bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Human Resources Recruitment Strategy in Achieving Organizational Change at AL-Hussein Bin Talal University-Jordan
Authors: Tobeery Dua’A Shaher , Almohtaseb Ahmad Ali , Almahameed Mohammad Adnan
Published: July 2017

This study was aimed at identifying the role of the HR recruitment strategy in achieving organizational change at AL-Hussein Bin Talal University (AHU) in Jordan. A questionnaire was distributed among the study samples, totaling (113) individuals. The most important findings were: (AHU) had a moderate level recruitment strategy, organizational change level at (AHU) was moderate, selecting HR was the highest in practice, followed by hiring HR and then attracting HR which was the least practiced component of HR, there was no statistically significant relation between attracting HR and achieving organizational change, there was a statistically significant relation between selecting HR and achieving organizational change, there was no statistically significant relation between hiring HR and achieving organizational change.
Rapid response to dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema
Authors: Lo Giudice Giuseppe , Avarello Antonio , Campana Gianluca , Galan Alessandro
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

To evaluate the early effects of dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implants in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods:

This was a prospective, single-arm, interventional clinical series. Eighteen patients (18 eyes) with chronic/recalcitrant or naive DME were included. Patients underwent single DEX intravitreal implant. Clinical assessments, including ophthalmologic examination, central retinal thickness (CRT) measurement by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scan, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were carried out at baseline, 1-3 hours, and then 3, 7, and 30 days after treatment. The main outcome was change in CRT on SD-OCT, while secondary outcome measures included visual acuity (VA) and changes in IOP following implant.

Results:

Mean CRT significantly decreased from 565 ± 171 µm at baseline to 310 ± 89 µm at end of follow-up (p<0.001), with reduction becoming evident 1-3 hours after injection. Mean BCVA also significantly improved 7 days and 30 days after treatment up to 0.14 logMAR (p<0.05). All patients had a controlled IOP after the injection with only 1/18 eyes having a transient increase in IOP during follow-up.

Conclusions:

This is the first study showing very early effects of DEX implants on CRT reduction and VA improvement in DME.
One-Year Efficacy and Safety of 0.1% Cyclosporine a Cationic Emulsion in the Treatment of Severe Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Baudouin Christophe , de la Maza Maite Sainz , Amrane Mourad , Garrigue Jean-Sébastien , Ismail Dahlia , Figueiredo Francisco C. , Leonardi Andrea
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The SANSIKA study evaluated the efficacy/safety of 0.1% (1 mg/mL) cyclosporine A cationic emulsion (CsA CE) for treating dry eye disease (DED) with severe keratitis. The double-masked phase demonstrated that CsA CE was effective in reducing corneal damage and ocular surface inflammation, and was well-tolerated over 6 months. Here we report efficacy and safety findings of SANSIKA's open-label extension (OLE).

Methods

In this multicenter, double-masked, phase III study, patients with severe DED (corneal fluorescein staining [CFS] grade 4, modified Oxford scale) were randomized to once-daily CsA CE (Ikervis®) or its vehicle for 6 months, followed by 6-month open-label, once-daily CsA CE (CsA CE/CsA CE and vehicle/CsA CE groups).

Results

A total of 177 patients completed the OLE. Efficacy results reiterated the double-masked phase: CsA CE reduced CFS score and human leukocyte antigen-antigen D related expression, improved corneal clearing, and produced continuous improvements in global symptom scores (ocular surface disease index [OSDI], visual analogue scale). The CFS-OSDI response rates (≥2 CFS points, ≥30% OSDI improvement vs baseline) at 12 vs 6 months were 39.1% vs 28.6%, respectively, for CsA CE/CsA CE and 38.0% vs 23.1% for vehicle/CsA CE. Cyclosporine A CE's safety profile was similar to the initial 6 months. The most common treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse event was instillation site pain (7.8%, CsA CE/CsA CE group; 19.0%, vehicle/CsA CE group). No unexpected safety signals were observed; systemic CsA levels were undetectable/negligible in all patients except 2 previously treated with systemic CsA.

Conclusions

In this 12-month study, once-daily CsA CE was well-tolerated and showed reductions in ocular surface inflammation and improvements in signs/symptoms in DED patients with severe keratitis.
Microbial characteristics of post-traumatic infective keratitis
Authors: Lim Blanche X. , Koh Victor T.C. , Ray Manotosh
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

To determine the demographics, risk factors, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and treatment outcome of post-traumatic infective keratitis.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with post-traumatic infective keratitis presenting to the Ophthalmology Department of a tertiary referral hospital in Singapore between March 2012 and March 2016 were prospectively identified. A standardized data collection form was used to document patient demographics, microbiological diagnosis, antibiotic sensitivity, and pretreatment and posttreatment ocular characteristics. Any contact lens-induced keratitis was excluded from the study.

Results:

In total, 26 patients were included for analysis. The mean age was 40.0 years (SD ± 19.4) and 84.6% of the patients were male. The majority of the patients (69.2%, n = 18) had sustained work-related injury in their eyes. Gram-negative organisms were predominant isolates (75.0%, n = 12) in culture-positive corneal scrapings (n = 16). Pan-sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the commonest organism isolated among the culture-positive cases (56.2%, n = 9). Three patients (18.7%) had developed fungal keratitis and Acanthamoeba was isolated in 1 patient (6.2%) with polymicrobial keratitis. Infections resolved with medical treatment in 22 eyes (84.6%) and 4 eyes (15.3%) required therapeutic corneal transplantation.

Conclusions:

A shift of practice in post-traumatic infective keratitis should be considered in tropical countries to include Gram-negative cover. Work safety practices with vigilance in initiating treatment and education by front-line physicians such as ophthalmology and general practitioners should be reinforced.
Periacetabular Bone Densitometry after Total Hip Arthroplasty with Highly Porous Titanium Cups: A 2-Year Follow-Up Prospective Study
Authors: Massari Leo , Bistolfi Alessandro , Grillo Pier Paolo , Borré Alda , Gigliofiorito Gaetano , Pari Carlotta , Francescotto Andrea , Tosco Piermario , Deledda Davide , Ravera Laura , Causero Araldo
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Trabecular Titanium is an advanced cellular solid structure, composed of regular multiplanar hexagonal interconnected cells that mimic the morphology of the trabecular bone. This biomaterial demonstrated improved mechanical properties and enhanced osteoinduction and osteoconduction in several in vitro and in vivo studies. The aim of this study was to assess Trabecular Titanium osseointegration by measuring periacetabular changes in bone mineral density (BMD) with dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Methods

89 patients (91 hips) underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) with acetabular Trabecular Titanium cups. Clinical (Harris Hip Score (HHS), SF-36) and radiographic assessment were performed preoperatively, and postoperatively at 7 days and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. DEXA analysis was performed only postoperatively, using the BMD values measured at 7 days as baselines.

Results

After an initial decrease from baseline to 6 months, BMD increased and progressively stabilised in all 3 regions of interest (ROIs). Median (IQR) HHS and SF-36 increased from 48 (39-62) and 49 (37-62) preoperatively to 99 (96-100) and 86 (79-92) at 24 months, indicating a considerable improvement in terms of pain relief, functional recovery and quality of life. BMD patterns and radiographic evaluation showed evident signs of periacetabular bone remodelling and osseointegration; all cups were stable at the final follow-up without radiolucent lines, loosening or osteolysis. No revisions were performed.

Conclusions

After an initial reduction in periacetabular BMD, all 3 ROIs exhibited stabilisation or slight recovery. Although clinical outcomes and functional recovery proved satisfactory, longer follow-ups are necessary to assess this cup long-term survivorship.
Changes in the Levels of Beta-thromboglobulin and Inflammatory Mediators during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support
Authors: Chung Jae H. , Yeo Hye J. , Kim Dohyung , Lee Sun M. , Han Junhee , Kim Minseok , Cho Woo H.
Published: July 2017

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been associated with platelet dysfunction, but no markers of platelet dysfunction during ECMO have been identified.

Methods

We investigated the potential uses of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) as markers of platelet activation induced by ECMO in vivo.

Results

13 patients who received ECMO for acute respiratory failure were included. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the associations between days on ECMO and the plasma levels of beta-TG and PF4 and of proinflammatory markers. Analyses were performed before ECMO (baseline) and 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours after the commencement of ECMO. The plasma levels of biomolecules were measured by ELISA and Luminex assay. Percentages of platelets varied widely without statistical significance (p = 0.17). Beta-TG levels significantly decreased over the first 72 hours (p<0.001), but PF4 levels decreased nonsignificantly (p = 0.17). Inflammatory markers, that is, plasma IL-6 (p = 0.03), IL-18 (p<0.001), and MMP-8 (p<0.01) levels stabilized during an early period of ECMO support.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that ECMO use may not affect platelet activation during the first 3 days of ECMO. Plasma beta-TG levels may allow assessment of the time-dependent extent of ECMO-induced platelet dysfunction in patients with acute respiratory failure.
Novel Use of Low-dose Thalidomide in Refractory Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients
Authors: Seng Benjamin J.J. , Teo Louis L.Y. , Chan Laura L. , Sim David K.L. , Kerk Ka L. , Soon Jia L. , Tan Teing E. , Sivathasan Cumaraswamy , Lim Choon P.
Published: July 2017

Background

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a complication reported in patients post left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation that is associated with high mortality rates. Thalidomide is an anti-angiogenic compound that may offer a potential option for management of refractory LVAD-related GIB.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective review was conducted from January 2009 to October 2016 at a tertiary cardiology center. It included LVAD patients initiated on thalidomide for refractory GIB.

Results

All patients (n = 11) were started on thalidomide 50 mg nocte and there was resolution of GIB in all patients except one (90.9%) during initial thalidomide treatment. The median duration of thalidomide therapy was 98 days (interquartile range: 34–215). The dose of thalidomide was reduced for 2 patients due to adverse effects. Thalidomide therapy was discontinued in 6 patients due to cessation of GIB (n = 4) and adverse effects (n = 2). Reported adverse effects included LVAD thrombosis (n = 2), somnolence (n = 1), neuropathy (n = 1), constipation (n = 1), and transaminitis (n = 1). Recurrent GIB occurred in 4 patients (45.4%) post-discontinuation of thalidomide therapy, which led to the re-initiation of therapy.

Conclusions

Thalidomide appears to be a safe and effective option for management of refractory LVAD-related GIB. Monitoring for recurrent GIB should be performed closely following cessation of thalidomide therapy.
Albumin-corrected Total/Ionized Calcium Ratio is not Superior to Total/Ionized Calcium Ratio as an Indicator of Citrate Accumulation
Authors: Zheng Yin , Zhuang Feng , Zhu Qiuyu , Ma Shuai , Xu Yao , Lu Jianxin , Hao Guihua , Gu Yong , Hao Chuanming , Zhu Mingli , Ding Feng
Published: July 2017

Background

Total/ionized calcium ratio has been used as an indirect index of increased plasma citrate concentration during citrate anticoagulation. However, they were obtained without any adjustment of total calcium for albumin. Herein, we investigated whether the albumin-corrected total/ionized calcium ratio performed better than total/ionized calcium ratio.

Methods

20 critically ill patients were treated with continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) using citrate anticoagulation. The systemic total, ionized calcium and albumin levels were dynamically measured, and correlations between different calcium parameters and plasma citrate levels were analyzed.

Results

The highest correlation was found between plasma citrate level and total/ionized calcium ratio at the third hour (R = 0.88, p<0.001). The albumin-corrected total/ionized calcium ratio was not superior to total/ionized calcium ratio.

Conclusions

The total/ionized calcium ratio at the third hour after the start of citrate-CVVH is an early and simple indicator to reflect increased plasma citrate level. Adjustment of systemic total calcium for serum albumin is not necessary.
Variations in Transrenal DNA and Comparison with Plasma DNA as a Diagnostic Marker for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tian Fang , Liao Yuanfang , Zhang Yanfang
Published: July 2017

Background

Transrenal DNA can potentially be useful in the disease management of colorectal cancer (CRC) and has potential diagnostic utility. Our study aimed to conduct preoperative and postoperative analysis of KRAS-positive patients, using transrenal DNA compared with plasma DNA. This is critically needed for disease diagnostics and treatment response monitoring.

Methods

CRC patients at different stages of the disease and with different molecular profiles were recruited for serial time-point analysis. Preoperative and postoperative urine specimens were extracted and compared with tumor tissues and plasma DNA.

Results

Our analysis demonstrated that transrenal DNA offered comparable sensitivity and specificity to plasma DNA analysis. Collection of transrenal DNA, being noninvasive, is an attractive assay and easily allows serial monitoring of the disease. Results from preoperative detection showed a close correlation to tumor tissue profiling and demonstrated close associations to the disease. We also observed significant decreases in mutant KRAS DNA concentration after surgery, which confirmed transrenal DNA's sensitivity to treatment response.

Conclusions

The use of transrenal DNA offers a possible alternative method of disease profiling, detection and tracking. Our study is one of the first to systematically analyze a relatively large number of different CRC patients using transrenal DNA. The positive correlation with disease demonstrates the assay's viability in the clinical setting, and our method further opens up the possibility to use transrenal DNA for clinical intervention investigations.
Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy (Gemcitabine-based) in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: The Pisa University Experience
Authors: Sainato Aldo , Montrone Sabrina , Pasqualetti Francesco , Coppola Marianna , Cernusco Nunzia L.V. , Panichi Marco , Gonnelli Alessandra , Vasile Enrico , Morganti Riccardo , Falcone Alfredo , Boggi Ugo , Paiar Fabiola
Published: July 2017

Introduction

The role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is controversial. In this study we aimed to assess the feasibility, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (gemcitabine based) in patients with resected PA and their correlation with prognostic factors.

Methods

122 resected patients (stage ≥IIa) treated between February 1999 and December 2013 were analyzed. Two cycles of gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days) were administered before concomitant radiotherapy (45 Gy/25 fractions) and chemotherapy (gemcitabine 300 mg/m2 weekly).

Results

Median follow-up was 22.7 months (range 4-109). Gastrointestinal toxicity (G3), neutropenia (G3-G4) and cardiac toxicity (G2-G3) were observed in 2.4%, 10.6% and 1.6% of patients, respectively. OS at 12, 24 and 60 months was 79%, 55% and 31%, respectively (median 25 months). Two-year OS in patients with postoperative Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≤70 and ≥80 was 37.1% and 62.3%, respectively (p<0.0001). OS was better in the group of patients with a postoperative CA 19-9 level ≤100 U/mL (p = 0.014). Median DFS was 17 months.

Conclusions

The combination of concomitant gemcitabine and radiotherapy in patients with radically resected PA was well tolerated and associated with a low incidence of local recurrences. Five-year OS was significantly influenced by postoperative KPS and CA 19-9 values.
The Prioress's Prologue: Dante, Liturgy, and Ineffability
Authors: Murton Megan
Published: July 2017

This article offers a new interpretation of the Prioress's Prologue by examining previously unrecognized source material from Dante and the liturgy. The Prioress's opening prayer has often been read as an expression of her own personal faith, which is typically seen as infantile and anti-intellectual. Proposing that the prologue can and should be detached from this narrative voice and read against its sources, this article shows that it engages in sophisticated thinking about both the potential and the limitations of language as a medium of prayer and praise. Chaucer combines the linguistic self-consciousness he found in Dante's Paradiso 33 with a striking confidence, grounded in the model of the liturgy, in the capacity of human language to articulate transcendent truth. Once distanced from debates about the Prioress herself, the prologue can therefore shed new light on Chaucer's critical engagement with language.
Understanding Low-Cost Airline Users' Expenditure Patterns and Volume
Authors: Ferrer-Rosell Berta , Coenders Germà , Mateu-Figueras Glòria , Pawlowsky-Glahn Vera
Published: July 2017

The expansion of low-cost airlines (LCAs) has led to a reduction of flight costs and has enabled tourists to redistribute their trip budget and spend a higher proportion at the destination. Analyses of absolute trip spending by parts (such as transportation) and of trip budget share (for example, the proportion of transportation within the total trip budget) serve different objectives. The first type of analysis refers to how much tourists spend and the second to how they spend. The aims of this article are, first, to provide a new methodological tool to combine the analysis of budget share and absolute expenditure and, second, to analyse the determinants of absolute expenditure on transportation and the relative importance of transportation expenditure compared to other trip budget components. The main findings are that traveller characteristics affecting high absolute transportation expenditure are different from those affecting a high share of transportation in the trip budget. This has implications for LCA pricing strategies.
AVALIAÇÃO DO CRESCIMENTO DO LENHO DE Araucaria angustifolia NO PLANALTO NORTE DE SANTA CATARINA
Authors: Oliveira Joanna Rebelo de , Adenesky Filho Eduardo , Quadros Karin Esemann de
Published: July 2017

O presente trabalho apresenta resultados sobre a análise do crescimento de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O.Kuntze (Araucariaceae) no planalto norte de Santa Catarina, relativos à estimativa da idade, incremento do lenho, cronologias e correlações com temperatura e precipitação. Foram coletadas amostras de madeira de 74 árvores de duas áreas, uma em São Bento do Sul (SB) e outra em Campo Alegre (CA), com auxílio de trado de incremento de 5 mm de diâmetro, que foram secas ao ar livre e polidas. As camadas de crescimento foram contadas e mensuradas no Image ProPlus, codatados com o auxílio do software COFECHA e as séries temporais foram utilizadas para produzir cronologias no software ARSTAN. A idade das árvores variou de (19) 38 (65) anos em SB e de (34) 62 (123) anos, em CA. O incremento médio foi de (0,03) 3,86 (16,46) mm com desvio padrão de ±2,16 mm em SB e de (0,08) 2,56 (12,79) mm e desvio padrão de ±1,67 mm em CA. A correlação com variáveis meteorológicas indicou que o incremento do lenho de A. angustifolia no planalto norte de Santa Catarina é inversamente proporcional à temperatura média no inverno e primavera do ano corrente, antes e durante a fase de crescimento, e diretamente proporcional à precipitação média no verão anterior à fase de crescimento.
What Geriatrics Know about Specific Medications
Authors: Mekdad Sanaa , Alsayed Adher D , Alsayed Alaa A
Published: July 2017

The study has aimed to investigate the Medication Knowledge (MK) in elders and identify factors that affect knowledge and the areas that are needed to be enhanced. Moreover, the perception of elders in regards to knowledge provided by healthcare professionals (HCPs) has also been studied. A cross-sectional survey has been performed, which is comprised of elders in ambulatory care settings. A questionnaire about Medication Knowledge Assessment (MKAQ) has been prepared for data collection. Illiteracy, polypharmacy, and multiple clinic follow-ups have been identified as significant factors contributing towards inadequate knowledge. The study revealed that significant number of elders are self-dependent in taking and managing their medicines despite of increased age and multiple medical problems. 73% of the elders were aware about the place to keep their medications and 82% knew about the next date of refill. However, male patients were found to be well-aware about direction of use (P = 0.04) and indications (P = 0.03). Evidence-based approaches individualized to the needs of elders, which are obligatory to be developed for advancing MK. The impact of these interventions should be studied in future on improving knowledge.
Application of Mobile Phases Containing Ionic Liquid for HPLC Analysis of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids
Authors: Petruczynik Anna , Misiurek Justyna , Tuzimski Tomasz , Waksmundzka-Hajnos Monika
Published: July 2017

An HPLC procedure on a polar reversed-phase column with mobile phases containing ionic liquid (IL) was developed for the analysis of selected alkaloids from different chemical groups. We aimed to obtain optimal conditions for the separation of alkaloids because widely used silica-based stationary phases exhibit a silanol effect, rendering analysis of basic analytes extremely difficult. Retention, separation selectivity, peak symmetry, and system efficiency were examined in various eluent systems containing different concentrations of IL and acetonitrile. The obtained results revealed substantial influence from the concentrations of IL, the organic modifier, and temperature on the retention behavior of the investigated alkaloids. The most selective and efficient chromatographic systems were applied for the analysis of several alkaloids in a plant extract.
How High Pressure Unifies Solvation Processes in Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Bocian Szymon , Škrinjar Tea , Bolanca Tomislav , Buszewski Bogusław
Published: July 2017

A series of core–shell-based stationary phases of varying surface chemistry were subjected to solvent adsorption investigation under ultra-HPLC conditions. Acetonitrile and water excess isotherms were measured using a minor disturbance method. It was observed that adsorption of organic solvent is unified under high pressure. Preferential solvation due to specific interactions between the stationary phases and solvent molecules was limited. The obtained results showed that the solvation process is almost independent of surface chemistry, in contrast to HPLC conditions in which specific interactions differentiate solvation processes.
Evaluation of Protective Effect of Methyl Sulfonyl Methane on Colon Ulcer Induced by Alendronate
Authors: Safaa William Mdawar  , Shaza Anwar Al Laham  , Ahmad Izzat Al-Manadili
Published: July 2017

Background: Bisphosphonates represent a new class of drugs that have shown very promising therapeutic efﬁcacy in the treatment of a number of diseases associated with abnormally accelerated bone resorption including osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, and hypercalcemia of malignancy. As an increasing number of these drugs become available for clinical use in the treatment of the millions of individuals with these skeletal diseases, evidence is becoming available that their chronic usage may be associated with a number of gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and inﬂammation, and erosions and ulceration of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) which is used for osteoarthritis was used to prevent bisphosphonates ulceration. Our objective was to study the preventive effect of MSM against colon ulcer induced by Alendronate (ALN) in rats. The experiments had been done on 8 white wistar rats for each group. The gastric ulcer has been induced by administration of Alendronate (20mg/kg/day) by gavage for 4 days. MSM (400mg/kg/day) has been given for the protective group for 4 days before administration of Alendronate. The ulcers in rats' colon were examined histologically and microscopically. The results showed that administration of MSM before Alendronate inducing ulcer led to a reduction in ulceration and showed significant difference comparing with morbidity group.
Conclusion: MSM (400 mg/kg/day) has protective effect of colon ulcer induced by alendronate.
Redaktionelt forord
Authors: Passage Passage
Published: July 2017

Både dansk og international børne- og ungdomslitteratur søger i disse år ud i grænseområderne mellem skrift, lyd og billeder, mellem medier, mellem nære og fjerne konflikter, mellem litteratur for små børn og voksne og mellem underholdning, leg, vidensformidling og kunst.Passage 75 sætter derfor fokus på nye tilgange til børne- og ungdomslitteratur, peger på forandringer og brudflader på det børne- og ungdomslitterære område og tilgrænsende felter, og ønsker således at bidrage til at kvalificere diskussioner omkring disse tekster i den offentlige debat og i undervisningssammenhænge.
Piger på nettet. Repræsentationer af unge kvinders seksualitet i den digitale tidsalder
Authors: Flanagan Victoria
Published: July 2017

“Girls Online. Representations of Adolescent Female Sexuality in the Digital Age”Media representations of social media and cyberspace often emphasise their negative social impact for adolescent girls. There is the potential, however, for virtual reality to function as a pro-feminist space that enables young women to form supportive, networked communities. A number of YA fictions published post-2005 adopt this type of representational paradigm and explicitly seek to construct a positive relationship between feminine subjectivity and digital technology.  This article will focus particularly on how three YA narratives – L8r, g8r (2007) by Lauren Myracle, Fangirl (2013) by Rainbow Rowell and the short story “Tumbling” (2014) by Susie Day – comment on the manner in which social media has affected the expression of female sexual desire in the digital age. These YA fictions provide young readers with progressive representations of adolescent female sexuality that acknowledge and validate female desire and also showcase the positive role that online social networks can play in nurturing unconventional and empowered expressions of female sexuality.
Pedagogikk, betydningstap og selvrefleksjonens grunnlag
Authors: Straume Ingerid S.
Published: July 2017

The thesis explored in this essay is that contemporary educational thought has suﬀered a loss of signiﬁcance,

manifested when our language and concepts fail to be experienced as signiﬁers of commitment. A certain reluctance can be observed, among academics and others, against the notion of defending any cause or idea – with notable exceptions such as “respect for diﬀerence”. One may of course contest that a special kind of commitment is needed in education; but problems emerge when the educational values in place are no longer experienced as very signiﬁcant for education itself, because the lack of investment in turn reduces the need to criticize and question these values. The problem concerns the lack of reﬂexive creativity, not the lack of ideals per se. The idea of a loss of signiﬁcation is elaborated in two examples: “dannelse” and “kritikk”. In a further step, the loss of signification is discussed in relation to the lack of a larger, social (or societal) project, where the discussion of the Anthropocene is one example of how such a project might be formulated today.
Den rummelige forskningsdiagnose: Om fravær og forhandlingsrum i tilblivelsen af en diagnose
Authors: Brix Tina Kaia Stokvad , Wind Gitte
Published: July 2017

Antropologiske studier af diagnoser har fra mange forskellige vinkler diskuteret og belyst, hvilken social betydning det kan have at være diagnosticeret med en bestemt diagnose – og, tilsvarende, hvad det kan betyde at mangle en diagnose. Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS) er en ny forskningsdiagnose, der endnu ikke figurerer i de internationale diagnosemanualer, og som i en vis forstand befinder sig i krydsfeltet mellem diagnose og ’ikke-diagnose’.På baggrund af et etnografisk feltarbejde i Danmark udforsker vi i artiklen, hvilke forhandlingsmuligheder der for mennesker med Bodily Distress Syndrome knytter sig til at blive diagnosticeret med en forskningsdiagnose. Med fokus på diagnosens tilblivelsesfase viser vi, at den særlige ikke-synlighed, der ligger indlejret i BDS-diagnosen, i visse sammenhænge er forbundet med bestemte muligheder for mennesker med BDS. Ud fra en teoretisk forståelse af fravær som ejendel, argumenterer vi for, at ikke-synligheden åbner op for et rum for forhandling om diagnosens indholdsmæssige beskaffenhed, og at mennesker med BDS – i dette forhandlingsrum – kan tage medejerskab over tilblivelsen og afgrænsningen af BDS som diagnose og fænomen.A room for negotiation – On absence and flexibility in the becoming of a diagnosisAnthropological studies of diagnoses have from several perspectives discussed and shed light on the social meaning and implication of having or not having a diagnosis. Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS) is a new research diagnosis that does not yet appear in WHO’s International Classification of Diseases. In that sense BDS is situated in a position of structural ambiguity, simultaneously being and not being a real diagnosis.Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Denmark this article examines the possibilities of negotiation connected to being diagnosed with a research diagnosis. Focusing on the very becoming of BDS the article suggests that the absence in the diagnosis of clear pathological findings offers certain possibilities to people recently diagnosed with BDS. Leaning on a theoretical understanding of absence as a specific kind of possession, we argue that the absence opens up a room for negotiation of the content of the diagnosis, thereby offering people with BDS a shared ownership of the becoming and elaboration of the phenomenon BDS.
Locus coeruleus to basolateral amygdala noradrenergic projections promote anxiety-like behavior
Authors: McCall Jordan G , Siuda Edward R , Bhatti Dionnet L , Lawson Lamley A , McElligott Zoe A , Stuber Garret D , Bruchas Michael R
Published: July 2017

Increased tonic activity of locus coeruleus noradrenergic (LC-NE) neurons induces anxiety-like and aversive behavior. While some information is known about the afferent circuitry that endogenously drives this neural activity and behavior, the downstream receptors and anatomical projections that mediate these acute risk aversive behavioral states via the LC-NE system remain unresolved. Here we use a combination of retrograde tracing, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, electrophysiology, and in vivo optogenetics with localized pharmacology to identify neural substrates downstream of increased tonic LC-NE activity in mice. We demonstrate that photostimulation of LC-NE fibers in the BLA evokes norepinephrine release in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), alters BLA neuronal activity, conditions aversion, and increases anxiety-like behavior. Additionally, we report that β-adrenergic receptors mediate the anxiety-like phenotype of increased NE release in the BLA. These studies begin to illustrate how the complex efferent system of the LC-NE system selectively mediates behavior through distinct receptor and projection-selective mechanisms.
SynEM, automated synapse detection for connectomics
Authors: Staffler Benedikt , Berning Manuel , Boergens Kevin M , Gour Anjali , Smagt Patrick van der , Helmstaedter Moritz
Published: July 2017

Nerve tissue contains a high density of chemical synapses, about 1 per µm3 in the mammalian cerebral cortex. Thus, even for small blocks of nerve tissue, dense connectomic mapping requires the identification of millions to billions of synapses. While the focus of connectomic data analysis has been on neurite reconstruction, synapse detection becomes limiting when datasets grow in size and dense mapping is required. Here, we report SynEM, a method for automated detection of synapses from conventionally en-bloc stained 3D electron microscopy image stacks. The approach is based on a segmentation of the image data and focuses on classifying borders between neuronal processes as synaptic or non-synaptic. SynEM yields 97% precision and recall in binary cortical connectomes with no user interaction. It scales to large volumes of cortical neuropil, plausibly even whole-brain datasets. SynEM removes the burden of manual synapse annotation for large densely mapped connectomes.
A tunable refractive index matching medium for live imaging cells, tissues and model organisms
Authors: Boothe Tobias , Hilbert Lennart , Heide Michael , Berninger Lea , Huttner Wieland B , Zaburdaev Vasily , Vastenhouw Nadine L , Myers Eugene W , Drechsel David N , Rink Jochen C
Published: July 2017

In light microscopy, refractive index mismatches between media and sample cause spherical aberrations that often limit penetration depth and resolution. Optical clearing techniques can alleviate these mismatches, but they are so far limited to fixed samples. We present Iodixanol as a non-toxic medium supplement that allows refractive index matching in live specimens and thus substantially improves image quality in live-imaged primary cell cultures, planarians, zebrafish and human cerebral organoids.
Promiscuous binding by Hsp70 results in conformational heterogeneity and fuzzy chaperone-substrate ensembles
Authors: Rosenzweig Rina , Sekhar Ashok , Nagesh Jayashree , Kay Lewis E
Published: July 2017

The Hsp70 chaperone system is integrated into a myriad of biochemical processes that are critical for cellular proteostasis. Although detailed pictures of Hsp70 bound with peptides have emerged, correspondingly detailed structural information on complexes with folding-competent substrates remains lacking. Here we report a methyl-TROSY based solution NMR study showing that the Escherichia coli version of Hsp70, DnaK, binds to as many as four distinct sites on a small 53-residue client protein, hTRF1. A fraction of hTRF1 chains are also bound to two DnaK molecules simultaneously, resulting in a mixture of DnaK-substrate sub-ensembles that are structurally heterogeneous. The interactions of Hsp70 with a client protein at different sites results in a fuzzy chaperone-substrate ensemble and suggests a mechanism for Hsp70 function whereby the structural heterogeneity of released substrate molecules enables them to circumvent kinetic traps in their conformational free energy landscape and fold efficiently to the native state.
A new twist in measuring mutation rates
Authors: Smith Bartram L , Wilke Claus O
Published: July 2017

The influenza virus mutates faster than we previously thought.
Financial Health Among Louisiana Medicaid Enrollees
Authors: Frenier Chris , Green Beniamino , Wallace Jacob , Siebert Alexander , Anderson Andrew , Callison Kevin , Walker Brigham Cody
Published: October 2024

This cross-sectional study compares average credit scores and unpaid medical and nonmedical debts in collections among Black, Hispanic, and White adults with Medicaid coverage.
The Wisdom of the Crowd Can Unmask Faces
Authors: Carragher Daniel J. , Hancock Peter J. B.
Published: October 2024

Accurately determining whether two images show the same person is a surprisingly difficult task, which becomes even harder if one or both faces are wearing medical face masks. Attempts to improve unfamiliar face matching accuracy have generally had limited success. Although one brief training program improved masked face matching accuracy by 4.9%, this increase would not overcome the entire performance deficit caused by masks. Here, we investigate whether combining independent identification decisions from different individuals can improve masked face matching performance through the wisdom of the crowd effect. Accuracy gains emerged reliably after combining the decisions of three individuals, culminating in significant improvements of 11%–26% among the largest crowds. Despite creating crowds of up to 80 people, half of the eventual improvement had generally already occurred in crowds of 6 individuals. The wisdom of the crowd effect is a highly effective approach to improving accuracy when identifying masked faces.
Experimental Detection of Topological Electronic State and Large Linear Magnetoresistance in SrSn4 Superconductor
Authors: Pariari Arnab Kumar , Sharma Rajesh O , Balal Mohammad , Hücker Markus , Das Tanmoy , Barman Sudipta Roy
Published: October 2024

While recent experiments confirm the existence of hundreds of topological electronic materials, only a few exhibit the coexistence of superconductivity (SC) and a topological electronic state. These compounds attract significant attention in forefront research because of the potential for the existence of topological SC, paving the way for future technological advancements. SrSn4 is known for exhibiting unusual SC below the transition temperature (TC) of 4.8 K. Recent theory predicts a topological electronic state in this compound, which is yet to be confirmed by experiments. Systematic and detailed studies of the magnetotransport properties of SrSn4 and its Fermi surface characterizations are also absent. For the first time, a quantum oscillation study reveals a nontrivial 𝝅‐Berry phase, very light effective mass, and high quantum mobility of charge carriers in SrSn4. Magnetotransport experiment unveils large linear transverse magnetoresistance (TMR) of more than 1200% at 5 K and 14 T. Angle‐dependent transport experiments detect anisotropic and fourfold symmetric TMR, with the maximum value (≈2000%) occurring when the angle between the magnetic field and the crystallographic b‐axis is 45°. The results suggest that SrSn4 is the first topological material with SC above the boiling point of helium that displays such high magnetoresistance.
Interface Engineering with an Organic Aluminum Additive for High‐Rate Sodium Metal Batteries
Authors: Wang Xihao , Wu Yehui , Zhou Yuhan , Zheng Weiran , Zhang Kun , Ma Xingyu , Bai Tiansheng , Li Deping , Ci Lijie , Grey Clare P. , Lu Jingyu
Published: October 2024

Interface stability is a key to practical applications of high‐rate sodium metal batteries (SMBs). The general sodium metal anode (SMA), for example, suffers from an unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI), which may induce severe dendrite growth and continuous Na consumption, particularly under high rates. At the same time, the cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) of a widely adopted cathode material Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) has to tolerate the massive volume changes during the rapid Na+ ion intercalation/extraction, resulting in structural degradations and the capacity loss. Here, a facile strategy is reported by introducing aluminum ethoxide to a conventional ether‐based electrolyte, to promote the formation of an alumina‐rich SEI and CEI, which facilitates the rapid Na+ ion transport across the interface and promotes the uniform Na deposition. The resultant Na || Na symmetric cell demonstrates a stable cycling of 4800 h at 10 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2, and a Na || NVP full cell exhibits a high capacity retention of 81.28% after 6000 cycles at 40C. The simultaneous interface engineering of both the Na metal anode and the NVP cathode via the facile organic aluminum additive opens up a new avenue toward practical application of high‐rate SMBs.
3D Printed Ordered Hierarchically‐Porous Electrodes for Developing High‐Performance Quasi‐Solid‐State Aqueous Nickel‐Iron Batteries
Authors: Kong Dezhi , Li Weidong , Chu Ningning , Guo Zhengyang , Wang Tenghui , Wang Hui , Xu Tingting , Zang Jinhao , Li Xinjian , Luo Yongsong , Wang Ye , Yang Hui Ying
Published: October 2024

Structural engineering offers a viable and broadly applicable approach for further enhancing the energy density of aqueous nickel‐iron (Ni‐Fe) batteries without changing the fundamental battery chemistries. Herein, the synthesis of 3D printed low‐tortuosity and ultra‐thick ordered hierarchically porous reduced graphene oxide (rGO)‐based microlattice electrodes for high‐performance aqueous Ni‐Fe batteries through direct writing (DIW) 3D printing technology is presented. Significantly, the areal specific capacitance of the 3D printed electrodes scales positively with electrode thickness, whereas the gravimetric capacitance remains relatively constant, indicating that the capacitive performance is not constrained by ion diffusion and exhibits rapid kinetic behavior, even at elevated mass‐loading levels and in the context of ultra‐thick electrodes. Based on a 3 m KOH aqueous electrolyte, the 3D printed aqueous Ni‐Fe cell (thickness: ≈2 mm) exhibits high areal specific capacity (≈0.353 mAh cm−2), high volumetric energy/power density (≈1.15 mWh cm−2 at 48.00 mW cm−2), and excellent long‐term cycling performance (≈81.25% capacitance retained after 5000 cycles). As a micro‐battery device, 3D printed quasi‐solid‐state Ni‐Fe battery (3DP QSS Ni‐Fe) device with 4 mm thickness still exhibits a high areal capacity of 0.525 mAh cm−2, and excellent cycle stability with ≈81.1% capacity retention after 10000 cycles. The promising 3D printed strategy provides a novel avenue for the controllable assembly of higher‐dimensional architectures, thereby paving the way for the advancement of next‐generation materials and devices.
A Highly Optical Anisotropic Hybrid Metal Halide for Modulation and Generation of Polarized Light
Authors: Xu Qianting , Wang Ziyi , Zhou Yang , Huang Weiqi , Song Yipeng , Zheng Jieyu , Li Yanqiang , Hou Linxi , Luo Junhua , Zhao Sangen
Published: October 2024

Polarized light is critical for a wide range of applications in modern optics. However, its generation and modulation typically require additional optical comments, which hinders device compactness. Herein, an air‐stable Tin(IV)‐based hybrid metal halide, (C10H9N2O)2SnCl6, composed of [C10H9N2O]+ cations and isolated [SnCl6]2− octahedra is reported. Notably, (C10H9N2O)2SnCl6 exhibits a robust birefringence of 0.50@550 nm that is evidently larger than those of commercially used crystals, which enables efficient modulation of polarized light. Moreover, it possesses a broad polarized blue emission in the range of 374–600 nm with a peak at 426 nm. Theoretical and structural studies reveal that the high optical anisotropy for large birefringence and directly polarized emission of (C10H9N2O)2SnCl6 is ascribed to the cooperative effect of distortion of [SnCl6]2− and high π‐conjugation of [C10H9N2O]+ in parallel arrangement. This work may provide new thoughts on designing and realizing the miniaturization of polarization‐resolved optoelectronic devices.
From Spheroids to Bioprinting: A Literature Review on Biomanufacturing Strategies of 3D In Vitro Osteosarcoma Models
Authors: Domingues Margarida F. , Silva João C. , Sanjuan‐Alberte Paola
Published: October 2024

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare primary malignant bone cancer affecting mainly young individuals. Treatment typically consists of chemotherapy and surgical tumor resection, which has undergone few improvements since the 1970s. This therapeutic approach encounters several limitations attributed to the tumor's inherent chemoresistance, marked heterogeneity and metastatic potential. Therefore, the development of in vitro platforms that closely mimic the OS pathophysiology is crucial to understand tumor progression and discover effective anticancer therapeutics. Contrary to 2D monolayer cultures and animal models, 3D in vitro platforms show promise in replicating the 3D tumor macrostructure, cell‐cell and cell‐extracellular matrix interactions. This review provides an overview of the biomanufacturing strategies employed in developing 3D in vitro OS models, highlighting their role in replicating different aspects of OS and improving OS anticancer research and drug screening. A variety of 3D in vitro models are explored, including both scaffold‐free and scaffold‐based models, encompassing cell spheroids, hydrogels, and innovative approaches like electrospun nanofibers, microfluidic devices and bioprinted constructs. By examining the distinctive features of each model type, this review offers insights into their potential transformative impact on the landscape of OS research and therapeutic innovation, addressing the challenges and future directions of 3D in vitro OS modeling.
Deubiquitylase USP52 Promotes Bladder Cancer Progression by Modulating Ferroptosis through Stabilizing SLC7A11/xCT
Authors: Liu Jianmin , Luo Yongwen , Chen Siming , Wang Gang , Jin Wan , Jiang Wenyu , Li Mingxing , Wang Yejinpeng , Yu Jingtian , Wei Houyi , Zhang Renjie , Zhou Fenfang , Ju Lingao , Zhang Yi , Xiao Yu , Qian Kaiyu , Wang Xinghuan
Published: October 2024

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a prevalent cancer with high case‐fatality rates and a substantial economic burden worldwide. Understanding its molecular underpinnings to guide clinical management is crucial. Ferroptosis, a recently described non‐apoptotic form of cell death, is initiated by the lethal accumulation of iron‐dependent lipid peroxidation products. Despite growing interest, the roles and vulnerabilities determining ferroptosis sensitivity in BLCA remain unclear. Re‐analysis of single‐cell RNA data reveals a decrease in high‐ferroptosis cancer cells as BLCA advances. USP52/PAN2 is identified as a key regulator of ferroptosis in BLCA through an unbiased siRNA screen targeting 96 deubiquitylases (DUBs). Functionally, USP52 depletion impedes glutathione (GSH) synthesis by promoting xCT protein degradation, increasing lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis susceptibility, thus suppressing BLCA progression. Mechanistically, USP52 interacts with xCT and enzymatically cleaves the K48‐conjugated ubiquitin chains at K4 and K12, enhancing its protein stability. Clinical BLCA samples demonstrate a positive correlation between USP52 and xCT expression, with high USP52 levels associated with aggressive disease progression and poor prognosis. In vivo, USP52 depletion combined with ferroptosis triggers imidazole ketone Erastin (IKE) synergistically restrains BLCA progression by inducing ferroptosis. These findings elucidate the role of the USP52‐xCT axis in BLCA and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting USP52 and ferroptosis inducers in BLCA.