bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Utility of Quality Metrics for Ambulatory Pediatric Cardiology in Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Teitel David F. , Newburger Jane W. , Sutton Nicole , Tani Lloyd Y. , Harahsheh Ashraf S. , Jone Pei-Ni , Mensch Deborah J. , Cotts Timothy , Davidson Alex , Dahdah Nagib , Johnson Walter H. , Portman Michael A.
Published: January 2020

The Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section of the American College of Cardiology sought to develop quality indicators/metrics for ambulatory pediatric cardiology practice. The objective of this study was to report the creation of metrics for patients with Kawasaki disease. Over a period of 5 months, 12 pediatric cardiologists developed 24 quality metrics based on the most relevant statements, guidelines, and research studies pertaining to Kawasaki disease. Of the 24 metrics, the 8 metrics deemed the most important, feasible, and valid were sent on to the ACPC for consideration. Seven of the 8 metrics were approved using the RAND method by an expert panel. All 7 metrics approved by the ACPC council were accepted by ACPC membership after an “open comments” process. They have been disseminated to the pediatric cardiology community for implementation by the ACPC Quality Network.
Challenges and Coping Strategies of Student Nursing Mothers in University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Anibijuwon Ifeoluwa , Esimai Peju
Published: January 2020

The rigor of combining motherhood with education poses great challenge to student nursing mothers (SNMs). This study identified the challenges experienced by the SNMs and determined the factors associated with the challenges experienced in University of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria. This study utilized a nonprobability sampling technique of snowballing. Responses were elicited from 250 consenting SNMs using the pretested semistructured questionnaire. The SNM challenges were measured on 15-point scale. Challenges scores were classified as moderate (≤9) and severe (≥10). The mean age of the SNMs was 29.5 ± 2.8 years. Majority of the respondents (70.0%) reported facing severe challenges which included economic, childcare, and academic challenges (43.2%, 37.2%, and 24.8%, respectively). χ2 test showed significant associations between ages, course of study, and level of study of the SNMs (χ2 = 10.520, p = .005; χ2 = 14.934, p = .002; and χ2 = 9.523, p = .002, respectively) and the overall challenges experienced. Research findings reveal that childhood health problems occurred mostly among SNMs having problems breastfeeding their babies.
Examining the Empirical Realities of Proactive Policing Through Systematic Observations and Computer-Aided Dispatch Data
Authors: Lum Cynthia , Koper Christopher S. , Wu Xiaoyun , Johnson William , Stoltz Megan
Published: January 2020

The 2017 National Academies of Sciences (NAS) Committee and Report on Proactive Policing highlighted what we know about the effects of proactive policing practices on crime prevention and police–community relations. However, the evaluation evidence reviewed by the NAS, which largely comes from case studies of carefully managed proactive initiatives, does not provide a basis for estimating how extensively these practices are used or whether they are used in the most effective ways. Accordingly, it is unclear whether police proactivity as practiced on an everyday basis reflects optimal strategies and implementation methods as recommended by the NAS. This study addresses this knowledge gap by analyzing almost 2 million computer-aided dispatch records from four agencies and systematically observing 84 officers for more than 180 hours to better understand the empirical realities of police proactivity. The findings indicate a major difference between the types of proactive interventions supported by research and the practice of everyday police proactivity. Specifically, proactive policing practices are limited in scope and are often implemented in less than optimal ways. A large proportion of proactive activities are also not recorded, rewarded, or supervised, indicating that patrol commanders may have little control over, or awareness of, proactive deployment. From an evidence-based policing perspective, much more effort is needed to record and track proactivity to measure its impacts (both positive and negative) and align it with what we now know about effective proactive activity from research.
An experimental investigation into passive acoustic damage detection for structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades
Authors: Solimine Jaclyn , Niezrecki Christopher , Inalpolat Murat
Published: January 2020

This article details the implementation of a novel passive structural health monitoring approach for damage detection in wind turbine blades using airborne sound. The approach utilizes blade-internal microphones to detect trends, shifts, or spikes in the sound pressure level of the blade cavity using a limited network of internally distributed airborne acoustic sensors, naturally occurring passive system excitation, and periodic measurement windows. A test campaign was performed on a utility-scale wind turbine blade undergoing fatigue testing to demonstrate the ability of the method for structural health monitoring applications. The preliminary audio signal processing steps used in the study, which were heavily influenced by those methods commonly utilized in speech-processing applications, are discussed in detail. Principal component analysis and K-means clustering are applied to the feature-space representation of the data set to identify any outliers (synonymous with deviations from the normal operation of the wind turbine blade) in the measurements. The performance of the system is evaluated based on its ability to detect those structural events in the blade that are identified by making manual observations of the measurements. The signal processing methods proposed within the article are shown to be successful in detecting structural and acoustic aberrations experienced by a full-scale wind turbine blade undergoing fatigue testing. Following the assessment of the data, recommendations are given to address the future development of the approach in terms of physical limitations, signal processing techniques, and machine learning options.
Research Trends in the Study of the Ethics of the Psalms
Authors: James Joshua T.
Published: January 2020

The study of the ethics of the Psalms is a relative newcomer in the field of Old Testament ethics, having garnered most of its interest following Wenham’s initial essay on the subject in 2005. In hindsight, the neglect of the Psalms is surprising given its overt ethical concerns, but throughout the early phase of the re-emergence of Old Testament ethics (from 1983 to the end of the twentieth century), it was indeed woefully overlooked. The goal of this article is to provide a survey of work on the subject. Because the content and themes of these studies are still somewhat limited, the article is arranged according to the interpretive methodology or hermeneutical framework guiding the various authors’ contributions. In addition to surveying the field, this approach allows for the dominant trends to be observed and set within their proper context.
Dancing: More than a therapy for patients with venous insufficiency
Authors: Dogru-Huzmeli Esra , Fansa Iyad , Cetisli-Korkmaz Nilufer , Oznur-Karabicak Gul , Lale Cem , Gokcek Ozden , Cam Yagmur
Published: January 2020

Objective

This study aims to figure out the effects of dance therapy on patients with chronic venous insufficiency disease.

Methods

Forty subjects with chronic venous insufficiency were recruited to either the control group or the dance therapy group. As the severity of chronic venous insufficiency was defined with the Venous Clinical Severity Scores (VCSS), patients in control group received only medical treatment. Twenty patients with chronic venous insufficiency in dance therapy group received three times a week, for five weeks, totally 15 sessions of dance therapy in addition to medical treatment.

Results

There was no significant difference in pre- and post-treatment results of Rivermead Index, VCSS parameters constipation complaint, assistive breath muscle activity, lower limb circumference, strength and range of motion between groups ( p > 0.05). The remarkable result of this study was obtaining that the post-treatment quality of life scale’s bodily pain score was significantly higher in the dance therapy group than the control group ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions

It was concluded that dance therapy has positive effects on quality of life. There were no barriers to chronic venous insufficiency patients in this form of gentle exercise, showing that it is to meliorate the cardiovascular, physical and psychological benefits of an activity that is enhancing of the self-esteem in addition to the quality of life. Treatment of chronic venous insufficiency should consist of methods that support the patient mentally, physically and psychologically, in addition to the medical treatment. Dance therapy might be a potential exercise intervention for improvements in chronic venous insufficiency patients, so clinicians focusing on them could recommend this form of gentle exercise in addition to the medical treatment.
Experienced Buyers, Long-Term Fee Contracts, and the Value of Property Transactions in the Hotel Industry
Authors: Kim Haejin , Tang Chun-Hung (Hugo)
Published: January 2020

Hotel property sales have often been bundled with contracts, such as franchise agreements and management contracts. In these transactions, the seller/operator and the buyer/owner essentially entered into a long-term relationship. The present study accordingly proposed that such transactions could be viewed as a strategic alliance, rather than a one-time asset disposition. Specifically, it was hypothesized and confirmed that buyers’ experience in hotel investments could enhance the value of long-term fee contracts bundled with transactions. In addition to estimating the transaction premiums at the property level, the present study could contribute to the hospitality industry by demonstrating the value of specialist buyers in property sales bundled with contracts. For decision makers, the results suggested that buyer selection could be an important consideration in property sales bundled with contracts.
English as a Lingua Franca in Mainland China: An Analysis of Intercultural Business Communicative Competence
Authors: Yao Yao , Du-Babcock Bertha
Published: January 2020

China’s rapid expanding its collaboration with the rest of the world entails an urgent need of numerous talents with excellent intercultural communicative competence. Past research has shown that limited empirical studies are available on intercultural communicative competence in business contexts of Mainland China. To bridge the gap, the present study aims to explore what competencies are obligatory for successful intercultural business communication by examining the perceptions of Chinese business professionals on this issue. Adopting the triangulated research method, the present study employs both quantitative and qualitative data to ascertain a better understanding of the issues in question and to corroborate the results obtained from these two research methods. Two hundred and twenty-seven ( N = 227) Chinese business professionals filled in the online questionnaires and 11 of them participated in follow-up interviews. Our findings indicate that intercultural business communicative competence (IBCC) consists of four obligatory components: three in relation to cultural ability (metacognitive intelligence, motivational intelligence, and behavioral intelligence) and one to language ability (strategic competence). Based on our findings, we present a model of IBCC with implications to theory, practice, and education for intercultural business communication.
Exploring the Cross-Linguistic Contribution of Spanish and English Academic Language Skills to English Text Comprehension for Middle-Grade Dual Language Learners
Authors: Phillips Galloway Emily , Uccelli Paola , Aguilar Gladys , Barr Christopher D.
Published: January 2020

In this study, we examine the unique and shared contributions of Spanish and English core academic language skills (CALS) to English reading comprehension in a population of Spanish-English dual language learners in Grades 4 and 5 (n = 165). We focus on cross-disciplinary CALS, operationalized as sets of high-utility lexical, syntactic and discourse resources prevalent in school texts. This study finds that Spanish and English CALS are positively and significantly related, and, further, that both sets of skills exert a unique positive influence on English reading comprehension. Aligned with an interpretation of linguistic interdependence between Spanish and English academic language skills, results document their cross-linguistic contribution to reading comprehension for students enrolled in educational programs that foster literacy and content learning regularly in two languages.
Refined National Institutes of Health response algorithm for chronic graft-versus-host disease in joints and fascia
Authors: Inamoto Yoshihiro , Lee Stephanie J. , Onstad Lynn E. , Flowers Mary E. D. , Hamilton Betty K. , Jagasia Madan H. , Martin Paul J. , Pavletic Steven Z. , Pidala Joseph A. , Pusic Iskra , Vogelsang Georgia B. , Wolff Daniel , Carpenter Paul A.
Published: January 2020

Key Points

The NIH joint/fascia score and total P-ROM score should be used for assessing therapeutic response in joint/fascia chronic GVHD. A change from 0 to 1 on the NIH joint/fascia score should not be considered as worsening.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals recovery strategies in strawberry roots after using a soil amendment in continuous cropping soil
Authors: Chen Peng , Wang Yu-zhu , Liu Qi-zhi , Li Wei-hua , Li He-qin , Li Xing-yue , Zhang Yun-tao
Published: January 2020

Background

In strawberry cultivation, continuous cropping (CC) obstacles seriously threaten production. A patented soil amendment (SA) can effectively relieve the CC obstacles to strawberry cultivation, but knowledge of the recovery mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is limited.

Results

In this study, transcriptomic profiling of strawberry roots in soil with and without the SA was conducted using RNA-Seq technology to reveal gene expression changes in response to SA treatment. In total, 188 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 144 upregulated and 44 downregulated DEGs, were identified. SA treatment resulted in genotype-dependent responses, and the response pattern, including an overall increase in the expression of nutrient transport genes and a decrease in the expression of defense response genes, may be a possible mechanism underlying recovery strategies in strawberry roots after the application of the SA to CC soil. We also found that 9 Hsp genes involved in plant defense pathways were all downregulated in the SA-treated roots.

Conclusions

This research indicated that strawberry plants reallocated defense resources to development when SA treatment alleviated the stress caused by a CC soil environment. The present study provides an opportunity to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of the tradeoff between growth and defense in strawberry.
Starch sources influence lipidaemia of diabetic dogs
Authors: Teixeira Fabio Alves , Machado Daniela Pedrosa , Jeremias Juliana Toloi , Queiroz Mariana Ramos , Pontieri Cristiana Ferreira Fonseca , Brunetto Marcio Antonio
Published: January 2020

Background

Hyperlipidaemia is considered a cause of other diseases that are clinically important and potentially life threatening. Combination of pea and barley as exclusive starch sources is known to interfere with glycemic control in diabetic dogs, but their effect on lipid profile of hiperlipidaemic dogs is yet to be evaluated. Twelve adult diabetic dogs were fed three dry extruded diets with different starch sources and different fat levels: peas and barley (PB), maize (Mi), and peas, barley and rice (Ba) with 15.7, 15.6 and 9.0% of their dry matter as fat, respectively. Plasmatic cholesterol and triglycerides concentration curves over 10 h were obtained after 60 days on each diet and with the same NPH insulin dose. ANOVA test or Friedman test were used to compare the dietary effects on triglycerides and cholesterol variables among the diets.

Results

Dogs presented lower mean (p = 0.05), fasting (p = 0.03), and time 8-h postprandial (p = 0.05) triglyceridemia after PB diet period than Ba diet period and time 4-h postprandial (p = 0.02) lower after PB than Mi diet. Cholesterolemia mean, minimum, maximum, area under the cholesterol curve and times points: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10-h postprandial, had lower values after PB ingestion in comparison to Mi, without difference to Ba diet.

Conclusion

Inclusion of pea and barley, as exclusive starch sources, in therapeutic diets for diabetic dogs can minimize plasmatic triglycerides and cholesterol concentration at fasting and at different postprandial time, compared to the maize diet or diet with lesser fat content.
The impact of palliative care on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Janssen Katherine , Rosielle Drew , Wang Qi , Kim Hyun Joo
Published: January 2020

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disease that results in poor quality of life due to progressive respiratory symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Palliative care improves quality of life and survival in other progressive diseases. No randomized controlled trials have investigated the impact of palliative care on quality of life, anxiety, or depression in IPF.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, controlled, pilot study to assess the feasibility of measuring the effect of a palliative care clinic referral on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in IPF. Patients were randomized to usual care (UC) or usual care + palliative care (UC + PC) with routine pulmonary follow up at 3 and 6 months. The UC + PC group received a minimum of one PC clinic visit. Primary outcome was change from baseline in quality of life, anxiety, and depression as measured by the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Index (HADS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at 6 months.

Results

Twenty-two patients were randomized between September 2017 through July 2018; 11 to UC and 11 to UC + PC. There was no difference in the change in SGRQ score at 3 months or 6 months, however, the symptom score trended towards a significant worsening for UC + PC at both 3 and 6 months (mean change at 3 months for UC and UC + PC was − 7.8 and + 10.7, respectively, p = 0.066; mean change at 6 months for UC and UC + PC was − 6.0 and + 4.6, respectively, p = 0.055). There was no difference in the change in HADS anxiety or depression scores. There was a significant transient worsening in PHQ-9 scores for UC + PC at 3 months (UC: -1.6, UC + PC: + 0.9, p = 0.008); this effect did not persist at 6 months.

Conclusion

This pilot study demonstrated that a randomized controlled trial of palliative care in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients is feasible. Receiving palliative care did not lead to improved quality of life, anxiety, or depression compared to usual care after 6 months. Patients in the UC + PC group trended towards worsening symptoms and a small but statistically significant transient worsening in depression. These findings should be interpreted with caution, and need to be evaluated in adequately powered clinical trials. NCT03981406, June 10, 2019, retrospectively registered.
Childhood fussy/picky eating behaviours: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies
Authors: Wolstenholme Hazel , Kelly Colette , Hennessy Marita , Heary Caroline
Published: January 2020

Fussy/picky eating behaviours are common across childhood. Recent reviews of the fussy eating literature focus on quantitative research and do not adequately account for families’ subjective experiences, perceptions and practices. This review aims to synthesise the increasing volume of qualitative work on fussy eating. A systematic search of relevant databases was carried out. Studies were included if they were qualitative, published since 2008, with a primary focus on families’ experiences, perceptions and practices regarding fussy eating, food neophobia, or food refusal in children (aged one to young adult). Studies with clinical samples, or relating to children under one year were excluded. Ten studies were eligible for this review and were synthesised using meta-ethnography (developed by Noblit and Hare). This review provides a comprehensive description and definition of fussy eating behaviours. A conceptual model of the family experience of fussy eating was developed, illustrating relationships between child characteristics (including fussy eating behaviours), parent feeding beliefs, parent feeding practices, mealtime emotions and parent awareness of food preference development. Our synthesis identified two ways in which fussy eating relates to mealtime emotions (directly and via parent feeding practices) and three distinct categories of parent beliefs that relate to fussy eating (self-efficacy, attributions and beliefs about hunger regulation). The model proposes pathways which could be explored further in future qualitative and quantitative studies, and suggests that parent beliefs, emotions, and awareness should be targeted alongside parent feeding practices to increase effectiveness of interventions. The majority of studies included in this review focus on pre-school children and all report the parent perspective. Further research is required to understand the child’s perspective, and experiences of fussy eating in later childhood.

PROSPERO Registration:CRD42017055943
Flow cytometry and targeted immune transcriptomics identify distinct profiles in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors with or without interferon-α
Authors: Alves Raquel , McArdle Stephanie E. B. , Vadakekolathu Jayakumar , Gonçalves Ana Cristina , Freitas-Tavares Paulo , Pereira Amélia , Almeida Antonio M. , Sarmento-Ribeiro Ana Bela , Rutella Sergio
Published: January 2020

Background

Tumor cells have evolved complex strategies to escape immune surveillance, a process which involves NK cells and T lymphocytes, and various immunological factors. Indeed, tumor cells recruit immunosuppressive cells [including regulatory T-cells (Treg), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC)] and express factors such as PD-L1. Molecularly targeted therapies, such as imatinib, have off-target effects that may influence immune function. Imatinib has been shown to modulate multiple cell types involved in anti-cancer immune surveillance, with potentially detrimental or favorable outcomes. Imatinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have dramatically changed disease course. Our study aimed to characterize the different populations of the immune system in patients with CML affected by their treatment.

Methods

Forty-one patients with CML [33 treated with TKIs and 8 with TKIs plus interferon (IFN)-α] and 20 controls were enrolled in the present study. Peripheral blood populations of the immune system [referred to as the overview of immune system (OVIS) panel, Treg cells and MDSCs] and PD-1 expression were evaluated by flow cytometry. The immunological profile was assessed using the mRNA Pan-Cancer Immune Profiling Panel and a NanoString nCounter FLEX platform.

Results

Patients receiving combination therapy (TKIs + IFN-α) had lower numbers of lymphocytes, particularly T cells [838/µL (95% CI 594–1182)] compared with healthy controls [1500/µL (95% CI 1207 – 1865), p = 0.017]. These patients also had a higher percentage of Treg (9.1%) and CD4+PD-1+cells (1.65%) compared with controls [Treg (6.1%) and CD4+/PD-1+(0.8%); p ≤ 0.05]. Moreover, patients treated with TKIs had more Mo-MDSCs (12.7%) whereas those treated with TKIs + IFN-α had more Gr-MDSC (21.3%) compared to controls [Mo-MDSC (11.4%) and Gr-MDSC (8.48%); p ≤ 0.05]. CD56brightNK cells, a cell subset endowed with immune-regulatory properties, were increased in patients receiving TKIs plus IFN-α compared with those treated with TKIs alone. Interestingly, serum IL-21 was significantly lower in the TKIs plus IFN-α cohort. Within the group of patients treated with TKI monotherapy, we observed that individuals receiving 2nd generation TKIs had lower percentages of CD4+Treg (3.63%) and Gr-MDSC (4.2%) compared to patients under imatinib treatment (CD4+Treg 6.18% and Gr-MDSC 8.2%), but higher levels of PD-1-co-expressing CD4+cells (1.92%).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that TKIs in combination with IFN-α may promote an enhanced immune suppressive state.
Short-term resistance exercise inhibits neuroinflammation and attenuates neuropathological changes in 3xTg Alzheimer’s disease mice
Authors: Liu Yan , Chu John Man Tak , Yan Tim , Zhang Yan , Chen Ying , Chang Raymond Chuen Chung , Wong Gordon Tin Chun
Published: January 2020

Background

Both human and animal studies have shown beneficial effects of physical exercise on brain health but most tend to be based on aerobic rather than resistance type regimes. Resistance exercise has the advantage of improving both muscular and cardiovascular function, both of which can benefit the frail and the elderly. However, the neuroprotective effects of resistance training in cognitive impairment are not well characterized.

Methods

We evaluated whether short-term resistant training could improve cognitive function and pathological changes in mice with pre-existing cognitive impairment. Nine-month-old 3xTg mouse underwent a resistance training protocol of climbing up a 1-m ladder with a progressively heavier weight loading.

Results

Compared with sedentary counterparts, resistance training improved cognitive performance and reduced neuropathological and neuroinflammatory changes in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of mice. In line with these results, inhibition of pro-inflammatory intracellular pathways was also demonstrated.

Conclusions

Short-term resistance training improved cognitive function in 3xTg mice, and conferred beneficial effects on neuroinflammation, amyloid and tau pathology, as well as synaptic plasticity. Resistance training may represent an alternative exercise strategy for delaying disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease.
Endoscopic rhizotomy for chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain
Authors: Xue Yuntao , Ding Tao , Wang Dajie , Zhao Jianli , Yang Huilin , Gu Xiaofeng , Feng Dehong , Zhang Yafeng , Liu Hao , Tang Fenglin , Wang Wanyi , Lu Miao , Wu Chao
Published: January 2020

Background

Chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain is a common cause of chronic low back pain. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the effective management options; however, the results from the traditional RFA need to be improved in certain cases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation under endoscopic guidance (ERFA) for chronic low back pain secondary to facet joint arthritis.

Methods

This is a prospective study enrolled 60 patients. The cases were randomized into two groups: 30 patients in the control group underwent traditional percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, others underwent ERFA. The lumbar visual analog scale (VAS), MacNab score, and postoperative complications were used to evaluate the outcomes. All outcome assessments were performed at postoperative 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.

Results

There was no difference between the two groups in preoperative VAS (P> 0.05). VAS scores, except the postoperative first day, in all other postoperative time points were significantly lower than preoperative values each in both groups (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in VAS at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery (P> 0.05). However, the EFRA demonstrated significant benefits at the time points of 3 months and 6 months (P> 0.05). The MacNab scores of 1-year follow-up in the ERFA group were higher than that in the control group (P< 0.05). The incidence of complications in the ERFA group was significantly less than that in the control group (P< 0.05).

Conclusions

ERFA may achieve more accurate and definite denervation on the nerves, which leads to longer lasting pain relief.
An RNAi screen for secreted factors and cell-surface players in coordinating neuron and glia development in Drosophila
Authors: Liu Zhengya , Chen Yixu , Rao Yong
Published: January 2020

The establishment of the functional nervous system requires coordinated development of neurons and glia in the embryo. Our understanding of underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms, however, remains limited. The developingDrosophilavisual system is an excellent model for understanding the developmental control of the nervous system. By performing a systematic transgenic RNAi screen, we investigated the requirements of secreted proteins and cell-surface receptors for the development of photoreceptor neurons (R cells) and wrapping glia (WG) in theDrosophilavisual system. From the screen, we identified seven genes whose knockdown disrupted the development of R cells and/or WG, includingamalgam (ama),domeless (dome),epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), kuzbanian (kuz),N-Cadherin (CadN),neuroglian (nrg),andshotgun (shg). Cell-type-specific analysis revealed thatamais required in the developing eye disc for promoting cell proliferation and differentiation, which is essential for the migration of glia in the optic stalk. Our results also suggest thatnrgfunctions in both eye disc and WG for coordinating R-cell and WG development.
Two-hybrid screening of FAM13A protein partners in lung epithelial cells
Authors: Ruffin Manon , Thompson Kristin E. , Corvol Harriet , Guillot Loic
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Family with sequence similarity 13 member A (FAM13A) genetic variants have been associated with several chronic respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer. The FAM13A protein includes a RhoGTPase activating protein (RhoGAP) domain known to participate in various cellular mechanisms including cell proliferation. While intensive genomic studies have been performed to reveal its involvement in lung diseases, the biological role of FAM13A protein is still not completely elucidated.

Results

We therefore performed a two-hybrid screening to identify protein partners of FAM13A using a human lung cancer cDNA library. We identified several protein partners with a high confidence score. Researchers in the field of chronic lung diseases may benefit from this two-hybrid screening data which may reveal new research pathways to decipher.
Elevated HDAC activity and altered histone phospho-acetylation confer acquired radio-resistant phenotype to breast cancer cells
Authors: Sharda Asmita , Rashid Mudasir , Shah Sanket Girish , Sharma Ajit Kumar , Singh Saurav Raj , Gera Poonam , Chilkapati Murali Krishna , Gupta Sanjay
Published: January 2020

Background

Poor-responsiveness of tumors to radiotherapy is a major clinical problem. Owing to the dynamic nature of the epigenome, the identification and targeting of potential epigenetic modifiers may be helpful to curb radio-resistance. This requires a detailed exploration of the epigenetic changes that occur during the acquirement of radio-resistance. Such an understanding can be applied for effective utilization of treatment adjuncts to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy and reduce the incidence of tumor recurrence.

Results

This study explored the epigenetic alterations that occur during the acquirement of radio-resistance. Sequential irradiation of MCF7 breast cancer cell line up to 20 Gy generated a radio-resistant model. Micrococcal nuclease digestion demonstrated the presence of compact chromatin architecture coupled with decreased levels of histone PTMs H3K9ac, H3K27 ac, and H3S10pK14ac in the G0/G1 and mitotic cell cycle phases of the radio-resistant cells. Further investigation revealed that the radio-resistant population possessed high HDAC and low HAT activity, thus making them suitable candidates for HDAC inhibitor–based radio-sensitization. Treatment of radio-resistant cells with HDAC inhibitor valproic acid led to the retention of γH2AX and decreased H3S10p after irradiation. Additionally, an analysis of 38 human patient samples obtained from 8 different tumor types showed variable tumor HDAC activity, thus demonstrating inter-tumoral epigenetic heterogeneity in a patient population.

Conclusion

The study revealed that an imbalance of HAT and HDAC activities led to the loss of site-specific histone acetylation and chromatin compaction as breast cancer cells acquired radio-resistance. Due to variation in the tumor HDAC activity among patients, our report suggests performing a prior assessment of the tumor epigenome to maximize the benefit of HDAC inhibitor–based radio-sensitization.

Graphical abstract
Effects of Rex-bypass shunt on the cavernous transformation of the portal vein in children: evaluation by the color Doppler ultrasonography
Authors: Ruan Zhengmin , Wu Mei , Shao Chunchun , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Caikun , Zhang Feixue , Zhao Bin
Published: January 2020

Background

The study was to investigate the role of color Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of the effect of Rex-bypass shunt on the cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) in children.

Methods

Fifty children with symptomatic extrahepatic portal hypertension who received Rex-bypass shunt were retrospectively reviewed, and they were diagnosed with CTPV by ultrasonography. The clinical characteristics were analyzed before and after operation.

Results

Forty-five patients received color Doppler ultrasonography at 6 months after surgery, and good patency in the bypass vessels was displayed. The platelet count significantly increased (P < 0.001) and the esophagogastric varices were improved significantly (p < 0.001). The patency of bypass vessels on color Doppler ultrasonography was consistent with the changes in the platelet count and the degree of esophagogastric varices on gastroscopy before and after operation. The diameter of bypass vessels at 6 months was slightly larger than that at 7 days after operation, and there was no significant difference in blood flow velocity between two time points (P = 0.507).

Conclusions

Color Doppler ultrasonography can display the patency, diameter, and flow velocity of bypass vessels. It plays an important role in evaluating the effect of Rex-bypass shunt on the CTPV.
Sex differences in the risk of vascular disease associated with diabetes
Authors: de Ritter Rianneke , de Jong Marit , Vos Rimke C. , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Sep Simone J. S. , Woodward Mark , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , Bots Michiel L. , Peters Sanne A. E.
Published: January 2020

Diabetes is a strong risk factor for vascular disease. There is compelling evidence that the relative risk of vascular disease associated with diabetes is substantially higher in women than men. The mechanisms that explain the sex difference have not been identified. However, this excess risk could be due to certain underlying biological differences between women and men. In addition to other cardiometabolic pathways, sex differences in body anthropometry and patterns of storage of adipose tissue may be of particular importance in explaining the sex differences in the relative risk of diabetes-associated vascular diseases. Besides biological factors, differences in the uptake and provision of health care could also play a role in women’s greater excess risk of diabetic vascular complications. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge regarding sex differences in both biological factors, with a specific focus on sex differences adipose tissue, and in health care provided for the prevention, management, and treatment of diabetes and its vascular complications. While progress has been made towards understanding the underlying mechanisms of women’s higher relative risk of diabetic vascular complications, many uncertainties remain. Future research to understanding these mechanisms could contribute to more awareness of the sex-specific risk factors and could eventually lead to more personalized diabetes care. This will ensure that women are not affected by diabetes to a greater extent and will help to diminish the burden in both women and men.
New existence results for coupled delayed differential systems with multi-parameters
Authors: Chen Ruipeng , Li Xiaoya
Published: January 2020

In this paper, several novel existence and multiplicity results are established for a coupled functional differential system with multi-parameters. The discussion is based upon fixed point theory, and our main findings enrich and complement those available in the literature.
iRECIST: how to do it
Authors: Persigehl Thorsten , Lennartz Simon , Schwartz Lawrence H.
Published: January 2020

Background

iRECIST for the objective monitoring of immunotherapies was published by the official RECIST working group in 2017.

Main body

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors represent one of the most important therapy advancements in modern oncology. They are currently used for treatment of multiple malignant diseases especially at advanced, metastatic stages which were poorly therapeutically accessible in the past. Promising results of recent studies suggest that their application will further grow in the near future, particularly when used in combination with chemotherapy. A challenging aspect of these immunotherapies is that they may show atypical therapy response patterns such as pseudoprogression and demonstrate a different imaging spectrum of adverse reactions, both of which are crucial for radiologists to understand. In 2017 the RECIST working group published a modified set of response criteria, iRECIST, for immunotherapy, based on RECIST 1.1 which was developed for cytotoxic therapies and adapted for targeted agents.

Conclusion

This article provides guidance for response assessment of oncologic patients under immunotherapy based on iRECIST criteria.
Comparison of lupus patients with early and late onset nephritis: a study in 71 patients from a single referral center
Authors: Delfino Juliana , dos Santos Thiago Alberto F. G. , Skare Thelma L.
Published: January 2020

Background

Nephritis occurs frequently in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may worsen disease morbidity and mortality. Knowing all characteristics of this manifestation helps to a prompt recognition and treatment.

Aim

To compare the differences in clinical data, serological profile and treatment response of nephritis of early and late onset.

Methods

Retrospective study of 71 SLE patients with biopsy proven nephritis divided in early nephritis group (diagnosis of nephritis in the first 5 years of the disease) and late nephritis (diagnosis of nephritis after 5 years). Epidemiological, serological, clinical and treatment data were collected from charts and compared.

Results

In this sample, 70. 4% had early onset nephritis and 29.6% had late onset. No differences were noted in epidemiological, clinical, serological profile, SLICC and SLEDAI, except that late onset nephritis patients were older at nephritis diagnosis (p = 0.01). Regarding renal biopsy classification, C3 and C4 levels, serum creatinine, 24 h proteinuria and response rate to treatment the two groups were similar (p = NS). Patients with early onset had lower levels of hemoglobin at nephritis onset than those of late onset (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Most of SLE patients had nephritis in the first 5 years of disease. No major differences were noted when disease profile or treatment outcome of early and late onset nephritis were compared.
Students’ problem-solving strategies in qualitative physics questions in a simulation-based formative assessment
Authors: Park Mihwa
Published: January 2020

Previous studies on quantitative physics problem solving have been concerned with students’ using equations simply as a numerical computational tool. The current study started from a research question: “How do students solve conceptual physics questions in simulation-based formative assessments?” In the study, three first-year college students’ interview data were analyzed to characterize their problem-solving strategies in qualitative physics questions. Prior to the interview, the participating students completed four formative assessment tasks in physics integrating computer simulations and questions. The formative assessment questions were either constructed-response or two-tiered questions related to the simulations. When interviewing students, they were given two or three questions from each task and asked to think aloud about the questions. The findings showed that students still used equations to answer the qualitative questions, but the ways of using equations differed between students. The study found that when students were able to connect variables to a physical process and to interpret relationships among variables in an equation, equations were used as explanatory or conceptual understanding tools, not just as computational tools.
Cardiac syndrome X – the present knowledge
Authors: Piegza Magdalena , Wierzba Dawid , Piegza Jacek
Published: January 2020

Celem niniejszej pracy było zdefiniowanie pojęcia kardiologicznego zespołu X w oparciu o najnowsze badania, określenie jego powiązań z zaburzeniami psychicznymi i przedstawienie aktualnych kierunków w terapii. Kardiologiczny zespół X został wyodrębniony w 1973 roku celem opisania grupy chorych z objawami zespołu wieńcowego przy prawidłowym obrazie naczyń wieńcowych w badaniu koronarograficznym. Mimo upływu lat, sama defincja zespołu i kryteria diagnostyczne nadal budzą kontrowersje. Szacuje się, że od 10 do 20 procent osób poddanych koronarografii, to chorzy z kardiologicznym zespołem X, w zdecydowanej większości są to kobiety w okresie okołomenopauzalnym. Ta populacja chorych znacznie częściej niż populacja ogólna cierpi z powodu zaburzeń lękowych, objawów depresji i zaburzeń snu. W leczeniu zastosowanie znajduje szereg leków o różnych mechanizmach działania, jednak ich skuteczność jest ograniczona, a istotnym elementem terapii są działania pozafarmakologiczne. Grupa chorych na kardiologiczny zespół X wymaga okresowej kontroli, gdyż prospektywne obserwacje wykazały, że jest to grupa ryzyka rozwoju miażdżycy i ostrych zespołów wieńcowych.
Non-surgical interventions for excessive anterior pelvic tilt in symptomatic and non-symptomatic adults: a systematic review
Authors: Falk Brekke Anders , Overgaard Søren , Hróbjartsson Asbjørn , Holsgaard-Larsen Anders
Published: January 2020

Excessive anterior pelvic tilt is suspected of causing femoroacetabular impingement, low back pain, and sacroiliac joint pain. Non-surgical treatment may decrease symptoms and is seen as an alternative to invasive and complicated surgery. However, the effect of non-surgical modalities in adults is unclear. The aim of this review was to investigate patient- and observer-reported outcomes of non-surgical intervention in reducing clinical symptoms and/or potential anterior pelvic tilt in symptomatic and non-symptomatic adults with excessive anterior pelvic tilt, and to evaluate the certainty of evidence. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane (CENTRAL) databases were searched up to March 2019 for eligible studies. Two reviewers assessed risk of bias independently, using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. Data were synthesized qualitatively. The GRADE approach was used to assess the overall certainty of evidence. Of 2013 citations, two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 72) and two non-RCTs (n = 23) were included. One RCT reported a small reduction (< 2°) in anterior pelvic tilt in non-symptomatic men. The two non-RCTs reported a statistically significant reduction in anterior pelvic tilt, pain, and disability in symptomatic populations. The present review was based on heterogeneous study populations, interventions, and very low quality of evidence. No overall evidence for the effect of non-surgical treatment in reducing excessive anterior pelvic tilt and potentially related symptoms was found. High-quality studies targeting non-surgical treatment as an evidence-based alternative to surgical interventions for conditions related to excessive anterior pelvic tilt are warranted.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:37-45. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190017
Reconfigurable multiwavelength fiber laser based on multimode interference in highly germanium-doped fiber
Authors: Huang Tianye , Zhang Dazhong , Yoo Seongwoo , Wei Qian , Sidharthan Raghuraman , Wu Zhichao , Yan Bin , Song Chaolong , Cheng Zhuo
Published: January 2020

A reconfigurable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser based on an all-fiber multimode interferometer (MMI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The interferometer is constructed by sandwiching a section of highly germanium-doped fiber (HGDF) between two sections of single-mode fiber. The insertion loss of the interferometer is as low as 2 dB. Due to the polarization-dependent spectral filtering effect formed by the MMI, by rotating the intracavity polarization controller, the laser output can be switched among single-, dual-, and triple-wavelength lasing states with optical signal-to-noise ratio up to 50 dB. In particular, the obtained dual-wavelength state shows high stability with wavelength shift within

±

0.04

n
m

, wavelength spacing variation within

±

0.03

n
m

, and power fluctuation within

±

0.04

d
B

by monitoring the output spectra over 8 h at room temperature. By changing the length of the HGDF, the wavelength spacing can also be flexibly manipulated. Taking the advantages of reconfiguration, low cost, and easy fabrication, this fiber laser may have great potential in various optical applications.
Polarization imaging model considering the non-ideality of polarizers
Authors: Yang Jie , Qiu Su , Jin Weiqi , Wang Xia , Xue Fuduo
Published: January 2020

Common polarization imaging models are mostly based on an ideal polarizer assumption. This paper proposes a polarization imaging non-ideal model considering the non-ideality of polarizers. The corresponding correction formulas for degree of linear polarization (DoLP) and angle of polarization are also provided. Experiments on linearly polarized light and partially polarized light reflected by a glass plate suggest that when the extinction ratio of polarizers is 100:1, the DoLP relative error of linearly polarized light with the non-ideal model is reduced by 1.87% compared to that with the ideal model; the DoLP relative error of partially polarized light with the non-ideal model is reduced by 1.69% compared to that with the ideal model. Application of the non-ideal model can effectively improve the precision of polarization measurement. In particular, this improvement is more obvious with a low-extinction-ratio (less than 100:1) analyzer.
Message from the incoming Editor-In-Chief: editorial
Authors: Li Guifang
Published: January 2020

Guifang Li, the new Editor-in-Chief of Advances in
Optics and Photonics, outlines his vision for the
Journal.