bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of microRNAs in the Viral Infections
Authors: Fani Mona , Zandi Milad , Rezayi Majid , Khodadad Nastaran , Langari Hadis , Amiri Iraj
Published: January 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with 19 to 24 nucleotides which are evolutionally conserved.
MicroRNAs play a regulatory role in many cellular functions such as immune mechanisms, apoptosis, and
tumorigenesis. The main function of miRNAs is the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression via mRNA
degradation or inhibition of translation. In fact, many of them act as an oncogene or tumor suppressor. These
molecular structures participate in many physiological and pathological processes of the cell. The virus can also
produce them for developing its pathogenic processes. It was initially thought that viruses without nuclear replication
cycle such as Poxviridae and RNA viruses can not code miRNA, but recently, it has been proven that RNA
viruses can also produce miRNA. The aim of this articles is to describe viral miRNAs biogenesis and their effects
on cellular and viral genes.
Natural Cytotoxic Diterpenoids, a Potential Source of Drug Leads for Melanoma Therapy
Authors: Prieto Jose M. , Silveira Dâmaris
Published: January 2019

Diterpenes present complex structure and due to their unique carbon skeleton and interesting
biological activities, have been the focus of continuous studies for the development of new
anticancer agents. Phorbol esters have been known for their activity against skin malignancies
since ancient times. Taxol was first studied in melanoma cells, and recently, ingenol mebutate has
been approved for the chemoprevention of melanoma in actinic keratosis patients. Therefore, there
is a scope for research on this class of compounds. We here aim to review the relevant original research
reporting on isolated diterpenes with cytotoxic and/or antitumoral activities upon melanoma
cells. By collating and discussing the implications of past and current developments on diterpenes,
we hope to steer further interest on this field and facilitate the drug discovery activities of the scientific
community towards finding potential alternatives to current melanoma chemotherapy.
The Therapeutic Potential of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme and Angiotensin Receptor Inhibitors in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: Rational Strategies and Recent Progress
Authors: Asgharzadeh Fereshteh , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Ferns Gordon A. , Khazaei Majid , Hasanzadeh Malihe
Published: January 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in the world. There
is a document that angiotensin (AT) which is found to be involved in the progression of CRC. Furthermore, Angiotensin
receptor inhibitors (ARIs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-Is) demonstrate activity
in CRC by their inhibition of both Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and Vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF), and therefore present a potentially novel therapeutic strategy in colorectal cancer, which have summarized
in the current review. Preclinical studies have illustrated the direct effect of major active mediator angiotensin
II (ATII) on the promotion of angiogenesis through VEGF and other proliferative mediators. Suppression
of the angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) via ACE-Is has shown a reduction in the development of solid tumor
and metastasis, particularly CRC incidence, polyp formation, and distant metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a
family of small nucleotides without coding that plays an important role after transcribing hundreds to thousands
of non-coding and coding gene. Against this background, the application of anti-hypertensive medications such as
losartan might have a therapeutic impact, although further preclinical and clinical studies might provide novel
insight into the potentially beneficial effect of ACE-Is in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients.
Scoring Ligand Efficiency: Potency, Ligand Efficiency and Product Ligand Efficiency within Big Data Landscape
Authors: Polanski Jaroslaw , Pedrys Anna , Duszkiewicz Roksana , Gasteiger Johann
Published: January 2019

Background:

Potency is the broadest available biological activity data type. In turn,
Ligand Efficiency (LE) is a molecular descriptor that probes the ratio of potency vs Heavy Atom
Count (HAC), which emphasizes low HAC more than potency and thus has drawbacks as an estimator
of drug candidates. The objective was to design a novel transform to probe potency and HAC
interaction in which potency and HAC would be balanced more evenly.

Methods:

In this study, potency data of ChEMBL, PubChem, FDA approvals and drug (fragments)
were analysed. A novel descriptor, a product of the pAC50 value with HAC, multiplicative or Product
Ligand Efficiency (PLE) was designed and tested.

Results:

In particular PLE was compared with pAC50 and LE vs the HAC statistics for different
series of ligands. This indicated that PLE is an informative estimator that can be used to recognize
the potential of drugs. PLE has a maximum value in the range around 30-50 HAC.

Conclusion:

Drug design is a complex problem. Similarly, to drug-likeness, LE prefers small molecules.
This makes LE a tool serendipitously improving drug likeness. In this context, LE performs
unexpectedly well even despite the uncertainty of its physical meaning. PLE is a more evenly balanced
estimator whose physical meaning is the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
Nutritional and Organoleptic Evaluation of Baked Products Incorporating Stabilized Rice Bran
Authors: Malik Swati , Saloni Shweta , Chauhan Komal
Published: January 2019

Background:

Rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling is a rich source of fiber, proteins, fats and micronutrients. There is an increasing demand for functional foods that can provide a variety of nutrients besides providing bioactives rendering therapeutic value thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

Methods:

The study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical and in vitro antioxidative potential of stabilized rice bran powder [full-fat rice bran (FFRB) and defatted rice bran (DFRB)] in baked products. Three variants of each product viz. rusks and twisted sticks were prepared by incorporating FFRB and DFRB at 5%, 10% and 15% level along with the standard (control) without the addition of rice bran powder.

Results:

The results indicated that DFRB showed higher antioxidative potential and improved water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC) than FFRB. Proximate analysis revealed that the protein and ash content of the baked products improved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with an increased level of incorporation of FFRB and DFRB as compared to control. The DPPH activity of DFRB (78.7 ± 0.46) was significantly higher than FFRB (35.5 ± 2.89). Sensory appraisal of the rusk revealed that variant I and II with 5% and 10% level of incorporation were more acceptable as compared to control. The sensory appraisal of twisted sticks revealed that all the three variants were equally acceptable as the control sample.

Conclusion:

The incorporation of full fat and defatted rice bran powders to baked products enhanced their nutritional profile and physicochemical characteristics without affecting the organoleptic properties.
In vitro Anti-HIV and Antimicrobial Activities of a Halogenated Monoterpene from a Namibian Plocamium Species of Marine Algae
Authors: Shiyanga Aina N. , Knott Michael , Kapewangolo Petrina
Published: January 2019

Background:

The marine red alga Plocamium naturally produces halogenated monoterpenes
with varied biological activities. In our continuing efforts to discover new lead compounds for the
treatment of HIV/AIDS as well as novel antibacterial compounds, various Namibian Plocamium species
have been investigated.

Methods:

A rare but known compound namely 1E,3R,4S,5E,7Z-1-bromo-3,4,8-trichloro-7-
(dichloromethyl)-3-methylocta-1,5,7-triene (1) was isolated from a Namibian Plocamium red alga. The
anti-HIV activity of compound 1 was investigated against three HIV enzymes namely, HIV protease,
reverse transcriptase and integrase. In addition, compound 1 was also screened for antibacterial activity
against selected microbes using the disc diffusion method.

Results:

Compound 1 demonstrated selective in vitro inhibition against HIV-1 integrase with a 50%
inhibition concentration of <0.06 mM. Weak inhibitory activity was observed against HIV-1 reverse
transcriptase and protease. Compound 1 also showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus
aureus (ATCC 25923), Alcaligenes faecalis (ATCC 8750) and Serratia marcescens (ATCC 8100) with
MIC values of 0.65 mM, and 1.29 mM for Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 13883).

Conclusion:

The results of this study highlight the potential of halogenated monoterpenes from red
seaweed as possible leads in the development of new anti-HIV and antimicrobial pharmaceuticals.
Voltammetric Determination of Guaifenesin in Pharmaceuticals and Urine Samples Based on Poly(Bromocresol Purple) Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Ağın Fatma
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

The electro-oxidation behavior of expectorant drug Guaifenesin (GUF) was
studied on poly(bromocresol purple) modified Glassy Carbon Electrode (GCE) by Cyclic Voltammetry
(CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) methods.

Materials and Methods:

GCE was modified with electropolymerization of Bromocresol Purple (BP)
monomer for sensitive determination of GUF with voltammetric methods. The oxidation process of
GUF showed irreversible and diffusion controlled behavior. The linearity has been obtained in the
range from 1.00 × 10-7 to 2.00 × 10-5 M with the limit of detection 3.658 × 10-9 M for DPV in 0.1 M
phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 3.0.

Results and Conclusion:

Fully validated differential pulse voltammetry was successfully applied for the
determination of GUF in pharmaceutical dosage forms and urine samples obtained satisfying results.
Effective Removal of Mercury Ions in Aqueous Solutions: A Review
Authors: Hua Kang , Xu Xueliu , Luo Zhiping , Fang Dong , Bao Rui , Yi Jianhong
Published: January 2019

Background:

Due to its high toxicity and bioaccumulation, the existence of mercury in
the environment is always a big threat to human beings. In order to control mercury pollution, scientists
have put great efforts in the past decades.

Methods:

Precipitation, adsorption, membrane separation, biological treatment and ion exchange are
reviewed as a remover for mercury removal. For each material type, we not only reported on the
removal mechanism, but also discussed the best areas for it. The correlation method and step-to-step
focusing method have been used for references.

Conclusion:

With the exploration and application of research, people have mastered a variety of
mature technologies for the treatment of mercury-containing wastewater. Using inexpensive adsorbents
is a cost-effective method for treating low concentrations of heavy metal wastewater. Ion exchange
with a fast removal rate has been widely used in the field of heavy metal removal from
wastewater. The biological treatment method can effectively treat low-concentration mercurycontaining
wastewater. However, there is still a need to develop novel mercury removers with high
capacity, fast removal rate, and low removal limit. Nanomaterials with a high specific surface area
on substrate with synergistic effects, such as high adsorption and ion exchange, are the future research
points.
Bioreactors Design, Types, Influencing Factors and Potential Application in Dentistry. A Literature Review
Authors: Malhotra Neeraj
Published: January 2019

Objectives:

A variety of bioreactors and related approaches have been applied to dental tissues as their use has become more essential in the field of regenerative dentistry and dental tissue engineering. The review discusses the various types of bioreactors and their potential application in dentistry.

Methods:

Review of the literature was conducted using keywords (and MeSH) like Bioreactor, Regenerative Dentistry, Fourth Factor, Stem Cells, etc., from the journals published in English. All the searched abstracts, published in indexed journals were read and reviewed to further refine the list of included articles. Based on the relevance of abstracts pertaining to the manuscript, full-text articles were assessed.

Results:

Bioreactors provide a prerequisite platform to create, test, and validate the biomaterials and techniques proposed for dental tissue regeneration. Flow perfusion, rotational, spinner-flask, strain and customize-combined bioreactors have been applied for the regeneration of bone, periodontal ligament, gingiva, cementum, oral mucosa, temporomandibular joint and vascular tissues. Customized bioreactors can support cellular/biofilm growth as well as apply cyclic loading. Center of disease control & dip-flow biofilm-reactors and micro-bioreactor have been used to evaluate the biological properties of dental biomaterials, their performance assessment and interaction with biofilms. Few case reports have also applied the concept of in vivo bioreactor for the repair of musculoskeletal defects and used customdesigned bioreactor (Aastrom) to repair the defects of cleft-palate.

Conclusions:

Bioreactors provide a sterile simulated environment to support cellular differentiation for oro-dental regenerative applications. Also, bioreactors like, customized bioreactors for cyclic loading, biofilm reactors (CDC & drip-flow), and micro-bioreactor, can assess biological responses of dental biomaterials by simultaneously supporting cellular or biofilm growth and application of cyclic stresses.
The Prediction of Buckling Load of Laminated Composite Hat-Stiffened Panels Under Compressive Loading by Using of Neural Networks
Authors: Kumar Shashi , Kumar Rajesh , Mandal Sasankasekhar , Rahul Atul K.
Published: January 2019

Background:

Stiffened panels are being used as a lightweight structure in aerospace, marine engineering and retrofitting of building and bridge structure. In this paper, two efficient analytical computational tools, namely, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) are used to analyze and compare the results of the laminated composite 750-hat-stiffened panels.

Objective:

Finite Element (FE) is an efficient and versatile method for the analysis of a complex problem. FE models have been used to generate data set of four different parameters. The four parameters are extensional stiffness ratio of skin in the longitudinal direction to the transverse direction, orthotropy ratio of the panel, the ratio of twisting stiffness to transverse flexural stiffness and smeared extensional stiffness ratio of stiffeners to that of the plate.

Results and Conclusion:

For training of ANN, multilayer feedforward back-propagation has been used as a network function with two-hidden layers in the neural network. The good network architecture is achieved after several iterations to predict the buckling load of the stiffened panel. ANN prediction for unknown new data set is in good agreement with FEA results of different cases, which show that ANN tool can be used for the design of complex structural problems in civil engineering and optimization of the laminated composite stiffened panel.
Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Leflunomide in Egyptian Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: CLEAR Interim Results
Authors: El Sayed Adel , El-Monim Hilal Abd , Abogamal Ahmed , Labeeb Alaa , Abdel Hamid Amin , El Gerby Amira , Farouk Darwish Ayman , Sayed Omar Aziza , Abdel Mohsen Dahlia , Faiez Dalia , Abda Essan A M , A. Elshabacy Fatemah , Tayel Manal , Elwakd Mohamed , Mortada Mohamed , H.Elshahaly Mohsen , Mohannad Nevine , A. Kader Raga , Hassan S. Z. , A. Elbakry Samah , Refaat Sherif
Published: January 2019

Background:

Worldwide, leflunomide is a commonly used Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). It can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other DMARDs to inhibit the production of inflammatory cells and accordingly reduce inflammation.

Objectives:

CLEAR is a multi-centric study that aims to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of leflunomide as first-line and/or add-on therapy to other DMARDs with or without steroids in Egyptian patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Methods:

Egyptian patients with active RA for whom leflunomide was prescribed at physicians’ discretion were observed for 12 weeks. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score, and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score were acquired thrice during this period. This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03599986).

Results:

Interim analysis of the data collected from 337 patients (in 21 centers) showed a statistically significant decrease in the mean total CDAI score throughout the first 12 weeks of treatment (p<0.001); as the mean ±SD score decreased from 36.60 ±14.90 at baseline to reach 16.16 ±9.84 at week 12 (% reduction: 61.16 ±14.36). A statistically significant decrease (p<0.001) was also observed in HAQ-DI, as the mean ±SD score decreased from 1.46 ±0.69 at baseline to reach 0.67 ±0.54 at week 12 (% reduction: 56.11 ±27.59).

Conclusion:

Results of the interim analysis suggest that treatment of Egyptian patients with active RA with leflunomide (as first-line and/or add-on therapy to other DMARDs with or without steroids) for 12 weeks may be effective in terms of CDAI score and HAQ-DI score reduction and may offer an alternative for patients who experienced resistance, inadequate response or intolerance to other DMARDs.
An Exploration of Student Midwives’ Lived Experiences Regarding Confidence and Satisfaction in Medium-Fidelity Simulation
Authors: Ntlokonkulu Zukiswa Brenda , Rala Ntombana Mcdeline , Goon Daniel Ter
Published: January 2019

Background

Newly qualified midwives are expected to exhibit some level of confidence in practice when they enter the clinical environment.

Objective

To explore the lived experiences of student midwives after exposure to medium-fidelity simulation concerning confidence and satisfaction.

Methods

This qualitative, interpretive, phenomenological analysis study was conducted on a purposive sample of five, fourth-year Baccalaureate of Nursing Science student midwives at the University of Fort Hare. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data analysis applied the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach.

Results

Superordinate theme sense of fulfilment elicited six sub-ordinate themes namely 1) Transferability of skills 2) Knowledgeable 3) Equipment used during simulation 4) Realism of simulation 4) Sense of accomplishment 5) Sure/unsure of performance. The use of a standardised patient during the simulation instead of a mannequin prepared participants for the real clinical environment. After being involved in the simulation, participants became more inquisitive regarding the management of the simulated condition. Satisfaction with simulation depended on whether the simulation activity met the student’s expectations, and if the simulation equipment resembled real clinical equipment. Post-partum haemorrhage simulation bridged the gap between theory and practice.

Conclusion

Confidence and satisfaction of student midwives during simulation is depended on the realism of the simulated activity. Exposure to simulated activity increases student knowledge. The student acknowledged that simulation can bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Feasibility and Evaluation of Automated Methods for Radiolabeling of Radiopharmaceutical Kits with Gallium-68
Authors: Revy Alban , Hallouard François , Joyeux-Klamber Sandrine , Skanjeti Andrea , Rioufol Catherine , Fraysse Marc
Published: January 2019

Objective:

Recent gallium-68 labeled peptides are of increasing interest in PET imaging in
nuclear medicine. Somakit TOC® is a radiopharmaceutical kit registered in the European Union for the
preparation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC used for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. Development
of a labeling process using a synthesizer is particularly interesting for the quality and reproducibility of
the final product although only manual processes are described in the Summary of Product (SmPC) of
the registered product. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the feasibility and value
of using an automated synthesizer for the preparation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC according to the SmPC
of the Somakit TOC®.

Methods:

Three methods of preparation were compared; each followed the SmPC of the Somakit
TOC®. Over time, overheads, and overexposure were evaluated for each method.

Results:

Mean±SD preparation time was 26.2±0.3 minutes for the manual method, 28±0.5 minutes for
the semi-automated, and 40.3±0.2 minutes for the automated method. Overcost of the semi-automated
method is 0.25€ per preparation for consumables and from 0.58€ to 0.92€ for personnel costs according
to the operator (respectively, technician or pharmacist). For the automated method, overcost is 70€
for consumables and from 4.06€ to 6.44€ for personnel. For the manual method, extremity exposure
was 0.425mSv for the right finger, and 0.350mSv for the left finger; for both the semi-automated and
automated method extremity exposure were below the limit of quantification.

Conclusion:

The present study reports for the first time both the feasibility of using a [68Ga]-
radiopharmaceutical kit with a synthesizer and the limits for the development of a fully automated
process.
O-(2-[18F]-Fluoroethyl)-L-Tyrosine (FET) in Neurooncology: A Review of Experimental Results
Authors: Stegmayr Carina , Willuweit Antje , Lohmann Philipp , Langen Karl-Josef
Published: January 2019

In recent years, PET using radiolabelled amino acids has gained considerable interest as an
additional tool besides MRI to improve the diagnosis of cerebral gliomas and brain metastases. A very
successful tracer in this field is O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) which in recent years has replaced
short-lived tracers such as [11C]-methyl-L-methionine in many neuro-oncological centers in
Western Europe. FET can be produced with high efficiency and distributed in a satellite concept like 2-
[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that FET PET provides important
diagnostic information regarding the delineation of cerebral gliomas for therapy planning, an improved
differentiation of tumor recurrence from treatment-related changes and sensitive treatment monitoring.
In parallel, a considerable number of experimental studies have investigated the uptake mechanisms
of FET on the cellular level and the behavior of the tracer in various benign lesions in order to
clarify the specificity of FET uptake for tumor tissue. Further studies have explored the effects of
treatment related tissue alterations on tracer uptake such as surgery, radiation and drug therapy. Finally,
the role of blood-brain barrier integrity for FET uptake which presents an important aspect for PET
tracers targeting neoplastic lesions in the brain has been investigated in several studies. Based on a literature
research regarding experimental FET studies and corresponding clinical applications this article
summarizes the knowledge on the uptake behavior of FET, which has been collected in more than 30
experimental studies during the last two decades and discusses the role of these results in the clinical
context.
Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Characterization of Crude Natural Shilajit from Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Mishra Tanuja , Sircar Debabrata , Dhaliwal Harcharan Singh , Singh Nasib
Published: January 2019

Background:

Shilajit is a natural herbomineral ethnomedicinal substance used in Indian
traditional systems of medicine since centuries as a rejuvenator, anti-aging and for several health
conditions/ailments. Shilajit composition has exhibited considerable variability from different geographical
sites and hence there is a need to determine its composition and concentration of bioactive
compounds to correlate it with pharmacological activities.

Objective:

To determine the chemical and mineral constitution of Shilajit obtained from Himachal
Pradesh, India.

Methods:

In the present study, Shilajit was chemically characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared
(FTIR) spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Inductively-Coupled
Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC) analysis.

Results:

Chemical elucidation of crude Shilajit from three geographical sites revealed the presence
of humic acid, fulvic acid, dibenzo-α-pyrones and several other organic constituents in crude Shilajit.
The presence of metals/trace elements was evident in Shilajit samples with potassium being predominant
followed by magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron and aluminium.

Conclusion:

Characterization of Shilajit from Himachal Pradesh supported the structural details of
Shilajit already known and also revealed variations in key chemical parameters which might be due
to geographical variations and ecological conditions which determine its natural synthesis.
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Compounds in Endophyte Isolate L-003 Obtained from the Aquatic Plant Nelumbo nucifera
Authors: Chakravorty Papiya , Srivastava Nidhi , Ibeyaima Ahongshangbam , Sarethy Indira P.
Published: January 2019

Background:

Microorganisms from understudied habitats have been shown to be an important source of novel bioactive compounds. Endophytes constitute an underexplored group of microorganisms, of which those from aquatic plants have been even less studied. Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) is an aquatic plant with medicinal properties. A screening program for endophytes from N. nucifera by our research group resulted in many microbial isolates, of which isolate L-003 was a promising candidate, exhibiting antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Objectives:

The major objectives were to characterize the endophyte L-003 for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, identify the constituent bioactive compounds by GC-MS and characterize their activities further using in silico software.

Methods:

L-003 was identified by PIBWin software. Antimicrobial activity of the aqueous and organic extracts of culture supernatant of L-003 was checked against a panel of bacteria and fungi. Since the ethyl acetate extract showed the best antimicrobial activity, it was further characterized by thin layer chromatography, an activity confirmed by bioautography and purified by column chromatography. Total antioxidant capacity was assayed by standard techniques. Partially purified metabolite fingerprints were identified by GC-MS analysis.

Results:

Based on morphological and biochemical analyses, isolate L-003 was identified as belonging to Streptococcus sp. All the organic solvent extracts showed antimicrobial activity. Ethyl acetate extract showed maximum antimicrobial activity against all selected targets and exhibited antioxidant activity too, though butanol and aqueous extracts showed higher antioxidant activity. Two compounds, Acetic acid,-hydroxy, methyl ester and Disulfide, dipropyl, were identified by GC-MS in the metabolite fingerprint. These compounds showed differences in observed and calculated retention indices and could, therefore, be novel. In silico activity, characterization confirmed the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties attributed to these compounds.

Conclusion:

This is the first study reporting metabolite fingerprinting, identification and characterization of bioactive compounds from an endophytic isolate of Nelumbo nucifera. We conclude that endophytes from aquatic plants could be prospective sources of bioactive compounds, in this case with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.
Evaluation of Semen Quality in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Sudanese Patients Compared to Non-Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Ibrahim Negwan E. , Rida Mohammed , Abdrabo AbdElkarim A.
Published: January 2019

Background:

Diabetes leads to metabolic abnormalities. These abnormalities produce problems in a variety of organ systems such as ophthalmopathies, neuropathies, nephropathies, and vasculopathies. Infertility is common in diabetic patients, caused by abnormal semen.

Objectives:

This study was conducted to check semen quality in diabetic Sudanese patients.

Method:

This is a retrospective cross-sectional designed study. The data were collected in a period from January 2015 to February 2017. A total of 600 individuals was included, 300 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 300 apparently healthy as a non-diabetic. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO criteria.

Results:

Significant lower results were found in diabetic patients compared to non diabetic regarding the following parameters: volume of ejaculation (p = 0.047), percent motility (p = 0.001), percent normal morphology (p = 0.000), while there was no difference in the sperm count between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.

Conclusion:

Semen of types 2 diabetes mellitus patients is of low volume, abnormal motility and morphology compared to non-diabetic subjects.
A Trace of Motivational Theory in Education through Attribution Theory, Self-Worth Theories and Self-Determination Theory
Authors: Van der Putten Sonja
Published: January 2019

If motivation is the desire to act or move toward a particular activity, task or goal, just what influences one’s desire to do so remains complex. The impact of social context, or even just the perception of social context, can greatly influence what one attributes to their sense of self, as conveyed in attribution theory (AT), their perception of self-worth, as conveyed in self-worth theories (SWT) and subsequently their mindset and their behaviour to act, as conveyed in self-determination theory (SDT). Even more unclear is exactly what role the education system plays in fostering/hindering one’s motivation to learn. It is clear however, that the structure of the education system, the influence of educator’s actions and attitudes (whether deliberate or inadvertent), and the nature of peer competition can act as detrimental forces on the impact of one’s sense of ability and self. Educational policy that is created based on generalizations about universally innate human abilities, needs and drives, makes the question of how to foster intrinsically motivated students in schools even more challenging. Outside school programs such as Motivate Canada, which aim to foster motivation in youth by strengthening their self-confidence, and in-school programs, such as Inter-A, which aims to generate intrinsic, mastery orientated motivation, may not address all the complex factors underlying student motivation, but are a good start. Subsequently, motivational theories, despite their inconclusiveness provide hope that for students to grow into emotionally well-adjusted adults prepared to constructively contribute to our societies.
TEACHING THE NATURE OF SCIENCE THROUGH STORYTELLING: SOME EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM A GRADE 9 CLASSROOM
Authors: Hadzigeorgiou Yannis
Published: January 2019

The instructional question of how to teach ideas about the nature of science effectively has been a challenge, but, according to the literature, explicit teaching appears to be the best way. However, the use of narratives, which incorporate actual events from the history of science, can also help illustrate the human and the larger socio-cultural context in which scientific knowledge was developed. Such context facilitates students’ understanding of science as a human endeavour, which is characterized by successes and failures as well as problems and struggles. It makes them aware of the fact that scientific knowledge is tied to human hopes, expectations, passions, and ambitions. Moreover, the use of narratives can help students understand such ideas as: scientific knowledge, while durable, is tentative and subject to revision, people of both sexes and from many countries have contributed to the development of science, science is a creative activity, science has a socio-cultural dimension, and also that there is not a standard scientific method, as scientists use a variety of approaches to explain the natural world. A recent empirical study provides evidence that such ideas can indeed be understood by 9th graders.
A Textual Analysis of DavidSoComedy's Ugly Girls YouTube Response Video
Authors: Poljak Livia
Published: January 2019

Using positioning theory and Bourdieu’s theories on speaker legitimacy, this article explores the link between identity and speech in the context of a YouTube video entitled Vlog 29: Ugly Girls by DavidSoComedy. By positioning himself as a legitimate speaker of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Korean-American YouTuber DavidSoComedy effectively changes this form of English from an ethnic identity marker to a social identity marker. The article thus continues in the tradition of more recent researchers that have suggested that identity, and the languages associated with that identity, are fluid and ever-changing, rather than fixed.
The Benefits and Challenges of Analogical Comparison in Learning and Transfer
Authors: Hajian Shiva
Published: January 2019

There is ample evidence that analogy can be employed as a powerful strategy for learning new concepts, transferring knowledge, and promoting higher level thinking. Similarly, self-explanation has been shown as an effective strategy in learning, integrating new information with prior knowledge, and monitoring and revision of previous mental models (Chi et al., 1989). While both of these strategies are considered efficient scaffolding in the field of instruction and learning, each individual strategy has its own limitations and constraints such as overgeneralization, disregarding details, and possible erroneous reasoning. To investigate whether these constrains can be overcome, a review of literature was conducted and each individual scaffolding strategy was studied. At the end, the potential benefits of integrating both strategies – generating explanation using analogical comparison – were discussed. It was hypothesized that prompting learners to explain analogical cases (analogy induced self-explanation) may greatly enhance learning through activation of prior knowledge, structured linking, categorical learning and higher order thinking. This integration may lead to a revised model of self-explanation with higher productivity and less constraints on the process of knowledge acquisition and generalization.
Teacher Experience with Autistic Students and the Relationship with Teacher Self-Efficacy
Authors: Boucher Troy Quinlan
Published: January 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by challenges in social communicative skills and repetitive and restricted behaviours and activities. In recent years there has been an increased integration of autistic students into mainstream classrooms in Canada alongside policy necessitating inclusive teaching practices. Teachers of these inclusive classrooms, however, report being underprepared to address the learning and behavioural needs of autistic students. Many teachers have stated that they are unable to provide effective instruction that benefits all students due to a lack of practical experience teaching autistic students in their teaching program. A teacher’s lack of experience results in an inability to facilitate an effective inclusive classroom environment, which in turn has negative consequences on their self-efficacy and future implementation of inclusive teaching strategies. Low teacher self-efficacy may undermine a teacher’s propensity to provide an inclusive environment, which is further reinforced when they are unable to accommodate autistic students. Recommendations for pre-service and in-service teachers are discussed in consideration of the reciprocal relationship between teacher self-efficacy and the academic outcomes for autistic students.
Mindfulness in Western Contexts Perpetuates Oppressive Realities for Minority Cultures
Authors: Ishikawa Maria
Published: January 2019

This paper examines mindfulness-based practices in North American classrooms as culturally appropriated through the dominantly western modality of individualism and scientific-rationalism. Through investigating MindUP™ and other mindfulness teaching resources, I demonstrate the construed qualities of mindfulness practices in western contexts.  I argue that mindfulness is molded to fit colonial ontologies of values and knowledge and perpetuates oppressive realities for minority cultures. I propose that mindfulness should be reoriented into its Buddhist contexts through required lessons and trainings in Buddhist cultures, ontologies, and knowledges, and creators and supporters of mindfulness-based educational programs should refer to the practices they are promoting as attention-focusing and stress-reduction strategies and not as misconstrued, individualistic qualities of mindfulness. This paper intends to extend awareness to the broader sociopolitical consequences of culturally appropriating mindfulness practices.
A (Class)Room with a View: How Fiction Can Help New Teachers
Authors: Barber Susan
Published: January 2019

In teacher education programs there is much vocal support surrounding the idea of using creative materials to encourage innovative ways of seeing and learning. Yet these programs sometimes struggle to teach through arts-based texts that facilitate both wider and deeper knowledge of the self and others. The reason for this may be twofold: first, there may be a lack of understanding or appreciation of narrative inquiry, and second, examples of targeted pedagogical literature are scarce. In this article, I would like to explore the value of teaching through literature and creative writing, and in particular, focus on how stories written by and for new teachers can be significant in shaping positive identities for their new profession.
Dance Artists, Dance Education, and Society
Authors: Kurnaedy Karen McKinlay
Published: January 2019

In this paper I take an historical look at dance artists and theorists, examining their influence on today’s curriculum in our school system. I argue that dance education should be recognized as of equal importance as other art forms, that it is essential for our society’s well being, and that it should be included and fostered in our school curricula. I further examine a number of key contributors to dance and dance education within the last century in the Western sphere. Key questions I examine are: Who were some of the most influential dance artists and dance educators of the past century? Who were the innovators and key contributors? How has their work affected dance education? How has their work been passed on? Have their bodies of work, their methodologies, or their beliefs about the body changed society? Has their work shaped culture or was it a byproduct or reflection of culture and the forces of the time they lived? As well as an historical look at dance artists and theorists, I also undertake a philosophical inquiry, examining the idea of dance in the curriculum as being misunderstood: as an area to explore feeling, but not intellect. Finally, I look at the essentialness of an integrated dance and movement education as a way of connecting human beings to their bodies, as well as using the body as an essential means of expression.
Breaking Down 'Borders'
Authors: MacKellar Fiona Margaret
Published: January 2019

This documentary video tracks the development and evolution of the Education With/Out Borders Symposium in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. This gathering began as a one-time event intended to build a sense of community and bridge the departmental and hierarchical borders that can often obstruct the free flow of ideas within the faculty. Now more than six years later, the symposium is still going strong. However, it would appear that as the organizational baton has been passed, year to year, from one planning committee to the next, the symposium has begun to drift away from the intent of its progenitors. While it is still going strong, and has become something of an institution in the Faculty of Education at SFU, one is compelled to ask, is Education With/Out Borders helping individuals in the faculty to find ways of tearing down or bridging academic borders and if not, then how might it be steered back on this path?
Writer's Voice: The Gateway to Dialogue
Authors: Shaw Cathi
Published: January 2019

Writer's voice is a term that is used almost universally in composition instruction. Despite the widespread use of the term, there is no consensus amongst scholars with respect to a standard definition of the term. This paper offers a new conceptualization of voice with a focus on academic literacy and student writers. Through a merging of Vygotsky's theory of Inner Speech and External Thought with Bakhtin's concept of the Utterance a definition of writer's voice is proposed that honors both meaning-making and text production in academic discourse.
Self-Regulated Learning
Authors: Winne Philip
Published: January 2019

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Credibility, Accuracy, and Comprehensiveness of Internet-Based Information About Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Ferreira Giovanni , Traeger Adrian C , Machado Gustavo , O'Keeffe Mary , Maher Christopher G
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) affects millions of people worldwide, and misconceptions about effective treatment options for this condition are very common. Websites sponsored by organizations recognized as trustworthy by the public, such as government agencies, hospitals, universities, professional associations, health care organizations and consumer organizations are an important source of health information for many people. However, the content of these websites regarding treatment recommendations for LBP has not been fully evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the credibility, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of treatment recommendations for LBP in noncommercial, freely accessible websites.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of websites from government agencies, hospitals, universities, professional associations, health care organizations and consumer organizations. We conducted searches on Google. Treatment recommendations were coded based on the 2016 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and the 2017 American College of Physicians guideline on LBP. Primary outcomes were credibility of the website (4-item Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark), accuracy (proportion of website treatment recommendations that were appropriate), and comprehensiveness of website treatment recommendations (proportion of guideline treatment recommendations that were appropriately covered by a website).

RESULTS

We included 79 websites from 6 English-speaking countries. In terms of credibility, 31% (25/79) of the websites clearly disclosed that they had been updated after the publication of the NICE guidelines. Only 43.28% (487/1125) website treatment recommendations were judged as accurate. Comprehensiveness of treatment recommendations correctly covered by websites was very low across all types of LBP. For acute LBP, an average of 28% (4/14) guideline recommendations were correctly covered by websites. Websites for radicular LBP were the least comprehensive, correctly covering an average of 16% (2.3/14) recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Noncommercial freely accessible websites demonstrated low credibility standards, provided mostly inaccurate information, and lacked comprehensiveness across all types of LBP.
Exploring patient-provider factors for risk of developing Multi-drug Resistance Tuberculosis in Southern Ethiopia: Qualitative Operation Research (Preprint)
Authors: Habtu Yitagesu , Bereku Tesema , Alemu Girma , Abera Ermias
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND

Ethiopia is one of among thirty high burden countries of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the regions of world health organization. Contextual evidence on the emergence of the disease is limited at a program level.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to explore patient-provider factors that may facilitate the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

METHODS

We used a phenomenological study design of qualitative approach from June to July, 2015. We conducted ten in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions with purposely selected patients and providers. We designed and used an interview guide to collect data. Verbatim transcribes were exported to open code 3.4 for emerging thematic analysis. Domain summaries were used to support core interpretation.

RESULTS

The study explored patient-provider factors facilitating the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. These factors as underlying, health system and patient-related factors. Especially, the a shows conflicting finding between having a history of discontinuing drug-susceptible tuberculosis and emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient-provider factors may result in poor early case identification, adherence to and treatment success in drug sensitive or multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Our study implies the need for awareness creation about multi-drug resistant tuberculosis for patients and further familiarization for providers. This study also shows that patients developed multi-drug resistant tuberculosis though they had never discontinued their drug-susceptible tuberculosis treatment. Therefore, further studies may require for this discording finding.
Development of Smartphone Apps for Skin Cancer Risk Assessment: Progress and Promise (Preprint)
Authors: de Carvalho Tiago M , Noels Eline , Wakkee Marlies , Udrea Andreea , Nijsten Tamar
Published: January 2019

UNSTRUCTURED

Skin cancer is a growing public health problem. Early and accurate detection is important, since prognosis and cost of treatment are highly dependent on cancer stage at detection. However, access to specialized health care professionals is not always straightforward, and population screening programs are unlikely to become implemented. Furthermore, there is a wide margin for improving the efficiency of skin cancer diagnostics. Specifically, the diagnostic accuracy of general practitioners and family physicians in differentiating benign and malignant skin tumors is relatively low. Both access to care and diagnostic accuracy fuel interest in developing smartphone apps equipped with algorithms for image analyses of suspicious lesions to detect skin cancer. Based on a recent review, seven smartphone apps claim to perform image analysis for skin cancer detection, but as of October 2018, only three seemed to be active. These apps have been criticized in the past due to their lack of diagnostic accuracy. Here, we review the development of the SkinVision smartphone app, which has more than 900,000 users worldwide. The latest version of the SkinVision app (October 2018) has a 95% sensitivity (78% specificity) for detection of skin cancer. The current accuracy of the algorithm may warrant the use of this app as an aid by lay users or general practitioners. Nonetheless, for mobile health apps to become broadly accepted, further research is needed on their health impact on the health system and the user population. Ultimately, mobile health apps could become a powerful tool to reduce health care costs related to skin cancer management and minimize the morbidity of skin cancer in the population.