bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retracted: IL‐6/STAT3 pathway intermediates M1/M2 macrophage polarization during the development of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yin Zi , Ma Tingting , Lin Ye , Lu Xin , Zhang Chuanzhao , Chen Sheng , Jian Zhixiang
Published: July 2018

Human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are characterized by a high degree of drug resistance in chemotherapy. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. To the role of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in the regulation of macrophage polarization, M1‐type and M2‐type macrophages were separately induced using lipopolysaccharide and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), and we found that the IL‐6/STAT3 signaling pathway was inhibited in M1‐type macrophages but activated in M2‐type macrophages. After anti‐IL‐6‐treated macrophages were separately induced by lipopolysaccharide and IL‐4, we found that the inhibition of IL‐6/STAT3 signaling pathway turned macrophages into M1‐type. Co‐culture with M1‐type macrophages reduced HCC cell viability, proliferation, invasion, migration, drug resistance, but increased apoptosis. Co‐culture with M2‐type macrophages yielded reciprocal results. The inhibition of IL‐6/STAT3 signaling pathway mediated by anti‐IL6 was shown to significantly enhance the effects of M1‐type macrophages on HCC cells and rescue HCC cells from co‐culture with M2‐type macrophages. Tumor xenografts of co‐cultured HCC cells were established in nude mice and the results showed that the inhibition of IL‐6/STAT3 signaling pathway mediated by anti‐IL6 was found to reduce tumor formation of HCC cells co‐cultured with M1‐ or M2‐type macrophages and lung metastases. The current study reveals a novel mechanism of IL‐6/STAT3 signaling pathway in the regulation of macrophage polarization, thus contributing to HCC metastasis and drug resistance in chemotherapy.
Predictive accuracy of serum total calcium for both critically high and critically low ionized calcium in critical illness
Authors: Hu Zhi‐De , Huang Yuan‐Lan , Wang Mei‐Ying , Hu Ge‐Ji‐Le , Han Yan‐Qiu
Published: July 2018

Background

The accuracy of total calcium and its corrected value for predicting critically high and critically low ionized calcium in critical illness is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the concentration of total serum calcium, either corrected for albumin or not, could predict critically high or low values in critical illness.

Methods

This report describes a retrospective study using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III database. Test panels that contained serum albumin, total calcium, and ionized calcium (named ATI panels) with order time intervals of less than one hour were extracted. The predictive accuracy of total calcium, either corrected for albumin or not, was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

A total of 12 118 ATIs with 103 critically low and 92 critically high ionized calcium results were extracted. The areas under ROC curves (AUCs) of corrected and uncorrected total calcium for predicting critically low ionized calcium were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.61‐0.76) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.63‐0.78), respectively. For predicting critically high ionized calcium, the AUCs were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97‐1.00) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95‐1.00), respectively. With positive predictive values (PPVs) of 0.05 and 0.10, the sensitivities (both corrected and uncorrected) were approximately 0.50 for predicting critically low ionized calcium and 0.95 for predicting critically high ionized calcium.

Conclusions

Total calcium, either corrected for albumin or not, is not a reliable test to predict critically low ionized calcium in critical illness. Total calcium's predictive accuracy for critically high ionized calcium is high.
The SNP43 (G/A) polymorphism in CAPN10 gene confers an increased risk of cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Wu Kai , Cai Ying
Published: July 2018

Background

Cognitive impairment, significantly reducing processing speed and executive function, is the critical consequence of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), in which genetic variations have been studied. In this study, we explore the role of SNP43 (G/A) and SNP63 (C/T) polymorphism in the CAPN10 on cognitive impairment process in cerebral SVD.

Methods

Cerebral SVD patients (n = 224) and healthy controls (n = 187) were recruited. The relationship between frequency distribution of SNP43 (G/A) and SNP63 (T/C) genotype and allele in CAPN10 gene, and cognitive impairment was examined. The independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in SVD were determined by logistic regression analysis.

Results

Accordingly, the frequency distribution of genotype and allele at SNP43 (G/A) was significantly different between cerebral SVD patients and healthy controls. Cerebral SVD patients with GG genotype were more susceptible for cognitive impairment, whereas cerebral SVD patients with GA + AA genotype were less possible to suffer from cognitive impairment, compared with those with GG genotype. And also, cerebral SVD does not include SNP63 (C/T) to associate with cognitive impairment, and SNP43 (G/A), total cholesterol, triglyceride, low‐density lipoprotein, and high‐density lipoprotein were independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in SVD.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence that SNP43 (G/A) in the CAPN10 gene increases the risk of cognitive impairment in SVD patients. Besides it is proven that, patients with G allele are more susceptible to suffer from cerebral SVD with worse cognitive impairment.
HULC and 7SL RNA expression levels in patients with Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever
Authors: Bayyurt Burcu , Arslan Serdal , Engin Aynur , Bakir Mehmet
Published: July 2018

Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick‐borne disease caused by the Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are generally classified as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides (nt). The various lncRNAs expressed in infected cells are responsible for regulating the expression of viral and host genes. This is the first study to investigate hepatocellular carcinoma upregulated long non‐coding RNA (HULC) and 7SL RNA expression levels in patients with CCHF. Blood samples were taken from 100 individuals (60 patients and 40 controls), and total RNA isolation was performed. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed using the SYBR Green method to determine HULC and 7SL RNA expression levels in the study population. Compared the patient and control groups, HULC was upregulated statistically significantly (P = 0.04) and 7SL RNA was downregulated (P = 0.93) in patients. Also, there was a statistically significant difference between fatal cases and surviving patients for HULC and 7SL RNA (P < 0.01 andP = 0.03, respectively). In addition, HULC expression was increased statistically significantly in fatal cases compared with surviving patients in terms of clinical parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.01), international normalized ratio (P = 0.05), prothrombin time (P = 0.01), active partial thromboplastin time (P < 0.01), and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.01). These findings highlighted that HULC and 7SL RNA could be important mediators for studying the pathogenesis of CCHF and significant therapeutic targets of the disease.
Advanced liver fibrosis effects on the response to sofosbuvir‐based antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Morio Kei , Imamura Michio , Kawakami Yoshiiku , Nakamura Yuki , Hatooka Masahiro , Morio Reona , Fujino Hatsue , Nakahara Takashi , Murakami Eisuke , Kawaoka Tomokazu , Tsuge Masataka , Hiramatsu Akira , Aikata Hiroshi , Hayes C. Nelson , Miki Daiki , Ochi Hidenori , Katamura Yoshio , Arataki Keiko , Moriya Takashi , Ito Hiroyuki , Tsuji Keiji , Kohno Hiroshi , Waki Koji , Tamura Toru , Nakamura Toshio , Chayama Kazuaki ,   Hiroshima Liver Study Group
Published: July 2018

Background

Sustained virological response (SVR) rates for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)–infected patients have drastically improved with the use of direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapies; however, a small minority of patients still fails to eradicate the virus. We analyzed factors associated with SVR in DAA therapy and the effect of age and liver fibrosis on treatment response.

Methods

Nine hundred and eighteen patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with 24 weeks of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir (DCV + ASV) or 12 weeks of sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir (SOF + LDV), ombitasvir, paritaprevir plus ritonavir (OMB + PTV + r) or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin (SOF + RBV). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with SVR. The effect of age and liver fibrosis on SVR was analyzed.

Results

The overall SVR rate was 95.4% (876 of 918 patients), and rates by DAA regimen were 93.4%, 95.7%, 100%, and 95.0% in DCV + ASV‐treated, SOF + LDV‐treated, OMB + PTV + r‐treated, and SOF + RBV‐treated patients, respectively. Patients older than 75 years achieved a similar SVR rate with those aged 75 years or younger (96.4% and 94.8%, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified absence of DAA therapy history (odds ratio [OR], 3.868 for presence; P = 0.002) and FIB‐4 index of less than 3.25 (OR, 5.042 for ≥3.25; P = 0.001) as independent predictors for SVR. SVR rates were significantly lower in patients with FIB4 index of 3.25 or more compared with those with less than 3.25, especially in sofosbuvir‐based therapies such as SOF + LDV‐treated or SOF + RBV‐treated patients.

Conclusion

Both older and younger patients respond similarly to DAA therapy. Advanced liver fibrosis affects the virological response to sofosbuvir‐based therapy.
Intravaginal practices and genital human papillomavirus infection among female sex workers in Cambodia
Authors: Bui Thanh Cong , Scheurer Michael E. , Pham Vy Thi‐Tuong , Tran Ly Thi‐Hai , Hor Leng Bun , Vidrine Damon J. , Ross Michael W. , Markham Christine M.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

Intravaginal practices (IVPs) include washing, wiping, or inserting something inside the vagina. This study investigates the associations between IVPs and genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 200 female sex workers aged 18 to 35 years in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. From August to September 2014. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, IVPs, and other behaviors were collected through face‐to‐face interviews. Self‐collected cervicovaginal specimens were tested for 37 HPV genotypes.

Results

Multivariable Poisson regression models showed that a lower number of infecting HPV genotypes were associated with intravaginal washing in the past 3 months (incident rate ratios [IRR] = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46‐0.94) and often performing intravaginal washing shortly after sex (IRR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81–0.99). Intravaginal washing before vaginal sex, intravaginal wiping, and intravaginal insertion were not associated with HPV infection.

Conclusion

These findings challenge the existing view that all types of vaginal cleansing are harmful. Specifically, intravaginal washing shortly after sex (mainly with water) may help prevent HPV infection in female sex workers, who have several partners and thus frequently expose to sources of HPV infection with different genotypes.
Immunotoxicity of aflatoxin M1: as a potent suppressor of innate and acquired immune systems in a subacute study
Authors: Shirani Kobra , Zanjani Bamdad R , Mahmoudi Mahmoud , Jafarian Amir H , Hassani Faezeh V , Giesy John P , Karimi Gholamreza
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Although, to date, there have been several in vitro and in vivo studies of immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin M1 (AFB1), little is known about the effect of AFM1 on various aspects of innate and acquired immunity. In the present study, AFM1 was administered intraperitoneally, at doses of 25 and 50 μg kg−1, body mass for 28 days and various immunological parameters were measured.

RESULTS

Several parameters related to immune function were suppressed: organ mass, cellularity of spleen, proliferation response to lipopolysaccaride and phytohemagglutinin‐A, hemagglutination titer, delayed type of hypersensitivity response, spleen cell subtypes, serum hemolytic activity, serum immunoglobulin G level and cytokine production. AFM1 did not cause changes in body mass, hematological parameters or the concentration of immunoglobulin M in blood serum.

Conclusions

Overall, the data suggested that AFM1 suppressed innate and acquired immunity. Therefore, with respect to consumer safety, it is extremely important to further control the level of AFM1 in milk, and this should be considered as a precedence for risk management actions. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Formally continuous functions on Baire space
Authors: Kawai Tatsuji
Published: July 2018

A function from Baire space to the natural numbers is called formally continuous if it is induced by a morphism between the corresponding formal spaces. We compare formal continuity to two other notions of continuity on Baire space working in Bishop constructive mathematics: one is a function induced by a Brouwer‐operation (i.e., inductively defined neighbourhood function); the other is a function uniformly continuous near every compact image. We show that formal continuity is equivalent to the former while it is strictly stronger than the latter. The equivalence of formally continuous functions and those induced by Brouwer‐operations requires Countable Choice.
Reversible Corticobasal Syndrome due to Coeliac Disease
Authors: Paramanandam Vijayashankar , Hadjivassiliou Marios , Olszewska Diana Angelika , Munteanu Tudor , Williams Laura , Magennis Brian , Fearon Conor , O'Connell Martin , Sarrigiannis Ptolemaios , Lynch Tim
Published: July 2018

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Analytical solution to axisymmetric consolidation of unsaturated soil stratum under equal strain condition incorporating smear effects
Authors: Ho Liem , Fatahi Behzad
Published: July 2018

This paper proposes closed‐form analytical solutions to the axisymmetric consolidation of an unsaturated soil stratum using the equal strain hypothesis. Following the 1‐dimensional (1D) consolidation theory for unsaturated soil mechanics, polar governing equations describing the air and water flows are first presented on the basis of Fick's law and Darcy's law, respectively. The current study takes into account the peripheral smear caused by an installation of vertical drain. Separation of variables and Laplace transformation are mainly adopted in the analytical derivation to obtain final solutions. Then, the hydraulic conductivity ratio, the radius of influence zone and smear parameters influencing time‐dependent excess pore pressures, and the average degree of consolidation are graphically interpreted. In this study, a comparison made between the proposed equal strain results and the existing free strain results suggests that both hypotheses would deliver similar predictions. Moreover, it is found that the smear zone resulting from vertical drain installations would hinder the consolidation rate considerably.
Identifying cut‐off scores for interpretation of the Heart Failure Impact Questionnaire
Authors: Hsu Tsui‐Wen , Chang Hui‐Chin , Huang Chi‐Hung , Chou Ming‐Chih , Yu You‐Tsz , Lin Long‐Yau
Published: July 2018

Aims

Heart failure (HF) influences health‐related quality of life. However, the factors that contribute to health‐related quality of life remain unclear in Taiwan. We aim to identify the factors influencing health‐related quality of life in HF patients.

Methods

Hospitalized HF (N = 225) patients were included from April 2011 to April 2014. Health‐related quality of life was assessed by using the 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. A new cut‐off was conducted based on the combination of SF‐36 and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire.

Results

There were significant differences between good and poor quality groups on age, gender, education levels, occupational classification caregiver, New York Heart Association classes, and the numbers of comorbidities. The logistic regression analysis showed that the number of comorbidities was more than three and New York Heart Association class IV were significantly associated with health‐related quality of life.
Decoupled characteristic stabilized finite element method for time‐dependent Navier–Stokes/Darcy model
Authors: Jia Xiaofeng , Li Jichun , Jia Hongen
Published: July 2018

In this article, we propose and analyze a new decoupled characteristic stabilized finite element method for the time‐dependent Navier–Stokes/Darcy model. The key idea lies in combining the characteristic method with the stabilized finite element method to solve the decoupled model by using the lowest‐order conforming finite element space. In this method, the original model is divided into two parts: one is the nonstationary Navier–Stokes equation, and the other one is the Darcy equation. To deal with the difficulty caused by the trilinear term with nonzero boundary condition, we use the characteristic method. Furthermore, as the lowest‐order finite element pair do not satisfy LBB (Ladyzhen‐Skaya‐Brezzi‐Babuska) condition, we adopt the stabilized technique to overcome this flaw. The stability of the numerical method is first proved, and the optimal error estimates are established. Finally, extensive numerical results are provided to justify the theoretical analysis.
Translation, psychometric validation, and baseline results of the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pediatric measures to assess health‐related quality of life of patients with pediatric lymphoma in Malawi
Authors: Westmoreland Katherine , Reeve Bryce B. , Amuquandoh Amy , van der Gronde Toon , Manthalu Olivia , Correia Helena , Stanley Christopher , Itimu Salama , Salima Ande , Chikasema Mary , Ward Paula , Mpasa Atupele , Wachepa Stella , Mtete Idah , Butia Mercy , Chasela Mary , Mtunda Mary , Wasswa Peter , Martin Steven , Kim Nader El‐Mallawany , Kazembe Peter , Gopal Satish
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Internationally validated tools to measure patient‐reported health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) are available, but efforts to translate and culturally validate such tools in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce, particularly among children.

Methods

The Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 25‐item pediatric short form (PROMIS‐25) assesses six HRQoL domains—mobility, anxiety, depression, fatigue, peer relationships, and pain interference—by asking four questions per domain. There is a single‐item pain intensity item. The PROMIS‐25 was translated into Chichewa and validated for use in Malawi using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods. The validity and reliability of the PROMIS‐25 was assessed.

Results

Fifty‐four pediatric patients with lymphoma completed the PROMIS‐25. Structural validity was supported by interitem correlations and principal component analysis. Reliability of each scale was satisfactory (range alpha = 0.71‐0.93). Known group validity testing showed that anemic children had worse fatigue (P = 0.016) and children with poor performance status had worse mobility (P < 0.001) and pain interference (P = 0.005). Compared to children with cancer in the United States, children from Malawi reported lower levels of mobility, higher anxiety, higher depressive symptoms, higher fatigue, better satisfaction with peer relationships, and higher pain interference.

Conclusion

Translation and cultural validation of the PROMIS‐25 into Chichewa for Malawi was successful. Baseline HRQoL for patients with pediatric lymphoma in Malawi is poor for all domains except peer relationships. This emphasizes an urgent need to address HRQoL among children undergoing cancer treatment in SSA using self‐reported instruments validated within the local context.
Extraversion and happiness: The mediating role of social support and hope
Authors: Tan Chee‐Seng , Low Sew‐Kim , Viapude Glory Nancy
Published: July 2018

Studies have found that extraversion enhances happiness indirectly through social support. However, it is unclear how social support may be connected to happiness. On the basis of a literature review, we hypothesize that individual hope may play an important role in the relationship between social support and happiness. Using a serial mediation model, the present study attempted to investigate the hypothetical mediating role of hope in the relationship between extraversion and happiness and between social support and happiness. Analysis of responses of 360 undergraduate students showed that extraversion, social support, and hope were significantly linked with happiness. Moreover, hope was found to mediate the linkage of extraversion and happiness and of social support and happiness. The results also supported the view that extraversion enhances happiness through social support and then hope (serial mediating effect). Lastly, the serial mediating effect was found to be significantly lower than the other two indirect effects. The findings offer insights into the effect of social support on happiness and extend the understanding of the relationship between extraversion and happiness.
Mental health literacy and intervention program adaptation in the internationalization of school psychology for Vietnam
Authors: Dang Hoang‐Minh , Weiss Bahr , Lam Trung , Ho Ha
Published: July 2018

This paper discusses how school psychology technology developed in Western countries can be adapted for global contexts and “internationalized.” The article reports results of two studies, providing examples of (1) our school psychology internationalization experiences in Vietnam, as lessons hopefully useful for other professionals interested in international development, and (2) how Western researchers can learn through internalization experiences. Because mental health literacy is foundational for mental health development, Study 1 focused on assessment of mental health literacy among 353 Vietnamese teachers, with findings suggesting overall low mental health literacy among these participants. Study 2 focused on our Vietnam ACES ProS high‐school problem‐solving therapy program. We discuss the Mental Health Capacity Development Model guiding development of ACES ProS and report positive results of an evaluation of ACES ProS involving 100 Vietnamese high‐school students. Program cultural adaptation (e.g., deciding whether teacher classroom praise should be excluded from classroom behavior management because of Vietnamese students’ tendency to react to praise with increased competitive behavior) is reviewed as an example of challenges faced in school psychology internationalization. This program of research shows that school psychology internationalization can be successful but requires careful attention and close collaboration.
Should I stay or should I go? Approach/avoidance conflict and emotional functioning
Authors: Wilborn Dexter D. , Kramer Matthew P. , Stevenson Brittany L. , Dvorak Robert D.
Published: July 2018

Personality has long held a prevalent place in the pantheon of psychological research. In the last 40 years, neuropsychological models of personality have become a popular predictor of human behaviour and emotionality. With a particular focus on Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, this study investigated the interaction of high Behavioural Activation System (BAS) and Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) as a predictor of emotional functioning. Participants (n = 499) recruited from the community completed an online survey composed of questions on demographic information, behavioural inhibition and activation, emotional instability and indices of depression, anxiety and mixed depression–anxiety. Consistent with our primary hypothesis, the interaction of high BAS × BIS predicted emotional instability using an observed variable path model. This was subsequently associated with depression, anxiety and mixed depression–anxiety symptoms. Future avenues for research using BIS/BAS monitoring in clinical practice and study limitations are discussed. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Block Krylov methods for accelerating ensembles of variational data assimilations
Authors: Mercier François , Gürol Selime , Jolivet Pierre , Michel Yann , Montmerle Thibaut
Published: July 2018

We consider the problem of efficiently solving ensembles of variational data assimilations in the context of numerical weather prediction. Running several assimilations notably allows us to initialize ensemble prediction systems and to more accurately represent background‐error statistics, but is computationally expensive, limiting ensemble size. We propose a new class of algorithms for speeding up the minimization of the ensemble of data assimilations. It consists of using block Krylov methods to simultaneously perform the minimization for all members of the ensemble, instead of performing each minimization separately.

We develop preconditioned block Krylov versions of the Full Orthogonal Method and of the Lanczos algorithm in both primal and dual space. The latter works in observation space that is usually of smaller dimension than the state space, thus giving an advantage in terms of memory requirements and computational cost. We describe and compare several parallelization strategies for speeding up the minimization and limiting the communications.

These methods have been tested on a quasi‐geostrophic system, consisting of a simplified atmospheric circulation model equipped with an ensemble of 3D‐Var schemes tuned to mimic some features of a limited‐area numerical weather prediction system. Experimentation shows that the number of iterations needed to converge is drastically reduced by the block Krylov approaches. We indicate that, while working in primal space does not save significant computational time, working in the dual space may reduce the computational time by a factor of 2 to 5 (depending on ensemble size) compared to standard Krylov methods, making our approach attractive for operational use.
Examining potential reductions in wind tunnel testing requirements
Authors: Hill Raymond R. , Ahner Darryl K. , Dillard Douglas A. , Montgomery Douglas C.
Published: July 2018

Wind tunnel test campaigns involve a large number of experimental data points, can take a long time to accomplish, and can consume tremendous resources. Design of experiments is a systematic approach to experimental design and analysis that has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wind tunnel testing. We use a legacy wind tunnel test campaign and compare the resulting data from that campaign to data generated using smaller experimental design strategies. The comparison is accomplished using a Monte Carlo sampling methodology coupled with a statistical comparison of the estimated surfaces. Initial results from a 2‐phase experiment suggest a tremendous opportunity to reduce wind tunnel test efforts without losing test information and provide suggestions on the types of designs to use to best realize the test matrix reductions.
Electrochemical Behavior of Single CuO Nanoparticles: Implications for the Assessment of their Environmental Fate
Authors: Zampardi Giorgia , Thöming Jorg , Naatz Hendrik , Amin Hatem M. A. , Pokhrel Suman , Mädler Lutz , Compton Richard G.
Published: July 2018

The electrochemical behavior of copper oxide nanoparticles is investigated at both the single particle and at the ensemble level in neutral aqueous solutions through the electrode‐particle collision method and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. The influence of Cl− and NO3− anions on the electrochemical processes occurring at the nanoparticles is further evaluated. The electroactivity of CuO nanoparticles is found to differ between the two types of experiments. At the single‐particle scale, the reduction of the CuO nanoparticles proceeds to a higher extent in the presence of chloride ion than of nitrate ion containing solutions. However, at the multiparticle scale the CuO reduction proceeds to the same extent regardless of the type of anions present in solution. The implications for assessing realistically the environmental fate and therefore the toxicity of metal‐based nanoparticles in general, and copper‐based nanoparticles in particular, are discussed.
Prioritizing challenges of agile process in distributed software development environment using analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Shameem Mohammad , Kumar Rakesh Ranjan , Kumar Chiranjeev , Chandra Bibhas , Khan Arif Ali
Published: July 2018

Software organizations are increasingly combining agile methodologies and distributed software development (DSD) for efficiently and effectively built software products. There are numerous challenges associated with scaling agile methods in a distributed environment. Our study is intended to explore and prioritize the challenges for scaling agile practices in the DSD environment. This study was divided into 3 stages. In the first stage, 22 challenges were identified from literature review and grouped into 4 categories: management, team, technology, and process based on discussion with experts. In the second stage, an online questionnaire study was conducted to validate the identified challenges. Finally, analytic hierarchy process method was used to prioritize challenges and their categories based on their relative importance. The results highlighted that management is a most significant category as compared with the other categories. Similarly, lack of management commitments, lack of effective communication, lack of knowledge sharing, etc are identified as the most significant challenges that need to be focused by the organizations for scaling agile methodologies. On the basis of the research findings, we could conclude that the identified challenges along with their categories provide a robust framework to scale agile methodologies in the DSD environment.
Soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 to placental growth factor ratio: ruling out pre‐eclampsia for up to 4 weeks and value of retesting
Authors: Zeisler H. , Llurba E. , Chantraine F. J. , Vatish M. , Staff A. C. , Sennström M. , Olovsson M. , Brennecke S. P. , Stepan H. , Allegranza D. , Schoedl M. , Grill S. , Hund M. , Verlohren S.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

The soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is generally elevated some time before and at the clinical onset of pre‐eclampsia. The PROGNOSIS study validated a sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio cut‐off of ≤ 38 to rule out the onset of pre‐eclampsia within 1 week of testing in women with suspected disease. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio to rule out the onset of pre‐eclampsia for up to 4 weeks, and to assess the value of repeat measurements.

Methods

This was an exploratory post‐hoc analysis of data from the PROGNOSIS study performed in pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years with suspected pre‐eclampsia, who were at 24 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation at their first clinic visit. Serum samples were collected at the first visit and weekly thereafter. sFlt‐1 and PlGF levels were measured using Elecsys® sFlt‐1 and PlGF immunoassays. Whether the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio cut‐off of ≤ 38 used to rule out the onset of pre‐eclampsia within 1 week could predict the absence of pre‐eclampsia 2, 3, and 4 weeks post‐baseline was assessed. The value of repeat sFlt‐1/PlGF testing was assessed by examining the difference in sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio 2 and 3 weeks after the first measurement in women with, and those without, pre‐eclampsia or adverse fetal outcome.

Results

On analysis of 550 women, sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio ≤ 38 ruled out the onset of pre‐eclampsia 2 and 3 weeks post‐baseline with high negative predictive values (NPV) of 97.9% and 95.7%, respectively. The onset of pre‐eclampsia within 4 weeks was ruled out with a high NPV (94.3%) and high sensitivity and specificity (66.2% and 83.1%, respectively). Compared with women who did not develop pre‐eclampsia, those who developed pre‐eclampsia had significantly larger median increases in sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio at 2 weeks (∆, 31.22 vs 1.45; P < 0.001) and at 3 weeks (∆, 48.97 vs 2.39; P < 0.001) after their initial visit. Women who developed pre‐eclampsia and/or adverse fetal outcome compared with those who did not had a significantly greater median increase in sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio over the same period (∆, 21.22 vs 1.40; P < 0.001 at 2 weeks; ∆, 34.95 vs 2.30; P < 0.001 at 3 weeks).

Conclusion

The Elecsys® immunoassay sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio can help to rule out the onset of pre‐eclampsia for 4 weeks in women with suspected pre‐eclampsia. © 2018 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
ON CANONICAL BASES AND INDUCTION OF -GRAPHS
Authors: HAHN JOHANNES
Published: July 2018

A canonical basis in the sense of Lusztig is a basis of a free module over a ring of Laurent polynomials that is invariant under a certain semilinear involution and is obtained from a fixed “standard basis” through a triangular base change matrix with polynomial entries whose constant terms equal the identity matrix. Among the better known examples of canonical bases are the Kazhdan–Lusztig basis of Iwahori–Hecke algebras (see Kazhdan and Lusztig,Representations of Coxeter groups and Hecke algebras, Invent. Math.53(1979), 165–184), Lusztig’s canonical basis of quantum groups (see Lusztig,Canonical bases arising from quantized enveloping algebras, J. Amer. Math. Soc.3(2) (1990), 447–498) and the Howlett–Yin basis of induced$W$-graph modules (see Howlett and Yin,Inducing W-graphs I, Math. Z.244(2) (2003), 415–431;Inducing W-graphs II, Manuscripta Math.115(4) (2004), 495–511). This paper has two major theoretical goals: first to show that having bases is superfluous in the sense that canonicalization can be generalized to nonfree modules. This construction is functorial in the appropriate sense. The second goal is to show that Howlett–Yin induction of$W$-graphs is well-behaved a functor between module categories of$W$-graph algebras that satisfies various properties one hopes for when a functor is called “induction,” for example transitivity and a Mackey theorem.
Despite dislocations: Uganda's Indians remaking home
Authors: Nair Savita
Published: July 2018

The distinctive migration history of Uganda's Indians allows us to rethink diaspora identities and memory in forming translocal communities. Settlement, citizenship and displacement created a postcolonial order of overlapping allegiances and multiple, mobile identities. ‘Home’ had been extended and thus connected to sites in India and East Africa, yet the 1972 expulsion called into question the ways in which Uganda's Indians recalled the very idea of home. While expulsion was a momentous crescendo to nineteenth- and early twentieth-century migrations, it did not put an end to the history of Uganda's Indians. This article focuses on the life histories of diverse Indian migrants: an industrialist's multi-local legacy, the post-expulsion return of Indians to two Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) neighbourhoods, the repatriation of former residents back to Uganda in the 1980s and 1990s, and a brand-new generation of Indians coming to Uganda. By tracing these movements, I examine Indian migrants’ articulations of identity, investment and interaction vis-à-vis East Africa and India. How do experiences of rejection and return factor into (multi)national loyalties, notions of home and diaspora identities? How does an autobiography, a built structure or a neighbourhood construct and complicate both memories of migration and a migrant community's identity? I place India and Africa on the same historical map, and, by doing so, offer a way to include Indians in the framework of African political economy and society.
Conversion and the Problem of Discontinuity in the East African Revival
Authors: BRUNER JASON
Published: July 2018

This essay focuses upon particular elements of testimonies within the East African Revival in late colonial Uganda, giving analytical priority to the voice-hearing experiences of converts that often precipitated their conversion. While conversion within this movement aligns broadly with recent interest in discontinuity in Christian conversion, this essay highlights the roles of non-Christian spirits in fomenting radical religious change, including conversion to the East African Revival movement. It argues that the very experiences which occasioned these revivalists’ radical breaks with their past ways of life also established metaphysical continuity with them.
Diversity ofCryptosporidiumin common voles and description ofCryptosporidium alticolissp. n. andCryptosporidium microtisp. n. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae)
Authors: Horčičková Michaela , Čondlová Šárka , Holubová Nikola , Sak Bohumil , Květoňová Dana , Hlásková Lenka , Konečný Roman , Sedláček František , Clark Mark , Giddings Catherine , McEvoy John , Kváč Martin
Published: July 2018

Fecal samples from wild-caught common voles (n= 328) from 16 locations in the Czech Republic were screened forCryptosporidiumby microscopy and PCR/sequencing at loci coding small-subunit rRNA,Cryptosporidiumoocyst wall protein, actin and 70 kDa heat shock protein.Cryptosporidiuminfections were detected in 74 voles (22.6%). Rates of infection did not differ between males and females nor between juveniles and adults. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of eightCryptosporidiumspecies/genotypes including two new species,C. alticolisandC. microti. These species from wild-caught common voles were able to infect common and meadow voles under experimental conditions, with a prepatent period of 3–5 days post-infection (DPI), but they were not infectious for various other rodents or chickens. Meadow voles lost infection earlier than common voles (11–14vs13–16 DPI) and had significantly lower infection intensity.Cryptosporidium alticolisinfects the anterior small intestine and has larger oocysts (5.4 × 4.9µm), whereasC. microtiinfects the large intestine and has smaller oocysts (4.3 × 4.1µm). None of the rodents developed clinical signs of infection. Genetic and biological data support the establishment ofC. alticolisandC. microtias separate species of the genusCryptosporidium.
Depression, violence and cortisol awakening response: a 3-year longitudinal study in adolescents
Authors: Yu Rongqin , Branje Susan , Meeus Wim , Cowen Philip , Fazel Seena
Published: July 2018

Background

Despite evidence of links between depression and violent outcomes, potential moderators of this association remain unknown. The current study tested whether a biological marker, cortisol, moderated this association in a longitudinal sample of adolescents.

Methods

Participants were 358 Dutch adolescents (205 boys) with a mean age of 15 years at the first measurement. Depressive symptoms, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and violent outcomes were measured annually across 3 years. The CAR was assessed by two measures: waking cortisol activity (CAR area under the curve ground) and waking cortisol reactivity (CAR area under the curve increase). Within-individual regression models were adopted to test the interaction effects between depressive symptoms and CAR on violent outcomes, which accounted for all time-invariant factors such as genetic factors and early environments. We additionally adjusted for time-varying factors including alcohol drinking, substance use and stressful life events.

Results

In this community sample, 24% of adolescents perpetrated violent behaviours over 3 years. We found that CAR moderated the effects of depressive symptoms on adolescent violent outcomes (βs ranged from −0.12 to −0.28). In particular, when the CAR was low, depressive symptoms were positively associated with violent outcomes in within-individual models, whereas the associations were reversed when the CAR was high.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the CAR should be investigated further as a potential biological marker for violence in adolescents with high levels of depressive symptoms.
Input-based tasks for beginner-level learners: An approximate replication and extension of Erlam & Ellis (2018)
Authors: Erlam Rosemary , Ellis Rod
Published: July 2018

Erlam & Ellis (2018) published, in Canadian Modern Language Review, an experimental study that investigated the effect of input-based tasks on the acquisition of vocabulary and markers of plurality by adolescent near-beginner learners of L2 (second language) French. The present paper reports an approximate replication of the original study with the aim of confirming or disconfirming the results.1 The research questions of both studies addressed the receptive acquisition of new vocabulary and the receptive and productive acquisition of markers of plurality resulting from instruction using input-based tasks. Both studies investigated near-beginner adolescent learners of French. The teacher, the students’ usual classroom teacher, was the same in both studies. In the replication study, a new, larger group of students were investigated, the length of the instruction was increased, involving the development of additional tasks, and productive as well as the receptive knowledge of the vocabulary items was assessed. The results of the replication study confirm and extend those of the original study. The teachers’ views about the role of input-based tasks with near-beginner learners remained constant in the two studies. The paper concludes with a discussion of the contribution that approximate replications can make to instructed second language acquisition research.
Seed traits favouring dispersal and establishment of six epiphyticTillandsia(Bromeliaceae) species
Authors: Chilpa-Galván Nahlleli , Márquez-Guzmán Judith , Zotz Gerhard , Echevarría-Machado Ileana , Andrade José Luis , Espadas-Manrique Celene , Reyes-García Casandra
Published: July 2018

There are a number of studies describing the gross range of morpho-anatomical variability in epiphyticTillandsiaspecies, but the interspecific variation in seed traits remain largely unexplored, although these play an important role in determining dispersal and establishment success. In order to evaluate interspecific variation in seed morphology, anatomy and germination, we sampled sixTillandsiaspecies from the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, distributed along a precipitation gradient. We studied morpho-anatomical traits (seed length, seed mass, ratio of coma to seed, ratio of embryo to endosperm), seed terminal velocity in still air, and performed histochemical analyses and germination trials under controlled conditions.Tillandsia recurvatadiffers from the other five species in the structure of the plumose coma; it was the only species lacking an endosperm and showed distinct seedling development. Among the species, bigger seeds were related to longer comas, and had higher germinability. Overall, seed terminal velocity was invariably slow, compared with reports of other anemochorous species, suggesting a high dispersal potential. Taxonomical and ecological implications of our results are discussed.
Regulation of mitochondrial respiration in eggs and embryos of sea urchin
Authors: Yasumasu Ikuo
Published: July 2018

It is well known that sea urchin eggs, which exhibit quite a low rate of respiration before fertilisation, undergo a sudden increase in the rate of respiration followed by its gradual decrease in about a 15 min period after fertilisation (Ohnishi & Sugiyama, 1963; Epel, 1969), in which the respiration is mediated mainly by Ca2+-activated non-mitochondrial respiratory systems (Foerder et al., 1978; Perry & Epel, 1985a,b). During this short period the rate of mitochondrial respiration gradually increases (Yasumasu et al., 1988) and stabilises at a higher rate than before fertilisation (Warburg, 1908, 1910; Whitaker, 1933; Yasumasu & Nakano, 1963), when the respiration due to non-mitochondrial respiratory systems is turned off. The rate of mitochondrial respiration, once enhanced upon fertilisation, increases further in the period between hatching and the gastrula stage, without any changes in the number of mitochondria or the capacity of electron transport in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (Fujiwara & Yasumasu, 1997; Fujiwara et al., 2000). It is likely that the respiratory rate is reduced by regulation of electron transport in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and increases due to the release of electron transport from the regulation upon fertilisation and after hatching.

A marked increase in the respiratory rate after hatching is accompanied by an evident decrease in the ATP level without any change in the levels of ADP and AMP (Mita & Yasumasu, 1984). In isolated mitochondria, the rate of respiration, estimated in the presence of ADP at the same concentration as in embryos, is reduced by a high concentration of ATP as found in embryos before hatching but is not affected at a concentration as low as in gastrulae (Fujiwara & Yasumasu, 1997; Fujiwara et al., 2000) ATP at a high concentration probably blocks ATP release from mitochondria and consequently inhibits ADP uptake coupled to ATP release in the ATP/ADP translocation reaction in the mitochondrial membrane, causing a shortage of intra-mitochondrial ADP.
How the sperm triggers development of the egg: what have we learned and what can we expect in the next millennium?
Authors: Epel David
Published: July 2018

The problem of how the sperm activates the egg has captivated the attention of cell and developmental biologists since the turn of the century. An early focus concerned species-specific fertilisation and the pioneering work of Lilly and Tyler (Tyler & Tyler, 1966) used immunological analogies to provide explanations of species-specific fertilisation. Contemporary work has focused on the identity of unique receptors on the sperm and the egg as exemplified in the work of Lennarz (Ohlendieck & Lennarz, 1996), Vacquier (Vacquier,et al., 1995) and Wasserman (1999). Lately, this approach has provided unexpected insights on how speciation might occur. Speciation requires reproductive isolation and creative research from the Vacquier laboratory has demonstrated how reproductive barriers might occur through rapid evolution of sperm/egg recognition systems (Leeet al., 1995).

Studies on the cell biology of activation received a major impetus in the 1930s with Mazia's observation of a calcium increase in eggs of the sea urchin following fertilisation (Mazia, 1937). His discovery, however, was a premature one in that there was no satisfactory model at that time for explaining how a calcium increase could affect cell activity. It took almost 40 years to develop a paradigm, and this came from studies on muscle and nerve which revealed how calcium increases could somehow control cell activity. Work in the 1970s rapidly established a similar role for calcium in activation of the egg at fertilisation. The first break-through was the direct demonstration by Steinhardt & Epel (1974) that calcium was involved in egg activation, through manipulation of calcium levels in sea urchin oocytes by use of calcium ionophores.