bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of IDH1 Mutation in Progressive Gliomas by Allele-Specific qPCR and Western Blot Analysis
Authors: Perrech Moritz , Dreher Lena , Röhn Gabriele , Stavrinou Pantelis , Krischek Boris , Toliat Mohammad , Goldbrunner Roland , Timmer Marco
Published: April 2019

To date, diagnosis of IDH1 mutation is based on DNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry, methods limited in terms of sensitivity and ease of use. Recently, the diagnosis of IDH1 mutation by real-time polymerase chain reaction was introduced as an alternative method. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction was validated as a tool for detection of IDH1 mutation, and expression levels were analyzed for correlation with course of the disease. A total of 113 tumor samples were obtained intraoperatively from 84 patients with glioma having a diagnosis of diffuse glioma (World Health Organization II), anaplastic glioma (World Health Organization III), secondary glioblastoma ± chemotherapy, primary glioblastoma ± chemotherapy (World Health Organization IV). Tumor samples were snap frozen and processed for sectioning and RNA and protein isolation. Presence of IDH1 mutation was determined by DNA sequencing. Hereafter, quantitative expression of IDH1 messenger RNA was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for IDH1 mutation and –wt; protein expression was verified by Western Blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, 19 samples of low-grade glioma and their consecutive high-grade glioma were analyzed at different time points of the disease. IDH1 mutation was identified in 63% of samples by DNA sequencing. In correlation with the real-time polymerase chain reaction results, a cutoff value was determined. Above this threshold, sensitivity and specificity of real-time polymerase chain reaction in detecting IDH1 mutation were 98% and 94%, respectively. Quantitative analysis revealed that IDH1 mutation expression is upregulated in secondary glioblastoma (mean ± standard error of mean: 3.52 ± 0.55) compared to lower grade glioma (II = 1.54 ± 0.22; III = 1.67 ± 0.23). In contrast, IDH1 wt expression is upregulated in all glioma grades (concentration >0.1) compared to control brain tissue (0.007 ± 0.0016). Western Blot analysis showed a high concordance to both sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction results in qualitative analysis of IDH1 mutation status (specificity 100% and sensitivity 100%). Moreover, semiquantitative protein expression analysis also showed higher expression levels of mutated IDH1 in secondary glioblastoma. In our study, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot analysis were found to be highly efficient methods in detecting IDH1 mutation in glioma samples. As cost-effective and time-saving methods, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot analysis may therefore play an important role in IDH1 mutation analysis in the future. IDH1 mutation expression level was found to correlate with the course of disease to a certain extent. Yet, clinical factors as recurrent disease or prior radiochemotherapy did not alter IDH1 mutation expression level.
Analyses of BMAL1 and PER2 Oscillations in a Model of Breast Cancer Progression Reveal Changes With Malignancy
Authors: Lin Hui-Hsien , Qraitem Maan , Lian Yue , Taylor Stephanie R. , Farkas Michelle E.
Published: April 2019

From an epidemiological standpoint, disruptions to circadian rhythms have been shown to contribute to the development of various disease pathologies, including breast cancer. However, it is unclear how altered circadian rhythms are related to malignant transformations at the molecular level. In this article, a series of isogenic breast cancer cells representing disease progression was used to investigate the expression patterns of core circadian clock proteins BMAL1 and PER2. Our model is indicative of 4 stages of breast cancer and includes the following cells: MCF10A (non-malignant), MCF10AT.Cl2 (pre-malignant), MCF10Ca1h (well-differentiated, malignant), and MCF10Ca1a (poorly differentiated, malignant). While studies of circadian rhythms in cancer typically use low-resolution reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, we also employed luciferase reporters BMAL1:Luc and PER2:Luc in real-time luminometry experiments. We found that across all 4 cancer stages, PER2 showed relatively stable oscillations compared with BMAL1. Period estimation using both wavelet-based and damped-sine-fitting methods showed that the periods are distributed over a wide circadian range and there is no clear progression in mean period as cancer severity progresses. Additionally, we used the K-nearest neighbors algorithm to classify the recordings according to cancer line, and found that cancer stages were largely differentiated from one another. Taken together, our data support that there are circadian discrepancies between normal and malignant cells, but it is difficult and insufficient to singularly use period evaluations to differentiate them. Future studies should employ other progressive disease models to determine whether these findings are representative across cancer types or are specific to this series.
Mechanical properties of hollow polyester monofilament: Compression and tension behaviors
Authors: Zhang Xiaohui , Zhang Chao , Ma Pibo
Published: April 2019

Comparative analysis has been performed on the mechanical properties of hollow and solid polyester monofilament with identical external diameter. Tensile test of hollow polyester monofilament was conducted to study the influence of hollow core and the manufacturing method on the tensile fracture mechanism of hollow monofilament. The compressive properties of hollow monofilament were determined to provide a bundle-compression method to study the behavior of hollow polyester monofilament under axial compressive loading and compare with solid one. The results show that the tensile property of the hollow monofilament has smaller breaking force and higher breaking elongation than solid monofilament in case of identical external diameter. Under compression loading, the solid monofilament show better compressive properties than hollow one with identical diameter. The hollow core only affects the values of compressive strain and stress, but it has no effect on the compression and deformation mechanism. The study results also show that the polyester monofilament can show better mechanical properties than the solid polyester monofilament for the same weight. This study can help to design the lighter textile materials with the hollow polyester monofilament.
Student-directed learning: A catalyst for academic achievement and self-determination for students with intellectual disability
Authors: Garrels Veerle , Palmer Susan B.
Published: April 2019

In this single-case experimental design study, eight adolescents with mild intellectual disability (ID) participated in a 3-month intervention with the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction. Findings indicate that student-directed learning may enable students with ID to increase their academic achievements, and the authors explore how this may lead to enhanced self-determination over time. Further data analysis suggests that student-directed learning first of all may have an impact at the level of the environment, such that teachers start to perceive their students with ID as capable agents who can take an active role in their own learning process. This change in teacher perception may lead to students getting more opportunities to practice and refine self-determination skills, which in turn may lead to increased capacity for self-determination. Findings from this study are uplifting, as even brief student-directed learning interventions may trigger positive effects on students’ self-determination.
Suicide in Transgender Veterans: Prevalence, Prevention, and Implications of Current Policy
Authors: Tucker Raymond P.
Published: April 2019

Transgender adults serve in the U.S. military at 2 to 3 times the rate of the general adult population. Unfortunately, transgender veterans die by suicide at twice the rate of their cisgender veteran peers and approximately 5.85 times the rate of the general population. This article reviews the literature regarding the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in transgender veterans. Suicide risk and resilience factors are reviewed, and future areas of study are detailed that incorporate findings from the broader suicide-prevention literature and research on transgender mental-health disparities. Individual services and broader prevention considerations are discussed, including the adaptation of evidence-based suicide-specific psychological interventions, national transgender health-training resources, and relevant veteran suicide-prevention initiatives. Finally, U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs policies regarding transgender service and health care are reviewed. State-level policies relevant to transgender veteran suicide such as firearm ownership and nondiscrimination laws are also reviewed, and their implications for suicide prevention are discussed. The aim of this article is to provide a broad review of research findings from multiple fields of study to assist health-care providers, researchers, and policymakers in their efforts to prevent transgender veteran suicide.
“He too will become a nation and he too will become great”: The information needs of the “Bnei Menashe” immigrant community in Israel as capability
Authors: Shomron Baruch , Schejter Amit
Published: April 2019

The “Bnei Menashe” are a marginalized community that immigrated from India to Israel. The community has diverse information needs, yet they are characterized by difficulties that prevent them from acquiring vital information. In this study, we utilized Sen’s (1993) “capabilities approach” as well as Friedland et al. (2012) “critical information needs” for the identification of the Bnei Menashe’s information capabilities, and the ways in which they answer them. The study was conducted using semi-structured individual in-depth interviews. The findings of the study relate that the Bnei Menashe succeed only partially in realizing the capability of being informed. This is a result of the partial technological exclusion that characterizes the community. This is a first-of-its-kind study, as the Bnei Menashe have not been studied methodically. Furthermore, the utilization of the capabilities approach represents a major contribution to existing communication theories, as the approach allows for a more wholesome understanding of the role of information and communication technologies in society.
The front page as a time freezer: An analysis of the international newspaper coverage after the Charlie Hebdo attacks
Authors: Niemeyer Katharina
Published: April 2019

This article argues that the front page plays an important temporal and explicative role for audiences, especially when it comes to journalistic work during a disruptive media event such as the Charlie Hebdo attacks. As a special agent of mediatization, the front page offers the possibility of ‘freezing’ the very often long-lasting live coverage of the (ongoing) happenings. It does not stand in opposition to faster communication of news but the front page is a very special journalistic form that opens interesting ways to contemplate news temporalities on another level. Based on a thematic content analysis of 1017 international front pages, this article develops their typology in order to analyze how the event was covered globally and locally, all by pointing out the different journalistic forms that are utilized. The study shows that the type of front page that is emerging allows us to grasp the coexistence of shared visual and textual regimes without leading to a false idea of a totalizing uniformity of information and thus of future social memories.
Early corticosteroid treatment for postoperative acute lung injury after lung cancer surgery
Authors: Choi Hayoung , Shin Beomsu , Yoo Hongseok , Suh Gee Young , Cho Jong Ho , Kim Hong Kwan , Choi Yong Soo , Kim Jhingook , Zo Jae Ill , Shim Young Mog , Jeon Kyeongman
Published: April 2019

Background:

Acute lung injury (ALI) is the most serious pulmonary complication after lung resection. Although the beneficial effects of low-dose corticosteroids have been demonstrated in patients with postoperative ALI, there are limited data on optimal corticosteroid treatment.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 58 patients who were diagnosed with ALI among 7593 patients who underwent lung cancer surgery between January 2009 and December 2016.

Results:

Of the 58 patients, 42 (72%) received corticosteroid treatment within 72 h (early treatment group) and 16 (28%) received corticosteroid treatment more than 72 h after ALI occurred (late treatment group). The early treatment group demonstrated a higher response to corticosteroid treatment compared with the late treatment group (95% versus 69%, respectively, p = 0.014), had an improved lung injury score (86% versus 63%, p = 0.072), and were more likely to be successfully weaned from the ventilator within 7 days (57% versus 39%, p = 0.332). During corticosteroid treatment, the early treatment group had a lower rate of delirium (24% versus 63%, p = 0.012) compared with the late treatment group. No significant differences in length of stay (30 versus 37 days, p = 0.254) or in-hospital mortality (43% versus 38%, p = 0.773) were observed; however, the early treatment group tended to have a higher rate of successful weaning than the late treatment group ( p = 0.098, log-rank test).

Conclusions:

Early initiation of corticosteroid treatment improved lung injury and promoted ventilator weaning in patients with ALI following lung resection for lung cancer.
Development of a comprehensive method for musculoskeletal simulation in swimming using motion capture data
Authors: Nakashima Motomu , Kanie Ryohei , Shimana Takatsugu , Matsuda Yuji , Kubo Yasuyuki
Published: April 2019

The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive method for musculoskeletal simulation in swimming. In the developed method, the motion capture data of a swimming motion were first transformed into input data for the swimming human simulation model Swimming Human Model (SWUM). Then, the output data from SWUM were transformed into input data for the musculoskeletal simulation. In order to examine the validity of the developed method, the musculoskeletal simulations of the crawl and breaststroke by two swimmers were conducted. Based on the results of the crawl, the muscles of the upper limbs were activated significantly at the pull and push phases. The swimmer also adjusted the swimming speed, not by changing the effort of the upper limbs during the pull and push phases but by changing the length of the entry phase and the effort of the flutter kick. The results of the breaststroke showed that the muscles of the lower limbs were activated significantly at the kick phase. The swimmer adjusted the swimming speed, not by changing the effort of the upper limbs but by changing the length of the glide phase and the effort of kicking. The results from this study were consistent with the findings in previous studies, except for the period of large (nearly 180 degrees) flexion or abduction at the shoulder joint. The results also revealed the strategies of the swimmers to adjust their swimming speed. This indicates the promising potential of the musculoskeletal simulation, that is, it will be possible to estimate the strategy of a swimmer by conducting the simulation.
Dysmenorrhoea
Authors: Lee Alexandra , Matthewman Gemma
Published: April 2019

Dysmenorrhoea is pelvic pain associated with menstruation. Primary dysmenorrhoea is pain occurring in the absence of underlying pathology. Secondary causes for dysmenorrhoea, such as endometriosis, should be considered, as they can result in chronic pelvic pain and impact on fertility. This article considers the diagnosis and management of primary dysmenorrhoea, and the indications for, and process of, investigating for secondary causes. Endometriosis, the most common secondary cause of dysmenorrhoea, is considered in more detail.
The Effect of Daily Use of Plantar Mechanical Stimulation Through Micro-Mobile Foot Compression Device Installed in Shoe Insoles on Vibration Perception, Gait, and Balance in People With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Kang Gu Eon , Zahiri Mohsen , Lepow Brian , Saleem Nimrah , Najafi Bijan
Published: April 2019

Objective:

People with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) have impaired gait and balance performance. The aim of this study is to investigate therapeutic effectiveness of mechanical stimulation through a wearable foot compression device equipped in a shoe insole on vibration perception, balance control and gait performance in people with DPN.

Methods:

Using a single-arm 4-week intervention study design, we examined effectiveness of daily use of shoes equipped with the foot compression device (Footbeat™, AVEX, Grand Junction, CO, USA) on improving vibration perception threshold (VPTmax), skin perfusion pressure (SPP), ankle brachial index (ABI), lower extremities edema (circumferences in the calf and ankle), and motor performance (postural sway with eyes open and closed conditions, and gait performance during normal, dual-task and fast walking). Thirty people with type 2 diabetes and symptoms of PN completed the experimental protocol.

Results:

Improvements in VPTmax (before = 27.4 V, after = 23.3 V, P = .007, d = 0.33, where d denotes effect size), center-of-mass sway in the mediolateral direction with both eyes open and closed conditions (before = 0.94 cm, after = 0.76 cm, P = .020, d = 0.47; before = 1.10 cm, after = 0.83 cm, P = .033, d = 0.66, respectively), and stride velocity for normal walking, dual-task walking and fast walking tasks (before = 0.87 m/s, after = 0.96 m/s, P = .017, d = 0.41; before = 0.75 m/s, after = 0.91 m/s, P = .001, d = 0.77; before = 1.10 m/s, after = 1.20 m/s, P = .043, d = 0.33, respectively) were found post treatment. There was no significant improvement in SPP, ABI, and circumferences in the calf and ankle.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest the wearable foot compression device may be effective for reducing neuropathic symptoms and enhancing motor performances in people with DPN.
Teaching Ethics in Educational Leadership Using the Values–Issues–Action (VIA) Model
Authors: Jones Karen D. , Ransom Hellen , Chambers Crystal R.
Published: April 2019

Educational leaders are faced with multiple ethical decisions every day. This article presents the Values–Issue–Action (VIA) Model as a tool for developing ethical decisions in K-12 schools. The model is presented with three scenarios from K-12 education to practice using the model into practice. The model can be used by current school leaders and those in higher education programs developing future K-12 leaders. The model can also be used in school and district professional development to have leaders examine ethical dilemmas they face daily.
Redefining Supervision: A Joint Inquiry Into Preparing School-Based Leaders to Supervise for Equity
Authors: Garver Rachel , Maloney Tanya
Published: April 2019

This article documents two professors’ inquiry into a lesson on supervising for equity in a supervisor preparation course. Through an iterative process of lesson design, lesson implementation, analysis of student work, and pedagogical discussion, we refine the lesson. Our study sheds light on the potential challenges of preparing supervisors to promote equity, offers pedagogical insights to leadership programs invested in instilling a commitment to social justice, and reflects the promise of collaborative faculty inquiry for curriculum development. The study contains implications for educational leadership faculty and program coordinators as well as facilitators of professional development for school leaders.
Are Echo Chambers Based on Partisanship? Twitter and Political Polarity in Poland and Hungary
Authors: Matuszewski Paweł , Szabó Gabriella
Published: April 2019

In this study, we investigate how Twitter allows individuals in Hungary and Poland to experience different political views. To comprehend citizens’ exposure to political information, “who’s following who?” graphs of 455,912 users in Hungary (851,557 connections) and 1,803,837 users in Poland (10,124,501 connections) are examined. Our conceptual point of departure is that Twitter follower networks tell us whether individuals prefer to be members of a group that receives one-sided political messages, or whether they tend to form politically heterogeneous clusters that cut across ideological lines. Methodologically, such connections are best studied by means of computer-aided quantitative research complemented by the sociocentric approach of network analysis. Our data date from September 2018. The findings for Poland do not support the hypothesis of clusters emerging along partisan lines. Likewise, the Hungarian case reveals sharp group divisions on Twitter, the nodes however are diverse and overlapping in terms of political leaning. The data suggest that exposure and segregation in follower networks are not necessarily based on partisanship.
Politicians’ Self-Reported Social Media Activities and Perceptions: Results From Four Surveys Among German Parliamentarians
Authors: Kelm Ole , Dohle Marco , Bernhard Uli
Published: April 2019

The growing importance of social media in the political arena seems to be in line with the mediatization of politics thesis, which states that mediated communication is becoming more important in politics and increasingly influences political processes. However, how politicians’ social media activities and politicians’ perceptions concerning social media have developed over time has rarely been examined. Moreover, it is unclear how the politicians’ activities and perceptions are related to each other. Referring to theoretical approaches, such as the influence of presumed influence approach, four surveys were conducted among German parliamentarians (MPs) between 2012 and 2016 ( n = 194/149/170/118). The results indicate that the MPs’ self-reported social media activities and perceptions have remained remarkably constant since 2012. Regression analyses indicate that MPs’ self-reported social media activities and perceptions are hardly related to each other. This raises the question whether mediatization processes are indeed driven by politicians’ perceptions about media influences.
Acute immune responses are involved in liver and kidney injury in heat stroke
Authors: Hu Jie , Kang Hongjun , Liu Chao , Yang Mengmeng , Zhou Feihu
Published: April 2019

The changes in circulating cytokines throughout the progression of heat stroke–induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome have been thoroughly described. However, the innate and adaptive immune responses were poorly understood and are explored in this study. A classic heat stroke model in mice was constructed according to the established methods. The time course of splenic T helper cell plasticity, neutrophils, and macrophages in liver and kidney tissues were measured at 0, 24, and 72 h after onset of heat stroke. We showed heat stroke mice presented tachycardia and low mean arterial pressure and exhibited severe kidney and liver injury. Our data demonstrated that heat stroke could increase both the Th17 and Th22 response of splenic T helper cells and incremental infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into liver and kidney tissues. Moreover, heat stroke could shift those macrophages into the M1 type. This study demonstrates for the first time the increasing splenic T helper response, changes in neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, and macrophage induction in response to heat stroke in mice. Our findings indicate that splenic T helper cells and local neutrophils and macrophages might be potential therapeutic targets for heat stroke.
Hand-mixed vancomycin versus commercial tobramycin cement revisited: A study on mechanical and antibacterial properties
Authors: Ajit Singh Vivek , Chun Haw Bong , Haseeb Amber , Shuan Ju Teh Cindy
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

Arthroplasty-related infection has grown worldwide. Revision procedures for infection are associated with longer operating time, superior amounts of blood loss, and substantial economic encumbrance. To overcome cost, many surgeons opt for hand-mixed vancomycin into the bone cement. The objective of this research was to assess the biomechanical strength and antibacterial properties of hand-mixed vancomycin bone cement at different concentrations with commonly used industrial preblended antibiotic bone cement and plain cement. The target was to determine the ideal concentration of antibiotics that can be used in the preparation of hand-mixed vancomycin cement that delivers maximum antibiotics concentration without compromising its biomechanical properties.

Materials and Methods:

Vancomycin-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) specimen was hand prepared in varying concentrations (1–4 g). The authors tested three-point bending strength to determine ‘maximum bending load’ and stiffness and its antibacterial activity by looking into the zone of inhibition on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-impregnated agar plate. These were compared with the industrial preblended Simplex™ P with 1 g tobramycin.

Results:

This study exhibited that vancomycin-PMMA disk that contained higher concentration of antibiotics had significantly higher antibacterial activity. The control group (plain cement) and industrial PMMA with preblended antibiotic (tobramycin) showed stable mechanical strength, while the hand-mixed antibiotic cement (HMAC) had variable mechanical strength varying on the concentration of antibiotics used.

Conclusion:

It was effectively concluded that HMAC is advantageous as a cement spacer; however, it is not recommended for primary arthroplasty and second-stage revision arthroplasty. The recommended maximum concentration of vancomycin based on this study is 2 g/pack (40 g) of cement. Industrial preblended antibiotic cement is superior to hand-mixed cement.
Bilateral simultaneous chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lateral forefoot: A case report (compartment syndrome of the forefoot)
Authors: Villatte Guillaume , Fadlallah Edouard , Erivan Roger , Fournier Pierre-Louis , Descamps Stéphane , Boisgard Stéphane
Published: April 2019

A 20-year-old patient came to the sport medicine clinic for bilateral forefoot pain during sport activities (running) progressing for the last 3 months. Thanks to a positive measurement of the compartment pressure during a running test reproducing the symptomatology and exclusion of classical differential diagnosis, a bilateral chronic compartment syndrome of the lateral forefoot was confirmed. Three months after a surgical fasciotomy, the patient fully recovered. No previous study described this specific compartment of the forefoot.

Level of evidence: IV.
Exploring the Service Quality determinants of Solar Product Dealers
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Hundal Bikramjit Singh , Kaur Komalpreet
Published: April 2019

The present study explored the determinants affecting service quality of solar product dealers. The study is based on primary data, collected from a total of 345 solar pump users from different villages and rural areas of Punjab. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and paired sample t-test have been used to examine the data. Furthermore, the SERVQUAL scale has been used to measure the service quality of solar product dealers. Paired sample t-test was used to measure the users’ expectation and perception gap between service quality dimensions. The results validated that five factors namely reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibility influence service quality of solar product dealers and there is no significant difference between perceptions and expectations of solar product users except for the responsiveness dimension. As far as gap analysis is concerned, the dimension ‘responsiveness’ was responsible for the highest gap score. So, perceptions of solar product users are not fully being met with their expectations.
Game-Related Impacts in High School Boys’ Lacrosse
Authors: Caswell Shane V. , Kelshaw Patricia , Lincoln Andrew E. , Hepburn Lisa , Dunn Reginald , Cortes Nelson
Published: April 2019

Background:

The rate of concussions in boys’ lacrosse is reported to be the third highest among high school sports in the United States, but no studies have described game-related impacts among boys’ lacrosse players.

Purpose:

To characterize verified game-related impacts, both overall and those directly to the head, in boys’ varsity high school lacrosse.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 77 male participants (mean age, 16.6 ± 1.2 years; mean height, 1.77 ± 0.05 m; mean weight, 73.4 ± 12.2 kg) were instrumented with sensors and were videotaped during 39 games. All verified game-related impacts ≥20 g were summarized in terms of frequency, peak linear acceleration (PLA), and peak rotational velocity (PRV). Descriptive statistics and impact rates per player-game (PG) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated.

Results:

Overall, 1100 verified game-related impacts were recorded (PLA: median, 33.5 g [interquartile range (IQR), 25.7-51.2]; PRV: median, 1135.5 deg/s [IQR, 790.0-1613.8]) during 795 PGs. The rate for all verified game-related impacts was 1.38 impacts per PG (95% CI, 1.30-1.47). Of these, 680 (61.8%) impacts (PLA: median, 35.9 g [IQR, 26.7-55.5]; PRV: 1170.5 deg/s [IQR, 803.2-1672.8]) were directly to the head (impact rate, 0.86 impacts/PG [95% CI, 0.79-0.92]). Overall, midfielders (n = 514; 46.7%) sustained the most impacts, followed by attackers (n = 332; 30.2%), defenders (n = 233; 21.2%), and goalies (n = 21; 1.9%). The most common mechanisms for overall impacts and direct head impacts were contact with player (overall: n = 706 [64.2%]; head: n = 397 [58.4%]) and stick (overall: n = 303 [27.5%]; head: n = 239 [35.1%]), followed by ground (overall: n = 73 [6.6%]; head: n = 26 [3.8%]) and ball (overall: n = 15 [1.4%]; head: n = 15 [2.2%]). Direct head impacts were associated with a helmet-to-helmet collision 31.2% of the time, and they were frequently (53.7%) sustained by the players delivering the impact. Nearly half (48.8%) of players delivering contact used their helmets to initiate contact that resulted in a helmet-to-helmet impact. Players receiving a head impact from player contact were most often unprepared (75.9%) for the collision.

Conclusion:

The helmet is commonly used to initiate contact in boys’ high school lacrosse, often targeting defenseless opponents. Interventions to reduce head impacts should address rules and coaching messages to discourage intentional use of the helmet and encourage protection of defenseless opponents.
Neck pain and migraine: Association or cause?—A narrative review of the literature
Authors: Albisser Arlette , Le Clec’h Yann , Sprott Haiko
Published: April 2019

This literature review deals with the question whether neck pain (NP) constitutes a symptom or a trigger of migraine. Firstly, a short survey about some techniques for measuring NP in association and relation with migraine is presented. Secondly, the arguments about NP as a symptom or a trigger of migraine are being reviewed and compared. The main questions are the following: Which tests can be used to distinguish NP as a trigger or a symptom of migraine? Is a therapy for NP an adequate method to treat migraine? Finally, the pros and cons of NP as a symptom or as a trigger will be reviewed, and possible treatment options will be suggested. This review found that no reliable and standardized tests exist to classify NP in relation to migraine. However, there is a comparability among these studies due to the common use of migraine definition in the “International Classification of Headache Disorders.” Regarding the quality and methods, different types of studies were analyzed, for example, retrospective, prospective, and cross-sectional studies. Nevertheless, none of these types are specifically suited to show a causality between NP and migraine. In order to do this, the authors would suggest using a randomized controlled study. Another adequate study design might be a population-based case–control crossover study and calculating the population attributable risk. Furthermore, the pathophysiology of NP in migraine patients should be investigated in more detail. Besides their questionable suitability for showing a connection between NP and migraine, some studies were additionally subject to a population and selection bias. To sum up, part of the authors in the reviewed literature generate the hypothesis that NP is more often a symptom than a trigger of migraine. However, due to methodological flaws, more studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
Rehabilitation and recovery for ethnic minority patients with severe mental illness
Authors: Rotenberg Martin
Published: April 2019

There is growing evidence to support recovery and rehabilitation services and interventions for people with severe mental illness (SMI). However, those from ethnic minority communities face inequitable outcomes and access to mental health services and poorer functional outcomes. This article reviews the evidence and discusses facilitators and barriers in the recovery journey of people with SMI from ethnic minority groups. Although there is limited evidence for specific interventions for ethnic minority patients, areas for future study and action are discussed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this article you will be able to:

•

understand the scope of rehabilitation practices and interventions and evidence for use with ethnic minority patients with severe mental illness

•

describe differences and similarities in the conceptualisation of recovery by majority and minority ethnic communities

•

appreciate facilitators and barriers to rehabilitation and recovery for ethnic minority patients with SMI.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

None.
Synonymous but Not Silent: A Synonymous VHL Variant in Exon 2 Confers Susceptibility to Familial Pheochromocytoma and von Hippel-Lindau Disease
Authors: Flores Shahida K , Cheng Ziming , Jasper Angela M , Natori Keiko , Okamoto Takahiro , Tanabe Akiyo , Gotoh Koro , Shibata Hirotaka , Sakurai Akihiro , Nakai Takuya , Wang Xiaojing , Zethoven Magnus , Balachander Shiva , Aita Yuichi , Young William , Zheng Siyuan , Takekoshi Kazuhiro , Nakamura Eijiro , Tothill Richard W , Aguiar Ricardo C T , Dahia Patricia L M
Published: April 2019

Context

von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, comprising renal cancer, hemangioblastoma, and/or pheochromocytoma (PHEO), is caused by missense or truncating variants of the VHL tumor-suppressor gene, which is involved in degradation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). However, the role of synonymous VHL variants in the disease is unclear.

Objective

We evaluated a synonymous VHL variant in patients with familial PHEO or VHL disease without a detectable pathogenic VHL mutation.

Design

We performed genetic and transcriptional analyses of leukocytes and/or tumors from affected and unaffected individuals and evaluated VHL splicing in existing cancer databases.

Results

We identified a synonymous VHL variant (c.414A>G, p.Pro138Pro) as the driver event in five independent individuals/families with PHEOs or VHL syndrome. This variant promotes exon 2 skipping and hence, abolishes expression of the full-length VHL transcript. Exon 2 spans the HIF-binding domain required for HIF degradation by VHL. Accordingly, PHEOs carrying this variant display HIF hyperactivation typical of VHL loss. Moreover, other exon 2 VHL variants from the The Cancer Genome Atlas pan-cancer datasets are biased toward expression of a VHL transcript that excludes this exon, supporting a broader impact of this spliced variant.

Conclusion

A recurrent synonymous VHL variant (c.414A>G, p.Pro138Pro) confers susceptibility to PHEO and VHL disease through splice disruption, leading to VHL dysfunction. This finding indicates that certain synonymous VHL variants may be clinically relevant and should be considered in genetic testing and surveillance settings. The observation that other coding VHL variants can exclude exon 2 suggests that dysregulated splicing may be an underappreciated mechanism in VHL-mediated tumorigenesis.
CGAT-core: a python framework for building scalable, reproducible computational biology workflows
Authors: Cribbs Adam P. , Luna-Valero Sebastian , George Charlotte , Sudbery Ian M. , Berlanga-Taylor Antonio J. , Sansom Stephen N. , Smith Tom , Ilott Nicholas E. , Johnson Jethro , Scaber Jakub , Brown Katherine , Sims David , Heger Andreas
Published: April 2019

In the genomics era computational biologists regularly need to process, analyse and integrate large and complex biomedical datasets. Analysis inevitably involves multiple dependent steps, resulting in complex pipelines or workflows, often with several branches. Large data volumes mean that processing needs to be quick and efficient and scientific rigour requires that analysis be consistent and fully reproducible. We have developed CGAT-core, a python package for the rapid construction of complex computational workflows. CGAT-core seamlessly handles parallelisation across high performance computing clusters, integration of Conda environments, full parameterisation, database integration and logging. To illustrate our workflow framework, we present a pipeline for the analysis of RNAseq data using pseudo-alignment.
Effects of maternal stress during pregnancy and up to two years after birth on risk of child overweight and obesity: Protocol for a Systematic Review
Authors: Cooney Jennifer , Flannery Caragh , Khashan Ali S. , Huizink Anja C. , Matvienko-Sikar Karen
Published: April 2019

Background: Childhood obesity presents a significant public health challenge globally. The period from conception to two years after birth, the first 1000 days, represents a critical period during which the experience of maternal stress may be related to the development of childhood obesity.  Research to date suggests some positive associations between maternal stress during the first 1000 days and childhood obesity, but findings are inconsistent and have not yet been comprehensively synthesised. The purpose of this review is to systematically examine the association between maternal stress during the first 1000 days and the risk of child overweight and obesity.

Methods: The following electronic databases will be searched from inception using a detailed search strategy: the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Maternity and Infant Care, and Web of Science. Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies examining maternal stress during the first 1000 days and child overweight and obesity up to the age of 10 years will be included. Titles, abstracts and full articles will be screened by two investigators independently to identify eligible studies. A standardised data extraction form will be used to extract data including: study design; maternal stress exposure; child outcome; exclusion criteria; participant characteristics; and assessment methods. The Cochrane Collaboration’s bias classification tool for observational studies will be used to assess study quality. This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol (PRISMA-P) checklist, and the systematic review will be conducted and reported following the PRISMA checklist. If possible, random effects models will be used to perform meta-analyses.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study as it will not involve conducting experimental research, nor include identifying personal data.  The systematic review will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018100363
The Main Directions of Clinical Application of Modern Proton Therapy
Authors: Самойлов А. , Samoylov A. , Смирнова Ж. , Smirnova Zh. , Климанов В. , Klimanov V. , Яковлев В. , Yakovlev V. , Шулепова Л. , Shulepova L. , Удалов Ю. , Udalov Yu.
Published: April 2019

This paper analyzes the current state of clinical application of proton radiation therapy (PRT) for the treatment of cancer. In particular, the indications for the use of PRT for the treatment of specific pathologies, the results and condition of randomized clinical studies of PRT compared to photon radiation therapy (PhRT) are considered, the cost of PRT is compared with the cost of PhRT. The focus is on discussing the results of PRT using in advanced countriesand Russia for the treatment of several common tumor sites. In the conclusion of the work, the ways of further improvement of radiobiology, dose delivering technology and dosimetric support of PRT are considered.
Proton Therapy for Re-Irradiation of Recurrent Gliomas
Authors: Медведева К. , Medvedeva K. , Гулидов И. , Gulidov I. , Мардынский Ю. , Mardynskiy Yu. , Гоголин Д. , Gogolin D.
Published: April 2019

Purpose: To define efficiency and safety of use of the active scanning proton beam in reirradiation of recurrent malignant gliomas. Material and methods: Researched group included 26 patients who were treated on a complex of proton therapy Prometeus. 57.7 % of tumors were glioblastoma, 26.9 % – gliomas of GII and 15.4 % GIII gliomas. Proton therapy was carried out with use of the active scanning beam, image-guiding system and use of the individual fixing devices. To all patients PET/CT with 11C-methionine and MRI were carried out, target volume delineation was carried out by results of coregistration of both images. Results: Terms of observation were from 1 to 32 months. The assessment of direct efficiency is carried out at 19 patients in 3 months after completion of treatment. From the group 52.7 % of patients (n = 10) had disease stabilization. At 11.5 % (n = 3) – partial response. Tumor regression volume varied from 50 to 90 %. Progressing of a disease developed in 31.5 % of the considered cases (n = 6). Other 7 patients expect control inspection. 15.4 % (n = 4) patients developed grade 2 radiodermatitis in the field of radiation fields, the remaining 84.6 % (n = 22) had grade 1 radiodermatitis. Of the entire group of patients, only one case of the development of a late radiation complication in the form of radionecrosis is observed at an observation period of 13 months. Conclusion: Preliminary results of a research showed that performing proton therapy by the active scanning beam is the effective method of treatment of patients with the diagnosed recurrent gliomas, allowing to increase life expectancy of patients with maintaining satisfactory general condition.
When and How to Diversify—A Multicategory Utility Model for Personalized Content Recommendation
Authors: Song Yicheng , Sahoo Nachiketa , Ofek Elie
Published: April 2019

Sometimes we desire change, a break from the same, or an opportunity to fulfill different aspects of our needs. Noting that consumers seek variety, several approaches have been developed to diversify items recommended by personalized recommender systems. However, current diversification strategies operate under a one-shot paradigm without considering the evolution of preferences resulting from recent consumption. Therefore, such methods often sacrifice accuracy. In the context of online media, we show that by recognizing that consumption in a session is the result of a sequence of utility-maximizing selections from various categories, one can increase recommendation accuracy by dynamically tailoring the diversity of suggested items to the diversity sought by the consumer. Our approach is based on a multicategory utility model that captures a consumer’s preference for different categories of content, how quickly the consumer satiates with one category and wishes to substitute it with another, and how the consumer trades off costly search efforts with selecting from a recommended list to discover new content. Taken together, these three elements allow us to characterize how an individual selects a diverse set of items to consume over the course of a session and how likely the individual is to click on recommended content. We estimate the model using a clickstream data set from a large media outlet and apply it to determine the most relevant content to recommend at different stages of an online session. We find that our approach generates recommendations that are on average about 10% more accurate than optimized alternatives and about 25% more accurate than those diversified using existing diversification strategies. Moreover, the proposed method recommends content with diversity that more closely matches the diversity sought by readers, exhibiting lower concentration–diversification bias than other personalized recommender systems. Using a policy simulation, we estimate that recommending content using the proposed approach would result in visitors reading 23% additional articles at the studied website and deriving 35% higher utility. This could lead to immediate gains in revenue for the publisher and longer-term improvements in customer satisfaction and retention at the site.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
Vendor’s Strategic Investments Under IT Outsourcing Competition
Authors: Jain Tarun , Hazra Jishnu
Published: April 2019

Application Abstract for Service Spotlights
Fishing Season of Large Tuna from Purse Seine Fishery in Tumumpa, Manado, North Sulawesi
Authors: Setyadji Bram , Chodriyah Umi
Published: April 2019

Knowledge on seasonal fishing pattern is essential in fisheries research in order to increase the effectiveness of fishing and at the same time protecting the fishing ground from excessive fishing practices. Determining the seasonal fishing pattern of large pelagic fishes, namely large tuna (yellowfin and bigeye), small tuna (mackerel) and skipjack tuna were the objective of this study. Data from the 2013-2015 fishing operation time series were used to analyze the fishing season using the percentage average per unit effort (CPUE) method. The main focus of this study was purse seine fishery. The research showed that high fishing season of large pelagic fishes allegedly occurred during May to July, which reached its peak on May. On the other hand, low fishing season occurred during January to April, with the lowest on March. There were similarities between large tuna, small tuna and skipjack in term of their seasonal fishing pattern, although they did not show any good correlation (r<0.5). This might due to fact that even tough large tuna, small tuna and skipjack tuna shared the same ecological niche but apparently, they did not show any interaction (symbiosis) but competition.
Effect of gold mining on total factor productivity of farmers: Evidence from Ghana
Authors: KUWORNU John K. M. , OSEI-ASARE Yaw B. , ANSAH Michael O. , MENSAH-BONSU Akwasi
Published: April 2019

Gold mining comes with several benefits to developing countries, manifested mainly in the form of employment and revenue, but simultaneously impacts negatively on the immediate environment. It affects the economic structure including agriculture and its productivity. Hence, this study investigated the effect of gold mining on total factor productivity of farmers in Ghana using 110 cocoa farmers from Asutifi North and Asutifi South districts of the Brong Ahafo Region, categorised into mining and non-mining areas respectively. About 83 % of the farmers in the mining areas were affected by gold mining through channels such as land disputes, relocation of farm/residence, high cost of labour, illegal small-scale mining and dust settlement on crops. Also, about 64 % of cocoa farmers in the mining areas lost their farm lands (between 0.4 and 3.64 ha as a result of gold mining. The Tornqvist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) indices for cocoa farmers in the non-mining areas (mean TFP of 1.404) were also statistically higher than those in the mining areas (mean TFP of 0.371). The study concluded that gold mining activities adversely affect productivity of farmers in the catchment areas. The study recommends, among others, that a policy of land-for-land should be in place and effectively implemented to ensure that mining companies in order to enhance and ensure continuity of livelihoods must fully replace lands lost through mining activities.