bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aligning Existentialism with Developmental Supervision
Authors: White Antony R. , Portman Tarrell Awe Agahe ,   National Philosophical Counseling Association
Published: December 2020

Despite the readily available discussion on counseling supervision models for over a quarter of a century, there is little attention in the literature with respect to how developmental supervision models align with existential philosophy. One model, The Integrated Developmental Model (IDM), is a robust and well-accepted model of supervision with embedded undertones of existentialism requiring scholarly discussion. The primary goal of this article is to emphasize the parallels between the IDM and Sartre’s philosophical principles of existentialism thereby creating a meaning making framework for supervisors to enhance developmental growth of their supervisees.
Using Logic-Based Therapy in Recovery
Authors: Knapp Jenna ,   National Philosophical Counseling Association
Published: December 2020

This paper applies basic concepts of Logic-Based Therapy (LBT) to the case of a person in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction after relapse. The paper has been written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the online Practical Reasoning course taught by Dr. Elliot D. Cohen at Indian River State College.
Shlomit Remembered
Authors: Raabe Peter B. ,   National Philosophical Counseling Association
Published: December 2020

In this essay I recall the first time I met Shlomit Schuster at a conference in Ger­many. She was under attack by another philosopher for her views on philosophical practice. I admired her fortitude and respected the fact that she remained steadfast in defending her perspective. I didn’t always agree with her, but I counted Shlomit among my good friends and esteemed colleagues.
Diplomáticos y mártires jesuitas en la corte de Kudarat (Mindanao, Siglo XVII) = Diplomats and Jesuit Martyrs at the Court of Kudarat (Mindanao, 17th Century)
Authors: Coello de la Rosa Alexandre
Published: December 2020

Este ensayo analiza el martirio de los padres Alejandro López (1604-1655) y Juan de Montiel (1632-1655) en la corte del sultán de Magindanao, Muhammad Dipatwān Qudrāt (o Kudarat), más conocido como Cachil Corralat (1581-1671). Los hagiógrafos e historiadores jesuitas oficiales (Alonso de Andrade, Matthias Tanner; Francisco Combés, Pedro Murillo Velarde) consolidaron una imagen dicotómica entre culturas antagónicas que no sólo justificó la presencia de los jesuitas en las islas de Mindanao y Joló, sino que ocultó las relaciones comerciales existentes entre españoles y musulmanes. Su muerte promovió una teología de conversión que justificó la«guerra justa» (bellum iustum) frente a los«moros» del sur de las Filipinas.AbstractThis essay analyzes the martyrdom of Fathers Alejandro López (1604-1655) and Juan de Montiel (1632-1655) at the court of the Sultan of Magindanao, Muhammad Dipatwān Qudrāt (or Kudarat), better known as Cachil Corralat (1581-1671). The hagiographers and official Jesuit historians (Alonso de Andrade, Matthias Tanner; Francisco Combés, Pedro Murillo Velarde) consolidated a dichotomous image between antagonistic cultures that not only justified the presence of the Jesuits on the islands of Mindanao and Joló, but also concealed the existing commercial relations between Spaniards and Muslims. His death promoted a theology of conversion that justified the«just war» (bellum iustum) against the«Moors» of the southern Philippines.
Reseña de: Yun Casillas, Bartolomé: Los imperios ibéricos y la globalización de Europa (siglos XV a XVII)
Authors: Rojas Gutiérrez Jorge
Published: December 2020

Reseña de: Yun Casillas, Bartolomé: Los imperios ibéricos y la globalización de Europa (siglos XV a XVII). Barcelona, Galaxia Gutenberg, 2019, 430 pp., ISBN: 978-841-774-796-1.
Reseña de: Mitchell, Silvia Z., Queen, Mother, and Stateswoman: Mariana of Austria and the Government of Spain
Authors: Arroyo Vozmediano Julio
Published: December 2020

Reseña de: Mitchell, Silvia Z., Queen, Mother, and Stateswoman: Mariana of Austria and the Government of Spain. University Park, The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2019. xv + 293 pp. ISBN:  978-0-271-08339-1
Mission critical voice quality of experience access time measurement method addendum
Authors: Greene Chelsea , Frey Jesse , Soetan Zainab , Pieper Jaden , Thompson Silas
Published: December 2020

Access time generally describes the time associated with the establishment of a talk pathupon user request to speak and has been identified as a key component of quality of experience (QoE) in voice communications. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division has previouslydeveloped an access time measurement method [1]. Improvements were implemented inthe access delay measurement method to better handle the idiosyncrasies of the variouspush-to-talk (PTT) technologies tested. These improvements include a more robust audioalignment procedure, and graceful communications failure detection and handling. Thispaper covers those improvements to the access delay measurement system, results of testingProject 25 (P25) technologies with and without encryption turned on, as well as someinitial Long Term Evolution (LTE) measurements.
The secrets of success
Authors: Komondor Kayla M , Carlson Anne E
Published: December 2020

Imaging sperm as they travel through the female reproductive tract has revealed new details about fertilization at the molecular level.
Phospho-islands and the evolution of phosphorylated amino acids in mammals
Authors: Moldovan Mikhail , Gelfand Mikhail S.
Published: December 2020

Background

Protein phosphorylation is the best studied post-translational modification strongly influencing protein function. Phosphorylated amino acids not only differ in physico-chemical properties from non-phosphorylated counterparts, but also exhibit different evolutionary patterns, tending to mutate to and originate from negatively charged amino acids (NCAs). The distribution of phosphosites along protein sequences is non-uniform, as phosphosites tend to cluster, forming so-called phospho-islands.

Methods

Here, we have developed a hidden Markov model-based procedure for the identification of phospho-islands and studied the properties of the obtained phosphorylation clusters. To check robustness of evolutionary analysis, we consider different models for the reconstructions of ancestral phosphorylation states.

Results

Clustered phosphosites differ from individual phosphosites in several functional and evolutionary aspects including underrepresentation of phosphotyrosines, higher conservation, more frequent mutations to NCAs. The spectrum of tissues, frequencies of specific phosphorylation contexts, and mutational patterns observed near clustered sites also are different.
Comparative genomic analysis of the principal Cryptosporidium species that infect humans
Authors: Arias-Agudelo Laura M. , Garcia-Montoya Gisela , Cabarcas Felipe , Galvan-Diaz Ana L. , Alzate Juan F.
Published: December 2020

Cryptosporidium parasites are ubiquitous and can infect a broad range of vertebrates and are considered the most frequent protozoa associated with waterborne parasitic outbreaks. The intestine is the target of three of the species most frequently found in humans: C. hominis, C. parvum, and. C. meleagridis. Despite the recent advance in genome sequencing projects for this apicomplexan, a broad genomic comparison including the three species most prevalent in humans have not been published so far. In this work, we downloaded raw NGS data, assembled it under normalized conditions, and compared 23 publicly available genomes of C. hominis, C. parvum, and C. meleagridis. Although few genomes showed highly fragmented assemblies, most of them had less than 500 scaffolds and mean coverage that ranged between 35X and 511X. Synonymous single nucleotide variants were the most common in C. hominis and C. meleagridis, while in C. parvum, they accounted for around 50% of the SNV observed. Furthermore, deleterious nucleotide substitutions common to all three species were more common in genes associated with DNA repair, recombination, and chromosome-associated proteins. Indel events were observed in the 23 studied isolates that spanned up to 500 bases. The highest number of deletions was observed in C. meleagridis, followed by C. hominis, with more than 60 species-specific deletions found in some isolates of these two species. Although several genes with indel events have been partially annotated, most of them remain to encode uncharacterized proteins.
Evaluación de la Adaptación al Divorcio-Separación: Propiedades Psicométricas del CAD-S en el Contexto Chileno
Authors: Karapas Karla Tay , Guzmán-González Mónica , Yárnoz-Yaben Sagrario
Published: December 2020

El divorcio-separación supone un proceso de adaptación al nuevo estatus, dada la serie de cambios que deben afrontarse en distintos ámbitos de la vida. En tal sentido, contar con instrumentos adaptados a la realidad chilena que permitan evaluar la adaptación al divorcio y la separación es un paso necesario para comprender este proceso. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión chilena del Cuestionario de Ajuste al Divorcio y la Separación (CAD-S, Yárnoz Yaben & Comino González, 2010). La muestra, no probabilística de conveniencia, estuvo compuesta por 348 progenitores, divorciados/as-separados/as provenientes de 4 ciudades de Chile. Los análisis dan cuenta de la idoneidad de un instrumento de 18 ítems y un análisis factorial confirmatorio apoya la estructura de 4 factores correlacionados, al igual que la versión desarrollada en España. Los coeficientes de consistencia interna de los factores, evaluados con el coeficiente Omega, fueron aceptables para las subescalas de dificultades psicológicas, conflictos con la expareja y disposición a la coparentalidad, con valores de 0,92, 0,74 y 0,83 respectivamente; mientras que para consecuencias negativas en los hijos fue 0,65, siendo un valor menos aceptable. Respecto de la evidencia de validez basada en la relación con otras variables, se obtuvieron correlaciones entre el ajuste al divorcio-separación y medidas de salud mental: depresión, ansiedad y estrés (DASS-21), y satisfacción con la vida (SWLS). La escala presenta evidencia de validez para su uso en la población estudiada.
PATOLOGIZAÇÃO E MEDICALIZAÇÃO DE ALUNOS COM DIAGNÓSTICO DE TDAH
Authors: Rocha Julia Siqueira da , Dreon Morgana , Valle Ione Ribeiro
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo problematiza os elevados números de alunos com diagnóstico de Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH). Para tanto, analisa os processos de medicalização a que têm sido expostos alunos da rede estadual de educação de Santa Catarina com este diagnóstico. Utilizamos uma metodologia qualitativa, ao realizar estudos bibliográficos e examinar documentos, e quantitativa, ao expressar a intensidade desses números. Nossas conclusões apontam para um elevado número de diagnósticos de TDAH que não consideram as diferentes esferas das vidas dos alunos, o que enfatiza a urgência para que os profissionais da Educação estejam atentos a estratégias de controle social.
O ACESSO ÀS TECNOLOGIAS DIGITAIS E SUAS FORMAS DE USO INCLUSIVO NO ENSINO DE HISTÓRIA. DADOS DE UMA PESQUISA
Authors: Tamanini Paulo Augusto , Souza Maria Do Socorro
Published: December 2020

Este texto apresenta o resultado de uma pesquisa de mestrado acerca da contribuição dos usos das tecnologias digitais no ensino de História para a inclusão digital. De natureza qualitativa, a pesquisa constituiu um estudo de campo, explicativo, e utilizou como técnicas de coleta de dados a entrevista e a observação. Apoiado em Castells (2002); Bonilla e Pretto (2011); Lemos (2007; 2011), Arruda (2013; 2014), Fonseca (2010) e Moran (2013), o estudo mostrou que, embora os professores de História façam uso das tecnologias digitais em seu fazer docente, esses usos ainda são incipientes. Concluiu-se, porém, que, quando efetivados de modo planejado, interdisciplinar, colaborativo, visando tornar o aluno produtor e distribuidor de conteúdos em e na rede, esses usos podem conduzir, ainda que parcialmente, à inclusão digital e social do aluno
GÊNERO, SEXUALIDADES E EDUCAÇÃO: DISCUSSÃO E ANÁLISE DOS PROJETOS DE LEI DO PROGRAMA “ESCOLA SEM PARTIDO”
Authors: Alves Couto Luan Felipe , Dresch Jaime Farias , Graupe Mareli Eliane
Published: December 2020

Este artigo visa a discussão e análise dos projetos de lei que formam o Programa “Escola Sem Partido” na Câmara dos Deputados, discorrendo sobre a temática de gênero e sexualidades no contexto educacional brasileiro. Possui como referencial teórico Guacira Lopes Louro, Miriam Pillar Grossi, Joan Scott e Richard Miskolci. É um trabalho de revisão bibliográfica e de pesquisa documental. Os dados apontam que os projetos de lei que formam o Programa consideram gênero e sexualidades como pertencentes à esfera do privado e construíram um discurso em torno do que denominam “ideologia de gênero”, atribuindo-lhe a destruição da família. Deste modo, observa-se uma oposição aos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos conquistados na atualidade. Desconsideram, também, o fato de que discutir estes temas é uma forma de assegurar direitos no campo educacional.
Design of Seeder in Relation to the Physical and Frictional Properties of Black Gram Varieties
Authors: Harshavardhan Korla , Sivakumar S. S. , Gunasekar J. John , Albert V. Alex , Padmanathan P. K.
Published: December 2020

Physical and frictional properties of black gram seeds play an essential role in designing a seeder in order to decide cell size, shape, thickness of metering disc and material, inclination of seed hopper. The present study aimed to determine the physical and frictional properties of black gram seeds of three varieties viz., VBN 6, ADT 5 & T9. Length, breadth, thickness, roundness, thousand seed weight, geometric mean diameter, sphericity were evaluated for designing metering disc of seeder. Bulk density, true density, angle of repose, coefficient of restitution and coefficient of static friction were evaluated for designing seed hopper of seeder. Cell diameters and thickness of the seed metering discs were designed based on the maximum breadth and length of seeds. Seed flow through the various components of the seeder were affected by both roundness and sphericity. Roundness of VBN 6, ADT 5 and T9 were 0.52, 0.49 and 0.51 respectively, while sphericity in the natural rest position of these seeds were 0.85±0.05, 0.85±0.06 and 0.85±0.04 respectively. The slope of the seed hopper was fixed at 30⁰, which is moderately higher than the average angle of repose of seeds for ensuring free flow of seeds. Mild steel sheet of material grade Fe 410 and 18 gauge i.e., 1.214mm thickness was selected for seed hopper in reference to the coefficient of static friction to other materials (Al, GI, SS & wood). In addition, the inner bottom surface of the seed hopper from where the seed enters into metering disc was imbedded with 3mm thick rubber sheet as its coefficient of restitution was lower than mild steel sheet of same thickness at different heights. It was observed that the average coefficient of restitution values of three varieties (VBN 6, ADT 5 & T9) were 4.2, 2.8, 2.8, 2.9, 2.9 & 2.1 times lower in rubber sheet compared to MS sheet at the heights of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 & 300 mm respectively.
Genetic Variability Analysis in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes for Morpho-Physiological Characters and Grain Micronutrient Content
Authors: Barman Mainak , Choudhary Vinay Kumar , Singh Satish Kumar , Singh Mithilesh Kumar , Parveen Rabiya
Published: December 2020

An experiment was performed taking 30 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in the experimental area of Wheat Breeding section of DRPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar during the Rabi season of 2019-20 to assess the genotypic and phenotypic variance, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variability, heritability, and genetic advance as per cent of mean. Observations were documented for fifteen characters. The evaluation was accomplished in Randomized Block Design. Significant differences were revealed by the analysis of variance among the evaluated genotypes for each of the taken parameters. Manipulation by the environment was extremely scanty in the expression of all the traits as it was marked by slight differences between the genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation. The characters namely, grain Zn content, grain Fe content, no. of tillers per plant, number of grains/ ear and flag leaf area demonstrated high heritability in addition to high genetic advance as per cent of mean pointing towards that it would be effective to employ simple selection schemes to fetch genetic enhancement in desired track for mentioned characters.
Energy Consumption Analysis in Rural School Buildings in Surigao Del Sur, Mindanao Philippines
Authors: Enteria Odinah Cuartero- , Peña Albert S. Dela
Published: December 2020

The study is focused on preliminary analyzes of the energy consumption in rural school buildings, particularly in Surigao Del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. The study looked into the determination of different contributory factors on energy consumption, conservation practices of employees and annual average energy consumption records. The exploratory research design was used where secondary data from the annual energy consumption bill of selected rural school buildings served as primary source of data. The data covered the records from years 2014 to 2019 indicating the fluctuation of energy consumption of the university. Consecutive sampling method was also employed in the selection of participants to be surveyed and interviewed for conservation practices. Based on the results, the number of occupants and their behaviors significantly contributes on the fluctuation of energy consumption in school because it pertains to the working hours extended when important activities are scheduled. Some of the identified contributory factors on energy consumption can be sourced out from how faculty and administrative personnel utilized the school lighting (84%), air-condition (51%) and number of operating hours occupying the schools (78%) and operating electronic equipment (25%).  Although there are records on high increase of energy consumptions in buildings, faculty and personnel are still aware on conservation practices they could contribute to reduce the energy operating cost.
Longitudinal tumor fraction trajectories predict risk of progression in metastatic HR+ breast cancer patients undergoing CDK4/6 treatment
Authors: Dandachi Nadia , Posch Florian , Graf Ricarda , Suppan Christoph , Klocker Eva Valentina , Müller Hannah Deborah , Lindenmann Jörg , Terbuch Angelika , Heitzer Ellen , Balic Marija
Published: December 2020

Despite improved clinical outcomes, intrinsic or acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment has limited the success of this treatment in HR+HER2− metastatic breast cancer patients. Biomarkers are urgently needed, and longitudinal biomarker measurements may harbor more dynamic predictive and prognostic information compared to single time point measurements. The aim of this study was to explore the longitudinal evolution of circulating tumor fractions within cell‐free DNA assessed by an untargeted sequencing approach during CDK4/6 therapy and to quantify the potential association between longitudinal z‐score measurements and clinical outcome by using joint models. Forty‐nine HR+HER2− metastatic breast cancer patients were enrolled, and z‐score levels were measured at baseline and during 132 follow‐up visits (median number of measurements per patient = 3, 25th–75th percentile: 3–5, range: 1–8). We observed higher baseline z‐score levels (estimated difference 0.57, 95% CI: 0.147–0.983, P‐value = 0.008) and a constant increase of z‐score levels over follow‐up time (overall P‐value for difference in log z‐score over time = 0.024) in patients who developed progressive disease. Importantly, the joint model revealed that elevated z‐score trajectories were significantly associated with higher progression risk (HR of log z‐score at any time of follow‐up = 3.3, 95% CI, 1.44–7.55, P = 0.005). In contrast, single z‐score measurement at CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment start did not predict risk of progression. In this prospective study, we demonstrate proof‐of‐concept that longitudinal z‐score trajectories rather than single time point measurements may harbor important dynamic information on the development of disease progression in HR+HER2− breast cancer patients undergoing CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment.
Development of a Rigorously Designed Procedural Checklist for Assessment of Emergency Medicine Resident Performance of Temporary Transvenous Cardiac Pacing
Authors: Klein Matthew R. , Schmitz Zachary P. , Adler Mark D. , Salzman David H.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing (TVP) is a potentially lifesaving intervention included in the list of essential core procedures for emergency medicine (EM) training; however, opportunities to perform TVP during residency cannot be guaranteed. EM graduates report feeling subjectively underprepared for this procedure, but objective performance data are lacking. Checklist‐based simulated assessment is an increasing focus of competency‐based medical education, particularly for invasive procedures like TVP. The objectives of this paper were as follows: first, to enlist a multidisciplinary team of experts to create an assessment tool for TVP using best practices in checklist development; second, to determine the reliability of checklist scoring; and third, to assess EM residents’ baseline ability to perform TVP using a dedicated task trainer.

Methods

This study was conducted at a single 4‐year EM residency. A panel of emergency physicians and cardiologists designed a TVP checklist using a modified Delphi approach. After consensus was achieved on a final checklist, EM residents were assessed using a dedicated TVP task trainer. Inter‐rater reliability was determined using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Resident performance was determined by number of correctly performed checklist items.

Results

The expert panel achieved consensus on a 30‐item checklist after three rounds of revisions. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient for the overall checklist score was 0.87, with individual checklist items ranging from 0.63 to 1.00. In total, 58 residents were assessed with a mean score of 13.5 of 30 checklist items. Scores increased with each year of training.

Conclusions

This study details the rigorous development of a TVP checklist designed by a multidisciplinary team of experts. Checklist scores demonstrated strong inter‐rater reliability. The overall poor performance of this cohort suggests the current approach to TVP training does not provide sufficient preparation for EM residents. Competency‐based techniques, such as simulation‐based mastery learning, should be explored.
Preparation of biobased poly(propylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) fibers: Mechanical, thermal and hydrolytic degradation properties
Authors: Chen Siqi , Zou Rui , Li Linhua , Shang Jiaojiao , Lin Shaojian , Lan Jianwu
Published: December 2020

In this work, a fully biobased poly(propylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PPF) was synthesized from 2,5‐furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) via traditional two‐step melting polycondensation. Then, the resultant PPF was characterized with 1H NMR, FTIR, GPC, intrinsic viscosity, TGA, and DSC measurements, respectively. Next, the prepared PPF was melt‐spun into fibers. The morphology and thermal stability of the as‐spun PPF fibers were firstly investigated by SEM and TGA. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the PPF fibers were evaluated. The results showed that the tensile of the PPF fibers increased with increasing of the draw ratios following gradual decrease of the breaking elongation from 307.1% to 48.9%. In addition, the crystallization ability and the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the as‐spun PPF fibers were investigated in detail as well. The results presented that comparing to traditional fossil‐based poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) fibers, the PPF fibers exhibited lower crystallinity, however, it displayed a better hydrolytic degradation performance. Based on these results, it confirmed that the PPF fiber based on biomass polymer is a kind of promising environmentally friendly synthetic fiber for potential application in various fields.
Synovial Fluid Neutrophils From Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Display a Hyperactivated Phenotype
Authors: Metzemaekers Mieke , Malengier‐Devlies Bert , Yu Karen , Vandendriessche Sofie , Yserbyt Jonas , Matthys Patrick , De Somer Lien , Wouters Carine , Proost Paul
Published: December 2020

Objective

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood. The predominant subtypes, oligoarticular and polyarticular JIA, are traditionally considered to be autoimmune diseases with a central role for T cells and autoantibodies. Mounting evidence suggests an important role for neutrophils in JIA pathogenesis. We undertook this study to investigate the phenotypic features of neutrophils present in the blood and inflamed joints of patients.

Methods

JIA synovial fluid (SF) and parallel blood samples from JIA patients and healthy children were collected. SF‐treated neutrophils from healthy donors and pleural neutrophils from patients with pleural effusion were investigated as controls for SF exposure and extravasation. Multicolor flow cytometry panels allowed for in‐depth phenotypic analysis of neutrophils, focusing on the expression of adhesion molecules, activation, and maturation markers and chemoattractant receptors. Multiplex technology was used to quantify cytokines in plasma and SF.

Results

SF neutrophils displayed an activated, hypersegmented phenotype with decreased CD62L expression, up‐regulation of adhesion molecules CD66b, CD11b, and CD15, and down‐regulation of CXCR1/2. An elevated percentage of CXCR4‐positive neutrophils was detected in SF from patients. Pleural neutrophils showed less pronounced maturation differences. Strikingly, significant percentages of SF neutrophils showed a profound up‐regulation of atypical neutrophil markers, including CXCR3, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and HLA–DR.

Conclusion

Our data show that neutrophils in inflamed joints of JIA patients have an activated phenotype. This detailed molecular analysis supports the notion that a complex intertwining between these innate immune cells and adaptive immune events drives JIA.
N6‐methyladenine‐related genes affect biological behavior and the prognosis of glioma
Authors: Qu Shanqiang , Chen Zhixin , Liu Bin , Liu Jin , Wang Huafu
Published: December 2020

Background

Although aberrant expression of N6‐methyladenine (m6A) methylation‐related genes contribute to tumorigenesis in many solid tumors, the prognostic value of the m6A‐related genes and their correlation with clinicopathological features in gliomas need advanced study.

Methods

The clinical and sequencing data of 288 patients with glioma were extracted from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas database. By univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis, the m6A‐related prognostic genes were identified, and their correlation with clinicopathological features was further analysis. A nomogram was constructed by R software and the performance of it was assessed by calibration and time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

Nine m6A‐related genes were identified as independent prognostic factors, which were mostly enriched in RNA splicing, regulation of immune response and vesicle‐mediated transport. By expression value and regression coefficient of these genes, we constructed risk score of each patient, which was highly associated with clinicopathological features. Kaplan–Meier curve showed that the prognosis of patients with high‐risk scores was significantly worse than that with low‐risk scores (HR = 4.30, 95% CI = 3.16–5.85, p < 0.0001). A nomogram was constructed based on the nine m6A‐related genes signature and clinicopathological features with well‐fitted calibration curves (c‐index = 0.82), showing high specificity and sensitivity (area under the curve for 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐years survival probability = 0.874, 0.918, and 0.934).

Conclusions

A nine m6A‐related genes signature was identified in gliomas. The m6A‐related risk score is a novel prognostic factor for patients with glioma, and is associated with clinicopathological features. Moreover, the nomogram based on the nine m6A‐related genes signature and clinicopathological features had good efficacy in predicting the survival probability.
Prediction of the World Health Organization Grade of rectal neuroendocrine tumors based on CT histogram analysis
Authors: Liang Ping , Xu Chuou , Tan Fangqin , Li Shichao , Chen Mingzhen , Hu Daoyu , Kamel Ihab , Duan Yaqi , Li Zhen
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) histogram analysis in predicting the World Health Organization (WHO) grade of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R‐NETs).

Materials and Methods

A total of 61 (35 G1, 12 G2, 10 G3, and 4 NECs) patients who underwent preoperative CECT and treated with surgery to be confirmed as R‐NETs were included in this study from January 2014 to May 2019. We depicted ROIs and measured the CECT texture parameters (mean, median, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th percentiles, skewness, kurtosis, and entropy) from arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) images by two radiologists. We calculated intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and compared the histogram parameters between low‐grade (G1) and higher grade (HG) (G2/G3/NECs) by applying appropriate statistical method. We obtained the optimal parameters to identify G1 from HG using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

The capability of AP and VP histogram parameters for differentiating G1 from HG was similar in several histogram parameters (mean, median, 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles) (all p < 0.001). Skewness, kurtosis, and entropy on AP images showed no significant differences between G1 and HG (p = 0.853, 0.512, 0.557, respectively). Entropy on VP images was significantly different (p = 0.017) between G1 and HG, however, skewness and kurtosis showed no significant differences (p = 0.654, 0.172, respectively). ROC analysis showed a good predictive performance between G1 and HG, and the 75th (AP) generated the highest area under the curve (AUC = 0.871), followed by the 25th (AP), mean (VP), and median (VP) (AUC = 0.864). Combined the size of tumor and the 75th (AP) generated the highest AUC.

Conclusions

CECT histogram parameters, including arterial and venous phases, can be used as excellent indicators for predicting G1 and HG of rectal neuroendocrine tumors, and the size of the tumor is also an important independent predictor.
X‐person asymmetric interaction in virtual and augmented realities
Authors: Cho Yunsik , Kang Jiewon , Jeon Jaekyung , Park Jongchan , Kim Mingyu , Kim Jinmo
Published: December 2020

This study proposes simple, highly immersive x‐person asymmetric interactions that account for the experience type characteristics of asymmetric virtual environments, jointly experienced by virtual reality (VR) users and augmented reality (AR) users. The first person interactions for VR users are performed through the use of hand gestures, and they define a manipulation process that maps the gestures and object control scheme to provide intuitive interactions with the virtual environment and objects. The third person interaction for AR users is designed to view the overall virtual scene and recognize and judge situations to allow for intuitive communication and interactions among the virtual environment, objects, and users based on a touch interface. The core goal of this process is to provide all users who participate in asymmetric virtual environments with satisfying experiences and presence through individualized experience modes and roles. To this end, an application that uses the x‐person asymmetric interactions was created. Furthermore, a survey experiment is performed to statistically analyze the interactions and verify that they provided users with a satisfactory experience, that is, a satisfactory sense of presence and social presence in each user's situation.
The state of cytopathology laboratories during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Faquin William C.
Published: December 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world, with a current total of 50.1 million cases of COVID‐19 worldwide and greater than 1.25 million deaths related to the disease. Hospitals have struggled to respond to the needs of their communities, with the pandemic's impact being felt in nearly all areas, including cytopathology laboratories. This issue of Cancer Cytopathology includes several original articles, commentaries, and correspondence describing a wide range of topics related to the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the field of cytopathology.
On truthful auction mechanism for cloud resources allocation and consumption shifting with different time slots
Authors: Song Heng , Zhu Junwu , Jiang Yi
Published: December 2020

The flexibility and high reliability of cloud computing have generated a tremendous amount of economic benefits. With the growing demand for cloud resources, the task about how to making users' demand adaptive to the supply of cloud resources during peak and nonpeak hours becomes extremely challenging. However, most of the existing mechanisms mainly focus on the allocation of cloud resources, and ignore the balance between supply and demand of cloud resources. To improve the situation, this paper presents a combinatorial auction model for the cloud resource allocation and consumption shifting problem, and then puts forward a truthful auction mechanism with two different price curve functions, that is, staircase and continuous price curve. The proposed mechanism can effectively allocate and shift cloud resources to alleviate the pressure of cloud infrastructure during peak hours. Both the theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed mechanism guarantees desired properties including individual rationality, budget balance, truthfulness and computational efficiency. In addition, extensive simulation results also show that continuous price curve outperforms stair case price curve in terms of system efficiency and balance efficiency.
Consecutive Silver(I) Ion Incorporation into Oligonucleotides containing Cytosine‐Cytosine Mispairs
Authors: Hossain M. Nur , Ahmad Syed , Kraatz Heinz‐Bernhard
Published: December 2020

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Prof. Heinz‐Bernhard Kraatz from the University of Toronto, Canada. The cover picture shows the consecutive incorporation of AgI ions into a DNA duplex containing adjacent C−C mispairs. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.202000607.
Design of multicomponent indomethacin‐paracetamol and famotidine loaded nanoparticles for sustained and effective anti‐inflammatory therapy
Authors: Assali Mohyeddin , Zohud Nihal
Published: December 2020

Indomethacin is one of the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are widely prescribed drug for pain and inflammation. However, its notoriety of causing gastrointestinal effect, low water solubility, and its short half‐life would affect patient compliance and its oral absorption and accordingly justify the need to develop a formula with a controlled and sustained release manner in combination with anti‐ulcer drugs. Herein, we synthesized indomethacin‐paracetamol co‐drug loaded in nanoemulsion and encapsulated in famotiditine loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles. The synthesis of the co‐drug was achieved by the formation of a hydrolyzable ester between the indomethacin and paracetamol. The synthesized co‐drug was preloading in nanoemulsion (Co‐NE), which encapsulated into famotidine PCL nanoparticles utilizing the nanoprecipitation approach. The developed nanosystem showed hydrodynamic size less than 200 nm and the zeta potential value above −30 mV. TEM images confirmed the morphological structure of the formed nanoemulsion and the loaded PCL nanoparticles. Stability studies revealed that the developed nanosystem was stable at different temperatures and pHs over 1 month. Moreover, improvement of the solubilities of these three drugs leading to have a controlled‐release multicomponent system of both co‐drug and famotidine over 3 days. This multicomponent nanoparticle might be a potential platform to overcome the obstacles of NSAIDs, synergize drugs with different mechanisms of actions by co‐encapsulating a small‐sized nanoemulsion into PCL nanoparticles for reaching the goal of effective anti‐inflammatory therapy.
Isolation and characterization of twelve polymorphic microsatellite markers in the endangered Hopea hainanensis (Dipterocarpaceae)
Authors: Wang Chen , Ma Xiang , Tang Liang
Published: December 2020

Microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized for Hopea hainanensis Merrill & Chun, an endangered tree species with scattered distribution in Hainan Island and northern Vietnam. Twenty‐six microsatellite markers were developed based on next‐generation sequencing data and were genotyped by capillary electrophoresis on an ABI 3730xl DNA Analyzer. Twelve markers were found to be polymorphic in H. hainanensis. GENODIVE analyses indicated that the number of alleles ranged from 2 to 6 per locus, and the observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0 to 0.755 and from 0.259 to 0.779, respectively. Primer transferability was tested with Hopea chinensis Hand.‐Mazz. and Hopea reticulata Tardieu, in which 3 and 7 microsatellite markers were found to be polymorphic, separately. The results showed that H. reticulata and H. hainanensis had similar levels of genetic diversity. A neighbor joining dendrogram clustered all individuals into two major groups, one of which was exclusively constituted by H. hainanensis, while the other consisted of two subgroups, corresponding to H. reticulata and H. chinensis, respectively. The 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers could be applied to study genetic diversity, population differentiation, mating system, and fine‐scale spatial genetic structures of H. hainanensis as well as its close relatives, facilitating the conservation and restoration of these endangered but valuable Hopea species.
Optoelectronic and photo‐charging properties of CH3NH3PbI3/LiFePO4 system
Authors: Qiang Yuhan , Zhang Lei , Shao Shaofeng , Li Jingfa
Published: December 2020

The photo‐responsive capability of lithium battery materials is a prerequisite to realize new‐generation light‐weight photo‐rechargeable batteries. However, the photo‐charging property is not available for common battery electrode materials such as LiFePO4. In this manuscript, we provide evidence that the halide perovskite material CH3NH3PbI3 is able to activate the photo‐charging properties of the lithium‐ion battery electrode material LiFePO4. The photoelectrochemical measurement demonstrates that the photo‐responsive property of the CH3NH3PbI3/LiFePO4 composite is significantly improved; the photo‐induced signals are neither observed in the individual halide perovskite nor the lithium battery material tested under the same condition. The first‐principles calculations reveal strong interactions between the CH3NH3PbI3 layer and the LiFePO4 layer via the coordination between the Lewis acid and Lewis base species; this forms a heterostructure that assists the photo‐charging process. We propose that the combination of halide perovskite materials and lithium battery electrode materials is a viable way to achieve light‐weight photo‐batteries. Suggestions to address the stability and voltage issues of the halide perovskite‐based hybrid systems toward the photo‐battery application are provided. This study facilitates the fundamental understanding of the integrated photo‐rechargeable battery materials and highlights the importance of halide perovskite materials for the lithium‐ion and photo‐rechargeable batteries.
The effects of thermal treatment on the bacterial community and quality characteristics of meatballs during storage
Authors: Li Ran , Wang Chong , Zhou Guanghong , Li Chunbao , Ye Keping
Published: December 2020

Thermal treatment is a widely applied food processing technology in the meat industry due to its convenience. However, the interpretation of the changes in the bacterial community and quality properties in the thermal processed meat products have not been well established. Therefore, the effects of thermal treatment on the quality characteristics and bacterial communities in meatballs during storage at 4°C were investigated, which will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the influence of thermal treatment on the meat quality. Thermal treatment (121°C, 15 min) decreased the initial total viable bacterial counts by 2.1 log CFU/g and the diversity of the initial bacterial communities in meatballs. Compared with the thermal treatment group, a significantly more rapidly increasing trend of total volatile basic nitrogen and a decreasing trend of pH were observed in the control group. At the end of storage, the bacterial community was dominated by Streptococcus, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas in the thermal treatment meatballs, whereas Pseudomonas, Pantoea, and Serratia. dominated the bacterial community of the control group. Besides, the predicted metabolic pathways revealed high levels of carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism in the control group. This finding could contribute to a deep understanding of the influence of thermal treatment on the meat quality. Moreover, these results could provide a theoretical foundation for the development of alternative and novel nonthermal processing technologies for use in the meat industry.
Spinel chemistry and geochemistry of serpentinite of North Delhi fold belt, Rajasthan: Constraining the petrogenesis and geodynamics of northwestern Indian shield
Authors: Talukdar Debojit , Raul Ashish Kumar , Korakoppa Madiwalappa Mallappa , Mohanty Manoranjan
Published: December 2020

The western margin of the north Delhi fold belt, Rajasthan is mostly covered by the thick alluvium‐sand cover of the Thar Desert. However, a study on a cluster of scattered and deformed serpentinite bodies exposed in the small opencast quarries are presented here. Though alteration and absence of primary phases possess constraints over petrogenesis, but, the accessory, anhedral spinel chemistry aids in the genetic reconstruction. The unaltered core part of the spinel that is, the Al‐chromite (avg. 45.2 wt% Cr2O3), followed by ferrit chromite (avg. 32.3 wt% Cr2O3) inner rim and magnetite towards the outer rim is the character of spinels present in the host, where the chemistry of the core part is used exclusively. This core part of spinel preserves the primary mantle signature and attests the forearc peridotite character and a similar subduction‐related trait is followed by the whole‐rock major oxide proxies. Cumulative petrological, whole‐rock geochemistry, and mineral chemical signature unequivocally advocate towards a harzburgitic protolith, an arc peridotitic character, and presence of ancient forearc environment. The present communication is the first to describe the detailed characterization of serpentinite bodies with a possible linkage towards the presence of ancient oceanic slices in the north Delhi fold belt, Rajasthan, NW India.
Risk factors for the development of high‐grade dysplasia and carcinoma in patients with laryngeal squamous cell papillomas: Large retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gluvajić Daša , Hošnjak Lea , Stegel Vida , Novaković Srdjan , Gale Nina , Poljak Mario , Boltežar Irena Hočevar
Published: December 2020

Background

The incidence and risk factors for the development of high‐grade dysplasia (HG‐D) and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) were assessed in patients with laryngeal squamous cell papillomas (LSP).

Methods

Clinical data, human papillomaviruses (HPV) typing, HPV E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization, and sequencing of host genes in LSP biopsies of 163 patients were analyzed.

Results

Progression to HG‐D and LSCC was identified in 21.5% and 4.3% of LSP patients, respectively. A more advanced age at LSP onset and lack of HPV infection were detected as risk factors for the development of HG‐D and LSCC (P < .05). The identification of HG‐D was associated with its progression to LSCC (P < .05). Host gene mutations were identified in 3 of 7 patients with LSCC.

Conclusions

The histological monitoring of LSP and HPV typing are necessary for early detection of epithelial changes. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of host gene mutations in LSCC transformation.
Threshold effects in the relationship between inflation and economic growth: Further empirical evidence from the developed and developing world
Authors: Azam Muhammad , Khan Saleem
Published: December 2020

We re‐evaluate empirically the threshold effect of inflation on economic growth for 27 countries (16 developing and 11 developed economies) over 1975–2018. Our research differs from the previous one in that it employs non‐average inflation data with a balanced panel for a longer period of time. The methods of fixed effects and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) are used to estimate the inflation threshold and its effects on growth. The empirical estimates show a significant negative association between inflation and growth above the threshold level of inflation. The empirical estimate indicates that inflation impede growth when inflation exceeds the turning point 12.23% and 5.36% in Panel‐1 and Panel‐2, respectively, and with the greatest negative effects in Panel‐2. In addition, our findings provide evidence that gross fixed capital formation, government spending, household spending and real exports stimulate economic growth while the growth rate of the population is detrimental to the growth of the regions. Overall, the empirical result of this study could be of use in providing policy direction to governments and management authorities. In developing and developed economies, the management authorities need to cogitate a maximum rate of 12.3% and 5.4%, respectively, as an inflation target to avoid the detrimental effects of high inflation on economic growth for sustaining macroeconomic stability.
Modelling unbalanced catastrophic health expenditure data by using machine‐learning methods
Authors: Cinaroglu Songul
Published: December 2020

This study aims to compare the performances of logistic regression and random forest classifiers in a balanced oversampling procedure for the prediction of households that will face catastrophic out‐of‐pocket (OOP) health expenditure. Data were derived from the nationally representative household budget survey collected by the Turkish Statistical Institute for the year 2012. A total of 9,987 households returned valid surveys. The data set was highly imbalanced, and the percentage of households facing catastrophic OOP health expenditure was 0.14. Balanced oversampling was performed, and 30 artificial data sets were generated with sizes of 5% and 98% of the original data size. The balanced oversampled data set provided accurate predictions, and random forest exhibited superior performance in identifying households facing catastrophic OOP health expenditure (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC = 0.8765; classification accuracy, CA = 0.7936; sensitivity = 0.7765; specificity = 0.8552; F1 = 0.7797).