bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis Pengembangan Corporate Value berdasarkan Keputusan Investasi dan Pendanaan, Struktur Kepemilikan serta Kebijakan Dividen pada Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia
Authors: Verawaty Verawaty , Merina Citra Indah , Kurniawati Irra
Published: May 2020

Penelitian ini membahas variabel-variabel yang mempengaruhi pengembangan nilai perusahaan pada perusahaan manufaktur di Bursa Efek Indonesia. Sektor manufaktur dipilih sebagai objek penelitian karena sektor manufaktur berhubungan langsung dengan daya beli masyarakat sehari-hari dan perusahaan akan selalu berproduksi serta membutuhkan keputusan dan kebijakan yang tepat dalam hal pengalokasian keuangan perusahaan, sehingga pengembangan nilai perusahaan pada perusahaan manufaktur lebih terlihat dan menjadi daya tarik serta pertimbangan bagi investor yang ingin berinvestasi di perusahaan manufaktur. Variabel-variabel yang akan dianalisis adalah keputusan investasi, keputusan pendanaan, kepemilikan manajerial dan kepemilikan institusional, serta kebijakan dividen. Populasi penelitian ini adalah 138 perusahaan manufaktur Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Fact Book 2013. Hasil pengujian hipotesis menunjukkan bahwa variabel keputusan investasi, kepemilikan manajerial, dan kepemilikan institusional memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap nilai perusahaan. Adapun variabel keputusan pendanaan dan kebijakan dividen tidak memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap nilai perusahaan.
Dampak Faktor-Faktor Demografi Terhadap Kepatuhan Perpajakan di Indonesia
Authors: Pasaribu Ganda Frisno , Tjen Christine
Published: May 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana dampak faktor-faktor demografi terhadap perilaku Kepatuhan Perpajakan. Perilaku kepatuhan perpajakan dilihat dari intensi Wajib Pajak untuk melakukan tax evasion. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara menyebarkan kuesioner dan jumlah sampel sebanyak 304 responden. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa responden laki-laki dan perempuan mempunyai kepatuhan perpajakan yang sama. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada perbedaan kepatuhan perpajakan antara responden yang sudah menikah dengan yang belum menikah. Variabel independen tingkat pendidikan, jenis pekerjaan dan tingkat penghasilan berkorelasi secara signifikan terhadap kepatuhan perpajakan (p < 0,05).
Analisis Implementasi E-audit untuk Pemeriksaan Keuangan Negara Studi pada BPK RI Perwakilan Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta
Authors: Mubiroh Siti
Published: May 2020

Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan (BPK) RI mempunyai peran penting dalam meningkatkan akuntabilitas keuangan negara. Dalam menjalankan tugasnya, BPK menghadapi permasalahan yaitu sumberdaya manusia yang terbatas dan waktu pemeriksaan yang terbilang singkat. Oleh karena itu BPK mengembangkan sistem informasi e-audit dalam pelaksanaan pemeriksaan pengelolaan dan tangungjawab keuangan negara. Penelitian ini menggunakan Model Kesuksesan Sistem Informasi DeLone dan McLean (2003) dengan menggunakan enam komponen yaitu System Quality, Information Quality, Service Quality, Information System Use, User Satisfaction, dan Net Benefits. Perbedaan penelitian ini dengan penelitian sebelumnya adalah penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metoda studi kasus dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui implementasi e-audit secara mendalam. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan snowball sampling. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Informan dalam penelitian ini adalah auditor BPK RI Perwakilan DIY.  Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa fitur pencarian utama dan fitur data antar efektif digunakan dalam proses pemeriksaan keuangan pemerintah daerah, sedangkan fitur LKPD belum efektif digunakan dalam proses pemeriksaan  keuangan pemerintah daerah.Kata Kunci: E-audit, DeLone and McLean Models, Audit Sistem Informasi
IDENTIFIKASI DAN PREVALENSI CACING PADA SALURAN PENCERNAAN IKAN KEMBUNG (Rastrelliger brachysoma) DI PELABUHAN PERIKANAN NUSANTARA BRONDONG, LAMONGAN, JAWA TIMUR
Authors: Herman Muhammad , Mahasri Gunanti , Subekti Sri
Published: May 2020

Tingginya minat masyarakat terhadap ikan laut, mengakibatkan meningkatnya permintaan terhadap ikan kembung (Rastrelliger brachysoma). Ikan kembung merupakan salah satu komoditas yang memiliki nilai ekonomis dan nilai gizi yang cukup tinggi. Ikan kembung tersebut didapatkan dari hasil tangkap para nelayan di wilayah pesisir laut Jawa dan sekitarnya. Akan tetapi ikan ini bisa saja terserang oleh penyakit akibat infeksi dari endoparasit yang disebabkan cacing. Penyakit yang menyerang ikan kembung kemungkinan disebabkan faktor lingkungan menurun sehingga menurunkan daya tahan tubuh, menyebabkan ikan mudah terinfeksi oleh cacing endoparasit seperti halnya Anisakis. Cacing tersebut bersifat zoonosis dan dapat menginfeksi manusia, oleh karena itu dilakukan identifikasi dan prevalensi agar manusia yang mengkonsumsi dapat mengelola ikan dengan benar. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk identifikasi dan mengetahui prevalensi cacing apa saja yang menginfeksi ikan kembung (Rastrelliger brachysoma) dari hasil tangkapan nelayan di Pelabuhan Perikanan Nusantara Brondong, Lamongan. Hasil penelitian dari identifikasi ditemukan larva Anisakis simplex stadium tiga yang menginfeksi di bagian mukosa dan bagian lumen usus ikan kembung, di wilayah Pelabuhan Perikanan Nusantara Brondong, Lamongan dengan total prevalensi cacing Anisakis simplex sebesar 9.6%.
Kualitas Pelayanan pada Perusahaan Transportasi: Realisasi VS Ekspektasi
Authors: Pratama Yogi Adhitya , Firmansyah Egi Arvian
Published: May 2020

This study aims to compare the performance and service expectations from an otobus (PO) company in the city of Bandung. The company is PO Grand Star Holiday Transport. The research is using five dimensions, namely the dimensions of reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibility. The method used in this research is the descriptive method by providing an overview of the level of service quality and the expectations of consumers. The data was collected by the method of field studies conducted by distributing written questionnaires. Based on the results of the study, it is known that the company's service quality is in the good category but it still does not meet the expectations of consumers. In conclution, this reasearch shows that there are things that need to be improved, especially related to the dimensions of empathy and reliability.
Pengaruh Employee Engagement, Pemberdayaan, dan Komitmen Organisasi Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan PT. Toyota Motormanufacturing Indonesia
Authors: Sakeru Adel Christian P , Hermawan Aji , Triyonggo Yunus
Published: May 2020

PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia needs to possess quality and competent human resources in order to face the stiff competition with the continuous growth of similar companies. Human resources development in a company must be well performed and well planned, and one way to do so is by performing evaluations about employee engagement, empowerment, and organisational commitment so that employees’ performance can be improved continuously, which in turn will improve the employees’ prosperity and the company’s profit. The purpose of this research is to analyse the impact of employee engagement, empowerment, and organisational commitment on the employees of PT. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indonesia’s human resources division. The data analysis method utilised in this research is the Structural Equation Model (SEM) with the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method, which uses the SmartPLS software. The result of this research is that empowerment and organisational commitment have a significant and positive impact on employees’ performance. Furthermore, employee engagement and empowerment also have a significant and positive result on organisational commitment. Employee engagement does not have a significant impact on employee performance, but it has a positive impact on employee performance. It shows that employee engagement does not have a direct impact, but it has an indirect impact on employee performance through organisational commitment.
Reduced Vitamin K Status as A Potentially Modifiable Prognostic Risk Factor in COVID-19
Authors: Dofferhoff Anton S.M. , Piscaer Ianthe , Schurgers Leon J. , Walk Jona , van den Ouweland Jody M.W. , Hackeng Tilman M. , de Jong Pim A. , Gosens Reinoud , Lux Petra , van Daal Henny , Maassen Cecile , Maassen Esther G.A. , Kistemaker Loes E.M. , Vermeer Cees , Wouters Emiel F.M. , Janssen Rob
Published: May 2020

Background: A significant proportion of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients develops respiratory failure. Thromboembolism is also prevalent in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Vitamin K plays a role in coagulation and possibly also in lung diseases. We therefore hypothesized that vitamin K is implicated in Covid-19 pathogenesis. Methods: 134 Covid-19 patients and 184 controls were included. Inactive vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein (i.e.dp-ucMGP) and prothrombin (i.e. PIVKA-II) were measured, which are inversely related to respectively extrahepatic and hepatic vitamin K status. Desmosine was measured to quantify elastic fiber degradation. Lung involvement and arterial calcifications severity were assessed by computed tomography. Results Dp-ucMGP was elevated in Covid-19 patients compared to controls (P=0.001). Higher dp-ucMGP was found in Covid-19 patients with poor compared to better outcomes (P=0.002). PIVKA-II was normal in 81.8%, mildly elevated in 14.0% and moderately elevated in 4.1% of Covid-19 patients not using vitamin K antagonists. Dp-ucMGP in Covid-19 patients was correlated with desmosine (P<0.001), thoracic aortic calcification (P<0.001) but not with pneumonia severity. Conclusions: Extrahepatic vitamin K status was severely reduced in Covid-19 patients, as reflected by elevated inactive MGP, and related to poor outcome. Procoagulant prothrombin activity remained preserved in the majority of Covid-19 patients, which is compatible with the increased thrombogenicity that is frequently observed in severe Covid-19. Impaired MGP activation was linked to accelerated elastic fiber degradation and premorbid vascular calcifications. A trial should assess whether increasing MGP and protein S activity by vitamin K administration improves Covid-19 outcomes.
Clinical Performance Analysis and Evaluation of Quantitative Real Time PCR for Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus in North East India
Authors: Paul Diptanu , Lyngdoh W Valarie , Barman Himesh , Lyngdoh Clarissa Jane , Lynrah Kryshanlang , Durairaj Elantamilan
Published: May 2020

Scrub typhus is a life-threatening infectious disease and always creating a diagnostic dilemma in terms of rapid turnaround time and accuracy, qRT PCR can become a very good option to achieve the desired result with the molecular level of accuracy and boost up the rapid patient management. This study was performed to evaluate the performance of qRT PCR in comparison to commonly used IgM ELISA and Weil-Felix tests to diagnose scrub typhus, as well as to look for the demographic and clinical profile of the disease in North-East India. It was a hospital-based prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north-east India, over a period of 1 year, in which all the samples from suspected scrub typhus cases were screened by Weil-Felix test as per institute’s diagnostic protocol after which IgM ELISA for Scrub Typhus was performed. All the IgM positive samples and 20 highly suspected but ELISA negative samples were subjected to qRT PCR, targeting 56 kDa type-specific gene of O. tsutsugamushi. Statistical analysis was done by MS-Excel for Windows v2013® and MedCalc® v17.9 for Windows (MedCalc Software, Acacialaan 22, B-8400 Ostend, Belgium). In this study, we have successfully evaluated the performance of qRT PCR kit for diagnosis of scrub typhus. Out of 54 samples tested, 24 IgM ELISA positive samples and 3 IgM ELISA negative samples have shown the presence of bacterial DNA with quantification of DNA copies. It has also been observed that 21 out of 27 PCR positive samples (77.8%) were detected within the 1st 7 days of illness. All the demographic, as well as clinical data, were also analysed. The performance of the commercial qRT PCR kit used in our study is satisfactory, which provides the extra advantage of quantification of DNA copies and increases diagnostic accuracy within the 1st week of fever.
Increasing Lignin Accumulation in Arabidopsis and Poplar by Overexpressing a CCoAOMT Gene from Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata Baill.)
Authors: Li Jian , Ji Xiaomin , Dong XuJie , Cao Fuxiang , Li Meng
Published: May 2020

Rapid lignification occurring in the endocarp of dove tree results in the formation of a rigid and compact structure, which seriously hinders seed germination. A gene named DiCCoAOMT1, which encodes a hyperactive O-methyltransferase, was identified and thought to play a critical role in the process of endocarp lignification. In this study, the DiCCoAOMT1 gene was introduced into A. thaliana and poplar, respectively, to further verify its function. The lignin content was increased by 45% and 20% in the stems of transgenic A. thaliana and poplar lines, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the expression levels of DiCCoAOMT1 and lignin amount in transgenic lines. Furthermore, the shifts of lignin composition was indicated by the elevated S/G ratio in transgenic poplar lines. Lignin accumulation was promoted specifically in the phloem cells, and the cells in secondary xylem was thickened in transgenic plants. In addition, lengthened pods and elevated plant height, and elongated petioles and internodes were observed in transgenic A. thaliana and poplar lines, respectively. Taken together, our data indicated that an endocarp-specific DiCCoAOMT1 gene could effectively increase lignin accumulation and alter lignin composition in both herbs and woody plants, which provides new insights to understand the regulatory mechanism of lignin biosynthesis and the biological significance of lignification in specific tissues.
The Mass-gap in Quantum Chromodynamics and a Restriction on Gluon Masses
Authors: Larin Sergey.A.
Published: May 2020

We prove that it is necessary to introduce the non-zero gluon masses into the fundamental Lagrangian of Quantum Chromodynamis in order to describe the mass-gap in the reaction of electron-positron annihilation into hadrons. A mew restriction on the gluon masses is obtained. The renormalized theory with non-zero Lagrangian gluon masses is constructed.
Cost-sensitive Ensemble Feature Ranking and Automatic Threshold Selection for Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Imran Ali Syed , Park Gwang Hoon , Lee Sungyoung
Published: May 2020

Automated medical diagnosis is one of the important machine learning applications in the domain of healthcare. In this regard, most of the approaches primarily focus on optimizing the accuracy of classification models. In this research, we argue that unlike general purpose classification problems, medical applications require special treatment. In case of medical diagnosis, apart from model performance other factors such as cost of data acquisition may also be taken into account. Since, models which are relatively expensive to operate would have diminished applicability in the field. Therefore, both performance and cost factors may be considered for designing the automated diagnosis solutions. In this regard, we have proposed two ensemble based cost-sensitive feature ranking techniques which tend to select an optimal feature subset by evaluating the cost-benefit trade-off on benchmarked chronic kidney disease dataset. We have also addressed the issue of automatic threshold selection which is generally faced by feature ranking approaches; hence enhancing the overall applicability of the solution. In this research, the main focus is on the application of decision-tree based classifiers in a cost-effective manner. As a case study, we have selected chronic kidney disease as the application of interest in which we demonstrate that our proposed approaches select features which are both useful and cost-effective. Furthermore, the proposed approaches are also evaluated against a number of comparative techniques and the results are promising.
The Use of Hydrogel-Delivered Extracellular Vesicles in Recovery of Motor Function in Stroke: A Testable Experimental Hypothesis for Clinical Translation including Behavioral and Neuroimaging Assessment Approaches
Authors: Tsintou Magdalini , Dalamagkas Kyriakos , Moore Tara L , Rathi Yogesh , Kubicki Marek , Rosene Douglas L , Makris Nikos
Published: May 2020

Neural tissue engineering, nanotechnology and neuroregeneration are diverse biomedical disciplines that have been working together in recent decades to solve the complex problems linked to central nervous system (CNS) repair. It is known that the CNS demonstrates a very limited regenerative capacity because of a microenvironment that impedes effective regenerative processes, making development of CNS therapeutics challenging. Given the high prevalence of CNS conditions such as stroke that damage the brain and place a severe burden on afflicted individuals and on society, it is of utmost significance to explore the optimum methodologies for finding treatments that could be applied to humans for restoration of function to pre-injury levels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), also known as exosomes, when derived from mesenchymal stem cells, are one of the most promising approaches that have been attempted thus far, as EVs deliver factors that stimulate recovery by acting at the nanoscale level on intercellular communication while avoiding the risks linked to stem cell transplantation. At the same time, advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have offered the potential of using hydrogels as bio-scaffolds in order to provide the stroma required for neural repair to occur, as well as the release of biomolecules facilitating or inducing the reparative processes. This review introduces a novel experimental hypothesis regarding the benefits that could be offered if EVs were to be combined with biocompatible injectable hydrogels. The rationale behind this hypothesis is presented, analyzing how a hydrogel might prolong the retention of EVs and maximize the localized benefit to the brain. This sustained delivery of EVs would be coupled with essential guidance cues and structural support from the hydrogel until neural tissue remodeling and regeneration occur. Finally, the importance of including non-human primate (NHP) models in the clinical translation pipeline, as well as the added benefit of multi-modal neuroimage analysis to establish non-invasive, in vivo, quantifiable imaging-based biomarkers for CNS repair are discussed, aiming for more effective and safe clinical translation of such regenerative therapies to humans.
Nonoperative Treatment of Psoas Tendon Avulsion in a Professional Athlete
Authors: Ejnisman Leandro , Andrade-Silva Fernando Brandao , Pontin Pedro Augusto , Ottoni Jomar Jorge , Magliocca Gustavo Damásio , Safran Marc R
Published: May 2020

Case:

A 36-year-old male professional soccer player sustained an acute left hip injury during a tournament game while defending the goal. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a complete avulsion of the iliopsoas tendon from the left trochanter. The patient was treated nonoperatively, and after 10 weeks, he was able to return to full activity. After 1 year of follow-up, the patient was completely asymptomatic, and was still playing professional soccer without flexion strength deficit.

Conclusion:

In this professional soccer athlete, nonoperative treatment of complete psoas avulsion resulted in a good functional outcome and successful return to play.
Biohackers and Self-Made Problems: Infection of an Implanted RFID/NFC Chip
Authors: Schiffmann Alain , Clauss Martin , Honigmann Philipp
Published: May 2020

Case:

We describe the case of a 26-year-old man with an infected Radio-Frequency-Identification/Near Field Communication (RFID/NFC) chip in the middle finger. The RFID/NFC chip was removed, the soft tissue debrided, and a pan-sensitive staphylococcus aureus was detected by sonication of the RFID/NFC chip. The patient was postoperatively treated with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (24 hours iv, total 11 days) and an intrinsic plus splint which led to complete recovery.

Conclusion:

Modern body modifications can lead to infections which shouldn't be underestimated. Interdisciplinary treatment is a key to success.
Double Level Osteotomy Assisted by 3D Printing Technology in a Patient with Blount Disease
Authors: Gómez-Palomo Juan M. , Meschian-Coretti Stephan , Esteban-Castillo José L. , García-Vera Juan J. , Montañez-Heredia Elvira
Published: May 2020

Case:

We describe the case of a 26-year-old patient diagnosed with Blount disease. She underwent a medial oblique supracondylar biplanar closing-wedge osteotomy of the distal femur followed by a medial oblique biplanar opening-wedge osteotomy of the proximal tibia. 3D printed cutting guides were used for the procedures. At 18 months after surgery, the patient is pain-free and walks without aids.

Conclusions:

Using 3D printed guides allowed for accurate correction of the deformity and reduced the risk of damaging critical structures. These guides could be an appropriate alternative for the surgical treatment of patients with Blount disease.
Nonoperative Treatment of a Pathologic Proximal Tibia Fracture in the Setting of Previous Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Carender Christopher N. , Wynn Malynda S. , Otero Jesse E. , Miller Benjamin J. , Brown Timothy S.
Published: May 2020

Case:

We present the case of a super obese 51-year-old woman with a pathologic fracture of the proximal tibia in the setting of a previous total knee arthroplasty. Imaging demonstrated an osteolytic lesion distal to the keel and pathologic fracture of the proximal tibia. Nonoperative treatment with a 12-week course of nonweight-bearing resulted in fracture healing and ossification of osteolysis.

Conclusion:

Pathologic fractures of the tibia secondary to osteolysis are frequently treated surgically. Patients may benefit from nonoperative management, even in the setting of super morbid obesity and significant osteolysis about the tibial component.
Humeral Head Osteochondral Allograft Reconstruction with Arthroscopic Anterior Shoulder Stabilization at a Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Sochacki Kyle R. , Dillingham Michael F. , Abrams Geoffrey D. , Sherman Seth L. , Donahue Joseph
Published: May 2020

Case:

The authors report a case of recurrent anterior shoulder instability in a 19-year-old man. Intraoperative arthroscopic examination identified Bankart and engaging Hill-Sachs lesions. The patient was treated with humeral head osteochondral allograft reconstruction and concomitant arthroscopic anterior stabilization. At the 14-year follow-up, there was no recurrent instability.

Conclusion:

Humeral head osteochondral allograft reconstruction combined with an arthroscopic anterior stabilization procedure can be successful for recurrent shoulder instability and engaging Hill-Sachs lesion.
Konstruksi Toleransi pada Akun Media Sosial Jaringan Gusdurian
Authors: Dewi Danar Kristiana , Triandika Lulus Sugeng
Published: May 2020

The role of tolerance is very important amid issues of division and radicalism. The spread of information on radicalism and extremism was met with resistance by many social organizations. They counter the issues of extremism and radicalism spread in society with issues of tolerance. This study aims to determine how tolerance messages are constructed on social media, especially on the Instagram account of Jaringan Gusdurian. This research employs qualitative approach with Entmant framing analysis techniques. Findings reveal that tolerance is constructed as a key to peace and unity in Indonesia. The problem of intolerance is caused by extremism. The moral values that legitimize tolerance are friendly religious Islam, solidarity transcendental insight of the Indonesian people. While the solutions offered to solve the problem of tolerance are caring for diversity and implementing the values of Pancasila in everyday life.Keywords: Framing analysis, Instagram, social media, and tolerance.
MOBILE HOME FOR PHOLADOID BORING BIVALVES: FIRST EXAMPLE FROM A LATE CRETACEOUS SEA TURTLE IN HOKKAIDO JAPAN
Authors: SATO KEI , JENKINS ROBERT G.
Published: May 2020

Trace fossils preserved in fossilized tissues provide a key resource for exploring the paleoecology of past ecosystems. Endobiont organisms are commonplace in modern ecosystems, but their trace fossils on vertebrates are rare as the organisms usually attack or attach to soft tissue. Here, we report the novel occurrence of flask-shaped boreholes representing the ichnotaxon Karethraichnus n. isp. in the carapace of the basal leatherback sea turtle Mesodermochelys sp. from the Upper Cretaceous of northern Japan. The distribution of the boreholes was determined by observing the carapace surface. Using X-ray computed tomography, we were also able to produce a 3D reconstruction of the whole carapace and examine a cross section of a borehole to analyze the histological aspects of the bone. In total, 43 holes were observed, 12 holes contained probable pholadoid bivalves, and 32 holes were not bored entirely through the carapace. Some of the bivalves found in the holes are larger than the aperture of the hole, suggesting that they continued to grow during boring. The holes are hemispherical to clavate in shape and developed on the exterior side of the carapace. Healing traces, i.e., repairing of bone, can be observed at the surface of the holes. Our observations strongly suggest that these pits were bored by pholadoid bivalves while the turtle was alive. This is the first report of the behavior of boring bivalves as sea-turtle endobionts boring into a unique free-living, i.e., “swimming substrate”.
Large mid-upper arm circumference is associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly individuals: a community-based study
Authors: Shi Jie , Yang Zhen , Niu Yixin , Zhang Weiwei , Li Xiaoyong , Zhang Hongmei , Lin Ning , Gu Hongxia , Wen Jie , Ning Guang , Qin Li , Su Qing
Published: May 2020

Background The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a proxy for subcutaneous fat in the upper body and is a reliable screening measure for identifying individuals with abnormal regional fat distribution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between MUAC and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Methods We measured the MUAC in a cross-sectional sample with a total of 9787 subjects aged 40 years and older. The measurement of MUAC is performed on the right arm using a non‐elastic tape held midway between the acromion and the olecranon processes in duplicate, with the arm hanging loosely at the side of the body. The MetS was defined according to the Joint Statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. Results MUAC was positively correlated with waist circumference (r=0.437, P<0.001), BMI (r=0.334, P<0.001), fasting insulin (r=0.348, P<0.001), HOMA-IR (r=0.134, P< 0.001), triglycerides (r=0.138, P<0.001), SBP (r=0.124, P< 0.001), and DBP (r= 0.123, P<0.001), and inversely correlated with adiponectin (r=-0.147, P < 0.001) and HDL-cholesterol (r=-0.176, P<0.001) after adjusting for age and gender. Compared with the lowest quartile group, the odds ratios were substantially higher for MetS (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.51-2.09, P for trend<0.001) in the highest MUAC quartile group after adjustment for potential cofounder. Conclusion Large mid-upper arm circumference is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly individuals .
Identification of an Autophagy-Related Gene Signature that Can Improve Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Huo Xingxing , Qi Jian , Huang Kaiquan , Bu Su , Yao Wei , Chen Ying , Nie Jinfu
Published: May 2020

Background: Autophagy is a programmed cell degradation mechanism that has been associated with several physiological and pathophysiological processes, including malignancy. Improper induction of autophagy has been proposed to play a pivotal role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods: Univariate Cox regression analysis of overall survival (OS) was performed to identify risk-associated autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in HCC data set from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Multivariate cox regression was then performed to develop a risk prediction model for the prognosis of 370 HCC patients. The multi-target receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the model’s accuracy. Besides, the relationship between drug sensitivity and ARGs expression was also examined.Results: A total of 62 differentially expressed ARGs were identified in HCC patients. Univariate and multivariate regression identified five risk-associated ARGs (HDAC1, RHEB, ATIC, SPNS1 and SQSTM1) that were correlated with OS in HCC patients. Of importance, the risk-associated ARGs were independent risk factors in the multivariate risk model including clinical parameters such as malignant stage (HR=1.433, 95% CI=1.293-1.589, P<0.001). In addition, the area under curve for the prognostic risk model was 0.747, which indicates the high accuracy of the model in prediction of HCC outcomes. Interestingly, the risk-associated ARGs were also correlated with drug sensitivity in HCC cell lines.Conclusions: We developed a novel prognostic risk model by integrating the molecular signature and clinical parameters of HCC, which can effectively predict the outcomes of HCC patients.
The impact of informing diagnosis on quality of life in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wan Miao , Luo Xianggui , Wang Juan , MVOGO Louis.B NDZANA , Chang Chen , Li Zhenfen , Zhang Jianglin
Published: May 2020

Objective To assess the impact of informing diagnosis and disease status on the quality of life in patients with cancer Method We searched the follow databases, Pubmed, CENTRAL(Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), PsycINFO, WEB OF SCIENCE, Embase, CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature database), WANFANG database (Chinese Medicine Premier), and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure). And the terms used are as follows: neoplasm, cancer, tumour, tumor, carcinoma, disclosure, truth telling, breaking bad news, knowledge, knowing, awareness, quality of life, QOL. Pairs of reviewers independently screened documents and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was conducted by Revman 5.0 software. Results There were 11740 records retrieved from databases and 23 studies were included finally. Meta-analysis of informed and uniformed cancer patients revealed no differences in both the general quality of life and symptoms of fatigue, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss and diarrhea (P>0.05). Additionally, no difference in physical function, role function, cognitive activity and emotional function between the above 2 groups(P>0.05) were found. On the vitality area, the patients who were totally informed about their diagnosis had higher vitality than the uniformed patients. However, patients aware about their illnesses seemed to get lower scores in social function. Between the partly informed of the diagnosis and uninformed cancer patients, there were no differences in general quality of life, function domains and disease-related symptoms (P>0.05). Conclusion Informing the cancer patients their diagnosis may not have a bad effect on their quality of life. PROSPERO registration number CRD42017060073.
Overexpression of IκBα in cardiomyocytes alleviates hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis and autophagy through inhibiting NF-κB activation
Authors: Han Min , Chen Xiao-Cui , Sun Ming-Hui , Gai Min-Tao , Yang Yi-Ning , Gao Xiao-Ming , Ma Xiang , Chen Bang-Dang , Ma Yi-Tong
Published: May 2020

Background: Inflammation and oxidative stress play a predominant role in the initiation and progression of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, of which nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a crucial mediator. Overexpression of the inhibitor of κB alpha (IκBα) gene is hypothesized to have protective effects against apoptosis and autophagy in cardiomyocytes subjected to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.Methods: The IκBαS32A, S36A gene was transfected via adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) delivery into neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) prior to H2O2 treatment. NRVMs were divided into control, H2O2, GFP +H2O2, IκBα+H2O2, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)+H2O2 groups. Nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit was evaluated by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Cell viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Supernatant lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to identify H2O2-stimulated cytotoxicity. Apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-PE/7-AAD staining, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was detected by JC-1 staining. Western blot was used to detect apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins.Results: IκBα transfection significantly increased cell viability and ΔΨm, but decreased the supernatant LDH and cellular MDA levels in cardiomyocytes exposed to H2O2. Meanwhile, IκBα overexpression decreased H2O2-induced apoptosis by upregulating the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and reduced autophagy by downregulating the expression of Beclin-1 and the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio. These effects partly accounted for the ability of IκBα to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway, as evidenced by decreases in p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Indeed, the effects of inactivation of NF-κB signaling with the specific inhibitor, PDTC, resembled the cardioprotective effects of IκBα during H2O2 stimulation.Conclusion: IκBα overexpression can ameliorate H2O2-induced apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative injury, and ΔΨm loss through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that IκBα transfection can successfully resist oxidative stress-induced damage through inhibiting NF-κB activation, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for prevention of myocardial I/R injury.
The Impact of an Audience Response System on a summative Assessment, a controlled Field Study
Authors: Schmidt Thorsten , Gazou Anastasia , Riess Angelika , Riess Olaf , Grundmann-Hauser Kathrin , Falb Ruth , Schadeck Malou , Heinrich Tilman , Abeditashi Mahkameh , Schmidt Jana , Mau-Holzmann Ulrike , Schnabel Kai
Published: May 2020

Background Audience response systems allow to activate the audience and to receive a direct feedback of participants during lectures. Modern systems do not require any proprietary hardware anymore. Students can directly respond on their smartphone. Several studies reported about a high level of satisfaction of students when audience response systems are used, however their impact on learning success is still unclear. Methods In order to evaluate the impact of an audience response system on the learning success we implemented the audience response system eduVote into a seminar series and performed a controlled crossover study on its impact on assessments. 154 students in nine groups were taught the same content. In four groups, eduVote was integrated for the first topic while five groups were taught this topic without the audience response systems. For a second topic, the groups were switched: Those groups who were taught before using eduVote were now taught without the audience response system and vice versa. We then analysed the impact of the audience response system on the students’ performance in a summative assessment and specifically focused on questions dealing with the topic, for which the audience response system was used during teaching. We further assessed the students’ perception on the use of eduVote using questionnaires. Results In our controlled crossover study we could not confirm an impact of the audience response system eduVote on long-term persistence i.e. the students’ performance in the summative assessment. Our evaluation revealed that students assessed the use of eduVote very positively, felt stronger engaged and better motivated to deal with the respective topics and would prefer their integration into additional courses as well. In particular we identified that students who feel uncomfortable with answering questions in front of others profit from the use of an audience response system during teaching. Conclusions Audience response systems motivate and activate students and increase their engagement during classes. However, their impact on long-term persistence and summative assessments may be limited. Audience response systems, however, specifically allow activating students which cannot be reached by the traditional way of asking questions without such an anonymous tool.
Malaria outbreak investigation in a rural area south of Zimbabwe: a case-control study
Authors: Mundagowa Paddington Tinashe , Chimberengwa Pugie T.
Published: May 2020

Background Ninety percent of the global annual malaria mortality cases emanate from the African region. About 80-90% of malaria transmissions in sub-Saharan Africa occur indoors during the night. In Zimbabwe, 79% of the population are at risk of contracting the disease. Although the country has made significant progress towards malaria elimination, isolated seasonal outbreaks persistently resurface. In 2017, Beitbridge District was experiencing a second malaria outbreak within twelve months prompting the need for investigating the outbreak.Methods An unmatched 1:1 case-control study was conducted to establish the risk factors associated with contracting malaria in Ward 6 of Beitbridge District from week 36 to week 44 of 2017. The sample size constituted of 75 randomly selected cases and 75 purposively selected controls. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and Epi Info version 7.2.1.0 was used to conduct descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses of the factors associated with contracting malaria.Results Fifty-two percent of the cases were females and the mean age of cases was 29±13 years. Cases were diagnosed using rapid diagnosed tests. Sleeping in a house with open eaves (OR: 2.97; 95%CI: 1.44-6.16; p<0.01), spending the evenings outdoors (OR: 2.24; 95%CI: 1.04-4.85; p=0.037) and sleeping in a poorly constructed house (OR: 4.33; 95%CI: 1.97-9.51; p<0.01) were significantly associated with contracting malaria while closing eaves was protective (OR:0.45; 95%CI: 0.20-1.02; p=0.055). After using backward stepwise logistic regression, sleeping in a poorly constructed house was associated with five-fold odds of getting sick from malaria (AOR: 8.40 ; 95%CI: 1.69-41.66; p=0.009). Those who had mosquito nets did not use them consistently. The district health team and the rural health center were well prepared to response despite having limited human resources.Conclusion Health promotion messages should emphasize the importance of closing the entry points of the malaria vector, and the construction of better houses in the future. Residents had to be educated in the importance of consistent use of mosquito nets. The district had to improve malaria preventive measures like distribution of mosquito nets and lobby for more human resources to assist with malaria surveillance thus, curbing the recurrence of malaria outbreaks.
Dissection of the genetic basis of oil content in Chinese peanut cultivars through association mapping
Authors: Liu Nian , Huang Li , Chen Weigang , Wu Bei , Pandey Manish K. , Luo Huaiyong , Zhou Xiaojing , Guo Jianbin , Chen Haiwen , Huai Dongxin , Chen Yuning , Lei Yong , Liao Boshou , Ren Xiaoping , Varshney Rajeev K. , Jiang Huifang
Published: May 2020

Background: Peanut is one of the primary sources for vegetable oil worldwide, and enhancing oil content is the main objective in several peanut breeding programs of the world. Tightly linked markers are required for faster development of high oil content peanut varieties through genomics-assisted breeding (GAB), and association mapping is one of the promising approaches for discovery of such associated markers. Results: An association mapping panel consisting of 292 peanut varieties extensively distributed in China was phenotyped for oil content and genotyped with 583 polymorphic SSR markers. These markers amplified 3663 alleles with an average of 6.28 alleles per locus. The structure, phylogenetic relationship, and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated two subgroups majorly differentiating based on geographic regions. Genome-wide association analysis identified 12 associated markers including one (AGGS1014_2) highly stable association controlling up to 9.94% phenotypic variance explained (PVE) across multiple environments. Interestingly, the frequency of the favorable alleles for 12 associated markers showed a geographic difference. Two associated markers (AGGS1014_2 and AHGS0798) with 6.90-9.94% PVE were verified to enhance oil content in an independent RIL population and also indicated selection during the breeding program. Conclusion: This study provided insights into the genetic basis of oil content in peanut and verified highly associated two SSR markers to facilitate marker-assisted selection for developing high-oil content breeding peanut varieties.
Brassicaceous roots as an unexpected diversity hot-spot of helotialean endophytes
Authors: Macia-Vicente Jose G , Piepenbring Meike , Koukol Ondřej
Published: May 2020

A high number of fungal strains were isolated from roots of Brassicaceae species collected across western and southern Europe, resulting in an unexpectedly rich collection of Cadophora species. These isolates enable us to present a new and comprehensive view of the ecological, morphological, and phylogenetic traits of root-inhabiting members of this helotialean genus. We provide phylogenetic placement of all of our isolates based on a four-gene dataset, analyze their phenotypic traits in relation to their phylogenetic relationships, and infer the potential distribution ranges of the species by sequence comparisons with available databases. We consider seven well supported phylogenetic lineages as species new to science. Six further lineages probably also represent new species but remain undescribed due to the lack of diagnostic morphological characters. Our results show that Cadophora , as currently circumscribed, is paraphyletic and encompasses a broad spectrum of morphologies and lifestyles. Among the new species, only two ( C. ferruginea and C. constrictospora ) form phialides and conidia typical of Cadophora , three species ( C. echinata , C. gamsii and C. variabilis ) produce chains of swollen hyphal segments that may function as holoblastic conidia, and one species ( C. fascicularis ) produces chains of holoblastic ramoconidia and conidia. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis suggests that phialidic conidiogenesis evolved several times in Cadophora sensu lato from a putatively holoblastic common ancestor. Most Cadophora lineages are rare as estimated from the availability of sequence data, in spite of having relatively wide distribution ranges, whereas five lineages may represent endemic relationships given their restricted distributions. Our dataset, probably the most comprehensive available for Cadophora , nevertheless shows knowledge gaps concerning the phylogenetic relationships within this genus and highlights a need for further investigation.
GhCIPK6 Increases Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Upland Cotton by Involving in ROS Scavenging and MAPK Signaling Pathways
Authors: Su Ying , Guo Anhui , Huang Yi , Wang Yumei , Hua Jinping
Published: May 2020

Background: Salt stress is one of the most damaging abiotic stresses in production of Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ). Upland cotton is defined as a medium salt-tolerant crop. Salinity hinders root development, shoots growth, and reduces the fiber quality. Results: Our previous study verified a GhCIPK6 gene response to salt stress in G. hirsutum . The homologs of GhCIPK6 were analyzed in A 2 ( G. arboreum ), D 5 ( G . raimondii ), and AD 1 ( G . hirsutum ) genomes. GhCIPK6 localized to the vacuole and cell membrane. The GhCBL1-GhCIPK6 and GhCBL8-GhCIPK6 complexes localized to the nucleus and cytomembrane. Overexpression of GhCIPK6 enhanced expression levels of co-expressed genes induced by salt stress, which scavenged ROS and involved in MAPK signaling pathways verified by RNA-seq analysis. Water absorption capacity and cell membrane stability of seeds from GhCIPK6 overexpressed lines was higher than that of wild-type seeds during imbibed germination stage. The seed germination rates and seedling field emergence percentages of GhCIPK6 overexpressed lines were higher than that of control line under salt stress. Moreover, overexpressing of GhCIPK6 in cotton increased lint percentage, and fiber length uniformity under salt stress. Conclusions: We verified the function of GhCIPK6 by transformation and RNA-seq analysis. GhCIPK6 overexpressed lines exhibited higher tolerance to abiotic stresses, which functioned by involving in ROS scavenging and MAPK pathways. Therefore, GhCIPK6 has the potential for cotton breeding to improve stress-tolerance.
The Molecular Pathogenesis of Trichilemmal Carcinoma
Authors: Ha Jeong Hyun , Lee Cheol , Lee Kyu Sang , Pak Chang-sik , Sun Choong-Hyun , Koh Youngil , Chang Hak
Published: May 2020

Background: Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is an extremely rare hair follicle tumor. We aimed to explore the genetic abnormalities involved in TC to gain insight into its molecular pathogenesis.Methods: Data from patients diagnosed with TC within a 12-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Genomic DNA isolated from a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue block was sequenced and explored for a panel of cancer genes.Results: DNA was extracted from the FFPE tissue of four patients (50% female; mean age, 51.5 years) diagnosed with TC for analysis. The tumor was located in the head and neck of three patients and in the shoulder of one patient. TP53 mutations (p.Arg213*, p.Arg249Trp, and p.Arg248Gln) were found in three patients. Fusions previously identified in melanoma were detected in two patients (TACC3-FGFR3 and ROS1-GOPC fusions). Other mutations found included NF1-truncating mutation (Arg1362*), NRAS mutation (p.Gln61Lys), TOP1 amplification, and PTEN deletion. Overall, genetic changes found in TC resemble that of other skin cancers, suggesting similar pathogenesis. All patients with TP53 mutations had aggressive clinical course, two who died (OS 93 and 36 months), and one who experienced recurrent relapse.Conclusions: We reported the genomic variations found in TC, which may give insight into the molecular pathogenesis. Overall, genetic changes found in TC resembled that of other skin cancers, suggesting similar pathogenesis. TP53 mutations was were identified in patients who had an aggressive clinical course. Genetic alterations identified may further suggest the potential treatment options of TC.