bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child Abuse Screening in the Emergency Department Before and After Implementation of a Formal Screening Tool
Authors: Robertson Erika , Kanis Jessica
Published: December 2021

Background:  
Child abuse and neglect is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children.  Victims of abuse often present to emergency departments due to these injuries.  Early identification of suspected child abuse by emergency department staff allows the opportunity for intervention prior to a devastating injury.  Signs of child abuse can be subtle and may not always be identified.  Recent efforts have worked to improve suspected child abuse identification by implementation of validated screening protocols.  Specifically, the IU Health Riley Emergency Department has recently implemented a new child abuse screening tool (effective on 15Apr2021).  The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this issue, creating social isolation and additional socioeconomic stressors that contribute to child abuse.   
Method:   
A retrospective chart review was conducted to analyze patients identified for child abuse evaluation in the Riley emergency department.  Patients prior to the implementation of the screening tool were identified by those undergoing a social work evaluation for child abuse.  For patients presenting after implementation of the screening tool, all patients with a positive screen were reviewed.  Charts were then reviewed for baseline demographics, diagnostic testing performed, and injuries identified. All data was recorded in an electronic Redcap database. 
Results: 
Implementation of a formal screening tool increased the number of patients identified for a child abuse evaluation (1.34% vs 3.17%) and those evaluated who had an injury also increased (1.15% vs 1.81%).  More patients received a head CT scan after implementation of the screening tool (0.89% vs 1.07%), while the percentage of patients with an abnormal head CT decreased (62% vs 45%). 
Conclusions: 
Implementation of a formal screening tool for child abuse in the emergency department successfully improved identification of patients that should be further evaluated for child abuse.  These results may be used to support implementation of the tool in additional emergency departments.
Impact of Gabapentin and Pregabalin on Neurological Outcome After Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Weber Michael , Morton Caleb , Chang Fen-Lei
Published: December 2021

Background
The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients taking either gabapentin or pregabalin at the time of their stroke injury tend to have better outcomes than patients with similar injuries who were not taking one of the two medications. Prior studies have shown a potential neuro-protective effects of these two medications.
Methods
A retrospective chart review of 115 ischemic stroke patients from 2016-2021 were assessed for patient outcomes using two tools, the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), in addition to their hospital length of stay. The outcomes of patients taking either gabapentin or pregabalin with stroke diagnoses are compared to patients with stroke diagnoses who were not taking either medication. Kruskal-Wallace and X2 were used for statistical analysis.
Results
There was significantly larger proportion of gabapentin patients that improved compared to patients in the control group when using the mRS tool for patient outcomes (X2; p=0.015).  The gabapentin group showed a significantly larger improvement in the NIHSS scores from admission to discharge (Kruskal-Wallace; p=0.0005).   Patients on gabapentin had a longer hospital stay than those not taking the medication by 1.7 days (t-test; p=0.041).
Conclusion
Our data support the potential neuro-protective effect of gabapentin/pregabalin with improved outcomes after an ischemic stroke using two parallel outcome measures of NIHSS and mRS scores.  Of interest, patient hospital stays were longer on gabapentin/pregabalin, which may contribute to the improved outcomes. We need larger subject groups to confirm and further study our findings. This often can be facilitated by studies involving larger medical practices, insurance, or payer databases. In addition, impact of associated cost and care quality issues such as nosocomial infection and fall risk can be considered in the context of healthcare integration and value-based care emphasizing quality and cost management.
MicroRNASeq Target Analysis and Validation by Real-Time PCR in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Sasso Willa , Moldovan Leni , Murphy Michael
Published: December 2021

Background/ Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an epigenetic event characterized by chronic inflammation and degeneration of the aortic wall leading to catastrophic rupture. Cigarette smoke exposure is the greatest environmental risk factor associated with AAA development. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate gene expression and may play a role in smoking-induced aortic inflammation. Epigenetic changes could include dysregulation of miRNA, causing post-transcriptional abnormalities pathogenic to AAA.  
 
Methods: miRNA was extracted from plasma of 24 AAA patients and 7 risk factor matched (RFM) patients and analyzed by RNA sequencing. We compared previous (PS) and current smokers (CS) within and between both patient cohorts. Differential expression of miRNAs was analyzed by ANOVA (p≤ 0.05). Potential targets of significant differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using cross-analysis of TargetScan and miRanda databases.  
 
Results: Analysis revealed 7 significantly different miRNAs between AAA CS and AAA PS and 6 significantly different miRNAs between RFM CS and RFM PS. Of greatest significance, hsa-miR-223-3p was significantly downregulated as an effect of smoking cessation in AAA PS compared to AAA CS (p=0.000263), while also showing clinically relevant expression levels. Target genes of hsa-miR-223-3p include pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, TNFα, TGFβ, and MCP-1. Speculatively, as tissue levels of miR-223 tend to inversely correlate with plasma levels, we could hypothesize that the observed plasma upregulation of hsa-miR-223-3p in AAA CS contributes to the pro-inflammatory microenvironment of aortic tissue.  
 
Conclusion: Cigarette smoke contributes to epigenetic changes impacting factors of immune regulation or inflammation, eventually leading to disease states such as AAA. Inflammatory-related hsa-miR-223-3p is upregulated in AAA CS, suggesting its potential role in the disease course.  
 
Implications: Upregulation of hsa-miR-223-3p in AAA CS offers a link between disease state and the number one environmental factor attributed to AAA. This signature miRNA could serve as a biomarker for AAA or as a potential therapy target.
Determination of the Role of the Distal Outflow Pathway Tissue in Glucocorticoid-induced Ocular Hypertension
Authors: Margetts Tyler , Peng Michael , Sugali Chenna Kesavulu , Rayana Naga Pradeep , Dai Jiannong , Mao Weiming
Published: December 2021

Introduction
Prolonged application of glucocorticoids (GCs) induces ocular hypertension (OHT) and glaucoma. This increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is due to pathological changes in the trabecular meshwork (TM) outflow pathway tissues including impaired cell functions and extracellular matrix deposition. The changes and role of the TM in GC-induced OHT have been well studied. However, the role of the tissues distal to the TM (distal outflow tissues) is unclear. This study aims to further uncover the role of distal outflow tissue in GC-induced OHT using a novel perfusion organ culture (POC) model.
Methods
Huma corneal rims tissues were attached to 3D printed transparent perfusion plates using a combination of thin and thick glues. The artificial anterior chamber was perfused with DMEM-low glucose medium at 2ul/min to mimic aqueous humor production, and IOP was recorded using pressure transducers and a computerized system. To determine the role of distal tissue in GC-induced IOP changes, the TM tissue was carefully removed from both eyes, and one eye was treated with ethanol (EtOH) and the fellow eye with dexamethasone (DEX).
Results
The model was validated through a comparison of the IOP and TM stiffness of glue contaminated to non-contaminated corneal rims. The glue contaminated rim showed highly increased IOP and TM stiffness while the non-contaminated rim showed normal values. After validation, the TM was removed from paired corneal rims. One rim was treated with 100nM DEX and the fellow rim with 0.1% EtOH. The DEX treated rim showed increase in IOP while the EtOH control showed little change.
Conclusion
We created a novel corneal rim perfusion culture model for the study of GC-induced OHT. This model showed promising results of distal outflow involvement in glucocorticoid induced ocular hypertension. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of distal outflow tissues in GC responsiveness in the eye.
Are Community Coalitions a Better Mechanism to Advance Health Equity? A Narrative Review
Authors: Heitz Adaline , Savaiano Dennis
Published: December 2021

Background/Objective: Despite increasing emphasis on health equity in policy, leadership, and program development, meaningful advancement in health equity remains a challenge. A comprehensive review of community health coalition efforts to improve health equity has not been conducted. In this narrative review, we examine what evidence exists that community health coalitions can advance health equity, and whether coalitions are a preferred approach to address health equity.
Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed, English articles with no date restrictions. In total, 1256 records were screened, of which 1163 were excluded for duplicate publications, no coalition or coalition-based intervention, no relevant outcomes, no emphasis on health equity or disparities, not primary literature, or unavailable full text. The remaining 93 articles are presented as a table of interventions based on outcomes. Further, evaluations of coalition effectiveness with controls are reviewed.
Results: Populations of interest were racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, low socioeconomic status communities, rural and urban areas, older adults, and LGBTQ groups. The most commonly reported results were changes in health outcomes or behaviors and community or organizational policy. Few studies were randomized, double-blinded, or controlled trials. This is not unexpected given the difficult nature of evaluating community interventions. Very few studies evaluated the effectiveness of a coalition-based intervention as compared to organizational interventions.
Conclusion, Impact, & Implications: Available literature suggests that health coalitions influence health outcomes, policies, and important social determinants of health in populations affected by health inequity. However, community intervention studies pose a unique challenge for high quality evaluation. While health coalitions have a positive influence on health equity, more research is needed to determine the advantages of health coalition interventions versus organizational interventions.
The role of the integrated stress response in keratinocyte migration
Authors: Hartman Jennifer , Barriera Diaz Miguel , Wek Ronald C. , Spandau Dan F.
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis:
Cutaneous wound healing involves: hemostatic, inflammatory, proliferative, and tissue remodeling phases. Re-epithelialization can be modeled in vitro using human keratinocytes and artificial wounds. Previous work showed undifferentiated keratinocytes closing wounds in vitro using individual cell migration (ICM), whilst differentiated keratinocytes utilize collective cell migration (KCCM). Therefore, we hypothesize that ICM in vitro is equivalent to keratinocyte migration during squamous cell carcinoma metastasis in vivo and KCCM is a model for wound re-epithelialization. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the integrated stress response (ISR) is important in ICM and KCCM. The ISR is activated by environmental stresses that protein kinases (GCN2 and PERK) can detect and phosphorylate translation factor, eIF2a. Our goal is to define how the ISR, specifically GCN2 and PERK, influence keratinocyte migration.
Methods:
We will evaluate in vitro wound healing and kinetic variation in protein expression and cytoskeleton remodeling. We will utilize four keratinocyte cell lines, control human keratinocyte NTERTs, and CRISPR-derived gene knockouts of GCN2, PERK, and ISR effector gene ATF4. Quantitative analysis of wound healing is accomplished using an IncuCyte ZOOM instrument. Protein expression is measured via immunoblots following high density wounding. Cytoskeletal analyses was done by immunofluorescence.
Results:
Preliminary results show PERK-KO and GCN2-KO cells have reduced expression of F-actin. Immunoblots showed actin-binding protein, phospho-cofilin, at lower levels in PERK-KO and GCN2-KO cells than in NTERT cells. Wound healing assays showed differentiated keratinocytes healing faster than undifferentiated in all cells, except GCN2-KO. GCN2-KO cells healed significantly slower than other differentiated cells and undifferentiated GCN2-KO cells. Wound healing assays showed undifferentiated PERK-KO cells healing slower than other undifferentiated cell lines.
Conclusion/Potential Impact:
The results indicate PERK and GCN2 could be key components in ICM and CCM respectfully. GCN2 and PERK could thus be potential therapeutic targets to provide cost-effective therapeutics to enhance/inhibit keratinocyte migration.
Three-dimensional morphometric analysis of human kidney nephron structures in health and disease
Authors: Bhaskara Suneil , Ferkowicz Michael , Barwinska Daria , Ashkar (El-Achkar) Tarek M.
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is very common and affects as many as 37 million people in the United States. Diabetes and hypertension are the most common causes of CKD.  The pathogenesis of CKD is not fully elucidated. Morphological changes such as glomerulosclerosis and tubular atrophy are commonly observed with advanced disease. However, it is unclear if such changes occur at earlier stages of disease, a time when therapeutic interventions are likely to have the most benefit. Measurements of glomerular, vascular and tubular dimensions have been typically derived from thin section, but a pipeline for acquiring these morphometric measurements in 3-dimentions have not been performed. Using enhanced tissue clearing, confocal 3D imaging and volumetric segmentation and analysis, we aimed at developing an approach to measure the dimensions of various structures within the human kidney. Our overarching hypothesis is that such approach could allow the detection of morphometric changes in early disease.
Experimental Design or Project Methods: Kidney tissue were used either from donor nephrectomies or stored frozen biopsies from Biobank Biopsy Cohort of Indiana (BBCI). Enhanced tissue clearing and staining for nuclei, endothelium and  proximal tubules were performed. Optical sectioning and 3D Imaging was done using confocal microscopy. Volume rendering, segmentation and analysis were done using the Imaris Software (Bitplane). Various built in and customized segmentation approaches were used.
Results: Volumes spanning 200 µm in thickness encompassing entire glomeruli and tubules were obtained. 3D Rendering of these volumes allowed visualization and enabled 3D segmentation. Dimensions of entire human glomeruli (maximum and minimum diameters, glomerular volumes and cellular densities), tubules and vessels were defined in control and samples with diabetic kidney disease.
Conclusion and Potential Impact: Our studies established an approach for accurate measurements of the dimensions of nephronal structures preserved in their 3D environment within tissue. We also established the feasibility of this approach in comparing changes with disease vs. control.  Such methodology will open up a new line of investigations to better understand the pathogenesis of CKD, particularly at its early stages.
The Association of ADRA2A Genotype with Dexmedetomidine Dosage in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Biju Ashwin , Gallaway Katherine A. , Skaar Todd C. , Tillman Emma M.
Published: December 2021

Background: Critically ill children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) often require sedation with dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A) agonist. In adults, evidence suggests an ADRA2A polymorphism (rs1800544) modulates the dexmedetomidine response. We hypothesize that pediatric patients with at least one wild-type allele (GG and GC) will require larger dexmedetomidine doses and a longer time to effective dose than patients with a variant genotype (CC).
Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board (IRB). Patients in the PICU, 1 week through 25 years of age, and sedated with dexmedetomidine for ≥ 2 days were approached for enrollment. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood or saliva before genotyping for rs1800544 with a custom designed TaqMan® Assay on the QuantStudio 12K Flex platform. Patient genotype was determined using TaqMan® Genotyper software. Patient data were collected from the electronic medical record.
Results: Sixty-five patients were enrolled and genotyped. Twenty-six patients were homozygous variant (CC), 27 heterozygous (GC), and 12 wildtype (GG) for rs1800544. The maximum dose (mcg/kg/hr) was 0.75 ± 0.31, and 0.78 ± 0.32, in patients with and without a G allele, respectively (p=0.65). The mean doses were 0.59 ± 0.22 and 0.58 ± 0.24 in patients with and without a G allele, respectively (p=0.85). The time to effective dose (hrs) was 5.8 ± 12.0 for patients with a G allele and 4.0 ± 8.2 for patients with no G allele (p=0.74). 
Conclusion:  Our hypothesis that the CC genotype would require lower doses of dexmedetomidine was not confirmed. Patients without a G allele required lower dexmedetomidine dosage and a longer time to achieve an effective dose, but these findings were not significant. This could be due to the small sample size or clinical factors that affect pediatric sedation.  An adequately powered study could determine the association of ADRA2A genotype with dexmedetomidine.
Effect of CKD-MBD therapies on the gastrointestinal expression of phosphate transporters
Authors: Carlton Olivia , Chen Neal , Moe Sharon , Biruete Annabel
Published: December 2021

Background: Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is prevalent and encompasses biochemical abnormalities, bone alterations, and vascular calcifications. CKD-MBD treatments include phosphate binders and calcimimetics that effectively lower phosphorus and PTH, respectively, but the impact of these treatments on phosphate transporters in the gastrointestinal tract is still unknown. NaPi2B is considered the primary intestinal phosphate transporter. However, NaPi2B inhibition shows limited effectiveness, thus the importance of PIT1 and PIT2 requires further investigation.
Methods: We tested the effects phosphate binders (ferric citrate (FC) and calcium gluconate (Ca)) and the calcimimetic KP2326 (KP) in (Cy/+ male rat; CKD) and untreated normal littermates (NL). Treatments lasted 10 weeks until euthanasia at 28 weeks (moderate-to-advanced CKD), where we collected mucosa samples from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Blood was collected for biochemistry measurements. Total RNA was isolated, and qPCR performed to assess phosphate transporters expression (NaPi2B, PIT1, PIT2) normalized to b-actin. Results were analyzed via 2-way ANOVA.
Results: As expected, CKD had abnormal plasma concentrations of phosphorus, PTH, and FGF23. FC and KP effectively lowered phosphorus. KP and Ca lowered PTH, but Ca increased FGF23. NaPi2B was expressed in the duodenum and jejunum but not in the ileum, and its expression was upregulated with FC compared to NL. PIT1 was expressed in all segments, but the expression was the highest in the ileum, while PIT2 was constitutively expressed in all segments. Ca led to higher PIT1 and PIT2 expression in the duodenum and jejunum compared to NL, CKD, or KP. KP led to higher expression of PIT1 in the ileum compared to CKD, FC, and Ca.
Conclusions: CKD-MBD therapies differentially impacted biochemistries and phosphate transporters expression. The effect of Ca on gastrointestinal expression of PIT1 and PIT2 may explain the higher plasma phosphorus and should be further explored.
Impact of Neonatal Outcome on Language Used to Describe Periviable Birth Experience
Authors: Casbon Courtney , Patel Meera , Tucker Edmonds Brownsyne
Published: December 2021

Motivation and Purpose: The experience of giving birth to a periviable neonate between 22-25 weeks gestation varies greatly among women depending on numerous factors. Studying periviable narrative experiences will allow us to isolate those factors that create a more positive experience, even in the instance of a negative neonatal outcome (infant death). Results may be used to advise future caregiving approaches so they may be tailored to the needs of women in these situations. This study aimed to qualitatively assess the extent of the relationship between neonatal outcome and the language used by women and their important others (IOs) to describe periviable birth experience three months postpartum.
Method: A semi-structured interview guide was used to investigate participants’ perceptions of their delivery experience and subsequent NICU experience, if applicable, at three months postpartum. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded for themes by three investigators. Conventional content analysis was conducted using NVivo 12.
Results: Twenty-three women and twelve IOs were recruited at two hospitals between 2016 and 2018. Women and IOs who experienced infant death negatively described their delivery experience if they also negatively described healthcare team (HCT) interactions, including providers’ communication, clinical judgement, and personality traits. Specifically, participants with overall negative birth experiences described not understanding various clinical decisions and felt uninformed on topics pertinent to their or their infant’s care. Alternatively, women and IOs who experienced infant death who positively described their delivery experience also positively described NICU care (including HCT interactions) and infant death experience (comfort care). These results highlight the impact of HCT interactions and communication on a patient’s perception of delivery despite a negative neonatal outcome.
Conclusion: These findings could suggest that improvements in communication and information dissemination from the HCT may have the ability to improve a patient’s periviable birth experience despite a negative neonatal outcome.
Speed of Information Processing and Working Memory in Children with Cochlear Implants
Authors: Herran Reid , Pisoni David , Kronenberger William
Published: December 2021

Background: Cochlear implants (CIs) restore partial hearing to deaf children, promoting the development of spoken language skills. However, because of reduced auditory and language experience, children who receive CIs are at risk for delays not only in language skills but also in language-related neurocognitive skills such as verbal working memory (VWM - the ability to retain language information in immediate memory concurrently with other cognitive processing). Although VWM delays in children with CIs are well-documented, the foundational processes underlying these delays are less clear. This study investigated the hypotheses that slower speed of information processing during VWM tasks contributes to VWM delays in CI users and that this slower information processing speed is associated with spoken language outcomes. 
 
Methods: 25 early-implanted, prelingually-deaf children with CIs and 25 normal-hearing (NH) peers completed tests of VWM, neurocognitive, and speech-language functioning. Speed of information processing during the VWM test was assessed by measuring response latency and average pause duration. 
 
Results: Children with CIs showed poorer VWM scores than NH peers, but the groups did not differ on response latencies or pause durations. Response latencies were significantly correlated with VWM capacity, speech, and language outcomes in both groups. 
 
Conclusion: Speed of information processing in VWM was similar for children with CIs and NH. In both groups, shorter response latencies (faster speed of execution of the cognitive operations of working memory) were associated with better neurocognitive and spoken language outcomes. In the CI sample, pause durations were inconsistently associated with VWM and language outcomes. 
 
Clinical Policy Impact and Implications: Speed of information processing for VWM is associated with core neurocognitive and spoken language outcomes for children with CIs and should be a routine target of assessment and intervention post-implantation.
Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors & Weight Gain in Children with Perinatal HIV
Authors: Fernandez Gianna , Khaitan Alka
Published: December 2021

Background: In the past, HIV infection was associated with weight loss due to metabolic wasting. Now with early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) an increasing number of patients are being classified as overweight/ obese both prior to initiation and during the course of ART. Certain integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have been associated with weight gain in the adult population, but data in the pediatric population is lacking. This study explores the association of ART with an INSTI backbone and changes in weight and body mass index (BMI) in children with perinatal HIV who are followed in the HIV clinic at Riley Hospital.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 59 patients with perinatally acquired HIV from 2016 to 2021. Weight, BMI, z-score, blood pressure (BP) percentiles, and lipid panels were recorded from the patients’ most recent visit. BMI and BP percentiles were compared between patients on Bictegravir, Dolutegravir, and Elvitegravir. For patients currently on an INSTI-backbone ART regimen, BMI was compared before and up to 5 years after INSTI initiation.
Results: In our cross-sectional analysis between patients on Bictegravir, Dolutegravir, and Elvitegravir there was no significant difference in BMI (p=0.859), systolic BP percentile (p=0.188), or diastolic BP percentile (p=0.541). In our longitudinal analysis, we observed a significant increase in BMI over 3 years compared to pre-INSTI initiation (p=0.049). In addition, we observed an upwards trend with patients on Bictegravir (p=0.094) and Elvitegravir (p=0.121).
Conclusion/Impact: Our study suggests that ART regimens with an INSTI backbone are associated with greater increases in BMIs. Our study is limited by a small n, but provides pilot data to direct future studies. It also illustrates that emphasis on healthy body weight maintenance may be necessary when patients are placed on ART regimens with INSTI backbones.
Effect of Passage Number on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neurons Culture Contaminants with Non-Neuronal Cell Types
Authors: Ketsoglou Dominique , Cantor Erica , Jiang Guanglong , Wu Xi , Phillips Santosh , Shen Fei , P. Schneider Bryan
Published: December 2021

Background: The study of live human neurons has been hindered due to the complexity and potential irreversible damage to the patient during biopsy. However, reprogramming of adult human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has proved to be a novel method in the study of the pathophysiology of disease and therapeutic targets of the human nervous system. There are several approaches, and the optimum time (i.e., passage number) to generate highly pure cultures is being studied. Therefore, our laboratory has investigated the effect of passage number on culture contaminants with non-neuronal cell types.  
 
Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood from three cell lines and reprogrammed into iPSCs. Each cell line consisted of three samples that were analyzed after low (5-10), middle (20-26), and high (30-38) number of passages. Cells were maintained in an induction medium for eight days. On day nine, cells were dissociated and replated in a maintenance medium. On day 33, total RNA was extracted from cells. Normalized values for non-neuronal cell marker genes were compared using paired Student’s t-tests and two-way ANOVA, with the cell line and passage number as independent variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.  
 
Results: Our results showed that lower passage number was associated with decreased astrocyte and chondrocyte marker expression. High passage number was associated with decreased oligodendrocyte and glial precursor marker expression. Of the fibroblast markers evaluated, there were similar trends of expression between all three groups. There was no significant difference in microglial cell marker gene expression between all three groups.  
 
Conclusion and Potential Impact: Low gene expression suggests a purer culture. According to these results, as passage number increases, there is more contaminants with oligodendrocytes and glial precursor cells. Conversely, with low passage numbers, there are more contaminants with astrocytes and chondrocytes. Future studies will identify the impact of these non-neuronal contaminants and implications on research.
Community-based Study on Hip Fracture in a Rural Area in Northeast Indiana
Authors: Kimes Brandon , Zhu Thein
Published: December 2021

Background/Objective: There are few studies in the literature focused on rural hip fracture epidemiology, and fewer still that consider hip fractures at a specific county level or trauma center (TC) region. The aim of this study is to elucidate patterns of injury events and injury burden of hip fractures in a rural trauma center in northeast Indiana. 
 
Patients and Measurements: We ascertained 2019 hip fracture cases that consisted of three sets of data, namely, emergency department visits (ED), hospitalizations (IP), and deaths from clinical databases. We analyzed the cases by fracture type, measured incidence rates (IRs) per 1,000 county residents and described the injury pattern of hip fractures by variables such as county of residence, age, and sex. We considered the mechanism of injury (cause) of the fractures as well as the injury burden based on the above three sets. 
 
Results: A ratio of roughly 2:1 was found for extracapsular to intracapsular hip fractures. Injury patterns showed that the study counties had similar incidence rates with a range of 0.96 to 1.41 per 1,000 residents. Males and females ages 0-69 years had similar incidences of hip fracture. Overall, females had a 41% higher incidence rate of hip fractures than males. Injury burden indicated a similar distribution of ED to IP to mortality cases across the five study counties, and the majority (98.4%) of hip fractures with known causes of injury were due to falls. 
 
Conclusions and Potential Impact: We elucidated the injury patterns and burden of hip fractures in a verified level II trauma center region. The results of this study have the potential benefit for the future development of hip fracture prevention programs for rural, elderly populations in northeast Indiana.
The potential role of STAT3 In the APE1/NF-kB regulatory axis in K-rasLSL.G12D/+;Pdx-1-Cre (KC) pancreatic tumor model
Authors: Kpenu Eyram , Kelley Mark
Published: December 2021

APE1/Ref-1 (apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-redox effector factor 1) is a multifunctional protein that has been shown to be overexpressed in multiple types of cancer. The overexpression of APE1/Ref-1 is linked to higher cancer cell survival and increased patient mortality. Furthermore, APE1/Ref-1 is a key regulator of transcription factors (TF) through redox signaling and protein-protein interaction. It is involved in proliferative and inflammatory signaling upregulated in cancer.  
Transcription factor NF-kB is involved in inflammatory cytokine expression and has been shown to be regulated by Ref-1. My project investigated how Ref-1 regulates NF-kB, specifically Rel-A, in a model using K-rasLSL.G12D/+; Pdx-1-Cre (KC) pancreatic tumor cells (KC3590) derived from genetically engineered mice. Additionally, I explored other TFs within the APE1/Ref-1 signaling pathway, such as STAT3, in this model. 
My work involved knocking down STAT3 levels within four variations of the KC3590 line. These were the KC3590/ΔNF-kB (parent) and KC3590/ΔNF-kB vector lines (vector) which contain exon deletions within the NF-kB gene rendering it nonfunctional. KC3590/13 and KC3590/15 are cell lines which are KC3590/ΔNF-B cells with functional full-length NF-kB added to the cells. Previous experiments demonstrated that the ΔNF-kB and ΔNF-kB vector lines are resistant to treatment by the specific Ref-1 inhibitors, including APX3330, which inhibit the redox signaling function of Ref-1.  
Initial data demonstrated that adding back functional NF-kB to the NF-kB deficient cells reestablished sensitivity to APX3330, presumably due to the reintroduction of the Ref-1 target, NF-kB. Knockdown of STAT3 expression in the ΔNF-kB and ΔNF-kB vector lines demonstrated some sensitivity to APX3330, however, in the C13/15 cell lines, no enhanced sensitivity was observed. These data support the hypothesis that NF-kB is the major TF driving the growth of KC pancreatic tumor cells. Subsequent studies will clarify further the role of APE1/Ref-1 regulation in the KC model and the relative importance of APE1/Ref-1’s target TFs.
The Recorded Brahms Corpus (RBC): A Dataset of Performative Parameters in Recordings of Brahms's Cello Sonatas
Authors: Llorens Ana
Published: December 2021

This report describes the open-source Recorded Brahms Corpus (RBC) dataset, as well as the methods employed to extract and process the data. The dataset contains (micro)timing and dynamic data from 21 recordings of Brahms's Cello Sonatas, Opp. 38 and 99, focusing on note and beat onsets and duration, tempo fluctuations, and dynamic variations. Consistent manual annotation of the corpus in Sonic Visualiser was necessary prior to automatic extraction. Data for each recording and measurement unit are given as TXT files. Scores in various digital formats, the original SV files and diamond-shaped scape plots visualizations of the data are offered too. Expansion of the corpus with further movements of the sonatas, further recordings thereof and other compositions by Brahms is planned. The study of the data may contribute to performance studies and music theory alike.
Drum Groove Corpora
Authors: Hosken Fred , Bechtold Toni , Hoesl Florian , Kilchenmann Lorenz , Senn Olivier
Published: December 2021

Patterned microtiming deviations from metronomic regularity are ubiquitous in the performance of metered music. The relevance of microtiming to the perception of music has been studied since the 1980s. Most recently, microtiming has been investigated as a cause of groove (i.e., the pleasant urge to move in response to music). The study of microtiming relies on the availability of microtiming data. This report presents three large corpora of onset timings derived from drum kit performances in popular Anglo-American popular music styles. These data are made freely available (CC 4.0 license) to provide a resource for use by analysts and experimenters alike. They offer a common point of reference for future studies into the temporal facets of music performance. The datasets adhere to FAIR principles; they thus facilitate replication of analyses and experimental stimuli.
The Mozart Expositional Punctuation Corpus: A Dataset of Interthematic Cadences in Mozart's Sonata-Allegro Exposition
Authors: Raz Omer , Chawin Dror , Rom Uri B.
Published: December 2021

This report documents a dataset consisting of expert annotations (symbolic data) of interthematic (higher-level) cadences in the exposition sections of all of Mozart's instrumental sonata-allegro movements.
FAIR for whom? Commentary on Hofmann et al. (2021)
Authors: M Stefan
Published: December 2021

In this commentary on Hofmann et al. (2021), the notion of ethnomusicology and some of its underlying biases are questioned and reflected in the light of applying FAIR data principles to musicological research data from outside a Western canon and its musical practices.
A comparative study of endoscopic assisted versus conventional middle ear and mastoid surgery at a tertiary care teaching hospital
Authors: Sharma Jitendra Kumar , Mahich Sushma , Mathur Navneet
Published: December 2021

Background: Objectives were to compare outcomes, intra operative visualization and operative time duration in endoscopic assisted vs conventional middle ear and mastoid surgery.

Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted in 50 patients; among them 25 cases were of endoscope assisted middle ear surgery and 25 cases with conventional microscopic middle ear surgery. A 4 mm diameter, 18 cm long rigid, zero-degree endoscope and operating microscope was used. Primary outcomes include mean average pre and post operative air-bone (A-B) gap, hearing thresholds, intra operative visualization and duration of surgery.

Results: Mean A-B gap closure for endoscopic assisted tympanoplasty was 12.76±6.00 dB, while it was 8.38±5.78 dB for non-endoscopic assisted tympanoplasty. The results were comparative. Mean intra-operative time duration for endoscopic assisted tympanoplasty was 70.23±4.17 min, while it was 77±9.80 min for non-endoscopic assisted tympanoplasty with statically significant difference between both groups (p=0.03). Graft uptake rate for endoscopic assisted tympanoplasty was 92.31% while it was 84.62% for non-endoscopic assisted tympanoplasty. Residual cholesteatoma remnant on endoscopy was found in 43.66% cases out of 12 mastoidectomy cases performed via endoscopic assistance.

Conclusions: The endoscope can be successfully applied to ear surgery for most of the ear procedures with a reasonable success rate both in terms of perforation closure and hearing improvement and with minimal exposure. Wide-field zero, 30 or 70° endoscope sallow visualization of hidden anatomic spaces and working around corners i.e., epitympanum, hypotympanum and retro tympanum for safe removal of cholesteatoma.
Como ler um texto acadêmico? Diretrizes para estudantes universitários
Authors: Sahão Fernanda Torres
Published: December 2021

Objetivo. Propor diretrizes para orientar estudantes universitários na leitura de textos acadêmicos. Desenvolvimento. O artigo apresenta dados sobre a importância do desenvolvimento de um repertório de leitura eficiente e ações a serem apresentadas pelos estudantes para que sejam capazes de ler textos acadêmicos de forma mais produtiva e crítica, divididas em oito diretrizes, sendo elas: caracterizar a estrutura de um texto acadêmico; definir objetivos para a leitura; elaborar perguntas com base no título e subtítulos; avaliar a própria compreensão do texto; avaliar as informações apresentadas; identificar informações desconhecidas; relacionar as informações do texto com outras fontes de informação; e produzir algo novo a partir da leitura. Implicações. Espera-se que as diretrizes apresentadas auxiliem estudantes ou profissionais que necessitem aperfeiçoar o repertório de leitura de textos acadêmicos, e que possam utilizar esse conhecimento também diante de outras fontes de informação, examinando notícias e textos de forma mais crítica e autônoma.Palavras-chave. Leitura funcional; Artigo científico; Avaliação crítica; Ensino superior; Letramento científico. How to read an academic text? Guidelines for college studentsAbstract:Objective. Propose guidelines to guide university students in the reading of academic texts. Development. The article presents data on the importance of developing an efficient reading repertoire and actions to be presented by students so that they are able to read academic texts in a more productive and critical way, divided into eight guidelines, which are: to characterize the structure of an academic text; define objectives for reading; prepare questions based on title and subtitles; evaluate the very understanding of the text; evaluate the information presented; identify unknown information; relate text information to other sources of information; and produce something new from reading. Implications. It is expected that the guidelines presented can help students or professionals who need to improve the repertoire of reading academic texts, and who can use this knowledge also to read other sources of information, examining news and texts in a more critical and autonomous way.Keywords. Functional reading; scientific article; critical evaluation; higher education; scientific literacy.
An ingenious technique for functional palatal reservoir construction in complete dentures
Authors: Pathania Neha , Noor Sabat Un , Kumar Rahul , Nagpal Archana , Gupta Rajeev
Published: December 2021

The retention, stability and comfort of wearing denture is greatly influenced by the flow, quantity and consistency of saliva. Insufficient salivary output results especially in old-aged edentulous patients may result in denture sores because of lack of lubrication by saliva, thus, reducing patient’s ability to retain the prosthesis. Various approaches have been concernes with the use of reservoir with holes have been described in the literature. However the flow of salivary substitute is very difficult to control. Moreover the frequent cleaning of the denture required to maintain the patency of the reservoir holes poses various challenges to the patient. This article explains a novel technique for the incorporation of a reservoir with controlled salivary flow in complete denture to enhance the retention of the prosthesis and thus, improving the comfort of wearing denture and the speech of patient.
Modeling and Simulation of Janus-like Nanoparticles Formation by Solid-Gas Exothermic Reactions
Authors: Markov A.A. , Martirosyan K.S.
Published: December 2021

Theoretical model for the simulation of synthesis of Janus-like particles (JP) consisting two different phases using the Carbon Combustion Synthesis of Oxides (CCSO) is presented. The model includes the variation of sample initial porosity, carbon concentration and oxygen flow rate used to predict the formation of JP features. The two temperature (2T) combustion model of chemically active submicron-dispersed mixture of two phases including ferroelectric and ferromagnetic was implemented and assessed by using the experimentally estimated activation energy of 112±3.3 kJ/mol and combustion temperature. The experimental values allowed to account the thermal and concentration expansion effect along with the dispersion by the slip-jump simulation for high Knudsen numbers. The model predicted that the smaller initial porosity of the combustion media creates higher formation rate of Janus-like particles. The simulation of slippage and jumps of the gas temperature allowed the scale-bridging between macro- and micro- structures.
Metodologías de aprendizaje para ejecutivos. Análisis comparativo del aprendizaje social y del método del caso
Authors: Guerrero Fabiola , Mateo Ricardo
Published: December 2021

El aprendizaje social es la capacidad de aprender de los demás, como consecuencia de la observación de su comportamiento. Hoy, contamos con avances tecnológicos y medios digitales que nos permiten disponer de más información y herramientas de aprendizaje. Los usuarios que más han las aprovechado son los millennials, quienes utilizan las redes sociales y estas nuevas tecnologías en su ámbito social y también educativo. El método del caso es una metodología que ha demostrado ser muy eficaz en la educación de ejecutivos a partir de su creación en la Harvard Business School en 1908 y ha sido ampliamente difundida en numerosas escuelas de negocios. Esta investigación busca valorar el aprendizaje social a través de redes sociales como una alternativa a la metodología basada en casos. La hipótesis sostiene que la metodología basada en el aprendizaje social a través de redes sociales y la metodología basada en el método del caso permiten un nivel de aprendizaje equivalente. Se utilizó metodología experimental mixta con dos grupos de millennials, ambos expuestos a dichas metodologías. En los experimentos realizados para evaluar la eficacia de las metodologías, llegamos a dos conclusiones: (1) el promedio alcanzado en calificaciones utilizando el aprendizaje social es ligeramente superior al promedio alcanzado utilizando el método del caso; y (2) haciendo un análisis de medias, la diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa.
Viabilidad del uso de un demo de un sistema de realidad virtual como parte del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de operación de la torreta 40/50 instalada en vehículos asv
Authors: Parra Plazas Jaime Alberto , Agudelo Calderón Jairo Andres , Espitia Cubillos Anny Astrid
Published: December 2021

El objetivo de este proyecto es determinar la viabilidad técnica, pedagógica y económi- ca del uso de un sistema de realidad virtual como parte del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de operación de la torreta 40/50 instalada en vehículos asv. Para ello, su desarrollo contempla la cons- trucción de un demo (usando realidad virtual), su validación y el establecimiento de los beneficios derivados de su posible implementación para la capacitación de personal en el uso de plataformas de caballería. La viabilidad técnica y pedagógica se basó en el análisis de semejanza y similitud con una muestra reducida. Los resultados revelan que el demo satisface las condiciones básicas para su nivel de madurez tecnológica (TRL 3), y demuestran que es posible usar nuevas tecnologías para capacitación sobre el manejo de torretas y permite identificar puntualmente oportunidades de mejora para su implementación. El estudio incluye información sobre la viabilidad económica del demo, dada la reducción de costos frente a la formación tradicional con equipo real. A nivel pedagógico, el análisis de la literatura permite notar los beneficios del uso de la simulación en los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje en general. Adicionalmente, se identificaron los cursos en los que es posible usar simulación como estrategia de enseñanza inicial complementada con prácticas reales cuando se cuente con las competencias mínimas.
The Principle of Taxation Fairness from the Positions of Tax Sovereignty and the Rule of the People
Authors:   Associate Professor of the Department of Financial, Banking and Customs Law named after Professor Nina I. Khimicheva of the Saratov State Law Academy PhD (Law), Sadchikov Mikhail N.
Published: December 2021

The principle of justice is the principle of the entire system of law. The principle of fair taxation is the one of the basic principles of tax law. It is crucial question to find out the content of this principle. To author opinion there is public justice taxation but not individual fair taxation. That is to say, the taxation is unfair for individual sometime but it is fair taxation for social purposes. The public fair taxation principle is based on the tax sovereignty and it is generated by democracy. The article discusses the difference in the content of this principle in different states. For example it can be find out from different approaches of states to the progressive taxation question.