bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The practicality of islamic integrated ethnobotany textbooks based on the 3D pageflip application
Authors: Handayani I. S. , Ayatusa’adah  , Lestariningsih N.
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this research is to produce an Islamic Integrated Ethnobotany textbook based on the 3D PageFlip application with practical criteria. This research is part of development research with the ADDIE design. This research is in the implementation stage. The research data were obtained from the field test stage conducted online on Biology Education students at IAIN Palangka Raya in the even semester 2019/2020. Data collection related to the practicality of textbooks used a response questionnaire instrument given to one lecturer and 29 students as well as a questionnaire for the implementation of learning by two observers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis techniques. The results of the analysis of the lecturer response questionnaire obtained a percentage of 90.9% (very practical). The results of the student response questionnaire analysis obtained a percentage of 84.8% (very practical). The results of the analysis of the learning implementation questionnaire by the observer obtained a percentage of 91.8% (very good). Therefore, it can be concluded that the Islamic Integrated Ethnobotany textbook based on the 3D PageFlip application is practical to use in the Ethnobotany learning process.
Students’ understanding of chemical bonding material through the rasch modelling data symptoms analysis
Authors: Almubarak  , Iriani R
Published: January 2021

Barke et al. (2009) said that chemistry education was a bridge in constructing students’ knowledge, where everyone had preconception, which was then built into scientific concepts. The ability to interpret the students about chemical material is essential, so it needs more intervention, such as the process of analyzing the students’ learning needs. The Rasch model is an alternative way to find out how the learners understand through the response patterns of Rasch data symptoms and assess how various designs arise from given responses. This study aimed to determine the average logit value and person reliability of the students based on the Rasch model analysis. The research method used was a descriptive qualitative approach. The Rasch model analysis data was interpreted scientifically to describe the students’ understanding of chemical bonding material. The research result showed that the students’ logit average value was 0.65 which was above the logit average value of the item; it means that the participants’ ability was more significant than the difficulty level of the questions and the person reliability was 0.79 (suitable). The conclusion is that the students’ understanding of chemical bonding material is quite good by looking at the distribution of Rasch model analysis data. This analysis can be a reflection and evaluation material for teachers to improve the quality of chemistry learning.
The validity of science e-module based on the authentic problem
Authors: Yunita A , Suyidno S , Syahmani S
Published: January 2021

The ability of scientific literacy and self-efficacy needs to be increased by students because students in the era of society 5.0 are required to have various skills. The availability of students’ books also has limitations in the presentation of material. To solve this problem, it needs to develop the integration of a supplement of teaching materials with the situation in the 21st century. An e-module (electronic module) with authentic problems was helped students learned independently. The purpose of this research is to produce a valid to authentic problem-based science e-module. Assessment for product advisability is assessed by experts and practitioner, where the evaluation is carried out using questioners form. This research and development design uses a 3D model (an adaptation of Thiagarajan, Semmel, Semmel). Based on the result, it can be conducted that the average total value was 85.12, which is categorized to very valid. Therefore, e-module based authentic learning is valid to be used to improve scientific literacy and self-efficacy for science teaching in junior high school.
Developing video-based learning for the application of ohm’s law towards conductive transparent layer
Authors: Izzah A , Saehana S
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to produce video-based learning as a media for enhancing students’ knowledge of the application of Ohm’s Law on a technological context using a conductive transparent layer. This research used the ADDIE model that consisted of five stages, namely analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. In testing the quality of video, questionnaires were used as the research instrument. Based on the results of data analysis, the media expert gave a score of 3.91, whereas the material expert’s assessment resulted in a score of 3.80 and was included in the “very good” category. The assessment of the physics subject teacher resulted in a score of 3.05 which was categorized in the “good” category. However, there were different scores in the product trials tested towards students of MAN 1 Palu. The initial trial of the product to 9 students received a score of 3.25, which was categorized as “good”. After making improvements to the video, the implementation was limited to 10 students only, and the results of the questionnaires indicated an increase in the score to 3.57 which was categorized as “very good”. Based on the findings, it shows that the video-based learning is suitable for use in physics learning.
An analysis of the understanding of physical education students on the environmental physical concept in landslide matter
Authors: Hatibe A , Salam A , Gustina  , Syamsuriwal
Published: January 2021

Physics is a branch of science that discusses natural phenomena with all their physical dynamics such as mass, energy, momentum and physics concepts that exist in our environment which are related to landslides. The problem is how much understanding of students in dealing with landslide natural disasters. This study aims to describe the understanding of physical education students on environmental physics concepts in landslide material. This research was conducted in the Physics Education Study Program. The research subjects were 30 students of the physical education study program class C class 2017. The data collection instrument used was a multiple-choice reasoned amounting to 15 items accompanied by CRI to determine the level of confidence of the research subject in answering the questions. The test result data is then analyzed to determine the percentage understanding of the concept for each given question. The results of the analysis of respondents’ answers regarding the conceptual understanding test on the concept of environmental physics in the landslide phenomenon showed that the level of understanding of the concept of students was classified as sure that they understood the concept, namely moderate with an average percentage of 41.98%, an average misconception of 29.79%, and not understanding the concept of an average of 29.03%.
Analysis of student’s mental model through representation chemistry textbooks based on augmented reality
Authors: Latipah J , Jamilah S N , Sari S T , Almubarak
Published: January 2021

The mental reconstruction model of students is essential to see the progress and difficulties of students in understanding chemical material, especially at the level of macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic representations. This study aims 1) to see how the influence of Augmented Reality (AR) based learning media with the concept of representation, 2) to see the validity, practicality and effectiveness of the development of augmented reality-based representational chemistry textbooks, and 3) to analyze the mental models of students. The research method used is a literature study (literature study) with qualitative and quantitative approaches. The data collection technique used is the non-participant observation technique by reviewing and examining various research results related to AR-based learning media and the concept of chemical representation. The results of the study with the context of literature studies showed that AR-based learning media (teaching materials) with the concept of representation could increase the reasoning power and understanding of students in learning chemistry. The impact students can interpret more deeply so that their mental models can be reconstructed into scientific concepts. The conclusion that can be taken was that learning chemistry with the idea of representation through teaching materials based on Augmented Reality (AR) could be used as the primary reference in learning chemistry. Besides, the concept also changes the mindset and mental attitude of students as the generation of the Indonesian Nation, where improvements in mood and mentality from an early age have the potential to foster the readiness and resistance of students. That is, the application of this idea shows that natural science (chemistry) has a very vital role in the progress of the Nation, especially towards high-quality education according to the SDGs indicators.
The effectiveness of introduction to nuclear physics e-module as a teaching material during covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Misbah M , Khairunnisa Y , Amrita P D , Dewantara D , Mahtari S. , Syahidi K , Muhammad N , Prahani B K , Deta U A
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to explain the effectiveness of Introduction to Nuclear Physics E-Module as a teaching material during Covid-19 Pandemic descriptively. The e-module was made by using Flip PDF Professional application. This study aimed to: (1) describe students’ learning outcomes before and after the implementation of e-module, (2) analyze the effectiveness of e-module descriptively through normalized Gain ; (3) describe the practicality of the e-module according to students as the users. The research instruments consisted of students’ test results and practicality questionnaire in the use of nuclear physics e-module. The results obtained showed that: (1) There was a difference of the pretest-posttest mean score descriptively; (2) The e-module was effective descriptively to boost students’ learning outcomes through normalized Gain analysis ; (3) The practicality of the e-module was in the ‘very practical’ category based on students as the users. Therefore, The nuclear physics e-module can be applied as the effort to provide teaching material in physics lecture during Covid-19 pandemic.
Quality improvement of guiding online-first field practice training through use of reflective essay and lesson study
Authors: Susilo H , Sudrajat A K
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study is to describe the improvement of activities during the first field practice training conducted by online class through the use of Reflective Essay and Lesson Study. This action research is conducted on July 20-30, 2020, in the odd semester 2020/2021. The research subjects consisted of 6 biology students who perform peer-teaching practice. Students divided into two groups- each served as a lesson study team. Each student could practice teaching his friends twice through online teaching in the lesson study platform. Every day they write a reflective essay. The results showed that the use of Reflective Essay and Lesson Study could help the students improve lesson design preparation (media selection for apperception and leading activities, time, mastery of concepts). The students still having difficulties in implementing the training and measuring of 21st-century skills.
Virtual nitrogen and virtual water transfers embedded in food trade networks across the US
Authors: Mahjabin Tasnuva , Mejia Alfonso , Grady Caitlin
Published: January 2021

Understanding environmental impacts through embedded resource accounting tools, such as footprints, allows scholars to connect resource demands to consumption choices. To date, considerably less attention has been paid to tracking the flow of goods, particularly at a sub-national level, to relate consumption patterns to the origin where nitrogen pollution may be occurring. We present and analyze the virtual N networks alongside virtual water networks embedded in the internal food trade within the United States. We utilize a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the associated uncertainty of these values and compare them to existing works on both nitrogen and water footprint flows. Our results indicate that most of the US states exhibit a high nitrogen footprint for meat/seafood and a larger water footprint for cereal grain products. Additionally, we find that both the meat/seafood virtual nitrogen and virtual water networks exhibit high density and larger connectivity properties compared to the cereal grain and fruit/vegetable networks. We also examined the uncertainty associated with the commodity trade across the US and find that sampling errors tend to vary linearly with the footprint values. The sampling uncertainty in the N footprint values indicates greater variability in the cereal grain and fruit/vegetable products. To relate these networks with environmental externalities we also examined virtual N transfers between states based on the percent of assessed water bodies in a state that have nutrient-related impairments. We found that most of the virtual N transfers move from states with high impairments to states with lower rates of impairments. The outcomes from this research could be used to inform eutrophication and water use management across the United States.
Transparent hydrophobic thermal insulation CsxWO3-ZnO-SiO2 coatings:Energy saving, anti-dust and anti-fogging performance
Authors: Li Mengyuan , Zhao Zhiyang , Fang Xianli , Zhang Zefeng , Deng Min
Published: January 2021

CsxWO3-ZnO-SiO2 smart coatings were proposed to achieve multiple functions, such as thermal insulation, anti-dust, anti-fogging and blocking harmful ultraviolet light, etc. The transparent hydrophobic hybrid resins were prepared from methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and SiO2 sol, which was used as the substrate of the composite coating. The CsxWO3 is served as the near-infrared (NIR) absorber, and the ZnO is functioned as the ultraviolet (UV) blocking agent. Coatings with different ratios of CsxWO3 and ZnO were successfully prepared by co-blending with nano-SiO2 resin. The morphology, microstructure, surface composition, hydrophobicity, thermal stability, anti-dust and optical property of the composite coatings were investigated comprehensively. The transmittance of C10Z10 (CsxWO3 10%, ZnO 10%, nano-SiO2 resin 80%) coating at 370 nm is 2.3%, and the value of Solar Energy Transmittance Selectivity (SETS) is 0.665, which exhibits excellent NIR shielding ability. Compared with nano-SiO2 resin coating, the thermal insulation temperature difference can reach 7.0 °C. The C10Z10 coating showed good durability in the twenty times anti-dust repeated tests and the efficiency could maintain 70.3% after the repeating tests. The coating showed excellent sustainability after a 45-day outdoor exposure experiment and a 240 h of artificial accelerated aging experiment. Thus, the proposed CsxWO3-ZnO-SiO2 coatings are promising for outdoor smart windows.
Phosphotungstic acid intercalated Zn,Al-layered double hydroxides/ nanocellulose based 3D lightweight foam thermal insulation materials
Authors: Huang Zizhi , Wang Qiong , Wu Yuanbo , Yuan Liping , Hu Yunchu
Published: January 2021

In this study, [PW12O40]3− anions have been intercalated into Zn,Al-Layered Double Hydroxides(ZnAl-NO3-LDHs) to synthesize ZnAl-PW12O40-LDHs by ion-exchange reaction. The chemical composition and structure were analyzed by XRD, FT-IR, ICP, and SEM. Then, the nanocellulose based 3D lightweight foam thermal insulation materials was prepared by ZnAl-PW12O40-LDHs and CNF compound with H3BO3. The TG showed that ZnAl-PW12O40- LDHs significantly reduced the maximum decomposition rate and increased the carbon residual rate at 800 °C, which indicated that ZnAl-PW12O40-LDHs can improve the oxidation resistance of CNF composite materials at high temperature.The fire resistance of different samples were evaluated by back temperature test and alcohol lamp flame test, CNF/50%ZnAl-PW12O40-LDHs /2%H3BO3 showed best thermal stability and flame-retardant properties, which can be contributed to the decomposition products of ZnAl-PW12O40-LDHs, acting both as phase flame retardant and condensed phase flame retardant.
Research progress of ultrafine grained magnesium alloy prepared by equal channel angular pressing
Authors: Zhang Qian , Li Quanan , Chen Xiaoya
Published: January 2021

In this paper, the research status of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) in the preparation of ultrafine grained magnesium alloy is introduced. The research results in recent ten years are summarized, including the principle and improvement method of ECAP process, plastic deformation mechanism of magnesium alloy, microstructure characteristics, texture evolution and mechanical properties of ultrafine grained magnesium alloy prepared by ECAP. It is pointed out that the influences of grain refinement and texture evolution on mechanical properties such as strength, superplasticity and anisotropy must be considered comprehensively. At the same time, the principle of grain refinement and texture modification in ECAP is also discussed; On the other hand, this paper summarizes the research progress of ECAP numerical simulation in analyzing the influence of ECAP process parameters on strain distribution uniformity, damage prediction, texture evolution and ductile fracture behavior. Finally, the development trend of ECAP process for preparing ultrafine grained magnesium alloy and its application prospect in the field of commercial manufacturing are introduced. Some urgent problems to be solved at this stage are discussed and solutions are put forward, which can provide references for in-depth research in the future.
Design of dye-sensitized TiO2 materials for photocatalytic hydrogen production: light and shadow
Authors: Zani Lorenzo , Melchionna Michele , Montini Tiziano , Fornasiero Paolo
Published: January 2021

Visible light-driven production of fuels and value-added chemicals is currently one of the most intensely investigated research topics across various scientific disciplines, due to its potential to ease the World’s dependence on fossil fuels. In this perspective, we recapitulate some of the main features of dye-sensitized photocatalytic systems aimed at solar H2 production, focusing in particular on TiO2-based three-component assemblies with organic sensitizers. Relevant aspects include the structural and electronic properties of the sensitizers, the nature of the semiconductor and the hydrogen evolution catalysts, the role of the sacrificial donor and the effect of the reaction parameters on H2 production rate and stability. Besides presenting the most significant recent developments of the field, we also analyse some of its common practices in terms of experimental design, laboratory procedures and data presentation, trying to highlight their weaknesses and suggesting possible improvements. We then conclude with a short paragraph discussing the possible future development of this exciting research area.
Encryption/decryption and microtarget capturing by pH-driven Janus microstructures fabricated by the same femtosecond laser printing parameters
Authors: Lao Zhaoxin , Sun Rui , Jin Dongdong , Ren Zhongguo , Xin Chen , Zhang Yachao , Jiang Shaojun , Zhang Yiyuan , Zhang Li
Published: January 2021

Several natural organism can change shape under external stimuli. These natural phenomena have inspired a vast amount of research on exploration and implementation of reconfigurable shape transformation. The Janus structure is a promising approach to achieve shape transformation based on its heterogeneous chemical or physical properties on opposite sides. However, the heterogeneity is generally realized by multi-step processing, different materials, and/or different processing parameters. Here, we present a simple and flexible method of producing pH-sensitive Janus microactuators from a single material, using the same laser printing parameters. These microactuators exhibit reversible structural deformations with large bending angles of ∼31° and fast response (∼0.2 s) by changing the pH value of the aqueous environment. Benefited from the high flexibility of the laser printing technique and the spatial arrangements, pillar heights, and bending directions of microactuators are readily controlled, enabling a variety of switchable ordered patterns and complex petal-like structures on flat surfaces and inside microchannels. Finally, we explore the potential applications of this method in information encryption/decryption and microtarget capturing.
Long time behavior of solutions to the damped forced generalized Ostrovsky equation below the energy space
Authors: Zhang Zaiyun , Liu Zhenhai , Deng Youjun , Huang Jianhua , Huang Chuangxia
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we investigate the long time behavior of the damped forced generalized Ostrovsky equation below the energy space. First, by using Fourier restriction norm method and Tao’s

[
k
,
Z
]

[k,Z]

- multiplier method, we establish the multi-linear estimates, including the bilinear and trilinear estimates on the Bourgain space

X

s
,
b

.

X_{s,b}.

Then, combining the multi-linear estimates with the contraction mapping principle as well as

L
~

2

\widetilde {L}^{2}

energy method, we establish the global well-posedness and existence of the bounded absorbing sets in

L
~

2

.

\widetilde {L}^{2}.

Finally, we show the existence of global attractor in

L
~

2

\widetilde {L}^{2}

and its compactness in

H
~

5

\widetilde {H}^{5}

by means of the high-low frequency decomposition method, cut-off function, tail estimate together with Kuratowski

α
\alpha

-measure in order to overcome the non-compactness of the classical Sobolev embedding. This result improves earlier ones in the literatures, such as Goubet and Rosa [J. Differential Equations 185 (2002), no. 1, 25–53], Moise and Rosa [Adv. Differential Equations 2 (1997), no. 2, 251–296], Wang et al. [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 390 (2012), no. 1, 136–150], Wang [Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 35 (2015), no. 8, 3799–3825], and Guo and Huo [J. Math. Anal. App. 329 (2007), no. 1, 392–407].
DNA Methylation and Blood Pressure Phenotypes: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Irvin Marguerite R , Jones Alana C , Claas Steven A , Arnett Donna K
Published: January 2021

Genetic studies of DNA have been unable to explain a significant portion of the variance of the estimated heritability of blood pressure (BP). Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, have helped explain additional biological processes linked to BP phenotypes and diseases. Candidate gene methylation studies and genome-wide methylation studies of BP have highlighted impactful cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) markers across different ethnicities. Furthermore, many of these BP-related CpG sites are also linked to metabolism-related phenotypes. Integrating epigenome-wide association study data with other layers of molecular data such as genotype data (from single nucleotide polymorphism arrays or sequencing), other epigenetic data, and/or transcriptome data can provide additional information about the significance and complexity of these relationships. Recent data suggest that epigenetic changes can be consequences rather than causes of BP variation. Finally, these data can give insight into downstream effects of long-standing high BP (due to target organ damage (TOD)). The current review provides a literature overview of epigenetic modifications in BP and TOD. Recent studies strongly support the importance of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in BP and TOD for relevant biological insights, reliable biomarkers, and possible future therapeutics.
Long-Term Mortality After Renal Artery Stenting in Patients With Severe Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis and High-Risk Clinical Manifestations
Authors: Dregoesc Mihaela Ioana , Bolboacă Sorana Daniela , Dorolțan Patricia Mirela , Istrate Mihnea , Marc Mădălin Constantin , Iancu Adrian Corneliu
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is a risk factor for cardiovascular death. Observational studies support the benefit of renal revascularization on outcomes in patients with high-risk clinical manifestations. In this context, we evaluated the factors associated with long-term mortality after renal artery stenting in patients with severe renal artery stenosis, impaired kidney function, and/or uncontrolled hypertension.

METHODS

The medical records of patients undergoing renal artery stenting between 2004 and 2014 were extracted. Blood pressure and creatinine were recorded at baseline, 24 hours poststenting and in the 1-month to 1-year interval that followed revascularization. Long-term follow-up was performed in March 2020.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 65 patients. Median follow-up was 120 months. In the first year after stenting, less patients had chronic kidney disease (CKD) class 3b–5 as compared with baseline (35.3% vs. 56.9%, P = 0.01). The number of patients with controlled blood pressure after revascularization increased with 69.2% (P < 0.001). Long-term all-cause mortality reached 44.6%. Age (odds ratio (OR) 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–1.2; P = 0.01), male gender (OR 7.9; 95% CI 1.9–43.5; P = 0.008), poststenting CKD class 3b–5 (OR 5.8; 95% CI 1.5–27.9; P = 0.01), and postrevascularization uncontrolled hypertension (OR 8.9; 95% CI 1.7–63.5; P = 0.01) were associated with long-term mortality independent of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved CKD class and blood pressure were recorded in the first year after renal artery stenting in patients with severe renal artery stenosis and high-risk clinical manifestations. The lack of improvement in kidney function and blood pressure was independently associated with long-term mortality.
Religious Minorities under the Constitution of the Irish Free State, 1922–1937
Authors: Mohr Thomas
Published: January 2021

The Irish Free State came into existence in 1922 as a self-governing state with a substantial Catholic majority. This article examines the special constitutional provisions adopted in 1922 that were aimed at religious minorities in the new state. The Protestant community comprised the largest religious minority in 1922 and was particularly vulnerable as many of its members had opposed the foundation of the Irish Free State. Nevertheless, this article recognizes the diversity behind the term ‘Protestant’ and also provides some attention to the position of the Quaker community, often perceived in Ireland as neither Catholic or Protestant, as well as that of the small Irish Jewish community. This article examines the origins and operation of the special provisions of the 1922 constitution of the Irish Free State aimed at protecting the rights of religious minorities and giving them a significant voice within the Irish legislature. It also analyses how and why most of these constitutional safeguards were removed from the text of the 1922 constitution. Most of these provisions were not replicated in the 1937 constitution of Ireland that remains in force to this day. The conclusion argues that one of the weaknesses of the constitutional provisions aimed at religious minorities was that they did not openly include this objective in their wording. This facilitated the removal of almost all of these provisions in the 1930s while ignoring or openly denying that they were aimed at religious minorities despite ample historical evidence to the contrary.
Biophysical informatics approach for quantifying phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer cell migration in confined microenvironments
Authors: Zhang Xingjian , Mak Michael
Published: January 2021

Motivation

Cancer cell heterogeneity can manifest genetically and phenotypically. Bioinformatics methods have been used to analyze complex genomics and transcriptomics data, but have not been well-established for analyzing biophysical data of phenotypically heterogeneous tumor cells. Here, we take an informatics approach to analyze the biophysical data of MDA-MB-231 cells, a widely used breast cancer cell line, during their spontaneous migration through confined environments. Experimentally, we vary the constriction microchannel geometries (wide channel, short constriction, and long constriction) and apply drug treatments. We find that the cells in the short constriction are similar in morphology to the cells in the wide channel. However, their fluorescence profiles are comparable to those in the long constriction. We demonstrate that the cell migratory phenotype is correlated more to mitochondria in a non-confined environment and more to actin in a confined environment. We demonstrate that the cells’ migratory phenotypes are altered by ciliobrevin D, a dynein inhibitor, in both confined and non-confined environments. Overall, our approach elucidates phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer cells under confined microenvironments at single-cell resolution.

Results

Here, we apply a bioinformatics approach to a single-cell invasion assay. We demonstrate that this method can determine distinctions in morphology, cytoskeletal activities, and mitochondrial activities under various geometric constraints and for cells of different speeds. Our approach can be readily adapted to various heterogeneity studies for different types of input biophysical data. In addition, this approach can be applied to studies related to biophysical changes due to differences in external stimuli, such as treatment effects on cellular and subcellular activities, at single-cell resolution. Finally, as similar bioinformatics methods have been widely applied in studies of genetic heterogeneity, biophysical information extracted using this approach can be analyzed together with the genetic data to relate genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity.

Availability and implementation

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Neuropathology of FMR1-premutation carriers presenting with dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms
Authors: Dijkstra Anke A , Haify Saif N , Verwey Niek A , Prins Niels D , van der Toorn Esmay C , Rozemuller Annemieke J M , Bugiani Marianna , den Dunnen Wilfred F A , Todd Peter K , Charlet-Berguerand Nicolas , Willemsen Rob , Hukema Renate K , Hoozemans Jeroen J M
Published: January 2021

CGG repeat expansions within the premutation range (55–200) of the FMR1 gene can lead to Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. These CGG repeats are translated into a toxic polyglycine-containing protein, FMRpolyG. Pathology of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders comprises FMRpolyG- and p62-positive intranuclear inclusions. Diagnosing a FMR1-premutation carrier remains challenging, as the clinical features overlap with other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we describe two male cases with Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders-related symptoms and mild movement disturbances and novel pathological features that can attribute to the variable phenotype. Macroscopically, both donors did not show characteristic white matter lesions on MRI; however, vascular infarcts in cortical- and sub-cortical regions were identified. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed a high number of FMRpolyG intranuclear inclusions throughout the brain, which were also positive for p62. Importantly, we identified a novel pathological vascular phenotype with inclusions present in pericytes and endothelial cells. Although these results need to be confirmed in more cases, we propose that these vascular lesions in the brain could contribute to the complex symptomology of FMR1-premutation carriers. Overall, our report suggests that Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders may present diverse clinical involvements resembling other types of dementia, and in the absence of genetic testing, FMRpolyG can be used post-mortem to identify premutation carriers.
Territorial stigmatization in theory and practice, and its implications for community development: an introduction to the themed section
Authors: Meade Rosie R
Published: January 2021

This article introduces and outlines the rationale for a ‘Themed Section on Territorial Stigmatization’. It explains how ‘territorial stigmatization’ is conceptualised and understood, within the wider academic scholarship, and within the four articles that follow in this section. This introductory article outlines some key lines of academic debate and inquiry about the stigmas that adhere to communities of place and it acknowledges the pioneering theoretical contribution of Wacquant in particular. The article also discusses how the articles in this themed section of the CDJ can contribute to our ability to recognise and respond to territorial stigma as an ongoing challenge for community development theory and practice.
Are Technology Shocks More Expansionary at the ZLB?
Authors: Ji Yangyang
Published: January 2021

Garín et al.’s (2019) empirical study shows that a positive technology shock is more expansionary when the ZLB binds than when it does not. This cannot be explained by a basic new-Keynesian model with sticky prices. In this paper, I resolve this puzzle by extending the model to include wage stickiness. (JEL codes: E32, E52, E62, N12)
Incorporating coronary calcification by computed tomography into CHA2DS2-VASc score: impact on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Wang Tom Kai Ming , Chan Nicholas , Cremer Paul C , Kanj Mohamed , Baranowski Bryan , Saliba Walid , Wazni Oussama M , Jaber Wael A
Published: January 2021

Aims

CHA2DS2-VASc score is widely utilized for risk stratification and guiding anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) routinely performed for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) can also identify coronary artery calcifications (CAC). We evaluated the frequency and outcomes of incorporating CAC into the CHA2DS2-VASc score in AF patients undergoing PVI.

Methods and results

Consecutive patients in a prospective PVI registry during 2014–18 having CCT within 1 year of PVI were studied. Reclassification of CHA2DS2-VASc score and associations between CAC as a binary variable detected on CCT with clinical characteristics, stroke as primary endpoint, death, myocardial infarction, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were analysed.

Amongst 3604 AF patients, 2238 (62.1%) had CAC detected on CCT and was associated with most traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary artery calcification was independently associated with all pre-specified endpoints adjusting for clinical parameters in multivariable analysis. Adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASc score, CAC was associated with stroke (hazards ratio 3.64, 95% confidence interval 1.25–10.6, P = 0.018), death (2.26, 1.29–3.98, P = 0.006), and MACE (2.08, 1.36–3.16, P = 0.001) during 2.8 ± 1.6-year follow-up. Incorporating CAC as a vascular disease parameter of CHA2DS2-VASc score, anticoagulation decision-making would be revised in 723 (20.1%) patients, including an additional 488 (13.5%) patients where anticoagulation would be now indicated.

Conclusion

Coronary artery calcification is prevalent in AF patients undergoing PVI and independently associated stroke, death and MACE even when adjusted for traditional CHA2DS2-VASc score. Adding CAC as vascular component to the CHA2DS2-VASc score requires further research as it potentially modified the anticoagulation management in 20% of our AF cohort.
‘Enemy Aliens’ and ‘Indian Hostages’: Civilians in Dutch–German Wartime Diplomacy and International Law during the Second World War
Authors: Wünschmann Kim
Published: January 2021

May 1940 marked a turning point in belligerent states’ policies targeting foreign civilians in the Second World War. This study investigates the radicalization of restrictive measures enacted against so-called enemy aliens in the Dutch–German confrontation by linking developments in Europe with those in the colonial sphere. Mass civilian internment in the Dutch East Indies and German reprisals in the form of hostage-taking in the occupied Netherlands affected thousands of men, women and children. Their treatment is analysed in the broader context of the workings of wartime diplomacy and its guiding principle of reciprocity. The article shows that both Germany and the Netherlands made extensive use of the good offices of their respective protecting powers, Switzerland and Sweden. The international laws of war—although underdeveloped when it came to the protection of non-combatants—not only served as a yardstick to assess the treatment of civilians in enemy hands, but also formed a constant point of reference in a propaganda war in which each belligerent sought to justify its own restrictive policies while denouncing its opponent’s. On the one hand, the legal category of nationality was employed by both state authorities and affected individuals in their attempts to define or deny enemy status. On the other hand, nationality proved a fragile concept surrounded by ambiguities and bound up with complex emotions of belonging and alienness—most strikingly at work in the colonial setting, where racial identities determined an individual’s status in a social order vitally dependent on the construction of ‘ethnic’ boundaries.
The Contributions of Hypertension Diagnosis and Blood Pressure Control to Subjective Life Expectancy in a Representative Sample of Older U.S. Adults
Authors: Zacher Meghan , Wang Jiwen , Short Susan E
Published: January 2021

Objectives

High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension, a major risk factor for death and disease, is pervasive among older adults. While reducing BP to targeted levels can prevent adverse outcomes, rates of successful BP control remain suboptimal, and it is unclear whether older adults recognize its proven benefits. The current study sheds light on older adults’ beliefs about the consequences of hypertension and benefits of BP control by examining how their self-reports of hypertension diagnosis and BP control, as well as measured BP, contribute to subjective life expectancy (SLE), their perceived probability of surviving to a target age.

Methods

In a representative sample of U.S. adults aged 50–89 from the 2006–2014 Health and Retirement Study (n = 18,979 respondents), we analyze SLE using generalized linear regression.

Results

Diagnosed hypertension is associated with lower SLE, regardless of measured BP. Among diagnosed hypertensives, those who self-report controlled BP expect to live longer than those who do not. Finally, about 1 in 10 older adults have high measured BP but have never been diagnosed with hypertension, and most diagnosed hypertensives with uncontrolled measured BP self-report their BP as controlled.

Discussion

Older adults appear to recognize the harmful effects of hypertension and the benefits of BP control, but often lack knowledge of their own hypertension and BP control statuses. Health communications should continue to stress the value of BP control, although improvements may require increased hypertension awareness and BP monitoring.
Poxed and Ravished: Venereal Disease in Early Modern Rape Trials
Authors: Weisser Olivia
Published: January 2021

Inspections of the body’s most intimate surfaces were crucial to rape cases in early modern England. Female medical experts evaluated bruises, lacerations, and stretched skin for evidence of a violation. Yet numerous courtroom investigations seemed to centre around the marks of venereal disease rather than sexual abuse. These cases reframed the focus of inquiry from rape to disease at nearly every step, from witnesses’ accounts of the discovery of rape to courtroom inspections of bodies and clothing. This article examines fifty-nine such cases and argues that placing the poxed body, as opposed to the ravished body, center stage made rape easier to communicate, convict, and condemn. More than a simple proxy for penetrative sex, venereal disease provided a detailed and morally loaded language for talking about otherwise unspeakable acts. And perhaps most importantly, the disease offered tangible, if contested, evidence of rape that could be touched, viewed, and evaluated by male – rather than female – medical experts. Venereal disease effectively refocused rape cases away from the kinds of words and bodily inspections that were viewed with suspicion and onto those that were deemed reliable.
Energy Drink Administration Ameliorates Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Defects and Reduces Acute DSS Colitis
Authors: Manzini Roberto , Schwarzfischer Marlene , Bircher Anna , Niechcial Anna , Vavricka Stephan R , Atrott Kirstin , Lang Silvia , Scharl Michael , Spalinger Marianne R
Published: January 2021

Background

The rise in the prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases in the past decades coincides with changes in nutritional habits, such as adaptation of a Western diet. However, it is largely unknown how certain nutritional habits, such as energy drink consumption, affect intestinal inflammation. Here, we assessed the effect of energy drink supplementation on the development of intestinal inflammation in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

HT-29 and T84 intestinal epithelial cells and THP-1 monocytic cells were treated with IFNγ in presence or absence of different concentrations of an energy drink. Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by addition of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to drinking water with or without supplementation of the energy drink.

Results

Energy drink supplementation caused a dose-dependent decrease in IFNγ-induced epithelial barrier permeability, which was accompanied by upregulation of the pore-forming protein claudin-2. Administration of the energy drink reduced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α from HT-29, T84, and THP-1 cells. In vivo, energy drink administration reduced clinical symptoms of DSS-induced colitis and epithelial barrier permeability. Endoscopic and histologic colitis scores and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced by energy drink co-administration.

Conclusion

Energy drink consumption seems to exert an unexpected anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo in our experimental setting. However, our experimental approach focuses on intestinal inflammation and neglects additional effects of energy drink consumption on the body (eg, on metabolism or sleep). Therefore, the translation of our findings into the human situation must be taken with caution.
Timely Monitoring of Inflammation by Fecal Lactoferrin Rapidly Predicts Therapeutic Response in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Sorrentino Dario , Gray James M
Published: January 2021

Background

Fecal lactoferrin (FL) levels may mirror drug-induced changes in inflammation in ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease in a timely way and could be used to assess loss of response (LOR) to biologics.

Methods

This study is a retrospective outcome review in 61 patients on adalimumab, infliximab, or vedolizumab managed in our center and followed for 6 to 24 months. Patients were 1) in clinical remission or 2) were experiencing possible LOR.

Results

For group 1, in 71% of 31 patients, FL slowly increased during the therapeutic interval (R2 = 0.769; P < 0.001), thus reflecting increasing inflammation as drug concentrations decreased. In the remaining patients, FL was undetectable throughout the therapeutic interval because of a stronger suppression of inflammation. For group 2, in 30 patients negative for infections, FL levels measured 1 to 3 days after infusion/injection compared to preadministration values either increased (nonresponders)—in these patients the medication was switched to another class; partially decreased (partial responders)—the therapeutic interval was shortened; or were normal throughout (responders)—causes for symptoms unrelated to disease activity were found for all. After FL-based management, 3-month standardized clinical scores were normalized in both partial responders (0.58 ± 0.21 vs 0.13 ± 0.09; P < 0.001) and nonresponders (0.81 ± 0.17 vs 0.12 ± 0.08; P < 0.001), and FL levels dropped by up to 99%.

Conclusions

Levels of FL reflect drug-induced changes in mucosal inflammation in a timely way, thus enabling rapid assessment of therapeutic response in patients with ulcerative colitis and with Crohn disease. In patients with suspected LOR, FL levels before and after infusion/injection accurately separated responders, partial responders, and nonresponders. The strategy proposed here is simple, accurate, and easily applicable to clinical practice.
Ocular Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Shah Janaki , Shah Aaditya , Hassman Lynn , Gutierrez Alexandra
Published: January 2021

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by intestinal inflammation; however, it is also known to have extraintestinal manifestations. Ocular manifestations of IBD include keratopathy, episcleritis, scleritis, and uveitis and are among the most common extraintestinal manifestations. These diseases can lead to significant ocular morbidity if unrecognized and left untreated. A review of the literature was performed on PubMed and is summarized and critically appraised in this article with the aim being to describe the varying ocular manifestations of IBD and outlining their treatments. Ultimately, a framework is provided to investigate ocular symptoms in patients with IBD. An ocular review of systems is also provided as a tool to equip gastroenterologists and internal medicine physicians to be able to recognize and triage ocular complaints appropriately.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Chronic Pouchitis: A Randomized, Parallel, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial
Authors: Karjalainen Essi K , Renkonen-Sinisalo Laura , Satokari Reetta , Mustonen Harri , Ristimäki Ari , Arkkila Perttu , Lepistö Anna H
Published: January 2021

Background

In ulcerative colitis, a pouchitis is the most common long-term adverse effect after proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Approximately 5% of patients develop chronic antibiotic-dependent or antibiotic-refractory pouchitis without any effective treatment. The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of chronic pouchitis.

Methods

This was a single-center, double-blinded, parallel group trial comparing donor fecal microbiota transplantation with placebo (autologous transplant) in chronic pouchitis. Twenty-six patients were recruited at the Helsinki University Hospital between December 2017 and August 2018 and were randomly allocated a 1:1 ratio to either donor fecal microbiota transplantation or placebo. The protocol included 2 transplantations into the pouch on weeks 0 and 4, and patients were followed up for 52 weeks.

Results

Nine patients in the intervention group and 8 patients in the placebo group relapsed during the 52-week follow-up, and the relapse-free survival did not differ between the groups (P = 0.183, log-rank; hazard ratio, 1.90 [95% confidence interval, 0.73-4.98; P = 0.190]). In the subgroup analysis of patients using continuous antibiotics before the study, the relapse-free survival was shorter in the intervention group (P = 0.004, log-rank; hazard ratio, 13.08 [95% confidence interval, 1.47-116.60; P = 0.021]). No major adverse effects were reported.

Conclusions

The fecal microbiota transplantation treatment regime used in our study was not effective in the treatment of chronic pouchitis. The safety profile of fecal microbiota transplantation was good.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier

NCT03378921.