bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Degradation by design: women and asylum in northern Europe
Authors: Canning Victoria
Published: May 2019

The increasingly punitive measures taken by European governments to deter people seeking asylum, including increased use of detention, internalised controls, reductions in in-country rights and procedural safeguards, have a hugely damaging impact on the lives and wellbeing of women survivors of torture, sexual and domestic violence. This article, based on a two-year research project examining Britain, Denmark and Sweden, involved more than 500 hours speaking with people seeking asylum, as well as interviews with practitioners. It highlights among other issues non-adherence to the Istanbul Convention (for Denmark and Sweden, who have ratified it); non-application of gender guidelines; and significant wholesale violations of refugee rights. It demonstrates some of the ways in which increasingly harsh policies impact on women seeking asylum and highlights the experiences relayed by some who are affected: those stuck in asylum systems and practitioners seeking to provide support. Indeed, it indicates that women seeking asylum in Britain, Denmark and Sweden are made more vulnerable to violence due to the actions or inactions of the states that are supposed to protect them.
Investigation of stiffness of small wind turbine blade based on vibration analysis technique
Authors: Chandgude Nilesh , Gadhave Nitin , Taware Ganesh , Patil Nitin
Published: May 2019

In this article, three small wind turbine blades of different materials were manufactured. Finite element analysis was carried out using finite element software ANSYS 14.5 on modeled blades of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 4412 airfoil profile. From finite element analysis, first, two flap-wise natural frequencies and mode shapes of three different blades are obtained. Experimental vibration analysis of manufactured blades was carried out using fast Fourier transform analyzer to find the first two flap-wise natural frequencies. Finally, the results obtained from the finite element analysis and experimental test of three blades are compared. Based on vibration analysis, we found that the natural frequency of glass fiber reinforced plastic blade reinforced with aluminum sheet metal (small) strips increases compared with the remaining blades. An increase in the natural frequency indicates an increase in the stiffness of blade.
Urban Waterfronts: Contemporary Streams of Planning Conflicts
Authors: Avni Nufar , Teschner Na’ama
Published: May 2019

Since the 1970s, urban waterfronts have undergone profound functional transformations. While in many ways they have been proven successful in reviving prime urban areas, waterfront redevelopments have also been contested. This article reviews several aspects of the planning conflicts that have been pertinent to the redevelopment of waterfronts internationally: (1) land ownership, (2) heritage and culture, (3) social and environmental justice, and (4) environment and resilience. Based on a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art literature, we suggest that the growing concerns over social justice and environmental resilience during the course of waterfront redevelopments will continue to challenge cities in the future.
Thermo-economic assessment of a novel design of a solar distillation-cum-drying unit
Authors: Manchanda Himanshu , Kumar Mahesh
Published: May 2019

This study on the novel design of a solar distillation-cum-drying unit describes the utilization of solar energy for its two major applications in a single unit. Experimentation has been performed on an inclined wick-type solar distillation-cum-drying unit (IWSD-DU) with reflector. The thermal performance of the developed unit has been analyzed at 50 ml/min water flow rate for bitter gourd drying and potato slices drying. Internal and external heat transfer coefficients for distillation have been evaluated to study the heat and mass transfer phenomenon in distillation unit. A parabolic reflector of high reflectance stainless steel is placed below the IWSD-DU unit to reflect the scattered solar radiations on the drying chamber. Simple linear regression method has been used to analyze the performance of the distillation and drying units. Total distillate output, energy, and exergy efficiencies of the distillation unit have been examined using experimental data. The internal experimental uncertainty that relies on the mass evaporated during the distillation and drying process has been also evaluated. The cost analysis of the combined unit has been evaluated to determine the economic viability of the system.
Adaptive synchronization of uncertain fractional-order chaotic systems using sliding mode control techniques
Authors: Yaghooti Bahram , Siahi Shadbad Ali , Safavi Kaveh , Salarieh Hassan
Published: May 2019

In this article, an adaptive nonlinear controller is designed to synchronize two uncertain fractional-order chaotic systems using fractional-order sliding mode control. The controller structure and adaptation laws are chosen such that asymptotic stability of the closed-loop control system is guaranteed. The adaptation laws are being calculated from a proper sliding surface using the Lyapunov stability theory. This method guarantees the closed-loop control system robustness against the system uncertainties and external disturbances. Eventually, the presented method is used to synchronize two fractional-order gyro and Duffing systems, and the numerical simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.
Heat-killed probiotic bacteria induce apoptosis of HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line via the regulation of Bax/Bcl2 and caspases pathway
Authors: Karimi Ardestani S , Tafvizi F , Tajabadi Ebrahimi M
Published: May 2019

Apoptosis induction in cancer cells is one of the most efficient ways to treat cancer and find anticancer compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of heat-killed indigenous probiotic bacteria and apoptosis induction in the HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. The growth-inhibitory effects of probiotic heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus paracasei isolated from the traditional Iranian food “Terxine” on the HT-29 cell line were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry by Annexin-FITC kit, DNA fragmentation assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, and the expression of Bax, Bcl2, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were used to analyze apoptosis. MTT results demonstrated that the heat-killed bacteria inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells and induced apoptosis in a time-, dose-, and strain-dependent manner. The results demonstrated that both bacteria could induce apoptosis in the HT-29 cell line. Heat-killed probiotic bacteria increased the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 mRNA levels in HT-29 cell lines. Also, heat-killed probiotic bacteria reduced the expression of Bcl2 in HT-29 cells. The heat-killed probiotic bacteria in this study exhibited potent growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells. The results demonstrated that L. brevis has a greater ability to inhibit the growth of HT-29 cells and induce apoptosis, compared with L. paracasei. It is proposed that these bacteria can be used as biological products for the treatment and prevention of cancer, pending further investigation.
New Evidence on the Compensation of Chief Executive Officers at Nonprofit U.S. Hospitals
Authors: Mulligan Karen , Choksy Seema , Ishitani Catherine , Romley John A.
Published: May 2019

Chief executive officer (CEO) compensation is highly scrutinized, with nonprofit organizations often receiving additional attention due to their tax-exempt status. Understanding hospital CEO compensation is of increasing importance as health care costs remain high and strong leadership is required to implement new health policies. This study documents CEO compensation at nonprofit hospitals in the United States for 2010 and 2015. We compare hospital CEO compensation with CEO compensation in other institution types, including nonhospital health care. We also explore changes in hospital CEO compensation over time and differences across states. We find CEOs at hospitals earn substantially less than CEOs of publicly traded companies though more than presidents of nonprofit institutions of higher education. Additionally, we find that the relationship between CEO compensation and hospital size was weaker in 2015 than in 2010, and substantial variation in CEO compensation exists across states.
Pseudoaneurysm of the Second Dorsal Metatarsal Artery: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Kinter Christopher W , Hodgkins Christopher W
Published: May 2019

Pseudoaneurysms are a rare complication of foot and ankle surgeries that can potentially lead to serious sequelae, especially when there is delay in the diagnosis. Due to the rarity of this occurrence, guidelines for management are limited for orthopedic surgeons. Once diagnosed, the surgeon has to decide quickly on many options for how to best manage the patient. In this case report, we present the occurrence of a dorsal second metatarsal artery pseudoaneurysm that occurred after removal of hardware. We also discuss the most current literature on the subject to help guide other surgeons in the diagnosis and management of this condition.
What do descriptive representatives describe? Minority representative claims and the limits of shape-shifting
Authors: Bajpai Rochana
Published: May 2019

In contemporary debates on diversity, minorities are characterized mostly in terms of their cultural difference from the majority. Scholars have tended to focus on the role of minority representatives as advocates of their group interests in legislative assemblies. Focussing on election campaigns, this article examines how minority representatives reach out to a mixed electorate, comprising voters of both minority and non-minority backgrounds. Bringing together two distinct strands of the recent representative turn in political theory, theories of descriptive representation and constructivist theories of representation, I argue the following. First the influential contrast between the politics of presence and the politics of ideas underestimates the multi-dimensional and dynamic nature of minority identities as well as the respects in which minority representation is conditioned and constrained by the politics of ideas associated with party competition. Second, while Saward’s notion of shape-shifting representation is promising for illuminating the multiple positionalities of minority representatives and the dynamic character of descriptive representation, its current formulation does not offer adequate criteria for operationalizing shape-shifting and evaluating its democratic character. Third, ethnographic approaches have an important role to play in countering the tendency in normative debates for the reification of minority identities and the idealization of the democratic role of political parties. These arguments are established through a comparative case study of the representative claims of BJP MPs of Dalit (Scheduled Caste) and Muslim backgrounds during the 2014 Indian national election campaign.
Language-Related Brain Potentials in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness: A Follow-up Study to Detect “Covert” Language Disorders
Authors: Formisano Rita , Toppi Jlenia , Risetti Monica , Aloisi Marta , Contrada Marianna , Ciurli Paola M. , Falletta Caravasso Chiara , Luccichenti Giacomo , Astolfi Laura , Cincotti Febo , Mattia Donatella
Published: May 2019

Background. Language disorders may occur in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoCs), and they could interfere with the behavioral assessment of consciousness and responsiveness. Objective. In this study, we retrospectively explored whether ERP N400 was eventually associated with the presence of aphasia diagnosed in those patients who had evolved into Exit-Minimally Conscious State (E-MCS) at the clinical follow-up. Methods. In this retrospective cohort study, the ERPs elicited by an auditory sentences task were retrospectively examined in a sample of 15 DoC patients diagnosed according to the Coma Recovery Scale–Revised (CRS-R). All these 15 DoC patients underwent a (at least) 1-year clinical follow-up, which included a neuropsychological evaluation to assess language function among other cognitive functions. Ten healthy individuals also underwent the same paradigm to investigate the variability of ERPs characteristics. Results. The N400 ERP component with centroparietal topography was found in 9 of 10 healthy controls in response to the ill-formed sentences. Analysis of patients’ data revealed that (1) a significant N400 component could be detected in 64% (9 of 14 patients) of the DoC patients regardless of the type of DoC; (2) no significant N400 ERP component was retrospectively detected in those E-MCS patients who showed aphasia at the follow-up; and (3) the presence/absence of the N400-ERP component was consistent with the brain lesion side and significantly predict the recovery. Conclusion. These preliminary findings indicate that the absence of N400 was significantly associated with the presence of aphasia diagnosed at the clinical follow-up in E-MCS patients.
Round-priority-based anti-collision tag identification method in a mobile radio-frequency identification system
Authors: Zhang Liqian , Fu Xueliang , Li Honghui
Published: May 2019

In the mobile radio-frequency identification system, the accuracy and rapidity of tag recognition are undergoing great challenges. In this article, we proposed a novel tag anti-collision identification method based on tags’ priority called RPA in the mobile radio-frequency identification system. The algorithm sets the priority of recognition according to the sequence of tag entering the recognition area. The reader does not recognize the tags with low priority until the ones with high priority have been identified totally. The experimental results show that when the tags’ moving speed is lower than 4 m/s, the system can identify the total tags without loss, and the efficiency and identification speed can reach 73.7% and 762 tags per unit, respectively.
Research on the high-accuracy mileage statistics method based on the civil satellite data
Authors: Liu Zunmin , Yi Chuijie , Liu Zhihong , Zhang Xilong
Published: May 2019

For the current situation of the large error in civil satellite positioning data resulting in the calculation of smaller mileage by the polyline method than the actual mileage, a new method of mileage statistics has been proposed in this article. First, the original trajectory data are preprocessed to eliminate data errors. Second, based on the principle of shape approximation, it is preferred to implement the quadratic B-spline curve to accurately fit the mileage trajectory curve, comparing various curve fitting methods. Then, based on the trajectory curve control point data, the mileage statistics formula is derived, and the accurate mileage statistics method for non-precision satellite positioning signals is realized. Finally, the road test is carried out by using the photoelectric non-contact five-wheel instrument and GPS equipment. The polyline method and curve fitting method are used to generate contrastive curve and calculate the mileage, respectively. Taking photoelectric five-wheel data as the accurate mileage, the error analysis is carried out. The results show that the deviation between calculated and actual mileage values is less than 1%. Therefore, this method can meet the user’s requirements for fleet management.
International colleges and the cultivation of social capital in a divided Thailand: A narrative study of leadership perspectives at a Bangkok-based campus
Authors: Ferguson Matthew Robert
Published: May 2019

The establishment of international colleges in public universities has been part of a deliberate national strategy to modernize higher education in Thailand since the 1990s. These colleges use English as the medium of instruction, employ many international faculty, and promote more Western approaches to teaching and learning such as student-centered education. In addition, international colleges have served a more symbolic role. They serve as markers of civilization and sophistication, a symbol to be cultivated for the purpose of elevating one’s status in an already deeply divided Thai society. This narrative case study aims to situate Thailand’s first public university international college in a long-standing historical framework characterized by paradoxes and prejudices deeply rooted in Thai society. Stories are collected from members of the executive leadership of the college. It is argued that the themes emerging from the leadership narrative are consistent with the historical framework.
Staged Hybrid Approach for Ductal Origin of the Pulmonary Artery in a Low Birth Weight Neonate
Authors: Prabhu Sudesh , Maiya Shreesha , Shetty Riyan , Murthy Keshava , Ramachandra Prakash
Published: May 2019

Early recruitment of a discontinuous branch pulmonary artery will give the best long-term outcome for congenitally disconnected pulmonary arteries. This may be achieved using a staged approach. Even in low birth weight neonates, a hybrid approach with the first stage consisting of transcervical (via the common carotid artery) patent ductus arteriosus stenting can be performed to recruit the pulmonary artery where conventional treatment strategies may not be feasible or may be associated with higher risk.
The calcar femorale: A new perspective
Authors: Hammer Alan
Published: May 2019

It is the role of the hip joint to support the superincumbent body weight while its complex range of movement, under a variety of stresses, allows the individual to undertake a wide range of physical activities. It is then perhaps not surprising that a recent anatomical study shows that the upper femur has a structure commensurate with the complexity of its movements. Mechanically, the upper femur consists of two separate bones: the combined femoral head and neck and the femoral shaft. Both bones consist of a mixture of two different types: cancellous bone and cortical bone, each with its own characteristics. Both bones are subjected to two different forces: those of weight bearing and movement and those of bone modelling. In the face of these complexities, this article tenders some theoretical considerations as to how this region functions and deals with these particular problems. From an anatomical viewpoint, the calcar femorale plays a central role in the mechanical structure of the femoral neck and is pivotal in the management of the stresses to which the region is subjected.
Persistent Sunk Cost Fallacy in a Real Effort Experiment
Authors: Banerjee Priyodorshi , Chandrasekhar S. , Srikant P.
Published: May 2019

Subjects chose whether to leave with an endowment or stay to perform some simple tasks in a real effort experiment. In addition to performance pay, staying subjects received their endowment in the control condition, but had to sacrifice it in the treatment condition. We found average performance of staying subjects, after controlling for selection effects, was higher in the treatment condition. Further, the sunk cost effect persisted well after the decision as to whether to stay or leave had been made.

JEL Classification: D24, D83, J24
HIV Drug Resistance Mutations in Patients with HIV and HIV-TB Coinfection After Failure of First-Line Therapy: A Prevalence Study in a Resource-Limited Setting
Authors: Khan Nawaid Hussain , Kohli Mikashmi , Gupta Kartik , Das Bimal Kumar , Pandey Ravindra Mohan , Sinha Sanjeev
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

The present study aimed to report the prevalent HIV-1 drug-resistant mutations in patients with HIV-1 alone and tuberculosis (TB) coinfection alone to improve our understanding of the mutation patterns and aid treatment decisions.

Methods:

Patients with HIV-1 and HIV-TB on treatment for more than 1 year with suspected failure were recruited. Sequencing of protease and two-thirds of the region of reverse transcriptase gene was done for drug-resistant mutations.

Results:

In the HIV-TB group (n = 25), 88%, 92%, and 12% had mutations to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and protease inhibitors (PIs), respectively. In the HIV-alone group (n = 25), 84%, 100%, and 4% had mutations to NRTIs, NNRTIs, and PIs, respectively. M184V, M41L, D67N, G190A, A98G, and K103N were the most common mutations seen.

Conclusion:

There is a high prevalence of drug-resistant mutations in HIV and HIV-TB coinfected patients.
Computed Tomography Features of Glenoid Osteophytes in Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability: Comparison Between Younger and Older Patients
Authors: Hirose Takehito , Nakagawa Shigeto , Sato Seira , Tachibana Yuta , Mae Tatsuo
Published: May 2019

Background:

Osteoarthritis that develops after traumatic anterior shoulder instability is known as dislocation arthropathy, but its frequency and characteristics are still unclear.

Purpose:

To evaluate glenoid osteophytes in shoulders with traumatic anterior instability by using computed tomography (CT) and to elucidate the influence of instability on the progression of dislocation arthropathy in different age groups.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This study involved 214 unoperated patients with unilateral instability who underwent CT of both shoulders. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to age at the time of CT: ≤30 years (younger group; n = 172) and ≥31 years (older group; n = 42). Patient demographics as well as the presence, size, and location of glenoid osteophytes were compared between the 2 groups and also between patients with and without osteophytes. Furthermore, patients with osteophytes in the older group were divided into 2 subgroups according to age at the time of the initial injury: as a teenager (early-onset subgroup; n = 9) or at ≥31 years (late-onset subgroup; n = 14), and the same assessments were conducted.

Results:

Osteophytes were significantly more frequent on the affected side of the older group compared with the younger group (71.4% vs 13.9%, respectively; P < .001). In the younger group, patients with osteophytes had more multiple-instability events ( P = .002) and a longer interval from injury to CT ( P < .001) than those without osteophytes. Although there was no difference in osteophyte size between the 2 groups, most osteophytes were located at the anteroinferior part of the glenoid in the younger group, while osteophytes were usually circumferential around the glenoid in the older group. A comparison between the early- and late-onset subgroups in older patients with osteophytes revealed that the osteophytes were more frequently located at the anteroinferior glenoid region in the early-onset subgroup.

Conclusion:

CT allowed a detailed evaluation of glenoid osteophytes, revealing that osteophytes were not uncommon in younger patients. Instability itself might influence the progression of osteoarthritic changes in younger patients, while aging seems to have a greater effect in older patients.
The Effectiveness of Oral Care Guideline Implementation on Oral Health Status in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Khasanah Isti Haniyatun , Sae-Sia Wipa , Damkliang Jintana
Published: May 2019

Intubated patients need specific oral care due to the use of endotracheal tubes. An oral nursing care guideline needs to be implemented to guide nurses in oral care in intubated patients. To test the effectiveness of oral nursing care guideline implementation. The Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory was used to introduce an oral nursing care guideline to 28 nurses working in an intensive care unit in a hospital within 2 months, using mass and private communication within a hospital management system. The oral care guideline was introduced to 47 intubated patients. The accuracy of oral care practice was assessed by nurse research assistants, and patients' oral health status was examined by dental nurse research assistants. The accuracy of practice among nurses was found between 88% and 100%. Total 97.47% ( n = 46) of patients had an acceptable oral health status after receiving oral care based on the oral nursing care guideline. The oral nursing care guideline was effectively implemented with high accuracy and could increase patient oral integrity after its implementation.
Navigating Organisation in Times of VUCA: Implications for the HR and OD Profession
Authors: Alasingachar Vasudevan
Published: May 2019

This article addresses two vectors of VUCA interwoven in the narratives, a summary of personal theories about VUCA. Such theories are anchored and arise from experiential learning in my practice as HR/L&D and OD consultants over the past four decades.

The implication for HR and OD profession is to consider their relevance when organisations navigate VUCA. Next is the culling out of the specific learning about HR and OD interphases that has worked in my experience, supported by examples and metaphors.

The premise I put forward as conclusion are:

In order to be at the centre stage of partnering with business, HR and OD have to complement and innovate new-age VUCA strategies.

VUCA competencies with appropriate metrics are in the formative stage. The competencies are emerging from the real-time stories of consultants, companies and academia (TATA 26/11 and DuPont safety mandate).

Only when HR and OD integrate and work together can the future of leadership or start-up entrepreneurs learn from their insights to ‘thrive in VUCA’.
Oxcarbazepine-Induced Cutaneous Reaction in a Female of Mexican Ancestry
Authors: Reinert Justin P. , Cook Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2019

Objectives: To report an oxcarbazepine (OXC)-induced cutaneous reaction in a female of Mexican ancestry. Case Summary: A 60-year-old female of Mexican ancestry presented to clinic with a diffuse morbilliform rash, with erythema and eruptions of papules/pustules concentrated on her neck and torso. The rash appeared 1 week following the initiation of OXC for trigeminal neuralgia. Initially, the correlation between the reaction and initiation of OXC was not recognized by the provider. OXC was continued for a total of 4 weeks and several medical encounters transpired in the interim. Supportive therapy, in the form of oral antihistamines and oral/topical corticosteroids, failed to resolve the rash. A clinical pharmacist prompted the discontinuation of OXC due to suspicion that it incited the adverse reaction. Oral corticosteroid therapy was initiated and tapered over 2 weeks, with rash dissipation occurring in 1 month. Discussion: The association of OXC with the cutaneous eruption was classified as “probable” based on the Naranjo Scale. While financial resources were not available to perform genetic testing, it may be possible that the genetic status of this patient lent itself to greater potential for cutaneous reactions with OXC. Further research is needed to determine whether pharmacogenetic variables affiliated with pre-Columbian lineage may predispose individuals to specific adverse drug reactions. Conclusion: As regional genotypes disperse globally, it is imperative that clinicians are cognizant of risks regarding genetically implicated adverse drug reactions. While information is limited for certain ethnicities, it is essential that providers diligently monitor all populations for reactions characteristic to specific medications.
Schizophrenic Deterioration
Authors: Bleuler Manfred , Ciompi Luc , Crow T. J. , Abrahamson David , Tantam D.
Published: May 2019

Psychological deterioration, defect state and psychological deficit are all terms introduced this century to replace Kraepelin's idea of dementia praecox. They all express the notion that schizophrenics have some global impairment in psychological functioning, which is different from the presenile dementias or recognised causes of cerebral dysfunction. At the beginning of the century it was generally regarded as organic in nature. In the 1960s the social revolution in psychiatry encouraged the view that the deterioration was psychosocial, the effect of institutionalisation. There has been a recent trend to revive the organic formulation.

The five articles which follow examine the idea from different points of view. They were commissioned because correspondence to the editor indicated that the issue was topical and controversial. It is hoped that they may be the first of a series of multi-author contributions on topical issues.

Manfred Bleuler presents his view that deterioration is not a progressive condition, but one of several outcomes, and even then liable to remission. Luc Ciompi discusses the relationship between organic and psychosocial factors in its cause, and concludes that it is the result of an interaction between the two. Tim Crow gives a clear account of the organic model. David Abrahamson draws attention to some methodological issues, which have led to a false clinical impression, and wrongly overemphasised the extent of deterioration. Digby Tantam analyses the complex effect of drug treatment.
CD33_PGx6_Score Predicts Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin Response in Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group
Authors: Chauhan Lata , Shin Miyoung , Wang Yi-Cheng , Loken Michael , Pollard Jessica , Aplenc Richard , Hirsch Betsy A. , Raimondi Susana , Ries Rhonda E. , Bernstein Irwin D. , Gamis Alan S. , Alonzo Todd A. , Meshinchi Soheil , Lamba Jatinder K.
Published: May 2019

PURPOSE

The US Food and Drug Administration recently announced reapproval of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) for treatment of CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML), thus opening up opportunities to develop strategies for effective use of GO. In light of our recent report showing prognostic significance of CD33 splicing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the objective of this study was to comprehensively evaluate CD33 SNPs for accurate prediction of patients with AML who are more or less likely to respond to GO.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We investigated the five new CD33 SNPs (rs2455069, rs35112940, rs61736475, rs1803254, and rs201074739) for association with CD33 leukemic cell surface expression and clinical response in pediatric patients with AML enrolled in the Children’s Oncology Group AAML0531 trial. We further developed a composite CD33 pharmacogenetics (PGx) score using six CD33 SNPs (CD33_PGx6_score) for association with clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Four CD33 SNPs were associated with cell surface CD33 levels and clinical response in the GO versus no-GO arms. Therefore, the CD33_PGx6_score was built using directional genotype scores for the previously reported splicing SNP and five new SNPs. Patients with a CD33_PGx6_score of 0 or higher had higher CD33 expression levels compared with patients with a score of less than 0 ( P < .001). In addition, patients with a score of 0 or higher demonstrated an improved disease-free survival in the GO versus no-GO arms (62.5% ± 7.8% v 46.8% ± 8.3%, respectively; P = .008) and a reduced risk of relapse (28.3% ± 7.2% v 49.9% ± 8.4%, respectively; P < .001). No improvement from GO was observed in patients with a CD33-PGx6_score of less than 0. Consistent results were observed across the risk groups.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we report a composite CD33_PGx6_score using directional genotype scores of CD33 SNPs. Once validated, our findings hold promise for use of the CD33_PGx6_score to guide efficient use of GO in patients with AML. In addition, because the CD33_PGx6_score considers SNPs with varying abundance in different ethnic groups, it has potential for global application.
Maternal and Offspring Genetic Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Offspring Birthweight Among African Ancestry Populations
Authors: Rahman Mohammad L , Shrestha Deepika , Workalemahu Tsegaselassie , Wu Jing , Zhu Chunming , Zhang Cuilin , Tekola-Ayele Fasil
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Maternal genetic risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) can influence offspring birthweight through shared offspring genetic risk and by altering intrauterine glycemic status. The aim of this study was to estimate the independent effects of maternal and offspring genetic risk scores (GRSs) of T2D on offspring birthweight and the extent to which intrauterine glycemic traits mediate the effect of maternal GRSs on offspring birthweight.

Design

The study involved 949 mother–offspring pairs of African ancestry from the Hyperglycemia Adverse Pregnancy Outcome study. GRSs of T2D were calculated separately for mothers and offspring as the weighted sum of 91 T2D risk alleles identified in a genome-wide association study meta-analysis in African Americans. Linear regression models were fit to estimate changes in birthweight by quartiles of GRSs. Mediation analysis was implemented to estimate the direct and indirect effects of maternal GRS on offspring birthweight through cord blood C-peptide and maternal fasting and postchallenge glucose levels.

Results

Maternal and offspring GRSs were independently and differentially associated with offspring birthweight. Changes (95% CI) in birthweight across increasing quartiles of maternal GRSs were 0 g (reference), 83.1 g (6.5, 159.6), 103.1 g (26.0, 180.2), and 92.7 g (12.6, 172.8) (P trend = 0.041) and those of offspring GRSs were 0 (reference), −92.0 g (−169.2, −14.9), −64.9 g (−142.4, 12.6), and 2.0 g (−77.8, 81.7) (P trend = 0.032). Cord blood C-peptide mediated the effect of maternal GRS on offspring birthweight, whereas maternal postchallenge glucose levels showed additive effects with maternal GRS on birthweight.

Conclusions

Maternal and offspring GRSs of T2D were independently and differentially associated with offspring birthweight.
Circulating Biomarkers of Testosterone’s Anabolic Effects on Fat-Free Mass
Authors: Huang Grace , Rocha Guilherme V , Pencina Karol M , Cox Karen , Krishnan Venkatesh , Henriksen Kim , Mitchell Peter , Sissons Sean E , Li Zhuoying , Nedergaard Anders F , Karsdal Morten A , Sun Shu , Storer Thomas W , Basaria Shehzad , Bhasin Shalender
Published: May 2019

Background

Biomarkers that predict response to anabolic therapies could expedite the development of function-promoting anabolic drugs. This study aimed to identify serum biomarkers that are responsive to testosterone administration and associated with increases in fat-free mass (FFM).

Methods

Serum samples were obtained from the 5α-Reductase Trial, a randomized trial that compared the effects of graded doses of testosterone enanthate for 20 weeks in healthy men randomized with placebo or dutasteride (dual SRD5A inhibitor). Testosterone’s effects on FFM or strength measures did not differ between placebo vs dutasteride groups. Accordingly, 54 subjects treated with testosterone plus placebo were included in the discovery cohort, and 48 subjects randomized to dutasteride were included in the validation cohort. A total of 1162 biomarkers were evaluated using prespecified criteria.

Results

In the discovery cohort, testosterone administration increased propeptide of type III collagen (PRO-C3) and propeptide of type VI collagen (PRO-C6) levels in a dose- and concentration-dependent manner; increases in these biomarkers from baseline to week 12 were associated with changes in FFM from baseline to week 20 (PRO-C3: r2 = 0.437, P < 0.001; PRO-C6: r2 = 0.434, P < 0.001). Changes in PRO-C3 and PRO-C6 levels were significantly associated with changes in chest press strength (PRO-C3: r2 = 0.394, P < 0.001; PRO-C6: r2 = 0.530, P < 0.001). In the SOMAscan, changes in IGF binding protein-6 (IGFBP6) and glypican 3 (GPC3) were associated with changes in total and free testosterone levels and FFM. These findings were replicated in the Validation cohort.

Conclusion

PRO-C3, PRO-C6, IGFBP6, and GPC3 fulfilled the prespecified criteria for biomarkers of testosterone-induced muscle anabolism. Changes in these biomarkers were associated with changes in total and free testosterone concentrations and with testosterone-induced gains in FFM.
Polymodal Mechanism for TWIK-Related K+ Channel Inhibition by Local Anesthetic
Authors: Pavel Mahmud Arif , Chung Hae-Won , Petersen E. Nicholas , Hansen Scott B.
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND:

Local anesthetics cause reversible block of pain and robustly inhibit TWIK-related K+ channel (TREK-1) currents. Before local anesthesia onset, injection of local anesthetics can cause unwanted transient pain. TREK-1 is an anesthetic-sensitive potassium channel that when inhibited produces pain. A disordered C-terminal loop of TREK-1 is thought to contribute to anesthetic sensitivity, but the molecular basis for TREK-1 inhibition by local anesthetics is unknown. Phospholipase D2 (PLD2) is an enzyme that produces phosphatidic acid (PA) required for TREK-1 activation and also binds to the channel’s C terminus.

METHODS:

Here, we use biophysical and cellular techniques to characterize direct and indirect lipid-mediated mechanism for TREK-1 inhibition (respectively). We characterized direct binding of local anesthetic to TREK-1 by reconstituting the purified channel into artificial membranes and measuring ion flux. We characterized indirect PA-mediated inhibition of TREK-1 by monitoring lipid production in live whole cells using a fluorescent PLD2 product release assay and ion channel current using live whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. We monitored anesthetic-induced nanoscale translocation of PLD2 to TREK-1 channels with super-resolution direct stochastic reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM).

RESULTS:

We find local anesthetics tetracaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine directly bind to and inhibit PLD2 enzymatic activity. The lack of PLD2 activity indirectly inhibited TREK-1 currents. Select local anesthetics also partially blocked the open pore of TREK-1 through direct binding. The amount of pore block was variable with tetracaine greater than bupivacaine and lidocaine exhibiting a minor effect. Local anesthetics also disrupt lipid rafts, a mechanism that would normally activate PLD2 were it not for their direct inhibition of enzyme catalysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

We propose a mechanism of TREK-1 inhibition comprised of (1) primarily indirect PLD2-dependent inhibition of lipid catalysis and (2) limited direct inhibition for select local anesthetics through partial open pore block. The inhibition through PLD2 explains how the C terminus can regulate the channel despite being devoid of structure and putative binding sites for local anesthetics.
Evaluating Propofol Concentration in Blood From Exhaled Gas Using a Breathing-Related Partition Coefficient
Authors: Dong Hao , Zhang Fengjiang , Chen Jing , Yu Qiwen , Zhong Yinbo , Liu Jun , Yan Min , Chen Xing
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND:

The anesthetic side effects of propofol still occur in clinical practice because no reliable monitoring techniques are available. In this regard, continuous monitoring of propofol in breath is a promising method, yet it remains infeasible because there is large variation in the blood/exhaled gas partial pressure ratio (RBE) in humans. Further evaluations of the influences of breathing-related factors on RBE would mitigate this variation.

METHODS:

Correlations were analyzed between breathing-related factors (tidal volume [TV], breath frequency [BF], and minute ventilation [VM]) and RBE in 46 patients. Furthermore, a subset of 10 patients underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and the parameters of the PFTs were then compared with the RBE. We employed a 1-phase exponential decay model to characterize the influence of VM on RBE. We also proposed a modified RBE (RBEM) that was not affected by the different breathing patterns of the patients. The blood concentration of propofol was predicted from breath monitoring using RBEM and RBE.

RESULTS:

We found a significant negative correlation (R = −0.572; P < .001) between VM and RBE (N = 46). No significant correlation was shown between PFTs and RBE in the subset (N = 10). RBEM demonstrated a standard Gaussian distribution (mean, 1.000; standard deviation [SD], 0.308). Moreover, the predicted propofol concentrations based on breath monitoring matched well with the measured blood concentrations. The 90% prediction band was limited to within ±1 μg·mL−1.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prediction of propofol concentration in blood was more accurate using RBEM than when using RBE and could provide reference information for anesthesiologists. Moreover, the present study provided a general approach for assessing the influence of relevant physiological factors and will inform noninvasive and accurate breath assessment of volatile drugs or metabolites in blood.
Effect of Sugammadex on Postoperative Myasthenic Crisis in Myasthenia Gravis Patients: Propensity Score Analysis of a Japanese Nationwide Database
Authors: Mouri Hideyuki , Jo Taisuke , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND:

In myasthenia gravis (MG) patients, postoperative myasthenic crisis, and residual neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation. However, it remains unclear whether the use of sugammadex for NMBA reversal reduces postoperative myasthenic crisis in MG patients undergoing surgery. We analyzed the association between use of sugammadex and postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with MG using a national inpatient database.

METHODS:

Adult patients with MG who received thymectomy under general anesthesia were identified in the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database from July 1, 2010 to March 31, 2016. Patients who received sugammadex (sugammadex group) were compared with those who did not receive sugammadex (control group). The primary outcome was postoperative myasthenic crisis, and the secondary outcomes were postoperative pneumonia, tracheostomy, 28-day mortality, total hospitalization costs, and length of stay after surgery. Propensity scores were estimated by logistic regression based on the following variables: age; sex; body mass index (BMI); smoking index; history of cancer; Charlson comorbidity index (CCI); type of thymectomy; time from hospital admission to surgery; use of plasma exchange, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, anticholinesterase, and oral benzodiazepine before surgery; type of hospital; and treatment year. The outcomes were compared using stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses to obtain good between-group balance.

RESULTS:

Of 795 patients identified, 506 patients received sugammadex and 289 patients did not. After stabilized IPTW, the sugammadex group was associated with a decrease in postoperative myasthenic crisis (22/507 [4.3%] vs 25/288 [8.7%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25–0.91), but not associated with a decrease in postoperative pneumonia (5/507 [1.0%] vs 7/288 [2.4%]; OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.17–1.14) or tracheostomy (7/507 [1.4%] vs 10/288 [3.5%]; OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.12–1.22) compared with the control group. The sugammadex group had significantly lower median (interquartile range) total hospitalization costs ($13,186 [$11,250–$16,988] vs $14,119 [$11,713–$20,207]; P < .001) and median length of stay after surgery (10 [8–15] vs 11 [8–18] days; P < .001), compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this retrospective observational study, sugammadex was associated with reductions in postoperative myasthenic crisis and total hospitalization costs in adult patients with MG who received thymectomy. Given the present findings, sugammadex should be routinely administered for MG patients undergoing thymectomy.
Antebellum Coral
Authors: Navakas Michele Currie
Published: May 2019

Coral circulated through the everyday lives of antebellum women and men (free and enslaved) as beads, necklaces, bracelets, reef specimens, and other objects. And antebellum coral was almost always more than merely ornamental. Coral has captivated people, across many cultures and centuries, because of its unique physical nature that combines animal and plant, living and nonliving matter, and that grows continually and unpredictably from the interaction of many small and sometimes invisible forces. Coral’s fluid, composite, indeterminate nature and growth set it apart from other natural materials, and it has historically raised new questions, prospects, and possibilities about the natural world as a whole. Yet the many prospects coral raised across centuries and cultures, I argue, share a central feature that enthralled antebellum Americans: coral provoked the recognition that there are limits to our capacity to know, describe, predict, classify, and rank nature, both human and nonhuman. “Antebellum Coral” assembles several written and visual reflections on coral beads and reveals how the cultural and natural history of these small everyday objects challenged the taxonomic thinking that increasingly structured antebellum life. Charting some of the challenges to knowledge, description, and classification raised by the polysemy of coral, I show that coral ultimately gave antebellum Americans new ways to imagine and evaluate an unpredictably fluid material world.
Region, Capitalism, and the Jew in the Post-TomPlantation Novel
Authors: Anthony David
Published: May 2019

This essay focuses on the consistently deployed but previously unnoticed figure of the Jew in the post–Uncle Tom’s Cabin plantation novel, whether “anti-Tom” or abolitionist in orientation. I argue that this character does complex ideological work in these novels, in particular as they stage economic tensions between the North and the South. On the one hand, the Jew as depicted in this work embodies the threat of Northern capitalism, which many in the South viewed as an overwhelmingly powerful force. On the other hand, the Jew of these novels acts as a figure for Southern ambivalence about capitalism; indeed, he was in many instances a projected form of economic envy and self-division. In this the Jew was the figure through whom the South could, however reluctantly, come to terms with the capitalist underpinnings of the Southern slave economy and thus its own inextricable relationship to the North and, indeed, the many countries involved in the global slave trade.
The Problem of Categorial Analysis of Interactions in Network Communication Discourse
Authors: Чуганская Анфиса , Chuganskaya Anfisa
Published: May 2019

In social psychology interaction is implemented as a creation of the general strategy of interaction and also the subsequent analysis of a contribution of each participant Theoretical studying of sources of creation of models of interaction in group will allow to reveal those parameters which can be used in the subsequent for the analysis of communication in network. In the 70s the XX centuries on the basis of Ch.Osgood and M. Uish’s works, R. Beylz began studying the problem of interpersonal interactions in small social group. The scheme of the analysis of interactions he called SIMLOG. R. Beylz considered that by means of such scheme it is possible to estimate three key parameters of interactions: behavior level, image level, levels of estimated judgments. For the subsequent analysis of interactions in network discussions the analysis according to the schemes offered by R. Beylz and M. Uish is submitted interesting. As the main interactions it is possible to allocate those which in R. Beylz’s description belong to the ACT group. This category is not connected with directly observed nonverbal components which cannot be estimated in network interaction.
Animated Didactic Movies as a Tool to Attract Student Audience’ Attention
Authors: Исакова Галина , Isakova G.
Published: May 2019

The article deals with the problem of enhancing attention and the formation of didactic interest of students. The article describes the pedagogical potential of animated videos as a tool to attract the attention of the student audience. The author defines the main directions of using animation in the university educational process, such as: case-study, storytelling and infographics. Features of creating animated educational videos are considered on example of a cloud platform Vyond.