bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A control-oriented combustion model framework for compression ignition engines operating on low-reactivity fuel
Authors: Pamminger Michael , Hall Carrie M , Wang Buyu , Wallner Thomas
Published: June 2020

This work focuses on zero-dimensional modeling of the heat release rate in a compression ignition engine operating on gasoline-like fuels. Due to the properties of gasoline, such as high volatility and longer ignition delay than diesel, the injection strategies can vary significantly from the operation with conventional diesel fuel. Different injection strategies are commonly used to achieve varying degrees of in-cylinder stratification in order to shape the combustion event and maximize efficiency. The proposed zero-dimensional combustion model was developed to account for the different stages in combustion caused by the fuel stratification. As the ignition delay model is an integral part of the entire combustion process and significantly affects the prediction accuracy, special attention has been paid to local phenomena influencing ignition delay. A one-dimensional spray model by Musculus and Kattke was employed in conjunction with a Lagrangian tracking approach in order to estimate the local air–fuel ratio within the spray tip, as a proxy for reactivity. The local air–fuel ratio, in-cylinder temperature and pressure were used in an integral fashion to estimate the ignition delay. Heat release rates were modeled using first-order non-linear differential equations. The proposed combustion model was validated against experimental data of a heavy-duty compression ignition engine with up to three injection events at mostly 1038 r/min and 14 bar brake mean effective pressure. Further validation of the model was carried out at other engine loads and speeds. Model prediction errors in CA50 of less than 1 °CA across all conditions were found. Modeling results of other combustion metrics such as combustion duration and indicated mean effective pressure are also highly satisfactory. In addition, the model has been shown to be capable of estimating the ringing intensity for most conditions.
Pre-hospital versus hospital acquired HEART score for risk classification of suspected non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome
Authors: van Dongen Dominique N , Badings Erik A , Fokkert Marion J , Tolsma Rudolf T , van der Sluis Aize , Slingerland Robbert J , van’t Hof Arnoud W J , Ottervanger Jan Paul
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Although increasing evidence shows that in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) both hospital and pre-hospital acquired HEART (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, Troponin) scores have strong predictive value, pre-hospital and hospital acquired HEART scores have never been compared directly.

Methods

In patients with suspected NSTE-ACS, the HEART score was independently prospectively assessed in the pre-hospital setting by ambulance paramedics and in the hospital by physicians. The hospital HEART score was considered the gold standard. Low-risk (HEART score ≤3) was considered a negative test. Endpoint was occurrence of major adverse events within 45 days.

Results

A total of 699 patients were included in the analyses. In 516 (74%) patients pre-hospital and hospital risk classification was similar, in 50 (7%) pre-hospital risk classification was false negative (45 days mortality 0%) and in 133 (19%) false positive (45 days mortality 1.5%). False negative risk classifications were caused by differences in history (100%), risk factor assessment (66%) and troponin (18%) and were more common in older patients. Occurrence of major adverse events was comparable in pre-hospital and hospital low-risk patients (2.9% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.9). Incidence of major adverse events was 0% in the true negative group, 26% in the true positive group, 10% in the false negative group and 5% in the false positive group. Predictive value of both pre-hospital and hospital acquired HEART scores was high, although the ‘area under the curve’ of hospital acquired HEART score was higher (0.84 vs. 0.74, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

In approximately 25% of patients hospital and pre-hospital HEART score risk classifications disagree, mainly by risk overestimation in the pre-hospital group. Since disagreement is primarily caused by different scoring of history and risk factors, additional training may improve pre-hospital scoring.
Overview: Why and How Does Reflection Matter in Workplace Learning?
Authors: Faller Pierre , Lundgren Henriette , Marsick Victoria
Published: June 2020

The Problem

While reflection is central to adult learning processes and theories, its meaning and definitions vary. Authors approach reflection from different perspectives and assumptions.

The Solution

This article is a conceptual map to guide the reader through key definitions and perspectives discussed in upcoming articles. We provide a compass for reflection, critical reflection, reflective practice, and how these terms apply to learning from experience, meaning-making, and action in the workplace. We also show how different perspectives or lenses can impact a human resource development (HRD) practitioner’s approach to reflection and present several studies looking at reflection and reflective practices.

The Stakeholders

This article should help HRD practitioners and others engaged in supporting workplace learning to gain clarity about how to conceptualize reflection and reflective practices and become familiar with the different ways reflection is understood by authors of upcoming articles.
Learning Curve for Uniportal Thoracoscopic Anatomical Pulmonary Segmentectomy
Authors: Chen Liang , Pan Yanqing , Zhang Qiang , Shao Feng , Ma Guodong , Yang Rusong
Published: June 2020

Background. Video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy has been considered to be an effective management in properly selected patients. Given the substantial technical difficulties, uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy is a challenging surgical procedure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the learning curve for uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy procedures. Methods. Prospectively collected data were retrospectively analyzed for a series of 124 consecutive patients undergoing uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy from August 2016 to September 2018. The learning curve for uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy was studied using cumulative sum (CUSUM) combined with risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) methods. Results. According to the CUSUM combined with the RA-CUSUM analyses, the learning curve for uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy was composed of three well-differentiated phases: cases 1 to 24, cases 25 to 57, and cases 58 to 124. With the procedures proceeded orderly, the operation time tends to progressively decrease. Conclusions. The uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy is considered to be a feasible and safe surgical procedure that can be taught to surgeons through a proctored learning curve. The data of the present study indicate that the inflection point for completion the learning curve was reached after a considerable number of 57 cases.
A review on the thermal performance of nanofluid inside circular tube with twisted tape inserts
Authors: Ahmad Saadah , Abdullah Shahrir , Sopian Kamaruzzaman
Published: June 2020

Working fluid with higher thermal conductivity and tube with better fluid mixing are two crucial elements for heat transfer enhancement in heat exchanger system. Hence, several methods and techniques have been explored to improve heat transfer efficiency, including dispersing nanoparticles into conventional heat transfer fluid and inserting instruments inside the tube of the heat exchanger. Studies have shown that nanofluid can improve heat transfer efficiency of the system due to its higher thermal conductivity and drastic Brownian motion of nanoparticles while inserts within tube can improve heat transfer efficiency by increasing axial velocity of working fluid for better fluid mixing. This article summarized 109 of journals from recent research on heat transfer enhancement of nanofluid flowing inside the tube with inserts as well as discussing the significant parameters that affected the system’s efficiency such as nanoparticles’ volume fraction, Reynolds number and types and configurations of inserts. Ultimately, analysis will be carried out to determine the most suitable modification of twisted tape inserts with the most optimum value of nanoparticle volume fraction for turbulence flow regime. Finally, some problems that need to be solved for future research such as agglomeration and pressure drop are discussed.
Challenging biliary strictures: pathophysiological features, differential diagnosis, diagnostic algorithms, and new clinically relevant biomarkers - part 1
Authors: Dumonceau Jean-Marc , Delhaye Myriam , Charette Nicolas , Farina Annarita
Published: June 2020

It is frequently challenging to make the correct diagnosis in patients with biliary strictures. This is particularly important as errors may have disastrous consequences. Benign-appearing strictures treated with stents may later be revealed to be malignant and unnecessary surgery for benign strictures carries a high morbidity rate.

In the first part of the review, the essential information that clinicians need to know about diseases responsible for biliary strictures is presented, with a focus on the most recent data. Then, the characteristics and pitfalls of the methods used to make the diagnosis are summarized. These include serum biomarkers, imaging studies, and endoscopic modalities. As tissue diagnosis is the only 100% specific tool, it is described in detail, including techniques for tissue acquisition and their yields, how to prepare samples, and what to expect from the pathologist. Tricks to increase diagnostic yields are described. Clues are then presented for the differential diagnosis between primary and secondary sclerosing cholangitis, IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, autoimmune pancreatitis, and less frequent diseases. Finally, algorithms that will help to achieve the correct diagnosis are proposed.
Value of ambulatory blood pressure measurement in diagnosing hypotension in hypertensive diabetic patients with medication-controlled BP
Authors: Alghalayini Kamal
Published: June 2020

Background

Hypotension is a common clinical finding in diabetic patients on anti-hypertensive medications. In the absence of clearly defined and documented hypotensive episodes, clinicians are faced with the challenge of modifying antihypertensive medication in potentially symptomatic diabetic patients.

Objective

To determine the value of ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) in diagnosing hypotensive episodes in hypertensive diabetic patients with medication-controlled blood pressure.

Patients and methods

The records of all hypertensive diabetic patients with medication-controlled were obtained between 2017 and 2018. Patients’ demographic data, comorbid conditions, hypotensive symptoms and echocardiography results were obtained and compared to office-based blood pressure and ABPM.

Results

Of 926 patients screened in the department of medicine outpatient clinics, 231 patients had diabetes and hypertension and were taking antihypertension medications, so only 86 patients were recruited. Using 24 h ABPM, hypotensive events were documented in 65 (75.6%) patients without correlated hypotensive symptoms in the patient sheet. Patients who had hypotensive episodes recorded by ABPM tended to have these between 5 and 10 a.m. and were significantly older – 60.71 versus 58.76 ( P = .022) – and more likely to have lower ejection fractions by echocardiography 46.31 versus 62.85 (EF) ( P < .001).

Conclusion

In treated hypertensive diabetic patients with antihypertensive medication, ABPM may be beneficial in capturing bouts of asymptomatic (silent) hypotension readings that occur in the out-of-hospital setting. Diabetic patients with controlled hypertension based on office reading showed a significant number of asymptomatic hypotensive readings detected with ambulatory BP monitoring that can have a role in following up such patients.
Suicide prevention skills, confidence and training: Results from the Zero Suicide Workforce Survey of behavioral health care professionals
Authors: Wakai Sara , Schilling Elizabeth A , Aseltine Robert H , Blair Ellen W , Bourbeau Jill , Duarte Andrea , Durst Linda S , Graham Patricia , Hubbard Nancy , Hughey Kimberly , Weidner Deborah , Welsh Amanda
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

In behavioral health care settings, a workforce well trained in suicide prevention is critically important for behavioral health care professionals across different disciplines and service sectors who are likely to have considerable exposure to patients at risk for suicidal behavior. This study examined the types of training behavioral health care professionals received, their self-reported skills, comfort level and confidence related to suicide prevention, the association of types and length of training with skills, comfort level and confidence, and areas in which participants would like more training.

Methods:

The Zero Suicide Workforce Survey was administered electronically to behavioral health care professionals at six behavioral health treatment centers with both inpatient and ambulatory programs in Connecticut, USA. Item numbers and percentages were calculated for 847 respondents with behavioral health care roles. The chi-square tests were performed to determine the statistical significance of group differences. Non-parametric sign tests were performed to determine the statistical significance of the collective differences in direction among items between groups.

Results:

Suicide prevention training is associated with increased levels of behavioral health care professionals’ skills and confidence, but one-third of behavioral health care professionals in the sample received no formal training in suicide prevention/intervention. Even brief training appears to have a positive impact on behavioral health care professionals’ assessment of their skills and confidence. Prominent topics for additional training include suicide-specific treatment approaches, suicide prevention and awareness, and identification of risk factors and warning signs.

Conclusion:

Although behavioral health care professionals may often encounter patients at risk for suicide, many have not obtained any relevant training. The findings highlight the need to strengthen suicide identification, assessment and treatment within behavioral health care treatment settings as part of an effort to prevent suicide.
“We called that a behavior”: The making of institutional data
Authors: Whitman Madisson
Published: June 2020

Predictive uses of data are becoming widespread in institutional settings as actors seek to anticipate people and their activities. Predictive modeling is increasingly the subject of scholarly and public criticism. Less common, however, is scrutiny directed at the data that inform predictive models beyond concerns about homogenous training data or general epistemological critiques of data. In this paper, I draw from a qualitative case study set in higher education in the United States to investigate the making of data. Data analytics projects at universities have become more pervasive and intensive to better understand and anticipate undergraduate student bodies. Drawing from 12 months of ethnographic research at a large public university, I analyze the ways data personnel at the institution—data scientists, administrators, and programmers—sort student data into “attributes” and “behaviors,” where “attributes” are demographic data that students “can’t change.” “Behaviors,” in contrast, are data defined as reflective of what students can choose: attending and paying attention in class, studying on campus, among other data which personnel categorize as what students have control over. This discursive split enables the institution nudge students to make responsible choices according to behavior data that correlate with success in the predictive model. In discussing how personnel type, sort, stabilize, and nudge on behavior data, this paper examines the contingencies of data making processes and implications for the application of student data.
The Privacy Calculus of “Friending” Across Multiple Social Media Platforms
Authors: Lee Yu-Hao , Yuan Chien Wen
Published: June 2020

Relationship building through social network sites (SNSs) requires privacy disclosure that involves a calculus of potential benefits against privacy risks. Tie formation (e.g., friending, following, or connecting) on SNSs is one of the most significant forms of privacy disclosure that not only communicate one’s willingness to disclose but can also reveal past activity history and invite future interactions. Based on the communication privacy management theory, the current study examines how users consider the privacy calculus and tie-formation affordances of the SNSs to manage ties across multiple SNSs. Using an online survey of 630 Facebook and/or Instagram users, the study revealed that individuals with higher privacy concerns strategically manage their privacy by connecting with different relationship ties through different SNSs as a way to construct sociotechnical boundaries between networks. The findings have implications for understanding privacy management online and provide a potential explanation for the privacy paradox.
Sphenoid Sinus Involvement in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Polyps
Authors: Sumaily Ibrahim , Alarifi Ibrahim , Alahmari Abdussalam , Aloulah Mohammad , Alsaleh Saad
Published: June 2020

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common chronic disease. It has 2 main clinical subtypes: CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The sphenoid sinus appears to be less frequently involved in CRSsNP cases. Thus, we aimed to compare the incidence of sphenoid sinus involvement between CRSsNP and CRSwNP cases.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of CRS cases was performed. The clinical and imaging findings, including age, sex, adenoid, and inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH), deviation of the nasal septum (DNS), presence of polyps, Lund–McKay scores, and the final diagnosis, were assessed. The incidence of sphenoid sinus involvement in each CRS subtype and its correlation with the aforementioned variables were studied.

Results

Of the 289 cases, 151 met the inclusion criteria including 82 CRSwNP and 69 CRSsNP cases. The mean patient age was 35.48 ± 11.88 years. The incidence of men and women were 66.9% and 33.1%, respectively. The sphenoid sinus involvement was 89% and 65.2% in the CRSwNP and CRSsNP cases ( P = .0001), respectively. The involvement of other paranasal sinuses showed no statistically significant differences between the 2 phenotypes. No other evaluated variables, including age, gender, DNS, ITH, or adenoid hypertrophy, significantly correlated with the incidence of sphenoid sinus involvement.

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate that the sphenoid sinus is less frequently involved in CRSsNP cases. Further studies should investigate the underlying factors causing the lower incidence of sphenoid sinus involvement in CRSsNP.
Blue Lives Matter and Hate Crime Law
Authors: Mason Gail
Published: June 2020

The Blue Lives Matter movement began in 2014 as a rejoinder to accusations of police racism in the United States. Blue Lives Matter advocates for the expansion of hate crime statutes to include police and other first responders as protected victim categories. Four US states have enacted such reforms: Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas. With some minor exceptions, this is the first time that hate crime laws have been extended to a victim category that represents an authoritative arm of the state. This article examines the social significance of these laws. Drawing on the results of a critical discourse analysis of legislative debates surrounding the enactment and attempted enactment of blue hate crime laws, the article argues that these laws pit police and Black citizens against each other. In situating new legal protections for police within hate crime statutes, blue reforms contain an implicit attempt to reframe the history of police brutality toward Black Americans by claiming that police are a subjugated and targeted minority at the hands of a Black community of dangerous and biased perpetrators: a new black/blue relation of power.
Preoperative denosumab treatment with curettage may be a risk factor for recurrence of giant cell tumor of bone
Authors: Sano Kei , Suehara Yoshiyuki , Okubo Taketo , Sasa Keita , Kurihara Taisei , Akaike Keisuke , Kubota Daisuke , Torigoe Tomoaki , Hasegawa Nobuhiko , Ishii Midori , Nakamura Yasuhiro , Kim Youngji , Takagi Tatsuya , Kaneko Kazuo , Hayashi Takuo , Saito Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2020

Purpose:

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a local aggressive bone tumor, histologically classified as intermediate malignancy. Recently, the RANKL inhibitor, denosumab, was developed as a novel and effective treatment option for GCTB. Since the risk of preoperative use of denosumab with curettage had been previously reported, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between recurrences and clinicopathological features associated with adjuvant denosumab treatment in GCTB.

Methods:

A total of 87 GCTB cases were treated at our institution. We reviewed 66 patients with conventional-type GCTB occurring in the extremities and analyzed 78 surgical treatments, including curettages and resections, with clinicopathological features and denosumab treatment.

Results:

GCTB lesions, including 66 primary and 12 recurring, underwent surgical treatment like curettage and resection. Recurrence-free survivals in 78 GCTB surgeries were 78.7% in 3 years and 71.9% in 5 years. In the resected cases of GCTBs, there was no recurrence either with or without denosumab. In curettage cases, 3-year recurrence-free survivals were 0.0% ( n = 3) in preoperative treatment of denosumab, 66.7% ( n = 6) in postoperative treatment, and 76.6% ( n = 43) in no treatment. Interestingly, three preoperative treatment cases demonstrated low MIB-1 index despite 100% recurrence. The other clinicopathological factors did not contribute much to the risk of recurrence in curettage cases.

Conclusion:

Our findings revealed the use of denosumab in GCTB, prior to curettage, to possibly increase the risk of local recurrence. Together with previous reports, our finding might provide information for beneficial treatment of GCTB.
Fusarium-Induced Cellulitis in an Immunocompetent Patient With Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Samrah Shaher , Sweidan Aroob , Aleshawi Abdelwahab , Ayesh Mahmoud
Published: June 2020

Fungal infections due to Fusarium species are mostly present in immunocompromised and patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. We report a case of lower extremity skin infection caused by Fusarium species in a 61-year-old woman diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Single skin ulceration caused by Fusarium species can result from fungal inoculation into damaged tissue, so any condition that damages the skin can be considered as a risk factor for inoculation. Long-standing sickle cell disease may develop vaso-occlusion in the skin that can produce lower extremity ulcers and myofascial syndromes. The mechanism is not completely characterized, but compromised blood flow, endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis, inflammation, and delayed healing are thought to contribute to locally compromised tissue that may eventually lead to opportunistic infection such as in our case. Other factors contribute to the pathophysiology of lower extremity ulcers such as diabetes mellitus, with the resulting peripheral vascular ischemia causing poor circulation to the lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy, which can make patients with diabetes unaware of minor trauma leading to the development of skin infections.
Teacher Evaluation and Teacher Turnover in Equilibrium: Evidence From DC Public Schools
Authors: James Jessalynn , Wyckoff James H.
Published: June 2020

Teacher turnover is an enduring concern in education policy and can incur substantial costs to students. Policies often address turnover broadly, yet effects turn on net differences in the effectiveness of exiting and entering teachers, in addition to the disruption dealt to classrooms. Recent research has shown mixed effects of teacher evaluation policies, but even where evaluation-induced differential turnover initially benefited students, gains might disappear or reverse as the stock of less effective teachers exits and if more effective teachers view high-stakes evaluation as burdensome. We examine evaluation–induced changes to the composition of exiting and entering teachers in Washington, D.C., the net effect of turnover on student achievement, and the role that evaluation played in teacher turnover. We find that turnover continues to improve teaching skills and student achievement, although effects have diminished. We find little evidence that high-performing teachers’ exit is associated with the evaluation system.
CSR and battered women: Stakeholder engagement beyond salience?
Authors: Awan Amer , Murillo David , Mellen Teodor
Published: June 2020

The use of salience as a tool to determine which stakeholders matter may lead to the marginalization of some stakeholder groups. As a normative theory, salience is problematic because it uproots stakeholder theory from its moral foundations. As a descriptive theory, its prevalence has found mixed support in literature. In order to overcome these limitations, scholars have recommended grounding stakeholder theory in ethics of care. These recommendations have largely been normative but still lack empirical support. We present the case of Escuela Social Ana Bella to show that, particularly when dealing with marginalized stakeholders, stakeholder theory rooted in ethics of care has considerable explanatory power. We find that firms can engage with fringe stakeholders when the decisions of managers are informed by emotions. We also find that this engagement can have the power to transform the beneficiary stakeholder group to an extent where they may become, paradoxically, salient stakeholders for the firm.

JEL CLASSIFICATION: M14
Transacting Caste in Modern Times: Changing Social Identity through Surnames in Urban Gujarat
Authors: Parmar Rajnikant
Published: June 2020

With rapid socio-economic changes in Gujarat, the practice of untouchability also has changed. Surnames have always been important markers for caste, but in a globalizing urban environment, it has become perhaps the most prominent marker of caste identity and therefore carrier of discrimination. Caste revealing surnames can result in ostracization of Dalits and exclusion from institutional and non-institutional resources, such as housing, private sector jobs, education, business and marriage, etc. Many Dalits, in order to access the mainstream society, increasingly attempt to ‘pass’ as non-untouchables or as ‘pure’ caste-Hindus by changing surnames. This study explores the phenomenon of changing surnames among Dalits and how it affects their opportunities for social mobility. Why do Dalits want to change their social identity by changing surnames? Does changing social identity accommodate Dalits as equals with the Savarnas? What are the risks and uncertainties after changing the surname? This paper addresses these questions and assesses the impact of changing surnames on the lives of urban Dalits.
Effects of Maoist’s War on Dalits’ Movement
Authors: Panthee Shree Krishna
Published: June 2020

This study was carried out to find the effects of the Maoist’s war on the Dalit movement in Nepal. The data were generated and interpreted using qualitative research design and methods. The major problem of Dalits in Nepal is caste-based untouchability. The study found that there was a small but active participation of Dalits during Maoist’s war and even in the post-war political movements. The study found that the issues of Dalits became an agenda of national politics by virtue of the armed struggle led by former unified Nepal Communist Party Maoist. Politically, there is a gradual improvement in the post-war period in the Dalit movement although it has yet to be institutionalized. The data showed that the Dalits are yet to be pulled up in the socio-economic development ladder; however, political participation, reservation in civil services, scholarships in school education and constitutional provisions showed that there is a gradual progress of the Dalits. Representation in political institutions and the inclusive provisions of the constitution of 2015, for example, fundamental rights against untouchability, right to equality and provision of National Dalit Commission as a constitutional body have stood as testimony. Analysing the history, this study concludes that merely legal provision does not make sense unless there is honest implementation. Therefore, the multiple methods of justice, for example, commutative, restorative, retributive, distributive, procedural can be applied to ensure justice to the Dalit community.
Fetal liver hepcidin secures iron stores in utero
Authors: Kämmerer Lara , Mohammad Goran , Wolna Magda , Robbins Peter A. , Lakhal-Littleton Samira
Published: June 2020

In the adult, the liver-derived hormone hepcidin (HAMP) controls systemic iron levels by blocking the iron-exporting protein ferroportin (FPN) in the gut and spleen, the sites of iron absorption and recycling, respectively. Impaired HAMP expression or FPN responsiveness to HAMP result in iron overload. HAMP is also expressed in the fetal liver but its role in controlling fetal iron stores is not understood. To address this question in a manner that safeguards against the confounding effects of altered maternal iron homeostasis, we generated fetuses harboring a paternally-inherited ubiquitous knock-in of the HAMP-resistant fpnC326Y. Additionally, to safeguard against any confounding effects of altered placental iron homeostasis, we generated fetuses with a liver-specific knock-in of fpnC326Y or knockout of the hamp gene. These fetuses had reduced liver iron stores and hemoglobin, and markedly increased FPN in the liver, but not in the placenta. Thus, fetal liver HAMP operates cell-autonomously to increase fetal liver iron stores. Our findings also suggest that FPN in the placenta is not actively regulated by fetal liver HAMP under normal physiological conditions.
Erythropoietin as candidate for supportive treatment of severe COVID-19
Authors: Ehrenreich Hannelore , Weissenborn Karin , Begemann Martin , Busch Markus , Vieta Eduard , Miskowiak Kamilla W.
Published: June 2020

In light of the present therapeutic situation in COVID-19, any measure to improve course and outcome of seriously affected individuals is of utmost importance. We recap here evidence that supports the use of human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) for ameliorating course and outcome of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. This brief expert review grounds on available subject-relevant literature searched until May 14, 2020, including Medline, Google Scholar, and preprint servers. We delineate in brief sections, each introduced by a summary of respective COVID-19 references, how EPO may target a number of the gravest sequelae of these patients. EPO is expected to: (1) improve respiration at several levels including lung, brainstem, spinal cord and respiratory muscles; (2) counteract overshooting inflammation caused by cytokine storm/ inflammasome; (3) act neuroprotective and neuroregenerative in brain and peripheral nervous system. Based on this accumulating experimental and clinical evidence, we finally provide the research design for a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial including severely affected patients, which is planned to start shortly.
Does reputation of sponsors matter in IPO? Evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Tong Wilson H. S. , Wong Michael B. T.
Published: June 2020

Contrary to other markets where underwriters perform a combined role of underwriting and sponsoring in an Initial Public Offering (IPO), IPO issuers in Hong Kong must appoint at least one sponsor in addition to the underwriters. The splitting of the single role of underwriters into two separate ones offers an ideal setting to disentangle the effects of the two roles and to examine which of the two roles—sponsor or underwriter—is more important in explaining IPO underpricing and initial volatility in the Hong Kong equity market. Interestingly, our findings provide supportive evidence that the sponsor reputation does matter in an IPO and it is even more significant than the underwriter reputation in explaining the IPO underpricing phenomenon. Given the recent high-tech fervor, our research goes deeper to examine specifically the role of sponsors on high-tech firms, with results indicating that the reliance on sponsors is higher for traditional issuers than for technology firms. We further discover that sponsors and underwriters are playing substitution roles rather than complementary roles. In order to examine the regulatory policy impact, our research also compares the role of IPO sponsors before and after the launch of the new sponsor regulatory regime in 2013. The empirical findings lend support to our argument that after the launch of the new regulations, public awareness of sponsors is raised, respect towards more reputable sponsor increases, and thus, the role of sponsors becomes more important than before.
Activity-based protein profiling guided identification of urine proteinase 3 activity in subclinical rejection after renal transplantation
Authors: Navarrete Mario , Korkmaz Brice , Guarino Carla , Lesner Adam , Lao Ying , Ho Julie , Nickerson Peter , Wilkins John A.
Published: June 2020

Background

The pathophysiology of subclinical versus clinical rejection remains incompletely understood given their equivalent histological severity but discordant graft function. The goal was to evaluate serine hydrolase enzyme activities to explore if there were any underlying differences in activities during subclinical versus clinical rejection.

Methods

Serine hydrolase activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) was performed on the urines of a case control cohort of patients with biopsy confirmed subclinical or clinical transplant rejection. In-gel analysis and affinity purification with mass spectrometry were used to demonstrate and identify active serine hydrolase activity. An assay for proteinase 3 (PR3/PRTN3) was adapted for the quantitation of activity in urine.

Results

In-gel ABPP profiles suggested increased intensity and diversity of serine hydrolase activities in urine from patients undergoing subclinical versus clinical rejection. Serine hydrolases (n = 30) were identified by mass spectrometry in subclinical and clinical rejection patients with 4 non-overlapping candidates between the two groups (i.e. ABHD14B, LTF, PR3/PRTN3 and PRSS12). Western blot and the use of a specific inhibitor confirmed the presence of active PR3/PRTN3 in samples from patients undergoing subclinical rejection. Analysis of samples from normal donors or from several serial post-transplant urines indicated that although PR3/PRTN3 activity may be highly associated with low-grade subclinical inflammation, the enzyme activity was not restricted to this patient group.

Conclusions

There appear to be limited qualitative and quantitative differences in serine hydrolase activity in patients with subclinical versus clinical renal transplant rejection. The majority of enzymes identified were present in samples from both groups implying that in-gel quantitative differences may largely relate to the activity status of shared enzymes. However qualitative compositional differences were also observed indicating differential activities. The PR3/PRTN3 analyses indicate that the activity status of urine in transplant patients is dynamic possibly reflecting changes in the underlying processes in the transplant. These data suggest that differential serine hydrolase pathways may be active in subclinical versus clinical rejection which requires further exploration in larger patient cohorts. Although this study focused on PR3/PRTN3, this does not preclude the possibility that other enzymes may play critical roles in the rejection process.
Gene coexpression network analysis and tissue-specific profiling of gene expression in jute (Corchorus capsularis L.)
Authors: Yang Zemao , Dai Zhigang , Chen Xiaojun , Xie Dongwei , Tang Qing , Cheng Chaohua , Xu Ying , Deng Canhui , Liu Chan , Chen Jiquan , Su Jianguang
Published: June 2020

Background

Jute (Corchorus spp.), belonging to the Malvaceae family, is an important natural fiber crop, second only to cotton, and a multipurpose economic crop. Corchorus capsularis L. is one of the only two commercially cultivated species of jute. Gene expression is spatiotemporal and is influenced by many factors. Therefore, to understand the molecular mechanisms of tissue development, it is necessary to study tissue-specific gene expression and regulation. We used weighted gene coexpression network analysis, to predict the functional roles of gene coexpression modules and individual genes, including those underlying the development of different tissue types. Although several transcriptome studies have been conducted on C. capsularis, there have not yet been any systematic and comprehensive transcriptome analyses for this species.

Results

There was significant variation in gene expression between plant tissues. Comparative transcriptome analysis and weighted gene coexpression network analysis were performed for different C. capsularis tissues at different developmental stages. We identified numerous tissue-specific differentially expressed genes for each tissue, and 12 coexpression modules, comprising 126 to 4203 genes, associated with the development of various tissues. There was high consistency between the genes in modules related to tissues, and the candidate upregulated genes for each tissue. Further, a gene network including 21 genes directly regulated by transcription factor OMO55970.1 was discovered. Some of the genes, such as OMO55970.1, OMO51203.1, OMO50871.1, and OMO87663.1, directly involved in the development of stem bast tissue.

Conclusion

We identified genes that were differentially expressed between tissues of the same developmental stage. Some genes were consistently up- or downregulated, depending on the developmental stage of each tissue. Further, we identified numerous coexpression modules and genes associated with the development of various tissues. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of each tissue, and will promote multipurpose molecular breeding in jute and other fiber crops.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of two Cercospora sojina strains reveals differences in virulence under nitrogen starvation stress
Authors: Gu Xin , Yang Shuai , Yang Xiaohe , Yao Liangliang , Gao Xuedong , Zhang Maoming , Liu Wei , Zhao Haihong , Wang Qingsheng , Li Zengjie , Li Zhimin , Ding Junjie
Published: June 2020

Background

Cercospora sojinais a fungal pathogen that causes frogeye leaf spot in soybean-producing regions, leading to severe yield losses worldwide. It exhibits variations in virulence due to race differentiation between strains. However, the candidate virulence-related genes are unknown because the infection process is slow, making it difficult to collect transcriptome samples.

Results

In this study, virulence-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the highly virulent Race 15 strain and mildly virulent Race1 strain under nitrogen starvation stress, which mimics the physiology of the pathogen during infection. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was then used to find co-expressed gene modules and assess the relationship between gene networks and phenotypes. Upon comparison of the transcriptomic differences in virulence between the strains, a total of 378 and 124 DEGs were upregulated, while 294 and 220 were downregulated in Race 1 and Race 15, respectively. Annotation of these DEGs revealed that many were associated with virulence differences, including scytalone dehydratase, 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene reductase, and β-1,3-glucanase. In addition, two modules highly correlated with the highly virulent strain Race 15 and 36 virulence-related DEGs were found to contain mostly β-1,4-glucanase, β-1,4-xylanas, and cellobiose dehydrogenase.

Conclusions

These important nitrogen starvation-responsive DEGs are frequently involved in the synthesis of melanin, polyphosphate storage in the vacuole, lignocellulose degradation, and cellulose degradation during fungal development and differentiation. Transcriptome analysis indicated unique gene expression patterns, providing further insight into pathogenesis.
Molecular characterization, antibiotic resistance pattern and capsular types of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from clinical samples in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Beheshti Maryam , Jabalameli Fereshteh , Feizabadi Mohammad Mehdi , Hahsemi Farhad Bonakdar , Beigverdi Reza , Emaneini Mohammad
Published: June 2020

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniaecauses serious infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular characteristic, antibiotic resistance pattern and capsular types of invasiveS. pneumoniaein Tehran, Iran.

Results

Of the 44 pneumococcal invasive isolates, 39 (89%) were isolated from children and 5 (11%) from adults. The results show that all pneumococcal isolates were susceptible to linezolid but had varying resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (86%), erythromycin (73%), tetracycline (66%), clindamycin (43%), penicillin (16%), chloramphenicol (14%) and levofloxacin (2%). The range of erythromycin, tetracycline and penicillin MICs were 2 - ≥ 256 μg/mL, 4 - ≥ 48 μg/mL, and 0.047 - ≥ 256 respectively. All of the penicillin resistant isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) and in addition to penicillin were resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The most common capsular types detected in 64% of the pneumococcal isolates was 6A/B, 19A, 15A, 23F. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of 10 pneumococcal isolates revealed 9 different sequence types (STs), including ST 15139 (capsular type 19A) and ST 15140 (capsular type 23F), which have not previously been reported.

Conclusions

The study revealed that theS. pneumoniaeisolates belonged to diverse capsular types and clones with high rate of resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, and penicillin.
Prevalence of non Helicobacter pylori gastric Helicobacters in Iranian dyspeptic patients
Authors: Shafaie Shakiba , Kaboosi Hami , Peyravii Ghadikolaii Fatemeh
Published: June 2020

Background

Non Helicobacter pylori gastric Helicobacters (NHPGHs) are associated with a range of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, histologic and endoscopic findings. For the first time in Iran, we performed a cross-sectional study in order to determine the prevalence of five species of NHPGHs in patients presenting with dyspepsia.

Methods

The participants were divided into H. pylori-infected and NHPGH-infected groups, based on the rapid urease test, histological analysis of biopsies, and PCR assay of ureA, ureB, and ureAB genes. The study included 428 gastric biopsies form dyspeptic patients, who did not receive any treatment for H. pylori. The samples were collected and sent to the laboratory within two years. H. pylori was identified in 368 samples, which were excluded from the study. Finally, a total of 60 non-H. pylori samples were studied for NHPGH species.

Results

The overall frequency of NHPGH species was 10 for H. suis (three duodenal ulcer, three gastritis, and four gastric ulcer samples), 10 for H. felis (one gastritis, three duodenal ulcer, and six gastric ulcer samples), 20 for H. salomonis (four duodenal ulcer, five gastritis, and 11 gastric ulcer samples), 13 for H. heilmannii (three gastritis, five duodenal ulcer, and five gastric ulcer samples), and 7 for H. bizzozeronii (zero gastric ulcer, two duodenal ulcer, and five gastritis samples).

Conclusions

Given our evidence about the possibility of involvement of NHPGHs in patients suffering from gastritis and nonexistence of mixed H. pylori infection, bacteriological testing of subjects negative for H. pylori becomes clinically relevant and important. Our findings suggest H. salomonis has the highest rate among the NHPGH species in Iranian dyspeptic patients.
Sensitivity, specificity, inclusivity and exclusivity of the updated Aptima Combo 2 assay, which provides detection coverage of the new diagnostic-escape Chlamydia trachomatis variants
Authors: Unemo Magnus , Hansen Marit , Hadad Ronza , Puolakkainen Mirja , Westh Henrik , Rantakokko-Jalava Kaisu , Thilesen Carina , Cole Michelle J. , Boiko Iryna , Lan Pham T. , Golparian Daniel , Ito Shin , Sundqvist Martin
Published: June 2020

Background

Four new variants of Chlamydia trachomatis (nvCTs), detected in several countries, cause false-negative or equivocal results using the Aptima Combo 2 assay (AC2; Hologic). We evaluated the clinical sensitivity and specificity, as well as the analytical inclusivity and exclusivity of the updated AC2 for the detection of CT and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) on the automated Panther system (Hologic).

Methods

We examined 1004 clinical AC2 samples and 225 analytical samples spiked with phenotypically and/or genetically diverse NG and CT strains, and other potentially cross-reacting microbial species. The clinical AC2 samples included CT wild type (WT)-positive (n = 488), all four described AC2 diagnostic-escape nvCTs (n = 170), NG-positive (n = 214), and CT/NG-negative (n = 202) specimens.

Results

All nvCT-positive samples (100%) and 486 (99.6%) of the CT WT-positive samples were positive in the updated AC2. All NG-positive, CT/NG-negative, Trichomonas vaginalis (TV)-positive, bacterial vaginosis-positive, and Candida-positive AC2 specimens gave correct results. The clinical sensitivity and specificity of the updated AC2 for CT detection was 99.7 and 100%, respectively, and for NG detection was 100% for both. Examining spiked samples, the analytical inclusivity and exclusivity were 100%, i.e., in clinically relevant concentrations of spiked microbe.

Conclusions

The updated AC2, including two CT targets and one NG target, showed a high sensitivity, specificity, inclusivity and exclusivity for the detection of CT WT, nvCTs, and NG. The updated AC2 on the fully automated Panther system offers a simple, rapid, high-throughput, sensitive, and specific diagnosis of CT and NG, which can easily be combined with detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and TV.