bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emotional experience on behavioral intention for halal tourism
Authors: Ratnasari Ririn Tri , Gunawan Sri , Mawardi Imron , Kirana Kusuma Chandra
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine halal certification for halal culinary, destination brand and emotional experiences on customer satisfaction and behavioral intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative survey approach to 400 respondents consisting of Muslim foreign and domestic tourists who had visited Lombok in the past three years. The sampling technique is by purposive sampling. The analysis technique used in this study is structural equation modeling-partial least square (SEM-PLS).

Findings

The findings showed that halal certification has no effect on customer satisfaction but on influenced behavioral intention, destination brand of Lombok had no effect on customer satisfaction; customer satisfaction influenced behavioral intention and emotional experiences affected customer satisfaction and behavioral intention.

Research limitations/implications

This study collects data from respondents both domestic and foreign tourists simultaneously. However, the data acquisition of respondents and foreign tourists is not balanced. Thus, this study analyzes tourists in general, not distinguished between foreign and domestic tourists.

Practical implications

The government and tourism organizers in Lombok need to provide socialization for domestic and foreign tourists on the need to choose halal-certified food and drinks to ensure halal and hygiene. In addition, so that the destination image of Lombok can provide a beautiful experience that becomes a moment of the truth, then the local government should improve its service strategy holistically.

Social implications

Destination image needs to be improved. This requires holistic tourism quality services so that the social community knows that Indonesia has a halal tourism destination that exists as tourists come from the airport to the hotel and enjoy food in restaurants and tourist attractions that are Muslim friendly.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to filling the void in the literature related to tourism management that is linked to tourism in the aftermath of natural disasters, where empirical studies on halal tourism are on the rise. Therefore, respondents in the study were specific, that is, those who had traveled. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of a kind that includes behavioral intention in tourist destinations after natural disasters in the Indonesian context.
Stories of grey zone between corruption and whistleblowing: insights from the Italian public administration
Authors: Tomo Andrea , De Nito Ernesto , Canonico Paolo , Mangia Gianluigi , Consiglio Stefano
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The literature on corruption and whistleblowing is increasing over the past years. However, the authors contend that individual reactions to a corrupt proposal could differ from the mentioned behaviours. On these grounds, the authors contend that a “grey zone” between accepting corruption and whistleblowing does exist. This paper aims to explore what are the behaviours defining this “grey zone” as nuanced behaviours adopted to react to a corrupt proposal.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw from Miceli and Near’s process of whistleblowing to open the scope for the comprehension of grey behaviours in the decision-making process following to a triggering event. The authors adopted a qualitative and explorative approach by interviewing 27 Italian public servants through open questions and storytelling to explore what kind of behaviours could define the grey zone.

Findings

The findings unveil nuanced behaviours in the grey zone configuring neither as corruption nor whistleblowing, ranging from ignoring the corrupt proposal to explicit contraposition. Also, they reveal different social and individual outcomes affecting future relationships in organizations. The findings allow to extend Miceli and Near’s process of whistleblowing to the wider spectrum of response behaviours to triggering events such as receiving or assisting to a corrupt proposal.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations might be recognized in that the situations detected could be only a part of a possible wider “grey zone”. However, the authors believe that the findings could encourage future research to continue exploring the grey zone to enrich its comprehension. Also, the paper offers useful and interesting insights on an undebated issue that has a prominent value under the theoretical, practical, social and policymaking perspectives.

Practical implications

From the practical and policymaking perspective, the advancement of a debate contending the existence of a grey zone made of nuanced behaviours between corruption and whistleblowing could provide support both for organizations and policymakers to a better understanding of individual behaviours and improving actions and policies to prevent corruption and encourage whistleblowing.

Originality/value

As the authors are at least unaware of studies debating on the grey zone with specific reference to corruption and whistleblowing, the paper advances a discussion on the grey zone between corruption and whistleblowing as a continuum of nuanced behaviours that could provide a starting point for further fine-grained analyses.
Orthotropic properties of cement-filled polyamide 12 manufactured by selective laser sintering
Authors: Aldahash Saleh Ahmed , Gadelmoula Abdelrasoul M.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The cement-filled PA12 manufactured by selective laser sintering (SLS) offers desirable mechanical properties; however, these properties are dependent on several fabrication parameters. As a result, SLS prototypes may exhibit orthotropic mechanical properties unless properly oriented in build chamber. This paper aims to evaluate the effects of part build orientation, laser energy and cement content on mechanical properties of cement-filled PA12.

Design/methodology/approach

The test specimens were fabricated by SLS using the “DTM Sinterstation 2000” system at which the specimens were aligned along six different orientations. The scanning speed was 914mm/s, scan spacing was 0.15mm, layer thickness was 0.1mm and laser power was 4.5–8Watt. A total of 270 tensile specimens, 270 flexural specimens and 135 compression specimens were manufactured and the tensile, compression and flexural properties of fabricated specimens were evaluated.

Findings

The experiments revealed orientation-dependent (orthotropic) mechanical properties of SLS cement-filled PA12 and confirmed that the parts with shorter scan vectors have enhanced flexural strength as compared with longer scan vectors. The maximum deviations of ultimate tensile strength, compressive strength and flexural modulus along the six orientations were 32%, 26% and 36%, respectively.

Originality/value

Although part build orientation is a key fabrication parameter, very little was found in open literature with contradictory findings about its effect on mechanical properties of fabricated parts. In this work, the effects of build orientation when combined with other fabrication parameters on the properties of SLS parts were evaluated along six different orientations.
Protect thy host: Pf4 phages shield Pseudomonas aeruginosa from antibiotics
Authors: Wettstadt Sarah
Published: April 2020

Bacterial viruses or bacteriophages exert profound effects on host cell lifestyle and evolution. The prophage Pf4 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is highly induced in biofilms and is shown to confer antibiotic resistance to the bacterium. A novel study has now revealed that Pf4 forms crystalline structures that serve to physically wall off antibiotics from the bacterium. This represents an entirely novel mechanism involving liquid–liquid phase separation in prokaryotic systems. Furthermore, the toxin‐antitoxin system PfiAT, which is encoded within the prophage Pf4, represents a unique production mechanism for Pf4. Combined, these two studies broadened our knowledge on the antibiotic resistance mechanisms used by P. aeruginosa.
Is there a role for HLA‐G in the induction of regulatory T cells during the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy?
Authors: Al‐Khunaizi Nada R. , Tabbara Khaled S. , Farid Eman M.
Published: April 2020

Problem

Pregnancy remains an immune challenge for the uterus that has to adapt to a semi‐allogeneic fetus using various regulatory mechanisms. Both HLA‐G and regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ Tregs) are upregulated in successful pregnancy, but not in abortion. It is unclear if HLA‐G plays a role in the upregulation of regulatory cells.

Method of Study

We measured the level of both sHLA‐G and Treg cells in the blood of healthy pregnant multigravida, unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (URSA) and healthy non‐pregnant and nulliparous females. We cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy non‐pregnant multigravida females who never had an abortion with lymphocytes of their partners at ratio of 1:1, with and without sHLA‐G to detect changes in number of Treg cells, or relevant cytokines.

Results

Soluble HLA‐G concentrations and Treg cells percentage were significantly lower in women with URSA as compared to healthy pregnant multigravida women and were comparable to healthy non‐pregnant nulliparous women. Percentage of Tregs increased between zero time and mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) in both cultures with and without recombinant sHLA‐G but no significant difference between the two cultures. When stimulated with sHLA‐G the mean extracellular IL‐10 concentration was unchanged, while the mean INF‐γ concentration was slightly higher with no significant difference. Intracellular TGF‐β was higher in CD4+ cells after incubation with sHLA‐G.

Conclusion

The results of this study are consistent with previous studies on the role of sHLA‐G and Treg cells in inducing immune‐tolerance in pregnancy. The results also suggest a possible role for HLA‐G in the enrichment of Treg cells.
The European Academy of Andrology (EAA) ultrasound study on healthy, fertile men: clinical, seminal and biochemical characteristics
Authors: Lotti Francesco , Frizza Francesca , Balercia Giancarlo , Barbonetti Arcangelo , Behre Hermann M. , Calogero Aldo E. , Cremers Jann‐Frederik , Francavilla Felice , Isidori Andrea M. , Kliesch Sabine , La Vignera Sandro , Lenzi Andrea , Marcou Marios , Pilatz Adrian , Poolamets Olev , Punab Margus , Peraza Godoy Maria Fernanda , Rajmil Osvaldo , Salvio Gianmaria , Shaeer Osama , Weidner Wolfgang , Maseroli Elisa , Cipriani Sarah , Baldi Elisabetta , Degl’Innocenti Selene , Danza Giovanna , Caldini Anna Lucia , Terreni Alessandro , Boni Luca , Krausz Csilla , Maggi Mario
Published: April 2020

Background

Infertility affects 7%‐12% of men, and its etiology is unknown in half of cases. To fill this gap, use of the male genital tract color‐Doppler ultrasound (MGT‐CDUS) has progressively expanded. However, MGT‐CDUS still suffers from lack of standardization. Hence, the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) has promoted a multicenter study (“EAA ultrasound study”) to assess MGT‐CDUS characteristics of healthy, fertile men to obtain normative parameters.

Objectives

To report (a) the development and methodology of the “EAA ultrasound study,” (b) the clinical characteristics of the cohort of healthy, fertile men, and (c) the correlations of both fertility history and seminal features with clinical parameters.

Methods

A cohort of 248 healthy, fertile men (35.3 ± 5.9 years) was studied. All subjects were asked to undergo, within the same day, clinical, biochemical, and seminal evaluation and MGT‐CDUS before and after ejaculation.

Results

The clinical, seminal, and biochemical characteristics of the cohort have been reported here. The seminal characteristics were consistent with those reported by the WHO (2010) for the 50th and 5th centiles for fertile men. Normozoospermia was observed in 79.6% of men, while normal sperm vitality was present in almost the entire sample. Time to pregnancy (TTP) was 3.0[1.0‐6.0] months. TTP was negatively correlated with sperm vitality (Adj.r =−.310, P = .011), but not with other seminal, clinical, or biochemical parameters. Sperm vitality and normal morphology were positively associated with fT3 and fT4 levels, respectively (Adj.r = .244, P < .05 and Adj.r = .232, P = .002). Sperm concentration and total count were negatively associated with FSH levels and positively, along with progressive motility, with mean testis volume (TV). Mean TV was 20.4 ± 4.0 mL, and the lower reference values for right and left testes were 15.0 and 14.0 mL. Mean TV was negatively associated with gonadotropin levels and pulse pressure. Varicocoele was found in 33% of men.

Conclusions

The cohort studied confirms the WHO data for all semen parameters and represents a reference with which to assess MGT‐CDUS normative parameters.
Integrating interactive learner‐immersed video‐based virtual reality into learning and teaching of physical geography
Authors: Jong Morris Siu‐Yung , Tsai Chin‐Chung , Xie Haoran , Kwan‐Kit Wong Frankie
Published: April 2020

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is regarded as one of the contemporary technological innovations with rich educational potential. As a subset of IVR, spherical video‐based IVR (SV‐IVR) immerses users centrally in a human‐recorded real‐world environment, allowing them to explore the environment in any directions via mobile phones and cardboard goggles. We have proposed a pedagogical framework—Learner‐Immersed Virtual Interactive Expedition (LIVIE), which leverages SV‐IVR to integrate immersive and interactive virtual inquiry‐based fieldwork into learning and teaching of physical geography. Besides discussing the design of LIVIE, this paper reports on the quasi‐experimental study that we carried out to evaluate its pedagogical effectiveness. The research subjects were 566 students from upper, middle and lower academic‐category secondary schools in Hong Kong. The study showed that LIVIE had different degrees of positive effects on the high, moderate and low academic‐achieving subjects. Our work not only provides evidence for supporting wider adoption of LIVIE in geography education, but it also sheds light on how to design and implement the pedagogical use of SV‐IVR in school education.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

There is an urgent need for seeking alternative teaching strategies to foster deeper learning and stimulate students’ motivation in geography education.

IVR is a technological innovation with rich educational potential.

Creating 3‐dimensional animation‐based IVR is quite costly, technically demanding and time‐consuming, thus impeding its widespread adoption in school education.

The pedagogical use of SV‐IVR is an emerging research area in the domain of educational technology.

What this paper adds

SV‐IVR offers a pragmatic alternative to incorporate immersive virtual learning elements in the process of learning and teaching.

LIVIE is a theoretically grounded pedagogical framework designed for learning and teaching of physical geography with the adoption of SV‐IVR and has been empirically implemented in different academic settings of formal schooling in Hong Kong.

LIVIE has different degrees of positive pedagogical effects on high, moderate and low academic‐achieving students, respectively, with small, medium and medium effect sizes.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Researchers, instructional designers and technological developers are provided with scholarly and practical insights into designing immersive and interactive virtual environments with SV‐IVR for educational purposes.

Educational policymakers and school administrators are provided with a concrete example of incorporating SV‐IVR in formal education.

Teachers are provided with pragmatic in‐class and out‐of‐class strategies for integrating immersive and interactive virtual inquiry‐based fieldwork into learning and teaching of physical geography.
Taxane‐induced neurotoxicity: Pathophysiology and therapeutic perspectives
Authors: da Costa Robson , Passos Giselle F. , Quintão Nara L.M. , Fernandes Elizabeth S. , Maia João Raphael L.C.B. , Campos Maria Martha , Calixto João B.
Published: April 2020

Taxane‐derived drugs are antineoplastic agents used for the treatment of highly common malignancies. Paclitaxel and docetaxel are the most commonly used taxanes; however, other drugs and formulations have been used, such as cabazitaxel and nab‐paclitaxel. Taxane treatment is associated with neurotoxicity, a well‐known and relevant side effect, very prevalent amongst patients undergoing chemotherapy. Painful peripheral neuropathy is the most dose‐limiting side effect of taxanes, affecting up to 97% of paclitaxel‐treated patients. Central neurotoxicity is an emerging side effect of taxanes and it is characterized by cognitive impairment and encephalopathy. Besides impairing compliance to chemotherapy treatment, taxane‐induced neurotoxicity (TIN) can adversely affect the patient's life quality on a long‐term basis. Despite the clinical relevance, not many reviews have comprehensively addressed taxane‐induced neurotoxicity when they are used therapeutically. This article provides an up‐to‐date review on the pathophysiology of TIN and the novel potential therapies to prevent or treat this side effect.
MOSPD2 is a therapeutic target for the treatment of CNS inflammation
Authors: Yacov N , Kafri P , Salem Y , Propheta-Meiran O , Feldman B , Breitbart E , Mendel I
Published: April 2020

In multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), myeloid cells comprise a major part of the inflammatory infiltrate in the central nervous system (CNS). We previously described that motile sperm domain-containing protein 2 (MOSPD2) is expressed on human myeloid cells and regulates monocyte migration in vitro. The role of MOSPD2 in EAE pathogenesis was studied by generating MOSPD2 knock-out (KO) mice and monoclonal antibodies directed against MOSPD2. We found that EAE development in MOSPD2 KO mice was significantly suppressed. While frequency representation of leukocyte subsets in lymphoid tissues was comparable, the ratio of inflammatory monocytes in the blood was markedly reduced in MOSPD2 KO mice. In addition, T cells from MOSPD2 KO mice displayed reduced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and increased production of interleukin (IL)-4. Prophylactic and post-onset treatment using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated against MOSPD2 abrogated development and reduced EAE severity. These results suggest that MOSPD2 is key in regulating migration of inflammatory monocytes, and that anti-MOSPD2 mAbs constitute a potential therapy for the treatment of CNS inflammatory diseases.
Sentiment classification with adversarial learning and attention mechanism
Authors: Xu Yueshen , Li Lei , Gao Honghao , Hei Lei , Li Rui , Wang Yihao
Published: April 2020

Sentiment classification is a key task in sentiment analysis, reviews mining, and other text mining applications. Various models have been proposed to build sentiment classifiers, but the classification performances of some existing methods are not good enough. Meanwhile, as a subproblem of sentiment classification, positive and unlabeled learning (PU learning) problem widely exists in real‐world cases, but it has not been given enough attention. In this article, we aim to solve the two problems in one framework. We first build a model for traditional sentiment classification based on adversarial learning, attention mechanism, and long short‐term memory (LSTM) network. We further propose an enhanced adversarial learning method to tackle PU learning problem. We conducted extensive experiments in three real‐world datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that our models outperform the compared methods in both traditional sentiment classification problem and PU learning problem. Furthermore, we study the effect of our models on word embedding. Finally, we report and discuss the sensitivity of our models to parameters.
Lichenoid granulomatous dermatitis as a tuberculid in association with spondylitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Williamson Sarah , Auerbach Jena , Motaparthi Kiran
Published: April 2020

Lichenoid granulomatous dermatitis (LGD) is a histopathologic pattern with a band‐like lymphocytic infiltrate, typical of lichenoid dermatitis, combined with dermal histiocytes and granulomatous inflammation. Prior reports have described cases of LGD caused by non‐tuberculous mycobacteria, with evidence of intralesional acid‐fast bacilli or mycobacterial DNA. Herein, we report a patient with pulmonary and extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection who developed LGD. No evidence of M. tuberculosis was detected within the cutaneous lesions, suggesting a potential delayed‐type hypersensitivity reaction to tuberculosis.
Zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein is associated with non‐albuminuric chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study with 4‐year follow‐up
Authors: Moh A. , Seah N. , Low S. , Ang K. , Sum C. F. , Subramaniam T. , Kwan P. Y. , Lee S. , Tang W. E. , Lim S. C.
Published: April 2020

Aim

To investigate the association between baseline plasma zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein and non‐albuminuric chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Adults with normoalbuminuria at entry (n=341; age 57±10 years, 52% men) were analysed. Chronic kidney disease progression was defined as a decrease in chronic kidney disease stage and a decline of ≥25% in estimated GFR from baseline. Baseline plasma zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein levels were quantified by immunoassay, and analysed either as a continuous variable or by tertiles in Cox proportional hazards models. Model discrimination was assessed using Harrell's C‐index. A sensitivity analysis was performed on a subset of individuals who maintained normoalbuminuria during follow‐up.

Results

Chronic kidney disease progression occurred in 54 participants (16%). Zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein levels were elevated in chronic kidney disease progressors (P = 0.011), and more progressors were assigned to the higher zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein tertile than non‐progressors. In the unadjusted Cox model, zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein, both as a continuous variable (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% CI 1.08–2.75) and tertile 3 (vs tertile 1; hazard ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.10–4.17), predicted chronic kidney disease progression. The association persisted after multivariable adjustment. The C‐index of the Cox model increased significantly after incorporation of zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein into a base model comprising renin‐angiotensin system antagonist usage. Sensitivity analysis showed that zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein independently predicted chronic kidney disease progression among individuals who maintained normoalbuminuria during follow‐up.

Conclusions

Plasma zinc‐α2‐glycoprotein is associated with chronic kidney disease progression, and may serve as a useful early biomarker for predicting non‐albuminuric chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes.
Application of trastuzumab emtansine in HER‐2–positive and KRAS/BRAF‐mutated colon cancer cells
Authors: Chung Yuan‐Chiang , Chiu Hsi‐Hsiung , Wei Wan‐Chen , Chang King‐Jen , Chao Wei‐Ting
Published: April 2020

Background

Trastuzumab emtansine (T‐DM1) is an antibody‐drug conjugate (ADC) for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER‐2)–positive breast cancer. T‐DM1 is based on the trastuzumab antibody and delivers a toxic agent into breast cancer cells through endocytic mechanism. This study evaluated whether T‐DM1 can be used in HER‐2–positive colon cancer cells which harbour KRAS/ BRAF mutation with limited treatment.

Materials and Methods

LS174T and HT‐29 which are KRAS and BRAF mutant HER‐2–positive colon cancer cells were used in this study. Cells were first treated with T‐DM1; cetuximab and trastuzumab were applied for comparison, the effect of drug sensitivity was determined. Cells were then transfected with plasmid to overexpress HER‐2 or the endocytic protein, caveolin‐1 or furthermore pretreated with metformin to examine the effect of T‐DM1 efficacy. Finally, a xenograft mouse model was used to evaluate the drug efficacy in vivo.

Results

The results showed that T‐DM1 had better inhibitory effect than cetuximab and trastuzumab on LS174T and HT‐29 cells. HER‐2 or caveolin‐1 overexpression with plasmid in the cells to increase T‐DM1 recognition or internalization can increase the sensitivity to T‐DM1. When cells were pretreated with metformin, caveolin‐1 expression was induced and promoted T‐DM1 uptake and enhanced cell toxicity. In xenograft mouse model, combined treatment of T‐DM1 and metformin had apparent inhibitory effect on subcutaneous tumour growth.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggested that T‐DM1 has potential in the treatment of HER‐2–positive colon cancer cells, and application of metformin has therapeutic benefits during T‐DM1 treatment.
Monosomal karyotype affecting outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission
Authors: Choi Yunsuk , Lee Je‐Hwan , Lee Jung‐Hee , Park Han‐Seung , Choi Eun‐Ji , Jo Jae‐Cheol , Lee Yoo Jin , Lee Young‐Shin , Kang Young‐Ah , Lee Kyoo‐Hyung
Published: April 2020

Objectives

We evaluated the prognostic impact of MK on postremission outcomes of AML patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the first complete remission (CR1).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 465 adult patients with AML who had received HSCT in the first CR between 2000 and 2016.

Results

In MK + AML, the median leukocyte count was significantly lower (P < .001) and no NPM1 mutation was found (P = .042). Multivariate analysis revealed that MK was the most powerful prognostic factors for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.6; P = .001), EFS (HR, 3.8; P < .001), and cumulative incidence of relapse (HR, 6.1; P < .001), compared to any other poor risk factors such as complex karyotype, FLT3‐ITD mutations, old age, and higher leukocyte count. The adverse prognostic impact of MK tended to be more prominent in the younger age group (<40 years) (HR, 6.3, P < .001) than in the older age group (≥40 years) (HR, 3.4, P < .001).

Conclusion

Novel treatment modalities for MK + AML need to be investigated to reduce the risk of relapse after HSCT.
Hepatitis delta virus interacts with splicing factor SF3B155 and alters pre‐mRNA splicing of cell cycle control genes
Authors: Tavanez João Paulo , Caetano Rafael , Branco Cristina , Brito Inês Margarida , Miragaia‐Pereira Ana , Vassilevskaia Tatiana , Quina Ana Sofia , Cunha Celso
Published: April 2020

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the agent responsible for the most severe form of human viral hepatitis. The HDV genome consists of a single‐stranded circular RNA molecule that encodes for one single protein, the delta antigen. Given its simplicity, HDV must make use of several host cellular proteins to accomplish its life cycle processes, including transcription, replication, post‐transcriptional, and post‐translational modifications. Consequently, identification of the interactions established between HDV components and host proteins assumes a pivotal interest in the search of novel therapeutic targets. Here, we used the yeast three‐hybrid system to screen a human liver cDNA library to identify host proteins that interact with the HDV genomic RNA. One of the identified proteins corresponded to the splicing factor SF3B155, a component of the U2snRNP complex that is essential for the early recognition of 3′ splice sites in the pre‐mRNAs of human genes. We show that the interaction between the HDV genomic RNA and SF3B155 occurs in vivo and that the expression of HDV promotes changes in splicing of human genes whose alternative splicing is SF3B155‐dependent. We further show that expression of HDV triggers alterations in several constitutive and alternative splicing events in the tumor suppressor RBM5 transcript, with consequent reduction of its protein levels. This is the first description that HDV expression promotes changes in the splicing of human genes, and we suggest that the HDV‐induced alternative splicing changes, through SF3B155 sequester, may contribute for the early progression to hepatocellular carcinoma characteristic of HDV‐infected patients.
Systematic review of psychometric properties of instruments measuring patient preferences for engagement in health care
Authors: Jerofke‐Owen Teresa , Garnier‐Villarreal Mauricio , Fial Alissa , Tobiano Georgia
Published: April 2020

Aim

To identify, critically appraise, and summarize instruments that measure patients’ preferences for engagement in health care.

Design

Psychometric systematic literature review.

Data sources

PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to March 2019.

Review methods

Three reviewers independently evaluated the ‘methodological quality’ and the ‘measurement properties’ of the included instruments using the Consensus‐based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist and Terwee's quality criteria. Each instrument was given a Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) score. The review was registered at PROSPERO (registry number CRD42018109253).

Results

A total of 16 studies evaluating 8 instruments measuring patients’ preferences for engagement in health care were included. All instruments were downgraded for their ‘methodological quality’ or ‘measurement properties’, or a combination of both. Common concerns were lack of theoretical basis, absence of patient input during development, incorrect usage and reporting of validity measures and absence of a priori hypotheses to test validity.

Conclusions

There were no identified instruments that demonstrated adequate evidence for all measurement properties. The Patient Preferences for Patient Participation Scale (4Ps) and 10‐item Decisional Engagement Scale (DES‐10) had the highest overall GRADE scores; however, each had some underlying developmental or methodological issues.

Impact

Assessing how patients prefer to engage in their care is a critical first step to truly individualize engagement interventions to meet patient expectations. Systematic reviews of measures of patient experience with engagement in health care have been undertaken but none are available on measures of patient preferences for engagement. The results highlight the need to further develop and test instruments that measure patients’ preferences for engagement in health care within a framework for consumerism. Involving the consumer in the instrument development process will ensure that engagement strategies used by healthcare providers are relevant and individualized to consumer preferences.
Senior high school students' opinions on the nursing profession: A ten‐year comparative study
Authors: Mert Selda , Altuntaş Yildiz Tuğba , Gönen Şentürk Seher , Durualp Ender
Published: April 2020

Aims

To analyse the changes in senior students' opinions about the nursing profession over a 10‐year period.

Design

A descriptive and comparative study.

Method

Data were collected using a questionnaire form, which was completed by 400 senior high school students in Çankiri city center during 2007–2008 (Group 1) and 2017–2018 (Group 2) academic years.

Results

Compared with 10 years ago, more students referred to nurses as ‘knowledgeable, concerned, and tolerant’. There were fewer students who knew the duties of nurses. There were significantly fewer students who wanted to be nurses and many who wanted to be nurses in both groups said it was ‘because they love nursing’. Compared with 10 years ago, more students said they wanted to be nurses because their parents wanted them to be nurses, but fewer students said they wanted to be nurses because they love people. There were more students who did not want to be nurses ‘because it is tiring and entails irregular work hours’. However, more students said that they would like to go into nursing if the salary was satisfactory.

Conclusion

The study showed that, compared with 10 years ago, more students defined nurses as knowledgeable and professional. They reported they did not currently wish to enter the nursing profession, but that they would do so if the wages were high.

Impact

This study aims to determine the change in young individuals' opinions about the nursing profession in Turkey over a 10‐year period. Due to poor work conditions in the nursing profession, most of the students did not want to be nurses, but their opinions might change if nurses' salaries were satisfactory. Academicians and nurses play an important role in introducing the nursing profession to students when they choose their career and informing high school teachers, who advise these students.
MicroRNAs in atopic dermatitis: A systematic review
Authors: Yu Xin , Wang Meifang , Li Linfeng , Zhang Lin , Chan Matthew Tak Vai , Wu William Ka Kei
Published: April 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease, affecting up to 10% to 20% of children and 3% of adults. Although allergen sensitization, skin barrier abnormalities and type 2 immune responses are involved, the exact molecular pathogenesis of AD remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short (19‐25 nucleotides) single‐stranded RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at post‐transcriptional level and are implicated in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory and immunological skin disorders. This systematic review sought to summarize our current understanding regarding the role of miRNAs in AD development. We searched articles indexed in PubMed (MEDLINE) and Web of Science databases using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) or Title/Abstract words (‘microRNA/miRNA’ and ‘atopic dermatitis/eczema’) from inception through January 2020. Observational studies revealed dysregulation of miRNAs, including miR‐143, miR‐146a, miR‐151a, miR‐155 and miR‐223, in AD patients. Experimental studies confirmed their functions in regulating keratinocyte proliferation/apoptosis, cytokine signalling and nuclear factor‐κB‐dependent inflammatory responses, together with T helper 17 and regulatory T cell activities. Altogether, this systematic review brings together contemporary findings on how deregulation of miRNAs contributes to AD.
An exploratory study of the experiences of deceased‐donor liver transplant recipients and their need for psychotherapeutic support
Authors: McKie Paul , Webzell Ian , Tavabie Oliver , Loewenthal Del , Heaton Nigel
Published: April 2020

Aims and objectives

This study aimed to explore the experiences of liver transplant recipients during their journey through the treatment and their need for psychotherapeutic support related to this process.

Background

Over time, measures of survival and quality of life in liver transplant recipients have continued to improve but their emotional needs remain under explored. In the longer‐term recovery from transplantation, the focus shifts from physical health to psychological health. In the UK, there are no known embedded adult psychological services in liver transplant centres to react to this need.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design was used.

Methods

Grounded theory analysis was used to study the narratives of six adult liver transplant recipients. Through a process of coding, conceptual categories were established to describe the participant experiences. The study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist, SRQR.

Results

Four categories emerged that were related to the experience of liver transplantation for the recipients. These were a process of adjustment, the phenomenon of waiting, liver transplant as a transformative experience and on the value of support. The participants identified a lack of psychotherapeutic support provided by the liver transplant service and felt that an embedded psychotherapeutic service would promote accessing such support during challenging times.

Conclusion

Through the process of liver transplantation, recipients experience challenges with adjustment, waiting, feeling transformed and they value support with these feelings. In correlation with other studies, the findings of this study highlight the need for providing psychotherapeutic support within liver transplant services.

Relevance to clinical practice

The study provides evidence to support recommendations for a conjoined psychotherapy service within liver transplant services to support patients with their holistic needs.
Philip John DiSaia, MD: Available Light & The Origin of Storms
Authors: Tewari Krishnansu S. , Monk Bradley J.
Published: April 2020

During a career, which spanned nearly 60 years, Professor Philip J. DiSaia (1937–2018) trailblazed a path forward in academic medicine, which would become the standard by which Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Divisions and Cancer Centers would be measured throughout the United States, in Europe and Japan. Following his discovery of fetal warfarin syndrome as a resident, DiSaia would serve in the U.S. Navy and successfully compete for an American Cancer Society Grant that would fund his Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology under the instruction of Dr Felix N. Rutledge at the MD Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston, Texas. Dr DiSaia's goal to establish a traditional academic department was realized at the University of California, Irvine, where he remained active in an unprecedented, uninterrupted 42‐year run, training many outstanding obstetrician‐gynecologists and gynecologic oncologists, future Division Directors, Cancer Center Directors and Department Chairpersons. His dedication to the field and inexhaustible work ethic fueled his many successes in tumor immunology and the clinical trials of the National Cancer Institute's Gynecologic Oncology Group.
An orally delivered, live‐attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine efficiently protects channel catfish fingerlings against multiple Edwardsiella ictaluri field isolates
Authors: Aarattuthodiyil Suja , Griffin Matt J. , Greenway Terrence E. , Khoo Lester H. , Byars Todd S. , Lewis Marsha , Steadman James , Wise David J.
Published: April 2020

The commercial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) industry is adversely impacted by enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), caused by the Gram‐negative enteric rod Edwardsiella ictaluri. In efforts to develop more effective management strategies, the use of a live‐attenuated E. ictaluri isolate as an oral vaccine was investigated. The utility and broad application of a vaccine is dependent on the protection offered against multiple field isolates. Immunization trials, followed by bacterial challenge with archived virulent E. ictaluri isolates from the catfish farming region of the southeastern United States, were conducted over a 3‐year period. These isolates were archived from 1993 to 2016 and included representatives from nonvaccinated and vaccinated populations of diseased channel catfish in Mississippi, an isolate from nonvaccinated hybrid catfish raised in Mississippi, and an isolate from nonvaccinated channel catfish from Alabama. Molecular characterization of the isolates revealed a high degree of genetic similarity evidenced by repetitive sequence‐mediated polymerase chain reaction (rep‐PCR) fingerprinting and virulence gene amplification, suggesting that the population of E. ictaluri within catfish aquaculture in Mississippi and Alabama has been genetically stable over time. Plasmid profiling revealed the existence of at least four distinct plasmids among field isolates. Nevertheless, the E. ictaluri vaccine protected fish against all isolates, irrespective of heterogeneous or homogeneous plasmid profiles. In addition, plasmid profiles were supported by antimicrobial sensitivity testing, indicating that the E. ictaluri vaccine strain does not carry natural or plasmid‐mediated multidrug resistance to the three antibiotics approved for use in U.S. food fish aquaculture. Challenge data from this study argue against the need for multivalent E. ictaluri vaccines to account for presumed antigenic or genetic variation among wild‐type E. ictaluri isolates as the vaccine was effective against all archived isolates.
Dietary diversity and food intake of urban preschool children in North‐Western Sri Lanka
Authors: Sirasa Fathima , Mitchell Lana , Harris Neil
Published: April 2020

Childhood malnutrition, associated with poor diet, is a clear public health threat in Sri Lanka, with high rates of under‐nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies coupled with the growing risk of overweight/obesity in urban locations. This study explored the dietary diversity and food intake of urban living Sri Lankan preschool children. A cross‐sectional analysis of the baseline data from a cohort study was conducted with parents/caregivers of children aged 2–6 years, from 21 preschool centres in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Demographic and socio‐economic factors, dietary diversity score (DDS) (n = 597) and food intake (n = 458) (using a food frequency questionnaire) were assessed. Children had a mean DDS of 4.56 ± 0·85 out of 9, with most (91.1%) in the medium DDS category (DDS of 3.1–6.0), consuming rice as most common food. Lentils were consumed more than any meat or alternative food groups at all DDS levels. Child DDS differs with parent/caregiver age and ethnicity. Mean daily intakes of fruit (1.02) and vegetables (0.84) servings align with approximately half of national recommendations, with less than 20% of children meeting daily recommendations. More than one‐third consumed sugary snacks and confectionaries daily and 1 in 10 had them twice a day. Around 40% reported watching television while eating the evening meal. Despite the majority having reasonable DDSs (medium category), findings highlighted inadequate intakes of fruits and vegetables, excessive intakes of sugary snacks and unhealthy dietary and social behaviours, suggests the need for population‐based interventions to promote healthier dietary habits.
Within Occupation Wage Dispersion and the Task Content of Jobs
Authors: van der Velde Lucas
Published: April 2020

Most analyses linking task content of jobs to income inequality focus on the effects between occupations, e.g. the growing dispersion between lousy and lovely jobs. The theory, meanwhile, provides insights on links between task content of jobs and inequality also within occupations: models predict compression of wages in more routine jobs, that is those where capital is a direct substitute for labour, and an increase in dispersion in jobs where capital and labour are complements. I document that within occupations dispersion of wages is empirically relevant, as it represents around half of total wage inequality across Europe. I then link wage inequality to the task content of jobs. Using matched employee–employer data from Europe for the period 2002–14, I show that occupations where tasks complement newer technologies exhibit higher wage dispersion. This relationship is robust to adjusting for a variety of confounding and mitigating channels.
Smile attractiveness in cases treated with self‐ligating and conventional appliances with and without rapid maxillary expansion
Authors: Negreiros Patricia O. , Freitas Karina M. S. , Pinzan‐Vercelino Célia R. M. , Janson Guilherme , Freitas Marcos R.
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study aimed to compare the smile attractiveness after non‐extraction treatment with self‐ligating and rapid maxillary expansion (RME), to compare it to a control group treat with conventional fixed appliances and to evaluate the influence of buccal and posterior corridor areas in smile aesthetics.

Settings and sample population

The sample consisted of frontal posed smile photographs of patients treated with self‐ligating and conventional appliances with and without RME.

Material and methods

G1—treated with Damon self‐ligating system (n = 20), G2—treated with RME and conventional fixed appliances (n = 22) and G3—treated only with conventional fixed appliances (n = 20). A website was created to provide an easy and quick evaluation of the smiles. The evaluators consisted of 70 orthodontists and 55 laypeople. Buccal and posterior corridors areas of each photograph were delimited in Photoshop CS3 and measured in AutoCAD in proportion to the total smile area. One‐ and two‐way ANOVA were used for intergroup comparisons, and correlations were investigated with Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results

There were no significant intergroup differences in smile attractiveness and in buccal and posterior corridor areas. There was no significant correlation between corridor areas and smile attractiveness.

Conclusions

Smile attractiveness and areas of buccal and posterior corridors were similar in groups treated with self‐ligating and conventional appliances with and without rapid maxillary expansion.
Development of More Precise Measurement to Predict Pain 1 Month Postoperatively Based on Use of Acute Postoperative Pain Score in Patients With Distal Radial Fracture
Authors: Imai Ryota , Osumi Michihiro , Ishigaki Tomoya , Nishigami Tomohiko , Yonemoto Yuta , Morioka Shu
Published: April 2020

Background

A method for modeling the acute pain trajectory using the simple linear fit of an individual’s pain intensity scores after surgery was developed and affords more precise measurement than conventional pain assessment. However, the method has the disadvantage of using only the slope without considering the intercept. The purpose of this study was to verify our modification of the pain trajectory model including slope and intercept and to identify clusters.

Methods

The pain intensity was measured in 60 patients after surgery, and we calculated their pain trajectories. The pain trajectory normally resolves in intensity over a period of days, and the linear fit of an individual patient’s pain intensity score defines the trajectory. In this simple linear model (x axis, days; y axis, pain intensity), each patient’s trajectory has the slope and the intercept. A multiple regression analysis model known as structural equation modeling was used to predict postoperative pain at 30 days after surgery. Finally, we performed hierarchical cluster analysis using the pain trajectory.

Results

The slope and intercept model was the best fit among the models. Based on cluster analysis results, we created 4 pain trajectory groups (slope and intercept).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the pain trajectory using the slope and intercept is quite useful for predicting postoperative pain at 30 days after surgery. Additionally, patients were classified into 4 groups using the slope and intercept. By considering both the slope and intercept, clinicians may be able to detect the risk for prolonged pain earlier than other methods.
Maternal cerebellar gray matter volume is associated with daughters’ psychotic experience
Authors: Hashimoto Naoki , Michaels Timothy I. , Hancock Roeland , Kusumi Ichiro , Hoeft Fumiko
Published: April 2020

Aim

A substantial portion of children and adolescents show subthreshold psychotic symptoms called psychotic experience (PE). Because PE shares its biological and environmental risk factors with psychotic spectrum disorders, parental neuroanatomical variation could reflect a heritable biological underpinning of PE that may predict an offspring's PE.

Methods

A total of 94 participants from 35 families without a diagnosis of major neuropsychiatric disorders were examined, including 14 mother–daughter, 17 mother–son, 12 father–daughter, and 16 father–son dyads. An offspring's PE was assessed with the Atypicality subscale of the Behavior Assessment System for Children – 2nd Edition, Self‐Report of Personality form (BASCaty). We examined correlations between voxel‐by‐voxel parental gray matter volume and their offspring's BASCaty score.

Results

Maternal cerebellar gray matter volume using voxel‐based morphometry was positively correlated with their daughters’ BASCaty scores. The findings were significant in a more robust approach using cerebellum‐specific normalization known. We did not find significant correlation between paternal gray matter volume and BASCaty scores or between offspring gray matter volumes and their BASCaty scores.

Conclusion

Expanding upon parent‐of‐origin effects in psychosis, maternal neuroanatomical variation was associated with daughters’ PE. The nature of this sex‐specific intergenerational effect is unknown, but maternally transmitted genes may relate cerebellum development to PE pathogenesis.