bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum carbohydrate antigen 125 levels and incident risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged and elderly Chinese population: The Dongfeng–Tongji cohort study
Authors: Yu Caizheng , Lei Qing , Wang Jing , Han Xu , Wang Fei , Yuan Jing , Yao Ping , Wei Sheng , Wang Youjie , Liang Yuan , Zhang Xiaomin , Guo Huan , Yang Handong , He Meian
Published: April 2019

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum carbohydrate antigen 125 concentrations and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus risk in a prospective cohort.

Methods:

We included 18,983 eligible participants aged 63.1 years derived from the Dongfeng–Tongji cohort at baseline from September 2008 to June 2010, and they were followed until October 2013. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval of type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence in relation to carbohydrate antigen 125 concentrations.

Results:

In all, 1594 incident cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus were observed after a median follow-up of 4.6 years. Carbohydrate antigen 125 concentrations were categorized into four groups according to the quartiles of distribution: <1.1, 1.1–5.6, 5.6–10.0 and ⩾10 U/mL. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of type 2 diabetes mellitus was 0.97 (0.81–1.15), 1.23 (1.05–1.45) and 1.48 (1.27–1.74) for quartile 2–quartile 4 of carbohydrate antigen 125 concentrations after adjustment for potential confounders ( p for trend < 0.001). With per–standard deviation increase in carbohydrate antigen 125 levels, the hazard ratio of type 2 diabetes mellitus increased 12% (95% confidence interval, 8–16).

Conclusion:

Findings from this study indicated that serum carbohydrate antigen 125 concentrations were positively correlated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus risk among a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population.
Evidence-Based Practice Patterns Among Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhaidary Abdulsalam
Published: April 2019

The goal of this study was to explore the evidence-based practice (EBP) pattern among speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists in Saudi Arabia. A total of 48 clinicians working in Saudi Arabia completed a questionnaire that investigated patterns, attitudes, skills, and time and resources at the workplace related to EBP. The results showed that SLPs and audiologists held favorable attitudes toward EBP, and the use of research studies to guide clinical decision making was increased among the participants with previous EBP training. Also, the study found that skills and knowledge related to EBP need to be enhanced, but they were not major barriers to EBP implementation. Limited resources appeared to impose some hindrances, whereas insufficient time at the workplace was found to be a major challenge for EBP implementation. Overall, the findings from this study highlight the importance of increasing the continuing education and professional time for EBP activities in the workplace.
Large deformation analysis of elastic bodies by nonlinear Petrov–Galerkin natural element method
Authors: Lee HW , Cho JR
Published: April 2019

A two-dimensional nonlinear Petrov–Galerkin natural element method is presented for the large deformation analysis of elastic structures. The large deformation problem is formulated according to the linearized total Lagrangian method based on Taylor series expansion. The displacement increment is approximated with the Voronoi polygon-based Laplace interpolation functions, while the admissible virtual displacement is expanded by the constant strain basis functions that are supported on Delaunay triangles. The iterative computation is performed by Newton–Raphson method, and the numerical integration is carried out by applying the conventional Gauss quadrature rule to Delaunay triangles. The proposed nonlinear Petrov–Galerkin natural element method is illustrated through the numerical experiments, and its numerical accuracy is compared with MSC/Marc, constant strain finite element method, and Bubnov–Galerkin natural element method and the symmetry preservation in the very large strain is presented.
Trajectory tracking control law of multi-joint snake-like robot based on improved snake-like curve in flow field
Authors: Li Dongfang , Pan Zhenhua , Deng Hongbin , Peng Teng
Published: April 2019

Aiming at the problem of trajectory tracking between joints of the multi-joint snake-like robot in the flow fields, a trajectory tracking control law proposed based on the improved snake-like curve of a multi-joint snake-like robot to avoid obstacles in the flow fields is studied. Firstly, considering the external disturbance that the fluid environment may impose on the multi-joint snake-like robot system, from the point of view of probability, the fluid–solid coupling models of the obstacle channel and multi-joint snake-like robot are established in the flow field by using immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method algorithm, which solves the problem of nonlinear fluid motion that cannot be explained by solving the Navier-Stokes (N-S) equation. Then, a potential function is applied to the multi-joint snake-like robot so that the head of the robot can avoid obstacles in the fluid smoothly. By improving the snake-like motion equation, the snake-like curve trajectory tracking function of each joint of the multi-joint snake-like robot with time variation is obtained, which enables the tail joints of the snake-like robot to track the motion trajectory of the head joints. Finally, the effects of different flow field density, velocity, and Reynolds numbers on trajectory tracking of the multi-joint snake-like robot are studied by MATLAB simulations and experiments. The theoretical analysis and numerical simulation show that the designed trajectory tracking control law can make the multi-joint snake-like robot track the trajectory of the front joint when the robot encounters obstacles and make the robot stabilize the lateral distance, longitudinal distance, and direction angle, so as to effectively avoid obstacles. The simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the trajectory tracking control law.
Primary + Early Childhood = chalk and cheese? Tensions in undertaking an early childhood/primary education degree
Authors: Boyd Wendy , Newman Linda
Published: April 2019

There is well-established evidence that the quality of early childhood education workforce impacts upon children’s learning. Attracting qualified teacher graduates to work in early childhood centres is an essential component towards the provision of quality care. Significant investment by the Australian Government has been made to prepare early childhood teachers, yet teaching at this level is characterised by poorer working conditions compared with primary school teachers. Various programme models qualify applicants as early childhood teachers, yet there is no evidence of the most appropriate model. Our study’s focus was to identify reasons for entering a teacher education programme, career intentions and satisfaction of pre-service teachers enrolled in early childhood/primary degree programmes at two Australian universities. Findings demonstrate that the degrees were not fulfilling the government investment goals for increasing early childhood teacher numbers, nor were the degrees meeting student expectation for an early childhood teaching career. We argue that renewed policy strategies are required to support new early childhood graduates and professionals, and attract teachers to work in early childhood education.
Interactions between children and their early childhood educators: The effect of cultural match on communication
Authors: Webb Gwendalyn , Williams Cori
Published: April 2019

This paper describes the findings of research into children’s interactions with educators who were of the same or different culture from that of the children. The research investigated the effect of cultural context on the children’s communication and the quality of their interactions in one mainstream early childhood setting. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal educators were video-recorded interacting with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in an early childhood education and care setting. The interactions between the children and their educators were categorised according to whether the culture of the educator matched that of the child (cultural match), or not (cultural non-match). The interactions were transcribed and the children’s communication analysed across a variety of linguistic measures. Results indicated that the children’s communication with their educators differed in qualitative but not quantitative measures in response to cultural match. These findings support the need for further research in this area.
Is lipid goal one-size-fits-all: A review of evidence for recommended low-density lipoprotein treatment targets in Asian patients
Authors: Wang Yun , Yan Bryan P , Tomlinson Brian , Lee Vivian WY
Published: April 2019

The international guideline recommendations for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering were made based on the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and observational studies mostly in the White population. It was not clear whether these LDL-C targets could be applicable to other ethnic groups, for example, Asian patients. This review aimed to address major aspects related to the lipid goal and statin therapy in Asia, including the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, the LDL-C profiles, the lipid goals from localized guidelines, genetics and lifestyles, and the efficacy and safety of statins. Owing to the geographic, ethnic, genetic, and cultural diversity in this region, we observed a geographic pattern of diversity in cardiovascular epidemiology and statin response in Central Asia, East Asia (particularly for Asia-Pacific region), and South Asia. The rapidly growing literature from Asian countries questioning “lower is better” hypothesis was noticed. However, owing to the nature of these dominantly observational data, the conclusion was hardly confirmative. Despite the rapid expansion of the current literature in this region, efforts should be made to ensure an adequate sample size to assess the significance of a given lipid parameter on overall cardiovascular outcomes in this Asian population.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the risk of obstructive coronary artery disease beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in non-diabetic individuals
Authors: Kim Yong-Giun , Cho Young-Rak , Park Gyung-Min , Won Ki-Bum , Ann Soe H , Yang Dong H , Kang Joon-Won , Lim Tae-Hwan , Kim Hong-Kyu , Choe Jaewon , Lee Seung-Whan , Kim Young-Hak , Yang Yu J , Kim Shin-Jae , Lee Sang-Gon
Published: April 2019

Aims

The relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the severity of coronary artery disease beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the primary target of cholesterol-lowering therapy, remains uncertain. We evaluated the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and obstructive coronary artery disease using parameters of any obstructive plaque, obstructive plaque in the left main coronary artery or proximal left anterior descending artery, and obstructive plaque in multi-vessels, according to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Methods and results

We analyzed 5130 asymptomatic non-diabetics who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography for general health examination. Obstructive plaque was defined as a plaque with ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis. The participants were divided into three groups based on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of ≤129, 130–159, and ≥160 mg/dl. The prevalence of any obstructive plaque (5.9% vs 6.4% vs 10.6%) and obstructive plaque in the left main coronary artery or proximal left anterior descending artery (2.1% vs 2.1% vs 4.3%) significantly increased with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol category (all p < 0.05). Compared with subjects with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level ≥40 mg/dl, those with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level <40 mg/dl had a significantly higher prevalence of any obstructive plaque (10.4% vs 5.1%), obstructive plaque in the left main coronary artery or proximal left anterior descending artery (3.6% vs 1.8%), and obstructive plaque in multi-vessels (4.3% vs 1.1%), only in the group with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level ≤129 mg/dl (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were associated with a reduced risk of all obstructive coronary artery disease parameters only in the group with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level ≤129 mg/dl (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were independently associated with a lower risk of obstructive coronary artery disease in asymptomatic non-diabetics with low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Do rebreathing manoeuvres for non-invasive measurement of cardiac output during maximum exercise test alter the main cardiopulmonary parameters?
Authors: Vignati Carlo , Morosin Marco , Fusini Laura , Pezzuto Beatrice , Spadafora Emanuele , De Martino Fabiana , Salvioni Elisabetta , Rovai Sara , Filardi Pasquale P , Sinagra Gianfranco , Agostoni Piergiuseppe
Published: April 2019

Background

Inert gas rebreathing has been recently described as an emergent reliable non-invasive method for cardiac output determination during exercise, allowing a relevant improvement of cardiopulmonary exercise test clinical relevance. For cardiac output measurements by inert gas rebreathing, specific respiratory manoeuvres are needed which might affect pivotal cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters, such as exercise tolerance, oxygen uptake and ventilation vs carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2) relationship slope.

Method

We retrospectively analysed cardiopulmonary exercise testing of 181 heart failure patients who underwent both cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output within two months (average 16 ± 15 days). All patients were in stable clinical conditions (New York Heart Association I–III) and on optimal medical therapy.

Results

The majority of patients were in New York Heart Association Class I and II (78.8%), with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 31 ± 10%. No difference was found between the two tests in oxygen uptake at peak exercise (1101 (interquartile range 870–1418) ml/min at cardiopulmonary exercise test vs 1103 (844–1389) at cardiopulmonary exercise test-cardiac output) and at anaerobic threshold. However, anaerobic threshold and peak heart rate, peak workload (75 (58–101) watts and 64 (42–90), p < 0.01) and carbon dioxide output were significantly higher at cardiopulmonary exercise testing than at cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output, whereas VE/VCO2 slope was higher at cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output (30 (27–35) vs 33 (28–37), p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The similar anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake in the two tests with a lower peak workload and higher VE/VCO2 slope at cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output suggest a higher respiratory work and consequent demand for respiratory muscle blood flow secondary to the ventilatory manoeuvres. Accordingly, VE/VCO2 slope and peak workload must be evaluated with caution during cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output.
Efficacy and safety of infliximab in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease: a national comparative retrospective study
Authors: Bramuzzo Matteo , Arrigo Serena , Romano Claudio , Filardi Maria Chiara , Lionetti Paolo , Agrusti Anna , Dipasquale Valeria , Paci Monica , Zuin Giovanna , Aloi Marina , Strisciuglio Caterina , Miele Erasmo , Pastore Maria , Martelossi Stefano , Alvisi Patrizia ,   SIGENP IBD Working Group
Published: April 2019

Background

Very few data regarding the use of infliximab in children with very early‐onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO‐IBD) have been reported.

Objective

We aimed to assess the efficacy and the safety of infliximab in children with VEO‐IBD compared with older children.

Methods

Children treated with infliximab were identified within the Italian IBD registry. The primary outcome was the rate of clinical remission at weeks 14 and 54. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of partial clinical response, treatment duration, and incidence of adverse events.

Results

Forty‐two children with VEO‐IBD were compared with 130 children with IBD. Despite significantly higher infliximab withdrawals in VEO‐IBD patients during induction (42.9% vs 7.7% p < 0.01), remission rates at week 14 were similar (28.6% vs 43.8%, p = 0.10). At week 54 fewer VEO‐IBD children were in remission (15.8% vs 54.3%, p < 0.01). The treatment duration was shorter in VEO‐IBD (median 12.0 vs 18.4 months, p < 0.01). During the induction phase, adverse events were more common in the VEO‐IBD group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Compared with older children, VEO‐IBD patients have higher rates of infliximab failures, lower remission rates at one year, and more often experience adverse events during induction.
Blocking connexin 43 accelerates corneal healing and improves tissue remodeling during the healing of diabetic rat corneas: A histological and immunohistochemical study
Authors: Elbadawy Hossein M , Elshawarby Amany , Raafat Mona H , Bahaa Nevine , Abdul Mohi IM , Aljuhani Naif , Bahashwan Saleh , Eltahir Heba M , Albarry Maan , Parekh Mohit , Ferrari Stefano
Published: April 2019

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a potential target for accelerating wound healing. This study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic efficiency of topical application of Gap27, a Cx43 mimetic peptide, on corneal tissue reorganization during wound healing in streptozocin-induced Diabetes in albino rats and its effect on the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Fifty adult male albino Wistar rats were divided equally into two groups: non-diabetic and diabetic. Twenty rats from each group were subjected to corneal injury: 10 untreated and 10 treated with Gap27. The remaining five rats from each group served as negative controls (intact corneas). All rats were sacrificed 3 days after injury. Histological studies were performed to assess signs of cell degeneration, the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Histomorphometric studies were performed to quantify the expression of Cx43. Gap27 promoted corneal wound healing in non-diabetic and diabetic rats. It reduced mononuclear cell infiltration and improved corneal tissue remodeling. However, minor structural changes were still seen in diabetic corneas after treatment with Gap27. Blocking Cx43 was a valuable tool to restore corneal tissue structure, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in non-diabetic and diabetic rats.
Congenital Coronary Aneurysm: Unusual Presentation of Myocardial Ischemia in Children
Authors: Simry Walid , Al Kindi Hamood , Sedky Yaser , Kaml Hassan , Romaih Soha , Van Doorn Cathrina
Published: April 2019

Coronary artery aneurysms in children are usually associated with inflammatory disease such as Kawasaki disease or connective tissue disease. Congenital coronary aneurysm is a rare entity with few case reports published in the literature. We report an unusual case of congenital coronary aneurysm in an 11-year-old boy presented to our center with an ischemic cardiac event. Further investigations including computed tomography scan, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and coronary angiography revealed a large aneurysm arising from the proximal segment of left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Surgical repair was done including aneurysm resection and roofing the LAD artery using autologous saphenous vein patch.
Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Soft Drink Factory Workers of Madurai City: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Vidhya G.  , Muthu Karuppaiah R.  , Garla Bharath Kumar , Umesh K.  , Taranath M. , Pandian Palanivel
Published: April 2019

Background:

Oral health is an integral part of general health. Good oral health helps people to communicate and enhances their dignity and personality. Oral health of soft drink factory workers depended on their working environment.

Aims and objectives:

To assess the oral health status and treatment needs of soft drink factory workers in Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, India.

Materials and methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 175 soft drink factory workers. Informed consent from the participants and ethical clearance were obtained. Data were collected by using WHO Oral Health Assessment Form for Adults, 2013.

Results:

The result shows higher prevalence of oral problems with 80% dental caries, 82.9% gingival bleeding, 13.7% periodontal pockets, 15.4% loss of attachment, 54.9% fluorosis, and 50.9% dental erosion in soft drink factory workers.

Conclusion:

The study suggests that the oral health status of these soft drink factory workers is poor and there is an increased need for their dental treatment.
Clinical Utility of an MRI-Based Classification System for Operative Versus Nonoperative Management of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tears: A 2-Year Follow-up Study
Authors: Ramkumar Prem N. , Haeberle Heather S. , Navarro Sergio M. , Frangiamore Salvatore J. , Farrow Lutul D. , Schickendantz Mark S.
Published: April 2019

Background:

A recently introduced classification system of medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears accounting for location and severity has demonstrated high interobserver and intraobserver reliability, but little is known about its clinical utility.

Purpose:

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–based classification system in predicting which athletes had success with nonoperative versus operative treatment after completing a standardized rehabilitation program. A secondary objective included return to play (RTP) and return to prior performance (RPP) analyses of baseball players.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

After an a priori power analysis, 58 consecutive patients with UCL tears and a minimum of 2-year follow-up were retrospectively divided into 2 groups: those who successfully completed operative treatment and those who completed nonoperative treatment. The MRI-based classification stages accounting for UCL tear location and severity were compared between the nonoperative and operative groups. A subanalysis for baseball players, including RTP and RPP, was performed.

Results:

A total of 58 patients (40 baseball players [34 pitchers]) met inclusion criteria. Of these patients 35 (32 baseball players [27 pitchers]) underwent surgery, and 23 (8 baseball players [7 pitchers]) underwent nonoperative management. No patients in the nonoperative arm crossed over to surgery after completing the rehabilitation program. Patients with distal tears (odds ratio, 48.0; P = .0004) and complete tears (odds ratio, 5.4; P = .004) were more likely to undergo surgery. Baseball players, regardless of position, were confounding determinants of operative management, although there was no difference in RTP and RPP between treatment arms.

Conclusion:

A 6-stage MRI-based classification system addressing UCL tear location and severity may help early decision making, as patients likely to fail nonoperative treatment have complete, distal tears, whereas those with proximal, partial tears may be more amenable to nonoperative management.
Moral Ecology in Nursing: A Pluralistic Approach
Authors: Copeland Darcy
Published: April 2019

Moral dilemmas are present in all settings in which nurses work. Nurses are moral agents who must make moral decisions and take moral action in very complex social systems. Nurses are accountable for their actions, and it is therefore imperative that they have a solid foundation in ethics. There are multiple ethical frameworks nurses can utilize to justify their actions. A theory of moral ecology is presented here as a way to conceptualize the relationships between these frameworks. The first two steps of moral action, moral sensitivity and moral judgment, are explored in a pluralistic context. Specifically, multiple ethical frameworks that inform the practice of nursing are presented using an ecological model. Nurses work in a variety of practice environments, with different populations, across a spectrum of situations. An ecological model acknowledges that nurses are influenced by the complex social, and ethical, systems in which they find themselves taking moral action. When faced with ethical issues in practice, a nurse's moral sensitivity and moral judgment may be guided by ethical systems most proximal to the situation. Nurses bring individual moral beliefs to work and are influenced by the ethical directives of employers, the discipline's code of ethics, principles of bioethics, and various approaches to normative ethics (virtue, consequential, deontological, and care). Any of the frameworks presented may justifiably be applied in various nursing circumstances. I propose that the multiple ethical frameworks nurses utilize exist in a relationally nested manner and a model of moral ecology in nursing is provided.
Reduced Time to Positive Cutibacterium acnes Culture Utilizing a Novel Incubation Technique: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bokshan Steven L , Ramirez Gomez Jose , Chapin Kimberle C , Green Andrew , Paxton E Scott
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Cutibacterium acnes ( C. acnes) is a common pathogen in postoperative shoulder infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time to positive cultures for C. acnes and compare our experience before and after implementation of a regulated anaerobic chamber system. We hypothesized that this would reduce the time to identify positive cultures.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of 34 patients with cultures obtained from the shoulder that were positive for C. acnes. The time until positive result was evaluated before and after implementation of a regulated anaerobic incubation chamber.

Results

Following implementation of the regulated anaerobic incubation chamber, the time until C. acnes culture growth significantly decreased from 6.5 days (range 3–10 days) to 4.9 days (range 2.75–10 days) (mean difference: 1.6 days, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–2.66 days; P = .002). True infections had a significantly shorter time to positive culture compared to contaminants (5.5 vs 6.8 days, respectively, P = .003). Increased number of positive culture specimens correlated with a shorter time to positivity (Spearman rank = −0.58, P = .007).

Conclusion

Improved anaerobic culture protocols and techniques may lead to greater accuracy and earlier diagnosis and initiation of treatment of postoperative shoulder infections.
A niche-dependent myeloid transcriptome signature defines dormant myeloma cells
Authors: Khoo Weng Hua , Ledergor Guy , Weiner Assaf , Roden Daniel L. , Terry Rachael L. , McDonald Michelle M. , Chai Ryan C. , De Veirman Kim , Owen Katie L. , Opperman Khatora S. , Vandyke Kate , Clark Justine R. , Seckinger Anja , Kovacic Natasa , Nguyen Akira , Mohanty Sindhu T. , Pettitt Jessica A. , Xiao Ya , Corr Alexander P. , Seeliger Christine , Novotny Mark , Lasken Roger S. , Nguyen Tuan V. , Oyajobi Babatunde O. , Aftab Dana , Swarbrick Alexander , Parker Belinda , Hewett Duncan R. , Hose Dirk , Vanderkerken Karin , Zannettino Andrew C. W. , Amit Ido , Phan Tri Giang , Croucher Peter I.
Published: April 2019

The era of targeted therapies has seen significant improvements in depth of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival for patients with multiple myeloma. Despite these improvements in clinical outcome, patients inevitably relapse and require further treatment. Drug-resistant dormant myeloma cells that reside in specific niches within the skeleton are considered a basis of disease relapse but remain elusive and difficult to study. Here, we developed a method to sequence the transcriptome of individual dormant myeloma cells from the bones of tumor-bearing mice. Our analyses show that dormant myeloma cells express a distinct transcriptome signature enriched for immune genes and, unexpectedly, genes associated with myeloid cell differentiation. These genes were switched on by coculture with osteoblastic cells. Targeting AXL, a gene highly expressed by dormant cells, using small-molecule inhibitors released cells from dormancy and promoted their proliferation. Analysis of the expression of AXL and coregulated genes in human cohorts showed that healthy human controls and patients with monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance expressed higher levels of the dormancy signature genes than patients with multiple myeloma. Furthermore, in patients with multiple myeloma, the expression of this myeloid transcriptome signature translated into a twofold increase in overall survival, indicating that this dormancy signature may be a marker of disease progression. Thus, engagement of myeloma cells with the osteoblastic niche induces expression of a suite of myeloid genes that predicts disease progression and that comprises potential drug targets to eradicate dormant myeloma cells.
Interdiction Games and Monotonicity, with Application to Knapsack Problems
Authors: Fischetti Matteo , Ljubić Ivana , Monaci Michele , Sinnl Markus
Published: April 2019

Two-person interdiction games represent an important modeling concept for applications in marketing, defending critical infrastructure, stopping nuclear weapons projects, or preventing drug smuggling. We present an exact branch-and-cut algorithm for interdiction games under the assumption that feasible solutions of the follower problem satisfy a certain monotonicity property. Prominent examples from the literature that fall into this category are knapsack interdiction, matching interdiction, and packing interdiction problems. We also show how practically relevant interdiction variants of facility location and prize-collecting problems can be modeled in our setting. Our branch-and-cut algorithm uses a solution scheme akin to Benders decomposition based on a family of so-called interdiction cuts. We present modified and lifted versions of these cuts along with exact and heuristic procedures for the separation of interdiction cuts and heuristic separation procedures for the other versions. In addition, we derive further valid inequalities and present a new heuristic procedure. We computationally evaluate the proposed algorithm on a benchmark of 360 knapsack interdiction instances from literature, including 27 instances for which the optimal solution was not known. Our approach is able to solve each of them to optimality within about one minute of computing time on a standard PC (in most cases, within just seconds), and it is up to some orders of magnitude faster than any previous approach from the literature. To further assess the effectiveness of our branch-and-cut algorithm, an additional computational study is performed on 144 randomly generated instances based on 0/1 multidimensional knapsack problems.
Robust Maximum Likelihood Estimation
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Nohadani Omid
Published: April 2019

In many applications, statistical estimators serve to derive conclusions from data, for example, in finance, medical decision making, and clinical trials. However, the conclusions are typically dependent on uncertainties in the data. We use robust optimization principles to provide robust maximum likelihood estimators that are protected against data errors. Both types of input data errors are considered: (a) the adversarial type, modeled using the notion of uncertainty sets, and (b) the probabilistic type, modeled by distributions. We provide efficient local and global search algorithms to compute the robust estimators and discuss them in detail for the case of multivariate normally distributed data. The estimator performance is demonstrated on two applications. First, using computer simulations, we demonstrate that the proposed estimators are robust against both types of data uncertainty and provide more accurate estimates compared with classical estimators, which degrade significantly, when errors are encountered. We establish a range of uncertainty sizes for which robust estimators are superior. Second, we analyze deviations in cancer radiation therapy planning. Uncertainties among plans are caused by patients’ individual anatomies and the trial-and-error nature of the process. When analyzing a large set of past clinical treatment data, robust estimators lead to more reliable decisions when applied to a large set of past treatment plans.
Prescribing Response Strategies to Manage Customer Opinions: A Stochastic Differential Equation Approach
Authors: Yang Mingwen , Zheng Zhiqiang (Eric) , Mookerjee Vijay
Published: April 2019

Today, the reputation of a firm is profoundly influenced by user opinions expressed in online consumer reviews. Managing these opinions is, therefore, critical for the success of firms. We study the problem of devising an appropriate opinion management strategy (or response strategy) for a firm to respond to online customer reviews. To unravel the underlying mechanics of the problem, we develop a stochastic differential equation model that describes the evolution of review ratings over time for a given response strategy employed by the firm. This model is validated using data on online customer reviews and firm responses from two of the world’s largest online travel agents. When pitted against popular benchmark models, such as autoregressive moving average, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity, moving average, exponential smoothing, and naive method, our approach not only achieves comparable (often better) predictive performance, it is also able to incorporate the response strategy into the data-generation process underlying the review ratings. Our approach, therefore, is not just predictive, but, more importantly, one that can be used in a prescriptive sense, namely to prescribe a response strategy that controls review ratings in a desired manner. We operationalize the theoretical response strategy in our stochastic model to an operational prescription that a firm can implement and show the applicability of our approach for different business objectives, such as mean control, mean-variance control, and service-level control. Finally, we demonstrate the flexibility of the stochastic differential equation model by extending it to encompass multiple state variables.

The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2018.0805 .
Getting the Rich and Powerful to Give
Authors: Kessler Judd B. , Milkman Katherine L. , Zhang C. Yiwei
Published: April 2019

What motivates the rich and powerful to exhibit generosity? We explore this important question in a large field experiment. We solicit donations from 32,174 alumni of an Ivy League university, including thousands of rich and powerful alumni. Consistent with past psychology research, we find that the rich and powerful respond dramatically, and differently than others, to being given a sense of agency over the use of donated funds. Gifts from rich and powerful alumni increase by 100%–350% when they are given a sense of agency. This response arises primarily on the intensive margin with no effect on the likelihood of donating. Results suggest that motivating the rich and powerful to act may require tailored interventions.

This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
Evaluation of Dominant Parameters in Lipase Transesterification of Cottonseed Oil
Authors: Anderson Stanley , Walker Terry , Moser Bryan , Drapcho Caye , Zheng Yi , Bridges William
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Eversa Transform was used as an enzymatic catalyst to transform glandless and crude (heavy pigment) cottonseed oils into biodiesel. The oils were reacted with methanol at a 6:1 molar ratio with modified amounts of water, lipase, and temperature. Reactions were conducted in the presence of lipase and water at doses of 2, 5, and 8 wt% and 1, 3, and 6 wt%, respectively. Product composition and conversion were determined using the gas chromatography method of ASTM D6584. Oxidative stability was determined following EN 15751. The conversion to fatty acid methyl esters averaged 98.5% across all samples. Temperature had the most significant effect on conversion (p < 0.0035). Lipase and water dosages did not affect conversion, while each had an effect with temperature that was significant across the difference between 3 and 1 wt% water content and between 8 and 5 wt% enzyme content between the two temperatures (p = 0.0018 and 0.0153), respectively. Induction periods (oxidative stability) of the glandless and crude cottonseed oils were significantly different, but there was no difference between the two oil conversions based on oil type. Keywords: Biodiesel, Cottonseed oil, Fatty acid methyl esters, Lipase, Oxidative stability, Transesterification.
Development and Preliminary Evaluation of an Integrated Individual Nozzle Direct Injection and Carrier Flow Rate Control System for Pesticide Applications
Authors: Luck Joe D. , Shearer Scott A. , Sama Michael P.
Published: April 2019

Abstract.

Direct injection systems for agricultural spray applications continue to present challenges in terms of commercialization and adoption by end users. Such systems have typically suffered from lag time and mixing uniformity issues, which have outweighed the potential benefits of keeping chemical and carrier separate or reducing improper tank-mixed concentration by eliminating operator measurements. The proposed system sought to combine high-pressure direct nozzle injection with an automated variable-flow nozzle to improve chemical mixing and response times. The specific objectives were to: (1) integrate a high-pressure direct nozzle injection system with variable-flow carrier control into a prototype for testing, (2) assess the chemical metering accuracy and proper mixing at different combinations of injection valve frequency and duty cycle along with chemical pressure, and (3) assess the ability of the control system to ensure proper chemical dilutions and concentrations in the nozzle effluent resulting from step changes in target application rates. Laboratory experiments were conducted using the combined system. Results of these experiments showed that the open-loop control of the injectors could provide a means of accurately metering the chemical concentrate into the carrier stream. Chemical injection rates could be achieved with an average error of 5.4% compared to the target rates. Injection at higher duty cycles resulted in less error in the chemical concentration predictions. Discrete Fourier transform analysis showed that the injection frequency was noticeable in the nozzle effluent when the injector was operated at 3.04 MPa and 5 Hz (particularly at lower duty cycles). Increasing the injection pressure and operating frequency to 5.87 MPa and 7 Hz, respectively, improved mixing, as the injection frequency component was no longer noticed in the effluent samples. The variable-flow nozzle was able to maintain appropriate carrier flow rates to achieve product label chemical concentrations. In one case, the maximum allowable concentrate was exceeded, although the nozzle was able to recover in 0.5 s. Steady-state errors ranged from 2.5% to 7.5% for chemical concentrations compared to the selected chemical to carrier ratio (0.03614). This test scenario represented an application rate of 4.68 L ha-1 with velocity increases from 4.0 to 7.1 m s-1 and decreases from 7.1 to 4.0 m s-1, which were typical of the example field application data. Keywords: Pesticides, Precision agriculture, Spraying equipment, Variable-rate application.
Prevalence, Health and Resource Utilization, and Unmet Healthcare Needs of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Children With Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Payakachat Nalin , Long Christopher R. , McElfish Pearl A. , Narcisse Marie-Rachelle , Felix Holly C. , Bursac Zoran , Hudson Teresa J.
Published: April 2019

Little is known about health limitations and service utilization among the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) children with developmental disabilities (DDs) due to limited data. Our study examined the prevalence of DDs, health limitations, services used, and the unmet needs of NHPI children aged 3 to 17 years using cross-sectional data from the 2014 NHPI National Health Interview Survey. Results showed that prevalence of DDs among NHPI children was lower than American children of other races. DDs were negatively associated with health and functioning of NHPI children. There is a need to promote understanding of DDs among NHPI families and to inform public policy makers to identify appropriate intervention services for NHPI children.
Virtual worlds and language learning
Authors: Melchor-Couto Sabela
Published: April 2019

Technology has made an invaluable contribution to foreign language (FL) teaching, particularly so in recent years. The advanced technical capabilities offered by digital games, including voice and text chat, take the use of computer-mediated communication in language learning one step further, allowing for remote, anonymous and situated learner interaction. This article presents an overview on how virtual worlds (VWs) are being used for educational purposes and for FL teaching in particular. A literature review on existing research has been included, covering areas such as FL interaction, impact on affective variables and attitudes towards the use of these environments. Special attention will be devoted to how VW interaction may affect students’ anxiety, motivation and self-efficacy beliefs. Finally, teacher perceptions will be explored through the data collected among 179 secondary school FL teachers participating in the EU-funded TeCoLa project (‘Pedagogical differentiation through telecollaboration and gaming for intercultural and content integrated language teaching’).
Beyond the monolingual habitus in game-based language learning: The MElang-E and EU·DO·IT projects in the interstices between linguistics, pedagogy and technology
Authors: Buendgens-Kosten Judith , Lohe Viviane , Elsner Daniela
Published: April 2019

Mirroring prevailing monolingual ideologies in foreign language pedagogic practices, the majority of language learning games reflect a monolingual perspective on language and language learning. This article attempts to delineate alternatives to this monolingual habitus in game-based language learning (GBLL). In order to do so, it introduces two Erasmus+ projects that set out to develop multilingual language learning games which go beyond vocabulary drills or match-the-translation activities by encompassing a plurilingual perspective on languages and language learning: MElang-E (Multilingual Exploration of Languages in Europe) and EU·DO·IT (European Digital Online-Game for Intercultural Learning and Translanguaging). The authors will discuss how in projects of this type, the need for sociolinguistic realism and the overarching plurilingual pedagogy have to be actively balanced with the expectations, preferences and needs of learners and teachers. Preliminary survey data on stakeholders’ perspectives on such products shows that there is a widespread scepticism regarding the inclusion of some types of non-target language material in a language learning game. Consequences for the design of multilingual games will be drawn.
Inventivas administrativas nas reformas da instrução pública (Distrito Federal 1922-35)
Authors: Paulilo André Luiz
Published: April 2019

Este artigo aborda as estratégias de reforma da educação pública na capital federal do Brasil entre os anos de 1922 e 1935. Ele tem como objetivo compreender as iniciativas de implementação de políticas públicas na área da educação, então acionadas na Diretoria Geral de Instrução Pública do Distrito Federal. Em especial, propôs-se a investigar as ações que Carneiro Leão no quadriênio 1922-1926, Fernando de Azevedo entre 1927 e 1930 e Anísio Teixeira de 1932 a 1935 desenvolveram nessa instância da prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro. Ao final da análise, concluiu-se que toda uma inconfessa atividade de improvisação e invenção cotidiana contribuiu para a reforma da educação pública no período.
Elementos constitutivos da história da profissão docente em Montes Claros (1920-1930)
Authors: Veloso Geisa Magela , Amorim Mônica Maria Teixeira
Published: April 2019

O artigo objetiva discutir elementos constitutivos da história da profissão docente, nas décadas de 1920-30, partindo da organização da Escola Normal na cidade de Montes Claros, localizada em Minas Gerais/Brasil. O estudo situa-se no âmbito da História Cultural, tomou o jornal Gazeta do Norte como fonte documental e a Revista do Ensino para captar a sincronia do local com discussões propostas em Minas Gerais. No estudo, destaca-se o papel das escolas normais na formação docente, o embate entre formação técnica e cultura geral, a abnegação e a culpa como fundamentos do trabalho docente. Ressalta-se que Montes Claros faz adesão ao programa proposto em Minas, defende o magistério como sacerdócio e o ensino normal como atividade técnica.
Diferentes perspectivas de alfabetização a partir da Base Nacional Comum Curricular: concepções e desafios /Different perspectives of literacy from the National Common Curriculum Base: concepts and challenges
Authors: Bortolanza Ana Maria Esteves , Goulart Ilsa do Carmo Vieira , Cabral Giovanna Rodrigues
Published: April 2019

A Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC) se constitui como um documento de caráter normativo norteador dos currículos dos sistemas e redes de ensino, bem como das propostas pedagógicas de todas as escolas públicas e privadas de Educação Básica de todo o Brasil. Neste artigo, nossa proposta é a de refletir sobre o sentido atribuído Ã  alfabetização na versão final aprovada da BNCC, com intuito de problematizar as descrições de aspectos legais instituídos pelo documento, com destaque aos elementos que permanecem ou diferem-se em relação aos demais documentos oficiais sobre o tema. Para tanto, desenvolve-se uma pesquisa descritiva, de cunho qualitativo, apoiada na análise do documento oficial da BNCC e nas orientações a respeito da alfabetização, com base nos estudos do processo de compreensão da leitura e escrita de Bajard (2006) e Vygotsky (2000), da concepção de leitura como prática social de produção de sentidos de Chartier (1990; 1996) e Goulemot (1996).PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Base Nacional Comum Curricular. Alfabetização. Leitura. Escrita. Políticas de alfabetização.
Factoring Polynomials Using Elliptic Curves
Authors: Uma Maheswari A. , Durairaj Prabha
Published: April 2019

This paper presents a probabilistic algorithm to factor polynomials over finite fields using elliptic curves. The success of the algorithm depends on the initial choice of elliptic curve parameters. The algorithm is illustrated through numerical examples.Â
Analysis of Component based Computing
Authors: V. Kumaraguru P. , J. Chakravarthy V. , Seenivasan M.
Published: April 2019

To achieve a precise goal of components on different platforms that are presented the some components in order to co-operate with one another over a communication network. The component should be able to access services provided through remote, location transparent service in vocations.The major role of component-based method is represent an ideal framework for component-driven in client/server computing. One of the good implementation examples of broker architecture is Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The component based technologies discuss the proposal of distributed object of CORBA which is the Object Management Groupâ€™s (OMG).This paper proposes the broker architecture as CORBA has distributed system that can be demonstrated by client-server architecture which practices the base for multi-tier architecture.Â Â