bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trimethylamine N‐Oxide Aggravates Liver Steatosis through Modulation of Bile Acid Metabolism and Inhibition of Farnesoid X Receptor Signaling in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Tan Xuying , Liu Yan , Long Jingan , Chen Si , Liao Gongcheng , Wu Shangling , Li Chunlei , Wang Lijun , Ling Wenhua , Zhu Huilian
Published: May 2019

Scope

Trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO), the metabolite of choline generated by gut microbiota, is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and could influence bile acid (BA) metabolism. However, whether TMAO aggravates liver steatosis by modulating BA metabolism and the related mechanisms has not been investigated.

Methods and results

A case‐control study including biopsy‐proven NAFLD patients (n = 34) and controls (n = 14) is conducted to determine the correlation between TMAO and BA metabolism. Serum levels of total BA and the percentage of farnesoid X receptor (FXR)‐antagonistic BA species are markedly higher in NAFLD patients than in the controls. Serum levels of TMAO positively correlated with the serum levels of total BA and hepatic mRNA expression of cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1). In a murine model, it is found that 18 weeks administration of TMAO impairs liver function and increases hepatic triglyceride accumulation and lipogenesis in mice fed with a high‐fat diet. TMAO increases BA synthesis and shifted hepatic BA composition toward FXR‐antagonistic activity. Knockdown of CYP7A1 via small interfering RNA or activation of FXR by GW4064 blocks the effect of TMAO‐induced lipogenesis in palmitic acid‐treated HepG2 cells.

Conclusion

TMAO aggravates liver steatosis by suppressing BA‐mediated hepatic FXR signaling.
A compact dual‐band implantable antenna for medical telemetry
Authors: Yeap Kimho , Voon Chowshen , Hiraguri Takefumi , Nisar Humaira
Published: May 2019

We present the design of a planar, low‐profile dual‐band implantable antenna which operates in the 402‐ to 405‐MHz Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) and the 2.4‐ to 2.5‐GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands. The designed antenna was experimentally validated by implanting it first into a synthetic human skin tissue phantom and then a minced pork model. The measurement results show that the antenna has 10‐dB impedance bandwidths of at least 120 MHz which covers the MICS band and at least 40 MHz which covers the ISM band. The proposed antenna is printed on an RO3210 substrate and it occupies a compact volume of 22 mm × 16 mm × 1.27 mm. The average SAR values at the center frequency of both bands, that is, 403.5 MHz and 2.45 GHz are, respectively, below 0.352 and 0.054 μW/kg. Both values are far below the limits stipulated by the IEEE C95.1‐1999 (ie, 1.6 W/kg) and IEEE C95.1‐2005 (ie, 2 W/kg) standards. The simulated and measured performance of the antenna confirms its good radiation characteristics.
Single‐cell RNA‐seq reveals distinct dynamic behavior of sex chromosomes during early human embryogenesis
Authors: Zhou Qing , Wang Taifu , Leng Lizhi , Zheng Wei , Huang Jinrong , Fang Fang , Yang Ling , Chen Fang , Lin Ge , Wang Wen‐Jing , Kristiansen Karsten
Published: May 2019

Several animal and human studies have demonstrated that sex affects kinetics and metabolism during early embryo development. However, the mechanism governing these differences at the molecular level before the expression of the sex‐determining gene SRY is unknown. We performed a systematic profiling of gene expression comparing male and female embryos using available single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data of 1607 individual cells from 99 human preimplantation embryos, covering development stages from 4‐cell to late blastocyst. We observed consistent chromosome‐wide transcription of autosomes, whereas expression from sex chromosomes exhibits significant differences after embryonic genome activation (EGA). Activation of the Y chromosome is initiated by expression of two genes, RPS4Y1 and DDX3Y, whereas the X chromosome is widely activated, with both copies in females being activated after EGA. In contrast to the stable activation of the Y chromosome, expression of X‐linked genes in females declines at the late blastocyst stage, especially in trophectoderm cells, revealing a rapid process of dosage compensation. This dynamic behavior results in a dosage imbalance between male and female embryos, which influences genes involved in cell cycle, protein translation and metabolism. Our results reveal the dynamics of sex chromosomes expression and silencing during early embryogenesis. Studying sex differences during human embryogenesis, as well as understanding the process of X chromosome inactivation and their effects on the sex bias development of in vitro fertilized embryos, will expand the capabilities of assisted reproductive technology and possibly improve the treatment of infertility and enhance reproductive health.
Ultrasound‐guided treatment of peripheral entrapment mononeuropathies
Authors: Norbury John W. , Nazarian Levon N.
Published: May 2019

The advent of high‐resolution neuromuscular ultrasound (US) has provided a useful tool for conservative treatment of peripheral entrapment mononeuropathies. US‐guided interventions require careful coordination of transducer and needle movement along with a detailed understanding of sonoanatomy. Preprocedural planning and positioning can be helpful in performing these interventions. Corticosteroid injections, aspiration of ganglia, hydrodissection, and minimally invasive procedures can be useful nonsurgical treatments for mononeuropathies refractory to conservative care. Technical aspects as well as the current understanding of the indications and efficacy of these procedures for common entrapment mononeuropathies are reviewed in this study. Muscle Nerve, 2019
The moderating effect of perceived organizational support in the relationship between emotional labour and job attitudes: A study among health professionals
Authors: Lartey Joshua King Safo , Amponsah‐Tawiah Kwesi , Osafo Joseph
Published: May 2019

Aim

The present study was set out to establish the link between emotional labour (surface and deep acting) and job attitudes (job satisfaction organizational commitment) by introducing perceived organizational support as a moderating variable.

Design

The study made use of a cross‐sectional design by sampling three hundred and forty‐two (342) nurses and midwives from six health facilities in Ghana.

Methods

The study employed a quantitative approach to examine the relationships between the study variables.

Results

The study disclosed that whereas surface acting related negatively with job satisfaction but not with organizational commitment, deep acting did not relate significantly with both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Perceived organizational support as a moderating variable showed a significant moderating effect between surface acting and job attitudes. However, Perceived organizational support moderated the relationship between deep acting and organizational commitment but not job satisfaction. The findings pose much contextual relevance to health professionals where emotional regulations are core responsibilities of health care.
Synthesis of boronic acid‐functionalized poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone): Nano‐networks for efficient electrochemical sensing of biosystems
Authors: Hatamvand Roshanak , Shams Azim , Mohammadifar Ehsan , Yari Abdollah , Adeli Mohsen
Published: May 2019

Despite the outstanding properties of hyperbranched polyglycerols such as biocompatibility and multifunctionality, enough attention has not been paid to the synthesis of their functional copolymers. This problem has limited the structural diversity of hyperbranched polyglycerols and hampers further developments and their practical usage. In this work, butyrolactone segments were incorporated into the backbone of polyglycerols by one‐pot ring‐opening copolymerization of a mixture of glycidol and γ‐butyrolactone in the presence of tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate. Poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone)s were then crosslinked by 2,5‐thiophenediylbisboronic acid to obtain polymeric nanonetworks with 140 nm average size. Afterwards, the gold electrode was modified by the polymeric nano‐networks, and it was used for the determination of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and Escherichia coli in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 9.0) through cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopic. Taking advantage of the straightforward synthesis, cheap precursors and multifunctionality of poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone)s, they could be used for real‐time sensing of a wide range of biosystems. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1430–1439
Current understanding of the molecular players involved in resistance to rice planthoppers
Authors: Ling Yang , Ang Li , Weilin Zhang
Published: May 2019

Rice planthoppers are the most widespread and destructive pest of rice. Planthopper control depends greatly on the understanding of molecular players involved in resistance to planthoppers. This paper summarizes the recent progress in the understanding of some molecular players involved in resistance to planthoppers and the mechanisms involved. Recent researches showed that host‐plant resistance is the most promising sustainable approach for controlling planthoppers. Planthopper‐resistant varieties with a host‐plant resistance gene have been released for rice products. Integrated planthopper management is a proposed strategy to prolong the durability of host‐plant resistance. Bacillus spp. and their gene products or insect pathogenic fungi have great potential for application in the biological control of planthoppers. Enhancement of the activity of the natural enemies of planthoppers would be more cost‐effective and environmentally friendly. Various molecular processes regulate rice–planthopper interactions. Rice encounters planthopper attacks via transcription factors, secondary metabolites, and signaling networks in which phytohormones have central roles. Maintenance of cell wall integrity and lignification act as physical barriers. Indirect defenses of rice are regulated via chemical elicitors, honeydew‐associated elicitor, amendment with silicon and biochar, and salivary protein of BPH as elicitor or effector. Further research directions on planthopper control and rice defense against planthoppers are also put forward. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Recent Progress in Understanding the Properties of the Amorphous Silicon/Crystalline Silicon Interface
Authors: Kleider Jean‐Paul , Alvarez José , Brüggemann Rudolf , Gueunier‐Farret Marie‐Estelle
Published: May 2019

The authors review experimental and modeling approaches developed at GeePs to have a better knowledge and understanding of the interface between hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) and crystalline silicon (c‐Si) in heterojunction solar cells. The authors emphasize the existence of a strong inversion layer at the c‐Si surface for both (n) a‐Si:H/(p) c‐Si and (p) a‐Si:H/(n) c‐Si heterojunctions. Conductive probe atomic force microscopy reveals the existence of a conductive channel at the c‐Si surface. The analysis of complementary lateral planar conductance and capacitance measurements allows for a better description of the band diagram in both types of heterojunctions especially through the determination of band offset values. Furthermore, the passivation properties of the (i) a‐Si:H buffer layer are studied by modeling the volume defects in a‐Si:H with the defect‐pool model. In particular, the DOS in the very thin (i) a‐Si:H layers is much larger than in bulk (i) a‐Si:H because the Fermi level position favors defect creation. Surface defects in c‐Si at the a‐Si:H/c‐Si interface are then quantified and the general trends of effective lifetime measurements with the (i) a‐Si:H layer thickness can be explained, notably the increase of the effective lifetime in c‐Si with increasing the (i) a‐Si:H buffer thickness.
Negative Capacitance Transistor with Two‐Dimensional Channel Material (Molybdenum disulfide, MoS2)
Authors: Choi Hyunwoo , Shin Changhwan
Published: May 2019

Negative capacitance field effect transistor with two‐dimensional channel material (2D‐NCFET) has received lots of attention as a steep switching device for low power application. In this work, a P(VDF0.75‐TrFE0.25) ferroelectric capacitor is connected in series to the gate electrode of baseline FET with two‐dimensional channel material, i.e., molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). With the help of negative capacitance effect in ferroelectric material (herein, notice that the NC effect is physically originated from the polarization switching in ferroelectric material), it is experimentally demonstrated that the 2D‐NCFET enables to achieve the sub‐60 mV/decade subthreshold swing (SS = 32 mV/decade at 300 K). Note that the SS of baseline FET used for the 2D‐NCFET is 110 mV/decade at 300 K.
Carrier‐Selective Contact Based Silicon Solar Cells Processed at Room Temperature using Industrially Feasible Cz Wafers
Authors: Nayak Mrutyunjay , Singh Krishna , Mudgal Sapna , Mandal Sourav , Singh Sonpal , Komarala Vamsi K.
Published: May 2019

For the broad use of solar photovoltaic devices, the device fabricated at commercially viable silicon wafers at room temperature is more preferable to harvest abundant solar energy. Silicon heterojunction solar cells at room temperature, based on carrier‐selective layers without using any specified surface passivation layer on the silicon wafer is fabricated. Industrially feasible Cz n‐type non‐textured silicon wafers having the bulk lifetime of 300 µs are used for cell fabrication. The molybdenum oxide (MoOx) and lithium fluoride (LiFx) are used as hole‐ and electron‐selective layers, respectively. The highest conversion efficiency of >15% from the simple architecture of Ag/TCO/MoOx/n‐Si/LiFx/Al is achieved. The internal quantum efficiency of ≈96% is observed in the shorter wavelength region, whereas to understand relatively less response between 800 and 1100 nm wavelength region; effective minority carrier diffusion lengths are estimated. The authors also confirm the inversion layer formation in the silicon after MoOx contact from temperature dependent capacitance‐voltage measurements, and quantify the crucial built‐in‐potential of ≈0.69 V from the cell structure due to the high work function of MoOx layer.
The link between the AMPK/SIRT1 axis and a flavonoid‐rich extract of Citrus bergamia juice: A cell‐free, in silico, and in vitro study
Authors: Maugeri Alessandro , Ferlazzo Nadia , De Luca Laura , Gitto Rosaria , Navarra Michele
Published: May 2019

A previous report indicated that the flavonoid‐rich extract of bergamot juice (BJe) exerts an anti‐inflammatory effect through the activation of SIRT1 in leukemic monocytes THP‐1 exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we deeply investigate the mode of action of BJe, along with its major flavonoids on SIRT1 through cell‐free, in silico, and in vitro experimental models. In the cell‐free assay, all the tested compounds as well as the whole BJe inhibited the deacetylase activity of SIRT1. This finding was reinforced by the results of the in silico study. In THP‐1 cells exposed to LPS, a reduction of SIRT1 activity was observed, effect that was reverted by the pre‐incubation with either BJe or its major flavonoids. This effect was also observed at gene level. Employing an activator and an inhibitor of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK; AICAR and dorsomorphin, respectively), we discovered its involvement in the activation of SIRT1 elicited by BJe or its major flavonoids in whole cell. Our study indicates the dual role of BJe and its components, depending on the employed experimental model as well as reveals their mode of action on the AMPK/SIRT1 axis, suggesting their role as promising candidates in pathologies in which this axis is implied.
Clinical outcomes of transfer of frozen and thawed single blastocysts derived from nonpronuclear and monopronuclear zygotes
Authors: Hondo Saki , Arichi Akane , Muramatsu Hirotaka , Omura Naoki , Ito Kaori , Komine Hokuto , Monzen Shiho , Mukai Naoko , Endo Miyuki , Katase Serina , Kidera Nobuyuki , Sasaki Hiroshi , Koi Hideki , Yorimitsu Takeshi , Ohara Motohiro , Kawamura Toshihiro , Shimizu Yasufumi
Published: May 2019

Purpose

In assisted reproductive technology, normal zygotes are bipronuclear (2PN) during fertilization confirmation; however, sometimes, nonpronuclear zygotes (0PN) and monopronuclear zygotes (1PN) are found during routine observations.

Methods

To elucidate the clinical usefulness of in vitro‐fertilized embryos, we investigated the rates of clinical pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage, and congenital abnormality after transfer of frozen‐thawed 1PN‐ and 0PN‐derived single blastocysts at Denentoshi Ladies Clinic, Kanagawa, Japan.

Results

The rates of pregnancy and live birth for 1PN‐derived blastocysts obtained by conventional in vitro fertilization were 37.5% and 27.1%, respectively, which was not significantly different from those for 2PN‐derived blastocysts; however, the rates for 0PN‐derived blastocysts were significantly lower. The pregnancy and live birth rates for 0PN‐derived embryos obtained by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were 45.7% and 34.8%, respectively, which was not significantly different from those for 2PN‐derived blastocysts; however, the rates for 1PN‐derived blastocysts were significantly lower (4.0% for both) than those for 2PN‐ and 0PN‐derived blastocysts. No congenital abnormalities were found in infants resulting from transfer of 0PN‐ or 1PN‐derived blastocysts.

Conclusions

Both 1PN‐ and 0PN‐derived blastocysts can be used for embryo transfer; however, care should be taken in making decisions about 1PN‐derived blastocysts, especially if they are obtained by ICSI.
Ground robotics in tunnels: Keys and lessons learned after 10 years of research and experiments
Authors: Tardioli Danilo , Riazuelo Luis , Sicignano Domenico , Rizzo Carlos , Lera Francisco , Villarroel José L. , Montano Luis
Published: May 2019

The work reported in this article describes the research advances and the lessons learned by the Robotics, Perception and Real‐Time group over a decade of research in the field of ground robotics in confined environments. This study has primarily focused on localization, navigation, and communications in tunnel‐like environments. As will be discussed, this type of environment presents several special characteristics that often make well‐established techniques fail. The aim is to share, in an open way, the experience, errors, and successes of this group with the robotics community so that those that work in such environments can avoid (some of) the errors made. At the very least, these findings can be readily taken into account when designing a solution, without needing to sift through the technical details found in the papers cited within this text.
Grown Carbon Nanotubes on Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers as a 3D Carbon Nanomaterial for High Energy Storage Performance
Authors: Alali Khaled Tawfik , Liu Jingyuan , Liu Qi , Li Rumin , Aljebawi Kassem , Wang Jun
Published: May 2019

Carbon hierarchical nanostructures have been widely applied because of their outstanding properties and large surface area. Future energy materials for applications, such as Li‐ion, Li‐sulfur, Li‐air batteries, and supercapacitors require materials with high energy density and power capability. The preparation of three‐dimensional (3D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs)‐carbon nanofibers (CNFs) nanomaterials through a multi‐step process has many difficulties. The aggregation, the high expense of CNTs, and the difficult conditions for synthesizing CNTs have pushed researchers to consider new methods. The direct growth of CNTs on CNFs via one‐step electrospinning and a combined pyrolysis process is an efficient method for preparing 3D CNTs‐CNFs, as demonstrated in the literature. Herein, the importance of the hybrid 3D CNTs‐CNFs nanomaterials is reviewed, as well as their growth mechanisms, and the parameter influence on the morphology of grown CNTs. Moreover, the performance of the electrochemical energy storage for the hybrid CNTs grown on CNFs in the literature is reviewed and explained. Finally, the nanomaterials form the CNTs grown CNFs have great potential for various applications.
SmartHerd management: A microservices‐based fog computing–assisted IoT platform towards data‐driven smart dairy farming
Authors: Taneja Mohit , Jalodia Nikita , Byabazaire John , Davy Alan , Olariu Cristian
Published: May 2019

Internet of Things (IoT), fog computing, cloud computing, and data‐driven techniques together offer a great opportunity for verticals such as dairy industry to increase productivity by getting actionable insights to improve farming practices, thereby increasing efficiency and yield. In this paper, we present SmartHerd, a fog computing–assisted end‐to‐end IoT platform for animal behavior analysis and health monitoring in a dairy farming scenario. The platform follows a microservices‐oriented design to assist the distributed computing paradigm and addresses the major issue of constrained Internet connectivity in remote farm locations. We present the implementation of the designed software system in a 6‐month mature real‐world deployment, wherein the data from wearables on cows is sent to a fog‐based platform for data classification and analysis, which includes decision‐making capabilities and provides actionable insights to farmer towards the welfare of animals. With fog‐based computational assistance in the SmartHerd setup, we see an 84% reduction in amount of data transferred to the cloud as compared with the conventional cloud‐based approach.
Integrative Propositional Analysis for developing capacity in an academic research institution by improving strategic planning
Authors: Wallis Steven E.
Published: May 2019

Although current systems‐based methods of organization development provide some benefit to improving the ability of organizations to reach their goals, consultants are continually seeking to improve the way they may be used to support internal and external clients. This paper reports on an emerging systems‐based analytical method, “Integrative Propositional Analysis,” and its use for improving strategic plans leading to improvements in the capacity of an academic research institution. This preliminary report suggests a new structural perspective that may be useful for consultants and leaders interested in improving the usefulness of strategic plans for improving organizational effectiveness so that organizations may better fulfil their missions.
The contribution of systems theory to sustainability in degrowth contexts: The role of subsystems
Authors: Plaza‐Úbeda José Antonio , Pérez‐Valls Miguel , Céspedes‐Lorente José Joaquín , Payán‐Sánchez Belén
Published: May 2019

The earth and the natural world have physical limits. Thus, industries or firm systems operating on this planet have limits as well. Infinite growth is intrinsically impossible. Some firms have integrated these principles into their management methods while struggling to survive in a traditional competitive environment with short‐term economic constraints. This paper explores the managerial practices that help firm systems address these paradoxical tensions of being responsible for the environment and having a long‐term degrowth orientation while also successfully competing in traditional capitalistic markets. Using a social system approach, the paper applies functional differentiation focusing on the internal aspects of the management of the firm. The paper highlights that the role of each subsystem can be crucial for integrating the survival of the firm system and the natural system';; limits. Each subsystem has a potential effect on the natural system that can be analysed and managed in a specific way.
Create a physical accessibility partnership to support students with disabilities
Authors: Jackson Amanda , Perez Kristina
Published: May 2019

Students with mobility impairments became aware of accessibility needs at the age they were diagnosed. Their postsecondary education experience is no different with regard to accessibility needs than what they have experienced previously. Students with mobility impairments often use power or manual wheelchairs, crutches, or knee‐walker scooters to help them navigate campus.
Prognostic Impact of the Turin Criteria in Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Akaishi Junko , Kondo Tetsuo , Sugino Kiminori , Ogimi Yuna , Masaki Chie , Hames Kiyomi Y. , Yabuta Tomonori , Tomoda Chisato , Suzuki Akifumi , Matsuzu Kenichi , Uruno Takashi , Ohkuwa Keiko , Kitagawa Wataru , Nagahama Mitsuji , Katoh Ryohei , Ito Koichi
Published: May 2019

Background

The Turin criteria including solid, trabecular, and/or insular architecture, lack of typical nuclear features of papillary carcinoma, and mitoses, necrosis, or convoluted nuclei were adopted in the recent 4th edition of the World Health Organization classification published in 2017.

Materials and methods

Between 2006 and 2017, 11,001 cases underwent initial surgery for primary malignant thyroid tumor derived from follicular cells. A total of 75 (0.7%) cases were diagnosed with PDTC according to the 2004 WHO classification. Based on the Turin criteria, 30 (40%) cases were re‐classified as PDTC‐Turin (+) and 45 (60%) cases were PDTC‐Turin (−). Clinicopathological features and prognosis were compared between PDTC‐Turin (+) and PDTC‐Turin (−).

Results

Seventy‐five patients (48 females and 27 males) had a median age at the time of surgery of 57 years. Preoperative diagnosis was benign in 16 (21%), follicular tumor in 40 (53%), and malignant in 19 (25%). The 5‐year cause‐specific survival (CSS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were 97% and 44% for PDTC‐Turin (+) and 100% and 88% for PDTC‐Turin (−). On univariate analysis, CSS and DFS rates were significantly worse in the PDTC‐Turin (+) than in the PDTC‐Turin (−) (p = 0.0096, and p = 0.0016). Multivariate analysis showed that Turin criteria status, Ki‐67 labeling index ≥ 10%, and age 55 ≥ years were the independent prognostic factors for recurrence.

Conclusions

The prevalence of PDTC diagnosed with the Turin criteria was low, but it showed more aggressive behavior. The 2017 WHO classification reflects the prognosis more accurately than the 2004 WHO classification.
The Love Addiction Inventory: Preliminary Findings of the Development Process and Psychometric Characteristics
Authors: Costa Sebastiano , Barberis Nadia , Griffiths Mark D. , Benedetto Loredana , Ingrassia Massimo
Published: May 2019

Although the existence of dysfunctional love relationships is well known and the term “love addiction” dates back to the 1970s, empirical studies on this topic are still limited. The biggest problem is arguably is the lack of a clear definition of the love addiction construct and the lack of psychometric instruments for the assessment of its symptoms. The aim of the present study was to develop and examine the psychometric characteristics of a self-report scale assessing love addiction using the components model of behavioral addiction. Two studies based on the splitting of a total sample of 663 participants involved in an intimate relationship (for at least for 6 months) were recruited to examine the psychometric characteristics of the newly developed love addiction scale and its six-item short-form. In the first study, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted with a sample of 329 participants. In the second study, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach was used with a sample of 334 participants engaged in a romantic relationship. In both studies, reliability and concurrent validity were also examined. Results suggested that the factor structure of the Love Addiction Inventory and its six-item short-form is in line with the theoretical framework and showed good reliability and concurrent validity. The LAI in both short and longer forms are psychometrically robust and can be used to assess love addiction in future studies.
Development and psychometric evaluation of an instrument to measure knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards quality improvement in health professions education: The Beliefs, Attitudes, Skills, and Confidence in Quality Improvement (BASiC-QI) Scale
Authors: Brown Allison , Nidumolu Aditya , McConnell Meghan , Hecker Kent , Grierson Lawrence
Published: May 2019

Introduction Health professionals are increasingly expected to foster and lead initiatives to improve the quality and safety of healthcare. Consequently, health professions education has begun to integrate formal quality improvement (QI) training into their curricula. Few instruments exist in the literature that adequately and reliably assess QI-related competencies in learners without the use of multiple, trained raters in the context of healthcare. This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Beliefs, Attitudes, Skills, and Confidence in Quality Improvement (BASiC-QI) instrument, a 30-item self-assessment tool designed to assess knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards QI.

Methods Sixty first-year medical student participants completed the BASiC-QI and the Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool (QIKAT-R) prior to and immediately following a QI program that challenged learners to engage QI concepts in the context of their own medical education. Measurement properties of the BASiC-QI tool were explored through an exploratory factor analysis and generalizability study. Convergent validity was examined through correlations between BASiC-QI and QIKAT-R scores.

Results Psychometric evaluation of BASiC-QI indicated reliability and validity evidence based on internal structure. Analyses also revealed that BASiC-QI scores were positively correlated with the scores from the QIKAT-R, which stands an indicator of convergent validity.

Conclusion BASiC-QI is a multidimensional self-assessment tool that may be used to assess beliefs, attitudes, skills, and confidence towards QI. In comparison with existing instruments, BASiC-QI does not require multiple raters or scoring rubrics, serving as an efficient, reliable assessment instrument for educators to examine the impact of QI curricula on learners.
In vitro degradation of β‐amyloid fibrils by microbial keratinase
Authors: Ningthoujam Debananda S. , Mukherjee Saikat , Devi Laishram Jaya , Singh Elangbam Shanta , Tamreihao Keishing , Khunjamayum Rakhi , Banerjee Sumita , Mukhopadhyay Debashis
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Amyloid fibrils are misfolded, protease‐resistant forms of normal proteins. They are infectious such as prions or noninfectious such as β‐amyloid (Aβ) fibrils causing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prions and amyloids are structurally similar, possessing cross β‐pleated sheet‐like structures. As microbial keratinase could degrade prions, we tested keratinase activity on Aβ fibrils.

Methods

Lysozyme treated with urea generates Aβ fibrils demonstrated by immunoblotting with anti‐Aβ antibody, high‐performance liquid chromatography, and Congo red absorption spectroscopy. Two keratinases, Ker1 and Ker2, were purified from an actinomycete Amycolatopsis sp. MBRL 40 and incubated with Aβ fibrils.

Results

Soluble Ker1 and Ker1 reconstituted on neutral/cationic liposomes degraded Aβ fibrils efficiently. Ker 2 was less potent.

Discussion

Drugs that target AD inhibit acetylcholinesterase or formation of Aβ fibrils and downstream effects. These drugs have side effects and do not benefit globally in cognition. Keratinases are novel molecules for drug development against AD.
Mapping global Muslim mental health research: analysis of trends in the English literature from 2000 to 2015
Authors: Altalib H. H. , Elzamzamy K. , Fattah M. , Ali S. S. , Awaad R.
Published: May 2019

Background.

By 2030, the global Muslim population is expected to reach 2.2 billion people. The representations of Islam and Muslims in the media and academic literature may unconsciously impact how clinicians perceive and approach their Muslim patients. Our study focuses on the emerging Muslim mental health (MMH) literature using bibliometric analysis, specifically social network analysis of word co-occurrence and co-authorship networks of academic publications, to describe how the content of MMH discourse is evolving.

Methods.

We conducted an Ovid search (including Medline and PsycInfo databases) to identify articles written in English from 2000 to 2015 that had the terms ‘Islam’ and/or ‘Muslim’ in the abstract as well as research conducted in Muslim-majority countries and among Muslim minorities in the rest of the world.

Results.

Of the 2652 articles on MMH, the majority (65.6%) focused on describing psychopathology; the minority (11.2%) focused on issues around stigma, religiosity, spirituality, identity, or acculturation. Among the top 15 most frequent terms in abstracts were ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’, ‘violence’, ‘fear’, ‘trauma’, and ‘war’. Social network analysis showed there was little collaborative work across regions.

Conclusions.

The challenges of producing MMH research are similar to the challenges faced across global mental health research. Much of the MMH research reflects regional challenges such as the impact of conflict and violence on mental health. Continued efforts to develop global mental health researchers through cross-cultural exchanges, academic journals' dedicated sections and programs for global mental health recruitment, and online training are needed to address the gap in research and collaborations.
How to Make Content out of Form: Towards a Hegelian-Saussurean Theory of Non-Linear Structures of Possibility
Authors: Rosendal Søren
Published: May 2019

In this article I argue that Hegel and Saussure both discovered a new mode of theorization that I propose to call ‘structural explication’. This is distinct from the generally dominant ‘linear’ mode of theorization—i.e., causal and quasi-causal explanations. I also argue that the standard criticisms usually directed against Hegel and Saussure stem from a failure to appreciate the nature of structural explication. For example, both Hegel and Saussure argue that—in some deep sense—form can generate content. But this must be comprehended in a strictly non-linear way. A linear interpretation of such arguments will lead to absurdities. I propose to call such deep generative structures (with a nod to Kant) the ‘necessary structures of possibility’. By comparing Hegel's thoughts on the science of a philosophical logic and Saussure's thoughts on the science of a general linguistics it is possible to discern a deep ‘scientific’ affinity. Furthermore, I argue that the structural level cannot be accounted for in any linear way. On the contrary, the linear explanation is fundamentally dependent on a structural explication of the genesis of the basic terms it assumes as ‘given’. A possible reason for the pervasiveness of the linear explanation (besides, perhaps, the success of causality-oriented natural sciences) is that discursive language is linear and our lived experience in time is linear. Thus, a structural explication will inherently appear less intuitive, and maybe also less ‘satisfying’, than a linear explanation. Finally, I also bring the distinction between the linear and the structural to bear on Robert Brandom's normative pragmatist reading of Hegel's ‘semantic holism’.
Effects on body composition and handgrip strength of a nutritional intervention for malnourished HIV-infected adults referred for antiretroviral therapy: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: PrayGod George , Rehman Andrea M. , Wells Jonathan C. K. , Chisenga Molly , Siame Joshua , Jeremiah Kidola , Kasonka Lackson , Woodd Susannah , Changalucha John , Kelly Paul , Koethe John R. , Heimburger Douglas C. , Friis Henrik , Filteau Suzanne
Published: May 2019

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) may be beneficial for malnourished HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed the effect of adding vitamins and minerals to LNS on body composition and handgrip strength during ART initiation. ART-eligible HIV-infected patients with BMI <18·5 kg/m2were randomised to LNS or LNS with added high-dose vitamins and minerals (LNS-VM) from referral for ART to 6 weeks post-ART and followed up until 12 weeks. Body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), deuterium (2H) diluted water (D2O) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and handgrip strength were determined at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks post-ART, and effects of LNS-VMv.LNS at 6 and 12 weeks investigated. BIA data were available for 1461, D2O data for 479, ADP data for 498 and handgrip strength data for 1752 patients. Fat mass tended to be lower, and fat-free mass correspondingly higher, by BIA than by ADP or D2O. At 6 weeks post-ART, LNS-VM led to a higher regain of BIA-assessed fat mass (0·4 (95 % CI 0·05, 0·8) kg), but not fat-free mass, and a borderline significant increase in handgrip strength (0·72 (95 % CI −0·03, 1·5) kg). These effects were not sustained at 12 weeks. Similar effects as for BIA were seen using ADP or D2O but no differences reached statistical significance. In conclusion, LNS-VM led to a higher regain of fat mass at 6 weeks and to a borderline significant beneficial effect on handgrip strength. Further research is needed to determine appropriate timing and supplement composition to optimise nutritional interventions in malnourished HIV patients.
Deciphering the roles of environment and development in the evolution of a Late Triassic assemblage of conodont elements
Authors: Guenser Pauline , Souquet Louise , Dolédec Sylvain , Mazza Michele , Rigo Manuel , Goudemand Nicolas
Published: May 2019

To assess evolutionary processes in deep time, it is essential to understand the roles of development and environment, both recorded through the morphological variability of fossil assemblages. Thanks to their great abundance and the high temporal resolution of their fossil record, conodont elements are ideal to address this issue. In this paper, we present the first quantitative study of a Carnian–Norian (Late Triassic) assemblage of closely related P1 conodont elements. Using geometric morphometrics (landmarks, sliding landmarks, and elliptic Fourier analysis), we explore the main axes of phenotypic variation and relate them to classically used taxonomic characters. We show that some important taxonomic features follow laws of covariation, hence highlighting developmental constraints. Furthermore, the intraspecific variation within all considered species, either Carnian or Norian forms, is similarly restricted, emphasizing, for the first time in conodont P1 elements, a common line of least resistance to evolution, which means that similar intrinsic (developmental) factors were acting on these taxa and likely biased the evolutionary trajectories of all these taxa in a similar way. Because the evolution between Carnian and Norian forms is known to have followed a trajectory that is significantly different from the line of least resistance, strong extrinsic pressures, such as environmental disturbances, were probably at play around the Carnian/Norian boundary to counteract the effects of these intrinsic, developmental constraints.
Were our critics right about the Stasi?
Authors: Geissler Erhard , Sprinkle Robert Hunt
Published: May 2019

Background. Disinformation, now best known generically as “fake news,” is an old and protean weapon. Prominent in the 1980s was AIDS disinformation, including the HIV-from-Fort-Detrick myth, for whose propagation some figures ultimately admitted blame while others shamelessly claimed credit. In 2013 we reported a comprehensive analysis of this myth, finding leading roles for the Soviet Union’s state security service, the KGB, and for biologist and independent conspiracy theorist Jakob Segal but not for East Germany’s state security service, the Stasi. We found Stasi involvement had been much less extensive and much less successful than two former Stasi officers had begun claiming following German reunification. In 2014 two historians crediting the two former Stasi officers coauthored a monograph challenging our analysis and portraying the Stasi as having directed Segal, or at least as having used him as a “conscious or unconscious multiplier,” and as having successfully assisted a Soviet bloc AIDS-disinformation conspiracy that they soon inherited and thenceforth led. In 2017 a German appellate court found our 2013 analysis persuasive in a defamation suit brought by a filmmaker whose work the 2014 monograph had depicted as co-funded by the Stasi.

Question and methods. Were our critics right about the Stasi? We asked and answered ten subsidiary questions bearing upon our critics’ arguments, reassessing our own prior work and probing additional sources including archives of East Germany’s Partei- und Staatsführung [party-and-state leadership] and the recollections of living witnesses.

Findings. Jakob Segal transformed and transmitted the myth without direction from the KGB or the Stasi or any element of East Germany’s party-and-state leadership. The Stasi had trouble even tracking Segal’s activities, which some officers feared would disadvantage East Germany scientifically, economically, and politically. Three officers in one Stasi section did show interest in myth propagation, but their efforts were late, limited, inept, and inconsequential.

Conclusion. The HIV-from-Fort-Detrick myth, most effectively promoted by Jakob Segal acting independently of any state’s security service, was not, contrary to claims, a Stasi success.
2018 Presidential Address: Middle East Studies Reckons with Walls and Spoils
Authors: Tucker Judith E.
Published: May 2019

Our conference this year celebrates crossing borders with the theme “Without Boundaries: The Global Middle East, Then and Now.” In this spirit, I would like to reflect on some of what we have been facing recently in Middle East studies. We have seen challenges to the free circulation of people, ideas, and knowledge, and to the kinds of contacts and exchanges that invigorate our work. And, ironically enough, as restrictions on travel, study, and research have proliferated, the purloining of the cultural property of the region has been proceeding apace. Researchers, students, and scholars in general can move less and less, while the flow of cultural materials from the Middle East to the west has been moving more and more in ways that raise serious ethical questions. MESA and many of its members have been actively engaging these issues, and I will return to some of our accomplishments later in this piece.
Public Theology and Counter-Public Spheres
Authors: Thomas Owen C.
Published: May 2019

In the past decade a number of influential theologians have claimed, based on the analogy of modern science, that Christian theology is or should be public discourse, a public discipline which is addressed to all people and which uses criteria acceptable to all. This claim is usually contrasted with a view in which theology is understood as private, subjective, authoritarian, based on faith or a special revelation, and limited to a particular community. In this essay I shall explore in particular David Tracy's claim that theology should be public discourse, point out some difficulties with regard to this claim, and make an alternative proposal.
Ecclesiology, Scripture, and Tradition in the Dublin Agreed Statement
Authors: Miller Victoria C.
Published: May 2019

This article analyzes some of the ecclesiological issues raised in Anglican-Orthodox ecumenical dialogue, particularly in the Dublin Agreed Statement of 1984, one of the documents produced by the international discussions between these two communions. It also examines the theological background to these issues. How Anglicans and Orthodox Christians understand the nature of the church is an interesting question in its own right; perhaps more important, however, is the fact that ecclesiological concerns have formed a critical, if not always explicit, backdrop to the unsteadiness of Orthodoxy's ecumenical relations with Anglicans and other Christian churches in recent years.
Studies in Luke-Acts: Retrospect and Prospect
Authors: Bovon François
Published: May 2019

Let me begin with a personal note. Three experiences in my work on Luke-Acts will explain both the selection of the topics I shall discuss in this article and my view of the present situation in the study of Luke-Acts.

(1) After ten years of reading the recent studies of Luke-Acts and then working on the text itself, I made the observation that the general understanding of the theology of the Gospel of Luke on the basis of its redactional elements was rarely helpful in my effort of writing a commentary on this Gospel. Just as contributors to the more recent volumes of the Theological Dictionary to the New Testament no longer propose interpretations generally applicable to all three synoptic Gospels, the exegete working with a particular pericope can no longer be satisfied with generalizations about Lukan theology. Indeed, such general assumptions may actually be impediments rather than useful tools for the understanding of a particular text. This is not universally recognized because the attention of scholars has been held by another problem, namely, the substitution of a diachronic redactional interpretation of the Gospels by a synchronic literary interpretation. The underlying dilemma is, of course, the old question of the connection between exegesis and biblical theology. A promising solution might be to immerse oneself into a single relevant text, as Odette Mainville has done in her recent dissertation on Acts 2:33, and to obtain universality through the understanding of particularity—in other words, to follow Kierkegaard rather than Hegel.
Extending the Canon: Some Implications of a Hindu Argument about Scripture
Authors: Clooney Francis X.
Published: May 2019

Can the sacred texts of non-Christian religious traditions be revelatory for Christians in a fashion that is more than vague and merely theoretical? This question is central within the larger project of understanding the significance of the various world religions for Christians, and the effort to answer it must proceed according to three specific tasks.

First, it is necessary to describe the ways in which the Christian tradition predisposes and constrains Christian believers on the issue of whether non-Christian texts can be revelatory words of God for non-Christians, for Christians, or for both. The formulation of this description requires reflection on the Christian tradition and its sources: Christian ideas of revelation, scripture, the Word of God, and possible words of God.
Stability of Sethoxydim and Its Degradation Products in Solution, in Soil, and on Surfaces
Authors: Shoaf Antony R. , Carlson William C.
Published: May 2019

Sethoxydim reacts spontaneously with water resulting in immediate structural changes. Simulation of field conditions of light, moisture, oxygen, pH, and soil and evaporation on siliceous surfaces duplicated this lability. Sethoxydim degradation was enhanced by alkaline conditions, ultraviolet and incandescent light, and adsorption on solid surfaces. No sethoxydim was detected immediately after application to moist soil. Less than 2% extractable sethoxydim was present in dry soil after 24 h.