bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Entertainment Device to IoT Terminal
Authors: Zhong Bu , Yang Fan
Published: September 2019

Following the trend of home appliances and devices being growingly interconnected into the Internet of Things (IoT) system, smart TV helps define the future of human living as part of the smart home IoT system. This research explores viewers' perceptions toward four emerging interactivity functions of smart TV: the interaction between viewers and TV functions, between viewers and friends, between viewers and programming, and viewers' interaction with products appearing in TV shows. The technology has been mature to provide the four interactivity functions, though they are yet to be adopted by all smart TV sets so far. Our research shows that the viewer's residence was a significant moderator in the preference for the interactivity functions. Viewers from developed regions enjoyed the four functions more than those living in underdeveloped regions. Social media habits and the power usage of information and communication technology are positively associated with the preference, while need for cognition, age, and gender had little effect.
Is Construction of Timber Focused Exchange Traded Fund Plausible in SAARC Countries With Reference to India?
Authors: Mandal Nivedita , Das Rituparna
Published: September 2019

Given the fact that timber is neither traded as commodity nor is any timber-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) available in the SAARC countries, the objectives of this chapter are to examine the plausibility of making use of the wood resources of SAARC countries in the form of ETFs, e.g. timber-focused ETF, the nature of the legal and policy frames in these countries as implemented in timber business with reference to their suitability for opening ways to construction of timber-focused ETF and the theoretical plausibility of constructing a timber-focused ETF with reference to India. It is found that in comparison with other SAARC countries, India has developed timber-based industries whose stocks are traded in the bourses and amenable to analysis for ETF construction purposes. While Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal have certain legal and institutional artifacts for preservation and maintenance of forests toward gradual but by-and-large unplanned industrialization of the timber industry, Maldives and Bhutan have hardly any.
Reverse Mentoring the Editing Edge in Management 4.0
Authors: Sisodia Swati , Agarwal Neetima
Published: September 2019

Industry 4.0 is based on the implementation of a cyber-physical system, which includes sensors, networks, computers, offering digital enhancement and well-coordinated activities. This would create a great pool of all the workforce generations, having diverse experience, agility, and different modes of working. Millennials would add more of machine learning and Generation X and Y would be the richest source of tacit and operational knowledge. Together, they would develop solutions for catering complex and networked production and aggressive logistic management, meeting the challenges of the Industry 4.0. However, the benefits of digitization and automation can be achieved, if the different generations of workforce collaborate, cooperate, and postulate together in all the business processes. Reverse mentoring is a pristine concept and ingenious method to empower learning and encourage cross-generational connections. This chapter would elaborate on the advantage of reverse mentoring in crafting Industry 4.0 more acrobatic and quick-moving.
Social Media and Increased Venture Creation Tendency With Innovative Ideas
Authors: Hossain Syed Far Abid , Shan Xu , Musa Mohammad , Rahman Preethu
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to ascertain the contemporary role of social media in increased venture creation tendency along with innovative ideas. The key objective of this study is to discover the tendency of female students' innovativeness in venture creation in China. A random sampling method was used to conduct a survey in different universities in China to identify the scenario of innovativeness in venture creation. Findings from primary data collection indicated that the female students in China are highly involved with social media marketing with innovative ideas. As a result, apart from traditional marketing, society is involved with contemporary marketing where innovativeness with social media and smartphones are the key factors. Innovative ideas in venture creation may generate additional earning for people with low income in society. Future studies with mixed methodology and respondents who use different social media as a tool to innovate new venture may shed light on the undiscovered phenomenon of social media marketing in the context of the mobile phone.
Transformational Human Resource Management
Authors: Hasan Ikramul , Islam MD. Nazmul , Chowdhury Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous
Published: September 2019

Human Resource Management plays an essential role for attaining organizational goals. Nowadays, practitioners, researchers, and academicians around the world are emphasizing to transform and reshape the practice of human resource. However, very few research works have been done in the area of Transformational Human Resource Management (T-HRM). Hence, the aim of this chapter is to propose an integrated framework of T-HRM and organizational efficiency. In light of that, this study has proposed potential factors of the T-HRM. Secondly, this study presented positive effect of the factors of T-HRM on organizational efficiency management. Concept of knowledge management has introduced as a potential mediator, and ICT and organizational alignment has presented as a potential moderator of this study. Finally, knowledge of this study will provide better insights on T-HRM for ensuring organizational efficiency.
Understanding Inter-Relational Dynamics of Different Factors Impacting the Cymbidium Orchids-Based Economy in Sikkim, India Using DEMATAL
Authors: Sharma Bibeth , Saha Saibal Kumar , Jha Ajeya
Published: September 2019

Floriculture based economy is slowly increasing throughout the world. Orchids, which were once found only in the wild are now being widely cultivated and being sold in the market. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to understand the inter-relational dynamics of different factors impacting the cymbidium orchids-based economy in Sikkim, India using DEMATAL. A total of 14 factors were identified in this regard and based on expert opinion, these factors were rated and analysed using DEMATAL. The cause and effect relationship of the different factors was established in the process. It was found that policy, technology, e-commerce, floricultural parks, certification and infrastructure are the causes while cold chain, quality, pricing, promotion, market development, product development, entrepreneurs, and farming are the effects.
Employee Welfare Provisions
Authors: Patro Chandra Sekhar
Published: September 2019

Employee welfare is a prerequisite element for the success and growth of any form of organisation. The provision of welfare facilities improves the relations among the employees and the management of an organisation. These provisions boost the competence levels and value of the employees. The balance between employees'quality of life at the workplace and home is vital, as employees are the pillars of any organisation. The central aim of any organisation in adopting the welfare schemes is to secure the workforce by providing a proper work environment and minimising its hazardous effect on the employees' work life. The basic purpose of employee welfare is to enrich the lives of employees and to keep them happy and conducted. The provision of employees' welfare may be regarded as a wise investment as these would bring a profitable return in the form of greater efficiency. The chapter focuses on determining the various employee welfare provisions adopted by different private organisations and its influence on the employee's satisfaction and effectiveness.
Sustainopreneurship
Authors: Iqbal Jawad , Kousar Shakeela
Published: September 2019

The current millennium is characterized with several global problems including unemployment, poverty, hunger, starvation, social exclusion, and environmental degradation. These social, economic, and environmental trends require the changes in current world order to provide such global mechanism where basic needs of each person will be satisfied and each person will have equal rights to resources and opportunity to utilize his full human potential. Entrepreneurship is an important driver that can transform a society towards a more sustainable future. Sustainopreneurship has emerged as a mutual product of sustainability and entrepreneurship. Nations have included the entrepreneurship in their developmental agenda for achieving the sustainable development goals. The purpose of this chapter is to briefly discuss the concept of sustainable entrepreneurship, its definition, evolution of the concept, and transition from sustainable development to Sustainopreneurship as a mechanism for disruptive innovations.
An Open Innovation Lens on the Digital Transformation Frontiers
Authors: Zaitsava Maryia , Marku Elona , Castriotta Manuel
Published: September 2019

The aim of the present study is to explore Digital Transformation frontiers using the lens of Open Innovation. By implementing bibliographic coupling method, the authors bring together segmental publications from different research fields and provide a comprehensive overview of the combined Open Innovation and Digital Transformation field's intellectual structure, revealing the different groups of thoughts, influential authors, and pressing topics. The research findings illustrate, the research area has polycentric composition with absence of overlaps between articles. Five main research groups are identified: Co-evolution of Digital Technologies and Open Innovation; Digital Peer-communities; Digital Ecosystems; Knowledge Management in the Open and Digital Era; and Open Innovation, Digital Technologies, and Businesses Performance. The current research contributes both Open Innovation and Digital Transformation fields by cross-exploring each phenomenon and revealing how Digital Transformation shapes the nature of innovation as a collaborative activity as part of an independent research area.
Methodology of Monitoring the Financial Situation of Enterprise
Authors: Oncioiu Ionica , Mocanu Nelu , Ponagoreț Ioana
Published: September 2019

A complex evaluation of the activity of the enterprise is based on research of the results at the actual moment; this is why many managers use accountancy appreciation records such as: profit from invested capital or income at an asset. The indicators of income and profit are not objectives and depend on the method chosen by the record. Besides, the accountancy methods used today for analysis are short-time, being oriented towards the research, in a long period of the added value of the company. The objective of this chapter consists in developing the theoretical-methodological and substantiation mechanisms of perfecting the management enterprises. The results show that the methodological indications suggested may be used at the organization of the monitoring system in a stable-functioning enterprise, at the activities of re-establishment of the payment capacity of the debtor enterprises, and at the procedures of external management.
Environmental Issues in Reporting of Public Interest Entities
Authors: Spoz Anna , Żukowski Marian
Published: September 2019

Public interest entities are socially and economically important elements of the economy. Since 2017 some of them have been obliged to prepare non-financial statements, which should contain among others a description of the policies pursued by the entity with regard to environmental issues. In this chapter, the authors analyzed the scope of environmental matters disclosed with non-financial statement and positively verified the hypothesis according to which the environmental issues in reporting of public interest entities increase the usefulness of the financial statement for stakeholders. Public interest entities fulfil their duties, but the scope and specificity of data contained in the statement on non-financial information differed between entities. Imposing requirement to annually present activities undertaken in environmental matters can make entities more sensitive to these issues and raise efficiently of implementation of the environmental policy. The research methods used in the study are a critical analysis of the literature, description, analysis, and synthesis methods.
General Overview to Enterprise Risk Management With Its Key Components and Determinants From the Management Perspectives
Authors: Oydag H. Ebru , Senvar Ozlem
Published: September 2019

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a comprehensive and holistic approach to risk management, requiring the determination, assessment and management of risks in an integrated and systematic manner. ERM has been considered as a financial, and accounting-based tool used to assess and manage the risks an organisation faces and to meet the compliance requirements of creditors, rating agencies, regulators and stock exchanges. Although ERM is widely examined by internal audit and finance scholars, ERM researches from management and strategy perspectives are limited in the literature. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of ERM including ERM concepts and definition of the risks and categorisation of risks surrounding the organisations. Moreover, the chapter handles how the risk management evolved into ERM. The distinguishing components of ERM (pillars) and the leading factors and motivation for ERM adoption (determinants) are presented.
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Authors: Gopalan Rejani Thudalikunnil
Published: September 2019

Intellectual disability (ID, also known as mental retardation) is a condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind. ID is especially characterized by impairment of skills manifested during the developmental period, which contribute to the overall level of intelligence (i.e., cognitive, language, motor, and social abilities). The understanding about intellectual disability, mainly its features, causes and intervention has a long history. Researches on causes of intellectual disability lead to finding of multiple etiological factors which reflected well on its improved management techniques. The changes in terminology used describe intellectual disability also reflected our understanding about it different dimensions including social stigma. This chapter focused to give an overall view about its history, changes in terminology, classification, epidemiology, etiology, comorbidities, and management. Over the years, there are many changes and findings that have happened, yet many questions are unanswered related to this condition.
Event Detection and Classification for Fiber Optic Perimeter Intrusion Detection System
Authors: Gu Xiaohua , Wang Tian , Peng Jun , Wang Hongjin , Xia Qinfeng , Zhang Du
Published: September 2019

A perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) is critical for the security of a shale gas field. Among many technologies, the fiber optic sensor-based method is the most widely used, due to its passive, low-cost, long-life, and strong anti-interference ability and strong environmental adaptability. This article proposes an event detection and classification method for a fiber optic PIDS. In general, three types of features are extracted for an improved double-threshold method to improve the probability of detection. Also, the detected intrusion events are distinguished by a support vector machine with wavelet features to reduce the nuisance alarm rate. Experiments on the PIDS in Chongqing Fuling's shale gas field show that detection algorithms based on the feature of short-time energy and short-time wavelet coefficient energy are much better, and the performance of event classification is satisfactory.
Assessment of Digital Implementation in India and Challenges
Authors: Singh Jitendra
Published: September 2019

The Digital India program is envisioned to transform the way business is carried out and how the government services are delivered. Under this programme, government offices to maintain, publish, and store records in a digital form. It is believed that promoting digital India will lead to an ease of information access, at the same time a swiftness in government function. This work argues with the help of secondary data collected from internet. Progress and gaps in the initial investment planning and the one covered is presented. Based on the data gathered, present implementation of this programme is deeply assessed, and wherever gaps exist are highlighted. In addition, challenges to various pillars of Digital India are explored. Finally, this work suggested methods to address the identified challenges in order to achieve the effective implementation of this scheme.
A New Approach Based on the Bee Optimization Algorithm for Ontology Alignment
Authors: Ardjani Fatima , Bouchiha Djelloul
Published: September 2019

The ontology alignment process aims at generating a set of correspondences between entities of two ontologies. It is an important task, notably in the semantic web research, because it allows the joint consideration of resources defined in different ontologies. In this article, the authors developed an ontology alignment system called ABCMap+. It uses an optimization method based on artificial bee colonies (ABC) to solve the problem of optimizing the aggregation of three similarity measures of different matchers (syntactic, linguistic and structural) to obtain a single similarity measure. To evaluate the ABCMap+ ontology alignment system, authors considered the OAEI 2012 alignment system evaluation campaign. Experiments have been carried out to get the best ABCMap+'s alignment. Then, a comparative study showed that the ABCMap+ system is better than participants in the OAEI 2012 in terms of Recall and Precision.
Revised Weighted Fuzzy C-Means and Fortified Weiszfeld Hybrid Method for Uncapacitated Multi-Facility Location Problems
Authors: Guzelgoz Isik , Esnaf Sakir , Kucukdeniz Tarik
Published: September 2019

In this article, a hybrid method is proposed to solve the uncapacitated planar multi-facility location problems. The new hybrid method consists of a combination of the Revised Weighted Fuzzy C-Means (RWFCM) algorithm proposed by Esnaf and Küçükdeniz (2013) and the Fortified Weiszfeld algorithm developed by Drezner (2015). The cluster centers and the cluster assignments of the RWFCM are fed into the Fortified Weiszfeld Algorithm separately for each cluster and facility-customer allocations are determined. The proposed approach is benchmarked on sample datasets from the facility location literature. Results of the proposed hybrid method show that the newly proposed sequentially-run method achieves better results when compared against the benchmark methods. This paper is a pioneer study of the hybrid use of Revised Weighted Fuzzy C-Means and Fortified Weiszfeld algorithms.
Classification of Staphylococcus Aureus FabI Inhibitors by Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Maltarollo Vinicius Gonçalves
Published: September 2019

Enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (FabI) is a key enzyme in the fatty acid metabolism of gram-positive bacteria and is considered a potential target for new antibacterial drugs development. Indeed, triclosan is a widely employed antibacterial and AFN-1252 is currently under phase-II clinical trials, both are known as FabI inhibitors. Nowadays, there is an urgent need for new drug discovery due to increasing antibacterial resistance. In the present study, classification models using machine learning techniques were generated to distinguish SaFabI inhibitors from non-inhibitors successfully (e.g., Mathews correlation coefficient values equal to 0.837 and 0.789 calculated with internal and external validations). The interpretation of a selected model indicates that larger compounds, number of N atoms and the distance between central amide and naphthyridinone ring are important to biological activity, corroborating previous studies. Therefore, these obtained information and generated models can be useful for design/discovery of novel bioactive ligands as potential antibacterial agents.
Development of Predictive Linear and Non-linear QSTR Models for Aliivibrio Fischeri Toxicity of Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Halder Amit Kumar , Cordeiro M. Natália D. S.
Published: September 2019

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as a very important group of chemicals in recent years. Although generally considered as environment friendly or ‘green,' recent investigations reported toxic behaviors of some DESs towards various biological species. In this work, quantitative structure toxicity relationship analysis was performed on a dataset containing 72 DESs and their components to find the structural determinants responsible for higher DES mediated toxicity. Additionally, efficiencies of various machine learning tools as well as different feature selection algorithms were estimated. To understand the true predictivity of the derived models, three external validation strategies, namely ‘points out,' ‘mixtures out,' and ‘compounds out' were applied along with an ‘all out' technique, a modification of the earlier reported ‘everything out' validation. The models highlight importance of the number of nitrogen atoms, the van der Waals surface area, molar refractivity, dipole moment and molecular mass for shaping the toxicity of DESs and their components towards A. fischeri.
Fitness Functions for Forward Selection: Application in Seven Data Sets
Authors: Liang Zhibin , Lou Liguang , Liu Junjun
Published: September 2019

Feature selection (FS) is an important part of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) research. Fitness function is an important factor in FS. Adjusted r2 (r2adj) and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) are two commonly used fitness functions. Four fitness function, RIC1, RIC2, RIC3 and RIC4 based on the maximization of a ratio of r2adj and AIC are proposed here. A Forward Selection method based on the fitness function was applied to QSAR modelling study of 7 datasets with more than ten thousand samples in total, which was compared with the Forward Selection method based on three other fitness functions (r2adj, AIC and BIC). Final multilinear models were obtained, and 16 performance tests were carried out. Among the 16 performance tests of all the models, the RIC2 model had 3 indexes, which are the best, and there were no worst indicators. The results show that the RIC2 model is suitable for prediction.
Everyday Pedagogical Support in Communication
Authors: Medne Dace
Published: September 2019

The concept of everyday pedagogical support is rather widely used in modern pedagogy; however, neither its pedagogical potential nor its specifics and importance in the child's development have been fully understood and explored. Therefore, the aim of this article is to analyse and summarise research ideas about the structure of everyday pedagogical support, resulting in developing it as a theoretical construct and verifying it in the pedagogical reality. The construct of everyday pedagogical support has been analysed in the article, using an NVIVO 12 programme from the point of view of children.
EDGE DETECTION IN ATOMIC MAGNETOMETER IMAGING
Authors: Papi N. , Cali E. , Marinelli C. , Mariotti E. , Millucci V.
Published: September 2019

We present the results of an edge detection algorithm applied on Electromagnetic Induction Imaging provided by an Atomic radio-frequency Magnetometer operating in an unshielded environment and at room temperature. Atomic Magnetometers have been already used for Imaging Techniques in the last few years, but the image reconstruction and the object pattern recognition lacks nowadays in terms of quality: the effect of scattering of e.m. signals at low-frequency provides blurred images, and does not allow for a clean ray – optics response, as in the case of X rays. Our algorithm, based on solved Gaussian Noise Recognition, demonstrates excellent spatial resolution achieved despite low Signal-to-Noise-Ratio.
Annual scientific meeting May 21 2018
Authors: A.A. V.V.
Published: September 2019

not available
Annual scientific meeting November 26 2018
Authors: A.A. V.V.
Published: September 2019

not available
Upper bounds on the spectral gaps of quasi-periodic Schrödinger operators with Liouville frequencies
Authors: Liu Wencai , Shi Yunfeng
Published: September 2019

We prove that the size of the spectral gaps of weakly coupled quasi-periodic Schrödinger operators with Liouville frequencies decays exponentially. As an application, we obtain the homogeneity of the spectrum.
Challenging factors of it potency in self-helped not-for-profit-organisations: A case study of Edo State Women Association
Authors: Hopkins B.I.
Published: September 2019

Information Technology (IT) strategies are intensifying with non-stop expedition to encourage, design and improve its utilization in Not-for-Profit Organisations (NFPOs), as well as strategically facilitate enhanced operation’s performance and achievement of set goals. Regrettably, achieving and elevating IT potency in some NFPOs has been a difficult mission over the years, even with the affordability and availability of some IT strategies, as the case of self-helped NFPOs. This research carried out an eight-year empirical and ethnographic study on the Nigeria operations of a self-helped NFPO, Edo State Women Association (ESWA), utilizing interview, observation; convenience and purposive sampling, narrative and thematic analysis methods. The data analysis led to the identification of five (5) key IT potency challenging factors associated with several social, economic and physical issues faced by ESWA: Users’, IT Strategy, Location, Access, Security and Maintenance. The interrelations that exist between these IT potency challenging factors are presented and elaborated. The findings suggest that there is still major work to be done in bridging the IT potency gap that exists between well-structured or well-funded and self-helped NFPOs. The research recommends that additional provisions be considered by social responsibility and IT potency role players for the sustainability of self-helped NFPO’s projects and operations. Key words: IT Potency, ESWA, Self-Helped, Well-Structured, NFPO
Gender and parental socio-economic background as determinant of pupils’ multiplicative thinking
Authors: Ado Isaac Bennet
Published: September 2019

The study investigated the influence of gender and socio-economic background on pupils’ multiplicative thinking among basic 5 and 6 pupils’ in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A total of two thousand two hundred and forty pupils were selected form 80 basic schools using the stratified random sampling technique. Ex-post facto design was used for the study. Two instruments were used for the study. These were the Multiplicative Thinking Performance Test (MTPT) and Students Variable Questionnaire (SVQ). The instruments were constructed, validated and used for the study. Research questions were raised and answered including two hypotheses formulated and tested. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions and the hypotheses were tested using Independent t-test, One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Scheffe’s Post Hoc Comparison. The results showed significant influence of parental socioeconomic status and non-significant influence of gender on pupils’ multiplicative thinking. Conclusion from the findings led to the recommendation that Parents should provide a conducive home environment with appropriate materials such as mathematics textbooks, mathematical games and toys to enhance the development of pupils’ multiplicative thinking. Key words: Gender, Socio-economic background, multiplicative thinking
Soluble epoxide hydrolase (Ephx2) silencing attenuates the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in IEC-6 cells
Authors: Li Xiaohua , Wu Xiaoqin
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Oxidative stress can cause intestinal disease. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH, Ephx2) is related to cell apoptosis. The effect of Ephx2 on the H2O2-induced oxidative damage remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore the effect of Ephx2 on oxidative damage and the underlying potential mechanism.

Material and methods

The cell viability was determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were examined using flow cyto­metry analysis. Commercial kits were applied to respectively determine the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The expressions of target factors were measured by conducting quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot.

Results

We found that knockdown of Ephx2 enhanced the viability of H2O2-treated IEC-6 cells, and that si-Ephx2 reduced the ROS level, MMP loss, and apoptosis in comparison to the H2O2 model group. Knockdown of Ephx2 was found to decrease LDH activity and MDA content, and to improve the SOD activity in comparison to those in the H2O2 model group. Knockdown of Ephx2 reduced the expressions of Fas, Fasl, Bax, and cleavedcaspase-3 and elevated the expression of Bcl-2 in H2O2-treated IEC-6 cells. Furthermore, we observed that knockdown of Ephx2 enhanced the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and GSK3, which were reduced by the treatment of H2O2. In addition, the anti-apoptotic effect of si-Ephx2 was enhanced in the presence of AUDA-pharmacological Ephx2 inhibitor.

Conclusions

Ephx2 silencing inhibited H2O2-induced oxidative damage. The PI3K/Akt/GSK3 pathway was related to the effect of si-Ephx2. Our study provided a potential target for the prevention of intestinal injury.
miR-23b-3p regulates differentiation of osteoclasts
by targeting PTEN via the PI3k/AKT pathway
Authors: Chai Jiwei , Xu Liang , Liu Niansheng
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are cells of osteoblastic origin, and are vital in homeostasis of the skeleton. miRs are important for functioning, survival and differentiation of osteoclasts. It has been reported previously that miR-23b-3p is involved in osteoporosis and in regulation of differentiation of osteoblasts. It is also involved in the process of bone formation. However, the role of miR-23b-3p in differentiation of osteoclasts remains unexplored.

Material and methods

CSF-1 and ODF induced osteoclasts were used for the study. RNA isolation was done from TIB-71 cells. TRAP staining was done for TRAP-positive osteoclast formation. PIT assay for bone resorption was performed. For in vivo studies osteoclast-specific miR-23b-3p transgenic mice were developed.

Results

The levels of miR-23b-3p were upregulated in bone marrow monocytes during osteoclastogenesis with colony stimulating factor-1 and osteoclast differentiation factor induction, which suggests that miR-23b-3p plays a crucial role in differentiation of osteoclasts. Over-expression of miR-23b-3p in bone marrow monocytes leads to osteoclastogenesis, whereas the inhibition ameliorates it. We further studied the function of miR-23b-3p via PI3K/AKT targeting the PTEN pathway. In vivo, osteoclast-specific miR-23b-3p transgenic mice showed suppressed PTEN and elevated osteoclast activity, and the mice showed decreased bone mineral density.

Conclusions

The results suggest that miR-23b-3p regulates the differentiation of osteoclasts by targeting PTEN through the PI3K/AKT cascade.
Evaluation of protective effects of GnRH agonist or antagonist on ovarian reserve with anti-Müllerian hormone and histological analysis in a rat model using cisplatin
Authors: Tas Mustafa , Oner Gokalp , Ulug Pasa , Yavuz Adem , Ozcelik Bulent
Published: September 2019

Introduction

The aim of this prospective trial was to evaluate the ovarian reserve with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which is the best predictor of ovarian reserve, and perform histological analysis after exposure to cisplatin with a GnRH agonist or antagonist.

Material and methods

Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups, each consisting of eight rats. In the GnRH agonist group (group 1), rats received a single dose of 50 mg/m2 cisplatin with 1 mg/kg triptorelin. In the GnRH antagonist group (group 2), rats received a single dose of 50 mg/m2 cisplatin with 1 mg/kg cetrorelix. In the control group (group 3), rats received 50 mg/m2 cisplatin. Ovarian reserve was assessed by AMH and histology.

Results

Primary follicle counts were higher in group 2 (4.50 ±1.47 vs. 3.50 ±1.70 vs. 3.00 ±3.54) and secondary follicle counts were higher in group 1 (2.96 ±1.11 vs. 1.74 ±1.03 vs. 1.37 ±3.11). Numbers of tertiary follicles were higher both in groups 1 and 2 than the control group (1.36 ±0.83 vs. 0.84 ±0.99 vs. 0.50 ±0.75). The total follicle count of the study groups were significantly higher compared with the control group (14.32 ±5.96 vs. 12.48 ±4.12 vs. 10.63 ±6.80). AMH was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 compared with the control group (18.56 ±25.33 vs. 16.48 ±24.66 vs. 9.37 ±26.54).

Conclusions

This is the first prospective randomized controlled study showing the protective effects of GnRH agonist and antagonist on ovarian reserve after cisplatin exposure in an animal model.
Tofacitinib in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis – single-centre experience
Authors: Madej Marta , Woytala Patryk , Frankowski Marek , Lubiński Łukasz , Sokolik Renata , Sebastian Agata , Maciążek-Chyra Beata , Wiland Piotr
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety profile of tofacitinib taken orally at a dose of 10 mg/day in patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material and methods

The retrospective observational study included 10 patients (6 women and 4 men) with RA treated with tofacitinib. All the patients had high disease activity (DAS28 [ESR] > 5.1), despite therapy with two synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Before the initiation of treatment, routine laboratory tests were performed, and disease activity was assessed in all the subjects.

Results

The mean age of the patients in the study group was 58.18 years (43–67). The average duration of RA was 9.9 years (2–24). The mean baseline value of DAS28 (ESR) was 6.37. Tofacitinib was used in combination with a conventional DMARD in all study subjects: with methotrexate in the majority of patients, and with leflunomide and an antimalarial drug in three patients. The mean duration of therapy with tofacitinib was 7.57 months (3.9–10.8). A significant decrease in the disease activity was observed (p < 0.05). A reduction in DAS28 (ESR) score was seen already after the first month of therapy, and the trend was maintained during subsequent months of follow-up. The mean value of DAS28 (ESR) after 6 months was 2.78. A slight increase in the serum concentration of HDL cholesterol was observed during treatment. In one patient symptoms of chronic upper respiratory tract infection led to discontinuation of the drug. The observed adverse events were of mild/moderate degree.

Conclusions

The results of our retrospective observational study conducted in the setting of daily clinical practice confirm a good clinical response to tofacitinib. Despite the observed adverse effects, in the light of the available data tofacitinib demonstrates a favourable safety profile. JAK kinase inhibitors – a new class of drugs – will enable a wider population of patients to achieve remission or low disease activity.
The use of surface electromyography in rehabilitating rheumatic patients after knee arthroplasty (pilot study)
Authors: Prusinowska Agnieszka , Komorowski Arkadiusz , Syrówka Piotr
Published: September 2019

Objectives

The aim of the conducted research was to assess muscle performance in rheumatic patients qualified for knee arthroplasty before and after surgical treatment.

Material and methods

Patients with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis or a degenerative joint disease qualified for surgical treatment were examined. Three groups were analysed: 1) a control group, 2) a group of patients qualified for knee arthroplasty (G1), 3) a group of patients with one knee joint endoprosthesis qualified for the second surgery (G2). The study was carried out through a portable surface electromyography system from Noraxon U.S.A. INC., Clinical DTS and using surface electrodes. The surface electromyography (sEMG) examination was conducted twice: before and on the 10th day after the surgery. The study concerned the quadriceps femoris muscle, i.e. its straight and medial head in both lower limbs during isometric tension and active movement.

Results

The comparison of the examined muscles’ activity in the control group revealed greatly increased activity during isometric tension than during active movement in both muscles. In the G1 group, the comparison of the average values of isometric tension of the examined muscles before the surgery showed slight differences between the healthy limb and the one qualified for the surgical treatment. After the surgery, significant asymmetry between the average values achieved by the healthy and the operated limb could be identified in both muscles. In the G2 group, muscle activity within the currently operated limb revealed only slight differences between the limbs before the surgery. After the surgery, there was an increase in muscle activity within the previously operated limb.

Conclusions

Considerably higher average values of muscle activity during the isometric tension, when compared to the active movement in a sitting position, indicate the necessity of more widespread use of isometric tension in rehabilitating patients after knee arthroplasty.
Tossing and turning with degenerative arthropathy: an assessment of poor sleep quality in knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Akintayo Richard Oluyinka , Yerima Abubakar , Uhunmwangho Courage , Olaosebikan Hakeem , Akpabio Akpabio Akanimo
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To determine the frequency and predictors of sleep abnormalities among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Nigeria.

Material and methods

A multi-centre, hospital-based, cross-sectional study, involving 250 knee OA patients. Consenting patients 18 years and above, who satisfied the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for knee OA were recruited from five Nigerian tertiary centres over 3 months. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic and relevant clinical information. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality with scores ≥ 5 indicating poor sleep. Other variables assessed were pain, depression, functional class and family functioning. Data were summarized using appropriate measures of central tendency and dispersion. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to identify predictors of poor sleep. Analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0 with p < 0.05 considered significant. Study approval was obtained from the ethical committees of each of the study sites.

Results

Participants included 209 females (83.6%) with mean age 59.9 ±10.6 years. One hundred and forty-one participants (56.4%) had PSQI scores ≥ 5 (poor sleep). This was significantly associated with depression (p < 0.001), level of education (p = 0.001), higher pain scores (p < 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.040), medial knee OA (p = 0.032) and patello-femoral OA (p = 0.002). Higher level of education, worse depression scores and higher WOMAC pain scores were the best predictors of poor sleep quality.

Conclusion

Sleep quality was poor in over half of our knee OA patients and best predicted by depression, pain and level of education. Regular sleep quality assessment for knee OA patients is recommended.
Immunodeficiency and autoimmunity during biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy
Authors: Czekalska Anna , Majewski Dominik , Puszczewicz Mariusz
Published: September 2019

Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs target specific components of the immune response related to pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Introduction of biologic therapies has enabled better disease control than conventional drugs and thus a reduction in comorbidity and mortality. However, there is concern about adverse effects of these drugs including infections, cancers and drug-induced autoimmune diseases. Patients undergoing biologic treatment are at small but significant risk of serious infections. The overall risk of malignancies in patients on biologics compared with the general population is not increased, but there is evidence of a higher risk of individual cancers. Surprisingly, biological treatment may induce autoantibody production and, rarely, development of autoimmune diseases. A growing body of literature has evaluated the risk of adverse effects during biologic therapies. This paper outlines adverse effects of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs related to immune system disorders, both immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.
Polymyalgia rheumatica and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema following intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin
Authors: Manzo Ciro
Published: September 2019

Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) after transurethral cancer resection is an approved part of the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The onset of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) following this immunotherapy is anecdotal. We report the case of a 69-year-old male patient suffering from boxing-glove swelling of the hand associated with bilateral pain, aching and stiffness in the shoulders and pelvic girdles, which occurred after a cycle of six intravesical instillations of BCG. Polymyalgia rheumatica associated with RS3PE was diagnosed, prednisone therapy started and definitively stopped after 13 months. During a 16-year follow-up, no alternative diagnosis was possible. The role of genetic factors and of the senescence of the immune system is discussed. According to our best knowledge, this is the first case report of PMR associated with RS3PE following intravesical instillation of BCG.
Systemic sclerosis – multidisciplinary disease: clinical features and treatment
Authors: Sobolewski Piotr , Maślińska Maria , Wieczorek Marta , Łagun Zuzanna , Malewska Aleksandra , Roszkiewicz Marek , Nitskovich Raman , Szymańska Elżbieta , Walecka Irena
Published: September 2019

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of still not fully understood pathogenesis. Fibrosis, vascular wall damage, and disturbances of innate and acquired immune responses with autoantibody production are prominent features. Systemic sclerosis has specific subsets with different autoantibodies, and differences in the affected skin areas. The suspicion of systemic sclerosis and establishing the diagnosis will be facilitated by the criteria created by EULAR/ACR experts. The treatment of this autoimmune disease remains a challenge for clinicians and new therapeutic options are constantly sought. The occurrence of various symptoms and the involvement of many organs and systems make systemic sclerosis a multidisciplinary disease and require a holistic approach. The present article summarizes different clinical features of systemic sclerosis and the profile of autoantibodies and discusses recent rules and future perspectives in disease management.
Ontwikkelingen in zorginkoop: van inkoop van verrichtingen naar inkoop van zorgbundels
Authors: van der Hijden Eric , Steenhuis Sander , Hofstra Geeske , van der Wolk Jeroen , Bijlsma Ward , Struijs Jeroen , Koolman Xander
Published: September 2019

Zorgverzekeraars en zorgaanbieders maken meestal contractafspraken op basis van een vergoeding per verrichting. Dat stimuleert echter volume van zorg in plaats van uitkomsten. Daarom passen zorgverzekeraars en zorgaanbieders steeds vaker ‘bundelinkoop’ als bekostiging toe. Dan wordt een bedrag per patiënt afgesproken. We beschrijven wat bundelinkoop is en introduceren de contractelementen. De impact van zorgbundels is dat ze door een andere verdeling van (financiële) verantwoordelijkheden uitkomsten centraal stellen, schotten doorbreken en innovatie stimuleren. Opschalen van deze methode van zorginkoop vraagt om standaardisatie van de contractelementen en uniformiteit van de bundeldefinitie per aandoening anders nemen de administratieve lasten voor zorgaanbieders toe.
Assessment of cloud properties from the reanalysis with satellite observations over East Asia
Authors: Yao Bin , Liu Chao , Yin Yan , Liu Zhiquan , Shi Chunxiang , Iwabuchi Hironobu , Weng Fuzhong
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Extensive observational and numerical investigations have been performed to better characterize cloud properties. However, due to the large variations of cloud spatiotemporal distributions and physical properties, quantitative depictions of clouds in different atmospheric reanalysis datasets are still highly uncertain, and cloud parameters in the models to produce those datasets remain largely unconstrained. A radiance-based evaluation approach is introduced and performed to assess the quality of cloud properties by directly comparing reanalysis-driven forward radiative transfer results with radiances from satellite observation. The newly developed China Meteorological Administration Reanalysis data (CRA), the ECMWF’s Fifth-generation Reanalysis (ERA5), and the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) are considered in the present study. To avoid the unrealistic assumptions and uncertainties on satellite retrieval algorithms and products, the radiative transfer model (RTM) is used as a bridge to “translate” the reanalysis to corresponding satellite observations. The simulated reflectance and brightness temperatures (BTs) are directly compared with observations from the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) onboard the Himawari-8 satellite in the region from 80° E to 160° W between 60° N and 60° S, especially for results over East Asia. Comparisons of the reflectance in the solar and BTs in the infrared (IR) window channels reveal that CRA reanalysis better represents the total cloud cover than the other two reanalysis datasets. The simulated BTs for CRA and ERA5 are close to each other in many pixels, whereas the vertical distributions of cloud properties are significantly different, and ERA5 depicts a better deep convection structure than CRA reanalysis. Comparisons of the BT differences (BTDs) between the simulations and observations suggest that the water clouds are generally overestimated in ERA5 and MERRA-2, whereas the ice cloud is responsible for the overestimation over the center of cyclones in ERA5. Overall, the cloud from CRA, ERA5, and MERRA-2 show their own advantages in different aspects. The ERA5 reanalysis is found the most capability in representing the cloudy atmosphere over East Asia, and the results in CRA are close to those in ERA5.