bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction Rule for Scrub Typhus Meningoencephalitis in Children: Emerging Disease in North India
Authors: Alam Areesha , Agarwal Pranshi , Prabha Jayanti , Jain Amita , Kalyan Raj Kumar , Kumar Chandrakanta , Kumar Rashmi
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

To evaluate the proportion of scrub typhus meningoencephalitis among children with acute encephalitis syndrome and to outline its differentiating features. To develop a prediction rule for scrub typhus meningoencephalitis.

Methods:

A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care public hospital in Northern India. Consecutive patients of acute encephalitis syndrome who met our inclusion criteria were enrolled over 2 years. Standardized workup including serum IgM against Orientia tsutsugamushi was performed. Clinical and laboratory features were compared between IgM-positive and IgM-negative patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the score derived from “independent predictors” was measured. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated at different cut-offs of the score.

Results:

Scrub typhus IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was positive in 66/352 patients (18.8%). Longer duration of fever and prodromal stage along with eschar, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and pneumonia were significantly more prevalent in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis. However, petechiae were frequent in non–scrub typhus patients. Leucocytosis, lymphocytosis, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated levels of serum bilirubin, serum transaminases, and cerebrospinal fluid protein were associated with scrub typhus meningoencephalitis. Logistic regression revealed fever for >8 days, pneumonia, absence of petechiae, cerebrospinal fluid protein >1000 mg/L, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase >100 IU/L as independent “predictors” of scrub typhus meningoencephalitis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval) of the prediction score was 0.832 (0.78-0.89). Score at cutoff ≥1 had 91% sensitivity, 96.1% negative predictive value, and at cutoff ≥4 had 99.7% specificity, 88.9% positive predictive value, 83.1% negative predictive value, 40.3 positive likelihood ratio, 0.88 negative likelihood ratio for identifying scrub typhus meningoencephalitis.

Conclusion:

Prediction score may help physicians in peripheral areas to identify and treat scrub typhus meningoencephalitis, an emerging cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in India.
Gaussian mixture models for site-specific wind turbine power curves
Authors: Srbinovski Bruno , Temko Andriy , Leahy Paul , Pakrashi Vikram , Popovici Emanuel
Published: June 2020

A probabilistic method for modelling empirical site-specific wind turbine power curves is proposed in this paper. The method is based on the Gaussian mixture model machine learning algorithm. Unlike standard wind turbine power curve models, it has a user-selectable number (N) and type of input features. The user can thus develop and test models with a combination of measured, derived or predicted input features relevant to wind turbine power-output performance. The proposed modelling approach is independent of the site location where the measurable input features (i.e. wind speed, wind direction, air density) are collected. However, the specific models are location and turbine dependent. An N-feature wind turbine power curve model developed with the proposed method allows us to accurately estimate or forecast the power output of a wind turbine for site-specific field conditions. All model parameters are selected using a k-fold cross-validation method. In this study, five models with different numbers and types of input features are tested for two different wind farms located in Ireland. The power forecast accuracy of the proposed models is compared against each other and with two benchmarks, parametric wind turbine power curve models. The most accurate models for each of the sites are identified.
Cell-Free DNA Variant Sequencing Using CTC-Depleted Blood for Comprehensive Liquid Biopsy Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Maltoni Roberta , Palleschi Michela , Ravaioli Sara , Tumedei Maria Maddalena , Rocca Andrea , Melegari Elisabetta , Altini Mattia , Puccetti Maurizio , Manunta Silvia , Bravaccini Sara
Published: June 2020

Keup and colleagues provide liquid biopsy preliminary results by sequencing variants in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) “all from one tube” format, in order to use the same blood sample under the same isolation conditions of both analytes to reach an unbiased comparability and consistency. We appreciated the attempt of the authors to improve technical procedures in liquid biopsy research area, but we wanted to raise several issues related to cfDNA detection, reporting our research experience. This is a feasibility study as the authors analyzed only one sample from a small case series at an advanced line of treatment. In the clinical practice to monitor the disease and predict the treatment response, the analysis should be done at multiple time points. We have previously demonstrated that the quantity and the integrity of the cfDNA are not useful to determine the evolution of early breast cancer (bc), maybe due to the fact that cfDNA is not strictly related to cancer but also to an inflammatory status. Given that a high content of cfDNA could reflect inflammatory processes, we decided to investigate the role of stimulator of interferon gene (STING), an important regulator of cancer cell growth and senescence, in bc tissue in relation to cfDNA. STING biomarker analyzed by immunohistochemistry on tumor tissue could reflect a circulating inflammatory status and needs to be further investigated, not only on CTCs but also on cfDNA. One of the major issues of cfDNA is to decide what to analyze on it, in terms of type of cells and genetic alterations. Considering that multiple tests could be done to study gene copy number alterations, mutations, and variant fusions, the proper molecular test should be chosen, on the basis of the clinical need, starting from the treatment choice to disease monitoring.
Reunifying Successfully: A Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce Child Welfare Recidivism
Authors: LaBrenz Catherine A. , Panisch Lisa S. , Liu Chun , Fong Rowena , Franklin Cynthia
Published: June 2020

As many as one third of children who reunify from child welfare systems reenter care because of continued child maltreatment. This can have long-term deleterious effects on mental health. Yet, few studies have examined interventions that have been effective in promoting successful reunification or reunification that does not result in recidivism. This study presents findings from a systematic review of interventions that target successful reunification. We searched five academic databases, governmental and educational websites to identify prior literature. Three researchers extracted data from N = 216 studies retrieved and screened in 10 that met all inclusion criteria. However, small sample sizes, lack of replication of studies, and small effect sizes limit the generalizability of findings. As such, the findings from this review highlight a need for more rigorous studies to build the evidence base of post-permanence interventions for families that reunify.
Interprofessional Collaboration and Telehealth: Useful Strategies for Family Counselors in Rural and Underserved Areas
Authors: Johnson Kaprea F. , Mahan Lauren B.
Published: June 2020

Families and children in rural areas are at a greater risk for poor health outcomes because of inaccessible health care systems. The barriers that limit access are noted as cost of health care, access, lack of insurance, and other issues related to living in rural America. A promising approach to minimize these barriers is interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and telehealth. The World Health Organization noted that IPC and telehealth is a promising approach to connecting rural populations to needed health care and resources. This conceptual article describes issues faced by many families and children in rural areas, and how family counselors can serve as leaders in connecting families to health care providers through telehealth and IPC. This article concludes with an explanatory case study used to show how family counselors can connect families and children to necessary resources.
Stroke Classification: Critical Role of Unusually Large von Willebrand Factor Multimers and Tissue Factor on Clinical Phenotypes Based on Novel “Two-Path Unifying Theory” of Hemostasis
Authors: Chang Jae C.
Published: June 2020

Stroke is a hemostatic disease associated with thrombosis/hemorrhage caused by intracranial vascular injury with spectrum of clinical phenotypes and variable prognostic outcomes. The genesis of different phenotypes of stroke is poorly understood due to our incomplete understanding of hemostasis and thrombosis. These shortcomings have handicapped properly recognizing each specific stroke syndrome and contributed to controversy in selecting therapeutic agents. Treatment recommendation for stroke syndromes has been exclusively derived from the result of laborious and expensive clinical trials. According to newly proposed “two-path unifying theory” of in vivo hemostasis, intracranial vascular injury would yield several unique stroke syndromes triggered by 3 distinctly different thrombogenetic mechanisms depending upon level of intracranial intravascular injury and character of formed blood clots. Five major phenotypes of stroke occur via thrombogenetic paths: (1) transient ischemic attack due to focal endothelial damage limited to endothelial cells (ECs), (2) acute ischemic stroke due to localized ECs and subendothelial tissue (SET) damage extending up to the outer vascular wall, (3) thrombo-hemorrhagic stroke due to localized vascular damage involving ECs and SET and extending beyond SET to extravascular tissue, (4) acute hemorrhagic stroke due to major localized intracranial hemorrhage/hematoma into the brain tissue or space between the coverings of the brain associated with vascular anomaly or obtuse trauma, and (5) encephalopathic stroke due to disseminated endotheliopathy leading to microthrombosis within the brain. New classification of stroke phenotypes would assist in selecting rational therapeutic regimen for each stroke syndrome and designing clinical trials to improve clinical outcome.
The Developing Balance of Thrombosis and Hemorrhage in Pediatric Surgery: Clinical Implications of Age-Related Changes in Hemostasis
Authors: Achey Meredith A. , Nag Uttara P. , Robinson Victoria L. , Reed Christopher R. , Arepally Gowthami M. , Levy Jerrold H. , Tracy Elisabeth T.
Published: June 2020

Bleeding and thrombosis in critically ill infants and children is a vexing clinical problem. Despite the relatively low incidence of bleeding and thrombosis in the overall pediatric population relative to adults, these critically ill children face unique challenges to hemostasis due to extreme physiologic derangements, exposure of blood to foreign surfaces and membranes, and major vascular endothelial injury or disruption. Caring for pediatric patients on extracorporeal support, recovering from solid organ transplant or invasive surgery, and after major trauma is often complicated by major bleeding or clotting events. As our ability to care for the youngest and sickest of these children increases, the gaps in our understanding of the clinical implications of developmental hemostasis have become increasingly important. We review the current understanding of the development and function of the hemostatic system, including the complex and overlapping interactions of coagulation proteins, platelets, fibrinolysis, and immune mediators from the neonatal period through early childhood and to young adulthood. We then examine scenarios in which our ability to effectively measure and treat coagulation derangements in pediatric patients is limited. In these clinical situations, adult therapies are often extrapolated for use in children without taking age-related differences in pediatric hemostasis into account, leaving clinicians confused and impacting patient outcomes. We discuss the limitations of current coagulation testing in pediatric patients before turning to emerging ideas in the measurement and management of pediatric bleeding and thrombosis. Finally, we highlight opportunities for future research which take into account this developing balance of bleeding and thrombosis in our youngest patients.
Interventional Algorithm in Gastrointestinal Bleeding—An Expert Consensus Multimodal Approach Based on a Multidisciplinary Team
Authors: Rodrigues Anabela , Carrilho Alexandre , Almeida Nuno , Baldaia Cilénia , Alves Ângela , Gomes Manuela , Gonçalves Luciana , Nunes António Robalo , Pereira Carla Leal , Silva Mário Jorge , Aguiar José , Orfão Rosário , Duarte Pedro , Marinho Rui Tato
Published: June 2020

The approach to the patient with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) can be very complex. A multidisciplinary panel of physicians with expertise in Gastroenterology, Anesthesiology, and Transfusion Medicine worked together to provide the best knowledge and guide clinical practitioners in the real setting of health institutions, characterized by disparate availability of human and technical resources. The authors propose a global and personalized approach according to different clinical scenarios to improve the outcomes of patients with GIB, for whom the reduction of inappropriate transfusions is crucial. The goal of this document is to provide clear and objective guidance through interventional algorithms toward a goal-directed approach according to the clinical situation and supported by the latest available scientific data on GIB management in different settings.
Novel Melatonin, Estrogen, and Progesterone Hormone Therapy Demonstrates Anti-Cancer Actions in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Hasan Mahmud , Browne Erin , Guarinoni Laura , Darveau Travis , Hilton Katherine , Witt-Enderby Paula A
Published: June 2020

A novel melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone hormone therapy was developed as a safe bio-identical alternative hormone therapy for menopausal women based on the Women’s Health Initiative findings that PremPro™ increased breast cancer risk and mortality of all types of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. For HER2 breast cancer, melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone delayed tumor onset and reduced tumor incidence in neu female mice. For other breast cancers, its actions are unknown. In this study, melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone hormone therapy were assessed in human ER+ (MCF-7) and triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells, and found to decrease proliferation and migration of both breast cancer lines. Inhibition of MEK1/2 and 5 using PD98059 and BIX02189, respectively, inhibited proliferation and migration in MDA-MB-231 cells and proliferation in MCF-7 cells; however, when combined with melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone, BIX02189 blocked melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone–mediated inhibition of migration in MCF-7 cells and induced Elf-5. For MDA-MB-231 cells, BIX02189 combined with melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone inhibited proliferation and increased pERK1/2 and β1-INTEGRIN; levels of pERK5 remained low/nearly absent in both breast cancer lines. These findings demonstrate novel anti-cancer actions of melatonin, estrogen, and progesterone in ER+ and triple negative breast cancer cells through intricate MEK1/2- and MEK5-associated signaling cascades that favor anti-proliferation and anti-migration.
Relationship Between the Prevalence of Blood Groups and Severity of Leptospirosis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Davoodi Lotfollah , Razavi Alireza , Jafarpour Hamed , Heshmati Mahjin , Soleymani Eissa , Ghasemian Roya
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

The correlation between the prevalence and severity of leptospirosis with blood groups has not been investigated so far, but several studies have been conducted to link the infectious diseases with blood groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of blood type in patients with leptospirosis and its association with disease severity.

Methods:

This is a case-control study performed on hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of leptospirosis in Mazandaran province, Iran, in 2018. The control group was selected from among the families of patients. Blood groups (ABO and Rh) and severity of the disease were assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22.

Results:

A total of 300 people (150 in the case and 150 in the control) enrolled in the study. The mean age was 44.35 ± 15.39 years and 81.3% were men. The highest frequency of blood type in both groups was O+, A+, and B+, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of blood groups ( P = .037). Comparison between severity of disease and blood types (ABO, Rh) showed no significant difference ( P > .05).

Conclusions:

According to our study, O+ was the most common among patients with leptospirosis. The frequency of O in patients was significantly higher than in the control group, but there was no significant relationship between leptospirosis and Rh. The prevalence of this blood type was higher in people with a severe form of the disease. Finally, there is no statistically significant difference between the severity of the disease and ABO and Rh.
Selling diversity to white men: How disentangling economics from morality is a racial and gendered performance
Authors: Carrillo Arciniega Luzilda
Published: June 2020

Diversity professionals include business scholars, management consultants, diversity officers, and human resource professionals, who claim that the business case is about economics, not about morality or social justice. Drawing on 2 years of ethnographic research, this paper finds that diversity professionals sell diversity to white men—literally to obtain new clients and, metaphorically, to gain supporters for their practices—by performing economic rationality. In examining the intersection of economics and morality through the business case, this article argues that economic rationality itself is a racial and gendered performance. Moreover, insofar as diversity is a managerial discourse that employs ideas and models of the economy to design organizational techniques that improve business, it claims that through the business case, diversity professionals perform the economy itself. Thus, this research unsettles pervasive scholarly and popular assumptions that capitalism is intrinsically amoral. Finally, it characterizes organizational practices wherein diversity professionals perform economics as amoral and unracial as white economics. White economics, in other words, reproduces the everyday operation of neoliberal organizations as purportedly amoral, and hence, unracial and ungendered.
Forever ‘Becoming’? Negotiating Gendered and Ageing Embodiment in Everyday Life
Authors: Pilcher Katy , Martin Wendy
Published: June 2020

Drawing upon 62 participant-produced visual diaries and accompanying interview narratives, this article explores the significance of everyday body work for people in mid- to later life. Departing from previous work that has explored the intersections of gender and age in relation to a single embodied practice, this article highlights the salience of a myriad of bodily practices for the everyday ways that gender and ageing identities are constituted, specifically hair styling, beauty work, clothing, and dieting. We argue that women negotiate a gendered pressure to age well, which results in an in/visibility paradox, in which they are at one and the same time seen, but not seen. Consequently, we question whether women are thus forever ‘becoming’ – attempting to become embodied subjects, alongside subjecting to ‘becoming’ – aligning with normative discourses. The article examines the competing ways that ageing and gendered bodies are constructed, together with participants’ embodied resistance to negative normalising discourses.
SCR-Normalize: A novel trajectory planning method based on explicit quintic polynomial curves
Authors: Analooee Ali , Kazemi Reza , Azadi Shahram
Published: June 2020

This paper presents a framework for generating explicit quintic polynomial curves as the trajectory of autonomous vehicles. The method is called SCR-Normalize and is founded on two novel ideas. The first concept is to rotate the coordinate reference, regarding the boundary conditions, in order to reach a special coordinate reference called Secondary Coordinate Reference (SCR). In the SCR, the explicit quintic polynomial curve has short length and low curvature values (i.e. the curve is not wiggly). The second concept is to normalize the trajectory in order to speed up the framework. Two kinds of problems are considered to be solved in this paper: (a) generating a length optimal trajectory for arbitrary boundary conditions subject to a curvature constraint; and (b) path smoothing. For case (a), for the lane change manoeuvre, the problem is solved explicitly. In addition, the familiar expression for the optimal interval of the lane change manoeuvre is analytically proved for the first time. For arbitrary swerving manoeuvres, two algorithms are presented and their performance is compared with each other and with two other algorithms. Similarly, for case (b), an algorithm is presented and its performance is compared with three other methods. Evaluating the algorithms in the examples, and comparing the results with other methods illustrates the efficiency of the SCR-Normalize framework to generate optimal trajectories in real time.
Effect of balance valve on an asymmetric twin-scroll turbine for heavy-duty diesel engine
Authors: Jin Jianjiao , Pan Jianfeng , Lu Zhigang , Wu Qingrui , Xu Lizhong
Published: June 2020

A conventional asymmetric twin-scroll turbine with wastegate is capable of effectively tackling down the contradiction between fuel economy degradation and low nitrogen oxide emissions. However, as the engine speed has been rising at middle- and high-speed ranges, the pressure of small scroll inlet will be increasingly higher as compared with the intake pressure, thereby worsening fuel economy. In this study, a novel turbocharging technology of asymmetric twin-scroll turbine with a balance valve was first analyzed to more effectively balance the engine fuel economy and emission. The experiments on turbine test rig and engine performance were performed to explore the effects of balance valve on turbine performance, asymmetric ratio, exhaust gas recirculation rate, as well as engine performance. As the balance valve open degree was elevated, the turbine flow parameter was being extended, while the turbine efficiency was enhanced. Moreover, a lower asymmetric ratio could lead to a broader flow parameter range between that of partial admission and equal admission, thereby resulting in a broader regulating range of exhaust gas recirculation rate. In contrast with the asymmetric twin-scroll turbine with wastegate, the turbine running efficiency of asymmetric twin-scroll turbine with balance valve was enhanced by nearly 2%–11% at middle and high engine speed ranges, while the fuel economy was improved by nearly 1.5%–8%.
An inclusive and participatory approach to counter-radicalization? Examining the role of Muslim associations in the Swedish policy process
Authors: Holdo Markus
Published: June 2020

Policies on preventing radicalization and recruitment to violent Islamist organizations have been widely criticized for reinforcing negative stereotypes of Muslims as a group. Sweden has stood out by international comparison by announcing an approach built on inclusion and participation, especially with regard to Muslim civil society. But what does it mean to make a policy process inclusive and participatory? How can values of inclusion and participation be combined with efficient implementation and realization of policy goals, especially in a policy area where discourse and practice have tended to reinforce patterns of exclusion and discrimination? This article develops a framework that puts the roles of participants at the center: what expectations, boundaries and capacities come with an invitation to participate? Based on interviews with actors involved in the Swedish policy process, including Muslim civil society leaders, the study suggests that participation, in this case, meant primarily being present, thereby confirming commitment and stakeholder status and contributing legitimacy, and providing instrumental knowledge and communication networks. While Muslim representatives were often not expected to be more involved, some indicated that they themselves hesitated to go beyond these roles for several reasons. They expressed a concern that merely having opinions or critique could be interpreted as ‘radical’ and as not accepting the idea that Muslims as a group should have special responsibilities for preventing radicalism. One way of overcoming such obstacles is through subtle, indirect exercises of influence that allow policy-makers and administrators to anticipate the concerns and interests of affected groups without requiring their direct participation.
untitled (giran)
Authors: Jones Jonathan
Published: June 2020

Understanding wind is an important part of understanding Country. Winds bring change, knowledge and emotions. Connected to the winds are budyaan, or the birds, who know the winds best.

This visual essay traces the development of Wiradjuri dhawura gulbanha (Wiradjuri wind philosophy), a project conceived with Dr Uncle Stan Grant AM, a senior Wiradjuri elder and knowledge holder. Throughout this visual essay, Wiradjuri is used rather than Indigenous or Aboriginal, as the project is based on specific Wiradjuri culture, knowledge, and language, to which the author belongs.

In order to represent the winds, the project required thousands of feathers, which were provided with a public call out. The aim of this call out, in addition to collecting feathers, was to stimulate people to show yindyamarra (respect) and engage with their local environment, to take note of the birds that inhabit parks in cities and towns, and to learn to move slowly through Country by engaging with Country.

The final work, untitled (giran) 2018, is a major installation with soundscape shown at the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.

This visual essay, in the form of photographs and an extended caption, shows how Wiradjuri gulbanha (Wiradjuri philosophy) can benefit all members of the community.
Social innovation as a ‘magic concept’ for policy-makers and its implications for urban governance
Authors: Bragaglia Francesca
Published: June 2020

This article proposes a critical reflection on the concept of social innovation, arguing that it can be understood as a ‘magic concept’ as theorized by Pollitt and Hupe. It is a pervasive and positive notion in academia, policies and politics. The notion of social innovation is therefore deconstructed into the characteristics that make it so seductive: the multiplicity of meanings it can take on, its positive normative charge, its ability to generate consensus and its global marketability. This investigation underlines the way in which the understanding of social innovation may have profound repercussions in the ways in which decision-makers are reshaping urban governance.
Effect of driving speed on target visibility under mesopic conditions using a driving simulator
Authors: Cao D , Tu Y , Wang Z , Wang L , Liu L , Chen Z , Lou D , Zhu X , Teunissen C
Published: June 2020

This article concerns driving after dark. Control of driving speed, being one aspect of the cognitive load of driving, is an important factor which influences visual performance when driving. However, it is not included as a parameter in the widely used models, such as small target visibility and relative visual performance. A driving simulation platform was established to enable investigation of the effect of driving speed on target detection performance. In addition, the effects of target contrast, position and the initial target appearance distance were also evaluated. The results show that increasing driving speed leads to a significant reduction in both the detection rate and the detection distance. The effect of speed was characterised using the Visibility Level model, by calculating two boundary values of Visibility Level for different speeds. The results show that driving speed has an impact on target visibility. A new model is proposed, the Simulator-based Visual Performance model, the metric for which is the product of detection rate and detection distance. It describes the effect on visual performance of driving speed, target contrast, distance and their interactions. The Simulator-based Visual Performance model predicts the experimental results well.
“Is It My Responsibility?”: A Qualitative Review of University Students’ Perspectives on Bystander Behavior
Authors: Robinson Sarah R. , Casiano Abdel , Elias-Lambert Nada
Published: June 2020

Bystander interventions focus on framing violence as a community problem and encourage all community members to act as prosocial bystanders if they witness a dangerous situation. Research has demonstrated there are multiple barriers and facilitators that might discourage or encourage an individual to act as a prosocial bystander. A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) of existing literature was conducted to determine university students’ perspectives on bystander facilitators and barriers. A systematic search of the literature was completed to identify articles that included university students’ perspectives on bystander facilitators and barriers, utilized a qualitative methodology, and contained participant quotations in the published article. The search yielded 181 articles and after screening 10 articles were included in the QIMS. The original themes and participant quotations were qualitatively coded to develop five new themes: (1) the impact of alcohol, (2) beliefs about responsibility, (3) peer perceptions, (4) indicators and situational dilemmas, and (5) the role of friendship and group impact. The results of this synthesis reveal important implications for the continued development of bystander intervention programs for universities. By incorporating the perspectives of university students, bystander intervention programs may be more effective at encouraging students to be prosocial bystanders by confronting perceived barriers to intervention.
Heroism as Narrative Strategy: Children’s Animation and Modernity in Chinese TV
Authors: Zeng Wenna , Chan Kara
Published: June 2020

Entertaining animated television programs often carry significant educational and national discourses that are rarely given much scholarly attention. This article examines the Chinese children’s animation program Boonie Bears and explores its narrative strategies in portraying heroism. By employing content analyses, in-depth interviews, and focus groups, the article discusses how producers construct animation heroes according to the ideological framework of the Communist Party, economic preferences embedded in the Chinese market, and broader cultural expectations held by society. Finally, this article offers a preliminary exploration of the collaboration between political power and market forces in children’s animation, thus revealing the changing needs and interests of the government, producers, and audiences in the process of modernization, and the social significance of animation in Chinese modernity.
Long Noncoding RNA LINC00634 Functions as an Oncogene in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through the miR-342-3p/Bcl2L1 Axis
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong , Feng Yinman , Gao Yanli , Hu Jun
Published: June 2020

Many long noncoding RNAs reportedly have tumor suppressive roles or are oncogenic in esophageal cancer. We have previously performed a chip-based expression analysis of primary esophageal cancer tissues and found that the expression of LINC00634 in these tissues was higher than that in nontumor tissues. Quantitative real-time–polymerase chain reaction, cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, caspase3/7 assay, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and restore assay were used to detect the proliferative and apoptotic effects of LINC00634 in esophageal cancer cells. The results showed that the expression of LINC00634 in these tissues was higher than that in nontumor tissues and associated with tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage of patients. Knockdown of LINC00634 decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis levels in EC9706 and EC1 cells. LINC00634 could target Bcl2L1 through miR-342-3p. In this study, we show that LINC00634 is upregulated in esophageal cancer. We also show that the knockdown of LINC00634 decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis levels in EC9706 and EC1 cells through the miR-342-3p/Bcl2L1 axis.
DAB2IP Plays Important Clinical Significance and Correlates With Immune Infiltration in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Cao Haoyuan , Zhang Jiandong , Wang Wei
Published: June 2020

Background:

Disabled homolog 2-interacting protein is a new member of the Ras GTPase superfamily involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. However, the expression of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein in renal cell carcinoma, its correlation with cancer prognosis, and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes remains unclear.

Methods:

The expression of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein was analyzed by UALCAN database, GEPIA database and the evaluation of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein effects on clinical prognosis. Prognostic factor analysis was used to identify the correlations between disabled homolog 2-interacting protein and cancer immune infiltration via the TIMER database. In addition, COXPRESdb database was used to analyze the enrichment of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein co-expression genes.

Results:

Compared to the normal tissues, the messenger RNA expression levels of DAB2IP are higher in 8 while lower in 15 types of tumor tissues. Furthermore, disabled homolog 2-interacting protein has high expression in kidney chromophobe and low expression in both kidney renal clear cell carcinoma and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma. The messenger RNA expression levels of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein decrease gradually due to the increasing tumor staging which positively correlates with disease-free survival and overall survival in both kidney renal clear cell carcinoma and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma. The expression levels of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein also positively correlate with the tumor purity of kidney chromophobe, kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma samples. Besides, the expression of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein in renal cell carcinoma has negative correlation with the immune infiltration, and the immune infiltration of B cells and CD8+ T cells affects the prognosis of kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma. Enrichment analysis of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein co-expressed genes suggested that its biological role was mainly in regulating GTPase activity.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that disabled homolog 2-interacting protein functions as a tumor suppressor in the progression of renal cell carcinoma, and the expression of disabled homolog 2-interacting protein is related to the immune infiltrating cells and affects the survival of renal cell carcinoma. Disabled homolog 2-interacting protein can be a novel clinical biomarker for patients with renal cell carcinoma, which also provides new insights for the future treatments of renal cell carcinoma.
Hybrid multiplicative dimension reduction method for uncertainty analysis of engineering structures
Authors: Li Haihe , Wang Pan , Chang Qi , Zhou Changcong , Yue Zhufeng
Published: June 2020

For uncertainty analysis of high-dimensional complex engineering problems, this article proposes a hybrid multiplicative dimension reduction method based on the existent multiplicative dimension reduction method. It uses the multiplicative dimension reduction method to approximate the original high-dimensional performance function which is sufficiently smooth and has a small high-order derivative as the product of a series of one-dimensional functions, and then uses this approximation to calculate the statistical moments of the function. Then the variance-based global sensitivity index is employed to identify the important variables, and the identified important variables are subjected to bivariate decomposition approximation. Combined with the univariate multiplicative dimension reduction method, the hybrid decomposition approximation is obtained. Compared with the existing method, the proposed method is more accurate than the univariate decomposition approximation when used for uncertainty analysis of engineering models and needs less computational efforts than the bivariate decomposition. In the end, a numerical example and two engineering applications are tested to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The use of critical care echocardiography in peri-arrest and cardiac arrest scenarios: Pros, cons and what the future holds
Authors: Flower Luke , Olusanya Olusegun , Madhivathanan Pradeep R
Published: June 2020

Echocardiography is being increasingly deployed as a diagnostic and monitoring tool in the critically ill. This rise in popularity has led to its recommendation as a core competence in intensive care, with several training routes available. In the peri-arrest and cardiac arrest population, point of care focused echocardiography has the potential to transform patient care and improve outcomes. Be it via diagnosis of shock aetiology and reversibility or assessing response to treatment and prognostication. This narrative review discusses current and future applications of echocardiography in this patient group and provides a structure with which one can approach such patients.
The relationship between directional components of dynamic response and maximum principal strain for impacts to an American football helmet
Authors: Taylor Karen , Hoshizaki T Blaine , Post Andrew , Gilchrist Michael D
Published: June 2020

Impact parameters used to design the American football helmet and the parameters associated with mechanisms of concussive injury are not consistent. Head impacts resulting in concussive injury in football are characterized as events creating rotational motion of the head that generate brain tissue strain. The extent of tissue strain influences the resulting severity of injury. Helmet technology aimed to decrease brain tissue strain by reducing the extent of brain motion could help reduce injury risk. Current helmet performance and evaluation measures, such as peak resultant of linear and rotational acceleration, do not fully define directional brain motion and therefore cannot provide sufficient information for this type of improvement. This study was conducted to determine whether coordinate components (X, Y, and Z) of linear and rotational acceleration would correlate with maximum principal strain, a common measure of brain injury risk. Coordinate components define directional motion of the head and offer a specific design parameter more easily reduced using engineered structures than peak resultant acceleration. In addition to coordinate components, this study introduces the dominant component, defined as the coordinate component with the highest contribution to the resultant acceleration, for additional evaluation. The results show that the relationship between the X, Y, and Z coordinate components of acceleration and maximum principal strain is location- and direction-dependent. The study indicates a strong relationship between the peak resultant and dominant components of acceleration to maximum principal strain. Because the dominant component of acceleration accounts for direction and location, identifying the relationship between dominant acceleration and maximum principal strain demonstrates the potential use of this metric to improve future helmet innovation aimed at reducing tissue strain.
Pathophysiology of paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis: genes, infections, and checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Vogrig Alberto , Muñiz-Castrillo Sergio , Desestret Virginie , Joubert Bastien , Honnorat Jérôme
Published: June 2020

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs) are rare complications of systemic cancers that can affect all parts of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. A body of experimental and clinical data has demonstrated that the pathogenesis of PNSs is immune-mediated. Nevertheless, the mechanisms leading to immune tolerance breakdown in these conditions remain to be elucidated. Despite their rarity, PNSs offer a unique perspective to understand the complex interplay between cancer immunity, effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and mechanisms underlying the attack of neurons in antibody-mediated neurological disorders, with potentially relevant therapeutic implications. In particular, it is reported that ICI treatment can unleash PNSs and that the immunopathological features of PNS-related tumors are distinctive, showing prominent tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and germinal center reactions. Intriguingly, similar pathological substrates have gained further attention as potential biomarkers of ICI-sensitivity and oncological prognosis. Moreover, the genetic analysis of PNS-associated tumors has revealed specific molecular signatures and mutations in genes encoding onconeural proteins, leading to the production of highly immunogenic neoantigens. Other than PNSs, autoimmune encephalitides (AEs) comprise a recently described group of disorders characterized by prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms, diverse antibody spectrum, and less tight association with cancer. Other triggering factors seem to be involved in AEs. Recent data have shed light on the importance of preceding infections (in particular, herpes simplex virus encephalitis) in inducing neurological autoimmune disorders in susceptible individuals (those with a selective deficiency in the innate immune system). In addition, in some AEs (e.g. LGI1-antibody encephalitis) an association with specific host-related factors [e.g., human leukocyte antigen (HLA)] was clearly demonstrated. We provide herein a comprehensive review of the most recent findings in the field of PNSs and AEs, with particular focus on their triggering factors and immunopathogenesis.
Validation of Instruments for Measuring Affective Outcomes in Gifted Education
Authors: Callahan Carolyn M. , Azano Amy Price , Park Sunhee , Brodersen Annalissa V. , Caughey Melanie , Bass Erika L. , Amspaugh Christina M.
Published: June 2020

With increasing attention to examining cognitive strengths and achievements related to social and emotional variables, it is imperative that instruments developed and used to assess change be valid and reliable for measuring underlying constructs. This study examines instruments identified and/or developed to measure four noncognitive constructs (i.e., student engagement, self-efficacy, growth mindset, and stereotype threat) as outcome variables in a study with elementary-aged students in high-poverty rural communities. The process of creating and examining the psychometric properties of these instruments is a necessary step in documenting the usefulness of the instruments not just in our study but also in other studies with elementary students. We note in our descriptions of the development and assessment of measures that underlying factors may or may not parallel those identified in the general population or in older students and that measurement of noncognitive variables in the population of young gifted students requires considerable attention.
Cutaneous HPV16 and p16 Positive Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Brain Metastasis: A Case Report
Authors: Vu Trang T , Soong Laura , Hung Tawny , Fiorillo Loretta , Joseph Kurian
Published: June 2020

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is an infiltrative and aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma with basaloid features. Primary skin-derived basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is rare. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is commonly observed in the oropharyngeal and anogenital regions and is associated with high-risk human papillomavirus. We report a case of primary basaloid squamous cell carcinoma overlying the right scapula with metastasis to the regional lymph nodes and brain despite surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation. Histopathologic investigations of high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma do not routinely involve human papillomavirus testing. In contrast, oncogenic human papillomavirus and p16 are screened in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma for prognostication. Since the patient presented with an aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma and distal metastasis despite standard therapies, human papillomavirus testing was performed. P16, a surrogate marker for human papillomavirus infection and specifically HPV16 was identified in the tumor. This is a unique report of HPV16 in primary cutaneous basaloid squamous cell carcinoma with distal brain metastasis.
The experience of returning home after surviving cardiac arrest: A narrative inquiry
Authors: Haydon Gunilla , van der Riet Pamela , Inder Kerry
Published: June 2020

Surviving a cardiac arrest is a tumultuous experience. Although the incidence of cardiac arrest and influencing factors are well researched, little is known of survivors’ experiences as they return home from hospital. This article aims to explore survivors’ experiences of returning home after surviving a cardiac arrest. Four females and 13 males, all independently living cardiac arrest survivors, were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques and participated in individual in-depth interviews over a six-month period. This inquiry follows COREQ guidelines and data were analysed using narrative inquiry where key threads were identified. Findings indicate that a cardiac arrest is a catastrophic event where the survivor has to accept and adjust mentally, physically and socially, often leading to insecurity about the future. The cardiac arrest impacts all aspects of life on return home, including the ability to work and to drive, accepting added medical appointments and medication regimens. Healthcare professionals can learn from survivors’ narratives to support holistic care, considering survivors’ experiences in their transition home and back to reality as a cardiac arrest survivor.
Helicobacter pylori–Negative MALT Lymphoma Presenting as a Massive Recurrent Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Authors: Harne Prateek S. , Mukherjee Samiran , Achufusi Ted , Lowe Dhruv , Manocha Divey
Published: June 2020

Primary gastric lymphoma is rare, representing 5% of all primary gastric neoplasms. The presenting complaints of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma are usually nonspecific. However, life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding from the stomach is unusual and sparsely reported. While studies reveal an indolent course, we present a case that presented with massive and recurrent hematemesis leading to hypovolemic shock secondary to endoscopically confirmed MALT lymphoma, which was treated with radiotherapy to achieve remission. She had no autoimmune diseases and tested negative for Helicobacter pylori. Our case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and timely intensive radiotherapy of a localized but aggressive gastric MALT lymphoma.