bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asthma knowledge, care, and outcome during pregnancy: The QAKCOP study
Authors: Ibrahim Wanis H , Rasul Fatima , Ahmad Mushtaq , Bajwa Abeer S , Alamlih Laith I , El Arabi Anam M , Dauleh Mujahed M , Abubeker Ibrahim Y , Khan Muhammed U , Ibrahim Tayseer S , Ibrahim Azdin A
Published: April 2018

Asthma is the most common chronic medical condition affecting pregnancy. Optimizing asthma management in pregnancy is paramount for the well-being of both the mother and the baby. The primary objectives of this study were to assess patient’s knowledge about asthma, the level of asthma care, and fetal and maternal outcomes among pregnant asthmatic women in this wealthy country with tremendous improvement in maternal and fetal health care. The secondary objective was to identify barriers to asthma control. This was a cross-sectional, face-to-face, prospective study of 80 pregnant women with physician-diagnosed asthma. About 56% of patients reported worsening of their asthma control during pregnancy, of which 52.3% felt this worsening in the third trimester. About 65% of patients had uncontrolled asthma during their pregnancy, and inhaler technique was incorrect in 64.4%. Only 38% of patients knew the difference between controller and reliever asthma medications, 12.7% of patients had received written asthma action plan, 17% had a spirometry done in the previous 5 years, and 3.8% had peak expiratory flow meter at home. The main reasons for uncontrolled asthma were lack of knowledge about right asthma medications in 30% and fear of side effects of inhaled corticosteroids in 19% of patients. No financial reason was reported. Significant associations between total number of pregnancies, poor perception of asthma medications, asthma exacerbation during delivery and poor asthma control were observed. Preeclampsia and congenital anomalies occurred at higher rates than previously reported among general population in this country. The tremendous improvements in maternal health care and socioeconomic status do not seem to be a barrier to the globally recognized poor asthma care in pregnancy. Important strategies are much needed.
Predictors of Timely Prenatal Care Initiation and Adequate Utilization in a Sample of Late Adolescent Texas Latinas
Authors: Torres Rosamar , Kehoe Priscilla , Heilemann MarySue V.
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

Little is known of late adolescent Texas Latinas’ prenatal care perceptions or how these perceptions predict timely prenatal care initiation or adequate utilization. Hence, the purpose of this study is to describe and compare these perceptions between participants with timely versus late prenatal care initiation and adequate, intermediate, and inadequate prenatal care utilization; and to determine predictors of timely prenatal care initiation and adequate utilization.

Methods:

Fifty-four postpartum Latinas were recruited through social media. Eligibility criteria were 18 to 21 years old, Texas-born, primiparous, uncomplicated pregnancy/delivery, and English literate. Prenatal care perceptions were measured with the Revised Better Babies Survey and Access Barriers to Care Index.

Results:

Participants had favorable views of prenatal care benefits; however, not living with the baby’s father predicted inadequate prenatal care, Wald χ2(1) = 4.93, p = .026. Perceived benefits of timely and adequate prenatal care predicted timely prenatal care initiation, χ2(1) = 7.47, p = .006. Self-reported depression during pregnancy predicted timely entry into prenatal care, χ2(1) = 4.73, p = .03.

Conclusion:

Participants’ positive prenatal care perceptions did not predict adequate prenatal care utilization, indicating that barriers serve as powerful obstacles in late adolescent Texas Latinas.
Cancer Storytelling: A Study of Well-Being Expressions Made by Patients
Authors: Brown Gregory , de Jong Jim (J.W.)
Published: April 2018

Many cancer patients tell their story to help others. This paper reports a study of 160 such stories, which were processed using a grounded theory methodology.

The stories were rich in emotional words and in metaphors and these, along with self-talk and meaning-for-life, provided the commonest indications of the patients’ well-being. Cancer patients, through the process of telling their story, help themselves and enhance their well-being. The method of active listening is described, with associated risks for professionals.
Managing dental emergencies in general practice
Authors: Mills Garrett M , Gribben Mark D , Mills Sarah EE
Published: April 2018

Patients will often avoid seeking dental care until they are acutely unwell and may present to other medical providers of care, including GPs and Accident and Emergency departments. The number of patients seeing GPs for dental problems is increasing, with GPs seeing on average of between 30 and 48 patients with dental problems per year. Common dental presentations to primary care include pain, swelling, bleeding, dental injury, ulceration, and oral lesions. There are a number of clinical, ethical and legal considerations when triaging, managing and signposting such patients to appropriate care.
A service-oriented approach to modeling and performance analysis of Port Community Systems
Authors: Nota Giancarlo , Bisogno Marco , Saccomanno Antonello
Published: April 2018

A Port Community System (PCS) is an electronic platform that links the multiple systems operated by private and public organizations. Accordingly, PCSs can be interpreted as complex service system networks that coproduce services. The study proposes a three levels top-down methodology which aims to interpret existing PCS in order to: provide a formal description of this system network based on the enterprise architecture concepts of a PCS; illustrate how each actor of a PCS offers or requires services; and present a new approach to the measurement of services based on the Goal-Question-Metric paradigm.
School Counselor Sexual Minority Advocacy Competence Scale (SCSMACS)
Authors: Simons Jack D.
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop the School Counselor Sexual Minority Advocacy Competence Scale (SCSMACS), a measure to use in training school counselors to advocate for sexual minority students. Developing the SCSMACS involved (a) generating items, (b) reducing items, and (c) gathering data from middle and high school counselors to conduct principal component analysis and reliability and validity testing. The author found support for content validity, construct validity, criterion validity, and test–retest reliability.
Intracranial Hemorrhage and Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia in a Neonate
Authors: Becocci Andrea , Felice-Civitillo Cristina , Laurent Méryle , Boehlen Françoise , De Luca Roberta , Fluss Joel
Published: April 2018

Neonatal thrombocytopenia is a rare complication of maternal autoimmune thrombocytopenia, and no maternal predictors of its gravity and potential complications have been identified. Neonatal cerebral hemorrhage, a feared event in the setting of autoimmune thrombocytopenia, is fortunately uncommon, but it can occur in utero or in the perinatal period, with potentially serious consequences. The authors report the case of a boy born to a mother affected by autoimmune thrombocytopenia, who presented with severe thrombocytopenia at birth and developed intracranial hemorrhage despite mild maternal thrombocytopenia at delivery and a prompt preventive treatment of the newborn. Platelet count should be tested at birth in all babies born from mothers with autoimmune thrombocytopenia, irrespective of maternal platelets counts during pregnancy or at delivery, and should be closely monitored during the first days of life. Systematic early and serial cranial ultrasound might be advocated in the setting of neonatal thrombocytopenia.
Human Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis Knowledge and Retention Among Health Professionals by Using an Online Continuing Education Module: Arizona, 2012 to 2015
Authors: Venkat Heather , Matthews James , Narang Jigna , Sunenshine Rebecca , Adams Laura E. , Bunko Andrean M. , White Jessica R. , Levy Craig , Sylvester Tammy
Published: April 2018

Rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is administered for rabies prevention after a human exposure to a potentially rabid animal, such as a bite. Previous studies have reported that rabies PEP is often inappropriately administered. Health professional education was proposed as one potential solution to address inappropriate PEP use. We assessed baseline knowledge, knowledge gain, and knowledge retention among health professionals in Arizona of rabies epidemiology and appropriate PEP administration. Maricopa County Department of Public Health created an online rabies PEP continuing education module and measured knowledge before and after module completion using a 10-question test. The same test was administered three times (pretest, posttest, and retention test at ≥3 months). To assess knowledge gain and retention, we compared median scores using nonparametric methods. A total of 302 respondents completed the pretest (median score, 60%) and posttest (median score, 90%; p < .001); 98 respondents completed all three tests with median scores 60% (pretest), 90% (posttest, p < .01), and 80% (retention test and compared with pretest, p < .01). Sixty-nine (70%) respondents improved their pretest to retention test score by a mean of 2.4 points out of a total 10 points (median: 2 points; range: −5 to 7 points). Only 48% of pretest respondents correctly answered that PEP should not be administered immediately to anyone bitten by a healthy dog. However, 81% and 70% answered correctly on the posttest ( p < .0001) and retention test ( p = .002), respectively. Respondents demonstrated rabies epidemiology and PEP knowledge gain and ≥3-month knowledge retention after completing the online continuing education module.
Photovoice and Photo-Elicitation in Management Education
Authors: Trott David , Tomsett Paula May , Shaw Michael
Published: April 2018

In this article, we show that “photovoice” and “photo-elicitation” are user-friendly, versatile techniques uniquely beneficial in International Business programs where English-mediated instruction is the norm. These techniques engage young adult students deeply in subject material as well as create the opportunity for students to develop extemporaneous or impromptu English speaking skills. Photovoice and photo-elicitation lend themselves to being quintessential andragogy-in-action: learner-directed not teacher-directed, use of dialogue instead of monologue, and focus on student outcome choices instead of teacher-programmed assignments. They foster high interactivity not passive (silent) absorption in the teaching/learning process and stimulate cocreation of diverse meanings, interpretations, and imaginations. Course content is made relevant and reinforced as students are helped to find, share, and value their own personal empowering and authentic “voice”—in English.
Two Novel MicroRNA Biomarkers Related to β-Cell Damage and Their Potential Values for Early Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Liu Li , Yan Jinhua , Xu Haixia , Zhu Yunxia , Liang Hua , Pan Wen , Yao Bin , Han Xiao , Ye Jianping , Weng Jianping
Published: April 2018

Context

New strategies and biomarkers are needed in the early detection of β-cell damage in the progress of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Objective

To explore whether serum microRNAs (miRNA) should be served as biomarkers for T1DM.

Design, Settings, and Patients

The miRNA profile was established with miRNA microarray in discovery phase (six T1DM, six controls). A miRNA-based model for T1DM diagnosis was developed using logistic regression analysis in the training dataset (40 T1DM, 56 controls) and then validated with leave-one-out cross validation and another independent validation dataset (33 T1DM, 29 controls).

Main Outcome Measures

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to confirm the differences of candidate miRNAs between T1DM and controls. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy. INS-1 cells, streptozotocin-treated mice (n = 4), and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice (n = 12) were used to evaluate the association of miRNAs with β-cell damage.

Results

A miRNA -based model was established in the training dataset with high diagnostic accuracy for T1DM (AUC = 0.817) based on six candidate differential expressed miRNAs identified in discovery phase. The validation dataset showed the model’s satisfactory diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.804). Secretions of miR-1225-5p and miR-320c were significantly increased in streptozotocin-treated mice and INS-1 cells. Noteworthy, the elevation of these two miRNAs was observed before glucose elevation in the progress of diabetes in NOD mice.

Conclusions

Two miRNA biomarkers (miR-1225-5p and miR-320c) related to β-cell damage were identified in patients with recent-onset T1DM. The miRNA-based model established in this study exhibited a good performance in diagnosis of T1DM.
Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance and Survival in Patients With Diabetes and Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Stähli Barbara E , Nozza Anna , Schrieks Ilse C , Buse John B , Malmberg Klas , Mellbin Linda , Neal Bruce , Nicholls Stephen J , Rydén Lars , Svensson Anders , Wedel Hans , Weichert Arlette , Lincoff A Michael , Grobbee Diederick E , Tardif Jean-Claude , Schwartz Gregory G
Published: April 2018

Objective

Insulin resistance has been linked to development and progression of atherosclerosis and is present in most patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether the degree of insulin resistance predicts adverse outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is uncertain.

Design

The Effect of Aleglitazar on Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus trial compared the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α/γ agonist aleglitazar with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes and recent ACS. In participants not treated with insulin, we determined whether baseline homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; n = 4303) or the change in HOMA-IR on assigned study treatment (n = 3568) was related to the risk of death or major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) in unadjusted and adjusted models. Because an inverse association of HOMA-IR with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been described, we specifically examined effects of adjustment for the latter.

Results

In unadjusted analysis, twofold higher baseline HOMA-IR was associated with lower risk of death [hazard ratio (HR): 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.91, P = 0.002]. Adjustment for 24 standard demographic and clinical variables had minimal effect on this association. However, after further adjustment for NT-proBNP, the association of HOMA-IR with death was no longer present (adjusted HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.19, P = 0.94). Baseline HOMA-IR was not associated with major adverse cardiovascular events, nor was the change in HOMA-IR on study treatment associated with death or major adverse cardiovascular events.

Conclusions

After accounting for levels of NT-proBNP, insulin resistance assessed by HOMA-IR is not related to the risk of death or major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and ACS.
Someone to Talk To
Authors: Liu Zhenyun
Published: April 2018

Tofu peddler Yang Baishun is a man of few words and few friends. Unable to find meaningful companionship, he settles for a marriage of convenience. When his wife leaves him for another man he is left to care for his five-year-old stepdaughter Qiaoling, who is subsequently kidnapped, never to be seen by Yang again. Seventy years later we find Niu Aiguo, who, like Yang, struggles to connect with other people. As Niu begins learning about his recently deceased mother’s murky past it becomes clear that Qiaoling is the mysterious bond that links Yang and Niu. Originally published in China in 2009 and appearing in English for the first time, Liu Zhenyun’s award-winning Someone to Talk To highlights the contours of everyday life in pre- and post-Mao China, where regular people struggle to make a living and establish homes and families. Meditating on connection and loneliness, community and family, Someone to Talk To traces the unexpected and far-reaching ramifications of seemingly inconsequential actions, while reminding us all of the importance of communication.
Archiveology
Authors: Russell Catherine
Published: April 2018

In Archiveology Catherine Russell uses the work of Walter Benjamin to explore how the practice of archiveology—the reuse, recycling, appropriation, and borrowing of archival sounds and images by filmmakers—provides ways to imagine the past and the future. Noting how the film archive does not function simply as a place where moving images are preserved, Russell examines a range of films alongside Benjamin's conceptions of memory, document, excavation, and historiography. She shows how city films such as Nicole Védrès's Paris 1900 (1947) and Thom Andersen's Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) reconstruct notions of urban life and uses Christian Marclay's The Clock (2010) to draw parallels between critical cinephilia and Benjamin's theory of the phantasmagoria. Russell also discusses practices of collecting in archiveological film and rereads films by Joseph Cornell and Rania Stephan to explore an archival practice that dislocates and relocates the female image in film. In so doing, she not only shows how Benjamin's work is as relevant to film theory as ever; she shows how archiveology can awaken artists and audiences to critical forms of history and memory.
Fractivism
Authors: Wylie Sara Ann
Published: April 2018

From flammable tap water and sick livestock to the recent onset of hundreds of earthquakes in Oklahoma, the impact of fracking in the United States is far-reaching and deeply felt. In Fractivism Sara Ann Wylie traces the history of fracking and the ways scientists and everyday people are coming together to hold accountable an industry that has managed to evade regulation. Beginning her story in Colorado, Wylie shows how nonprofits, landowners, and community organizers are creating novel digital platforms and databases to track unconventional oil and gas well development and document fracking's environmental and human health impacts. These platforms model alternative approaches for academic and grassroots engagement with the government and the fossil fuel industry. A call to action, Fractivism outlines a way forward for not just the fifteen million Americans who live within a mile of an unconventional oil or gas well, but for the planet as a whole.
Dust of the Zulu
Authors: Meintjes Louise
Published: April 2018

In Dust of the Zulu Louise Meintjes traces the political and aesthetic significance of ngoma, a competitive form of dance and music that emerged out of the legacies of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa. Contextualizing ngoma within South Africa's history of violence, migrant labor, the HIV epidemic, and the world music market, Meintjes follows a community ngoma team and its professional subgroup during the twenty years after apartheid's end. She intricately ties aesthetics to politics, embodiment to the voice, and masculine anger to eloquence and virtuosity, relating the visceral experience of ngoma performances as they embody the expanse of South African history. Meintjes also shows how ngoma helps build community, cultivate responsible manhood, and provide its participants with a means to reconcile South Africa's past with its postapartheid future. Dust of the Zulu includes over one hundred photographs of ngoma performances, the majority taken by award-winning photojournalist TJ Lemon.
Phosphorylation hotspot in the C-terminal domain of occludin regulates the dynamics of epithelial junctional complexes
Authors: Manda Bhargavi , Mir Hina , Gangwar Ruchika , Meena Avtar S. , Amin Shrunali , Shukla Pradeep K. , Dalal Kesha , Suzuki Takuya , Rao RadhaKrishna
Published: April 2018

The apical junctional complex (AJC), which includes tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs), determines the epithelial polarity, cell-cell adhesion and permeability barrier. An intriguing characteristic of a TJ is the dynamic nature of its multiprotein complex. Occludin is the most mobile TJ protein, but its significance in TJ dynamics is poorly understood. On the basis of phosphorylation sites, we distinguished a sequence in the C-terminal domain of occludin as a regulatory motif (ORM). Deletion of ORM and expression of a deletion mutant of occludin in renal and intestinal epithelia reduced the mobility of occludin at the TJs. ORM deletion attenuated Ca2+ depletion, osmotic stress and hydrogen peroxide-induced disruption of TJs, AJs and the cytoskeleton. The double point mutations T403A/T404A, but not T403D/T404D, in occludin mimicked the effects of ORM deletion on occludin mobility and AJC disruption by Ca2+ depletion. Both Y398A/Y402A and Y398D/Y402D double point mutations partially blocked AJC disruption. Expression of a deletion mutant of occludin attenuated collective cell migration in the renal and intestinal epithelia. Overall, this study reveals the role of ORM and its phosphorylation in occludin mobility, AJC dynamics and epithelial cell migration.
The Arf-GDP-regulated recruitment of GBF1 to Golgi membranes requires domains HDS1 and HDS2 and a Golgi-localized protein receptor
Authors: Quilty Douglas , Chan Calvin J. , Yurkiw Katherine , Bain Alexandra , Babolmorad Ghazal , Melançon Paul
Published: April 2018

We previously proposed a novel mechanism by which the enzyme Golgi-specific Brefeldin A resistance factor 1 (GBF1) is recruited to the membranes of the cis-Golgi, based on in vivo experiments. Here, we extended our in vivo analysis on the production of regulatory Arf-GDP and observed that ArfGAP2 and ArfGAP3 do not play a role in GBF1 recruitment. We confirm that Arf-GDP localization is critical, as a TGN-localized Arf-GDP mutant protein fails to promote GBF1 recruitment. We also reported the establishment of an in vitro GBF1 recruitment assay that supports the regulation of GBF1 recruitment by Arf-GDP. This in vitro assay yielded further evidence for the requirement of a Golgi-localized protein because heat denaturation or protease treatment of Golgi membranes abrogated GBF1 recruitment. Finally, combined in vivo and in vitro measurements indicated that the recruitment to Golgi membranes via a putative receptor requires only the HDS1 and HDS2 domains in the C-terminal half of GBF1.
Thermal analysis of ice and glass transitions in insects that do and do not survive freezing
Authors: Rozsypal Jan , Moos Martin , Šimek Petr , Koštál Vladimír
Published: April 2018

Some insects rely on the strategy of freeze tolerance for winter survival. During freezing, extracellular body water transitions from the liquid to solid phase and cells undergo freeze-induced dehydration. Here we present results of a thermal analysis (from differential scanning calorimetry) of ice fraction dynamics during gradual cooling after inoculative freezing in variously acclimated larvae of two drosophilid flies, Drosophila melanogaster and Chymomyza costata. Although the species and variants ranged broadly between 0 and close to 100% survival of freezing, there were relatively small differences in ice fraction dynamics. For instance, the maximum ice fraction (IFmax) ranged between 67.9 and 77.7% total body water (TBW). The C. costata larvae showed statistically significant phenotypic shifts in parameters of ice fraction dynamics (melting point and IFmax) upon entry into diapause, cold-acclimation, and feeding on a proline-augmented diet. These differences were mostly driven by colligative effects of accumulated proline (ranging between 6 and 487 mmol.kg−1 TBW) and other metabolites. Our data suggest that these colligative effects per se do not represent a sufficient mechanistic explanation for high freeze tolerance observed in diapausing, cold-acclimated C. costata larvae. Instead, we hypothesize that accumulated proline exerts its protective role via a combination of mechanisms. Specifically, we found a tight association between proline-induced stimulation of glass transition in partially-frozen body liquids (vitrification) and survival of cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen.
Food consumption increases cell proliferation in the python brain
Authors: Habroun Stacy S. , Schaffner Andrew A. , Taylor Emily N. , Strand Christine R.
Published: April 2018

Pythons are model organisms for investigating physiological responses to food intake. While systemic growth in response to food consumption is well documented, what occurs in the brain is currently unexplored. In this study, male ball pythons (Python regius) were used to test the hypothesis that food consumption stimulates cell proliferation in the brain. We used 5-bromo-12’-deoxyuridine as a cell-birth marker to quantify and compare cell proliferation in the brain of fasted snakes and those at two and six days after a meal. Throughout the telencephalon, cell proliferation was significantly increased in the six-day group, with no difference between the two-day group and controls. Systemic postprandial plasticity occurs quickly after a meal is ingested, during the period of active digestion; however, the brain displays a surge of cell proliferation after most digestion and absorption is complete.
Strategy of Innovative Development of the Region (on the Example of the Tula Region)
Authors: Ломовцев Д. , Lomovcev D. , Басовский Леонид , Basovskiy Leonid , Басовская Елена , Basovskaya Elena
Published: April 2018

The aim of the work was to demonstrate the possibility of forming a strategy of innovative development of the region that could accelerate the transition of the regional economy to the dominance of new technological structures. By constructing econometric models of economic dynamics, the timelines for starting the pre-mining of the fifth mode in the economy of the Tula region are estimated. The strategy of accelerating the innovative development of the region’s economy are described. The strategy is based on the program-target approach, reflected in the state program of industrial development in the Tula region. The effectiveness of the program is shown.
Learning servant leadership and identifying community-based strategies in times of divide: A student, faculty, community partner interfaith collaboration
Authors: Hoover Kristine , Douglas Maggie
Published: April 2018

In times of deep political and religious division and limited resources, the need for developing leadership that influences and heals our communities is particularly critical. Using service- learning, combined with community engaged scholarship, this pedagogical approach enhanced student transformation, involved and benefited the community growing together, and explored potential contributions to literature in servant leadership. The collaboration involved designing and planning a three-hour event and data collection to address combatting hate and creating greater compassion. Student, faculty, and community worked together in this independent project and reflections indicate significant efficacy of servant leadership in the interfaith community with actionable and accessible outcomes.
Power to Influence Leadership Perceptions and Innovatively Challenge the Status Quo: President Donald Trump and Social Activism
Authors: Lebrón Mariana J.
Published: April 2018

Daring to challenge the status quo impacts innovation. Yet, successful outcomes depend on individual risk-taking and choice to influence others to support new ideas. This Challenging the Status Quo exercise illustrates how leaders use power and influencing tactics to challenge norms by analyzing Donald Trump’s journey as the 45th U.S. President to defy experts and successfully influence followers to support his non-traditional candidacy: businessman lacking political experience becoming leader of the free world. Through integrating videoclips and polls, instructors make power visible, relevant, and thought-provoking as students apply power theory and influencing tactics perspectives to analyze (a) how leaders impact followers’ perceptions, (b) students mutual-influencing strategies, (c) power’s relationship with social identity and privilege, and (d) social impact on innovation via activism and free speech.
Am I A Leader? Female Students Leadership Identity Development
Authors: McKenzie Brenda L.
Published: April 2018

This grounded theory study aimed to understand the process of leadership identity development experienced by traditional-aged female undergraduate college students. The findings led to a model for leadership identity development consisting of four phases. Students’ leadership identity development progressed from views of leadership as external to self to positional leaders to incorporation of self-as-leader whether in a position or not. The final phase reflected a shift to leading for social change. In the early phases of the model, the female students in this study saw gender as irrelevant to them as leaders even though they recognized societal views of female leaders as weaker or less capable. In later phases they understood how being female mattered, and by Phase 4 they recognized a need to take a stand on societal issues related to gender and race.
A Framework For Virtual Leadership Development In The Intelligence Community
Authors: Jenkins Jacob R.
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of elements that Intelligence Community (IC) leadership can use as a framework to transition leadership development courses from the current face-to-face format to the virtual environment. IC employees face unique leadership challenges, and broader application of leadership development is needed. Due to the unique ethical and leadership dilemmas faced by the IC workforce, the unique makeup of the current labor force, the limitations of traditional face-to-face leadership development efforts, and the broad group of stakeholders affected, the IC should transition from face-to-face leadership development to a virtual environment. In this phenomeno logical qualitative study, eight primary themes emerged as important to include in a virtual leadership development course.
Evaluation of the use of vermicompost on the crop production of two varieties of Pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) and on the soil structure in Suriname
Authors: RAMNARAIN YVONNE INDRANI , ORI LYDIA , ANSARI ABDULLAH ADIL
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Ramnarain YI, Ori L, Ansari AA. 2017. Evaluation of the use of vermicompost on the crop production of two varieties of Pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) and on the soil structure in Suriname. Asian J Agric 1: 73-79. The present research was carried out from January to May 2016 at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo. The investigation consisted of both field and laboratory work to evaluate the effect of vermicompost on crop production of 2 varieties Brassica rapa var. chinensis, white and green Pak choi, nutrient availability in the soil after the use of vermicompost and nutrient value of the crop. The experiment was carried out (Completely Randomized Block Design) in a greenhouse for six weeks. The treatments were vermicompost (V), cow manure (S), chemical fertilizer (K) and control (C). Plant growth parameters were recorded during the experiment (plant height and number of leaves) and after harvest (root and shoot biomass, leaf area). Nutrient analysis (Ca and Fe) of Pak choi was also conducted followed by pre- and post-experiment soil analysis (pH, EC, TOC, N, P, K and C/N ratio). The results were collected and analyzed using Sigma Plot 12.0 tools. In the white Pak choi, the number of leaves, root length and weight of fresh plants showed no significant differences among the four treatments using Tukey’s test (P?0.05). In the green Pak choi, the number of leaves and root length showed no significant differences among the four treatments by Tukey’s test (P?0.05). Furthermore, the soil parameters (pH, OC, N) did not indicate a significant increase or decrease of the elements in the soil. P did decrease significantly and the K increase in the treatment in the soil was not relevant. The evaluation of the use of vermicompost on the crop production of 2 varieties of Pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) proved that the plants treated with vermicompost had similar results as those treated with cow manure and chemical fertilizer.
Insecticidal selectivity of jayanti plant (Sesbania sesban) for integrated control of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella)
Authors: SURIPTO SURIPTO , SUKIMAN SUKIMAN , GUNAWAN ERIN RYANTIN
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Suripto, Sukiman, Gunawan ER. 2017. Insecticidal selectivity of jayanti plant (Sesbania sesban) for integrated control of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Asian J Agric 1: 80-84. It has been known previously that leaves of the jayanti plant (Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.) contain insecticidal ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal selectivity of various extract fractions of S. sesban leaf for the integrated control of cabbage pest, the diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella). Dried leaf powders from S. sesban were extracted in stages by using hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethanol, and water, successively. Each insecticidal performance of S. sesban leaf extract fractions were tested against two types of test insects, namely P. xylostella larvae as target and Diadegma semiclausum imago as non-target insects according to completely randomized design in the cabbage plantation at the village of Sembalun, East Lombok, Indonesia. Each mortality data of P. xylostella larvae and D. semiclausum imago was processed by probit analysis to determine the concentration of the death of 50% of test insects (LC50) of each test extract. The results showed that the LC50 of S. sesban leaf extracts classified into four fractions, namely hexane, DCM, and water extract fractions to P. xylostella larvae successively was 343.71, 294.78, 29.95, and 1197.13 ppm, and to D. semiclausum imago row was 305.5, 121.56, 37.38, and 1043.70 ppm. The results showed that the insecticidal activity of S. sesban leaf ethanol extract fraction was selective because its selectivity value is 1.25. On the other hand, each insecticidal performance of three S. sesban leaf extracts, i.e., hexane, DCM, and water extract fractions, respectively is not selective, with the selectivity values are 0.89, 0.41, and 0.87.
The enhancement in comprehension for the younger generation of school age in conserving coastal biodiversity in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia
Authors: HANDAYANI TUTY , WIDIARTI RIANI , SOEPARDJO A. HARSONO , ARIYANI FIKA , BURHANUDDIN EKO
Published: April 2018

Handayani T, Widiarti R, Soepardjo AH, Afriyani F, Burhanuddin E. 2017. The enhancement in comprehension for the younger generation of school age in conserving coastal biodiversity in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia. Ocean Life 1: 20-25. The exploration and exploitation can lead to the ecosystem and natural resources degradation. Kepulauan Seribu of Special Area of Jakarta has been extensively utilized and developed for tourism area, which could lead to the decreasing of environmental conditions. The awareness for keeping the ecosystem and marine life should be developed since early age. The objective of this research is to determine the level of understanding and ability in conserving the marine environment in their neighborhood for school-age generation. The method used in this study was quantitative with descriptive analysis. Two groups of the Junior High School students of Pulau Tidung and Pulau Harapan of the Kepulauan Seribu were provided training on conservation on coastal ecosystems. The education and training encompass the observation activity for coral reef using the Coral Health Chart method, seagrass condition observation through SeagrassWatch method, and introduction in the mangrove ecosystem. Based on the study, it can be inferred that the resulting activity indicated the level of understanding of cognitive abilities of two groups of the Junior High School in those two locations has increased. In addition, they affective ability increased sharply toward the students from Pulau Tidung whereas in Pulau Harapan an occurred a large increase in psychomotor abilities. The conclusion of this program is managed to improve the understanding and ability to act for the younger generation in conserving marine and coastal environments.
Depolarized Hepatocytes Express the Stem/Progenitor Cell Marker Neighbor of Punc E11 After Bile Duct Ligation in Mice
Authors: Bowe Andrea , Zweerink Susanne , Mück Vera , Kondylis Vangelis , Schulte Sigrid , Goeser Tobias , Nierhoff Dirk
Published: April 2018

There is a medical need of biomarkers for disease stratification in cholestatic liver diseases that come along with changes in hepatocyte polarity. Neighbor of Punc E11 (Nope) is an oncofetal marker that is lost after final differentiation and polarization of hepatocytes. We analyzed the expression pattern of Nope and connexin (Cx) 26 as markers of hepatocyte polarization during murine liver development as well as in adult liver with or without bile duct ligation (BDL) by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting (WB), and immunohistochemistry. Nope is highly expressed in fetal and postnatal liver but barely detectable thereafter. Cx26, however, is much higher expressed in adult than in fetal liver. Postnatally, Nope is directed to the sinusoidal membrane of early hepatocytes while Cx26 remains distributed over the whole membrane indicating limited polarization. In the adult liver, only Cx26 is detectable and restricted to the bile canalicular domain indicating fully polarized hepatocytes. After BDL, Nope is again >300-fold upregulated while Cx26 is reduced rapidly. By immunohistochemistry, Nope identifies a subset of hepatocytes with randomly distributed Cx26. In summary, Nope identifies depolarized adult hepatocytes after cholestatic liver injury resembling early postnatal hepatocytes. Therefore, Nope might be a valuable histochemical biomarker allowing stage-specific stratifications in cholestatic liver diseases.
Estimating the Parameters of the Exponential-Geometric distribution based on progressively type-II censored data
Authors: Fayomi Aisha , Al-Shammari Hamdah
Published: April 2018

This paper deals with the problem of parameters estimation of the Exponential-Geometric (EG) distribution based on progressive type-II censored data. It turns out that the maximum likelihood estimators for the distribution parameters have no closed forms, therefore the EM algorithm are alternatively used. The asymptotic variance of the MLEs of the targeted parameters under progressive type-II censoring is computed along with the asymptotic confidence intervals. Finally, a simple numerical example is given to illustrate the obtained results.
Graphs and metric 2-step nilpotent Lie algebras
Authors: DeCoste Rachelle C. , DeMeyer Lisa , Mainkar Meera G.
Published: April 2018

Dani and Mainkar introduced a method for constructing a 2-step nilpotent Lie algebra 𝔫
G
from a simple directed graph G in 2005. There is a natural inner product on 𝔫
G
arising from the construction. We study geometric properties of the associated simply connected 2-step nilpotent Lie group N with Lie algebra 𝔫
g
. We classify singularity properties of the Lie algebra 𝔫
g
in terms of the graph G. A comprehensive description is given of graphs G which give rise to Heisenberg-like Lie algebras. Conditions are given on the graph G and on a lattice Γ ⊆ N for which the quotient Γ \ N, a compact nilmanifold, has a dense set of smoothly closed geodesics. This paper provides the first investigation connecting graph theory, 2-step nilpotent Lie algebras, and the density of closed geodesics property.
Assessment of variance & distribution in data for effective use of statistical methods for product quality prediction
Authors: Weiß Iris , Vogel-Heuser Birgit
Published: April 2018

Data mining in automated production systems provide high potential to increase the Overall Equipment Effectiveness. Nevertheless, data of such machines/plants include specific characteristics regarding the variance and distribution of the dataset. For modelling product quality prediction, these characteristics have to be analysed to interpret the results correctly. Therefore, an approach for the analysis of variance and distribution of datasets is proposed. The evaluation of this approach validates the developed guidelines, which identify the reasons for inconsistent prediction results based on two different datasets of the same production system.
Interpretable machine learning with reject option
Authors: Brinkrolf Johannes , Hammer Barbara
Published: April 2018

Classification by means of machine learning models constitutes one relevant technology in process automation and predictive maintenance. However, common techniques such as deep networks or random forests suffer from their black box characteristics and possible adversarial examples. In this contribution, we give an overview about a popular alternative technology from machine learning, namely modern variants of learning vector quantization, which, due to their combined discriminative and generative nature, incorporate interpretability and the possibility of explicit reject options for irregular samples. We give an explicit bound on minimum changes required for a change of the classification in case of LVQ networks with reject option, and we demonstrate the efficiency of reject options in two examples.
Simulation and optimization of industrial production lines
Authors: Longo Claudio Santo , Fantuzzi Cesare
Published: April 2018

Simulation and optimization techniques are the pillars of for the Virtual Commissioning of modern digital factories. In particular, industrial production lines are complex systems formed by a set of machines that have several cross-dependencies (i. e., the production efficiency of a machine impact deeply performance figures of the others and affects the whole line productivity). The simulation and optimization of production lines is an integrated approach that allows finding efficiently optimized production parameters. This paper presents an example of application of the simulation to the virtual design and optimization of an industrial production line.
Homocysteine is the confounding factor of metabolic syndrome-confirmed by siMS score
Authors: Srećković Branko , Soldatovic Ivan , Colak Emina , Mrdovic Igor , Sumarac-Dumanovic Mirjana , Janeski Hristina , Janeski Nenad , Gacic Jasna , Dimitrijevic-Sreckovic Vesna
Published: April 2018

Background:

Abdominal adiposity has a central role in developing insulin resistance (IR) by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) have higher values of homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with IR, increasing the oxidative stress. Oxidative stress causes endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and atherosclerosis. The objective of the study was to examine the correlation of homocysteine with siMS score and siMS risk score and with other MS co-founding factors.

Methods:

The study included 69 obese individuals (age over 30, body mass index [BMI] >25 kg/m2), classified into two groups: I-with MS (33 patients); II-without MS (36 patients). Measurements included: anthropometric parameters, lipids, glucose regulation parameters and inflammation parameters. IR was determined by homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). ATP III classification was applied for diagnosing MS. SiMS score was used as continuous measure of metabolic syndrome.

Results:

A significant difference between groups was found for C-reactive protein (CRP) (p<0.01) apolipoprotein (Apo) B, HOMA-IR and acidum uricum (p<0.05). siMS risk score showed a positive correlation with homocysteine (p=0.023), while siMS score correlated positively with fibrinogen (p=0.013), CRP and acidum uricum (p=0.000) and homocysteine (p=0.08). Homocysteine correlated positively with ApoB (p=0.036), HbA1c (p=0.047), HOMA-IR (p=0.008) and negatively with ApoE (p=0.042).

Conclusions:

Correlation of siMS score with homocysteine, fibrinogen, CRP and acidum uricum indicates that they are co-founding factors of MS. siMS risk score correlation with homocysteine indicates that hyperhomocysteinemia increases with age. Hyperhomocysteinemia is linked with genetic factors and family nutritional scheme, increasing the risk for atherosclerosis.
Templet Web: the use of volunteer computing approach in PaaS-style cloud
Authors: Vostokin Sergei , Artamonov Yuriy , Tsarev Daniil
Published: April 2018

This article presents the Templet Web cloud service. The service is designed for high-performance scientific computing automation. The use of high-performance technology is specifically required by new fields of computational science such as data mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and others. Cloud technologies provide a significant cost reduction for high-performance scientific applications. The main objectives to achieve this cost reduction in the Templet Web service design are: (a) the implementation of “on-demand” access; (b) source code deployment management; (c) high-performance computing programs development automation. The distinctive feature of the service is the approach mainly used in the field of volunteer computing, when a person who has access to a computer system delegates his access rights to the requesting user. We developed an access procedure, algorithms, and software for utilization of free computational resources of the academic cluster system in line with the methods of volunteer computing. The Templet Web service has been in operation for five years. It has been successfully used for conducting laboratory workshops and solving research problems, some of which are considered in this article. The article also provides an overview of research directions related to service development.
A modular variable Orlicz inequality for the local maximal operator
Authors: Capone Claudia , Cruz-Uribe David , Fiorenza Alberto
Published: April 2018

In this note we prove a modular variable Orlicz inequality
for the local maximal operator. This result generalizes several
Orlicz and variable exponent modular inequalities that have appeared
previously in the literature.
Twenty-seven mutations with three novel pathologenic variants causing biotinidase deficiency: a report of 203 patients from the southeastern part of Turkey
Authors: Seker Yilmaz Berna , Mungan Neslihan Onenli , Kor Deniz , Bulut Derya , Seydaoglu Gülşah , Öktem Murat , Ceylaner Serdar
Published: April 2018

Background:

Biotinidase deficiency (BD) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism characterized by neurologic and cutaneous symptoms and can be detected by newborn screening. Newborn screening for BD was implemented in Turkey at the end of 2008.

Methods:

In total, 203 patients who were identified among the infants detected by the newborn screening were later confirmed to have BD through measurement of serum biotinidase activity. We also performed BTD mutation analysis to characterize the genetic profile.

Results:

Twenty-seven mutations were identified. The most commonly found variants were c.1330G>C (p.D444H), c.1595C>T (p.T532M), c.470G>A (p.R157H), and c.198_104delGCGGCTGinsTCC (p.C33Ffs ) with allele frequencies of 0.387, 0.175, 0.165 and 0.049, respectively. Three novel pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants were identified: p.W140* (c.419G>A), p.S319F (c.956C>T) and p.L69Hfs*24 (c.192_193insCATC). We also identified three mutations reported in just one patient in the past (p.V442Sfs*59 [c.1324delG], p.H447R [c.1340A>G] and p.198delV [c.592_594delGTC]). Although all of the patients were asymptomatic under the treatment of biotin, only one patient, who had the novel c.419G>A homozygous mutation became symptomatic during an episode of acute gastroenteritis with a presentation of ketosis and metabolic acidosis. Among the screened patients, 156 had partial and 47 had profound BD.

Conclusions:

We determined the mutation spectra of BD from the southeastern part of Turkey. The results of this study add three more mutations to the total number of mutations described as causing BD.