bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulator of cullins-1 (ROC1) negatively regulates the Gli2 regulator SUFU to activate the hedgehog pathway in bladder cancer
Authors: Wang Wei , Qiu Jianxin , Qu Pin , Chen Hui , Lan Jianyun , Chen Haitao , Li Lei , Gu Min
Published: December 2020

Background: The regulator of cullins-1 (ROC1) is an essential subunit in the cullin-RING ligase (CRL) protein complex and has been shown to be critical in bladder cancer cell survival and progression. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of ROC1 action in the malignant progression of bladder cancer.Methods: This study utilized ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo nude mouse experiments to assess the underlying mechanisms of ROC1 in bladder cancer cells. The expression of the components of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway was determined by western blot analysis. ROC1 expression in human tumors was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.Results: ROC1 overexpression promoted the growth of bladder cancer cells, whereas knockdown of ROC1 expression had the opposite effect in bladder cancer cells. Mechanistically, ROC1 was able to target suppressor of fused homolog (SUFU) for ubiquitin-dependent degradation, allowing Gli2 release from the SUFU complex to activate the SHH pathway. Furthermore, knockdown of SUFU expression partially rescued the ROC1 knockdown-suppressed SHH activity as well as cancer cell growth inhibition. In ex vivo experiments, tissue microarray analysis of human bladder cancer specimens revealed a positive association of ROC1 expression with the SHH pathway activity. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that dysregulation of the ROC1–SUFU–GLI2 axis plays an important role in bladder cancer progression and that targeting ROC1 expression is warranted in further investigations as a novel strategy for the future control of bladder cancer.
Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and its Association with Maternal Employment in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 2020
Authors: WAKE GETU ENGIDA , MITTIKU YOHANNES MOGES
Published: December 2020

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the practice of providing only breast-milk for an infant for the first 6 months of life without addition of any other food or water, which recommends initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of life and continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years of age or more. There are highly variable findings regarding the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia. Maternal employment is the most important factor contributing to the low practice of exclusive breastfeeding. The purpose of this review was to estimate the pooled prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its association with maternal employment in the context of Ethiopia.Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The databases such as; PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane library, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI) was used for critical appraisal. Results: Forty-five studies were included in the final analysis after reviewing 751 studies in this meta-analysis yielding the pooled prevalence of EBF 60.42% (95% CI: 55.81-65.02%) in Ethiopia. The subgroup analysis showed the highest prevalence reported in a study conducted in SNNP and Tigray( 87.84%), a study published during (2015-2016) (64.60 %), and among studies with a sample size of less than 500 (64.15%). Those employed mothers were 57% less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding in comparison to unemployed mothers in Ethiopia [OR] 0.43; 95% CI (0.31, 0.61).Conclusions: Maternal employment was significantly associated with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in comparison to their counterparts. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia is low in comparison to the global recommendation. Based On our findings, we recommended that the Ethiopian government should increase legislated paid maternity leave after delivery beyond current paid maternity leave and implement policies that empower women and create a conducive environment for mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace.
Performance of the QPLEXTM Alz plus assay, a novel multiplex kit for screening cerebral amyloid deposition
Authors: Park Jong-Chan , Jung Keum Sim , Kim Jiyeong , Jang Ji Sung , Kwon Sunghoon , Byun Min Soo , Yi Dahyun , Byeon Gihwan , Jung Gijung , Kim Yu Kyeong , Lee Dong Young , Han Sun-Ho , Mook-Jung Inhee
Published: December 2020

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease characterized by the hallmark finding of cerebral amyloid deposition. Many researchers have tried to predict the existence of cerebral amyloid deposition by using easily accessible blood plasma samples, but the effectiveness of such strategies remains controversial. Methods: We developed a new multiplex kit, the QPLEXTM Alz plus assay kit, which uses proteomics-based blood biomarkers to prescreen for cerebral amyloid deposition. A total of 300 participants who underwent Pittsburgh compound B (PiB)-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows imaging of cerebral amyloid deposition were included in this study. We compared the levels of QPLEXTM biomarkers between patients who were classified as PiB-negative or PiB-positive, regardless of their cognitive function. Logistic regression analysis followed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. The kit accuracy was tested using a randomized sample selection method. Results: The results obtained using our assay kit reached 89.1% area under curve (AUC) with 80.0% sensitivity and 83.0% specificity. Further validation of the QPLEXTM Alz plus assay kit using a randomized sample selection method showed an average accuracy of 81.5%. Conclusions: Our QPLEXTM Alz plus assay kit provides preliminary evidence that it can be used as blood marker to predict cerebral amyloid deposition but independent validation is needed.
A Real-Time PCR Assay for Rapid Identification of Inducible and Acquired Clarithromycin Resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Sharma Meenu Kaushal , La Yanni , Janella Debra , Soualhine Hafid
Published: December 2020

Background: Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacteria involved in severe infections of the lung, skin, or soft tissue. Macrolides such as clarithromycin are the recommended first line drugs for treatment of M. abscessus infections. However, M. abscessus has dual mechanisms of resistance to macrolides, making treatment by macrolides difficult. A functional erm(41) gene confers for inducible resistance while acquired mutations on the 23S rRNA rrl gene confer for constitutive resistance.Methods: We have developed a real-time PCR assay to detect both inducible and acquired resistance to clarithromycin, and compared the results to traditional erm(41) and rrl sequencing and phenotypic susceptibility testing using Sensititre™ plates. Results: Of the total 126 M. abscessus isolates tested, truncated erm(41) was found in 23/126 (18.3%) of the samples, 27/126 (21.4%) had a T28C mutation in erm(41), and 2/126 (1.6%) had an acquired A2058C mutation in rrl. The phenotypic results correlated with the expected sequencing results in 121/126 samples (96%). Phenotypic testing compared to real-time PCR resolved 2 of these discrepancies by showing the existence of both erm(41) alleles in the isolates that sequencing missed. One culture was found to be mixed with two M. abscessus subsp. as per hsp65 sequencing and 2 isolates had discordance between molecular and phenotypic results. It was presumed that 3 isolates showed discrepancy between sequencing and real-time PCR, but one culture was mixed and other 2 detected both alleles by real-time PCR leading to 100% concordance when compared to sequencing.Conclusion: In conclusion, real-time PCR is more accurate for detection of both acquired and induced clarithromycin resistance, specifically when mixed genic profiles are present in a sample.
Profile of Children Referred to Primary Health Care Physiotherapy: A Longitudinal Observational Study in Norway
Authors: Evensen Kari Anne I , Sellæg Siw , Stræte Anne-Cath , Hansen Anne E. , Meisingset Ingebrigt
Published: December 2020

Background: Physiotherapy services are an important part of the primary health care services for children, serving a broad spectrum of children referred from different sources and for a variety of reasons. There is limited knowledge about their characteristics and outcome. The aim of this study was to describe the profile, i.e. referral patterns, baseline demographical and clinical characteristics, as well as treatment outcome at follow-up six months after baseline in children receiving physiotherapy in primary care. Methods: Children referred to primary care physiotherapy in a municipality in Norway were invited to participate in this longitudinal observational study. The children’s demographics, referral source, causes of referral, functional diagnoses, influence on their daily activities, main goals and planned treatments were registered at baseline. Goal attainment and treatment compliance were registered at follow-up maximum six months after baseline. Results: The physiotherapists registered baseline characteristics for 148 children. Parent-reported data at baseline were available for 101 (68.2%) of these children. Children were mainly referred from child health care centres (n=74; 50.0%), hospital (n=25; 16.9%) and kindergarten (n=22; 14.9%). The most frequent causes of referral were concerns for motor development (n=50; 33.8%), asymmetry (n=40; 27.0%) and orthopaedic conditions (n=25; 16.9%). Eighty-one (54.7%) children were below the age of one year. There was partly agreement between causes of referral and the physiotherapists’ functional diagnoses. Parents of 69 (71.1%) children reported that their child’s daily activities were little to not at all influenced by the problem or complaint for which they were referred. Follow-up data was registered for 64 children. The main treatment goal was achieved in 37 (57.8%) and partly achieved in 26 (40.6%) children and the treatment was carried out as planned in 55 (87.3%) children. Conclusions: The large variation in the profile of children receiving primary health care physiotherapy in Norway shows how primary health care PT’s can contribute to fulfil the broad purpose of the primary health care services.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03626389. Registered on August 13th 2018 (retrospectively registered).
Continuous glucose monitoring in older people with diabetes receiving home care - A feasibility study
Authors: Larsen Annette Bævre , Hermann Monica , Graue Marit
Published: December 2020

Background Hypoglycemic incidents in older people can cause severe health problems, enhance general age-related disabilities and cause frailty. Little is known about incidences of hypoglycemia in older home-dwelling people with diabetes. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of capturing hypoglycemia and issues associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia by use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and standardized questionnaires among older home dwelling individuals with diabetes type 2 receiving home care. Methods CGM with the Ipro2 blinded monitoring system were performed for five days in six home-dwelling individuals ≥ 75 years diagnosed with diabetes and receiving home care. Demographic (age, gender, living arrangements) and clinical data (diabetes diagnoses and duration, diabetes medication, documented treatment goal, available glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c),) were collected from electronic patient records in home care services. Feasibility (ease of use, quality of data, time spent) of standardized questionnaires to identify the risk of hypoglycemia (the McKellar Risk Assessment Tool), risk of malnutrition (the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)), functional status (the Individual-based Statistics for Nursing and Care Services (IPLOS)) and cognitive status (the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE)) was also assessed. Questionnaire data was collected by a study nurse in the individuals’ home. Results The practical use of CGM was satisfactory, with no major remarks about discomfort or technical errors, except for one participant with skin reaction (redness). Collecting data with the McKellar Risk Assessment Tool, MNA and IPLOS worked well according to quality of data, time spent and ease of use. The MMSE survey required extensive training of personnel to be conducted. Conclusion The feasibility study informs an upcoming study on the incidence and risk factors of hypoglycemia in home dwelling older individuals. We will ascertain that personnel who will use the MMSE questionnaire to collect cognitive status and skills are familiar with the tool and adequately educated and trained before study start. The use of blinded CGM in this population was well tolerated and can be used ‘as is’ for future studies.
Altered gut microbiota correlate with different immune response to HAART in HIV-infected individuals
Authors: Xie Yirui , Sun Jia , Wei Li , Jiang Haiyin , Hu Caiqin , Yang Jiezuan , Huang Ying , Ruan Bing , Zhu Biao
Published: December 2020

Background: Although gut microbiota dysbiosis has been reported in HIV infected individuals recently, the relationship between the gut microbiota and immune activation in patients with different immune responses to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is still not well understood. Gut microbiota and immune activation were studied in 36 non-HIV-infected subjects (healthy controls) and 58 HIV-infected individuals, including 28 immunological responders (IR) and 30 immunological non-responders (INR) (≥500 and <200 CD4+ T-cell counts/µl after 2 years of HIV-1 viral suppression respectively) without comorbidities. Results: Metagenome sequencing revealed that HIV-infected immunological responders and immunological non-responders could not recover completely from the gut microbiota dysbiosis. At a 97% similarity level, the relative abundances of Fusobacterium, Ruminococcus gnavus and Megamonas were greater, whereas Faecalibacterium, Alistipes, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium rectale and Roseburia were more depleted in the IR and INR groups than those in the healthy controls. Ruminococcaceae and Alistipes were positively correlated with nadir and current CD4+ T-cell counts, but negatively correlated with CD8+CD57+ T-cell counts. Inflammation markers and translocation biomarkers (LPS) levels were positively correlated with the abundances of genera Ruminococcus and Fusobacterium but were negatively correlated with the genus Faecalibacterium. The relative abundances of Escherichia-Shigella and Blautia were significantly higher in the IR than those in the INR group. Escherichia-Shigella were negatively correlated with the CD4/CD8 ratio but positively correlated with the amount of CD8+CD57+ T-cells. Roseburia and Blautia were negatively associated with nadir CD4+ T-cell and positively associated with CD8+CD57+ T-cell counts. Conclusions: Gut microbiota dysbiosis may be one of the factors contributing to different immune responses and treatment outcomes to HAART.
Association of gestational diabetes mellitus with offspring weight status across infancy: a prospective birth cohort study in China
Authors: Hu Jiajin , Liu Yilin , Wei Xiaotong , Li Lin , Gao Ming , Liu Yang , Ma Yanan , Wen Deliang
Published: December 2020

Background: The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and childhood body weight remains controversial, and additional study is needed, especially in Asian populations.Methods: This prospective study investigated the association between maternal glucose concentration, and GDM status and infant body weight from birth to 12 months of age. Linear mixed effects (LME) models and multiple linear regression were used to assess the longitudinal association of GDM with infant growth measured by weight-for-length z-scores (WFLZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WFAZ), and length-for-age z-scores (LFAZ) at birth, 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months of age.Results: Offspring born to mothers with GDM had higher WFLZ [β: 0.26 SD units (95% CI: 0.13–0.40)] across infancy than those of mothers without GDM. When stratified analysis by maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) status, the association was pronounced in normal-weight [β:0.28 SD units (95% CI: 0.11–0.45)] and overweight/obese women [β: 0.34 SD units (95% CI: 0.09–0.58)] but not in underweight women (P for interaction <0.05). Multiple linear regression found that the effect estimate of GDM on infant WFLZ was highest at birth [β: 0.36 SD units (95% CI: 0.11– 0.61)], remained significant at 1 [β: 0.22 SD units (95% CI: 0.03–0.41)] and 3 [β:0.19 SD units (95% CI: 0.01–0.37)] months of age and decreased across infancy. Maternal GDM status was not associated with infant WFAZ or LFAZ.Conclusions: Maternal GDM status was associated with infant WFLZ, but not WFAZ or LFAZ. The association between GDM status and offspring WFLZ was more pronounced in early infancy or in normal-weight and overweight/obese women. Increased public health efforts to prevent GDM in normal-weight and overweight/obese pre-pregnancy mothers are recommended to control offspring overweight or obesity.
The Effect of Driver Variables on the Estimation of Bivariate Probability Density of Peak Loads in Long-Term Horizon
Authors: Kaheh Zohreh , Shabanzadeh Morteza
Published: December 2020

It is evident that developing more accurate forecasting methods is the pillar of building robust multi-energy systems (MES). In this context, long-term forecasting is also indispensable to have a robust expansion planning program for modern power systems. While very short-term and short-term forecasting are usually represented with point estimation, this approach is highly unreliable in medium-term and long-term forecasting due to inherent uncertainty in predictors like weather variable in long terms. Accordingly, long-term forecasting is usually represented by probabilistic forecasting values which are based on probabilistic functions. In this paper, a self-organizing mixture network (SOMN) is developed to estimate the probability density function (PDF) of peak load in long-term horizons considering the most important drivers of seasonal similarity, population, gross domestic product (GDP), and electricity price. The proposed methodology is applied to forecast the PDF of annual and seasonal peak load in Queensland Australia.
Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in granulosa cells from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Li You , Xiong Guohui , Tan Jun , Wang Shudi , Wu Qiongfang , Wan Lei , Zhang ZiYu , Huang Ouping
Published: December 2020

Objective The molecular mechanism that triggers polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is mysterious. Abnormal development of ovarian granulosa cells(GCs) is one of the causes of PCOSMethods The study was carried out by using RNA-seq to detect the different gene expression levels in ovarian GCs between 3 patients with PCOS and 4 normal controls. To further verify the above results, GCs from 22 patients with PCOS and 21 controls with normal ovulation were collected to perform the RT-PCR analysisResults The results found Hedgehog signaling pathway(Hh) members, Ihh and Ptch2 were abnormally highly expressed in the PT. The qPCR results also indicated that the expression levels of other Hh signaling pathway downstream members, Ptch1, Gli1, and Gli2 in the PCOS group (PT) were significantly higher than those in the control group (NT). Besides, the expression of TNF-α mRNA in PCOS patients was higher than that in the control group. Finally, the Hh signaling pathway inhibitor, cyclopamine, can decrease the apoptosis of PCOS ovarian granulosa cellsConclusions These results suggest that abnormally activated Hh signaling pathway, especially Ihh signal, may have a profound influence on PCOS.
Understanding the implementation of evidence-informed policies and practices from a policy perspective: a critical interpretive synthesis
Authors: Bullock Heather L , Lavis John N , Wilson Michael G , Mulvale Gillian , Miatello Ashleigh
Published: December 2020

Background: The fields of implementation science and knowledge translation have evolved somewhat independently from the field of policy implementation research, despite calls for better integration. As a result, implementation theory and empirical work do not often reflect the implementation experience from a policy lens nor benefit from the scholarship in all three fields. This means policymakers, researchers and practitioners may find it challenging to draw from theory that adequately reflects their implementation efforts.Methods: We developed an integrated theoretical framework of the implementation process from a policy perspective by combining findings from these fields using the critical interpretive synthesis method. We began with the compass question: how is policy currently described in implementation theory and processes and what aspects of policy are important for implementation success? We then searched 12 databases as well as grey literature and supplemented these documents with other sources to fill conceptual gaps. Using a grounded and interpretive approach to analysis, we built the framework constructs, drawing largely from the theoretical literature and then tested and refined the framework using empirical literature.Results: A total of 11,434 documents were retrieved and assessed for eligibility and 35 additional documents were identified through other sources. Eighty-six unique documents were ultimately included in the analysis. Our findings indicate that policy is described as: 1) the context; 2) a focusing lens; 3) the innovation itself; 4) a lever of influence; 5) an enabler/facilitator or barrier; or 6) an outcome. Policy actors were also identified as important participants or leaders of implementation. Our analysis led to the development of a two-part conceptual framework, including process and determinant components. Conclusions: This framework begins to bridge the divide between disciplines and offers a new way of thinking about implementation processes at the systems level. It offers researchers, policymakers and implementers with a new way of thinking about implementation and can be used for planning or evaluating implementation efforts.
The Longitudinal Relationship between Immune Cell Profiles and Frailty in Patients with Breast Cancer receiving Chemotherapy
Authors: Gilmore Nikesha , Mohile Supriya , Lei Lianlian , Culakova Eva , Mohamed Mostafa , Magnuson Allison , Loh Kah Poh , Maggiore Ronald , Belcher Elizabeth , Conlin Alison , Weiselberg Lora , Ontko Mary , Janelsins Michelle
Published: December 2020

Background: Frailty is associated with an increased risk of chemotherapy toxicity. Cellular markers of inflammation can help identify patients with frailty characteristics. However, the role of cellular markers of inflammation in identifying patients at risk of developing chemotherapy-induced frailty and their clinical utility are not fully understood.Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a large nationwide cohort study of women with stage I-IIIC breast cancer (n=581, mean age 53.4; range 22-81). Measures were completed pre-chemotherapy (T1), post-chemotherapy (T2), and 6 months post-chemotherapy (T3). Frailty was assessed at all three time-points using a modified Fried score consisting of four self-reported measures (weakness, exhaustion, physical activity, and walking speed; 0-4, 1 point for each). Immune cell counts as well as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) were obtained at T1 and T2 time-points. Separate linear regressions were used to evaluate the associations of: 1) cell counts at T1 with frailty at T1, T2, and T3 and 2) change in cell counts (T2-T1) with frailty at T2 and T3. We controlled for relevant covariates and frailty at the T1 time-point.Results: From T1 to T2, the mean frailty score increased (1.3 vs 2.0; p<0.01) and returned to T1 levels by the T3 time-point (1.3 vs 1.3; p=0.85). At the T1 time-point, there was a positive association between cellular markers of inflammation and frailty: WBC (β=0.04; p<0.05), neutrophils (β=0.04; p<0.05), and NLR (β=0.04; p<0.01). From T1 to T2, a greater increase in cellular markers of inflammation was associated with frailty at T2 (WBC: β=0.02; p<0.05 and neutrophils: β=0.03; p<0.05, NLR: β=0.03; p<0.01). These associations remained significant after controlling for the receipt of growth factors with chemotherapy and the time between when laboratory data was provided and the start or end of chemotherapy.Conclusions: In patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, cellular markers of inflammation are associated with frailty. Immune cell counts may help clinicians identify patients at risk of frailty during chemotherapy.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01382082
The identification and determination of toxin genes of Vibrio strains causing hemorrhagic disease on red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) using PCR
Authors: Pham Yen Thi Hai , Linh Nguyen Quang , Nguyen Tram Duy Quynh
Published: December 2020

Data were collected from 30 strains of Vibrio and sampled on different organs (brain, hemorrhagic site and digestive tract) of Sciaenops ocellatus infection. The results showed that the nucleotide sequences 16S rRNA region are highly similar to those of V. alginolyticus, V. azureus, V. fluvialis, V. natriengens and V. orientalis, which were published on Genbank and other, ranging from 98.05 to 100 %. The digestive tract has the most common Vibrio strains (V. alginolyticus [16] V. azureus [7] and V. fluvialis). Thereout, 25 of 30 strains of Vibrio contained 1 to 3 toxin genes, except V. parahaemolyticus. Six parameters were used to measure the DNA polymorphism of 33 homologous DNA sequences in this Vibrio bacteria population. The results indicated that number of separate polymorphic sites (S), total number of mutant sites (Eta), number of haplotype (h), haplotype diversity (Hd), average number of nucleotide differences (k), nucleotide diversity (Pi) were 98 (S), 103 (Eta), 9 (h), 0.887 ± 0.032 (Hd), 25.789 (k) and 17.980x10-3 ± 0.003 (Pi), respectively (P < 0,05). The G+C content above 1434 sites positions of nucleotide sequences accounted for 0.542. The phylogenetic tree showed that these strains are divided into six groups. As observed, the appearance of isolated Vibrio on 3 organs of fish (S. ocellatus) hemorrhagic are V. azureus (27,67 %), V. alginolyticus (50 %), V. orientalis (6,67 %) and V. fluvialis (16,67 %). Through this result, we found that the diversity of Vibrio species that appeared on the red drum was used in the 16S rRNA region and the presence of toxin genes in these Vibrio species.
Willingness of the UK public to volunteer for testing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Vandrevala Tushna , Montague Amy , Terry Philip , Fielder Mark D.
Published: December 2020

Background: The World Health Organization declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world to be a global public health emergency. The spread of the disease is influenced by people’s willingness to adopt preventative public health behaviours, such as participation in testing programmes and risk perception can be an important determinant of engagement in such behaviours. Methods: In this study, we present the first assessment of how the UK public (N=778) perceive the usefulness of testing for coronavirus and the factors that influence a person’s willingness to test for coronavirus.Results: None of the key demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, disability, vulnerability status, or professional expertise) were significantly related to the respondents’ willingness to be tested for coronavirus. However, closely following the news media was positively related to willingness to be tested. Knowledge and perceptions about Coronavirus significantly predicted willingness to test, with three significantly contributing factors: worry about the health and social impacts to self and family; personal susceptibility; and concerns about the impacts of coronavirus on specific demographic groups. Views on testing for coronavirus predicted willingness to test, with the most influential factors being importance of testing by need; negative views about widespread testing and mistrust in doctor’s advice about testing. Conclusions: Implications for effective risk communication and localised public health approach to encouraging public to put themselves forward for testing are discussed. We strongly advocate for effective communications and localised intervention by public health authorities, using media outlets to ensure that members of the public get tested for SARs-CoV2 when required.
Identification of evolutionarily stable sites across the SARS-CoV-2 proteome
Authors: Wang Chen , Konecki Daniel M. , Marciano David C. , Govindarajan Harikumar , Williams Amanda M. , Wastuwidyaningtyas Brigitta , Bourquard Thomas , Katsonis Panagiotis , Lichtarge Olivier
Published: December 2020

Since the first recognized case of COVID-19, more than 30 million people have been infected worldwide. Despite global efforts in drug and vaccine development to fight the disease, there is currently no vaccine or drug cure for COVID-19, though some drugs reduce severity and hasten recovery. Here we interrogate the evolutionary history of the entire SARS-CoV-2 proteome to identify functional sites that can inform the search for treatments. Combining this information with the mutations observed in the current COVID-19 outbreak, we systematically and comprehensively define evolutionarily stable sites that are useful drug targets. Several experimentally-validated effective drugs interact with these proposed target sites. In addition, the same evolutionary information can prioritize cross reactive antigens that are useful in directing multi-epitope vaccine strategies to illicit broadly neutralizing immune responses to the betacoronavirus family. Although the results are focused on SARS-CoV-2, these approaches are based upon evolutionary principles and are agnostic to organism or infective agent.
Karakteristike demokratske školske kulture i demokratskoga školskog vođenja u osnovnim školama iz učiteljske perspektive
Authors: Pažur Monika
Published: December 2020

U radu je prikazano istraživanje u kojem se ispitivala razvijenost i karakteristike određenih obilježja demokratske školske kulture i demokratskog školskog vođenja u osnovnim školama. U istraživanju je sudjelovao 651 učitelj iz Grada Zagreba i Zagrebačke županije. Istraživanje je provedeno anketnim ispitivanjem putem upitnika koji je sadržavao Instrument za mjerenje obilježja demokratskog školskog vođenja (izrađen za potrebe istraživanja) i Instrument za mjerenje obilježja demokratske školske kulture (preuzet iz: Spajić-Vrkaš, 2016). Ukupno gledano, rezultati pokazuju da učitelji percipiraju vođenje u njihovoj školi kao umjereno demokratsko do vrlo demokratsko. Procjenjujući obilježja školske kulture, učitelji primjećuju umjerenu razvijenost demokratskih, ali i nedemokratskih obilježja školske kulture. Međutim, ipak u većoj mjeri smatraju da njihova školska kultura posjeduje ona obilježja koja je čine demokratskom. Veću razvijenost obilježja demokratskog školskog vođenja percipiraju učitelji koji su na početku svoje karijere i oni koji su zaposleni u školama u kojima je aktualni ravnatelj na toj poziciji kraće od pet godina. Veću razvijenost obilježja demokratske školske kulture percipiraju učitelji zaposleni u prigradskim i malim školama.
Assessment of the moderating effects of Nigerian market environment on the relationship between management success determinants and SMEs’ performance
Authors: Asikhia Olalekan , Naidoo Vannie
Published: December 2020

A reported eighty-five percentage failure rate of SMEs in Nigeria before five years of operation was ascribed to a lack of knowledge of the market environment. Hence, this study investigated the moderating effects of the Nigerian market environment on the relationship between management success determinants and SMEs’ performance to see how the environment has affected SMEs’ performance. The study employed a survey research design, the population of the study comprised chief executive officers (CEOs) of registered SMEs, and a sample size of 1,102 was used. Probability sampling methods of stratified, proportionate, and random sampling were adopted. Responses were collected through a predetermined set of questions and a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that the Nigerian market environment had moderating effects on the relationship between management success determinants and SMEs’ performance (R = 0.817, R2 adjusted = 0.664, R2 change = 0.041, and Fchange = 19.694 at ρ = 0.000), most of the Nigerian market environment’s components have significant moderating effects on all the management success determinants relationship with SMEs’ performance; management skills (β = 0.220, 0.182; ρ < 0.05), innovation (β = 0.147, 0.135; ρ < 0.05), operating system (β = 0.083, 0.061; ρ < 0.05), organizational structure (β = 0.290, 0.303; ρ < 0.05), business reporting system (β = 0.142, 0.137; ρ < 0.05), system flexibility (β = 0.110, 0.107; ρ < 0.05), environmental scanning (β = 0.091, 0.062; ρ < 0.05). Only decision-making is not statistically significant (β = 0.037, 0.004; ρ > 0.05). These imply that Nigerian SMEs’ decisions under intense environmental turbulence are mostly ineffective, and the effects of management success determinants in facilitating performance were also drastically reduced as well as firms’ system flexibility. The study has a practical value of identifying the effect of the Nigerian market environment on the relationship between management success determinants and SMEs’ performance, thus revealing the gaps in the Nigerian SMEs’ management factors. Acknowledgment(s)To Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and Small Scale Enterprises Association of Nigeria for their support in ensuring participation of their members.
Evaluation of passenger comfort with road field test multi-axis vibration
Authors: Chen Zhang , Liang Yuanlu , Xu Tingyi , Sun Lijun
Published: December 2020

Using objective vibration evaluation to produce results highly consistent with real road ride comfort is challenging. The deficiencies in traditional evaluation indices, adopting an average operator, maximum operator, or cumulative operator as the main vibration information integration logic, are reported here through 19 designed road field tests in which major vibration information distribution covers all axes and vibration information is distributed in spacetime in various patterns. A new evaluation index which adopted a combination of maximum and cumulative operator is proposed to overcome these deficiencies and an interactive mechanism which standardized the process of selecting vibration information distributed among axes and spacetime is devised between the localized major vibrations. The results show that the proposed road ride comfort evaluation index is more consistent and accurate than the evaluation indices proposed by ISO 2631-1 and can be used more generally.
What Skills Should Be Taught in Health Humanities Education?
Authors:   Stahlman Professor of Medical Ethics Emeritus, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA., Churchill Larry R.
Published: December 2020

This essay argues that those working and teaching in the new field of Health Humanities should avoid definitions of their work that borrow from existing disciplines and focus instead on three fundamental skills. A case study is provided to differentiate health humanities questions from those typically asked by bioethicists. Three skills are given detailed examination: empathic listening, involving the capacity to expand our imagination to others; emotional equanimity, involving the ability to understand and learn from our emotional responses; and the de-centering skills of taming our moral vanity and recognizing the full humanity of others. These are not the only skills in play in health humanities, but these three are basic and will lead to the other skills needed.
Reconsidering Autistic Narrative Agency and the Autobiography: The Curious Case of Tito Mukhopadhyay’s Beyond the Silence: My Life, the world and Autism
Authors:   PhD Research Scholar (English), Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India., Purkayastha Shibashish
Published: December 2020

The primary purpose of this paper will be to investigate whether in narrativizing the subtleties of shame and stigma into the form of a coherent autobiography, the autistic autobiographer, Tito Mukhopadhyay, intentionally or unwittingly, explores different avenues regarding the types of autobiographical accounts, which causes us to re-imagine our understandings of autism and numerous other forms of cognitive impairment, and move past excessively deterministic and essentialist/normalizing biomedical discourses of cure and care. The study shall work within theories of postcolonialism, phenomenology, narrative theory, trauma studies and life writing studies. A literature review based on the extant scholarship in the field of life writing studies, health humanities and other disciplines has been conducted and after the identification of the research gap, this study chiefly seeks to purport that the lived experience of autism can be at variance with the prevalent biomedical and neurological understanding of this condition. By taking into cognizance the various material realities of the patients as evinced in their autie-biographies, I maintain that this information can come to the aid of medical practitioners, psychologists and psychoanalysts in considering the subjective dimensions of experience of autism apart from the monolithic and monolingual truth as evidenced by a scientific enquiry of autism spectrum disorder. This also suggests some appropriate conversation starters about the crossing points between a debilitating condition and the act of composing one’s life narrative with such a debilitating condition.
Visualizing Shame: Menstruation, Graphic Medicine, and the Discourse of Lycanthropy
Authors:   Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli, India, Venkatesan Sathyaraj , Peter Anu Mary ,   Assistant Professor, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Published: December 2020

Beyond its medical definition as a natural phenomenon concerning the female body, menstruation is a term that is overburdened with a plethora of distorted cultural and religious meanings. Through the centuries, the biological process of the monthly expulsion of non-pregnant women’s uterus lining is popularly misunderstood as a profane activity. Despite the surplus of awareness measurements to educate masses about menstruation’s biological underpinnings, societal negligence towards women’s incapacitating experiential realities associated with menstruation continues even in the twenty-first century. Accordingly, Paula Knight’s graphic medical memoir on infertility, titled The Facts of Life (2017), offers a distinctive perspective about menstruation through the creative deployment of the lycanthrope metaphor. By depicting her menstruating self as a lone werewolf, Knight offers a compelling representation of menstruating women’s abysmal corporeal and cultural anxieties. By close reading relevant images from Knight’s memoir and drawing theoretical insights from Victoria Louise Newton and Elizabeth El Refaie, this article analyses how graphic medicine necessitates a humane and non-stigmatizing approach to menstruation.
Hydrological model optimization using multi-gauge calibration (MGC) in a mountainous region
Authors: Swalih Sead Ahmed , Kahya Ercan
Published: December 2020

It is a challenge for hydrological models to capture complex processes in a basin with limited data when estimating model parameters. This study aims to contribute in this field by assessing the impact of incorporating spatial dimension on the improvement of model calibration. Hence, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of multi-gauge calibration in hydrological model calibration for Ikizdere basin, Black Sea Region in Turkey. In addition, we have incorporated the climate change impact assessment for the study area. Four scenarios were tested for performance assessment of calibration: (1) using downstream flow data (DC), (2) using upstream data (UC), (3) using upstream and downstream data (Multi-Gauge Calibration – MGC), and (4) using upstream and then downstream data (UCDC). The results have shown that using individual gauges for calibration (1 and 2) improve the local predictive capacity of the model. MGC calibration significantly improved the model performance for the whole basin unlike 1 and 2. However, the local gauge calibrations statistical performance, compared to MGC outputs, was better for local areas. The UCDC yields the best model performance and much improved predictive capacity. Regarding the climate change, we did not observe an agreement amongst the future climate projections for the basin towards the end of the century.
Birt-hogg-Dubé Syndrome Incidentally Identified in a Potential Liver Donor
Authors: Gündoğdu Elif , Emekli Emre , Acer Ersoy , Özer İlter
Published: December 2020

Background:

Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome (BHDS), an autosomal dominant hereditary
condition, occurs due to mutations in the gene encoding folliculin (FLCN) in the short arm of the
17th chromosome characterized by lung cysts with specific skin findings and renal cell carcinoma.
Patients have usually complaints related to dyspnea and chest pain due to pneumothorax but they
may be asymptomatic due to wide phenotypic heterogeneity. Herein, we report the imaging findings
of a case 32-year-old male with BHDS without any symptom who was diagnosed incidentally
by computed tomography (CT) due to organ donation.

Case Report:

In a 32-year-old male patient evaluated as a potential liver donor, CT was performed
for preoperative preparation. The patient's medical history was unremarkable. In the CT examination,
multiple air cysts of different sizes in both lungs were observed and also, a 7-cm solid renal
mass of the right kidney was observed in the dynamic examination. Due to a large number of lung
cysts and the presence of solid renal tumors at a young age, BHDS was considered. The patient underwent
partial nephrectomy, and the pathology result was hybrid oncocytic-chromophobe renal
cell carcinoma. In the genetic examination, a heterozygous germline mutation was detected in the
11th exon of the FLCN gene.

Conclusion:

While potential organ donors are generally healthy and asymptomatic individuals, incidental
lesions can be detected in the donor organ or other organs in the examination area during
radiological imaging. Although most incidental lesions are benign, important clinical conditions
can rarely be observed, as in our case. Familial and syndromic conditions should also be considered
for the presence of solid renal masses incidentally detected at a young age. To the best of
our knowledge, this is the first reported case of BHDS in English literature who was diagnosed incidentally
on computed tomography for being a living liver donor.
Humor Training Program on Sense of Humor among Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Momtaz Yadollah A. , Ansari Mobarake , Foroughan Mahshid
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

Several studies have a well-documented positive association between sense of humor and physical and mental well-being in later life. However, there is evidence to indicate that sense of humor declines with age. This study was conducted to examine humor training program on the sense of humor among older adults.

Methods:

This community-based randomized controlled trial study was conducted in 2019. There were 18 older adults in the intervention group and 20 older adults in the control group. The intervention group received the 7 Humor Habits Program in eight training sessions, whereas the control group was waitlisted. The Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS) was used to measure the sense of humor before and after the intervention. A series of paired samples t-tests and difference-in-differences approach using IBM SPSS Version 23.0 were conducted to assess changes from pre-test to post-test. The significance level of p ≤ .05 was considered for the statistical analysis.

Results and Discussion:

The mean age of the participants in the intervention and control groups was 66.50, (SD=6.14) and 67.60, (SD= 5.64) years, respectively. The results of a series of paired samples t-tests revealed a statistically significant increase in the total score of sense of humor from pre-test (M =77.28, SD = 13.62) to post-test (M=101.11, SD=17.06), (t= -6.77, p<.001), in intervention group. Other paired samples t-tests showed statistically significant changes from pre-test to post-test for subscales of humor including enjoyment of humor (t= -4.59, p<.001), laughter (t= -7.83, p<.001), verbal humor (t= -4.73, p<.001), finding humor in everyday life (t= -4.19, p<.001), laughing at yourself (t= -6.36, p<.01), and humor under stress (t= -2.54, P≤.05) in intervention group. Moreover, the results of the difference-in-differences approach revealed a significant increase in the sense of humor for the intervention group compared to the control group (F=43.54, p<.001). No statistically significant changes were observed in any outcome variables in the control group.

Conclusion:

The results of this study provided support that the sense of humor can be improved using a training program in later life.
Development of an evidence-based guideline for improving self-assessment in Japanese junior colleges
Authors: Yamazaki Shinichi
Published: December 2020

Higher education can serve several functions for society. In principle, it aspires to push the boundaries of learning, teaching and our understanding of the world. It also aims to offer people an education which will give them access to more intellectually complex technical jobs. Japanese
Junior Colleges are two or three-year higher education and awards an associate degree. They typically offer more vocational and job-related courses than 4-year colleges and universities. Assistant Professor Shinichi Yamazaki is a researcher at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo and principal
investigator at one of the committees of the Japan Association for College Accreditation (JACA). JACA applies the National Survey for Junior College Students (NSJCS, Tandaiseichosa), which was based on research work leading by him and his team, to assess educational institutions. This research
aims to develop an evidence-based guideline for Japanese junior colleges by the NSJCS.
Extraction of lesson design principles to deepen mathematics learning
Authors: Matsushima Mitsuru
Published: December 2020

In the teaching of mathematics in classrooms there is usually a definitive answer to the question or problem being posed, normally with a specific means of arriving at the solution. The problem is that this sometimes leads to teaching methods that simply state things that students are
expected to absorb, with no room for discussion. A researcher based at Kagawa University in Japan with a keen interest in mathematics teaching is challenging the notion that in mathematics there are definitive answers, believing that it creates a teaching environment that is not always conducive
to effective learning. Associate Professor Mitsuru Matsushima is a former mathematics teacher with a passion for addressing this issue. Matsushima is collaborating with maths teachers. He wants teachers to observe how children are able to deeply learn maths through dialogue in lessons. Matsushima
continues to progress research and development that connects theory and practice, and he aims to apply theory-themed practice techniques to young teachers, thereby enabling equity mathematics education for all children.