bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing
Authors: Pérez-Fuentes María del Carmen , Gázquez Linares José Jesús , Molero Jurado María del Mar , Simón Márquez María del Mar , Martos Martínez África
Published: January 2020

Background

The work of health professionals is characterized by a high demand for psychological and emotional resources and high levels of stress. Therefore, the promotion of commitment and job well-being through strategies such as increased mindfulness, is important among nursing workers. Although mindfulness has shown positive effects in the health field, few studies have explored the mechanisms and processes underlying these results. We investigated the mediating role of empathy (cognitive/affective) in the effect of mindfulness on the dimensions of engagement in nursing professionals.

Methods

Sample was comprised of 1268 Spanish nurses between 22 and 62 years old, that completed the Utrecht Labor Engagement Scale and the adapted versions of Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and Basic Empathy Scale. The relationship between variables to be included in the regression analyses, bivariate correlations were carried out, and the descriptive statistics of these variables were also found. To estimate the mediation model was used, in this case for multiple mediation effects.

Results

Mindfulness is found to affect the Vigor and Dedication factors of engagement through cognitive empathy. While for the Absorption factor, the affective component of empathy also exerts a mediating role, although weaker than cognitive empathy. Cognitive empathy, as an individual factor, was shown to have a mediating effect between mindfulness and the factors of engagement in healthcare workers.

Conclusions

The level of mindfulness influences engagement of nursing professionals positively, and this result is mediated mainly by cognitive empathy. Both mindfulness and empathy are modifiable individual factors, so their intervention by designing and implementing specific programs, can increase the commitment and wellbeing of professionals generating benefits to workers and to their patients.
Statistical process monitoring to improve quality assurance of inpatient care
Authors: Hubig Lena , Lack Nicholas , Mansmann Ulrich
Published: January 2020

Background

Statistical Process Monitoring (SPM) is not typically used in traditional quality assurance of inpatient care. While SPM allows a rapid detection of performance deficits, SPM results strongly depend on characteristics of the evaluated process. When using SPM to monitor inpatient care, in particular the hospital risk profile, hospital volume and properties of each monitored performance indicator (e.g. baseline failure probability) influence the results and must be taken into account to ensure a fair process evaluation. Here we study the use of CUSUM charts constructed for a predefined false alarm probability within a single process, i.e. a given hospital and performance indicator. We furthermore assess different monitoring schemes based on the resulting CUSUM chart and their dependence on the process characteristics.

Methods

We conduct simulation studies in order to investigate alarm characteristics of the Bernoulli log-likelihood CUSUM chart for crude and risk-adjusted performance indicators, and illustrate CUSUM charts on performance data from the external quality assurance of hospitals in Bavaria, Germany.

Results

Simulating CUSUM control limits for a false alarm probability allows to control the number of false alarms across different conditions and monitoring schemes. We gained better understanding of the effect of different factors on the alarm rates of CUSUM charts. We propose using simulations to assess the performance of implemented CUSUM charts.

Conclusions

The presented results and example demonstrate the application of CUSUM charts for fair performance evaluation of inpatient care. We propose the simulation of CUSUM control limits while taking into account hospital and process characteristics.
Efficacy of dapagliflozin versus sitagliptin on cardiometabolic risk factors in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective, randomized study (DIVERSITY-CVR)
Authors: Fuchigami Ayako , Shigiyama Fumika , Kitazawa Toru , Okada Yosuke , Ichijo Takamasa , Higa Mariko , Hiyoshi Toru , Inoue Ikuo , Iso Kaoru , Yoshii Hidenori , Hirose Takahisa , Kumashiro Naoki
Published: January 2020

Background

Few prospective studies have compared the cardiovascular benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. We aimed to clarify the efficacy of dapagliflozin versus sitagliptin for modulating cardiometabolic risk factors including high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, hypoglycemia, and body weight.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, parallel-group trial enrolled 340 Japanese patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes receiving metformin alone or no glucose-lowering agents, who were randomized to receive dapagliflozin or sitagliptin for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved the composite endpoint of HbA1c level maintenance < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol), avoidance of hypoglycemia (maintenance of sensor glucose ≥ 3.0 mmol/L or ≥ 54 mg/dL), and ≥ 3.0% body weight loss from baseline. Secondary endpoints included components of the primary endpoint, other metabolic indices, and glucose variability indices measured using flash glucose monitoring.

Results

Clinical characteristics of patients were age, 58.1 ± 12.2 years; known duration of diabetes, 5.8 ± 6.1 years; body weight, 74.7 ± 14.2 kg; body mass index, 27.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2; and HbA1c level, 7.8 ± 0.8% at baseline. The achievement ratio of primary endpoint was significantly higher in the dapagliflozin group than in the sitagliptin group (24.4% vs. 13.8%, P < 0.05). While the rates of HbA1c level maintenance < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) and avoidance of hypoglycemia were comparable between the groups (49.4 vs. 50.0% and 88.7 vs. 92.3% for dapagliflozin vs. sitagliptin, respectively), body weight loss of ≥ 3.0% was significantly achieved in the dapagliflozin group (54.4 vs. 19.6%, P < 0.001). Moreover, dapagliflozin was superior to sitagliptin regarding several secondary endpoints that modulate cardiometabolic risk, namely reducing fasting plasma glucose, insulin, uric acid, increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and suppressing the increase in serum creatinine and the decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate. On the other hand, sitagliptin was superior to dapagliflozin in suppressing glucose variability.

Conclusions

Compared to sitagliptin, dapagliflozin was significantly more effective at improving cardiometabolic risk factors, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors might be more suitable than DPP-4 inhibitors for preventing cardiovascular events in patients with early-stage but inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.

Trial registration Trial number, UMIN000028014; registered on June 30, 2017
Fasting plasma glucose variability and HbA1c are associated with peripheral artery disease risk in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yang Chun-Pai , Lin Cheng-Chieh , Li Chia-Ing , Liu Chiu-Shong , Lin Chih-Hsueh , Hwang Kai-Lin , Yang Shing-Yu , Li Tsai-Chung
Published: January 2020

Background

This study investigated whether visit-to-visit fasting plasma glucose (FPG) variability, as measured by the coefficient of variation (CV), increased peripheral artery disease (PAD) risk.

Methods

Individuals with type 2 diabetes from the National Diabetes Care Management Program during the period 2002–2004, ≥ 30 years of age, and free of PAD (n = 30,932) were included and monitored until 2011. Cox proportional hazards regression models were implemented to analyze related determinants of PAD.

Results

A total of 894 incident cases of PAD were identified during an average 8.2 years of follow-up, resulting in a crude incidence rate of 3.53 per 1000 person-years. Both FPG-CV and HbA1c were significantly associated with PAD after multivariate adjustment, with corresponding hazard ratios of 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.47] for FPG-CV in the third tertile and 1.50 (95% CI 1.10–2.04) for HbA1c ≥ 10%. The findings of the sensitivity analysis remained consistent after excluding potential confounders, demonstrating the consistency of the results.

Conclusions

The associations between HbA1c, variability in FPG-CV, and PAD suggest a linked pathophysiological mechanism, suggesting the crucial role of glycemic variability in clinical management and therapeutic goals in preventing PAD in type 2 diabetes.
Long non-coding RNA TUG1 promotes cell progression in hepatocellular carcinoma via regulating miR-216b-5p/DLX2 axis
Authors: Dai Qun , Deng Jingyi , Zhou Jinrong , Wang Zhuhong , Yuan Xiao-feng , Pan Shunwen , Zhang Hong-bin
Published: January 2020

Background

Accumulating evidence indicates that the long noncoding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1(TUG1) plays a critical role in cancer progression and metastasis. However, the overall biological role and clinical significance of TUG1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown.

Methods

The expressions of TUG1, microRNA-216b-5p and distal-less homeobox 2 (DLX2) were detected by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The target relationships were predicted by StarBase v.2.0 or TargetScan and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The cell growth, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), Flow cytometry and Transwell assays, respectively. All protein expression levels were detected by western blot. Tumor xenografts were implemented to explore the role of TUG1 in vivo.

Results

We found that there was a marked rise in TUG1 expression in HCC tissues and cells, and knockdown of TUG1 repressed the growth and metastasis and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells. In particular, TUG1 could act as a ceRNA, effectively becoming a sink for miR-216b-5p to fortify the expression of DLX2. Additionally, repression of TUG1 impared the progression of HCC cells by inhibiting DLX2 expression via sponging miR-216b-5p in vitro. More importantly, TUG1 knockdown inhibited HCC tumor growth in vivo through upregulating miR-216b-5p via inactivation of the DLX2.

Conclusion

TUG1 interacting with miR-216b-5p contributed to proliferation, metastasis, tumorigenesis and retarded apoptosis by activation of DLX2 in HCC.
What is useful research? The good, the bad, and the stable
Authors: Ozonoff David M. , Grandjean Philippe
Published: January 2020

A scientific journal like Environmental Health strives to publish research that is useful within the field covered by the journal’s scope, in this case, public health. Useful research is more likely to make a difference. However, in many, if not most cases, the usefulness of an article can be difficult to ascertain until after its publication. Although replication is often thought of as a requirement for research to be considered valid, this criterion is retrospective and has resulted in a tendency toward inertia in environmental health research. An alternative viewpoint is that useful work is “stable”, i.e., not likely to be soon contradicted. We present this alternative view, which still relies on science being consensual, although pointing out that it is not the same as replicability, while not in contradiction. We believe that viewing potential usefulness of research reports through the lens of stability is a valuable perspective.
Nanobody‑horseradish peroxidase and -EGFP fusions as reagents to detect porcine parvovirus in the immunoassays
Authors: Lu Qizhong , Li Xiaoxuan , Zhao Jiakai , Zhu Jiahong , Luo Yuhang , Duan Hong , Ji Pinpin , Wang Kun , Liu Baoyuan , Wang Xueting , Fan Wenqi , Sun Yani , Zhou En-Min , Zhao Qin
Published: January 2020

Background

Antibodies are an important reagent to determine the specificity and accuracy of diagnostic immunoassays for various diseases. However, traditional antibodies have several shortcomings due to their limited abundance, difficulty in permanent storage, and required use of a secondary antibody. Nanobodies, which are derived from single-chain camelid antibodies, can circumvent many of these limitations and, thus, appear to be a promising substitute. In the presented study, a sandwich ELISA-like immunoassay and direct fluorescent assay with high sensitivity, good specificity, and easy operation were the first time to develop for detecting porcine parvovirus (PPV). After screening PPV viral particles 2 (VP2) specific nanobodies, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusions were derived from the nanobodies by recombinant technology. Finally, using the nanobody-HRP and -EGFP fusions as probes, the developed immunoassays demonstrate specific, sensitive, and rapid detection of PPV.

Results

In the study, five PPV-VP2 specific nanobodies screened from an immunised Bactrian camel were successfully expressed with the bacterial system and purified with a Ni–NTA column. Based on the reporter-nanobody platform, HRP and EGFP fusions were separately produced by transfection of HEK293T cells. A sandwich ELISA-like assay for detecting PPV in the samples was firstly developed using PPV-VP2-Nb19 as the capture antibody and PPV-VP2-Nb56-HRP fusions as the detection antibody. The assay showed 92.1% agreement with real-time PCR and can be universally used to surveil PPV infection in the pig flock. In addition, a direct fluorescent assay using PPV-VP2-Nb12-EGFP fusion as a probe was developed to detect PPV in ST cells. The assay showed 81.5% agreement with real-time PCR and can be used in laboratory tests.

Conclusions

For the first time, five PPV-VP2 specific nanobody-HRP and -EGFP fusions were produced as reagents for developing immunoassays. A sandwich ELISA-like immunoassay using PPV-VP2-Nb19 as the capture antibody and PPV-VP2-Nb56-HRP fusion as the detection antibody was the first time to develop for detecting PPV in different samples. Results showed that the immunoassay can be universally used to surveil PPV infection in pig flock. A direct fluorescent assay using PPV-VP2-Nb12-EGFP as a probe was also developed to detect PPV in ST cells. The two developed immunoassays eliminate the use of commercial secondary antibodies and shorten detection time. Meanwhile, both assays display great developmental prospect for further commercial production and application.
Ultrasensitive haptoglobin biomarker detection based on amplified chemiluminescence of magnetite nanoparticles
Authors: Nirala Narsingh R. , Harel Yifat , Lellouche Jean-Paul , Shtenberg Giorgi
Published: January 2020

Background

Haptoglobin is an acute-phase protein used as predicting diagnostic biomarker both in humans (i.e., diabetes, ovarian cancer, some neurological and cardiovascular disorders) and in animals (e.g., bovine mastitis). The latter is a frequent disease of dairy industry with staggering economical losses upon decreased milk production and increased health care costs. Early stage diagnosis of the associated diseases or inflammation onset is almost impossible by conventional analytical manners.

Results

The present study demonstrates a simple, rapid, and cost-effective label-free chemiluminescence bioassay based on magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) for sensitive detection of haptoglobin by employing the specific interaction of hemoglobin-modified MNPs. The resulting haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex inhibits the peroxidase-like activity of luminol/H2O2-hemoglobin-MNPs sensing scheme and reduces the chemiluminescence intensities correspondingly to the innate haptoglobin concentrations. Quantitative detection of bovine haptoglobin was obtained within the range of 1 pg mL−1 to 1 µg mL−1, while presenting 0.89 pg mL−1 limit of detection. Moreover, the influence of causative pathogenic bacteria (i.e., Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli) and somatic cell counts (depicting healthy, sub-clinical and clinical mastitis) on the emitted chemiluminescence radiation were established. The presented bioassay quantitative performances correspond with a standardized assay kit in differentiating dissimilar milk qualities.

Conclusions

Overall, the main advantage of the presented sensing concept is the ability to detect haptoglobin, at clinically relevant concentrations within real milk samples for early bio-diagnostic detection of mastitis and hence adjusting the precise treatment, potentially initiating a positive influence on animals’ individual health and hence on dairy farms economy.
Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia and pregnancy: a review of the literature
Authors: Dupuis Olivier , Delagrange Laura , Dupuis-Girod Sophie
Published: January 2020

Background

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a dominantly inherited genetic vascular disorder that has prevalence of 1:5000 to 1:8000, and which is characterised by recurrent epistaxis, cutaneous telangiectasia, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) that affect many organs including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and central nervous system.

The aim here was to carry out a review of the literature on HHT complications during pregnancy in order to guide management decisions.

Main body

A literature review was carried out to analyse all publications on complications that occurred during pregnancy in women with HHT. The PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases were searched. The complications observed in HHT women during pregnancy were then described.

The authors identified 5 case series and 31 case reports that describe the evolution of 1577 pregnancies in 630 women with HHT. The overall maternal death rate described in the case series was estimated at 1.0% of pregnancies in the case series and 2 maternal deaths occurred in 31 pregnancy case reports. Severe maternal complications occurred in 2.7 to 6.8% of pregnancies in the case series. Severe complications occurred mostly in the second and third trimester in non-diagnosed and non-screened HHT patients. Severe complications were related to visceral involvement. The most frequent complications were related to pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) (haemothorax (n = 10), haemoptysis (n = 4), and severe hypoxaemia (n = 3)). Neurological complications were related to PAVMs in one case (right to left shunt) and to cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVM) and intracranial haemorrhage in 2 cases. Complications were related to hepatic arteriovenous malformations (HAVMs) in 8 cases (acutely decompensated heart failure due to hepatic involvement (n = 1), dyspnoea related to heart failure (n = 5), and hepatobiliary necrosis (n = 2)).

Conclusion

Based on the literature review, most pregnancies in HHT women occur normally. However, these pregnancies should be considered high-risk, given the potential life-threatening events related to AVM rupture. Furthermore, there is currently no international consensus regarding the medical follow-up of pregnancy in women with HHT and the aim here was to carry out a review of the literature in order to guide screening and management decisions for this rare disease.
Inter- and intraobserver agreement of three classification systems for lateral clavicle fractures – reliability comparison between two specialist groups
Authors: Rauer Thomas , Boos Matthias , Neuhaus Valentin , Ellanti Prasad , Kaufmann Robert Alexander , Pape Hans-Christoph , Allemann Florin
Published: January 2020

Background

Although of great value in the management of lateral clavicle fractures, substantial variation in their classification exists. We performed a retrospective study to address the inter- and intraobserver reliability of three different classification systems for lateral clavicle fractures.

Methods

Radiographs of 20 lateral clavicle fractures that represented a full spectrum of adult fracture patterns were graded by five experienced radiologists and five experienced trauma surgeons according to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), the Neer, and the Jäger/Breitner classification systems. This evaluation was performed at two different time points separated by 3 months. To measure the observer agreement, the Fleiss kappa coefficient (κ) was applied and assessed according to the grading of Landis and Koch.

Results

The overall interobserver reliability showed a fair agreement in all three classification systems. For the OTA classification system, the interobserver agreement showed a mean kappa value of 0.338 ranging from 0.350 (radiologists) to 0.374 (trauma surgeons). Kappa values of the interobserver agreement for the Neer classification system ranged from 0.238 (trauma surgeons) to 0.276 (radiologists) with a mean κ of 0.278. The Jäger/Breitner classification system demonstrated a mean kappa value of 0.330 ranging from 0.306 (trauma surgeons) to 0.382 (radiologists).

The overall intraobserver reliability was moderate for the OTA and the Jäger/Breitner classification systems, while the overall intraobserver reliability for the Neer classification system was fair.

The kappa values of the intraobserver agreements showed, in all classification systems, a wide range with the OTA classification system ranging from 0.086 to 0.634, the Neer classification system ranging from 0.137 to 0.448, and a range from 0.154 to 0.625 of the Jäger/Breitner classification system.

Conclusions

The low inter- and intraobserver agreement levels exhibited in all three classification systems by both specialist groups suggest that the tested lateral clavicle fracture classification systems are unreliable and, therefore, of limited value. We should recognize there is considerable inconsistency in how physicians classify lateral clavicle fractures and therefore any conclusions based on these classifications should be recognized as being somewhat subjective.
Chromatin interactome mapping at 139 independent breast cancer risk signals
Authors: Beesley Jonathan , Sivakumaran Haran , Moradi Marjaneh Mahdi , Lima Luize G. , Hillman Kristine M. , Kaufmann Susanne , Tuano Natasha , Hussein Nehal , Ham Sunyoung , Mukhopadhyay Pamela , Kazakoff Stephen , Lee Jason S. , Michailidou Kyriaki , Barnes Daniel R. , Antoniou Antonis C. , Fachal Laura , Dunning Alison M. , Easton Douglas F. , Waddell Nicola , Rosenbluh Joseph , Möller Andreas , Chenevix-Trench Georgia , French Juliet D. , Edwards Stacey L.
Published: January 2020

Background

Genome-wide association studies have identified 196 high confidence independent signals associated with breast cancer susceptibility. Variants within these signals frequently fall in distal regulatory DNA elements that control gene expression.

Results

We designed a Capture Hi-C array to enrich for chromatin interactions between the credible causal variants and target genes in six human mammary epithelial and breast cancer cell lines. We show that interacting regions are enriched for open chromatin, histone marks for active enhancers, and transcription factors relevant to breast biology. We exploit this comprehensive resource to identify candidate target genes at 139 independent breast cancer risk signals and explore the functional mechanism underlying altered risk at the 12q24 risk region.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the power of combining genetics, computational genomics, and molecular studies to rationalize the identification of key variants and candidate target genes at breast cancer GWAS signals.
Trial Forge Guidance 2: how to decide if a further Study Within A Trial (SWAT) is needed
Authors: Treweek Shaun , Bevan Simon , Bower Peter , Briel Matthias , Campbell Marion , Christie Jacquie , Collett Clive , Cotton Seonaidh , Devane Declan , El Feky Adel , Galvin Sandra , Gardner Heidi , Gillies Katie , Hood Kerenza , Jansen Jan , Littleford Roberta , Parker Adwoa , Ramsay Craig , Restrup Lynne , Sullivan Frank , Torgerson David , Tremain Liz , von Elm Erik , Westmore Matthew , Williams Hywel , Williamson Paula R. , Clarke Mike
Published: January 2020

The evidence base available to trialists to support trial process decisions—e.g. how best to recruit and retain participants, how to collect data or how to share the results with participants—is thin. One way to fill gaps in evidence is to run Studies Within A Trial, or SWATs. These are self-contained research studies embedded within a host trial that aim to evaluate or explore alternative ways of delivering or organising a particular trial process.

SWATs are increasingly being supported by funders and considered by trialists, especially in the UK and Ireland. At some point, increasing SWAT evidence will lead funders and trialists to ask: given the current body of evidence for a SWAT, do we need a further evaluation in another host trial? A framework for answering such a question is needed to avoid SWATs themselves contributing to research waste.

This paper presents criteria on when enough evidence is available for SWATs that use randomised allocation to compare different interventions.
Second generation effects of larval metal pollutant exposure on reproduction, longevity and insecticide tolerance in the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Jeanrenaud Alexander C. S. N. , Brooke Basil D. , Oliver Shüné V.
Published: January 2020

Background

Members of theAnopheles gambiaecomplex breed in clean, sunlit temporary bodies of water. Anthropogenic pollution is, however, altering the breeding sites of the vectors with numerous biological effects. Although the effects of larval metal pollution have previously been examined, this study aims to assess the transgenerational effects of larval metal pollution on the major malaria vectorAn. arabiensis.

Methods

Two laboratory strains ofAn. arabiensis, SENN (insecticide-susceptible) and SENN-DDT (insecticide-resistant), were used in this study. After being bred in water polluted with either cadmium chloride, copper nitrate or lead nitrate, several life history characteristics that can have epidemiological implications (fertility, apoptotic damage to reproductive structures, adult longevity and insecticide tolerance) were examined in the adults and compared to those of adults bred in clean water.

Results

All metal treatments reduced fecundity in SENN, but only lead treatment reduced fertility in SENN-DDT. Cadmium chloride exposure resulted in apoptosis and deformation of the testes in both strains. After breeding generation F0 in polluted water, F1 larvae bred in clean water showed an increase in longevity in SENN-DDT adult females. In contrast, after breeding the F0 generation in polluted water, longevity was reduced after cadmium and copper exposure in the F1 generation. Larval metal exposure resulted in an increase in insecticide tolerance in adults of the SENN strain, with SENN-DDT adults gaining the greatest fold increase in insecticide tolerance.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that a single exposure to metal pollution can have transgenerational effects that are not negated by subsequent breeding in clean water.
New approach to solutions of a class of singular fractional q-differential problem via quantum calculus
Authors: Liang Sihua , Samei Mohammad Esmael
Published: January 2020

In the present article, by using the fixed point technique and the Arzelà–Ascoli theorem on cones, we wish to investigate the existence of solutions for a non-linear problems regular and singular fractionalq-differential equation$$ \bigl({}^{c}D_{q}^{\alpha }f\bigr) (t) = w \bigl(t, f(t), f'(t), \bigl({}^{c}D_{q}^{ \beta }f \bigr) (t) \bigr), $$(cDqαf)(t)=w(t,f(t),f′(t),(cDqβf)(t)),under the conditions$f(0) = c_{1} f(1)$f(0)=c1f(1),$f'(0)= c_{2} ({}^{c}D_{q} ^{\beta } f) (1)$f′(0)=c2(cDqβf)(1)and$f''(0) = f'''(0) = \cdots =f^{(n-1)}(0) = 0$f″(0)=f‴(0)=⋯=f(n−1)(0)=0, where$\alpha \in (n-1, n)$α∈(n−1,n)with$n\geq 3$n≥3,$\beta , q \in J=(0,1)$β,q∈J=(0,1),$c_{1} \in J$c1∈J,$c_{2} \in (0, \varGamma _{q} (2- \beta ))$c2∈(0,Γq(2−β)), the functionwis$L^{\kappa }$Lκ-Carathéodory,$w(t, x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3})$w(t,x1,x2,x3)and may be singular and${}^{c}D_{q}^{\alpha }$Dqαcthe fractional Caputo typeq-derivative. Of course, here we applied the definitions of the fractionalq-derivative of Riemann–Liouville and Caputo type by presenting some examples with tables and algorithms; we will illustrate our results, too.
FDG-PETCT versus contrast-enhanced computed tomography in diagnosis of post-therapeutic colorectal cancer recurrence and metastases
Authors: Chalabi Nivine Abdel Moneim , Bassiouny Reem Hassan , El Sedek Mohamed Abobakr
Published: January 2020

Background

This study was designed to assess the role of 18F-FDG CT was able to detect additional/CT in post-therapeutic surveillance of colorectal cancer patients as compared with contrast-enhanced CT to allow early detection of recurrent and metastatic cases amenable for curative surgery and thus improve the overall survival of patients.

Results

Of the total 100 patients, 70 proved to have metastasis or local recurrent disease by the standard reference modalities. One hundred eighty-two diseased regions were detected in these 70 patients. PET/CT was positive in 174 regions (95.6%) whereas CECT was positive in 118 regions (64.8%). PET/CT was superior to CECT in detection of hepatic focal lesions, metastatic lymph nodes, pulmonary metastases, and peritoneal and suprarenal metastases whereas both were equal in detection of osseous deposits. CECT detected four lesions that were missed by PET/CT, and these were hepatic metastases from mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

PET/CT is a better method to evaluate post-therapeutic colorectal cancer patients. It detected viable residual tumor cells in operative bed scar, small LNs, hepatic focal lesions, peritoneal deposits, pulmonary masses, bone deposits, and suprarenal deposits with significantly higher specificity and sensitivity than CECT avoiding unnecessary surgeries.
International Harmonization of Provisional Diagnostic Criteria for ERBB2-Amplified Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Allowing for Screening by Next-Generation Sequencing Panel
Authors: Fujii Satoshi , Magliocco Anthony M. , Kim Jihun , Okamoto Wataru , Kim Jeong Eun , Sawada Kentaro , Nakamura Yoshiaki , Kopetz Scott , Park Woong-Yang , Tsuchihara Katsuya , Kim Tae Won , Raghav Kanwal , Yoshino Takayuki
Published: January 2020

PURPOSE

ERBB2 amplification (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positivity [HER2+]) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has important therapeutic implications that necessitate the need for accurate diagnostics. The study purpose was to establish and validate harmonized diagnostic criteria for HER2+ mCRC among 3 groups (GI-SCREEN-Japan, NCTN-SWOG-USA, and Korea).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We assessed HER2 status by immunohistochemistry (IHC), ERBB2/CEP17 ratio, gene copy number (GCN) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and copy number variation (CNV) using two targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels. Tumor samples from 475 and 16 patients with mCRC in exploratory and validation cohorts, respectively, were used for cross-validation of the NGS panels.

RESULTS

Consensus diagnostic criteria among the 3 groups for HER2+ mCRC were established as follows: IHC 3+ or IHC 2+ and ERBB2/CEP17 ratio by FISH ≥ 2.0, tumor content > 10% for surgically resected specimens, and necessary tumor content not defined for biopsy specimens. The median GCN and CNV for HER2+ patients were 10.9 and 27.7 compared with 2.5 ( P < .0001) and 3.5 ( P < .0001), respectively, in HER2-negative patients. These findings were validated in a validation cohort (GCN, 16.2 v 2.4 [ P = .0002]; CNV, 42.5 v 2.0 [ P = .0003]). GCN correlated with CNV in both cohorts (exploratory, r = 0.90; validation, r = 0.97; P < .0001). CNV in cross-validation of the 2 NGS panels also showed a strong correlation ( r = 0.98; P < .0001). CNV in patients who fulfilled the consensus criteria was > 4.0 in all, which demonstrates the accuracy of the IHC/FISH criteria and cross-validation of NGS panels.

CONCLUSION

We have established and verified harmonized diagnostic criteria for HER2+ and demonstrated consistency between IHC/FISH and CNV determined by NGS in mCRC.
Classic and Nonclassic Apparent Mineralocorticoid Excess Syndrome
Authors: Carvajal Cristian A , Tapia-Castillo Alejandra , Vecchiola Andrea , Baudrand Rene , Fardella Carlos E
Published: January 2020

Context

Arterial hypertension (AHT) is one of the most frequent pathologies in the general population. Subtypes of essential hypertension characterized by low renin levels allowed the identification of 2 different clinical entities: aldosterone-mediated mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation and cortisol-mediated MR activation.

Evidence Acquisition

This review is based upon a search of Pubmed and Google Scholar databases, up to August 2019, for all publications relating to endocrine hypertension, apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) and cortisol (F) to cortisone (E) metabolism.

Evidence Synthesis

The spectrum of cortisol-mediated MR activation includes the classic AME syndrome to milder (nonclassic) forms of AME, the latter with a much higher prevalence (7.1%) than classic AME but different phenotype and genotype. Nonclassic AME (NC-AME) is mainly related to partial 11βHSD2 deficiency associated with genetic variations and epigenetic modifications (first hit) and potential additive actions of endogenous or exogenous inhibitors (ie, glycyrrhetinic acid-like factors [GALFS]) and other factors (ie, age, high sodium intake) (second hit). Subjects with NC-AME are characterized by a high F/E ratio, low E levels, normal to elevated blood pressure, low plasma renin and increased urinary potassium excretion. NC-AME condition should benefit from low-sodium and potassium diet recommendations and monotherapy with MR antagonists.

Conclusion

NC-AME has a higher prevalence and a milder phenotypical spectrum than AME. NC-AME etiology is associated to a first hit (gene and epigene level) and an additive second hit. NC-AME subjects are candidates to be treated with MR antagonists aimed to improve blood pressure, end-organ damage, and modulate the renin levels.
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) for Lesvos Island Using the Logic Tree Approach
Authors: Vavlas Nikolaos , Kiratzi Anastasia , Margaris Basil , Karakaisis George
Published: January 2020

We carry out a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) for Lesvos Island, in the northeastern Aegean Sea. Being the most populated island in the northern Aegean Sea and hosting the capital of the prefecture, its seismic potential has significant social-economic meaning. For the seismic hazard estimation, the newest version of the R-CRISIS module, which has high efficiency and flexibility in model selection, is used. We incorporate into the calculations eight (8) ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs). The measures used are peak ground acceleration, (PGA), peak ground velocity, (PGV), and spectral acceleration, (SA), at T=0.2 sec representative of the building stock. We calculate hazard curves for selected sites on the island, sampling the southern and northern parts: Mytilene, the capital, the village of Vrisa, Mithymna and Sigri. Hazard maps are also presented in terms of all three intensity measures, for a mean return period of 475 years (or 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years), assuming a Poisson process. Our results are comparable to the predictions of on-going EU hazard models, but higher than the provisions of the Greek Seismic Code. Finally, we perform disaggregation of hazard to depict the relative contribution of different earthquake sources and magnitudes to the results.
Model fidelity of group antenatal and postnatal care: a process analysis of the first implementation of this innovative service model by the Preterm Birth Initiative-Rwanda
Authors: Butrick Elizabeth , Lundeen Tiffany , Phillips Beth S. , Tengera Olive , Kambogo Antoinette , Uwera Yvonne Delphine Nsaba , Musabyimana Angele , Sayinzoga Felix , Nzeyimana David , Murindahabi Nathalie , Musange Sabine , Walker Dilys
Published: January 2020

Background: For a large trial of the effect of group antenatal care on perinatal outcomes in Rwanda, a Technical Working Group customized the group care model for implementation in this context. This process analysis aimed to understand the degree of fidelity with which the group antenatal care model was implemented during the trial period.

Methods: We used two discreet questionnaires to collect data from two groups about the fidelity with which the group antenatal care model was implemented during this trial period. Group care facilitators recorded descriptive data about each visit and self-assessed process fidelity with a series of yes/no checkboxes. Master Trainers assessed process fidelity with an 11-item tool using a 5-point scale of 0 (worst) to 4 (best).

Results: We analyzed 2763 questionnaires completed by group care facilitators that documented discreet group visits among pregnant and postnatal women and 140 questionnaires completed by Master Trainers during supervision visits. Data recorded by both groups was available for 84 group care visits, and we compared these assessments by visit. Approximately 80% of all group visits were provided as intended, with respect to both objective measures (e.g. group size) and process fidelity. We did not find reliable correlations between conceptually-related items scored by Master Trainers and self-assessment data reported by group visit facilitators.

Conclusions: We recommend both the continued participation of expert observers at new and existing group care sites and ongoing self-assessment by group care facilitators. Finally, we present two abbreviated assessment tools developed by a Rwanda-specific Technical Working Group that reviewed these research results.
ANALYSIS OF THE PASTORAL STRATEGIC PLANNING PRIORITIES OF THE VICARIATE EPISCOPAL OF TONSEA OF THE DIOCESE OF MANADO
Authors: Ohoitimur Johanis , Krejci James , Raco Jozef Richard , Raton Yulius , Taroreh Frankie
Published: January 2020

Strategic planning is commonly used in profit-oriented institutions. However, it is rarely applied to non-profit organizations such as churches. The Holy Bible reveals the extensive use of strategic management by the believers as documented both in the Old and New Testament, in regards to the implementation of strategic planning to organize the people of God. The Vicariate Episcopal of Tonsea of the Diocese of Manado, as a local Catholic Church Community decided on applying strategic planning methods to rank priorities of tasks required to meet their pastoral mission. Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process, the study reveals that the ranking of the key elements of their mission, the program of the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament, was the highest priority at 23.8%, followed by preserving the treasury of faith of  20.1%, then the fellowship and leadership with 19.7%, promoting the dignity of the laity with 14.4%, the Catholic education with 11.9% and the last was managing the Church property with 10.2%. The highest ranked sub-criteria were; organizing pastoral structure (7.6%), followed by the upgrading catechetic program (7.2%), then role model and competency of liturgy leadership (7.0%). This study provides direction to the parish priests of the Vicariate Episcopal of Tonsea and provides a methodology to formulate their strategic plans and best utilize their resources. This study demonstrated the importance of the Analytical Hierarchy Process in determining the priority of the programs identified by the Church. The researchers recommend further and deeper research on other Vicariates of the Diocese of Manado.
Nina Begicevic, IJAHP Editorial Board Member, Elected as University of Zagreb’s New Dean of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics
Authors: Mu Enrique
Published: January 2020

With a total of 58 votes (83%), Associate Professor Nina Begicevic Redep, PhD has been elected the new Dean of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI) and has a mandate to serve in the position for two years. Her position begins in October 2019, with the beginning of the new 2019/2020 academic year.
The AHP/ANP Conference Community
Authors: Mu Enrique
Published: January 2020

As IJAHP editor-in-chief, I have the unique opportunity of getting to know AHP/ANP scholars and practitioners from all over the world. While my initial acquaintance is usually through this journal, it is often followed by personal interactions in diverse academic meetings in our discipline.
The potential of Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia caseolaris for phytoremediation of lead pollution in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Rumanta Maman
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Rumanta M. 2019. The potential of Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia caseolaris for phytoremediation of lead pollution in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 2151-2158. Environmental pollution by heavy metals has become a serious problem in Jakarta Bay. Mobilization of heavy metals as a result of anthropogenic activities has caused the release of heavy metals into the environment, one of which is Pb. Several methods have already been used to clean up the environment from these kinds of contaminants, but most of them are costly and difficult to get optimum results. Recently, phytoremediation is an effective and affordable technological solution used to extract or remove inactive metals and metal pollutants from contaminated soil and water. This technology is environmentally friendly and potentially cost-effective. These study objectives are (i) to find the accumulating capability of Pb in each plant tissues (roots, stems, and leaves) of R. mucronata and S. caseolaris; (ii) to find stomatal morphological characters of R. mucronata and S. caseolaris. All samples (roots, stems, and leaves) were collected from Muara Angke mangrove forest in North Jakarta. The accumulation of Pb is higher in S. caseolaris leaves than in roots, and stems, and than those in R. mucronata. The concentrations of Pb in roots, stems, and leaves of S. caseolaris were respectively 4.83 μg/g, 3.37 μg/g and 15.57 μg/g and in R. mucronata were 10.50 μg/g, 5.13 μg/g and 13.33 μg/g. Generally, the stomata of mangrove species that live in polluted ecosystems are longer and wider than the stomata of the same mangrove species that live in a non-polluted ecosystem. This is strongly suspected of being related to the physiological adaptation of heavy metal accumulation. This study showed that S. caseolaris is the most suitable species as a phytoremediation agent in the Muara Angke mangrove ecosystem.
Short Communication: Behavioral study on Anguilla bicolor using a modified trap design at laboratory scale
Authors: Fitri Aristi Dian Purnama , Boesono Herry , Kurohman Faik , Jayanto Bogi Budi , Dewi Desca Estiyani , Sabdono Agus
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Fitri ADP, Boesono H, Kurohman F, Jayanto BB, Dewi DE, Sabdono A. 2019. Short Communication: Behavioral study on Anguilla bicolor using a modified trap design at laboratory scale. Biodiversitas 20: 2159-2165. The information on the behavioral juvenile eels Anguilla bicolor is urgently needed as basic design of selective and sustainable traps. The objectives of this study were to find out and analyze the behavioral pattern and characteristics of A. bicolor elvers in the modified and non-modified eel traps. The test organism, A. bicolor juvenile eels with 150-170 mm in length, were obtained from Segara Anakan waters, Cilcacap. The 2 trap designs, which were modifications of the 450 mm long PVC eel trap, with and without the addition of bait hole, were used in this study. All experiments were carried out in the laboratory of Fish Behavior, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia. The eel characters and response time were recorded using a handy camera that placed on top of the aquariums. The results indicated six types of A. bicolor behavior in response to the modification of eel traps. Moreover, the trap design with an additional hole on the wall, with or without bait, was proven to have no significant effect on the response time. While trap without column and bait possessed the fastest response time at which elver penetrated to the trap (p-value ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, these results indicated that A. bicolor elver gained entrance into the trap, in an attempt to take shelter.
Allometric equations to estimate the above-ground biomass of trees in the tropical secondary forests of different ages
Authors: Karyati Karyati , ISA B. IPOR  , ISMAIL JUSOH  , MOHD. EFFENDI WASLI
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Karyati, Ipor IB, Jusoh I, Wasli ME. 2019. Allometric equations to estimate the above-ground biomass of trees in the tropical secondary forests of different ages. Biodiversitas 20: 2427-2436. The allometric equations for trees of secondary forests of different ages in abandoned lands after shifting cultivation are still rarely available. The objective of this study was to develop allometric equations to estimate the above-ground biomass (AGB) of trees (DBH of > 5 cm) in the tropical secondary forest of different ages, namely 5, 10, and 20 years after abandonment. The selected trees in this study represented the dominant and rare species and DBH classes in each study site. The trunk dry biomass and AGB showed strong correlations (adjusted R2= 0.59-0.95) with diameter at breast height (DBH) and height. The leaf and branch dry biomass had weak correlations with height (adjusted R2=0.36-0.50). The developed allometric equations were suitable for trees of secondary forests of different ages, because the selected samples used in the destructive method were based on a field inventory data of forest structure and floristic composition.
Bacterial isolates from bryozoan Pleurocodonellina sp.: Diversity and antimicrobial potential against pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Asagabaldan Meezan Ardhanu , Bedoux Gilles , Bourgougnon Nathalie , Kristiana Rhesi , Ayuningrum Diah , Sabdono Agus , Trianto Agus , Radjasa Ocky Karna
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Asagabaldan MA, Bedoux G, Bourgougnon N, Kristiana R, Ayuningrum D, Sabdono A, Trianto A, Radjasa OK. 2019. Bacterial isolates from bryozoan Pleurocodonellina sp.: Diversity and antimicrobial potential against pathogenic bacteria. Biodiversitas 20: 2528-2535.  There is an urgent need to discover new compounds with antibacterial activity, which can be developed into lead structures for the treatment of human disease caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. In this study, we focussed on bryozoan-associated bacteria to screen them toward antibacterial activities, since the microbiome of these organisms can still be regarded as under-investigated. Most of the few publications about bryozoan-associated bacteria focused on taxonomy and the potential as producers of antibacterial natural products were neglected. Four specimens of bryozoan Pleurocodonellina sp. were collected from Teluk Awur, Jepara in Java Sea, Indonesia. Therefrom, 56 bacterial strains were isolated, and 17 displayed antibacterial activities against MDR bacteria Pseudomonas aruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Taxonomic identification of the bacteria by 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed them belonging to the genera Virgibacillus, Pseudoalteromonas, Halomonas, and Bacillus. Most interestingly, the genus Virgibacillus was dominantly obtained from the Pleurocodonellina sp. specimens, i.e., 12 active isolates. Nevertheless, the best activities against MDR bacteria (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative) were contributed to isolates showing >99% identity to Pseudoalteromonas. The results further suggest adding the genus Virgibacillus as bacteria associated with bryozoan, since to the best of our knowledge there were no reports of this genus isolated from bryozoan.