bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Self-Assessment in English Language Teachers’ Professional Development in Pakistan
Authors: Warsi Lubna Quddus , Khurshid Khalid
Published: April 2022

This research attempted to explore the role of self-assessment (SA) as a professional development (PD) strategy to bring about continuous professional development of English language teachers in job-embedded environment. The crux of this research lies in the fact that teachers’ professional development is usually influenced by many external factors, but its desire gusts from inner self. If a teacher does not have a keen desire for self-development, he/she cannot grow professionally, no matter how perfect and supportive the external environment and supervising measures are. In this sense, self-development is the basic motive which brings about professional development, and self-assessment paves the way towards it. The researchers adopted a pragmatic paradigm and explanatory sequential design. To collect data, the Self-assessment Instrument of Teaching Practice (SAITP) was designed to make English language teachers (ELTs) self-assess their teaching practice. After that, ELTs were made to express their views regarding this self-assessment practice on an ELTs’ attitude survey designed by the researchers. In the next stage, a semistructured interview session was conducted with the selected ELTs who have already given their responses on SAITP and attitude survey, to get a detailed picture of their mind. For analyses of quantitative data, descriptive and inferential statistics were applied; for qualitative data, a content analysis technique was used. At the end, both quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated to draw conclusions. Findings showed that self-assessment plays an important role in the professional development of English language teachers. It is more effective than traditional professional development programs. This study paves the way for self-assessment and self-development culture in teacher community.
Effect of Reinforced Bucket on Bearing Capacity and Natural Frequency of Offshore Wind Turbines Using Pile–Bucket Foundation
Authors: Pan Xiaodong , He Ben , Yuan Zonghao , Xu Shiwu , Xu Danting , Jiang Zhenqiang , Shi Li , Sun Honglei
Published: April 2022

Large‐diameter monopiles have been widely used for constructing offshore wind turbines. The bearing capacity of a monopile foundation is a significant research problem. In this study, a new type of foundation, known as the pile–bucket foundation, was investigated to improve the bearing capacity of monopiles. A finite element software was used for establishing several numerical models of monopile and pile–bucket foundations to analyze the reinforcement afforded by the bucket attached to the monopile foundation. Furthermore, considering that offshore wind turbines are prone to resonance under the excitation of wind and wave loads, the natural frequencies of the monopile and pile–bucket foundations were determined and compared using both analytical and numerical methods. The results show that compared to the monopile foundation, the pile–bucket foundation has a significantly higher bearing capacity, mainly for large bucket diameters. The natural frequencies of the pile–bucket foundations are slightly higher than those of the monopile foundations. The addition of the bucket can effectively improve the natural frequency without changing the diameter of the monopile and thus saving the foundation cost.
PD-1 Blockade in Solid Tumors with Defects in Polymerase Epsilon
Authors: Rousseau Benoit , Bieche Ivan , Pasmant Eric , Hamzaoui Nadim , Leulliot Nicolas , Michon Lucas , de Reynies Aurelien , Attignon Valerie , Foote Michael B. , Masliah-Planchon Julien , Svrcek Magali , Cohen Romain , Simmet Victor , Augereau Paule , Malka David , Hollebecque Antoine , Pouessel Damien , Gomez-Roca Carlos , Guimbaud Rosine , Bruyas Amandine , Guillet Marielle , Grob Jean-Jacques , Duluc Muriel , Cousin Sophie , de la Fouchardiere Christelle , Flechon Aude , Rolland Frederic , Hiret Sandrine , Saada-Bouzid Esma , Bouche Olivier , Andre Thierry , Pannier Diane , El Hajbi Farid , Oudard Stephane , Tournigand Christophe , Soria Jean-Charles , Champiat Stephane , Gerber Drew G. , Stephens Dennis , Lamendola-Essel Michelle F. , Maron Steven B. , Diplas Bill H. , Argiles Guillem , Krishnan Asha R. , Tabone-Eglinger Severine , Ferrari Anthony , Segal Neil H. , Cercek Andrea , Hoog-Labouret Natalie , Legrand Frederic , Simon Clotilde , Lamrani-Ghaouti Assia , Diaz Luis A. , Saintigny Pierre , Chevret Sylvie , Marabelle Aurelien
Published: April 2022

Missense mutations in the polymerase epsilon (POLE) gene have been reported to generate proofreading defects resulting in an ultramutated genome and to sensitize tumors to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. However, many POLE-mutated tumors do not respond to such treatment. To better understand the link between POLE mutation variants and response to immunotherapy, we prospectively assessed the efficacy of nivolumab in a multicenter clinical trial in patients bearing advanced mismatch repair–proficient POLE-mutated solid tumors. We found that only tumors harboring selective POLE pathogenic mutations in the DNA binding or catalytic site of the exonuclease domain presented high mutational burden with a specific single-base substitution signature, high T-cell infiltrates, and a high response rate to anti–PD-1 monotherapy. This study illustrates how specific DNA repair defects sensitize to immunotherapy. POLE proofreading deficiency represents a novel agnostic biomarker for response to PD-1 checkpoint blockade therapy.

Significance:

POLE proofreading deficiency leads to high tumor mutational burden with high tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and predicts anti–PD-1 efficacy in mismatch repair–proficient tumors. Conversely, tumors harboring POLE mutations not affecting proofreading derived no benefit from PD-1 blockade. POLE proofreading deficiency is a new tissue-agnostic biomarker for cancer immunotherapy.

See related video: https://vimeo.com/720727355

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1397
Ocio familiar en tiempos de confinamiento: construcción y validación de un instrumento
Authors: Hernández Prados Mª Ángeles , Álvarez Muñoz, José Santiago , Belmonte María Luisa
Published: April 2022

(analítico)La revalorización experimentada por el ocio en los contextos familiares, debido a las restricciones sociales que han conllevado un incremento del tiempo en casa, ha contribuido a que esta emerja con fuerza como línea de investigación educativa, pues hasta ahora se encontraba desatendida en el panorama español. En el presente estudio se diseña y valida el Cuestionario sobre ocio familiar durante el confinamiento. Para dotar de validez de contenido y consistencia al constructo, se contó con el juicio de 10 expertos sobre la claridad, pertinencia y adecuación del instrumento, mediante una escala de validación. Los resultados denotan que el cuestionario resultante (61 ítems) posee propiedades psicométricas adecuadas que lo convierten en una herramienta apropiada para evaluar el ocio familiar, quedando confirmado su rigor y valía como correcto instrumento de análisis.
Palabras clave: Papel de la familia; educación y ocio; actividad de tiempo libre; vida familiar; cuestionario.
The strongly dimorphic bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Madagascar—an integrated taxonomic revision
Authors: JORDAL BJARTE H.
Published: April 2022

The largely Malagasy bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis Eggers, 1920 is revised based on molecular data and morphological studies. Because the type species P. elsae Eggers, 1920 from Tanzania has no intact type material, the diagnosis is fixed using an auxiliary species, P. madagascariensis (Schedl, 1961), which is typical for the genus and supports the original description of P. elsae. Six new species are described from Madagascar: P. atra Jordal, sp. nov., P. coronata Jordal, sp. nov., P. lauricola Jordal, sp. nov., P. pilosa Jordal, sp. nov., P. verrucosa Jordal, sp. nov., and P. vitrioculata Jordal, sp. nov. Mimiocurus camerunus (Hagedorn, 1909) has no existing type material and is transferred from Pseudomicracis based on Hagedorn’s illustrations of the antenna and protibia. New distributional and host records are given for P. dispar (Schedl, 1961), P. difficilis (Schedl, 1965) and P. madagascariensis (Schedl, 1961). A molecular phylogenetic analysis included 8 of 12 known species, documenting a strongly supported clade of Pseudomicracis species, but with highly uncertain internal relationships. A key and photographs to all Malagasy species are provided.
A new species in the grassland leafhopper genus Stirellus Osborn & Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stenometopiini) from Pakistan
Authors: SHAH BISMILLAH , KHAN WAQAR , NAVEED HASSAN , SHAKEEL MUHAMMAD , DUAN YANI
Published: April 2022

A new leafhopper species Stirellus pakistanicus Shah & Duan sp. n. is described from Attock region of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of the new species are provided. An updated checklist and a distribution map of the known species of Stirellus from Pakistan are also given.
Instructions for External Focus of Attention Improved Taekwondo Kicking Performance Only Among Less Skilled Youth
Authors: Siltanen Simo , Bottas Reijo
Published: April 2022

External focus of attention (EFA) studies among children have yielded more equivocal results than have those among adults. Some investigators have found an internal focus of attention (IFA) advantage in children and have explained their results by children’s generally lower skill levels, compared to adults. According to the constrained action hypothesis, children’s lower skill levels are not yet associated with over-learned automatic movement patterns, so their motor performance is not disrupted by IFA instructions. In this study, our objective was to examine a possible interaction effect between children’s skill levels and their exposure to either IFA or EFA instructions on motor performance. Our participants were 40 10–15-year-old taekwondo competitors of higher and lower skill levels (based on both the participant’s experience and their test performance) who engaged in a taekwondo kicking movement before and after either IFA or EFA instructions. We found improved kicking performance with EFA versus IFA instructions only among less versus more skilled participants.
Re-animalising wellbeing: Multispecies justice after development
Authors: Srinivasan Krithika
Published: April 2022

This article addresses contemporary socio-ecological crises by proposing a shift from the logics of protection–sacrifice that characterise developmentality, and by developing the idea of ‘re-animalisation’ as a pathway to multispecies justice. The pursuit of ‘development’ has been a key hallmark of the modern idea of progress. Long-standing critiques of the socio-ecological and other adverse impacts of development have not made much headway in effecting meaningful change. Engaging with this impasse, I argue that specific zoöpolitical notions of human wellbeing that are co-constitutive with developmentality are at the foundation of today’s socio-ecological troubles and multispecies justice concerns. Bringing together post-development and animal studies scholarship, I discuss the twinned logics of protection–sacrifice that underlie the pursuit of human wellbeing at societal scales, and that have come to characterise more-than-human responses as well. I build on this, in conversation with environmental philosopher Val Plumwood and degrowth scholar Giorgos Kallis, to suggest that achieving multispecies justice requires a renewed focus on the human in the form of a fundamental re-placement of the social in the rest of the nature. To this end, I offer thought experiments on re-visioning wellbeing via an approach of ‘re-animalisation’ to provoke reflection on crafting new foundations for equitable multispecies presents and futures.
Order and openness in community-driven urban initiatives: Insights from a ‘spot-fix’
Authors: Vakkayil Jacob
Published: April 2022

This study examines how community-driven urban do-it-yourself initiatives maintain appropriate levels of openness while ensuring sufficient degrees of social order. For this, a specific event is analysed using an analytic framework that differentiates decided and emergent orders. The results indicate how various aspects of the event feature combinations of these orders that serve to sustain it and produce desired outcomes. These combinations indicate certain key factors that facilitate the balance of order and openness in community-driven initiatives. The paper concludes with reflections on the practical implications.
Effectiveness of a Water Intake Program at the Workplace in Physical and Mental Health Outcomes
Authors: Luo Yin , Chen Hsu Chia , Jui Lin Kuo , Kai Fu Szu , Ru Chen Jyun , Lai Chang-Chi
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Adequate water intake is a low-cost and effectively non-invasive strategy for individual health outcomes. We aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of water intake intervention in intensive-labor and static-type workplaces.

Method

Smart drinking cups were provided to the participants, and a built-in application (App) associated with the cup was downloaded on their phones. The App collected and recorded the amount of drinking water consumed by the participants set reminders for drinking water and drinking water health education information. We assessed the data, including the amount of and time interval between water intake, sedentary time, the degree of physical and psychological importance of oneself, self-satisfaction, and physical fitness.

Results

After the intervention, water intake in the two companies significantly increased during the reminder period compared with the non-reminder period. A significant increase was noted in week 3 in the amount of water intake by the participants after using the App, and the total sedentary time considerably decreased. Furthermore, the interval between water consumption decreased compared with the preintervention interval. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the participants working at the static-type and intensive-labor workplaces after the intervention, respectively. The participants ' lower limb muscle performance also improved significantly, and the emphasis on self-care was significantly improved.

Conclusions

The health-promoting effects of the water intake wellness intervention were akin to the butterfly effect. Besides significantly increasing water intake, the intervention improved other health behaviors, thereby benefiting physical and mental health. Hence, promoting water consumption in workplaces till it becomes a habit may benefit the employees.
Multimodal Virtual 3D Representation of a Giant Cell Tumor of the Thyroid Cartilage
Authors: Sharif Kayvon F. , Perez Alexander N. , Sharbel Daniel D. , Griffith Brenton , Pruthi Sumit , Rohde Sarah L. , Lewis James S. , Topf Michael C.
Published: April 2022

Virtual three-dimensional (3D) scanning of pathologic specimens may allow for improved communication between the surgeon and pathologist, as well as enhanced patient counseling and engagement. We report the rare case of a giant cell tumor of the thyroid cartilage and present a multimodal 3D representation. Preoperative 3D printing of the anatomic structures from cross-sectional imaging, as well as novel ex vivo 3D scanning of the fresh pathologic specimen for virtual 3D specimen mapping, was performed.
Expanding models of music composition: Exploring the value of collaboration
Authors: Williamson Paul , Luebbers Johannes
Published: April 2022

Collaborative composition is an established method within music education, but it is a relatively rare phenomenon between composers of large-scale musical works. This research explores collaborative composition in a professional context and highlights the potential and value of its inclusion in specialist composition training at a tertiary level. The paper explores approaches, processes and outcomes arising from collaborative composition through reflection on a large-ensemble collaborative work, Interpolations, composed by participant-researchers’ Johannes Luebbers and Paul Williamson. The participant-researchers’ background as jazz improvisers emerged as a point of significance and was observed to fundamentally impact the collaborative process. Listening and signifying are identified by Monson as integral to the interactive exchanges between jazz improvisers, which extended into the collaborative composition process. This was given the term ‘Jazz Improvisers Collaborative Cycle’ (JICC), reflecting the tacit skills jazz improvisers bring to a collaborative relationship. The composers were struck by the refreshing and inspiring nature of working collaboratively, the unexpected and complementary ideas and materials, and the value of a constant sounding board that enabled them to formulate, develop and refine ideas. This project suggests collaborative composition as an alternative model that would be valuable for further exploration within education and professional communities.
“The most relaxing song in the world”? A comparative study
Authors: Shepherd Daniel , Hautus Michael J , Giang Edmund , Landon Jason
Published: April 2022

The objectives of the current study were to obtain four physiological measures sensitive to stress and compare the nature of their decline after a stress task while listening to different sounds. Particular focus was placed on examining the ability of the song “Weightless”, which has been heralded as “the most relaxing song in the world,” to reduce acute stress as measured physiologically. A single-subjects design was deployed with 57 university students acting as participants. Outcome measures were skin conductance, heart rate, respiration rate, and respiration depth that were obtained during a 4-min rest period containing the sound conditions (silence, monaural beats [6 and 16 Hz], aircraft noise,“Weightless”) and referenced to a proceeding stress task. “Weightless” and the 6-Hz monaural beat had significantly lower mean skin conductance than the reference condition (silence), but no differences were noted for rate of decline or final asymptote. Furthermore, after 4 min, “Weightless” was associated with a 36.09% decrease in skin conductance level, favorable to that reported by the song’s creators. In terms of heart rate decline, “Weightless” was no more effective than any other of the sound conditions, while for respiration rate, it was significantly less effective than silence and the 6-Hz monaural beat. Overall, there was evidence that the song “Weightless” was an effective tool to reduce acute stress.
Identifying Key Contextual Factors of Digital Reading Literacy Through a Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Chen Fu , Sakyi Alfred , Cui Ying
Published: April 2022

Few of previous reading studies comprehensively examined the contributing factors of students’ digital reading literacy. To fill this gap, based upon the ecological perspective, this study aims to investigate which factors from the student, home, and school context are more important in discriminating high-performing digital readers from non–high-performing digital readers. The data of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2016 with 74,692 Grade 4 students from 14 countries and economies was analyzed using the machine learning approach of support vector machine with recursive feature elimination. Results showed that except print reading levels, students’ reading self-efficacy, home resources for learning, talking about what have read in class, and the number of books in the home are the most influential contextual factors contributing to the high performance of digital readers. The selected 20 key contextual factors render a high prediction power for discriminating digital readers. Our findings show that, in general, home-related factors have overarching influences on children’s digital reading development; at the school level, instruction-related features are more influential than school characteristics.
Decolonizing Sociology for Social Justice in Bangladesh: Delta Scholarship Matters
Authors: Hossen M. Anwar
Published: April 2022

Sociology is one of the major disciplines to foster understanding and protection of the livelihoods of local people. For instance, the discipline can describe the linkage between the environment and people and the effects of environmental change on local groups of people in a Delta country such as Bangladesh. However, the imperial philosophy of modernity that dominates the discipline and which is evident in the Sociology department at the University of Dhaka (UofD) underscores a considerable distance between academic conceptualizations of local perspectives on issues such as climatic change and the actual views of the local people of Bangladesh. Grounded on this assertion, this paper explores a question: What are the challenges for Sociology to represent Delta people and protect their social justice? The paper depends on the content analysis of sociological practices at UofD: imperial modernity and climatic adaptation. The findings of the paper argue that Sociology has been failing to represent the local meanings of climatic change due to the domination of imperial conceptualizations of modernity. Climate finance conceptualized by a Western perspective, and Sociology, as a discipline, fails to represent locally contextualized meanings related to climate finance; thus, the marginalized groups of people are increasingly facing survival challenges responsible for climate apartheid. Only a decolonized Sociology can challenge this imperial domination and play an effective role in reducing the discipline’s gap of understanding of the local people and in promoting social justice in Delta Bangladesh.
Financial Performance of Firms Pre- and Post-M&A: A Study of Selected Indian Acquirers
Authors: Mehrotra Arpita , Sahay Arunaditya
Published: April 2022

The objective of the study is to analyse and compare the pre- and post-acquisitions financial performance of 50 Indian acquirers. The selected acquirers are publicly listed companies. The study has used the secondary data obtained from the financial statements.

The M&A for acquiring firms become questionable if the financial performance of the acquirers does not improve in the long run. This research study analyses the financial performance of M&A deals in respect of the publicly listed Indian acquirers using accounting ratios at three different levels: all deals, manufacturing industry and service industry. The deals taken for this study constitute 85% of the value of the M&A market for the period chosen between 2010 to 2014. The financial analysis has been compared for three years pre-and-post the deal. The data has been obtained from companies’ annual reports and online databases available in the public domain. The study leads to the conclusion that the acquirers failed to gain financially even after three years of the deal.
Surgical Repair of a Giant Right Atrium Aneurysm That was Incidentally Found in a Boy
Authors: Shakerian Behnam , Mandegar Mohammad Hossein
Published: April 2022

Giant right atrial aneurysms are rare defects with different clinical presentations ranging from lack of symptoms to heart failure. They are diagnosed based on incidental findings. It is commonly found when echocardiography or chest X-ray is performed. Concurrent congenital heart disease and large atrial size are risk factors that may increase the risks of complications such as thromboembolism, fatal arrhythmias, aneurysm rupture, and sudden death. The best treatment has been controversial, with some patients managed surgically and others conservatively. We present a case of a giant right atrium aneurysm that was incidentally detected during a routine examination. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the right atrial aneurysm.
Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Children of Clinically Anxious Parents: Two Case Studies
Authors: Salvaris Chloe A. , Galea Samantha , Yap Marie B. H. , Lawrence Katherine A.
Published: April 2022

Children with anxiety disorders are significantly less likely to recover following cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) if they have a parent with clinical anxiety. Despite this, prior research which has adapted CBT treatments to cater for this vulnerable clinical cohort of children is limited. In response to the identified need to optimize treatment outcomes for this particular group of children with anxiety disorders, an enhanced CBT intervention was recently developed, specifically to target anxiety maintenance factors in clinically anxious child–parent dyads. This dual case study presents the implementation of the enhanced intervention with two children with complex clinical presentations. Prior to treatment, both children met criteria for multiple anxiety disorders, as did their mothers. The presented case studies describe session-by-session treatment accounts, with a particular focus on the children’s experiences of individual and joint-observational exposure treatment components. Outcome data is provided for both children and their mothers, based on assessment measures collected at pre- and post-treatment, and during the intervention. At post-treatment, both children demonstrated symptom reduction and improved functioning across all diagnoses, including remission on a secondary diagnosis, although both still met criteria for their primary diagnoses. Additionally, self-reported outcomes on intervention acceptability measures were favorable. Results implied that the enhanced intervention provided a viable alternative treatment approach for children and their parents with co-occurring anxiety disorders. Recommendations are provided for clinicians delivering CBT to clinically anxious child–parent dyads.
Cannabis Use Disorder Is Associated With Longer In-Hospital Lengths of Stay, Higher Rates of Medical Complications, and Costs of Care Following Primary 1- to 2-Level Lumbar Fusion
Authors: Jain Shreya , Cloud Geoffrey W. , Gordon Adam M. , Lam Aaron W. , Vakharia Rushabh M. , Saleh Ahmed , Razi Afshin E.
Published: April 2022

Study Design

Retrospective case-control study.

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to assess whether cannabis use disorder (CUD) patients undergoing primary 1- to 2-level lumbar fusion (1-2LF) for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spine disorders have higher rates of: (1) in-hospital lengths of stay (LOS), (2) medical complications, and (3) healthcare expenditures.

Materials and methods

A retrospective case-control study of the MSpine dataset of the PearlDiver claims from January 2007 to March 2018 was performed. Patients with CUD undergoing 1-2LF were queried and matched to a comparison group in a 1:5 ratio by age, sex, and various medical comorbidities yielding 22, 815 patients within the study (CUD = 3805; control = 19 010). Outcomes analyzed included LOS, 90-day medical complications, and costs. A P-value less than .004 was considered significant.

Results

This study found CUD patients undergoing primary 1-2LF experience longer in-hospital LOS (4- vs. 3-days, P < .0001). Additionally, CUD patients were found to have significantly higher frequency and odds-ratios (OR) (31.88 vs. 18.01% OR: 1.41, P < .0001) of adverse events within ninety days following their procedure. CUD patients also had significantly higher day of surgery ($18,946.79 vs. $15,691.02, P < .0001) and 90 days healthcare expenditures ($21,469.01 vs. $19,556.71, P < .0001).

Conclusion

Patients with CUD can prepare for increased LOS, complications, and costs following primary 1-2LF. The study can be used to educate these patients of the potential outcomes following their procedure.
Success Rate of Non-Operative Treatment of Insertional Achilles Tendinitis
Authors: Kunkle Bryce F. , Baxter Nicholas A. , Hoch Caroline P. , Caughman Alexander , Barcel John , Scott Daniel J. , Gross Christopher E.
Published: April 2022

Category:

Hindfoot; Other

Introduction/Purpose:

Insertional Achilles tendinitis (IAT) is a common orthopedic condition that can be treated conservatively or surgically. While non-operative treatment is thought to be beneficial in approximately 50-70% of cases, the precise success rate of non-operative treatment is not fully defined in the current literature. The purpose of this study is to define the success rate of modern non-operative treatment of IAT more precisely.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who received either surgical or non-surgical treatment of IAT with a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon at an academic medical center between September 2015 and June 2019. A total of 133 patients (137 ankles) were identified. The success rate of non-operative treatment, defined as the lack of need for surgical treatment within two years of initial diagnosis of IAT, was recorded. Patients with IAT were treated with scheduled anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy with a focus on eccentric strengthening and Achilles stretching and, when needed, controlled ankle motion (CAM) boot, short leg casting, or Platelet-Rich Plasma injections for refractory cases. A demographic and comorbidity comparison was performed between groups. Statistical analysis was performed using two-tailed Student t-test and Chi-squared test.

Results:

There was no difference in treatment method between those successfully treated conservatively and those who went on to fail conservative management and require surgery. At first encounter, patients who later received surgery were significantly more likely to have higher VAS pain scores (surgery=6.54, conservative=5.10; p=.045) and lower SF-12 physical scores (surgery=25.16, conservative=35.61; p<.001). The overall success rate of non-operative treatment was 78.57% and the average time from initial diagnosis to surgery was 198.83 days (range, 28-486).

Conclusion:

Based on the results of this study, the success rates of non-operative treatment for IAT may be higher than what is traditionally thought, at just under 80%. Further, patients with worse VAS and SF-12 physical scores were significantly more likely to fail conservative management. Orthopedic surgeons should use this information to provide more accurate counseling on the most appropriate treatment strategies for IAT.
Metatarsal Head Resection: Patient Reported Outcomes in Patients Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Willis Chad , Shah Ashish , Littlefield Zachary , Young Matthew , Luque-Sanchez Kevin S. , Prahad Srihari R. , Nair Pallavi , Donti Sunhith , Young Sean
Published: April 2022

Category:

Midfoot/Forefoot; Lesser Toes

Introduction/Purpose:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune inflammatory conditions encountered in a clinical setting. Conservative management of this disease has improved with the use of Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). When conservative measures fail, surgical treatment is pursued. Metatarsal head resection of the lesser toes with or without first MTP arthrodesis is the operation of choice. There is limited literature on the patient- reported long-term outcomes for this procedure. The aim of this study is to address metatarsal head resection for the treatment of patients suffering from RA and the resultant patient-reported outcomes.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of patients that underwent metatarsal head resection at our facility from 2010-2020 was conducted. Patients were selected if they underwent this procedure specifically due to RA. Basic patient demographics, the presence or absence of hammertoes/claw toes, fusion of the great toe, patient medications (DMARDs, steroids), and surgical complications were all recorded with utilization of the electronic medical record (EMR). To evaluate outcomes, we utilized Foot Function Index (FFI) scores as well as the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) survey.

Results:

45 patients met the criteria for this study with a total of 24 individuals completing both the FFI and PROMIS score surveys. The average timepoint at which the outcomes were collected was 5.83 years postoperatively. Postoperative PROMIS scores for physical function, pain interference, and depression were all within one standard deviation of the reference population. The average PROMIS physical function, pain interference, and depression scores for this population was 40.67, 56.74, and 44.75 respectively. The mean FFI scores were 40.84 for pain, 46.95 for disability, 26.5 for activity limitation. There was a significant decrease in postoperative pain scores when compared to preoperative pain of 4.1 to 2.2 (p=0.01). 2 patients experienced wound complications, 11 patients underwent hammertoe correction and 20 patients had simultaneous 1st MTP arthrodesis.

Conclusion:

Preliminary results suggest metatarsal head resection in patients with RA may be beneficial in decreasing pain and can lead to long-term patient satisfaction. PROMIS scores were helpful in identifying that patients were functioning roughly at the level of the average person in all aspects. We plan to increase the power of our study for a more thorough investigation as well as conduct a more intensive statistical analysis to gain more insight on patient related factors and their effect on outcomes.
Development of a Temperate Climate-Adapted indica Multi-stress Tolerant Rice Variety by Pyramiding Quantitative Trait Loci
Authors: Shin Na-Hyun , Han Jae-Hyuk , Vo Kieu Thi Xuan , Seo Jeonghwan , Navea Ian Paul , Yoo Soo-Cheul , Jeon Jong-Seong , Chin Joong Hyoun
Published: April 2022

Successful cultivation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in many Asian countries requires submergence stress tolerance at the germination and early establishment stages. Two quantitative trait loci, Sub1 (conferring submergence tolerance) and AG1 (conferring anaerobic germination), were recently pyramided into a single genetic background, without compromising any desirable agronomic traits, leading to the development of Ciherang-Sub1 + AG1 (CSA). However, little research has been conducted to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress (submergence) and biotic stress (rice blast), which occur in a damp climate following flooding. The BC2F5 breeding line was phenotypically characterized using the AvrPi9 isolate. The biotic and abiotic stress tolerance of selected lines was tested under submergence stress and anaerobic germination conditions, and lines tolerant to each stress condition were identified through phenotypic and gene expression analyses. The Ciherang-Sub1 + AG1 + Pi9 (CSA-Pi9) line showed similar agronomic performance to its recurrent parent, CSA, but had significantly reduced chalkiness in field trials conducted in temperate regions. Unexpectedly, the CSA-Pi9 line also showed salinity tolerance. Thus, the breeding line newly developed in this study, CSA-Pi9, functioned under stress conditions, in which Sub1, AG1, and Pi9 play a role and had superior grain quality traits compared to its recurrent parent in temperate regions. We speculate that CSA-Pi9 will enable the establishment of climate-resilient rice cropping systems, particularly in East Asia.
RNAP II produces capped 18S and 25S ribosomal RNAs resistant to 5′-monophosphate dependent processive 5′ to 3′ exonuclease in polymerase switched Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Rocha Miguel A. , Gowda Bhavani S. , Fleischmann Jacob
Published: April 2022

Background

We have previously found that, in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, 18S and 25S ribosomal RNA components, containing more than one phosphate on their 5′-end were resistant to 5′-monophosphate requiring 5′ → 3″ exonuclease. Several lines of evidence pointed to RNAP II as the enzyme producing them.

Results

We now show the production of such 18S and 25S rRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that have been permanently switched to RNAP II (due to deletion of part of RNAP I upstream activator alone, or in combination with deletion of one component of RNAP I itself). They contain more than one phosphate at their 5′-end and an anti-cap specific antibody binds to them indicating capping of these molecules. These molecules are found in RNA isolated from nuclei, therefore are unlikely to have been modified in the cytoplasm.

Conclusions

Our data confirm the existence of such molecules and firmly establish RNAP II playing a role in their production. The fact that we see these molecules in wild type Saccharomyces cerevisiae indicates that they are not only a result of mutations but are part of the cells physiology. This adds another way RNAP II is involved in ribosome production in addition to their role in the production of ribosome associated proteins.
Secure tumor classification by shallow neural network using homomorphic encryption
Authors: Hong Seungwan , Park Jai Hyun , Cho Wonhee , Choe Hyeongmin , Cheon Jung Hee
Published: April 2022

Background

Disclosure of patients’ genetic information in the process of applying machine learning techniques for tumor classification hinders the privacy of personal information. Homomorphic Encryption (HE), which supports operations between encrypted data, can be used as one of the tools to perform such computation without information leakage, but it brings great challenges for directly applying general machine learning algorithms due to the limitations of operations supported by HE. In particular, non-polynomial activation functions, including softmax functions, are difficult to implement with HE and require a suitable approximation method to minimize the loss of accuracy. In the secure genome analysis competition called iDASH 2020, it is presented as a competition task that a multi-label tumor classification method that predicts the class of samples based on genetic information using HE.

Methods

We develop a secure multi-label tumor classification method using HE to ensure privacy during all the computations of the model inference process. Our solution is based on a 1-layer neural network with the softmax activation function model and uses the approximate HE scheme. We present an approximation method that enables softmax activation in the model using HE and a technique for efficiently encoding data to reduce computational costs. In addition, we propose a HE-friendly data filtering method to reduce the size of large-scale genetic data.

Results

We aim to analyze the dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, which consists of 3,622 samples from 11 types of cancers, genetic features from 25,128 genes. Our preprocessing method reduces the number of genes to 4,096 or less and achieves a microAUC value of 0.9882 (85% accuracy) with a 1-layer shallow neural network. Using our model, we successfully compute the tumor classification inference steps on the encrypted test data in 3.75 minutes. As a result of exceptionally high microAUC values, our solution was awarded co-first place in iDASH 2020 Track 1: “Secure multi-label Tumor classification using Homomorphic Encryption”.

Conclusions

Our solution is the first result of implementing a neural network model with softmax activation using HE. Also, HE optimization methods presented in this work enable machine learning implementation using HE or other challenging HE applications.
ProbC: joint modeling of epigenome and transcriptome effects in 3D genome
Authors: Sefer Emre
Published: April 2022

Background

Hi-C and its high nucleosome resolution variant Micro-C provide a window into the spatial packing of a genome in 3D within the cell. Even though both techniques do not directly depend on the binding of specific antibodies, previous work has revealed enriched interactions and domain structures around multiple chromatin marks; epigenetic modifications and transcription factor binding sites. However, the joint impact of chromatin marks in Hi-C and Micro-C interactions have not been globally characterized, which limits our understanding of 3D genome characteristics. An emerging question is whether it is possible to deduce 3D genome characteristics and interactions by integrative analysis of multiple chromatin marks and associate interactions to functionality of the interacting loci.

Result

We come up with a probabilistic method ProbC to decompose Hi-C and Micro-C interactions by known chromatin marks. ProbC is based on convex likelihood optimization, which can directly take into account both interaction existence and nonexistence. Through ProbC, we discover histone modifications (H3K27ac, H3K9me3, H3K4me3, H3K4me1) and CTCF as particularly predictive of Hi-C and Micro-C contacts across cell types and species. Moreover, histone modifications are more effective than transcription factor binding sites in explaining the genome’s 3D shape through these interactions. ProbC can successfully predict Hi-C and Micro-C interactions in given species, while it is trained on different cell types or species. For instance, it can predict missing nucleosome resolution Micro-C interactions in human ES cells trained on mouse ES cells only from these 5 chromatin marks with above 0.75 AUC. Additionally, ProbC outperforms the existing methods in predicting interactions across almost all chromosomes.

Conclusion

Via our proposed method, we optimally decompose Hi-C interactions in terms of these chromatin marks at genome and chromosome levels. We find a subset of histone modifications and transcription factor binding sites to be predictive of both Hi-C and Micro-C interactions and TADs across human, mouse, and different cell types. Through learned models, we can predict interactions on species just from chromatin marks for which Hi-C data may be limited.
Association mapping reveals a reciprocal virulence/avirulence locus within diverse US Pyrenophora teres f. maculata isolates
Authors: Clare Shaun J. , Duellman Kasia M. , Richards Jonathan K. , Poudel Roshan Sharma , Merrick Lance F. , Friesen Timothy L. , Brueggeman Robert S.
Published: April 2022

Background

Spot form net blotch (SFNB) caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. maculata (Ptm) is an economically important disease of barley that also infects wheat. Using genetic analysis to characterize loci in Ptm genomes associated with virulence or avirulence is an important step to identify pathogen effectors that determine compatible (virulent) or incompatible (avirulent) interactions with cereal hosts. Association mapping (AM) is a powerful tool for detecting virulence loci utilizing phenotyping and genotyping data generated for natural populations of plant pathogenic fungi.

Results

Restriction-site associated DNA genotyping-by-sequencing (RAD-GBS) was used to generate 4,836 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for a natural population of 103 Ptm isolates collected from Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. Association mapping analyses were performed utilizing the genotyping and infection type data generated for each isolate when challenged on barley seedlings of thirty SFNB differential barley lines. A total of 39 marker trait associations (MTAs) were detected across the 20 barley lines corresponding to 30 quantitative trait loci (QTL); 26 novel QTL and four that were previously mapped in Ptm biparental populations. These results using diverse US isolates and barley lines showed numerous barley-Ptm genetic interactions with seven of the 30 Ptm virulence/avirulence loci falling on chromosome 3, suggesting that it is a reservoir of diverse virulence effectors. One of the loci exhibited reciprocal virulence/avirulence with one haplotype predominantly present in isolates collected from Idaho increasing virulence on barley line MXB468 and the alternative haplotype predominantly present in isolates collected from North Dakota and Montana increasing virulence on barley line CI9819.

Conclusions

Association mapping provided novel insight into the host pathogen genetic interactions occurring in the barley-Ptm pathosystem. The analysis suggests that chromosome 3 of Ptm serves as an effector reservoir in concordance with previous reports for Pyrenophora teres f. teres, the causal agent of the closely related disease net form net blotch. Additionally, these analyses identified the first reported case of a reciprocal pathogen virulence locus. However, further investigation of the pathosystem is required to determine if multiple genes or alleles of the same gene are responsible for this genetic phenomenon.
Pilot implementation of the competence of Czech paramedics to administer sufentanil for the treatment of pain in acute trauma without consulting a physician: observational study
Authors: Renza Metodej , Sykora Roman , Peran David , Hricova Kristina , Brizgalova Nikola , Bakurova Petra , Kukacka Miloš
Published: April 2022

Background

The use of intravenous opioids in the traumatic pain in pre-hospital care in the Czech Republic is based primarily on the indication of a physician. If the paramedic crew arrives at the site earlier or only on their own, analgesia is given after phone-call consultation with the physician or after his arrival at the site. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the indication and administration of sufentanil by paramedics in the treatment of pain in acute trauma adult patients without the physician’s control.

Methods

Paramedics underwent voluntarily the simulation training aimed at administering intravenously sufentanil to treat pain in acute trauma in adults without physician’s indication. Subsequently, the adverse events and efficacy were monitored for a six-month period and compared in two groups: administration of sufentanil by paramedics without this competence, who further consulted the administration by telephone with physicians (group Consultation) and those with this competence (group Competence).

Results

A total number of sufentanil administration in group Consultation was 88 and in group Competence 70. There was no respiratory arrest, bradypnea, or need for oxygen therapy reported in any of the study groups. The incidence of nausea was 3% in both groups – Consultation (n = 3) and in Competence (n = 2). Vomiting was not reported in the Consultation group and in 6% in the Competence group (n = 4). Intravenous antiemetic drugs were used in the Consultation group only in 1% (n = 1) and in the Competence group in 7% of patients (n = 5) (p < 0,05). In both groups there was observed a decrease in the pain numeric rating scale (Consultation: M =—3,2; SD = 1,2 points vs. Competence: M =—3,9; SD = 1,8 points).

Conclusion

Intravenous administration of sufentanil by properly trained paramedics without consultation with a physician in acute trauma can be considered safe.