bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cold Case Experiment Demonstrates the Potential Utility of Aquatic Microbial Community Assembly in Estimating a Postmortem Submersion Interval
Authors: Kaszubinski Sierra F. , Receveur Joseph P. , Wydra Breanna , Smiles Katelyn , Wallace John R. , Babcock Nicholas J. , Weatherbee Courtney R. , Benbow Mark Eric
Published: February 2020

Microbial community assembly (MCA) of both human and nonhuman animal carcasses provides indicators useful for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) in terrestrial settings. However, there are fewer studies estimating postmortem submersion intervals (PMSIs) in aquatic habitats. No aquatic studies to date assessed MCA in the context of a death investigation, with all previous studies focusing on important basic ecological questions. Within the context of a cold case investigation, we performed an experiment using replicate adult swine carcasses to describe postmortem MCA variability within a nonflowing aquatic habitat. Using high‐throughput sequencing of carcass postmortem microbiomes, we described MCA variability and identified key taxa associated with decomposition in an aquatic habitat similar to the cold case body recovery site. We also modeled key taxa for estimating PMSIs, modeling within ±3 days (mean square error) postmortem using random forest regression. Our findings show significant changes in microbial communities as decomposition progressed, and several taxa were identified as important indicator taxa which may be useful for future estimates of PMSI. While descriptive, this study provides initial findings quantifying MCA variability within a nonflowing aquatic habitat. Within the context of the cold case investigation, we discuss how postmortem microbial samples collected at the time of body recovery could have been an important piece of evidence for understanding the PMSI of recovered remains. Additional experimental studies are needed to explicitly test and identify mechanisms associated with postmortem MCA variability in other habitats and under different temperature (e.g., seasons) conditions.
Crime control effects of a police substation within a business improvement district: A quasi‐experimental synthetic control evaluation
Authors: Piza Eric L. , Wheeler Andrew P. , Connealy Nathan T. , Feng Shun Q.
Published: February 2020

Research Summary

The current study analyzes the crime reduction effect of a police substation operating within a business improvement district in Newark, New Jersey. Synthetic control methods were used to create a control group that was statistically equivalent to the cumulative street units in the target area. Significant reductions of burglary and motor vehicle theft were observed in the target area as compared with a synthetic control area over the postintervention period. Robbery and theft from auto, conversely, suffered from spatial displacement. Of the six police actions included in the process evaluation, quality‐of‐life summonses and directed patrols increased in the postintervention period, whereas parking summonses significantly decreased.

Policy Implications

The results of this study suggest that the effect of substations on crime likely depends on certain contextual factors. Newark's substation was not a stand‐alone facility, but the headquarters of a police unit given jurisdiction over the target area. Therefore, the opening of the substation represented an increase in visible police presence. The effect of the substation was heightened when accompanied by increases in proactive policing activities. Agencies wishing to effectively address robbery and theft from auto may have to design substation strategies in a manner that better influences offender decision‐making to prevent displacement.
Serum iron deficiency was associated with lower cognitive development in the children of the Santal tribe of West Bengal
Authors: Dutta Chowdhury Sutanu , Ghosh Tusharkanti
Published: February 2020

Aim

Poor cognitive scores and low serum iron have been reported among chronically undernourished children from the Santal tribe, West Bengal. Our aim was to investigate the association between iron status and non‐verbal cognitive development.

Methods

We randomly selected 170 children (52.9% boys) aged 5‐12 years from the Purulia district of West Bengal during 2007‐2008 and assessed their iron status: haemoglobin concentration, serum concentration of iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron‐binding capacity and transferrin saturation. Their non‐verbal cognitive development was assessed using the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices.

Results

The haemoglobin concentration, serum iron, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation levels of the 27 children with an intellectual deficit and the 32 who had a below average intelligence quotient (IQ) were significantly lower (P < .05) than the 65 children with an average IQ. A large number of boys (55.6%) and girls (41.7%) who have an intellectual deficit had stage III iron depletion. The cognitive scores of children with stage II and III iron depletion were significantly lower (P < .05) than those with a normal IQ.

Conclusion

The iron depletion stage was associated with the severity of non‐verbal cognitive impairment and serum ferritin appeared to be a sensitive biomarker for predicting non‐verbal cognitive development.
Renal tubular arginase‐2 participates in the formation of the corticomedullary urea gradient and attenuates kidney damage in ischemia‐reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: Ansermet Camille , Centeno Gabriel , Lagarrigue Sylviane , Nikolaeva Svetlana , Yoshihara Hikari A. , Pradervand Sylvain , Barras Jean‐Luc , Dattner Nicolas , Rotman Samuel , Amati Francesca , Firsov Dmitri
Published: February 2020

Aim

Arginase 2 (ARG2) is a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyses hydrolysis of l‐arginine into urea and l‐ornithine. In the kidney, ARG2 is localized to the S3 segment of the proximal tubule. It has been shown that expression and activity of this enzyme are upregulated in a variety of renal pathologies, including ischemia‐reperfusion (IR) injury. However, the (patho)physiological role of ARG2 in the renal tubule remains largely unknown.

Methods

We addressed this question in mice with conditional knockout of Arg2 in renal tubular cells (Arg2lox/lox/Pax8‐rtTA/LC1 or, cKO mice).

Results

We demonstrate that cKO mice exhibit impaired urea concentration and osmolality gradients along the corticomedullary axis. In a model of unilateral ischemia‐reperfusion injury (UIRI) with an intact contralateral kidney, ischemia followed by 24 hours of reperfusion resulted in significantly more pronounced histological damage in ischemic kidneys from cKO mice compared to control and sham‐operated mice. In parallel, UIRI‐subjected cKO mice exhibited a broad range of renal functional abnormalities, including albuminuria and aminoaciduria. Fourteen days after UIRI, the cKO mice exhibited complex phenotype characterized by significantly lower body weight, increased plasma levels of early predictive markers of kidney disease progression (asymmetric dimethylarginine and symmetric dimethylarginine), impaired mitochondrial function in the ischemic kidney but no difference in kidney fibrosis as compared to control mice.

Conclusion

Collectively, these results establish the role of ARG2 in the formation of corticomedullary urea and osmolality gradients and suggest that this enzyme attenuates kidney damage in ischemia‐reperfusion injury.
Double‐Think, Double‐Binds and the Secret History of Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Cone Deborah Hill
Published: February 2020

The clinical diagnosis of borderline personality disorder carries a uniquely pungent stigma. The literature repeatedly refers to these patients as manipulative, malignant and treatment resistant. In this paper, it is argued that when viewed within a broader matrix, the person with borderline organization exhibits unstable emotions and behaviour not because they are ‘difficult’ but because they lack the option of more socially sanctioned defences. This personality organization has developed because they have been trapped in some kind of irreconcilable circumstance (a double‐bind) and yet also required to deny the truth of this (double‐think). The author explores how this mechanism may be present in less obviously dysfunctional manifestations for many people, including herself, a 50‐year‐old psychotherapy student. This paper argues the person with borderline organization is grappling with the paradoxical need for both merger and separation, but this may be better understood as not just trying to make meaning for themselves as an individual, but as bearing the psychic burden for generations who have gone before them, such as the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand (Aotearoa), who experienced the trauma of colonization.
Phospholipase D as a key modulator of cancer progression
Authors: Yao Yuanfa , Wang Xinyi , Li Hanbing , Fan Jiannan , Qian Xiaohan , Li Hong , Xu Yingke
Published: February 2020

The phospholipase D (PLD) family has a ubiquitous expression in cells. PLD isoforms (PLDs) and their hydrolysate phosphatidic acid (PA) have been demonstrated to engage in multiple stages of cancer progression. Aberrant expression of PLDs, especially PLD1 and PLD2, has been detected in various cancers. Inhibition or elimination of PLDs activity has been shown to reduce tumour growth and metastasis. PLDs and PA also serve as downstream effectors of various cell‐surface receptors, to trigger and regulate propagation of intracellular signals in the process of tumourigenesis and metastasis. Here, we discuss recent advances in understanding the functions of PLDs and PA in discrete stages of cancer progression, including cancer cell growth, invasion and migration, and angiogenesis, with special emphasis on the tumour‐associated signalling pathways mediated by PLDs and PA and the functional importance of PLDs and PA in cancer therapy.
CD137, an attractive candidate for the immunotherapy of lung cancer
Authors: Ye Lingyun , Jia Keyi , Wang Lei , Li Wei , Chen Bin , Liu Yu , Wang Hao , Zhao Sha , He Yayi , Zhou Caicun
Published: February 2020

Immunotherapy has become a hotspot in cancer therapy in recent years. Several immune checkpoints inhibitors have been used to treat lung cancer. CD137 is a kind of costimulatory molecule that mediates T cell activation, which regulates the activity of immune cells in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Targeting CD137 or its ligand (CD137L) has been studied, aiming to enhance anticancer immune responses. Accumulating studies show that anti‐CD137 mAbs alone or combined with other drugs have bright antitumor prospects. In the following, we reviewed the biology of CD137, the antitumor effects of anti‐CD137 Ab monotherapy and the combined therapy in lung cancer.
MicroRNA‐375‐3p enhances chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil by targeting thymidylate synthase in colorectal cancer
Authors: Xu Fei , Ye Ming‐Liang , Zhang Yu‐Peng , Li Wen‐Jie , Li Meng‐Ting , Wang Hai‐Zhou , Qiu Xiao , Xu Yan , Yin Jin‐Wen , Hu Qian , Wei Wan‐Hui , Chang Ying , Liu Lan , Zhao Qiu
Published: February 2020

Resistance to chemotherapy is a major challenge for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies have found that microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in drug resistance; however, the role of miRNA‐373‐3p (miR‐375‐3p) in CRC remains unclear. The current study aimed to explore the potential function of miR‐375‐3p in 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) resistance. MicroRNA‐375‐3p was found to be widely downregulated in human CRC cell lines and tissues and to promote the sensitivity of CRC cells to 5‐FU by inducing colon cancer cell apoptosis and cycle arrest and by inhibiting cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro. Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) was found to be a direct target of miR‐375‐3p, and TYMS knockdown exerted similar effects as miR‐375‐3p overexpression on the CRC cellular response to 5‐FU. Lipid‐coated calcium carbonate nanoparticles (NPs) were designed to cotransport 5‐FU and miR‐375‐3p into cells efficiently and rapidly and to release the drugs in a weakly acidic tumor microenvironment. The therapeutic effect of combined miR‐375 + 5‐FU/NPs was significantly higher than that of the individual treatments in mouse s.c. xenografts derived from HCT116 cells. Our results suggest that restoring miR‐375‐3p levels could be a future novel therapeutic strategy to enhance chemosensitivity to 5‐FU.
The effect of vitamin D treatment on clinical and biochemical outcomes of primary aldosteronism
Authors: Ismail Noor Ashikin , Kamaruddin Nor Azmi , Azhar Shah Shamsul , Sukor Norlela
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Primary aldosteronism (PA) contributed to the cardiovascular disease and metabolic alterations independent of the blood pressure level. Evidence exists that aldosterone excess also affects calcium and mineral homeostasis. PA subjects have been shown to have greater prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. However, the impact of vitamin D treatment in this population has never been assessed.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D treatment on clinical and biochemical outcomes of PA patients.

Methods

Two hundred forty hypertensive subjects were screened, 31 had positive ARR, and 17 patients with newly confirmed PA following positive confirmatory test that has not been subjected for definitive treatment were enrolled. Clinical parameter (blood pressure) and biochemical parameters (renal profile, plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma renin activity, serum calcium, vitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone, 24‐hour urinary calcium) were measured at baseline and 3 months of treatment with Bio‐D3 capsule. Primary outcomes were the changes in the blood pressure and biochemical parameters.

Results

About 70% of our PA subjects have low vitamin D levels at baseline. Three months following treatment, there were significant: (a) improvement in 25(OH)D levels; (b) reduction in systolic blood pressure and plasma aldosterone concentration; and (c) improvement in the eGFR. The vitamin D deficient subgroup has the greatest magnitude of the systolic blood pressure reduction following treatment.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated significant proportion of PA patients has vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D treatment improves these interrelated parameters possibly suggesting interplay between vitamin D, aldosterone, renal function and the blood pressure.
Does social trust promote behaviour aimed at mitigating climate change?
Authors: Gür Nurullah
Published: February 2020

Using international data from the Life in Transition Survey, I analyse the role of social trust on pro‐environmental behaviours aimed at helping to fight climate change. Social trust might increase pro‐environmental behaviour by reducing the free‐rider problem, restraining opportunistic behaviour, and enhancing cooperation. The results suggest that social trust increases the probability of individuals taking personal actions aimed at helping to fight climate change; the results are robust to using different sets of control variables, and to controlling for country and region fixed effects. The results also indicate that social trust is positively and significantly associated with environmental actions that are time‐consuming, but there is no significant relationship with environmental actions that impose monetary costs on individuals.
Digital assessment of a retentive full crown preparation—An evaluation of prepCheck in an undergraduate pre‐clinical teaching environment
Authors: Schepke Ulf , van Wulfften Palthe Mariëtte E. , Meisberger Eric W. , Kerdijk Wouter , Cune Marco S. , Blok Berend
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Acquiring practical skills is essential for dental students. These practical skills are assessed throughout their training, both formatively and summatively. However, by means of visual inspection alone, assessment cannot always be performed objectively. A computerised evaluation system may serve as an objective tool to assist the assessor.

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate prepCheck as a tool to assess students’ practical skills and as a means to provide feedback in dental education.

Methods

As part of a previously scheduled practical examination, students made a preparation for a retentive crown on the maxillary right central incisor—tooth 11. Assessments were made four times by two independent assessors in two different ways: (a) conventionally and (b) assisted by prepCheck. By means of Cohen's kappa coefficient, agreements between conventional and digitally assisted assessments were compared. Questionnaires were used to assess how students experienced working with prepCheck.

Results

Without the use of prepCheck, ratings given by teachers differed considerably (mean κ = 0.19), whereas the differences with prepCheck assistance were very small (mean κ = 0.96). Students found prepCheck a helpful tool for teachers to assess practical skills. Extra feedback given by prepCheck was considered useful and effective. However, some students complained about too few scanners and too little time for practice, and some believed that prepCheck is too strict.

Conclusion

prepCheck can be used to assist assessors in order to obtain a more objective outcome. Results showed that practicing with feedback from both prepCheck and the teacher contributes to an effective learning process. Most students appreciated prepCheck for learning practical skills, but introducing prepCheck requires enough equipment and preparation time.
Accidental deaths in young people with epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidity—A Danish nationwide cohort study
Authors: Aagaard Sissel K. , Dreier Julie W. , Sun Yuelian , Laursen Thomas M. , Christensen Jakob
Published: February 2020

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the accident‐related mortality among people younger than 55 years of age with epilepsy compared with the general population and to study how psychiatric comorbidity influences this risk.

Methods

This is a population‐based cohort study of individuals born in Denmark between 1960 and 2015 (n = 3, 665 616). Persons diagnosed with epilepsy and psychiatric disorders were identified in the Danish National Patient Register and the Danish Central Psychiatric Central Register. We estimated the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of accidental death in people with epilepsy compared with persons without epilepsy.

Results

We identified 61 330 persons (1.7%) diagnosed with epilepsy. Median age at end of follow‐up was 27.8 years. In people with epilepsy, 5253 died during follow‐up, 480 (9%) of whom died from accidents. Among people without epilepsy, 52 588 died during follow‐up, of whom 1280 (2.4%) died from accidents. People with epilepsy had a 3.7‐fold (95% CI 3.4‐4.1) increased risk of accidental death compared with persons without epilepsy. When we adjusted for psychiatric disorders, the risk remained significantly elevated in people with epilepsy compared to people without epilepsy (adjusted HR [aHR] 2.44, 95% CI 2.22‐2.69). When stratifying the analyses on epilepsy and psychiatric disorders, people with epilepsy and psychiatric disorders had an aHR of 4.95 (95% CI 3.82‐6.41) when compared with persons without epilepsy and psychiatric disorders.

Significance

The risk of accidental death was increased in people with epilepsy and was particularly high among people with epilepsy with psychiatric comorbidity. The findings highlight the need for awareness and prevention strategies in people with epilepsy, especially in people with comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Lasting through the ice age: The role of the proglacial refugia in the maintenance of genetic diversity, population growth, and high dispersal rate in a widespread freshwater crustacean
Authors: Sworobowicz Lidia , Mamos Tomasz , Grabowski Michał , Wysocka Anna
Published: February 2020

The severe climatic changes during the Pleistocene ice ages have shaped the genetic structure and distribution of biota in Europe. We aimed to reveal in detail the genetic diversity, geographical population structure, historical and present demography, migration patterns, and the presence of possible glacial refugia within the nominative subspecies Asellus aquaticus aquaticus.

We analysed DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene and nuclear noncoding internal transcribed spacer II region, from populations inhabiting post‐glacial Europe (from the British Isles and Scandinavia to the northern Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts).

The origin of the taxon, including establishment in the Dinaric Western Balkans, dates to the Middle/Late Pliocene, but most of its genetic diversity emerged during the Middle/Late Pleistocene before the Last Glacial Maximum.

Despite the general absence of spatial genetic structure with population growth, we discovered two different phylogeographic stories across 11 clusters revealed by a coalescent approach. Firstly, the periglacial cluster group—spatially restricted mainly to the northern Balkans, Pannonian Basin, and Pontic Region—is older and more divergent. It apparently retained a relatively stable population size during the glacial‐interglacial cycles. Conversely, the proglacial cluster group—widely distributed in areas close to the glacier margins (north of the Alps, Sudetes, Carpathians) and in the Pannonian Basin—is younger and composed of closely related individuals. It originated in Pleistocene and lasted continuously through the Last Glacial Maximum in numerous high latitude refugia. This was probably due to the vast network of proglacial lakes and rivers, which played a crucial role in the maintenance of genetic diversity, population growth, and high dispersal rate.

The evolutionary history of A. a. aquaticus reveals unexpected patterns and is an important lesson when making predictions for other aquatic taxa. Our results suggest that we should stop perceiving the proglacial habitats as lifeless ice desert.
Clinical effectiveness of an intermediate care inpatient model based on integrated care pathways
Authors: Santaeugènia Sebastià J , Mas Miquel A , Tarazona‐Santabalbina Francisco J , García‐Lázaro Manuela , Alventosa Ana Maria , Gutiérrez‐Benito Alícia , Monterde Albert , Cunill Joan
Published: February 2020

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical impact of two intermediate care pathways.

Methods

A prospective, uncontrolled before–after study was carried out to compare two non‐synchronic intermediate care frameworks in Spain. Participants in the control group were transferred to the intermediate care center by hospital request, whereas those in the intervention group (Badalona Integrated Care Model [BICM]) were transferred based on a territory approach considering the assessment of an intermediate care team. The clinical characteristics of study participants were assessed at admission and discharge.

Results

Compared with participants in the control group, those in the BICM group were significantly older (mean age 81.6 years [SD 10.3] vs 78.3 years [10.1], P < 0.001) and had a lower Barthel score (mean score 32.8 [SD 25.9] vs 39.9 [28.4]; P < 0.001), and a higher proportion of participants with total dependence (38.4% vs 32.2%; P = 0.001). The length of stay in intermediate care was similar in both groups; however, stay in acute care was significantly shorter in the BICM group than in the control group (mean 21 days [SD 19.5] vs 25 days [SD 23]; P < 0.001). No significant differences were found regarding the Barthel Index at discharge, although participants in the BICM group had significantly higher functional gain.

Conclusions

The implementation of a territory‐based integrated care pathway in an intermediate care center shifted the profile of admitted patients toward higher complexity. Despite this, patients managed under the integrated care model reduced their dependency and the referral rate to an acute unit during their stay in the intermediate care center. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 366–372.
Proposal of a liver histology‐based scoring system for bile salt export pump deficiency
Authors: Zen Yoh , Kondou Hiroki , Nakazawa Atsuko , Tanikawa Ken , Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Bessho Kazuhiko , Imagawa Kazuo , Ishige Takashi , Inui Ayano , Suzuki Mitsuyoshi , Kasahara Mureo , Yamamoto Kouji , Yoshioka Takako , Kage Masayoshi , Hayashi Hisamitsu
Published: February 2020

Aim

Bile salt export pump (BSEP) deficiency manifests a form of progressive intrahepatic cholestasis. This study aimed to establish a scoring system of liver histology for the uncommon genetic condition.

Methods

After a roundtable discussion and histology review, a scoring system for BSEP deficiency was established. Eleven tissue samples were independently evaluated by three pathologists based on the proposed standard for an interobserver agreement analysis. In four cases with serial tissue samples available, correlation between changes in histology scores and clinical outcome was examined.

Results

Of 14 initially listed histopathological findings, 12 were selected for scoring and grouped into the following four categories: cholestasis, parenchymal changes, portal tract changes and fibrosis. Each category consisted of two to four microscopic findings that were further divided into three to six scores; therefore, each category had a maximum score of 8–11. Interobserver agreement was highest for pericellular fibrosis (κ = 0.849) and lowest for hepatocellular cholestasis (κ = 0.241) with the mean and median κ values of the 12 parameters being 0.561 and 0.602, respectively. For two patients whose clinical features worsened, score changes between two time points were interpreted as deteriorated. In two patients, who showed a good clinical response to preprandial treatment with sodium 4‐phenylbutyrate, histological changes were evaluated as improved or unchanged.

Conclusions

The proposed histology‐based scoring system for BSEP deficiency with moderate interobserver agreement may be useful not only for monitoring microscopic changes in clinical practice but also for a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials.
History of technology in nineteenth and twentieth century Latin America
Authors: Castro J. Justin
Published: February 2020

This essay focuses on recent trends in the history of technology in nineteenth and twentieth century Latin America. It emphasizes the English‐language historiography, especially economic, social, cultural, and political approaches. The essay argues that historians, using sociocultural and political discourses that often stress local and national innovations, inequities, and political wrangling, need to work in greater dialog with economic historians and science and technology scholars in order to create much needed synthesis works for the field.
Artificial Intelligence and Predicting Illegal Immigration to the USA
Authors: Azizi SeyedSoroosh , Yektansani Kiana
Published: February 2020

The number of Mexican immigrants in the USA tripled between 1990 and 2015. In 2015, about 12 million undocumented immigrants lived in the USA, including 6.6 million undocumented Mexican immigrants. More than half of the undocumented immigrants in the USA enter the USA legally and overstay their visas. Therefore, it is essential to predict whether visa applicants overstay their visas or not. We use a set of pre‐immigration variables for more than 6,281 individuals from Mexico to predict their legal status in the USA. By using eight machine learning techniques, we conclude that we can predict correctly the legal status of 80 per cent of Mexicans who migrate to the USA.
BHLHE41 suppresses MCF‐7 cell invasion via MAPK/JNK pathway
Authors: Zhang Di , Zheng Qin , Wang Chen , Zhao Na , Liu Yang , Wang Enhua
Published: February 2020

Deregulation of the basic helix‐loop‐helix family member e41 (BHLHE41) has been characterized as a marker of progression of several cancers. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which BHLHE41 regulates the invasion of breast cancer cells. BHLHE41 suppresses, whereas the silencing of BHLHE41 promotes tumour invasion of both MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Meanwhile, BHLHE41 down‐regulated the transcription and translation of SNAI1, SNAI2, VIM and CDH2, and up‐regulated those of CLDN1, CLDN4 and CDH1. Reporter assay indicated that silencing of BHLHE41 dramatically activated the MAPK/JNK signalling pathway in MCF‐7 cell line and the hypoxia signalling pathway in MDA‐MB‐231 cell line. Furthermore, silencing of BHLHE41 activated the MAPK/JNK signalling pathway by up‐regulating phosphorylated JNK and failed to affect the expression of HIF‐1 alpha in MCF‐7 cells. After blocking the MAPK/JNK signalling pathway by specific inhibitor SP600125, silencing of BHLHE41 failed to promote tumour cell invasion. These results suggest that BHLHE41 facilitates MCF‐7 cell invasion mainly via the activation of MAPK/JNK signalling pathway. In conclusion, although BHLHE41 suppresses tumour invasion in MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cell lines, the specific regulatory mechanisms may be different.
Therapeutic effects of higenamine combined with [6]‐gingerol on chronic heart failure induced by doxorubicin via ameliorating mitochondrial function
Authors: Wen Jianxia , Zhang Lu , Wang Jian , Wang Jiabo , Wang Lifu , Wang Ruilin , Li Ruisheng , Liu Honghong , Wei Shizhang , Li Haotian , Zou Wenjun , Zhao Yanling
Published: February 2020

Higenamine (HG) is a natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Aconitum with positive inotropic and chronotropic effects. This study aimed to investigate the possible cardioprotective effects of HG combined with [6]‐gingerol (HG/[6]‐GR) against DOX‐induced chronic heart failure (CHF) by comprehensive approaches. DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity model in rats and H9c2 cells was established. Therapeutic effects of HG/[6]‐GR on haemodynamics, serum indices and histopathology of cardiac tissue were analysed. Cell mitochondrial energy phenotype and cell mitochondrial fuel flex were measured by a Seahorse XFp analyser. Moreover, UHPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS was performed to explore the potential metabolites affecting the therapeutic effects and pathological process of CHF. To further investigate the potential mechanism of HG/[6]‐GR, mRNA and protein expression levels of RAAS and LKB1/AMPK/Sirt1‐related pathways were detected. The present data demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of HG/[6]‐GR combination on CHF were presented in ameliorating heart function, down‐regulation serum indices and alleviating histological damage of heart tissue. Besides, HG/[6]‐GR has an effect on increasing cell viability of H9c2 cells, ameliorating DOX‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction and elevating mitochondrial OCR and ECAR value. Metabolomics analyses showed that the therapeutic effect of HG/[6]‐GR combination is mainly associated with the regulation of fatty acid metabolites and energy metabolism pathways. Furthermore, HG/[6]‐GR has an effect on down‐regulating RAAS pathway‐related molecules and up‐regulating LKB1/AMPKα/Sirt1‐related pathway. The present work demonstrates that HG/[6]‐GR prevented DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity via the cardiotonic effect and promoting myocardial energy metabolism through the LKB1/AMPKα/Sirt1 signalling pathway, which promotes mitochondrial energy metabolism and protects against CHF.
Report of guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of common internal diseases in Chinese medicine: Headache
Authors: Ren Yongyan , Li Hui , Wang Yangyang , Chen Yaolong
Published: February 2020

Headache is one of the most common clinical complaints and is listed as one of the top 10 disability disorders by the World Health Organization (WHO). For standardizing the diagnosis and treatment of headache and improve the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), on 30 January 2019, China Association of Chinese Medicine officially issued the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Internal Diseases in Chinese Medicine‐Headache (T/CACM 1271–2019). The Guidelines were developed following the method process recommended by Technical Requirements for the Revision of TCM Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (pilot edition), and also referring to WHO Handbook for Guideline Development. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was also followed. The protocol was formulated by the guideline project team, which comprised of specialists of TCM encephalopathy, guideline methodologist, patient representative, etc. Question regarding the treatment of headaches in TCM were formulated and 18 most important ones were chosen as PICOs (population, intervention, comparison, outcomes). Comprehensive search and review of the literature were performed and the quality of the evidence was assessed and rated based on certain criteria. Twenty‐five recommendations were put forward in the Guidelines through three rounds of expert consensus based on their quality of evidence, in addition to the balance of pros and cons of these interventions, patient preferences and values, and economic factors. It is the first and the only clinical practice guide for Chinese medicine accepted by National Guidelines Clearinghouse in the world.
The relationship between sarcopenia and oral sarcopenia in elderly people
Authors: Kobuchi Ryuichiro , Okuno Kentaro , Kusunoki Takayuki , Inoue Taro , Takahashi Kazuya
Published: February 2020

Background

Sarcopenia in the oral region, including the tongue, leads to declined swallowing function and dysphagia. Muscle mass and strength, and motor function in the oral region have not been examined together, and the relationship between generalised and oral sarcopenia remains unclear.

Objective(s)

The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between generalised sarcopenia and oral sarcopenia in the elderly in order to facilitate the establishment of a method for assessing oral sarcopenia.

Methods

A total of 54 elderly persons participated in this study. We examined the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), grip strength (GS) and walking speed (WS) as the index of generalised sarcopenia, and the cross‐sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle (CSG), tongue pressure (TP) and oral diadochokinesis (ODK) as the index of oral sarcopenia.

Results

We found a moderate correlation between CSG and SMI, a weak correlation between GS and TP, and a moderate correlation between WS and ODK. CSG, TP and ODK were significantly smaller in the sarcopenia group than in the non‐sarcopenia group. By multiple regression analysis, SMI and TP were significantly associated with CSG. ODK, BMI and CSG were significantly associated with TP. WS and SMI were significantly associated with ODK.

Conclusion

CSG, TP and ODK were confirmed as endpoints of oral sarcopenia. All endpoints of oral sarcopenia were influenced by those of generalised sarcopenia.
Detection and dynamics of anti‐platelet antibodies in thrombocytopenic dogs with and without idiopathic immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Shropshire Sarah , Dow Steven , Lappin Michael
Published: February 2020

Background

Antiplatelet antibodies are detected in multiple diseases including primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Dynamics of how these antibodies change over time in ITP is unknown in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Antiplatelet antibodies (APA) will be detected in thrombocytopenic dogs with multiple etiologies and dynamics of APA in dogs with ITP can be used to evaluate response to treatment and relapse. Determine APA at the time of diagnosis in thrombocytopenic dogs and serially in primary ITP dogs.

Animals

Seventy‐nine thrombocytopenic dogs and 28 primary ITP dogs.

Methods

Direct flow cytometry was performed in thrombocytopenic dogs at initial evaluation and serially in suspected primary ITP dogs. In primary ITP dogs, a 2‐tailed Fisher's exact test was performed comparing survival to discharge between dogs with and without melena and to relate response to treatment and relapse to changes in APA and platelet count (repeated measures analysis, Spearman correlation).

Results

Twenty percent (16/79) of thrombocytopenic non‐ITP dogs with infectious, neoplastic, or other diseases and all primary ITP dogs were positive for APA. Melena at initial evaluation was associated with decreased survival to discharge (odds ratio 0.06;P= .01). Persistence of APA was not associated with response to treatment, but recurrence of antibodies was associated with relapse (odds ratio 205.0;P < .01). There was no difference in percentage of APA or platelet count at initial diagnosis between dogs that did or did not respond to treatment.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Serial monitoring of APA in dogs with primary ITP appeared beneficial for determining relapse of disease.
Thelongue duréeof enslavement: Extracting labor from Romani music in Liviu Rebreanu'sIon
Authors: Parvulescu Anca , Boatcă Manuela
Published: February 2020

The enslavement of Romani populations in East Europe remains an eloquent silence in labor history. This essay traces the imbrication of material histories and textual strategies that place Romani labor, especially as aesthetic performance, outside of the purview of labor histories of East Europe. We sketch a history of enslavement of Romani populations in Wallachia and Moldova and of their regulation in Transylvania. We argue that the Romanian‐language novelIon,which enlists Romani characters in the service of a narrative depicting the struggles of Romanian nationalism within the Austro‐Hungarian Empire, echoes this history of enslavement. Our analysis sheds light on Romani laborers' travels as constitutive of the co‐formations of art, labor, and nationalist struggle in an inter‐imperial world.
Ugandan Jajjas: Antecedents and rewards of caring for grandchildren in the context of HIV
Authors: Matovu Schola , Rankin Sally , Wallhagen Margaret
Published: February 2020

Aims and objectives

The findings presented in this manuscript address two key research questions: (a) What factors contribute to the initiation and maintenance of the caregiving role as performed by the grandparent‐caregivers; and (b) What are the perceived benefits of caregiving as reported by grandparent‐caregivers?

Background

Grandparents in sub‐Saharan Africa have cared for their grandchildren for generations, yet little is known about this role in the context of the HIV epidemic. Although the impact of the epidemic is overwhelmingly negative, specifically in Uganda, knowledge of familial context and underlying motivations and rewards that incentivise grandparent‐caregivers remains limited in the literature.

Methods

Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we explored the experiences of 32 Ugandan grandparents of grandchildren affected by HIV. Data were collected using a semi‐structured and open‐ended interview guide, participant observation and fieldnotes. Data analysis included open, focused and axial coding.

Findings

The data revealed the influences of extended familial structures and of cultural and gender expectations on the decision‐making processes and rewards of caregiving as perceived by the grandparent‐caregivers.

Discussion and recommendation

These findings provide a broad foundation for policy, practice, research and education interventions needed to support grandparents so they can enjoy the benefits of raising their grandchildren.

Implications for practice

Our findings can guide education programs and clinical practice for nurses, nursing students, and other health providers on cultural considerations for holistic care provided for older adults—especially older caregivers.
Temperature responses of photosynthesis and leaf hydraulic conductance in rice and wheat
Authors: Yang Yuhan , Zhang Qiangqiang , Huang Guanjun , Peng Shaobing , Li Yong
Published: February 2020

Studies on the temperature (T) responses of photosynthesis and leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) are important to plant gas exchange. In this study, the temperature responses of photosynthesis and Kleaf were studied in Shanyou 63 (Oryza sativa) and Yannong 19 (Triticum aestivum). Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) was insensitive to T in Shanyou 63, while it significantly decreased with T in Yannong 19. The differential Ψleaf − T relationship partially accounted for the differing gm–T relationships, where gm was less sensitive to T in Yannong 19 than in Shanyou 63. With different gm–T and Ψleaf–T relationships, the temperature responses of photosynthetic limitations were surprisingly similar between the two lines, and the photosynthetic rate was highly correlated with gm. With the increasing T, Kleaf increased in Shanyou 63 while it decreased in Yannong 19. The different Kleaf–T relationships were related to different Ψleaf–T relationships. When excluding the effects of water viscosity and Ψleaf, Kleaf was insensitive to T in both lines. gm and Kleaf were generally not coordinated across different temperatures. This study highlights the importance of Ψleaf on leaf carbon and water exchanges, and the mechanisms for the gm–T and Kleaf–T relationships were discussed.
How Nation Building Backfires: Beliefs about Group Malleability and Anti‐Chinese Attitudes in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Siu‐yau , Chou Kee‐lee
Published: February 2020

An intriguing phenomenon documented within political science research is the association between nation‐building programs and increased subnational intergroup conflicts. Based on data collected in Hong Kong, an epicenter of subnational conflicts in China, this article suggests that nation building may intensify the tension between subnational groups because it helps to spread the belief that groups have fixed inherent characteristics. Specifically, in the face of deep intergroup cultural and political differences, people who see their nation as a historically unified entity are more likely to believe that those differences are unchangeable and, in turn, develop negative attitudes toward other subnational groups. We support these arguments with a representative survey of the population and two laboratory experiments. In the first experiment, respondents who are exposed to narratives that emphasize the homogeneity of the Chinese nation report a higher level of fixed group perceptions than those who receive the opposite message. In the second experiment, respondents who are primed to believe that group characteristics are fixed report significantly more negative attitudes toward migrants from other parts of China. Our findings contribute conceptually to the study of nation building and shed new light on the formation of immigration attitudes.
Comparative evaluation of psychophysiological response of children with special health care needs to use of facemask‐eyeshield and visor in a dental setting—A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Chhabra Karishma , Sood Shveta , Bhatia Hind Pal , Sharma Naresh , Singh Akshara
Published: February 2020

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine the psychophysiological response (Heart rate) of special health care needs to use of facemask‐eyeshield and visor worn in a dental setting.

Settings and design

The cases for the present study were selected from special schools of Delhi‐NCR. The patients selected were in IQ range 50‐84 and children rated as positive or definitely positive according to Frankl's behavior rating scale. A total of 378 patients of age group 4‐14 years were selected.

Methods and material

Every child was made to sit and pulse oximeter was put on his/her finger to measure Baseline heart rate. Dental examination was done using a sterile mouth mirror (No. 5) and explorer. It was done in two phases for every child: Patient underwent dental examination by clinician wearing (A) facemask‐eyeshield (Euronda) and (B) visor (Oro).

Results

The mean heart rate during dental examination wearing visor (81.55 ± 17.54) was significantly lesser than during dental examination wearing facemask and eyeshield (84.49 ± 17.96).

Conclusions

Dental anxiety levels were lower when the dentist used visor during the dental examination than when the dentist used facemask and eyeshield.
Variational Approximations for Steady Unidirectional Slip Flows in Microchannels
Authors: Keady Grant , Wiwatanapataphee Benchawan
Published: February 2020

Consider steady flows in a channel, cross section Ω, with the Navier slip boundary condition, and let the volume flowrate be denoted by Q. We present a new simple approximation, a rigorous lower bound on Q, requiring, along with the channel's area and perimeter, the calculation of just the torsional rigidity and two other domain functionals. This avoids the need for solving the partial differential equation repeatedly for differing values of the slip parameter. It also provides the opportunity to give tables for different shapes, requiring, for each shape, just its area and perimeter and the three domain functionals previously mentioned. We expect that for shapes used in practice, the approximation will be good for the entire range of slip parameter. This is illustrated with the case of Ω being rectangular.
Subsurface Pore-Induced Quilting During Machining of Metal Foams
Authors: Vinothkumar S. , Subbiah Sathyan , Sankaran S.
Published: February 2020

Metal foams made by the melt route naturally have an interface region between the porous and nonporous structures. We investigate here the possible use of monolithic foam structures with such interfaces wherein the porous structure provides needed light-weighting while the nonporous region provides a functional surface such as the one needed for optics. Face turning is carried out in the nonporous region very near the interface to the porous areas. Using micro-computed tomography scans, pore positions are determined and the proximal effect of pores on the machined surface quilting effects are studied. Studies show that pore as near as 400 μm to the machined surface can cause significant quilting. Progress in developing finite element models to enable such predictions is also shown. This study could pave the way for the use of such structures for telescopic mirrors.
Ultrasound pattern and diagnostic accuracy of primary ovarian endometrioma and its recurrence: a pictorial essay
Authors: Sasaran Vladut , Alexa Bad Codruta Maria , Muresan Daniel , Puscasiu Lucian
Published: February 2020

The authors present their experience in ultrasound patterns of primary and recurrent endometrioma and correspondence with histopathological results, using 2D and color Doppler ultrasound examination. Cases of primary and recurrent endometriomas, as well as other false positive diagnosis are presented. The presence of the peripheral, healthy ovarian tissue, is the principal difference between the primary endometrioma and their recurrence. The arousal of papillary projections or solid-type echostructure decreases the likelihood of an endometrioma without histological atypia. Postmenopause modifies the ultrasound features of endometrioma by decreasing homogeneity and echogenicity
Video-Based Analysis of the Transition from Slipping to Rolling
Authors: Suárez Álvaro , Baccino Daniel , Martí Arturo C.
Published: February 2020

The problem of a disc or cylinder initially rolling with slipping on a surface and subsequently transitioning to rolling without slipping is often cited in textbooks. Students struggle to qualitatively understand the difference between kinetic and static frictional forces—i.e., whereas the magnitude of the former is known, that of the latter can only be described in terms of an inequality while the relative velocity at the point(s) of contact is equal to zero. In addition, students have difficulty understanding that frictional forces can act in the direction of motion—i.e., they can accelerate objects.