bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Waddington Epigenetic Landscape for theC. elegansembryo
Authors: Elewa Ahmed
Published: January 2020

Waddington’s Epigenetic Landscape provides a visual model for both robust and adaptable development. Generating and exploring a Waddington epigenetic landscape for the earlyC. elegansembryo suggests that the key shapers of the landscape are genes that lie at the nexus between stress response and behavior and include genes that are regulated by transgenerational neuronal small RNAs. Curiously, several genes shape the early landscape of one lineage and then pattern, differentiate or are enriched in another lineage. Additionally, paralogs with similar expression profiles contribute differently to shaping the modeled landscape. This work suggests that robust embryonic development is initialized by differential deployment of redundant genes and by transgenerational cues that configure the epigenetic landscape to adapt to a changing world.
Adhesion force spectroscopy with nanostructured colloidal probes reveals nanotopography-dependent early mechanotransductive interactions at the cell membrane level
Authors: Chighizola M. , Previdi A. , Dini T. , Piazzoni C. , Lenardi C. , Milani P. , Schulte C. , Podestà A.
Published: January 2020

Mechanosensing, the ability of cells to perceive and interpret the microenvironmental biophysical cues (such as the nanotopography), impacts strongly on cellular behaviour through mechanotransductive processes and signalling. These events are predominantly mediated by integrins, the principal cellular adhesion receptors located at the cell/extracellular matrix (ECM) interface.

Because of the typical piconewton force range and nanometre length scale of mechanotransductive interactions, achieving a detailed understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics occurring at the cell/microenvironment interface is challenging; sophisticated interdisciplinary methodologies are required. Moreover, an accurate control over the nanotopographical features of the microenvironment is essential, in order to systematically investigate and precisely assess the influence of the different nanotopographical motifs on the mechanotransductive process.

In this framework, we were able to study and quantify the impact of microenvironmental nanotopography on early cellular adhesion events by means of adhesion force spectroscopy based on innovative colloidal probes mimicking the nanotopography of natural ECMs.

These probes provided the opportunity to detect nanotopography-specific modulations of the molecular force loading dynamics and integrin clustering at the level of single binding events, in the critical time window of nascent adhesion formation. Following this approach, we found that the nanotopographical features are responsible for an excessive force loading in single adhesion sites after 20 – 60 s of interaction, causing a drop in the number of adhesion sites. However, by manganese treatment we demonstrated that the availability of activated integrins is a critical regulatory factor for these nanotopography-dependent dynamics.
Top1 and Top2 promote replication fork arrest at a programmed pause site
Authors: Larcher Mélanie V. , Pasero Philippe
Published: January 2020

Programmed fork pausing is a complex process allowing cells to arrest replication forks at specific loci in a polar manner. Studies in budding yeast and other model organisms indicate that such replication fork barriers do not act as roadblocks passively impeding fork progression but rather elicit complex interactions between fork and barrier components. In this issue of Genes & Development, Shyian and colleagues (pp. 87–98) show that in budding yeast, the fork protection complex Tof1–Csm3 interacts physically with DNA topoisomerase I (Top1) at replication forks through the C-terminal domain of Tof1. Fork pausing at the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) replication fork barrier (RFB) is impaired in the absence of Top1 or in a tof1 mutant that does not bind Top1, but the function of Top1 can be partially compensated for by Top2. Together, these data indicate that topoisomerases play an unexpected role in the regulation of programmed fork pausing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Biotinylating Antibodies Using Biotin-Long Chain (LC) Hydrazide
Authors: Berg Eric A. , Fishman Jordan B.
Published: January 2020

Hydrazide derivatives are useful for biotinylating antibodies at oxidized carbohydrate groups. This protocol uses oxidation conditions that will convert most if not all possible hydroxyl sites to aldehydes. Each antibody may require different oxidation conditions to optimize labeling. Some monoclonal antibodies may be deficient in glycosylation, making this method suboptimal. Other labeling reagents (fluorophores) are also available as hydrazides. Hetero-bifunctional cross-linkers (e.g., β-maleimidopropionic acid hydrazide [BMPH]) are also available to cross-link other targets to carbonyls.
Isolation of Total RNA from Zebrafish Embryos and Adults
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: January 2020

This protocol, which uses a monophasic lysis reagent, is a rapid method for isolating high-quality total RNA from multiple samples. The protocol is a general procedure that can be used for isolating RNA from zebrafish embryos at any developmental stage. Embryos can be lysed directly in the monophasic lysis reagent without prior dechorionation. Typical yields from 25 6-hpf (hours postfertilization) embryos are 5–8 µg of RNA; 10–15 µg of RNA can be isolated from 25 24-hpf embryos.
The preservation of news archives: the case of Asia Television (ATV) in Hong Kong
Authors: Li Simon K. , Lee Hang Lai Samman
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the urgency to ensure the preservation of the news archives of the crisis-packed Hong Kong-based Asia Television (ATV), the first Chinese television station in the world. This paper also explores the life and times as well as the future of the historical collections of the ATV archives, which is a treasure trove that covers key events in Hong Kong’s history since 1957, a decade before its major rival Television Broadcasts Limited began to go on air.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting the qualitative approach with in-depth face-to-face interviews, the now defunct ATV News’ longest-serving as well as its very last Chief Librarians discusses the bleeding of priceless history in the 62-year-old news archives which contain Hong Kong’s collective memories.

Findings

An important role of the old news footage is to capture the public’s memories and to take people back to the actual unfolding of landmark events. The interview answers open the way for readers to understand the ways television archives hold immense historical value for a city’s memory and what could be done and preserved before their disappearance.

Originality/value

This paper will be of interest to those historians, journalists, scholars and archivists, including news librarians, who are interested in learning how the ATV’s half-a-century-old archival news footage is a significant asset and cultural record to the former colony.
Supporting delivery of diagnostic assessments for apprentices with undiagnosed additional needs
Authors: Catterall Alistair
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the fact that under current Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding guidelines, diagnostic assessments for apprentices with additional learner needs are deemed an ineligible cost, which has the potential to reduce access to additional funding and support.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this paper is to critically evaluate the surrounding literature, government reports and Mencap review produced since the apprenticeship levy and present the implications of these funding guidelines relating to access to apprenticeships and the practical effects of apprentice’s experience and development.

Findings

The finding presented by this paper is that the definition of diagnostic assessments as an ineligible cost reduces the quality of training delivered by providers and assurances to apprentices that they will be fully supported from the start of their training.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this research was the minimal amount of government/ESFA documentation addressing this subject within apprenticeships.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this paper relate to the on-going delivery of apprenticeship training in the UK, and the detrimental effect of reducing access to diagnostic assessments for apprentices with undiagnosed additional learner needs under the current wording of the Education Skills Agency guidance.

Social implications

The government policy is currently under review to address this area which is considered an ineligible cost for supporting apprentices with recognised additional learner needs.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to align with recent Mencap review and collaboratively readdress the ESFA’s current positioning of diagnostic assessments for apprentices with undiagnosed learning difficulties and disabilities as an ineligible cost and non-standardised requirement.
Exploring educational advantage in the UK via graduate employment of joint honours degrees by examining pre-university tariff and degree classification
Authors: Pigden Louise , Moore Andrew Garford
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In the UK, the majority of university students specialise and study just one subject at bachelor degree level, commonly known in the UK as a single honours degree. However, nearly all British universities will permit students if they wish to study two or even three subjects, so-called joint or combined honours degrees, internationally known as a double major. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between graduate employment, pre-university educational attainment and degree classification achieved. The study also explored student choice with respect to university prestige.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed the complete data set provided from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Destination of Leavers from the Higher Education survey, and combined this with data from the POLAR4 quintiles, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) tariff points and degree classification. The data were analysed to establish whether there was a difference in the choices and highly skilled graduate employment of the joint honours students, focussing particularly on Russell Group and Post-92 Universities, in order to build on previous published work.

Findings

For any UCAS tariff band, the higher the POLAR4 quintile the higher the rate of highly skilled destination. Russell Group outperform the Post-92 graduates in their rates of highly skilled destinations, for any tariff band and for both joint and single honours degrees. Higher POLAR4 quintile graduates are more likely to study at the Russell Group, with this effect increasing the higher the UCAS tariff. With the exception of first class honours graduates from Post-92 universities, joint and single honours from the Russell Group have a higher rate of highly skilled destination than Post-92 in the next higher degree classification.

Social implications

Low POLAR4 quintile students with high UCAS tariffs are “under-matching” and there is an impact on their graduate employment as a result.

Originality/value

This study adds new insights into joint honours degrees and also reinforces the literature around educational advantage and achievement prior to university, and the impact on graduate employment. Educational disadvantage persists over the course of a university degree education, from the perspective of gaining graduate employment. Higher quintile graduates are proportionately more likely to achieve the highest degree classifications, and proportionately less likely to achieve the lowest classifications, than graduates from the lower quintiles. Joint honours graduates are less likely to achieve a first class honours degree than single honours, and this will affect their rate of highly skilled destination.
Constructive and negative aspects of social capital in work-related learning networks
Authors: Muir Nita , Byrne Jenny
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss empirical findings from a study that investigated the work practices within an education network, with the aim of understanding the processes of knowledge development and learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is interpretatively positioned through a qualitative case study methodology. This enabled a holistic portrait of the network activity using three different methods of data collection. These were a preliminary focus group, followed by documentary analysis of a significant number of artefacts/documents produced by the network which were triangulated with data from interviews using a cross-case analytical framework.

Findings

Empirical insights are provided into the practice of the network through a lens of social capital. It suggests that having a strong bonding social capital is an informal learning factor which develops the individual participants “skills and knowledge” within the framework of Boyers scholarly practice. The findings also indicate a “dark side” to this informal learning factor which impeded collective learning through exclusivity and a maintenance of the status quo within the network.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

Practical implications

The paper considers social capital within a network and the implication that this has on learning and development.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into informal learning factors employed within work-related learning and the duality of social capital. It also offers a novel approach in understanding how nurse academics frame work-related learning through scholarly practice.
Neoliberal challenges in context: a case of Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Trevor Tsz-lok , Kwan Paula , Li Benjamin Yuet Man
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyze the neoliberal challenges and problems facing public schools in the particular Hong Kong context.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a systematic and critical analysis on the history and socio-political context of Hong Kong’s school policies and practice as well as the official documents and statistics, this paper examines the impacts of neoliberalism in four main aspects of school education in Hong Kong: school governance, accountability, privatization and government expenditure.

Findings

Convergence, as well as deviation, on neoliberal globalization occurs in the particular Hong Kong context. School bureaucracy has irresistibly expanded. Policymakers have placed increasing emphasis on instrumentally evaluating schools while decentralizing, diversifying and privatizing education. School leadership has become focused solely on succeeding within those imposed performance management and metrics, pulling ahead of school competitions and prioritizing easily quantifiable and measurable tasks. Teachers have faced a potential threat from the loss of autonomy through the market logic and consumerist metrics. The rise of privatized education has further intensified school practices based on competitiveness and performativity. On the other hand, resource cutbacks and financial constraints – problems that are generally inflicted by neoliberal discourse – have rarely occurred in Hong Kong.

Research limitations/implications

This study is part of concerted efforts in research that adopts the comparative and critical perspectives emerging from different social contexts to consider and flesh out how neoliberalism look across the school systems, how it challenges the systems differently, and how it evokes various responses from within the systems (Apple, 2001). Taken all the efforts together, a finely nuanced understanding of the trails of neoliberalism can help collectively re-discover school education as a social good, and collectively re-imagine and reshape alternatives for the future.

Originality/value

This paper offers an international and comparative perspective and further nuances to an understanding of how neoliberal policies and ideology are recontextualized in countries across the globe given particularities of different local contexts.
Measuring the efficiency of the Colombian higher education system: a two-stage approach
Authors: Moreno-Gómez Jorge , Calleja-Blanco Jonathan , Moreno-Gómez Gloria
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the efficiency of the Colombian higher education system, differentiating between public and private universities.

Design/methodology/approach

A data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is applied to separately and jointly evaluate the teaching and research efficiencies of universities. The empirical application considers a sample of 78 Colombian universities across the period 2015–2017. A two-stage DEA is performed in which DEA scores are first evaluated and then regressed on potential covariates via truncated regression.

Findings

Public universities outperform their private counterparts in terms of teaching and research efficiency, whereas private universities have higher global efficiency. Furthermore, the proportion of PhD faculty positively impacts all dimensions of efficiency and in fact is the only variable improving research efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

First, the data do not permit a direct analysis of the impact of improvements in resources or capabilities on knowledge transfer. Second, policies and their efficiency may be influenced by differences in cultural contexts, regulatory frameworks and knowledge transfer activities. Finally, the country specificity of this research study calls for obvious caution when generalizing and interpreting its findings.

Practical implications

The analysis of this data set will help decision and policy makers identify resources that are used efficiently by universities and interventions for improving resource management by inefficient universities.

Originality/value

Few studies have addressed the efficiency of higher education in developing economies. This paper contributes to the literature by applying a two-stage methodological approach to estimate the efficiency of Colombian universities and provide a better understanding of the factors driving university efficiency.
Student personality and academic achievement: mediating role of psychological capital (PsyCap)
Authors: Nambudiri Ranjeet , Shaik Rihana , Ghulyani Swati
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of a second-order state-like construct “psychological capital” (or PsyCap) as an underlying mechanism explaining the personality–academic achievement (AA) relationship in the educational context.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model was statistically tested on a sample of 305 post-graduate students at a premier business school in central India using standard measures of personality and PsyCap. AA was measured through cumulative grade point average obtained from the administrative office. Data were collected through multiple sources to minimize common method variance. Analysis was done using macro PROCESS and validated using PLS–SEM.

Findings

Results indicated that PsyCap positively influenced AA. Furthermore, PsyCap mediated the relationship between openness to experience, extraversion, agreeableness dimensions of student personality and AA.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal research designs with interventions to enhance PsyCap of students may strengthen the findings of this study.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that the curriculum in higher education institutions should include interventions on building the PsyCap of the students as it positively correlates to the AA. Academic administrators may not have control on students’ dispositional traits, but they can design interventions to improve the psychological (state like) resources of the students. Follow-up interviews with academic administrators reinforced these implications.

Originality/value

This study provided initial evidence that positivity, in general, and PsyCap, in particular, have a positive impact on students’ AA. This is one of the first studies to examine the role of PsyCap in personality–AA relation in the higher educational context wherein high levels of stress and burnouts have been reported by students due to high competition in achieving goals.
Examining the social and entrepreneurial development of women through Microfinance in Indian context
Authors: Bansal Shagun , Singh Anjani Kumar
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Microfinance is seen as the tool for poverty elimination. It provides loan to that particular section of the society which is not included in the mainstream financial system. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of Microfinance on the lifestyle of women. The study is undertaken to address the question whether the Microfinance actually reach to the root of poverty and improve the standard of living for women who are considered to be the poorest of poor. This paper also aims to acquire the deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial skills which may or may not be inculcated with the help of Microfinance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on empirical data. The data were collected through structured questionnaire and purposive sampling was used. The respondents were the women beneficiaries of the Microfinance Institutions in the National Capital Region. Total of 117 women were personally interviewed to obtain the response for the questionnaire.

Findings

Microfinance helped to develop entrepreneurial skills among the women as acquiring loan helped them start their own microenterprise and support themselves and their family. Microfinance enhanced the participation of women in the household decision-making. As a result, after obtaining Microfinance, women were found to be more socially developed and empowered. Also, the gender gap seemed to have narrowed as a result of Microfinance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the study are limited to the National Capital Region.

Practical implications

Microfinance will be beneficial for women and lead to their empowerment when they have control over the usage of the loan. Microfinance institutions play an important role in facilitating women to become self-reliant. With the help of this paper, one can understand the role of Microfinance in uplifting the marginalized section of the society.

Originality/value

The research work is authentic and original as per the understanding. This paper gives an insight into how Microfinance can not only eliminate poverty but also help women develop the entrepreneurial skills. The paper explores into the issue of how gender inequality can be addressed through Microfinance.
Health and welfare at the boundaries: community development through tourism
Authors: Wiltshier Peter
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Concepts of health and wellbeing have long been conceived as relevant to leisure, recreation and rejuvenation. These are now conceived as being necessary and useful as potential measures of success in community development and in that subset of leisure and recreation pursuits that is designated as tourism at a destination. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A post-modern approach to development of community and markers of sustainable development more-or-less correspond to sustainable development goals (there are 17) that often overlay the concepts of good health and wellbeing that concern all stakeholders.

Findings

This paper encompasses best practice experiences from two case studies conducted in a tourism “hot spot” in the environs of the first National Park established in Derbyshire in the UK. There is some urgency about this topic as resources for community development are increasingly under pressure from local, central government and the expectation is now that local communities take full responsibility for that development. An inter-disciplinary approach using concepts of health and wellbeing is recommended.

Originality/value

Wellbeing may demand a greater allocation of scarce resources in an era of self-determination, bottom-up and locally sourced community aspiring to become, or remain, a destination of choice. Two case studies’ outcomes in this development are presented with a special focus on creation of a repository for the know-how and know what of the learning acquired.
Extracting scientific trends by mining topics from Call for Papers
Authors: Arshad Noor , Bakar Abu , Soroya Saira Hanif , Safder Iqra , Haider Sajjad , Hassan Saeed-Ul , Aljohani Naif Radi , Alelyani Salem , Nawaz Raheel
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach for mining scientific trends using topics from Call for Papers (CFP). The work contributes a valuable input for researchers, academics, funding institutes and research administration departments by sharing the trends to set directions of research path.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors procure an innovative CFP data set to analyse scientific evolution and prestige of conferences that set scientific trends using scientific publications indexed in DBLP. Using the Field of Research code 804 from Australian Research Council, the authors identify 146 conferences (from 2006 to 2015) into different thematic areas by matching the terms extracted from publication titles with the Association for Computing Machinery Computing Classification System. Furthermore, the authors enrich the vocabulary of terms from the WordNet dictionary and Growbag data set. To measure the significance of terms, the authors adopt the following weighting schemas: probabilistic, gram, relative, accumulative and hierarchal.

Findings

The results indicate the rise of “big data analytics” from CFP topics in the last few years. Whereas the topics related to “privacy and security” show an exponential increase, the topics related to “semantic web” show a downfall in recent years. While analysing publication output in DBLP that matches CFP indexed in ERA Core A* to C rank conference, the authors identified that A* and A tier conferences not merely set publication trends, since B or C tier conferences target similar CFP.

Originality/value

Overall, the analyses presented in this research are prolific for the scientific community and research administrators to study research trends and better data management of digital libraries pertaining to the scientific literature.
How to enhance solvers’ continuance intention in crowdsourcing contest
Authors: Wang Meng-Meng , Wang Jian-Jun , Zhang Wan-Ning
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying mechanisms through which interactivity and fairness perception impart influence on solvers’ continuance intention in crowdsourcing contest settings.

Design/methodology/approach

On basis of self-determination theory and social exchange theory, this study focuses on the mediating roles of motivation and platform trust to explain the underlying influence processes of interactivity and fairness perception on continuance intention. A sample of 306 solvers was obtained from an online crowdsourcing platform through two separated surveys. The hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares method and bias-corrected bootstrapping method.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that motivation and platform trust together fully mediate the effect of interactivity on continuance intention, and the effect of fairness perception on continuance intention is also fully mediated by motivation and platform trust. While motivation is found to have a stronger mediating effect than platform trust does.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the crowdsourcing research by figuring out the pathway through which interactivity and fairness perception influence solvers’ continuance intention.
Abusive supervision, high-performance work systems, and subordinate silence
Authors: Xu Qin , Zhao Yixuan , Xi Meng , Li Fangjun
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a mediated moderation model of the joint influence of abusive supervision, high-performance work systems (HPWSs) and organizational commitment and intention to leave on employee silence.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 456 employees and 78 human resource managers in 78 Chinese organizations.

Findings

The results revealed that abusive supervision led to subordinate silence, and HPWSs intensified this effect. In addition, such moderating effect of HPWSs was accounted for by employees’ organizational commitment and intention to leave.

Research limitations/implications

To reduce the occurrence of employee silence, organizations should not only monitor and restrain abusive supervisory actions, but also be aware of subordinates’ work attitudes driven by organizational HPWSs.

Originality/value

This is the first study which demonstrates that HPWSs can foster employees’ organizational commitment and hinder their intention to leave and consequently strengthen the relation between abusive supervision and employee silence.
Adolescent word reading in English as a foreign language
Authors: Prior Anat , Zeltsman‐Kulick Rita , Katzir Tami
Published: January 2020

The current study examined the proficiency of Israeli adolescents in reading single words in English, which is taught as a foreign language, and what language skills predict individual variability. Parallel measures of word reading, phonology, decoding, morpho‐syntax and vocabulary in Hebrew and English were administered to 217 adolescents in 8th and 11th grade. Following 5–8 years of English as a foreign language instruction, participants achieved reading levels commensurate with those of third to fourth grade native English‐speaking children. Decoding and vocabulary knowledge were significant predictors of single word reading across both orthographies. Morpho‐syntactic knowledge predicted word reading only in Hebrew. Further, there was pronounced variability in the extent to which phonological awareness and vocabulary predicted word reading across languages. Low levels of reading performance underline the inherent challenge in achieving reading proficiency in the complex English orthography in a foreign language setting, with limited instruction time and suboptimal pedagogy. Decoding and vocabulary are identified as important universal processes in reading, whereas differences in other predictors support script‐dependent processes in reading as well.
Importance and Approach to Manner of Death Opinions in Opioid‐Related Deaths
Authors: Abiragi Michael , Bauler Laura D. , Brown Theodore
Published: January 2020

The majority of opioid‐related deaths are accidental. However, the number of opioid‐related suicidal deaths is likely under recognized. Presented here is a case of suicide by heroin overdose. The manner of death would have likely been deemed accidental if not for critical information shared by the decedent’s family during follow‐up telephone interviews between the forensic pathologist and the decedent’s family, which included text messages that were sent by the decedent just before his death that were not known at the time of the initial medicolegal death scene investigation. This case highlights that when a forensic pathologist establishes an engaged relationship with the decedent’s family, the information elucidated can prove to be invaluable in reaching an informed opinion about the manner of death. For overdose cases, identifying an accurate manner of death allows the design of public health efforts that adequately address the health risks in the community. For aid in the determination of the manner of death for overdose cases, we propose a five‐step checklist that may assist forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators when approaching similar cases.
Feasibility of using narrow band imaging international colorectal endoscopic classification for diagnosing colorectal neoplasia in China: A multicenter pilot observational study
Authors: Zhang Qing Wei , Zhang Jing Jing , Yang Ai Ming , Sheng Jian Qiu , Liu Yu Lan , Li Zhao Shen , Chen Hai Ying , Feng Nan , Jiang Qing Wei , Jin Peng , Zhang Li Ming , Fu Hong Yu , Gao Yun Jie , Ge Zhi Zheng , Li Xiao Bo
Published: January 2020

Objective

We aimed to investigate whether Chinese endoscopists without narrow‐band imaging (NBI) experiences could achieve high accuracy in the real‐time diagnosis of colorectal polyps using NBI International Colorectal Endoscopic (NICE) classification after web‐based training.

Methods

Altogether 15 endoscopists from five centers with no NBI experiences followed a short, web‐based training program on the NICE classification and took web‐based test. Their performances were compared with 15 matched experienced endoscopists with no NBI experience who received no NBI training. These 15 trained endoscopists then made real‐time diagnoses of colorectal neoplasia. A logistic regression was used to assess potential predictors of diagnostic performance.

Results

Compared with those who received no training, trained endoscopists achieved comparable overall accuracy (85.3% vs 83.1%, P = 0.408) and accuracy at a high‐confidence level (87.0% vs 86.0%, P = 0.670), but had a higher confidence rate (86.1% vs 83.7%, P = 0.004) for the diagnosis of neoplasia. Real‐time diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 94.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.5%‐96.2%), 96.2% (95% CI 93.4%‐97.9%) and 85.3% (95% CI 74.8%‐92.1%) at high‐confidence level. The high‐confidence level was the strongest predictor of real‐time diagnostic accuracy (odds ratio 12.66, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Web‐based training can improve the confidence level of endoscopists in accurately diagnosing colorectal polyps using the NICE classification. Chinese endoscopists can achieve high accuracy in diagnosing colorectal neoplasia at a high confidence level (ClinicalTrials ID: NCT02033980).
Clinicopathological features and outcomes of parenchymal rejection in liver transplant biopsies
Authors: Fels Elliott Daffolyn Rachael , Tavakol Mehdi , Lucas Calixto‐Hope , Sheahon Kathleen , Kakar Sanjay , Hameed Bilal , Ferrell Linda D , Gill Ryan M
Published: January 2020

Aims

The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive retrospective analysis of liver transplant biopsies with parenchymal rejection (PR) at our institution, including histological features, laboratory values and follow‐up biopsies, and to compare PR with portal‐based acute cellular rejection (ACR).

Methods and results

Biopsies from 173 patients were evaluated (retrospective database search 1990–2017), including 49 isolated PR, 35 PR with portal ACR (PR/ACR), 34 mild ACR and 52 moderate ACR cases. The rise and fall of serum liver enzymes was calculated as a measure of acute liver injury and response to immunotherapy, respectively. Isolated PR was associated with delayed‐onset acute rejection (P < 0.001), as well as younger age (P = 0.004), and showed a similar rise in liver enzymes to mild ACR. PR/ACR and moderate ACR showed the highest elevations in transaminases (P < 0.05). Isolated PR on an initial biopsy was associated with recurrent episodes of PR (P = 0.01), chronic ductopaenic rejection (P = 0.002) and chronic vascular rejection (P = 0.017). Immunohistochemistry for C4d was performed, and strong C4d staining of venules was only detected in one severe isolated PR case (one of three, 33%) and one moderate ACR case (one of 20, 5%).

Conclusions

Isolated PR represents a form of late acute rejection with distinct clinical and histological features. There is value in reporting PR in liver transplant biopsies to identify patients at higher risk of developing recurrent PR and chronic rejection. Standardisation of terminology and histological criteria of PR can help in uniform reporting and ensure appropriate management.
Management of facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin in a paediatric hospital
Authors: Ritwik Priyanshi , Fallahi Susan , Yu Qingzhao
Published: January 2020

Background

Facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin (FCOO) can lead to systemic complications in children. Research on factors leading to improvement of outcomes is limited.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate patient characteristics, treatment modalities (antibiotics and route of administration), length of stay in the hospital, time till definitive treatment, and factors related to early treatment of FCOO.

Design

A retrospective review was performed to identify children presenting to the emergency department of a paediatric hospital with FCOO over a 5‐year period. Data were extracted from records of included patients.

Results

Sixty‐four records were included for analysis with mean age of 8.19 ± 4.5 years. Significantly more patients received clindamycin (79.7%) than penicillin‐based antibiotic (18.8%) with P < .0001. Forty‐four (68.8%) children were admitted to the hospital and received parenteral clindamycin. The average hospital stay was 2.5 ± 1.2 days, and average days till dental treatment was 5.2 ± 8.9 days. Children who received intravenous antibiotic or had a primary tooth involved received dental treatment sooner, with P = .0036 and P = .03, respectively.

Conclusions

Oral antibiotics were prescribed for children who were discharged from the emergency department. Children who received intravenous antibiotics or had an infected primary tooth received early definitive treatment.
An effective algorithm for flexible assembly job‐shop scheduling with tight job constraints
Authors: Lin Wenhui , Deng Qianwang , Han Wenwu , Gong Guiliang , Li Kexin
Published: January 2020

Thus far, the available works on the flexible assembly job‐shop scheduling problem (FAJSP) consider job processing and assembly separately. However, in some real production systems, if equipment is composed of thousands of jobs and assembled in many stages, some jobs and assemblies cannot be processed simultaneously. Therefore, this work proposes an FAJSP with tight job constraints (FAJSP‐JC) in which jobs and assemblies can be processed simultaneously, and each assembly is treated as an operation. A job constraint genetic algorithm (JCGA) is presented to solve the proposed FAJSP‐JC with the goal of minimizing the makespan. In the JCGA, a novel two‐dimensional encoding method (2D‐encoding) is designed to conveniently express the operating constraints and tight job constraints, and an effective decoding method is proposed to decode the 2D‐encoded information. Furthermore, a crossover operator and a mutation operator are designed to improve the computational efficiency and expand the solution space. Ten benchmark instances of the FAJSP‐JC are constructed to test the JCGA. The Taguchi method is used to obtain the best combination of the key parameters that are used in the JCGA. Computational experiments carried out confirm that the JCGA is able to easily obtain better solutions compared to the genetic algorithm (GA) with a division encoding method and the classical GA, demonstrating its superior performance over these algorithms in terms of both solution quality and computational efficiency.
Fabrication and optical properties of Tb3+‐doped NaCaPO4 glass‐ceramics and their radiation detection applications
Authors: Xu Jie , Chen Zhaoyang , Gai Minqiang , Liu Ting , Fan Yanwei , He Chengfa
Published: January 2020

Tb3+‐doped 25Na2O‐23CaO‐6P2O5‐44B2O3‐2ZrO2 glass was fabricated by conventional melt‐quenching technique. Glass‐ceramics containing NaCaPO4 crystals were then obtained by heating the as‐prepared glasses. Their optical and luminescence properties were studied by FT‐IR spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), absorption spectra, thermoluminescence (TL), and optically stimulated luminescence in continuous wave modality (CW‐OSL). The glasses were composed of [PO4], [BO3], and [BO4] basic structural units. The PL excitation and emission spectra exhibited Tb3+‐related transitions, as well as the strongest excitation and emission wavelengths at 370 and 454 nm, respectively. We further investigated the CW‐OSL properties as a function of dopant concentration and time elapsed after irradiation (signal fading). Results indicated that the CW‐OSL intensity reached a maximum when the Tb4O7 concentration was 0.25 mol%. The fading of the OSL signal showed that the OSL signal of Tb3+‐doped NaCaPO4 glass‐ceramics was approximately 65% in 8 days, after which the intensity remained stable. The TL glow curves had a broad peak feature peaking at 180 ± 5ºC. The samples also exhibited good signal reusability and a broad linear dose‐response range (0.03‐1000 Gy). The excellent luminescent and dosimetric properties of these Tb3+‐doped NaCaPO4 glass‐ceramics indicated their potential applications in radiation dosimetry.
New records and range extension of the Portuguese dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean, with comments on its morphology
Authors: Mas Federico , Forselledo Rodrigo , Domingo Andrés , Pin Oscar , Troncoso Pablo , Errico Eugenia , Marquez Alejandro , Tanaka Sho , Weigmann Simon
Published: January 2020

The Portuguese dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis is a wide‐ranging deep‐water shark and a common by‐catch component of the catches of several mid‐ to deep‐water fisheries. In the present study, two new records from the south‐western Atlantic Ocean are reported based on specimens caught by bottom‐longline fishing vessels operating in the Argentinean–Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone. Species identification based on morphology and detailed morphometrics, as well as molecular data are presented for one of the specimens. The distribution of the species over the south‐western Atlantic is discussed on the basis of the available bibliography and a thorough revision of museum collections. The records presented here expand the species' previously acknowledged distribution southwards, from around 21° S to at least 38° S, suggesting it occurs continuously along the shelf break of eastern South America. However, given the limited access to specimens of deep‐water sharks in the region, the abundance and real extent of C. coelolepis distribution in the south‐western Atlantic as well as its interaction with deep‐water fisheries remain to be fully assessed.
High‐pressure processing of pea protein–starch mixed systems: Effect of starch on structure formation
Authors: Sim Shaun Y.J. , Moraru Carmen I.
Published: January 2020

This work explores the structural effects of high‐pressure processing (HPP) on starch in mixed pea protein–starch systems of varying concentrations. Reconstituted pea protein concentrate containing 9, 12, and 15% (w/w) protein, without added starch or in combination with 4 or 8% (w/w) pea starch, respectively, were subjected to HPP at 600 MPa for 4 min, at 5°C. Structural changes were investigated using dynamic rheology, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The addition of starch enabled the formation of weak gels, at protein concentrations below the minimum required for gelation. Above the minimum protein concentration for gelation, starch addition resulted in stronger gels. Starch acted mainly as a filler in the pressure‐induced protein gel matrix, and starch granules remained intact after HPP. DSC analyses confirmed that starch remained ungelatinized after HPP, likely due to the limited availability of water in the mixed systems during HPP.

Practical Applications

The structure of pressure‐induced protein gels can be enhanced by adding starch. Besides being a low‐cost ingredient, starch remains ungelatinized after high‐pressure treatment, and thus can act like a fiber. Therefore, pressure‐treated protein–starch mixtures may lead to the development of low‐glycemic index, high‐protein products.
Effects of a Health Education Course on Pre‐Service Teachers' Perceived Knowledge, Skills, Preparedness, and Beliefs in Teaching Health Education
Authors: Vamos Sandra D. , Xie Xiuye , Yeung Paul
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

In this study, we explore how a health education course may play a role in pre‐service teachers' perceptions in teaching and integrating health education activities to nurture K‐8 students' health literacy.

METHODS

We used mixed methods to examine the effect of a health education course in a teacher education program. Of 55 pre‐service teachers, 41voluntarily participated in the study. Quantitative data were obtained through an online questionnaire administered to participants at the beginning and end of the course. We conducted 6 focus groups at the end of the course.

RESULTS

The inferential analysis from a series of analysis of variance with repeated measures revealed significant differences in health knowledge (F = 113.39, p < .01, η2 = 0.74), preparedness (F = 104.74, p < .01, η2 = 0.73), attitudes (F = 15.02, p < .01, η2 = 0.28), and beliefs (F = 8.87, p < .01, η2 = 0.19) between time points. Qualitative data led to the conclusion that where one health education course is insufficient, such a course is the first step into future curriculum development and implementation.

CONCLUSION

One health education course might be beneficial for general education teachers to increase their knowledge and preparation to teaching school health. On‐going training is needed for program success.
Morphology, phylogeny and pathogenicity of Fusarium species from Sansevieria trifasciata in Malaysia
Authors: Kee Yee Jia , Zakaria Latiffah , Mohd Masratul Hawa
Published: January 2020

Leaf blight is a common disease affecting Sansevieria trifasciata in many countries, including Malaysia. In the present study, Fusarium isolates were consistently recovered from the diseased leaves collected from various locations throughout the country. Based on morphology and multigene phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU), intergenic spacer region (IGS) and translation elongation factor 1‐α (TEF1‐α) gene sequences, seven Fusarium species were identified, with F. oxysporum being the most prevalent (67.6%) among 34 isolates. Pathogenicity tests resulted in the discovery of pathogenic isolates that belonged to F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, and F. pseudocircinatum, whereas all isolates of F. brachygibbosum, F. concentricum, F. mangiferae, and F. solani were nonpathogenic. The results suggest that several Fusarium species are accountable for causing disease on S. trifasciata in Malaysia.
Ralstonia solanacearum causing potato bacterial wilt: host range and cultivars’ susceptibility in Rwanda
Authors: Uwamahoro Florence , Berlin Anna , Bucagu Charles , Bylund Helena , Yuen Jonathan
Published: January 2020

Members of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC), causing potato bacterial wilt or brown rot, are highly contagious and there are no known cultivars with durable resistance to the pathogen. This study hypothesized (a) that crops intercropped or rotated with potato, plants in the same family, and plants grown in the neighbouring fields can host the pathogen and they can be potential sources of primary inoculum, and (b) that potato cultivars currently multiplied by the public tissue culture laboratory in Rwanda are less susceptible to the pathogen. Fourteen plant species and potato, and nine potato cultivars were tested for susceptibility to an RSSC phylotype II strain under greenhouse conditions. The bacteria induced symptoms on potato, tomato, tree tomato, sweet pepper, and eggplant only. Among the plant species with symptoms, potato, tomato, and tree tomato wilted completely. There was a significant difference in days to symptom expression and to complete wilting (p < .0001). While all tested potato cultivars were found to be susceptible, the number of days to first symptom expression, days to complete wilting, area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and the number and weight of harvested tubers varied considerably. Cultivars Cruza, Kinigi, and CIP‐58 were less susceptible whereas the cultivars Gikungu, Kirundo, and Victoria were highly susceptible. There is a strong need to search for other sources of resistance. The results indicate that some plant species that might serve as a reservoir of the bacterium should be avoided in the vicinity of potato crops.