bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CystiHuman: A model of human neurocysticercosis
Authors: Bonnet Gabrielle , Pizzitutti Francesco , Gonzales-Gustavson Eloy A. , Gabriël Sarah , Pan William K. , Garcia Hector H. , Bustos Javier A. , Vilchez Percy , O’Neal Seth E. ,   for the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The Taenia solium tapeworm is responsible for cysticercosis, a neglected tropical disease presenting as larvae in the body of a host following taenia egg ingestion. Neurocysticercosis (NCC), the name of the disease when it affects the human central nervous system, is a major cause of epilepsy in developing countries, and can also cause intracranial hypertension, hydrocephalus and death. Simulation models can help identify the most cost-effective interventions before their implementation. Modelling NCC should enable the comparison of a broad range of interventions, from treatment of human taeniasis (presence of an adult taenia worm in the human intestine) to NCC mitigation. It also allows a focus on the actual impact of the disease, rather than using proxies as is the case for other models.

Methods

This agent-based model is the first model that simulates human NCC and associated pathologies. It uses the output of another model, CystiAgent, which simulates the evolution of pig cysticercosis and human taeniasis, adding human and cyst agents, including a model of cyst location and stage, human symptoms, and treatment. CystiHuman also accounts for delays in the appearance of NCC-related symptoms. It comprises three modules detailing cyst development, seizure probability and timing, and intracranial hypertension/hydrocephalus, respectively. It has been implemented in Java MASON and calibrated in three endemic villages in Peru, then applied to another village (Rica Playa) to compare simulation results with field data in that village.

Results and discussion

Despite limitations in available field data, parameter values found through calibration are plausible and simulated outcomes in Rica Playa are close to actual values for NCC prevalence and the way it increases with age and cases with single lesions. Initial simulations further suggest that short-term interventions followed by a rapid increase in taeniasis prevalence back to original levels may have limited impacts on NCC prevalence.
Ustilago maydis telomere protein Pot1 harbors an extra N-terminal OB fold and regulates homology-directed DNA repair factors in a dichotomous and context-dependent manner
Authors: Zahid Syed , Aloe Sarah , Sutherland Jeanette H. , Holloman William K. , Lue Neal F.
Published: May 2022

The telomere G-strand binding protein Pot1 plays multifaceted roles in telomere maintenance and protection. We examined the structure and activities of Pot1 in Ustilago maydis, a fungal model that recapitulates key features of mammalian telomere regulation. Compared to the well-characterized primate and fission yeast Pot1 orthologs, UmPot1 harbors an extra N-terminal OB-fold domain (OB-N), which was recently shown to be present in most metazoans. UmPot1 binds directly to Rad51 and regulates the latter’s strand exchange activity. Deleting the OB-N domain, which is implicated in Rad51-binding, caused telomere shortening, suggesting that Pot1-Rad51 interaction facilitates telomere maintenance. Depleting Pot1 through transcriptional repression triggered growth arrest as well as rampant recombination, leading to multiple telomere aberrations. In addition, telomere repeat RNAs transcribed from both the G- and C-strand were dramatically up-regulated, and this was accompanied by elevated levels of telomere RNA-DNA hybrids. Telomere abnormalities of pot1-deficient cells were suppressed, and cell viability was restored by the deletion of genes encoding Rad51 or Brh2 (the BRCA2 ortholog), indicating that homology-directed repair (HDR) proteins are key mediators of telomere aberrations and cellular toxicity. Together, these observations underscore the complex physical and functional interactions between Pot1 and DNA repair factors, leading to context-dependent and dichotomous effects of HDR proteins on telomere maintenance and protection.
Beyond Lassa Fever: Systemic and structural barriers to disease detection and response in Sierra Leone
Authors: Rohan Hana
Published: May 2022

Background

Lassa fever (LF) often presents clinically as undifferentiated febrile illness. Lassa Fever cases in Sierra Leone have been falling since the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic. Data from other LF endemic countries suggest that this is not a true reflection of local epidemiological decline, but rather a function of either health seeking behaviour or the health/referral system. In Sierra Leone, many other diseases present with a similar early clinical picture, including COVID-19 and Marburg Disease (which has recently emerged in neighbouring Guinea). This empirical study explores the implementation of health system processes associated with International Health Regulations (IHR) requirements for early detection and timely and effective responses to the spread of febrile disease, through the case study of LF in Sierra Leone.

Methodology/Principal findings

This study used a qualitative approach to analyse local policy and guidance documents, key informant interviews with policy and practice actors, and focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with health care workers (HCWs) and community health workers (CHWs) in Kenema District to examine the ways in which undifferentiated fever surveillance and response policies and processes were implemented in the post-Ebola period. Multiple challenges were identified, including: issues with the LF case definition, approaches to differential diagnosis, specimen transport and the provision of results, and ownership of laboratory data. These issues lead to delays in diagnosis, and potentially worse outcomes for individual patients, as well as affecting the system’s ability to respond to outbreak-prone disease.

Conclusions/Significance

Identification of ways to improve the system requires balancing vertical disease surveillance programmes against other population health needs. Therefore, health system challenges to early identification of LF specifically have implications for the effectiveness of the wider Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system in Sierra Leone more generally. Sentinel surveillance or improved surveillance at maternity facilities would help improve viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) surveillance, as well as knowledge of LF epidemiology. Strengthening surveillance for vertical disease programmes, if correctly targeted, could have downstream benefits for COVID-19 surveillance and response as well as the wider health system—and therefore patient outcomes more generally.
Soret and Dufour effects on MHD squeezing flow of Jeffrey fluid in horizontal channel with thermal radiation
Authors: Mat Noor Nur Azlina , Shafie Sharidan , Hamed Y. S. , Admon Mohd Ariff
Published: May 2022

The fluid flow with chemical reaction is one of well-known research areas in the field of computational fluid dynamic. It is potentially useful in the modelling of flow on a nuclear reactor. Motivated by the implementation of the flow in the industrial application, the aim of this study is to explore the time-dependent squeeze flow of magnetohydrodynamic Jeffrey fluid over permeable medium in the influences of Soret and Dufour, heat source/sink and chemical reaction. The presence of joule heating, joule dissipation and radiative heat transfer are analyzed. The flow is induced due to compress of two surfaces. Conversion of partial differential equations (PDEs) into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is accomplished by imposing similarity variables. Then, the governing equations are resolved using Keller-box approach. The present outcomes are compared with previously outcomes in the literature to validate the precision of present outcomes. Both outcomes are shown in close agreement. The tabular and graphical results demonstrate that wall shear stress and velocity profile accelerate with the surfaces moving towards one another. Moreover, the concentration, temperature and velocity profiles decreasing for the increment of Hartmann numbers and Jeffrey fluid parameters. The impacts of heat generation/absorption, joule dissipation and Dufour numbers enhance the heat transfer rate and temperature profile. In contrast, the temperature profile drops and the heat transfer rate boosts when thermal radiation increases. The concentration profile decelerates, and the mass transfer rate elevates with raise in Soret number. Also, the mass transfer rate rises for destructive chemical reaction and contrary result is noted for convective chemical reaction.
The effects of vertical trunk supportability improvement on one-leg rebound jump efficiency
Authors: Kazuaki Kinoshita , Ishida Kazunari , Hashimoto Masashi , Nakao Hidetoshi , Nishizawa Yuichiro , Shibanuma Nao , Kurosaka Masahiro , Otsuki Shingo
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vertical trunk supportability improvement on activities. The study participants were 36 people. Trunk function and physical performance were evaluated using the following tests: trunk righting test (TRT), maximal isometric knee extensor strength test, side hop test, triple hop distance test, stabilometry of one-leg standing, and one-leg rebound jump. The measurement was performed three times: pre-trunk training (pre), post-trunk training for 1 month (post), and 2 months after the second measurement (detraining). Details of trunk training: Two sets of 30-s maximal lateral reach exercises on each side, following the four sets of 15-s maximal raising trunk exercises on each side. The results with TRT in post-training were significantly larger than those in pre-and detraining. Similarly, the results with one-leg rebound jump efficiency in post-training were significantly larger than those in pre-and detraining. Our findings indicate that jump efficiency changes in proportion to the change in vertical trunk supportability.
Relationship of neighborhood and individual socioeconomic status on mortality among older adults: Evidence from cross-level interaction analyses
Authors: Kim Taehyun
Published: May 2022

Background

The influence of community context and individual socioeconomic status on health is widely recognized. However, the dynamics of how the relationship of neighborhood context on health varies by individual socioeconomic status is less well understood.

Objective

To examine the relationship between neighborhood context and mortality among older adults and examine how the influence of neighborhood context on mortality differs by individual socioeconomic status, using two measures of income-level and homeownership.

Research design and subjects

A retrospective study of 362,609 Medicare Advantage respondents to the 2014–2015 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey aged 65 and older.

Measures

Neighborhood context was defined using the deciles of the Area Deprivation Index. Logistic regression was used to analyze mortality with interaction terms between income/homeownership and neighborhood deciles to examine cross-level relationships, controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, number of chronic conditions, obese/underweight, difficulties in activities of daily living, smoking status, and survey year. Predicted mortality rates by group were calculated from the logistic model results.

Results

Low-income individuals (8.9%) and nonhomeowners (9.1%) had higher mortality rates compared to higher-income individuals (5.3%) and homeowners (5.3%), respectively, and the differences were significant across all neighborhoods even after adjustment. With regression adjustment, older adults residing in less disadvantaged neighborhoods showed lower predicted 2-year mortality among high-income (4.86% in the least disadvantaged neighborhood; 6.06% in the most disadvantaged neighborhood; difference p-value<0.001) or homeowning individuals (4.73% in the least disadvantaged neighborhood; 6.25% in the most disadvantaged neighborhood; difference p-value<0.001). However, this study did not observe a significant difference in predicted mortality rates among low-income individuals by neighborhood (8.7% in the least disadvantaged neighborhood; 8.61% in the most disadvantaged neighborhood; difference p-value = 0.825).

Conclusions

Low-income or non-homeowning older adults had a higher risk of mortality regardless of neighborhood socioeconomic status. While living in a less disadvantaged neighborhood provided a protective association for higher-income or homeowning older adults, low-income older adults did not experience an observable benefit.
Clinical epidemiology and high genetic diversity amongst Cryptococcus spp. isolates infecting people living with HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Bive Bive Zono , Sacheli Rosalie , Situakibanza Nani-Tuma Hippolyte , Kabututu Zakayi Pius , Ka Alex , Mbula Mambimbi Marcel , Muendele Gaultier , Boreux Raphael , Landu Nicole , Nzanzu Mudogo Celestin , M’Buze Pierre-Robert , Moutschen Michel , Meyer Wieland , Mvumbi Lelo Georges , Hayette Marie-Pierre
Published: May 2022

Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection in advanced HIV disease patients (AHDP). It is caused by Cryptococcus spp. complexes and mainly occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we performed molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility profiling of Cryptococcus isolates from AHDP in Kinshasa (DRC). Additionally, we investigated a possible association between NMC severity factors and the Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) multilocus sequence typing (MLST) profiles. We characterized the isolates using PCR serotyping, MALDI-TOF MS, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, and MLST. Susceptibility testing for the major antifungal drugs was performed according to the EUCAST guidelines. Parameters associated with NMC severity, such as hypoglycorrhachia (< 50 mg/dL), increased cerebral spinal fluid opening pressure (> 30 cm H2O), and poor therapeutic outcome were compared with the Cn MLST sequences type (ST). Twenty-three out of 29 Cryptococcus isolates were identified as serotype A using PCR serotyping (79.3%; 95% IC: 65.5–93.1), while six (20.7%; 95% IC: 6.9–34.5) were not serotypable. The 29 isolates were identified by ITS sequencing as follows: Cryptococcus neoformans (23/29, 79.3%), Cutaneotrichosporon curvatus (previously called Cryptococcus curvatus) (5/29, 17.2%), and Papiliotrema laurentii (Cryptococcus laurentii) (1/29, 3.5%). Using the ISHAM MLST scheme, all Cn isolates were identified as molecular type VNI. These comprised seven different STs: ST93 (n = 15), ST5 (n = 2), ST53 (n = 1), ST31 (n = 1), ST4 (n = 1), ST69 (n = 1), and one novel ST that has not yet been reported from other parts of the world and was subsequently assigned as ST659 (n = 2). Of the included strains, only Papiliotrema laurentii was resistant to amphoterin B (1/29, 3.5%), 6.8% (2/29) were resistant to 5-flucytosine (the single Papiliotrema laurentii strain and one Cryptococcus neoformans isolate), and 13.8% (4/29) to fluconazole, including two of five (40%) Cutaneotrichosporon curvatus and two of 23 (8.7%) C. neoformans strains. We found a significative association between poor therapeutic outcome and a non-ST93 sequence type of causative strains (these concerned the less common sequence types: ST53, ST31, ST5, ST4, ST659, and ST69) (87.5% versus 40%, p = 0.02). Molecular analysis of Cryptococcus spp. isolates showed a wide species diversity and genetic heterogenicity of Cn within the VNI molecular type. Furthermore, it is worrying that among included strains we found resistances to several of the commonly used antifungals.
Movement quantity and quality: How do they relate to pain and disability in dancers?
Authors: Hendry Danica , Campbell Amity , Smith Anne , Hopper Luke , Straker Leon , O’Sullivan Peter
Published: May 2022

Objective

This field-based study aimed to determine the association between pre-professional student dancers’ movement quantity and quality with (i) pain severity and (ii) pain related disability.

Methods

Pre-professional female ballet and contemporary dance students (n = 52) participated in 4 time points of data collection over a 12-week university semester. At each time point dancers provided self-reported pain outcomes (Numerical Rating Scale as a measure of pain severity and Patient Specific Functional Scale as a measure of pain related disability) and wore a wearable sensor system. This system combined wearable sensors with previously developed machine learning models capable of capturing movement quantity and quality outcomes. A series of linear mixed models were applied to determine if there was an association between dancers’ movement quantity and quality over the 4 time points with pain severity and pain related disability.

Results

Almost all dancers (n = 50) experienced pain, and half of the dancers experienced disabling pain (n = 26). Significant associations were evident for pain related disability and movement quantity and quality variables. Specifically, greater pain related disability was associated with more light activity, fewer leg lifts to the front, a shorter average duration of leg lifts to the front and fewer total leg lifts. Greater pain related disability was also associated with higher thigh elevation angles to the side. There was no evidence for associations between movement quantity and quality variables and pain severity.

Discussion

Despite a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, dancers’ levels of pain severity and disability were generally low. Between-person level associations were identified between dancers’ movement quantity and quality, and pain related disability. These findings may reflect dancers’ adaptations to pain related disability, while they continue to dance. This proof-of-concept research provides a compelling model for future work exploring dancers’ pain using field-based, serial data collection.
Staff and resident perceptions on the introduction of a team based multi-specialty resident night shift system
Authors: Katz Steven J.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To determine the perceptions of staff and resident physicians on the impact of implementation of a new team based multi-specialty resident night shift system.

Methods

An electronic survey was distributed anonymously to all resident physicians in the Core Internal Medicine residency program at the University of Alberta. A similar survey was distributed to staff physicians in the 4 specialties impacted by this new system: hematology, respirology, nephrology and gastroenterology.

Results

74 physicians completed the survey. A majority of respondents (67%) indicated the new system was a positive change. Most shared it was better than traditional 1 in 4 call (65%), with resident physicians appreciating the team based nature of the system (65%), and just more than half of residents (55%) indicating this system improved their overall wellness. Most respondents (78%) did not feel the additional handover required had a negative impact. Respondents indicated daytime teaching and feedback improved as a result of this system (52%) with most others indicating it had no impact, although overnight feedback remained a challenge.

Conclusion

The implementation of this new team based system was well accepted by both staff and resident physicians across a number of domains. Future study is required to determine its impact on access and quality of care.
Assessing behavioral sex differences to chemical cues of predation risk while provisioning nestlings in a hole-nesting bird
Authors: Saavedra Irene , Tomás Gustavo , Amo Luisa
Published: May 2022

Birds can assess nest predation risk and adjust their parental activity accordingly. Risk taking behavior should be related to investment in reproduction as well as to confidence in parenthood that often differ between sexes. In those cases, sexual differences in risk taking behavior may be expected. For example, in blue tits, females invest more time and energy than males in nest-building, egg laying and incubation. Furthermore, confidence in parenthood is supposed to be higher for females, as extrapair paternity is common in this species. Therefore, the reproductive value of nestlings may be higher for females than for males and the former may assume greater risks to ensure nestling growth and maximize their reproductive success. We examined potential sexual differences in the risk assumed by parents in relation to perceived risk of predation inside the nest cavity, where predation risk perception may be higher. We increased perceived predation risk by adding predator chemical cues inside blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nest-boxes, and we tested whether female and male parents differed in the risk assumed when taking care of nestlings. Females and males did not differ in the risk assumed in response to perceived predation risk. However, females reduced time devoted to nest sanitation activities when predator chemical cues were detected inside the nest-box, likely as an anti-predatory strategy to minimize their own risk of predation. Therefore, these results add to the evidence that birds can detect chemical cues of predators inside the nest cavity and suggest that the behavioral response to an increase in risk of predation perceived through olfactory cues is not sex-dependent in blue tit.
Comparison of herpes simplex virus 1 genomic diversity between adult sexual transmission partners with genital infection
Authors: Rathbun Molly M. , Shipley Mackenzie M. , Bowen Christopher D. , Selke Stacy , Wald Anna , Johnston Christine , Szpara Moriah L.
Published: May 2022

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes chronic infection in the human host, characterized by self-limited episodes of mucosal shedding and lesional disease, with latent infection of neuronal ganglia. The epidemiology of genital herpes has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, with the emergence of HSV-1 as a leading cause of first-episode genital herpes in many countries. Though dsDNA viruses are not expected to mutate quickly, it is not yet known to what degree the HSV-1 viral population in a natural host adapts over time, or how often viral population variants are transmitted between hosts. This study provides a comparative genomics analysis for 33 temporally-sampled oral and genital HSV-1 genomes derived from five adult sexual transmission pairs. We found that transmission pairs harbored consensus-level viral genomes with near-complete conservation of nucleotide identity. Examination of within-host minor variants in the viral population revealed both shared and unique patterns of genetic diversity between partners, and between anatomical niches. Additionally, genetic drift was detected from spatiotemporally separated samples in as little as three days. These data expand our prior understanding of the complex interaction between HSV-1 genomics and population dynamics after transmission to new infected persons.
Clofoctol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduces lung pathology in mice
Authors: Belouzard Sandrine , Machelart Arnaud , Sencio Valentin , Vausselin Thibaut , Hoffmann Eik , Deboosere Nathalie , Rouillé Yves , Desmarets Lowiese , Séron Karin , Danneels Adeline , Robil Cyril , Belloy Loic , Moreau Camille , Piveteau Catherine , Biela Alexandre , Vandeputte Alexandre , Heumel Séverine , Deruyter Lucie , Dumont Julie , Leroux Florence , Engelmann Ilka , Alidjinou Enagnon Kazali , Hober Didier , Brodin Priscille , Beghyn Terence , Trottein François , Deprez Benoit , Dubuisson Jean
Published: May 2022

Drug repurposing has the advantage of shortening regulatory preclinical development steps. Here, we screened a library of drug compounds, already registered in one or several geographical areas, to identify those exhibiting antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 with relevant potency. Of the 1,942 compounds tested, 21 exhibited a substantial antiviral activity in Vero-81 cells. Among them, clofoctol, an antibacterial drug used for the treatment of bacterial respiratory tract infections, was further investigated due to its favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties. Notably, the peak concentration of clofoctol that can be achieved in human lungs is more than 20 times higher than its IC50 measured against SARS-CoV-2 in human pulmonary cells. This compound inhibits SARS-CoV-2 at a post-entry step. Lastly, therapeutic treatment of human ACE2 receptor transgenic mice decreased viral load, reduced inflammatory gene expression and lowered pulmonary pathology. Altogether, these data strongly support clofoctol as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Koala retrovirus load and non-A subtypes are associated with secondary disease among wild northern koalas
Authors: Blyton Michaela D. J. , Pyne Michael , Young Paul , Chappell Keith
Published: May 2022

Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) has been associated with neoplasia in the vulnerable koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). However, there are conflicting findings regarding its association with secondary disease. We undertook a large-scale assessment of how the different KoRV subtypes and viral load are associated with Chlamydia pecorum infection and a range of disease pathologies in 151 wild koalas admitted for care to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, Australia. Viral load (KoRV pol copies per ml of plasma) was the best predictor of more disease pathologies than any other KoRV variable. The predicted probability of a koala having disease symptoms increased from 25% to over 85% across the observed range of KoRV load, while the predicted probability of C. pecorum infection increased from 40% to over 80%. We found a negative correlation between the proportion of env deep sequencing reads that were endogenous KoRV-A and total KoRV load. This is consistent with suppression of endogenous KoRV-A, while the exogenous KoRV subtypes obtain high infection levels. Additionally, we reveal evidence that the exogenous subtypes are directly associated with secondary disease, with the proportion of reads that were the endogenous KoRV-A sequence a negative predictor of overall disease probability after the effect of KoRV load was accounted for. Further, koalas that were positive for KoRV-D or KoRV-D/F were more likely to have urogenital C. pecorum infection or low body condition score, respectively, irrespective of KoRV load. By contrast, our findings do not support previous findings that KoRV-B in particular is associated with Chlamydial disease. Based on these findings we suggest that koala research and conservation programs should target understanding what drives individual differences in KoRV load and limiting exogenous subtype diversity within populations, rather than seeking to eliminate any particular subtype.
Analysis of management systems for sustainability of infection prevention and control, and water sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities in the Greater Kampala Area, Uganda
Authors: Isunju John Bosco , Ssekamatte Tonny , Wanyenze Rhoda , Mselle Jane Sembuche , Wafula Solomon Tsebeni , Kansiime Winnie K. , Bateganya Najib Lukooya , Nalugya Aisha , Wagaba Brenda , Denny Lindsay , McGriff Joanne A. , Wang Yuke , Yakubu Habib , Mugambe Richard K.
Published: May 2022

Sustaining Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) services in healthcare facilities (HCFs) remain a challenge in the developing world. This is largely attributable to ineffective management systems such as leadership, training, monitoring, financing and accountability, and operation and maintenance (O&M) for WASH and IPC. This study analysed management systems for the sustainability of WASH and IPC in HCFs in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 59 HCFs. Data were obtained from HCF in-charges using the WASHCon tool. Indicators of sustainability across HCF level and ownership were compared using Chi-square tests, performed in Stata 14 statistical software. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Less than half, 42.4% (25/59) of the HCFs had trained their staff on WASH issues, and 44.1% (26/59) had WASH and IPC guidelines. Nearly all, 91.2% (31/34) of the HCFs that needed new sinks, taps, or pipes could not afford them due to insufficient funds. The perceptions of in-charges that it was their responsibility: to ensure that staff receive training on WASH and IPC (p = 0.014); to oversee the O&M of WASH and IPC infrastructure (p = 0.005); and to sustain WASH and IPC infrastructure and behaviours (p = 0.014) varied by ownership of the HCF. Availability of written guidelines on WASH and IPC varied by level and ownership (p = 0.010). In this study, sub-optimal management systems for WASH and IPC were noted, and leadership, training and monitoring, financing, and accountability varied across level and ownership of the HCFs. Nonetheless, simple acts such as recognising the best performing staff in WASH and IPC can boost the morale of the staff. Also, there is a need for budget increments and functionalisation of the WASH and IPC committees in order to sustain recommended practices.
Lessons from a systematic literature search on diagnostic DNA methylation biomarkers for colorectal cancer: how to increase research value and decrease research waste
Authors: Feng Zheng , Oberije Cary J.G. , van de Wetering Alouisa J.P. , Koch Alexander , Wouters Nathalie Vaes Kim. A.D. , Masclee Ad A. M. , Carvalho Beatriz , Meijer Gerrit A. , Zeegers Maurice P. , Herman James G. , Melotte Veerle , van Engeland Manon , Smits Kim M.
Published: May 2022

Background

To improve colorectal cancer (CRC) survival and lower incidence rates, colonoscopy and/or fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) screening is widely implemented. Although candidate DNA methylation biomarkers have been published to improve or complement FIT, clinical translation is limited. Here, we describe technical and methodological problems encountered after a systematic literature search and provide recommendations to increase (clinical) value and decrease research waste in biomarker research. Additionally, we present current evidence for diagnostic CRC DNA methylation biomarkers.

Methods

A systematic literature search identified 331 diagnostic DNA methylation marker studies published before November 2020 in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, or Google Scholar. For 136 bodily fluid studies, extended data extraction was performed. STARD criteria and level of evidence were registered to assess reporting quality and strength for clinical translation.

Results

Our systematic literature search revealed multiple issues, that hamper the development of DNA methylation biomarkers for CRC diagnosis, including methodological and technical heterogeneity, and lack of validation or clinical translation. For example, clinical translation and independent validation was limited, with 100/434 (23%) markers studied in bodily fluids, 3/434 (0.7%) translated into clinical tests, and independent validation for 92/411 (22%) tissue markers and 59/100 (59%) bodily fluids markers.

Discussion

This systematic literature search revealed that major requirements to develop clinically relevant diagnostic CRC DNA methylation markers are often lacking. To avoid the resulting research waste, clinical needs, intended biomarker use and independent validation should be better considered prior to study design. In addition, improved reporting quality would facilitate meta-analysis, thereby increasing level of evidence and enabling clinical translation.
Os equipamentos fotoativadores esquentam?
Authors: Shimokawa Carlos Alberto Kenji , Giannini Marcelo
Published: May 2022

A evolução dos equipamentos fotoativadores possibilitou um aumento da potência radiante da luz emitida por eles e, consequentemente, seu potencial de geração de calor. Apesar de existirem equipamentos fotoativadores que emitem luz com maior ou menor potência, o aumento de temperatura gerado pode ser prejudicial tanto para a polpa quanto para tecidos moles bucais.
Reflexión docente y metacognición. Una mirada sobre la formación de formadores
Authors: Fourés Cecilia Inés
Published: May 2022

Durante algunos años, en el Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche – Patagonia – Argentina, el equipo de investigación en DIPEC (Didáctica de las Prácticas Escolares Cotidianas) ha convocado a los docentes con la propuesta de compartir las problemáticas que se presentan en su trabajo cotidiano, para realizar sobre ellas una reflexión en común e intentar así contribuir al mejoramiento de la práctica. En este trabajo se relata y analiza un caso que colocó el concepto de metacognición como un emergente de singular importancia al detectar la dificultad que encuentran los docentes para trabajar sobre sus procesos metacognitivos. Consideramos que los docentes al experimentar con la aplicación de la metacognición dentro de la praxis pedagógica lograrán reconocer sus propios procesos cognitivos y así podrán ayudar a sus estudiantes a alentar y cultivar una disposición favorable para la reflexión y la metacognición.
El baúl de Phillipe Valls: lúdica y el rol del animador
Authors: Escalanate Barrios Elsa Lucía , Chegwin Altamar Stephanie , Gómez Aldana Katherine , Narváez-Goenaga Valmiro
Published: May 2022

Este artículo presenta las reflexiones sobre el rol del animador y las preferencias lúdicas en la generación y desarrollo de espacios para el desarrollo de competencias cognitivas en la infancia producidas a partir de los resultados de la investigación "Acercamiento inicial al efecto del uso del Baúl de P. Valls sobre el desarrollo de destrezas básicas de pensamiento en niños y niñas en riesgo de explotación laboral de la ciudad de Barranquilla, Caso Barrio Las Américas". Dicha investigación se abordó desde una perspectiva cuantitativa bajo un modelo pre-post-prueba, el cual fue nutrido por instrumentos cualitativos como el Diario de campo que nos permiten en este artículo ahondar en la temática del rol de animador, actor clave de los procesos de desarrollo y formación de la infancia desde una perspectiva de desarrollo humano donde la lúdica juega un papel fundamental.
Importancia de la evaluación y autoevaluación en el rendimiento académico
Authors: Cruz Núñez Fabiola , Quiñones Urquijo Abel
Published: May 2022

La Facultad de Enfermería de la Universidad Veracruzana, desde el año 2001 con la adopción del Modelo Educativo Integral y Flexible (MEIF), ha conceptualizado el rendimiento académico a partir de la evaluación, siendo necesario considerar no solamente el desempeño individual del estudiante sino la manera como es influido por el grupo de pares, el aula o el propio contexto educativo. La evaluación como tal, tiene sus inicios en los procedimientos y conceptos de la evaluación del aprendizaje de principios del siglo XX. En los últimos 30 años se ha desplegado como una disciplina social, desarrollándose modelos de evaluación del aprendizaje, o rendimiento académico. Por tanto el estudiante, durante su proceso de aprendizaje, debe conocer el desarrollado de autonomía, pensamiento crítico, capacidad para analizar y resolver problemas y, en general, su responsabilidad, por tanto será capaz de autoevaluar su comportamiento y de expresarlo por escrito de una manera organizada.
The spatial prediction and optimization of production-living-ecological space based on Markov–PLUS model: A case study of Yunnan Province
Authors: Wang Lingling , Zhou Shijian , Ouyang Shuangyan
Published: May 2022

Production-living-ecological space (PLES) reflects the main function of land use types. It is one of the main directions that many scholars researched to evaluate, predict, and optimize the land space from the perspective of PLES. Yunnan Province is affected by such factors as economy, topography, and natural environment. The conflict of PLES is serious, and the problems of spatial planning development are prominent. This study aims at the current status of PLES, based on the establishment of restrictive constraints such as ecological red line, arable land minimum, and natural reserves. Meanwhile, these constraints were combined with the development planning of the Yunnan Province to forecast the quantitative structure change in the PLES in Yunnan Province in 2035 and 2050, coupling Markov and PLUS models to optimize the future space layout. This study can provide a scientific basis for the optimization of land space in Yunnan Province and other areas. The prediction accuracy of the Markov–PLUS model is 98.55%, which can be effectively used to simulate and predict the distribution of PLES in Yunnan in 2035 and 2050. From 2010 to 2015, the disordered layout of PLES in the Yunnan Province was obvious, and the ecological space (ES) seriously occupied the production space (PS) and living space (LS). In 2035 and 2050, the industrial production space (IPS) of Yunnan Province expands and presents distinct regional aggregation. LS and the water ecological space (WES) areas have increased. The layout of PLES in 2035 and 2050 of Yunnan Province mainly centers on PS. The orderly development of IPS promotes the regional economic growth, ensures that the agricultural production space (APS) will not be damaged and allocates the ES reasonably. It will also promote the overall optimization and coordinated development of PLES in Yunnan Province.
Generalization method of generating the continuous nested distributions
Authors: Farooq Mian Muhammad , Mohsin Muhammad , Farman Muhammad , Akgül Ali , Saleem Muhammad Umer
Published: May 2022

In many life time scenarios, life of one component or system nested in other components or systems. To model these complex structures some so called nested models are required rather than conventional models. This paper introduces the generalization of the method of generating continuous distribution proposed by N. Eugene, C. Lee, and F. Famoye, “Beta-normal distribution and its applications,” Commun. Stat. Theor. Methods, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 497–512, 2002 and A. Alzaatreh, C. Lee, and F. Famoye, “A new method for generating families of continuous distributions,” Metron, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 63–79, 2013 which nest one model in other to cope with complex systems. Some important characteristics of the proposed family of generalized distribution have been studied. The famous Beta, Kumaraswami and Gamma generated distributions are special cases of our suggested procedure. Some new distributions have also been developed by using the suggested methodology and their important properties have been discussed as well. A variety of real life data sets are used to demonstrate the efficacy of new suggested distributions and illation is made with baseline models.
The social semiotic study of vocal acting – the Hollywood Golden Age films as examples
Authors: Zhang Zhen
Published: May 2022

This study argues that voice is a communicative tool used in people’s daily life, and it can also be a vocal apparatus for actors to deliver acting functions in films. In this study, the author demonstrated how actors project voice qualities of pitch, loudness and intonation to achieve various communicative functions in vocal acting by investigating four selected Hollywood films. The speech analysis tool Praat was used to process actors’ voice qualities in the selected data to verify the argument. After investigation, this research discovered that actors can use voice qualities to represent information and emotion and indicate characters’ attitudes, relationships and situations. Moreover, this research revealed that actors’ voice is more dynamic than other acting participants (such as makeup, costume).
The crystal structure of diaqua-bis(6-phenylpyridine-2-carboxylato-κ2N,O) manganese(II) — water — dimethylformamide (1/2/1), C27H31N3O9Mn
Authors: Wang Li-Hua , Tai Xi-Shi
Published: May 2022

C27H31N3O9Mn, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 10.8917(9) Å, b = 11.2673(16) Å, c = 23.077(3) Å, β = 93.319(10)°, V = 2827.2(6) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0735, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.1938, T = 250 K.
“Looking for true Mexican food in Charlotte”
Authors: Salas Consuelo Carr , Hammelman Colleen , Tornabene Sara
Published: May 2022

Emerging migrant destinations in the United States, such as Charlotte, North Carolina, are receiving an influx of Latin American and Caribbean restaurants and markets in nontraditional landscapes. Food adventurers and diasporic residents rely on their habitus formed by experiences elsewhere to make sense of and determine the authenticity of these new food spaces. To understand how notions of authenticity are used, constructed, experienced, and interpreted in migrant food places, this article relies on an analysis of primary and secondary data on 16 food businesses in Charlotte serving goods associated with Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes narratives emerging in customer reviews on social media complemented with in-depth semi-structured interviews with business owners, field observations, and a review of public media, including oral histories published by the Southern Foodways Alliance. We found that reviewers rely on food grammars that include strategic uses of notions of authenticity paired with descriptors that reveal the writer’s habitus. The food grammars and value judgments relied on experiences in other places; material expectations regarding bodies, languages, and dishes served; and palate memory formed through engagement with ingredients, flavors, and smells. This research contributes to literature on migrant foodways, urban geography, and rhetoric by understanding how migrant food spaces in new destinations are understood and constructed through reliance on notions of authenticity.
Seeing Mediterranean
Authors: Dueck Jennifer
Published: May 2022

Food columnist Craig Claiborne wrote in 1988 that Mediterranean food had been named the “latest culinary trend,” noting the “flood” of restaurants, cookbooks, and even a diet book that were “riding the Mediterranean wave.” This so-called trend, the culinary Mediterranean that appeared in the American press of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, was of course a constructed geography. One of the things that makes it intriguing today is what it can tell us about historically constructed categories of race, religion, and ethnicity that marked diverse Middle Eastern and North African peoples who made homes for themselves in the United States in the twentieth century. Representations of this newly popular, supposedly unitary, Mediterranean cuisine filtered into the press in ways that noticeably skewed away from the actual Mediterranean peoples who had originated it, and especially away from those Mediterraneans who were Muslim or Arab. To see how the Middle East and North Africa gradually became “Mediterranean” in the American press, I examine how journalists initially distinguished European Mediterranean foodways from what they saw as orientalist cuisines to the south and east. I then trace the growing popularity of these “exotic” cuisines as the boundaries of the Mediterranean expanded to absorb them into a seemingly postcolonial frame whose imperial and Eurocentric legacies nonetheless remained vividly in place. Finally, I point toward tactical choices made by some members of Middle Eastern and North African diasporas to make their voices and agendas heard in rendering their cuisines accessible, and saleable, to American consumers.
Chiral Symmetry Restoration Using the Running Coupling Constant from the Light-Front Approach to QCD
Authors: Campos S.D.
Published: May 2022

In this work, the distance between a quark-antiquark pair is analyzed through both the confinement potential and the hadronic total cross- section. Using the Helmholtz free energy, the entropy is calculated near the minimum of the total cross-section through the confinement potential. A fitting procedure for the proton-proton total cross- section is carried out, defining the fit parameters. Therefore, the only remaining free parameter in the model is the mass-scale к used to define the running coupling constant of the light-front the approach to QCD. The mass scale controls the distance r between the quark-antiquark pair and, under some conditions, allows the appearance of free quarks even within the confinement regime of QCD.
Вплив гальмування дислокацій у процесі пластичної деформації на фотолюмінесценцію іонів Mn2+ в монокристалах ZnS
Authors: Prokofiev T.A. , Ivanchenko A.V.
Published: May 2022

У роботi дослiджено експериментальнi спектри фотолюмiнесценцiї iонiв Mn2+ у зразках монокристалiв ZnS для рiзних значень пластичної деформацiї. Виявлено особливостi у спектрах фотолюмiнесценцiї у зразках, що руйнуються при малих деформацiях. У результатi розкладання спектрiв на iндивiдуальнi складовi одержано iндивiдуальнi смуги, якi зумовленi випромiнюванням iонами Mn2+ з рiзним локальним оточенням у монокристалах ZnS при рiзних значеннях пластичної деформацiї. Розраховано змiни вiдносної кiлькостi випромiнюючих iонiв Mn2+ у монокристалах ZnS при змiнi величини пластичної деформацiї для кожної з одержаних iндивiдуальних смуг. У результатi розкладання видiлено нову iндивiдуальну смугу з максимумом випромiнювання при λmax ≈ 588 нм, а також запропоновано пояснення механiзму її виникнення при перемiщеннi, гальмуваннi i зупинцi часткових дислокацiй у процесi пластичної деформацiї.
Qutest Construction and Psychometric Evaluation as Test of Attention and Willpower for Employee Selection Screening
Authors: Febriawan Iqbal Maesa , Fauzan Achmad Afrizal , Adelina Chelsea , Afifah Hana Naufalinda , Pari Razaf , Januarsjaf Aswin
Published: May 2022

Attention and willpower are some of the primary modalities for work, so it is necessary to evaluate those potentials. However, standard tests for assessing the two aspects, such as the Pauli or Kraepelin test, are bias-prone to numerical ability. Due to that concern, Qutest was designed as an attention and willpower (screening) test with symbolic stimulus adapted from the d2 test (Brickencamp, 1998). Two studies were conducted for Qutest psychometric properties evaluation. In the first study, 261 participants finished Qutest on a web-based platform with a maximum of 96 pages, each containing 24 symbols of key stimuli (a symbol Q with two dots) and distractors that had to complete in a maximum of 30 minutes. Analyses of internal consistency and correlation with Pauli test results were performed to establish test psychometric properties. The results supported adequate internal consistency and convergent validity claim for Qutest. In addition to internal consistency, a second study was conducted to develop further and evaluate parallel-form consistency between mobile and computer versions. In the second study, 371 participants completed a maximum of 192-page Qutest with a similar amount of time to the previous study. Participants took the mobile version first and then the computer versions of the test with a minimum of one lag day. Statistically significant correlation index of results across devices supported parallel-form reliability of both mobile and laptop/desktop Qutest version. A follow-up analysis of answering aids (mouse, trackpad, touch screen) for the computer version recommended using a mouse or touch screen instead of a trackpad due to statistically significant difference in performance among the three tools. Thus, Qutest can be used as a psychometrically adequate test and be flexible in various devices to assess attention and willpower for (prospective) employee screening.