bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender, Education, and Physical Health among Adults in Central Mexico
Authors: Gorman Bridget K. , Altman Claire E. , Guerra Rudy , Chavez Sergio
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we apply an intersectional perspective and test whether resource substitution, which predicts that education will be more strongly related to the health of women than men, is operating among adults included in the 2014 Study of Health and Migration in Mexico (SHMM). Findings revealed modest and somewhat contradictory evidence regarding the potential role of resource substitution. For Mexican women, rates of elevated waist circumference are very high regardless of education level, but for hypertension, there is a strong, negative association with education even after adjustment for controls. Different patterns emerge for Mexican men as regression models show that the probability of both elevated waist circumference and hypertension is higher among the more educated. Overall, results suggest that education is only health protective for women’s risk of hypertension. In sum, this work highlights gender specificity in the relationship between education and health in Mexico, and that this relationship varies by health outcome.
The policy-making trend analysis of municipal solid waste in China 1980–2015
Authors: Chu Zhujie , Wu Boyi , He Zhiyong , Zhuang Jun , Wang Wenna
Published: April 2019

Over the past 35 years, the Chinese government has established various policies to tackle problems related to the municipal handling of solid waste. It is necessary to study policy-making trends in the area of municipal solid waste for further sustainable development in China. This article fills this gap by designing a new analytical framework made up of policymaker indicators, policy practitioner indicators, policy beneficiaries’ indicators, policy tool indicators, and policy support indicators in order to analyse the policy-making trend based on China’s major municipal solid waste policies from 1 January 1980 to 1 March 2015. Results have shown that policy-making related to municipal solid waste has changed significantly in the past 35 years and that more municipal solid waste policies were issued by one or a few ministerial departments than by the State Council and National People’s Congress. Moreover, the study has shown that the government and companies have dedicated more attention to taking action about municipal solid waste than individuals. With regard to the policy tools, policy-making has stressed the use of market-type tools, regulation-type tools, and public participation-type tools together to tackle the municipal solid waste problem since 2000. Finance and information support were used more as policy support by municipal solid waste policies than technology. This article provides some novel insights on the policy-making trend of municipal solid waste in China.
Error message: Creation of a revised codebook for analysis of newspaper corrections
Authors: Appelman Alyssa , Hettinga Kirstie E.
Published: April 2019

The codebook for analyzing newspaper corrections has remained nearly unchanged since 1936. This project sought to create and validate a new codebook. Study 1 analyzed a previous application of the original codebook and proposed a new version, which Study 2 and Study 3 then applied and tested. In both, the new codebook resulted in fewer underused categories and fewer uncategorized corrections. This study, therefore, recommends its new codebook for future analytical studies of newspaper corrections.
Principals changing schools and their career options after principalship: Exploring reasons and options within Malaysian principalship
Authors: Tahir Lokman Mohd , Ali Mohd Fadzli , Ahmad Jamilah
Published: April 2019

The issue of principals moving or changing schools has emerged and has been debated within the previous literature that investigates why principals move after a few years of principalship. Based on previous findings, various reasons are listed as motives for principals to move from, or remain at, their current schools. However, within Malaysian principalship, little is known about why principals move to a new school and their options after completing/leaving a principalship position. Thus, this article investigates reasons for moving to second schools and options after the principalship position within the Malaysian context of principalship. For that purpose, nine principals, comprising four middle-phase and five senior principals, were interviewed to solicit their reasons for moving and their options after their principalship phase has been completed. Various factors are mentioned by the principals, such as being posted to schools that are at a distance from their home, providing a platform for a novice principal, and assisting schools that have low achievements. In terms of options after a principalship, senior principals spoke of their intention to remain at the same school until their retirement phase arrives. However, interviewed senior principals revealed their intentions of becoming school leadership consultants as a platform to share their wide experiences with novice principals.
A nested circle-fitting method for micro-hole centering and its application in electrochemical deburring
Authors: Kong Quancun , Liu Guili , Fan Xiahui , Wang Zhiqiang , Li Dong , Song Jianli
Published: April 2019

To solve these problems (i.e. the accuracy rate and stability of the centering) of enabling secondary machining of micro-holes with a size of 0.1 to 1 mm in high-performance metal alloy parts, a non-standard nested circle-fitting least-square method, with a linear constraint passing through the center (least square method with linear constraint [LSLC]), is proposed in this article. The experimental results show that the center of the circle is fitted with a maximum deviation of ±1.5 µm and good fitting precision, compared to other existing approaches. At the same time, the accuracy rate is increased by at least 20%, delivering a result of more than 99%, so the accuracy of the fitting and the stability of the centering are significantly improved. Finally, the new method is applied in actual micro-hole electrochemical deburring study. With the overall goal of ensuring centering, a rough-and-fine deburring process has been explored. On the premise that the hole is not expanded, the burrs have been quickly and completely removed, and machined surface roughness, Ra, has also reduced from 1.2 to 0.52 µm. The experiment has provided concrete validation of the feasibility of the nested circle-fitting method we have proposed.
Team members perspectives on conflicts in clinical ethics committees
Authors: Scherer Anika , Alt-Epping Bernd , Nauck Friedemann , Marx Gabriella
Published: April 2019

Background:

Clinical ethics committees have been broadly implemented in university hospitals, general hospitals and nursing homes. To ensure the quality of ethics consultations, evaluation should be mandatory.

Research question/aim:

The aim of this article is to evaluate the perspectives of all people involved and the process of implementation on the wards.

Research design and participants:

The data were collected in two steps: by means of non-participating observation of four ethics case consultations and by open-guided interviews with 28 participants. Data analysis was performed according to grounded theory.

Ethical considerations:

The study received approval from the local Ethics Commission (registration no.: 32/11/10).

Findings:

‘Communication problems’ and ‘hierarchical team conflicts’ proved to be the main aspects that led to ethics consultation, involving two factors: unresolvable differences arise in the context of team conflicts on the ward and unresolvable differences prevent a solution being found. Hierarchical asymmetries, which are common in the medical field, support this vicious circle. Based on this, minor or major disagreements regarding clinical decisions might be seen as ethical conflicts. The expectation on the clinical ethics committee is to solve this (communication) problem, but the participants experienced that hierarchy is maintained by the clinical ethics committee members.

Discussion:

The asymmetrical structures of the clinical ethics committee reflect the institutional hierarchical nature. They endure, despite the fact that the clinical ethics committee should be able to detect and overcome them. Disagreements among care givers are described as one of the most difficult ethically relevant situations and should be recognised by the clinical ethics committee. On the contrary, discussion of team conflicts and clinical ethical issues should not be combined, since the first is a mandate for team supervision.

Conclusion:

To avoid dominance by physicians and an excessively factual character of the presentation, the case or conflict could be presented by both physicians and nurses, a strategy that strengthens the interpersonal and emotional aspects and also integrates both professional perspectives.
Interrelationship Between Health Insurance Status and Prostate Cancer Grade Can Have Critical Impact on Prostate Cancer Disease Control: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Awasthi Shivanshu , Gerke Travis , Williams Vonetta L. , Asamoah Francis , Fink Angelina K. , Balkrishnan Rajesh , Park Jong Y. , Yamoah Kosj
Published: April 2019

The extent to which prostate cancer (PCa) pathology interacts with health insurance to predict PCa outcomes remains unclear. This study will assess the overall association of health insurance on PCa disease control and analyze its interrelationship PCa pathology. A total of 674 PCa patients, treated with prostatectomy from 1987 to 2015, were included in the study. Freedom from biochemical failure (FFbF) was used as a measure of PCa disease control. Methods of categorical and survival analysis were used to analyze the relationships between health insurance, PCa pathology, and FFbF. A total of 63.3% patients were privately insured, 27.1% were publicly insured, and 9.5% were uninsured. In a multivariable model, privately (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-0.97, P = .03) and publicly (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.41-1.04, P = .07) insured patients showed improvement in FFbF compared to uninsured patients. The association of health insurance was significantly stronger for the patients with pathologically low grade PCa (pathologic Gleason Score 3+3 & preoperative prostate-specific antigen ≤10 ng/mL), likelihood ratio P = .009. Privately (HR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10-0.46) or publicly (HR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11-0.60) insured patients with low grade PCa demonstrated favorable association with FFbF. Patients with private and public insurance were more likely to experience favorable treatment. The association of health insurance on PCa disease control is significantly stronger among patients with pathologically low grade PCa. This study identifies health insurance status as pretreatment surrogate for PCa disease control.
School District and Researcher Collaboration: A School Administrator’s Practice and Perspective
Authors: Brulles Dina
Published: April 2019

The author, as a school administrator, wrote this article to describe an effective collaboration with several universities on research projects that benefit both institutions. The outcomes described here focus on the process involved in such collaborations and the benefits to the school district these collaborations can create. Directed toward other school administrators, the article outlines processes employed to encourage similar partnerships between other school districts and universities. Based largely on the collaborative partnership between Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) and the College of William & Mary, the author shares a framework for initiating and planning such collaboration from a school administrator’s perspective. Within this framework, she describes approaches for obtaining administrative support, methods for planning proactively, suggestions for allocating time and resources, and the importance of integrating projects into existing structures and aligning them to district initiatives. The outcomes discussed describe what schools can expect from these collaborative partnerships. These outcomes can include professional learning opportunities with leading experts in the field, free curriculum and other resources, and access to school or district research-based data that have been analyzed by the higher institution’s researchers.
Identifying ADHD Individuals From Resting-State Functional Connectivity Using Subspace Clustering and Binary Hypothesis Testing
Authors: Tang Yibin , Wang Chun , Chen Ying , Sun Ning , Jiang Aimin , Wang Zhishun
Published: April 2019

Objective: This study focused on the ADHD classification through functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Method: An ADHD classification method was proposed with subspace clustering and binary hypothesis testing, wherein partial information of test data was adopted for training. By hypothesizing the binary label (ADHD or control) for the test data, two feature sets of training FC data were generated during the feature selection procedure that employed both training and test data. Then, a multi-affinity subspace clustering approach was performed to obtain the corresponding subspace-projected feature sets. With the energy comparison of projected feature sets, we finally identified ADHD individuals for the test data. Results: Our method outperformed several state-of-the-art methods with the above 90% average identification accuracy. By the discriminative FC contribution analysis, it also proved the reliability of our method. Conclusion: Results demonstrate the remarkable classification performance of our method and reveal some useful brain circuits to identify ADHD.
Ocular bleeding in an undiagnosed hemophiliac neonate causing irreversible loss of vision: A case report with review of the literature
Authors: Al-Sharif Eman , AlEnezi Saad H , Sharif Heba Al , Osman Essam A
Published: April 2019

Introduction:

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is an unexpected complication after penetrating keratoplasty during childhood. We report the case of delayed suprachoroidal hemorrhage after penetrating keratoplasty in a neonate as the first manifestation of hemophilia.

Case report:

A 4-day-old neonate was referred to our hospital because of bilateral corneal opacities present since birth. A diagnosis of bilateral Peter’s anomaly type 2 with right eye corneal perforation was made after examination. Appropriate treatment was commenced, and later, right eye therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty combined with lensectomy, and anterior vitrectomy was performed. This was complicated postoperatively with suprachoroidal hemorrhage and retinal detachment. Conservative management was advised due to poor visual prognosis. Three months later, the patient was found to have high intraocular pressure in the left eye and glaucoma surgery was recommended. Proper hematological investigations before glaucoma surgery in the left eye revealed a low level of factor VIII with normal levels of factor IX and von Willebrand’s factor antigen. Therefore, a diagnosis of hemophilia type A was established.

Conclusion:

This case serves as a reminder that the occurrence of suprachoroidal hemorrhage, especially in the absence of other predisposing risk factors, should warrant detailed systemic assessment to exclude underlying bleeding disorders.
The Cutaneous Microbiome: Implications for Dermatology Practice
Authors: Sander Megan A. , Sander Michael S. , Isaac-Renton Judith L. , Croxen Matthew A.
Published: April 2019

The human integument is inhabited by a vast array of microorganisms known collectively as the cutaneous microbiome. As a result of advances in laboratory science, our understanding of the diversity and complexity of the human microbiome is rapidly evolving. In particular, advances in the field of genomics have enabled the study of the cutaneous microbiome with a hitherto unimaginable level of detail, resulting in a maturation of our understanding of cutaneous health and disease. Herein, we review current microbiology concepts and highlight the key features of recent laboratory advances, particularly with respect to genomics. We provide a summary of new findings related to normal skin flora, interactions between host immunity and microbial communities, and microbial relationships with common skin disorders. Finally, we review the implications for dermatologists.
Cost Savings Analysis of Individualized Exercise Oncology Programs
Authors: Wonders Karen Y. , Wise Rob , Ondreka Danielle , Gratsch Josh
Published: April 2019

Background: The physical and economic toll of cancer make it a high health priority. The rising cost of cancer care is now a primary focus for patients, payers, and providers. Escalating costs of clinical trials and national drug regulations have led the median monthly costs of cancer drugs to rise from less than $100 in 1965 to 1969, to more than $5000 in 2005 to 2009, stressing the importance of finding innovative ways to reduce cost burden. In the present study, we report the economic evaluation of an individualized exercise oncology program beginning early after diagnosis. Methods: An independent research group, ASCEND Innovations, retrospectively analyzed patient records to statistically demonstrate the impact of exercise oncology during cancer treatment. All patients completed 12 weeks of prescribed, individualized exercise that included cardiovascular, strength training, and flexibility components. The 3 primary hospital measures leveraged for statistical comparison before and after supportive care enrollment were number of encounters, number of readmissions, and average total charges, as well as emergency room visits and length of hospital stay ( P < .05). Results: The resulting dataset consisted of 1493 total hospital encounters for 147 unique patients. The results statistically demonstrate a positive effect of exercise oncology during cancer care, in terms of reductions in overall cost per patient pre- to post-intervention. Conclusions: Individualized exercise oncology programs should be employed as part of the national standard of care for individuals battling cancer, in order to improve patient outcome and reduce cost burden.
Chromium exposure disrupts chromatin architecture upsetting the mechanisms that regulate transcription
Authors: Zablon Hesbon A , VonHandorf Andrew , Puga Alvaro
Published: April 2019

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a highly mutagenic and carcinogenic chemical used in many industrial processes. Occupational exposure to chromium, occurring mostly by inhalation, constitutes a major lung cancer risk affecting chromium workers. Environmental exposure, on the other hand, mainly by ingestion of contaminated drinking water, is a widespread gastrointestinal cancer risk, affecting millions of people throughout the world. One of the major mechanisms through which Cr(VI) causes carcinogenic transformation is thought to be the disruption of transcriptional regulation. Indeed, Cr(VI)-directed DNA damage and crosslinking occurs preferentially at sites where active DNA replication and transcription processes take place. Accordingly, numerous studies have shown that Cr(VI) causes gene expression changes in a wide range of cell signaling pathways, resulting from Cr(VI)-induced direct macromolecular damage, alteration in transcription factor function, and disruption of epigenetic signatures. This brief review highlights past and current information on the impact of Cr(VI) on the various mechanisms of transcriptional regulation.

Impact statement

This mini-review highlights current evidence on the mechanisms through which hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) disrupts transcriptional regulation, an emerging area of interest and one of the central processes by which chromium induces carcinogenesis. Several studies have shown that Cr(VI) causes widespread DNA damage and disrupts epigenetic signatures, suggesting that chromatin may be a direct Cr(VI) target. The findings discussed here suggest that Cr(VI) disrupts transcriptional regulation by causing genomic architecture changes.
Investigating electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of knitted fabrics made by barium titanate/polyester bicomponent yarn
Authors: Celen Rumeysa , Ulcay Yusuf
Published: April 2019

Electromagnetic pollution is a problem that damages all creatures and electronic devices. Most of the electronic devices we use at homes emit electromagnetic radiation. Conductive textile surfaces are used for electromagnetic shielding applications. However, to provide electromagnetic shielding, there has not been any study on the bicomponent fiber production with barium titanate. For this purpose, in this study, bicomponent yarns were produced using three different adding ratios of barium titanate. The mechanical and electrical properties of the yarns were investigated. Knitted fabrics were produced from bicomponent yarns with two different fabric densities using a circular knitting machine. The effects of the additive ratio and the fabric density on the effectiveness of the electromagnetic shielding were also investigated. The fabric with the highest content of the barium titanate and greater fabric density showed the highest shielding effectiveness, reaching 25.95 dB at 0.02 GHz.
“I’ve Been Silenced for so Long”: Relational Engagement and Empowerment in a Digital Storytelling Project With Young Women Exposed to Dating Violence
Authors: Martin Stephanie L. , McLean Jessica , Brooks Carolyn , Wood Karen
Published: April 2019

Despite decades of research identifying the myriad causes and consequences, young women continue to be exposed to a variety of abuses in their dating relationships. Those who experience such violence often feel shame and isolation and hesitate to reach out for support for fear that their stories will not be heard, respected, or garner appropriate responses. Such abuse often results in grave consequences to well-being and quality of life, with the risk of exposure to one incident of abuse potentially leading to a cycle where young women may be repeatedly drawn to abusive relationships. Finding new ways to expose and disrupt this cycle of abuse in intimate relationships is critical. This article highlights the methods used, specifically an adapted version of digital storytelling as a potential empowerment research methodology with a small group of young women exposed to dating violence. Implementation of this methodology occurred in four phases: providing methodological context, preparing (setting the stage), implementing (constructing and sharing digital stories), and evaluating (experience and impact). Each phase of the methodology is described along with lessons learned to advance the innovative use of digital storytelling in anti-violence research.
The socially effective leader: Exploring the relationship between athletic director political skill and coach commitment and job satisfaction
Authors: Robinson G Matthew , Magnusen Mar , Kim Jun W
Published: April 2019

Previous sport management research has demonstrated the positive relationship between political skill and personal career outcomes, but research addressing the question of how leader social effectiveness (i.e. political skill) influences the commitment and satisfaction of subordinates is lacking. This study sought to determine if leader (athletic director) political skill influences subordinate (head coach) evaluations of leader effectiveness, in turn influencing subordinate job satisfaction and commitment. Surveys were completed by interscholastic athletic directors ( n = 250) and representative subsets of head coaches ( n = 806) in the United States. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Political skill was shown to have a positive impact on evaluations of leader effectiveness. Leader effectiveness also acts as a mediator between political skill and employee job satisfaction and affective organizational commitment. Thus, political skill appears to be an important contributor to subordinate perceptions of leadership effectiveness, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.
Developing creative team games players: From jazz to sport coaching
Authors: Santos Manuel , Morgan Kevin
Published: April 2019

Traditional coaching methods position coaches at the centre of the learning process and do not encourage players to think creatively. This study challenged this assertion, through the application of pedagogical principles reported in jazz-related literature, which argue that creativity is best developed through collaboration. As such, the study aimed to develop players’ creativity, through the application of pedagogical principles reported in jazz-related literature. An action research design was implemented, during a 14-weeks period, with a youth volleyball squad. Results demonstrated an impact upon match play; players showed their enhanced appreciation of the game’s complexity, by experimenting, collaborating, and generating creative solutions to challenges emerging within matches. In addition, the implementation of collaborative practices positively impacted upon the players’ communication habits, which were both more frequent and effective. Although players demonstrated a similar modus operandi to jazz musicians, this study represents the first step in what coaches can learn from jazz creativity, and therefore further research is required to corroborate or challenge the results attained.
Relationships between barbell squat strength and weightlifting performance
Authors: Lucero Rhys AJ , Fry Andrew C , LeRoux Christopher D , Hermes Matthew J
Published: April 2019

Weightlifters compete in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total (snatch + clean and jerk). Commonly used assistance exercises for training weightlifters are front barbell squats and back barbell squats. The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between the front barbell squats and back barbell squats one repetition maximum (1 RM) and the snatch, clean and jerk, and total 1 RM. Senior male competitive weightlifters ( n = 72) served as subjects in the survey. Significant correlations were found between front barbell squats and snatch, clean and jerk, or total 1 RM ( r2 = 0.85, 0.88, and 0.87 respectively) and between back barbell squats and snatch, clean and jerk, or total 1 RM ( r2 = 0.83, 0.84, and 0.83 respectively). Regression analyses indicate that 1 RM in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total are linearly related to the 1 RM in the front barbell squats and back barbell squats. Superior lifters appeared to be more efficient in using their back barbell squats strength during weightlifting compared to lower level lifters.
The Measles Outbreak: School Nurses’ Population-based Care Super Power
Authors: Maughan Erin D. , Davis Diane
Published: April 2019

Population-based care is an important part of school nursing practice in the 21st century. However, many school nurses may not fully understand what population-based care means. This article outlines what population-based care entails and provides several school nursing examples.
Leadership Preparation for Special Education and Inclusive Schools: Beliefs and Recommendations From Successful Principals
Authors: DeMatthews David E. , Kotok Stephen , Serafini Amy
Published: April 2019

This qualitative study examines the preservice learning experiences of principals who created inclusive schools for students with disabilities. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How do successful principals describe their university-based principal preparation in the area of special education as well as leading inclusive schools for students with disabilities? and (2) What are the leadership practices, skills, and beliefs principals identify that are central to leading special education and inclusive reforms and how were they learned? Findings focus on principal beliefs and values, knowledge and expertise, and instructional leadership practices. The article concludes with implications for leadership preparation programs.
The Tutoring Industry in Hong Kong: From the Past Four Decades to the Future
Authors: Eng Richard
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

This article sheds light on the historical changes in the tutoring industry and discusses the nature and driving forces of tutoring in the Hong Kong context. Based on the historical overview, this article introduces new developments in tutoring and discusses how tutoring fits into the bigger education picture.

Design/Approach/Methods:

Private tutoring in Hong Kong saw its takeoff in business in the 1980s, when the economy started to boom and parents were more willing to spend money on their children’s education. These parents hoped that their children, by receiving university education, could improve their families’ lives and secure a brighter future. Public examinations were used as a screening tool to select the cream of the crop for university admissions. Therefore, for many local mainstream school students, passing the public examinations with flying colors became the be-all and end-all of their studies. Tutorial schools regarded their fears as an opportunity and devised courses to suit their needs and allay their fears.

Findings:

More recently, educational reform, declining birth rate, and technological advances have brought challenges for tutoring businesses. They have explored new markets and changed the mode of operation to increase student intake and cut costs. It is expected that local tutorial schools, in particular the big tutorial-school chains, will provide more online courses for learners from early childhood to adult and will reduce the number and scale of off-line courses. Also, we may see a new kind of “star” tutors catering not to local mainstream school students but to their local international school counterparts.

Originality/Value:

Literature on tutoring in Hong Kong mainly investigates the phenomenon in recent times, specifically the past two decades. This article is the first attempt to draw a holistic picture of tutoring’s historical development from an industrial perspective.
English Private Tutoring in Macao: Perceptions of Senior Secondary Three Students
Authors: Chan Vivien Nga Man
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

This article examines how individual, school, and social factors shape the perceptions of students in Senior Secondary Three (SS3; in some schools called Form Six [F6]) toward English private tutoring in Macao.

Design/Approach/Methods:

This is a comparative study of two F6 classes of an English-medium secondary school and four SS3 classes of a Chinese-medium secondary school in Macao, with a total number of 145 students. Mixed-methods approach (questionnaires and interviews) is employed in the study.

Findings:

The respondents’ participation in English tutoring is not very intensive. They prefer to receive government-subsidized after-school tutoring taught by their schoolteachers more than fee-paying English tutoring taught by tutors outside. Low level of social competition and high tertiary enrollment rates contribute to this phenomenon. Students’ needs and beliefs in English learning play key roles in determining their receipt of English tutoring.

Originality/Value:

Teachers may need better understanding of their students’ needs so as to design suitable pedagogies. Schools can consider more fully the types of tutoring that they provide for different kinds of pupils. The government-subsidized after-school tutoring could be a plausible way to reduce educational inequality.
The Composition and Evolution of China’s High-Level Talent Programs in Higher Education
Authors: Zhu Junwen
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

This article provides an overview of the composition and evolution of China’s high-level talent programs in higher education.

Design/Approach/Methods:

This article reviews key talent policies adopted by the Chinese government since the 1990s, using content analysis methods to identify policy characteristics and reform trends.

Findings:

Talent programs in China operate at four levels: the national level, provincial level, city level, and institutional level. The main objectives of China’s high-level talent programs are to support and promote the development of young talent and to encourage overseas scholars to return to China. China’s high-level talent programs have undergone various changes since 1993. The evolution is characterized by the following five major aspects: individual program optimization; replacement, integration, and separation; preventing overlapping funding; mitigating the unbalanced impact the programs have on higher education institutions across regions; and strengthening risk assessment for programs focused on attracting overseas talent.

Originality/Value:

This article offers a comprehensive assessment of the talent programs implemented by Chinese universities and explores the key trends and content of recent policy changes.
Syntaxin 17 Recruits ACSL3 to Lipid Microdomains in Lipid Droplet Biogenesis
Authors: Kimura Hana , Arasaki Kohei , Iitsuka Moe , Tagaya Mitsuo
Published: April 2019

During lipid droplet (LD) formation, several key enzymes for neutral lipid biosynthesis, such as acyl-CoA synthetase 3 (ACSL3), translocate from the bilayer of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane or mitochondria-associated membrane to the monolayer surface of LDs. It has been recently shown that syntaxin 17 (Stx17) in cooperation with synaptosomal-associated protein of 23 kDa (SNAP23) facilitates the translocation of ACSL3 from the endoplasmic reticulum/mitochondria-associated membrane to LDs. In this study, we investigated whether lipid microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids are important for the formation of LDs and the interaction of Stx17 with ACSL3 and SNAP23. Cholesterol depletion and blockage of ceramide synthesis by chemicals inhibited oleic acid (OA)-induced LD biogenesis and decreased the interaction of Stx17 with ACSL3 and SNAP23, whereas blockage of ganglioside GD3 synthesis by sialyltransferase knockdown interfered with LD biogenesis by affecting the interaction of Stx17 with SNAP23 but not ACSL3. Consistent with the requirement of GD3 in LD biogenesis, Stx17 was found to associate with GD3-containing membranes upon OA loading. SNAP23 and a minor fraction of Stx17 were found to reside in detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), whereas OA treatment caused redistribution of ACSL3 and Stx17 to DRMs. Importantly, the redistribution of ACSL3 to DRMs was abrogated upon depletion of Stx17 or SNAP23. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of lipid microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids as a platform for the interaction of Stx17 with ACSL3 and SNAP23 in LD biogenesis.
Comparison of the clinical estimation of cup-to-disk ratio by direct ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography
Authors: Amedo Angela Ofeibea , Koomson Nana Yaa , Kobia Acquah Emmanuel , Pascal Tchiakpe Michel , Atuahene Johnson , Akowuah Prince Kwaku , Djeagbo Philip Tetteh , Baafi Richard
Published: April 2019

Objective:

To compare the clinical estimation of cup-to-disk ratio determined by direct ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography in glaucoma diagnosis and monitoring.

Methods:

A retrospective, cross-sectional study involving a review of 71 optical coherence tomography scans dating from June 2011 to January 2012 at a private imaging lab in Ghana. At the respective referring facilities, only 31 out of the 71 corresponding patient records were successfully reviewed.

Results:

Majority (54.84%) of the 31 patient records successfully reviewed were women. The mean age was 44.54 ± 16.15 years. Cup-to-disk ratio was grouped into ⩽0.4, >0.4–0.6, >0.6–0.8, and >0.8–1.0 based on direct ophthalmoscopy values. The overall mean cup-to-disk ratio estimated by the optical coherence tomography and direct ophthalmoscopy were 0.72 ± 0.21 and 0.60 ± 0.26, respectively. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean cup-to-disk ratio estimation by direct ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography [right eye ( p = 0.0629); left eye ( p = 0.0766)]. There was a statistically significant difference between direct ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography cup-to-disk ratio estimation for values ⩽0.4 [right eye ( p = 0.0061); left eye ( p = 0.0063)] and values >0.4–0.6 [right eye ( p = 0.0243); left eye ( p = 0.0498)]. There was no statistically significant difference between conventional direct ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography cup-to-disk ratio estimation for cup-to-disk ratio >0.6.

Conclusion:

We recommend clinicians document which method they use in evaluating optic nerve head parameters. This is to ensure that subsequent clinical decisions are not influenced by an apparent change in these parameters, especially cup-to-disk ratio as different methods might give different values.
Prognostic impact of circulating tumor DNA status post–allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in AML and MDS
Authors: Nakamura Sousuke , Yokoyama Kazuaki , Shimizu Eigo , Yusa Nozomi , Kondoh Kanya , Ogawa Miho , Takei Tomomi , Kobayashi Asako , Ito Mika , Isobe Masamichi , Konuma Takaaki , Kato Seiko , Kasajima Rika , Wada Yuka , Nagamura-Inoue Tokiko , Yamaguchi Rui , Takahashi Satoshi , Imoto Seiya , Miyano Satoru , Tojo Arinobu
Published: April 2019

This study was performed to assess the utility of tumor-derived fragmentary DNA, or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), for identifying high-risk patients for relapse of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (AML/MDS) after undergoing myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). We retrospectively collected tumor and available matched serum samples at diagnosis and 1 and 3 months post-alloSCT from 53 patients with AML/MDS. After identifying driver mutations in 51 patients using next-generation sequencing, we designed at least 1 personalized digital polymerase chain reaction assay per case. Diagnostic ctDNA and matched tumor DNA exhibited excellent correlations with variant allele frequencies. Sixteen patients relapsed after a median of 7 months post-alloSCT. Both mutation persistence (MP) in bone marrow (BM) at 1 and 3 months post-alloSCT and corresponding ctDNA persistence (CP) in the matched serum (MP1 and MP3; CP1 and CP3, respectively) were comparably associated with higher 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) rates (MP1 vs non-MP1, 72.9% vs 13.8% [P = .0012]; CP1 vs non-CP1, 65.6% vs 9.0% [P = .0002]; MP3 vs non-MP3, 80% vs 11.6% [P = .0002]; CP3 vs non-CP3, 71.4% vs 8.4% [P < .0001]). We subsequently evaluated whether subset analysis of patients with 3 genes associated with clonal hematopoiesis, DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1 (DTA), could also be helpful in relapse prediction. As a result, CP based on DTA gene mutations also had the prognostic effect on CIR. These results, for the first time, support the utility of ctDNA as a noninvasive prognostic biomarker in patients with AML/MDS undergoing alloSCT.
Decellularized Wharton jelly matrix: a biomimetic scaffold for ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell culture
Authors: Li Dandan , Chiu Grace , Lipe Brea , Hopkins Richard A. , Lillis Jacquelyn , Ashton John M. , Paul Soumen , Aljitawi Omar S.
Published: April 2019

Hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in the bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic “niche,” a special 3-dimensional (3D) microenvironment that regulates HSPC self-renewal and multipotency. In this study, we evaluated a novel 3D in vitro culture system that uses components of the BM hematopoietic niche to expand umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ cells. We developed this model using decellularized Wharton jelly matrix (DWJM) as an extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold and human BM mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as supporting niche cells. To assess the efficacy of this model in expanding CD34+ cells, we analyzed UCB CD34+ cells, following culture in DWJM, for proliferation, viability, self-renewal, multilineage differentiation, and transmigration capability. We found that DWJM significantly expanded UCB HSPC subset. It promoted UCB CD34+ cell quiescence, while maintaining their viability, differentiation potential with megakaryocytic differentiation bias, and clonogenic capacity. DWJM induced an increase in the frequency of c-kit+ cells, a population with enhanced self-renewal ability, and in CXCR4 expression in CD34+ cells, which enhanced their transmigration capability. The presence of BM MSCs in DWJM, however, impaired UCB CD34+ cell transmigration and suppressed CXCR4 expression. Transcriptome analysis indicated that DWJM upregulates a set of genes that are specifically involved in megakaryocytic differentiation, cell mobility, and BM homing. Collectively, our results indicate that the DWJM-based 3D culture system is a novel in vitro model that supports the proliferation of UCB CD34+ cells with enhanced transmigration potential, while maintaining their differentiation potential. Our findings shed light on the interplay between DWJM and BM MSCs in supporting the ex vivo culture of human UCB CD34+ cells for use in clinical transplantation.
Efficacy and immunologic effects of extracorporeal photopheresis plus interleukin-2 in chronic graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Belizaire Roger , Kim Haesook T. , Poryanda Samuel J. , Mirkovic Nikola V. , Hipolito Evelyn , Savage William J. , Reynolds Carol G. , Fields Marie J. , Whangbo Jennifer , Kubo Tomohiro , Nikiforow Sarah , Alyea Edwin P. , Armand Philippe , Cutler Corey S. , Ho Vincent T. , Blazar Bruce R. , Antin Joseph H. , Ritz Jerome , Soiffer Robert J. , Koreth John
Published: April 2019

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) affects >50% of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), an immunomodulatory therapy, provides clinical benefit in steroid-refractory (SR) cGVHD, possibly via regulatory T (Treg) and natural killer (NK) cell expansion. We demonstrated that low-dose interleukin-2 (IL2) led to clinical improvement in SR-cGVHD and stimulated preferential Treg and NK-cell expansion with minimal effect on conventional T (Tcon) cells. We evaluated the effect of ECP (weeks 1-16) plus IL2 (1 × 106 IU/m2, weeks 9-16) in 25 adult patients with SR-cGVHD in a prospective phase 2 trial. Objective responses occurred in 29% and 62% of evaluable patients at weeks 8 (ECP alone) and 16 (ECP plus IL2), respectively. Eight weeks of ECP alone was associated with a marked decline in CD4+ Tcon (P = .03) and CD8+ T cells (P = .0002), with minimal change in Treg cells, Treg:Tcon cell ratio, or NK cells. Adding IL2 induced an increase in Treg cells (P < .05 at weeks 9-16 vs week 8), Treg:Tcon cell ratio (P < .0001 at weeks 9-16 vs week 8), and NK cells (P < .05 at weeks 9-16 vs week 8). Patients responding to ECP alone had significantly fewer CD4+ Tcon and CD8+ T cells at baseline compared with patients who responded after IL2 addition and patients who did not respond; neither Treg nor NK cells were associated with response to ECP alone. Altogether, ECP plus IL2 is safe and effective in patients with SR-cGVHD. ECP and IL2 have distinct immunologic effects, suggesting different therapeutic mechanisms of action. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02340676.
Impact of age on clinical risk scores in follicular lymphoma
Authors: Alig Stefan , Jurinovic Vindi , Pastore Alessandro , Haebe Sarah , Schmidt Christian , Zoellner Anna-Katharina , Dreyling Martin , Unterhalt Michael , Hoster Eva , Hiddemann Wolfgang , Weigert Oliver
Published: April 2019

The Follicular Lymphoma (FL) International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) and FLIPI-2 are well-described clinical risk models. Age >60 years at diagnosis is a risk factor in both scores. Recently, we showed that older age is not associated with higher risk of disease progression or inferior treatment efficacy. Instead, shorter survival of older patients results mainly from an increased risk of nonrelapse deaths. This questions the value of age as a meaningful component of scores intended to predict disease-specific survival. The newly proposed PRIMA-prognostic index (PRIMA-PI) only includes β2-microglobulin levels and bone marrow infiltration as risk factors. Here, we independently validate the PRIMA-PI in a clinical trial cohort of 475 patients with advanced FL who uniformly received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, prednisone, and rituximab (R-CHOP) as frontline therapy. The PRIMA-PI separated 3 similar sized risk cohorts with 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates of 74%, 59%, and 39%, respectively (P < .0001). Furthermore, we compare the PRIMA-PI with the FLIPI and FLIPI-2. We demonstrate that the PRIMA-PI has the highest specificity to identify high-risk patients (80% for 5-year PFS) because of its superior risk stratification in patients >60 years (73% vs 33% [FLIPI] and 47% [FLIPI-2] for 5-year PFS). Thus, the PRIMA-PI is a promising clinical tool to stringently identify patients at highest risk of poor outcome after frontline R-CHOP for advanced FL, and is particularly useful in patients with older age. Further validation in non–R-CHOP treated cohorts is needed.
Seismic image processing through the generative adversarial network
Authors: Picetti Francesco , Lipari Vincenzo , Bestagini Paolo , Tubaro Stefano
Published: April 2019

The advent of new deep-learning and machine-learning paradigms enables the development of new solutions to tackle the challenges posed by new geophysical imaging applications. For this reason, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been deeply investigated as novel tools for seismic image processing. In particular, we have studied a specific CNN architecture, the generative adversarial network (GAN), through which we process seismic migrated images to obtain different kinds of output depending on the application target defined during training. We have developed two proof-of-concept applications. In the first application, a GAN is trained to turn a low-quality migrated image into a high-quality one, as if the acquisition geometry was much more dense than in the input. In the second example, the GAN is trained to turn a migrated image into the respective deconvolved reflectivity image. The effectiveness of the investigated approach is validated by means of tests performed on synthetic examples.
President's Page
Authors: Brook Bob
Published: April 2019

While episodic, digitally distributed audio programming predates the advent of what we now know as podcasting by two decades, this delivery channel did not catch hold until the early 2000s with the introduction of digital audio players such as the Apple iPod. Today, I take this medium for granted as a primary source of information and entertainment. I can't remember the last time I turned on the radio in my car. Podcasts are following a typical technology cycle, described by Kurzweil as an S curve, with slow growth, followed by rapid growth, followed by a leveling off as the particular paradigm matures.