bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Be Glad That You Are Ill”: Medical Views on Transgender and Its Influence on Self-Perception Among Trans People in Poland
Authors: Kłonkowska Anna M. , Dynarski Wiktor
Published: March 2020

In Poland, most of the existing information on transgender has been heavily influenced by the pathologizing, medicalizing discourses of the 1980s and early 1990s, and deeply rooted in the essentialist per­ception of gender. In contrast, under the influence of queer theory and social constructionism, Polish social studies re-discovered the theory of transgender in the late 2000s. Combining these two competing viewpoints and discourses has shaped and determined that which currently constitutes transgender studies as they are gradually emerging in Poland. The article aims to explore these alternative approaches, including the discourse prevalent in the Polish medical community at present, the accompanying gatekeeping practices that it conse­quently employs (even though WHO no longer categorizes transgender as a disorder), and how it is perceived in the field of social sciences. Next, this article will present an analysis of the broader social perceptions of trans individuals in Poland. The authors will conclude with a number of varying perspectives from transgender persons. Based on these particular analyses, the article will argue that the existing Polish gatekeeping system not only makes transgender people dependent on diagnostic outcomes, but also promotes a specific brand of experience policing among trans communities, in which people are often labeled as being disordered.
Temporalne i przestrzenne dylematy karier menedżerów i przedsiębiorców. Rekonstrukcja praktyk neutralizacyjnych
Authors: Dymarczyk Waldemar
Published: March 2020

Sprawowanie funkcji zarządczych i/lub właścicielskich w przedsiębiorstwie oznacza zazwyczaj przyjęcie (oczekiwanej społecznie) postawy omnipotenta. Oznacza to, między innymi, oczekiwanie, że potencjalne konflikty ról nie wystąpią lub nie będą rzutowały na skuteczność i efek­tywność decydenta. Presja (zewnętrzna i wewnętrzna) skłania zatem aktora organizacyjnego do sto­sowania takich strategii autoprezentacyjnych, które będą czyniły zadość społecznym oczekiwaniom. Podporządkowanie, by nie rzec inkorporacja, innych sfer życia sferze działań biznesowych, widoczne jest w narracjach liderów organizacyjnych. Dominującą strategią jest ukazywanie siebie jako jedno­stek wewnątrzsterownych i względnie autonomicznie konstruujących własną karierę (‘self-made per­son’), a jednocześnie taka postawa skutkuje pojawianiem się „napięć” pomiędzy nieprzystającymi rolami czy podejmowanymi aktywnościami. Autor zrekonstruował owe napięcia poprzez ukazanie różnego rodzaju neutralizacji, stosowanych przez menedżerów i przedsiębiorców, a mających służyć ich (tych napięć) rozwiązaniu lub złagodzeniu.
Decision Support System (DSS) on Pulses in India
Authors: Vishwajith K. P. , Sahu P. K , Dhekale B. S. , Mishra P. , Fatih Chellai
Published: March 2020

Pulses are popularly known as poor man’s meat. Pulses mainly constituted of gram, arhar, mung, urad and lentil etc. The energy content of most pulses have been found to be between 300 and 540 Kcal/100g. India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world contributing around 14.36% of the total global production. Decision support system (DSS) has been designed and developed using a visual basic platform for major pulse crops grown in India. The main objective is to provide decision support regarding recommended water, weed, pest and diseases management, state wise varieties and nutrient management based on the soil test value to the farmer, agriculture workers, students, research workers, extension workers and others, even in absence of the experts. The system is console application, menu driven and user friendly. A sincere effort has been made with the available data to develop the decision support system to bridge the gap between the farmers and the experts using visual basic platform.
Evaluation of Maize (Zea mays L.) + Legume Intercropping System for Productivity, Profitability, Energy Budgeting and Soil Health in Hill Terraces of Eastern Himalayan Region
Authors: Baishya L. K. , Jamir Temjenna , Walling N. , Rajkhowa D. J.
Published: March 2020

Three-year (2014-2016) field experiment was conducted for evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping system for productivity, profitability, energy budgeting and soil health in Eastern Himalayan region. The treatments consisted of four sole crop viz. maize, soybean, groundnut, cowpea and six intercropping treatments viz. maize + groundnut (1:1), maize + soybean (1:1), maize + cowpea (1:1) and strip cropping of maize + groundnut (4:4), maize + soybean (4:4), maize + cowpea (4:4). The highest maize equivalent yield (10.2 t ha-1) was recorded in maize + groundnut cropping system (1:1) followed by maize + soybean (1:1) with 8.9 t ha-1. The highest SNBC (soil microbial biomass carbon) (66.2 mg g-1) and organic carbon (1.3%) were recorded with the cultivation of cowpea as a sole or intercrop. Strip cropping system, maize + cowpea (4:4) recorded the highest soil available N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1, highest energy efficiency (12.53) and energy productivity 955.01 g MJ-1
Evaluation of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) Cultivars for Destabilized Ecosystem of North Eastern Hill Region
Authors: Ansar M. A , Choudhury B. U , Roy S. S. , Sharma S. K. , Saraswa P. K. , Mishra R. K , Singh I. M. , Singh A. L. , Lal B. . , Prakash N. .
Published: March 2020

TPerformance of 27 improved groundnut cultivars were assessed for agronomic and physiological traits associated to improve the productivity in degraded acid soils under rainfed hilly ecosystem. The cultivars ICGS- 76 and ICGV-86590 produced significantly p less then 0.05 higher pod yield with more than 39% improvement over JL-24. The study also identified five more promising cultivars viz. ICGS-5, TKG-19 A, TG-37-A, GG-11 and GG-21 with 19-38% higher yield over the check. The low productivity of cereals in the acidic and moisture stressed Jhum degraded upland soils of rainfed hilly ecosystem of Eastern Himalayan Region is a major concern for socio-economic improvement of resource poor farmers. Adoption of these cultivars is expected to increase the productivity and net income to a tune of 93.2% without incurring any additional costs to the prevailing production system.
Monitoring of Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) through Pheromone Traps in Different Modules of Short Duration Pigeonpea
Authors: Yadav Amit , Keval Ram . , Yadav Abhishek .
Published: March 2020

Present investigations were carried out during Kharif season of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi to monitor the population of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) by using pheromone traps and to start appropriate control measures in time. The maximum numbers of moth catches were recorded during 44th (16.8 pheromone trap-1) and 45th (19.5 pheromone trap-1) standard week in all the modules during Kharif 2013 and 2014. Relationship between pheromone trap catches and egg population was found significant and positively correlated in all modules except M3 during 2013. In the succeeding year 2014, the correlation between pheromone trap catches and egg population was positive and significant only in case of M5. The correlation between pheromone trap catches and larval population was positive in all modules but significant in case of M1 during 2013. In the succeeding year 2014, the correlation between pheromone trap catches and larval population was positive in all modules but significant only in M5.
HIV INFECTION MANIFESTATIONS IN GASTROENTEROLOGY: EMERGING ISSUES IN PATHOGENESIS
Authors: Khalilulin T. R. , Bessarab Timur P. , Mazus A. I. , Nagibina M. V.
Published: March 2020

The review provides current data on the pathogenesis of HIV infection, focusing on its gastrointestinal manifestations. The authors deal with specific characteristics of the digestive system, which play a key role in infecting, preserving HIV reservoirs, and HIV-caused disease progressing. The study addresses various aspects of the gastroenterological pathology combined with the HIV infection.
Unconventional Pain Management for People With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Garza Viviana
Published: March 2020

People with chronic pain account for 65% of the population diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a fast-growing medical autoimmune disease responsible for 16,000 new cases yearly. More than 60% experience chronic pain due to arthritis related conditions causing daily distress and an overall diminished quality of life. Methods of pain management have helped relieve the psychosocial and physical effects pain causes on individuals. The purpose of this review was to explore methods of pain interventions used among people with SLE. A systematic literature search was conducted to examine methods of pain management among people with SLE. Seven articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings suggest that pain management methods such as cognitive behavior therapy, education interventions, physical exercise, expressive writing, benefit finding writing, and acupuncture have been helpful in pain management among people with SLE. Benefits of utilizing these pain management methods include improved physical activity, social function, pain reduction, better sleep, and improved overall quality of life. Health and mental health professionals can consider these methods when developing a comprehensive pain treatment plan for people with SLE.
Knowledge economy and time optimization. Review of the book “Сounterproductive: Time Management in the Knowledge Economy” by M. Gregg
Authors: Kornilov Aleksei M.
Published: March 2020

The article discusses the main ideas of the book by M. Gregg, “Counterproductive: Time Management in the Knowledge Economy”, devoted to the history and modern forms of working time management. Gregg’s book combines a historical introduction with an original theoretical perspective, based on the ideas of P. Sloterdijk, in particular, on the concept of “anthropotechnics”, which Gregg uses as the basic conceptual detail of her work. The author’s attention to the historical roots of the idea of optimizing working time, which is attributed to the female experience of managing the household, is also especially noted. Both innovative and noteworthy aspects of the study of the phenomenon of “time management” are shown, as well as its shortcomings, in particular, the lack of a clearly formulated alternative for the growing self-exploitation of people associated with the race to increase individual productivity.
Acute, intensive and emergency psychiatric care module: Introduction and course description
Authors: O'Brien Aileen
Published: March 2020

This article is adapted from an assignment submitted as part of a postgraduate course at St George's University of London; O'Brien 2020.
Research on Pre-Modern Earthquakes Based on Fusion of Humanities and Sciences
Authors: Ebara Masaharu , Nishiyama Akihito , Murata Taisuke , Sugimori Reiko ,   Historiographical Institute, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan,   Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Nara National Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, Japan
Published: March 2020

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami has reawakened people to the reality of large-scale earthquakes that recur in cycles of several hundred to a thousand years. The historical resources and archeology research group, which was established in 2014 within the Coordinating Committee of Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Prediction Researches, is collaborating with researchers of seismology, history, archeology, and information science to investigate infrequent earthquakes using historical documents that record earthquakes and traces of disasters at archeological sites. To this end, we are creating a database of published historical sources of earthquakes to make the data readily accessible, and reexamining these sources and uncovering new historical material to investigate earthquakes that occurred in pre-modern times. We are also engaged in research on relief efforts for victims of past earthquakes and the post-disaster reconstruction process.
The Advancement of Research on Inland Earthquake Generation 2014–2018
Authors: Matsumoto Satoshi , Okada Tomomi , Terakawa Toshiko , Uyeshima Makoto , Iio Yoshihisa ,   Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University 2-5643-29 Shinyama, Shimabara, Nagasaki 855-0843, Japan,   Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan,   Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan,   Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Published: March 2020

The 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake (M9.0) significantly affected inland areas of Japan. The crust and mantle response to the magathrust earthquake induced changes in the mechanical conditions of the seismogenic zone. Here we present important progress in the research into the seismogenesis of inland earthquakes. Stress, strain, strength, and structures are key parameters affecting the occurrence of earthquakes. In particular, both the spatial and temporal changes in these parameters around the focal areas of the large inland earthquakes have been detected and modeled. These results have provided spatial potential evaluation in terms of future inland earthquake occurrence. However, we clearly recognize that, in order to understand and predict the inland earthquake generation process, it will inevitably be necessary to unify the research on various spatial and temporal scales, from problems related to long-term stress loading from plate-relative motion to instant fault response.
General Research Group for the Nankai Trough Great Earthquake
Authors: Shibutani Takuo ,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
Published: March 2020

The objective of the General Research Group for the Nankai Trough Great Earthquake is to obtain a cross-sectional view of research on the Nankai Trough Great Earthquake, conducted by the various working groups of the Earthquake and Volcano Hazards Observation and Research Program, and to thereby promote the Program’s research in a comprehensive manner. In this paper, we report on workshops held during a five-year period (2014–2018), and summarize the findings of the five-year plan following the Research Group’s scheme. We also discuss issues that surfaced during these activities.
Questionnaire Survey on the Difficulty of Attending Work for Commuters After the 2018 Osaka Earthquake
Authors: Hiroi U , Sekiya Naoya , Waragai Shuntarou , Kukihara Fusae ,   Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan,   Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Social Information Department, Survey Research Center Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey conducted on those who had difficulty commuting after the 2018 Osaka earthquake. As with the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, serious traffic congestion occurred in downtown Osaka following the 2018 disaster. Based on the questionnaire survey on those who had difficulty commuting, which is considered to be a factor of traffic congestion, it was found that 60–70% commuted as usual after the earthquake; about half of the commuters who usually take the train changed their method of commuting, one-quarter of whom used automobiles; there were very few who experienced problems in their work because they had not gone to work or their workplace had closed down for the day; and many felt that it would be better to receive instructions on work attendance in the aftermath of an earthquake. The present study points out the need for companies and society to adopt rules so that those who find it difficult to commute will refrain from going to work and remain in their local communities to help others, except for those in certain occupations or positions.
Trends of Measures in Disaster Recovery Plans: Focusing on the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake
Authors: Goto Hiroaki ,   The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan, Hiroi U
Published: March 2020

In Japan, many recovery plans were instituted after big disasters such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. This study focuses on recent big disasters in Japan, namely the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, and clarifies the trends of the measures mentioned in the recovery plans of damaged municipalities according to their local characteristics (locations and population trends). In order to show the trends, the Genre Mention Rate (GMR) and the Measure Mention Rate (MMR) are calculated, which depict the mention rate – the importance that certain genres or measures have. In the municipalities damaged by the tsunami caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the GMRs of community, infrastructure, and culture are high in rural areas. There is not much difference in terms of population trends. In those damaged by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the GMRs of lifestyle and industry are high in rural areas, while the GMRs of community and disaster mitigation are low in urban areas. The GMRs of disaster mitigation and community are also high in areas with increasing populations. In the municipalities damaged by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, the GMRs are generally high in urban areas, and low in areas with decreasing populations. In this way, depending on the type of disaster and local characteristics of the affected areas, there are many differences in the trends of the measures needed for recovery.
Introvert – Extrovert Personality Types and Self-confidence- A Case Study from Philippines
Authors: De Goma Ira A. , Moneva Jerald C.
Published: March 2020

An introvert is said to be a kind of student who is quiet and doesn’t open easily. On the contrary, when a student is friendly, talkative and quickly makes friends, the student’s form of personality is extroverted. This study aimed to know the difference between the self-confidence of introvert students and extrovert students. Introverts and extroverts pick their preferences from different priorities. For them to enhance their confidence students should establish a strong belief for their selves. The development of self-confidence must be essential and allows students to demonstrate their expertise and talents. The study was a quantitative design that makes use of the research questionnaire. The researcher surveyed the Senior High School with a total of two hundred thirty-five respondents who are requested to answer the questionnaire. Quantitative data were processed using chi-square. The study has shown the students' self-confidence in terms of education, talents, socialization, and achievements. It shows that introvert students have a higher frequency than the extrovert students. Results also show that self-confidence implies that the extrovert respondents are not enough in expressing their personality. They need to re-build their personality types to gain some confidence. It can be inferred that there is no significant difference between the self-confidence of the introvert students and extrovert students.
Investigating the Decision-Making Process of Physicians in Rural Ontario: The Perspectives and Attitudes on Medical Cannabis
Authors: Asiful Islam
Published: March 2020

This thesis will guide health communities to better understand the clinical decision-making process that physicians from rural Ontario undergo when considering whether to prescribe medical cannabis to patients for their medical condition. Very few studies have been conducted which examine the perspectives of physicians on medical cannabis, especially in rural areas, and these studies have found that most physicians are skeptical towards medical cannabis. This skeptical perspective of physicians has complicated the clinical decision-making process as “recent changes in media reports and changing trends in social media propose a change in the attitudes towards cannabis (Zolotov et al., 2018, p.5).” Physicians practicing in rural Ontario are currently being recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews to explore the issues which they prioritize the most. Once completed, the findings from this study will identify common themes and trends that could help influence change in physician practice and healthcare policy.
Power in Policy: Measuring Farmland Loss in Ontario and Testing the Strength of the Greenbelt Act
Authors: Rachel Singer and Sharon Wan
Published: March 2020

Farmland in Ontario continues to be under immense pressure from development associated with population growth and urbanization, such as residential subdivisions, commercial developments and aggregate operations. This OMAFRA funded research investigates the strength of the Greenbelt Act in preserving Southern Ontario’s prime agricultural soils by measuring the rate of farmland lost to non-farm land uses from 2000—2017 through official plan amendments. This methodology was applied to 15 counties and regions in southern Ontario and the results provide an assessment on the Greenbelt policy in place. This presentation will report on phase one of this research project (completed) including trends and results from specific jurisdictions and then provide an update on phase two, which extends across the province and is currently underway.
Building the Future: Rural Infrastructure and Regional Economic Development
Authors: Ashleigh Weeden
Published: March 2020

Communities of all sizes must balance fiscal realities, changing economies, aging infrastructure, changing demographics, and a challenging climate as they work to manage their core infrastructure assets and accommodate and/or address new infrastructure and service demands. Given these challenges, are rural Ontario communities capable of responding to infrastructure pressures and opportunities? How does that capacity – or lack thereof – affect a community’s current and future long-term economic development? Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through the University of Guelph-OMAFRA Research Partnership, this research initiative will examine the capacity of different communities in rural Ontario to respond to infrastructure pressures and how these response impact their short and long-term economic well-being. Running from 2018-2021, the research team will use surveys, workshops, content analysis, and case studies, to develop recommendations for addressing these issues through both immediate and long-term policy alternatives. This research initiative will directly support rural Ontario’s economic vitality by providing three key benefits: enhanced understanding of the diversity and varying levels of rural community capacities, improved and more nuanced public policy, and enhanced rural infrastructure development programming.
Comparative analysis of somatic variant calling on matched FF and FFPE WGS samples
Authors: Brienen Louise de Schaetzen van , Larmuseau Maarten , Eecken Kim Van der , De Ryck Frederic , Robbe Pauline , Schuh Anna , Fostier Jan , Ost Piet , Marchal Kathleen
Published: March 2020

Background. Research grade Fresh Frozen (FF) DNA material is not yet routinely collected in clinical practice. Many hospitals, however, collect and store Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tumor samples. Consequently, the sample size of whole genome cancer cohort studies could be increased tremendously by including FFPE samples, although the presence of artefacts might obfuscate the variant calling. To assess whether FFPE material can be used for cohort studies, we performed an in-depth comparison of somatic SNVs called on matching FF and FFPE Whole Genome Sequence (WGS) samples extracted from the same tumor. Results. We first compared the calls between an FF and an FFPE sample from a metastatic prostate tumor, showing that on average 50% of the calls in the FF are recovered in the FFPE sample, with notable differences between variant callers. Combining the variants of the different callers using a simple heuristic, increases both the precision and the sensitivity of the variant calling. Validating the heuristic on nine additional matched FF-FFPE samples, resulted in an average F1-score of 0.58 and an outperformance of any of the individual callers. In addition, we could show that part of the discrepancy between the FF and the FFPE samples can be attributed to intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH). Conclusion. This study illustrates that when using the correct variant calling strategy, the majority of clonal SNVs can be recovered in an FFPE sample with high precision and sensitivity. These results suggest that somatic variants derived from WGS of FFPE material can be used in cohort studies.
Prevalence of Generalized Joint Hypermobility in Children with Anxiety Disorders
Authors: javadi vadood , Modarres Shadi alsadat , Zahed Ghazal , Shiari Reza , Rahmani Khosro
Published: March 2020

Background: Concerning the high prevalence of anxiety disorders and joint hypermobility in children and the lack of related studies in this age group, we aimed to assess the association of hypermobility with anxiety disorders in children. Methods: In this case-control study, 93 children ages 8-15 years with anxiety disorders referring to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic of Mofid Children’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2018, were enrolled. The control group consisted of 100 age and sex-matched children without anxiety disorders. Anxiety was evaluated using the Spence Children Anxiety Scale (SCAS). The diagnosis of generalized joint hypermobility was done based on Beighton and Shiari-Javadi criteria. Results: Based on Beighton’s diagnostic criteria 52.7% of the children in the case group and 16% of the children in the control group had generalized joint hypermobility. Moreover, based on Shiari-Javadi criteria, 49.5% and 13% of the children in the case and control groups had generalized joint hypermobility, respectively. Moreover, the internal correlation between the two criteria was 0.91 showing almost complete compatibility between the two (P<0.001). Age was a risk factor that could predict hypermobility in these children. Other variables such as sex, severity, and type of anxiety disorders, and ADHD, were not predictors of hypermobility syndrome. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypermobility was three times higher in children with anxiety disorders and only age was a predictor for the possibility to suffer from generalized joint hypermobility in these children.
Ultrasensitive wearable pressure sensors based on Silver nanowire-coated fabrics
Authors: Lian Yunlu , Yu He , Wang Mingyuan , Yang Xiaonan , Zhang Hefei
Published: March 2020

Flexible pressure sensors have attracted increasing attention due to their potential applications in wearable human health monitoring and care systems. Herein, we present a facile approach for fabricating all-textile-based piezoresistive pressure sensor with integrated Ag nanowire-coated fabrics. It fully takes advantage of the synergistic effect of the fiber/yarn/fabric multi-level contacts, leading to the ultrahigh sensitivity of 3.24×10 5 kPa −1 at 0–10 kPa and 2.16×10 4 kPa −1 at 10–100 kPa, respectively. Furthermore, the device achieved a fast response/relaxation time (32/24 ms), and a high stability (>1000 loading/unloading cycles). Thus, such all-textile pressure sensor with high performance is expected to be applicable in the fields of smart cloths, activity monitoring and healthcare device.
Insights into the care coordination needs of people living with rare diseases in Western Australia
Authors: Bauskis Alicia , Molster Caron
Published: March 2020

BackgroundPeople living with rare diseases face complex medical needs as well as a range of non-medical care needs. However, there is limited research on the experiences of care coordination for those living with a range of rare conditions. The paper addresses a research gap by capturing the views of both parents of children living with RD and adults living with rare diseases, and also explores some factors affecting people living in regional areas.Three focus groups were conducted with a total of sixteen participants who were adults living with a rare disease (and one carer) and parents of children living with rare diseases in Western Australia. Results were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. ResultsThe study revealed that the participants in our study who were living with a rare disease (or their carers) (1) have complex care needs and a need to access multiple systems (2) have mixed experiences of care coordination (3) often go above and beyond to self-coordinate their care; and they (4) recognise opportunities for more systematic care coordination.ConclusionOur study has highlighted the complexity of care needs for many people living with a rare disease and the need for care coordination both within and across medical and non-medical domains. In exploring opportunities to provide more systematic care coordination, consideration should be given to European models of Centres of Expertise for Rare Diseases as well as complementary Resource Centres. Consideration of both models will help ensure patients receive holistic, well-integrated medical and non-medical care.
COX-2 gene rs689466 polymorphisms associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer among Caucasians
Authors: Zhao Hui , Chen Chen , Ali Mohammad Amzad
Published: March 2020

Background Several studies have reported the Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) rs689466 polymorphism as a susceptibility locus of colorectal cancer (CRC), but their findings are inconsistent. Thus, this meta-analysis was performed to more accurately identify the effects of this polymorphism on CRC risk. Methods Potential case-control studies on EMBASE, Google of Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PubMed were searched. The strength of association was quantified by pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Totally 16 articles involving 8,998 cases and 11,917 controls were included. Results None of the five tested genetic models revealed any significant association between rs689466 polymorphism and CRC risk. Stratified analysis by ethnicity uncovered a significant association between this polymorphism and higher CRC risk in Caucasians, but not in Asians. In addition, we found high expression of COX-2 was associated with better overall survival for all CRC patients. Conclusion To sum up, the COX-2 rs689466 polymorphism may be related with susceptibility to CRC in Caucasians. This finding should be verified by larger-size studies with different ethnic groups.
Statistical and Bioinformatic Analysis of Hemimethylation Patterns in Lung Cancer
Authors: Sun Shuying , Zane Austin , Fulton Carolyn , Philipoom Jasmine
Published: March 2020

Background: DNA methylation is an epigenetic event involving the addition of a methyl-group to a cytosine-guanine base pair (i.e., CpG site). It is associated with different cancers. Our research focuses on studying lung cancer hemimethylation, which refers to methylation occurring on only one of the two DNA strands. Many studies often assume that methylation occurs on both DNA strands at a CpG site. However, recent publications show the existence of hemimethylation and its impact. It is important to identify cancer hemimethylation patterns. Methods: In this paper, we use the Wilcoxon signed rank test to identify hemimethylated CpG sites based on publicly available lung cancer methylation sequencing data. We then identify two types of hemimethylated CpG clusters, regular and polarity clusters, and genes with large numbers of hemimethylated sites. Highly hemimethylated genes are then studied for their biological interactions using available bioinformatics tools. Results: In this paper, we have conducted the first-ever in-depth investigation of hemimethylation for lung cancer. Our results show that hemimethylation does exist in lung cells either as singletons or clusters. Most clusters contain only 2 or 3 CpG sites. Polarity clusters are much shorter than regular clusters and appear less frequently. The majority of clusters found in tumor samples have no overlap with clusters found in normal samples, and vice versa. Several genes that are known to be associated with cancer are hemimethylated differently between the cancerous and normal samples. Furthermore, highly hemimethylated genes exhibit many different interactions with other genes that may be associated with cancer. Hemimethylation has diverse patterns and frequencies that are comparable between normal and tumorous cells. Therefore, hemimethylation may be related to both normal and tumor cell development. Conclusions: Our research has identified CpG clusters and genes that are hemimethylated in normal and lung tumor samples. Due to the potential impact of hemimethylation on gene expression and cell function, these clusters and genes may be important to advance our understanding of the development and progression of lung cancer.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of elderly patients with colorectal cancer: comparison between surgical resection and supportive care
Authors: Kim Soohwan , Kim Dong Suk , Soh Jae Seung , Lim Sang-Woo , Lim Hyun , Kang Ho Suk , Kim Jong Hyeok
Published: March 2020

Background Elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients tend to avoid standard treatment, especially curative surgical resection, because of concerns about surgical complications or underlying diseases. This study is intended to compare clinical characteristics and prognosis between patients who had undergone surgical resection and received supportive care, and to evaluate the usefulness of surgical treatment in elderly patients. Methods A total of 114 patients aged ≥80 years who were diagnosed with CRC were analyzed retrospectively. Of these patients, 73 patients underwent surgical resection for malignancy and 41 patients received supportive care. Clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS) rates were compared. Results The s urgical resection group had better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, and a lower stage than did the supportive-care group. The 3-year OS rate of the surgical group was significantly higher than that of the supportive-care group (60.7% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.001). In extremely elderly patients (age ≥85 years), the surgical group showed a better 3-year OS rate than did the supportive-care group (73.9% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.001), although ECOG performance status and ASA physical status were not different. The post-operative mortality rate was 4.1%. In the analysis of risk factors related to survival, surgical resection was a good prognostic factor. Conclusions Surgical treatment in elderly CRC patients showed a survival benefit, even in the extremely elderly patients. Surgical resection for CRC in elderly patients can be considered to improve survival.
Percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures via unilateral versus bilateral approach
Authors: Yao Wenye , Zhang Bin , Lai Qi , Gao Song , Guo Runsheng
Published: March 2020

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) via unilateral versus bilateral approach. Methods All patients who underwent PKP surgery for OVCFs in our hospital between June 2016 and December 2018 were included in this study. The pedicles were divided into two groups according to the manner of vertebral body puncture, which were as follows: unilateral pedicle puncture group (unilateral group, n=47) and bilateral pedicle puncture group (bilateral group, n=39).The operative time, amount of cement perfusion, correction angle of kyphosis, pain score before and after surgery, and leakage rate of bone cement were evaluated in all patients. The average follow-up was 19 months (range 13-34 months). Results The average age of patients who met the inclusion criteria, but not the exclusion criteria, was 76 years, and a total of 121 vertebral bodies were studied. There were 7 cases of postoperative bone cement leakage (unilateral group, 14.9%) and 6 cases of postoperative bone cement leakage (bilateral groups, 15.4%). There were differences in operative time and amount of cement perfusion between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant increase in age, body mass index, pain index during follow-up, treatment outcome, correction angle of kyphosis, and cement leakage rate between the two groups (P>0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference in sex and bone cement leakage rate between the two groups by Pearson x 2 test (P>0.05). Conclusion Patients with OVCFs could obtain similar satisfactory clinical results via both unilateral and bilateral PKP approaches. However, the unilateral PKP approach is more advantageous as it has a shorter operative time, requires lesser cement volume, causes minimal trauma, is less costly, and results in lesser complications than the bilateral approach.
Deciphering the transcriptional regulatory networks that control size, color, and oil content in Brassica rapa seeds
Authors: Niu Yue , Wu Limin , Li Yanhua , Huang Hualei , Qian Mingchao , Sun Wei , Zhu Hong , Xu Yuanfang , Fan Yonghai , Mahmood Umer , Xu Benbo , Zhang Kai , Qu Cunmin , Li Jiana , Lu Kun
Published: March 2020

Background Brassica rapa is an important oilseed and vegetable crop species and is the A subgenome donor of two important oilseed Brassica crops, Brassica napus and Brassica juncea. Although seed size (SZ), seed color (SC), and oil content (OC) substantially affect seed yield and quality, the mechanisms regulating these traits in Brassica crops remain unclear. Results We collected seeds from a pair of B. rapa accessions with significantly different SZ, SC, and OC at seven seed developmental stages (every 7 days from 7 to 49 days after pollination), and identified 24,835 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from seven pairwise comparisons between accessions at each developmental stage. K-means clustering identified a group of cell cycle-related genes closely connected to variation in SZ of B. rapa. A weighted correlation analysis using the WGCNA package in R revealed two important co-expression modules comprising genes whose expression was positively correlated with SZ increase and negatively correlated with seed yellowness, respectively. Upregulated expression of cell cycle-related genes in one module was important for the G2/M cell cycle transition, and the transcription factor Bra.A05TSO1 seemed to positively stimulate the expression of two CYCB1;2 genes to promote seed development. In the second module, a conserved complex regulated by the transcription factor TT8 appear to determine SC through downregulation of TT8 and its target genes TT3, TT18, and ANR. Further, upregulation of genes involved in triacylglycerol biosynthesis and storage in the seed oil body may increase OC. We further validated the accuracy of the transcriptome data by quantitative real-time PCR of 15 DEGs. Finally, we used our results to construct detailed models to clarify the regulatory mechanisms underlying variations in SZ, SC, and OC in B. rapa. Conclusions This study based on transcriptome comparison provides insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying the variations of SZ, SC, and OC in plants. The findings hold great promise for improving seed yield, quality and OC through genetic engineering of critical genes in future molecular breeding.
Healthcare utilisation and out-of-pocket expenditure of type 2 diabetes patients with and without comorbidity: A study in primary care in Bhubaneswar, India.
Authors: Pati Sandipana , Swain Subhashisa , Akker Marjan van den , Schellevis F. (François) G. , Burgers Jako S.
Published: March 2020

Background

Globally, non-communicable diseases (NCD) necessitate increased healthcare expenditure. One NCD in particular, diabetes mellitus, is often associated with multiple, co-existing chronic conditions. In low- and middle-income countries where healthcare expenditure is mostly borne out of pocket, diabetes management may pose a significant economic burden.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 urban primary healthcare facilities of Bhubaneswar to assess the healthcare utilisation and out-of-pocket expenditure among type 2 diabetes patients attending these facilities. Healthcare utilisation was determined by the number of visits to healthcare facilities in the last six months, and out-of-pocket expenditure was assessed by outpatient consultation fees, medicines, travels to health care facilities and diagnostic tests. Total out-of-pocket expenditure was defined as the sum of these costs.

Results

The median number of visits in 6 months for diabetes patients with any comorbidity was 4 and 5 for diabetes patients with more than 4 comorbidities. Among comorbidities, depression, stroke, auditory impairment and acid peptic disease were associated with higher healthcare utilisation. The total out-of-pocket expense was 2.3 times higher among diabetes patients with any comorbid condition compared to patients with diabetes only. The total median expenditure was higher for diabetes patients having stroke, heart diseases, kidney diseases and cancer compared to other comorbid conditions. The association of comorbidity in diabetes patients with health care utilization and out-of-pocket expenditure is statistically significant after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and diabetes duration.

Conclusion

Considerable expenditure is incurred by diabetes patients attending primary healthcare facilities for the management of diabetes and other chronic conditions. This is particularly painful for patients below the poverty line and with limited insurance cover. There is a need to increase the coverage of insurance schemes to address the chronic conditions management expenditure of outpatients.
pH-Dependent Nanodiamonds Enhance the Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Hyaluronic Acid Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Authors: Lim Dae Gon , Kang Eunah , Jeong Seong Hoon
Published: March 2020

Background: Nanocomposite hydrogels capable of undergoing manufacturing process have recently attracted attention in biomedical applications due to their desired mechanical properties and high functionality. Mechanically enhanced biomaterials composited with diverse nanophase inorganic particles are challenging because metastatic materials mimicking biological tissues require softness, biocompatibility, strength, and structurally compatible elasticity. Herein, nanodiamonds (NDs) have been chosen due to their hydrophilicity and pH-dependent surface functionality, along with their convenient chemical modalityResults: 3D printing nanocomposite hydrogels of hyaluronic acid (HA)/nanodiamond (ND) revealed that the addition of ND with the low weight ratio of 0.02 wt % resulted in higher compressive force and gel breaking point, compared with HA only nanocomposites. These HA nanocomposite hydrogels loaded with surface functionalized ND allowed for the enforced compressive stress to be tuned in a pH-dependent manner. HA nanocomposite hydrogels with ND-OH at pH 8 showed an increase of 1.40 fold (236.18 kPa) and 1.37 fold (616.72 kPa) the compressive stress at the composition of 0.02 wt % and 0.04 wt %, respectively, compared to those of ND-COOH (168.31, 449.59 kPa) at the same pH. Moreover, the compressive stress of HA/ND-OH (0.04 wt %) at pH 8 was mechanically enhanced 1.29 fold, compared to that of HA/ND-OH (0.04 wt %) at pH 7. These results indicate that the tunable buffering environment and interaction with the long chains of HA at the molecular level have a critical role in the dependency of the mechanical properties on pH. Conclusion: Due to the pH stability of the ND-OH nanophase, filament-based processing and layer-based deposition at microscale attained enforced mechanical properties of hydrogel. Fine surface tuning of the inorganic ND nanophase and controlled 3D printing leads to improved control over the pH-dependent mechanical properties of the nanocomposite hydrogels reported herein.
Circ_RPL23A acts as a miR-1233 sponge to suppress the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by promoting ACAT2
Authors: Cheng Liang , Cao Huifeng , Xu Jianbo , Xu Mo , He Wenjie , Zhang Wenjing , Dong Longxin , Chen Dayin
Published: March 2020

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is a prevalent urological carcinoma with high metastatic risk. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as effective diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for CCRCC. This research aims to disclose the involvement of circRNA ribosomal protein L23a (circ_RPL23A) in CCRCC, and how it regulates carcinogenesis.

Methods

We performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to examine circ_RPL23A, microRNA-1233 (miR-1233) and acetyl-coenzyme A acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2). Cellular behavior detection included cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis, which were severally analyzed using propidium iodide (PI)-flow cytometry, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), Annexin V/PI-flow cytometry and transwell migration/invasion assays. ACAT2 and related proteins of cell cycle, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were measured via western blot. Target relationship was analyzed via dual-luciferase reporter assay. A xenograft model was used to study circ_RPL23A action in mice.

Results

Both in CCRCC tissues and cells, circ_RPL23A had a down-regulated tendency. Explicitly, circ_RPL23A overexpression inhibited cell cycle, proliferation and metastasis but enhanced apoptosis of CCRCC cells, whereas these effects of circ_RPL23A were dependent on the suppression of its target miR-1233. Besides, miR-1233 could target ACAT2 and circ_RPL23A regulated ACAT2 by sponging miR-1233. Also importantly, miR-1233 was a pro-cancer gene in CCRCC via targeting ACAT2. CCRCC tumor growth was also decreased in vivo by circ_RPL23A through miR-1233/ACAT2 axis.

Conclusion

Altogether, the circ_RPL23A/miR-1233/ACAT2 axis in this report provides an in-depth cognition for CCRCC pathogenesis and circ_RPL23A may has pivotal value in diagnosing and treating CCRCC.