bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A fiber Bragg grating-based smart wearable belt for monitoring knee joint postures
Authors: Abro Zamir Ahmed , Hong Chengyu , Chen Nanliang , Zhang Yifan , Lakho Rafique Ahmed , Yasin Sohail
Published: August 2019

Smart wearable technology is exceedingly desirable in athletic sports due to being lightweight, flexible to bend, soft and comfortable. It can continuously deliver accurate information and deformation. During knee flexion, the upper knee perimeter increases with the shrinkage of the knee joint flexor, and it can be monitored. In this study, a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) smart belt is fabricated by embedding FBG sensors at the center of a special silica gel (with unique adhering characteristics to fix FBG on the surface of the belt) for sensing knee joint movements. Polyvinyl chloride strips were adhered to the surface of the smart wearable belt for better protection. The smart belt was calibrated in the laboratory by a systematical changing knee posture and used to identify body postures at various static and kinematic postures of a male subject. The FBG-based smart wearable belt presented a consistent wavelength change after each step by angle changes at the knee joint position. The wavelength increment of FBG sensors increases linearly with the increasing of the bend angle of the knee joint in static tests, and the related slope ratio was 0.3 nm/°. In a jogging test, the measurement sensitivity achieved by the FBG smart wearable belt was within a range between 0.018/° and 0.021 nm/° for the male subject at the velocities of 2 and 3 km/h, respectively. The smart wearable belt could be a useful index to characterize a simple design and ease of implementation, and could also applied for knee posture circumferential strain measurements, especially for sports activities and monitoring stroke patients. This FBG smart belt can be fabricated to produce smart sensing fabrics.
Refugee Migration as a “Wicked Problem”: American Controlling, Palliative, and Governance Policies in Global Context
Authors: Raadschelders Jos C. N. , Larrison Jennica , Thapar Aditi V.
Published: August 2019

Refugee migration is a very visible and growing wicked problem. In this conceptual article, we outline a framework that identifies types of policies, levels of government (in refugee receiving countries), and causes for refugee migration as factors that create this wicked problem. Many refugee migration policies in Northern countries are mainly limited to being controlling at the national level and palliative at the local level. We further highlight a serious lack of true governing policies that address the push factors that drive people away from unpalatable political and/or economic circumstances in their home countries. Focusing solely on refugee policies may be practical but is not productive when the larger environmental context that prompts refugee migration is ignored in the longer term.
Reading Instruction for Students with Emotional Disturbance: A Mixed-Methods Investigation
Authors: McKenna John William , Adamson Reesha , Solis Michael
Published: August 2019

Although there is a substantial body of observation research investigating the manner in which reading instruction is provided to students with learning disabilities, there is little research in this area involving students with and at risk for emotional disturbance. The purpose of this investigation was to contribute to the limited corpus of observation studies investigating school-based practice in reading for this student population. In this investigation, 11 teachers from two states were systematically observed while providing reading instruction over the course of the 2017-2018 school year. Participating students were also observed over the course of the year and completed two standardized reading assessments at the beginning and end of this investigation. Teachers were also interviewed to identify contextual factors that promote or impede the provision of high quality reading instruction to this student population. Study findings suggest that teachers are in need of additional training, support, and resources to maximize instructional time. Students in this sample tended to make no or minimal progress in reading and were frequently observed displaying low levels of academic engagement across settings. Implications for school practice and areas for future research are discussed.
Assets and Livelihoods of Male- and Female-Headed Households in Ghana
Authors: Kpoor Albert
Published: August 2019

The consumption expenditure approach indicates that female-headed households are better-off than male-headed ones in Ghana. This approach has been criticized by scholars for being one-dimensional. Thus, this study adopts the livelihoods approach—a multidimensional perspective—to examine the human, social, financial, and economic assets and livelihoods of male- and female-headed households in Ghana utilizing in-depth interviews and a survey. The findings of the study demonstrate that male-headed households have greater assets endowment and better livelihood outcomes than female-headed ones indicating that they are better-off than their female counterparts. Thus, the consumption expenditure approach masks the deprivations of female-headed households in assets endowment and poor livelihood outcomes. The study recommends the need for national surveys to incorporate a household assets and livelihoods dimensions in order to capture a broad view of the living circumstances in these two types of households.
Complications of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest
Authors: Lee Soo Youn , Jeon Ki-Hyun , Lee Hyun Jong , Kim Ji-Bak , Jang Ho-Jun , Kim Je Sang , Kim Tae Hoon , Park Jin-Sik , Choi Rak Kyeong , Choi Young Jin
Published: August 2019

Background:

The frequency of using veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation increased, especially in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. However, data of complications of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are lacking. This study sought to investigate the incidence of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complications for acute myocardial infarction patients with refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest and its relationship with patient survival.

Methods:

This study included 151 consecutive patients who underwent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between 2006 and 2018 at a single referral center. We divided the patients into those who survived for 30 days after veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( n = 57, 38%; group 1) and those who died within 30 days after veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support ( n = 94, 62%; group 2). The major adverse clinical events associated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were defined as first occurrence of infection, major bleeding, and stroke.

Results:

Adverse clinical events associated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation occurred in 34 (59.6%) and 56 (59.6%) patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Group 2 had more patients who underwent new renal replacement therapy (21.1% vs 37.2%, p = 0.037). After multivariable analysis, cardiac arrest was independently associated with 30-day mortality (odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.7–7.63; p = 0.001). After excluding patients who died within 48 h after undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, new renal replacement therapy (odds ratio = 4.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.58–12.61; p = 0.005) and major adverse clinical events (odds ratio = 2.66; 95% confidence interval = 1.01–7.03; p = 0.049) were independently associated with 30-day mortality.

Conclusion:

Although veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can improve the survival, it is associated with morbidity. Therefore, risk–benefit analysis for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and prevention of complications are important to improve prognosis.
Comparison of in-plane resin transfer molding and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding ‘effective’ permeabilities based on mold filling experiments and simulations
Authors: Hancioglu Mert , Sozer E Murat , Advani Suresh G
Published: August 2019

Resin transfer molding and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding are two of the most commonly used liquid composite molding processes. For resin transfer molding, mold filling simulations can predict the resin flow patterns and location of voids and dry spots which has proven useful in designing the mold and injection locations for composite parts. To simulate vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, even though coupled models are successful in predicting flow patterns and thickness distribution, the input requires fabric compaction characterization in addition to permeability characterization. Moreover, due to the coupled nature of flow and fabric compaction, the simulation is computationally expensive precluding the possibility to optimize the flow design for reliable production. In this work, we present an alternative approach to characterize and use an “effective” permeability in the resin transfer molding solver to simulate resin flow in vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. This decoupled method is very efficient and provides reasonable results. The deviations in mold filling times between experiments and simulations for the resin transfer molding process with E-glass CSM and carbon 5HS were 4.7% and 1.0%, respectively, while for the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding case using “effective permeability value” with E-glass CSM and carbon 5HS fabrics were 11.1% and 12.3%, respectively, which validates the approach presented.
‘Mr Gordon met his fate in the religious spirit’: A letter, empire, Christianity and the death of George William Gordon
Authors: Kasafi Perkins Anna
Published: August 2019

One of the more important letters issuing from the Morant Bay Uprising of 1865 was written by George William Gordon, just before he was hanged on 23 October 1865. An examination of this letter and the circumstances of its writing gives an insight into the workings of Empire in the Caribbean, particularly the implications of the Christian faith for one Native Baptist, who squared off against the corrupt officials of Empire and the local elite. It exposes the Christian and colonial networks at play, providing indications of the important material and literary exchanges between metropole and colony, especially letters, which were the key communication technology of the era. Individual subjects engaged with the agents of Empire to solicit justice through telling their stories, even post mortem. Gordon’s letter emerged at a critical moment in which the British nonconformist missionary project in the West Indies was being rethought. Indeed, one key outcome in the aftermath of the Rebellion was a new relationship between nonconformist missionaries and the civil authorities to ‘civilise’ the Jamaican population to prevent another eruption of ‘the savagery’ of Morant Bay. Such efforts have reverberations for Jamaicans and the Jamaican state even till today.
The Elemental Leverage of Pacific Possession(s): Mining Bitcoin’s Colonial Semantics
Authors: Wigfall Jacqueline
Published: August 2019

For the Pacific world, 1865 brought together Spain and Micronesia. A scattering of tiny islands to the southeast of the Philippines and northwest of Australia, this country was part of a larger territory whose global reputation featured resistance: to Catholicism, commercial exploitation and being pushed around in general. Self-sufficient and socially complex in fascinating ways for thousands of years, Micronesia has been reduced to the secondary role of coconut traders by world history of the fifteenth through twentieth centuries. Economic anthropology, however, tells a different story, which makes 1865 and islands uniquely relevant to finance today.
Yee I-Lann: Photomontage as counter-mapping
Authors: Mohabir Nalini
Published: August 2019

In this primarily visual essay, I consider the ways in which Yee I-Lann’s art revisits the colonial archive in an attempt to affect our understanding of its geographic, social and historical implications. Stitching together concerns about time, space and feelings, Yee I-Lann’s work addresses Southeast Asia’s history of colonial practices through her method of ‘speculative photomontage’, creating speculative moments to suggest new meanings within past and present contexts. In so doing, her work opens up the single photographic moment in time by recontexualizing and recombining signifiers of memory, landscape, personal, and social histories, emotional and political affiliations through her photomontage process. The visuality of her approach facilitates alternative – and affective – ways of seeing the ripple effects of histories and geographies.
Dynamic modeling of a cabin pressure control system
Authors: Chaurasiya Kanhaiya Lal , Bhattacharya Bishakh , Varma AK , Rastogi Sarthak
Published: August 2019

Cabin pressure control system of an aircraft maintains cabin pressure in all flight modes as per the aircraft cabin pressurization characteristics by controlling the air flow from the cabin through the outflow valve of the cabin pressure control valve. The movement of outflow valve in turn depends on the air flow from the control chamber of cabin pressure control valve, which is controlled by the clapper and the poppet valves. These valves are actuated by absolute pressure and the differential pressure capsules, respectively depending upon the operating flight conditions. Mathematical models have been developed to simulate the air outflow rates from the cabin and the control chamber of cabin pressure control valve during steady-state and transient flight conditions. These mathematical models have then been translated into a MATLAB program to obtain plots of cabin pressures as a function of aircraft altitudes. The mathematical models are validated for standard cabin pressurization characteristics of a multirole light fighter/trainer aircraft. The model developed, thus can be used to produce a number of variants of cabin pressure control valve to suit different cabin pressurization characteristics.
Securing sex: Embattled masculinity and the pressured pursuit of women’s bodies in men’s online sex advice
Authors: Cosma Stephanie , Gurevich Maria
Published: August 2019

This article describes findings from a study examining men’s sex advice centered on cultivating masculinity markers by obtaining sex from multiple women. Employing a feminist poststructuralist framework, discourse analysis is used to investigate how casual sex with multiple women is positioned as a crucial requirement in accruing social status and esteem in men’s online Pick-Up Artist (PUA) advice media. Three interpretive repertoires emerged: (a) Embattled Masculinity – defensive and combative themes are invoked to defend male privilege through the concealed pursuit and sexual command of women; (b) Feminine Commodities – women’s bodies are framed as commodities to signify masculinity achievement; and (c) Pressured Pursuit and Consent as Control – men are positioned as authorities in sex, presumed to hold both the responsibility and power to overcome the obstacle of female consent. Obtaining sex from women is the primary objective of PUA advice – an accumulation resource used to bolster an “authentic” masculinity. While securing sex from women is promoted as the main goal, and a fundamental requirement for masculine subjects, references to the value of the women themselves are conspicuously absent or disclaimed.
Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Links Between Close Relationships and Physical Health
Authors: Farrell Allison K. , Stanton Sarah C. E.
Published: August 2019

Although researchers have made great strides in identifying links between close relationship processes and physical health, we know less about the psychological and behavioral mechanisms underlying these links. As we move toward considering relationships as a public health issue, understanding mechanistic pathways in relationships–health links is crucial for designing efficient and effective interventions. In this review, we outline criteria for establishing a construct as a relationships–health mechanism. We then discuss how best to test potential mechanisms of relationships–health links and identify some promising mechanism candidates on the basis of initial evidence (emotion, attachment, sleep, and substance abuse). We conclude by recommending key directions for future research.
Patients’ Experiences of Diabetes Self-Management Education According to Health-Literacy Levels
Authors: Kim Suhyun , Song Yeoungsuk , Park Jihyun , Utz Sonja
Published: August 2019

Diabetes self-management is an important part of patient care for those with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ experiences with diabetes self-management education and how these experiences differed by health-literacy levels. A descriptive qualitative design was conducted. In 2016, 20 patients with diabetes who took a formal diabetes self-management course at a university hospital in South Korea were interviewed. A conventional content analysis was conducted. Patients with low health-literacy misunderstood diabetes management, showed passive attitudes towards seeking information, and had difficulty obtaining detailed information. Patients with high health-literacy wanted systematic, in-depth, individualized counselling on lifestyle modifications and medications. Patients’ experiences with diabetes self-management education revealed differences in their health-literacy dimensions. In addition to practising health-literacy precautions, the content and delivery of diabetes self-management education need to be accommodated according to patients’ health-literacy levels to obtain better outcomes.
Should we worry about the eyes of celiac patients?
Authors: Doğan Güzide , Şen Semra , Çavdar Ercüment , Mayalı Hüseyin , Cengiz Özyurt Beyhan , Kurt Emin , Kasırga Erhun
Published: August 2019

Purpose:

In this article, we evaluate subfoveal choroidal thickness in celiac patients with respect to adherence to the gluten-free diet and nonadherence to the gluten-free diet, comparing with age and sex matched healthy controls using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Materials and Methods:

A case-control study among 42 celiac patients and 42 healthy participants was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. Celiac patients of our policlinics compliant with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography examination enrolled in the study. Celiac patients had been asked verbally about their adherence to gluten-free diet, were evaluated according to negative or positive EmA and anti-TG2 for defining adherence, and were divided into two groups (adherence to gluten-free diet and nonadherence to gluten-free diet).

Results:

Subfoveal choroidal thickness was thinner in EmA (+) or anti-TG2 (+) eyes than EmA(−) or anti-TG2 (−) eyes in celiac patients, but it was not statistically significant. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness values in eyes with celiac disease, whose diagnosis time was longer than 60 months, were thinner than shorter group. Longer duration of gluten-free diet was associated with adherence difficulty and thinner choroidal thickness (r = −0.15, p = 0.34). Adherence to gluten-free diet was 88.2% for children below the age of 60 months and 57.1% for children older than 60 months.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, in addition to other extraintestinal manifestations of celiac disease, diagnosis time longer than 60 months in pediatric celiac patients, nonadherence to the gluten-free diet, and antibody positivity should be focused on during ophthalmologic examination and choroid measurement.
Using non-participant observation to uncover mechanisms: Insights from a realist evaluation
Authors: Handley Melanie , Bunn Frances , Lynch Jennifer , Goodman Claire
Published: August 2019

This article outlines how a realist evaluation of dementia care in hospitals used non-participant observation to support the refinement and testing of mechanisms likely to lead to the use of person-centred care. We found that comments and explanations of their actions from hospital staff during observation periods provided insights into the reasoning that generated their actions for care in real time. This informed subsequent data collection and analysis. Two worked examples of mechanisms first identified during non-participant observation demonstrate (1) how they were uncovered, and (2) how this informed research activities for theory refinement. Early, iterative engagement with the analytic process, primarily involving reflection and debate with the research team, maximised the potential of observation data to support surfacing underlying mechanisms, linking them to specific contexts and outcomes.
The effect of telehealth versus usual care for home-care patients with long-term conditions: A systematic review, meta-analysis and qualitative synthesis
Authors: McFarland Sophie , Coufopolous Anne , Lycett Deborah
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Approximately 26 million people in the United Kingdom are living with one long-term condition and 10 million are living with two or more; these figures are projected to continue increasing (NHS England 2018). People with long-term conditions are two to three times more likely to have poor psychological wellbeing and utilise 50% of GP appointments, 64% of outpatient appointments and over 70 of inpatient bed days. Research in this population could help with increasing constraints on healthcare budgets and resources. Technology-enabled healthcare in the community might help improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs of managing chronic disease but the overall impact is unclear, we therefore conducted a systematic review.

Methods

Keywords and MeSH terms were used to search MEDLINE and CINAHL. We included qualitative and quantitative studies that reported on adult home-care patients diagnosed with at least one long-term condition, comparing telehealth to usual home care. Meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted using RevMan 5. Qualitative findings were thematically synthesised and reported narratively.

Results

In total, 2568 studies were identified and nine (2611 participants) were included. Telehealth was not statistically significantly different versus standard home care for quality of life, psychological wellbeing, physical function, anxiety, depression, disease specific outcomes or bed days of care at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Qualitative findings showed patients found telehealth was beneficial for providing peace of mind and legitimising access to healthcare.

Conclusion

Telehealth may offer reassurance to those living in the community with long-term conditions; however, a lack of high-quality studies and heterogeneity between interventions makes conclusions difficult.
Resistance performance simulation of remotely operated vehicle in deep sea considering propeller rotation
Authors: Bao-Ji Zhang , Xin-Di Lu , Wen-Xuan She
Published: August 2019

In order to predict the resistance performance and movement stability of deep-sea remotely operated vehicle quickly and accurately, the steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes method is used to simulate the force of open-frame remotely operated vehicle with propeller in motion. Volume force model is adopted to simulate the interaction between the propeller and the remotely operated vehicle, solving the force of remotely operated vehicle under the continuous work of two or four screw propellers in the horizontal and vertical motion, as well as the propeller thrust and shaft torque. In addition, according to the simulation result, the shaft torque of the symmetrical distributed propeller is almost equal, so it will not affect the movement stability of remotely operated vehicle. Since no experimental results of these drags and torques have not been performed in this study, it is important to validate the computational fluid dynamics methodology with experimental data and associated motion phenomena by means of numerical simulation. This is the preliminary design stage where extensive hydrodynamic test facilities are not available.
Outcomes After Elective Colorectal Surgery by 2 Surgeons Versus 1 Surgeon in a Low-Volume Hospital
Authors: Sparreboom Cloë Lean , Lambrichts Daniël P. V. , Menon Anand G. , Kleinrensink Gert-Jan , Lingsma Hester F. , Lange Johan F.
Published: August 2019

Background. Improved patient outcomes after colorectal surgery in high-volume hospitals are leading to centralization of colorectal surgery. However, it is desirable to strive for optimal quality of colorectal surgery in low-volume hospitals. This study aimed to assess the effect of the number of surgeons involved in the surgical procedure on patient outcomes in a low-volume hospital. Methods. All patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery with construction of a primary anastomosis between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, were included in this retrospective cohort. The propensity score was used to adjust for confounding. Results. A total of 429 patients were included. One hundred forty-three patients (33.3%) were operated by 1 surgeon and 286 patients (66.7%) were operated by 2 surgeons. Patients operated by 2 surgeons were younger, more often male, and had a higher body mass index. A multivariate analysis with propensity scores revealed that surgery with 2 surgeons was associated with fewer reoperations (odds ratio [OR] = 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2-0.9, P = .038). Colorectal anastomotic leakage (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.2-1.3, P = .204) and mortality (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.2-3.7, P = .807) were not associated with the number of surgeons involved in the surgical procedure. Conclusion. The present study shows that elective colorectal surgery in a low-volume hospital performed by 2 surgeons resulted in fewer reoperations. This might positively influence patient outcomes and might be related to increased surgical quality as compared with procedures performed by only 1 surgeon.
2-Bromopalmitate attenuates bone cancer pain via reversing mitochondrial fusion and fission imbalance in spinal astrocytes
Authors: Meng Wei , Hao Miao-Miao , Yu Na , Li Ming-Yue , Ding Jie-Qiong , Wang Bang-Hua , Zhu Hai-Li , Xie Min
Published: August 2019

Bone cancer pain is common in patients with advanced cancers as tumors metastasize to bone. Pathogenesis of bone cancer pain is complex and poorly understood which leads to inefficiency of clinical treatment. During pathological pain status, astrocytes are activated and release various inflammatory cytokines, which result in the development of peripheral and central sensitization. As energy factory, mitochondria undergo frequent fusion and fission and play essential role for astrocyte function. 2-bromopalmitate (2-BP) is an inhibitor of protein palmitoylation, and its function on bone cancer pain was unclear. In this article, we aimed to investigate the potential curative effects and mechanisms of 2-BP on bone cancer pain. Bone cancer pain rat model was established through intratibial inoculation of rat mammary gland carcinoma cells (MRMT-1) into the left tibia of Sprague–Dawley female rats. As a result, bone cancer pain rats exhibited bone destruction and sensitive nociceptive behavior. And increased leukocyte infiltration, activation of astrocytes, and imbalance of mitochondrial fission and fusion dynamics were observed in spinal cord of bone cancer pain rats. Intrathecal 2-BP administration significantly attenuated pain behavior of bone cancer pain rats. Meanwhile, 2-BP administration reduced spinal inflammation, reversed spinal mitochondrial fission and fusion dynamic imbalance, and further inhibited spinal mitochondrial apoptosis in bone cancer pain rats. In C6 cell level, 2-BP treatment decreased dynamin-related protein 1 expression and increased optic atrophy 1 expression in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP)-induced mitochondrial membrane potential change. These data illustrated that 2-BP attenuated bone cancer pain by reversing mitochondrial fusion and fission dynamic imbalance in spinal astrocytes.
Animals Have No Language, and Humans Are Animals Too
Authors: Prat Yosef
Published: August 2019

Language is a cornerstone of human culture, yet the evolution of this cognitive-demanding ability is shrouded in mystery. Studying how different species demonstrate this trait can provide clues for its evolutionary route. Indeed, recent decades saw ample scientific attempts to compare human speech, the prominent behavioral manifestation of language, with other animals’ vocalizations. Diligent studies have found only elementary parallels to speech in other animals, fortifying the belief that language is uniquely human. But have we really tested this uniqueness claim? Surprisingly, a true impartial comparison between human speech and other animals’ vocalizations has hardly ever been conducted. Here, I illustrate how treating humans as an equal species in vocal-communication research is expected to provide us with no evidence for human superiority in this realm. Thus, novel balanced and unbiased comparative studies are vital for identifying any unique component of human speech and language.
Auto-regressive moving average parameter estimation for 1/f process under colored Gaussian noise background
Authors: Wang Chen , Shi Yao-Wu , Zhu Lan-Xiang , Deng Li-Fei , Shi Yi-Ran , Wang De-Min
Published: August 2019

Current algorithms for estimating auto-regressive moving average parameters of transistor 1/f process are usually under noiseless background. Transistor noises are measured by a non-destructive cross-spectrum measurement technique, with transistor noise first passing through dual-channel ultra-low noise amplifiers, then inputting the weak signals into data acquisition card. The data acquisition card collects the voltage signals and outputs the amplified noise for further analysis. According to our studies, the output transistor 1/f noise can be characterized more accurately as non-Gaussian α-stable distribution rather than Gaussian distribution. We define and consistently estimate the samples normalized cross-correlations of linear SαS processes, and propose a samples normalized cross-correlations-based auto-regressive moving average parameter estimation method effective in noisy environments. Simulation results of auto-regressive moving average parameter estimation exhibit good performance.
Eriocalyxin B Biological Activity: A Review on Its Mechanism of Action
Authors: Riaz Ammara , Saleem Bisma , Hussain Ghulam , Sarfraz Iqra , Nageen Bushra , Zara Rabia , Manzoor Maleeha , Rasul Azhar
Published: August 2019

Natural products, a rich source of bioactive chemical compounds, have served humans as a safer drug of choice since times. Eriocalyxin B, an ent-Kaurene diterpenoid, has been extracted from a traditional Chinese herb Isodon eriocalyx. Experimental data support the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities of EriB. This natural entity exhibits anticancer effects against breast, pancreatic, leukemia, ovarian, lung, bladder, and colorectal cancer. EriB has capability to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells by prompting apoptosis, arresting cell cycle, and modulating cell signaling pathways. The regulation of signaling pathways in cancerous cells by EriB involves the modulation of various apoptosis-related factors (Bak, Bax, caspases, XIAP, survivin, and Beclin-1), transcriptional factors (nuclear factor kappa B [NF-κB], STAT3, Janus-activated kinase 2, Notch, AP-1, and lκBα), enzymes (cyclooxygenase 2, matrix metalloproteinase 2 [MMP-2], MMP-9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), cytokines, and protein kinases (mitogen-activated protein kinase and ERK1/2). This review proposes that EriB supplies a novel opportunity for the cure of cancer but supplementary investigations along with preclinical trials are obligatory to effectively figure out its biological and pharmacological applications.
“I Kind of Have a Goal When I Do It”: The Phenomenology of Cultural Variability in Southeast Asian American Tricultural Emerging Adults
Authors: Nguyen Jacqueline , Ferguson Gail M.
Published: August 2019

Cultural variability (CV) is a dynamic identity process by which individuals play up and play down their cultural identities from day to day. This study examines the phenomenology of CV in a unique group of tricultural Southeast Asian American (SEAA) emerging adults who identify with Asian American, White American, and hip hop cultures to understand how it is experienced, the reasons for its use, the extent to which it is conscious/agentic, and how three cultural identities are managed simultaneously. Interpretive phenomenological analyses reveal that CV was used consciously and involved making behavioral and cognitive changes to fit in with out-group members, educate others about SEAA culture, and to distance themselves from in-group members. Importantly, the centrality of SEAA identity most often remained stable despite playing up/down identities. Overall, findings suggest that CV is an essential identity negotiation strategy for tricultural emerging adults that is complementary to alternation/code-switching.
Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Depressive Disorder: A Prospective, Hospital Based Study
Authors: Mujawar Swaleha , Chaudhury Suprakash , Saldanha Daniel
Published: August 2019

Background: Depression causes emotional and physical disturbances which impacts biological functions such as sleep, appetite, libido, and disinterest in sexual function. Since discussing sexual problems is considered a taboo, there is limited data available concerning the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with depression and its response to treatment.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in females with depressive disorder and the effects of treatment.

Material and Methods: A total of 53 females with recurrent depression and age and sex matched normal control group were included in the study with their informed consent. All the subjects were assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Arizona sexual experience scale (ASEX), and female sexual functioning index (FSFI), which were re-administered after 6 weeks of treatment.

Results: There was a significant difference in the HAM-D, ASEX, and FSFI scores between index and control groups at baseline. There was a significant correlation between the scores of HAM-D, ASEX, and FSFI before treatment. The correlation between the HAM-D and ASEX scores after treatment was not significant. A significant correlation was found between the HAM-D scores and the scores of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain, total domains of FSFI after treatment. No correlation was found between the HAM-D scores and desire domain score of FSFI after treatment.

Conclusion: Women with depression have a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction. A highly significant improvement in depression and sexual functioning was observed at the end of 6 weeks of antidepressant therapy. Despite the improvement in sexual dysfunctions, the individual domains of sexual functions were not comparable to the normal subjects at the end of 6 weeks suggesting the need for longer treatment.
Targeting PRMT1-mediated FLT3 methylation disrupts maintenance of MLL-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Zhu Yinghui , He Xin , Lin Yi-Chun , Dong Haojie , Zhang Lei , Chen Xianwei , Wang Zhihao , Shen Yudao , Li Min , Wang Hanying , Sun Jie , Nguyen Le Xuan , Zhang Han , Jiang Wenjuan , Yang Yanzhong , Chen Jianjun , Müschen Markus , Chen Chun-Wei , Konopleva Marina Y. , Sun Weili , Jin Jian , Carlesso Nadia , Marcucci Guido , Luo Yun , Li Ling
Published: August 2019

Key Points

High PRMT1 expression maintains MLL-r ALL cell survival and growth by regulating FLT3 methylation at R972/973. PRMT1 inhibition enhances ablation of MLL-r ALL by tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment.
Use of the Test of Scientific Literacy Skills Reveals That Fundamental Literacy Is an Important Contributor to Scientific Literacy
Authors: Shaffer Justin F. , Ferguson Julie , Denaro Kameryn
Published: August 2019

College science courses aim to teach students both disciplinary knowledge and scientific literacy skills. Several instruments have been developed to assess students’ scientific literacy skills, but few studies have reported how demographic differences may play a role. The goal of this study was to determine whether demographic factors differentially impact students’ scientific literacy skills. We assessed more than 700 students using the Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS), a validated instrument developed to assess scientific literacy in college science courses. Interestingly, we found that Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) reading score was the strongest predictor of TOSLS performance, suggesting that fundamental literacy (reading comprehension) is a critical component of scientific literacy skills. Additionally, we found significant differences in raw scientific literacy skills on the basis of ethnicity (underrepresented minority [URM] vs. non-URM), major (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] vs. non-STEM), year of college (e.g., senior vs. freshman), grade point average (GPA), and SAT math scores. However, when using multivariate regression models, we found no difference based on ethnicity. These data suggest that students’ aptitude and level of training (based on GPA, SAT scores, STEM or non–STEM major, and year of college) are significantly correlated with scientific literacy skills and thus could be used as predictors for student success in courses that assess scientific literacy skills.
Defining and Measuring Students’ Interest in Biology: An Analysis of the Biology Education Literature
Authors: Rowland Ashley A. , Knekta Eva , Eddy Sarah , Corwin Lisa A.
Published: August 2019

Understanding how students develop biology interests and the roles interest plays in biology contexts could help instructors and researchers to increase science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students’ motivation and persistence. However, it is currently unclear how interest has been defined or measured in the biology education research literature. We analyzed this body of literature to determine how interest has been defined and used by the biology education research community. Specifically, we determined the extent to which previously published work drew on theories that conceptualize interest. Further, we identified studies that measured student interest in biology and characterized the types of measures used. Our findings indicate that biology education researchers typically describe interest as a relationship involving positive feelings between an individual and a physical object, activity, or topic of focus. We also found that interest is often not defined, theories involving interest are not often consulted, and the most common measures of interest only assess a single aspect of the construct. On the basis of these results, we make suggestions for future research seeking to examine biology students’ interest. We hope that this analysis can serve as tool for biology educators to improve their own investigations of students’ interest and measure outcomes of interest-generating educational activities.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma Xenograft in Zebrafish Embryos as a Model To Study the In Vivo Cytotoxicity of Abiraterone Acetate
Authors: Gianoncelli Alessandra , Guarienti Michela , Fragni Martina , Bertuzzi Michela , Rossini Elisa , Abate Andrea , Basnet Ram Manohar , Zizioli Daniela , Bono Federica , Terzolo Massimo , Memo Maurizio , Berruti Alfredo , Sigala Sandra
Published: August 2019

Abiraterone acetate (AbiAc) inhibits tumor growth when administered to immunodeficient mice engrafted with the in vitro cell model of human adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Here, we developed and validated a zebrafish model engrafted with cortisol-secreting ACC cells to study the effects of AbiAc on tumor growth. The experimental conditions for AbiAc absorption in AB zebrafish embryos including embryo number, AbiAc concentration, and absorption time curve by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry were set up. The AbiAc effect on steroid production in AB zebrafish embryos was measured as well. ACC cells (the NCI-H295R cell line, the primary cell ACC29, and the negative control cell SW13) were treated with drug-induced liver injury fluorescent dye, and ∼240 cells per 4 nL was injected in the subperidermal space of the yolk sac of AB zebrafish embryos (n = 80 ± 10). The cell area was measured with Noldus DanioScopeTM software. AbiAc absorption in AB zebrafish embryos was stage dependent. Abiraterone (Abi) concentration decreased, whereas its main metabolite, Δ4A, increased. Accordingly, we demonstrated that zebrafish expressed mRNA encoding the enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which converts Abi in Δ4A. Furthermore, ABiAc reduced cortisol production and increased progesterone in zebrafish embryos. Three days after cell injection, the cortisol-secreting ACC cell area in solvent-treated embryos was significantly higher than that in 1 µM AbiAC‒treated embryos, whereas no AbiAc effect was observed in SW13 cells, which lack the Abi target enzyme CYP17A1.Zebrafish embryos xenografted with ACC tumor cells could be a useful, fast, and reproducible experimental model to preclinically test the activity of new drugs in human ACC.
Single-cell transcriptional logic of cell-fate specification and axon guidance in early born retinal neurons
Authors: Lo Giudice Quentin , Leleu Marion , La Manno Gioele , Fabre Pierre J.
Published: August 2019

Retinal ganglion cells (RGC), cone photoreceptors (cones), horizontal cells (HC) and amacrine cells (AC) are the first classes of neurons produced in the retina. However, an important question is how this diversity of cell states is transcriptionally produced. Here we profiled 6,067 single retinal cells to provide a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas showing the diversity of the early developing mouse retina. RNA velocities unveiled dynamics of cell-cycle coordination of early retinogenesis and define the transcriptional sequences at work during the hierarchical production of early cell-fate specification. We show that RGC maturation follows six waves of gene expression, with older-generated RGCs transcribing increasing amount of guidance cues for young peripheral RGC axons that express the matching receptors. Spatial transcriptionally-deduced features in sub-populations of RGCs allowed us to define novel molecular markers that are spatially restricted. Finally, the isolation of such a spatially restricted population, ipsilateral RGCs, allowed us to identify their molecular identity at the time they execute axon guidance decisions. Together, these data represent a valuable resource shedding light on transcription factor sequences and guidance cue dynamics during mouse retinal development.
A new mouse model of GLUT1 deficiency syndrome exhibits abnormal sleep-wake patterns and alterations of glucose kinetics in the brain
Authors: Furuse Tamio , Mizuma Hiroshi , Hirose Yuuki , Kushida Tomoko , Yamada Ikuko , Miura Ikuo , Masuya Hiroshi , Funato Hiromasa , Yanagisawa Masashi , Onoe Hirotaka , Wakana Shigeharu
Published: August 2019

Dysfunction of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) proteins causes infantile epilepsy, which is designated as a GLUT1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1DS; OMIM #606777). Patients with GLUT1DS display varied clinical phenotypes, such as infantile seizures, ataxia, severe mental retardation with learning disabilities, delayed development, hypoglycorrhachia, and other varied symptoms. Glut1Rgsc200 mutant mice mutagenized with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) carry a missense mutation in the Glut1 gene that results in amino acid substitution at the 324th residue of the GLUT1 protein. In this study, these mutants exhibited various phenotypes, including embryonic lethality of homozygotes, a decreased cerebrospinal-fluid glucose value, deficits in contextual learning, a reduction in body size, seizure-like behavior and abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. During EEG recording, the abnormality occurred spontaneously, whereas the seizure-like phenotypes were not observed at the same time. In sleep-wake analysis using EEG recording, heterozygotes exhibited a longer duration of wake times and shorter duration of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time. The shortened period of NREM sleep and prolonged duration of the wake period may resemble the sleep disturbances commonly observed in patients with GLUT1DS and other epilepsy disorders. Interestingly, an in vivo kinetic analysis of glucose utilization by positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose imaging revealed that glucose transportation was reduced, whereas hexokinase activity and glucose metabolism were enhanced. These results indicate that a Glut1Rgsc200 mutant is a useful tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of GLUT1DS.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
Therapeutic targeting of Notch signaling and immune checkpoint blockade in a spontaneous, genetically heterogeneous mouse model of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Gao Jie , Van Meter Michael , Hernandez Lopez Susana , Chen Guoying , Huang Ying , Ren Shumei , Zhao Qi , Rojas Jose , Gurer Cagan , Thurston Gavin , Kuhnert Frank
Published: August 2019

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic cancer derived from the malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors. Outcomes remain poor for T-ALL patients who have either primary resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapy or disease relapse. Notably, there are currently no targeted therapies available in T-ALL. This lack of next-generation therapies highlights the need for relevant preclinical disease modeling to identify and validate new targets and treatment approaches. Here, we adapted a spontaneously arising, genetically heterogeneous, thymic transplantation-based murine model of T-ALL, recapitulating key histopathological and genetic features of the human disease, to the preclinical testing of targeted and immune-directed therapies. Genetic engineering of the murine Notch1 locus aligned the spectrum of Notch1 mutations in the mouse model to that of human T-ALL and confirmed aberrant, recombination-activating gene (RAG)-mediated 5′ Notch1 recombination events as the preferred pathway in murine T-ALL development. Testing of Notch1-targeting therapeutic antibodies demonstrated T-ALL sensitivity to different classes of Notch1 blockers based on Notch1 mutational status. In contrast, genetic ablation of Notch3 did not impact T-ALL development. The T-ALL model was further applied to the testing of immunotherapeutic agents in fully immunocompetent, syngeneic mice. In line with recent clinical experience in T-cell malignancies, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade alone lacked anti-tumor activity against murine T-ALL tumors. Overall, the unique features of the spontaneous T-ALL model coupled with genetic manipulations and the application to therapeutic testing in immunocompetent backgrounds will be of great utility for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies against T-ALL.