bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scalable higher-order exceptional surface with passive resonators
Authors: Yang Hong , Mao Xuan , Qin Guo-Qing , Wang Min , Zhang Hao , Ruan Dong , Long Gui-Lu
Published: July 2021

The sensitivity of perturbation sensing can be effectively enhanced with higher-order exceptional points due to the nonlinear response to frequency splitting. However, experimental implementation is challenging since all the parameters need to be precisely prepared. The emergence of an exceptional surface (ES) improves the robustness of the system to the external environment, while maintaining the same sensitivity. Here, we propose, to our knowledge, the first scalable protocol for realizing a photonic high-order ES with passive resonators. By adding one or more additional passive resonators in the low-order ES photonic system, the three- or arbitrary N-order ES is constructed and proved to be easily realized in experiment. We show that the sensitivity is enhanced and the experimental demonstration is more resilient against fabrication errors. The additional phase-modulation effect is also investigated.
From reaction kinetics to dementia: A simple dimer model of Alzheimer’s disease etiology
Authors: Lindstrom Michael R. , Chavez Manuel B. , Gross-Sable Elijah A. , Hayden Eric Y. , Teplow David B.
Published: July 2021

Oligomers of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through their toxicity towards neurons. Understanding the process of oligomerization may contribute to the development of therapeutic agents, but this has been difficult due to the complexity of oligomerization and the metastability of the oligomers thus formed. To understand the kinetics of oligomer formation, and how that relates to the progression of AD, we developed models of the oligomerization process. Here, we use experimental data from cell viability assays and proxies for rate constants involved in monomer-dimer-trimer kinetics to develop a simple mathematical model linking Aβ assembly to oligomer-induced neuronal degeneration. This model recapitulates the rapid growth of disease incidence with age. It does so through incorporation of age-dependent changes in rates of Aβ monomer production and elimination. The model also describes clinical progression in genetic forms of AD (e.g., Down’s syndrome), changes in hippocampal volume, AD risk after traumatic brain injury, and spatial spreading of the disease due to foci in which Aβ production is elevated. Continued incorporation of clinical and basic science data into the current model will make it an increasingly relevant model system for doing theoretical calculations that are not feasible in biological systems. In addition, terms in the model that have particularly large effects are likely to be especially useful therapeutic targets.
The H3.3K27M oncohistone antagonizes reprogramming in Drosophila
Authors: Ahmad Kami , Henikoff Steven
Published: July 2021

Development proceeds by the activation of genes by transcription factors and the inactivation of others by chromatin-mediated gene silencing. In certain cases development can be reversed or redirected by mis-expression of master regulator transcription factors. This must involve the activation of previously silenced genes, and such developmental aberrations are thought to underlie a variety of cancers. Here, we express the wing-specific Vestigial master regulator to reprogram the developing eye, and test the role of silencing in reprogramming using an H3.3K27M oncohistone mutation that dominantly inhibits histone H3K27 trimethylation. We find that production of the oncohistone blocks eye-to-wing reprogramming. CUT&Tag chromatin profiling of mutant tissues shows that H3K27me3 of domains is generally reduced upon oncohistone production, suggesting that a previous developmental program must be silenced for effective transformation. Strikingly, Vg and H3.3K27M synergize to stimulate overgrowth of eye tissue, a phenotype that resembles that of mutations in Polycomb silencing components. Transcriptome profiling of elongating RNA Polymerase II implicates the mis-regulation of signaling factors in overgrowth. Our results demonstrate that growth dysregulation can result from the simple combination of crippled silencing and transcription factor mis-expression, an effect that may explain the origins of oncohistone-bearing cancers.
Diverse LXG toxin and antitoxin systems specifically mediate intraspecies competition in Bacillus subtilis biofilms
Authors: Kobayashi Kazuo
Published: July 2021

Biofilms are multispecies communities, in which bacteria constantly compete with one another for resources and niches. Bacteria produce many antibiotics and toxins for competition. However, since biofilm cells exhibit increased tolerance to antimicrobials, their roles in biofilms remain controversial. Here, we showed thatBacillus subtilisproduces multiple diverse polymorphic toxins, called LXG toxins, that contain N-terminal LXG delivery domains and diverse C-terminal toxin domains. EachB.subtilisstrain possesses a distinct set of LXG toxin–antitoxin genes, the number and variation of which is sufficient to distinguish each strain. TheB.subtilisstrain NCIB3610 possesses six LXG toxin–antitoxin operons on its chromosome, and five of the toxins functioned as DNase. In competition assays, deletion mutants of any of the six LXG toxin–antitoxin operons were outcompeted by the wild-type strain. This phenotype was suppressed when the antitoxins were ectopically expressed in the deletion mutants. The fitness defect of the mutants was only observed in solid media that supported biofilm formation. Biofilm matrix polymers, exopolysaccharides and TasA protein polymers were required for LXG toxin function. These results indicate that LXG toxin-antitoxin systems specifically mediate intercellular competition betweenB.subtilisstrains in biofilms. Mutual antagonism between some LXG toxin producers drove the spatial segregation of two strains in a biofilm, indicating that LXG toxins not only mediate competition in biofilms, but may also help to avoid warfare between strains in biofilms. LXG toxins from strain NCIB3610 were effective against some natural isolates, and thus LXG toxin–antitoxin systems have ecological impact.B.subtilispossesses another polymorphic toxin, WapA. WapA had toxic effects under planktonic growth conditions but not under biofilm conditions because exopolysaccharides and TasA protein polymers inhibited WapA function. These results indicate thatB.subtilisuses two types of polymorphic toxins for competition, depending on the growth mode.
Telmisartan use and risk of dementia in type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Liu Chi-Hung , Sung Pi-Shan , Li Yan-Rong , Huang Wen-Kuan , Lee Tay-Wey , Huang Chin-Chang , Lee Tsong-Hai , Chen Tien-Hsing , Wei Yi-Chia
Published: July 2021

Background

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may have protective effects against dementia occurrence in patients with hypertension (HTN). However, whether telmisartan, an ARB with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ)–modulating effects, has additional benefits compared to other ARBs remains unclear.

Methods and findings

Between 1997 and 2013, 2,166,944 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients with HTN using ARBs were included in the study. Patients with a history of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or dementia were excluded. Finally, 65,511 eligible patients were divided into 2 groups: the telmisartan group and the non-telmisartan ARB group. Propensity score matching (1:4) was used to balance the distribution of baseline characteristics and medications. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of dementia. The secondary outcomes included the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease and occurrence of symptomatic ischemic stroke (IS), any IS, and all-cause mortality. The risks between groups were compared using a Cox proportional hazard model. Statistical significance was set atp< 0.05. There were 2,280 and 9,120 patients in the telmisartan and non-telmisartan ARB groups, respectively. Patients in the telmisartan group had a lower risk of dementia diagnosis (telmisartan versus non-telmisartan ARBs: 2.19% versus 3.20%; HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.97;p= 0.030). They also had lower risk of dementia diagnosis with IS as a competing risk (subdistribution HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.95;p= 0.022) and with all-cause mortality as a competing risk (subdistribution HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.97;p= 0.029). In addition, the telmisartan users had a lower risk of any IS (6.84% versus 8.57%; HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.94;p= 0.008) during long-term follow-up. Study limitations included potential residual confounding by indication, interpretation of causal effects in an observational study, and bias caused by using diagnostic and medication codes to represent real clinical data.

Conclusions

The current study suggests that telmisartan use in hypertensive T2DM patients may be associated with a lower risk of dementia and any IS events in an East-Asian population.
Emergent canine visceral leishmaniasis in Argentina: Comparative diagnostics and relevance to proliferation of human disease
Authors: Fujisawa Kyoko , Silcott-Niles Charlotte , Simonson Poppy , Lamattina Daniela , Humeres Cristian A. , Bhattacharyya Tapan , Mertens Pascal , Thunissen Caroline , O’Rourke Victoria , Pańczuk Magdalena , Whitworth James A. , Salomón Oscar Daniel , Miles Michael A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic protozoal vector-borne disease that is a major public health challenge. In Argentina, canine (CVL) and human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) have recently emerged. There is a lack of standardised diagnostic tests for CVL, which hinders control of CVL and HVL.

Methodology/Principal findings

Sampling was carried out in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, comprising 190 asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic and polysymptomatic dogs. The following diagnostics were applied: microscopy of lymph node aspirate (LNA); three immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), prototype rK28-ICT, rK39-ICT (both Coris BioConcept), commercial rK39 (InBios); ELISA for IgG, IgG1 and IgG2, against rK28, rK39 or crude lysate antigen. DNA detection and analysis, with 30 dogs, was of the ITS1 region using skin samples, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP; Eiken Loopamp) of buffy coat, skin scrape or LNA. 15.4% of dogs were positive by LNA microscopy. The rK28 RDT had higher seropositivity rate (61%) than either a prototype rK39 RDT (31.4%) or commercial rK39 RDT (18.8%), without cross-reactivity with six other pathogens. IgG anti-rK39 ELISA antibody titres, but not IgG2, were positively correlated with number of clinical signs. LAMP with LNA had a higher positivity rate than PCR; buffy coat sampling was more sensitive than skin scrape. ITS1 confirmed Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum as the agent of CVL. Leishmania (Viannia) spp. was detected in skin samples from two dogs, compatible with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

Conclusions/Significance

Seroprevalence confirmed rapid increase in CVL in Puerto Iguazú. The rK28 RDT test potentially has great value for improved point-of-care diagnosis. Given cost reduction and accessibility, commercial LAMP may be applicable to buffy coat. RDT biomarkers of CVL clinical status are required to combat spread of CVL and HVL. The presence of Viannia, perhaps as an agent of human mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), highlights the need for vigilance and surveillance.
The impact of dengue illness on social distancing and caregiving behavior
Authors: Schaber Kathryn L. , Morrison Amy C. , Elson William H. , Astete-Vega Helvio , Córdova-López Jhonny J. , Ríos López Esther Jennifer , Flores W. Lorena Quiroz , Santillan Alfonso S. Vizcarra , Scott Thomas W. , Waller Lance A. , Kitron Uriel , Barker Christopher M. , Perkins T. Alex , Rothman Alan L. , Vazquez-Prokopec Gonzalo M. , Elder John P. , Paz-Soldan Valerie A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Human mobility among residential locations can drive dengue virus (DENV) transmission dynamics. Recently, it was shown that individuals with symptomatic DENV infection exhibit significant changes in their mobility patterns, spending more time at home during illness. This change in mobility is predicted to increase the risk of acquiring infection for those living with or visiting the ill individual. It has yet to be considered, however, whether social contacts are also changing their mobility, either by socially distancing themselves from the infectious individual or increasing contact to help care for them. Social, or physical, distancing and caregiving could have diverse yet important impacts on DENV transmission dynamics; therefore, it is necessary to better understand the nature and frequency of these behaviors including their effect on mobility.

Methodology and principal findings

Through community-based febrile illness surveillance and RT-PCR infection confirmation, 67 DENV positive (DENV+) residents were identified in the city of Iquitos, Peru. Using retrospective interviews, data were collected on visitors and home-based care received during the illness. While 15% of participants lost visitors during their illness, 22% gained visitors; overall, 32% of all individuals (particularly females) received visitors while symptomatic. Caregiving was common (90%), particularly caring by housemates (91%) and caring for children (98%). Twenty-eight percent of caregivers changed their behavior enough to have their work (and, likely, mobility patterns) affected. This was significantly more likely when caring for individuals with low “health-related quality of well-being” during illness (Fisher’s Exact, p = 0.01).

Conclusions/Significance

Our study demonstrates that social contacts of individuals with dengue modify their patterns of visitation and caregiving. The observed mobility changes could impact a susceptible individual’s exposure to virus or a presymptomatic/clinically inapparent individual’s contribution to onward transmission. Accounting for changes in social contact mobility is imperative in order to get a more accurate understanding of DENV transmission.
Depth-dependent influence of biochar application on the abundance and community structure of diazotrophic under sugarcane growth
Authors: Fallah Nyumah , Yang Ziqi , Tayyab Muhammad , Zhang Caifang , Abubakar Ahmad Yusuf , Lin Zhaoli , Pang Ziqin , Allison Americ , Zhang Hua
Published: July 2021

Despite progress in understanding diazotrophic distribution in surface soils, few studies have investigated the distribution of diazotrophic bacteria in deeper soil layers. Here, we leveraged high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of nifH genes obtained to assess the influence of biochar amended soil (BC) and control (CK), and soil depths (0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm) on diazotrophic abundance and community structures, soil enzyme activities and physio-chemical properties. Multivariate ANOVA analysis revealed that soil depth had profound impact on majority of the soil parameters measured than fertilization. Although soil physio-chemical properties, enzymes activities, diazotrophic genera and enriched operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were significantly influenced across the entire soil profiles, we also observed that BC amended soil significantly increased cane stalk height and weight, nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), organic matter (OM), total carbon (TC) and available potassium (AK), and enhanced diazotrophic genera in soil depth 0–20 cm compared to CK treatment. Soil TC, total nitrogen (TN), OM and NH4+ were the major impact factors shifting diazotrophic community structures in soil depth 0–20 cm. Overall, these results were more pronounced in 0–20 cm soil depth in BC than CK treatment.
Collaborative driving style classification method enabled by majority voting ensemble learning for enhancing classification performance
Authors: Guo Yi , Wang Xiaolan , Huang Yongmao , Xu Liang
Published: July 2021

The classification of driving styles plays a fundamental role in evaluating drivers’ driving behaviors, which is of great significance to traffic safety. However, it still suffers from various challenges, including the insufficient accuracy of the model, the large amount of training parameters, the instability of classification results, and some others. To evaluate the driving behaviors accurately and efficiently, and to study the differences of driving behaviors among various vehicle drivers, a collaborative driving style classification method, which is enabled by ensemble learning and divided into pre-classification and classification, is proposed in this paper. In the pre-classification process, various clustering algorithms are utilized compositely to label some typical initial data with specific labels as aggressive, stable and conservative. Then, in the classification process, other unlabeled data can be classified accurately and efficiently by the majority voting ensemble learning method incorporating three different conventional classifiers. The availability and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated through some simulation experiments, in which the proposed collaborative classification method achieves quite good and stable performance on driving style classification. Particularly, compared with some other similar classification methods, the evaluation indicators of the proposed method, including accuracy, precision, recall and F-measure, are improved by 1.49%, 2.90%, 5.32% and 4.49% respectively, making it the best overall performance. Therefore, the proposed method is much preferred for the autonomous driving and usage-based insurance.
Variable effects of underlying diseases on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19
Authors: Choi Yong Jun , Park Ju-Young , Lee Hye Sun , Suh Jin , Song Jeung Yoon , Byun Min-Kwang , Cho Jae Hwa , Kim Hyung Jung , Park Hye Jung
Published: July 2021

Underlying diseases might be risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19); however, we still do not know whether these diseases are independent factors affecting prognosis, which type of underlying diseases are risk factors, and which type of clinical outcomes are affected. We retrospectively reviewed cohort data from 7,590 de-identified patients with COVID-19 who were diagnosed using severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 RNA polymerase chain reaction test up to May 15, 2020. We used linked-medical claims data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in South Korea. Underlying diseases were identified using the diagnostic codes in the patients’ files from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The total mortality rate was 3.0% in patients with COVID-19. After adjusting for age, sex, and concomitant chronic conditions, we found that congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary diseases, diabetes without chronic complications, renal diseases, and malignancy were factors that significantly increased the cost of treatment. Cerebrovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, and paralysis were found to be independent factors significant in prolonging hospital stay. Diabetes with chronic complications was independently associated with intensive care unit admission. In addition, underlying congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR], 1.724; P = 0.003), dementia (OR, 1.598; P = 0.012), diabetes with and without chronic complications (OR, 1.821; P = 0.002 and OR, 1.518; P = 0.022, respectively), renal disease (OR, 2.299; P = 0.002), and malignancy (OR, 1.529; P = 0.039) were significant factors associated with death, even after adjustments. Underlying diseases were significant independent factors of the poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. The effects were variable according to the type of underlying disease and clinical outcome. Therefore, patients with COVID-19 with underlying diseases should be monitored more closely because they are more at risk of a poor prognosis.
Concurrent validity of barbell force measured from video-based barbell kinematics during the snatch in male elite weightlifters
Authors: Sandau Ingo , Chaabene Helmi , Granacher Urs
Published: July 2021

This study examined the concurrent validity of an inverse dynamic (force computed from barbell acceleration [reference method]) and a work-energy (force computed from work at the barbell [alternative method]) approach to measure the mean vertical barbell force during the snatch using kinematic data from video analysis. For this purpose, the acceleration phase of the snatch was analyzed in thirty male medal winners of the 2018 weightlifting World Championships (age: 25.2±3.1 years; body mass: 88.9±28.6 kg). Vertical barbell kinematics were measured using a custom-made 2D real-time video analysis software. Agreement between the two computational approaches was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, Deming regression, and Pearson product-moment correlation. Further, principal component analysis in conjunction with multiple linear regression was used to assess whether individual differences related to the two approaches are due to the waveforms of the acceleration time-series data. Results indicated no mean difference (p> 0.05;d= −0.04) and an extremely large correlation (r= 0.99) between the two approaches. Despite the high agreement, the total error of individual differences was 8.2% (163.0 N). The individual differences can be explained by a multiple linear regression model (R2adj= 0.86) on principal component scores from the principal component analysis of vertical barbell acceleration time-series waveforms. Findings from this study indicate that the individual errors of force measures can be associated with the inverse dynamic approach. This approach uses vertical barbell acceleration data from video analysis that is prone to error. Therefore, it is recommended to use the work-energy approach to compute mean vertical barbell force as this approach did not rely on vertical barbell acceleration.
Application of multi-layer denoising based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition in extraction of fault feature of rotating machinery
Authors: Gao Kangping , Xu Xinxin , Li Jiabo , Jiao Shengjie , Shi Ning
Published: July 2021

Aiming at the problem that the weak features of non-stationary vibration signals are difficult to extract under strong background noise, a multi-layer noise reduction method based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) is proposed. First, the original vibration signal is decomposed by EEMD, and the main intrinsic modal components (IMF) are selected using comprehensive evaluation indicators; the second layer of filtering uses wavelet threshold denoising (WTD) to process the main IMF components. Finally, the virtual noise channel is introduced, and FastICA is used to de-noise and unmix the IMF components processed by the WTD. Next, perform spectral analysis on the separated useful signals to highlight the fault frequency. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by simulation, and it is applied to the extraction of weak signals of faulty bearings and worn polycrystalline diamond compact bits. The analysis of vibration signals shows that this method can efficiently extract weak fault characteristic information of rotating machinery.
Countering reproducibility issues in mathematical models with software engineering techniques: A case study using a one-dimensional mathematical model of the atrioventricular node
Authors: Schölzel Christopher , Blesius Valeria , Ernst Gernot , Goesmann Alexander , Dominik Andreas
Published: July 2021

One should assume that in silico experiments in systems biology are less susceptible to reproducibility issues than their wet-lab counterparts, because they are free from natural biological variations and their environment can be fully controlled. However, recent studies show that only half of the published mathematical models of biological systems can be reproduced without substantial effort. In this article we examine the potential causes for failed or cumbersome reproductions in a case study of a one-dimensional mathematical model of the atrioventricular node, which took us four months to reproduce. The model demonstrates that even otherwise rigorous studies can be hard to reproduce due to missing information, errors in equations and parameters, a lack in available data files, non-executable code, missing or incomplete experiment protocols, and missing rationales behind equations. Many of these issues seem similar to problems that have been solved in software engineering using techniques such as unit testing, regression tests, continuous integration, version control, archival services, and a thorough modular design with extensive documentation. Applying these techniques, we reimplement the examined model using the modeling language Modelica. The resulting workflow is independent of the model and can be translated to SBML, CellML, and other languages. It guarantees methods reproducibility by executing automated tests in a virtual machine on a server that is physically separated from the development environment. Additionally, it facilitates results reproducibility, because the model is more understandable and because the complete model code, experiment protocols, and simulation data are published and can be accessed in the exact version that was used in this article. We found the additional design and documentation effort well justified, even just considering the immediate benefits during development such as easier and faster debugging, increased understandability of equations, and a reduced requirement for looking up details from the literature.
Compliance, practices, and attitudes towards VTIs (Vehicle Technical Inspections) in Spain: What prevents Spanish drivers from checking up their cars?
Authors: Alonso Francisco , Useche Sergio A. , Gene-Morales Javier , Esteban Cristina
Published: July 2021

Objective

Mechanical conditions of vehicles may play a determinant role in driving safety, the reason why vehicle periodical technical inspections (VTIs) are mandatory in many countries. However, the high number of drivers sanctioned for not complying with this regulation is surprisingly high, and there is not much evidence on what kind(s) of motives may explain this concerning panorama. This study aimed to identify the aspects that modulate the relationship between complying (or not) with VTI’s standards in a nationwide sample of Spanish drivers. The study design also addressed the drivers’ awareness regarding different risky behaviors while driving, depending on their sex and their crash record.

Methods

1,100 Spanish drivers completed a survey on the aforementioned issues. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc adjustment was conducted to assess significant differences (p<0.05) in the study variables.

Results

Most of the surveyed drivers (99.18%) reported that they always comply with VTI’s requirements. The main reasons to comply were related to compliance with traffic regulation and fear of penalties, while the reasons attributed to its incompliance are, instead, stated as involuntary.

Conclusion

The findings of this study support the idea that more actions are needed to increase drivers’ awareness of the relevance of VTIs for road safety, as well as warning them about the dangers of neglecting vehicle checking beyond merely punishing measures. For this reason and given the greater prevalence of the issue among younger segments of the driving population, it is suggested that more emphasis on the matter could be made during novice driver’s training.
A longitudinal course pilot to improve surgical resident acquisition of quality improvement skills
Authors: Ahuja Vanita , Gorecka Jolanta , Yoo Peter , Emerson Beth L.
Published: July 2021

Problem

Despite mounting evidence that incorporation of QI curricula into surgical trainee education improves morbidity and outcomes, surgery training programs lack standardized QI curricula and tools to measure QI knowledge. In the current study, we developed, implemented, and evaluated a quality improvement curriculum for surgical residents.

Intervention

Surgical trainees participated in a longitudinal, year-long (2019–2020) curriculum based on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s online program. Online curriculum was supplemented with in person didactics and small group projects. Acquisition of skills was assessed pre- and post- course via self-report on a Likert scale as well as the Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool (QIKAT). Self-efficacy scores were assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale. 9 out of 18 total course participants completed the post course survey. This first course cohort was analyzed as a pilot for future work.

Context

The project was developed and deployed among surgical residents during their research/lab year. Teams of surgical residents were partnered with a faculty project mentor, as well as non-physician teammates for project work.

Impact

Participation in the QI course significantly increased skills related to studying the process (p = 0.0463), making changes in a system (p = 0.0167), identifying whether a change leads to an improvement (p = 0.0039), using small cycles of change (p = 0.0000), identifying best practices and comparing them to local practices (p = 0.0020), using PDSA model as a systematic framework for trial and learning (p = 0.0004), identifying how data is linked to specific processes (p = 0.0488), and building the next improvement cycle upon success or failure (p = 0.0316). There was also a significant improvement in aim (p = 0.037) and change (p = 0.029) responses to one QIKAT vignette.

Lessons learned

We describe the effectiveness of a pilot longitudinal, multi component QI course based on the IHI online curriculum in improving surgical trainee knowledge and use of key QI skills.
In vitro adaptation and characterization of attenuated hypervariable region 1 swap chimeras of hepatitis C virus
Authors: Olesen Christina Holmboe , Augestad Elias H. , Troise Fulvia , Bukh Jens , Prentoe Jannick
Published: July 2021

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects 70 million people worldwide with an estimated annual disease-related mortality of 400,000. A vaccine could prevent spread of this pervasive human pathogen, but has proven difficult to develop, partly due to neutralizing antibody evasion mechanisms that are inherent features of the virus envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. A central actor is the E2 motif, hypervariable region 1 (HVR1), which protects several non-overlapping neutralization epitopes through an incompletely understood mechanism. Here, we show that introducing different HVR1-isolate sequences into cell-culture infectious JFH1-based H77 (genotype 1a) and J4 (genotype 1b) Core-NS2 recombinants can lead to severe viral attenuation. Culture adaptation of attenuated HVR1-swapped recombinants permitted us to identify E1/E2 substitutions at conserved positions both within and outside HVR1 that increased the infectivity of attenuated HVR1-swapped recombinants but were not adaptive for original recombinants. H77 recombinants with HVR1 from multiple other isolates consistently acquired substitutions at position 348 in E1 and position 385 in HVR1 of E2. Interestingly, HVR1-swapped J4 recombinants primarily acquired other substitutions: F291I (E1), F438V (E2), F447L/V/I (E2) and V710L (E2), indicating a different adaptation pathway. For H77 recombinants, the adaptive E1/E2 substitutions increased sensitivity to the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies AR3A and AR4A, whereas for J4 recombinants, they increased sensitivity to AR3A, while having no effect on sensitivity to AR4A. To evaluate effects of the substitutions on AR3A and AR4A binding, we performed ELISAs on extracted E1/E2 protein and performed immunoprecipitation of relevant viruses. However, extracted E1/E2 protein and immunoprecipitation of HCV particles only reproduced the neutralization phenotypes of the J4 recombinants. Finally, we found that the HVR1-swap E1/E2 substitutions decrease virus entry dependency on co-receptor SR-BI. Our study identifies E1/E2 positions that could be critical for intra-complex HVR1 interactions while emphasizing the need for developing novel tools for molecular studies of E1/E2 interactions.
Germinal Center T follicular helper (GC-Tfh) cell impairment in chronic HIV infection involves c-Maf signaling
Authors: Chakhtoura Marita , Fang Mike , Cubas Rafael , O’Connor Margaret H. , Nichols Carmen N. , Richardson Brian , Talla Aarthi , Moir Susan , Cameron Mark J. , Tardif Virginie , Haddad Elias K.
Published: July 2021

We have recently demonstrated that the function of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells from lymph nodes (LN) of HIV-infected individuals is impaired. We found that these cells were unable to provide proper help to germinal center (GC)-B cells, as observed by altered and inefficient anti-HIV antibody response and premature death of memory B cells. The underlying molecular mechanisms of this dysfunction remain poorly defined. Herein, we have used a unique transcriptional approach to identify these molecular defects. We consequently determined the transcriptional profiles of LN GC-Tfh cells following their interactions with LN GC-B cells from HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals, rather than analyzing restingex-vivoGC-Tfh cells. We observed that proliferating GC-Tfh cells from HIV-infected subjects were transcriptionally different than their HIV-uninfected counterparts, and displayed a significant downregulation of immune- and GC-Tfh-associated pathways and genes. Our results strongly demonstrated thatMAF(coding for the transcription factor c-Maf) and its upstream signaling pathway mediators (IL6R and STAT3) were significantly downregulated in HIV-infected subjects, which could contribute to the impaired GC-Tfh and GC-B cell functions reported during infection. We further showed that c-Maf function was associated with the adenosine pathway and that the signaling upstream c-Maf could be partially restored by adenosine deaminase -1 (ADA-1) supplementation. Overall, we identified a novel mechanism that contributes to GC-Tfh cell impairment during HIV infection. Understanding how GC-Tfh cell function is altered in HIV is crucial and could provide critical information about the mechanisms leading to the development and maintenance of effective anti-HIV antibodies.
Representing and commoning the refugee crisis: The ‘assemblage’ of the Lesvos Migration Atlas
Authors: Tsilimpounidi Myrto , Tselepi Naya , Pangalos Orestis , Petropoulou Chryssanthi ‘Christy’
Published: July 2021

This article uses a critical lens to examine the various representations of the so-called ‘refugee crisis’ in Lesvos, Greece through both the system of the hotspot regime and the performative acts of commoning, defined as the creation of the commons. It also proposes a process of commoning by the creation of an ‘assemblage’ of the Lesvos Migration Atlas. In this manner, the Atlas as an outcome of the research is itself a representation that embraces theory, narratives, practices, and acts; a visual and symbolic tool that provides space for photographic material, videos, artworks, (re)mappings, everyday stories, and reflective texts. At the same time, it is a collective process of capturing, writing and representing, open to new material and scripts – thus a product in a process of becoming. Overall, the online and interactive Lesvos Migration Atlas can well be approached as an ‘assemblage’ that respects the mobility and contingency of the various crises, representations and acts of commoning. In the Atlas, the refugee crisis, the hotspot regime and the common spaces that have been created are brought together through the emergence and critical confrontation of the multiple representations of Lesvos.
Revealing the invisible: The virus is looking at you
Authors: Barker Garry
Published: July 2021

At the core of the various messages that have been sent out about the Coronavirus is how to deal with an invisible threat. Revealing the invisible is however an ancient issue, one that goes back thousands of years and reoccurs throughout human history. This article is an exploration of the complex interrelationship between several long-standing visual tropes that over historical time have emerged from various cultures in response to a need to communicate invisible forces. Beginning with reflections on the poster for the International Hygiene Exhibition of 1911 held in Dresden, linking in images of an Egyptian sun god, via extramission theory and thoughts about the first drawings done through a handheld, lens-focused microscope by Robert Hooke, a series of links and interconnections are made that explore how the invisible has been represented and how the invisible virus can be read as a type of ‘dark star’ or anti-sun. Christian traditions of the use of unnatural colour to signify both invisible power and demonic possession and the way the Coronavirus has itself been depicted are compared to historical visual tropes such as the aureola and the mandorla as used in the Greek Orthodox Church to depict sacred moments that transcend time and space. From Buddhist and Christian uses of halos via images of sea-mines, a complex series of interconnections are revealed that are now being tapped into by Government-sanctioned information leaflets relating to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Las formas de alfabetización en la sociedad de la información
Authors: García Carrasco Joaquín
Published: July 2021

El concepto de alfabetización ha ido transformando su significado, de un sentido literal a otro metafórico, para terminar en una propuesta de Educación Básica, lo que plantea el problema de las exigencias básicas culturales que plantea la alfabetización en el contexto de la Sociedad de la Información. Esta metamorfosis ha llevado a la expresión alfabetizaciones múltiples, implicando en el proceso alfabetizador muchas dimensiones. El análisis de la alfabetización llevaría a la reconstrucción histórica del proceso de incorporación cultural, tomando en cuenta tres contingencias culturales extraordinarias: la introducción del lenguaje oral y las culturas de oralidad, la introducción de la lecto-escritura y la aparición de las culturas que corresponden, la introducción de las tecnologías digitales y la aparición de la denominada Sociedad de la Información. La metamorfosis de la alfabetización demuestra que no puede llevarse a cabo sino como vigencia de las tres contingencias culturales.
Videojuegos “teaching tech”: pedagogos de la convergencia global. la docilización del pensamiento a través del macrodiscurso cultural y la convergencia tecnológica
Authors: Esnaola Horacek Graciela Alicia
Published: July 2021

En este artículo expondremos reflexiones psicopedagógicas respecto de la mediación de los videojuegos en la construcción del conocimiento, definiéndolos como un macro género artístico emergente incorporado a la cultura másiva. Consideramos que la dimensión lúdica, incluida en los dispositivos tecnológicos móviles de amplio acceso, instala un espacio sociocultural transparente a través de la “convergencia global de prácticas y sentidos”. Desde este pensamiento capturamos la pedagogía que subyace a las prácticas lúdicas de los usuarios sostenidas en el discurso simbólico hegemónico de la cibercultura. Desarrollaremos específicamente el análisis de los componentes intervinientes en la convergencia tecnológica de los recientes artefactos multimediales tomando como caso los videojuegos en los “teléfonos móviles de ultima generación” (tecnologías de tercera generación en telefonía celular: 3G) para destacar advertencias educativas que contrastan con la lógica del pensamiento curricular vigente.
Herramientas para el aprendizaje colaborativo en red: el caso de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
Authors: Pérez-mateo SubirÀ María , Guitert Catasús Montse
Published: July 2021

El estudio se centra en el aprendizaje colaborativo en red. A partir de un diseño cualitativo de investigación, tiene por objetivo analizar los usos que realizan los estudiantes de la UOC de las diferentes herramientas para el trabajo en grupo. Este objetivo se aborda a partir de dos elementos clave de los procesos colaborativos virtuales: el aprendizaje y los aspectos sociales de la comunicación. Partiendo del caso concreto de una asignatura, se analiza una prueba piloto en la que se introdujo el wiki para el trabajo grupal. Los resultados evidencian que el debate y el Chat se utilizaron mayormente para la comunicación; el wiki para la construcción del trabajo; y el área de ficheros como repositorio compartido de información digital.
Una mirada alternativa acerca del residuo cognitivo cuando se introducen nuevas tecnologías. El caso de la resolución de problemas en ciencias.
Authors: Escudero Consuelo
Published: July 2021

En el presente texto, se presentan vínculos entre elementos provenientes de referenciales psicológicos en la necesidad de contar con una mejor teoría que de cuenta de la relación entre los residuos cognitivos, la influencia de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación y la enseñanza que se propone en relación con la educación en general, y con la Enseñanza de las Ciencias y la investigación en resolución de problemas en particular. Se parte del conocimiento de “la persona y sus capacidades” y nos dirigimos hacia el conocimiento de “la persona-cuando-utiliza-esa-herramienta (computadora)”.En ese recorrido se vislumbran la incorporación de la novedad a través de la problematización y la construcción de criterios propios surgidos en actividad grupal como iluminando decisiones didácticas en esa dirección.
El aprendizaje dialógico y sus aportaciones a la teoría de la educación
Authors: Prieto Óscar , Duque Elena
Published: July 2021

Este artículo resalta las contribuciones que el Aprendizaje Dialógico realiza ala Teoría de la Educación avanzando en la perspectiva de la pedagogía crítica y dandoorientaciones para una práctica educativa igualitaria y científica. En él se discuten lossiete principios del Aprendizaje Dialógico con algunas perspectivas y prácticas educativasreproductoras, mostrando cómo éstos las superan. También se refleja un diálogoabierto con las contribuciones teóricas críticas de la educación en las que se sustenta elAprendizaje Dialógico incluyendo tanto autores lejanos en el tiempo pero cercanos enplanteamientos –Ferrer i Guàrdia, Vygotsky o Paulo Freire– como autores contemporáneosde la pedagogía crítica. Así mismo, se relaciona cada uno de los principios que sepresentan con una lectura crítica de la práctica educativa, destacando los efectos de laaplicación del Aprendizaje Dialógico a través del análisis de proyectos educativos innovadoresy críticos que, a su vez, muestran buenos resultados educativos.
Inclusión educativa y pedagogía crítica
Authors: Molina Silvia , Christou Miranda
Published: July 2021

En este artículo presentamos los principios básicos de la inclusión educativa,centrándonos especialmente en la inclusión del alumnado con discapacidad, y sostenemosque la educación inclusiva debería ser entendida como un proceso de transformaciónde las escuelas tradicionales en espacios de aprendizaje para todo el alumnado. Elartículo se basa en la pedagogía crítica para argumentar que las prácticas educativasexcluyentes se han desarrollado centrándose en la discapacidad más que en las capacidadesde este alumnado. En esta misma línea, el artículo proporciona evidencias científicaspara desacreditar mitos relacionados con la educación del alumnado con discapacidad,especialmente mitos que han contribuido a su exclusión de las aulas ordinarias.Finalmente, basándonos en el modelo de las Comunidades de Aprendizaje, proporcionamosalgunas estrategias concretas para la transformación de las aulas ordinarias enambientes plenamente inclusivos.
Metodología comunicativa crítica: transformaciones y cambios en el s. XXI
Authors: Gómez González Aitor , Díez-Palomar Javier
Published: July 2021

Los análisis educativo-sociales que se llevan a cabo sobre la actual sociedaddescubren valores cada vez más dialógicos. Para analizar esta sociedad se hace necesariodisponer de una metodología que responda a ese carácter cada vez más dialógico ycomplejo. La metodología comunicativa crítica responde a esta nueva situación, contribuyendoa la superación de desigualdades educativas y sociales y fomentando la inclusiónsocial de los colectivos que se encuentran en situaciones más desfavorecidas. Eneste artículo presentamos cómo a través de la metodología comunicativa crítica podemosllevar a cabo análisis de problemáticas educativas y sociales que muy difícilmentepodrían ser abordados desde metodologías más tradicionales. Para ello, introduciremosbrevemente las principales características de la sociedad en la que nos encontramos, quénuevos retos se nos plantean y cómo mediante la metodología comunicativa crítica podemoscontribuir a superar situaciones de exclusión social
La alfabetización tecnológica
Authors: Ortega Sánchez Isabel
Published: July 2021

La incorporación a la sociedad del conocimiento es posible mediante la alfabetización tecnológica. Para poder conseguir una educación de calidad a través del uso de las tecnologías es necesario una alfabetización tecnológica entendida como la capacitación no solo instrumental, sino la adquisición de las competencias necesarias para la utilización didáctica de las tecnologías y poder acceder al conocimiento. A través de la alfabetización tecnológica se democratizan los procesos de formación y se consigue la inclusión social, laboral y una mejora en la calidad de vida.
Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación para el desarrollo: ejemplos en India y Uganda
Authors: Sarmento João
Published: July 2021

Las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación (TIC) se relacionan con los usos que las personas hacen de las tecnologías que en un determinado momento estan disponibles, dentro de ciertos contextos institucionales, económicos, sociales y culturales. Este artículo se centra en el análisis de las aplicaciones TIC para el desarrollo social y económico, y presenta y discute algunos proyectos y debates del proceso de las TIC para el desarrollo (ICT4D). Sugiere que es necesaria una segunda revolución digital, en la cual los contenidos y formas creativas de utilizar la tecnología tenga efectos socioeconómicos positivos en las poblaciones más desfavorecidas. Muchas de las historias de éxito ilustran que los principales desafíos no residen en la tecnología en sí misma, sino en la organización, coordinación y establecimiento de un ambiente creativo y motivador entre los variados actores implicados.
Educación en valores y educación emocional: propuestas para la acción pedagógica
Authors: Buxarrais Estrada María Rosa , Martínez Martín Miquel
Published: July 2021

Relacionar la educación en valores con la educación emocional supone enfatizar la idea de que la educación consiste en ofrecer respuestas desde la institución escolar a todas las dimensiones de la persona: cognitivas, conductuales y afectivas -el pensar, el hacer y el sentir-. Respuestas que parece no se han dado en sistemas educativos anteriores. En este artículo planteamos la necesidad de rescatar una educación en valores que no sólo no olvide la educación emocional, sino que la explicite a través de programas de acción pedagógica cuyos objetivos se concreten en la construcción de la personalidad ética, la educación de los sentimientos y la competencia comunicacional, la adquisición de competencias éticas, la aceptación de límites y normas de convivencia, así como la gestión de las emociones y su consecuencia conductual: la autorregulación del comportamiento. La sensibilización y formación del profesorado resultará indispensable para se plantee y desarrolle en las instituciones educativas esta innovación.