bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marcas e comportamento ético: explorando a integração do relacionamento consumidor-marca e ética percebida pelos consumidores
Authors: Tolentino Renata De Sousa da Silva , Filho Cid Gonçalves , La Falce Jefferson Lopes , Santos Marcos Ferreira
Published: March 2021

Objetivo: A relevância das percepções éticas do consumidor (PEC) sobre as empresas é tema que tem crescido de relevância, em um momento que práticas não éticas empresarias são cada vez mais questionadas no Brasil. Neste sentido, esta pesquisa visa estudar os impactos das percepções éticas dos consumidores sobre empresas, e como esta percepção afeta o desenvolvimento da relação consumidor-marca, integrando elementos atitudinais, conativos e comportamentais. Método: Foi realizado um levantamento com 538 questionários, analisados através de equações estruturais, tendo como mercado referência fabricantes de dispositivos celulares (smartphones).Resultado Principal: A percepção ética do consumidor demonstrou contribuições no desenvolvimento do relacionamento consumidor-marca, sob os aspectos atitudinais, conativos e de ação. Em nível atitudinal o maior impacto da PEC é na confiança do consumidor. Os efeitos totais da PEC nas intenções comportamentais foram consistentes e relativamente elevados, demonstrando forte relação com a lealdade, intenção de compra e valor da marca.Contribuições:Descrevemos como a PEC afeta o desenvolvimento do relacionamento consumidor-marca em uma cadeia que representa sua evolução, integrando os componentes atitudinais, conativos de ação, sugerindo um papel central da percepção ética dos consumidores na gestão de marcas. O modelo explicou 79,2% da lealdade e 74,1% da intenção de compra na estrutura de desenvolvimento do relacionamento consumidor marca, tendo como base o impacto das percepções éticas.Originalidade: Esta pesquisa é a primeira que demonstra o impacto da Percepção Ética do Consumidor no desenvolvimento do relacionamento consumidor-marca, integrando os três componentes, bem como demonstrando seus impactos na cadeia nomológica e seus efeitos consequentes.Palavras Chaves: Relacionamento consumidor-marca; Ética percebida pelo consumidor; Comportamento do consumidor; Valor da marca.
Do women dress for other women? A study on female luxury consumption and
intrasexual competition
Authors: Bervian Luciana Merlin , Floriani Dinorá Eliete
Published: March 2021

Objetivo: Este artigo investiga a influência da competição intrasexual
feminina no consumo de produtos de luxo em países emergentes e
tradicionais.Design/metodologia/abordagem: A pesquisa é baseada em uma
survey com 437 mulheres de países emergentes e tradicionais, para realizar
uma análise cross-cultural. A abordagem é quantitativa com a aplicação de
análise fatorial exploratória, análise fatorial confirmatória e regressão
linear múltipla.Originalidade/valor: O estudo visa preencher lacunas de
pesquisa, analisando as motivações das mulheres na aquisição de produtos de
luxo e a relação do consumo como estratégia de competição intrasexual,
nomeadamente em países emergentes, onde o acesso a produtos de luxo tem sido
retardado devido à abertura tardia dos mercados.Resultados: Os resultados
mostram que a competição intrasexual feminina, no contexto da atração de um
parceiro romântico, desempenha um papel importante no consumo de produtos de
luxo. As mulheres exibem itens de luxo quando se sentem ameaçadas por outras
mulheres. A moderação dos países não interferiu na associação da competição
intrasexual feminina com o consumo de produtos de luxo.Contribuição teórica
e prática: Estes resultados mostram descobertas pioneiras para a área de
gestão e marketing. Estudos anteriores enfocando esses países restringiram o
escopo da seleção sexual ao campo da psicologia. Compreender a singularidade
do consumo de produtos de luxo é um fator analítico e estratégico importante
para os profissionais de marketing.
Effects of Spinning Workout and Green Tea Consumption on the Anti-inflammatory and Inflammatory Markers and Body Composition of Overweight Women
Authors: Alikhani Shahla , Etemad Zaher , Azizbeigi Kamal
Published: March 2021

Background: Systematic inflammations are associated with cardiovascular diseases. The production of inflammatory mediators increases in a sedentary lifestyle and reduces with regular exercise. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of spinning workout and green tea supplementation on the anti-inflammatory and inflammatory markers and body composition of overweight women. Methods: This study was conducted on 32 overweight women who voluntarily participated in the research and were randomly assigned to the groups of spinning-green tea (SP-GT; n = 11), spinning-placebo (SP-PL; n = 11), and control (no exercise/placebo; n = 10). The experimental groups carried out eight weeks of spinning workout three days a week non-consecutively with the intensity of 11 - 17 rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured before the intervention and 48 hours after the last training session. In addition, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured. Results: After eight weeks of the intervention, BMI, BF%, and TNF-α significantly reduced in the SP-GT and SP-PL groups (P ≤ 0.05). Although the change in IL-6 was not significant in the intervention groups (P > 0.05), it significantly increased in the control group (P = 0.011). Moreover, a significant increase was observed in IL-10 in the SP-GT and SP-PL groups (P = 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, spinning workout improved the inflammatory markers and body composition independent of supplementation, while green tea had a greater effect on IL-10. Therefore, spinning workout could be used for the prevention of cardiovascular risk factors through the improvement of systematic inflammation.
Un proyecto educativo común: La relación familia y escuela. Revisión de investigaciones y normativas
Authors: Ceballos López Noelia , Saiz Linares Ángela
Published: March 2021

Este trabajo tiene como foco de indagación los procesos de participación familiar en las escuelas de educación infantil y primaria. Para ello, se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica y normativa bajo un diseño de carácter cualitativo de revisión sistemática de la literatura (análisis de contenido). De dicho análisis emerge una cartografía de la relación familia-escuela en torno a tres ejes: los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje, la atención a la diversidad; y la participación de las familias en la organización y gestión de la escuela. Finalmente, enunciamos algunas reflexiones que buscan contribuir a la reflexión sobre la relación familia-escuela y encaminar significados y actuaciones comprometidas con los objetivos inclusivos y democráticos.

This study aims to explore the processes of family participation in infant and primary schools. For this purpose, we conducted a bibliographic and normative systematic review which adopted a qualitative design based on the analysis of content. From this analysis, a cartography of the family-school relationship emerges around three pillars: teaching-learning processes, diversity and education, and participation of families in the school organization and management. Finally, we formulate some conclusions that seek to contribute to the reflection on the family-school relationship and to highlight meanings and actions which follow inclusive and democratic principles.
Resigned Activism
Authors: Lora-Wainwright Anna
Published: March 2021

An examination of the daily grind of living with pollution in rural China and of the varying forms of activism that develop in response.

Residents of rapidly industrializing rural areas in China live with pollution every day. Villagers drink obviously tainted water and breathe visibly dirty air, afflicted by a variety of ailments—from arthritis to nosebleeds—that they ascribe to the effects of industrial pollution. In Resigned Activism, Anna Lora-Wainwright explores the daily grind of living with pollution in rural China and the varying forms of activism that develop in response. This revised edition offers expanded acknowledgment of the contributions of Lora-Wainwright's collaborators in China.

Lora-Wainwright finds that claims of health or environmental damage are politically sensitive, and that efforts to seek redress are frustrated by limited access to scientific evidence, growing socioeconomic inequalities, and complex local realities. Villagers, feeling powerless, often come to accept pollution as part of the environment; their activism is tempered by their resignation. Drawing on fieldwork done with teams of collaborators, Lora-Wainwright offers three case studies of “resigned activism” in rural China, examining the experiences of villagers who live with the effects of phosphorous mining and fertilizer production, lead and zinc mining, and electronic waste processing. The book also includes extended summaries of the in-depth research carried out by Ajiang Chen and his team in some of China's “cancer villages,” village-sized clusters of high cancer incidence. These cases make clear the staggering human costs of development and the deeply uneven distribution of costs and benefits that underlie China's economic power.
Visuomotor learning from postdictive motor error
Authors: Masselink Jana , Lappe Markus
Published: March 2021

Sensorimotor learning adapts motor output to maintain movement accuracy. For saccadic eye movements, learning also alters space perception, suggesting a dissociation between the performed saccade and its internal representation derived from corollary discharge (CD). This is critical since learning is commonly believed to be driven by CD-based visual prediction error. We estimate the internal saccade representation through pre- and trans-saccadic target localization, showing that it decouples from the actual saccade during learning. We present a model that explains motor and perceptual changes by collective plasticity of spatial target percept, motor command, and a forward dynamics model that transforms CD from motor into visuospatial coordinates. We show that learning does not follow visual prediction error but instead a postdictive update of space after saccade landing. We conclude that trans-saccadic space perception guides motor learning via CD-based postdiction of motor error under the assumption of a stable world.
Drp1 is required for AgRP neuronal activity and feeding
Authors: Jin Sungho , Yoon Nal Ae , Liu Zhong-Wu , Song Jae Eun , Horvath Tamas L , Kim Jung Dae , Diano Sabrina
Published: March 2021

The hypothalamic orexigenic Agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-expressing neurons are crucial for the regulation of whole-body energy homeostasis. Here, we show that fasting-induced AgRP neuronal activation is associated with dynamin-related peptide 1 (DRP1)-mediated mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial fatty acid utilization in AgRP neurons. In line with this, mice lacking Dnm1l in adult AgRP neurons (Drp1 cKO) show decreased fasting- or ghrelin-induced AgRP neuronal activity and feeding and exhibited a significant decrease in body weight, fat mass, and feeding accompanied by a significant increase in energy expenditure. In support of the role for mitochondrial fission and fatty acids oxidation, Drp1 cKO mice showed attenuated palmitic acid-induced mitochondrial respiration. Altogether, our data revealed that mitochondrial dynamics and fatty acids oxidation in hypothalamic AgRP neurons is a critical mechanism for AgRP neuronal function and body-weight regulation.
Bulk flow of cerebrospinal fluid observed in periarterial spaces is not an artifact of injection
Authors: Raghunandan Aditya , Ladron-de-Guevara Antonio , Tithof Jeffrey , Mestre Humberto , Du Ting , Nedergaard Maiken , Thomas John H , Kelley Douglas H
Published: March 2021

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flowing through periarterial spaces is integral to the brain’s mechanism for clearing metabolic waste products. Experiments that track tracer particles injected into the cisterna magna (CM) of mouse brains have shown evidence of pulsatile CSF flow in perivascular spaces surrounding pial arteries, with a bulk flow in the same direction as blood flow. However, the driving mechanism remains elusive. Several studies have suggested that the bulk flow might be an artifact, driven by the injection itself. Here, we address this hypothesis with new in vivo experiments where tracer particles are injected into the CM using a dual-syringe system, with simultaneous injection and withdrawal of equal amounts of fluid. This method produces no net increase in CSF volume and no significant increase in intracranial pressure. Yet, particle-tracking reveals flows that are consistent in all respects with the flows observed in earlier experiments with single-syringe injection.
Towards suitable description of reference architectures
Authors: Dias Valle Pedro Henrique , Garcés Lina , Volpato Tiago , Martínez-Fernández Silverio , Nakagawa Elisa Yumi
Published: March 2021

Due to the increasing size and complexity of many current software systems, the architectural design of these systems has become a considerately complicated task. In this scenario, reference architectures have already proven to be very relevant to support the architectural design of systems in diverse critical application domains, such as health, avionics, transportation, and the automotive sector. However, these architectures are described in many different approaches, such as using textual description, informal models, and even modeling languages as UML. Hence, practitioners are faced with a difficult decision of the better approaches to describing reference architectures. The main contribution of this work is to depict a detailed panorama containing the state of the art (from the literature) and state of the practice (based on existing reference architectures) of approaches for describing reference architectures. For this, we firstly examined the existing approaches (e.g., processes, methods, models, and modeling languages) and compared them concerning completeness and applicability. We also examined four well-known, successful reference architectures (AUTOSAR, ARC-IT, IIRA, and AXMEDIS) in view of the approaches used to describe them. As a result, there exists a misalignment between the state of the art and state of the practice, requiring an engagement of the software architecture community, through research collaboration of academia and industry, to propose more suitable means to describe reference architectures and, as a consequence, promoting the sustainability of these architectures.
Genes for degradation and utilization of uronic acid-containing polysaccharides of a marine bacteriumCatenovulumsp. CCB-QB4
Authors: Furusawa Go , Azami Nor Azura , Teh Aik-Hong
Published: March 2021

Background

Oligosaccharides from polysaccharides containing uronic acids are known to have many useful bioactivities. Thus, polysaccharide lyases (PLs) and glycoside hydrolases (GHs) involved in producing the oligosaccharides have attracted interest in both medical and industrial settings. The numerous polysaccharide lyases and glycoside hydrolases involved in producing the oligosaccharides were isolated from soil and marine microorganisms. Our previous report demonstrated that an agar-degrading bacterium,Catenovulumsp. CCB-QB4, isolated from a coastal area of Penang, Malaysia, possessed 183 glycoside hydrolases and 43 polysaccharide lyases in the genome. We expected that the strain might degrade and use uronic acid-containing polysaccharides as a carbon source, indicating that the strain has a potential for a source of novel genes for degrading the polysaccharides.

Methods

To confirm the expectation, the QB4 cells were cultured in artificial seawater media with uronic acid-containing polysaccharides, namely alginate, pectin (and saturated galacturonate), ulvan, and gellan gum, and the growth was observed. The genes involved in degradation and utilization of uronic acid-containing polysaccharides were explored in the QB4 genome using CAZy analysis and BlastP analysis.

Results

The QB4 cells were capable of using these polysaccharides as a carbon source, and especially, the cells exhibited a robust growth in the presence of alginate. 28 PLs and 22 GHs related to the degradation of these polysaccharides were found in the QB4 genome based on the CAZy database. Eleven polysaccharide lyases and 16 glycoside hydrolases contained lipobox motif, indicating that these enzymes play an important role in degrading the polysaccharides. Fourteen of 28 polysaccharide lyases were classified into ulvan lyase, and the QB4 genome possessed the most abundant ulvan lyase genes in the CAZy database. Besides, genes involved in uronic acid metabolisms were also present in the genome. These results were consistent with the cell growth. In the pectin metabolic pathway, the strain had genes for three different pathways. However, the growth experiment using saturated galacturonate exhibited that the strain can only use the pathway related to unsaturated galacturonate.
Sociedad civil en América Latina: Una conversación con el Dr. Alberto J. Olvera.
Authors: Roldán Tonioni Andrés Fernando
Published: March 2021

Se presenta a continuación una entrevista al Profesor Alberto J. Olvera, destacado investigador de los procesos de construcción democrática en México y en Latinoamérica, realizada en la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad de Chile[1]. En esta conversación se intentó profundizar en torno a la noción de sociedad civil y sus comprensiones actuales.El entendimiento de la sociedad civil en los contextos postautoritarios ha llevado a replantear la noción en base a las mismas transformaciones de las agrupaciones sociales que la componen. Este concepto ha adquirido un lugar en la teoría política y en Latino América sirvió para dar cuenta de la organización social durante las dictaduras militares. Revisamos en esta entrevista la evolución de esta categoría analítica y su funcionamiento para interpretar la sociedad civil en los actuales regímenes democráticos.[1] Esta entrevista se desarrolló en el marco de la visita del profesor Olvera al Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad de Chile, en agosto de 2017.
Ações a partir do PROEXT/MEC na UFSC: Impactos das oficinas em escolas públicas, indígenas e quilombolas na ampliação do acesso à Universidade Pública
Authors: De Melo Clarissa Rocha , Costa Maria Octavia Nóbrega
Published: March 2021

Este artigo produto de uma pesquisa de pós-doutorado desenvolvida por Melo, que contou com apoio da graduanda Nóbrega Costa, em iniciação científica. Apresentamos aqui a avaliação de oficinas realizadas em comunidades indígenas, quilombolas e em escolas da rede pública do entorno de Florianópolis, desenvolvidas no âmbito do  PROEXT/MEC/SECADI, de 2012 a 2015.. Destarte,  o presente artigo pretende trazer um panorama dos resultados dessas oficinas, partindo de uma contextualização pelas demandas das Ações Afirmativas na Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina em direção a reflexões sobre como esses programas de extensão contribuíram para o contexto atual de inclusão de acadêmicos indígenas, quilombolas e da rede pública nesta Universidade.. Finalmente, apontamos para importância da extensão universitária como um pilar básico para todas as ciências, sendo produtora de relações e de redes distintas. É nesse caminho da Antropologia em extensão que se pode pensar em uma Antropologia interessada politicamente com os sujeitos que ela estuda, “comprometida”, apoiando-se, ainda, na indissociabilidade entre ensino-pesquisa-extensão.
O Estallido Social chileno e ação política feminista: entrevista com Alondra Carrillo, porta-voz da Coordenadoria Feminista 8M de Santiago/Chile
Authors: Estevez Alejandra
Published: March 2021

A entrevista foi realizada em meio ao processo conhecido como Estallido Social, iniciado no Chile em outubro de 2019. O Estallido consiste em uma série de protestos que congregam diversos movimentos sociais e também parte da população civil não organizada. A onda de protestos teve início na capital chilena, Santiago, com o movimento dos estudantes secundaristas contra o aumento de 30 pesos na passagem de metrô de Santiago. A pauta específica contra o aumento da passagem transformou-se na bandeira pelo fim do neoliberalismo, alertando os vizinhos latino-americanos da falência deste modelo de desenvolvimento econômico e todas as violações de direitos humanos que ele implica e mascara. Rapidamente, o movimento espalhou-se por diversas cidades do país e ganhou o apoio de outros setores da população, sobretudo dos setores feministas organizados.
Representações sociais sobre a redução da maioridade penal no jornal Folha de S. Paulo // Social representations on reducing the age of criminal responsability in the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo
Authors: Assis da Silva Luiza Monica , Rodrigues Amanda Caroline
Published: March 2021

Propomos neste trabalho identificar representações sociais sobre a redução da maioridade penal presentes no discurso do jornal Folha de S. Paulo. O recorte temporal para análise ocorreu no período de janeiro a julho de 2015, período correspondente a aprovação à lei de redução da maioridade penal na Câmara Federal. O corpus reuniu 161 matérias variadas entre artigos, editoriais, reportagens e opinião dos leitores. Foi realizada uma análise lexical com uso do software Alceste, que identificou cinco classes em dois eixos do discurso. O primeiro eixo Voz da Folha comporta as classes Processo de Aprovação e Crise do Governo Dilma. Já o segundo eixo Opinião do Público, é formado pelas classes Medidas de Punição, Estatísticas da Juventude e Marginalização da Violência. Pudemos perceber que a redução da maioridade penal está ancorada em discursos antagônicos contra ou a favor, construídos através de processos semânticos e comunicacionais, em que os grupos sociais expressam sua opinião. A Folha de S. Paulo, trata a redução da maioridade penal como pauta política, e relaciona as disputas na Câmara dos Deputados à crise do Governo Dilma. Identificamos na Folha de S. Paulo, um espaço dialógico de diferentes manifestações de gêneros discursivos.
APRESENTAÇÃO DO DOSSIÊ TEMÁTICO
Authors: Cardoso Filho Jorge , Almeida Gabriela
Published: March 2021

COMUNICAÇÃO: ESTÉTICA E POLÍTICAS DO CORPO
Profile of women who had late gestation / Perfil de mulheres que tiveram gestação tardia
Authors: Fernandes Nayade Aparecida Gonçalves , Queiroz Tatielen Dias Barbosa , Rocha Fernanda Cardoso , Neto Gregório Ribeiro de Andrade , Dias Jannayne Lúcia Câmara , Ruas Selén Jaqueline Souza
Published: March 2021

Objetivo: traçar o perfil das mulheres que tiveram uma gestação tardia. Metodologia: trata-se de uma pesquisa documental, retrospectiva, descritiva e de analise quantitativa. Fizeram parte dessa pesquisa as gestantes que foram admitidas em uma maternidade pública localizada em um município no norte de Minas Gerais em 2016, por meio do acesso aos prontuários. Resultados: foram encontradas 24 complicações prévias à gestação, sendo a mais frequente, a hipertensão arterial. Das comorbidades associadas a mais prevalente foi hipertensão gestacional com 14,75% do total de mulheres. 41 complicações do parto e pós-parto foram identificadas, sendo a indução do parto a que mais acometeu as pesquisadas. Conclusão: observa-se a necessidade de aprimoramento das informações em banco de dados como possibilitando a uma melhor atuação da equipe multidisciplinar frente ao binômio mãe-bebê, evitando assim possíveis doenças.
Antibodies to neutralising epitopes synergistically block the interaction of the receptor‐binding domain of SARS‐CoV‐2 to ACE 2
Authors: Pandey Manisha , Ozberk Victoria , Eskandari Sharareh , Shalash Ahmed O , Joyce Michael A , Saffran Holly A , Day Christopher J , Lepletier Ailin , Spillings Belinda L , Mills Jamie‐Lee , Calcutt Ainslie , Fan Fan , Williams James T , Stanisic Danielle I , Hattingh Laetitia , Gerrard John , Skwarczynski Mariusz , Mak Johnson , Jennings Michael P , Toth Istvan , Tyrrell D Lorne , Good Michael F
Published: March 2021

Objectives

A major COVID‐19 vaccine strategy is to induce antibodies that prevent interaction between the Spike protein's receptor‐binding domain (RBD) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). These vaccines will also induce T‐cell responses. However, concerns were raised that aberrant vaccine‐induced immune responses may exacerbate disease. We aimed to identify minimal epitopes on the RBD that would induce antibody responses that block the interaction of the RBD and ACE2 as a strategy leading to an effective vaccine with reduced risk of inducing immunopathology.

Methods

We procured a series of overlapping 20‐amino acid peptides spanning the RBD and asked which were recognised by plasma from COVID‐19 convalescent patients. Identified epitopes were conjugated to diphtheria‐toxoid and used to vaccinate mice. Immune sera were tested for binding to the RBD and for their ability to block the interaction of the RBD and ACE2.

Results

Seven putative vaccine epitopes were identified. Memory B‐cells (MBCs) specific for one of the epitopes were identified in the blood of convalescent patients. When used to vaccinate mice, six induced antibodies that bound recRBD and three induced antibodies that could partially block the interaction of the RBD and ACE2. However, when the sera were combined in pairs, we observed significantly enhanced inhibition of binding of RBD to ACE2. Two of the peptides were located in the main regions of the RBD known to contact ACE2. Of significant importance to vaccine development, two of the peptides were in regions that are invariant in the UK and South African strains.

Conclusion

COVID‐19 convalescent patients have SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibodies and MBCs, the specificities of which can be defined with short peptides. Epitope‐specific antibodies synergistically block RBD–ACE2 interaction.
A Collaborative and Supplemental Model to Enhance Early Language and Reading Skills
Authors: Nguyen Neal Nghia , Darling Sharon , Peralta Claudia , Mosier William , Garnett William
Published: March 2021

This department highlights language learning for bi/multilingual students worldwide, from our earliest learners to early adolescent writers. It also highlights exemplary teachers and ways that they include research‐based instruction to develop bi/multilingual learners.
Surprise, Surprise! Exploring Dust Jackets, Case Covers, and Endpapers in Picture Books to Support Comprehension
Authors: McNair Jonda C.
Published: March 2021

I present a sampling of picture books with a focus on three peritextual features in particular: dust jackets, case covers that are different from the dust jackets, and endpapers. First, I briefly highlight scholarship related to peritextual features, followed by a description of four picture books with these three peritextual features, and explanations about how these features can support meaning making in regard to literary elements such as characterization, theme, plot, and setting. I conclude with the need to focus greater attention on peritextual features in picture books.
Functional 4-D clustering for characterizing intratumor heterogeneity in dynamic imaging: evaluation in FDG PET as a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer
Authors: Chitalia Rhea , Viswanath Varsha , Pantel Austin R. , Peterson Lanell M. , Gastounioti Aimilia , Cohen Eric A. , Muzi Mark , Karp Joel , Mankoff David A. , Kontos Despina
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Probe-based dynamic (4-D) imaging modalities capture breast intratumor heterogeneity both spatially and kinetically. Characterizing heterogeneity through tumor sub-populations with distinct functional behavior may elucidate tumor biology to improve targeted therapy specificity and enable precision clinical decision making.

Methods

We propose an unsupervised clustering algorithm for 4-D imaging that integrates Markov-Random Field (MRF) image segmentation with time-series analysis to characterize kinetic intratumor heterogeneity. We applied this to dynamic FDG PET scans by identifying distinct time-activity curve (TAC) profiles with spatial proximity constraints. We first evaluated algorithm performance using simulated dynamic data. We then applied our algorithm to a dataset of 50 women with locally advanced breast cancer imaged by dynamic FDG PET prior to treatment and followed to monitor for disease recurrence. A functional tumor heterogeneity (FTH) signature was then extracted from functionally distinct sub-regions within each tumor. Cross-validated time-to-event analysis was performed to assess the prognostic value of FTH signatures compared to established histopathological and kinetic prognostic markers.

Results

Adding FTH signatures to a baseline model of known predictors of disease recurrence and established FDG PET uptake and kinetic markers improved the concordance statistic (C-statistic) from 0.59 to 0.74 (p = 0.005). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the FTH signatures identified two significant (p < 0.001) phenotypes of tumor heterogeneity corresponding to high and low FTH. Distributions of FDG flux, or Ki, were significantly different (p = 0.04) across the two phenotypes.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that imaging markers of FTH add independent value beyond standard PET imaging metrics in predicting recurrence-free survival in breast cancer and thus merit further study.
Pharmacokinetics of UGN-101, a mitomycin-containing reverse thermal gel instilled via retrograde catheter for the treatment of low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Shabsigh Ahmad , Kleinmann Nir , Smith Angela B. , Scherr Douglas , Seltzer Elyse , Schoenberg Mark , Lerner Seth P.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of UGN-101, a mitomycin-containing reverse thermal gel used as primary chemoablative treatment for low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), in a subset of patients participating in a phase 3 clinical trial.

Methods

Pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Tmax, AUC(0–6), λz, t½, and AUCinf) were evaluated in six participants (male or female, ≥ 18 years) with biopsy-proven, low-grade UTUC who received the first of 6 once-weekly instillations of UGN-101 to the renal pelvis and calyces via retrograde ureteral catheter. Plasma samples were collected prior to instillation and 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h post-instillation. Safety was assessed by laboratory evaluations, physical exam, and adverse event monitoring.

Results

The mean age of the six participants was 69 years; most were male (5/6) and Caucasian (5/6). Mean (SD) Cmax was 6.24 (4.11) ng/mL and mean Tmax was 1.79 (1.89) hours after instillation. Mean apparent t½ following instillation was 1.27 (0.63) hours. Mean total systemic exposure to mitomycin up to 6 h post-instillation was 20.30 (19.69) ng h/mL. At 6 h post-instillation, mitomycin plasma concentrations of 5/6 participants were < 2 ng/mL. There were no clinically important adverse events or changes in laboratory values in any participant after a single instillation of UGN-101.

Conclusion

The reverse thermal gel formulation of UGN-101 is associated with higher concentration and extended dwell time of mitomycin in contact with the urothelium of the upper urinary tract while limiting systemic absorption of mitomycin.

Registration

NCT02793128; registered June 8, 2016.
Efficiency evaluation in data envelopment analysis using strong defining hyperplanes
Authors: Dellnitz Andreas , Reucher Elmar , Kleine Andreas
Published: March 2021

Cross-efficiency analysis in DEA generally uses a two-stage procedure: first, optimize a DMU’s individual efficiency score; next, push the efficiencies of all DMUs in a desired direction. In order to reduce subjective judgement in the second step, we provide a cross-efficiency method using only strong defining hyperplanes of the underlying technology. We develop a new DEA-based algorithm, and prove its finiteness and correctness. To reduce the computational burden, we show how one can combine the procedure with a known beneath-and-beyond procedure. Numerical investigations—comprising real-world data—demonstrate the superiority of the new method.
Accuracy of ultrasonography for differentiating between simple and complex appendicitis in children
Authors: Nijssen David J. , van Amstel Paul , van Schuppen Joost , Eeftinck Schattenkerk Laurens D. , Gorter Ramon R. , Bakx Roel
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Accurate differentiation between simple and complex appendicitis is important since differences in treatment exist. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of ultrasonography in differentiating between simple and complex appendicitis.

Methods

Data from children aged < 18 years who underwent appendectomy between the 1st of January 2013 and the 1st of January 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Ultrasonography reports of eligible children were divided into simple (test negative) and complex appendicitis (test positive) based on predefined criteria and compared to a gold standard (a combination of predefined perioperative and histopathological criteria). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated to measure ultrasonographic accuracy in differentiating between simple and complex appendicitis.

Results

176 children were eligible for inclusion. The mean age at the time of operation was 10.1 ± SD 4.6 years. 84 (47.7%) children had simple appendicitis and 92 (52.3%) had complex appendicitis. The use of ultrasonography yielded a sensitivity: 46%, specificity: 90%, PPV: 84%, and NPV: 60%.

Conclusion

Ultrasonography as standalone modality is not suitable for differentiating between simple and complex appendicitis in children. To improve preoperative differentiation, other variables such as clinical signs and laboratory data are necessary in conjunction with ultrasonography findings.
Is justice grounded? How expertise shapes conceptual representation of institutional concepts
Authors: Villani Caterina , D’Ascenzo Stefania , Borghi Anna M. , Roversi Corrado , Benassi Mariagrazia , Lugli Luisa
Published: March 2021

Using abstract concepts is a hallmark of human cognition. While multiple kinds of abstract concepts exist, they so far have been conceived as a unitary kind in opposition to concrete ones. Here, we focus on Institutional concepts, like justice or norm, investigating their fine-grained differences with respect to other kinds of abstract and concrete concepts, and exploring whether their representation varies according to individual proficiency. Specifically, we asked experts and non-experts in the legal field to evaluate four kinds of concepts (i.e., institutional, theoretical, food, artefact) on 16 dimensions: abstractness-concreteness; imageability; contextual availability; familiarity; age of acquisition; modality of acquisition; social valence; social metacognition; arousal; valence; interoception; metacognition; perceptual modality strength; body-object interaction; mouth and hand involvement. Results showed that Institutional concepts rely more than other categories on linguistic/social and inner experiences and are primarily characterized by positive valence. In addition, a more subtle characterization of the institutional domain emerged: Pure-institutional concepts (e.g., parliament) were perceived as more similar to technical tools, while Meta-institutional concepts (e.g., validity) were characterized mainly by abstract components. Importantly, for what concerns individual proficiency, we found that the level of expertise affects conceptual representation. Only law-experts associated Institutional concepts with exteroceptive and emotional experiences, showing also a more grounded and situated representation of the two types of institutional concepts. Overall, our finding highlights the richness and flexibility of abstract concepts and suggests that they differ in the degree of embodiment and grounding. Implications of the results for current theories of conceptual representation and social institutions are discussed.
Cancer patients’ perspective on shared decision-making and decision aids in oncology
Authors: Josfeld Lena , Keinki Christian , Pammer Carolina , Zomorodbakhsch Bijan , Hübner Jutta
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Shared Decision-Making (SDM) enhances patients’ satisfaction with a decision, which in turn increases compliance with and adherence to cancer treatment. SDM requires a good patient-clinician relationship and communication, patients need information matching their individual needs, and clinicians need support on how to best involve the individual patient in the decision-making process. This survey assessed oncological patients’ information needs and satisfaction, their preferred information in patient decision aids (PDAs), and their preferred way of making decisions regarding their treatment.

Methods

Questionnaires were distributed among attendees of a lecture program on complementary and alternative medicine in oncology of which 220 oncological patients participated.

Results

Participants reported a generally high need for information—correlating with level of education—but also felt overwhelmed by the amount. The latter proved particularly important during consultation. Use of PDAs increased satisfaction with given information but occurred in less than a third of the cases. Most requested contents for PDAs were pros and cons of treatment options and lists of questions to ask. The vast majority of patients preferred SDM to deciding alone. None wanted their physician to decide for them.

Conclusions

There is a high demand for SDM but a lack of conclusive evidence on the specific information needs of different types of patients. Conversation between patients and clinicians needs encouragement and support. PDAs are designed for this purpose and have the potential to increase patient satisfaction. Their scarce use in consultations calls for easier access to and better information on PDAs for clinicians.
C-reactive protein in spinal surgery: more predictive than prehistoric
Authors: Hoeller S. , Roch P. J. , Weiser L. , Hubert J. , Lehmann W. , Saul D.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

In spinal surgery, surgical site infections (SSI) after dorsal spondylodesis lead to severe short- and long-term complications. Despite various clinical and serological evidence, the detection of a postoperative SSI remains crucial. In this retrospective cohort study, we determined the prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) kinetics after open reduction and dorsal spondylodesis in the development of a SSI.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 192 patients from 2016 to 2018 undergoing open reduction and dorsal spondylodesis with and without SSI for 20 days at a level-I trauma center and assessed their serological and clinical characteristics.

Results

On day 7 and 8 after surgery, patients who developed a SSI displayed significantly higher CRP levels. A second peak after the initial maximum of CRP and a restricted failure to decline as well as a maximum CRP of more than 225 mg/l predict an infectious complication with a sensitivity of 92.9%, and a specificity of 78.2%. A binary logistic regression leads to 85.7% and 69.7%, respectively. A one-phase decay exponential regression can predict 75.6% of the variance after the initial peak of CRP.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates a high value of postoperative CRP kinetics in SSI detection after dorsal spondylodesis. Moreover, we observed typical CRP levels with a specific course as indicative predictors that may facilitate an early SSI detection in clinical practice.
Predictive validity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from ages 3 to 5 Years
Authors: Overgaard Kristin Romvig , Oerbeck Beate , Friis Svein , Pripp Are Hugo , Aase Heidi , Zeiner Pål
Published: March 2021

We investigated to what extent parent-rated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impairment at age 3 years predicted elevated ADHD symptoms at age 5 years, and whether teacher-rated ADHD symptoms improved these predictions. This study is part of the longitudinal, population-based Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. Parents of 3-year-old children (n = 1195) were interviewed about ADHD and impairment, and teachers rated child ADHD symptoms by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or the Early Childhood Inventory-4. At 5 years of age, the children (n = 957) were classified as ADHD-positive or -negative using Conners’ Parent Rating Scale. Relying solely on parent-rated ADHD or impairment at age 3 years did moderately well in identifying children with persistent elevation of ADHD symptoms, but gave many false positives (positive predictive values (PPVs): .40–.57). A small group of children (n = 20, 13 boys) scored above cut-off on both parent-rated ADHD and impairment, and teacher-rated ADHD symptoms, although adding teacher-rated ADHD symptoms slightly weakened the predictive power for girls. For this small group, PPVs were .76 for boys and .64 for girls. Limiting follow-up to these few children will miss many children at risk for ADHD. Therefore, we recommend close monitoring also of children with parent-reported ADHD symptoms and/or impairment to avoid delay in providing interventions. Clinicians should also be aware that teachers may miss ADHD symptoms in preschool girls.
The adaptor protein Grb2b is an essential modulator for lympho-venous sprout formation in the zebrafish trunk
Authors: Mauri Cristina , van Impel Andreas , Mackay Eirinn William , Schulte-Merker Stefan
Published: March 2021

Vegfc/Vegfr3 signaling is critical for lymphangiogenesis, the sprouting of lymphatic vessels. In zebrafish, cells sprouting from the posterior cardinal vein can either form lymphatic precursor cells or contribute to intersegmental vein formation. Both, the Vegfc-dependent differential induction of Prox1a in sprouting cells as well as a Notch-mediated pre-pattern within intersegmental vessels have been associated with the regulation of secondary sprout behavior. However, how exactly a differential lymphatic versus venous sprout cell behavior is achieved is not fully understood. Here, we characterize a zebrafish mutant in the adaptor protein Grb2b, and demonstrate through genetic interaction studies that Grb2b acts within the Vegfr3 pathway. Mutant embryos exhibit phenotypes that are consistent with reduced Vegfr3 signaling outputs prior to the sprouting of endothelial cells from the vein. During secondary sprouting stages, loss ofgrb2bleads to defective cell behaviors resulting in a loss of parachordal lymphangioblasts, while only partially affecting the number of intersegmental veins. A second GRB2 zebrafish ortholog,grb2a, contributes to the development of lymphatic structures in the meninges and in the head, but not in the trunk. Our results illustrate an essential role of Grb2b in vivo for cell migration to the horizontal myoseptum and for the correct formation of the lymphatic vasculature, while being less critically required in intersegmental vein formation. Thus, there appear to be higher requirements for Grb2b and therefore Vegfr3 downstream signaling levels in lymphatic versus vein precursor-generating sprouts.
Review of Cognitive Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Performance on Six Subtests on Four Versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
Authors: Takayanagi Mizuho , Kawasaki Yoko , Shinomiya Mieko , Hiroshi Hoshino , Okada Satoshi , Ino Tamiko , Sakai Kazuko , Murakami Kimiko , Ishida Rie , Mizuno Kaoru , Niwa Shin-Ichi
Published: March 2021

This study was a systematic review of research using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to examine cognitive characteristics of children with ASD beyond the impact of revisions based on WISC and diagnostic criteria changes. The classic “islets of ability” was found in individuals with full-scale IQs < 100. The “right-descending profiles” were observed among high IQ score individuals. High levels on the Block Design and low Coding levels were consistently found regardless of the variation in intellectual functioning or diagnosis. This review identified patterns of cognitive characteristics in ASD individuals using empirical data that researchers may have previously been aware of, based on their experiences, owing to the increased prevalence of ASD.
Cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing for monogenic disorders: confirmation of unaffected fetuses following preimplantation genetic testing
Authors: Toft Christian Liebst Frisk , Ingerslev Hans Jakob , Kesmodel Ulrik Schiøler , Hatt Lotte , Singh Ripudaman , Ravn Katarina , Nicolaisen Bolette Hestbek , Christensen Inga Baasch , Kølvraa Mathias , Jeppesen Line Dahl , Schelde Palle , Vogel Ida , Uldbjerg Niels , Farlie Richard , Sommer Steffen , Østergård Marianne Louise Vang , Jensen Ann Nygaard , Mogensen Helle , Kjartansdóttir Kristín Rós , Degn Birte , Okkels Henrik , Ernst Anja , Pedersen Inge Søkilde
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Proof of concept of the use of cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing (cbNIPT) as an alternative to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) following preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M).

Method

PGT-M was performed by combined testing of short tandem repeat (STR) markers and direct mutation detection, followed by transfer of an unaffected embryo. Patients who opted for follow-up of PGT-M by CVS had blood sampled, from which potential fetal extravillous throphoblast cells were isolated. The cell origin and mutational status were determined by combined testing of STR markers and direct mutation detection using the same setup as during PGT. The cbNIPT results with respect to the mutational status were compared to those of genetic testing of the CVS.

Results

Eight patients had blood collected between gestational weeks 10 and 13, from which 33 potential fetal cell samples were isolated. Twenty-seven out of 33 isolated cell samples were successfully tested (82%), of which 24 were of fetal origin (89%). This corresponds to a median of 2.5 successfully tested fetal cell samples per case (range 1–6). All fetal cell samples had a genetic profile identical to that of the transferred embryo confirming a pregnancy with an unaffected fetus, in accordance with the CVS results.

Conclusion

These findings show that although measures are needed to enhance the test success rate and the number of cells identified, cbNIPT is a promising alternative to CVS.

Trial registration number

N-20180001
The effects of a special sequential mixed-mode design, and reminders, on panellists’ participation in a probability-based panel study
Authors: Becker Rolf
Published: March 2021

The sequential mixed-mode strategy has become standard practice in the survey management of longitudinal studies, in order to achieve consistently high response rates. To realise this aim in a cost-efficient way, a first mode is often an online questionnaire, towards which the target persons are pushed, and a second mode is then a telephone interview, offered to those who do not respond to the initial mode. However, the rationale for using the sequential mixed-mode plus “push-to-web” strategy to reduce the burden of choosing between survey modes, in order to maximise survey participation, could be undermined if there is an overlapping field period during which the target persons could choose between two or more offered modes. The use of reminders might be useful in solving this problem of competing risks. In the context of a multiple-panel study, this question was investigated by utilising longitudinal paradata from the fieldwork, as well as procedures of event history analysis that are adequate for the analysis of processes with competing risks. First, for a web survey as the initial mode and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) as the subsequent mode, it was found that the idea of a sequential mixed-mode plus “push-to-web” strategy does work even in the case of competing risks in the choice of a survey mode. Second, it was confirmed that reminders are a useful instrument for stimulating panellists to choose the running survey mode. Third, and finally, it was found that this feature of survey management is effective in countering panellists’ procrastination in regard to responding to a survey.