bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associação entre ombro congelado e tireopatias: Reforçando as evidências
Authors: Cohen Carina , Tortato Simone , Silva Otavio Bento Souza , Leal Mariana Ferreira , Ejnisman Benno , Faloppa Flavio
Published: April 2020

Objetivo Verificar a asssociação entre tireopatias e ombro congelado primário, comparando com grupo controle e com grupo de pacientes com lesão no manguito rotador.

Métodos Foram avaliados 166 pacientes com diagnóstico de ombro congelado primário com tratamento em andamento ou já tratados. Este grupo foi comparado com 129 pacientes com diagnóstico de lesão de manguito rotador e com um terceiro grupo controle formado por 251 indivíduos sem acometimento dos ombros. Todos os participantes responderam questionário sobre as seguintes variáveis: idade, gênero, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), profissão, atividade física, presença de tireopatia e de outras comorbidades, hábito tabagista e etilismo.

Resultados Quando comparamos o grupo de ombro congelado com os grupos controle e lesão de manguito rotador, percebemos que existe uma associação específica entre presença de doenças da tireoide (tireoidite, hipotireoidismo, hipertireoidismo, nódulos e câncer) e ombro congelado. Através do cálculo do risco relativo, é possível afirmar que um indivíduo com tireopatia tem probabilidade 2.69 maior de desenvolver ombro congelado. Também houve associação com gênero, já que as mulheres com ombro congelado elevam significativamente esse risco.

Conclusão Os distúrbios da tireoide, especialmente o hipotireoidismo e a presença de nódulos tireoidianos benignos, são fatores de risco significativamente associados ao ombro congelado, aumentando as chances em 2,69 vezes de desenvolver a doença. Este é o primeiro estudo que utiliza, além do grupo controle, um segundo grupo com lesões do manguito rotador, de modo que foi demonstrada uma associação específica de distúrbios da tireoide e ombro congelado.
Alternative Access Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Nonagenarians versus Younger Patients
Authors: Lin Nicole , Nores Marcos A. , James Taylor M. , Rothenberg Mark , Stamou Sotiris C.
Published: April 2020

Background Numerous studies have documented the safety of alternatives access (AA) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients who are not candidates for transfemoral or surgical approach. There is a scarcity of studies relating use of AA TAVR in nonagenarian patients, a high-risk, frail group. Our study sought to investigate the clinical outcomes of nonagenarians who underwent AA TAVR for aortic stenosis, with comparison of nonagenarians age ≥90 years with patients age <90 years.

Methods A cohort study of 171 consecutive patients undergoing AA TAVR (transapical [TA, n = 101, 59%], transaxillary [TAX, n = 56, 33%], transaortic [TAO, n = 11, 6%], and transcarotid [TC, n = 3, 2%]) from 2012 to 2019 was analyzed. Baseline, operative, and postoperative characteristics, as well as actuarial survival outcomes, were compared.

Results AA TAVR patients had decreased aortic valve gradients with no difference detected in nonagenarians and younger patients. Operative mortality was 8% (n = 14; nine TA, three TAO, and two TAX). Compared to younger patients, significantly more nonagenarians were recorded to have new onset atrial fibrillation (7 vs. 5%, p < 0.01*). No significant difference in mortality or postoperative complications, such as stroke, pacemaker requirements, was detected. Actuarial survival at 1 and 5 years was 86 versus 87% (nonagenarians vs younger patients) and 36 versus 22%, respectively, with log-rank = 0.97.

Conclusion AA TAVR in nonagenarian patients who are not candidates for transfemoral approach can be efficaciously performed with comparable clinical outcomes to younger patients, age <90 years. Furthermore, some access sites should be avoided when possible; notably TA was associated with increased mortality, stroke, and new onset atrial fibrillation.
Use of the Facial Artery for Free Functioning Muscle Transfers: An Alternative Pedicle for Salvage in Brachial Plexus Lesions with Vascular Injuries
Authors: Bhatia Anil , Prabhune Kaustubh , Carvalho Alex De
Published: April 2020

Free functional muscle transfer (FFMT) is a salvage procedure recommended in cases of brachial plexus injury with late presentations or failures of primary nerve reconstruction. The workhorse for most authors is the gracilis, and the most common indication is the restoration of elbow flexion. For successful revascularization of the muscle, donor vessels must be in proximity of the site of the muscle fixation and allow direct coaptation to a donor nerve, ideally without the use of nerve grafts. A major problem occurs when patients have sustained concomitant vascular injuries to the subclavian and/or axillary arteries and had previous surgical dissections in the area where the most common vascular pedicles are located. The authors report the use of the rerouted facial vessels as donors in these complex cases. The surgical technique is presented, along with three cases where the procedure was used. The flaps survived in all the patients and grade > 3/5 muscle contraction was observed in the two patients who had adequate follow-up. Conclusion: the use of the facial vessels as donor vessels is an option to revascularize a FFMT in the setting of severe vascular injury to the subclavian and axillary arteries.
Temperature and pH responsive behavior of antifouling zwitterionic mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Authors: Beltrán-Osuna Ángela A. , Gómez-Ribelles José L. , Perilla Jairo E.
Published: April 2020

Zwitterionic brush grafting is considered a serious strategy for surface modification on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and a prominent alternative to polyethylene glycol films for antifouling applications. In this study, the solution behavior of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (pSBMA) polymer brushes grafted on MSN (95 ± 15 nm particle diameter, 2.8 nm pore size) was evaluated. The layers increased their hydrodynamic diameter (dH) with increasing temperature, indicating a conformational change from a surface-collapsed state to a fully solvated brush. This development was marked by a transition temperature, related to the molecular weight and the theoretical length of the polymer chains. Variation of dH with pH values was studied and a zwitterionic range of 5–9 was established where the electric charges in the molecule were balanced. Zeta potential (ZP) values for all pSBMA-MSN products were also measured. A decreasing trend of ZP with pH and an isoelectric point around 5.5–6.5 was obtained for all dispersions. Furthermore, the influence of temperature was analyzed on ZP and a directly proportional correlation was found, with increasing rates of 0.50–0.87%/°C. Finally, ZP variation with electrolyte concentration was determined and a range of 40–60mM of NaCl concentration was established to reach an almost zero-charge point for all nanoparticles. It was demonstrated that the solution response of pSBMA-MSN can be modulated by temperature, pH, and ionic concentration of the media. These behaviors could be used as controlled release mechanisms for the application of pSBMA-MSN as carriers in biomedicine and nanophamaceutical fields in the future.
The generality of the GUGA MRCI approach in COLUMBUS for treating complex quantum chemistry
Authors: Lischka Hans , Shepard Ron , Müller Thomas , Szalay Péter G. , Pitzer Russell M. , Aquino Adelia J. A. , Araújo do Nascimento Mayzza M. , Barbatti Mario , Belcher Lachlan T. , Blaudeau Jean-Philippe , Borges Itamar , Brozell Scott R. , Carter Emily A. , Das Anita , Gidofalvi Gergely , González Leticia , Hase William L. , Kedziora Gary , Kertesz Miklos , Kossoski Fábris , Machado Francisco B. C. , Matsika Spiridoula , do Monte Silmar A. , Nachtigallová Dana , Nieman Reed , Oppel Markus , Parish Carol A. , Plasser Felix , Spada Rene F. K. , Stahlberg Eric A. , Ventura Elizete , Yarkony David R. , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: April 2020

The core part of the program system COLUMBUS allows highly efficient calculations using variational multireference (MR) methods in the framework of configuration interaction with single and double excitations (MR-CISD) and averaged quadratic coupled-cluster calculations (MR-AQCC), based on uncontracted sets of configurations and the graphical unitary group approach (GUGA). The availability of analytic MR-CISD and MR-AQCC energy gradients and analytic nonadiabatic couplings for MR-CISD enables exciting applications including, e.g., investigations of π-conjugated biradicaloid compounds, calculations of multitudes of excited states, development of diabatization procedures, and furnishing the electronic structure information for on-the-fly surface nonadiabatic dynamics. With fully variational uncontracted spin-orbit MRCI, COLUMBUS provides a unique possibility of performing high-level calculations on compounds containing heavy atoms up to lanthanides and actinides. Crucial for carrying out all of these calculations effectively is the availability of an efficient parallel code for the CI step. Configuration spaces of several billion in size now can be treated quite routinely on standard parallel computer clusters. Emerging developments in COLUMBUS, including the all configuration mean energy multiconfiguration self-consistent field method and the graphically contracted function method, promise to allow practically unlimited configuration space dimensions. Spin density based on the GUGA approach, analytic spin-orbit energy gradients, possibilities for local electron correlation MR calculations, development of general interfaces for nonadiabatic dynamics, and MRCI linear vibronic coupling models conclude this overview.
An analytical expression for dielectric decrement law
Authors: Gao Haixia , Chang Yanmei , Xiao Changming
Published: April 2020

Dielectric decrement means that the dielectric constant declines with the increase in the ionic concentration of the system, and it is found that, in the dilute solution, the law of the dielectric decrement is linear. However, the dielectric decrement law is unknown when the concentration of the solution is very high, and the current nonlinear fitting formula about the law of dielectric decrement is only correct in the cases of low or not very high concentrations. However, in the case of extremely high concentrations, its prediction is zero and is obviously unreasonable or incorrect. Therefore, a new expression should be and has been proposed to describe the relation between the dielectric constant and the concentration in this paper. In addition, the numerical calculations show that almost the same results can be obtained by the new and previous formulas when the concentration is not very high, but unlike the previous ones, the dielectric constant predicted by the new formula will tend to be fixed and greater than the zero value in the case of extremely high concentrations.
Exploring electronic, optoelectronic, and thermoelectric properties of ternary compound MgSrSe2 from first-principles study
Authors: Wang Qian , Hu Ziyu , Shao Xiaohong
Published: April 2020

The electronic, optoelectronic, and thermoelectric properties of a ternary structure MgSrSe2 are investigated using density functional theory. MgSrSe2 is found to be a direct bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 2.04 eV. The photon energy calculated results show that the absorption spectra are in UV-A light, and MgSrSe2 could be applied for a photodetector. Optoelectronic properties, such as the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and energy-loss of MgSrSe2, are systematically discussed. The effective mass of the band edge curvature analysis indicates that the p-type MgSrSe2 is suitable for the thermoelectric material, and the maximum dimensionless figure of merit value can be up to 1.33 at 800 K. The results show that MgSrSe2 is a potential optoelectronic and thermoelectric material, and encourage further experimental works for its synthesis.
Authority (de)legitimation in the border wall Twitter discourse of President Trump
Authors: Rivers Damian J. , Ross Andrew S.
Published: April 2020

The construction of a wall along the US/Mexico border was one of the main political platforms upon which the 2016 US
presidential election campaign was fought. Ahead of the upcoming 2020 US presidential election, and with the border wall still not yet built
or funded, this article uses the authorisation component of Van Leeuwen’s (2007) framework for
the discourse of legitimation to show how President Donald J. Trump has sought legitimacy for the construction of the border wall. Data is
taken from Trump’s @realDonaldTrump Twitter postings between October 18th, 2018 and February 3rd, 2019, a period inclusive of the longest
federal government shutdown in US history. We show how Trump’s Twitter language is frequently accompanied by evidence-less attacks on
sources of rival opinion or information, while the president tends to reaffirm himself as the exclusive source of credible and truthful
information.
Semantic comprehension of idioms
Authors: Erfaniyan Qonsuli Leila , Sharifi Shahla
Published: April 2020

This study intends to test the Graded Salience Hypothesis, in order to investigate the factors involved in
comprehension. This research considered predictions derived from this hypothesis by evaluating the salience of idioms in the
Persian language. We intended to measure Reading Time (RTs), and the design comprised 2 Contexts (figurative, literal), 3 Types of
Statements (familiar vs. unfamiliar vs. less familiar) and RTs (long, short, equal). Two types of contexts (figuratively inviting
and literally inviting contexts) were prepared. The software for this experiment was prepared for the purpose of self-paced
reading experiments. Two pretests were performed. In the first pretest, participants rated the expressions on a 1–7 familiarity
scale. The second pretest was designed to confirm that contexts are equally supportive. Then, expressions were divided according
to their familiarity (familiar, less-familiar, unfamiliar). Sentences were used so that, according to the second pretest, their
contexts would be equally supportive. Sentences were displayed on a PC, controlled by Windows 7. The self-paced reading task was
applied using the Moving Windows software. In the first part of the experiment, participants read each idiom in figuratively
inviting contexts and their RTs were recorded. In the second part of the experiment, participants read each idiom in literally
inviting contexts and their RTs were recorded. Results of testing these idioms support the Graded Salience Hypothesis, but not
entirely. Such findings suggested that sometimes context affects the access of salient information and a semi serial process is
witnessed. Results indicate that the salient meaning of both familiar and less familiar idioms is figurative. In addition, salient
meanings in the space following the unfamiliar idiom and the first word of the next (spillover) sentence, were both, figurative
and literal.
Compassion-Cultivating Pedagogy
Authors: Bracher Mark , Barnbaum Deborah , Byron Michael , Clewell Tammy , Docherty Nancy , Massardier-Kenney Françoise , Pereplyotchik David , Roxburgh Susan , Smith-Pryor Elizabeth
Published: April 2020

Previous studies suggest that narrative fiction promotes social justice by increasing empathy, but critics have argued that the partiality of empathy severely limits its effectiveness as an engine of social justice, and that what needs to be developed is universal compassion rather than empathy. We created Compassion-Cultivating Pedagogy (CCP) to target the development of two social-cognition capabilities that entail compassion: (1) recognition of self-other overlap and (2) cognizance of the situational, uncontrollable causes of bad character, bad behavior, and bad life-outcomes. Employing a pre/post within- and between-subjects design, we found that students in the CCP classes, but not students in conventionally taught classes, improved in these two areas of social cognition and also exhibited increased preference for compassionate social policies for stigmatized groups. This finding suggests that pedagogy can play a significant role in literature’s contribution to social justice, and that further efforts to develop and test pedagogies for improving social cognition are warranted.
Emission reduction effects of the green energy investment projects of China in belt and road initiative countries
Authors: Gu Alun , Zhou Xiaoyu
Published: April 2020

Investment and construction of power infrastructure are directly related to the achievement of sustainable development goals. China's trade and investment with BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) countries have maintained growth trend. The development and construction of these investment projects certainly have impacts on the economic development mode and sustainable development goals of the countries. On collecting the basic information of the renewable energy investment projects, this paper compares and calculates the current power technology structure and grid emission factors of the host countries, and analyses the carbon emission level of electricity generation from the perspective of the whole life cycle. Making it as the benchmark, this paper also analyzes the current China's invested wind and solar energy projects and the carbon emission reduction benefits to the host country. The results show that at present, China has about 36 renewable energy investment projects in BRI countries, with an installed capacity of 15.75GW (China as the project owner or investor), and achieve at least 48.69M tCO2 emission reduction. This shows that China's effective investment and implementation of the green projects will provide a strong impetus for the energy transformation and the improvement of their energy security in BRI countries.
A study for determining the launch angle that maximises the total
distance travelled by the projectile during its flight in the projectile
motion
Authors: Karadag Mustafa
Published: April 2020

In this study, the relationship between the total distance traveled by the
projectile during its flight in the projectile motion and the launch angle for a
fixed initial speed was investigated. Assuming that the effect of air resistance
is neglected and the free fall acceleration is constant throughout the range of
motion, among all possible launch angles for a fixed initial speed, it is
noticed that there is a unique launch angle,

θ

0
,

m
a
x

which allows the
total distance to be the longest. Thus, the

θ

0
,

m
a
x

value has been
determined to be about 56.5° using a simple mathematical method that
students can easily apply.
Statistical approach to the selection of the tolerances for distance to agreement improves the quality control of the dose delivery in radiotherapy
Authors: Baran Mateusz , Kabat Damian , Tulik Monika , Rzecki Krzysztof , Sośnicki Tomasz , Tabor Zbisław
Published: April 2020

In the study, a local approach to setting reference tolerance values for the distance-to-agreement (DTA) component of the gamma index is proposed. The reference tolerance values are calculated in simulations, following a dose delivery model presented in a previous work. An analytical model for determining the quantiles of DTA distribution is also proposed and verified. It is shown that the distributions of DTA values normalized with either quantiles or standard deviation of DTA distributions are universal over analyzed plans and points within a single plan. This enables statistically sound inference about the quality of dose delivery. In particular, based on the normalized distributions the comparison of planned and delivered doses can be formulated within the framework of statistical inference as a problem of multiple statistical testing. For every evaluated point P of a plan, one may formulate and test a null hypothesis that there is no delivery error against an alternative hypothesis that there is a delivery error in P. It is also shown that the proposed approach is more sensitive than the current standard approach to shift errors in high dose gradient regions.
Understanding Singular Terms
Authors: Dickie Imogen
Published: April 2020

This paper uses a puzzle arising from cases of felicitous underspecification in uses of demonstratives to motivate a new model of communication using singular terms.
Application of deep learning methods in biological networks
Authors: Jin Shuting , Zeng Xiangxiang , Xia Feng , Huang Wei , Liu Xiangrong
Published: April 2020

The increase in biological data and the formation of various biomolecule interaction databases enable us to obtain diverse biological networks. These biological networks provide a wealth of raw materials for further understanding of biological systems, the discovery of complex diseases and the search for therapeutic drugs. However, the increase in data also increases the difficulty of biological networks analysis. Therefore, algorithms that can handle large, heterogeneous and complex data are needed to better analyze the data of these network structures and mine their useful information. Deep learning is a branch of machine learning that extracts more abstract features from a larger set of training data. Through the establishment of an artificial neural network with a network hierarchy structure, deep learning can extract and screen the input information layer by layer and has representation learning ability. The improved deep learning algorithm can be used to process complex and heterogeneous graph data structures and is increasingly being applied to the mining of network data information. In this paper, we first introduce the used network data deep learning models. After words, we summarize the application of deep learning on biological networks. Finally, we discuss the future development prospects of this field.
An African City: Black Women's Creativity, Pleasure, Diasporic (Dis)Connections and Resistance Through Aesthetic and Media Practices and Scholarship
Authors: Sobande Francesca , Osei Krys
Published: April 2020

How do Black women engulf themselves in the politics of being and becoming through everyday existence, aesthetics and media practices in creative, pleasurable, diasporic and resistant ways? How is the hegemony of North America, Eurocentrism, anti-Blackness and sexism implicated in this? We consider such questions in relation to Black women's media and aesthetic practices, and their related scholarship, by examining the Ghana-based web series An African City. Our work echoes calls for the decentering of media and communication studies rooted in white and Western perspectives but positioned as “universal.” We explore Black women's experiences (in Britain, the United States, Ghana, and Nigeria) as active producers in their communities; beyond the dominant epistemological hierarchy of whiteness in contrast with Blackness. Framing visual communication as a community-based source of self-expression, we emphasize the liberatory possibilities of aesthetics (fashion and screen depictions) for Black women, while tarrying with how capitalism constrains such radical potential.
International Human Rights “in Crisis” and the Neoliberalization of the Human Person
Authors: Focarelli Carlo
Published: April 2020

A “crisis” of international human rights is under way. This article focuses on the “neoliberalism and human rights” debate. It argues that the current human rights crisis hinges on the evolution of neoliberalism as a “totalizing project”. A way out may be provided by the notion of the “human person” conceived as the individual in his/her uniqueness and complexity against any form of (market-induced or other) massification. The article concludes by suggesting that we place the (decommodified) human person, empathy, and school/education center stage.
ShinyLearner: A containerized benchmarking tool for machine-learning classification of tabular data
Authors: Piccolo Stephen R , Lee Terry J , Suh Erica , Hill Kimball
Published: April 2020

Background

Classification algorithms assign observations to groups based on patterns in data. The machine-learning community have developed myriad classification algorithms, which are used in diverse life science research domains. Algorithm choice can affect classification accuracy dramatically, so it is crucial that researchers optimize the choice of which algorithm(s) to apply in a given research domain on the basis of empirical evidence. In benchmark studies, multiple algorithms are applied to multiple datasets, and the researcher examines overall trends. In addition, the researcher may evaluate multiple hyperparameter combinations for each algorithm and use feature selection to reduce data dimensionality. Although software implementations of classification algorithms are widely available, robust benchmark comparisons are difficult to perform when researchers wish to compare algorithms that span multiple software packages. Programming interfaces, data formats, and evaluation procedures differ across software packages; and dependency conflicts may arise during installation.

Findings

To address these challenges, we created ShinyLearner, an open-source project for integrating machine-learning packages into software containers. ShinyLearner provides a uniform interface for performing classification, irrespective of the library that implements each algorithm, thus facilitating benchmark comparisons. In addition, ShinyLearner enables researchers to optimize hyperparameters and select features via nested cross-validation; it tracks all nested operations and generates output files that make these steps transparent. ShinyLearner includes a Web interface to help users more easily construct the commands necessary to perform benchmark comparisons. ShinyLearner is freely available at https://github.com/srp33/ShinyLearner.

Conclusions

This software is a resource to researchers who wish to benchmark multiple classification or feature-selection algorithms on a given dataset. We hope it will serve as example of combining the benefits of software containerization with a user-friendly approach.
Expanded carrier screening should not be mandatory for gamete donors
Authors: Pennings Guido
Published: April 2020

More and more centers are imposing expanded carrier screening (ECS) on their gamete donors. In some clinics and gamete banks, gamete donors are not given this right, contrary to the freedom to decline genetic screening in the general population. The possible social and psychological burdens that are recognized for infertility patients and the general population are downplayed for gamete donors. The procedure of imposing ECS on gamete donors shows that the interests of the recipients are valued higher than those of the donors. The general ethical argument defended here is the principle of proportionality: the burdens imposed on donors have to be balanced against the potential benefits for the offspring and the recipients. The risk reduction of ECS is below 1% and is too small to outweigh the potential dangers and disadvantages for donors. The conclusion is that clinics may ask, but not compel, donors to submit to ECS provided that they offer appropriate genetic and psychological counseling.
Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in the Sky Islands of West Texas
Authors: Paddock Christopher D , Hecht Joy A , Green Amy N , Waldrup Kenneth A , Teel Pete D , Karpathy Sandor E , Johnson Tammi L
Published: April 2020

Rickettsia parkeri, a tick-borne pathogen distributed throughout several countries of the Americas, causes a mild to moderately severe, eschar-associated spotted fever rickettsiosis. Although most U.S. cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis are reported from southeastern states, some have been reported recently from remote regions of southern Arizona. These cases are linked to R. parkeri-infected ticks of the Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) group found in several isolated mountain ranges of southern Arizona and New Mexico, referred to as ‘sky islands’. Archival records also document ticks of the A. maculatum group collected from domestic and wild animals in West Texas. We surveyed sites in two sky island chains of Jeff Davis and Brewster counties to document the off-host occurrence of these ticks and identify the presence of R. parkeri in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. During August 2019, 43 adult A. maculatum group ticks were flagged from vegetation or removed from a road-killed, female mule deer. Of 39 samples evaluated by PCR, eight contained a partial sca0 sequence with complete identity to R. parkeri and two with complete identity to ‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’, a species of undetermined pathogenicity. Four isolates of R. parkeri were obtained using cell culture. Persons at risk for R. parkeri rickettsiosis include those who work or recreate in these mountains, such as hikers, backpackers, research scientists, foresters, and border enforcement personnel. Additional investigations are needed to define the distribution of these medically important arthropods in other parts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
The Vitality of Mortality: Being-Toward-Death and Long-Term Cancer Survivorship
Authors: Knox Jeanette Bresson Ladegaard
Published: April 2020

Long-term cancer survivorship is an emerging field that focuses on physical late-effects and psychosocial implications for the inflicted. This study wishes to cast light on the underlying ontological aspect of long-term survivorship by philosophically exploring how being in life post cancer is perceived by survivors. Sixteen in-depth interviews with 14 Danish cancer survivors were conducted by the author. Having faced a life-threatening disease but no longer being in imminent danger of dying, survivors still considered death a defining yet dynamic component in their approach to life as a moving toward the end, sparking a sense of vitality in mortality. In order to unfold the interviewees’ renewed existential understanding post cancer, this study employs Martin Heidegger’s ontological analysis of death. In survivorship, my participants can thus be understood as being left with the perpetual choice between living in inauthenticity or in authenticity. The difference between the two modes of existence exhibits two diverging ways of relating to death, self, and being-in-the-world. At the same time, the role of death in long-term survivorship reflects back on the magnitude of the initial existential and moral upheaval triggered by the cancer diagnosis. Understanding the role of death in long-term survivorship can positively inform the field of cancer rehabilitation and long-term survivor care.
Detection of tidal tails around the open cluster M 67 using principal component analysis
Authors: Gao Xinhua
Published: April 2020

In this paper we present an investigation of tidal tails around the old open cluster M 67 using Gaia-DR2. We identify likely extra-tidal stars around M 67 using principal component analysis (PCA) and a Gaussian mixture model (GMM). We find 1618 stars closely related to M 67, 85 of which are likely extra-tidal stars. We find clear evidence for the existence of two well-defined tidal tails emerging from M 67. The tidal tails extend out to projected distances of at least ${2{^{\circ}_{.}}5}$ (∼39 pc), which is more than twice as large as the tidal radius of the cluster. Based on LAMOST-DR5 data, we confirm that 13 extra-tidal stars have radial velocities and metallicities similar to those of the cluster. Furthermore, we also confirm that the extra-tidal stars cover a wide mass range of 0.2–1.1 M⊙, and nearly half the extra-tidal stars are less than 0.57 M⊙. The total mass of the extra-tidal stars is determined to be about 55 M⊙. We estimate a mass-loss rate of ∼2.8 M⊙ Myr−1 for M 67. Possible origins of these extra-tidal stars are discussed.
The spectra of evolved stars at 20–25 GHz: Tracing circumstellar chemistry during the asymptotic giant branch to planetary nebula transition
Authors: Zhang Yong , Chau Wayne , Nakashima Jun-ichi , Kwok Sun
Published: April 2020

We report an unbiased radio line survey towards the circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars at the frequency range from 20 to 25 GHz, aiming to obtain a more complete unbiased picture of the chemical evolution in the final stages of stellar evolution. The observation sample includes the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star IRC +10216, the proto-planetary nebulae (PPNs) CRL 2688 and CRL 618, and the young planetary nebula (PN) NGC 7027, representing an evolutionary sequence spanning about 10000 years. Rotational transitions from cyanopolyyne chains and inversion lines from ammonia are detected in the AGB star and PPNs, while the PN displays several recombination lines. The different spectral behaviors of these evolved stars clearly reflect the evolution of circumstellar chemistry during the AGB–PPN–PN transitions.
Transformative Police Reform in Trinidad and Tobago: Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Pino Nathan W
Published: April 2020

The country of Trinidad and Tobago presents an interesting case for analysing policing and police reform through the lens of transformative justice. Informed by a review of the relevant literature, including the author’s independent research, this article details how the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service faces numerous challenges even after multiple evaluations and efforts at reform. Local civil society groups have been largely left out of police reform processes in spite of their local knowledge and social capital. Police reforms rooted in transformative justice will be difficult to achieve and sustain given current conditions in the country, but it is possible if there is a long-term and serious commitment to reform, led by local actors that initiate local solutions democratically while ensuring the genuine involvement of civil society groups, women, and other traditionally marginalized groups.
Effects of Age‐dependent Changes in Cell Size on Endothelial Cell Growth through YAP1
Authors: Mammoto Akiko , Mammoto Tadanori
Published: April 2020

The aging population is rapidly growing. Aging is associated with impaired angiogenesis –the growth of new blood capillaries‐ and contributes to the increased susceptibility to various diseases. Thus, in order to develop more efficient therapies for aging‐associated diseases, we need to understand the mechanisms by which aging impairs angiogenesis. In addition to soluble angiogenic factors, biophysical factors such as changes in cell size and geometry control endothelial cell (EC) growth and differentiation. Here we have found that pulmonary artery ECs in aged mice are significantly larger than those in young mice. Aged human adipose tissue ECs are also larger than those in young adults. A major focal adhesion protein, paxillin, distributes at the distal ends of actin stress fibers in young mouse ECs, while paxillin is localized along the actin fibers in the cytoplasm in aged ECs. A Hippo signaling transducer, Yes‐associated protein (YAP1), acts as a mechanosensitive transcriptional co‐activator and controls organ development and regeneration. YAP1 also regulates angiogenesis. The levels of YAP1 decrease and EC proliferation is inhibited in ECs isolated from aged mouse lungs. To analyze whether age‐related changes in EC size control YAP1 activity, we cultured ECs on the microcontact‐printed substrates consisting of square fibronectin‐coated single‐cell sized islands. When we culture aged lung ECs on large islands of size comparable to aged mouse lung EC, YAP1 is excluded from the nucleus and EC proliferation is attenuated. Reduction of the aged EC size by culturing on smaller islands restores YAP1 nuclear localization and EC proliferation. These results suggest that age‐dependent increases in EC size impair aged EC proliferation through YAP1 signaling. Modulation of aged EC size and subsequent stimulation of YAP1 activity could restore the age‐related decline in angiogenesis and would be a promising strategy for aging‐associated diseases.

Support or Funding Information

NIHR21AG054830, AHA18TPA34170129, MCW Research Affair Committee New Investigator Award

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
LXR agonism and Sorafenib treatment as novel combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Preziosi Morgan E. , Zahm Adam M. , Kaestner Klaus H. , Wangensteen Kirk J.
Published: April 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Sorafenib is the only first‐line pharmaceutical approved for the treatment of HCC, and has limited efficacy. In order to identify new therapeutic options for HCC, we sought to elucidate novel druggable targets that may work in combination with sorafenib. We previously performed a genetic screen of 44 candidate genes known to contribute to hepatic regeneration or tumorigenesis. We used a mouse model of hereditary tyrosinemia as a clinically‐relevant model of liver injury and repopulation in order to sensitize mice to develop HCC. After hydrodynamic injection of 44 unique transposon plasmids, we observed HCC development with plasmid enrichment for MYC, TGFa, FOXA3, and Liver X Receptor (LXR). When mice were treated with sorafenib, tumor burden was unsurprisingly decreased. Upon analysis of sorafenib‐treated tumors, we observed all tumors contained MYC plasmids, and a majority had TGFα plasmids. However, none of the sorafenib‐resistant tumors contained LXR‐expressing plasmids, suggesting that expression of this gene may block tumorigenesis in the context of sorafenib treatment. Indeed, addition of an LXR agonist and sorafenib to various HCC cell lines decreased cell proliferation in vitro, and transcriptomic analyses identified several genes differentially expressed by combination treatment. Ongoing in vivo studies are confirming the efficacy of combinatorial therapy for potential future clinical use. Overall, our innovative paradigm allows for prospective testing of genetic combinations to determine interactions of oncogenes and tumor suppressors during carcinogenesis. We successfully employed this approach to identify LXR agonism and sorafenib as a novel combination therapy for HCC

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A Study in Blue: Does Increasing Contrast of Brain Slices Improve Neuroanatomy Learning?
Authors: Bishop Esai , Leclair Rebecca , Cheung Beata , Nguyen Angela , Saraco Anthony , Fenesi Barbara , Ball Alexander K , Wainman Bruce
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Neurophobia is the fear many students experience when faced with the task of learning neuroanatomy. This problem may partly result from the large number of poorly defined structures observed in unstained brain slices. There is little discussion in educational literature regarding the most effective way to learn neuroanatomy. In particular, the effect of increasing the contrast between gray and white matter on student learning has not been examined. We hypothesized that some neurophobia, particularly among those with low working memory, might be mitigated with our recently developed brain slice staining method.

Aim

To determine if increasing the contrast between gray and white matter on human brain slices would improve students' ability to learn neuroanatomy, and if the intervention especially helped students with a lower working memory capacity.

Methods

Participants were recruited from an introductory psych course at McMaster University and were required to not have any previous neuroanatomical education. Participants learned and were tested on 12 neuroanatomical structures each from two sets of brain slices (transverse stained and coronal unstained, or coronal stained and transverse unstained) on day 1, participated in a restudy period 24 hours later on day 2, and were tested again 48 hours later on day 3. In addition, all participants completed the Automated Operation Span Task (OSPAN) working memory test and a survey on learning methods.

Results

While data collection is still ongoing, interim analysis has been completed. A 2×2 repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no difference in test performance between stained and unstained slices on day 1 or day 3 in general (p=0.785). A linear regression analysis for both the stained and unstained groups revealed that working memory capacity was a significant predictor of performance in the unstained condition (p=0.001). However, working memory was not a predictor of performance in the stained condition (p=0.123). Students with low working memory performed 11.4% worse on unstained brain slices than on stained slices, while students with high working memory showed no significant difference.

Discussion and Conclusion

While data collection continues, the preliminary results reveal interesting possibilities. Initially, staining did not appear to facilitate neuroanatomy learning. However, students with low working memory showed a significant improvement when learning from stained brain slices compared to unstained. Therefore, the use of stained brain slices in the teaching of neuroanatomy may partially mitigate neurophobia, improve teaching, and particularly aid those students already struggling with the subject.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Learning Progressions as a Pedagogical Tool for Instructors
Authors: Reed Charlotte R. , Wolfson Adele J.
Published: April 2020

Learning Progressions (LPs) present a potential tool to guide students towards deeper understanding of core concepts as they move through a curriculum. In addition to providing a theoretical scheme for education researchers, learning progressions can be a powerful framework for instructors and students in organizing curricula. We have developed the outline of a learning progression on acid/base chemistry from general chemistry through biochemistry. Through semi‐structured interviews, we examined the utility of this learning progression for instructors. We interviewed both peer instructors and faculty to determine how different instruction models could use LPs. The interviews suggest that students may struggle to get the most value out of LPs because they misunderstand them as topics lists rather than progressions, and may interpret them as exhaustive rather than as guides. Therefore, LPs would likely need to be carefully presented to students and woven into the curriculum to provide students with the most value. Additionally, instructors recognize the cyclical nature of learning, mentioning that students often do not understand concepts until they have seen them in multiple circumstances. LPs could allow instructors to design curriculum so that concepts are revisited with more complexity rather than simply repeated.

Support or Funding Information

National Science Foundation award #1503980

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Identification of Deferentially Expressed Proteins in Milk during Experimental Bovine Mastitis using Difference Gel Electrophoresis
Authors: Thomas Funmilola Clara , Scott Alan , Tassi Ricardo , Solomon Ajibola Eyitayo , Zadoks Ruth , Burchmore Richard , Eckersall Peter David
Published: April 2020

In order to identify and understand key changes in protein profile of milk during mastitis as a guide to detecting markers for prompt management of the disease, milk from cows in which clinical mastitis were experimentally induced were subjected to a difference gel electrophoresis (DiGE) analysis. Pooled samples from 6 udders (from 6 cows) of three selected time points; 0, 81 and 312 hours post‐challenge of S. uberis mastitis were analysed. These corresponded to samples from pre‐infection, peak and resolution phase of the mastitis challenge. After preliminary sample preparation, concentration and pooling steps, samples were labeled with CyDyes® (CyDye 2, 3 and 5) after which isoelectric focusing and gel electrophoresis were carried out respectively. DiGE gels were subsequently scanned and ImageQuant, ImageJ and DeCyder™ 2D (version 7.0) software were used to crop, obtain Jpeg images and carry out 2‐D differential analysis and processing of the images respectively. Biological Variation Analysis (BVA) software (GE Healthcare life sciences, Buckinghamshire, UK) was also used to evaluate the gels and create a gel to gel matching of spots (qualitatively and quantitatively) within the three gels produced. Overall, a total of 521 proteins spots were identified as changing significantly across the period of intramammary infection (qualitatively or quantitatively) in milk. This demonstrates the large repertoire of protein biomarker candidates available for potential employment and indicators of this disease. Some of these spots were excised for further protein identification by LC‐MS/MS analysis. Further studies are required to elucidate the merits and demerits of these changing proteins in order to identify the most suitable for clinical application in mastitis diagnosis.

Support or Funding Information

Zoetis, UK and TETFUND, Nigeria are acknowledged for PhD studentship funding

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Proteomic and Functional Characterization of STARD9
Authors: Clutario Kevin M , Torres Jorge Z
Published: April 2020

Mitotic spindle assembly is a critical step for cell division that happens once per cell cycle. The centrosome is a structural organelle that is important in spindle assembly as centrosomes act as the microtubule organizing centers at the spindle poles during mitosis. Deviation from normal spindle assembly can lead to activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Some of the most successful antimitotic drugs activate the SAC in order to arrest cancer cells in mitosis to induce subsequent apoptosis. Recently, kinesins and kinases implicated in spindle assembly have gained attention as possible therapeutic targets, as their functions rely on their ability to hydrolyze ATP. Our labs previous proteomic and genetic studies identified steroidogenic acute regulatory protein‐related lipid transfer domain containing 9 (STARD9) as a kinesin involved in spindle assembly. Its depletion invokes multipolar spindles in dividing cancer cells and most surprisingly, STARD9‐depleted cancer cells display increased Taxol sensitivity. STARD9 plays a functional role in the stabilization of pericentriolar material (PCM) during centriole maturation, but its mechanism of action and its regulation are not yet fully understood. To elucidate these mechanisms we have used multiple proteomic approaches to study each of STARD9's major domains. These approaches have identified putative interacting proteins that may play regulatory roles in PCM stabilization and we have validated some of these associations in vitro. We are currently focused on determining the importance of these STARD9 interactions for PCM stabilization. Our work looks to further the knowledge of STARD9's function within centrosome assembly and more broadly cancer cell division.

Support or Funding Information

UCLA Tumor Cell Biology Training Program (USHHS Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award # T32 CA009056)

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.