bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geographic structure of genetic variation in the Parachute Gecko Ptychozoon lionotum Annandale, 1905 across Indochina and Sundaland with descriptions of three new species
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , WOOD PERRY L. JR. , GRISMER JESSE L. , QUAH EVAN S. H. , THY NEANG , PHIMMACHAK SOMPHOUTHONE , SIVONGXAY NIANE , SEATEUN SENGVILAY , STUART BRYAN L. , SILER CAMERON B. , MULCAHY DANIEL G. , ANAMZA TASHITSO , BROWN RAFE M.
Published: July 2019

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the Ptychozoon lionotum group across its range in Indochina and Sundaland recovers P. lionotum sensu lato Annandale, 1905 as paraphyletic with respect to P. popaense Grismer, Wood, Thura, Grismer, Brown, & Stuart, 2018a and composed of four allopatric, genetically divergent, ND2 mitochondrial lineages. Multivariate and univariate analyses of continuous and discrete morphological and color pattern characters statistically and discretely diagnose each lineage from one another and together, with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses, provide the foundation for the recognition of each lineage as a new species—hypotheses corroborated with a Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent species delimitation analysis. Ptychozoon cicakterbang sp. nov. ranges throughout Peninsular Malaysia to Pulau Natuna Besar, Indonesia; P. kabkaebin sp. nov. is endemic to northern and central Laos; and P. tokehos sp. nov. ranges from southern Thailand south of the Isthmus of Kra northward to Chiang Mai, fringing the Chao Phraya Basin and ranging southward through Cambodia to southern Vietnam. Ptychozoon lionotum sensu stricto ranges from northwestern Laos through southern Myanmar to eastern India. The phylogeographic structure within each species varies considerably with P. lionotum s.s. showing no genetic divergence across its 1,100 km range compared to P. cicakterbang sp. nov. showing upwards of 8.2% sequence divergence between syntopic individuals. Significant phylogeographic structure exists within P. tokehos sp. nov. and increased sampling throughout Thailand may require additional taxonomic changes within this species.
Description of Eniacomorpha hermetiae Delvare sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Chalcididae) a pupal parasitoid of Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), and a potential threat to mass production of the fly as a feed supplement for domestic animals
Authors: DELVARE GÉRARD , COPELAND ROBERT S. , TANGA CHRYSANTUS M.
Published: July 2019

Eniacomorpha hermetiae Delvare sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae, Dirhininae), reared from pupae of black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), is described and illustrated from Africa and compared with other similar species newly considered as forming the ehrhorni species-group within Eniacomorpha Girault, 1915. The newly described parasitic wasp may have a negative impact on efforts to mass produce BSF in Africa as a feed supplement for domestic animals. Eniacomorpha is removed from synonymy under Dirhinus Dalman, 1818, revised status, for the Afrotropical species of Dirhininae previously placed in Dirhinus subgenus Pareniaca Crawford, 1913. A checklist of the 10 recognized species of Afrotropical Eniacomorpha is given, of which 9 are new generic combinations.
Mobility among older adults: Deconstructing the effects of motility and movement on wellbeing
Authors: Cuignet Timothée , Perchoux Camille , Caruso Geoffrey , Klein Olivier , Klein Sylvain , Chaix Basile , Kestens Yan , Gerber Philippe
Published: July 2019

Daily mobility has been shown to contribute to the wellbeing of older adults, as it promotes healthy and independent living. However, very little is known about how the complex relationships between locations, geographic environments and daily mobility relate to wellbeing. In the current paper, we rely on the concept of ‘motility’– defined as potential mobility– and the concept of ‘movement’– defined as actual mobility– to take a step forwards in disentangling the relationship between mobility and wellbeing. We further examine how both motility and movement relate to two complementary definitions of wellbeing: hedonic wellbeing as a measurement of happiness, and eudaimonic wellbeing as the actualisation of an individual’s human potential. To investigate this relationship, we draw up a conceptual framework stressing pathways linking mobility to wellbeing, which we empirically test using structural equation modelling on a stratified sample of 470 older adults. We first quantitatively confirm that motility is defined by access, competences, appropriation and attitudes to modes of transportation. We then observe that motility has direct effects on eudaimonic wellbeing and, to a lesser extent, on hedonic wellbeing. Part of the motility effects on wellbeing are mediated by movement. Separating mobility into motility and movement stresses the independent and complementary role that potential and realised mobility play in shaping older adults’ wellbeing.
“One in many: Sounding of the heart”: The meaning of divine revelation in the kakure kirishitan land
Authors: Matsuoka Fumitaka
Published: July 2019

The question to be explored is that of how far a Christian identity can be stretched and yet still remain “Christian” and who determines the limits and for what reasons. This question is explored in light of the kakure kirishitan (hidden Christians) studies in Japan. More precisely, the question is that of how the historically singular epistemology embodied in the “one-God” understandings of Christianity has played out in multiple readings of reality, a “many gods” epistemology, in Japan. This is an exploration of the “meaning of divine revelation of Christ” set within the context of ecclesia semper reformanda. I would claim that the “character of love” as defined by Ernst Troeltsch’s notion of the revelation of Christ (“In our earthly experiences the Divine Life is not One, but Many. But to apprehend the One in the Many constitutes the special character of love”), which is a distinct Christian faith paradigm, contrary to the popular paradigm in the academic and civic discourse of “one in many,” takes on the character of “the sounding of the heart.” Even when the historical identity of Christ is extensively eroded, the “sounding” speaks to people beyond the difference of the worlds with a language that is so intimate that it profoundly grasps the heart.
Navigating between cultures: Cross-cultural challenges of Nigerian Catholic priests working in the United States
Authors: Ahanotu Leonard U.
Published: July 2019

The issue of cross-cultural movements of professionals within organizations in the 21st century’s networked-style of the global organization has created the question of how to prepare professionals to meet the demands of satisfactory service in a culture different from their home culture. The absence of the cross-cultural preparation of professionals is causing cross-cultural maladjustments among many professionals, and the Nigerian Catholic priests who move from Nigeria to the United States face this reality. Given the priest shortage in the United States, the US Roman Catholic Church recruits many priests from overseas and a significant number of these priests are being recruited from Nigeria, whose culture is very different from US culture. The work of these priests helps to solve the shortage problem but is creating new challenges in some Catholic parishes because of cultural differences. The priests continually face cross-cultural challenges to succeed in their pastoral work. There is little research on the cross-cultural problems and other experiences of these priests in adjustment and in carrying out their duties. This qualitative study investigated the cross-cultural experiences of Nigerian priests serving in the United States. Interviews with 12 Nigerian priests serving in four different regions of the United States yielded 11 themes. Participants described five common challenges and identified six strategies to facilitate adjustment. The themes influenced the use of Kolb’s learning theory to design pre-departure cross-cultural training for Nigerian priests.
Health information services: Engaging women in cervical cancer screening awareness in Nigeria
Authors: Osuchukwu Ngozi P. , Ukachi Ngozi B.
Published: July 2019

Around the world, a woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes. In Nigeria, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, which could be avoided with proper access to health information. This mixed methods study, which employs a questionnaire, interviews, observations and discussion, examined women’s awareness on cervical cancer, screening status, sources, attitude and willingness, factors deterring them from being screened, and lessons learnt. Screening was done using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). The study involved two librarians, two medical doctors, a pharmacist and a laboratory scientist: 90 women participated in the cervical screening exercise in non-standard settings – an e-library and a cathedral. It was discovered that 90% of the women had never been screened. Thus, if the women are not sensitized on cervical cancer they may never go for screening and more casualties will be recorded. The paper concludes with recommendations and a call to action for all, especially librarians.
Dextran-immobilized curcumin: An efficient agent against food pathogens and cancer cells
Authors: Zare Mahboobeh , Norouzi Sarkati Malihe , Tashakkorian Hamed , Partovi Razieh , Rahaiee Somayeh
Published: July 2019

Curcumin–dextran conjugate was synthesized by free radical grafting reaction between curcumin and dextran. The chemical characterization of the conjugate was obtained by Fourier-transform infrared and 1H-NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy analysis, while the functionalization degree was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, finding a 22.93 mg of curcumin/g of dextran conjugate. Antioxidant activity of curcumin and curcumin–dextran conjugate was investigated employing DPPH• radical method, and IC50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) values of curcumin and the curcumin–dextran conjugate (Cur equivalents) were 86.6 ± 0.1 and 17.4 ± 1 µM, respectively. The presence of dextran into the curcumin–dextran conjugate improved radical scavenging activities of the curcumin. In addition, antimicrobial effect of curcumin and curcumin–dextran conjugate was evaluated against gram-positive ( Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative ( Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria. According to our experiments, gram-positive microorganisms are more sensitive to these compounds than gram-negative ones. Curcumin–dextran is a more potent bacteriostat ( S. aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration = 0.008 µg/mL), E. coli O157:H7 (minimum inhibitory concentration = 250 µg/mL), and S. typhimurium (minimum inhibitory concentration = 500 µg/mL)) and also a more potent bacteriosid against S. aureus and S. typhimurium than curcumin. The cytotoxic effects of the curcumin–dextran conjugate toward AGS, MCF-7, and normal fibroblast cell lines were determined at 48 and 72 h using an MTT assay. The results revealed the considerable antiproliferative effects of the curcumin–dextran conjugate in both AGS and MCF-7 cancer cells in comparison with fibroblast cells. This study shows that dextran as a versatile scaffold develops the biological activities of curcumin by covalent grafting and can be regarded in further bioapplications.
Mammary Dysbiosis and Nipple Blebs Treated With Intravenous Daptomycin and Dalbavancin
Authors: Mitchell Katrina B. , Eglash Anne , Bamberger Ethan T.
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Mammary dysbiosis, also known as subacute mastitis, may be associated with nipple blebs. These overlapping diagnoses represent a challenging clinical scenario during lactation. Little research has been published on etiology, management strategies, and outcomes of these concurrent diagnoses.

Main issue

We document the treatment and outcome of a patient who presented with left-breast dysbiosis and nipple blebs and whose milk culture grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated safely and effectively with intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin. This has not been described previously in the lactation literature.

Management

The 35-year-old lactating gravida 3, para 3 patient presented at 6 months postpartum to a breast surgery clinic with a 1-week history of worsening deep left-breast pain, blebs, and recurrent plugging. She was afebrile and she had no erythema or induration on her breast exam. A culture of her milk grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and she was referred to infectious disease for assistance with intravenous antibiotic therapy. She continued to feed expressed milk throughout treatment and demonstrated complete resolution of symptoms 8 weeks later.

Conclusions

We report that in patients with a multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus–positive human milk culture and a clinical presentation of mammary dysbiosis and nipple blebs, intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin may be an effective treatment.
A modified firefly algorithm to maximize heat dissipation of a rectangular porous fin in heat exchangers exposed to both convective and radiative environment
Authors: Deshamukhya Tuhin , Nath Ratnadeep , Hazarika Saheera Azmi , Bhanja Dipankar , Nath Sujit
Published: July 2019

The current study deals with the optimization of significant parameters of aluminium and copper rectangular porous fins using firefly algorithm with reflective boundary condition. The study has been done considering convective heat transfer, in the first case, as well as combined convective and radiative modes of heat transfer, in the second case. To solve the non-linear governing equation, a semi analytical technique, differential transformation method is adopted. The results obtained by differential transformation method are validated by the numerical solution obtained by the finite difference method. The performance of firefly algorithm is evaluated by comparing with the results obtained by particle swarm optimization where it is seen that for the current set of equations, firefly algorithm took lesser number of iterations and computational time to converge than particle swarm optimization for all the cases. The analysis has been done for three different fin volumes and the effect of important variables which directly influence the heat transfer rate through porous fins has been discussed.
A generalized three-type lifetime probabilistic models-based hybrid maintenance policy with a practical switcher for time-based preventive maintenance and condition-based maintenance
Authors: You Ming-Yi
Published: July 2019

This paper proposes a generalized hybrid maintenance policy for maintenance scheduling with the help of both time-based maintenance and condition-based maintenance techniques, in which three-type product lifetime probabilistic models are utilized. A dispersion of lifetime estimates-based switcher is proposed to recommend the choice of time-based maintenance or condition-based predictive maintenance schedules in a real-time manner. Within the condition-based predictive maintenance policy, which is a part of the hybrid maintenance policy, a novel weighted average of the maintenance schedules is proposed to recommend maintenance acts, which are estimated based on two types of product lifetime probabilistic models namely type-II and type-III lifetime probabilistic models. The hybrid maintenance policy includes the classical time-based maintenance policy, the traditional condition-based predictive maintenance policy, and the proposed condition-based predictive maintenance policy as special cases. An extensive numerical investigation for the stochastic linear degradation model verifies the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid maintenance policy, highlighting the existence of a special space among time-based maintenance and condition-based predictive maintenance polices, which provides even better maintenance performance than a solely condition-based predictive maintenance policy.
How Can Leaders Make Their Followers to Commit to the Organization? The Importance of Influence Tactics
Authors: Chaturvedi Shakti , Rizvi Irfan A. , Pasipanodya Enias Thomas
Published: July 2019

Transformational leaders have the potential to influence their followers to work beyond their normal capacities at the workplace and show resolute loyalty towards the organizational objectives. Although numerous studies have explored the relationship between transformational leadership and employee’s affective organizational commitment, what causes or mediates this relationship is yet to be explored. Therefore, the present study intends to explore the mediating role of influence tactics in explaining the relationship between transformational leadership and the follower’s organizational commitment. This study was conducted using reliable and validated instruments for data collection on a sample of 352 professionals working in various iron and steel firms across Chhattisgarh in India. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18. The analysis reveals transformational leadership having a significant positive relationship with follower’s affective organizational commitment. The findings of this study also reported that the two influence tactics (rationality and inspirational appeal) partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and affective organizational commitment.
Symptoms in Children Receiving Treatment for Cancer—Part II: Pain, Sadness, and Symptom Clusters
Authors: Linder Lauri A. , Hooke Mary C.
Published: July 2019

Children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer experience multiple symptoms as a consequence of their disease and its treatment that interfere with the child’s quality of life. Understanding of symptom assessment in children with cancer is foundational to the work of the Children’s Oncology Group Nursing Discipline, whose research aims are to address knowledge gaps including understanding illness-related distress. This article is the second of a two-part summary of current evidence addressing the assessment of symptoms frequently reported by children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer. Studies reporting assessment of pain, sadness, and symptom clusters published between January 2008 and May 2018 were included. Forty-three publications addressed pain. Pain was highly prevalent and distressing, varied in its trajectory across a cycle of chemotherapy and across multiple cycles of treatment, and correlated with biomarkers associated with the pain response. Consequences of pain were poorer functional status and emotional health. Twenty publications addressed sadness. Sadness was the most prevalent psychosocial symptom. Its prevalence decreased over the course of treatment and over a cycle of chemotherapy. Persistent sadness was of greater severity and distress. Eight publications addressed symptom clusters. These studies identified both groups of co-occurring symptoms and groups of patients with common symptom profiles. This two-article series provides evidence for the distressing nature of symptoms among children receiving cancer treatment. Efforts to support clinicians in routine symptom assessment are needed. Additional research directed at alleviating symptoms and building resilience among the child experiencing symptoms is needed.
Adaptation of learning agents through artificial perception
Authors: Ramicic Mirza , Bonarini Andrea
Published: July 2019

The process of online reinforcement learning also creates a stream of experiences that an agent can store to re-learn from them. In this work, we introduce a concept of artificial perception affecting the dynamics of experience memory replay, which induces a secondary goal-directed drive that complements the main goal defined by the reinforcement function. The different perception dynamics are capable of inducing different “personality” types able to govern the agent behavior, possibly enabling it to exhibit an improved performance over an environment with specific characteristics. Experimental results show that different personalities show different performance levels when facing environment variations, therefore, showcasing the influence of artificial perception in agent’s adaptation.
Preserving Education as a Public Good: Lessons from the Grassroots
Authors: Ferman Barbara
Published: July 2019

The article provides an overview of my book, The Fight for America’s Schools: Grassroots Activism in Education. The book examines how grassroots activists in Pennsylvania and New Jersey challenged various neoliberal reforms in education such as high stakes testing, school closures, state takeovers of local school districts, and charter school expansion. The four case studies focus on who the activists were, how they became involved, the challenges they faced, and the prospects for coalition building across different constituent groups. The comparative analysis reveals the role of political, organizational, demographic, and historical factors in shaping how activism played out in each location and in its effectiveness.
Back to basics: Academic research in tourism and hospitality management – The case of Hong Kong
Authors: Chin David CW , Law Rob
Published: July 2019

As universities compete for resources, research output has become more important and the key determinant in academic success. While much work has been done, it is limited to studying specific dimensions of research performance, with inherent methodological limitations such as the choice of journals to be included for examination, methods of counting, and research performance measures. This study takes a different route. Based on a constructivist grounded theory methodology, it explores the question of how to conduct good research across the entire spectrum of tenure positions, by interviewing 36 academics from six academic institutions in Hong Kong. This yielded a theory-based emerging framework, which suggests good habits and routine behaviors are essential in conducting good research. Consistent with the “grit” concept in positive psychology, in addition to “consistency of interest”, “perseverance of efforts” is important. Five habits of good research are identified, namely being curious, observant, tenacious, mindful, and practical. Using Hong Kong as the context, this study confirms the importance of conducting good academic research and making a contribution to education, industry, and society. Although the results break no new ground, the findings would be beneficial to academics, particularly young and aspiring academics as well as doctoral students. This is also reinforced by the importance of hard work and perseverance in order to achieve success.
Rapid Inactivation of Non-Endospore-Forming Bacterial Pathogens by Heat Stabilization is Compatible with Downstream Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Schroeder Max R. , Loparev Vladimir
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Heat stabilization treatment preserves the in vivo state of biological samples by rapidly inactivating enzymes that cause degradation of proteins and nucleic acids. Historically, proteomics studies used this technique as an alternative to chemical fixation. More recently, microbiologists discovered that heat stabilization treatment rapidly inactivates pathogens present in tissue samples and preserves deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the tissue. However, these recent studies did not investigate the inactivation of high-density bacterial suspensions and the quality of bacterial DNA.

Methods and Results:

High-density suspensions of Escherichia coli (>109cfu/mL) were completely inactivated by heat stabilization treatment using the Denator Stabilizor T1 instrument at 72°C and 95°C for 45 seconds. Using the heat stabilization instrument, a panel of 30 species, 20 Gram-negative and 10 non-endospore-forming Gram-positive species, were fully inactivated by treatment (95°C for 45 seconds). DNA was isolated from bacterial suspensions of Gram-negative bacteria, including E. albertii, E. coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and S. flexneri, following inactivation via heat stabilization treatment and without treatment. DNA isolated following heat stabilization treatment was fully compatible with all downstream molecular applications tested, including next-generation sequencing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR.

Conclusions and Discussion:

Heat stabilization treatment of Gram-negative and non-endospore-forming Gram-positive pathogens completely inactivates high-density bacterial suspensions. This treatment is compatible with downstream DNA molecular assays, including next-generation sequencing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and PCR. Inactivation by heat stabilization is a rapid process that may increase safety by decreasing risks for laboratory-associated infections and risks associated with transportation of infectious materials.
An optimization scheme for a multilayer armour module against 7.62 mm armour piercing projectile
Authors: Paman Ashish , Sukumar Govindan , Ramakrishna B , Madhu Vemuri
Published: July 2019

This study presents a methodology to find the optimal sequence and thicknesses of individual material layers in a multilayer armour module. The methodology is demonstrated with application to three different metal alloys: Armox-500T, Ti-6Al-4V and Al-2024. Numerical simulations are performed first to study the ballistic impact behaviour of these three materials using AUTODYN-3D code. The results of numerical simulations are compared with experimental results for validating the numerical models. Thereafter, a three-layer armour module consisting of these three materials is optimized to defeat 7.62 armour piercing projectile with minimum weight. The optimization process involves carrying a set of numerical simulations based on the design of experiment approach to generate a response surface for the ballistic performance of a composite module. A new ballistic performance parameter is introduced to measure the ballistic response of the module by combining depth of penetration and residual velocity of the projectile to bring uniformity between two cases of partial and complete penetration. The proposed parameter provides more information on ballistic performance. The response surface for ballistic performance parameter is generated in terms of thicknesses for six possible combinations of three material layers. The adequacy of the proposed optimization scheme is confirmed with ballistic experiments. The sequence Armox-500T/Ti-6Al-4V/Al-2024 with thicknesses 5.5, 8.5 and 13 mm, respectively, is found to be the best against 7.62 mm armour piercing projectile. Furthermore, the performance of each individual material is compared with an optimized three-layer armour module. The composite module is found to be weight efficient over Armox-500T, Al-2024 and provides better thickness efficiency over Al-2024. The weight efficiency and thickness efficiency of Ti-6Al-4V are found to be comparable to the composite module. This study emphasizes the necessity of developing new procedures to provide reliable estimates of design parameters for a multilayer armour module.
Change in incidence, characteristics and management of colorectal neuroendocrine tumours in the Netherlands in the last decade
Authors: Kooyker Arthur I , Verbeek Wieke HM , van den Berg José G , Tesselaar Margot ET , van Leerdam Monique E
Published: July 2019

Background

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare. However, a rising incidence has been reported over the past decades. For colorectal NETs, this is presumably caused by an increased awareness of colorectal diseases and colonoscopic procedures. This study aims to analyse the change in incidence of colorectal NETs, characteristics and management and evaluate the proportion of colorectal NETs detected in a national colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme.

Methods

Histopathological reports on colorectal well‐differentiated NETs detected between 2006 and 2016 were collected from the Dutch pathology database (PALGA) containing nationwide histo‐ and cytopathology reports of all pathology laboratories in the Netherlands.

Results

Colorectal NETs were detected in 1055 individuals. Increasing incidence rates were observed from 0.36 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2006 to 0.75 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011 (p value < 0.001), remaining stable afterward. Most NETs were grade I (73.5%) and detected in the rectum (76.4%). The majority (88.2%) were detected by colonoscopy, and the final intervention depended significantly on primary location of the tumour; 94.6% of rectal NETs were endoscopically removed, whereas 61.0% of colonic NETs were removed by surgery. There was an increase in local excision both of rectal and colonic NETs over the years instead of radical resection. Screening for CRC started in 2014 and contributed by detecting 32% of the diagnosed colorectal NETs within the invited age group, of which 94.6% were detected at an early stage.

Conclusion

The incidence of reported colorectal NETs in the Netherlands doubled over the last decade. The Dutch CRC screening programme had a clear contribution to colorectal NETs incidence among its target population. A shift to more local management of detected lesions was observed over time.
Association Between Postoperative Dexmedetomidine Use and Arrhythmias in Infants After Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Ortmann Laura A. , Keshary Meera , Bisselou Karl Stessy , Kutty Shelby , Affolter Jeremy T.
Published: July 2019

Background:

Dexmedetomidine has been suggested as an arrhythmia prophylactic agent after surgery for congenital heart disease due to its heart rate lowering effect, though studies are conflicting. We sought to study the effect of dexmedetomidine in infants that are at highest risk for arrhythmias.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study of infants less than six months of age undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital heart disease. The arrhythmia incidence in the first 48 hours after surgery in infants receiving dexmedetomidine for sedation was compared to those that did not receive dexmedetomidine.

Results:

A total of 309 patients were included, 206 patients who did not receive dexmedetomidine and 103 patients who did. The incidence of tachyarrhythmias was similar between the non-DEX group and the DEX group (19% vs 15%, P = .34). When adjusted for baseline differences, the non-DEX group did not have an increased risk of postoperative tachyarrhythmias (odds ratio [OR]: 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-3.8). The non-DEX group had an increased need for treatment for arrhythmias (18% vs 8%, P = .012). The three lesions with baseline higher risk for arrhythmias (tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, and complete atrioventricular canal) had an increased incidence of tachyarrhythmias in the non-DEX group (34% vs 6%, P = .027). This risk was not significant in multivariate analysis (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 0.4-15.5).

Conclusions:

High-risk infants had decreased incidence of tachyarrhythmias when receiving dexmedetomidine, though this was not significant after accounting for baseline differences between groups.
Do Neural Information Extraction Algorithms Generalize Across Institutions?
Authors: Santus Enrico , Li Clara , Yala Adam , Peck Donald , Soomro Rufina , Faridi Naveen , Mamshad Isra , Tang Rong , Lanahan Conor R. , Barzilay Regina , Hughes Kevin
Published: July 2019

PURPOSE

Natural language processing (NLP) techniques have been adopted to reduce the curation costs of electronic health records. However, studies have questioned whether such techniques can be applied to data from previously unseen institutions. We investigated the performance of a common neural NLP algorithm on data from both known and heldout (ie, institutions whose data were withheld from the training set and only used for testing) hospitals. We also explored how diversity in the training data affects the system’s generalization ability.

METHODS

We collected 24,881 breast pathology reports from seven hospitals and manually annotated them with nine key attributes that describe types of atypia and cancer. We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) on annotations from either only one (CNN1), only two (CNN2), or only four (CNN4) hospitals. The trained systems were tested on data from five organizations, including both known and heldout ones. For every setting, we provide the accuracy scores as well as the learning curves that show how much data are necessary to achieve good performance and generalizability.

RESULTS

The system achieved a cross-institutional accuracy of 93.87% when trained on reports from only one hospital (CNN1). Performance improved to 95.7% and 96%, respectively, when the system was trained on reports from two (CNN2) and four (CNN4) hospitals. The introduction of diversity during training did not lead to improvements on the known institutions, but it boosted performance on the heldout institutions. When tested on reports from heldout hospitals, CNN4 outperformed CNN1 and CNN2 by 2.13% and 0.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Real-world scenarios require that neural NLP approaches scale to data from previously unseen institutions. We show that a common neural NLP algorithm for information extraction can achieve this goal, especially when diverse data are used during training.
Viral Hormones: Expanding Dimensions in Endocrinology
Authors: Huang Qian , Kahn C Ronald , Altindis Emrah
Published: July 2019

Viruses have developed different mechanisms to manipulate their hosts, including the process of viral mimicry in which viruses express important host proteins. Until recently, examples of viral mimicry were limited to mimics of growth factors and immunomodulatory proteins. Using a comprehensive bioinformatics approach, we have shown that viruses possess the DNA/RNA with potential to encode 16 different peptides with high sequence similarity to human peptide hormones and metabolically important regulatory proteins. We have characterized one of these families, the viral insulin/IGF-1–like peptides (VILPs), which we identified in four members of the Iridoviridae family. VILPs can bind to human insulin and IGF-1 receptors and stimulate classic postreceptor signaling pathways. Moreover, VILPs can stimulate glucose uptake in vitro and in vivo and stimulate DNA synthesis. DNA sequences of some VILP-carrying viruses have been identified in the human enteric virome. In addition to VILPs, sequences with homology to 15 other peptide hormones or cytokines can be identified in viral DNA/RNA sequences, some with a very high identity to hormones. Recent data by others has identified a peptide that resembles and mimics α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone’s anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro and in vivo models. Taken together, these studies reveal novel mechanisms of viral and bacterial pathogenesis in which the microbe can directly target or mimic the host endocrine system. These findings also introduce the concept of a system of microbial hormones that provides new insights into the evolution of peptide hormones, as well as potential new roles of microbial hormones in health and disease.
Steroid Metabolome Analysis in Disorders of Adrenal Steroid Biosynthesis and Metabolism
Authors: Storbeck Karl-Heinz , Schiffer Lina , Baranowski Elizabeth S , Chortis Vasileios , Prete Alessandro , Barnard Lise , Gilligan Lorna C , Taylor Angela E , Idkowiak Jan , Arlt Wiebke , Shackleton Cedric H L
Published: July 2019

Steroid biosynthesis and metabolism are reflected by the serum steroid metabolome and, in even more detail, by the 24-hour urine steroid metabolome, which can provide unique insights into alterations of steroid flow and output indicative of underlying conditions. Mass spectrometry–based steroid metabolome profiling has allowed for the identification of unique multisteroid signatures associated with disorders of steroid biosynthesis and metabolism that can be used for personalized approaches to diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognostic prediction. Additionally, steroid metabolome analysis has been used successfully as a discovery tool, for the identification of novel steroidogenic disorders and pathways as well as revealing insights into the pathophysiology of adrenal disease. Increased availability and technological advances in mass spectrometry–based methodologies have refocused attention on steroid metabolome profiling and facilitated the development of high-throughput steroid profiling methods soon to reach clinical practice. Furthermore, steroid metabolomics, the combination of mass spectrometry–based steroid analysis with machine learning–based approaches, has facilitated the development of powerful customized diagnostic approaches. In this review, we provide a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the utility of steroid metabolome analysis for the diagnosis and management of inborn disorders of steroidogenesis and autonomous adrenal steroid excess in the context of adrenal tumors.
Genetic Evidence of the Association of DEAH-Box Helicase 37 Defects With 46,XY Gonadal Dysgenesis Spectrum
Authors: da Silva Thatiana Evilen , Gomes Nathalia Lisboa , Lerário Antonio Marcondes , Keegan Catherine Elizabeth , Nishi Mirian Yumi , Carvalho Filomena Marino , Vilain Eric , Barseghyan Hayk , Martinez-Aguayo Alejandro , Forclaz María Verónica , Papazian Regina , Pedroso de Paula Leila Cristina , Costa Eduardo Corrêa , Carvalho Luciani Renata , Jorge Alexander Augusto Lima , Elias Felipe Martins , Mitchell Rod , Costa Elaine Maria Frade , Mendonca Berenice Bilharinho , Domenice Sorahia
Published: July 2019

Context

46,XY Gonadal dysgenesis (GD) is a heterogeneous group of disorders with a wide phenotypic spectrum, including embryonic testicular regression syndrome (ETRS).

Objective

To report a gene for 46,XY GD etiology, especially for ETRS.

Design

Screening of familial cases of 46,XY GD using whole-exome sequencing and sporadic cases by target gene-panel sequencing.

Setting

Tertiary Referral Center for differences/disorders of sex development (DSD).

Patients and Interventions

We selected 87 patients with 46,XY DSD (17 familial cases from 8 unrelated families and 70 sporadic cases); 55 patients had GD (among them, 10 patients from 5 families and 8 sporadic cases had ETRS), and 32 patients had 46,XY DSD of unknown etiology.

Results

We identified four heterozygous missense rare variants, classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic in the Asp-Glu-Ala-His-box (DHX) helicase 37 (DHX37) gene in five families (n = 11 patients) and in six sporadic cases. Two variants were recurrent: p.Arg308Gln (in two families and in three sporadic cases) and p.Arg674Trp (in two families and in two sporadic cases). The variants were specifically associated with ETRS (7/14 index cases; 50%). The frequency of rare, predicted-to-be-deleterious DHX37 variants in this cohort (14%) is significantly higher than that observed in the Genome Aggregation Database (0.4%; P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry analysis in human testis showed that DHX37 is mainly expressed in germ cells at different stages of testis maturation, in Leydig cells, and rarely in Sertoli cells.

Conclusion

This strong genetic evidence identifies DHX37 as a player in the complex cascade of male gonadal differentiation and maintenance.
Calendars in Knotted Cords: New Evidence on How Khipus Captured Time in Nineteenth-Century Cuzco and Beyond
Authors: de la Puente José Carlos
Published: July 2019

Despite the critical advances toward khipu decipherment, the specific ways in which Andean khipu masters captured and organized the course of time in their cords, in the form of ages, dates, chronologies, and calendric intervals and cycles, remains obscure. This essay contributes to this central problem of knot making and reading traditions by enlisting the aid of an unlikely source: the memoirs of a mid-nineteenth-century gentleman who was given a striking account of how khipu masters in Cuzco’s countryside recorded specific events of a twelve-month calendar in their khipus and made accurate calculations based on them. The analysis and reconstruction of Cuzco’s calendar-demographic khipus is framed into the history of Catholic catechesis, which included early efforts at colonizing indigenous ways of thinking and experiencing time through tactile, visual, and sonic strategies. This process, rather than marginalizing knotted cords all together, as it is sometimes assumed, turned khipukamayuq into important, yet often overlooked agents for the gradual establishment of the Roman Catholic calendar in Andean rural parishes. Unraveling the basic principles for the accounting of time in these modern khipus by placing them in their historical context is a firm, and to our knowledge unprecedented, step toward future efforts at deciphering both quantitative and qualitative cords with a temporal component.
МЕТОДИКА ВОЕННО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО ОБОСНОВАНИЯ ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ НЕЗАВИСИМОСТИ РОССИЙСКОГО ОПК
Authors: Naruzhny Vyacheslav Evgenyevich , Kurbanov Artur Khusainovich , Plotnikov Vladimir Aleksandrovich
Published: July 2019

В современных условиях большое значение имеет создание национальной технологической базы в интересах российского оборонно-промышленного комплекса. Создание такой базы может быть обеспечено путем реализации целевой промышленной политики. Выбор варианта такой политики осуществляется на основе оценки ожидаемого от ее реализации военно-экономического эффекта.Цель статьи: разработка методики оценки военно-экономического эффекта от мер по поддержке развития отечественного станкостроения.Методы: общенаучные методы анализа и синтеза, метод математического моделирования.Результаты: в статье разработаны методы оценки прямого и косвенного экономического эффекта от реализации промышленной политики по поддержке российского станкостроения в интересах ОПК, метод оценки военного эффекта, метод оценки интегрального военно-экономического эффекта.
Identifying Distinctive Features of Productive and Socially Efficient Schools
Authors: Матюшкина Марина , Matyushkina Marina , Белоусов Константин , Belousov Konstantin
Published: July 2019

The article presents the results of a series of empirical studies devoted to the analysis of the relationship between school performance (according to the Unified State Examination criterion), its social efficiency (according to the criterion of the frequency of student circulation to tutors) and various social and pedagogical characteristics of the school. A correlation analysis was carried out on an array of data obtained over 5 years of regular comprehensive surveys in schools of St. Petersburg. The sets of signs that are most characteristic for schools with high performance and for schools with high social effi ciency are identified and described. Distinctive features of successful schools are associated with a high level of use of tutoring services by students, with good material and technical conditions, teachers’ competence in the use of design and research methods, etc. In socially eff ective schools, the achievement of students’ academic results is based on the use of their own school strengths — teachers’ potential, innovative technologies with large-scale attraction of the Internet and electronic resources. The study was carried out with the fi nancial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in the framework of the scientifi c project “Signs of an eff ective school in conditions of the mass distribution of tutoring practices” No. 19-013-00455.
Methods of Knowledge Management in Educational Organizations
Authors: Рыжиков С. , Ryzhikov S.
Published: July 2019

Studying the issues of knowledge management, one should focus on the process of improving the information assets of the educational institution in order to implement the most successful practice of using knowledge. The concept of “knowledge management” consists in enriching knowledge, not as an abstraction, but as a base for obtaining competences, which is achieved by the transfer of knowledge, its practical application and exchange. Knowledge management provides an opportunity to assess the extent to which teachers are ready for change, to what extent they tend to make changes. The knowledge acquired by employees needs to be expanded with the help of training methods and advanced training. The management staff and the staff of the educational organization must see the prerequisites for change, adopt methods for their implementation, understand them and implement them.
Overview of Inclusive Educational Technologies
Authors: Козырева Ольга , Kozyreva Ol'ga , Дьякова Наталья , Dyakova Natalya , Васильева О. , Vasil'eva O. , Голосова Е. , Golosova E. , Украинцева Ю. , Ukrainceva Yu. , Ходюкова Н. , Hodyukova N.
Published: July 2019

With the introduction of inclusive education, children with disabilities of various nosological groups (hereinafter referred to as HIA), with absolutely different states of intelligence, are active participants in the educational process. Federal state educational standards of primary general education for students with mental retardation (intellectual disabilities) and children with disabilities are being successfully implemented. Along with others, these regulatory documents guarantee and implement the right of these categories of students for education. And determine whether it will qualify or not. Competent selection and implementation of educational technology teacher for students with disabilities is of paramount importance. It is obvious that at the present stage of development of education it is not enough to form in this category of students only the volume of life competencies. It is necessary to work on a certain amount of the academic component, regardless of the state and depth of the student’s intellectual disability. At the moment, an increase in the requirements for primary general education is recorded. Special Federal state educational standards are developed for primary general education. A number of psychological and pedagogical problems that are associated with the preparation of children with disabilities for further education in the middle level of secondary schools are becoming topical. This problem can be solved by inclusive educational technologies.
Risks of Distance Education with Electronic Support Identified During Training
Authors: Кащей В. , Kaschey V.
Published: July 2019

The positive and negative aspects of distance education with the use of electronic means obtained during training courses and retraining of teachers of General and preschool education are considered.
Why the «Frame« Standards of School Education Are Replaced by the «Detailed» Standards in Russia: Problem-Risk Analysis
Authors: Синельников И. , Sinel'nikov I.
Published: July 2019

The article is devoted to the issue of standardization of the content of Russian school education. The article reveals new approaches to the regulation of the content of school education, proposed in the draft federal state educational standards for 2018-2019; identifi es the main problems and risks of the regulatory framework of the Russian school education; examples from the practice of standardization of education in England, Finland, and South Korea are given.