bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive analysis of sialolith proteins and the clinical implications
Authors: Busso Carlos S. , Guidry Jessie J. , Gonzalez Jhanis J. , Zorba Vassilia , Son Leslie S. , Winsauer Peter J. , Walvekar Rohan R.
Published: March 2020

Background

Sialolithiasis or salivary gland stones are associated with high clinical morbidity. The advances in the treatment of sialolithiasis has been limited, however, by our understanding of their composition. More specifically, there is little information regarding the formation and composition of the protein matrix, the role of mineralogical deposition, or the contributions of cell epithelium and secretions from the salivary glands. A better understanding of these stone characteristics could pave the way for future non-invasive treatment strategies.

Methods

Twenty-nine high-quality ductal stone samples were analyzed. The preparation included successive washings to avoid contamination from saliva and blood. The sialoliths were macerated in liquid nitrogen and the maceration was subjected to a sequential, four-step, protein extraction. The four fractions were pooled together, and a standardized aliquot was subjected to tandem liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). The data output was subjected to a basic descriptive statistical analysis for parametric confirmation and a subsequent G.O.-KEGG data base functional analysis and classification for biological interpretation.

Results

The LC–MS output detected 6934 proteins, 824 of which were unique for individual stones. An example of our sialolith protein data is available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD012422. More important, the sialoliths averaged 53% homology with bone-forming proteins that served as a standard comparison, which favorably compared with 62% homology identified among all sialolith sample proteins. The non-homologous protein fraction had a highly variable protein identity. The G.O.-KEGG functional analysis indicated that extracellular exosomes are a primary cellular component in sialolithiasis. Light and electron microscopy also confirmed the presence of exosomal-like features and the presence of intracellular microcrystals.

Conclusion

Sialolith formation presents similarities with the hyperoxaluria that forms kidney stones, which suggests the possibility of a common origin. Further verification of a common origin could fundamentally change the way in which lithiasis is studied and treated.
Identification of differentially expressed circulating exosomal lncRNAs in IgA nephropathy patients
Authors: Guo Na , Zhou Qin , Huang Xiang , Yu Jianwen , Han Qianqian , Nong Baoting , Xiong Yuanyan , Liang Peifen , Li Jiajia , Feng Min , Lv Jun , Yang Qiongqiong
Published: March 2020

Background

Although immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the foremost primary glomerular disease, treatment of IgAN is still in infancy. Non-invasive biomarkers are urgently needed for IgAN diagnosis. We investigate the difference in expression profiles of exosomal long non-coding-RNAs (lncRNAs) in plasma from IgAN patients compared with their healthy first-degree relatives, which may reveal novel non-invasive IgAN biomarkers.

Methods

We isolated exosomes from the plasma of both IgAN patients and their healthy first-degree relatives. High-throughput RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate lncRNA expression profiles. Pathway enrichment analysis was used to predict their nearest protein-coding genes.

Results

lncRNA-G21551 was significantly down-regulated in IgAN patients. Interestingly, the nearest protein-coding gene of lncRNA-G21551 was found to be encoding the low affinity receptor of the Fc segment of immunoglobulin G (FCGR3B).

Conclusions

Exosomal lncRNA-G21551, with FCGR3B as the nearest protein-coding gene, was down-regulated in IgAN patients, indicating its potential to serve as a non-invasive biomarker for IgAN.
Widespread occurrence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi’ in elm species in Germany
Authors: Schneider Bernd , Kätzel Ralf , Kube Michael
Published: March 2020

Background

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi’ is the agent associated with elm yellows and has been categorised in the European Union as a quarantine pathogen. For central and northern European countries, information on the occurrence and distribution of the pathogen and its impact on elms is scarce, so a survey of native elm trees has been conducted in Germany.

Results

About 6500 samples from Ulmus minor, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus glabra, were collected nationwide. Phytoplasma detection was performed by applying a universal 16Sr DNA-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay and a novel ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ specific qPCR assay targeting the 16S–23S spacer region. Both assays revealed that 28% of the samples were infected by ‘Ca. P. ulmi’, but infection rates of the elm species and regional incidences differed. The phytoplasma presence in the trees was not correlated to disease-specific symptoms. The survey identified a regional disparity of infection which was high in east, south and central Germany, whereas only a few infected sites were found in the western and northern parts of the country. Monitoring the seasonal titre of ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ in an infected tree by qPCR revealed a high colonisation in all parts of the tree throughout the year.

Conclusions

‘Ca. P. ulmi’ is widely present in elms in Germany. The rare occurrence of symptoms indicates either a high degree of tolerance in elm populations or a low virulence of pathogen strains enabling high infection rates in a long-living host.
Impact of perioperative hemodynamic optimization therapies in surgical patients: economic study and meta-analysis
Authors: Silva-Jr João M. , Menezes Pedro Ferro L. , Lobo Suzana M. , de Carvalho Flávia Helena S. , de Oliveira Mariana Augusta N. , Cardoso Filho Francisco Nilson F. , Fernando Bruna N. , Carmona Maria Jose C. , Teich Vanessa D. , Malbouisson Luiz Marcelo S.
Published: March 2020

Background

Several studies suggest that hemodynamic optimization therapies can reduce complications, the length of hospital stay and costs. However, Brazilian data are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this analysis was to evaluate whether the improvement demonstrated by hemodynamic optimization therapy in surgical patients could result in lower costs from the perspective of the Brazilian public unified health system.

Methods

A meta-analysis was performed comparing surgical patients who underwent hemodynamic optimization therapy (intervention) with patients who underwent standard therapy (control) in terms of complications and hospital costs. The cost-effectiveness analysis evaluated the clinical and financial benefits of hemodynamic optimization protocols for surgical patients. The analysis considered the clinical outcomes of randomized studies published in the last 20 years that involved surgeries and hemodynamic optimization therapy. Indirect costs (equipment depreciation, estate and management activities) were not included in the analysis.

Results

A total of 21 clinical trials with a total of 4872 surgical patients were selected. Comparison of the intervention and control groups showed lower rates of infectious (RR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.58–0.74), renal (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.54–0.87), and cardiovascular (RR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.76–0.99) complications and a nonstatistically significant lower rate of respiratory complications (RR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.67–1.02). There was no difference in mortality (RR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.80–1.3) between groups. In the analysis of total costs, the intervention group showed a cost reduction of R$396,024.83-BRL ($90,161.38-USD) for every 1000 patients treated compared to the control group. The patients in the intervention group showed greater effectiveness, with 1.0 fewer days in the intensive care unit and hospital. In addition, there were 333 fewer patients with complications, with a consequent reduction of R$1,630,341.47-BRL ($371,173.27-USD) for every 1000 patients treated.

Conclusions

Hemodynamic optimization therapy is cost-effective and would increase the efficiency of and decrease the burden of the Brazilian public health system.
Lebanese students’ motivation in medical school: does it change throughout the years? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Sarkis Anne-Sophie , Hallit Souheil , Hajj Aline , Kechichian Anthony , Karam Sarkis Dolla , Sarkis Antoine , Nasser Ayoub Eliane
Published: March 2020

Background

Students entering medical school are driven by different types of motivation: autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, or amotivation. Motivation types can influence students’ performance, outcome and well-being. To our knowledge, this topic has never been studied in Lebanese medical students. This study aims to identify students’ motivation types in the first 5 years of medical school at two Lebanese universities (USJ and USEK). It also aims to determine the predominant motivation type of the whole sample. Results may be the first step towards raising awareness about this topic and implementing actions that enhance autonomous motivation.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed between January and June 2017. A questionnaire was sent to medical students by e-mail. The students’ academic motivation was assessed using the Academic Motivation Scale.

Results

A higher mean autonomous motivation score was found in each academic year, as compared to the mean controlled motivation and amotivation scores. The highest mean autonomous motivation score was seen among second year students, whereas the lowest score was noted in fifth year students. The highest scores for controlled motivation and amotivation belonged to the fourth-year students, and the lowest to the first-year students. Students who were still satisfied with medical studies had a higher autonomous motivation score. Finally, USJ students who were satisfied with their second year training had a higher mean autonomous motivation score than those who were not.

Conclusion

This study showed high levels of autonomous motivation in the first five years of medical school. Autonomous motivation was the predominant type in the whole sample. The highest scores of controlled motivation and amotivation were noted in the fourth year. Moreover, high levels of self-determination were seen in students who enjoyed their early contacts with patients through trainings. Actions should be implemented in medical schools to enhance and maintain autonomous motivation, and consequently students’ outcome and health-care quality.
Should the PBL tutor be present? A cross-sectional study of group effectiveness in synchronous and asynchronous settings
Authors: Edelbring Samuel , Alehagen Siw , Mörelius Evalotte , Johansson AnnaKarin , Rytterström Patrik
Published: March 2020

Background

The tutorial group and its dynamics are a cornerstone of problem-based learning (PBL). The tutor’s support varies according to the setting, and it is pertinent to explore group effectiveness in relation to different settings, for example online or campus-based. The PBL groups’ effectiveness can partly be assessed in terms of cognitive and motivational aspects, using a self-report tool to measure PBL group effectiveness, the Tutorial Group Effectiveness Instrument (TGEI).

This study’s aim was to explore tutor participation in variations of online and campus-based tutorial groups in relation to group effectiveness. A secondary aim was to validate a tool for assessing tutorial group effectiveness in a Swedish context.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with advanced-level nursing students studying to become specialised nurses or midwives at a Swedish university. The TGEI was used to measure motivational and cognitive aspects in addition to overall group effectiveness. The instrument’s items were translated into Swedish and refined with an expert group and students. The responses were calculated descriptively and compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests. A psychometric evaluation was performed using the Mokken scale analysis. The subscale scores were compared between three different tutor settings: the tutor present face-to-face in the room, the tutor present online and the consultant tutor not present in the room and giving support asynchronously.

Results

All the invited students (n = 221) participated in the study. There were no differences in motivational or cognitive aspects between students with or without prior PBL experience, nor between men and women. Higher scores were identified on cognitive aspects (22.6, 24.6 and 21.3; p < 0.001), motivational aspects (26.3, 27 and 24.5; p = 002) and group effectiveness (4.1, 4.3, 3.8, p = 0.02) for the two synchronously tutored groups compared to the asynchronously tutored group. The TGEI subscales showed adequate homogeneity.

Conclusions

The tutor’s presence is productive for PBL group effectiveness. However, the tutor need not be in the actual room but can provide support in online settings as long as the tutoring is synchronous.
Postoperative pain pathophysiology and treatment strategies after CRS + HIPEC for peritoneal cancer
Authors: Wang Xiao , Li Tianzuo
Published: March 2020

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a treatment choice for peritoneal cancer. However, patients commonly suffer from severe postoperative pain. The pathophysiology of postoperative pain is considered to be from both nociceptive and neuropathic origins.

Main body

The recent advances on the etiology of postoperative pain after CRS + HIPEC treatment were described, and the treatment strategy and outcomes were summarized.

Conclusion

Conventional analgesics could provide short-term symptomatic relief. Thoracic epidural analgesia combined with opioids administration could be an effective treatment choice. In addition, a transversus abdominis plane block could also be an alternative option, although further studies should be performed.
Hemodynamic changes after spinal anesthesia in preeclamptic patients undergoing cesarean section at a tertiary referral center in Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Alemayehu Tikuneh Yetneberk , Berhe Yophetah Woldegerima , Getnet Habtamu , Molallign Mamaru
Published: March 2020

Background

Spinal anesthesia-induced maternal hypotension is the most frequent complication associated with maternal morbidity and mortality during Cesarean section. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence and magnitude of hemodynamic changes in preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic parturients undergone Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

Method

A prospective cohort study was conducted from 01 February to 28 May 2019 in preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic parturients. We hypothesized preeclamptic parturients are at high risk of spinal anesthesia induced hypotension than non preeclamptics. A total of 122 ASA II and ASA III parturients were recruited consecutively and assigned to two groups (81non-preeclamptics, and 41 preeclamptics). Parturients with cardiac disease, twin pregnancy, chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, superimposed hypertension, renal disease, diabetes mellitus, coagulopathy (platelet count < 80 × 109/L), active labor, eclampsia, abruptio placentae, placenta praevia, any adjuvant added with local anesthetics were excluded. The data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 statistical software. Student t test, MannWhitney U test and Fisher exact test were used to compare the data. AllPvalues < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Result

The incidence of spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension was higher in non-preeclamptic parturients than preeclamptic parturients (55.6% vs. 34.1%, respectively) and the degree of blood pressure drop was significantly greater in the non-preeclamptic parturients compared to those with preeclampsia; As well intraoperative fluid consumption was significantly greater in the non-preeclamptics parturients compared to those with preeclamptics.

Conclusion

The incidence and magnitude of spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension in parturients undergone Cesarean section were less in preeclamptic parturients than in non-preeclamptic parturients.. Based on the data from this study we recommended spinal anesthesia for preeclamptic patients, unless there is a contra indication based on preeclampsia.
CRISPRi-based radiation modifier screen identifies long non-coding RNA therapeutic targets in glioma
Authors: Liu S. John , Malatesta Martina , Lien Brian V. , Saha Parna , Thombare Shivani S. , Hong Sung Jun , Pedraza Leslie , Koontz Mark , Seo Kyounghee , Horlbeck Max A. , He Daniel , Birk Harjus S. , Jain Miten , Olsen Hugh E. , Akeson Mark , Weissman Jonathan S. , Monje Michelle , Gupta Nalin , Raleigh David R. , Ullian Erik M. , Lim Daniel A.
Published: March 2020

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exhibit highly cell type-specific expression and function, making this class of transcript attractive for targeted cancer therapy. However, the vast majority of lncRNAs have not been tested as potential therapeutic targets, particularly in the context of currently used cancer treatments. Malignant glioma is rapidly fatal, and ionizing radiation is part of the current standard-of-care used to slow tumor growth in both adult and pediatric patients.

Results

We use CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) to screen 5689 lncRNA loci in human glioblastoma (GBM) cells, identifying 467 hits that modify cell growth in the presence of clinically relevant doses of fractionated radiation. Thirty-three of these lncRNA hits sensitize cells to radiation, and based on their expression in adult and pediatric gliomas, nine of these hits are prioritized as lncRNA Glioma Radiation Sensitizers (lncGRS). Knockdown of lncGRS-1, a primate-conserved, nuclear-enriched lncRNA, inhibits the growth and proliferation of primary adult and pediatric glioma cells, but not the viability of normal brain cells. Using human brain organoids comprised of mature neural cell types as a three-dimensional tissue substrate to model the invasive growth of glioma, we find that antisense oligonucleotides targeting lncGRS-1 selectively decrease tumor growth and sensitize glioma cells to radiation therapy.

Conclusions

These studies identify lncGRS-1 as a glioma-specific therapeutic target and establish a generalizable approach to rapidly identify novel therapeutic targets in the vast non-coding genome to enhance radiation therapy.
Multimodular fused acetyl–feruloyl esterases from soil and gut Bacteroidetes improve xylanase depolymerization of recalcitrant biomass
Authors: Kmezik Cathleen , Bonzom Cyrielle , Olsson Lisbeth , Mazurkewich Scott , Larsbrink Johan
Published: March 2020

Background

Plant biomass is an abundant and renewable carbon source that is recalcitrant towards both chemical and biochemical degradation. Xylan is the second most abundant polysaccharide in biomass after cellulose, and it possesses a variety of carbohydrate substitutions and non-carbohydrate decorations which can impede enzymatic degradation by glycoside hydrolases. Carbohydrate esterases are able to cleave the ester-linked decorations and thereby improve the accessibility of the xylan backbone to glycoside hydrolases, thus improving the degradation process. Enzymes comprising multiple catalytic glycoside hydrolase domains on the same polypeptide have previously been shown to exhibit intramolecular synergism during degradation of biomass. Similarly, natively fused carbohydrate esterase domains are encoded by certain bacteria, but whether these enzymes can result in similar synergistic boosts in biomass degradation has not previously been evaluated.

Results

Two carbohydrate esterases with similar architectures, each comprising two distinct physically linked catalytic domains from families 1 (CE1) and 6 (CE6), were selected from xylan-targeting polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) encoded by the Bacteroidetes species Bacteroides ovatus and Flavobacterium johnsoniae. The full-length enzymes as well as the individual catalytic domains showed activity on a range of synthetic model substrates, corn cob biomass, and Japanese beechwood biomass, with predominant acetyl esterase activity for the N-terminal CE6 domains and feruloyl esterase activity for the C-terminal CE1 domains. Moreover, several of the enzyme constructs were able to substantially boost the performance of a commercially available xylanase on corn cob biomass (close to twofold) and Japanese beechwood biomass (up to 20-fold). Interestingly, a significant improvement in xylanase biomass degradation was observed following addition of the full-length multidomain enzyme from B. ovatus versus the addition of its two separated single domains, indicating an intramolecular synergy between the esterase domains. Despite high sequence similarities between the esterase domains from B. ovatus and F. johnsoniae, their addition to the xylanolytic reaction led to different degradation patterns.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that multidomain carbohydrate esterases, targeting the non-carbohydrate decorations on different xylan polysaccharides, can considerably facilitate glycoside hydrolase-mediated hydrolysis of xylan and xylan-rich biomass. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time a synergistic effect between the two fused catalytic domains of a multidomain carbohydrate esterase.
What evidence exists for the impact of Baltic Sea ecosystems on human health and well-being? A systematic map protocol
Authors: Storie Joanna , Suškevičs Monika , Külvik Mart , Lehtoranta Virpi , Vikström Suvi , Riikonen Simo , Kuosa Harri , Kuhn Kristin , Oinonen Soile
Published: March 2020

Background

The Baltic Sea ecosystems supply many benefits to society, termed ecosystem services. These depend upon a healthy marine environment requiring marine and relevant land-based policies integrated with public health policies. Until recently marine environment protection policies have largely focussed on human impacts on the environment and have not taken into account impacts of ecosystems on human health beyond the direct impacts of hazardous substances, such as those present in seafood. Whilst endeavours have been made to integrate human health and well-being into marine policies, interviews with key stakeholders through a participatory process revealed that the linkages were not sufficiently strong to inform policymaking. The existing evidence base urgently needs to be identified and synthesised to support relevant policy updates of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) 2008/56/EC and the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) (2007) as well as to help direct future research priorities.

Method

The protocol is based on the primary question, “What linkages have been researched between Baltic Sea ecosystems and the positive and negative impacts to human health and well-being?” Using systematic mapping, this study will identify and map the state and the geographical distribution of the existing research evidence linking human health and well-being with the Baltic Sea ecosystems. The types of ecosystem services supplied by the Baltic Sea and the associated health and well-being impacts will be categorised and presented in a graphical matrix, illustrating ecosystem service type and the types of health and well-being outcomes. The systematic mapping procedure will result in a narrative report published with a searchable database, which will contain a descriptive summary of the information from all of the eligible studies. The systematic map and database will be displayed on the website of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE).
Comparison of women with high vs. low food addiction tendency: a pilot study with voxel-based morphometry
Authors: Schienle Anne , Unger Isabella , Wabnegger Albert
Published: March 2020

Background

The concept of ‘food addiction’ (FA) posits that highly processed food with added fat and/or refined carbohydrates is capable of triggering addictive-like eating behavior. FA may be one possible phenotype in obesity.

Methods

The present voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study compared data from three groups of women. One group scored high on the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and was overweight (n = 21), whereas the two other groups had low YFAS scores and were either overweight (n = 21) or normal-weight (n = 21).

Results

Overweight women with high YFAS scores had less grey matter volume (GMV) in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) than overweight women with low FA tendency, who in turn had less GMV in the IFG than the normal-weight group. The IFG is involved in response inhibition, which is relevant for the control of appetite and food intake. In the group with high FA tendency, the frequency of binge episodes was substantially correlated with the YFAS scores, and 11 women of this group were diagnosed with binge-eating disorder (BED). The association between IFG volume and YFAS scores was not statistically significant anymore when controlling for the effect of binge frequency as revealed by partial correlation analysis.

Conclusion

This VBM study revealed an association between reported FA tendency and a neural correlate of disinhibited eating. Future studies with bigger sample sizes are needed in order to demonstrate that FA is sufficiently different from existing conditions (e.g., BED) to warrant classification as a distinct disease phenotype.
Correction to: Advances in BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and satellite navigation augmentation technologies
Authors: Li Rui , Zheng Shuaiyong , Wang Ershen , Chen Jinping , Feng Shaojun , Wang Dun , Dai Liwen
Published: March 2020

First, in the first paragraph of this article, the sentence “In recent years, China has been actively promoting the construction and development of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), and by the end of the year 2000 the construction of BDS-1 was complete and BDS-1 began to provide GPS services for China.” should be changed into “In recent years, China has been actively promoting the construction and development of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), and by the end of the year 2000 the construction of BDS-1 was completed and BDS-1 began to provide services for China.” The word “GPS” should be removed.
Biomass Smoke Exposure Is Associated With Gastric Cancer and Probably Mediated Via Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Kayamba Violet , Zyambo Kanekwa , Mulenga Chola , Mwakamui Simutanyi , Tembo Mizinga Jacqueline , Shibemba Aaron , Heimburger Douglas Corbett , Atadzhanov Masharip , Kelly Paul
Published: March 2020

PURPOSE

We investigated the association between gastric cancer and environmental and dietary exposures. In addition, we explored probable mechanistic pathways for the influence of biomass smoke on gastric carcinogenesis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in Lusaka, Zambia. Questionnaires were used to collect data on risk factors, whereas enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to measure biologic exposures. Study data were analyzed using contingency tables and logistic regression.

RESULTS

We enrolled 72 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 244 controls. Gastric cancer was positively associated with rural residence (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 5.3), poverty (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.9 to 9.1), and daily consumption of processed meat (OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 32) and negatively associated with consumption of green vegetables (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1 to 0.5). Gastric cancer was also associated with biomass smoke exposure (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.9 to 6.2; P < .0001), an association that was stronger for intestinal-type cancers (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.5 to 9.1; P = .003). Exposure to biomass smoke in controls was associated with higher urinary levels of 8-isoprostane ( P < .0001), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine ( P = .029), and 1-hydroxypyrene ( P = .041). Gastric cancer was not associated with biochemical measures of current exposure to aflatoxins or ochratoxins.

CONCLUSION

In Zambia, exposure to biomass smoke, daily consumption of processed meat, and poverty are risk factors for gastric cancer, whereas daily consumption of green vegetables is protective against gastric cancer. Exposure to biomass smoke was associated with evidence of oxidative stress and DNA damage, suggesting mechanistic plausibility for the observed association, and the association was restricted to intestinal-type gastric cancer.
Coherent J/ψ photoproduction in peripheral heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Bugnon O.
Published: March 2020

In 2015, the ALICE Collaboration reported the first measurement of an excess in the yield of

at very low transverse momentum (

) in the forward rapidity region (2.5 < y < 4) in peripheral lead-lead (Pb-Pb) collisions at

at the CERN LHC. The coherent photoproduction was proposed as the potential underlying physics mechanism. This is known to be the main production mechanism for low-

production in ultra-peripheral collisions, which are dominated by electromagnetic interactions. However, the observation of a large effect in more central collisions that are dominated by the hadronic interactions was quite surprising. This article represents a proceeding contribution on the preliminary results from Pb-Pb collisions at

shown in a poster during the National Congress of the French Physics Society in July 2019.
Using Kisspeptin to Predict Pubertal Outcomes for Youth With Pubertal Delay
Authors: Chan Yee-Ming , Lippincott Margaret F , Sales Barroso Priscila , Alleyn Cielo , Brodsky Jill , Granados Hector , Roberts Stephanie A , Sandler Courtney , Srivatsa Abhinash , Seminara Stephanie B
Published: March 2020

Context

The management of youth with delayed puberty is hampered by difficulty in predicting who will eventually progress through puberty and who will fail to attain adult reproductive endocrine function. The neuropeptide kisspeptin, which stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release, can be used to probe the integrity of the reproductive endocrine axis.

Objective

We sought to determine whether responses to kisspeptin can predict outcomes for individuals with pubertal delay.

Design, Setting, and Participants

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study in an academic medical center of 16 children (3 girls and 13 boys) with delayed or stalled puberty.

Intervention and Outcome Measures

Children who had undergone kisspeptin- and GnRH-stimulation tests were followed every 6 months for clinical evidence of progression through puberty. Inhibin B was measured in boys. A subset of participants underwent exome sequencing.

Results

All participants who had responded to kisspeptin with a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) of 0.8 mIU/mL or greater subsequently progressed through puberty (n = 8). In contrast, all participants who had exhibited LH responses to kisspeptin ≤ 0.4 mIU/mL reached age 18 years without developing physical signs of puberty (n = 8). Thus, responses to kisspeptin accurately predicted later pubertal outcomes (P = .0002). Moreover, the kisspeptin-stimulation test outperformed GnRH-stimulated LH, inhibin B, and genetic testing in predicting pubertal outcomes.

Conclusion

The kisspeptin-stimulation can assess future reproductive endocrine potential in prepubertal children and is a promising novel tool for predicting pubertal outcomes for children with delayed puberty.
A Theory of Experimenters: Robustness, Randomization, and Balance
Authors: Banerjee Abhijit V. , Chassang Sylvain , Montero Sergio , Snowberg Erik
Published: March 2020

This paper studies the problem of experiment design by an ambiguity-averse decision-maker who trades off subjective expected performance against robust performance guarantees. This framework accounts for real-world experimenters’ preference for randomization. It also clarifies the circumstances in which randomization is optimal: when the available sample size is large and robustness is an important concern. We apply our model to shed light on the practice of rerandomization, used to improve balance across treatment and control groups. We show that rerandomization creates a trade-off between subjective performance and robust performance guarantees. However, robust performance guarantees diminish very slowly with the number of rerandomizations. This suggests that moderate levels of rerandomization usefully expand the set of acceptable compromises between subjective performance and robustness. Targeting a fixed quantile of balance is safer than targeting an absolute balance objective. (JEL C90, D81)
Are Ideas Getting Harder to Find?
Authors: Bloom Nicholas , Jones Charles I. , Van Reenen John , Webb Michael
Published: March 2020

Long-run growth in many models is the product of two terms: the effective number of researchers and their research productivity. We present evidence from various industries, products, and firms showing that research effort is rising substantially while research productivity is declining sharply. A good example is Moore’s Law. The number of researchers required today to achieve the famous doubling of computer chip density is more than 18 times larger than the number required in the early 1970s. More generally, everywhere we look we find that ideas, and the exponential growth they imply, are getting harder to find. (JEL D24, E23, O31, O47)
IN MEMORIAM EUGENIO FILLOY Y FRANÇOIS PLUVINAGE
Authors: Cantoral Uriza Ricardo
Published: March 2020

In memoriam Eugenio Filloy y François Pluvinage
Signaling to the Crowd: Private Quality Information and Rewards-Based Crowdfunding
Authors: Chakraborty Soudipta , Swinney Robert
Published: March 2020

Problem definition: We consider an entrepreneur designing a fixed funding rewards-based crowdfunding campaign for an innovative product. Product quality is known to the entrepreneur but unknown to some backers. We study how the entrepreneur can signal quality to backers via the design of the crowdfunding campaign, including the price of the reward and the funding target. Academic/practical relevance: Crowdfunding is a new and popular way of funding innovative products. Despite numerous advantages, there are challenges to this model, one of the most significant being credibly signaling information about product quality to a pool of small, uninformed investors. We explore how an entrepreneur might accomplish this and overcome a key obstacle to crowdfunding. Methodology: We employ a game theoretic model of signaling between an entrepreneur and campaign backers. Results: We find that the entrepreneur should signal high quality by setting a high target that is distorted above the full information optimal level. While a separating equilibrium always exists, a pooling equilibrium can only occur under very specific circumstances. We show that the high target affects the quality choice of entrepreneurs and may deter unique, high-quality projects. In addition, we discuss how the entrepreneur should modify the signaling strategy when a high target potentially deters backers from pledging because of the cost of participating in a failed campaign. Managerial implications: We show how entrepreneurs can effectively design their crowdfunding campaign to signal high quality, thus providing guidance to creators listing products on crowdfunding websites. We also show information asymmetry and signaling affect product quality decisions by creators, which in turn is of interest to platform designers seeking to solicit high-quality products for their platforms.
possible connections between the montessori method and philosophy for children
Authors: Scarpini Mariangela
Published: March 2020

This paper aims to focus on certain aspects of two education methods: one initiated in the first half of the twentieth century by Maria Montessori, and the other in the second half of that century by Matthew Lipman. The aim – neither comparative nor analytical – is to shed light on the connections and, more specifically, the elements of the Montessori Method that reflect on Lipman’s proposal. The question this paper aims to answer is: can P4C find fertile ground in schools applying the Montessori Method? The paper will focus, among other elements: on the importance to give space to thinking experience from childhood and on the recognition of the value of childhood. Both Lipman and Montessori have systematically observed children of different ages – the former in the first half, the latter in the second half of the twentieth century. Both characterized, gave value, and focused their scientific contributions on children’s ability to think and express their thoughts through languages (purposely in the plural form). As educational researchers and professionals know, children have the ability to think, but such ability has not always been (still isn’t) considered to exist. Even when it is evoked in words, educational choices and proposals seem – still today – to express mistrust towards children’s thought. The two mentioned authors have repeatedly highlighted the importance of an essential right: the right to think and to be given a space – even as children – to exercise thinking with others. In particular, both authors – though envisaging different educational paths – identified the same categories functional to exercising thinking. Their interconnection may guide the actions of teachers, educators, and learning process experts. In fact, P4C might play a role in educational contexts in which the class is already considered a community of inquiry, in which the teacher is assigned the same role as a facilitator
Associação de estado nutricional e maturação sexual com insatisfação com a imagem corporal
Authors: Pereira Priscila Moreira de Lima , Oliveira Marília Esteves de , Carmo Cristiane Costa do , Fontes Vanessa Sequeira , Silva Renata Maria Souza Oliveira e , Netto Michele Pereira , Candido Ana Paula Carlos
Published: March 2020

Objetivo: Avaliar a associação do estado nutricional e maturação sexual com a insatisfação corporal em adolescentes. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal, realizado com adolescentes de 10 a 14 anos de escolas públicas. Avaliaram-se peso, altura, IMC para idade, perímetro da cintura, percentual de gordura corporal, maturação sexual (escala de Tanner) e insatisfação corporal, por meio da pontuação na Escala de Evaluación de Insatisfación Corporal para Adolescentes (EEICA). Para as análises estatísticas, utilizou-se o programa SPSS versão 17.0 e realizaram-se os testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Qui-quadrado de Pearson, t de Student ou Anova, considerando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultado: A amostra foi composta por 345 adolescentes, sendo 53,6% do sexo feminino. A maioria (63,6 % meninas e 66,7% dos meninos) são eutróficos. A pontuação média da EEICA no sexo feminino (11,46 ± 5,90) foi superior ao masculino (9,29 ± 4,71) (p<0,001). Em ambos os sexos, o IMC para idade, percentual de gordura corporal e razão cintura/estatura associaram-se a uma maior pontuação na EEICA (p<0,001). No sexo feminino, as pós-puberes foram mais insatisfeitas que as púberes. Conclusão: Observou-se maior pontuação no sexo feminino, assim como associação entre insatisfação corporal e o estado nutricional em ambos os sexos e com a maturação sexual no sexo feminino. Tais achados reforçam a importância da abordagem do tema e suas possíveis consequências, estimulando a reflexão sobre os padrões de beleza.
LETRAMENTOS DIGITAIS NA FORMAÇÃO CONTÍNUA DE PROFESSORES
Authors: Santos Jefferson Do Carmo Andrade , Soares Leonardo Rodrigo , Boa Sorte Paulo
Published: March 2020

Os letramentos digitais, agora entendidos como práticas sociais que abarcam o digital e para além do digital, desempenham grande papel na educação contemporânea. No entanto, para que práticas de letramentos digitais sejam contempladas em sala de aula, programas de formação contínua de professores para os letramentos digitais precisam ser empreendidos (MENEZES DE SOUZA, 2011; LANKSHEAR E KNOBEL, 2015; JORDÃO, 2017). Diante disso, o objetivo deste artigo é apresentar possibilidades de formação contínua de professores para os letramentos digitais. Aplicamos questionários a professores da educação básica de escolas públicas de Arraias, Tocantins. Como resultados, constatamos os usos ainda relacionados a fatores técnicos em detrimento dos aspectos críticos e reflexivos.
AUTONARRATIVA EPISTOLAR: um olhar sensível de um estrangeiro sobre o Brasil
Authors: Amar Victor
Published: March 2020

A trajetória das cartas na história é inegável. Existiram em todos os domínios da vida e constituíram parte do acervo pessoal e coletivo. A autonarrativa epistolar é mesmo um exercício de expressão onde o autor mostra parte de sua identidade. Com uma metodologia qualitativa a discussão e os resultados são veiculados fornecendo uma rede de conclusões que vêm nutrir o valor da comunicação; do fato comunicativo. Com este grupo de cinco cartas dão a conhecer uma parte do sentir do autor e onde a subjetividade adquire seu protagonismo. Estamos diante de egodocumentos abertos à leitura e à interpretação.
GAMES E APRENDIZAGENS NA PERSPECTIVA HISTÓRICO CULTURAL
Authors: Bruno Adriana Rocha , Ribeiro Janaína De Oliveira Nunes
Published: March 2020

O presente artigo traz dados de uma pesquisa desenvolvida em nível de doutoramento. A investigação compreendeu como se dão os processos de ensino e de aprendizagem a partir da interação com jogos digitais, com base na teoria histórico cultural de Vigotsky e nos estudos clássicos sobre jogo, sociedade e educação, de Huizinga, Caillois e Brougère, e também nas perspectivas contemporâneas de pesquisadores que se debruçam a estudar as relações entre jogos digitais e educação. Na pesquisa de campo, jovens universitários experimentaram jogar dois newsgames e participaram de discussões dialógicas sobre os conceitos abordados nos games. A investigação conclui que os jogos digitais podem motivar os sujeitos para a formação de conceitos, aprendizagens e construções de conhecimento, por despertarem sentimentos, afetos, prazeres estéticos e desafios, sinalizando potencial para o campo da educação hodierna.
O PROCESSO DE FORMAÇÃO CONTINUADA DOS PROFESSORES DAS SALAS DE RECURSOS MULTIFUNCIONAIS PARA O USO DA TECNOLOGIA ASSISTIVA
Authors: Farias Degiane Da Silva , Vieira Mayara De Oliveira
Published: March 2020

O artigo reflete sobre a constituição do processo de formação continuada de professores para o uso da Tecnologia Assistiva — conjunto de equipamentos, recursos e serviços que oferecem condições às pessoas com deficiência para que tenham maior independência e autonomia e, ainda, promovem a inclusão. Pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, sob os pressupostos de Minayo (2003), e adotando a abordagem exploratório-explicativa em Leopardi (2002) e Lakatos e Marconi (2011). A coleta de dados empregou o questionário T.A.E e a entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados foram tratados e discutidos com embasamento teórico da análise do conteúdo de Bardin (2010). A formulação teórica baseou-se em Tonolli e Bersch (2006); Libâneo (2001); Machado (2010); Hummel (2015), entre outros. O estudo trouxe como resultado denúncias relacionadas à ausência de materiais pedagógicos, equipamentos e formação voltada para a inclusão e para o uso de novas tecnologias, a exemplo da Tecnologia Assistiva, apontando para a urgência de fortalecer parcerias para a consolidação de um projeto de sociedade inclusiva, cuja marca é educar na diferença e pela diversidade.
Monitoring of a hip surveillance programme protects infants from radiation and surgical intervention
Authors: Milligan David J. , Cosgrove Aidan P.
Published: March 2020

Aims

To monitor the performance of services for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in Northern Ireland and identify potential improvements to enhance quality of service and plan for the future.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study, involving all infants treated for DDH between 2011 and 2017. Children underwent clinical assessment and radiological investigation as per the regional surveillance policy. The regional radiology data was interrogated to quantify the use of ultrasound and ionizing radiation for this population.

Results

Evidence-based changes were made to the Northern Ireland screening programme, including an increase in ultrasound scanning capacity and expansion of nurse-led screening clinics. The number of infant hip ultrasound scans increased from 4,788 in 2011, to approximately 7,000 in 2013 and subsequent years. The number of hip radiographs on infants of less than one year of age fell from 7,381 to 2,208 per year. There was a modest increase in the treatment rate from 10.9 to 14.3 per 1,000 live births but there was a significant reduction in the number of closed hip reductions. The incidence of infants diagnosed with DDH after one year of age was 0.30 per 1,000 live births over the entire period.

Conclusion

Improving compliance with the regional infant hip screening protocols led to reduction in operative procedures and reduced the number of pelvic radiographs of infants. We conclude that performance monitoring of screening programmes for DDH is essential to provide a quality service. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(4):495–500.
Morphometric variations of Asian Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Pallas 1777) from Bali Island, Indonesia as the basis of morphometrics diversity data
Authors: WINAYA ARIS , MAFTUCHAH  , CARLA MOROS NICOLÁS  , DWI PRASETYO
Published: March 2020

Abstract. Winaya A, Maftuchah, Nicolas CM, Prasetyo D. 2020. Morphometric variations of Asian Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus, Pallas 1777) from Bali Island, Indonesia as the basis of morphometrics diversity data. Biodiversitas 21: 1027-1034. Asian Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Pallas 1777) is one of the small carnivores that also lives in Bali island, Indonesia. Civets can process coffee beans by fermenting them in the digestive tract, so the coffee beans have a unique aroma. This coffee product, commonly known as Kopi Luwak, is the most expensive type of coffee in the world. The purposes of this study were to obtain the morphometric variations, genetic diversity, and genetic relationship of Bali civets. In this study, we involved 73 civets from four different areas (Bangli, Tabanan, Gianyar, and Denpasar) of Bali Islands, Indonesia. The quantitative character was the body size of animals, and the qualitative character was their hair color. The body size among populations was not significantly different (P>0.05). The complete canonical structure analysis showed that tail length (1.04) and body length (0.76) in canonical 1 and body height (0.96) and head width (0.94) in canonical 2 could be used as a group differentiator. The genetic distance among Bali civets was categorized as close except Bangli civets having far distance than others.