bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of nodal spread in stage III NSCLC: importance of EBUS-TBNA and 18F-FDG PET/CT for radiotherapy target volume definition
Authors: Guberina Maja , Darwiche Kaid , Hautzel Hubertus , Pöttgen Christoph , Guberina Nika , Gauler Thomas , Ploenes Till , Umutlu Lale , Theegarten Dirk , Aigner Clemens , Eberhardt Wilfried E. E. , Metzenmacher Martin , Wiesweg Marcel , Karpf-Wissel Rüdiger , Schuler Martin , Herrmann Ken , Stuschke Martin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of intra-patient spread of lymph-node (LN)-metastases within the mediastinum as assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT and systematic endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial-needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for precise target volume definition in stage III NSCLC.

Methods

This is a single-center study based on our preceding investigation, including all consecutive patients with initial diagnosis of stage IIIA-C NSCLC, receiving concurrent radiochemotherapy (12/2011–06/2018). Inclusion criteria were curative treatment intent, 18F-FDG PET/CT and EBUS-TBNA prior to start of treatment. The lymphatic drainage was classified into echelon-1 (ipsilateral hilum), echelon-2 (ipsilateral LN-stations 4 and 7) and echelon-3 (rest of the mediastinum, contralateral hilum). The pattern of spread was classified according to all permutations of echelon-1, echelon-2, and echelon-3 EBUS-TBNA findings.

Results

In total, 180 patients were enrolled. Various patterns of LN-spread could be identified. Skip lesions with an involved echelon distal from an uninvolved one were detected in less than 10% of patients by both EBUS-TBNA and PET. The pattern with largest asymmetry was detected in cases with EBUS-TBNA- or PET-positivity at all three echelons (p < 0.0001, exact symmetry test). In a multivariable logistic model for EBUS-positivity at echelon-3, prognostic factors were PET-positivity at echelon-3 (Hazard ratio (HR) = 12.1; 95%-CI: 3.2–46.5), EBUS-TBNA positivity at echelon-2 (HR = 6.7; 95%-CI: 1.31–31.2) and left-sided tumor location (HR = 4.0; 95%-CI: 1.24–13.2). There were significantly less combined ipsilateral upper (LN-stations 2 and 4) and lower (LN-station 7) mediastinal involvements (16.8% of patients) with EBUS-TBNA than with PET (38.9%, p < 0.0001, exact symmetry test). EBUS-TBNA detected a lobe specific heterogeneity between the odds ratios of LN-positivity in the upper versus lower mediastinum (p = 0.0021, Breslow-Day test), while PET did not (p = 0.19).

Conclusion

Frequent patterns of LN-metastatic spread could be defined by EBUS-TBNA and PET and discrepancies in the pattern were seen between both methods. EBUS-TBNA showed more lobe and tumor laterality specific patterns of LN-metastases than PET and skipped lymph node stations were rare. These systematic relations offer the opportunity to further refine multi-parameter risk of LN-involvement models for target volume delineation based on pattern of spread by EBUS-TBNA and PET.
Norm-based comparison of the quality-of-life impact of ravulizumab and eculizumab in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Authors: Schwartz Carolyn E. , Stark Roland B. , Borowiec Katrina , Nolte Sandra , Myren Karl-Johan
Published: September 2021

Aims

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare and life-threatening intravascular hematologic disorder with significant morbidity and premature mortality. Clinical trials (NCT02946463 and NCT03056040) comparing ravulizumab with eculizumab for PNH have supported the non-inferiority of the former and similar safety and tolerability. This secondary analysis compared PNH trial participants after 26 weeks on either treatment (n = 438) to a general-population sample (GenPop) (n = 15,386) and investigated response-shift effects.

Methods

Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) investigated function and symptom scores on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 of people with PNH as compared to GenPop, after covariate adjustment. Risk-factor groups were created based on clinical indicators known to be associated with worse PNH outcomes, and separate MANCOVAs were computed for lower- and higher-risk-factor groups. Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses examined whether item response varied systematically (1) by treatment, (2) compared to GenPop, and (3) over time, the latter two suggesting and reflecting response-shift effects, respectively. DIF analyses examined 24 items from scales with at least two items. Recalibration response shift was operationalized as uniform DIF over time, reflecting the idea that, for a given group, the difficulty of endorsing an item changes over time, after adjusting for the total subscale score. Reprioritization response shift was operationalized as non-uniform DIF over time, i.e., the relative difficulty of endorsing an item over time changes across the total domain score.

Results

Across PNH risk-factor levels, people who had been on either treatment for 26 weeks reported better-than-expected functioning and lower symptom burden compared to GenPop. Ravulizumab generally showed larger effect sizes. Results were similar for lower and higher PNH risk factors, with slightly stronger effects in the former. DIF analyses revealed no treatment DIF, but did uncover group DIF (9 items with uniform DIF, and 11 with non-uniform) and DIF over time (7 items with uniform DIF, and 3 with non-uniform).

Conclusions

This study revealed that people with PNH on ravulizumab or eculizumab for 26 weeks reported QOL levels better than those of the general population. Significant effects of DIF by group and DIF over time support recalibration and reprioritization response-shift effects. These findings suggest that the treatments enabled adaptive changes.
Mapping the evolving landscape of super-enhancers during cell differentiation
Authors: Kai Yan , Li Bin E. , Zhu Ming , Li Grace Y. , Chen Fei , Han Yingli , Cha Hye Ji , Orkin Stuart H. , Cai Wenqing , Huang Jialiang , Yuan Guo-Cheng
Published: September 2021

Background

Super-enhancers are clusters of enhancer elements that play critical roles in the maintenance of cell identity. Current investigations on super-enhancers are centered on the established ones in static cell types. How super-enhancers are established during cell differentiation remains obscure.

Results

Here, by developing an unbiased approach to systematically analyze the evolving landscape of super-enhancers during cell differentiation in multiple lineages, we discover a general trend where super-enhancers emerge through three distinct temporal patterns: conserved, temporally hierarchical, and de novo. The three types of super-enhancers differ further in association patterns in target gene expression, functional enrichment, and 3D chromatin organization, suggesting they may represent distinct structural and functional subtypes. Furthermore, we dissect the enhancer repertoire within temporally hierarchical super-enhancers, and find enhancers that emerge at early and late stages are enriched with distinct transcription factors, suggesting that the temporal order of establishment of elements within super-enhancers may be directed by underlying DNA sequence. CRISPR-mediated deletion of individual enhancers in differentiated cells shows that both the early- and late-emerged enhancers are indispensable for target gene expression, while in undifferentiated cells early enhancers are involved in the regulation of target genes.

Conclusions

In summary, our analysis highlights the heterogeneity of the super-enhancer population and provides new insights to enhancer functions within super-enhancers.
Inter-laboratory comparison of water solubility methods applied to difficult-to-test substances
Authors: Letinski Daniel J. , Redman Aaron D. , Birch Heidi , Mayer Philipp
Published: September 2021

Water solubility is perhaps the single most important physical–chemical property determining the environmental fate and effects of organic compounds. Its determination is particularly challenging for compounds with extremely low solubility, frequently referred to as “difficult-to-test” substances and having solubility’s generally less than 0.1 mg/L. The existing regulatory water solubility test for these compounds is the column elution method. Its applicability, however, is limited, to non-volatile solid or crystalline hydrophobic organic compounds. There currently exists no test guideline for measuring the water solubility of very hydrophobic liquid, and potentially volatile, difficult-to-test compounds. This paper describes a “slow-stir” water solubility methodology along with results of a ring trial across five laboratories evaluating the method’s performance. The slow-stir method was applied to n-hexylcyclohexane, a volatile, liquid hydrophobic hydrocarbon. In order to benchmark the inter-laboratory variability associated with the proposed slow-stir method, the five laboratories separately determined the solubility of dodecahydrotriphenylene, a hydrophobic solid compound using the existing column elution guideline. Results across the participating laboratories indicated comparable reproducibility with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 20% or less reported for each test compound – solubility method pair. The inter-laboratory RSD was 16% for n-hexylcyclohexane (mean 14 µg/L, n = 5) using the slow-stir method. For dodecahydrotriphenylene, the inter-laboratory RSD was 20% (mean 2.6 µg/L, n = 4) using the existing column elution method. This study outlines approaches that should be followed and the experimental parameters that have been deemed important for an expanded ring trial of the slow-stir water solubility method.
Accurate numerical scheme for singularly perturbed parabolic delay differential equation
Authors: Woldaregay Mesfin Mekuria , Duressa Gemechis File
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Numerical treatment of singularly perturbed parabolic delay differential equation is considered. Solution of the equation exhibits a boundary layer, which makes it difficult for numerical computation. Accurate numerical scheme is proposed using$$\theta$$θ-method in time discretization and non-standard finite difference method in space discretization.

Result

Stability and uniform convergence of the proposed scheme is investigated. The scheme is uniformly convergent with linear order of convergence before Richardson extrapolation and second order convergent after Richardson extrapolation. Numerical examples are considered to validate the theoretical findings.
Authentication of a novel antibody to zebrafish collagen type XI alpha 1 chain (Col11a1a)
Authors: Reeck Jonathon C. , Hardy Makenna J. , Pu Xinzhu , Keller-Peck Cynthia , Oxford Julia Thom
Published: September 2021

Objective

Extracellular matrix proteins play important roles in embryonic development and antibodies that specifically detect these proteins are essential to understanding their function. The zebrafish embryo is a popular model for vertebrate development but suffers from a dearth of authenticated antibody reagents for research. Here, we describe a novel antibody designed to detect the minor fibrillar collagen chain Col11a1a in zebrafish (AB strain).

Results

The Col11a1a antibody was raised in rabbit against a peptide comprising a unique sequence within the zebrafish Col11a1a gene product. The antibody was affinity-purified and characterized by ELISA. The antibody is effective for immunoblot and immunohistochemistry applications. Protein bands identified by immunoblot were confirmed by mass spectrometry and sensitivity to collagenase. Col11a1a knockout zebrafish were used to confirm specificity of the antibody. The Col11a1a antibody labeled cartilaginous structures within the developing jaw, consistent with previously characterized Col11a1 antibodies in other species. Col11a1a within formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded zebrafish were recognized by the antibody. The antibodies and the approaches described here will help to address the lack of well-defined antibody reagents in zebrafish research.
Risk factors for invasive aspergillosis in ICU patients with COVID-19: current insights and new key elements
Authors: Montrucchio G. , Lupia T. , Lombardo D. , Stroffolini G. , Corcione S. , De Rosa F. G. , Brazzi L.
Published: September 2021

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has always been a challenging diagnosis and risk factors an important guide to investigate specific population, especially in Intensive Care Unit. Traditionally recognized risk factors for IPA have been haematological diseases or condition associated with severe immunosuppression, lately completed by chronic conditions (such as obstructive pulmonary disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease and diabetes), influenza infection and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Recently, a new association with SARS-CoV2 infection, named COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), has been reported worldwide, even if its basic epidemiological characteristics have not been completely established yet. In this narrative review, we aimed to explore the potential risk factors for the development of CAPA and to evaluate whether previous host factors or therapeutic approaches used in the treatment of COVID-19 critically ill patients (such as mechanical ventilation, intensive care management, corticosteroids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, immunomodulatory agents) may impact this new diagnostic category. Reviewing all English-language articles published from December 2019 to December 2020, we identified 21 papers describing risk factors, concerning host comorbidities, ICU management, and COVID-19 therapies. Although limited by the quality of the available literature, data seem to confirm the role of previous host risk factors, especially respiratory diseases. However, the attention is shifting from patients’ related risk factors to factors characterizing the hospital and intensive care course, deeply influenced by specific features of COVID treatment itself. Prolonged invasive or non-invasive respiratory support, as well as the impact of corticosteroids and/or immunobiological therapies seem to play a pivotal role. ICU setting related factors, such as environmental factors, isolation conditions, ventilation systems, building renovation works, and temporal spread with respect to pandemic waves, need to be considered. Large, prospective studies based on new risk factors specific for CAPA are warranted to guide surveillance and decision of when and how to treat this particular population.
Accumulation of compatible solutes in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars by inoculation of endophytic plant growth promoting bacteria to alleviate salt stress
Authors: Ahmed Shamim , Heo Tae-Young , Roy Choudhury Aritra , Walitang Denver I. , Choi Jeongyun , Sa Tongmin
Published: September 2021

Salinization of agricultural lands, particularly rice paddies, results in the drastic decline of crop yields. Soil salinization impacts the plant physiology by inducing salt stress which may leads to osmotic stress, ionic stress and water-related nutrient imbalance. These imbalances necessitate the need for plants to produce osmolytes including proline and glycine betaine. This study aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes in proline and glycine betaine accumulation modulated by the inoculation of Brevibacterium linens RS16 in salt-sensitive and moderately salt-tolerant rice plants under salt stress conditions. This study showed the interaction of four major factors including rice genotypes with differing tolerance to salt stress, length of exposure to salt stress, level of salt stress and effects of inoculation. Salt stress resulted in significant reduction in plant growth parameters with the salt-sensitive rice genotype (IR29) having a more significant growth reduction. Both the salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice genotypes increased in total proline and glycine betaine accumulation at 3 days and 10 days after subjecting under 50 mM and 150 mM salt stress conditions. A significant increase in proline and glycine betaine was observed in the salt-sensitive genotype after 10 days under 50 mM and 150 mM salt stress conditions. Inoculation of the rice genotypes with B. linens RS16 resulted in the improvement of plant growth parameters in both rice genotypes, and total proline and glycine betaine accumulation, especially in IR29. This study showed that proline and glycine betaine are compatible osmolytes of rice under salt stress, and that inoculation of rice genotypes with B. linens RS16 mediated salt tolerance through improvement of plant growth parameters and proline and glycine betaine accumulation in rice plants.
Assessing the dynamic tourism inter-industry linkages and economic structural changes in Cambodia’s economy
Authors: Hor Chantha
Published: September 2021

This study employs the SAM-based model combining with multiplier product matrix and field of influence approaches. Under three input–output transaction table matrices of the years 2005, 2010, and 2015, these approaches assess the dynamic tourism inter-industry linkages and structural economic changes in Cambodia. We find that the overall inter-industry connection is relatively low. The textile, other manufacturing, and transportation and communication are key sectors. They have the largest coefficient field of influence of changes in the economic system. Tourism has shifted to be a key sector in 2010 and 2015. However, its backward and forward linkages are still small. It is a relatively promising sector generating a large coefficient field of influence of changes, showing less strength of overall connection with other industries. This study may suggest that there would be a need for promoting, encouraging, and investing in key economic sectors. Policy intervention should focus on developing domestic tourism linkages and strengthening inter-industry ties to diversity tourism benefits the local economy.
Disease-induced changes in plant microbiome assembly and functional adaptation
Authors: Gao Min , Xiong Chao , Gao Cheng , Tsui Clement K. M. , Wang Meng-Meng , Zhou Xin , Zhang Ai-Min , Cai Lei
Published: September 2021

Background

The plant microbiome is an integral part of the host and increasingly recognized as playing fundamental roles in plant growth and health. Increasing evidence indicates that plant rhizosphere recruits beneficial microbes to the plant to suppress soil-borne pathogens. However, the ecological processes that govern plant microbiome assembly and functions in the below- and aboveground compartments under pathogen invasion are not fully understood. Here, we studied the bacterial and fungal communities associated with 12 compartments (e.g., soils, roots, stems, and fruits) of chili pepper (Capsicum annuumL.) using amplicons (16S and ITS) and metagenomics approaches at the main pepper production sites in China and investigated howFusariumwilt disease (FWD) affects the assembly, co-occurrence patterns, and ecological functions of plant-associated microbiomes.

Results

The amplicon data analyses revealed that FWD affected less on the microbiome of pepper reproductive organs (fruit) than vegetative organs (root and stem), with the strongest impact on the upper stem epidermis. Fungal intra-kingdom networks were less stable and their communities were more sensitive to FWD than the bacterial communities. The analysis of microbial interkingdom network further indicated that FWD destabilized the network and induced the ecological importance of fungal taxa. Although the diseased plants were more susceptible to colonization by other pathogenic fungi, their below- and aboveground compartments can also recruit potential beneficial bacteria. Some of the beneficial bacterial taxa enriched in the diseased plants were also identified as core taxa for plant microbiomes and hub taxa in networks. On the other hand, metagenomic analysis revealed significant enrichment of several functional genes involved in detoxification, biofilm formation, and plant-microbiome signaling pathways (i.e., chemotaxis) in the diseased plants.

Conclusions

Together, we demonstrate that a diseased plant could recruit beneficial bacteria and mitigate the changes in reproductive organ microbiome to facilitate host or its offspring survival. The host plants may attract the beneficial microbes through the modulation of plant-microbiome signaling pathways. These findings significantly advance our understanding on plant-microbiome interactions and could provide fundamental and important data for harnessing the plant microbiome in sustainable agriculture.
Assessment of effects of total sleep deprivation and subsequent recovery sleep: a methodological strategy feasible without sleep laboratory
Authors: Stroemel-Scheder Cindy , Lautenbacher Stefan
Published: September 2021

Background

Sleep is critical for maintaining homeostasis in bodily and neurobehavioral functions. This homeostasis can be disturbed by sleep interruption and restored to normal by subsequent recovery sleep. Most research regarding recovery sleep (RS) effects has been conducted in specialized sleep laboratories, whereas small, less-well equipped research units may lack the possibilities to run studies in this area. Hence, the aims of the present study were to develop and validate an experimental protocol, which allows a thorough assessment of at-home recovery sleep after sleep deprivation.

Methods

The experimental protocol, comprising one night of baseline sleep (BL) at home, one night of monitored total sleep deprivation and a subsequent recovery night at home, was tested in a sample of 30 healthy participants. Subjects’ fatigue and alertness were assessed prior to and after each night. Sleep at home (BL, RS) was objectively assessed using portable polysomnography. To check whether our at-home sleep assessments yielded results that are comparable to those conducted in sleep laboratories, we compared the sleep data assessed in our study with sleep data assessed in laboratory studies.

Results

Sleep parameters assessed during RS exhibited changes as expected (prolonged total sleep time, better sleep efficiency, slow wave sleep rebound). Sleep parameters of BL and RS were in line with parameters assessed in previous studies examining sleep in a laboratory setting. Fatigue normalized after one night of RS; alertness partly recovered.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a successful implementation of our new experimental protocol, emphasizing it as a useful tool for future studies on RS outside of well-equipped sleep laboratories.
Analysis of genes (TMEM106B, GRN, ABCC9, KCNMB2, and APOE) implicated in risk for LATE-NC and hippocampal sclerosis provides pathogenetic insights: a retrospective genetic association study
Authors: Dugan Adam J. , Nelson Peter T. , Katsumata Yuriko , Shade Lincoln M. P. , Boehme Kevin L. , Teylan Merilee A. , Cykowski Matthew D. , Mukherjee Shubhabrata , Kauwe John S. K. , Hohman Timothy J. , Schneider Julie A. ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium, Fardo David W.
Published: September 2021

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is the most prevalent subtype of TDP-43 proteinopathy, affecting up to 1/3rd of aged persons. LATE-NC often co-occurs with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) pathology. It is currently unknown why some individuals with LATE-NC develop HS while others do not, but genetics may play a role. Previous studies found associations between LATE-NC phenotypes and specific genes: TMEM106B, GRN, ABCC9, KCNMB2, and APOE. Data from research participants with genomic and autopsy measures from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC; n = 631 subjects included) and the Religious Orders Study and Memory and the Rush Aging Project (ROSMAP; n = 780 included) were analyzed in the current study. Our goals were to reevaluate disease-associated genetic variants using newly collected data and to query whether the specific genotype/phenotype associations could provide new insights into disease-driving pathways. Research subjects included in prior LATE/HS genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were excluded. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) within 10 kb of TMEM106B, GRN, ABCC9, KCNMB2, and APOE were tested for association with HS and LATE-NC, and separately for Alzheimer’s pathologies, i.e. amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Significantly associated SNVs were identified. When results were meta-analyzed, TMEM106B, GRN, and APOE had significant gene-based associations with both LATE and HS, whereas ABCC9 had significant associations with HS only. In a sensitivity analysis limited to LATE-NC + cases, ABCC9 variants were again associated with HS. By contrast, the associations of TMEM106B, GRN, and APOE with HS were attenuated when adjusting for TDP-43 proteinopathy, indicating that these genes may be associated primarily with TDP-43 proteinopathy. None of these genes except APOE appeared to be associated with Alzheimer’s-type pathology. In summary, using data not included in prior studies of LATE or HS genomics, we replicated several previously reported gene-based associations and found novel evidence that specific risk alleles can differentially affect LATE-NC and HS.
Force display control system for simultaneous 3-axis translational motion in surgical training simulator for chiseling operation
Authors: Masuyama Kentaro , Noda Yoshiyuki , Ito Yasumi , Kagiyama Yoshiyuki , Ueki Koichiro
Published: September 2021

The present study proposes an advanced force display control system for a surgical training simulator with virtual reality. In oral and orthopedic surgeries, a surgeon uses a chisel and mallet for chiseling and cutting hard tissue. To enable the representation of force sensation for the chiseling operation in a virtual training simulator, the force display device has been constructed with the ball-screw mechanism to obtain high stiffness. In addition, two-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) admittance control has been used to react instantaneously to the impactive force caused by pounding with the mallet. The virtual chiseling operation was realized by the force display device with a single axis in the previous studies. In the current study, we propose the design procedure for the force display control system with the 2DOF admittance control approach to virtual operation in three-dimensional space. Furthermore, we propose the design method for the PD controller with imperfect derivative using frequency characteristics for the 2DOF admittance control system. The efficacy of the proposed control system is verified through the virtual experience from manipulating the chisel using the developed force display device in the current study.
Implementation of a cloud-based electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) platform in patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Generalova Olga , Roy Mohana , Hall Evan , Shah Sumit A. , Cunanan Kristen , Fardeen Touran , Velazquez Brianna , Chu Gilbert , Bruzzone Bianca , Cabot Anna , Fisher George A. , Srinivas Sandy , Fan Alice C. , Haraldsdottir Sigurdis , Wakelee Heather A. , Neal Joel W. , Padda Sukhmani K. , Johnson Tyler , Heestand Gregory M. , Hsieh Robert W. , Ramchandran Kavitha
Published: September 2021

Background

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) have been associated with improved symptom management and quality of life in patients with cancer. However, the implementation of PROs in an academic clinical practice has not been thoroughly described. Here we report on the execution, feasibility and healthcare utilization outcomes of an electronic PRO (ePRO) application for cancer patients at an academic medical center.

Methods

We conducted a randomized trial comparing an experimental ePRO arm to standard of care in patients with advanced cancer in the thoracic, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary oncology groups at Stanford Cancer Center from March 2018 to November 2019. We describe the pre-implementation, implementation, and post-implementation phases of the ePRO arm, technological barriers, electronic health record (EHR) integration, clinician burden, and patient data privacy and security. Feasibility was pre-specified to be at least 70% completion of all questionnaires. Acceptability was based on patient and clinician feedback. Ambulatory healthcare utilization was assessed by reviewing numbers of phone messages, electronic portal messages, and referrals for supportive care.

Results

Of 617 ePRO questionnaires sent to 72 patients, 445 (72%) were completed. Most clinicians (87.5%) and patients (93%) felt neutral or positive about the ePRO tool’s ease of use. Exposure to ePRO did not cause a measurable change in ambulatory healthcare utilization, with a median of less than two phone messages and supportive care referrals, and 5–6 portal messages.

Conclusions

Web-based ePRO tools for patients with advanced cancer are feasible and acceptable without increasing clinical burden. Key lessons include the importance of pilot testing, engagement of stakeholders at all levels, and the need for customization by disease group. Future directions for this work include completion of EHR integration, expansion to other centers, and development of integrated workflows for routine clinical practice.
Selfie-related concepts and behaviors among Egyptian and Saudi nursing students: a comparative study
Authors: El-slamoni Marwa Abd El-fatah Ali , Ahmed Hanem AbdElkhalek , Arafat Azza Elsayed Abdelfatah
Published: September 2021

Background

Over the last 10 years, social media has become an integral facet of modern society. Self-presentation and body satisfaction are related to social media and its impact on users’ levels of well-being and self-esteem. This study aimed to compare selfie-related concepts (self-esteem and body image) and behaviors (selfie habits and patterns, the motives for using the selfie, and attitude about selfie) between samples of Egyptians and Saudis student nurses. To attain this research aim, a comparative research design study was conducted between 7th of October and 5th of November 2020. This study was conducted in the two countries: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (College of Nursing, Taif University) and Egypt (Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University). A sample of 300 students was included in two countries: KSA and Egypt. Socio-demographic data sheet, patterns of selfie use scale, self-confidence questionnaire (SCQ), and body image scale.

Results

Results revealed that the Egyptian students were higher in number of selfies per day than Saudi students and the majority of Saudi group like to put their selfies on Instagram.

Conclusion

The current study deduced that Egyptian students as regard selfie habits and patterns had a higher number of selfies per day than Saudi students, also the majority of the Saudi group as regard selfie habits like to put their selfies on Instagram with a statistically significant difference. As regards the motives for using the selfie, the reasons for taking selfies were significantly higher in Saudi nursing students than in Egyptian students regarding depression and sadness. As well, significantly higher in Egyptian than in Saudi nurse students was related to motivates that their selfies on social media often contain comments or answers, the relationship between the number of selfie-taking and gender was a statistically significant difference between the two genders in both Egyptian and Saudi groups with increasing taking selfie among Egyptian females and Saudi males.
A case report on aggressive giant cell tumor of greater trochanter: a divergent site
Authors: Singh Rohan Kumar , Parihar PratapSingh Hanuman , Mishra Gaurav Vedprakash , Dhande Rajasbala Pradeep , Patwa Prerna Anup
Published: September 2021

Background

Giant cell tumor is a tumor of benign nature which usually arises in the long bone, but it can also be seen at unusual sites. Only few cases have been reported so far regarding involvement of greater trochanter of the femur as it is a very divergent site for giant cell tumors; our case is one of them. Giant cell tumors are seen in 20–40 years of age in the metaepiphyseal regions of the long bones. If femur has to be involved, it is in the distal end usually.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 45-year-old female with chief complains of swelling and left hip pain since over a month. Magnetic resonance imaging was done where the location and extent of the tumor was found. What makes this case interesting is that on fine needle aspiration cytology the lesion showed multinucleated giant osteoclasts in the background of osseous matrix of spindle cells suggesting Giant cell tumor.

Conclusion

It is sometimes tricky to make a diagnosis of these lesions on imaging as the typical features may not be present, and hence, in such circumstances helping the clinicians with additional information like location, extent, margins is of utmost importance.
Headache in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: characteristics, brain MRI patterns, and impact
Authors: Elolemy Gehan , Al Rashidi Abdulrahman , Youssry Doaa , Elziat Haytham , Baraka Eman
Published: September 2021

Background

The prevalence of primary headache in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) varies widely and whether it should be attributed to neurological involvement is controversial. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of headache in SLE patients, describe its association with disease-related variables and brain imaging, and explore its impact on life.

Results

The overall prevalence of headache was 54.4%, and migraine was the most common type among headache sufferers (48.4%). Headache severity (VAS) and impact (HIT-6) correlated with SLEDAI-2K (P = 0.019 and P < 0.001, respectively) as well as with each other (P = 0.006). Brain imaging abnormalities were found in 25.8%, with white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) being the most frequent pathology. Musculoskeletal manifestations, positive anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies, and SLEDAI score ≥ 13.5 were identified as predictors of headache.

Conclusion

Primary headache, especially migraine, is a common feature of patients with SLE, and its presence is associated with negative impact on quality of life. Musculoskeletal features, aPL positivity, and overall disease activity appear to predict primary headache in SLE.
Finite element analysis of the effect of microwave ablation on the liver, lung, kidney, and bone malignant tissues
Authors: Radmilović-Radjenović M. , Radjenović D. , Radjenović B.
Published: September 2021

Microwave ablation becomes a promising thermal modality for treating cancerous tumor cells in patients who are non-surgical candidates. To ensure the destruction of cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy tissue, the elevation of temperature and the evolution of the necrotic tissue need to be controlled. Besides experimental methods, computer modeling evolves into a powerful approach for improving the performance of the ablative treatment. This letter reports on the numerical studies of the microwave ablation effect on the liver, lung, kidney, and bone tumoral tissues. Calculations were performed by using the COMSOL Multiphysic based on a multi-component plasma fluid model. Simulation conditions include the microwave frequency of

, the input power of

, and taking into account the temperature dependence of dielectric properties of the tissue. The total loss power density, the temperature distribution, the fraction of the tissue damage, and the specific absorption rate have been determined. It was shown that the temperature distribution has an ellipsoidal shape reaching the maximal values required for effective cancer treatment but to avoid damaging healthy cells near the antenna slot. From the degree of tissue injury, the fraction of damage has been estimated revealing that the microwave ablation zones are concentrated around the tip and slot of the antenna. Also, the ablation of the tumor cells can be achieved over a long period without damaging healthy cells when small input power is used. The obtained results confirm that simulations can be very useful for predicting optimal conditions for the minimal damage of the healthy tissue during microwave ablation, and therefore may be implemented into treatment planning.
Reframing Suicide
Authors: Jafri Beenash
Published: September 2021

What can narratives of suicide tell us about diasporic and Indigenous relationships to the white settler state? This article engages relational critique to examine trans/femme/bisexual South Asian Canadian filmmaker Vivek Shraya's short film I want to kill myself (2017) and queer Cree/Métis filmmaker Adam Garnet Jones's feature film Fire Song (2015). Both films challenge the spectacularity of suicide, effectively situating suicide on a continuum of “slow death.” However, the films also stage distinct relationships between suicide, community, and the state that emerge from diasporic and Native positionalities within a white settler society. Whereas Shraya's diasporic struggle with suicide is alleviated by forging community within settler spaces, Fire Song counters pathologizing depictions of reserve communities by emphasizing resurgent Indigenous practices and their refusal of settler logics.
Trans Sonorities in Grey Grant's “Drones for the In-Between Times”
Authors: Allphin Penrose M.
Published: September 2021

Composer intent has generally been downplayed by contemporary music analysts, often being regarded as an example of an intentional fallacy at best and misleading at worst. This analysis of Grey Grant's choral work posits that such a dismissal not only ignores the potential for an enhanced expressive context afforded by composers' own assessments, but it also contributes to the silencing of already marginalized voices, such as in the case of transgender composers. The author proposes a methodology that incorporates the voices of living composers while circumventing concerns about confirmation bias by building on the framework of music theory, queer musicology, and queer theory. The article demonstrates this theoretical framework using an interview of a transgender composer to supplement an analysis of their contemporary choral piece. By analyzing the work with the added context of the composer's statements about their own music, the author paints a more complete picture of the work, one that reinvests music analysis with the trans voice behind the composition.
The Work of Rape
Authors: Jaleel Rana M.
Published: September 2021

In The Work of Rape Rana M. Jaleel argues that the redefinition of sexual violence within international law as a war crime, crime against humanity, and genocide owes a disturbing and unacknowledged debt to power and knowledge achieved from racial, imperial, and settler colonial domination. Prioritizing critiques of racial capitalism from women of color, Indigenous, queer, trans, and Global South perspectives, Jaleel reorients how violence is socially defined and distributed through legal definitions of rape. From Cold War conflicts in Latin America, the 1990s ethnic wars in Rwanda and Yugoslavia, and the War on Terror to ongoing debates about sexual assault on college campuses, Jaleel considers how legal and social iterations of rape and the terms that define it—consent, force, coercion—are unstable indexes and abstractions of social difference that mediate racial and colonial positionalities. Jaleel traces how post-Cold War orders of global security and governance simultaneously transform the meaning of sexualized violence, extend US empire, and disavow legacies of enslavement, Indigenous dispossession, and racialized violence within the United States.

Duke University Press Scholars of Color First Book Award recipient
Plasticity of the gastrocnemius elastic system in response to decreased work and power demand during growth
Authors: Cox Suzanne M. , DeBoef Adam , Salzano Matthew Q. , Katugam Kavya , Piazza Stephen J. , Rubenson Jonas
Published: September 2021

Elastic energy storage and release can enhance performance that would otherwise be limited by the force–velocity constraints of muscle. Although functional influence of a biological spring depends on tuning between components of an elastic system (the muscle, spring-driven mass and lever system), we do not know whether elastic systems systematically adapt to functional demand. To test whether altering work and power generation during maturation alters the morphology of an elastic system, we prevented growing guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) from jumping. We compared the jump performance of our treatment group at maturity with that of controls and measured the morphology of the gastrocnemius elastic system. We found that restricted birds jumped with lower jump power and work, yet there were no significant between-group differences in the components of the elastic system. Further, subject-specific models revealed no difference in energy storage capacity between groups, though energy storage was most sensitive to variations in muscle properties (most significantly operating length and least dependent on tendon stiffness). We conclude that the gastrocnemius elastic system in the guinea fowl displays little to no plastic response to decreased demand during growth and hypothesize that neural plasticity may explain performance variation.
Repeated stimulation of the HPA axis alters white blood cell count without increasing oxidative stress or inflammatory cytokines in fasting elephant seal pups
Authors: Ensminger David C. , Crocker Daniel E. , Lam Emily K. , Allen Kaitlin N. , Vázquez-Medina José Pablo
Published: September 2021

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis controls the release of glucocorticoids, which regulate immune and inflammatory function by modulating cytokines, white blood cells and oxidative stress via glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling. Although the response to HPA activation is well characterized in many species, little is known about the impacts of HPA activation during extreme physiological conditions. Hence, we challenged 18 simultaneously fasting and developing elephant seal pups with daily intramuscular injections of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), a GR antagonist (RU486), or a combination of the two (ACTH+RU486) for 4 days. We collected blood at baseline, 2 h and 4 days after the beginning of treatment. ACTH and ACTH+RU486 elevated serum aldosterone and cortisol at 2 h, with effects diminishing at 4 days. RU486 alone induced a compensatory increase in aldosterone, but not cortisol, at 4 days. ACTH decreased neutrophils at 2 h, while decreasing lymphocytes and increasing the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio at 4 days. These effects were abolished by RU486. Despite alterations in white blood cells, there was no effect of ACTH or RU486 on transforming growth factor-β or interleukin-6 levels; however, both cytokines decreased with the 4 day fasting progression. Similarly, ACTH did not impact protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation or antioxidant enzymes, but plasma isoprostanes and catalase activity decreased while glutathione peroxidase increased with fasting progression. These data demonstrate differential acute (2 h) and chronic (4 days) modulatory effects of HPA activation on white blood cells and that the chronic effect is mediated, at least in part, by GR. These results also underscore elephant seals' extraordinary resistance to oxidative stress derived from repeated HPA activation.
Long noncoding RNA and protein abundance in lncRNPs
Authors: Wu Man , Yang Liang-Zhong , Chen Ling-Ling
Published: September 2021

Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are generally expressed at low levels, emerging evidence has revealed that many play important roles in gene regulation by a variety of mechanisms as they engage with proteins. Given that the abundance of proteins often greatly exceeds that of their interacting lncRNAs, quantification of the relative abundance, or even the exact stoichiometry in some cases, within lncRNA–protein complexes is helpful for understanding of the mechanism(s) of action of lncRNAs. We discuss methods used to examine lncRNA and protein expression at the single cell, subcellular, and suborganelle levels, the average and local lncRNA concentration in cells, as well as how lncRNAs can modulate the functions of their interacting proteins even at a low stoichiometric concentration.
A MUDANÇA DE MULTICANAL PARA OMNICHANNEL EM UMA EMPRESA ATACADISTA: UM ESTUDO DE CASO
Authors: Franco Renata De Souza , Maia Leonardo Caixeta de Castro
Published: September 2021

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o processo de implantação do omnichannel em uma empresa atacadista brasileira, que opera no modelo B2B (Business to Business). Considera-se esta pesquisa como aplicada, com característica qualitativa, por meio de estudo de caso.  Adotou-se, como protocolo de pesquisa, um questionário semiestruturado, com validade interna e externa. A originalidade e relevância do manuscrito dar-se-á pela avaliação do canal on-line, e, consequentemente, da complexidade do sistema logístico de distribuição. Os principais resultados encontrados estão relacionados aos mecanismos de estruturação do canal de vendas on-line da empresa e a necessidade de integração com os canais de vendas físicos, sob o ponto de vista dos processos logísticos. Também foi possível identificar e classificar o grau de maturidade da empresa em face do desafio de implementação do B2B no modelo omnichannel. Asseveram-se contribuições teóricas e metodológicas e, adicionalmente, contribuições sociais para o momento de pandemia do COVID-19.
ESTRATÉGIA COMO PRÁTICA EM AMBIENTE DINÂMICO: ESTUDO DE CASO EM UM TABELIONATO DE PROTESTO
Authors: Pagani Vitória Dal Ri , Lavarda Rosalia Aldraci Barbosa
Published: September 2021

Os agentes envolvidos no processo de formação da estratégia e no modo como eles atuam têm sido foco dos estudos da estratégia em um âmbito micro. Este estudo objetiva compreender como ocorre a formação da estratégia sob a perspectiva da estratégia-como-prática em ambiente dinâmico. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa por meio de um estudo de caso em um Tabelionato de Protesto inserido em ambiente dinâmico, passando por mudanças econômicas, tecnológicas, legislativas em tempo de elevado endividamento no país. Os dados foram analisados por meio das técnicas pattern matching e análise narrativa. Constatou-se que a formação da estratégia ocorre no ajuste contínuo da interação entre a prática, práxis, praticante e ambiente, em momento de inadimplência, nas ações que buscam sua redução. A perspectiva da estratégia-como-prática nesta organização contribui na busca de elucidar a atuação do Tabelionato, como dispositivo legal de controle e apoio diante da crescente “cultura da inadimplência” e endividamento da população.
La obra cuentistica de Juan Bosch en su entorno historico social
Authors: Λάρδα Αγγελική
Published: September 2021

Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή, μελετώνται τα διηγήματα του Δομινικανού συγγραφέα Juan Βosch, με την εφαρμογή τόσο της ιστορικό κοινωνικής, όσο και της αφηγηματολογικής προσέγγισης, με στόχο την ανάδειξη της αρτιότητας της γραφής του και της συμβολής της στην παρουσίαση των κοινωνικών προβλημάτων του δομινικανού λαού, εστιάζοντας κυρίως:•στην αφηγηματική φωνή και στους τρόπους που αυτή προσδιορίζει την εξέλιξη της πλοκής. •στον αντίκτυπο που έχουν οι τεχνικές στον αποδέκτη της διήγησης, που αποτελεί τον πρωταρχικό στόχο του αφηγητή. •στον χειρισμό του αφηγηματικού χώρου και χρόνου, όπως και στην εμπλοκή πολλαπλών διηγηματικών επίπεδων, μέσω της εγκιβωτισμένης διήγησης. Επιπροσθέτως, μελετώνται τα χαρακτηριστικά και η εξέλιξη του διηγήματος του Bosch, που απασχόλησε ελάχιστα τόσο τους ευρωπαίους όσο και τους λατινοαμερικανούς, εξ αιτίας της λογοκρισίας που είχε επιβάλλει το ολοκληρωτικό καθεστώς της χώρας του. •Παρουσιάζεται η θεματογραφία των διηγημάτων, με στόχο να διακριθούν οι άξονες του έργου του, τα επαναλαμβανόμενα μοτίβα, το προφίλ των πρωταγωνιστών και οι χώροι εξέλιξης της πλοκής.•Και εξετάζονται τα κοινωνικά δεινά, όπου μέσω αντιπροσωπευτικών παραδειγμάτων, μελετώνται οι συνέπειες των σαρωτικών αλλαγών στο οικονομικό και κοινωνικό περιβάλλον της χώρας.