Numerical results show that the number of tasks assigned to employees affects both employee satisfaction and employer net profit. The Pareto bounds and Pareto optimal solutions based on the solutions of the two proposed algorithms are also presented numerically, which quantitatively characterize the tradeoff between employer net profit and employee satisfaction.
Bližšia košeľa ako kabát? Sociálne siete rodiny a komunity seniorov v slovenských mestách
Authors: Káčerová Marcela , Majo Juraj , Voľanská Ľubica
Published: September 2021

The quality of social networks influences the quality of life in old age because the absence of them leads to social exclusion and loneliness, which are, according to the literature, the most serious concerns perceived by seniors. We focused on the social networks of seniors and loneliness in the urban environment. We were interested in how seniors reflect their social networks. Do they place emphasis on family or community networks? The paper was based on a mixed-method with a questionnaire on a sample of 1,026 seniors living in cities in Slovakia in combination with in-depth interviews. In connection to the assumption of the influence of long-term patterns of family structures on intergenerational relationship and relationships with friends, it was found that there is a preference for family networks. Friendship networks are long-lasting, transforming and, unlike kinship networks, do not extend geographically beyond city boundaries.
Dynamika nadlokálneho a lokálneho v každodennosti života na hranici (na príklade regiónu Kysuce)
Authors: Kontriková Šusteková Ivana
Published: September 2021

Border studies (currently also cross-border cooperation issues) is an interdisciplinary research specialization. The aim of the article is to present the spatial proximity influence of the state border on the everyday life reality of inhabitants of the Kysuce region in the 20th Century (overlapping with the present day) in both the local and supra-local context. With reference to the theory of the Irish sociologist Liam O'Dowd, it focuses on the Slovak state borders with Poland and the Czech Republic as a possible barrier, but also a bridge, a source of opportunities and a symbol of identity. It points out that in the villages bordering the Polish and Czech territories there has always been a relatively intensive mutual cultural transfer and contact of populations and therefore the borders cannot be perceived as an exclusively geopolitical phenomenon; their social and cultural dimension must be taken into account.
Hydrothermal Ore Genesis in the Sea of Japan
Authors: Astakhova N.V.
Published: September 2021

—The Sea of Japan is a tectonically active region with rift-related destruction of the Earth’s crust and numerous volcanic ediﬁces on the seaﬂoor. Since the 1970s, numerous zones with ferromanganese crusts (FMCs) and phosphorite and barite ore occurrences have been discovered during the repeated expeditions of the Paciﬁc Oceanological Institute, Vladivostok. Analysis of the distribution of these ore occurrences showed that all of them are conﬁned to tectonically active zones of the seaﬂoor: submarine volcanoes, tectonic scarps, or fault zones. In some zones, phosphorites occur together with FMCs, and in one zone, together with FMCs and barites. Ferromanganese hydroxides, phosphorites, or barites are found in the pores of basalts composing submarine volcanic ediﬁces in the Sea of Japan. These data indicate that the ore matter in all zones is supplied with postvolcanic gas-hydrothermal fluids or hydrothermal solutions circulating along deep faults during the destruction of the continental crust in the southern and eastern parts of the sea. Thus, ferromanganese, phosphate, and barite ore occurrences in the Sea of Japan are related to low-temperature hydrothermal-sedimentary processes.
Validity Evidence for the Medical Student Core Physical Examination
Authors: Guth Todd , Park Yoon Soo , Hanson Janice , Yudkowsky Rachel
Published: September 2021

Background

The Core Physical Exam (CPE) has been proposed as a set of key physical exam (PE) items for teaching and assessing PE skills in medical students, and as the basis of a Core + Cluster curriculum. Beyond the initial development of the CPE and proposal of the CPE and the Core + Cluster curriculum, no additional validity evidence has been presented for use of the CPE to teach or assess PE skills of medical students. As a result, a modified version of the CPE was developed by faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (UCSOM) and implemented in the school’s clinical skills course in the context of an evolving Core + Cluster curriculum.
Methods

Validity evidence for the 25-item University of Colorado School of Medicine (UCSOM) CPE was analyzed using longitudinal assessment data from 366 medical students (Classes of 2019 and 2020), obtained from September 2015 through December 2019. Using Messick's unified validity framework, validity evidence specific to content, response process, internal structure, relationship to other variables, and consequences was gathered.
Results

Content and response process validity evidence included expert content review and rater training. For internal structure, a generalizability study phi coefficient of 0.258 suggests low reliability for a single assessment due to variability in learner performance by occasion and CPE items. Correlations of performance on the UCSOM CPE with other PE assessments were low, ranging from .00-.34. Consequences were explored through determination of a pass-fail cut score. Following a modified Angoff process, clinical skills course directors selected a consensus pass-fail cut score of 80% as a defensible and practical threshold for entry into precepted clinical experiences.
Conclusions

Validity evidence supports the use of the UCSOM CPE as an instructional strategy for teaching PE skills and as a formative assessment of readiness for precepted clinical experiences. The low generalizability coefficient suggests that inferences about PE skills based on the UCSOM CPE alone should be made with caution, and that the UCSOM CPE in isolation should be used primarily as a formative assessment.
Thorough Statistical Analyses of Breast Cancer Co-methylation Patterns
Authors: Sun Shuying , Dammann Jael , Lai Pierce , Tian Christine
Published: September 2021

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. It is associated with DNA methylation, an epigenetic event with a methyl group added to a cytosine paired with a guanine, i.e., a CG site. The methylation levels of different genes in a genome are correlated in certain ways that affect gene functions. This correlation pattern is known as co-methylation. It is still not clear how different genes co-methylate in the whole genome of breast cancer samples. Previous studies are conducted using relatively small datasets (Illumina 27K data). In this study, we analyze much larger datasets (Illumina 450K data). Results: Our key findings are summarized below. First, normal samples have more highly correlated, or co-methylated, CG pairs than tumor samples. Both tumor and normal have more than 93% of positive co-methylation, but normal samples have significantly more negatively correlated CG sites than tumor samples (6.6% vs. 2.8%). Second, both tumor and normal samples have about 94% of co-methylated CG pairs on different chromosomes, but normal samples have 470 million more CG pairs. Highly co-methylated pairs on the same chromosome tend to be close to each other. Third, a small proportion of CG sites’ co-methylation patterns change dramatically from normal to tumor. The percentage of differentially methylated (DM) sites among them is larger than the overall DM rate. Fourth, certain CG sites are highly correlated with many CG sites; the top 100 of such super-connector CG sites in tumor and normal samples have no overlaps. Fifth, both highly changing sites and super-connector sites’ locations are significantly different from the genome-wide CG sites’ locations. Sixth, chromosome X co-methylation patterns are very different from other chromosomes. Finally, the network analyses of genes associated with several sets of co-methylated CG sites identified above show that tumor and normal samples have different patterns. Conclusions: Our findings will provide researchers with a new understanding of co-methylation patterns in breast cancer. Our ability to thoroughly analyze co-methylation of large datasets will allow researchers to study relationships and associations between different genes in breast cancer.
Feasibility and Safety of Canine Orchiectomy Using Scrotal Approach and a Vessel-Sealing Device: A Prospective Observational Study of 200 Cases
Authors: Yiapanis Christos , Ober Ciprian , Potamopoulou Maria , Vasilakis Theodoros , Milgram Joshua
Published: September 2021

Background: Canine orchiectomy involves making an incision in the prescrotal area, exteriorizing both testes via the same incision, ligating the blood vessels and spermatic cord, removing the testes, and suturing the incision. A briefer durations of anesthesia and surgery and decrease of postoperative morbidity could be obtain using a vessel sealing device. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and safety of orchiectomy in dogs by a scrotal approach with the use of a vessel-sealing device. Scrotal orchiectomy was performed with the use of monopolar electrosurgery device in pure cutting mode and a vessel-sealing device. Data were collected prospectively for the following categorical variables: breed, age, body weight, lifestyle, surgical time, indications for surgery and complications.Results: No complications were reported in 187 of 200 (93.5%). The complications documented were automutilation (AM), incisional complications (IC) and scrotal complications (SC). AM complications (11/200 [5.5%]) and SC complications (2/200 [1%]) were treated without additional surgery and resolved by day 10 after the surgery. Procedure duration (2,1 minutes± 0.4 minutes) was briefer than traditional castration duration reported in literature (3.5 ± 0.4 minutes).Conclusions: Results suggested that canine orchiectomy by scrotal approach with the use of a vessel-sealing device was feasible and safe. Furthermore, it was associated with a low complication rate and had the benefit of reduced surgical time and postoperative morbidity. This technique is promising for widespread application in veterinary surgery to help with haemostasis in canine orchiectomy.
Clinical Benefits and Adverse Effects of Siwak (S. Persica) Use on Periodontal Health: a Scoping Review of Literature
Authors: Ramli Haslinda , Mohd-Dom Tuti Ningseh , Mohd-Said Shahida
Published: September 2021

Background: Siwak is a chewing stick used as an oral hygiene aid associated with Muslim communities across the globe since more than 1500 years ago. Used either exclusively or in conjunction with a regular toothbrush, there is evidence supporting its clinical effectiveness in plaque control, but adverse effects on periodontal health remains inconclusive. Objective: This study aims to systematically review the wide range of data and literatures related to siwak practice and its effect on periodontal health. Method: The review was conducted based on scoping review techniques, searching literature in EBSCOHOST, PubMed, SCOPUS and Google scholar databases using the following search terms: “siwak’ or ‘miswak’ or ‘chewing stick” for intervention, and “periodontium or ‘periodontal’ or ‘periodontal health’ or ‘periodontal disease” for outcome. Articles published between January 1990 to March 2021 and written in English language were included Results: A total of 721 articles collected from the search and 21 of them were eligible for the final analysis. Results of this study was described based on clinical and antibacterial reporting of siwak, method of siwak practice and its adverse effect on oral health. Siwak was found effective at removing dental plaque and improving periodontal health over time although its effect on subgingival microbiota was inconclusive. Presence of gingival recession and clinical attachment loss were much more commonly reported in siwak users, attributable to variations in the methods employed for tooth cleaning using the siwak.Conclusion: There is substantial evidence that the lack of standardised reporting for effective siwak use may have resulted in contradictory findings about its oral hygiene benefits and adverse effects. As such, future work on safe and effective siwak practice is to be advocated among its users.
Parents’ Perceptions of School Recess Policies and Practices
Authors: Ozenbaugh Isabella , Thalken Janelle , Logan Sam , Stellino Megan , Massey William V.
Published: September 2021

Background: Previous research has shown that school recess can provide children with physical, social and cognitive benefits; yet, recess opportunities and experiences may be different between children with and without disabilities. Parent perceptions of recess are important to consider as they serve as advocates for their children’s access and opportunities at school.Objective: To examine parent perceptions of recess by children’s disability status, family household income, and race/ethnicity.Method: Participants included 473 parents from the US stratified across six household income levels. Confirmatory factor analyses were run for all 3 scales assessing parents’ perception of belonging and victimization at recess, recess policies, and recess procedures. Regression analyses were run to examine if parents’ perception of recess were predicted by race, income, or child disability status. Results: Results revealed that parents’ perceptions of recess were predicted by child disability status but not income or race. Specifically, parents’ perceptions were significantly predicted by child disability status regarding victimization (b = .13, SE = .06, p = .05), recess policies about withholding recess (b = .171, SE = .07, p = .01), and finally, student engagement at recess (b = .165, SE = .07, p = .02).Conclusion: Results show that according to their parents, children with disabilities may have a different experience at recess than children without disabilities and that there are ways to improve the recess environment to better meet the needs of all children.
Gene Rearrangements in the Mitochondrial Genomes of Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodinae): Plesiomorphies, Synapomorphies and Autapomorphies
Authors: Pakrashi Avas , KUMAR VIKAS , Banerjee Dhirti , Tyagi Kaomud , Kalleshwaraswamy C. M.
Published: September 2021

Mitochondrial genome rearrangements have been used for defining historical relationships, but there have been incidences of convergences at different taxonomic levels. Here, we sequenced complete mitogenome of Aleurodicus rugioperculatus (Aleyrodidae: Aleurodicinae) to examine gene rearrangements and phylogenetic relationships within the family Aleyrodidae. We identified five gene blocks (I-V) in the whitefly ancestor that are shared plesiomorphies retained in different whitefly lineages. Gene block I is conserved in all whiteflies except three species (Tetraleurodes acaciae and two Bemisia species). Conversely, we detected 83 derived gene boundaries within the family. Mapping these gene boundaries onto a phylogenetic tree revealed that 16 were symplesiomorphies for two subfamilies; 9 were synapomorphies at different taxonomic levels, and 28 autapomorphies for individual species. Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analyses yielded similar topologies supporting the monophyly of Aleyrodinae and Aleurodicinae. Exclusion of PCG third codon positions from phylogenetic analyses improved both node support and consistency with prior analyses. To understand the significance of gene order convergence on phylogeny of the whiteflies, more species-level data is required.
Integrative Analysis of ATAC-Seq and Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing in the Trilogy of Gastric Carcinogenesis: From Normal Mucosa to Precancerous Lesions and to Gastric Cancer
Authors: Chen Nianzhi , Liu Qingsong , Ma Xiao , Zhao Ziyi , Wang Jundong , Chen Yu , Zhao Maoyuan , Zheng Qiao , Zhang Gang , Xia Ting , Guo Yu , Yuan Yun , Lv Shangbin , Qi Yulin , Zeng Zhongzhen , Zeng Jinhao , Tang Jianyuan
Published: September 2021

Background:Many specific biomarkers and target genes of gastric cancer have been identified, but the research areas on the characterization of epigenetic and transcriptional landscape in the process of gastric carcinogenesis, known as the trilogy from normal mucosa to precancerous lesions and finally to gastric cancer, remains a black box.Results:We performed whole-transcriptome sequencing and ATAC-seq based on human gastric tumours (T), gastric precancerous lesions (P) and normal gastric mucosa (N) and obtained chromatin open regions, circRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Subsequently, differential expression analysis was performed on the N, P, and T groups, followed by GO, KEGG, and PPI analyses to investigate cancer-related hub genes (e.g., VEGFA, FN1, CDK1, and MYC) and extracellular matrix related signalling pathways that might serve as potential therapeutic targets in precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer. A core competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was then constructed that contained 17 mRNAs, 11 miRNAs, 11 lncRNAs and two circRNAs, and the RNAs were validated by TCGA database and RT-PCR to prove they play crucial roles in the trilogy of gastric carcinogenesis; notably, hsa-miR-1226-5p, hsa-miR-6720-5p, lncRNA H19, ARID3A and GPR161 were significantly enriched in the complex network, which might be specificity tumour markers. Finally, ROC curve analysis suggested that nine mRNAs and five lncRNAs may be novel biomarkers with clinical implications for the precise diagnosis of early gastric cancer. Survivorship curve analysis further identified four mRNAs and one lncRNA as potential prognostic indicators. Conclusions:These results reveal a panel of premalignant and malignant specific marker genes in the trilogy of gastric carcinogenesis, potentially aiding the early identification of precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer. Meanwhile, the present study identifies the key molecular targets in the dynamic process of gastric carcinogenesis for experimental research on drugs and molecular mechanisms.
Estimation of Larch Growth at the Stem, Crown and Branch Levels Using Ground-based LiDAR Point Cloud
Authors: Jin Shuangna , Zhang Wuming , Shao Jie , Wan Peng , Cheng Shun , Cai Shangshu , Yan Guangjian
Published: September 2021

BackgroundTree growth is an important indicator of forest health and can reflect changes in forest structure. Traditional tree growth estimates use easy-to-measure parameters (e.g., tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and crown diameter) obtained via forest in situ measurements, which are labor-intensive and time-consuming to perform and cannot easily describe the changes throughout the whole growth period of a tree. The combination of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Quantitative Structure Modelling (QSM) can accurately estimate tree structural parameters nondestructively and has the potential to estimate tree growth. Therefore, this paper estimates tree growth according to the stem-, crown-, and branch-level attributes observed by ground-based LiDAR point clouds. Compared with conventional methods, this paper used tree height, DBH, stem volume, crown diameter, crown volume and first-order branch volume to estimate the growth of 55-year-old larch trees in Saihanba at the stem, crown and branch levels, respectively. ResultsThe experimental results showed that the absolute growth of the first-order branch volume was equivalent to that of the stems, which highlights the importance of branches in the study of tree growth. For 55-year-old larch, tree growth is mainly reflected in the growth of the crown, i.e., the growth of branches. Compared to one-dimensional parameters (tree height, DBH and crown diameter), the growth of three-dimensional parameters (crown, stem and first-order branch volumes) was more obvious. ConclusionsFor 55-year-old larch, three-dimensional tree parameters can more effectively describe tree growth, and the absolute growth of the first-order branch volume is close to the stem volume. In addition, it is necessary to estimate tree growth at different levels.
Identification of a Lipid Metabolism-Associated Gene Signature Predicting Survival in Breast Cancer
Authors: Gong Mingkai , Liu Xiangping , Yang Wu , Song Hongming , Zhao Xian , Ai Xiancheng , Wang Shuo , Wang Haibo
Published: September 2021

Background: Cancer metabolism and specifically lipid metabolism play an important role in breast cancer (BC) progression and metastasis. However, the role of lipid metabolism-associated genes (LMGs) in the diagnosis of breast cancer remains unknown. Methods: The expression profiles and clinical follow-up information of BC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and metabolic genes were downloaded from the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) dataset. Univariate cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses were performed on the differentially expressed metabolism-related genes. Then, the formula of the metabolism-related risk model was composed, and the risk score of each patient was calculated. The breast cancer patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups with a cutoff of the median expression value of the risk score, and the prognostic analysis was also used to analyze the survival time between these two groups. Finally, we analyzed the expression, interaction and correlation among the lipid metabolism-associated genes risk model.Results: The results from the prognostic analysis indicated that the survival was significantly poorer in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group in TCGA, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) shows it is plausible that lipid metabolism is highly correlated with tumor immunity.Conclusion: Lipid metabolism-associated genes may become a new prognostic indicator predicting the survival of BC patients. The prognostic genes (n=16) may help provide new strategies for tumor therapy.
An Integrated Model for Evaluation of Big Data Interactive Systems Under Uncertainty
Authors: Asemi Adeleh , Asemi Asefeh
Published: September 2021

The study aimed to propose a judgment-based evaluation model for usability evaluating of big data interactive system s. Human judgment is associated with uncertainty and gray information. We used the fuzzy technique for integration, summarization, and distance calculation of quality value judgment. The proposed model is an integrated fuzzy Multi Factors Evaluation (MFE) model based on experts’ judgments in HCI, ISPD, and AMLMs. We provided a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) for scoring usability evaluation metrics in different big data interactive system s. A multi-model big data interactive system is implemented for experimental testing of the model. The achieved results from the proposed model and experimental tests are compared using statistical correlation tests. The results show the ability of the proposed model for usability evaluation of big data interactive systems without the need for conducting empirical tests. It is concluded that applying a dataset in a neuro-FIS and training system cause to produce more than a hundred effective rules. The findings indicate that the proposed model can be applied for big data interactive system evaluation, informative evaluation, and complex empirical tests. Future studies may improve the FIS with the integration of artificial neural networks.
The Lived Experiences of Family Members of a Sibling with Borderline Personality Disorder in South Africa: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Ntshingila Nompumelelo , Caluza Wendy , Poggenpoel Marie , Myburgh Chris PH
Published: September 2021

Background: Family members of people living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience a considerable objective and subjective burden. This article aims to report on a study that explored family members’ lived experiences of having a sibling with BPD in South Africa.Method: This qualitative study used in-depth phenomenological individual interviews, supported by participant observations and field notes for data collection. Data were analysed using Tesch’s thematic coding.Results: Seven participants were interviewed, and three themes emerged from the collected data. The study revealed that participants experienced multiple challenges in understanding, gaining control, and struggling to cope with their own lives. Participants also experienced the impact of a lack of communication and education. Lastly, the study revealed that the participants used individual coping mechanisms to cope with having a sibling with BPD.Conclusions: This research illuminated the challenges experienced by family members of a sibling with BPD. These findings provide a basis for recommendations for mental health nurses to promote the mental health of affected family members.