bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy improves quality of life of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients up to 3 months: Results from an observational multicenter study
Authors: Väkevä Liisa , Niemelä Sirkka , Lauha Meri , Pasternack Rafael , Hannuksela‐Svahn Anna , Hjerppe Anna , Joensuu Adrienn , Soronen Minna , Ylianttila Lasse , Pastila Riikka , Kautiainen Hannu , Snellman Erna , Grönroos Mari , Karppinen Toni
Published: May 2019

Background/Purpose

Narrowband UVB phototherapy is a common treatment modality in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, but evidence of its actual effect in clinical setting is sparse. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness and costs of narrowband UVB phototherapy in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in clinical setting.

Methods

We observed 207 psoriasis patients and 144 atopic dermatitis patients in eight centers. SAPASI, PO‐SCORAD, and VAS measures were used at baseline, at the end, and 3 months after the narrowband UVB phototherapy course. Quality of life was measured using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and costs were assessed using a questionnaire.

Results

In both psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, the DLQI and Self‐Administrated PASI (SAPASI)/Patient‐Oriented SCORAD (PO‐SCORAD) improved significantly and the results remained improved for at least 3 months in both groups. Alleviation of pruritus correlated with better quality of life in both patient groups. We reported slight redness and burning side effects which were due to lack of MED testing. Self‐administered tools proved to be useful in evaluating pruritus and severity of the disease in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Mean patient costs were 310 € and 21 hours of time, and mean costs for the healthcare provider were 810 €.

Conclusion

In psoriasis, narrowband UVB is a very efficient treatment in clinical setting, whereas in atopic dermatitis, more studies are needed to determine the best dosage.
Nursing faculty teaching characteristics as perceived by nursing students: an integrative review
Authors: Labrague Leodoro J. , McEnroe‐Petitte Denise M. , D'Souza Melba Sheila , Hammad Karen S. , Hayudini Jahara Noor Ali
Published: May 2019

Aims

Nursing faculty members play a pivotal role in the achievement of nursing students’ learning outcomes. A broader understanding of what constitutes effective teaching is essential in order to ensure that effective learning takes place in the clinical area. This review sought to identify the most and least effective nursing faculty characteristics as perceived by nursing students.

Methods

An integrative review of the literature was undertaken. Studies were sourced from the following electronic databases: PsycINFO, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Medline and Scopus. An electronic search of relevant studies published between 2001 and 2017 was conducted using the following search terms: ‘nursing’, ‘students’, ‘nurse faculty’, ‘nurse tutor’, ‘nurse educator’, ‘effective’, ‘clinical education’, ‘effectiveness’, ‘clinical instructor’, ‘nurse instructor’, ‘teaching behaviour’, and ‘teaching characteristics’.

Findings

Twenty‐nine articles met the inclusion criteria. This review revealed that nursing students value nursing faculty's competence and interpersonal skills over their personality traits. Furthermore, the review highlighted that there exists a lack of studies that examine individual factors, which may influence nursing students’ choice of teaching behaviours. Future studies linking teaching behaviours and nursing student learning outcomes are recommended.

Conclusion

Nursing faculty must strive to improve their professional competence and interpersonal skills in order to better provide quality education to nursing students.
Pengaruh Sokongan Emosi dan Sosial ke atas Hubungan Intergenerasi dalam Penjagaan Warga Tua Pelbagai Etnik
Authors: Md Nawi Nurul Hudani , Megat Ahmad Puteri Hayati Megat Ahmad Hayati , A. Malek Mohd Dahlan , Cosmas Getrude , Ibrahim Habibie Ibrahim , Voo Peter
Published: May 2019

This study aims to identify the psychological and social supports on intergenerational relationships among adult children who care for the elderly (parents) in the multi-ethnic community of Sabah. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of emotional and social support on the intergenerational relationship in the elderly care. There are 200 questionnaires that can be used from 250 respondents consisting of young adults who play the role of guardians of the elderly. Three sets of questionnaires were used in this study: the Parent-Child Interaction Questionnaire-Revised (PACHIQ-R) (Lange, 2001) questionnaire was adapted in this study is the current version of the results of the modification from the First Phase version of The Parent- Child Interaction Questionnaire (PACHIQ) (Lange, Blonk & Wiers, 1998) to measure the intergeneration relationship. Next, The Emotional Support Scale questionnaire (ESS) developed by Hisada, Seng and Minoguchi (1989) was used to measure psychological support whereas Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) by Sarason, Levine, Basham (1983) for measuring social support.  Regression analysis from SPSS software was used to analysis the influence between variables. Studies show that emotional support contributes to the intergenerational relationship. Social support contributes 27 percent to variance in intergenerational relationships. While the combination of two forms of social and emotional support contributes 40 percent variance to the intergenerational relationship, an increase of 13 percent. This finding shows that both forms of support can help improve intergenerational relationships between children acting as guardians with older parents. The implication of this study suggests that there is a need to develop a policy module based on the National Elderly Policy (DWEN) which needs to be done in holistic and integrated national action plans to ensure the welfare of the guardians as well as the elderly.
Practice modulates motor‐related beta oscillations differently in adolescents and adults
Authors: Gehringer James E. , Arpin David J. , Heinrichs‐Graham Elizabeth , Wilson Tony W. , Kurz Max J.
Published: May 2019

Key points

Magnetoencephalography data were acquired during a leg force task in pre‐/post‐practice sessions in adolescents and adults.

Strong peri‐movement alpha and beta oscillations were mapped to the cortex.

Following practice, performance improved and beta oscillations were altered.

Beta oscillations decreased in the sensorimotor cortex in adolescents after practice, but increased in adults.

No pre‐/post‐practice differences were detected for alpha oscillations.

There is considerable evidence that there are motor performance and practice differences between adolescents and adults. Behavioural studies have suggested that these motor performance differences are simply due to experience. However, the neurophysiological nexus for these motor performance differences remains unknown. The present study investigates the short‐term changes (e.g. fast motor learning) in the alpha and beta event‐related desynchronizations (ERDs) associated with practising an ankle plantarflexion motor action. To this end, we utilized magnetoencephalography to identify changes in the alpha and beta ERDs in healthy adolescents (n = 21; age = 14 ± 2.1 years) and middle‐aged adults (n = 22; age = 36.6 ± 5 years) after practising an isometric ankle plantarflexion target‐matching task. After practice, all of the participants matched more targets and matched the targets faster, and had improved accuracy, faster reaction times and faster force production. However, the motor performance of the adults exceeded what was seen in the adolescents regardless of practice. In conjunction with the behavioural results, the strength of the beta ERDs across the motor planning and execution stages was reduced after practice in the sensorimotor cortices of the adolescents, but was stronger in the adults. No pre‐/post‐practice changes were found in the alpha ERDs. These outcomes suggest that there are age‐dependent changes in the sensorimotor cortical oscillations after practising a motor task. We suspect that these noted differences might be related to familiarity with the motor task, GABA levels and/or maturational differences in the integrity of the white matter fibre tracts that comprise the respective cortical areas.
Non‐invasive assessment of superficial and deep layer circuits in human motor cortex
Authors: Kurz Alexander , Xu Wei , Wiegel Patrick , Leukel Christian , N. Baker Stuart
Published: May 2019

Key points

The first indirect (I) corticospinal volley from stimulation of the motor cortex consists of two parts: one that originates from infragranular layer 5 and a subsequent part with a delay of 0.6 ms to which supragranular layers contribute.

Non‐invasive probing of these two parts was performed in humans using a refined electrophysiological method involving transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation.

Activity modulation of these two parts during a sensorimotor discrimination task was consistent with previous results in monkeys obtained with laminar recordings.

Circuits in superficial and deep layers play distinct roles in cortical computation, but current methods to study them in humans are limited. Here, we developed a novel approach for non‐invasive assessment of layer‐specific activity in the human motor cortex. We first conducted brain slice and in vivo experiments on monkey motor cortex to investigate the output timing from layer 5 (including corticospinal neurons) following extracellular stimulation. Neuron responses contained cyclical waves. The first wave was composed of two parts: the earliest part originated only from stimulation of layer 5; after 0.6 ms, stimuli to superficial layers 2/3 could also contribute. In healthy humans we then assessed different parts of the first corticospinal volley elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), by interacting TMS with stimulation of the median nerve generating an H‐reflex. By adjusting the delay between stimuli, we could assess the earliest volley evoked by TMS, and the part 0.6 ms later. Measurements were made while subjects performed a visuo‐motor discrimination task, which has been previously shown in monkey to modulate superficial motor cortical cells selectively depending on task difficulty. We showed a similar selective modulation of the later part of the TMS volley, as expected if this part of the volley is sensitive to superficial cortical excitability. We conclude that it is possible to segregate different cortical circuits which may refer to different motor cortex layers in humans, by exploiting small time differences in the corticospinal volleys evoked by non‐invasive stimulation.
Análisis de publicaciones de los primeros 20 números de magis
Authors: Hederich-Martínez Christian , Roa-Casas Catalina
Published: May 2019

Este artículo analiza el comportamiento de magis en sus 10 primeros años. Se analizan las investigaciones que se han publicado en 20 números, de 2008 a 2017, con una metodología que recoge estadísticas descriptivas y un análisis multivariante de redes de palabras claves. Los resultados presentan tipos de artículos publicados, enfoques de investigación, indicadores de colaboración, citas y descargas, y asuntos temáticos como niveles educativos objeto de las investigaciones y coocurrencia de palabras clave para visibilizar temáticas preferentes que definen ciertas tendencias.
Two new species of Eriophyidae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) on Tilia begoniifolia Steven (Tiliaceae) in Golestan province of Iran
Authors: Sadeghi-Namaghi Hussein , Gol Ali , De Lillo Enrico
Published: May 2019

Two new species belonging to the Eriophyidae were found on Tilia begoniifolia Steven in Golestan province of Iran, and are described and illustrated herein. Eriophyes begoniifoliae sp. nov. was associated to round galls protruded on both surfaces of the leaves. Aculus namdari sp. nov. was vagrant on the leaf undersurface and no damage was observed on the infested plants.
The Coach’s Role in Creating Moral Group Norms in Youth Sport
Authors: Shigeno Terilyn C. , Lauer E. Earlynn , Fisher Leslee A. , Johnson Emily J. , Zakrajsek Rebecca A.
Published: May 2019

Though commonly emphasized by parents, coaches, and youth sport organizations, relatively little research exists with regard to morality in youth sport. In this Insights paper, we utilize Shields and Bredemeier’s 12-component model of moral action to help coaches become aware of how sport contextual influences, personal competencies, and ego-processing variables influence the moral behavior of their athletes. With insight from conversations with youth sport coaches, in addition to empirical and professional practice evidence, we provide coaches with three practical strategies they can use to: (a) consider how morality fits into their coaching philosophy, (b) create moral group norms within their teams, and (c) integrate moral decision-making into their practice plans.
Climbing-inspired twining electrodes using shape memory for peripheral nerve stimulation and recording
Authors: Zhang Yingchao , Zheng Ning , Cao Yu , Wang Fengle , Wang Peng , Ma Yinji , Lu Bingwei , Hou Guohui , Fang Zizheng , Liang Ziwei , Yue Mengkun , Li Yan , Chen Ying , Fu Ji , Wu Jian , Xie Tao , Feng Xue
Published: May 2019

Proposed 3D neural electrode can self-climb onto peripheral nerve driven by body temperature and form flexible neural interface.
The Effect of the 10-Valent Pneumococcal Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Protein D Conjugate Vaccine on H. influenzae in Healthy Carriers and Middle Ear Infections in Iceland
Authors: Sveinsdóttir Hildigunnur , Björnsdóttir Jana Birta , Erlendsdóttir Helga , Hjálmarsdóttir Martha Á. , Hrafnkelsson Birgir , Haraldsson Ásgeir , Kristinsson Karl G. , Haraldsson Gunnsteinn
Published: May 2019

Vaccinations with the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PHiD-CV) started in Iceland in 2011. Protein D (PD) from
H. influenzae
, which is coded for by the
hpd
gene, is used as a conjugate in the vaccine and may provide protection against PD-positive
H. influenzae
.
Loss of Fitness of Mexican H7N3 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Mallards after Circulating in Chickens
Authors: Youk Sung-Su , Lee Dong-Hun , Leyson Christina M. , Smith Diane , Criado Miria Ferreira , DeJesus Eric , Swayne David E. , Pantin-Jackwood Mary J.
Published: May 2019

Not much is known about changes in host adaptation of avian influenza (AI) viruses in birds after long-term circulation in chickens or other terrestrial poultry. Although the origin of AI viruses affecting poultry is wild aquatic birds, the role of these birds in further dispersal of poultry-adapted AI viruses is not clear. Previously, we showed that HPAI viruses isolated early from poultry outbreaks could still infect and transmit well in mallards. In this study, we demonstrate that the Mexican H7N3 HPAI virus after four years of circulation in chickens replicates poorly and does not transmit in mallards but remains highly pathogenic in chickens. This information on changes in host adaptation is important for understanding the epidemiology of AI viruses and the role that wild waterfowl may play in disseminating viruses adapted to terrestrial poultry.
An Ssd1 Homolog Impacts Trehalose and Chitin Biosynthesis and Contributes to Virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Thammahong Arsa , Dhingra Sourabh , Bultman Katherine M. , Kerkaert Joshua D. , Cramer Robert A.
Published: May 2019

The incidence of life-threatening infections caused by the filamentous fungus
Aspergillus fumigatus
is increasing along with an increase in the number of fungal strains resistant to contemporary antifungal therapies. The fungal cell wall and the associated carbohydrates required for its synthesis and maintenance are attractive drug targets given that many genes encoding proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis and integrity are absent in humans. Importantly, genes and associated cell wall biosynthesis and homeostasis regulatory pathways remain to be fully defined in
A. fumigatus
. In this report, we identify SsdA as an important component of trehalose and fungal cell wall biosynthesis in
A. fumigatus
that consequently impacts the host immune response and fungal virulence in animal models of infection.
Life at Home and on the Roam: Genomic Adaptions Reflect the Dual Lifestyle of an Intracellular, Facultative Symbiont
Authors: Burgsdorf Ilia , Handley Kim M. , Bar-Shalom Rinat , Erwin Patrick M. , Steindler Laura
Published: May 2019

Given the evolutionary position of sponges as one of the earliest phyla to depart from the metazoan stem lineage, studies on their distinct and exceptionally diverse microbial communities should yield a better understanding of the origin of animal-bacterium interactions. While genomes of several extracellular sponge symbionts have been published, the intracellular symbionts have, so far, been elusive. Here we compare the genomes of two unicellular cyanobacterial sponge symbionts that share an ancestor but followed different evolutionary paths—one became intracellular and the other extracellular. Counterintuitively, the intracellular cyanobacteria are facultative, while the extracellular ones are obligate. By sequencing the genomes of the intracellular cyanobacteria and comparing them to the genomes of the extracellular symbionts and related free-living cyanobacteria, we show how three different cyanobacterial lifestyles are reflected by adaptive genomic features.
Применение сеточно-характеристического метода в решении прямых задач сейсморазведки трещиноватых пластов (обзорная статья)
Authors: Петров Игорь Борисович , Petrov Igor Borisovich , Муратов М В , Muratov M V
Published: May 2019

В настоящей обзорной статье рассматриваются работы, посвященные методикам решения прямых задач сейсморазведки трещиноватых платов. Трещиноватые слои, как известно, являются потенциальными углеводородосодержащими коллекторами, которые активно изучаются в настоящий момент. В силу высокой стоимости полевых разведочным работ, численное моделирование является важной частью в подобных исследованиях, позволяющей существенно снизить финансовые и временные затраты. Рассматриваются работы, посвященные традиционным распространенным на практике методикам моделирования с применением эффективных моделей. Также значительная часть статьи посвящена работам, в которых применяются методики, разработанные авторами для решения поставленного круга задач. Эти методики основаны на использовании сеточно-характеристического численного метода с интерполяцией на неструктурированных треугольных (в двумерном случае) и тетраэдральных (в трехмерном случае) сетках. Сеточно-характеристический метод наиболее точно описывает динамические процессы в задачах сейсморазведки, так как учитывает природу волновых явлений. Используемый подход позволяет строить корректные вычислительные алгоритмы на границах и контактных границах области интегрирования. Важная часть данной статьи посвящена различным используемым моделям трещиноватости. Также рассмотрены приведенные в работах авторов результаты математического моделирования с использованием разработанной методики. Представлены важные практические выводы, полученные в рассматриваемых работах.
Трехмерное моделирование зарядового обмена ионов с металлическими поверхностями
Authors: Гайнуллин Иван Камилевич , Gainullin Ivan Kamilevich , Сонькин Михаил Аркадьевич , Son'kin Mikhail Arkad'evich
Published: May 2019

Ионные пучки применяются для диагностики и модификации поверхности твердых тел. Моделирование зарядового обмена ионов с поверхностью необходимо не только для понимания его фундаментальных закономерностей, но и для количественной диагностики, т.к. в большинстве экспериментальных установок регистрируются именно заряженные частицы (ионы). В силу существенной численной сложности прямого моделирования зарядового обмена, до недавнего времени применялись только приближенные одно- и двумерные методики. В последние годы авторами был создан программный код, реализующий прямое трехмерное моделирование зарядового обмена на графических вычислителях. В данной статье представлены некоторые примеры расчетов и изучен вопрос корректного задания начальных условий.
Численные схемы и гибридный подход для моделирования нестационарных турбулентных течений
Authors: Епихин Андрей Сергеевич , Epikhin Andrei Sergeevich
Published: May 2019

Выполнен краткий обзор подходов к моделированию турбулентных течений и показано, что для корректного расчета крупномасштабных вихревых структур необходимо использовать вихреразрешающие методы, при этом численные схемы должны быть устойчивы и правильно описывать эволюцию вихрей в пространстве. Проведен анализ диссипативных свойств и устойчивости большинства численных схем, реализованных в пакете OpenFOAM, путем решения задач о вырождении однородной изотропной турбулентности и переноса скаляра. Установлено, что рассмотренные схемы не подходят для корректного расчeта распространения и диссипации вихрей в пространстве, поэтому выполнена их доработка с целью устранения осцилляций и сохранения приемлемого уровня диссипации. Описан и реализован алгоритм совмещения URANS и LES методов с применением зонирования расчeтной области. Для апробации реализованной методики расчета нестационарных турбулентных течений проведено моделирование обтекания маневренного самолета с установленным тормозным щитком. Получены структуры обтекания летательного аппарата и его аэродинамические характеристики, выполнено сравнение с экспериментальными данными.
О вычислении градиента в методе коррекции потоков
Authors: Бахвалов Павел Алексеевич , Bakhvalov Pavel Alekseevich
Published: May 2019

Метод коррекции потоков является семейством рeберно-ориентированных схем для решения гиперболических систем на неструктурированных сетках. Ключевое место в этих схемах занимает вычисление градиентов от физических переменных в сеточных узлах не менее чем со вторым порядком аппроксимации. Существуют две известные процедуры, обеспечивающие выполнение этого условия. Первая основана на методе наименьших квадратов, а вторая - на спектральных элементах. В настоящей работе проводится сравнение схем, получающихся при использовании этих процедур, между собой и с другими рeберно-ориентированными схемами.
Atrial fibrillation, an obscured cause of pulmonary embolism can be revealed by adding to Wells criteria
Authors: Hasanoğlu Canan , Argüder Emine , Kılıç Hatice , Parlak Ebru Sengul , Karalezli Ayşegül
Published: May 2019

Among the various clinical scoring methods used for the prediagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE), Wells criteria is the most common. It relies on the findings and story of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), PE and malignancy. It is known that atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for PE like as DVT or malignancy. We aimed to evaluate the possibility of diagnosing more patients with PE by including AF in the Wells criteria. This prospective study included 250 patients admitted to the emergency department with PE findings. Wells scoring and Wells scoring with AF were performed for each patient. Out of 250 patients, 165 patients were diagnosed as PE. Wells score was >4 in 61.8% of patients with PE and 28.2% of patients without PE. Out of false negative 63 patients with PE, 21 of them had AF. According to Wells scoring with AF the score of 148 (89.7%) patients with PE diagnosis was ≥3, whereas the score of 45 (52.9%) patients without PE was ≥3. AF was detected in 15.8% of patients with PE. The sensitivity of Wells score with AF was significantly higher than that of the Wells score (p<0.001). As a result, when AF, which is one of an important PE cause such as DVT and malignancy, was added to the Wells criteria, an additional correct PE estimate was obtained in 46 patients. We recommend using Wells score with AF since prediagnosing more PE is more valuable than having some false negative PE predictions.
Randomized trial of ultrasound-guided superior cluneal nerve block
Authors: Nielsen Thomas Dahl , Moriggl Bernhard , Barckman Jeppe , Jensen Jan Mick , Kolsen-Petersen Jens Aage , Søballe Kjeld , Børglum Jens , Bendtsen Thomas Fichtner
Published: May 2019

Background and objectives

The superior cluneal nerves originate from the dorsal rami of primarily the upper lumbar spinal nerves. The nerves cross the iliac spine to innervate the skin and subcutaneous tissue over the gluteal region. The nerves extend as far as the greater trochanter and the area of innervation may overlap anterolaterally with the iliohypogastric and the lateral femoral cutaneous (LFC) nerves. A selective ultrasound-guided nerve block technique of the superior cluneal nerves does not exist. A reliable nerve block technique may have application in the management of postoperative pain after hip surgery as well as other clinical conditions, for example, chronic lower back pain. In the present study, the primary aim was to describe a novel ultrasound-guided superior cluneal nerve block technique and to map the area of cutaneous anesthesia and its coverage of the hip surgery incisions.

Methods

The study was carried out as two separate investigations. First, dissection of 12 cadaver sides was conducted in order to test a novel superior cluneal nerve block technique. Second, this nerve block technique was applied in a randomized trial of 20 healthy volunteers. Initially, the LFC, the subcostal and the iliohypogastric nerves were blocked bilaterally. A transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block technique was used to block the iliohypogastric nerve. Subsequently, randomized, blinded superior cluneal nerve blocks were conducted with active block on one side and placebo block contralaterally.

Results

Successful anesthesia after the superior cluneal nerve block was achieved in 18 of 20 active sides (90%). The area of anesthesia after all successful superior cluneal nerve blocks was adjacent and posterior to the area anesthetized by the combined TFP and subcostal nerve blocks. The addition of the superior cluneal nerve block significantly increased the anesthetic coverage of the various types of hip surgery incisions.

Conclusion

The novel ultrasound-guided nerve block technique reliably anesthetizes the superior cluneal nerves. It anesthetizes the skin posterior to the area innervated by the iliohypogastric and subcostal nerves. It improves the anesthetic coverage of incisions used for hip surgery. Among potential indications, this new nerve block may improve postoperative analgesia after hip surgery and may be useful as a diagnostic block for various chronic pain conditions. Clinical trials are mandated.

Trial registration number

EudraCT, 2016-004541-82.
Associations of weather conditions with adolescents’ daily physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration
Authors: Zheng Chen , Huang Wendy Yajun , Wong Stephen Heung-Sang
Published: May 2019

Weather has been recognized as an environmental factor that affects daily activities. However, the effects of a humid subtropical climate on daily activity behavior are unclear. This study investigated the associations of weather conditions with physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and sleep duration in a sample of 740 Hong Kong adolescents (mean age: 14.7 ± 1.6 years). The activPAL was used to assess the time spent during moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), ST, and sleep. Weather data (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, rainfall amount, and sunlight duration) were obtained from the Hong Kong Observatory. Linear mixed models were constructed to examine the associations of weather conditions with the durations of MVPA, ST, and sleep on weekdays and weekend days, respectively. The analysis included valid data from 561 students (51.9% male). Among Hong Kong adolescents, a higher relative humidity was associated with reduced MVPA on weekdays and weekends, more ST on weekdays, and a longer sleep duration on weekends. A longer duration of sunlight induced less MVPA on weekends, but a longer sleep duration on weekdays. On weekends, higher temperatures correlated with increases in MVPA and ST but a decrease in sleep duration. Rainfall correlated inversely with sleep duration and positively with ST on weekdays. The associations of rainfall with MVPA exhibited opposite trends on weekdays and weekends. In summary, the relationships between weather conditions and daily activities exhibited day-type patterns. The findings suggest that environment-controlled indoor PA should be recommended during weather conditions of high relative humidity and higher temperatures.
Surface plasmon resonance study of the interaction of 4,4′-dianilino-1,1′-binaphthyl-5,5′-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt (bis-ANS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) with oligomeric recombinant human lens αA-crystallin
Authors: Karmakar Srabani , Biswas Shrutidhara , Das Kali P. , Tripathy Umakanta
Published: May 2019

α-Crystallin, an abundant mammalian lens protein made up of two subunits (αA- and αB-crystallin), is involved in the maintenance of the optimal refractive index in the lens. The protein is implicated in the pathophysiology of a large number of retinal diseases including cataract, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis. α-Crystallin belongs to the small heat shock protein (sHSP) family, forms large oligomeric structures, and functions as a molecular chaperone appearing very early during embryonic development. To gain mechanistic insight into the structural and functional role of α-crystallin and its alterations in various retinal diseases, it is important to study the interaction chemistry with its known partners. The hydrophobic sites in α-crystallin have been studied extensively using environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes such as 4,4′-dianilino-1,1′-binaphthyl-5,5′-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt (bis-ANS) that interacts with both subunits of α-cystallin in 1:1 stoichiometry at 37 °C and diminishes the chaperone-like activity of the protein. Furthermore, it has been shown that ATP plays a crucial role in the association of α-crystallin with substrate proteins. We use surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to monitor the interactions of immobilized oligomeric recombinant αA subunit of human α-crystallin protein with bis-ANS and ATP. We assess the thermodynamic parameters and kinetics of such interactions at various temperatures. Our results indicate that bis-ANS binds to αA-crystallin with higher affinity when compared with ATP, although both αA-crystallin and αB-crystallin display fast interaction kinetics.
Endoplasmic reticulum and the microRNA environment in the cardiovascular system
Authors: Groenendyk Jody , Fan Xiao , Peng Zhenling , Kurgan Lukasz , Michalak Marek
Published: May 2019

Stress responses are important to human physiology and pathology, and the inability to adapt to cellular stress leads to cell death. To mitigate cellular stress and re-establish homeostasis, cells, including those in the cardiovascular system, activate stress coping response mechanisms. The endoplasmic reticulum, a component of the cellular reticular network in cardiac cells, mobilizes so-called endoplasmic reticulum stress coping responses, such as the unfolded protein response. MicroRNAs play an important part in the maintenance of cellular and tissue homeostasis, perform a central role in the biology of the cardiac myocyte, and are involved in pathological cardiac function and remodeling. In this paper, we review a link between endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis and microRNA with an emphasis on the impact on stress responses in the cardiovascular system.
Cup-Product for Equivariant Leibniz Cohomology and Zinbiel Algebras
Authors: Mukherjee Goutam , Saha Ripan
Published: May 2019

We study finite group actions on Leibniz algebras, and define equivariant cohomology groups associated to such actions. We show that there exists a cup-product operation on this graded cohomology, which makes it a graded Zinbiel algebra.
Adapting a General-Purpose Social Robot for Paediatric Rehabilitation through In Situ Design
Authors: Martí Carrillo Felip , Butchart Joanna , Knight Sarah , Scheinberg Adam , Wise Lisa , Sterling Leon , McCarthy Chris
Published: May 2019

Socially assistive robots (SARs) offer great promise for improving outcomes in paediatric rehabilitation. However, the design of software and interactive capabilities for SARs must be carefully considered in the context of their intended clinical use. While previous work has explored specific roles and functionalities to support paediatric rehabilitation, few have considered the design of such capabilities in the context of ongoing clinical deployment. In this article, we present a two-phase
in situ design
process for SARs in health care, emphasising stakeholder engagement and on-site development. We explore this in the context of developing the humanoid social robot NAO as a socially assistive rehabilitation aid for children with cerebral palsy. We present and evaluate our design process, outcomes achieved, and preliminary results from ongoing clinical testing with 9 patients and 5 therapists over 14 sessions. We argue that our in situ design methodology has been central to the rapid and successful deployment of our system.
Planning with Verbal Communication for Human-Robot Collaboration
Authors: Nikolaidis Stefanos , Kwon Minae , Forlizzi Jodi , Srinivasa Siddhartha
Published: May 2019

Human collaborators coordinate effectively their actions through both verbal and non-verbal communication. We believe that the the same should hold for human-robot teams. We propose a formalism that enables a robot to decide optimally between taking a physical action toward task completion and issuing an utterance to the human teammate. We focus on two types of utterances: verbal commands, where the robot asks the human to take a physical action, and state-conveying actions, where the robot informs the human about its internal state, which captures the information that the robot uses in its decision making. Human subject experiments show that enabling the robot to issue verbal commands is the most effective form of communicating objectives, while retaining user trust in the robot. Communicating information about the robot’s state should be done judiciously, since many participants questioned the truthfulness of the robot statements when the robot did not provide sufficient explanation about its actions.
The Philosopher's Corner
Authors: Gefen David
Published: May 2019

I am a critical post-Positivist ? and hold it as a badge of honor. To be a Positivist means that you are humbly willing to put your theory to a test that can falsify it ? that is, to show that it is wrong despite all that you have put into it. To be a post-Positivist means believing in that standard but also acknowledging the limitations of Positivism, including limitations of measurement and its theory-dependence as well as acknowledging that there are social processes in science too. A post- Positivist does not claim that other epistemologies are necessarily wrong. It is just that researchers who adhere to the falsification principle are willing to put their money where their claims are, rather than allowing in the temptation to endlessly massage theories so that they are constantly updated to be consistent with new facts. In that vein, Positivism, despite its limitations, can by virtue of the falsification principle put a dent in confirmation bias and the kind of heuristics suggested by Tversky and Kahneman that prejudice our seeing patterns even when they do not exist. It is in that spirit that this paper is written.
Detecting Common Method Bias
Authors: Aguirre-Urreta Miguel I. , Hu Jiang
Published: May 2019

Lack of careful consideration of common method effects in empirical research can lead to several negative consequences for the interpretation of research outcomes, such as biased estimates of the validity and reliability of the measures employed as well as bias in the estimates of the relationships between constructs of interest, which in turn can affect hypothesis testing. Taken together, these make it very difficult to make any interpretations of the results when those are affected by substantive common method effects. In the literature, there are several preventive, detective, and corrective techniques that can be employed to assuage concerns about the possibility of common method effects underlying observed results. Among these, the most popular has been Harman's Single-Factor Test. Though researchers have argued against its effectiveness in the past, the technique has continued to be very popular in the discipline. Moreover, there is a dearth of empirical evidence on the actual effectiveness of the technique, which we sought to remedy with this research. Our results, based on extensive Monte Carlo simulations, indicate that the approach shows limited effectiveness in detecting the presence of common method effects and may thus be providing a false sense of security to researchers. We therefore argue against the use of the technique moving forward and provide evidence to support our position.
Sestrins at the Interface of ROS Control and Autophagy Regulation in Health and Disease
Authors: Cordani Marco , Sánchez-Álvarez Miguel , Strippoli Raffaele , Bazhin Alexandr V. , Donadelli Massimo
Published: May 2019

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy are two highly complex and interrelated components of cell physiopathology, but our understanding of their integration and their contribution to cell homeostasis and disease is still limited. Sestrins (SESNs) belong to a family of highly conserved stress-inducible proteins that orchestrate antioxidant and autophagy-regulating functions protecting cells from various noxious stimuli, including DNA damage, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and metabolic stress. They are also relevant modulators of metabolism as positive regulators of the key energy sensor AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibitors of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Since perturbations in these pathways are central to multiple disorders, SESNs might constitute potential novel therapeutic targets of broad interest. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of regulatory and effector networks of SESNs, highlighting their significance as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for different diseases, such as aging-related diseases, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.
Elevated Serum IgG Levels Positively Correlated with IL-27 May Indicate Poor Outcome in Patients with HBV-Related Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Zhang Geng-lin , Zhao Qi-yi , Xie Chan , Peng Liang , Zhang Ting , Gao Zhi-liang
Published: May 2019

Background and Aims. Serum immunoglobulins are frequently increased in patients with chronic liver disease, but little is known about the role of serum immunoglobulins and their correlations with interleukin-27 (IL-27) in patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). This study was aimed at determining the role of serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) levels and their associations with IL-27 in noncirrhotic patients with HBV-ACLF.Methods. Samples were assessed from thirty patients with HBV-ACLF, twenty-four chronic hepatitis B (CHB) subjects, and eighteen normal controls. Disease severity of HBV-ACLF was evaluated. Serum IL-27 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunoglobulin levels were assessed using immunoturbidimetric assay. Correlations between immunoglobulin levels and IL-27 were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to predict the 3-month mortality.Results. 25 (83.3%) HBV-ACLF patients had elevated serum IgG levels (>1 ULN), 14 (46.7%) patients had elevated IgA, and 15 (50%) had raised IgM. IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were higher in HBV-ACLF patients than in CHB patients and normal controls. Moreover, IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were positively correlated with Tbil levels but negatively correlated with prothrombin time activity (PTA) levels. Additionally, IgG levels were significantly increased in nonsurviving patients than in surviving HBV-ACLF patients (P=0.007) and positively correlated with MELD score (r=0.401,P=0.028). Also, IgG levels were positively correlated with IL-27 levels in HBV-ACLF patients (r=0.398,P=0.029). Furthermore, ROC curve showed that IgG levels could predict the 3-month mortality in HBV-ACLF patients (the area under the ROC curve: 0.752,P=0.005).Conclusions. Our findings demonstrated that serum immunoglobulins were preferentially elevated in HBV-ACLF patients. IgG levels were positively correlated with IL-27 and may predict prognosis in HBV-ACLF patients.
Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Pimenta dioica and Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oils
Authors: Lorenzo-Leal Ana Cecilia , Palou Enrique , López-Malo Aurelio , Bach Horacio
Published: May 2019

Essential oils (EOs) are natural products composed of a mixture of volatile and aromatic compounds extracted from different parts of plants that have shown antimicrobial activities against pathogens. In this study, EOs extracted from Pimenta dioica (Myrtaceae) and Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) were assessed for their antimicrobial activities using a panel of pathogenic Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal strains. The antimicrobial activity was measured by the minimal inhibitory concentration required for the growth inhibition of the microorganisms. The cytotoxicity of the EOs was tested ex vivo using the model of human-derived macrophage THP-1 cells. In addition, an inflammatory response was evaluated using the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. Results showed that both EOs had antimicrobial activity and different pathogens were exposed to concentrations ranging between 600 and 2000 μg/mL. In addition, the EOs showed no inflammatory activity when exposed to human macrophages, but a potent anti-inflammatory activity was measured when the oil from Rosmarinus officinalis was exposed to macrophages. This study demonstrates that the use of EOs is an effective alternative for pathogenic bacterial and fungal control, alone or in combination with antibiotic therapy. Moreover, the oil extracted from Rosmarinus officinalis could be used as potent anti-inflammatory agent.
Anatomy of the Cun Position at Wrist and Its Application in Pulse Diagnosis
Authors: Li Peng , Du Yi-kuan , Chen Xiang-nan , Jiang Su-ming , Liu Jin-sheng , Yang Chun , Zhang Xue-peng
Published: May 2019

Information on anatomy of the Cun position at wrist is lacking; whether the blood vessel taking pulse in Cun is the radial artery or the superficial palmar branch is also clinically controversial. The objective was to investigate the boundaries and contents, and the vascular distribution and their pulse points in Cun. Thirty-two upper extremities of 16 human cadavers were investigated for dissection and observation. The boundaries, contents, and blood vessel distribution in Cun were observed; the location of pulse points in Cun was identified; the length of the superficial palmar branch in wrist pulse (L1), the pulp width of the index finger (L2), and the angle between the radial artery and the superficial palmar branch were measured. The results showed that the Cun was located in the region formed by the bulge of the prominent bone proximal to the palm, the radial flexor tendon, the tubercle of scaphoid, and the abductor longus muscle tendon. In this area, the radial artery could be pulsed part in the medial side of the abductor longus muscle tendon, while the superficial palmar branch lied near the surface and was easy to pulse in the lateral side of the radial flexor tendon and the medial side of the tubercle of scaphoid. The ratio of L1 to L2 was 1.2±0.8, and the angle was 23.3±9.9°. The results suggested that it could not be generalized that the blood vessel taking pulse in Cun was the radial artery or the superficial palmar branch; it might depend on the vascular distribution in Cun, the region of finger positioning, and the patient’s pulse condition.
Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Neurosyphilis in HIV-Negative Patients: A Retrospective Study of 264 Cases
Authors: Li Wurong , Jiang Meijuan , Xu Dongmei , Kou Cheng , Zhang Lei , Gao Junhua , Qin Kaiyu , Wu Wenqing , Zhang Xinghu
Published: May 2019

A retrospective study was performed to compare the differences in clinical and laboratory features of asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) and symptomatic neurosyphilis (SNS). A total of 264 HIV-negative inpatients with neurosyphilis were enrolled from Beijing Ditan Hospital and Beijing Tiantan Hospital between January 2014 and May 2018, including 110 SNS and 154 ANS. The SNS group had more patients in males, older median age and without antisyphilis treatment than ANS group (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). The laboratory findings showed that the SNS group had higher pretreatment serum rapid plasma regain (RPR) titer, current serum RPR titer, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell (WBC) counts, CSF protein concentrations, and higher positive CSF RPR rate than those in the ANS group (P=0.011, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male (OR=2.833, P=0.009), age≥45 years (OR=3.611, P=0.001), without antisyphilis treatment (OR=0.247, P<0.001), higher current serum RPR titer (OR=1.373, P=0.022), positive CSF RPR (OR=4.616, P<0.001), and higher CSF protein concentration (OR=1.017, P=0.026) were independent risk predictors for SNS. Therefore, clinical and laboratory features between SNS and ANS are quietly different. Male gender, age≥45 years, and lack of antisyphilis treatment are risk factors for SNS. The elevated level of serum RPR titer, CSF protein concentration, and CSF RPR titer may indicate the development of neurosyphilis and the aggravation of neurological symptoms.
Collaborative R&D and Pricing Policy of Supply Chain under the Selection Behavior of Heterogeneous Customer
Authors: Huang Bo , Saaty Thomas L. , Li Yuyu
Published: May 2019

Considering that a manufacturer and its core part supplier make collaborative R&D on serial products of 3 grades, high‐, mid‐, and low‐grade, and their core parts according to costumers’ preference for the performance, or intrinsic value, of products, we propose a collaborative R&D model based on costumers’ selection behavior to study the collaborative R&D policy and pricing policy of the supply chain. Then we establish a bargaining game model to study how they allocate the profit they earned. We obtain the optimal policies through theoretic and experimental analysis, and we use Apple iPhone case to illustrate the models and conclusions of this paper. It is found that if the aim of the supply chain is only to maximize its total profit, it should only develop the high‐grade product and make its price half of its intrinsic value; if the aim of the supply chain is to maximizing profit while increasing the sales and market shares of the serial products, it should at least develop the high‐grade and low‐grade product; the ratio of price between the higher grade and the lower grade should be greater than the corresponding ratio of the intrinsic value, while the difference of price between higher grade and the lower grade should be less than the corresponding difference of the intrinsic value.