bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Single Institutional Review Boards Manage Their Own Conflicts of Interest: Findings From a National Interview Study
Authors: Pivovarova Ekaterina , Klitzman Robert L. , Murray Alexandra , Stiles Deborah F. , Appelbaum Paul S. , Lidz Charles W.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Conflicts of interest (COIs) are important ethical concerns because they may affect scientific decision making, research integrity, and the safety and fairness of studies. No research to date has examined COIs of single institutional review boards (sIRBs), which are now mandated by the National Institutes of Health, and will be by the revised Common Rule in 2020, for all multisite research. This study investigated how different types of sIRBs manage their own COIs by documenting existing processes for and comparing commercial, government, and academic sIRBs.

Method

One hundred three personnel from 20 commercial, government, or academic sIRBs participated in semistructured interviews about their processes for and experiences with managing COIs when conducting multisite research review.

Results

Variability in COI management policies exist across types of sIRBs. Commercial sIRBs were aware of their own COIs given their for-profit model, and managed them by using firewalls, relying on external reviewers, and turning down potential clients. Government sIRBs described unique COIs stemming from the same agency funding the sIRB and the research being reviewed. They addressed these by discussing concerns about COIs, using firewalls, relying on nonaffiliated reviewers, and having broad COI policies. In contrast to commercial and government sIRBs, academic sIRBs did not report any specific policies to manage their COIs, which are similar to those of local IRBs.

Conclusions

As sIRBs become increasingly common, researchers will need to weigh the different COIs inherent to each type of sIRB. Additionally, academic sIRBs may consider implementing specific policies for managing their COIs.
Respiratory Physiology for the Anesthesiologist
Authors: Bigatello Luca , Pesenti Antonio
Published: April 2019

Respiratory function is fundamental in the practice of anesthesia. Knowledge of basic physiologic principles of respiration assists in the proper implementation of daily actions of induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, delivery of mechanical ventilation, discontinuation of mechanical and pharmacologic support, and return to the preoperative state. The current work provides a review of classic physiology and emphasizes features important to the anesthesiologist. The material is divided in two main sections, gas exchange and respiratory mechanics; each section presents the physiology as the basis of abnormal states. We review the path of oxygen from air to the artery and of carbon dioxide the opposite way, and we have the causes of hypoxemia and of hypercarbia based on these very footpaths. We present the actions of pressure, flow, and volume as the normal determinants of ventilation, and we review the resulting abnormalities in terms of changes of resistance and compliance.
Health Care Economics of SI Joint Fusion
Authors: Cher Daniel , Reckling W. Carlton
Published: April 2019

Increased interest in the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) as a contributor to chronic low back pain has resulted in an expanding set of surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Evidence for the effectiveness of nonsurgical treatment is limited, impeding assessment of the overall value of such treatments. For surgical treatment, only triangular titanium implants, used during minimally invasive SIJ fusion, have been the subject of rigorous clinical and economic evaluations. Randomized trials of triangular titanium implants have shown marked immediate and sustained improvements in pain, disability, and quality of life with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios that are at least as good as high-volume orthopedic procedures and lower than those for other spine surgeries. Other devices for SIJ fusion are available but the limited evidence base prevents any conclusions regarding those devices.
Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome With the p.Ile1157Thr C3 Mutation Successfully Treated With Plasma Exchange and Eculizumab: A Case Report
Authors: Saito Daiki , Watanabe Eizo , Ashida Akira , Kato Hideki , Yoshida Yoko , Nangaku Masaomi , Ohtsuka Yasufumi , Miyata Toshiyuki , Hattori Noriyuki , Oda Shigeto
Published: April 2019

Objectives:

To describe a case of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome induced by influenza A infection with the p.Ile1157Thr C3 mutation.

Data Sources:

Clinical observations of a patient.

Study Selection:

Case reports.

Data Extraction:

Data extracted from medical records, after patient’s consent.

Data Synthesis:

Four days prior to presentation to our hospital, a 16-year-old adolescent had a fever and arthralgia with hematuria. He was found to be positive for type A influenza and prescribed oseltamivir and acetaminophen by a primary-care physician. A bleeding tendency and purpura in the extremities and on the trunk developed; therefore, he was transferred to Chiba University Hospital. Hematology revealed severe thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and acute kidney injury. Aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and potassium could not be determined because of severe hemolysis. Highly elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels indicated acute kidney injury. A platelet count of 24,000/μL indicated thrombocytopenia, with low hemoglobin level. Peripheral blood profiling identified schistocytes. Continuous hemodiafiltration and plasma infusion were initiated immediately; however, he became oliguric. Plasma exchange was initiated on ICU day 3, but decreased urine output, hemolysis, and thrombocytopenia persisted. IV eculizumab therapy was initiated on day 7 and resulted in recovery of these symptoms and also successful discontinuation of renal support. The patient showed a stable condition without recurrence of hemolytic findings and acute kidney injury and is currently on maintenance therapy of eculizumab (1,200 mg, every other week) without any relapse of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome symptoms. A plasma sample collected prior to initiation of plasma exchange showed an disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs 13 activity level of 104.9%. The absence of both Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in feces led to suspicion of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Subsequent genetic analysis identified a mutation in C3 (p.Ile1157Thr), confirming the diagnosis of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Conclusions:

Although managing thrombocytopenia secondary to infection, inclusion of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in the differential diagnosis at an early stage is important in clinical practice.
Effect of Optisol Supplementation With 0.255 μg/mL Amphotericin B on Elimination of Yeast at 5°C
Authors: Tran Devin , Dhaliwal Deepinder , Kamyar Roheena , Jhanji Vishal , Kowalski Regis P.
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

Fungal infections in lamellar keratoplasty are a growing concern. Optisol-GS does not contain an antifungal agent and supplementation with 0.255 μg/mL Amphotericin B (AmpB) has been considered. This study tested the ability of 0.255 μg/mL AmpB in Optisol-GS to eliminate yeast contamination of corneal tissue.

Methods:

Three isolates of Candida albicans, 1 of Candida parapsilosis, and 1 of Candida glabrata were tested in Optisol with and without AmpB. Corneoscleral rims stored at −80°C were thawed and placed in 10 multiwell plates (4 per plate). The rims were inoculated with 4 respective loads of yeast: 0, 101, 102, and 103 colony-forming units in 2 sets of 5 for 5 yeasts. One set was filled with Optisol plus AmpB and the other with Optisol only. All 10 plates were incubated at cold storage (2°C–8°C) for 48 hours. After 48 hours, all corneal rims were placed into 10 mL of yeast extract peptone dextrose medium; a swab culture of each well was plated onto Sabouraud plates; and all plates with the remaining Optisol were incubated at 30°C. Yeast growth was monitored for 10 days. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration were determined.

Results:

All corneoscleral specimens were positive regardless of fungal load or presence of AmpB. All controls remained negative. Minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations were equivalent and ranged between 0.5 and 2.0 μg/mL.

Conclusions:

AmpB at a concentration of 0.255 μg/mL in Optisol-GS at cold storage (2°C–8°C) over 48 hours did not eliminate yeast from corneal tissue.
Recovery After Campus Tragedy
Authors: Swanchak Lori E. , Bonavoglia Marie
Published: April 2019

School shootings are increasing nationally. In response, campus safety and security efforts have become a priority across the country. Most institutions have developed appropriate emergency response plans, and many have held practice drills. Preparedness typically involves safety during and in the minutes directly following the event. But in the wake of tragedy, long-term recovery is a journey that requires and deserves the same amount of deliberation. The ultimate goal is a return to learning and teaching; however, an intentional focus on full recovery in the aftermath of tragedy is vital.
Improvements in Students' Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities With or Without Semi-Structured Community-Based Interactions
Authors: Jimenez Liliana , Pechak Celia , Garrand Kiersten
Published: April 2019

Introduction.

Repeated interactions with people with disabilities (PWD) in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program could improve students' attitudes toward PWD. This study's purposes were to explore if: 1) a baseline first-year DPT curriculum improved DPT students' attitudes toward PWD; 2) an enhanced first-year DPT curriculum improved DPT students' attitudes toward PWD; and 3) there was a difference between the baseline and the enhanced DPT curriculum related to improving DPT students' attitudes toward PWD.

Methods.

Sixty-four students from 2 DPT cohorts participated in this study. The Attitudes Toward Disabled People (ATDP-A) and Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS) were used. The authors compared the scores of 2 DPT cohorts: 1) a baseline group; and 2) an enhanced curriculum group that had repeated community-based interactions with PWD.

Results.

The baseline group only had improved attitudes according to the MAS (P = .02), whereas the enhanced group demonstrated improvements with bothATDP-A (P = .01) and MAS (P = .01). No significant difference in scores on the ATDP-A (P = .11) and MAS (P = .38) between the baseline and the enhanced curriculum cohort was found.

Discussion and Conclusion.

Regardless of being exposed to the baseline or the enhanced curriculum, DPT students' attitudes toward PWD improved. The baseline group showed improvements according to 1 scale, whereas the enhanced group demonstrated improvements with both scales. Perhaps longer or more frequent interactions with PWD may have produced a difference between the baseline and enhanced groups. Although future research is necessary, this study offers ideas on how to incorporate community-based interactions with PWD in a DPT curriculum.
Hearing Protection, Restoration, and Regeneration: An Overview of Emerging Therapeutics for Inner Ear and Central Hearing Disorders
Authors: Schilder Anne G. M. , Su Matthew P. , Blackshaw Helen , Lustig Lawrence , Staecker Hinrich , Lenarz Thomas , Safieddine Saaid , Gomes-Santos Carina S. , Holme Ralph , Warnecke Athanasia
Published: April 2019

Objective:

To provide an overview of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies active in the field of inner ear and central hearing disorders and their therapeutic approaches.

Methods:

Scientific and grey literature was searched using broad search terms to identify companies and their hearing-related therapeutic approaches. For each approach its lead indication, product, therapeutic modality, target, mechanism of action and current phase of clinical development was collated.

Results:

A total of 43 biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have been identified that are developing therapeutics for inner ear and central hearing disorders. Their therapeutics include drug-, cell- and gene-based approaches to prevent hearing loss or its progression, restore hearing, and regenerate the inner ear. Their therapeutic targets and specific mechanisms of action are wide-ranging, reflecting the complexity of the hearing pathways and the diversity of mechanisms underlying inner ear disorders. While none of the novel products under investigation have yet made it to the clinical market, and a large proportion are still at preclinical phase, many therapeutics have already entered clinical testing with more expected to do so in the next few years.

Conclusion:

A wide range of novel therapeutics targeting different hearing, balance and tinnitus pathways, and patient populations are approaching the clinical domain. It is important that clinicians involved in the care of patients with hearing loss prepare for what may become a radically different approach to the management of hearing disorders, and develop a true understanding of the new therapies’ mechanisms of action, applications, and indications.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Cancer Health Literacy Scale in Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients
Authors: Chou Hsiu-Ling , Lo Yu-Ling , Liu Chieh-Yu , Lin Shih-Chiang , Chen Yu-Chi
Published: April 2019

Background

Health literacy (HL) influences a patient’s comprehension and judgment of health-related information. A rigorous assessment tool is needed to screen for low HL in order to improve it.

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Cancer Health Literacy Scale (C-HLS).

Methods

The framework of the C-HLS is based on the Levels of Prevention model. The scale items were developed according to Nutbeam’s 3 constructs of HL. We employed several procedures to develop the C-HLS, including focus group interviews, item generation, the expert Delphi process, and face validity. Various types of analysis, including reliability and split-half reliability testing, confirmatory factor analysis, and criterion-related validity testing, were performed; receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was also performed to confirm sensitivity and specificity.

Results

There were 33 items included in the C-HLS for validation; 360 newly diagnosed cancer patients completed the survey. The administration time is only 10 to 15 minutes. Results showed that C-HLS had good reliability, split-half reliability, and validity. All confirmatory factor analysis model fit indices reached acceptable thresholds. The receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that the C-HLS had an adequate combination of sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between high and low HL.

Conclusions

The C-HLS is a reliable, valid tool capable of discriminating levels of HL in the assessment of cancer patients and does not have an excessive administration time.

Implications for Practice

This scale can aid our understanding of HL in newly diagnosed cancer patients and can serve as a basis for providing individual care interventions.
Fathering on Tenuous Ground
Authors: SmithBattle Lee , Phengnum Wisitsri , Shagavah Anne Winnie , Okawa Satoko
Published: April 2019

Background:

Although teen fathers are a vulnerable group of parents, they have received far less attention than teen mothers.

Purpose:

We conducted a systematic search of qualitative studies that examined their prenatal and postpartum experience to better understand teen fathers' concerns, strengths, and vulnerabilities.

Methods:

We searched nine electronic databases through September 2017; 29 studies represented in 30 articles met study criteria. All authors independently extracted data from each article. Coding decisions were reviewed weekly and differences were settled by consensus.

Results:

From pooling the results of 29 primary studies, we describe how a tenuous ground contributes to teen paternity and imperils young fathers' involvement with their children. In the best of circumstances, the ground begins to stabilize for teens who become involved parents despite significant challenges and hardships.

Clinical Implications:

Our results contribute to the visibility of teen fathers and the social disparities that imperil fathering. We provide clinical guidance for strengthening the ground for teen fathers and their families, recognizing that clinicians often encounter challenges such as interpersonal factors and sociocultural conditions that systematically erode fathers' ties to their children, partners, professional caregivers, and institutions.
Synergistic Interaction Increases Complication Rates following Microvascular Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Roy Mélissa , Sebastiampillai Stephanie , Zhong Toni , Hofer Stefan O. P. , O’Neill Anne C.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Microvascular breast reconstruction is a complex procedure that can be associated with high complication rates. Although a number of individual predictors of perioperative complications have been identified, few studies have explored interaction between risk factors. Understanding the synergistic effects of multiple risk factors is central to accurate and personalized preoperative risk prediction.

Methods:

The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent microvascular breast reconstruction at their institution between 2009 and 2017. All intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. A multivariable logistic regression exploratory model identified independent predictors of complications. Interactions between individual variables were then assessed using the relative excess risk index (RERI) and the synergy index (SI).

Results:

Nine hundred twelve patients were included in the study and 26.1 percent experienced at least one perioperative complication. Obesity (OR, 1.54; p = 0.009), immediate reconstruction (OR, 1.49; p = 0.028), and comorbidities (OR, 1.43; p = 0.033) were identified as independent predictors of complications. Obesity and comorbidities had significant synergistic interactions with immediate reconstruction (RERI, 0.86; SI, 2.35; p = 0.0002; and RERI, 0.54; SI, 1.78; p = 0.001), bilateral reconstruction (RERI, 0.12; SI, 1.15; p = 0.002; and RERI, 0.59; SI, 3.16; p = 0.005), and previous radiotherapy (RERI, 0.62; SI, 4.43; p = 0.01; and RERI, 0.11; SI, 1.23; p = 0.040). Patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction who were both obese and smokers had a 12-fold increase in complication rates (OR, 12.68; 95 percent CI, 1.36 to 118.46; p = 0.026) with a very strong synergistic interaction between variables (RERI, 10.55; SI, 10.33).

Conclusion:

Patient- and treatment-related variables interact in a synergistic manner to increase the risk of complications following microvascular breast reconstruction.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Risk, III.
A Prospective Approach to Inform and Treat 1340 Patients at Risk for BIA-ALCL
Authors: Roberts John M. , Carr Logan W. , Jones Allison , Schilling Amber , Mackay Donald R. , Potochny John D.
Published: April 2019

Background:

The increasing incidence and associated mortality of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) has become alarming. However, many patients remain unaware of their risk for BIA-ALCL and may overlook early warning signs of the cancer. The authors aim to contact all breast implant patients at a single institution to educate them on the disease and provide screening and treatment as indicated.

Methods:

All patients who had breast implants placed at Penn State Hershey Medical Center from 1979 to November of 2017 were mailed a letter to describe BIA-ALCL and to encourage a follow-up visit. Patient information regarding demographics, implant type, the number of calls and follow-up visits, physical examination findings, and patient decisions after being informed of the disease were recorded prospectively.

Results:

One thousand two hundred eighty-four letters were mailed to 1020 patients (79.4 percent) with smooth implants and 264 patients (20.6 percent) with textured implants. Seventy-six calls were received and 100 patients (84 smooth and 16 textured) were evaluated within the first 2 months. Of the 16 patients with textured implants, nine are undergoing secondary surgery to remove or replace their textured device.

Conclusions:

Informing patients at risk for BIA-ALCL is an important endeavor. Patients educated on the disease will likely be diagnosed and treated earlier, which can prevent the need for adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and decrease mortality. The authors provide a method, supporting documents, and preliminary data to help other institutions contact their breast implant patients at risk for BIA-ALCL.
Complications Following Orthognathic Surgery for Patients With Cleft Lip/Palate
Authors: Hwang Dae Seok , Choi Hong Seok , Kim Uk Kyu , Song Jae-Min
Published: April 2019

Introduction:

Cleft lip/palate is a facial anomaly caused by an abnormal developmental process. It is also the most common congenital anomaly. Orthognathic surgery is required in 25% of patients with cleft lip and palate for the correction of dentofacial deformity. There are various complications that can occur after orthognathic surgery. Complications that can occur during surgery include bleeding, improper fracture, and injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve. Meanwhile, postoperative complications include hemorrhage, edema, pain, infection, and delayed union or nonunion. This study retrospectively examines the complications that occurred after the orthognathic surgery in cleft lip/palate patients at Pusan National University Dental Hospital.

Patients and methods:

From June 1, 2008 to July 31, 2017, we selected 17 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for cleft lip/palate at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pusan National University Dental Hospital. The patients were treated at different hospitals for all operations related to cleft lip/palate.

Result:

Intraoperative complications include hemorrhage, inadequate fracture, injury to the IAN and lingual nerve, root damage, and fistula. The patients who were evaluated included 2 patients with inadequate fracture, 3 patients with injury to the IAN, and 1 patient with fistula. Postoperative complications (e.g., as damage of the inferior alveolar nerve and velopharyngeal insufficiency) may occur, and all patients recovered during the follow-up period of 6 months or more after the surgery. The relapse rates were A–N per 14.0%, Pog–N per 15.1%, SNA 24.4%, and SNB 4.6%. There was no statistically significant difference in relapse rate.

Conclusion:

Complications that may occur after the orthognathic surgery in the patients with cleft lip/palate are similar to those without cleft lip/palate.
Cranial Trepanation: An Ancient Neurosurgical Therapy? Thoughts of a Follower of Positivist Medicine and Anthropology
Authors: Iorio Silvia , Licata Marta , Ciliberti Rosagemma , Gazzaniga Valentina
Published: April 2019

The authors’ aim is to define a framework around the history of studies and analyses on cranial trepanation. In addition, based on the analytical approach of Abele de Blasio, the authors would like to reach an understanding of the various different interpretations of the origin and aetiology of the art of cranial trepanation, starting in the prehistoric era. In this brief study, historical discussions are intertwined with ethnoiatric and anthropometric techniques of the author, leading the reader into a fascinating discussion on the practice of trepanation in ancient populations.
Non-Financial Determinants and economic fluctuations – evidence from Yemen
Authors: Mohammed Sulaiman Abdullah Saif Alnasser
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine, by way of an analytical research review, the reasons for the fluctuations in the economic growth of the country of Yemen during the period from 2000 to 2014. The authors are trying to generate the answers to the following questions: Has tourism, oil price, politically instability improved? What is the impact of tourism, oil price and politically instability on economic growth before and after turbulence time? We have found that very low number of papers have written about the topic. Yemen, as a developing country, has been under the influence of an turbulence time. The term “turbulence time” refers to the series of independent uprisings that occurred in 2010 across the Arab world. There is a lack of understanding concerning the economic growth status in the existing literature during this period.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use vector error-correction model to examine the impact of candidate variables .This review and analysis could provide an additional understanding in terms of the factors contributing to economic growth in Yemen; particularly before and after the turbulence time.

Findings

Despite oil prices having appreciated and the unemployment rate having improved, particularly after the Arab Spring, political instability has dominated the scope of determinants for economic growth in Yemen. To address the objective of this study.

Originality/value

This paper provides an additional reference about the economic status of Yemen.
Embedding hospital-based medication review
Authors: Reichenpfader Ursula , Wickström Anette , Abrandt Dahlgren Madeleine , Carlfjord Siw
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the embedding of hospital-based medication review attending to the conflictual and developmental nature of practice. Specifically, this paper examines manifestations of contradictions and how they play out in professional practices and local embedding processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using ethnographic methods, this paper employs the activity-theoretic notion of contradictions for analyzing the embedding of medication review. Data from participant observation (in total 290 h over 48 different workdays) and 31 semi-structured interviews with different healthcare professionals in two Swedish hospital-based settings (emergency department, department of surgery) are utilized.

Findings

The conflictual and developmental potential related to three interrelated characteristics (contested, fragmented and distributed) of the activity object is shown. The contested nature is illustrated showing different conceptualizations, interests and positions both within and across different professional groups. The fragmented character of medication review is shown by tensions related to the appraisal of the utility of the newly introduced practice. Finally, the distributed character is exemplified through tensions between individual and collective responsibility when engaging in multi-site work. Overall, the need for ongoing “repair” work is demonstrated.

Originality/value

By using a practice-theoretical approach and ethnographic methods, this paper presents a novel perspective for studying local embedding processes. Following the day-to-day work of frontline clinicians captures the ongoing processes of embedding medication review and highlights the opportunities to learn from contradictions inherent in routine work practices.
Is the type and location of grocery stores a predictor of healthy and unhealthy food availability? A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Kemp Caitlin , Collins Jorja , Palermo Claire
Published: April 2019

Aim

To investigate whether geographical location or type of store is associated with differences in healthy and unhealthy food availability in grocery stores.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study using the Victorian Healthy Food Basket to measure food availability (44 ‘healthy’ and 10 ‘unhealthy’ items) in a convenience sample of 112 stores in urban and regional Victoria, Australia. Logistic regression analyses assessed whether location (regional, urban), distance from capital city central business district (km) and type of store (chain supermarket, independent supermarket and general store) predicted the number of missing healthy and unhealthy food items.

Results

There were 54 chain supermarkets, 43 independent supermarkets and 15 general stores, with 56% of stores located in urban areas and 44% located regionally. The strongest significant predictor of missing items was being a general store, which had greater odds (odds ratio (OR) = 136, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 13–1399) of having missing ‘healthy’ items and missing ‘unhealthy’ items (OR = 63, 95% CI = 7–575), compared with chain supermarkets. Independent supermarkets had increased odds of having missing ‘healthy’ items (OR = 7, 95% CI = 2–22) compared with chain supermarkets. Regional store location was a significant predictor of missing ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ items, compared with urban location (OR = 6, 95% CI = 2–25) and (OR = 7, 95% CI = 2–29), respectively.

Conclusions

Store type was a stronger predictor of stores having missing ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ food items than the store distance from a large urban centre. General stores and independent supermarkets may be important settings for interventions to improve availability of healthy food.
Do Asian Countries Upgrade in Global Value Chains? A Novel Approach and Empirical Evidence
Authors: de Vries Gaaitzen , Chen Quanrun , Hasan Rana , Li Zhigang
Published: April 2019

This paper examines the move into upstream and downstream global value chain (GVC) activities by 11 Asian countries. We use international input–output tables in combination with employment data and measure the number of workers in each country involved in manufactures GVC. Jobs are classified by business function based on occupational information, such as R&D, fabrication, logistics, sales and marketing. In most Asian countries, we find a faster employment increase in R&D and other support services relative to fabrication activities between 2000 and 2011. However, the participation in GVC and the pace of upgrading appears to differ substantially across Asian countries. We use a structural decomposition method to explore the role of trade, consumption and technological change in accounting for changes in countries' involvement in GVC.
Refugee resettlement, social media and the social organization of difference
Authors: MARLOWE JAY
Published: April 2019

Social media platforms allow refugees separated by distance to share information, provide support and exchange resources across borders. This connection has the potential to transform resettlement experiences as people maintain significant and ongoing relationships with transnational networks. Yet, since refugee resettlement programmes generally only scale up to the national imagination, integration remains a normative framework in most policy spheres. This article presents a 12‐month digital ethnography of 15 refugees settled in New Zealand with a view to examining their transnational practices of social media and its influence on integration and belonging. Drawing on a conceptual framework based on the social organization of difference, it contains a discussion on how online global networks increasingly inform the domains of encounters, representations and configurations. The role of social media for refugee resettlement futures and its implications for integration at times of rapid political, technological and social change concludes the article.
LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 enhanced the methotrexate resistance of colorectal cancer cells by regulating miR‐760/PPP1R1B via the cAMP signalling pathway
Authors: Xian Di , Zhao Yu
Published: April 2019

We aimed to explore the mechanism of the KCNQ1OT1/miR‐760/PPP1R1B axis acting to regulate methotrexate (MTX) resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC). Differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs in MTX‐sensitive CRC cell lines and MTX‐resistant cell lines were determined through microarray analysis. Application of bioinformatics analysis was aimed to uncover the relationships among the lncRNAs/miRNAs/mRNAs, and to demonstrate the effects of cAMP signalling pathway in MTX‐resistant CRC. The expression level of RNA and proteins was, respectively, detected using qRT‐PCR and Western blot assays, whereas the dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay was implemented to verify the targeted relationship. The influence of the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis on biological functions of MTX‐resistant cells and on the growth of tumours determined through both vitro and vivo experiments. LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and PPP1R1B mRNA were overexpressed in MTX‐resistant CRC tumour cells. KCNQ1OT1 functioned as a sponge of miR‐760, which targeted PPP1R1B. Knockdown of KCNQ1OT1 enhanced chemosensitivity towards MTX through the sponging of miR‐760. MiR‐760 expressed at low levels targeted PPP1R1B in the activated cAMP signalling pathway under MTX treatment. Knockdown of KCNQ1OT1 dampened the proliferation of MTX‐resistant (HT29/MTX) cells by regulating the miR‐760/PPP1R1B axis, which also induced cell cycle arrest together with apoptosis. KCNQ1OT1 regulated the expression of PPP1R1B and the downstream genes CREB and CBP in the cAMP signalling pathway. MTX showed a suppressive function on CRC progression. KCNQ1OT1 enhanced the MTX resistance of CRC cells by regulating miR‐760‐mediated PPP1R1B expression via the cAMP signalling pathway.
Hybrid epitaxy technique for the growth of high-quality AlInAs and GaInAs layers on InP substrates
Authors: Diallo Thierno Mamoudou , Poungoué Mbeunmi Alex Brice , El-Gahouchi Mohamed , Jellite Mourad , Arvinte Roxana , Aziziyan Mohammad Reza , Arès Richard , Fafard Simon , Boucherif Abderraouf
Published: April 2019

The quality and properties of epitaxial films are strongly determined by the reactor type and the precursor source phase. Such parameters can impose limitations in terms of background doping, interface sharpness, clustering, phase separation, and homogeneity. The authors have implemented a hybrid epitaxy technique that employs, simultaneously, vapor and solid sources as group III precursors. The system combines the high throughput and the versatility of gas sources as well as the high purity of solid sources. Using this technique, the authors successfully demonstrated epitaxial growth of Al0.48In0.52As and Ga0.47In0.53As layers on Fe-doped semi-insulating InP (001) substrates with interesting properties, compared with the epilayers grown by more standard techniques (chemical beam epitaxy, metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, and MBE). For AlInAs growth, trimethylindium and solid aluminum were used as In and Al precursors, respectively. In the case of GaInAs, triethylgallium and solid indium were used, respectively, as Ga and In precursors. Thermally cracked arsine (AsH3) was used as an As (group V) precursor for both alloys. The AlInAs and GaInAs epilayers grown at a temperature of 500 °C exhibited featureless surfaces with RMS roughness of 0.2 and 1 nm, respectively. Lattice mismatch is of 134 ppm, for AlInAs, and −96 ppm, for GaInAs, which were determined from high-resolution x-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) patterns and showed a large number of Pendellösung fringes, indicating a high crystalline quality. An FWHM of 18.5 arcs was obtained for GaInAs epilayers, while HR-XRD mapping of a full 2-in. wafer confirmed a viable lattice mismatch homogeneity (standard deviation of 0.026%) for as-grown layers. The authors observed room-temperature background doping values as low as 3 × 1015 cm−3, for AlInAs, and 1 × 1015 cm−3, for GaInAs. Analysis of the PL spectra at 20 K showed an FWHM of 8 meV, for AlInAs, and 9.7 meV, for GaInAs, demonstrating a very good optical quality of the epilayers. In addition, they have investigated the effects of the growth temperature and of the arsine pressure on epilayer properties. They also discuss the optimum conditions for the growth of high-quality Al0.48In0.52As and Ga0.47In0.53As layers on InP (001) substrates using this hybrid epitaxy technique.
An Analytical Solution to the Extreme Skydiver Problem
Authors: Corvo Tony
Published: April 2019

On August 16, 1960, at 7:12 a.m., United States Air Force Captain Joseph W. Kittinger Jr. looked out from his balloon gondola at a height of over 19 miles and… jumped. Kittinger’s altitude and free-fall speed record lasted until Felix Baumgartner’s jump from a height of nearly 24 miles on Oct. 14, 2012. Baumgartner broke several records, including for vertical speed, where he was the first human to break the sound barrier without assisted power.
High Voltage and Franklin’s Bells at Low Cost
Authors: Cook Harry , Dudley Scott C.
Published: April 2019

High voltage supplies are often used in physics classes for demonstrations and laboratory work. These devices deliver several thousand volts DC, while limiting the current to a safe level, typically under 5 mA. One issue with these power supplies is their expense, which means schools may not have one. Less expensive homemade units have been discussed before, but here we present an inexpensive, off-the-shelf substitute, namely electric bug zappers, which can do nearly the same thing as the more expensive supplies, and we connect it to an easy-to-build Franklin’s bells setup that is suitable for measuring the current shuttling across it.
Displaying All Object-Image Pairs of an Optical System
Authors: Kelly James
Published: April 2019

Ray diagrams are widely used in introductory physics textbooks to illustrate the behavior of ideal systems of lenses or mirrors in geometrical optics. Their virtue lies in their explicit display of multiple ray paths connecting object and image points, which leads naturally to an understanding of how a planar object is transformed into a planar image. This understanding is often followed by questions involving the general behavior of a lens. How do the image position and size change as the object is moved to different positions, or when the object also has significant axial depth? What image regions are visible for a particular lens aperture and eye position? Answering these questions using ray diagrams can be cumbersome, often requiring multiple diagrams with objects in different positions and leading to a fragmented understanding of lens behavior. This article illustrates how these kinds of questions can be addressed using a related visualization method I call an “image field diagram,” which trades the explicit constructions of ray diagrams for a more general display of object-image pairs.
A More Challenging Mystery Tube for Teaching the Nature of Science
Authors: Briggs Michael
Published: April 2019

The mystery tube is a fairly well known activity among science teachers for illustrating the nature of science. A variety of procedures have been presented for carrying out this activity, such as Scott Miller’s method based on the BCSE 5E Instructional Model. Mystery tubes and other “black box” activities allow the students to engage in the scientific process without requiring any specific knowledge ahead of time. The traditional mystery tubes are designed simply enough that it is a viable activity even for elementary and middle school age children. That simplicity though means that high school and especially college science and engineering students might figure out too quickly how to replicate the behavior, and become more confident than we want them to be in their model. In this paper, I present a new version of the mystery tube that is complex enough to give strong high school and college science and engineering students a reasonable challenge, so they can better experience the ongoing process of science and the inherent uncertainty.
Another Look at Combination Tones
Authors: Harder-Viddal Candice
Published: April 2019

There have been many recent articles in this journal highlighting simple demonstrations of a wide variety of acoustic phenomena. In introductory physics courses, sound waves and their propagation through air, and resonance in musical instruments, are covered in detail. However, attention is not usually paid to the active role that our ears play in transforming sound waves to create various types of combination tones. Furthermore, many physics textbooks mention that pitch is related to frequency, but do not elaborate on the specifics of the relationship. Teaching the physics behind combination tones allows for an excellent application of physics to biology, and is also an interesting way of exploring the relationship between frequency and pitch. In the first part of the paper, the physics of human hearing and the theory behind combination tones is introduced. In the second part of the paper, demonstrations are outlined and the results are presented.
What a Metal Pipe Can Teach You About Magnetism
Authors: Syed Maarij , Nuessle P.
Published: April 2019

Magnets are familiar objects and yet magnetism as a concept remains challenging. A casual search of YouTube for magnets reveals a staggering number of videos, interesting demos involving electric and permanent magnets, and entire channels devoted to various uses for magnets. It is far more difficult to find descriptions that can help students think quantitatively about magnets. The underlying quantum theory of magnetism is usually difficult for students, and even the more vector fields-based classical approach can prove to be challenging. The task, in our opinion, is made easier by learning through experimentation, specifically by exploiting the dipole model of a magnet and using the concept of a magnetic moment to characterize single magnets and magnet assemblies by joining single discs. This work is guided by the idea that a simple experimental setup and a familiar theoretical framework can greatly aid in learning a new concept. In this article we hope to contribute to a growing list of simple experiments suited to a sophomore- or junior-level course in electromagnetism.
Demonstration of a Faraday Cage Using a Metal Leaf Electroscope
Authors: Hong Joon Hee , Kim Jung Bog
Published: April 2019

Ametal leaf electroscope has often been used for teaching electrostatics. For example, Fig. 1 is a very early one demonstrating electrostatic induction with a gold leaf electroscope. Alternatively we can charge the electroscope by touching a charged object to it. In both cases, induction or charging, the metal leaves push away from each other for a “Λ” shape.
Measuring the Semantic-Perceptual Components of Environmental Quality in Sanandaj, Iran
Authors: ALIZADEH Hooshmand , TAHMASEBI Arsalan , ASLANI Parviz
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study is to measure the semantic-perceptual components of environmental quality. To this end, we, using the Cochran formula, selected 343 residents from the Qatâr-chyân neighborhood of Sanandaj, Iran. After devising a questionnaire, which includes queries relating to identity, sense of place, legibility, and safety indicators, and 23 other sub-indicators, we employed this questionnaire in the data collection. Making use of an independent-sample [Formula: see text]-test, we also specified the status of environmental quality in the neighborhood. In order to compare peoples’ opinions in terms of demographic variables and examine the relationship between these demographic variables and 22 semantic-perceptual sub-indicators, a one-way ANOVA and a Spearman ordinal correlation were used, respectively. The results indicated that although the environmental quality of the Qatâr-chyân neighborhood was significantly high ([Formula: see text]), the functional, semantic-perceptual, and aesthetic components were actually significantly higher. In terms of the semantic-perceptual indicators, identity, sense of place, and legibility were all significantly higher than the mean, while safety was significantly lower. There also existed significant differences with respect to the demographic variables.
Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) Protein Inhibition Restores Redox Balance and Inhibits Myofibroblast Activation
Authors: Stock Carmel J. W. , Michaeloudes Charalambos , Leoni Patricia , Durham Andrew L. , Mumby Sharon , Wells Athol U. , Chung Kian Fan , Adcock Ian M. , Renzoni Elisabetta A. , Lindahl Gisela E.
Published: April 2019

Background and Objective. Progressive pulmonary fibrosis is the main cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and in those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and NADPH oxidase- (NOX-) derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) are drivers of lung fibrosis. We aimed to determine the role of the epigenetic readers, bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins in the regulation of redox balance in activated myofibroblasts. Methods. In TGF-β-stimulated fibroblasts, we investigated the effect of the BET inhibitor JQ1 on the mRNA expression of the prooxidant gene NOX4 and the antioxidant gene superoxide dismutase (SOD2) by quantitative RT-PCR, the antioxidant transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activity by a reporter assay, and intracellular ROS levels by dichlorofluorescein staining. Myofibroblast activation was determined by α-smooth muscle actin immunocytochemistry. The role of specific BET protein isoforms in NOX4 gene regulation was studied by siRNA silencing and chromatin-immunoprecipitation. Results and Conclusions. Affymetrix gene array analysis revealed increased NOX4 and reduced SOD2 expression in SSc and IPF fibroblasts. SOD2 silencing in non-ILD control fibroblasts induced a profibrotic phenotype. TGF-β increased NOX4 and inhibited SOD2 expression, while increasing ROS production and myofibroblast differentiation. JQ1 reversed the TGF-β-mediated NOX4/SOD2 imbalance and Nrf2 inactivation and attenuated ROS production and myofibroblast differentiation. The BET proteins Brd3 and Brd4 were shown to bind to the NOX4 promoter and drive TGF-β-induced NOX4 expression. Our data indicate a critical role of BET proteins in promoting redox imbalance and pulmonary myofibroblast activation and support BET bromodomain inhibitors as a potential therapy for fibrotic lung disease.
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) Based on Extracted Natural Dyes
Authors: Ammar Ahmed M. , Mohamed Hemdan S. H. , Yousef Moataz M. K. , Abdel-Hafez Ghada M. , Hassanien Ahmed S. , Khalil Ahmed S. G.
Published: April 2019

Here, three natural dyes were extracted from different fruits and leaves and used as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Chlorophyll was extracted from spinach leaves using acetone as a solvent. Anthocyanin was extracted from red cabbage and onion peels using water. Different characterizations for the prepared natural dyes were conducted including UV-vis absorption, FTIR, and steady-state/time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. Various DSSCs based on the extracted dyes were fabricated. The degradation in the power conversion efficiencies was monitored over a week. The effect of the TiO2 mesoporous layers on the efficiency was also studied. The interfaces between the natural dyes and the TiO2 layers were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.