bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex- and region-biased depletion of microglia/macrophages attenuates CLN1 disease in mice
Authors: Berve Kristina , West Brian L. , Martini Rudolf , Groh Janos
Published: October 2020

Background

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (CLN diseases) are fatal lysosomal storage diseases causing neurodegeneration in the CNS. We have previously shown that neuroinflammation comprising innate and adaptive immune reactions drives axonal damage and neuron loss in the CNS of palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1-deficient (Ppt1−/−) mice, a model of the infantile form of the diseases (CLN1). Therefore, we here explore whether pharmacological targeting of innate immune cells modifies disease outcome in CLN1 mice.

Methods

We applied treatment with PLX3397 (150 ppm in the chow), a potent inhibitor of the colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) to target innate immune cells in CLN1 mice. Experimental long-term treatment was non-invasively monitored by longitudinal optical coherence tomography and rotarod analysis, as well as analysis of visual acuity, myoclonic jerks, and survival. Treatment effects regarding neuroinflammation, neural damage, and neurodegeneration were subsequently analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry.

Results

We show that PLX3397 treatment attenuates neuroinflammation in CLN1 mice by depleting pro-inflammatory microglia/macrophages. This leads to a reduction of T lymphocyte recruitment, an amelioration of axon damage and neuron loss in the retinotectal system, as well as reduced thinning of the inner retina and total brain atrophy. Accordingly, long-term treatment with the inhibitor also ameliorates clinical outcomes in CLN1 mice, such as impaired motor coordination, visual acuity, and myoclonic jerks. However, we detected a sex- and region-biased efficacy of CSF-1R inhibition, with male microglia/macrophages showing higher responsiveness toward depletion, especially in the gray matter of the CNS. This results in a better treatment outcome in male Ppt1−/− mice regarding some histopathological and clinical readouts and reflects heterogeneity of innate immune reactions in the diseased CNS.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate a detrimental impact of innate immune reactions in the CNS of CLN1 mice. These findings provide insights into CLN pathogenesis and may guide in the design of immunomodulatory treatment strategies.
Regulatory coupling between long noncoding RNAs and senescence in irradiated microglia
Authors: Xu Anan , Li Rong , Ren Anbang , Jian Haifeng , Huang Zhong , Zeng Qingxing , Wang Baiyao , Zheng Jieling , Chen Xiaoyu , Zheng Naiying , Zheng Ronghui , Tian Yunhong , Liu Mengzhong , Mao Zixu , Ji Aimin , Yuan Yawei
Published: October 2020

Background

Microglia have been implicated in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI), which severely influences the quality of life during long-term survival. Recently, irradiated microglia were speculated to present an aging-like phenotype. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized to regulate a wide spectrum of biological processes, including senescence; however, their potential role in irradiated microglia remains largely uncharacterized.

Methods

We used bioinformatics and experimental methods to identify and analyze the senescence phenotype of irradiated microglia. Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed to clarify the relationship between the radiation-induced differentially expressed lncRNAs (RILs) and the distinctive molecular features of senescence in irradiated microglia.

Results

We found that the senescence of microglia could be induced using ionizing radiation (IR). A mutual regulation mode existed between RILs and three main features of the senescence phenotype in irradiated microglia: inflammation, the DNA damage response (DDR), and metabolism. Specifically, for inflammation, the expression of two selected RILs (ENSMUST00000190863 and ENSMUST00000130679) was dependent on the major inflammatory signaling pathways of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The two RILs modulated the activation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling and subsequent inflammatory cytokine secretion. For the DDR, differential severity of DNA damage altered the expression profiles of RILs. The selected RIL, ENSMUST00000130679, promoted the DDR. For metabolism, blockade of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-mediated lipogenesis attenuated the fold-change of several RILs induced by IR.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed that certain RILs interacted with senescence in irradiated microglia. RILs actively participated in the regulation of senescence features, suggesting that RILs could be promising intervention targets to treat RIBI.
An overview of the sexual and reproductive health status and service delivery among Syrian refugees in Jordan, nine years since the crisis: a systematic literature review
Authors: Amiri Mirwais , El-Mowafi Ieman M. , Chahien Tala , Yousef Hind , Kobeissi Loulou Hassan
Published: October 2020

Background

The Syrian refugee crisis has led to massive displacement into neighboring countries including Jordan. This crisis has caused a significant strain on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the host communities and Syrian refugees. The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is a standard package of services that should be implemented at the onset of an emergency. Due to their importance in protracted humanitarian crisis, this systematic review aimed to assess the utilization of SRH and MISP after 9 years of the crisis.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Medline/Ovid and Scopus for both quantitative and qualitative studies from 1 January 2011 to 30 November 2019. Our search included both free text key words and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for various forms and acronmym of the following terms: (Sexual and) Reproductive Health, Sexual/Gender-based/Family/Intimate partner violence, Minimum Initial Service Package, MISP, Women, Girls, Adolescents, Syrian, Refugee, Jordan, Humanitarian crisis, War, (armed) conflict, and Disaster. Boolean operators and star truncation (*) were used as needed. We further conducted an in-depth review of the available grey literature published during the same timeframe. Using a narrative synthesis approach, two authors independently extracted and analyzed data from published papers. After removal of duplicates, screening, and assessing for eligibility of 161 initially identified citations, 19 papers were selected for review.

Results

Findings from this review indicated a number of barriers to access, utilization, and implementation of SRH services, including lack of reliable information on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), aggravation of early marriages by crisis setting, gaps in the knowledge and use of family planning services, inadequate STIs and HIV coverage, and some issues around the provision of maternal health services.

Conclusion

The findings from this review are suggestive of a number of barriers pertaining to access, utilization, and implementation of SRH services. This is especially true for transitioning from MISP to comprehensive SRH services, and particularly for refugees outside camps. Following are needed to address identified barriers: improved inter-agency coordination, better inclusion/engagement of local initiatives and civil societies in SRH services delivery, improved quality of SRH services, adequate and regular training of healthcare providers, and increased awareness of Syrian women and adolescent girls. Also, more implementing research is required to identify ways to transition SRH provision from the MISP to comprehensive care for the Syrian refugee population in Jordan.
Understanding the uptake of a clinical innovation for osteoarthritis in primary care: a qualitative study of knowledge mobilisation using the i-PARIHS framework
Authors: Swaithes Laura , Dziedzic Krysia , Finney Andrew , Cottrell Elizabeth , Jinks Clare , Mallen Christian , Currie Graeme , Paskins Zoe
Published: October 2020

Background

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. Despite research supporting best practice, evidence-based guidelines are often not followed. Little is known about the implementation of non-surgical models of care in routine primary care practice. From a knowledge mobilisation perspective, the aim of this study was to understand the uptake of a clinical innovation for osteoarthritis and explore the journey from a clinical trial to implementation.

Methods

This study used two methods: secondary analysis of focus groups undertaken with general practice staff from the Managing OSteoArthritis in ConsultationS research trial, which investigated the effectiveness of an enhanced osteoarthritis consultation, and interviews with stakeholders from an implementation project which started post-trial following demand from general practices. Data from three focus groups with 21 multi-disciplinary clinical professionals (5–8 participants per group), and 13 interviews with clinical and non-clinical stakeholders, were thematically analysed utilising the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, in a theoretically informative approach. Public contributors were involved in topic guide design and interpretation of results.

Results

In operationalising implementation of an innovation for osteoarthritis following a trial, the importance of a whole practice approach, including the opportunity for reflection and planning, were identified. The end of a clinical trial provided opportune timing for facilitating implementation planning. In the context of osteoarthritis in primary care, facilitation by an inter-disciplinary knowledge brokering service, nested within an academic institution, was instrumental in supporting ongoing implementation by providing facilitation, infrastructure and resource to support the workload burden. ‘Instinctive facilitation’ may involve individuals who do not adopt formal brokering roles or fully recognise their role in mobilising knowledge for implementation. Public contributors and lay communities were not only recipients of healthcare innovations but also potential powerful facilitators of implementation.

Conclusion

This theoretically informed knowledge mobilisation study into the uptake of a clinical innovation for osteoarthritis in primary care has enabled further characterisation of the facilitation and recipient constructs of i-PARIHS by describing optimum timing for facilitation and roles and characteristics of facilitators.
Anti-COVID-19 drug screening: Frontier concepts and core technologies
Authors: Luo Hua , Zhao Mingming , Tan Dechao , Liu Chang , Yang Lin , Qiu Ling , Gao Yan , Yu Hua
Published: October 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19 has recently evolved into a global pandemic. Up to July 2020, almost every country has confirmed COVID-19 cases reported worldwide. Many leading experts have predicted that the epidemic will persist for relatively a long period of time. Thus far, there have been no remedies proven effective against the disease. As the nation where COVID-19 broke out first, China has adopted a combination of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine to fight against the disease, and has achieved significant clinical result. Up to now, the COVID-19 pandemic has been effectively controlled in China. However, the rest of the world (except for a limited number of countries and regions) is still in deep water. This paper thoroughly summarizes interdisciplinary notions and techniques, including disease model, biochip, network pharmacology, and molecular docking technology, etc., providing a reference for researchers in the screening of drugs for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. These methodologies may facilitate researchers to screen out more potential drugs for treating COVID-19 pneumonia and to tackle this global crisis.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient with propionic acidemia
Authors: Caciotti Anna , Procopio Elena , Pochiero Francesca , Falliano Silvia , Indolfi Giuseppe , Donati Maria Alice , Ferri Lorenzo , Guerrini Renzo , Morrone Amelia
Published: October 2020

We describe a 14-month-old boy, with a previous diagnosis of propionic acidemia (PA) by expanded newborn screening, who, admitted for a suspected metabolic crisis, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Since propionic acidemia was diagnosed, the patient has followed the recommended diet for this inborn error of metabolism. Although propionic acidemia patients are at a high risk of suffering metabolic crises, frequently associated with permanent clinical complications, psychomotor development of this patient was normal. The SARS-CoV-2 infection (at about 1 year of age) caused the patient’s first metabolic crisis. However, his clinical course was in keeping with a mild clinical form of COVID-19, and he recovered without experiencing severe clinical consequences. We describe this patient in order to improve the knowledge about follow up of PA patients identified by newborn screening and to increase the limited number of reports of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with comorbidities, especially inborn errors of metabolism.
Why is misdiagnosis more likely among some people with rare diseases than others? Insights from a population-based cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Dong Dong , Chung Roger Yat-Nork , Chan Rufina H. W. , Gong Shiwei , Xu Richard Huan
Published: October 2020

Background

For patients with rare diseases (RD), misdiagnosis (or erroneous diagnosis) is one of the key issues that hinder RD patients’ accessibility to timely treatment. Yet, little is known about the main factors that are associated with RD patients’ misdiagnosis. The objective of this study is to analyze data from a national survey among 2040 RD patients from China to explore the association between misdiagnosis and various factors, including patients’ demographics, socio-economic status, medical history, and their accessibility to RD information.

Results

Three binary logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between misdiagnosis and level of rarity of the RDs (mild, moderate, and severe), demographics, health insurance levels, and accessibility to disease-related information by using the total sample, and the adult and non-adult sub-samples.
We found that accessibility to RD information is the most critical factor influencing the patients’ chances of being misdiagnosed (odds ratio [OR] = 4.459, p < 0.001). In other words, the greater the difficulty in accessing the information on RD management, the higher the possibility of experiencing misdiagnosis.

Such influences of information accessibility on misdiagnosis were repeatedly discovered when examining the adult (OR = 3.732, p < 0.001) and the non-adult (OR = 5.174, p < 0.001) sub-samples. The association between perceived economic status and misdiagnosis was only significant in the total sample. The only other factor significantly associated with misdiagnosis was disease multimorbidity: participants who reported no multimorbidity are less likely to experience misdiagnosis (OR = 0.42, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study indicated that patients with RDs who have difficulty in accessing disease-related information are two to five times more likely to have experienced misdiagnosis. Even after adjusting for the patients’ age, gender, economic levels, and education levels, the impact of information accessibility was still significant. Our finding highlights the importance of access to information in reducing misdiagnosis among RD patients.
Metabolic syndrome and the incidence of lung cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Qiao Li , Ma Deliang , Lv Hui , Shi Ding , Fei Min , Chen Yu , Xie Fei , Wang Zhuoyan , Wang Ying , Liang Wanhua , Hu Peiying
Published: October 2020

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been related to the pathogenesis of variety categories of cancers. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the association between MetS and the incidence of lung cancer.

Methods

Relevant cohort studies were identified by search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane’s Library databases. Cochrane’s Q test and I2 statistic were used to analyze the heterogeneity. Random-effect model which incorporates the potential heterogeneity was used for the meta-analysis.

Results

Five cohort studies with 188,970 participants were included. A total of 1,295 lung cancer cases occurred during follow-up. Meta-analyses showed that neither MetS defined by the revised NCEP-ATP III criteria (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84 to 1.05, p = 0.25; I2 = 0) nor the IDF criteria (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.61 to 1.11, p = 0.20; I2 = 0) was associated with an affected risk of lung cancer. Subgroup analyses showed consistent results in women and in men, in studies performed in Asian and non-Asian countries, and in prospective and retrospective cohorts (p all > 0.05). Meta-analysis limited to studies with the adjustment of smoking status also showed similar results (HR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.80 to 1.05, p = 0.21; I2 = 0). No publication bias was detected based on the Egger regression test (p = 0.32).

Conclusions

Current evidence from cohort studies does not support that MetS is an independent risk factor for the incidence of lung cancer.
Moving from rhetoric to action: how Africa can use scientific evidence to halt the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Olu Olushayo Oluseun , Waya Joy Luba Lomole , Maleghemi Sylvester , Rumunu John , Ameh David , Wamala Joseph Francis
Published: October 2020

The ongoing pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 has spread rapidly to all countries of the world. Africa is particularly predisposed to an escalation of the pandemic and its negative impact given its weak economy and health systems. In addition, inadequate access to the social determinants of health such as water and sanitation and socio-cultural attributes may constrain the implementation of critical preventive measures such as hand washing and social distancing on the continent.

Given these facts, the continent needs to focus on targeted and high impact prevention and control strategies and interventions which could break the chain of transmission quickly. We conclude that the available body of scientific evidence on the coronavirus disease 2019 holds the key to the development of such strategies and interventions.

Going forward, we recommend that the African research community should scale up research to provide scientific evidence for a better characterization of the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, prevention and control of the virus on the continent.
Mild hypoxia triggers transient blood–brain barrier disruption: a fundamental protective role for microglia
Authors: Halder Sebok K. , Milner Richard
Published: October 2020

We recently demonstrated that when mice are exposed to chronic mild hypoxia (CMH, 8% O2), blood vessels in the spinal cord show transient vascular leak that is associated with clustering and activation of microglia around disrupted vessels. Importantly, microglial depletion profoundly increased hypoxia-induced vascular leak, implying that microglia play a critical role maintaining vascular integrity in the hypoxic spinal cord. The goal of the current study was to examine if microglia play a similar vasculo-protective function in the brain. Employing extravascular fibrinogen leak as an index of blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, we found that CMH provoked transient vascular leak in cerebral blood vessels that was associated with activation and aggregation of Mac-1-positive microglia around leaky vessels. Interestingly, CMH-induced vascular leak showed regional selectivity, being much more prevalent in the brainstem and olfactory bulb than the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Pharmacological depletion of microglia with the colony stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622, had no effect under normoxic conditions, but markedly increased hypoxia-induced cerebrovascular leak in all regions examined. As in the spinal cord, this was associated with endothelial induction of MECA-32, a marker of leaky CNS endothelium, and greater loss of endothelial tight junction proteins. Brain regions displaying the highest levels of hypoxic-induced vascular leak also showed the greatest levels of angiogenic remodeling, suggesting that transient BBB disruption may be an unwanted side-effect of hypoxic-induced angiogenic remodeling. As hypoxia is common to a multitude of human diseases including obstructive sleep apnea, lung disease, and age-related pulmonary, cardiac and cerebrovascular dysfunction, our findings have important translational implications. First, they point to a potential pathogenic role of chronic hypoxia in triggering BBB disruption and subsequent neurological dysfunction, and second, they demonstrate an important protective role for microglia in maintaining vascular integrity in the hypoxic brain.
The influence of commercial primed canvases in the manifestation of metal soaps protrusions in Georgia O’Keeffe’s oil paintings
Authors: Ortiz Miranda Annette S. , Kronkright Dale , Walton Marc
Published: October 2020

During a routine condition survey in 2007 at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, micro-protrusions were found scattered across the surfaces of the artist’s oil paintings produced between 1920 and 1950. In many of her works, including Pedernal (1941) and A Man from the Desert (1941), lead soaps were found aggregated at the painting surface, forcing the surrounding paint to deform into pin-sized protrusions. The structure and composition of the protrusions was analyzed to determine why they formed. Microsamples were removed from four of O’Keeffe’s paintings and investigated using a combination of SEM–EDX, GC–MS, and FT-IR. The combined GC–MS and FT-IR results indicate that the protrusions contain primarily lead carboxylates. The results obtained for a series of ground samples removed from four different paintings were then compared with samples collected from a commercially pre-primed canvas roll found in the artist’s house in Ghost Ranch, NM. We identified two different types of canvases: i) a commercially pre-primed canvas and ii) artist primed canvas. This commercially pre-primed canvas roll has a similar morphology to the ground layers in her paintings that contain protrusions additionally these grounds were found to contain an excess of free fatty acids and metal carboxylates (lead soaps) based on a comparison to canvases the artist primed herself. Based on the analytical results from the four paintings and the commercial pre-primed canvas, we concluded that the artist’s use of this particular commercially pre-primed canvas between 1920 and 1950 play an important role in the observed micro-protrusions.
Seasonal dynamics in taxonomy and function within bacterial and viral metagenomic assemblages recovered from a freshwater agricultural pond
Authors: Chopyk Jessica , Nasko Daniel J. , Allard Sarah , Bui Anthony , Pop Mihai , Mongodin Emmanuel F. , Sapkota Amy R.
Published: October 2020

Background

Ponds are important freshwater habitats that support both human and environmental activities. However, relative to their larger counterparts (e.g. rivers, lakes), ponds are understudied, especially with regard to their microbial communities. Our study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by using culture-independent, high-throughput sequencing to assess the dynamics, taxonomy, and functionality of bacterial and viral communities in a freshwater agricultural pond.

Results

Water samples (n = 14) were collected from a Mid-Atlantic agricultural pond between June 2017 and May 2018 and filtered sequentially through 1 and 0.2 μm filter membranes. Total DNA was then extracted from each filter, pooled, and subjected to 16S rRNA gene and shotgun sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Additionally, on eight occasions water filtrates were processed for viral metagenomes (viromes) using chemical concentration and then shotgun sequenced. A ubiquitous freshwater phylum,Proteobacteriawas abundant at all sampling dates throughout the year. However, environmental characteristics appeared to drive the structure of the community. For instance, the abundance ofCyanobacteria(e.g.Nostoc) increased with rising water temperatures, while a storm event appeared to trigger an increase in overall bacterial diversity, as well as the relative abundance ofBacteroidetes.This event was also associated with an increase in the number of antibiotic resistance genes. The viral fractions were dominated by dsDNA of the orderCaudovirales, namelySiphoviridaeandMyovirdae.

Conclusions

Overall, this study provides one of the largest datasets on pond water microbial ecology to date, revealing seasonal trends in the microbial taxonomic composition and functional potential.
Trust assessment of power system states
Authors: Brand Michael , Babazadeh Davood , Krüger Carsten , Siemers Björn , Lehnhoff Sebastian
Published: October 2020

Modern power systems are cyber-physical systems with increasing relevance and influence of information and communication technology. This influence comprises all processes, functional, and non-functional aspects like functional correctness, safety, security, and reliability. An example of a process is the data acquisition process. Questions focused in this paper are, first, how one can trust in process data in a data acquisition process of a highly-complex cyber-physical power system. Second, how can the trust in process data be integrated into a state estimation to achieve estimated results in a way that it can reflect trustworthiness of that input?We present the concept of an anomaly-sensitive state estimation that tackles these questions. The concept is based on a multi-faceted trust model for power system network assessment. Furthermore, we provide a proof of concept by enriching measurements in the context of the IEEE 39-bus system with reasonable trust values. The proof of concept shows the benefits but also the limitations of the approach.
Flexibility quantification in households: a swiss case study
Authors: Sidqi Yousra , Ferrez Pierre , Gabioud Dominique , Roduit Pierre
Published: October 2020

In this paper, a thorough analysis of quantification of the heating appliances’ flexibility provided by 200 households located in the Sion area (Switzerland) is presented. An extended evaluation of the available flexibility throughout the year as well as a correlation analysis between the outside temperature and flexibility is performed. The influence of pooling households in the prediction process is assessed. The impact of cutting the power to heating appliances and the incurred rebound effect are also described.
Evaluating different machine learning techniques as surrogate for low voltage grids
Authors: Balduin Stephan , Westermann Tom , Puiutta Erika
Published: October 2020

The transition of the power grid requires new technologies and methodologies, which can only be developed and tested in simulations. Especially larger simulation setups with many levels of detail can become quite slow. Therefore, the number of possible simulation evaluations decreases. One solution to overcome this issue is to use surrogate models, i. e., data-driven approximations of (sub)systems. In a recent work, we built a surrogate model for a low voltage grid using artificial neural networks, which achieved satisfying results. However, there were still open questions regarding the assumptions and simplifications made. In this paper, we present the results of our ongoing research, which answer some of these questions. We compare different machine learning algorithms as surrogate models and exchange the grid topology and size. In a set of experiments, we show that algorithms based on linear regression and artificial neural networks yield the best results independent of the grid topology. Furthermore, adding volatile energy generation and a variable phase angle does not decrease the quality of the surrogate models.
Flexibility management and provision of balancing services with battery-electric automated guided vehicles in the Hamburg container terminal Altenwerder
Authors: Holly Stefanie , Nieße Astrid , Tröschel Martin , Hammer Lasse , Franzius Christoph , Dmitriyev Viktor , Dorfner Johannes , Veith Eric MSP , Harnischmacher Christine , Greve Maike , Masuch Kristin , Kolbe Lutz , Wulff Boris , Kretz Julian
Published: October 2020

Unlocking and managing flexibility is an important contribution to the integration of renewable energy and an efficient and resilient operation of the power system. In this paper, we discuss how the potential of a fleet of battery-electric transportation vehicles can be used to provide frequency containment reserve. To this end, we first examine the use case in detail and then present the system designed to meet this challenge. We give an overview of the tasks and individual sub-components, consisting of (a) an artificial neural network to predict the availability of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) day-ahead, (b) a heuristic approach to compute marketable flexibility, (c) a simulation to check the plausibility of flexibility schedules, (d) a multi-agent system to continuously monitor and control the AGVs and (e) the integration of fleet flexibility into a virtual power plant. We also present our approach to the economic analysis of this provision of a system-critical service in a logistical context characterised by high uncertainty and variability.
Parenting discipline styles and child psychopathology in a clinical sample of Egyptian children in the Nile Delta region
Authors: Seleem Mohammad A. , Amer Reham A.
Published: October 2020

Background

Few, if any, studies evaluated the effect of violent parenting discipline on children’s psychological well-being in the Nile Delta region. The current study aimed to explore the spectrum of violent versus non-violent parenting discipline styles practiced by a sample of Egyptian families who came for psychiatric advice in Tanta Psychiatry and Neurology Center and the effects of such styles on youth’s problem behavior and psychiatric diagnoses. Two hundred and seven families were recruited and interviewed using the Kiddie Schedule of affective disorders and schizophrenia-present and life-time version “K-SADS-PL.” Arabic translated and validated versions of the conflict tactics scale–parent child version (CTS-PC) and the child behavioral checklist questionnaire (CBCL) for ages 6–18 years were used to evaluate parenting discipline styles and child psychopathology, respectively.

Results

Youth (n = 207) had an average age of 10.8 ± 2.8 years and 30% were females. A significant association was noted between all forms of psychological and physical violence against children, in addition to neglectful parenting, and both internalizing and externalizing problems in offspring with no significant differences between mild and severe forms of violence. Parents who were sexually abused as children had more tendency to practice violent discipline strategies on their own children.

Conclusions

All forms of child maltreatment, even mild forms, have a considerable effect on the child psychological development. National policies and legalization should be implemented to decrease child maltreatment and protect children from all forms of physical and sexual abuse.
The benefits of endoscopic look after curettage adenoidectomy
Authors: Abdel-Aziz Mosaad , Nassar Ahmed , Nashed Refaat , Elsherbeeny Moatz , Sabry Omar
Published: October 2020

Background

Conventional curettage adenoidectomy (CCA) has a risk of incomplete removal of all adenoid tissue, and digital nasopharyngeal palpation is not enough to assess adenoid removal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of trans-oral endoscopic look of the nasopharynx (ELN) after CCA.

Results

This prospective study included 1900 children with adenoid hypertrophy. CCA was used for treatment, followed by ELN. Bleeding points and/or adenoid tissue remnants were recorded and managed. One year postoperatively, nasal endoscopy was performed to detect adenoid regrowth. ELN showed bleeding points in 17 patients (0.9%) and residual adenoid tissue remnants in 855 patients (45%). Intraoperatively, the lesions were cauterized and ablated under visualization. However, adenoid regrowths were detected in 263 (42%) out of 627 children (33%) who were subjected to endoscopic examination after 1 year of adenoid removal.

Conclusions

Trans-oral endoscopic look of the nasopharynx after CCA is a beneficial method in detection of adenoid remnants and bleeding points. Also, it could decrease symptomatic adenoid regrowth postoperatively.
Dysgraphia: evaluating an Arabic training program for remediation of Egyptian dysgraphic children
Authors: Darweesh Mohamed E. , Elsady Safaa R. , Reifaie Nahla A. , Sidhom Rania M.
Published: October 2020

Background

Dysgrahia is a learning disability that affects writing; it requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Dysgraphia makes the act of writing difficult and leads to problems with spelling, poor handwriting, and putting thoughts on paper. People with dysgraphia can have trouble organizing letters, numbers, and words on a line or page. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate an Arabic training program for remediating Egyptian Arabic-speaking dysgraphic children.

Results

The Arabic training program through a quasi-experimental study (pre-post-test) showed significant results in remediating dysgraphia on twenty cases that had attended the phoniatric unit complaining of learning disability having dysgraphia with or without dyslexia.

Conclusion

The Arabic dysgraphia training program is an effective multisensory approach tool in the training of different types of dysgraphia.
Quincke’s disease: a case report
Authors: Kamath Rakshita R. , Rai S. Juthika
Published: October 2020

Background

Isolated angioneurotic edema of the uvula is termed Quincke’s disease. It is a rare clinical disorder of acute onset with few known causes. It may be encountered in any emergency setup and must be dealt with rapidly and with utmost vigilance for prevention of progression and complications.

Case presentation

A young adult, 3 months post Frey’s procedure for chronic pancreatitis, presented with acute onset throat discomfort and gagging progressive over 8 h. Examination showed isolated edematous hyperemic uvula with normal oropharyngeal structures and adequate airway. Prompt antihistaminic and corticosteroid therapy caused relief of symptoms over 2 h with no recurrences.

Conclusion

Any symptom suggesting orofacial edema must not be trivialized. Awareness about this rare but acute condition, even in the background of unknown etiology, in all medical personnel is essential. Early diagnosis with appropriate management can prevent life-threatening airway obstruction and hypoxemia.
A Utopia of Self-Reliance
Authors: Lee Young Ji
Published: October 2020

This essay examines Maoist China and its deep engagement with local/global capitalism during the Cold War period. It analyzes how the socialist realist utopian images of self-reliant Dazhai, a model village in Shanxi, contributed to the domestic and international image of Maoist China as a socialist country located outside the orbit of global capitalism by focusing on the fundamental predicaments that China, as a developing country, faced in realizing socialism within its territory. These quandaries included a shortage of foreign currencies, a commodity economy, the party-state’s economic policies that prioritized heavy industry, and dependency on trade relationships with capitalist countries. The author’s analysis provides an economic history of political art by juxtaposing socialist realist visual culture during the Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture campaign with the economic conditions of Maoist China enmeshed in the complex chains of commodity production/exchange, international divisions of labor, and worldwide processes of capital accumulation.
Reforming Bodies and Minds
Authors: Tsui Brian
Published: October 2020

This article revisits reformatories set up under Nationalist China from 1928–37 to transform former Communists into loyal nationalist subjects. By examining confessions attributed to inmates and scandalous tales of Communists published by reformatories, it argues that these institutions were more than devices to suppress political dissent. Instead, reformatories played productive functions for the Guomindang state. First, reformatories’ in-house magazines conjured up an anticommunist figure of the Communist that combined the excesses of urban capitalism and the residues of China’s “superstitious” sect. Communist cadres, articles written by political converts suggested, were puerile, capricious, and alienated from traditional moral norms. At the same time, the Communist movement was attributed qualities of an evil cult preying on the ignorant and the irrational. Second, by publicizing the overcoming of the sins attributed to Communists, the reformatories created, with contributions by former Communists, a textual economy in which the Chinese populace as a whole turned away from left-wing politics and acquired a new subject position. More than converting individual Communists into “proper” nationalists, reformatories were supposed to bring about, if only in allegorical terms, mass conversion to the sobriety, obedience, hierarchical order, and organic unity that the nation was supposed to entail.
Targeted inhibition of GRP78 by HA15 promotes apoptosis of lung cancer cells accompanied by ER stress and autophagy
Authors: Wu Jingjing , Wu Youqile , Lian Xuemei
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to investigate the pathophysiological role of GRP78 in the survival of lung cancer cells. Lung cancer patient data from public databases were used to analyze the expression of GRP78 and its influence on prognoses. In vivo, GRP78 protein expression was analyzed in an established urethane-induced lung tumor mouse model. In vitro, the effects of targeted inhibition of GRP78 by HA15 in lung cancer cells were assessed, with cell viability analyzed using a CCK-8 assay, cell proliferation using an EdU assay, apoptosis and cell cycle using flow cytometry, subcellular structure using electron microscopy, and relative mRNA and protein expression using RT-PCR, western blotting or immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that GRP78 was highly expressed in the lung tissue of lung cancer mice model or patients, and was associated with a poor prognosis. After inhibition of GRP78 in lung cancer cells by HA15, cell viability was decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner, proliferation was suppressed and apoptosis promoted. Unfolded protein response signaling pathway proteins were activated, and the autophagy-related proteins and mRNAs were upregulated. Therefore, targeted inhibition of GRP78 by HA15 promotes apoptosis of lung cancer cells accompanied by ER stress and autophagy.
Cellular and animal models for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Authors: DeSimone Alec M. , Cohen Justin , Lek Monkol , Lek Angela
Published: October 2020

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy and presents with weakness of the facial, scapular and humeral muscles, which frequently progresses to the lower limbs and truncal areas, causing profound disability. Myopathy results from epigenetic de-repression of the D4Z4 microsatellite repeat array on chromosome 4, which allows misexpression of the developmentally regulated DUX4 gene. DUX4 is toxic when misexpressed in skeletal muscle and disrupts several cellular pathways, including myogenic differentiation and fusion, which likely underpins pathology. DUX4 and the D4Z4 array are strongly conserved only in primates, making FSHD modeling in non-primate animals difficult. Additionally, its cytotoxicity and unusual mosaic expression pattern further complicate the generation of in vitro and in vivo models of FSHD. However, the pressing need to develop systems to test therapeutic approaches has led to the creation of multiple engineered FSHD models. Owing to the complex genetic, epigenetic and molecular factors underlying FSHD, it is difficult to engineer a system that accurately recapitulates every aspect of the human disease. Nevertheless, the past several years have seen the development of many new disease models, each with their own associated strengths that emphasize different aspects of the disease. Here, we review the wide range of FSHD models, including several in vitro cellular models, and an array of transgenic and xenograft in vivo models, with particular attention to newly developed systems and how they are being used to deepen our understanding of FSHD pathology and to test the efficacy of drug candidates.
How Well Targeted Are Soda Taxes?
Authors: Dubois Pierre , Griffith Rachel , O’Connell Martin
Published: October 2020

Soda taxes aim to reduce excessive sugar consumption. We assess who is most impacted by soda taxes. We estimate demand using micro longitudinal data covering on-the-go purchases, and exploit the panel dimension to estimate individual-specific preferences. We relate these preferences and counterfactual predictions to individual characteristics and show that soda taxes are relatively effective at targeting the sugar intake of the young, are less successful at targeting the intake of those with high total dietary sugar, and are unlikely to be strongly regressive especially if consumers benefit from averted internalities. (JEL D12, H22, H25, H71)
Automated cell tracking using StarDist and TrackMate
Authors: Fazeli Elnaz , Roy Nathan H. , Follain Gautier , Laine Romain F. , von Chamier Lucas , Hänninen Pekka E. , Eriksson John E. , Tinevez Jean-Yves , Jacquemet Guillaume
Published: October 2020

The ability of cells to migrate is a fundamental physiological process involved in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, immune surveillance, and wound healing. Therefore, the mechanisms governing cellular locomotion have been under intense scrutiny over the last 50 years. One of the main tools of this scrutiny is live-cell quantitative imaging, where researchers image cells over time to study their migration and quantitatively analyze their dynamics by tracking them using the recorded images. Despite the availability of computational tools, manual tracking remains widely used among researchers due to the difficulty setting up robust automated cell tracking and large-scale analysis. Here we provide a detailed analysis pipeline illustrating how the deep learning network StarDist can be combined with the popular tracking software TrackMate to perform 2D automated cell tracking and provide fully quantitative readouts. Our proposed protocol is compatible with both fluorescent and widefield images. It only requires freely available and open-source software (ZeroCostDL4Mic and Fiji), and does not require any coding knowledge from the users, making it a versatile and powerful tool for the field. We demonstrate this pipeline's usability by automatically tracking cancer cells and T cells using fluorescent and brightfield images. Importantly, we provide, as supplementary information, a detailed step-by-step protocol to allow researchers to implement it with their images.
Assessment of Auditor’s Competencies and Professional Skills in the Digital Environment: Audit IT Risks
Authors: Kazakova Nataliya , Brovkina N.
Published: October 2020

The article discusses topical issues of assessing the competencies and professional skills of an auditor in a digital environment at the second stage of the new qualification exam for auditors, which came into effect on March 31, 2020. Particular attention is paid to the topics of examination tasks related to obtaining audit evidence, communications during the audit, checking the data of accounting (financial) statements, as well as audit risks arising from the use of information technologies, as well as legislation in the field of CLP/FT.
Sītā of Sindh
Authors: Turek Aleksandra
Published: October 2020

Sītā of Sindh The aim of this paper is to show how the Sindhī community in India (Rājasthān) builds and strengthens its identity by using both traditional and modern means of transmission. The process of reinterpretation of tradition will be demonstrated by discussing the Ūmar–Mārvī story, which belongs to the repertoire of orally transmitted local Sindhī folk stories. The Ūmar–Mārvī story mainly emphasizes local patriotism and adherence to motherland. The message of the story is still valid in the 21st century. In the Surabhi, the literary magazine on Sindhī literature in the Hindī language issued periodically in Jaypur, it took the modern form of a comic book. Thus, it provides another example of a well-known fact in Indian culture, that of the old being repeated but in a new form. Despite using modern means of transmission, traditional mechanisms can still be seen. It seems that it is not enough for the Sindhī community to continue using the folk story but, moreover, it is necessary to give the story a higher rank (a recognised one) by placing it within the frames of the mainstream tradition, that is the so-called Great Tradition of the Hindu culture. This aim is achieved by making the heroine Mārvī equal to Sītā, and, thus, the Sindhī story is linked with the great epic Rāmāyaṇa. As a result, the final product is an old Sindhī folk story presented in the form of a comic book, targeted for a wider audience than the Sindhī community exclusively, entitled Sītā of Sindh (Sindh kī Sītā).
Polskie zjawy polityczne
Authors: Chmielewski Adam
Published: October 2020

Poland’s Political Apparitions: How to Dispel ThemIn this paper I will argue that within the decades since the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the mutual perception of the liberal and leftist political formations negatively affected the prospects of their possible cooperation. A failure of the Polish liberals to cooperate with Poland’s Left was among the main reasons for the inability to form a progressive alliance. More importantly, it left a fertile ground upon which populist and authoritarian movements were able to grow. As a result, Poland, initially presented as a role model of the transition from the conditions of the “real” socialism, has become an oppressive despotic regime, just like Turkey and Hungary. I will attempt to explain the emergence of the non-liberal democracy in Poland by stressing in particular the failure of the Polish liberals to take seriously the problems of social and economic exclusion resulting from the economic shock therapy applied during the transformative decades. Pointing to the tradition of the egalitarian liberalism, largely o erlooked in Poland, I will argue that there are both doctrinal resources and practical models which could be tapped by Polish liberals in order to establish a fruitful cooperation with the Poland’s Left. Such a programme would have a chance to succeed on the condition of dispelling the phantom of neoliberalism
Multiproduct Newsvendor Problem with Customer-Driven Demand Substitution: A Stochastic Integer Program Perspective
Authors: Zhang Jie , Xie Weijun , Sarin Subhash C.
Published: October 2020

This paper studies a multiproduct newsvendor problem with customer-driven demand substitution, where each product, once run out of stock, can be proportionally substituted by the others. This problem has been widely studied in the literature; however, because of nonconvexity and intractability, only limited analytical properties have been reported and no efficient approaches have been proposed. This paper first completely characterizes the optimal order policy when the demand is known and reformulates this nonconvex problem as a binary quadratic program. When the demand is random, we formulate the problem as a two-stage stochastic integer program, derive several necessary optimality conditions, prove the submodularity of the profit function, and also develop polynomial-time approximation algorithms and show their performance guarantees. We further propose a tight upper bound via nonanticipativity dual, which is proven to be very close to the optimal value and can yield a good-quality feasible solution under a mild condition. Our numerical investigation demonstrates effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. Moreover, several useful findings and managerial insights are revealed from a series of sensitivity analyses.