bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
10-year-long survival in a PD patient with severe calcifying encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis treated with tamoxifen: a case-report
Authors: Liakopoulos Vassilios , Georgianos Panagiotis I. , Vaios Vasilios , Roumeliotis Stefanos , Karligkiotis Apostolos , Zebekakis Pantelis E.
Published: March 2020

Background

Encapsulating-peritoneal-sclerosis (EPS) is a rare, but serious and life-threatening complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Treatment of EPS consists of discontinuation of PD and maintenance of nutritional status, whereas the role of corticosteroids, tamoxifen and other immunosuppresive agents is not yet fully elucidated.

Case-presentation

We report the case of a 28-year-old patient, who developed a severe form of calcifying EPS after a 6-year-long therapy with automated PD. The clinical presentation was severe with repeated episodes of total bowel obstruction, weight loss and malnutrition that mandated his prolonged hospitalization. Initial treatment included corticosteroids and tamoxifen (20 mg/day) with a clinically meaningful improvement in gastrointestinal function and nutritional status over the first 6–12 months. Corticosteroids were discontinued at 18 months, but owing to persistence of calcifying lesions and peritoneal thickening in repeated computed-tomography (CT) scans, tamoxifen remained unmodified at a low-dose of 20 mg/day for a 10-year-long period. During follow-up, the patient remained symptoms-free in an excellent clinical condition and the CT findings were unchanged.

Conclusions

Long-term administration of tamoxifen was not accompanied by any drug-related adverse effects and potentially exerted a beneficial action on down-regulation of inflammatory and fibrotic processes and improvement of gastrointestinal function, nutritional status and overall health-related quality of life.
The renal range of the κ/λ sFLC ratio: best strategy to evaluate multiple myeloma in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Molina-Andújar Alícia , Robles Pau , Cibeira Maria T. , Montagud-Marrahi Enrique , Guillen Elena , Xipell Marc , Blasco Miquel , Poch Esteban , Rosiñol Laura , Bladé Joan , Quintana Luis F.
Published: March 2020

Background

Monoclonal serum free light chains (sFLC) are a well-known cause of renal impairment (RI) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). As an indicator of monoclonality, sFLC ratio has acquired a key role in the diagnosis and monitorization of the disease. However, its interpretation is altered in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to evaluate the modification of the sFLC ratio reference range in patients with CKD, and propose an optimal range for patients with CKD.

Methods

Serum FLC κ/λ ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were retrospectively analyzed in 113 control patients (without hematologic disease), 63 patients with MM in complete remission and 347 patients with active MM. The three groups included patients with CKD (eGFR < 90).

Results

In the group of patients without active MM (n = 176), the sFLC ratio increased at different stages of CKD without pathological significance, with an increase in the number of false positives specially when eGFR is ≤55 ml/min. An optimal range was established for patients with eGFR ≤55 ml/min/1.73 m2: 0.82–3,6 with maximum sensitivity + specificity for that group with an improvement in the Area under the curve (AUC), 0.91 (0.84–0.97) compared with the current ranges proposed by Katzmann and Hutchinson.

Conclusions

This study confirms the influence of eGFR on the interpretation of the sFLC ratio, showing a decreasing specificity in progressive CKD stages when using the reference sFLC range (Katzmann), especially in patients with eFGR ≤55. According to our results, we suggest a modified optimal range (0.82–3,6) for eGFR ≤55 ml/min/1.73 m2. It is necessary to validate this modified range in larger and prospective studies.
Accuracy and concordance of measurement methods to assess non-adherence after renal transplantation - a prospective study
Authors: Lieb Marietta , Hepp Tobias , Schiffer Mario , Opgenoorth Mirian , Erim Yesim
Published: March 2020

Background

Non-adherence (NA) to immunosuppressants (IS) among renal transplant recipients (RTRs) is associated with higher risk of allograft rejection, graft loss, and mortality. A precise measurement of NA is indispensable, although its prevalence differs greatly depending on the respective measurement methods. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy and concordance of different measurement methods of NA in patients after renal transplantation.

Design and methods

This was a single-center prospective observational study. At baseline (T0), NA was measured via physicians’ estimates (PE), self-reports (SR), and tacrolimus trough level variability (CV%) in 78 RTRs. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0–100%) was applied both for SR and PE. In addition, we used BAASIS© for SR and a 5-point Likert scale for PE. NA was measured prospectively via electronic monitoring (EM, VAICA©) during a three month period. Meanwhile, all participants received phone calls in a two week interval (T1-T6) during which SRs were given.

Results

Seventy-eight RTRs participated in our study. At t0, NA rates of 6.4%, 28.6%, and 15.4% were found for PE, SR, and CV%, respectively. No correlation was found between these methods. During the study, the percentages of self-reported and electronically monitored adherence remained high, with a minimum mean of 91.2% for the strictest adherence measure (Timing Adherence ±30 min). Our results revealed a moderate to high association between SR and EM. In contrast to PE and CV%, SR significantly predicted electronically monitored adherence. Overall, a decreasing effect of electronically monitored adherence was found for both taking and timing adherence (±2 h, ±30 min) over the course of the study.

Discussion

The moderate to high concordance of SR and EM suggests that both methods measure NA equally accurately. SR seems to be a method that can adequately depict electronically monitored NA and may represent a good and economical instrument to assess NA in clinical practice. The increased adherence at the beginning of the study and its subsequent decrease suggests an intervention effect. Surveillance of IS intake via EM with intermittent phone calls could improve adherence on a short-term basis. To establish long-term effects, further research is necessary.
Potential drug-drug interactions in patients with indication for prophylactic implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Dornquast Christina , Dombrowski Mirja , Zabel Markus , Willich Stefan N. , Reinhold Thomas
Published: March 2020

Background

Due to demographic transition, multimorbidity and high numbers of medicinal products, polypharmacy rates will presumably further increase. This could lead to higher risks of potentially inappropriate medications with potential drug-drug interactions (PDDI). PDDI has already been investigated by several studies, but not for patients with indication for prophylactic implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Thus, the objective of this analysis was to examine the frequency of PDDI in that specific group of patients and compare patients with or without PDDI regarding potential underlying factors.

Methods

Cross-sectional data analyses were performed using data of the prospective EU-CERT-ICD study that primarily aimed to assess ICD effectiveness in Europe. Self-reported baseline medication data of patients from Germany and Switzerland were used. Patients who reported to take at least two drugs simultaneously for at least 80 days were defined as population at risk. By means of a publicly available interaction checker, we analyzed the medication data regarding occurrence and characteristics of PDDI categorized as minor, moderate, and major PDDI. The analyses were done using descriptive methods and chi square testing.

Results

The total population (n = 524) and the population at risk (n = 383) were rather similar with an average age of 64 years and about 80% male. PDDIs were found for 296 patients (in 57% of total population vs. 77% of population at risk). The moderate PDDI category was most frequently with 268 affected patients. Comparing patients with and without any PDDI, the proportion of patients with place of residence in Germany varied distinctly (93% vs. 78%). The frequency of any PDDI for the total population was twice as high in Germany as in Switzerland (p value < 0.001).

Conclusions

PDDIs were frequently observed in this selected patient population and differed markedly between German and Swiss patients. The results should lead to higher awareness of polypharmacy and PDDIs. Adequate cooperation between health care providers should be promoted and new technologies such as drug interaction information systems or digital patient files used.

Trial registration

The EU-CERT-ICD study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02064192).
Transcriptome analysis of the response provided by Lasiopodomys mandarinus to severe hypoxia includes enhancing DNA repair and damage prevention
Authors: Dong Qianqian , Wang Zishi , Jiang Mengwan , Sun Hong , Wang Xuqin , Li Yangwei , Zhang Yifeng , Cheng Han , Chai Yurong , Shao Tian , Shi Luye , Wang Zhenlong
Published: March 2020

Background

Severe hypoxia induces a series of stress responses in mammals; however, subterranean rodents have evolved several adaptation mechanisms of energy metabolisms and O2 utilization for hypoxia. Mammalian brains show extreme aerobic metabolism. Following hypoxia exposure, mammals usually experience irreversible brain damage and can even develop serious diseases, such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and brain edema. To investigate mechanisms underlying the responses of subterranean rodents to severe hypoxia, we performed a cross-species brain transcriptomic analysis using RNA sequencing and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the subterranean rodent Lasiopodomys mandarinus and its closely related aboveground species L. brandtii under severe hypoxia (5.0% O2, 6 h) and normoxia (20.9% O2, 6 h).

Results

We obtained 361 million clean reads, including 69,611 unigenes in L. mandarinus and 69,360 in L. brandtii. We identified 359 and 515 DEGs by comparing the hypoxic and normoxia groups of L. mandarinus and L. brandtii, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that upregulated DEGs in both species displayed similar terms in response to severe hypoxia; the main difference is that GO terms of L. brandtii were enriched in the immune system. However, in the downregulated DEGs, GO terms of L. mandarinus were enriched in cell proliferation and protein transport and those of L. brandtii were enriched in nuclease and hydrolase activities, particularly in terms of developmental functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that upregulated DEGs in L. mandarinus were associated with DNA repair and damage prevention as well as angiogenesis and metastasis inhibition, whereas downregulated DEGs were associated with neuronal synaptic transmission and tumor-associated metabolic pathways. In L. brandtii, upregulated KEGG pathways were enriched in the immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems and particularly in cancer-related pathways, whereas downregulated DEGs were associated with environmental information processing and misregulation in cancers.

Conclusions

L. mandarinus has evolved hypoxia adaptation by enhancing DNA repair, damage prevention, and augmenting sensing, whereas L. brandtii showed a higher risk of tumorigenesis and promoted innate immunity toward severe hypoxia. These results reveal the hypoxic mechanisms of L. mandarinus to severe hypoxia, which may provide research clues for hypoxic diseases.
Investigation of the immunogenicity of Zika glycan loop
Authors: Henderson Elizabeth A. , Tam Christina C. , Cheng Luisa W. , Ngono Annie Elong , Nguyen Anh-Viet , Shresta Sujan , McGee Matt , Padgett Hal , Grill Laurence K. , Martchenko Shilman Mikhail
Published: March 2020

Background

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a major human pathogen and member of the Flavivirus genus. Previous studies have identified neutralizing antibodies from Zika patients that bind to quaternary epitopes across neighboring envelope (E) proteins, called E dimer epitopes (EDE). An asparagine-linked glycan on the “glycan loop” (GL) of the ZIKV envelope protein protects the functionally important “fusion loop” on the opposite E subunit in the dimer, and EDE antibodies have been shown to bind to both of these loops. Human EDE antibodies have been divided into two subclasses based on how they bind to the glycan loop region: EDE1 antibodies do not require glycosylation for binding, while EDE2 antibodies strongly rely on the glycan for binding.

Methods

ZIKV GL was expressed on tobacco mosaic virus nanoparticles. Mice were immunized with GL or full-length monomeric E and the immune response was analyzed by testing the ability of sera and monoclonal antibodies to bind to GL and to neutralize ZIKV in in vitro cellular assay.

Results

We report here the existence of ZIKV moderately neutralizing antibodies that bind to E monomers through epitopes that include the glycan loop. We show that sera from human Zika patients contain antibodies capable of binding to the unglycosylated glycan loop in the absence of the rest of the envelope protein. Furthermore, mice were inoculated with recombinant E monomers and produced neutralizing antibodies that either recognize unglycosylated glycan loop or require glycan for their binding to monomeric E. We demonstrate that both types of antibodies neutralize ZIKV to some extent in a cellular virus neutralization assay.

Conclusions

Analogous to the existing EDE antibody nomenclature, we propose a new classification for antibodies that bind to E monomer epitopes (EME): EME1 and EME2 for those that do not require and those that do require glycan for binding to E, respectively.
Predictive QSAR model confirms flavonoids in Chinese medicine can activate voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channel in osteogenesis
Authors: Chan Ki , Leung Henry Chi Ming , Tsoi James Kit-Hon
Published: March 2020

Background

Flavonoids in Chinese Medicine have been proven in animal studies that could aid in osteogenesis and bone formation. However, there is no consented mechanism for how these phytochemicals action on the bone-forming osteoblasts, and henceforth the prediction model of chemical screening for this specific biochemical function has not been established. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel selection and effective approach of flavonoids on the prediction of bone-forming ability via osteoblastic voltage-gated calcium (CaV) activation and inhibition using molecular modelling technique.

Method

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) in supervised maching-learning approach is applied in this study to predict the behavioral manifestations of flavonoids in the CaV channels, and developing statistical correlation between the biochemical features and the behavioral manifestations of 24 compounds (Training set: Kaempferol, Taxifolin, Daidzein, Morin, Scutellarein, Quercetin, Apigenin, Myricetin, Tamarixetin, Rutin, Genistein, 5,7,2′-Trihydroxyflavone, Baicalein, Luteolin, Galangin, Chrysin, Isorhamnetin, Naringin, 3-Methyl galangin, Resokaempferol; test set: 5-Hydroxyflavone, 3,6,4′-Trihydroxyflavone, 3,4′-Dihydroxyflavone and Naringenin). Based on statistical algorithm, QSAR provides a reasonable basis for establishing a predictive correlation model by a variety of molecular descriptors that are able to identify as well as analyse the biochemical features of flavonoids that engaged in activating or inhibiting the CaV channels for osteoblasts.

Results

The model has shown these flavonoids have high activating effects on CaV channel for osteogenesis. In addition, scutellarein was ranked the highest among the screened flavonoids, and other lower ranked compounds, such as daidzein, quercetin, genistein and naringin, have shown the same descending order as previous animal studies.

Conclusion

This predictive modelling study has confirmed and validated the biochemical activity of the flavonoids in the osteoblastic CaV activation.
Is it possible to substitute the monofilament test for the Ipswich Touch Test in screening for peripheral diabetic neuropathy?
Authors: Dutra Luz Marina Alfonso , Moura Mirian Conceição , do Prado Flaviene Alves , De Oliveira Lima Giselle , Melo Manuela Costa , Fernandez Rubens Nelson Morato , Novaes Maria Rita Carvalho Garbi
Published: March 2020

Background

This study aimed to assess the agreement and efficacy of the Ipswich Touch Test compared to the monofilament test in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted. The inclusion criteria were patients with type II diabetes (n = 250) who did not present ulcers or amputation in either foot. The exclusion criteria were as follows: patients who presented sequelae of cerebrovascular disease or other neurological pathologies, as well as diagnoses of malignancy, alcohol abuse, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B, AIDS, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease or lupus erythaematosus, as these clinical conditions could influence or bias the results (Won and Park in Endocrinol Metab 31:230–238, 2016). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and Kappa index were calculated. Other factors assessed were glycated haemoglobin and body mass index.

Results

Most of the participants were female (71.2%), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was greater than 7% in 54.4% of the patients. The mean age was 59.43 years, and the mean time since diagnosis was 12.38 years. The Kappa index was 0.819 (p < 0.001), and the Ipswich Touch Test had a sensitivity of 83.33%, a specificity of 97.66%, a positive predictive value of 85.71%, a negative predictive value of 97.21%, a positive likelihood ratio of 30.19%, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.17%. The level of significance was 5% in this study.

Conclusion

The Ipswich Touch Test resented good agreement and efficacy compared to the gold standard—the 10 g monofilament test.
The nonnegative weak solution of a degenerate parabolic equation with variable exponent growth order
Authors: Zhan Huashui
Published: March 2020

A degenerate parabolic equation of the form $$\bigl( \vert v \vert ^{\beta-1}v\bigr)_{t}= \operatorname{div} \bigl(b(x,t) \vert \nabla v \vert ^{p(x,t)-2}\nabla v \bigr)+\nabla\vec{g}\cdot\nabla\vec{\gamma}(v) $$(|v|β−1v)t=div(b(x,t)|∇v|p(x,t)−2∇v)+∇g→⋅∇γ→(v) is considered, where $\vec{g}=\{g^{i}(x,t)\}$g→={gi(x,t)}, $\vec{\gamma}(v)=\{ \gamma_{i}(v)\}$γ→(v)={γi(v)}. If the diffusion coefficient $b(x,t)\geq0$b(x,t)≥0 is degenerate on the boundary, by adding some restrictions on $b(x,t)$b(x,t) and g⃗, the existence and uniqueness of weak solutions are proved. Based on the uniqueness, the stability of weak solutions can be proved without any boundary condition.
The geography of agriculture participation and food security in a small and a medium-sized city in Ghana
Authors: Ayerakwa Hayford Mensah , Dzanku Fred Mawunyo , Sarpong Daniel Bruce
Published: March 2020

The debate about the contribution of urban agriculture to urban household food security has not considered the possible differential effects by geography of production activities, focusing either on urban household’s participation in agriculture irrespective of where the activity takes place, or restricting participation to production within urban and peri-urban areas, or more narrowly, production within build-up urban spaces. Using a sample of 2004 households in a small and a medium-sized city in Ghana, this article contributes by disentangling urban household’s participation in agriculture by geography of production activities and the implications for the food security of urban households. We find no evidence from our sample that participation in agriculture in general matters for the food security of urban households. However, urbanites who produced food in both urban and rural areas had better food security in the medium-sized city.
Assessing the efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in the wheat pathogen Parastagonspora nodorum
Authors: Khan Haseena , McDonald Megan C. , Williams Simon J. , Solomon Peter S.
Published: March 2020

Background

The genome-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized gene manipulation by providing an efficient method to generate targeted mutations. This technique deploys the Cas9 endonuclease and a guide RNA (sgRNA) which interact to form a Cas9-sgRNA complex that initiates gene editing through the introduction of double stranded DNA breaks. We tested the efficacy of the CRISPR/Cas9 approach as a means of facilitating a variety of reverse genetic approaches in the wheat pathogenic fungus Parastagonospora nodorum.

Results

Parastagonospora nodorum protoplasts were transformed with the Cas9 protein and sgRNA in the form of a preassembled ribonuclear protein (RNP) complex targeting the Tox3 effector gene. Subsequent screening of the P. nodorum transformants revealed 100% editing of those mutants screened. We further tested the efficacy of RNP complex when co-transformed with a Tox3-Homology Directed Repair cassette harbouring 1 kb of homologous flanking DNA. Subsequent screening of resulting transformants demonstrated homologous recombination efficiencies exceeding 70%. A further transformation with a Tox3-Homology Directed Repair cassette harbouring a selectable marker with 50 bp micro-homology flanks was also achieved with 25% homologous recombination efficiency. The success of these homology directed repair approaches demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 is amenable to other in vivo DNA manipulation approaches such as the insertion of DNA and generating point mutations.

Conclusion

These data highlight the significant potential that CRISPR/Cas9 has in expediting transgene-free gene knockouts in Parastagonospora nodorum and also in facilitating other gene manipulation approaches. Access to these tools will significantly decrease the time required to assess the requirement of gene for disease and to undertake functional studies to determine its role.
Diet composition and feeding strategy of John Dory, Zeus faber, in the coastal waters of Korea
Authors: Kim Han Ju , Kim Hyeong-Gi , Oh Chul-Woong
Published: March 2020

Background

Most fish undergo prey switch from juvenile to adult. It is thought that slightly different feeding habits occur among adult fishes due to growth, spawning, habitat change, and so on. Therefore, the diet of the John Dory Zeus faber (≥ 24 cm TL) was studied in the coastal waters of Korea by analysis of stomach contents, with comparison by season and size class of diet composition and prey diversity. Monthly samples were taken from February 2017 to January 2018.

Results

The results showed that the John Dory was a piscivorous predator, and pisces had occupied 82.3% of IRI%. Trichiurus lepturus and Trachurus japonicus were important preys in all size classes and seasons. Diet composition differed among the size classes and seasons (Chi-square test, P < 0.05). As body size of Z. faber increased, the occurrence of benthic fish (Glyptocephalus stelleri) tended to increase. The seasonal prey composition also changed depending on the abundant species of each season.

Conclusions

Z. faber is a piscivorous predator. The consumption habits of Z. faber appear to different results by their size and seasons. This study suggests that Z. faber could be considered an opportunistic predator.
Imaging of asbestos-related lung and pleural diseases as an endemic exposure in Egypt
Authors: Kolta Marian Fayek , Khairy Mostafa Ahmed , El Hinnawy Yasmine Hamdy
Published: March 2020

Background

Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals which have been traditionally used in building materials and household products. Inhalation of asbestos fibers, however, has been associated with adverse health outcomes, with the disease manifestations principally affecting the thorax. The aim of our study is to detect and evaluate the different radiological patterns of asbestos-related lung and pleural disease and its complications

Results

MDCT examination was able to assess and distinguish asbestosis as well as asbestos-related lung and pleural disease besides detection of any associated complications.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that while reporting of malignant asbestos-related pleural disease is adequate, there is room for improvement in the reporting of more benign disease.
Deep learning for relative geologic time and seismic horizons
Authors: Geng Zhicheng , Wu Xinming , Shi Yunzhi , Fomel Sergey
Published: March 2020

Constructing a relative geologic time (RGT) image from a seismic image is crucial for seismic structural and stratigraphic interpretation. In conventional methods, automatic RGT estimation from a seismic image is typically based on only local image features, which makes it challenging to cope with discontinuous structures (e.g., faults and unconformities). We have considered the estimation of 2D RGT images as a regression problem, where we design a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) to directly and automatically compute an RGT image from a 2D seismic image. This CNN consists of three parts: an encoder, a decoder, and a refinement module. We train this CNN by using 2080 pairs of synthetic input seismic images and target RGT images, and then we test it on 960 testing seismic images. Although trained with only synthetic images, the network can generate accurate results on real seismic images. Multiple field examples show that our CNN-based method is significantly superior to conventional methods, especially in dealing with complex structures such as crossing faults and complicatedly folded horizons, without the need of any manual picking.
Estimation of seismic quality factor in the time-frequency domain using variational mode decomposition
Authors: Xue Ya-Juan , Cao Jun-Xing , Wang Xing-Jian , Du Hao-Kun
Published: March 2020

Seismic attenuation as represented by the seismic quality factor [Formula: see text] has a substantial impact on seismic reflection data. To effectively eliminate the interference of reflection coefficients for [Formula: see text] estimation, a new method is proposed based on the stationary convolutional model of a seismic trace using variational mode decomposition (VMD). VMD is conducted on the logarithmic spectra extracted from the time-frequency distribution of the seismic reflection data generated from the generalized S transform. For the intrinsic mode functions after VMD, mutual information and correlation analysis are used to reconstruct the signals, which effectively eliminates the influence of the reflection coefficients. The difference between the two reconstructed logarithmic spectra within the selected frequency band produces a better linear property, and it is more suitably approximated with the linear function compared to the conventional spectral-ratio method. Least-squares fitting is finally applied for [Formula: see text] estimation. Application of this method to synthetic and real data examples demonstrates the stabilization and accuracy for [Formula: see text] estimation.
Arrival-time picking uncertainty: Theoretical estimations and their application to microseismic data
Authors: Abakumov Ivan , Roeser Aurelian , Shapiro Serge A.
Published: March 2020

Traveltime-based methods depend on the accurate determination of the arrival times of seismic waves. They further benefit from information on the uncertainty with which the arrival times are determined. Among other applications, arrival-time uncertainties are used to weight data in inversion algorithms and to define the resolution of reconstructed velocity models. The most physically meaningful approaches for the estimation of arrival-time uncertainties are based on probabilistic formulations. The two approaches for the assessment of the lower bound of arrival-time uncertainties, the Cramér–Rao Bound (CRB) and the Ziv–Zakai Bound (ZZB), have been reviewed. The CRB determines the minimum-achievable estimation error under the assumption of a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) but underestimates said error for small S/N. The ZZB provides a better result for noisy data because it utilizes a priori information. The CRB and ZZB require knowledge of the spectral variance of the signal, which often is hard to determine in seismic experiments. Furthermore, both bounds assume additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), which does not hold for seismic data. To overcome these problems, alternative expressions have been proposed, which yield comparable estimates as CRB and ZZB but are solely based on the S/N and the dominant period in the data. Moreover, a recipe to correct the S/N and account for the difference between the seismic noise and AWGN has been provided. For a case study of downhole microseismic monitoring, it is determined that the new expressions provide station-dependent arrival-time uncertainties, which are used as weights to improve source location uncertainties.
Integrated Informatics Analysis of Cancer-Related Variants
Authors: Pagel Kymberleigh A. , Kim Rick , Moad Kyle , Busby Ben , Zheng Lily , Tokheim Collin , Ryan Michael , Karchin Rachel
Published: March 2020

PURPOSE

The modern researcher is confronted with hundreds of published methods to interpret genetic variants. There are databases of genes and variants, phenotype-genotype relationships, algorithms that score and rank genes, and in silico variant effect prediction tools. Because variant prioritization is a multifactorial problem, a welcome development in the field has been the emergence of decision support frameworks, which make it easier to integrate multiple resources in an interactive environment. Current decision support frameworks are typically limited by closed proprietary architectures, access to a restricted set of tools, lack of customizability, Web dependencies that expose protected data, or limited scalability.

METHODS

We present the Open Custom Ranked Analysis of Variants Toolkit 1 (OpenCRAVAT) a new open-source, scalable decision support system for variant and gene prioritization. We have designed the resource catalog to be open and modular to maximize community and developer involvement, and as a result, the catalog is being actively developed and growing every month. Resources made available via the store are well suited for analysis of cancer, as well as Mendelian and complex diseases.

RESULTS

OpenCRAVAT offers both command-line utility and dynamic graphical user interface, allowing users to install with a single command, easily download tools from an extensive resource catalog, create customized pipelines, and explore results in a richly detailed viewing environment. We present several case studies to illustrate the design of custom workflows to prioritize genes and variants.

CONCLUSION

OpenCRAVAT is distinguished from similar tools by its capabilities to access and integrate an unprecedented amount of diverse data resources and computational prediction methods, which span germline, somatic, common, rare, coding, and noncoding variants.
Game Change from Reagent- to Substrate-Controlled Peptide Synthesis
Authors: Muramatsu Wataru , Hattori Tomohiro , Yamamoto Hisashi
Published: March 2020

An account of the development of Lewis-acid-catalyzed methods for racemization-free peptide synthesis is presented. These methods are based on the substrate control concept that has been exploited extensively in stereoselective reactions, but the concept has never previously been applied to peptide synthesis. The most important difference that has emerged between our methods and the conventional methods based on reagent control concept such as coupling-reagent-mediated and boronic-acid-catalyzed peptide bond-forming reactions is how to activate the reaction sites and racemization control. The reagent-controlled methods proceed by generating highly reactive esters in situ, leading to occasional racemization through the formation of oxazolone intermediates. On the other hand, our substrate-controlled methods do not go through the known racemization processes because the Lewis acids we use herein are designed to activate moderately as an anchor a specific carbonyl group that is located at a reasonable distance from the directing group. Based on the substrate control concept, we have developed six novel methodologies for peptide bond-forming reactions over the last five years.
Steering the Climate System: Using Inertia to Lower the Cost of Policy: Reply
Authors: Lemoine Derek , Rudik Ivan
Published: March 2020

Mattauch et al. (2020) claims that the quantitative conclusions in Lemoine and Rudik (2017)—henceforth, LR17—are not robust to using a climate model consistent with recent scientific results. We observe that LR17 in fact analyzes an extension to a more realistic carbon model that generates an efficient emission tax trajectory very similar to that in Mattauch et al. (2020), and we here show that simplifications in the temperature model of LR17 do not qualitatively affect their policy conclusions. Accounting for inertia reduces the initial emission tax by 42 percent and reduces the present value of abatement cost by 39 percent. (JEL H23, Q54, Q58)
Transarterial CT angiography for surgical planning of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Kular Saminderjit , Tse George , Budu Alexandru , Bacon Andrew , Choudhari Kishor , Nagaraja Sanjoy
Published: March 2020

Objective:

We report a novel method to provide excellent anatomical depiction of a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) for surgical planning.

Methods:

A 78-year-old female presented with progressive back pain, deteriorating mobility and urinary incontinence with a background of obesity and severe osteoarthritis. Initial MRI suspected dAVF and subsequent spinal angiography encountered an extremely tortuous and arteriosclerotic aorta, hence catheterisation of the segmental-intercostal and lumbar vessels proved challenging. Contrast injection into the aortic arch via a pigtail catheter for arterial-phase CT angiogram of the descending aorta was performed.

Results:

This modality of imaging delineated the dAVF showing extensive involvement of the whole spine accounting for the patient’s symptoms. Furthermore this allowed characterisation of bony anatomy in relation to the fistula facilitating precise surgical approach. The dAVF was successfully disconnected through a localised laminectomy centred over the lesion.

Conclusion:

This specific technique for dAVF characterisation has not been previously reported, although trans-venous angiography has been used to some effect. In view of diagnostic and therapeutic technical difficulties that are often faced in such patients, this technique may be a useful alternative that is not only helpful in accurate diagnosis but helps in providing an invaluable guide for the surgical approach.

Advances in knowledge:

This case highlights the difficulties that one may be faced within cases of tortuous vasculature and the obese patient population. With this in mind we demonstrate how a unique hybridised technique may provide valuable alternative to the neurosciences team should such a future scenario arise.
Estimating the returns to education using a parametric control function approach: evidences for a developing country
Authors: Souza André Portela , Zylberstajn Eduardo
Published: March 2020

This paper investigates the causal effect of education on earnings in Brazil by employing a new method proposed by Klein and Vella (2010) that obtains identification on the presence of conditional heteroskedasticity. In contrast to traditionally used IV methods, this approach yields unbiased estimates in the absence of instruments. Results indicate that the average return to education in Brazil was relatively stable at around 14% from 1995 to 2003, declined afterwards reaching 10.7% in 2014, but has bounced back to 11.8% after the economic crisis in 2015. The results suggest that the OLS estimations are downward biased and we interpret this as a sign of under-education premiums that are likely to occur in environments where the more talented ones are dropped from school and moved into the labor market earlier in life.
Wage gap decomposition models: A methodological contribution
Authors: Gomes Magno Rogério , Souza Solange de Cássia Inforzato de , Mantovani Gabriela Gomes , Paiva Vanessa Fortunato de
Published: March 2020

This article aims to introduce a methodological contribution to the wage decomposition, from the traditional decomposition of Oaxaca–Blinder. Specifically, we review the usual wage decomposition models and proposes a new technique that do not choose an advantage/disadvantage group in advance, a solution to the index problem, one of the most present criticisms in the decomposition salary of Oaxaca–Blinder. It is based on the analysis of the current wages of the analyzed groups, and not on the impacts of the income that the individuals should have, as usually appears in the models of decomposition. It applies the gender wage decomposition procedures in the Brazilian labor market, under the different approaches, from the microdata of the PNAD of 2015, which confirm the wage differences and discrimination between men and women. Finally, this article contributes to the decision on empirical strategies in the field of wage inequalities and, particularly, their interpretation.
Sanitation and Health: Empirical evidence for Brazilian Municipalities
Authors: Mattos Enlinson , Pinto Cristine , Teixeira Lucas Iten , Meloni Luis
Published: March 2020

Despite the fact of being the largest economy in Latin America, piped water service coverage and sewage collection is not universal in Brazil. The relationship between access to water/sanitation and health was the objective of many studies recently. The majority of the existing work focuses on the impact of access to water and sewage, not investigating the effects of water quality and treatment. Moreover, the existing literature usually focuses on infant mortality and life expectancy indicators. Although these measures are important, they may not capture all the relevant public costs associated with health and related to hospitalizations. This paper aims at filling this gap by identifying the effects of sanitation policies on children morbidity rates by certain diseases in Brazilian municipalities.
Assessment of PrEP eligibility and uptake among at-risk MSM participating in a HIV-1 vaccine feasibility cohort in coastal Kenya
Authors: Wahome Elizabeth , Graham Susan , Thiong’o Alexander , Chirro Oscar , Mohamed Khamisi , Gichuru Evans , Mwambi John , Price Matt , Sanders Eduard J.
Published: March 2020

Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is provided free of costs to at-risk populations in Kenya, including men who have sex with men (MSM), but anal intercourse is not an eligibility criterion. We set out to determine PrEP eligibility, uptake and predictors of PrEP uptake among MSM enrolled in an HIV-1 vaccine feasibility cohort in coastal Kenya.

Methods: We compared the number of MSM identified as eligible for PrEP from June-December 2017 by Kenyan Ministry of Health (MoH) criteria, which do not include reported anal intercourse, to those identified as eligible by a published MSM cohort-derived HIV-1 risk score (CDHRS). We determined PrEP uptake and assessed factors associated with uptake at first offer among eligible MSM followed up monthly.

Results: Out of 167 MSM assessed for PrEP eligibility, 118 (70.7%) were identified by both MoH and CDHRS eligibility criteria; 33 (19.8%) by CDHRS alone, 11 (6.6%) by MoH criteria alone, and 5 (3.0%) by neither criterion. Of the men identified by CDHRS alone, the majority (24 or 72.7%) reported receptive anal intercourse (RAI). Of the 162 MSM eligible for PrEP, 113 (69.7%) accepted PrEP at first offer. Acceptance of PrEP was higher for men reporting RAI (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–1.9), having paid for sex (aPR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1–1.6) and group sex (aPR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1–1.8), after adjustment for sociodemographic factors.

Conclusions: Assessing PrEP eligibility using the CDHRS identified 20% more at-risk MSM for PrEP initiation than when Kenyan MoH criteria were used. Approximately 70% of eligible men accepted PrEP at first offer, suggesting that PrEP is acceptable among at-risk MSM. MSM reporting RAI, group sex, or paying for sex were more likely to accept PrEP. Incorporating RAI into MoH PrEP eligibility criteria would enhance the impact of PrEP programming in Kenya.
Recreation and sports swimming for people with disabilities
Authors: Bulgakova Nina , Morozov Sergey , Nikitina Svetlana , Popov Oleg
Published: March 2020

This monograph examines the value of the navigation improvement and rehabilitation of the person. Contains the organizationally-methodical materials for the training of swimming lessons for persons with disabilities with a view to their physical and social adaptation.
Systematized and generalized experience of Russian and foreign experts on the organization and methodology of swimming for persons with different pathologies, for which a specially developed program of education and initial training. The specifics of the organization and logistics of classes.
For students and teachers, and anyone interested in the specifics of the swimming.
The fractal-chaotic properties of cognitive processes: age
Authors: Kamenskaya Valentina , Tomanov Leonid
Published: March 2020

In the monograph the literature information about the nature of stochastic processes and their participation in the work of the brain and human behavior. Established that the real cognitive processes and mental functions associated with the procedural side of external events and the stochastic properties of the internal dynamics of brain systems in the form of fluctuations of their parameters, including cardiac rhythm generation and sensorimotor reactions. Experimentally proved that the dynamics of the measured physiological processes is in the range from chaotic regime to a weakly deterministic — fractal mode. Fractal mode determines the maximum order and organization homeostasis of cognitive processes and States, as well as high adaptive ability of the body systems with fractal properties. The fractal-chaotic dynamics is a useful quality to examine the actual physiological and psychological systems - a unique numerical identification of the order and randomness of the processes through calculation of fractal indices. The monograph represents the results of many years of experimental studies of the reflection properties of stochastic sensorimotor reactions, as well as stochastic properties of heart rate in children, Teens and adults in the age aspect in the speech activity and the perception of different kinds of music with its own frequency-spectral structure.
Designed for undergraduates, graduate students and researchers that perform research and development on cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
O insulto da feiura na escola: insurreições contra o Capital
Authors: Roseiro Steferson Zanoni , Carvalho Janete Magalhães
Published: March 2020

Wondering what would happen with the control logic if the ugliness take control on school, this essay uses the fabulation as a research method to produce fables of insurrection against the Capitalism. It starts from the principle that in the contemporary context the embellishing practices have constituted themselves as a way to control the body. This way, ugliness – usually recognized as the opposite to beauty – is presented as a way to confront the regulator beauty. Methodologically, the research was accomplished in a public school in the city of Cariacica/ES. The fabulations were performed with students of the 6th and 7th grades aiming to produce stories of ugliness as a way to create life in school, facing the Capitalistic-controlling logical. On the edge, even the more controlling body flirts freely with the ugliness without any fear. Instead of hurting or panicking, the ugliness provokes an unexpected taste for life. That is why ugliness refuses the idea of world peace. Peace is manufactured to anesthetize affections, so there is no conversation between different forms of life. In its place, ugliness attracts more ugliness or, more peculiarly, produces ugliness where there were only beauties before. And the ugliness insurrects to the infinity.
FORMAÇÃO DOCENTE PARA A PRODUÇÃO DE MATERIAL PARA A EDUCAÇÃO DIGITAL
Authors: Santos Kátia Ethiéne dos , Kowalski Raquel Pasternak Glitz , Trindade Sueli Perazzoli
Published: March 2020

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo refletir sobre a formação de docentes envolvidos com a produção de materiais para a educação digital, que envolve, tanto a educação em todo tempo e lugar em contextos não formais, como a Educação a Distância e a Educação Híbrida. Nesta reflexão o foco é para a educação híbrida/semipresencial que se entende ter um papel relevante na inserção de tecnologias e na mudança de paradigmas na graduação e pós-graduação, impulsionando a formação de professores para que atuem de forma mais efetiva inserindo as tecnologias em seu cotidiano educacional, torna-se relevante. Este estudo de caráter qualitativo contou com um questionário estruturado que investigou professores autores e desenvolvedores na produção de material didático para educação híbrida. Os pontos abordados na investigação foram a formação docente, o planejamento das disciplinas híbridas, as metodologias ativas com o uso das tecnologias e autorreflexão sobre os conhecimentos docentes para essa modalidade. Percebe-se que a formação continuada é cada vez mais relevante quando o contexto inclui a educação híbrida por seu caráter inovador e transformador.
Apresentação da SESSÃO TEMÁTICA
Authors: Santos Edmea Oliveira dos , Carvalho Felipe Da Silva Ponte de , Santos Rosemary Dos
Published: March 2020

Apresentação da SESSÃO TEMÁTICA
APENAS TRÊS FOTOGRAFIAS COTIDIANAS
Authors: Lacerda Mitsi Pinheiro de
Published: March 2020

O artigo apresenta estudo que aborda, enquanto tema, a interface entre fotografia e vida cotidiana. O objetivo é buscar aproximações entre contribuições oferecidas por Roland Barthes e José de Souza Martins no que se refere à produção e uso da fotografia, e entre os delineamentos teóricos de Michel de Certeau e Henri Lefebvre, em relação à vida cotidiana. O método empregado foi a pesquisa bibliográfica, em concordância com orientações metodológicas e epistemológicas da faiscação. O artigo inicia por brevíssima introdução, seguida de seção dedicada à exposição do referencial teórico. A segunda seção trata da mostra e discussão de três imagens provenientes da vida cotidiana e precede a conclusão do texto. Os resultados e conclusões do estudo destacam aspectos da fotografia e da vida cotidiana associados à imprevisibilidade, criatividade, liberdade e autoria, observando usos contemporâneos da produção de imagens nas quais os cotidianos são registrados e expostos excessiva e publicamente, bem como ressaltando a relevância da fotografia que adentra um campo potente à consciência do outro.
ARTEFATOS DIGITAIS NA APRENDIZAGEM DE CONCEITOS: possibilidades para a cibercultura
Authors: Moraes Dirce Aparecida , Lima Cláudia Maria De
Published: March 2020

Este artigo apresenta um estudo que buscou investigar as contribuições do uso dos artefatos digitais na aprendizagem de conceitos junto a um grupo de estudantes do primeiro ano do curso Pedagogia de uma instituição pública do interior do Paraná. Para tanto, a pesquisa se constitui como do tipo descritivo, sendo conduzida à luz da teoria da cognição distribuída. Os dados foram coletados por meio da observação participante, da análise documental e de um questionário e examinados com base na análise de conteúdo. Os resultados elucidam a interação, a aprendizagem diferenciada e a colaboração como contribuições para a aprendizagem no contexto da cibercultura, bem como revelam que a oportunidade de vivenciar novas experiências didáticas com artefatos digitais na aprendizagem e na formação de conceitos ocorre quando estes atuam como instrumentos mediadores.