bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of P2RX7 Functional Diplotypes with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis
Authors: Harris T.H. , Wallace M.R. , Huang H. , Li H. , Shaddox L.M.
Published: July 2019

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to test for the role of the P2X7 receptor in localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP).

Methods:

Peripheral blood was obtained from 95 subjects with LAP and 76 healthy unrelated controls (HUCs). Three P2RX7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1718119, rs2230911, and rs3751143) were genotyped from these subjects, and their peripheral blood samples were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and tested for inflammatory markers. The 3 P2RX7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were in found to be in perfect linkage disequilibrium, and a total of 4 haplotypes and 9 diplotypes were identified among all subjects. For both subject populations, the 9 diplotypes were grouped into 4 functional groups and tested for association with subject inflammatory response. To specifically study the effects of extrinsic activation of the P2X7 receptor in LAP, peripheral blood samples from were stimulated under 3 treatments: LPS, LPS + ATP, and LPS +ATP+ P2X7 selective inhibitor. The effects of these treatments on P2X7 receptor activity were measured through Luminex protein assay. Last, to test whether receptor stimulation was related to P2RX7 expression, relative mRNA levels of P2RX7 were quantified with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Several associations between the P2RX7 diplotypes and LPS-stimulated blood chemokine/cytokine levels were found between the LAP and HUC populations (P < 0.05). P2X7 activation resulted in statistically significant differences in IL-1β and IL-12p40 concentrations for both subject populations. The relative P2RX7 mRNA levels increased significantly after addition of its inhibitor for both LAP and HUC populations.

Conclusions:

This study detected an association between P2RX7 functional diplotypes and in vitro immune response of whole blood from subjects with LAP. In addition, we found that inhibition of the activated P2X7 receptor leads to increased P2RX7 mRNA levels, suggesting a feedback loop ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01330719).

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

The results of this study suggest that P2RX7 functional diplotypes are associated with LAP and their in vitro immune response to bacteria. Ongoing studies to uncover the mechanistic link between P2RX7 and LAP phenotypes could lead to the development of preventive approaches for susceptible subjects.
How Project Management and Top Management Involvement Affect the Innovativeness of Professional Service Organizations—An Empirical Study on Hospitals
Authors: Schultz Carsten , Graw Jan , Salomo Søren , Kock Alexander
Published: July 2019

This study investigates how top management involvement and project management professionalization affect firm innovativeness. We focus on hospitals as representative of professional service organizations characterized by pluralistic individual and organizational interests. A multiyear analysis of project management survey and objective performance data of 90 hospitals indicates that top management involvement in innovation projects reduces hospital innovativeness, and project management professionalization increases hospital innovativeness. However, increasing project management professionalization simultaneously strengthens top management involvement’s effectiveness. The results contribute to our understanding of potential interactions and different effects of project management efforts at different organizational levels in professional service organizations.
Increase in circulating ACE-positive endothelial microparticles during acute lung injury
Authors: Takei Yusuke , Yamada Mitsuhiro , Saito Koji , Kameyama Yoshinobu , Sugiura Hisatoshi , Makiguchi Tomonori , Fujino Naoya , Koarai Akira , Toyama Hiroaki , Saito Kazutomo , Ejima Yutaka , Kawazoe Yu , Kudo Daisuke , Kushimoto Shigeki , Yamauchi Masanori , Ichinose Masakazu
Published: July 2019

Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are considered to be markers of endothelial injury, and lung microvascular endothelial cells express higher levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The aim of this study is to examine whether the number of ACE+microvascular EMPs could be a prognostic marker for the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in septic patients.

The numbers of EMPs and ACE+EMPs in the culture supernatant from human microvascular endothelial cells, as well as in the blood of mouse lung injury models and septic patients (n=82), were examined using flow cytometry.

ACE+EMPs in the culture supernatant from pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells increased after exposure to an inflammatory stimulus. In the mouse lung injury models, the circulating ACE+EMPs and ACE+EMP/EMP ratio were higher than in the controls (p<0.001). The ACE+EMP/EMP ratio was correlated with the wet/dry lung ratio (rs=0.775, p<0.001). The circulating ACE+EMPs and ACE+EMP/EMP ratio on admission were significantly increased in septic patients who developed ARDS compared with septic patients who did not (p<0.001).

Therefore, circulating ACE+EMPs may be a prognostic marker for the development of ARDS in the septic patients.
Defective bacterial phagocytosis is associated with dysfunctional mitochondria in COPD macrophages
Authors: Belchamber Kylie B.R. , Singh Richa , Batista Craig M. , Whyte Moira K. , Dockrell David H. , Kilty Iain , Robinson Matthew J. , Wedzicha Jadwiga A. , Barnes Peter J. , Donnelly Louise E.
Published: July 2019

Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study examined the effect of exogenous and endogenous oxidative stress on macrophage phagocytosis in patients with COPD.

Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) were generated from non-smoker, smoker and COPD subjects, differentiated in either granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (G-Mφ) or macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-Mφ). Alveolar macrophages were isolated from lung tissue or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Macrophages were incubated in ±200 µM H2O2for 24 h, then exposed to fluorescently labelledHaemophilus influenzaeorStreptococcus pneumoniaefor 4 h, after which phagocytosis, mitochondrial ROS (mROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were measured.

Phagocytosis of bacteria was significantly decreased in both G-Mφ and M-Mφ from COPD patients compared with from non-smoker controls. In non-smokers and smokers, bacterial phagocytosis did not alter mROS or ΔΨm; however, in COPD, phagocytosis increased early mROS and decreased ΔΨm in both G-Mφ and M-Mφ. Exogenous oxidative stress reduced phagocytosis in non-smoker and COPD alveolar macrophages and non-smoker MDMs, associated with reduced mROS production.

COPD macrophages show defective phagocytosis, which is associated with altered mitochondrial function and an inability to regulate mROS production. Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction may restore the phagocytic defect in COPD.
Painting the Palace of Apries II: ancient pigments of the reliefs from the Palace of Apries, Lower Egypt
Authors: Hedegaard Signe Buccarella , Delbey Thomas , Brøns Cecilie , Rasmussen Kaare Lund
Published: July 2019

Fragments of painted limestone reliefs from the Palace of Apries in Upper Egypt excavated by Flinders Petrie in 1908–1910 have been investigated using visible-induced luminescence imaging, micro X-ray fluorescence, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, micro X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The pigments have been mapped, and the use and previous reports of use of pigments are discussed. Mainly lead–antimonate yellow, lead–tin yellow, orpiment, atacamite, gypsum/anhydrite, and Egyptian blue have been detected. It is the first time that lead–antimonate yellow and lead–tin yellow have been identified in ancient Egyptian painting. In fact, this is the earliest examples known of both of these yellow pigments in the world.
Association of CACNA1C polymorphisms with serum BDNF levels in bipolar disorder
Authors: Smedler Erik , Pålsson Erik , Hashimoto Kenji , Landén Mikael
Published: July 2019

Variation in the CACNA1C gene has been associated with bipolar disorder in several genome-wide association studies. This gene encodes the alpha 1C subunit of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, which play an essential role in neurons. We analysed 39 biomarkers in either cerebrospinal fluid or serum in relation to six different CACNA1C variants in 282 patients with bipolar disorder and 90 controls. We report associations of CACNA1C risk alleles with serum levels of BDNF as well as tissue plasminogen activator, which converts pro-BDNF to mature BDNF. This sheds light on links between CACNA1C genetic variants and pathophysiological mechanisms in bipolar disorder.
Effects of fish caudal fin sweep angle and kinematics on thrust production during low-speed thunniform swimming
Authors: Matta Alexander , Bayandor Javid , Battaglia Francine , Pendar Hodjat
Published: July 2019

Scombrid fish lunate caudal fins are characterized by a wide range of sweep angles. Scombrid that have small sweep-angle caudal fins move at higher swimming speeds, suggesting that smaller angles produce more thrust. Furthermore, scombrids occasionally use high angles of attack (AoA) suggesting this also has some thrust benefit. This work examined the hypothesis that a smaller sweep angle and higher AoA improved thrust in swimmers by experimentally analyzing a robophysical model. The robophysical model was tested in a water tunnel at speeds between 0.35 and 0.7 body lengths per second. Three swept caudal fins were analyzed at three different AoA, three different freestream velocities, and four different Strouhal numbers, for a total of 108 cases. Results demonstrated that the fin with the largest sweep angle of 50° resulted in lower thrust production than the 40° and 30° fins, especially at higher Strouhal numbers. Larger AoA up to 25° increased thrust production at the higher Strouhal numbers, but at lower Strouhal numbers, produced less thrust. Differences in thrust production due to fin sweep angle and AoA were attributed to the variation in spanwise flow and leading edge vortex dynamics.
Emerging diverse roles of telocytes
Authors: Kondo Ayano , Kaestner Klaus H.
Published: July 2019

Since the first description of ‘interstitial cells of Cajal’ in the mammalian gut in 1911, scientists have found structurally similar cells, now termed telocytes, in numerous tissues throughout the body. These cells have recently sparked renewed interest, facilitated through the development of a molecular handle to genetically manipulate their function in tissue homeostasis and disease. In this Primer, we discuss the discovery of telocytes, their physical properties, distribution and function, focusing on recent developments in the functional analysis of Foxl1-positive telocytes in the intestinal stem cell niche, and, finally, the current challenges of studying telocytes as a distinct cell type.
The simultaneous interaction of MSL2 with CLAMP and DNA provides redundancy in the initiation of dosage compensation in Drosophila males
Authors: Tikhonova Evgeniya , Fedotova Anna , Bonchuk Artem , Mogila Vladic , Larschan Erica N. , Georgiev Pavel , Maksimenko Oksana
Published: July 2019

The binding of the Drosophila male-specific lethal dosage compensation complex (DCC) exclusively to the male X chromosome provides an excellent model system to understand mechanisms of selective recruitment of protein complexes to chromatin. Previous studies showed that the male-specific organizer of the complex, MSL2, and the ubiquitous DNA-binding protein CLAMP are key players in the specificity of X chromosome binding. The CXC domain of MSL2 binds to genomic sites of DCC recruitment in vitro. Another conserved domain of MSL2, named Clamp-binding domain (CBD) directly interacts with the N-terminal zinc-finger domain of CLAMP. Here, we found that inactivation of CBD or CXC individually only modestly affected recruitment of the DCC to the X chromosome in males. However, combination of these two genetic lesions within the same MSL2 mutant resulted in an increased loss of DCC recruitment to the X chromosome. Thus, proper MSL2 positioning requires an interaction with either CLAMP or DNA to initiate dosage compensation in Drosophila males.
Activity Intensity, Volume, and Norms: Utility and Interpretation of Accelerometer Metrics
Authors: ROWLANDS ALEX V. , FAIRCLOUGH STUART J. , YATES TOM , EDWARDSON CHARLOTTE L. , DAVIES MELANIE , MUNIR FEHMIDAH , KHUNTI KAMLESH , STILES VICTORIA H.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The physical activity profile can be described from accelerometer data using two population-independent metrics: average acceleration (ACC, volume) and intensity gradient (IG, intensity). This article aims 1) to demonstrate how these metrics can be used to investigate the relative contributions of volume and intensity of physical activity for a range of health markers across data sets and 2) to illustrate the future potential of the metrics for generation of age and sex-specific percentile norms.

Methods

Secondary data analyses were conducted on five diverse data sets using wrist-worn accelerometers (ActiGraph/GENEActiv/Axivity): children (n = 145), adolescent girls (n = 1669), office workers (n = 114), premenopausal (n = 1218) and postmenopausal (n = 1316) women, and adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 475). Open-source software (GGIR) was used to generate ACC and IG. Health markers were (a) zBMI (children), (b) %fat (adolescent girls and adults), (c) bone health (pre- and postmenopausal women), and (d) physical function (adults with type 2 diabetes).

Results

Multiple regression analyses showed that IG, but not ACC, was independently associated with zBMI/%fat in children and adolescents. In adults, associations were stronger and the effects of ACC and IG were additive. For bone health and physical function, interactions showed associations were strongest if IG was high, largely irrespective of ACC. Exemplar illustrative percentile “norms” showed the expected age-related decline in physical activity, with greater drops in IG across age than ACC.

Conclusion

The ACC and the IG accelerometer metrics facilitate the investigation of whether volume and intensity of physical activity have independent, additive, or interactive effects on health markers. In future studies, the adoption of data-driven metrics would facilitate the generation of age- and sex-specific norms that would be beneficial to researchers.
Identification and phylogenetic analysis of oral Veillonella species isolated from the saliva of Japanese children
Authors: Djais Ariadna A. , Theodorea Citra Fragrantia , Mashima Izumi , Otomo Maiko , Saitoh Masato , Nakazawa Futoshi
Published: July 2019

Background:As the most frequent infectious disease among children worldwide, dental caries have a strong relationship with oral hygiene status, specifically in the development of infection. However, the study regarding the identification and distribution of oralVeillonellaare limited. The oralVeillonellacommunity may affected by the differences in geographical location, age, diet, lifestyle, socio-economic status and oral hygiene status. Here, we studied the oral hygiene status by examining the composition and proportion of oralVeillonellaspecies in saliva of Japanese children to compare with the previous results found in Thai children.

Methods:Microbial samples collected from 15 Japanese children divided into three oral hygiene groups were cultured under anaerobic conditions after homogenization and dilution, and inoculated onto brain heart infusion and selective mediumVeillonellaagar. Genomic DNA was extracted from each isolate.Veillonellaspecies were detected by one-step PCR usingrpoBspecies-specific primers. To analyse the phylogenetic properties of the unknownVeillonellastrains, PCR amplification and sequence analysis ofrpoBwere conducted for 10 representative strains.

Results:AlthoughV. rogosaewas found as the predominant species among all groups, its prevalence was significantly lower in the children with poor oral hygiene than in those with good oral hygiene.V. parvulawas the prevalent species in the poor oral hygiene group. Approximately 10% of the isolatedVeillonellastrains were not classified to any established species; the phylogenetic analysis showed that they were most closely related toV.infantium

Conclusions:This study demonstrates that the composition and proportion of oralVeillonellaspecies in the saliva of Japanese children is correlated with different oral hygiene status. Changes in detection ratios ofV. parvulaandV. rogosaecan be useful indicators of oral hygiene status. Furthermore, new strains closely related toV. infantiumwere isolated from the saliva of Japanese children.
Sampling Scenario Set Partition Dual Bounds for Multistage Stochastic Programs
Authors: Bakir Ilke , Boland Natashia , Dandurand Brian , Erera Alan
Published: July 2019

We consider multistage stochastic programming problems in which the random parameters have finite support, leading to optimization over a finite scenario set. There has been recent interest in dual bounds for such problems, of two types. One, known as expected group subproblem objective (EGSO) bounds, require solution of a group subproblem, which optimizes over a subset of the scenarios, for all subsets of the scenario set that have a given cardinality. Increasing the subset cardinality in the group subproblem improves bound quality, (EGSO bounds form a hierarchy), but the number of group subproblems required to compute the bound increases very rapidly. Another is based on partitions of the scenario set into subsets. Combining the values of the group subproblems for all subsets in a partition yields a partition bound. In this paper, we consider partitions into subsets of (nearly) equal cardinality. We show that the expected value of the partition bound over all such partitions also forms a hierarchy. To make use of these bounds in practice, we propose random sampling of partitions and suggest two enhancements to the approach: sampling partitions that align with the multistage scenario tree structure and use of an auxiliary optimization problem to discover new best bounds based on the values of group subproblems already computed. We establish the effectiveness of these ideas with computational experiments on benchmark problems. Finally, we give a heuristic to save computational effort by ceasing computation of a partition partway through if it appears unpromising.
Superstition, Conspicuous Spending, and Housing Market: Evidence from Singapore
Authors: He Jia , Liu Haoming , Sing Tien Foo , Song Changcheng , Wong Wei-Kang
Published: July 2019

We study the effect of superstition and conspicuous spending motives on housing demand and price in Singapore. We find that buyers pay less for homes with unlucky addresses and more for homes with lucky addresses. There were fewer housing transactions on inauspicious days of the lunar calendar when people are advised to avoid making major economic decisions. This suggests that superstitious belief still affects economic activities. The demand for lucky addresses is also weaker on these inauspicious days, suggesting that superstitious belief indeed affects the demand for lucky addresses. Moreover, the price premium for a lucky address is significantly higher for apartments of larger size or on top floors. Because these two housing features can signal wealth and are highly visible, the larger price premium suggests that conspicuous spending motives also play a significant role in the Singapore housing market. We also find that informed buyers, even with less superstitious or conspicuous spending motives, might still pay price premiums for lucky addresses. In contrast, uninformed buyers are unlikely to pay a premium for these addresses.

This paper was accepted by Tomasz Piskorski, finance.
Distributionally Robust Selection of the Best
Authors: Fan Weiwei , Hong L. Jeff , Zhang Xiaowei
Published: July 2019

Specifying a proper input distribution is often a challenging task in simulation modeling. In practice, there may be multiple plausible distributions that can fit the input data reasonably well, especially when the data volume is not large. In this paper, we consider the problem of selecting the best from a finite set of simulated alternatives, in the presence of such input uncertainty. We model such uncertainty by an ambiguity set consisting of a finite number of plausible input distributions and aim to select the alternative with the best worst-case mean performance over the ambiguity set. We refer to this problem as robust selection of the best (RSB). To solve the RSB problem, we develop a two-stage selection procedure and a sequential selection procedure; we then prove that both procedures can achieve at least a user-specified probability of correct selection under mild conditions. Extensive numerical experiments are conducted to investigate the computational efficiency of the two procedures. Finally, we apply the RSB approach to study a queueing system’s staffing problem using synthetic data and an appointment-scheduling problem using real data from a large hospital in China. We find that the RSB approach can generate decisions significantly better than other widely used approaches.

This paper was accepted by Noah Gans, stochastic models and simulation.
Multimodularity in the Stochastic Appointment Scheduling Problem with Discrete Arrival Epochs
Authors: Zacharias Christos , Yunes Tallys
Published: July 2019

We address the problem of designing appointment scheduling strategies in a stochastic environment accounting for patient no-shows, nonpunctuality, general stochastic service times, and unscheduled emergency walk-ins. A good appointment schedule seeks to help outpatient clinics to utilize their resources efficiently while containing patients’ waiting times. The task of identifying an optimal schedule is modeled as a nonlinear integer program, where the objective function is the outcome of stochastic analysis in transient state. We maintain the discrete nature of the appointment scheduling problem by considering arrival epochs with discrete supports. By looking at discrete-time snapshots of the random evolution of a single-server queueing model, we characterize probabilistically the system’s workload over time as a function of an appointment schedule, and we derive recursive expressions for the performance measures of interest. Subsequently, we unfold discrete convexity properties of the optimization problem. We prove that under general conditions the objective function is supermodular and componentwise convex. Under assumptions on patient punctuality, we prove that the optimal scheduling strategy minimizes a multimodular function, a property which guarantees that a locally optimal schedule is also globally optimal. The size of the local neighborhood, however, grows exponentially with the dimension of the problem. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to develop and implement an algorithm for minimizing locally a multimodular function over nonnegative integer vectors via submodular set-function minimization over ring families, a task that can be performed in polynomial time.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, operations management.
Mobility Constraint Externalities
Authors: Starr Evan , Frake Justin , Agarwal Rajshree
Published: July 2019

Covenants not to compete are often included in employment agreements between firms and employees, justified by each party’s voluntary “freedom to contract.” However, noncompetes may also generate externalities for all individuals in the market, including those who have not signed such agreements. We theorize that enforceable noncompetes increase frictions in the labor market by increasing uncertainty and recruitment costs and by curtailing entrepreneurship. We find that in state-industry combinations with a higher incidence and enforceability of noncompetes, workers—including those unconstrained by noncompetes—receive relatively fewer job offers, have reduced mobility, and experience lower wages. The results offer policymakers a reason to restrict noncompetes beyond axiomatic appeals to a worker’s “freedom of contract” and highlight labor market frictions that may impact firm-level human capital strategies.
Mental Health Problems among Street Children: The Case of India
Authors: Savarkar Tushar , Das Shankar
Published: July 2019

A number of studies indicate that street children are vulnerable for exposure to poly-victimization, which includes various types of physical abuse, sexual violence, bullying and exposure to violence, neglect, drug abuse. These children may suffer severe mental health outcomes due to chronic exposure to psychosocial distress, specifically anxiety and depression. An analytical review of the literature was undertaken to examine the research studies on the psychological and social impact of the living condition on the street children from both a national and global lens. Research evidence indicates that there is a strong correlation between mental health and overall holistic development of the individual. The paper finally provides a conceptual framework of vulnerabilities and mental health of street children, implications for future research, interventions and public policy.
Assessing and managing malignant melanoma in primary care
Authors: Perry Margaret
Published: July 2019

Margaret Perry explains how nurses can spot signs of skin cancer, and treat it effectively
Justifying IT Investment: Extension of a Model using a Case Study from Jordan
Authors: Abu-Shanab Emad , Hammouri Qais , Al-Sebae Mai Tarik
Published: July 2019

Investing in information technology is a requirement for enterprises to sustain their competitive advantage in a market that is described as changing and global. IT is a very important resource for enterprises to improve their organizational performance, but requires some justification for its costs and burdens. This study utilized an existing model and applied it on a case in Jordan by analyzing and exploring the implications of investing in IT projects. The case used is the Japan Tobacco International, where a survey was used to collect response from JTI personnel and the documents available on their portal. Two models are proposed to improve our understanding of topic and set the stage for future research. The detailed results of this study are reported with conclusions at the end.
A Review on Cyber Security and the Fifth Generation Cyberattacks
Authors: Saravanan A. , Bama S. Sathya
Published: July 2019

Cyber attacks have become quite common in this internet era. The cybercrimes are getting increased every year and the intensity of damage is also increasing. providing security against cyber-attacks becomes the most significant in this digital world. However, ensuring cyber security is an extremely intricate task as requires domain knowledge about the attacks and capability of analysing the possibility of threats. The main challenge of cybersecurity is the evolving nature of the attacks. This paper presents the significance of cyber security along with the various risks that are in the current digital era. The analysis made for cyber-attacks and their statistics shows the intensity of the attacks. Various cybersecurity threats are presented along with the machine learning algorithms that can be applied to cyber attacks detection. The need for the fifth generation cybersecurity architecture is discussed.
Controlling the Speed of Conveyor Belt using Python – Raspberry Pi 3B+
Authors: Kamalakannan M. , Devadharshini K.
Published: July 2019

In food processing industry, there arises a need to control a conveyor belt. currently industries are very necessary to use material handling system for to move materials from one place to another place continuously and to minimize operations time. Stepper Motor is suitable for controlling conveyor because of its high accuracy positioning over a short distance and provide high torque even at low speeds and it is also offer very low vibration and a wide range of features. This paper is focused on controlling the speed of the conveyor belt through the speed of stepper motor using the micro processor namely, Raspberry Pi 3B+’s (RP 3B+) GPIOs (General Purpose Input Output) and it can be generate sequence of control signals on the GPIO pins of RP 3B+. Interfacing the stepper motor with RP 3B+ using python programming language. The method is explained with the results of changing the weights the speed level is reduced through time variation on the conveyor belt and the model of working Conveyor belt with Stepper motor controlled by python and RP 3B+ with Easy Driver(A3967).
Opportunistic pathogenic fungi isolated from feces of feral pigeons in Mafikeng, North West Province of South Africa
Authors: Syakalima Michelo , Ramatla Tsepo , Lubanza Ngoma
Published: July 2019

Background and Aim: Pigeon feces are increasingly being implicated in the spread of bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and Chlamydia. Fungi are rarely investigated except for Cryptococcus that has emerged as an important pathogen in old people and immunosuppressed patients. This study investigated fungi in pigeon feces collected from Mafikeng, the North West Province of South Africa. Materials and Methods: Freshly dropped feces were collected and enriched in phosphate-buffered saline overnight at 48°C and then subcultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and incubated at 48°C for 2 weeks observing any fungal growth from day 2. The growths were picked up, DNA extracted, and polymerase chain reaction was done using the internal transcribed spacer primers. Results: Fungi isolated included: Aspergillus (Aspergillus tubingensis), Cryptococcus (Cryptococcus albidus and Cryptococcus randhawai), Fusarium spp., and Rhodotorula (Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Rhodotorula kratochvilovae). Most of these isolates are known opportunistic pathogens and have been isolated in clinical conditions elsewhere. Other isolates such as Graphium dubautiae, Myrmecridium schulzeri, Naganishia albida, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Zygopleurage zygospora were not found to be of any human health significance. Conclusion: We, therefore, concluded that the presence of these opportunistic pathogens is a significant human health risk, especially in the face of the HIV/AIDS pandemic that results in immunosuppression.
“Prevention of Death Anxiety by Familiarity with the Concept of Death”
Authors: Asadzandi Minoo
Published: July 2019

Objectives Death is the only definitive phenomenon in life, and everyone is sure that it will happen in the future. Based on the philosophical perspective, the concept of death differs in different cultures. The purpose of this study was “explaining the difference between the concept of death from the perspective of theology and empirical science”. Methods In this qualitative evolutionary study, a targeted review was conducted to answer the question “what is the difference between the concept of death from the perspective of theology and empirical science?” Articles published between 1990 and 2018 were extracted from the PubMed, science direct, google scholar, SID, and Cochrane databases. At the same time, Islamic religious evidence (Quran and Hadiths) was investigated for understanding the concept of the death in Islam. The “Shia Seminary” research methodology was used to avoid interpretations of the Quran verses and to ensure the authenticity of the Hadiths. Findings Empirical sciences consider death as a biological phenomenon, which results from irreversible damage to cerebral hemispheres and brain stem (brain death) that causes grief process, fear, anxiety, and sadness. From the perspective of Islam, death is an existential phenomenon, the transfer of the soul from one world to another. Death is the complete reception of the soul from the body by the angels and the beginning of another life, in the "world of grief. Conclusion Given that in Islam, death does not mean destruction. It is imperative that the spiritual counselors teach the patient and the family about the life after death and the blessings of paradise. In pastoral care at the end of life, reducing patients’ anxiety and fear of death, with hope in God's mercy is necessary.
Combined Hepatocellular Cholangiocarcinoma: A Population-Based Retrospective Study
Authors: Ramai Daryl , Ofosu Andrew , Lai Jonathan K. , Reddy Madhavi , Adler Douglas G.
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVES:

Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) is a rare form of primary liver cancer with features of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence, demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment, and survival of patients with CHC.

METHODS:

Data on CHC between 2004 and 2014 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Registry and analyzed.

RESULTS:

Five hundred twenty-nine patients with CHC were identified; 367 were male. Median age at diagnosis was 62.5 ± 12 years. The overall incidence of CHC between 2004 and 2014 was 0.05 per 100,000 per year. Incidence increased with age, with the highest incidence in men occurring between 60 and 64 years and 75–79 years for women. Women had a higher incidence of CHC compared to men (0.08 vs 0.03 per 100,000 per year). Most tumors were poorly differentiated (30.8%) while the most common stage at presentation was stage 4 (26.8%). 39.5% of these tumors were resected while 6.8% received radiation and 34% received chemotherapy. One- and 5-year cause-specific survival for CHC was 41.9% and 17.7%, respectively, with a median survival of 8 months. Worse outcomes were noted among patients with tumor stage 3 (hazard ratio [HR] 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–2.87, P = 0.000), stage 4 (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.06–2.75, P = 0.027), those not treated with surgery (HR 4.94, 95% CI 3.64–6.68, P = 0.000), those who did not receive radiation (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.08–2.70, P = 0.021), those who did not receive chemotherapy (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.20–1.99, P = 0.001), and those with increasing tumor size on chemotherapy (HR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00–1.00, P = 0.013).

DISCUSSION:

CHC is the combined presentation of 2 malignancies. Incidence appears to be increasing and is associated with age and male gender. While surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are associated with improved outcomes, patients who did not undergo surgery are at highest risk for death.
Peningkatan Keterampilan Menulis Pantun dan Syair dengan Model Contextual Teaching And Learning Siswa Kelas V MI Ma’arif Candran Godean
Authors: Isniarni Isniarni
Published: July 2019

Penggunaan metode, strategi dan pendekatan yang relevan dalam pembelajaran sangat dibutuhkan, termasuk penggunaan model pembelajaran Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) pada mata pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia dalam peningkatan keterampilan menulis pantun dan syair siswa kelas V di MI Ma’arif Candran Godean tahun pelajaran 2016-2017.Penggunaan pembelajaran Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) memiliki potensi untuk mengembangkan ranah pengetahuan dan keterampilan proses dan mengembangkan sikap, nilai serta kreativitas siswa dalam memecahkan masalah yang terkait dengan kehidupan mereka sehari-hari, melalui interaksi dengan sesama teman dan juga mengembangkan keterampilan sosial.Hambatan-hambatan pembelajaran melalui model kontekstual dalam menulis pantun diantaranya siswa kesulitan dalam menyusun kalimat dalam baris pantun baik yang berupa sampiran maupun isi yang sesuai tema, dalam bekerja kelompok hanya didominasi oleh siswa yang mempunyai keterampilan menulis yang potensi lebih tinggi, siswa kurang berani mengeluarkan pendapat dalam menanggapi pembacaan pantun dan syair.Gambaran pelaksanaan pembelajaran menulis pantun dan syair yaitu proses pembelajarannya menekankan pada kegiatan siswa dalam mengembangkan pemikiran anak dengan cara bekerja sendiri, mengembangkan sifat ingin tahu, menemukan sendiri, mengkontruksikan sendiri pengetahuan dan keterampilan barunya. Dengan demikian kegiatan yang dilakukan oleh siswa melalui latihan-latihan untuk memecahkan suatu masalah dapat teratasi.
GERAKAN LITERASI SEKOLAH DI SEKOLAH ISLAM (SEBUAH ANALISIS IMPLEMENTASI GLS DI MI MUHAMMADIYAH GUNUNGKIDUL)
Authors: Ichsan Ahmad Shofiyuddin
Published: July 2019

This study aims to determine the implementation of School Literacy Movement (GLS) in Islamic school, awareness of academic civitas in cultural literacy, supporting and inhibiting factors in GLS’ implementation and analysis on implementation in Islamic school. The study used is qualitative research. Subjects in this study are residents of the school and its objects are all matters related to the implementation of the School Literacy Program (GLS) in MI Muhammadiyah Pengkol Gunungkidul.The results of this study find that there is awareness with the school residents in actuating the GLS program and there are several strategies in implementing the GLS program. Supporting factors in the GLS program at this school one of them is a high awareness, good communication between school with parents and many strategies undertaken. While the inhibiting factors is the very minimal facility and hasn’t maximum support yet from the government. In the context of religion, Muslim should have a cultural literacy because it is the first teaching in the Qur'an. Challenges ahead in this case, children must have awareness to improve the quality of literacy. Nowadays, the textual reading quality of society through books is getting lower, so it is necessary to balance in understanding the phenomenon. It is also necessary to have a 'revolution' in changing the mindset of society in the literacy.
Model Pembelajaran Tematik Berbasis Kearifan Lokal
Authors: Wafiqni Nafia , Nurani Siti
Published: July 2019

Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan: (1) Hakikat pembelajaran tematik; (2) Langkah-langkah pembelajaran tematik berbasis kearifan lokal; (3) Hakikat pendidikan kearifan lokal dalam lingkup pembelajaran tematik; (4) Tujuan dan pentingnya pendidikan kearifan lokal dalam lingkup pembelajaran tematik; serta (5) Pengajaran model tematik berbasis kearifan lokal. Artikel ini merupakan penelitian analisis konten/meta analisis yang dilaksanakan melalui lima tahap, yaitu: (1) Pengumpulan data;          (2) Penentuan sampel; (3) Pencatatan data; (4) Reduksi; dan (5) Penarikan kesimpulan. Sumber data dalam artikel ini adalah jurnal dan buku yang berkaitan dengan pembelajaran tematik dan pendidikan kearifan lokal. Selanjutnya, objek penelitian adalah proses adaptasi dan kaitannya dengan urgensi kearifan lokal dalam menjawab tantangan zaman. Kesimpulan artikel menunjukkan bahwa: (1) Pembelajaran tematik menggunakan tema-tema sebagai objek pembelajarannya; (2) Langkah-langkah model pembelajaran tematik berbasis kearifan lokal diantaranya guru terlebih dahulu membuat RPP, kemudiaan mesisipkan kearifan lokal pada konten materi; (3) Kearifan lokal dalam lingkup model pembelajaran tematik adalah nilai kebaikan yang terkandung dalam kebudayaan sebagai upaya mempertahankan identitas diri anak: (4) Tujuan dan pentingnya pendidikan kearifan lokal dalam lingkup pembelajaran tematik diantaranya untuk mempersiapkan generasi muda yang tanggap akan keunggulan lokal daerahnya; (5) Pengajaran model tematik berbasis kearifan lokal ini akan menjadi koneksi dalam memahamkan anak untuk bertindak tepat dalam menghadapi tantangan global.
Only monospecific anti-DFS70 antibodies aid in the exclusion of antinuclear antibody associated rheumatic diseases: an Italian experience
Authors: Infantino Maria , Pregnolato Francesca , Bentow Chelsea , Mahler Michael , Benucci Maurizio , Li Gobbi Francesca , Damiani Arianna , Grossi Valentina , Franceschini Franco , Bodio Caterina , Borghi Maria Orietta , Manfredi Mariangela
Published: July 2019

Background

The dense fine speckled (DFS) is one of the most common patterns that can be observed as a result of the anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) test on HEp-2 cells and is mostly caused by antibodies to DFS70 as the main antigenic target. As was recently demonstrated, isolated anti-DFS70 positivity can be used as an aid in the exclusion of ANA associated rheumatic diseases (AARD) due to the opportunity to better interpret unexplained positive IIF ANA results.

Methods

Our study included 333 subjects with AARD, 51 undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) patients, 235 disease controls and 149 healthy blood donors from an Italian cohort. All samples were tested for anti-DFS70 and anti-ENA antibodies using QUANTA Flash assays (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA).

Results

No differences in the prevalence of anti-DFS70 antibodies were seen among AARD, non-AARD and UCTD (2.1% [7/333] vs. 2.3% [9/384] vs. 5.9% [3/51], respectively; p-value = 0.188). AARD patients positive for anti-DFS70 antibodies showed in all cases an accompanying anti-ENA specificity. In contrast, monospecific anti-DFS70 antibodies showed a significantly different distribution with a clear trend across the main groups (AARD vs. non-AARD vs. UCTD: 0% [0/7] vs. 22% [2/9] vs. 100% [3/3], p = 0.007). Anti-DFS70 antibody levels among AARD, non-AARD and UCTD patients were not significantly different (p = 0.094). Within the anti-DFS70 antibody positive cases, AARD cohort showed a higher variability (median [min–max]: 3.2 [3.2–450.8] CU) compared to non-AARD (median [min–max]: 3.2 [3.2–75.7] CU) and UCTD patients (median [min–max]: 3.2 [3.2–59.0] CU).

Conclusions

Our preliminary data showed a similar frequency of anti-DFS70 antibodies in AARD, UCTD and non-AARD cohorts. Monospecificity of anti-DFS70 antibodies but not their mere presence is the key element in the diagnostic algorithm. Mono-specific anti-DFS70 antibodies might be a helpful biomarker to discriminate individuals with AARD from non-AARD presenting with a positive ANA.
The Cara Syria programme – combining teaching of English for Academic Purposes and academic and research skills development
Authors: Brewer Sarah , Whiteside Karin
Published: July 2019

The Cara Syria Programme has been developed to support Syrian academics who have had abandon their academic positions due to the conflict in Syria and who have seen their careers compromised as a result. The Programme offers a means to re-establish their academic identities and develop new skills through participation in the learning activities and workshops provided on the Programme itself and through potential research collaborations with academics in universities in the UK. A key element is the training in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), which is delivered in weekly online lessons and intensive language workshops in Turkey. Both the online teaching and the workshops are staffed by volunteers working in language teaching and specifically in English for Academic Purposes. One of the core principles of this teaching is to pitch content in a way that is intellectually motivating and relevant in terms of the participants’ academic identities, but scaffolded to take into account language proficiency levels, which can be as low as CEFR A1. Over the last eighteen months the technology, administrative structures, and language materials suitable for learners at all levels between A1 and C1 have been developed, and the process mapped to ensure sustainability.
A multilingual refugee, a personal experience
Authors: Alhallak Ghaith
Published: July 2019

The refugee is the person who has fled his or her country for reasons of war, racial discrimination, vengeance, sectarian massacres or other reasons. Many refugees have left everything behind them to reach a society that is completely different from their own, creating many challenges. Perhaps the most important of these challenges is to learn the language of the host country, which is the key that opens the door to integration in all its forms. Overcoming the challenges in language learning occurs not only through teaching institutions, but society also plays a major role. Thus, we can say that the process of teaching the language to newcomers is a combination of the efforts of the relevant educational institutions as well as those of social and cultural organizations and individuals. In this report, I review the process of teaching foreign languages to refugees and migrants, based on my personal experience as a refugee student and as a language teacher for foreigners, which I have been at the same time for more than three years. The article does not address educational methods as much as the steps that I believe should be taken into consideration in the process of trying to integrate refugees in their host community culturally and linguistically. These steps, which may often have more of an impact than the traditional teaching process, are not confined to the field of educational institutions, but go beyond them to reach social and cultural organizations.
Representing language education in Australian universities: An analysis of press reporting (2007–2016)
Authors: Mason Shannon , Hajek John
Published: July 2019

Educational issues are a regular feature in mainstream media, and the ways in which particular issues are represented can influence public perceptions of the various discipline areas and, in turn, policy decisions that affect them. While the research literature includes media coverage analyses of a wide range of educational disciplines and sectors, missing is an understanding of the media representations of language education in the tertiary setting, despite languages being seen as a key pathway to generalised national multilingualism, social harmony, and economic prosperity. The authors address this gap using Australia as a case study, a country that has seen considerable policy and media attention to language education in general over many years. A content analysis of print newspaper coverage from 2007–2016 was conducted, revealing that the coverage of the discipline area at the tertiary level is extremely limited, is generally superficial in depth, narrow in scope, and negative in tone. This representation perpetuates the already precarious position of language education in Australian universities, and there is little support for a more positive and visible public agenda.
Learning about Language: Preparing pre-service subject teachers for multilingual classroom realities
Authors: Schroedler Tobias , Grommes Patrick
Published: July 2019

This paper presents and discusses experiences gained in a German teacher education innovation project on competence and skill development in dealing with multilingualism. New seminar structures were developed, which go hand in hand with a reorganisation of the entire teacher education structure in the University of Hamburg. The aim of these reform implementations is to equip all future subject teachers with relevant skills for dealing with multilingualism and the challenges that learners of German as a second language (GSL) experience. In order to achieve this, a compulsory course on the foundations of multilingualism and language sensitive subject teaching was developed and implemented in the M.Ed. programme (Teacher Degree). In this class students learn about societal multilingualism, basics of contrastive theoretical linguistics, language development, strategies and methods for language sensitive subject teaching as well as practical implementation guidance. Based on a theoretical overview outlining the local conditions with regard to multilingualism and the necessity of language sensitive teaching, the contents of the course are described including a critical reasoning on their substance and place in the course. For a better understanding of the competence development and the effectiveness of the newly introduced seminar(s), a thoroughly validated test instrument is employed in a pre-post design to observe the participants’ skill development. The results of this testing procedure show positive tendencies, yet it remains clear that more work needs to be done in the area.