bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and psychometric assessment of the triage nurses’ professional capability questionnaire in the emergency department
Authors: Bijani Mostafa , Rakhshan Mahnaz , Fararouei Mohammad , Torabizadeh Camellia
Published: September 2020

Background

Evaluation of triage nurses’ professional capability is integral to identifying potentials for professional development and nurses’ educational needs, thus, there is a need for valid instruments to assess their professional capability. The present study was conducted to develop and measure the reliability and validity of a triage nurses’ professional capability questionnaire.

Methods

This exploratory research was conducted in two stages: in the first stage (the qualitative phase), the concept of professional capability in triage nurses was defined and the items of the questionnaire were developed through conventional content analysis. In the second stage (the quantitative phase), the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed based on analyses of its face validity, content validity, construct validity, internal homogeneity, and consistency.

Results

The initial item pool consisted of 90 items, while the final scale was comprised of 35 items. The S-CVI/Ave of the questionnaire was found to be 0.96.The exploratory factor analysis showed that the factor loading of the items was between 0.46–0.89, all of which were significant, and the three dimensions introduced in the main instrument were verified with acceptable values. The overall intraclass correlation coefficient of the instrument was calculated to be 0.90. The reliability of the instrument was assessed in terms of its internal homogeneity where the Cronbach’s alpha of the whole instrument was found to be 0.89.

Conclusions

The results showed that the questionnaire developed for assessment of triage nurses’ professional capability is sufficiently reliable and valid and can be employed by nurse administrators to evaluate triage nurses’ professional capability.
Development and validation of a RNA binding protein gene pair-associated prognostic signature for prediction of overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kang Chunmiao , Jia Xuanhui , Liu Hongsheng
Published: September 2020

Background

Increasing evidence has demonstrated the correlation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) dysregulation. Thus, we aimed to develop and validate a reliable prognostic signature that can estimate the prognosis for HCC.

Methods

Gene expression profiling and clinical information of 374 HCC patients were derived from the TCGA data portal. The survival-related RBP pairs were determined using univariate cox-regression analysis and the signature was built based on LASSO analysis. All patients were divided patients into high-and low-risk groups according to the optimal cut off of the signature score determined by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The predictive value of the signature was further validated in an independent cohort.

Results

A 37-RBP pairs signature consisting of 61 unique genes was constructed which was significantly associated with the survival. The RBP-related signature accurately predicted the prognosis of HCC patients, and patients in high-risk groups showed poor survival in two cohorts. The novel signature was an independent prognostic factor of HCC in two cohorts (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, the C-index of the prognostic model was 0.799, which was higher than that of many established risk models. Pathway and process enrichment analysis showed that the 61 unique genes were mainly enriched in translation, ncRNA metabolic process, RNA splicing, RNA modification, and translational termination.

Conclusion

The novel proposed RBP-related signature based on relative expression orderings could serve as a promising independent prognostic biomarker for patients with HCC, and could improve the individualized survival prediction in HCC.
Mesenchymal stem cell mediates cardiac repair through autocrine, paracrine and endocrine axes
Authors: Sid-Otmane Celia , Perrault Louis P. , Ly Hung Q.
Published: September 2020

In the past decade, despite key advances in therapeutic strategies following myocardial infarction, none can directly address the loss of cardiomyocytes following ischemic injury. Cardiac cell-based therapy is at the cornerstone of regenerative medicine that has shown potential for tissue repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) represent a strong candidate to heal the infarcted myocardium. While differentiation potential has been described as a possible avenue for MSC-based repair, their secreted mediators are responsible for the majority of the ascribed prohealing effects. MSC can either promote their own survival and proliferation through autocrine effect or secrete trophic factors that will act on adjacent cells through a paracrine effect. Prior studies have also documented beneficial effects even when MSCs were remotely delivered, much akin to an endocrine mechanism. This review aims to distinguish the paracrine activity of MSCs from an endocrine-like effect, where remotely transplanted cells can promote healing of the injured myocardium.
Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels control acute itch in mice
Authors: Gadotti Vinicius M. , Kreitinger Joanna M. , Wageling Nicholas B. , Budke Dylan , Diaz Philippe , Zamponi Gerald W.
Published: September 2020

Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels are important mediators of nociceptive signaling, but their roles in the transmission of itch remains poorly understood. Here we report a key involvement of these channels as key modulators of itch/pruritus-related behavior. We compared scratching behavior responses between wild type and Cav3.2 null mice in models of histamine- or chloroquine-induced itch. We also evaluated the effect of the T-type calcium channel blocker DX332 in male and female wild-type mice injected with either histamine or chloroquine. Cav3.2 null mice exhibited decreased scratching responses during both histamine- and chloroquine-induced acute itch. DX332 co-injected with the pruritogens inhibited scratching responses of male and female mice treated with either histamine or chloroquine. Altogether, our data provide strong evidence that Cav3.2 T-type channels exert an important role in modulating histamine-dependent and -independent itch transmission in the primary sensory afferent pathway, and highlight these channels as potential pharmacological targets to treat pruritus.
Reorganization of Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri, an oncological and dermatological clinical and research center, to face the coronavirus health emergency: adopted measures and metrics of success to achieve and keep a COVID-19-free status
Authors: De Luca Assunta , Ripa di Meana Francesco , Vujovic Branka , Morrone Aldo , Degirolamo Chiara , Ciliberto Gennaro , Lavalle Tiziana
Published: September 2020

Background

A pronounced polarization of healthcare resources and workforce towards the prevention of the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 occurred at the expenses of the majority of chronic diseases and cancer, thus jeopardizing continuity of care and therapy outcomes.

Main body of the abstract

In this challenging and overwhelming scenario, our Institute confirmed its mission to provide expert cancer care. Here, we provide a report of strategic decisions made and of articulated measures developed to limit virus spreading while striving to make our hospital closer to patients.

Conclusions

We hope our experience may serve as a resource to inform clinical care models in case of future epidemiological outbreaks.
Assisting nurses in care documentation: from automated sentence classification to coherent document structures with subject headings
Authors: Moen Hans , Hakala Kai , Peltonen Laura-Maria , Matinolli Hanna-Maria , Suhonen Henry , Terho Kirsi , Danielsson-Ojala Riitta , Valta Maija , Ginter Filip , Salakoski Tapio , Salanterä Sanna
Published: September 2020

Background

Up to 35% of nurses’ working time is spent on care documentation. We describe the evaluation of a system aimed at assisting nurses in documenting patient care and potentially reducing the documentation workload. Our goal is to enable nurses to write or dictate nursing notes in a narrative manner without having to manually structure their text under subject headings. In the current care classification standard used in the targeted hospital, there are more than 500 subject headings to choose from, making it challenging and time consuming for nurses to use.

Methods

The task of the presented system is to automatically group sentences into paragraphs and assign subject headings. For classification the system relies on a neural network-based text classification model. The nursing notes are initially classified on sentence level. Subsequently coherent paragraphs are constructed from related sentences.

Results

Based on a manual evaluation conducted by a group of three domain experts, we find that in about 69% of the paragraphs formed by the system the topics of the sentences are coherent and the assigned paragraph headings correctly describe the topics. We also show that the use of a paragraph merging step reduces the number of paragraphs produced by 23% without affecting the performance of the system.

Conclusions

The study shows that the presented system produces a coherent and logical structure for freely written nursing narratives and has the potential to reduce the time and effort nurses are currently spending on documenting care in hospitals.
An audit of the changes in thiamine levels during higher caloric nutritional rehabilitation of adolescent patients hospitalised with a restrictive eating disorder
Authors: Parker Elizabeth , Maister Terri , Stefoska-Needham Anita , Wearne Christine , Anderson Gail , Gomes Linette , Clarke Simon , Kohn Michael
Published: September 2020

Background

Routine supplementation of thiamine in patients with restrictive eating disorders prior to initiation of nutritional rehabilitation, is an example of a clinical guideline based on expert opinion rather than evidence-based recommendations. This study investigates whether adolescents hospitalised with a restrictive eating disorder commenced on a higher caloric refeeding regimen, present with or develop thiamine deficiency during their admission.

Methods

An eighteen month retrospective audit of 119 consecutive admissions for nutritional rehabilitation was conducted on patients admitted with an eating disorder in a large tertiary teaching hospital in Western Sydney. Data from paper-based and electronic medical records were collected. Baseline and weekly blood thiamine levels were documented, as well as patient demographic information including admission weight, age, length of stay, percentage median body mass index, weight change throughout admission and caloric prescription.

Results

Sixty admissions met inclusion criteria, mean age 17.2 years (SD 1.2); 88% female; BMI 16.8 kg/m2 (SD 1.8) on admission. A linear mixed effects model identified that median thiamine levels increased by 9.2 nmol/L per week (p < 0.001). No patient developed thiamine deficiency during their admission, one patient was admitted with thiamine levels below the normal range at 62 nmol (normal range 67 – 200 nmol/L) which resolved by the second week of admission. In 15 out of 60 patients (25%), thiamine levels were observed to rise above the upper limit.

Conclusions

Nutritional management of 60 malnourished adolescents hospitalised with an eating disorder was conducted safely with the provision of only 10 mg thiamine in a multivitamin daily, and no additional thiamine supplementation. The high caloric refeeding protocol, inclusive of a daily multivitamin, provided adequate thiamine to prevent thiamine deficiency. Further research should examine thiamine requirements in an exclusive severely malnourished population to assess the need for thiamine replacement in the most vulnerable group.
Correction to: Low-chloride- versus high-chloride-containing hypertonic solution for the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage–related complications: The ACETatE (A low ChloriE hyperTonic solution for brain Edema) randomized trial
Authors: Sadan Ofer , Singbartl Kai , Kraft Jacqueline , Plancher Joao McONeil , Greven Alexander C. M. , Kandiah Prem , Pimentel Cederic , Hall C. L. , Papangelou Alexander , Asbury William H. , Hanfelt John J. , Samuels Owen
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Using a digital patient powered research network to identify outcomes of importance to patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Gries Katharine S. , Fastenau John
Published: September 2020

Background

Social media platforms give patients a voice by allowing them to discuss their health and connect with others. These unfiltered and genuine reports offer direct access to what matters most to patients. Exploring the patient-reported outcomes discussed in these platforms reveal clinical insights and behavioral patterns of the real-world patient journey. This research study reviewed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) concepts reported by patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods

Data were obtained using the Belong.life patient-powered research network (PPRN) using social media listening methods. The analysis cohort consisted of adults diagnosed with MM who signed into the Belong.life platform by June 2018. Natural language processing and medical neural networks were utilized to extract text data to mine and scan for concepts using programmed algorithms. The textual review of the data was conducted on two levels: the over-arching concept of interest (broad symptom and impact classification) and the more specific symptom and impacts report. Concepts were analyzed descriptively and summarized by age, gender, context of report, and stage of disease/treatment journey.

Results

Two hundred thirty patients with MM from the United States (52%), Israel (42%), Canada (3%), and 3% from Egypt, France, Greece, India, United Kingdom, and Australia were identified. A total of 57% were female and at account registration the median age was 57 years. A total of 126 patients had evaluable text data to search concepts being discussed. The PPRN platform identified 93% of the concepts from the conceptual model developed based on prior literature review. The most commonly reported symptoms were neuropathy, tiredness, nausea, back pain, fatigue, and bone pain. Back pain appeared as the most prominent symptom early in the disease and sometimes occurred prior to MM diagnosis. Tiredness, nausea, fatigue, and bone pain were frequently reported after MM diagnosis, with the start of treatment.

Conclusion

Patient-oriented social media platforms, such as Belong.life, can capture and contribute to a holistic vision of concepts surrounding patients’ HRQoL. The ability to understand when a certain debilitating symptom appeared and to which sub-population of patients may allow for a personalized approach to treatment, improving adherence and quality of care as well as increasing patient well-being.
2D perfusion DSA with an open-source, semi-automated, color-coded software for the quantification of foot perfusion following infrapopliteal angioplasty: a feasibility study
Authors: Kagadis George C. , Tsantis Stavros , Gatos Ilias , Spiliopoulos Stavros , Katsanos Konstantinos , Karnabatidis Dimitris
Published: September 2020

Background

Foot perfusion has been recently implemented as a new tool for optimizing outcomes of peripheral endovascular procedures. A custom-made, two-dimensional perfusion digital subtraction angiography (PDSA) algorithm has been implemented to quantify outcomes of endovascular treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI), assist intra-procedural decision-making, and enhance clinical outcomes.

Methods

The study was approved by the Hospital’s Ethics Committee. This prospective, single-center study included seven consecutive patients scheduled to undergo infrapopliteal endovascular treatment of CLI. Perfusion blood volume (PBV), mean transit time (MTT), and perfusion blood flow (PBF) maps were extracted by analyzing time-intensity curves and signal intensity on the perfused vessel mask. Mean values calculated from user-specified regions of interest (ROIs) on perfusion maps were employed to evaluate pre- and post-endovascular treatment condition. Measurements were performed immediately after final PDSA.

Results

In total, five patients (aged 54 ± 16 years, mean ± standard deviation) were analyzed, as two patients were excluded due to significant motion artifacts. Post-procedural MTT presented a mean decrease of 19.1% for all patients and increased only in 1 of 5 patients, demonstrating in 4/5 patients an increase in tissue perfusion after revascularization. Overall mean PBF and PBV values were also analogously increased following revascularization (446% and 69.5% mean, respectively) and in the majority of selected ROIs (13/15 and 12/15 ROIs, respectively).

Conclusions

Quantification of infrapopliteal angioplasty outcomes using this newly proposed, custom-made, intra-procedural PDSA algorithm was performed using PBV, MTT, and PBF maps. Further studies are required to determine its role in peripheral endovascular procedures (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04356092).
Historic review: a short history of neuropediatrics in Germany between 1850 and 1950
Authors: Strassburg Hans Michael
Published: September 2020

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, there has been increasing knowledge about the diagnosis and therapy of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system and muscle in children. The leading causes were cerebral palsy, epilepsy, inflammatory and degenerative diseases, and the innate reduction in intelligence. Because of the often lack of healing options, many pediatricians had little interest in treating these children and left their care to the pedagogues and psychologists. Pioneers of child neurology in the German-speaking countries were Ludwig Mauthner, Franz von Rinecker, Julius Zappert, and Georg Peritz. Especially with the beginning of the National Socialist terror regime, rigorous treatment methods were used, the care facilities for disabled children were closed, and these were either actively murdered or interned under inhumane conditions. In this time, some specialists in neuropediatrics had an ambivalent position between the care for their patients and the selection for their elimination. After 1950, new findings in diagnostics and therapy, especially from Anglo-American countries, played a significant role in the rise of neuropediatrics in Germany.
Clinical phenotype features and genetic etiologies of 38 children with progressive myoclonic epilepsy
Authors: Zhang Jing , Yang Ying , Niu Xueyang , Chen Jiaoyang , Sun Wei , Ding Changhong , Dai Lifang , Zhang Liping , Zeng Qi , Chen Yi , Tian Xiaojuan , Yang Xiaoling , Ji Taoyun , Yang Zhixian , Yang Yanling , Jiang Yuwu , Zhang Yuehua
Published: September 2020

Background

Progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME) is a group of neurodegenerative diseases with genetic heterogeneity and phenotypic similarities, and many cases remain unknown of the genetic causes. This study is aim to summarize the clinical features and study the genetic causes of PME patients.

Methods

Sanger sequencing of the target gene, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panels of epilepsy, trio-based Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and detection of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat number were used to investigate the genetic causes of PME patients.

Results

Thirty-eight children with PME whose seizure onset age ranged from 3 months to 12 years were collected from February 2012 to November 2019 in three hospitals in Beijing, China. The seizure types included myoclonic seizures (n = 38), focal seizures (n = 19), generalized tonic-clonie seizure (GTCS) (n = 13), absence seizures (n = 4), atonic seizures (n = 3), epileptic spasms (n = 2) and tonic seizures (n = 1). Twenty-seven cases were sporadic and 11 had family members affected. Established PME-related genes were identified in 30 out of 38 (78.9%) patients who had either recessively inherited or de novo heterozygous mutations. Among these 30 cases, there were 12 cases (31.6%) of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (the causing gene contains TPP1, PPT1, CLN5, CLN6 and MFSD8), two cases of sialidosis (the causing gene is NEU1), two cases of neuronopathic Gaucher disease (the causing gene is GBA), one case of spinal muscular atrophy-progressive myoclonic epilepsy (the causing gene is ASAH1), four cases of KCNC1 mutation-related PME, four cases of KCTD7 mutation-related PME, two cases of TBC1D24 mutation-related PME, one case of GOSR2 related PME, and two of dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (the causing gene is ATN1). In total, 13 PME genes were identified in our cohort. The etiology was not clear in eight patients.

Conclusion

PME is a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases. Genetic diagnosis was clear in 78.9% of PME patients. Various of genetic testing methods could increase the rate of genetic diagnosis. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) is the most common etiology of PME in children. Nearly one third PME children were diagnosed with NCL. GOSR2 related PME was in our cohort in Asia for the first time.
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection of foam sclerotherapy in management of lower limb varicose veins (pilot study)
Authors: Seyam Omnia A. , Elshimy Ahmed S. , Niazi Gamal Eldine M. , ElGhareeb Mohamed
Published: September 2020

Background

Minimally invasive procedures; like ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection of foam sclerotherapy (USGFS) are being the keystone methods in managing lower limb varicose veins and its complications, being advantageable over the surgery as being minimally invasive with better postoperative comfort and immediate cosmetic effect and faster return to full socioeconomic activity. Varicose veins are common problem that affects the quality of life and have a significant cost burden on the health care system. Sclerotherapy (endovenous chemical ablation) destructs the endothelium to induce inflammation and fibrosis and then occlusion of the blood vessel lumen.

Results

The study included 33 diseased limbs of females (64.7%) and 18 (35.3 %) limbs of males. Of the diseased limbs, 16 (31.3%) presented with disfigurement, 14 (27.4%) with pain, 11 (19.6%) with heaviness, 6 (11.7%) with edema, and 4 (7.8%) with non-healed venous ulcer. Twenty-six (50.9%) diseased limbs show competent sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ) while 25 (49.1%) limbs showed SFJ reflux of variant degrees. All patients underwent direct ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy either as the primary therapy in 29 (56.9%) limbs or as a complementary therapy for residual perforators and varicosities after treatment with other methods of treatment like laser ablation and phlebograph in 22 (43.1%) limbs. Nine (17.6%) limbs treated with 2% polidocanol (Pol.) and 42 (82.3%) limbs with 3% Pol. In the 2nd session Doppler follow-up, 35 (68.6%) limbs showed complete occlusion while 13 (25.5%) limbs showed partial occlusion, while in the 3rd session Doppler follow-up, 3 (5.9%) limbs still show partial occlusion while 45 (88.2%) limbs showed complete occlusion and no recanalization. Forty (78.4%) limbs addressed marked symptomatic relief while 5 (9.8%) limbs moderate relief and 3 (5.9%) cases with mild relief and the other 3 (5.9%) cases missed follow-up. Twenty-five (49%) limbs had no complications while 23 (45%) limbs had different local complications ranging from pain, hyperpigmentation, and superficial thrombophlebitis. Also, we find a statistically significant correlation between the Pol. concentration injected and the symptomatic relief and Doppler US follow-up while there is a borderline correlation between the Pol. concentration injected and the detected complications.

Conclusions

The preliminary results revealed ultrasound-guide foam sclerotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for lower limb varicose veins. The concentration of polidocanol injected could be correlated significantly with the symptoms improvement and borderline correlation to the complication rate.
A fish oil-rich diet leads to lower adiposity and serum triglycerides but increases liver lipid peroxidation in fructose-fed rats
Authors: Esteves Gabriel Perri , Manca Camila Sanches , Veida-Silva Hellen Paraguassú , Ovidio Paula Payão , Holland Héric , Matsuo Flávia Sayuri , Osako Mariana Kiomy , Jordao Alceu Afonso
Published: September 2020

Background

Consumption of refined carbohydrates has risen in recent years alongside chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fructose is a monosaccharide made widely available in industrialized products, capable of inducing excessive weight gain and liver steatosis in animal models, while omega-3 fatty acids, present in foods such as fatty fish and fish oil, have shown to inhibit genes related to lipogenesis and decrease cardiovascular risk. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the impact of a high-fructose diet on weight gain, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters, and liver histology and investigate fish oil’s potential protective role. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: regular chow diet (CT), regular chow diet plus 20% fructose in drinking water (Fr), and a diet containing 10% fish oil plus 20% fructose in drinking water (FOFr). After 12 weeks, tissues of interest were collected for biochemical and histological analyses.

Results

Although fructose consumption did not lead to increased hepatic fat, it caused a significant increase in weight gain, white adipose tissue, and serum triglycerides in the Fr group, while fish oil promoted normalized serum triglycerides and even reduced adiposity in the FOFr group. Additionally, the inclusion of fish oil in the FOFr diet led to increased liver lipid peroxidation in the form of increased hepatic MDA.

Conclusions

It is concluded that fish oil can prevent important metabolic alterations caused by fructose consumption, but its dosage must be taken into account to prevent oxidative stress and potential liver damage.
The deleterious effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea: pathophysiology and implications on treatment
Authors: Gharib Ahmed
Published: September 2020

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are both common in the adult population. The coexistence and association of both COPD and OSA have been described as the overlap syndrome. The scope of the present review is to address the magnitude, pathophysiology, clinical presentations, and the deleterious consequences of the coexistence of COPD and OSA in the same patient as well as the current management and treatment options of this association.

Main body of abstract

Epidemiological studies showed a prevalence of the overlap syndrome of up to 1% of the adult population. However, various studies agreed that this association is due to the fact that both COPD and OSA are common rather than an interaction of pathophysiology between the two affections. Nevertheless, sleep may cause adverse effects on breathing and lung functions. While these effects can be neglected in otherwise healthy individuals, they can lead in contrast to disastrous clinical outcomes particularly in vulnerable patients with the overlap syndrome leading to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, acute COPD exacerbations, increased rates of hospitalizations, and nocturnal deaths. Current guidelines recommend polysomnography (PSG) as the gold standard investigation to diagnose sleep disorders and overlap syndrome. Treatment may include pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen therapy, and non-invasive ventilation. Currently, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the treatment of choice for the overlap syndrome. CPAP effects include improved respiratory mechanics; sleep quality, exercise tolerance, and prolonged survival.

Conclusion

Both COPD and OSA are common in the general population and present a significant risk of increased morbidity and mortality when they coexist in the same patient. Clinicians must carefully evaluate the clinical outcomes and the high risk of cardiovascular complications related to the overlap syndrome. Current data indicate that CPAP treatment leads to amelioration of the health-related quality of life and improve survival in patients with the overlap syndrome.
Brain-to-Brain Synchrony in the STEM Classroom
Authors: Davidesco Ido
Published: September 2020

Recent advances in portable electroencephalography (EEG) now allow researchers to collect brain data from groups of students in real-world classrooms. This Essay highlights how this emerging line of research can open new opportunities for collaboration between discipline-based education researchers and cognitive and social neuroscientists.
CDKN2C-Null Leiomyosarcoma: A Novel, Genomically Distinct Class of TP53/RB1–Wild-Type Tumor With Frequent CIC Genomic Alterations and 1p/19q-Codeletion
Authors: Williams Erik A. , Sharaf Radwa , Decker Brennan , Werth Adrienne J. , Toma Helen , Montesion Meagan , Sokol Ethan S. , Pavlick Dean C. , Shah Nikunj , Williams Kevin Jon , Venstrom Jeffrey M. , Alexander Brian M. , Ross Jeffrey S. , Albacker Lee A. , Lin Douglas I. , Ramkissoon Shakti H. , Elvin Julia A.
Published: September 2020

PURPOSE

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) harbors frequent mutations in TP53 and RB1 but few actionable genomic alterations. Here, we searched for recurrent actionable genomic alterations in LMS that occur in the absence of common untreatable oncogenic drivers.

METHODS

Tissues from 276,645 unique advanced cancers, including 2,570 uterine and soft tissue LMS, were sequenced by hybrid-capture–based next-generation DNA and RNA sequencing/comprehensive genomic profiling of up to 406 genes. We characterized clinicopathologic features of relevant patient cases.

RESULTS

Overall, 77 LMS exhibited homozygous copy loss of CDKN2C at chromosome 1p32.3 (3.0% of LMS). Genomic alterations (GAs) in TP53, RB1, and ATRX were rare compared with the remainder of the LMS cohort (11.7% v 73.4%, 0% v 54.5%, 2.6% v 24.5%, respectively; all P < .0001). CDKN2C-null LMS patient cases were significantly enriched for GAs in CIC (40.3% v 1.4%) at 19q13.2, CDKN2A (46.8% v 7.0%), and RAD51B (16.9% v 1.7%; all P < .0001). Chromosome arm-level aneuploidy analysis of available LMS patient cases (n = 1,284) found that 81% (58 of 72) of CDKN2C-null LMS exhibited 1p/19q-codeletion, a significant enrichment compared with 5.1% in the remainder of the LMS cohort ( P < .0001). In total, 99% of CDKN2C-null LMS were in women; the median age was 61 years at surgery (range, 36-81 years). Fifty-five patient cases were uterine primary, four were nonuterine, and the remaining 18 were of uncertain primary site. Sixty percent of cases showed at least focal epithelioid variant histology. Most patients had advanced-stage disease, with 62% of confirmed uterine primary LMS at International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IVB. We further validated our findings in two publicly available datasets: The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Project GENIE initiative.

CONCLUSION

CDKN2C-null LMS defines a genomically distinct tumor that may have prognostic and/or therapeutic clinical implications, including possible use of specific cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.
Cell and animal models of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and immunity
Authors: Leist Sarah R. , Schäfer Alexandra , Martinez David R.
Published: September 2020

The spread of the novel virus SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was explosive, with cases first identified in December 2019, and >22 million people infected and >775,000 deaths as of August 2020. SARS-CoV-2 can cause severe respiratory disease in humans leading to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The development of effective clinical interventions, such as antivirals and vaccines that can limit or even prevent the burden and spread of SARS-CoV-2, is a global health priority. Testing of leading antivirals, monoclonal antibody therapies and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 will require robust animal and cell models of viral pathogenesis. In this Special Article, we discuss the cell-based and animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis that have been described as of August 2020. We also outline the outstanding questions for which researchers can leverage animal and cell-based models to improve our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and protective immunity. Taken together, the refinement of models of SARS-CoV-2 infection will be critical to guide the development of therapeutics and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects
Authors: de Chaisemartin Clément , D’Haultfœuille Xavier
Published: September 2020

Linear regressions with period and group fixed effects are widely used to estimate treatment effects. We show that they estimate weighted sums of the average treatment effects (ATE ) in each group and period, with weights that may be negative. Due to the negative weights, the linear regression coefficient may for instance be negative while all the ATEs are positive. We propose another estimator that solves this issue. In the two applications we revisit, it is significantly different from the linear regression estimator. (JEL C21, C23, D72, J31, J51, L82)
Site-specific and substrate-specific control of accurate mRNA editing by a helicase complex in trypanosomes
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Ivens Alasdair , Goodall Zachary , Meehan Joshua , Doharey Pawan Kumar , Hillhouse Andrew , Hurtado Daniel Osorio , Cai James J. , Zhang Xiuren , Schnaufer Achim , Cruz-Reyes Jorge
Published: September 2020

Trypanosome U-insertion/deletion RNA editing in mitochondrial mRNAs involves guide RNAs (gRNAs) and the auxiliary RNA editing substrate binding complex (RESC) and RNA editing helicase 2 complex (REH2C). RESC and REH2C stably copurify with editing mRNAs but the functional interplay between these complexes remains unclear. Most steady-state mRNAs are partially edited and include misedited “junction” regions that match neither pre-mRNA nor fully edited transcripts. Editing specificity is central to mitochondrial RNA maturation and function, but its basic control mechanisms remain unclear. Here we applied a novel nucleotide-resolution RNA-seq approach to examine ribosomal protein subunit 12 (RPS12) and ATPase subunit 6 (A6) mRNA transcripts. We directly compared transcripts associated with RESC and REH2C to those found in total mitochondrial RNA. RESC-associated transcripts exhibited site-preferential enrichments in total and accurate edits. REH2C loss-of-function induced similar substrate-specific and site-specific editing effects in total and RESC-associated RNA. It decreased total editing primarily at RPS12 5′ positions but increased total editing at examined A6 3′ positions. REH2C loss-of-function caused site-preferential loss of accurate editing in both transcripts. However, changes in total or accurate edits did not necessarily involve common sites. A few 5′ nucleotides of the initiating gRNA (gRNA-1) directed accurate editing in both transcripts. However, in RPS12, two conserved 3′-terminal adenines in gRNA-1 could direct a noncanonical 2U-insertion that causes major pausing in 3′–5′ progression. In A6, a noncanonical sequence element that depends on REH2C in a region normally targeted by the 3′ half of gRNA-1 may hinder early editing progression. Overall, we defined transcript-specific effects of REH2C loss.
Automation of Control Procedures for Financial and Economic Activities of the Organization
Authors: Zubenko Ekaterina
Published: September 2020

Th e article reveals the content of a soft ware product designed to assess the effectiveness of the internal control system through automated analysis of the organization’s financial and economic activities. Th e use of this soft ware product will allow you to expand your management capabilities and organize effective control over ongoing processes in economic, financial and managerial activities, as well as allow you to make the right business decisions, receiving reliable information in a timely manner.
The Dark Side of Narrow Gamification: Negative Impact of Assessment Gamification on Student Perceptions and Content Knowledge
Authors: Kwon Hee Yoon , Özpolat Koray
Published: September 2020

We explored the effects of assessment gamification on students’ content knowledge and perceptions of satisfaction, course experience, learning, and impact of teaching techniques. The course preparation, attendance, quizzes, classroom activities, and team projects of an undergraduate operations and supply chain management course had game elements that accumulate to team advantages in the collaborative midterm and final exam. Interestingly, we found that gamifying assessment activities resulted in significantly lower content knowledge, satisfaction, and course experience. Difference in perceived learning was not significant. Also, team exam scores were significantly lower in the gamified group, whereas individual exam scores were not significantly different. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence that gamification in classroom may produce unintended consequences and implementing gamification restrictively to assessment is ineffective at best. Directions for further research are discussed.
Evaluating Changes in Land Use Land Cover using Remote Sensing Satellite Data and GIS (A Case Study in Patna Municipal Corporation Area) Patna, Bihar
Authors: Ahmad Mohammad , Munim Nikhat Hassan
Published: September 2020

Evaluation of land use land cover (LULC) change is an essential aspect of development in rural and urban sectors. This paper investigates the changes in LULC aspects of an environmentally vulnerable Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) area in the middle-Ganga Plain, India. We offer Remote Sensing (RS), and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques delineated LULC types include water bodies, agriculture land, fallow land, wasteland, built-up land and vegetation of the study area. LULC mapping of the study area was done through False Color Composite (FCC) Satellite image Resourcesat-1 (IRS P6 LISS-IV) and Resourcesat 2A (IRS-R2A LISS-IV) with 5.8-meter spatial resolution data of the year 2007 and 2018 respectively. The supervised classification and maximum likelihood equation were used to classified two multi-temporal images. Then temporal changes were detected by comparison between two LULC classified maps of 2007 and 2018, which was produced independently. Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) area, Patna is one of the environmentally vulnerable areas under the threat of environmental and ecological degradation as a result of human activities due to improper land cover management. The main objective of using change detection is an important technique to detect changes in LULC over time in PMC, Patna between 2007-2018, and it is significant for updating land cover or natural resource management. The interpretation of this study has substantial changes in LULC occurred in the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) area, Patna within the period 2007-2018, related to urbanisation and economic development. The analysis outcome indicates the most remarkable changes occurred an increase in Built-up, (+) 21.86 % between 2007-2018, whereas the area of cropland and vegetation decreased (-) 8.95 % and (-) 5.8% respectively between 2007-2018. In the spatial distribution pattern, other changes have also occurred. This study will give the benefit in future action plans in land use and urban development and avoid LULC changes without proper planning. It will be most significant for the natural environment.
A GERAÇÃO BOÊMIA: MILITÂNCIA ARTÍSTICA, ATIVIDADE POLÍTICA E VIDA LITERÁRIA / The bohemian generation: artistic militancy, political activity and literary life
Authors: Silveira Suzane Morais da Veiga
Published: September 2020

No contexto do final do século XIX, no período de início da belle époque, quando a elite carioca da época procurava assemelhar-se a um modo de vida burguês, um grupo de jovens escritores se uniu em nome de um ideal de fraternidade e rebeldia, sendo reconhecidos como “os boêmios”. Ligados por laços éticos de um idealismo combativo e marginal, esses autores tiveram uma relação ambígua com a imprensa, pois buscaram realizar uma prática de escrita conscientizadora aliada a uma literatura engajada. Este artigo tem por objetivo demonstrar como a boemia foi fundamental no processo de desenvolvimento de uma militância literária e política que culminou na consolidação do próprio campo intelectual do período, bem como na construção da Academia Brasileira de Letras, em 1897. A metodologia empregada consiste no levantamento histórico e crítico da geração boêmia da década de 1880, tendo como embasamento teórico pesquisadores de relevo da área, como Needell (1993), Sevcenko (2003), Broca (1991) e Tuzino (2012). Como resultado da pesquisa, verificamos que a reivindicação de pautas sociais por meio da arte impregnou a imaginação literária e a atividade jornalística de escritores brasileiros, como os boêmios, nos anos anteriores à proclamação da República, com a esperança de que o novo regime trouxesse melhorias para a sociedade. Porém, depois de estabelecida a gestão federalista, mantiveram-se as mesmas estruturas sociais e os opositores ao governo foram presos ou exilados.
Children, dying parents and COVID-19
Authors: Marshall Steve , Rowland Andrew , Higgins Susan , Woods Christina , Jones Lisa , Ranote Sandeep , Lawrie Iain , Murphy Fiona
Published: September 2020

By Dr Steve Marshall, Professor Andrew Rowland, Susan Higgins, Christina Woods, Lisa Jones, Professor Sandeep Ranote, Dr Iain Lawrie and Fiona Murphy
Achieving balance outdoors
Authors: Solly Kathryn , Hardy Mark
Published: September 2020

eye, MA Education Ltd, St Jude's Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB or email: karen.faux@markallengroup.com
Where next for Reception?
Authors: Cowley Sue
Published: September 2020

While the autumn term will be a busy and complicated time for all those working in settings and schools, it could be Reception class teachers who face the greatest change and pressure.
Knowing them best
Authors: Richards Hazel
Published: September 2020

Early years practitioners are in a unique position to advocate support for an individual child but in
School can be wild!
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: September 2020

Karen Hart talks to primary teacher Mark Bonner about what inspired him to write his book, My Teachers Are Animals, and how it supports children's transitions.
Crying out for help
Authors: Lawson Deborah
Published: September 2020

For too long, the private, voluntary and independent early years sector has been the ‘Cinderella service’ – what we need now is a national pay and career structure.
Hop in the box
Authors: Hewson Claire
Published: September 2020

Observe how motivated children become when they create their own number games and develop positional language by following each other.
An autumn glow
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: September 2020

Autumn provides a feast for all the senses. Encourage children's sensory exploration of its natural objects with these simple ideas for creative artworks.
Getting into print
Authors: Rawstrone Annette
Published: September 2020

Annette Rawstrone provides ideas for how parents can implement practical, everyday strategies to build their children's foundations for literacy.
We are family
Authors: Harries Judith
Published: September 2020

Judith Harries suggests books and simple activities to support children's understanding of how the families of their friends may be different to their own.
Diddles and dums
Authors: Harries Judith
Published: September 2020

The books of classic author Kes Gray provide a fantastic springboard for devising rhyming games which help children to identify vowels and CVC words.
Fidelity of Implementation of Train-the-Trainer Methodology for Delivery of a Preschool Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum
Authors: Gebhart Kaylee , Kattelmann Kendra , Wey Howard , McCormack Lacey , Bowne Mary , Sltuka Suzanne , Meendering Jessica
Published: September 2020

Train-the-Trainer (TTT) methodology uses an expert to train a non-expert on how to implement an intervention and is often used by Cooperative Extension personnel for delivery of programs in the natural setting. In these interventions using multiple educators and/or non-experts, a measure of implementation (fidelity of implementation) is necessary to determine if delivery of the instructional program is as it was designed to be. The objective of this paper is to report the fidelity of implementation (FOI) of iGrow Readers (a literacy-based curriculum that uses children’s books focusing on themes of healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors) that was delivered by Extension personnel to preschool children in the natural setting of 14 childcare centers through TTT approach. Structural and instructional FOI were assessed by a trained Extension associate. Assessing the FOI of the curriculum delivered by TTT approach provides evidence that the TTT approach is a feasible method of delivery for programing provided by Extension personnel in the natural settings.
A new nasute-termite Ceylonitermes nivedita sp. nov. (Isoptera: Termitidae) from India along with first record of worker dimorphism

Authors: BASAK JAYATI , SENGUPTA RITUPARNA , KELOTH RAJMOHANA , BARAIK BALMOHAN
Published: September 2020

A new nasute termite Ceylonitermes nivedita sp. nov. (Isoptera: Termitidae) is described from the tropical rainforests of Manipur, India. Both the soldier and worker castes of the species are described. The workers are strongly dimorphic and no such dimorphism is reported hitherto among the 3 known species of Ceylonitermes. A revised dichotomous key to identify all the 4 known species of the genus is also provided. The proposed new species is a minor pest of bamboo. Key words: Ceylonitermes, India, Nasutitermitinae, key
Two new species of Neotropical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae) from southeastern Brazil

Authors: SANBORN ALLEN F.
Published: September 2020

Two new cicada species, Calyria uncinata sp. nov. (Parnisini Distant, 1905a) and Herrera chelappendicula sp. nov. (Carinetini Distant, 1905b) are described and illustrated from southeastern Brazil. Additional information is provided to distinguish these species from related Brazilian cicadas. Key words: Taxonomy, Calyria, Herrera, Neotropics, South America
Training during and after COVID-19
Authors: Lund J
Published: September 2020

#NoTrainingTodayNoSurgeonsTomorrow
Mathematical description of the bulk fluid flow and that of the contained impurity dispersion which uses Caputo or Riemann-Liouville fractional order partial derivatives is nonobjective
Authors: BALINT Agneta M. , BALINT Stefan
Published: September 2020

In this paper it is shown that the mathematical description of a Newtonian, incompressible, viscous bulk fluid flow and that of the contained impurity dispersion which uses Caputo or Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivative, having integral representation on finite interval, is nonobjective. This means that, two different observers describing the flow or the contained impurity dispersion with these tools obtain two different results which cannot be reconciled i.e. transformed into each other using only formulas that link the coordinates of a point in two fixed orthogonal reference frames and formulas that link the numbers representing a moment of time in two different choices of the origin of time measuring. This is not an academic curiosity! It is rather a problem: which of the obtained results is correct?