bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case-Based PowerPoint to Improve Knowledge and Comfort of Having Code Status Discussions by Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Students
Authors: Schoonover Kimberly , Herber Andrew , Heusinkvelt Sally , Yadav Hemang , Burton M. Caroline
Published: November 2018

Background:

Little is known about how certain educational interventions may improve informed code status discussions by physician assistant (PA) and nurse practitioner students.

Methods:

This is a prospective, prospective, single academic center pilot study utilizing a short case-based PowerPoint that reviewed the differences between code status choices and the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge of attempted resuscitation after a cardiac arrest. Training occurred between September 1, 2017, and May 31, 2018. The study population included PA and adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) students during their inpatient internal medicine rotation (n = 9) and preclinical PA students (n = 5).

Results:

After training, there was a significant increase in knowledge in the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge ( P = .01) and comfort level in having an informed code status discussion (3.36 ± 0.81 vs 4.10 ± 0.80, P = .02). For questions related to identification of the correct code status, there were no significant differences before and after the intervention.

Conclusion:

A short case-based PowerPoint viewed by PA and AGACNP students increased the knowledge about the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge of attempted resuscitation after a cardiac arrest and increased the comfort level of having code status discussions with patients by PA and AGACNP students.
Synthesis and biocompatibility assessment of polyaniline nanomaterials
Authors: Zhang Yumei , Zhou Miaomiao , Dou Chengfu , Ma Guodong , Wang Yin , Feng Ningchuan , Wang Wenping , Fang Lanyun
Published: November 2018

To investigate the biocompatibility of polyaniline nanomaterials as the drug carrier, polyaniline nanospheres with high-molecular weight (Mw ~48,000) and nanofibers with low-molecular weight (Mw ~4000) were prepared and cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity test, and histopathology examination were performed. Cytotoxicity test showed that both nanofibers and nanospheres were quite toxic to BV2 microglia cells at higher concentration and the former were more toxic than the latter. No clear sign of acute toxicity was found after oral administration. However, histopathology section demonstrated slight liver damage present when administrated polyaniline nanofibers with 100 mg/mL. The results revealed that the higher of the molecular weight, the lower toxicity it had. Preparing polyaniline with higher molecular weight may be one of the methods to obtain polyaniline with good biocompatibility. The results gave a better understanding of biocompatibility of polyaniline nanomaterial and made it more practical in medical field.
TRT EVO: Advances in real-time thermodynamic tire modeling for vehicle dynamics simulations
Authors: Farroni Flavio , Russo Michele , Sakhnevych Aleksandr , Timpone Francesco
Published: November 2018

Vehicle performances, especially in motorsport, are deeply affected by tire behavior and in particular by tire compound proper working conditions. In this research activity, a series of innovations have been introduced on the Thermo Racing Tire (a physical-analytical tire thermal model, based on Fourier’s law of heat transfer applied to a three-dimensional domain) in order to take into account all the main aspects actively involved in the thermal behavior of the tire, as the presence of exhausted gases eventually impacting at the rear axle and the inhomogeneous distribution of local variables (pressure, stress and sliding velocity) within the contact patch, caused in example by the tire camber angle. The new model developed considers the presence of the sidewalls, actively involved in the convective heat exchanges, respectively, with the external airflow and the inner gas fluid, located inside the inflation chamber. The aim of the new version of the tire thermal model is a better physical comprehension of all the phenomena concerning the contact with the asphalt and the prediction of the link between the thermal state and the frictional performance, crucial for the definition of an optimal wheel and vehicle setup.
Presence and Sources of Contrarian Profits in the Bangladesh Stock Market
Authors: Chowdhury Shah Saeed Hassan , Sharmin Rashida , Rahman M Arifur
Published: November 2018

This article, using weekly data for the period 2002 through 2013, investigates the presence of both contrarian and momentum profits and their sources in the Bangladesh stock market. It follows the methodology of Lo and MacKinlay ( Review of Financial Studies, 1990, 3(2), 175–205) to form portfolios with a weighted relative strength scheme (WRSS). The methodology of Jegadeesh and Titman ( Review of Financial Studies, 1995, 8(4), 973–993) is used to decompose the contrarian/momentum profits into three elements: compensation for cross-sectional risk, lead–lag effect in time series with respect to the common factor and the time-series pattern of stock returns. Results provide the evidence of significant contrarian profits for the holding period of one through eight weeks. There is a stronger presence of contrarian profits during 2002–2008 sub-period. The time-series pattern is found to be the main source of contrarian profits, suggesting that idiosyncratic (firm-specific) information is the main contributor to contrarian profits. Interestingly, the influence of idiosyncratic information on such profits has gradually decreased since 2008. Contrarian profits are robust to market sentiment and other systematic risk factors.
Growth-Promoting Relationships between Youth and Adults: A Focus Group Study
Authors: Spencer Renée , Jordan Judith V. , Sazama Jenny
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this exploratory study was to listen to young people's descriptions of their experiences in and understandings of their relationships with the important adults in their lives using relational–cultural theory as the guiding framework. The authors conducted 7 focus groups with ethnically and socioeconomically diverse children and adolescents ages 7 to 18 years ( N = 91) who were participants in a range of community groups. A thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts highlighted the high value these youth placed on respect, mutuality, and authenticity in their relationships with adults. These youth also poignantly described their desire for strong relationships with adults and the barriers that unfortunately and too often seemed to get in the way.
Ambiguous Loss and Its Disenfranchisement: The Need for Social Work Intervention
Authors: Knight Carolyn , Gitterman Alex
Published: November 2018

Ambiguous grief results from a nondeath loss and has received minimal attention in the social work literature. This type of loss occurs in situations like missing persons, incarceration, military deployment, adoption, and foster care and chronic conditions like dementia. The reactions of loved ones faced with these situations rarely have been understood as a form of grief. The lack of recognition of ambiguous loss means that it is more likely to be disenfranchised, which undermines bereaved individuals’ resilience and ability to move on with their lives. The authors discuss the nature of ambiguous loss and its disenfranchisement. Based upon theory and research, implications for micro-, mezzo-, and macropractice are presented. Case examples illustrate key points and challenges.
Using the SGDA Framework to Design and Evaluate Research Games
Authors: Geerts David , Nouwen Marije , van Beek Evert , Slegers Karin , Chocron Miranda Fernanda , Bleumers Lizzy
Published: November 2018

Background. Several HCI researchers have started to use game design elements in their research to create playful methods for involving end-users in design. Similar to serious games, such research games serve a dual purpose: 1) to create an enjoyable experience for research participants, and 2) to collect user insights to inform the design process.

Aim. We propose that the Serious Game Design Assessment (SGDA) Framework, that evaluates both a game’s enjoyable purposes and its serious purposes, may be a valuable tool in assessing and developing research games. In this article, we apply the SGDA Framework to three existing research games, one involving train passengers in assessing potential future user experiences, one involving hospital staff in ideation for wearable technology, and one involving TV viewers in ideation for future video watching scenarios.

Conclusion. The assessment of the three research games suggests that the framework is indeed applicable to research games and may, as such, provide HCI researchers with clear guidance when creating new research games.
Peridynamics simulation of rock fracturing under liquid carbon dioxide blasting
Authors: Zhang Yanan , Deng Junren , Deng Hongwei , Ke Bo
Published: November 2018

Liquid carbon dioxide blasting technology as a new environmentally safe rock cracking technology has been widely used in mining, enhancing the permeability of coal seam, road construction, and other fields. In this study, a liquid carbon dioxide blasting experiment was conducted on a concrete specimen of size 500mm×500mm×400 mm firstly, and the crack distribution and blast hole morphology were observed. Then, the peridynamics model of rock fracturing under liquid carbon dioxide blasting was established, and the crack propagation in liquid carbon dioxide blasting and the influence of explosion pressure and numbers and radii of releasing holes on the liquid carbon dioxide blasting effects were analyzed. The results showed that the broken concrete specimen had no obvious smash district and the direction of crack propagation was perpendicular to that of carbon dioxide release after liquid carbon dioxide blasting. The failure of the specimen was only caused by the blasting stress wave, and the quasi-static effect of high-pressure carbon dioxide did not have sufficient time to play its role. With an increase in the stress wave strength and the numbers and radii of releasing holes, the fracturing velocity of liquid carbon blasting will increase. The cracks produced by liquid carbon dioxide blasting were mainly distributed in the middle of the adjacent releasing holes. The research results had a good guiding significance for understanding the mechanism of liquid carbon dioxide rock breaking and optimizing and improving the liquid carbon dioxide fracturing device.
Association of Cystathionine β-Synthase Gene Polymorphisms With Preeclampsia
Authors: de León Bautista Mercedes Piedad , Romero-Valdovinos Mirza , Zavaleta-Villa Beatriz , Martínez-Flores Arony , Olivo-Díaz Angélica
Published: November 2018

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disorder that increases maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. High plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) are a risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) plays an important role in Hcy homeostasis catalyzing the irreversible degradation of Hcy to cystathionine, protecting the endothelium from injury caused by hypoxia. Several mutations and polymorphisms may alter the expression of the CBS gene, resulting in variable levels of Hcy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of CBS gene polymorphisms with PE in Mexican women. A case–control study consisting of 129 pregnant women with PE (37 severe and 92 mild) and 173 women with uncomplicated pregnancies was performed. Polymorphisms, such as G797A, C785T, T833C, G919A, T959C, C1105T, and 844ins68 base pair, in the CBS gene were genotyped. The polymorphism G797A was monomorphic in cases with the presence of only G797A-G allele. Allele C785T-T and genotype C785T-C/T were associated with susceptibility in severe and mild PE. Alleles G797A-G and T959C-T were associated with susceptibility only in severe PE. Haplotype TGTWGTC was of susceptibility for severe PE and of protection for mild PE. Haplotypes CGTWGCC and CATWGTC seem to be protective for severe PE, but the latter is related to susceptibility in mild PE. The results suggest that C785T, G797A, and T959C mutations are contributing in different ways in severe and mild PE in our population and could be count as another related factor for this disease.
Super-twisting disturbance observer-based finite- time attitude stabilization of flexible spacecraft subject to complex disturbances
Authors: Yan Ruidong , Wu Zhong
Published: November 2018

There exist complex disturbances in the attitude control system of flexible spacecrafts, such as space environmental disturbances, flexible vibrations, inertia uncertainties, payload motions, etc. To suppress the effects of these disturbances on the performance of attitude stabilization, a super-twisting disturbance observer (STDO)-based nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller (NTSMC) is proposed in this paper. First, STDO is designed for a second-order dynamical system constructed by applying the lumped disturbance and its integral as state variables, and applying the integral as virtual measurement. Since the virtual measurement is obtained by integrating the inverse attitude dynamics, STDO not only avoids the differential operation of angular velocity, but also fully utilizes the information of a nonlinear model. By combining STDO with NTSMC, a composite controller is designed to achieve high-accuracy spacecraft attitude stabilization. Since most of the disturbances are compensated for by a STDO-based feedforward compensator, only a small switching gain is required to deal with the residual disturbances and uncertainties. Thus, the chattering phenomenon of the controller can be alleviated to a great extent. Finally, numerical simulations for the comparison between STDO-based NTSMC and nonlinear disturbance observer-based NTSMC are carried out in the presence of complex disturbances to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Evaluation systems: How do they frame, generate and use evidence?
Authors: Martinaitis Žilvinas , Christenko Aleksandr , Kraučiūnienė Lina
Published: November 2018

How does the design of evaluation systems affect the different ways of using the results of evaluations? This article offers a conceptual model that outlines three ‘ideal’ types of evaluation systems. It is a heuristic tool for opening up the ‘black box’ of evaluation systems and assessing their qualitative differences in terms of types of ‘owners’ of evaluations, questions asked, methods deployed, answers provided and avenues for use of evaluative knowledge. We apply the model to study the case of the Lithuanian evaluation system. In contrast to the expectations of some of the previously developed models, it does use evaluation results, and we aim to understand why the generated evidence is more often used in some areas rather than others.
Labelling faces as ‘Autistic’ reduces the inversion effect
Authors: Civile Ciro , Colvin Eamon , Siddiqui Hasan , Obhi Sukhvinder S
Published: November 2018

Does the belief that a face belongs to an individual with autism affect recognition of that face? To address this question, we used the inversion effect as a marker of face recognition. In Experiment 1, participants completed a recognition task involving upright and inverted faces labelled as either ‘regular’ or ‘autistic’. In reality, the faces presented in both conditions were identical. Results revealed a smaller inversion effect for faces labelled as autistic. Thus, simply labelling a face as ‘autistic’ disrupts recognition. Experiment 2 showed a larger inversion effect after the provision of humanizing versus dehumanizing information about faces labelled as ‘autistic’. We suggest changes in the inversion effect could be used as a measure to study stigma within the context of objectification and dehumanization.
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 - Howthe Government Takes Control Ofplanning Policy
Authors: Harwood Richard
Published: November 2018

‘Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, one for the Dark Lord on his dark throne in the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them'
New media clues and old journalistic habits: Representing the refugees in Romanian media
Authors: Marinescu Valentina , Balica Ecaterina
Published: November 2018

There was significant media coverage of migrant flows in the summer of 2015 and public debate is ongoing. A central issue covered by the media regarded the risks associated with the entrance of refugees in the European Union, thus we decided to analyze the way in which online media covered the violence that involved refugees in the time frame of 1 June 2015–31 October 2016. The analysis highlighted that journalists were mostly interested in publishing cases of illegal border crossings and less interested in cases of severe interpersonal violence (such as murder, rape, and suicide). This time, journalists decided to publicize crimes which affected national security (therefore, they threatened the entire territory and population of a country) and focused less on crimes which involved hurting some categories of vulnerable people (women, children, or elderly people). The main changes that we identified were how refugees were framed regarding the place of the media and journalists as ‘secondary definers’ of crimes, and the positioning of the refugee in the role of victim.
Testing the Kundera Hypothesis: Does Every Woman (But Not Every Man) Prefer Her Child to Her Mate?
Authors: Hernández Blasi Carlos , Mondéjar Laura
Published: November 2018

The context of a famous novel by Milan Kundera ( Immortality) suggests that when faced with a life-or-death situation, every woman would prefer to save her child than her husband, left hanging whether every man would do the same. We labeled this as the Kundera hypothesis, and the purpose of this study was to test it empirically as we believe it raises a thought-provoking question in evolutionary terms. Specifically, 197 college students (92 women) were presented a questionnaire where they had to make different decisions about four dilemmas about who to save (their mate or their offspring) in two hypothetical life-or-death situations: a home fire and a car crash. These dilemmas involved two different mate ages (a 25- or a 40-year-old mate) and two offspring ages (1- or a 6-year-old child). For comparative purposes, we also included complementary life-or-death dilemmas on both a sibling and an offspring, and a sibling and a cousin. The results generally supported the Kundera hypothesis: Although the majority of men and women made the decision to save their offspring instead of their mate, about 18% of men on average (unlike the 5% of women) consistently decided to save their mate across the four dilemmas in the two life-or-death situations. These data were interpreted with reference to Hamilton’s inclusive fitness theory, the preferential role of women as kin keepers, and the evolution of altruism toward friends and mates.
MicroRNA-494-3p Promotes Cell Growth, Migration, and Invasion of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Targeting Sox7
Authors: He Huiping , Liao Xianghui , Yang Qingmei , Liu Yuan , Peng Yan , Zhong Hongzhen , Yang Jun , Zhang Huiqing , Yu Zhonghua , Zuo Yufang , Guan Chengnong , Xu Zumin
Published: November 2018

Background:

There is mounting evidence that microRNAs play an important role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is widely prevalent in South China and is the most prevalent metastatic cancer among head and neck cancers. Recently, it has been shown that miR-494 is involved in the progression and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, little is known about the function and mechanism of miR-494-3p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of miR-494-3p on the migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to further explore the underlying mechanisms of these processes.

Methods:

The expression levels of miR-494-3p and Sox7 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma specimens and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Luciferase reporter assay, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to confirm whether Sox7 was a direct target of miR-494-3p. Additionally, the roles of miR-494-3p and Sox7 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, wound healing assay, and Boyden chamber assay, respectively.

Results:

Our study demonstrated that miR-494-3p was commonly upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma specimens and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines compared with nontumor nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue or nasopharyngeal cells (NP69). Moreover, miR-494-3p negatively regulated Sox7 at the posttranscriptional level by binding to a specific site in the Sox7 3′-untranslated region. In addition, synthetic miR-494-3p mimics significantly promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of S18 and S26 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, while a synthetic miR-494-3p inhibitor resulted in suppressed nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell migration and invasion.

Conclusion:

miR-494-3p promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth, migration, and invasion by directly targeting Sox7. Our results suggest that miR-494-3p might be a potential therapeutic target for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Trolley Dilemmas Fail to Predict Ethical Judgment in a Hypothetical Vaccination Context
Authors: Dahl Fredrik Andreas , Oftedal Gry
Published: November 2018

We investigated whether the responses of 68 ethics committee members and staff to trolley dilemmas could predict their responses to research ethics problems concerning vaccine trials. Trolley dilemmas deal with the issue of sacrificing some for the benefit of many, which is also a core issue in the vaccination trial dilemmas. The subjects’ responses to trolley dilemmas showed no statistically significant correlation with their responses to our vaccination trial dilemmas. We concluded that, if there is a component of transferable intuition between the contexts, it must be small and dominated by other factors. Furthermore, the willingness to sacrifice some for many was larger in the trolley context, despite a more favorable risk/reward ratio and the voluntary participation of the subjects at risk in the vaccination situations. We conclude that one’s general willingness to trade lives in the trolley context may be an artifact that is due to its unrealistic setting.
Weighing Vietnamese Children: How Accurate are Child Weights Adjusted for Estimates of Clothing Weight?
Authors: Tuan T. , Marsh D. R. , Ha T.T. , Schroeder D. G. , Thach T.D. , Dung V. M. , Huong N. T.
Published: November 2018

Children who are weighed for growth monitoring are frequently clothed, especially in the cold weather. Health workers commonly estimate and subtract the weight of these clothes, but the accuracy of these estimates is unknown. We assessed the accuracy of child weights adjusted for estimated clothing typical of hot, cold, and extremely cold ambient temperatures. Trained field workers weighed a sample of 212 children 6 to 42 months old from the ViSION project, adjusted the weights using a job aid describing the weights of common clothing by season and age, and then weighed the clothing to calculate the actual clothing and child weights. Fieldworker estimates of the weight of the clothing that children wore during weighing were remarkably good. In nearly all cases (207 of 212; 97.7%), the difference between the estimated and actual clothing weight was less than the precision of the child scales (± 50 g), and most (181 of 212; 84.5%) were within 25 g. Thus, the calculated child weights were, in fact, equivalent to the actual child weights. Using simulations, we found that improperly accounting for clothing weight can overestimate weight-for-age by 0.1 to 0.4 Z score. Accurate weights are possible, even under adverse conditions. Our training methods, clothing album, and job aid might benefit nutrition research and programming in Viet Nam as well as settings with colder climates.
Caregiver Styles of Feeding and Child Acceptance of Food in Rural Viet Nam
Authors: Ha Pham Bich , Bentley Margaret E. , Pachón Helena , Sripaipan Teerada , Caulfield Laura E. , Marsh David R. , Schroeder Dirk G.
Published: November 2018

Style of child feeding may be an important determinant of child nutrition and health outcomes. Responsive feeding refers to the level and kind of interaction between caregiver and child that lead to a positive feeding experience, adequate dietary intake, and enhanced developmental opportunities. Responsive feeding behaviors may include active physical help and verbalization during feeding, role-playing, persistence, and positive feeding strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate styles of feeding among Vietnamese children 12 or 18 months of age from a rural province in northern Viet Nam. Forty child/mother pairs were videotaped during two, two-hour feeding episodes. Caregiver and child behaviors were coded at the level of the “intended bite” as observed through the videotape analysis of feeding episodes to assess caregiver behavior and the child's interest and acceptance of food. We found it feasible to use videotape and the modified coding and analysis scheme, originally developed for work in Peru, in Viet Nam. In Viet Nam, caregivers provided physical help to eat nearly all of the time in the younger children, and about 70% of the time among 18 month olds. Caregivers verbalized during only 30% of intended bites, and only half of these verbalizations were responsive in tone or words. Positive caregiver behaviors were significantly associated with higher child's acceptance of food, while non-responsive feeding behaviors were associated with child rejection of food. Future analyses of this data set will evaluate the degree to which an integrated nutrition program positively modified caretaker behaviors. More research is needed to demonstrate the relationships among the promotion of responsive feeding behaviors, acceptance of food, and improved nutrition and health status of children.
Acceptability of Improved Varieties of Sorghum for Consumption in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Ega L. A. , Olatunde A. F. , Nwasike C. C.
Published: November 2018

Farmers’ acceptance of and preference for crop varieties depend to a large extent on consumption value and market price. Therefore, food quality considerations are crucial for extension of high-yield varieties. We explored whether several new sorghum of varieties that have been found to have high agronomic performance are acceptable for consumption by using them in two foods commonly prepared from sorghum (kamu and tango). All the improved varieties made acceptable kamu and tango. They met the expectations of consumers for colour, appearance, flavour, taste, and texture and did nor pose obvious processing and milling problems. There is a need to monitor these varieties and subject them to further consumer preference tests using quantitative techniques and the combined effects of the major factors that commonly affect acceptance of crops for production and use, namely, expected yield or income, labour requirement, technical feasibility, nutritional value, and acceptability to consumers.
Intra-Household Food Distribution among Guatemalan Families in a Supplementary Feeding Programme: Mothers’ Perceptions
Authors: Engle Patrice L. , Nieves Isabel
Published: November 2018

Mothers’ views on the appropriate distribution of food within a household, and the relation of these views to actual food distribution, are explored. The subjects were 45 mothers with one child enrolled in a health centre's food-supplementation programme in periurban Guatemala because of low weight for height. In the interviews, most of the mothers did not report believing that more food should be given to the targeted child. The four distribution rules mentioned were giving preference to adults or workers, giving preference to children, giving preference to males, and equality. The latter two rules were significantly associated with actual food distribution within the families: mothers who stated a male preference (N = 13) were likely to give more food to males than those who did not, and mothers who stated a preference for equality (N = 29) gave a relatively higher proportion of food to children. Recommendations for food supplementation programmes are made.
Analgesic effects of FAAH inhibitor in the insular cortex of nerve-injured rats
Authors: Jee Kim Min , Tanioka Motomasa , Woo Um Sun , Hong Seong-Karp , Hwan Lee Bae
Published: November 2018

The insular cortex is an important region of brain involved in the processing of pain and emotion. Recent studies indicate that lesions in the insular cortex induce pain asymbolia and reverse neuropathic pain. Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), which have been shown to attenuate pain, are simultaneously degraded by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) that halts the mechanisms of action. Selective inhibitor URB597 suppresses FAAH activity by conserving endocannabinoids, which reduces pain. The present study examined the analgesic effects of URB597 treatment in the insular cortex of an animal model of neuropathic pain. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to nerve injury and cannula implantation. On postoperative day 14, rodents received microinjection of URB597 into the insular cortex. In order to verify the analgesic mechanisms of URB597, cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) antagonist AM251, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) antagonist GW6471, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonist Iodoresiniferatoxin (I-RTX) were microinjected 15 min prior to URB597 injection. Changes in mechanical allodynia were measured using the von-Frey test. Expressions of CB1R, N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), and TRPV1 significantly increased in the neuropathic pain group compared to the sham-operated control group. Mechanical threshold and expression of NAPE-PLD significantly increased in groups treated with 2 nM and 4 nM URB597 compared with the vehicle-injected group. Blockages of CB1R and PPAR alpha diminished the analgesic effects of URB597. Inhibition of TRPV1 did not effectively reduce the effects of URB597 but attenuated expression of NAPE-PLD compared with the URB597-injected group. In addition, optical imaging demonstrated that neuronal activity of the insular cortex was reduced following URB597 treatment. Our results suggest that microinjection of FAAH inhibitor into the insular cortex causes analgesic effects by decreasing neural excitability and increasing signals related to the endogenous cannabinoid pathway in the insular cortex.
Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside relieves the chronic inflammatory pain by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, microglia activation, and GluN2B overexpression in anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Fan Yong-fei , Guan Shao-yu , Luo Li , Li Yan-jiao , Yang Le , Zhou Xuan-xuan , Guo Guo-dong , Zhao Ming-gao , Yang Qi , Liu Gang
Published: November 2018

Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (THSG) is one of the active ingredients of Polygonum multiflorum. It has been shown to exert a variety of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-atherosclerosis. Because of its prominent anti-inflammatory effect, we explored whether THSG had analgesic effect. In this study, we used a model of chronic inflammatory pain caused by injecting complete Freund’s adjuvant into the hind paw of mice. We found THSG relieved swelling and pain in the hind paw of mice on a dose-dependent manner. In the anterior cingulate cortex, THSG suppressed the upregulation of GluN2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and the downregulation of GluN2A-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors caused by chronic inflammation. In addition, THSG increased Bcl-2 and decreased Bax and Caspase-3 expression by protecting neuronal survival. Furthermore, THSG inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and the increase of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that THSG blocked the activation of microglia and reduced the release of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that THSG had a certain effect on alleviating complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced chronic inflammatory pain.
Association Between Room Location and Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Mayampurath Anoop , Ward Christopher , Fahrenbach John , LaFond Cynthia , Howell Michael , Churpek Matthew M.
Published: November 2018

Objective:

To investigate whether a patient’s proximity to the nurse’s station or ward entrance at time of admission was associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes.

Method:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult inpatients to 13 medical–surgical wards at an academic hospital from 2009 to 2013. Proximity of admission room to the nurse’s station and to the ward entrance was measured using Euclidean distances. Outcomes of interest include development of critical illness (defined as cardiac arrests or transfer to an intensive care unit), inhospital mortality, and increase in length of stay (LOS).

Results:

Of the 83,635 admissions, 4,129 developed critical illness and 1,316 died. The median LOS was 3 days. After adjusting for admission severity of illness, ward, shift, and year, we found no relationship between proximity at admission to nurse’s station our outcomes. However, patients admitted to end of the ward had higher risk of developing critical illness (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.08, 1.23]), mortality ( OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.03, 1.33]), and a higher LOS (13-hr increase, 95% CI [10, 15] hours) compared to patients admitted closer to the ward entrance. Similar results were observed in sensitivity analyses adjusting for isolation room patients and considering patients without room transfers in the first 48 hr.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that being away from the nurse’s station did not increase the risk of these adverse events in ward patients, but being farther from the ward entrance was associated with increase in risk of adverse outcomes. Patient safety can be improved by recognizing this additional risk factor.
Listening without ears: Artificial intelligence in audio mastering
Authors: Birtchnell Thomas
Published: November 2018

Since the inception of recorded music there has been a need for standards and reliability across sound formats and listening environments. The role of the audio mastering engineer is prestigious and akin to a craft expert combining scientific knowledge, musical learning, manual precision and skill, and an awareness of cultural fashions and creative labour. With the advent of algorithms, big data and machine learning, loosely termed artificial intelligence in this creative sector, there is now the possibility of automating human audio mastering processes and radically disrupting mastering careers. The emergence of dedicated products and services in artificial intelligence-driven audio mastering poses profound questions for the future of the music industry, already having faced significant challenges due to the digitalization of music over the past decades. The research reports on qualitative and ethnographic inquiry with audio mastering engineers on the automation of their expertise and the potential for artificial intelligence to augment or replace aspects of their workflows. Investigating audio mastering engineers' awareness of artificial intelligence, the research probes the importance of criticality in their labour. The research identifies intuitive performance and critical listening as areas where human ingenuity and communication pose problems for simulation. Affective labour disrupts speculation of algorithmic domination by highlighting the pragmatic strategies available for humans to adapt and augment digital technologies.
Functional redundancy between RAP1 isoforms in murine platelet production and function
Authors: Stefanini Lucia , Lee Robert H. , Paul David S. , O'Shaughnessy Ellen C. , Ghalloussi Dorsaf , Jones Christopher I. , Boulaftali Yacine , Poe Kathryn O. , Piatt Raymond , Kechele Dan O. , Caron Kathleen M. , Hahn Klaus M. , Gibbins Jonathan M. , Bergmeier Wolfgang
Published: November 2018

Key Points

Deletion of both Rap1a and Rap1b impairs platelet production and abolishes platelet adhesion at sites of mechanical trauma. Platelet RAP1 signaling is dispensable for vascular integrity during development and at sites of inflammation.
Evaluation of oral anticoagulants with vitamin K epoxide reductase in its native milieu
Authors: Chen Xuejie , Jin Da-Yun , Stafford Darrel W. , Tie Jian-Ke
Published: November 2018

Key Points

Acenocoumarol is the most efficient oral anticoagulant with the least variation of resistance among naturally occurring VKOR mutations. Warfarin and fluindione are equipotent for anticoagulation control but have different mechanisms of action on VKOR inactivation.
Obstructive sleep apnoea and venous thromboembolism: pathophysiological links and clinical implications
Authors: García-Ortega Alberto , Mañas Eva , López-Reyes Raquel , Selma María José , García-Sánchez Aldara , Oscullo Grace , Jiménez David , Martínez-García Miguel Ángel
Published: November 2018

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and pulmonary embolism (PE) remain major health issues worldwide. Data from pathophysiological studies suggest that both intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are associated with increased blood coagulability, endothelial dysfunction and venous stasis. There is growing evidence that OSA is potentially prevalent in and a risk factor for PE. Conversely, patients with acute PE have two to four times greater risk of moderate-to-severe OSA. The role of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in improving clinically meaningful outcomes in PE patients remains unclear, although some authors have suggested that CPAP could improve the hypercoagulability state and normalise circadian alterations in some of the coagulation molecules, as observed in patients with OSA. Emerging research highlights the complex interdependent relationships between OSA and PE, emphasising the need for rigorous, well-powered trials that address the impact of OSA and its treatment on the prevention and management of PE. Undoubtedly, these will require closer collaboration between the sleep medicine and clinical/venous thromboembolism communities.
Reducing gravity data for the influence of water storage variations beneath observatory buildings
Authors: Reich Marvin , Mikolaj Michal , Blume Theresa , Güntner Andreas
Published: November 2018

Ground-based gravimetry is increasingly used to study mass distributions and mass transport below the earth surface. The gravity effect of local water storage variations can be large and should be accounted for in the interpretation of these data. However, the effect of hydrologic mass changes in the immediate vicinity of the gravimeter is not considered in standard routines for separating unwanted signal components. This applies in particular to the effect of the buildings in which gravimeters are installed. The building shields the underlying soil from precipitation and evapotranspiration and thus directly affects the water storage dynamics in the near-field of the gravimeter. A combined approach of in situ soil moisture observations and hydrologic modeling was used to quantify the altered water storage variations below observatory buildings. Subsequently, the errors caused by different estimation approaches for this umbrella effect in hydrogravitational computations were assessed. Depending on the site characteristics, the errors range from 4.1 to [Formula: see text] for the intra-annual amplitude when natural soil moisture data are considered for modeling the umbrella effect, and they range from 4.1 to [Formula: see text] when assuming no gravity change within 5 m below the building. These results were condensed to general recommendations, leading to a new simple and broadly applicable method to reduce observed gravity data for building effects, given basic information about the gravimeter location, building dimensions, climatic regime, and soil type of the observation site. This new reduction approach indicates errors of the intra-annual amplitude from 1.9 to [Formula: see text].
Dynamic mechanisms of lamina-induced fracture propagation in tight oil-sand formations
Authors: Liu Dan , Li Yaohua , Luo Qun , Wang Qianyou , Meng Xiangzhen , Ge Yunjin , Luo Jiaguo , Feng Hairu , Li Yang , Zhang Xin
Published: November 2018

Lamina-induced fractures (LFs) are abundant in lacustrine formations, playing an important role in tight oil resource exploration. There is a lack of research on the dynamic mechanisms of LF propagation in heterogeneous formations characterized by complex combinations of lamina and surrounding rock. For this reason, we conducted triaxial compressive tests of 28 long column samples and Brazil split tests of 37 short column samples using six core samples with different lithologies, including nine column samples tested using a CT scanner and an acoustic emission apparatus. We designed this experiment to study the LF propagation process and its dynamic mechanisms within different lithologies. Our results show that (1) we classified three mechanical LF types based on the relationship between stress state and lamina angle: tensile LF (T-LF), shear LF (S-LF), and hybrid LF (H-LF); (2) H-LF only propagated in the middle lamina angle range (approximately 11°–64°); T-LF was inclined to propagate in the low lamina angles; and S-LF was inclined to propagate in the high lamina angles; and (3) in the Ordos Basin, T-LF, TF, and SF propagated mutually in outcrops with low confining pressures. T-LF, H-LF, and SF propagated mutually in the Yanchang Formation, an outcrop that greatly contributes to tight oil sweet spot exploration. Furthermore, unlike the in situ accumulation theory, we find that it is possible for hydrocarbon migration to occur in tight reservoir formations, in which the LF acts as a hydrocarbon migration pathway during the tectonic phase.
Exploratory Analysis of Single-Gene Predictive Biomarkers in HERA DASL Cohort Reveals That C8A mRNA Expression Is Prognostic of Outcome and Predictive of Benefit of Trastuzumab
Authors: Willis Scooter , Polydoropoulou Varvara , Sun Yuliang , Young Brandon , Tsourti Zoi , Karlis Dimitris , Long Bradley , Lin Xiaoqian , Theel Stephanie , Carlson Jennifer , Győrffy Balazs , Williams Casey , Abramovitz Mark , Dafni Urania , Dowsett Mitch , Leyland-Jones Brian
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The Herceptin Adjuvant study is an international multicenter randomized trial that compared 1 or 2 years of trastuzumab given every 3 weeks with observation in women with human epidermal growth factor 2–positive (HER2+) breast cancer after chemotherapy. Identification of biomarkers predictive of a benefit from trastuzumab will minimize overtreatment and lower health care costs.

Methods

To identify possible single-gene biomarkers, an exploratory analysis of 3,669 gene probes not expected to be expressed in normal breast tissue was conducted. Disease-free survival (DFS) was used as the end point in a Cox regression model, with the interaction term between C8A mRNA and treatment as a categorical variable split on the cohort mean.

Results

A significant interaction between C8A mRNA and treatment was detected ( P < .001), indicating a predictive response to trastuzumab treatment. For the C8A-low subgroup (mRNA expression lower than the cohort mean), no significant treatment benefit was observed ( P = .73). In the C8A-high subgroup, patients receiving trastuzumab experienced a lower hazard of a DFS event by approximately 75% compared with those in the observation arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.25; P < .001). A significant prognostic effect of C8A mRNA also was seen ( P < .001) in the observation arm, where the C8A-high group hazard of a DFS event was three times the respective hazard of the C8A-low group (HR, 3.27; P < .001). C8A mRNA is highly prognostic in the Hungarian Academy of Science HER2+ gastric cancer cohort (HR, 1.72; P < .001).

Conclusion

C8A as a single-gene biomarker prognostic of DFS and predictive of a benefit from trastuzumab has the potential to improve the standard of care in HER2+ breast cancer if validated by additional studies. Understanding the advantage of overexpression of C8A related to the innate immune response can give insight into the mechanisms that drive cancer.
Psychosexual Aspects, Effects of Prenatal Androgen Exposure, and Gender Change in 46,XY Disorders of Sex Development
Authors: Batista Rafael Loch , Inácio Marlene , Arnhold Ivo Jorge Prado , Gomes Nathália Lisboa , Faria José Antônio Diniz , de Moraes Daniela Rodrigues , Costa Elaine Maria Frade , Domenice Sorahia , Mendonça Berenice Bilharinho
Published: November 2018

Context

In 46,XY disorders of sexual development (DSD) patients, several factors may affect psychosexual development, leading to gender identity discrepancy and gender change later in life. Prenatal sexual steroid exposure and external genital virilization are considered to influence human psychosexual development, but their roles not completely understood yet.

Design

A total of 144 individuals (18 to 60 years of age) with a clinical/molecular diagnosis of 46,XY DSD from a single tertiary center were enrolled. Psychosexual outcomes (gender role, gender identity, and sexual orientation) were assessed using questionnaires and psychological test. The Sinnecker score was used for genital virilization measurement. Prenatal androgen exposure was estimated according to 46,XY DSD etiology.

Results

We found a positive association between prenatal androgen exposure and male psychosexual outcomes. Alternatively, prenatal estrogen exposure, age of gonadectomy, and the degree of external genital virilization did not influence any psychosexual outcome. There were 19% (n = 27) with gender change, which was associated with prenatal androgen exposure (P < 0.001) but not with the external genital virilization. The median age of gender change was 15 years, but most of the patients reported the desire for gender change earlier.

Conclusions

Prenatal androgen exposure influenced psychosexual development in 46,XY DSD favoring male psychosexuality in all psychosexual outcomes, whereas the degree of external genital virilization did not influence these outcomes. The organizational effect of sexual steroids on psychosexuality at puberty appears to be weak in comparison with the prenatal effects. Prenatal androgen exposure also influenced female-to-male gender change frequency. All 46,XY DSD conditions with prenatal androgen exposure must be followed for gender issues in their management.