bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Preservice Teachers’ Model-Evidence Link Evaluation Levels Related to GDO
Authors: SAKA Mehpare , SARIBAŞ Deniz
Published: August 2019

Although genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are scientific issues,
their disadvantages as well as advantages are often asserted in society. In
other words, they are controversial issues in society. In this context,
individuals need to make informed decisions about GMOs which are part of
socio-scientific issues. Making informed decisions by critically evaluating on
controversial issues is a significant skill. Therefore this study aims to
detect pre-service science teachers’ evaluation level of model-evidence links.
The study was a descriptive survey that uses a qualitative data source and
research group consisted of junior students of Science Education Department in
a public university in Turkey. The Model-Evidence Link (MEL) diagram developed
by the high school science teachers who attended a workshop organized Lombardi,
Sibley and Carroll (2013) and adapted to GMO by the same teachers was used as
the data collection tool. A rubric developed by Lombardi, Bickel, Brandt and
Burg (2016) and adapted to this study by the authors of the present paper was
used for analyzing the data. The analyses indicated that pre-service teachers
evaluated model-evidence links on the topic of GMOs generally in descriptive
and relational level, however, rarely in critical level.
Open Up: A Survey on Open and Non-anonymized Peer Reviewing
Authors: Besançon Lonni , Rönnberg Niklas , Löwgren Jonas , Tennant Jonathan , Cooper Matthew
Published: August 2019

We present a discussion and analysis regarding the benefits and limitations of open and non-anonymized peer review based on literature results and responses to a survey on the reviewing process of alt.chi, a more or less open-review track within the CHI conference, the predominant conference in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). This track currently is the only implementation of an open-peer-review process in the field of HCI while, with the recent increase in interest in open science practices, open review is now being considered and used in other fields. We collected 30 responses from alt.chi authors and reviewers and found that, while the benefits are quite clear and the system is generally well liked by alt.chi participants, they are reluctant to see it used in other venues. This concurs with a number of recent studies that suggest a divergence between support for a more open review process and its practical implementation. The data and scripts are available on https://osf.io/vuw7h/, and the figures and follow-up work on http://tiny.cc/OpenReviews.
Estimating the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio, 2014–2016
Authors: Anderson Valerie R. , Kulig Teresa C. , Sullivan Christopher J.
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To develop statewide estimates of known victims and individuals at risk of human trafficking in Ohio.

Methods. We collected information from 12 state and local sources including child welfare, legal services, and law enforcement data. We collected the data from agency records dating 2013 to 2018. However, the majority of data were from calendar years 2014, 2015, and 2016 (roughly 95% across individual and aggregate sources). We used probabilistic matching to estimate victim and at-risk cases—accounting for duplicates.

Results. According to available data, there were 1032 known victims during the study time frame. We identified approximately 4209 at-risk individuals based on youths presenting with common risk factors for trafficking victimization.

Conclusions. Estimating the prevalence of human trafficking is an important public health research priority. As the first “cataloging” of existing record systems in Ohio to our knowledge, this study provided a comprehensive overview of the number of victims and the type of information that is available in the state. This study highlights the importance of moving toward the use of epidemiological approaches to measure the prevalence of human trafficking.
Housing as a Platform for Health and Equity: Evidence and Future Directions
Authors: Hernández Diana , Swope Carolyn B.
Published: August 2019

The links between housing and health are now known to be strong and multifaceted and to generally span across 4 key pillars: stability, affordability, quality and safety, and neighborhood opportunity. Housing disparities in the United States are tenaciously patterned along axes of social inequality and contribute to the burden related to persistently adverse health outcomes in affected groups. Appreciating the multidimensional relationship between housing and health is critical in moving the housing and health agenda forward to inspire greater equity.

We assessed the current state of research on housing and health disparities, and we share recommendations for achieving opportunities for health equity centered on a comprehensive framing of housing.

Despite the vastness of existing research, we must contextualize the housing and health disparities nexus in a broader web of interrelated variables emerging from the same roots of structural inequalities. There is more we can do to maximize the extent to which existing research furthers our understanding of housing’s relationship to health and potential related interventions; however, there are also several areas where new research is warranted.
Developing a Financing System to Support Public Health Infrastructure
Authors: DeSalvo Karen , Parekh Anand , Hoagland G. William , Dilley Abby , Kaiman Sherry , Hines Mason , Levi Jeff
Published: August 2019

All people in the United States deserve the same level of public health protection, making it crucial that every health department across the country has a core set of foundational capabilities. Current research indicates an annual cost of $32 per person to support the foundational public health capabilities needed to promote and protect health for everyone across the nation. Yet national investment in public health capabilities is currently about $19 per person, leaving a $13-per-person gap in annual spending.

To “create the conditions in which people can be as healthy as possible” and to protect national security, this gap must be filled. The Public Health Leadership Forum convened national experts in the public health, public policy, and other partner sectors to develop options for long-term, sustainable financing. The group aligned around core principles and criteria necessary to establish a sustainable financing structure.

Informed by the work of the expert panel, the authors recommend a Public Health Infrastructure Fund for state, territorial, local, and tribal governmental public health, that would provide $4.5 billion of new, permanent resources needed to fully support core public health foundational capabilities.
Surveying Strategies for Hard-to-Survey Populations: Lessons From the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Galinsky Adena M. , Simile Catherine , Zelaya Carla E. , Norris Tina , Panapasa Sela V.
Published: August 2019

Calls for remedies for the persistent scarcity of accurate, reliable, national, disaggregated health statistics on hard-to-survey populations are common, but solutions are rare. Survey strategies used in community and clinical studies of hard-to-survey populations often cannot be, and generally are not, implemented at the national level.

This essay presents a set of approaches, for use in combination with traditional survey methods in large-scale surveys of these populations, to overcome challenges in 2 domains: sampling and motivating respondents to participate. The first approach consists of using the American Community Survey as a frame, and the second consists of implementing a multifaceted community engagement effort.

We offer lessons learned from implementing these strategies in a national survey, some of which are relevant to all survey planners. We then present evidence of the quality of the resulting data set. If these approaches were used more widely, hard-to-survey populations could become more visible and accurately represented to those responsible for setting national priorities for health research and services.
Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Program for Early Adolescents: The Me & You Randomized Controlled Trial, 2014–2015
Authors: Peskin Melissa F. , Markham Christine M. , Shegog Ross , Baumler Elizabeth R. , Addy Robert C. , Temple Jeff R. , Hernandez Belinda , Cuccaro Paula M. , Thiel Melanie A. , Gabay Efrat K. , Tortolero Emery Susan R.
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To test the efficacy of Me & You, a multilevel technology-enhanced adolescent dating violence (DV) intervention, in reducing DV perpetration and victimization among ethnic-minority early adolescent youths. We assessed secondary impact for specific DV types and psychosocial outcomes.

Methods. We conducted a group-randomized controlled trial of 10 middle schools from a large urban school district in Southeast Texas in 2014 to 2015. We used multilevel regression modeling; the final analytic sample comprised 709 sixth-grade students followed for 1 year.

Results. Among the total sample, odds of DV perpetration were lower among intervention students than among control students (adjusted odds ratio = 0.46; 95% confidence interval = 0.28, 0.74). Odds of DV victimization were not significantly different. There were significant effects on some specific DV types.

Conclusions. Me & You is effective in reducing DV perpetration and decreasing some forms of DV victimization in early middle-school ethnic-minority students.
Causal Language in Health Warning Labels and US Adults’ Perception: A Randomized Experiment
Authors: Hall Marissa G. , Grummon Anna H. , Maynard Olivia M. , Kameny Madeline R. , Jenson Desmond , Popkin Barry M.
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To examine US adults’ reactions to health warnings with strong versus weak causal language.

Methods. In 2018, we randomly assigned 1360 US adults to answer an online survey about health warnings for cigarettes, sugar-sweetened beverages, or alcohol. Participants rated 4 warning statements using different causal language variants (“causes,” “contributes to,” “can contribute to,” and “may contribute to”) displayed in random arrangement.

Results. Most participants (76.3%) selected the warning that used “causes” as the 1 that most discouraged them from wanting to use the product. “Causes” was also selected most often (39.0% of participants) as the warning that participants most supported implementing. By contrast, most (66.1%) chose “may contribute to” as the warning that least discouraged them from wanting to use the product. We found few demographic differences in these patterns.

Conclusions. Warnings with stronger causal language are perceived to be effective and are supported by the public.
Price Promotions by Food Category and Product Healthiness in an Australian Supermarket Chain, 2017–2018
Authors: Riesenberg Devorah , Backholer Kathryn , Zorbas Christina , Sacks Gary , Paix Anna , Marshall Josephine , Blake Miranda R. , Bennett Rebecca , Peeters Anna , Cameron Adrian J.
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To examine the prevalence and magnitude of price promotions in a major Australian supermarket and how they differ between core (healthy) and discretionary (less healthy) food categories.

Methods. Weekly online price data (regular retail price, discount price, and promotion type) on 1579 foods were collected for 1 year (April 2017 to April 2018) from the largest Australian supermarket chain. Products audited were classified according to Australian Dietary Guidelines definitions of core and discretionary foods and according to their Health Star Rating (a government-endorsed nutrient profiling scheme).

Results. On average, 15.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.7%, 15.3%) of core foods and 28.8% (95% CI = 28.6%, 29.0%) of discretionary foods were price promoted during a given week. Average discounts were −15.4% (95% CI = −16.4, −14.4) for core products and −25.9% (95% CI = −26.8, −25.1) for discretionary products. The percentage of products on price promotion and the size of the discount were larger for products with a lower Health Star Rating (P < .05).

Conclusions. Price promotions were more prevalent and greater in magnitude for discretionary foods than for core foods. Policies to reduce the prevalence and magnitude of price promotions on discretionary foods could improve the healthiness of food purchased from supermarkets.
Housing and Urban Development–Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers and Veterans’ Homelessness, 2007–2017
Authors: Evans William N. , Kroeger Sarah , Palmer Caroline , Pohl Emily
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To determine what role the 88 000 Housing and Urban Development–Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers for permanent supportive housing among US veterans distributed between 2008 and 2017 played in the significant fall in veterans’ homelessness over the same time period.

Methods. Using a panel data set at the Continuum of Care level over the 2007 to 2017 period, we correlated changes in vouchers with permanent supportive housing units and measures of homelessness. To reduce concerns about omitted variables bias, we used a 2-stage least-squares procedure. The instrument is a Bartik-type shift-share variable. Specifically, for the cumulative vouchers received at the local level, we used the share of the nation's homeless veterans from the local level in the year before the HUD-VASH program multiplied by the cumulative number of vouchers distributed at the national level up to that point.

Results. For each additional voucher, permanent supportive housing units increased by 0.9 and the number of homeless veterans decreased by 1.

Conclusions. Our results indicate the HUD-VASH program worked as intended and veterans’ homelessness would have risen substantially over the past decade without the program.
The Effects of SNAP Work Requirements in Reducing Participation and Benefits From 2013 to 2017
Authors: Ku Leighton , Brantley Erin , Pillai Drishti
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To assess the effects of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Methods. We used changes in waivers of work requirements to assess the impact of requiring work on the number of SNAP participants and benefit levels in 2410 US counties from 2013 to 2017 using 2-way fixed effects models.

Results. Adoption of work requirements was followed by reductions of 3.0% in total SNAP participation, 4.5% in SNAP households, and 3.8% in SNAP benefit dollars, after controlling for the unemployment, poverty, and Medicaid expansions. Because able-bodied adults without dependents comprise 8% to 9% of all SNAP participants, our findings indicate that work requirements caused more than one third of able-bodied adults without dependents to lose benefits.

Conclusions. Expansions of work requirements caused about 600 000 participants to lose SNAP benefits from 2013 to 2017 and caused a reduction of about $2.5 billion in federal SNAP benefits in 2017. The losses occurred rapidly, beginning a few months after work requirements were imposed.

Public Health Implications. SNAP work requirements rapidly reduce caseloads and benefits, reducing food and health access. Effects on participation could be similar for work requirements in Medicaid or other programs.
Psychological Attempts to Change a Person’s Gender Identity From Transgender to Cisgender: Estimated Prevalence Across US States, 2015
Authors: Turban Jack L. , King Dana , Reisner Sari L. , Keuroghlian Alex S.
Published: August 2019

Objectives. To examine exposure to psychological attempts to change a person’s gender identity from transgender to cisgender (PACGI) among transgender people in the United States, lifetime and between the years 2010 and 2015, by US state.

Methods. We obtained data from the 2015 US Transgender Survey, a cross-sectional nonprobability sample of 27 716 transgender people in the United States, to estimate the percentage exposed to PACGI in each US state.

Results. Overall, 13.5% of the sample indicated lifetime exposure to PACGI, ranging across all US states from 9.4% (South Carolina) to 25.0% (Wyoming). The percentage of transgender adults in the United States reporting exposure to PACGI between 2010 and 2015 was 5% overall, and across all states ranged from 1.2% (Alaska) to 16.3% (South Dakota).

Conclusions. Despite major medical organizations identifying PACGI as ineffective and unethical, 13.5% of transgender people in the United States reported lifetime exposure to this practice. Findings suggest that this practice has continued in every US state as recently as the period 2010 to 2015.
Black Maternal and Infant Health: Historical Legacies of Slavery
Authors: Owens Deirdre Cooper , Fett Sharla M.
Published: August 2019

The legacies of slavery today are seen in structural racism that has resulted in disproportionate maternal and infant death among African Americans.

The deep roots of these patterns of disparity in maternal and infant health lie with the commodification of enslaved Black women’s childbearing and physicians’ investment in serving the interests of slaveowners. Even certain medical specializations, such as obstetrics and gynecology, owe a debt to enslaved women who became experimental subjects in the development of the field.

Public health initiatives must acknowledge these historical legacies by addressing institutionalized racism and implicit bias in medicine while promoting programs that remedy socially embedded health disparities.
Cell-Free Biomimetic Osteochondral Scaffold
Authors: Sessa Andrea , Perdisa Francesco , Di Martino Alessandro , Zaffagnini Stefano , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: August 2019

Background:

This 1-stage cell-free scaffold-based technique is indicated for the treatment of full-thickness chondral and osteochondral lesions in the knee, regardless of the lesion size. The aim of the procedure is restoration of the osteochondral unit while avoiding the issues of donor site morbidity and those related to cell management.

Description:

The surgical technique is simple and can be performed as a 1-stage procedure. The lesion site is visualized through a standard knee medial or lateral parapatellar arthrotomy. The defect is prepared by excision of the injured cartilage and subchondral bone to ensure adequate bone-marrow blood flow and to create a squared, regularly shaped lodging for the device. The scaffold is then shaped and sized according to the dimensions of the prepared lesion site and implanted by press-fitting or with addition of fibrin glue. Finally, the complete range of motion is tested to assess the stability of the implant before and after releasing the tourniquet.

Alternatives:

Nonsurgical alternatives have been reported to include nonpharmacological modalities, such as dietary supplements, and pharmacological therapies as well as physical therapies and novel biological procedures involving injections of various substances
1
. There are several surgical alternatives, including among others microfracture, mosaicplasty, osteochondral allograft, and total knee arthroplasty, depending primarily on the disease stage and etiology as well as the specific patient conditions
2,3
.

Rationale:

This cell-free device is engineered in 3 layers to mimic the structure and composition of the osteochondral unit in order to guide resident cells toward an ordered regeneration of both bone and cartilage layers, providing a better quality of regenerated articular surface. The treatment approach offers a useful alternative to current procedures in the field of osteochondral lesions, in particular for young and middle-aged patients affected by symptomatic defects in which subchondral bone is likely involved. The advantages of this scaffold include the ability to perform a 1-stage surgical procedure, off-the-shelf availability, a straightforward surgical technique, and lower costs compared with cell-based regenerative options. Furthermore, in contrast to some more traditional treatments, it can be used for large lesions.
Improved Framework for Measuring the Magnitude and Impact of Biases on Project Evaluation
Authors: Alarfaj Malik K. , McVay Duane A.
Published: August 2019

Several authors over several decades (Capen 1976; Brashear et al. 2001; Rose 2004) have observed that the petroleum industry has consistently performed below expectations. Although this has been painfully obvious during the industry downturn beginning in 2014, available evidence suggests that even when the industry is profitable (e.g., during the decade before the most-recent downturn), it still performs substantially below expectations and its potential (Nandurdikar 2014). Many attribute this underperformance to cognitive biases in project evaluation, resulting in poor project valuation and selection. McVay and Dossary (2014) presented a simplified framework to estimate the cost of underestimating uncertainty. They demonstrated that chronic overconfidence and optimism (estimated distributions of project value are too narrow and shifted positively), which are common in the industry, produce substantial disappointment (realized portfolio values being less than estimated values), also common in the industry.

In this work, we generalized the McVay and Dossary (2014) framework to include full estimated distributions (e.g., normal or log-normal), instead of the truncated distributions they used. In addition, we extended their framework to model underconfidence (estimated distributions too wide) and demonstrate that underconfidence is just as detrimental to portfolio performance as overconfidence. Decision error will be minimized and portfolio value will be maximized only when there is no bias in project estimation (i.e., neither overconfidence nor underconfidence and neither optimism nor pessimism). We compared the value gained from reducing biases with that from reducing uncertainty and found that reducing biases consistently generates more value than reducing uncertainty.

Using either framework, operators can quantitatively measure biases—overconfidence, underconfidence, optimism, and pessimism—from lookbacks (comparing actual performance with probabilistic forecasts) and calibration plots. Once aware of the direction and magnitude of biases, operators have means for eliminating these biases in new forecasts through a combination of internal adjustment of uncertainty assessments, by means of training or ongoing feedback, and external adjustment of assessments, using measurements of bias from calibration results.
Palliative home parenteral nutrition in patients with ovarian cancer and malignant bowel obstruction: experiences of women and family caregivers.
Authors: Sowerbutts Anne Marie , Lal Simon , Sremanak Jana , Clamp Andrew , Jayson Gordon C. , Teubner Antje , Hardy Lisa , Todd Chris , Raftery Anne-Marie , Sutton Eileen , Morgan Robert D. , Vickers Alexander J. , Burden Sorrel
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACT
Background
Malnutrition is a problem is advanced cancer, particularly ovarian cancer where malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a frequent complication. Parenteral nutrition is the only way these patients can received adequate nutrition and is a principal indication for palliative home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Giving HPN is contentious as it may increase the burden on patients. This study investigates patients’ and family caregivers’ experiences of HPN, alongside nutritional status and survival in patients with ovarian cancer and MBO.

Methods
This mixed methods study collected data on participant characteristics, clinical details and body composition using computed tomography combined with longitudinal in-depth interviews underpinned by phenomenological principles. The cohort comprised 38 women with ovarian cancer and inoperable MBO admitted (10/2016 to 12/ 2017) to a tertiary referral hospital. Longitudinal interviews (n=57) were carried out with 20 women considered for HPN and 15 of their family caregivers.

Results
Of the 38 women, 32 received parenteral nutrition (PN) in hospital and 17 were discharged on HPN. Nutritional status was poor with 31 of 33 women who had a CT scan having low muscle mass, although 10 were obese. Median overall survival from admission with MBO for all 38 women was 70 days (range 8 - 506) and for those 17 on HPN was 156 days (range 46 – 506).

Women experienced HPN as one facet of their illness, but viewed it as a “lifeline” that allowed them to live outside hospital Nevertheless, HPN treatment came with losses including erosion of normality through an impact on activities of daily living and dealing with the bureaucracy surrounding the process. Family caregivers coped but were often left in an emotionally vulnerable state.

Conclusions: Women and family caregivers reported that the inconvenience and disruption caused by HPN was worth the extended time they had at home.
Full-length transcriptome sequencing reveals a low-temperature-tolerance mechanism in Medicago falcata roots
Authors: Cui Guowen , Chai Hua , Yin Hang , Yang Mei , Hu Guofu , Guo Mingying , Yi Rugeletu , Zhang Pan
Published: August 2019

Background

Low temperature is one of the main environmental factors that limits crop growth, development and production. Medicago falcata is an economically and ecologically important legume that is closely related to alfalfa and exhibits better tolerance to low temperature than alfalfa. Understanding the low-temperature-tolerance mechanism of M. falcata is important for the genetic improvement of alfalfa.

Results

In this study, we explored the transcriptomic changes in low-temperature-treated M. falcata roots by combining SMRT and NGS technologies. A total of 115,153 nonredundant sequences were obtained, and 8,849 AS events, 73,149 SSRs and 4,189 LncRNAs were predicted. A total of 111,587 genes from SMRT were annotated, and 11,369 DEGs were identified in this paper that are involved in plant hormone signal transduction, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, carbon metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and endocytosis pathways. We characterized 1,538 TF genes into 45 TF gene families, and the most abundant TF family was WRKY, followed by ERF, MYB, bHLH and NAC. A total of 134 genes were differentially coexpressed at all five temperature points, including 101 upregulated genes and 33 downregulated genes. PB40804, PB75011, PB110405 and PB108808 were found to play crucial roles in the tolerance of M. falcata to low temperature. The WGCNA results showed that the MEbrown module was significantly correlated with low-temperature stress in M. falcata. Electrolyte leakage was correlated with most genetic modules and corroborated that electrolyte leakage can be used as direct stress markers to reflect cell membrane damage from low-temperature stress in physiological assays. The consistency between the qRT-PCR results and RNA-Seq analyses confirm the validity of the RNA-Seq data and the analysis of the regulation of low-temperature stress in the transcriptome.

Conclusions

The full-length transcripts generated in this study provided a full characterization of the gene transcription of M. falcata and are useful for mining new low-temperature stress-related genes specific to M. falcata. These new findings facilitate the understanding of low-temperature-tolerance mechanisms in M. falcata.
Pathogenic fungi-induced susceptibility is mitigated by mutual Lactobacillus plantarum in the Drosophila melanogaster model
Authors: Liu Wei , Su Wanzhen , Liu Jialin , Bai Peng , Ma Baocang
Published: August 2019

Background
Animals frequently encounter a variety of harmful fungi in the wild, but their ability to develop sophisticated anti-fungal strategies allows them to flourish across the globe. Extensive studies have highlighted significant involvement of indigenous microbial communities in host health, but the daunting complexity of microflora has hampered our understanding of the intricate relationships among them. In this work, we sought to develop a bacterium-fungus-Drosophila model that offered a model to systematically evaluate the anti-fungal effects of commensal bacteria.
Results
We isolated a pathogenic fungal strain, Diaporthe FY, that was detrimental to the survival and development of Drosophila upon infection. Using Drosophila as a model system, Drosophila-associated Lactobacillus plantarum functioned as a probiotics, and protected flies from mortality induced by Diaporthe FY. Our results shown that L. plantarum hindered the growth of Diaporthe FY in vitro, and decreased the mortality rate of Diaporthe FY-infected flies in vivo, therefore consequently mitigating the toxicity of Diaporthe FY to hosts. In addition, L. plantarum overrode the avoidance of oviposition on Diaporthe FY-associated substrates.
Conclusions
Diaporthe FY was identified as a potential pathogen to Drosophila. Commensal L. plantarum mitigated the pathogenic fungi-induced susceptibility in Drosophila, providing an insight into the natural interplays between commensal and pathogenic microbial communities that contribute to animal health and pathogenesis.
Genetic diversity and population structure of Vernonia [Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less] populations from Ethiopia revealed by SSR markers
Authors: Egu Alemneh Mideksa , Dagne Kifle , Tesfaye Kassahun , Hu Xuebo
Published: August 2019

Background

Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis) is a potential novel industrial crop due to high demand to its natural epoxidised oil, which can be used for the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride, adhesives, and petrochemicals, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. This study is initiated for the systematic and intensive assessment of V. galamensis accessions genetic diversity through SSR molecular markers to minimize the existing research gaps, and provide a clue for germplasm conservation and further research.

Results

A total of 150 V. galamensis accessions were analyzed using 20 SSR markers. The markers detected a total of 79 with an average of 3.9 alleles per locus. The mean number of effective alleles was 3.06 and, the mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.15 across all the 20 markers evaluated. The marker also showed the highest percent of polymorphism that ranged from 0.50 to 0.96 with an average of 0.76. The analysis of molecular variance showed only 11% variation was among populations, 22% among individuals within populations and 67% within individuals. The largest number of migrants per generation was occurred between Derashie and Wollo (Nm=7.37) whereas the lowest values was between East Harerghe and West Harerghe (Nm =1.42). A factor analysis including dendrogram clusters and principal coordinates classified the 150 accessions into 4 groups. However, the Bayesian model based clustering (STRUCTURE) grouped into 3 (K = 3) major gene pools. These analyses showed accessions collected from the same region of origin did not often grouped entirely together within a given major groups.

Conclusions

Molecular genetic diversity analysis, using SSR markers was the first report in V. galamensis. All the markers used were polymorphic in the population studied. The markers detected the larger number of alleles, higher expected heterozygosity than observed heterozygosity. The markers applied to ten populations, in which East Showa and West Harerghe revealed higher genetic diversity, and can be considered as the hotspots for in-situ conservation of V. galamensis. In addition, the values of SSR markers such as heterozygosity, Shannon‘s index, polymorphic information content and population clusters are an important baseline information for future V. galamensis cultivation, breeding and genetic resource conservation endeavors in Ethiopia.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and susceptibility to psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ramezani Mazaher , Zavattaro Elisa , Sadeghi Masoud
Published: August 2019

Background: Psoriasis is a multifactorial disorder, impacted by both genetic and environmental factors. Herein, a meta-analysis assessed the association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) polymorphism and psoriasis susceptibility. Methods: A systematic search was used in databases of PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to January 2019 without language restriction. A dichotomous analysis was carried out by RevMan 5.3 using crude odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to investigate the association between ACE I/D polymorphisms and the risk of psoriasis. A funnel plot analysis was used by CMA 2.0 to estimate a significant existence of publication bias. Results: Out of 61 studies retrieved from the databases, 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled ORs for models of D vs. I, DD vs. II, ID vs. II, ID + DD vs. II, and DD vs. II + ID genotypes were 0.96 [95%CI: 0.82, 1.12; P=0.58], 0.99 [95%CI: 0.73, 1.36; P=0.96], 0.78 [95%CI: 0.62, 0.91; P=0.0003], 0.91 [95%CI: 0.73, 1.13; P=0.40], and 1.05 [95%CI: 0.85, 1.30; P=0.68], respectively. A significant difference between ACE polymorphisms in patients with/without family history for the disease [OR=1.44; 95%CI: 1.24, 1.67; P<0.001] and also in patients mild/severe psoriasis [OR=0.70; 95%CI: 0.55, 0.88; P=0.002] was identified. Conclusion: The results of the meta-analysis showed that ACE I/D polymorphism may be associated with psoriasis susceptibility, while ID genotype seemed to have a protective role in Caucasian patients affected by psoriatic arthritis and in studies with hospital-based controls.
The Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Authors: Miao Hongfei , Chen Yong , Ye Peng , Zeng Qingle , Pang Huajin
Published: August 2019

Abstract Background: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in managing haemorrhage associated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) to improve the surgical effect. Methods: From May 2007 to June 2018, 112 patients (31–60 years) who underwent TAE treatment for haemorrhage after PCNL were retrospectively analyzed. All patient data and embolization details were retrieved from medical records. Univariate analysis was used to identify the risk factors related to clinical outcomes. Results: Technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 93%, respectively. On angiography, we observed injury to the main artery in 1 patient, to secondary branch in 22, to tertiary branch in 58, and to both secondary and tertiary branches in 31. Embolic agents were coils (n =31), gelatin sponge (n=15), and gelatin sponge with coils/microcoils (n =66). Bleeding control failed in 8 patients. Eight patients opted for a second operation, 6 by repeat TAE and 2 by surgery. Bleeding was eventually controlled in all patients. Univariate analysis indicated that extent of transfusion, embolic material used, and injured branches were significantly associated with clinical failure. Conclusions: TAE is effective and safe in treating postoperative bleeding after PCNL. Massive transfusion, embolic material used, and injured branches were related to failure of bleeding control.
A modified single-armed microsurgical vasoepididymostomy for epididymal obstructive azoospermia: intraoperative choice and postoperative consideration
Authors: Liu Nachuan , Li Peng , Zhi Erlei , Yao Chencheng , Yang Chao , Zhao Liangyu , Tian Ruhui , Chen Huixing , Huang Yuhua , Yu Yuexin , Li Zheng
Published: August 2019

Background：To evaluate the clinical outcomes and the time of sperm returning to the ejaculate after a modified single-armed 2-suture longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (SA-LIVE).
Methods：From March 2015 to December 2018, 134 patients with epididymal obstruction azoospermia underwent the modified single-armed vasoepididymostomy at Shanghai General Hospital. The outcomes and clinical findings were documented and evaluated.
Results: The mean follow-up period was 17 months (range 3-36 months). Patency was assessed by the return of sperm in the ejaculate. The overall patency rate is 55.2 %, and the patency rates were 58.9%, 40.7%, 36.4%, and 58.9% for bilateral surgery, unilateral surgery, proximal anastomosis and distal anastomosis, respectively. The average time it took to achieve patency is 4.11±2.74 months. And in the first six months, 87.8% (65/74) patency patients were reported to found sperm in the ejaculate. The overall pregnancy rate was 40.9 % (29/66) at the follow-up of 3 to 36 months, and the natural pregnancy rate was 30.3 % (20/66). The natural pregnancy rate was 32.1% for bilateral surgery, 33.3% for the site of distal anastomosis，but surprisingly, it was 0% for the site of proximal anastomosis.
Conclusion: Modified SA-LIVE is safe and may achieve favorable patency and pregnancy rates. When double-armed sutures are not accessible, single-armed ones may be a good choice. The expecting patency time is about within one year. Assisting with intraoperative sperm cryopreservation, patients can achieve better pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, the low natural pregnancy rate for the proximal anastomosis suggested that we should reconsider the indications of SA-LIVE for EOA patients.

Key words: obstructive azoospermia; male infertility; vasoepididymostomy; patency; pregnancy
Assessing physical activity in people with mental illness: 23-country reliability and validity of the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ)
Authors: Rosenbaum Simon , Morell Rachel , Abdel-Baki Amal , Ahmadpanah Mohammad , Anilkumar Thekkethayyil Viswananthan , Baie Lara , Bauman Adrian , Bender Stefan , Han Justin Boyan , Brand Serge , Bratland-Sanda Solfrid , Bueno-Antequera Javier , Deslandes Andrea Camaz , Carneiro Lara , Carraro Attilio , Castaneda Carmen Paz , Monteiro Fernanda Castro , Chapman Justin , Chau Josephine , Chen Li-Jung , Chvatalova Barbara , Chwastiak Lydia , Corretti Giogio , Dillon Maurice , Douglas Christie , Egger Stephan , Gaughran Fiona , Gerber Markus , Gobbi Erica , Gould Kirrily , Hatzinger Martin , Holsboer-Tracksler Edith , Hoodbhoy Zara , Imboden Christian , Indu Pillaveetil Sathyadas , Iqbal Romaina , de Jesus-Moraleida Fabianna Resende , Kondo Shinsuke , Ku Po-Wen , Lederman Oscar , Lee Edwin Ho Ming , Malchow Berend , Matthews Evan , Mazur Peter , Meneghelli Anna , Mian Ayesha , Morseth Bente , Munguia-Izquierdo Diego , Nyboe Lene , O'Donoghue Brian , Perram Amy , Richards Justin , Romain Ahmed J , Romaniuk Madeline , Sadeghi-Bahmani Dena , Sarno Mariella , Schuch Felipe , Schweinfurth Nina , Stubbs Brendon , Uwakwe Richard , Damme Tine Van , Stouwe Elisabeth Van Der , Vancampfort Davy , Vetter Stefan , Waterreus Anna , Ward Philip B
Published: August 2019

Background:
Physical inactivity is a key contributor to the global burden of disease and disproportionately impacts the wellbeing of people experiencing mental illness. Increases in physical activity are associated with improvements in symptoms of mental illness and reduction in cardiometabolic risk. Reliable and valid clinical tools that assess physical activity would improve evaluation of intervention studies that aim to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in people living with mental illness.
Methods:
The five-item Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ) was developed by a multidisciplinary, international working group as a clinical tool to assess physical activity and sedentary behaviour in people living with mental illness. Investigators from 43 centres in 23 countries collected reliability and validity data on the SIMPAQ from patients with DSM or ICD mental illness diagnoses. Test-retest repeatability was assessed one-week apart.
Results:
Criterion SIMPAQ validity was assessed against accelerometer-derived measures of physical activity. Data were obtained from 1,010 participants. The SIMPAQ had good test-retest reliability (Spearman rho approximately 0.70). Criterion validity for moderate-vigorous physical activity was comparable to studies conducted in general population samples. Criterion validity of the sedentary behaviour item was poor. An alternative method to calculate sedentary behaviour had greater criterion validity. This alternative method is recommended for use in future studies employing the SIMPAQ.
Conclusions:
The SIMPAQ is a brief measure of physical activity and sedentary behaviour that can be reliably and validly administered by health professionals.
Abnormal Functional and Structural networks in Rectal Cancer with Depressive symptoms: A Graph Theory Analysis
Authors: Zhang Wenwen , Zou Ying , Li Yuan , Fu Yu , Shi Jie , Huang Gang , Yao Zhijun , Hu Bin
Published: August 2019

Background: Surgery and chemotherapy can cause emotional disorders in patients with rectal cancer (RC). However, few comprehensive studies are conducted on RC patients associated alterations in the topological organization of structural and functional networks.
Methods: Resting-state functional MRI and Diffusion tensor imaging data were collected from 36 RC patients with surgery and chemotherapy and 32 healthy controls (HC). Functional network (FN) was constructed from extracting average time courses for 246 regions of interest (ROI) and structural network (SN) was established by deterministic tractography. Graph theoretical analysis was used to calculate small-worldness property, clustering coefficients, shortest path length and network efficiency. Additionally, we assess network resilient on FN and SN.
Results: Abnormal small-worldness property of FN and SN were found in RC patients. The FN and SN exhibited increased local efficiency and global efficiency respectively in RC patients.The increased nodal efficiency in RC patients were mainly found in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe and limbic lobe for FN and SN, while the decreased nodal efficiency were distributed in subcortical nuclei, parietal lobe and limbic lobe only for SN. In network resilient analysis, the RC patients showed less resilient to targeted or random node deletion in both networks compared with HC. Moreover, FN is more robust than SN for all participants.
Conclusions: This study revealed that topological organizations of the FN and SN may be disrupted in RC patients. Brain network reorganization is a compensation mechanism for brain impairment after surgery and chemotherapy.
The psychometrics and diagnostic properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5-min protocol in screening for Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia among older adults in Tanzania: A validation study
Authors: Masika Golden Mwakibo , Yu Doris S.F. , Li Polly W.C. , Wong Adrian , Lin Rose S.Y.
Published: August 2019

Introduction

The prevalence of dementia in Tanzania, as in other developing countries is progressively increasing. Yet international screening instruments for mild cognitive impairment are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometrics and the diagnostic ability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5 minutes protocol (MoCA-5-min) among older adult in the rural Tanzania.

Methods

The MoCA-5-min and the IDEA cognitive screening were concurrently administered through face to face to 202 community-dwelling older adults in Chamwino district. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal component method and oblique rotation was performed to determine the underlying factor structure of the scale. The concurrent, construct as well as predictive validities of the MoCA-5-min were examined by comparing its score with IDEA cognitive screening and psychiatrist’s diagnosis using DSM-V criteria respectively.

Results

The EFA found that all the MoCA-5-min items highly loaded into one component, with factor loading ranging from 0.550 to 0.879. The intraclass correlation coefficient for 6 weeks test-retest reliability was 0.85. Its strong significant correlation with the IDEA screening (Pearson's r = 0.614, p < 0.001) demonstrated a good concurrent validity. Using the psychiatrist’s rating as the gold standard, MoCA-5-min demonstrated the optimal cut-off score for MCI at 22, which yielded the sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 74%; and dementia at score of 16 giving a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 80%. Upon stratifying the sample into different age groups, the optimal cut-off scores tended to decrease with the increase in age.

Conclusion

The MoCA-5-min is reliable and provides a valid and accurate measure of cognitive decline among older population in the rural settings of Tanzania. The use of varying cut-off scores across age groups may ensure more precise discriminatory power of the MoCA-5-min.
Systemic Erythropoietin Concentration and its Correlation with Stage of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Davidović Sofija , Nikola Babić , Sandra Jovanović , Sava Barišić , Desanka Grković , Aleksandar Miljković
Published: August 2019

Summary:
Background: Erythropoietin (Epo) is one of systemic angiogenic factors, and its role in ocular angiogenesis and in diabetic retinopathy (DR) is not yet fully understood. Latest research data reveal possible correlation of higher EPO concentrations of erythropoietin in blood and in the eye, with more severe of stages of DR.
The main aim of this work was to examine the possible influence of serum concentrations of erythropoietin on the development and stages of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.
Methods: The research involved 90 patients examined at University Eye Clinic in Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, Serbia. First group comprised of 60 patients with diabetes mellitus lasting 10 years or more, with diabetic retinopathy. Second, control group, consisted of 30 healthy individuals. In the first group of 60 diabetic patients, 30 of them had non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and 30 had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Laboratory EPO serum levels were determined, and they were correlated to the stage of DR. Concentration of EPO was assessed by ELISA method at the end of the study.
Results: The highest average concentration of EPO in serum (9.95 mIU/ml) was determined in group of diabetics with PDR. The lowest average concentration of EPO in serum (6.90 mIU/ml) was found in control group. The average concentration of Epo in serum in group of diabetics with NPDR was 7.00 mIU/ml. EPO concentration in serum was elevated in group of PDR, and it was directly proportional to the level of clinical stadium of PDR, being significantly higher in moderate and severe subgroup of PDR comparing to control healthy subjects, NPDR and mild PDR (h=9.858, p=0.007).
Conclusions: Significantly elevated serum concentration of EPO in advanced stages of DR, and positive correlation between EPO serum concentration and clinical stadium of PDR, suggest that erythropoietin presents one of the important growth factors from blood, which plays role in retinal ischemia and angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy, especially in the proliferative stage of this disease.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy; erythropoietin; glycated hemoglobin; non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy; proliferative diabetic retinopathy.