bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Matrix metalloproteinase 7 promoted Schwann cell migration and myelination after rat sciatic nerve injury
Authors: Wang Hongkui , Zhang Ping , Yu Jun , Zhang Fuchao , Dai Wenzhao , Yi Sheng
Published: December 2019

Schwann cells experience de-differentiation, proliferation, migration, re-differentiation and myelination, and participate in the repair and regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. Our previous sequencing analysis suggested that the gene expression level of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), a Schwann cell-secreted proteolytic enzyme, was robustly elevated in rat sciatic nerve segments after nerve injury. However, the biological roles of MMP7 are poorly understood. Here, we exposed primary cultured Schwann cells with MMP7 recombinant protein and transfected siRNA against MMP7 into Schwann cells to examine the effect of exogenous and endogenous MMP7. Meanwhile, the effects of MMP7 in nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve crush in vivo were observed. Furthermore, RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of Schwann cells were conducted to show the molecular mechanism behind the phenomenon. In vitro studies showed that MMP7 significantly elevated the migration rate of Schwann cells but did not affect the proliferation rate of Schwann cells. In vivo studies demonstrated that increased level of MMP7 contributed to Schwann cell migration and myelin sheaths formation after peripheral nerve injury. MMP7-mediated genetic changes were revealed by sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Taken together, our current study demonstrated the promoting effect of MMP7 on Schwann cell migration and peripheral nerve regeneration, benefited the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying peripheral nerve injury, and thus might facilitate the treatment of peripheral nerve regeneration in clinic.
Randomised controlled trial of the short-term effects of OROS-methylphenidate on ADHD symptoms and behavioural outcomes in young male prisoners with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (CIAO-II)
Authors: Asherson Philip , Johansson Lena , Holland Rachel , Fahy Tom , Forester Andrew , Howitt Sheila , Lawrie Stephen , Strang John , Young Susan , Landau Sabine , Thomson Lindsay
Published: December 2019

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent disorder, seen in 20–30% of young adult prisoners. Pharmacoepidemiological studies, a small randomised controlled trial and open trial data of methylphenidate suggest clinically significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, emotional dysregulation, disruptive behaviour and increased engagement with educational activities. Yet, routine treatment of ADHD in offenders is not yet established clinical practice. There is continued uncertainty about the clinical response to methylphenidate (MPH), a first-line treatment for ADHD, in offenders, who often present with an array of complex mental health problems that may be better explained by states of inattentive, overactive, restless and impulsive behaviours. To address this problem, we will conduct an efficacy trial to establish the short-term effects of osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system (OROS)-methylphenidate (Concerta XL), an extended release formulation of MPH, on ADHD symptoms, emotional dysregulation and behaviour.

Methods

This study is a parallel-arm, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of OROS-MPH on ADHD symptoms, behaviour and functional outcomes in young male prisoners aged 16–25, meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition criteria for ADHD. Participants are randomised to 8 weeks of treatment with OROS-MPH or placebo, titrated over 5 weeks to balance ADHD symptom improvement against side effects. Two hundred participants will be recruited with a 1:1 ratio of drug to placebo. The primary outcome is change in level of ADHD symptoms after 8 weeks of trial medication.

Discussion

Potential benefits include improvement in ADHD symptoms, emotional dysregulation, attitudes towards violence and critical incidents and increased engagement with educational and rehabilitation programmes. Demonstrating the efficacy and safety of MPH on ADHD symptoms and associated impairments may provide the data needed to develop effective healthcare pathways for a significant group of young offenders. Establishing efficacy of MPH in this population will provide the foundation needed to establish long-term effectiveness studies with the potential for demonstrating significant reductions in criminal behaviour and improved health-economic outcomes.

Trial registration

ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN16827947, 31st May 2016; EudraCT number, 2015-004271-78, 31st May 2016. Last particpant last visit 6 June 2019. Data lock 27 August 2019.
Healthy lifestyle consultation based on traditional Chinese medicine versus routine patient education in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss after failure of systemic therapy: study protocol for a clinical randomised trial
Authors: Fei Ying-ping , Zheng Yun , Lai Dan , Zhong Ping , Lu Jing-zhe , Li Gang , Liu Peng
Published: December 2019

Background

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a major cause of deafness. Despite the advances in systemic therapy, some cases of ISSNHL are untreated, because the exact ISSNHL aetiology is unclear. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat diseases for thousands of years and is popular and widely practiced in Asia. TCM includes guidance on a healthy lifestyle. In recent decades, the relationship between lifestyle and disease has been emphasised; an unhealthy lifestyle may lead to illnesses. Thus, this study aims to compare the efficacy of lifestyle modification based on TCM with the usual consultation of ISSNHL after failure of a 2-week systemic therapy to provide a scientific basis for clinical decisions.

Methods

This study is a clinical randomised trial that involves 56 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL but who have had incomplete recovery after initial management (at least 2 weeks of routine Western medical treatment). The study is performed in accordance with the sudden hearing loss clinical guideline of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, published in 2012. Participants are randomly distributed into two groups: the healthy lifestyle modification group based on TCM and the control group (1:1 ratio). Patient follow-up lasts for 3 months. The primary outcome measure is the effective rate of hearing improvement, which is defined as the proportion of patients with at least 15 dB of improvement in the average thresholds of hearing loss frequency. The secondary outcome measures are improvements in word recognition score, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and visual analogue scale for ear blockage and dizziness. Assessments are made at baseline and after lifestyle modification for 1 and 3 months.

Discussion

The efficacy of healthy lifestyle modification based on a TCM programme for patients with ISSNHL with incomplete recovery after failure of initial systemic therapy is determined in this trial. Positive results will provide clinical evidence on the effects of a TCM-based healthy lifestyle, which could be recommended as salvage therapy for patients with ISSNHL.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-INR-17011459. Registered on 22 May 2017.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) as a treatment for tinnitus-related insomnia: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Marks E. , Hallsworth C. , McKenna L.
Published: December 2019

Background

A significant proportion of patients with chronic tinnitus report clinical levels of sleep disturbance (insomnia). Despite the significant health and functioning implications of this, no rigorous trials have investigated treatments that target tinnitus-related insomnia. This is the first randomised controlled trial evaluating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) in tinnitus compared with other psychological treatments.

Methods/design

The study will test the efficacy of group CBTi as a treatment for tinnitus-related insomnia in a single-centre randomised controlled trial. Participants will be 102 patients with chronic, clinically significant tinnitus and insomnia in the absence of organic sleep disorders. Participants will be randomised to one of three intervention arms: six sessions of CBTi or six sessions of sleep support group or two sessions of audiologically based care. The primary outcomes will be changes in sleep as measured on the Insomnia Severity Index and key outcomes on a 2-week sleep diary (sleep efficiency and total sleep time). Outcomes will be collected 3, 10, 14 and 34 weeks post-randomisation. Secondary measures include sleep quality, sleep beliefs, tinnitus severity, psychological distress and quality of life. A sub-sample of participants will provide two weeks of actigraphy data at the same time points. Data on satisfaction and treatment experience will be collected at 10 and 34 weeks post-randomisation from all participants.

Discussion

Findings from the study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. It is anticipated that findings may inform future clinical practice in the treatment of tinnitus-related insomnia.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03386123. Retrospectively registered on 29 December 2017.
Interferon score is increased in incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus and correlates with myxovirus-resistance protein A in blood and skin
Authors: Lambers Wietske M. , de Leeuw Karina , Doornbos-van der Meer Berber , Diercks Gilles F.H. , Bootsma Hendrika , Westra Johanna
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Patients with incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus (iSLE) have lupus features, but do not meet classification criteria for SLE. Type I interferons (IFN) are important early mediators in SLE, and IFN upregulation in incomplete SLE may be associated with progression to SLE. Since many patients present with skin symptoms, the aim of this study is to investigate IFN type I expression and IFN-related mediators in the blood and skin of iSLE patients.

Methods

Twenty-nine iSLE patients (ANA titer ≥ 1:80, symptoms < 5 years, ≥ 1 objectified clinical criterion), 39 SLE patients with quiescent disease (fulfilling ACR or SLICC criteria, SLEDAI ≤4), and 22 healthy controls were included. IFN signature was measured in whole blood, based on 12 IFN-related genes, using RT-PCR, and IFN-score was calculated. IFN-related mediators myxovirus-resistance protein A (MxA), IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) were measured using ELISA. IFN type I expression in the unaffected skin was analyzed by immunostaining with MxA.

Results

IFN-score was increased in 50% of iSLE patients and 46% of SLE patients and correlated positively with the number of autoantibodies, anti-SSA titer, ESR, and IgG and negatively with C4 in iSLE. Levels of MxA correlated strongly with IFN-score (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, MxA expression was found in 29% of unaffected skin biopsies of iSLE and 31% of SLE patients and also correlated with IFN-score (r = 0.54, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

IFN-score was increased in half of the iSLE patients, and given the correlation with complement and autoantibody diversity, this suggests a higher risk for disease progression. MxA in the blood and unaffected skin correlated strongly with the IFN-score and is possibly an easily applicable marker for IFN upregulation.
Inflammatory stays inflammatory: a subgroup of systemic sclerosis characterized by high morbidity and inflammatory resistance to cyclophosphamide
Authors: Mitev Aleksey , Christ Lisa , Feldmann Daria , Binder Moritz , Möller Kim , Kanne Anna-Maria , Hügle Thomas , Villiger Peter M. , Voll Reinhard E. , Finzel Stephanie , Kollert Florian
Published: December 2019

Background/purpose

Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) have been linked to early inflammatory stages of the disease. This study has been designed to investigate CRP levels longitudinally in a cohort of SSc patients and to correlate these findings with comorbidities and disease characteristics.

Methods

In this retrospective study, patients with SSc treated at the outpatient clinic of the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Freiburg, were analyzed. Only patients with at least three consecutive visits and at least 1 year follow-up were included in this study. CRP serum levels were measured at every visit and categorized as positive if CRP concentrations were ≥ 5 mg/l. Subjects with elevated CRP levels at more than 80% of visits were defined as inflammatory SSc. The longitudinal CRP profiles were correlated with disease characteristics and comorbidities.

Results

A total of 1815 consecutive visits of 131 SSc patients were analyzed. Over the observed time span (7.6 (1.0–19.5) years), 18.3% (n = 24) of patients had continuously elevated CRP levels (inflammatory SSc), whereas in 29% (n = 38), CRP levels were always in the normal range. There was no association between disease duration and CRP levels at first visit. Inflammatory SSc was associated with male gender (p = 0.022), anti-Scl-70 antibodies (p = 0.009), diffuse cutaneous SSc (p = 0.036), pulmonary fibrosis (p < 0.001), rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.007), and cardiac arrhythmia (p = 0.048). Moreover, patients with inflammatory SSc revealed higher modified Rodnan skin scores (p < 0.001); lower forced vital capacity (FVC) (p < 0.001), total lung capacity (p = 0.001), and diffusing capacity (p = 0.008); and faster decline of FVC per year (p = 0.007). Even treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) did not decrease CRP levels (p = 0.754).

Conclusion

Inflammatory SSc is characterized by a more severe phenotype, high morbidity, and a large proportion of male patients. Even treatment with CYC does not alter CRP levels in this subpopulation with a high unmet medical need.
Treatment outcomes and their trend among tuberculosis patients treated at peripheral health settings of Northern Ethiopia between 2009 and 2014: a registry-based retrospective analysis
Authors: Abdulkader Mahmud , van Aken Ischa , Niguse Selam , Hailekiros Haftamu , Spigt Mark
Published: December 2019

Objective

Evidence on treatment outcomes and their trend analysis through a register based retrospective study have significant contributions in the improvement of a national tuberculosis program. This study was aimed at determining tuberculosis treatment outcomes and their trend analysis.

Results

A total of 3445 patient records were included. More than half (58%) were males and the mean age was 33.88 ± 16.91 years (range 0–90). From the total TB patients, 18.8% were HIV co infected. The treatment outcome of TB patients were 371 (10.8%) cured, 2234 (64.8) treatment completed, 119 (3.5%) died, 9 (0.3%) failed, 178 (5.1%) defaulted and 534 (15.5%) were transferred out. The overall treatment success rate was 89.5%. When assessed on yearly basis, treatment success rate was 87% in year 2009–2010 to 92.8% in 2013–2014 with 6.67% change in the outcome indicator over the 5 years period. Among pulmonary TB, pulmonary negative TB and extra pulmonary TB, the rate of successful treatment outcome was 83.1% to 89%, 85.1% to 89.4%, and 87.4% to 92%, respectively in the year 2009–2010 to 2013–2014. The percentage of the overall successful treatment outcomes were significantly associated with the year of treatment (p = 0.014).
Testing tools for Android context-aware applications: a systematic mapping
Authors: Almeida Diego R. , Machado Patrícia D. L. , Andrade Wilkerson L.
Published: December 2019

Context

Mobile devices, such as smartphones, have increased their capacity of information processing and sensors have been aggregated to their hardware. Such sensors allow capturing information from the environment in which they are introduced. As a result, mobile applications that use the environment and user information to provide services or perform context-based actions are increasingly common. This type of application is known as context-aware application. While software testing is an expensive activity in general, testing context-aware applications is an even more expensive and challenging activity. Thus, efforts are needed to automate testing for context-aware applications, particularly in the scope of Android, which is currently the most used operating system by smartphones.

Objective

This paper aims to identify and discuss the state-of-the-art tools that allow the automation of testing Android context-aware applications.

Method

In order to do so, we carried out a systematic mapping study (SMS) to find out the studies in the existing literature that describe or present Android testing tools. The discovered tools were then analyzed to identify their potential in testing Android context-aware applications.

Result

A total of 68 works and 80 tools were obtained as a result of the SMS. From the identified tools, five are context-aware Android application testing tools, and five are general Android application testing tools, but support the test of the context-aware feature.

Conclusion

Although context-aware application testing tools do exist, they do not support automatic generation or execution of test cases focusing on high-level contexts. Moreover, they do not support asynchronous context variations.
Combination of laser and human adipose-derived stem cells in repair of rabbit anal sphincter injury: a new therapeutic approach
Authors: Sarveazad Arash , Babahajian Asrin , Yari Abazar , Rayner Chris K. , Mokhtare Marjan , Babaei-Ghazani Arash , Agah Shahram , Mahjoubi Bahar , Shamseddin Jebreil , Yousefifard Mahmoud
Published: December 2019

Background

Anal sphincter injury leads to fecal incontinence. Based on the regenerative capability of laser and human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), this study was designed to assess the effects of co-application of these therapies on anal sphincter recovery after injury.

Design

Male rabbits were assigned to equal groups (n = 7) including control, sphincterotomy, sphincterotomy treated with laser (660 nm, 90 s, immediately after sphincterotomy, daily, 14 days), hADSCs (2 × 106hADSCs injected into injured area of the sphincter immediately after sphincterotomy), and laser + hADSCs. Ninety days after sphincterotomy, manometry and electromyography were performed, sphincter collagen content was evaluated, and Ki67, myosin heavy chain (MHC), skeletal muscle alpha-actin (ACTA1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), and vimentin mRNA gene expression were assessed.

Results

The laser + hADSCs group had a higher resting pressure compared with the sphincterotomy (p < 0.0001), laser (p < 0.0001), and hADSCs (p = 0.04) groups. Maximum squeeze pressure was improved in all treated animals compared with the sphincterotomized animals (p < 0.0001), without a significant difference between treatments (p > 0.05). In the laser + hADSCs group, motor unit numbers were higher than those in the laser group (p < 0.0001) but did not differ from the hADSCs group (p = 0.075). Sphincterotomy increased collagen content, but the muscle content (p = 0.36) and collagen content (p = 0.37) were not significantly different between the laser + hADSCs and control groups. Laser + hADSCs increased ACTA1 (p = 0.001) and MHC (p < 0.0001) gene expression compared with laser or hADSCs alone and was associated with increased VEGFA (p = 0.009) and Ki67 mRNA expression (p = 0.01) and decreased vimentin mRNA expression (p < 0.0001) compared with laser.

Conclusion

The combination of laser and hADSCs appears more effective than either treatment alone for promoting myogenesis, angiogenesis, and functional recovery after anal sphincterotomy.
“I had the feeling that I was trapped”: a bedside qualitative study of cognitive and affective attitudes toward noninvasive ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure
Authors: Iosifyan Marina , Schmidt Matthieu , Hurbault Amélie , Mayaux Julien , Delafosse Christian , Mishenko Marina , Nion Nathalie , Demoule Alexandre , Similowski Thomas
Published: December 2019

Background

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is the application of mechanical ventilation through a mask. It is used to treat certain forms of acute respiratory failure in intensive care units (ICU). NIV has clinical benefits but can be anxiogenic for the patients. This study aimed at describing cognitive and affective attitudes toward NIV among patients experiencing NIV for the first time in the context of an ICU stay.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 10 patients during their ICU stay and soon after their first NIV experience. None of the patients had ever received NIV previously. Evaluative assertion analysis and thematic analysis were used to investigate cognitive and affective attitudes toward NIV before, during, and after the first NIV experience, as well as patient attitudes toward caregivers and relatives.

Results

Before their first NIV session, the cognitive attitudes of the patients were generally positive. They became less so and more ambiguous during and after NIV, as the patients discovered the actual barriers associated with NIV. Affective attitudes during NIV were more negative than affective attitudes before and after NIV, with reports of dyspnea, anxiety, fear, claustrophobic feelings, and reactivation of past traumatic experiences. The patients had more positive attitudes toward the presence of a caregiver during NIV, compared to the presence of a family member.

Conclusion

This study corroborates the possibly negative—or even traumatic—nature of the NIV experience, with emphasis on the role of affective attitudes. This is a rationale for evaluating the impact of NIV-targeted psychological interventions in ICU patients with acute respiratory failure.
Design and analysis of a general vector space model for data classification in Internet of Things
Authors: Sang Jinguo , Pang Shanchen , Zha Yang , Yang Fan
Published: December 2019

The amount of information increases explosively in Internet of Things, because more and more data are sensed by large amount of sensors. The explosive growth of information makes it difficult to access information efficiently, so it is an effective method to decrease the amount of information to be transferred on network by text classification. This paper proposes a new text classification algorithm based on vector space model. This algorithm improves the feature selection and weighting methods by introducing synonym replacement to traditional text classification algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed classification algorithm has considerably improved the precision and recall of classification.
Psychological intervention for universal prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression among pregnant women: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yasuma Naonori , Narita Zui , Sasaki Natsu , Obikane Erika , Sekiya Junpei , Inagawa Takuma , Nakajima Aiichiro , Yamada Yuji , Yamazaki Ryuichi , Matsunaga Asami , Saito Tomomi , Watanabe Kazuhiro , Imamura Kotaro , Kawakami Norito , Nishi Daisuke
Published: December 2019

Background

Prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression is crucial, given its high prevalence and severe consequences. Although several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the effects of psychological interventions on the population at risk for perinatal depression, few studies have focused on universal prevention and none have focused specifically on universal prevention in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of psychological interventions with a universal prevention focus on perinatal depression during pregnancy by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis based on both the latest articles and a broader literature search.

Methods

The literature search will be conducted using the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, PubMed and PsycINFO, from inception onwards. Randomized controlled trials that examined the association between psychological interventions and universal prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression among pregnant women will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted following a priori defined methods in the protocol.

Discussion

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis will have both clinical and political importance in the context of perinatal mental health. In addition, this study will promote future studies and clarify the direction of research on universal prevention of perinatal depression.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42019118041
Numerical approximation for the solution of linear sixth order boundary value problems by cubic B-spline
Authors: Khalid A. , Naeem M. N. , Agarwal P. , Ghaffar A. , Ullah Z. , Jain S.
Published: December 2019

In the current paper, authors proposed a computational model based on the cubic B-spline method to solve linear 6th order BVPs arising in astrophysics. The prescribed method transforms the boundary problem to a system of linear equations. The algorithm we are going to develop in this paper is not only simply the approximation solution of the 6th order BVPs using cubic B-spline, but it also describes the estimated derivatives of 1st order to 6th order of the analytic solution at the same time. This novel technique has lesser computational cost than numerous other techniques and is second order convergent. To show the efficiency of the proposed method, four numerical examples have been tested. The results are described using error tables and graphs and are compared with the results existing in the literature.
Emotion classification based on brain wave: a survey
Authors: Li Ting-Mei , Chao Han-Chieh , Zhang Jianming
Published: December 2019

Brain wave emotion analysis is the most novel method of emotion analysis at present. With the progress of brain science, it is found that human emotions are produced by the brain. As a result, many brain-wave emotion related applications appear. However, the analysis of brain wave emotion improves the difficulty of analysis because of the complexity of human emotion. Many researchers used different classification methods and proposed methods for the classification of brain wave emotions. In this paper, we investigate the existing methods of brain wave emotion classification and describe various classification methods.
Longitudinal analysis of HIV-risk behaviors of participants in a randomized trial of prison-initiated buprenorphine
Authors: Blue Thomas R. , Gordon Michael S. , Schwartz Robert P. , Couvillion Kathryn , Vocci Frank J. , Fitzgerald Terrence T. , O’Grady Kevin E.
Published: December 2019

Background

It has been estimated that approximately 15% of people who are incarcerated in the US have histories of opioid use disorder. Relapse to opioid use after release from prison poses a serious risk of HIV infection. Prison-initiated buprenorphine may help to reduce HIV infection given the association between opioid use and HIV-risk behaviors.

Methods

The present study is a secondary analysis of longitudinal data gathered from a randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine-naloxone for people who were incarcerated (N = 211) between 2008 and 2012. It compares the impact of assignment to initiate buprenorphine in prison (N = 106 randomized, N = 104 analyzed) versus in the community (N = 107 randomized, N = 107 analyzed) and whether or not participants entered community treatment on the frequency of HIV-risk behaviors in the 12 months following release from prison. Data were analyzed hierarchically and for each outcome variable, a multilevel, over-dispersed Poisson model was fit to the data. Outcome variables were the number of times the following behaviors occurred in the last 30 days: (1) having sex without a condom (2) injecting drugs (3) using unsterilized needles, and (4) sharing injection paraphernalia.

Results

Participants assigned to begin buprenorphine in the community experienced a greater decrease in injection drug use over time compared to participants assigned to begin buprenorphine in prison. There were no significant associations between treatment assignment or community treatment entry and instances of having sex without a condom, sharing injection paraphernalia, or using unsterilized needles.

Conclusions

Overall, the present study did not find support for the initiation of buprenorphine in prison (as opposed to the community) as a means to reduce incidences of HIV-risk behaviors. Avenues for future research in the nexus of HIV-risk reduction, criminal justice, and pharmacotherapy are discussed.

Trial registration This study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Buprenorphine for Prisoners (PI: Kinlock; R01DA021579). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT 00574067
HybSMRP: a hybrid scheduling algorithm in Hadoop MapReduce framework
Authors: Gandomi Abolfazl , Reshadi Midia , Movaghar Ali , Khademzadeh Ahmad
Published: December 2019

Due to the advent of new technologies, devices, and communication tools such as social networking sites, the amount of data produced by mankind is growing rapidly every year. Big data is a collection of large datasets that cannot be processed using traditional computing techniques. MapReduce has been introduced to solve large-data computational problems. It is specifically designed to run on commodity hardware, and it depends on dividing and conquering principles. Nowadays, the focus of researchers has shifted towards Hadoop MapReduce. One of the most outstanding characteristics of MapReduce is data locality-aware scheduling. Data locality-aware scheduler is a further efficient solution to optimize one or a set of performance metrics such as data locality, energy consumption and job completion time. Similar to all situations, time and scheduling are the most important aspects of the MapReduce framework. Therefore, many scheduling algorithms have been proposed in the past decades. The main ideas of these algorithms are increasing data locality rate and decreasing the response and completion time. In this paper, a new hybrid scheduling algorithm has been proposed, which uses dynamic priority and localization ID techniques and focuses on increasing data locality rate and decreasing completion time. The proposed algorithm was evaluated and compared with Hadoop default schedulers (FIFO, Fair), by running concurrent workloads consisting of Wordcount and Terasort benchmarks. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is faster than FIFO and Fair scheduling, achieves higher data locality rate and avoids wasting resources.
Differences in prevalence of hypertension subtypes according to the 2018 Korean Society of Hypertension and 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2017 (KNHANES IV-VII)
Authors: Cho So Mi Jemma , Lee Hokyou , Kim Hyeon Chang
Published: December 2019

Background

The significance of high systolic and diastolic blood pressure remains controversial. We assessed the differences in prevalence of hypertension and its subtypes according to the different hypertension diagnostic criteria embodied by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (2017 ACC/AHA) and 2018 Korean Society of Hypertension (2018 KSH) guidelines.

Methods

We used the 2007–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data to calculate guideline-specific hypertension prevalence among untreated, adult participants. By the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, a mean SBP ≥130 mmHg, DBP ≥80 mmHg, or currently using antihypertensive medications were considered to have hypertension. Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) was defined as DBP ≥80 mmHg and SBP <130 mmHg, isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) as SBP ≥130 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg, and systolic diastolic hypertension (SDH) as SBP ≥130 mmHg and DBP ≥80 mmHg. In a similar manner, by the 2018 KSH guideline, all hypertension and its subtype prevalence were calculated using the 140/90 mmHg cutoff. The two versions of all hypertension and its corresponding subtype prevalence were calculated among all study participants and separately by sex and age then compared via analysis of variance.

Results

The prevalence of all hypertension increased from 25.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 25.4–26.5) defined by the 2018 KSH guideline to 46.3% (95% CI 45.6–46.9) classified by the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline. Such increase was primarily manifested through substantial increase in IDH prevalence, from 5.2% (95% CI 4.9–5.4) defined by the 2018 KSH guideline to 17.9% (95% CI 17.4–18.3) defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, and was most notably observed in young age groups, 30-49 years. ISH prevalence showed minimal differences. SDH prevalence moderately increased from 3.5% (95% CI 3.3–3.7) defined by the 2018 KSH guideline to 11.1% (95% CI 10.7–11.4) defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, achieved primarily among participants aged 50 years or above.

Conclusions

Changes in each subtype prevalence made differential contribution to additionally classified hypertension cases by the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline. Future studies should investigate the diastolic-associated cardiovascular risks and benefits of its long-term primary prevention in the young population.
Relationship between interest and mathematics performance in a technology-enhanced learning context in Malaysia
Authors: Wong Shu Ling , Wong Su Luan
Published: December 2019

The primary aim of this preliminary study is to examine a possible association between interest and mathematics performance among Malaysian students in a technology-enhanced learning environment. The Mathematics Interest Inventory was administered to 40 students to measure students’ interest towards mathematics, while a mathematics test was used to measure students’ mathematics performance. Results of the descriptive statistical analyses revealed that the students were relatively interested in mathematics. Correlational analyses showed that interest was not significantly correlated to mathematics performance among the students. Nevertheless, a significant relationship between interest and mathematics performance was found among students who had lower mathematics performance. The findings of this study pointed to the importance of igniting interest among students with lower mathematics performance given its strong link to mathematics performance. The Interest-Driven Creator theory served as an anchor in the theoretical framework of the study and it was discussed within the context of mathematics learning.
Potential activities of Bacillus simplex as a biocontrol agent against root rot of Nigella sativa caused by Fusarium camptoceras
Authors: Al-Sman K. Mohamed , Abo-Elyousr Kamal , Eraky Amal , El-Zawahry Aida
Published: December 2019

This study aimed to investigate the impact of two isolates of Bacillus simplex (PHYB1 and PHYB9) for controlling the root rot disease of black cumin (Nigella sativa) caused by Fusarium camptoceras (PHYF1) under greenhouse and field conditions at Assiut Governorate, Egypt. The highest reduction percentage of infection (22.5%) was recorded by the treatment of PHYB1 as suspension than the control (60%). Both isolates of Bacillus spp. provided the root and foliar dry weight under greenhouse and seed production in the field. The results showed that the isolate PHYB1 as a formulation gave the highest impact in the root dry weight (0.28 g/plant), followed by PHYB9 (0.22 g/plant), with insignificant difference between them. PHYB9 suspension also provided the highest seed production (27.97 g/plant), whereas PHYB9 as a formulation gave the lowest (24.08 g/plant). Studies on the interaction between Bacillus spp. on F. camptoceras by scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that both caused a complete mycoparasitism on the fungal growth. The bacterial growth was seen to adhere and colonize the hyphae, resulting in hyphal tissue maceration. Therefore, the use of both isolates of Bacillus spp. to control root rot disease of black cumin under greenhouse and field conditions can be recommended.
Cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of the pain response to activity and position questionnaire
Authors: de Carvalho Geisiane Rodrigues , de Oliveira Elenderjane Andrade , Rocha Vitor Tigre Martins , Pereira Daniele Sirineu , Pereira Leani Souza Máximo
Published: December 2019

Background

The World Health Organization reports that one of the main incapacitating conditions in older adults is osteomusculoskeletal disorders, and among these is low back pain. There are few instruments translated and transculturally adapted with psychometric properties evaluated for older adults with this health condition in Brazil. The Pain Response to Activity and Positioning (PRAP) questionnaire enables classification of older adults through functional performance. The objective of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and verify the reliability of the PRAP for older Brazilian people with chronic low back pain.

Methods

A cross-sectional methodological study from the international study “Back Complaints in the Elders”. We included individuals aged ≥60 years, with chronic lumbar pain complaints lasting ≥3 months. The transcultural translation and adaptation process followed the criteria proposed by Beaton and Guilhemeim, 1993. Reliability was tested using an unweighted Cohen’s Kappa.

Results

Thirty-six (36) older adults participated in the study (71.15 ± 7.23 years, 94.4% female). The intra-rater reliability for Low Back Pain (LBP) was between 0.50–1.00 and 0.23–0.84 for lower limbs, while the inter-rater reliability for LBP was between 0.25–0.63 and between 0.18–0.53 for lower limbs. The criteria for low back pain diagnosis showed intra and inter-rater agreement of 0.52 and 0.47, respectively.

Conclusion

The Brazilian version of the instrument showed adequate reliability and ability to classify older adults in the diagnosis of LBP by reporting the performance of daily activities, and is indicated for use in the context of research and clinical practice.

Trial registration

There is no trial registration. This is a methodological study.
Lumbar spine Schmorl's nodes; prevalence in adults with back pain, and their relation to vertebral endplate degeneration
Authors: Sadiq Israa Mohammed
Published: December 2019

Background

In 1927, Schmorl described a focal herniation of disc material into the adjacent vertebral body through a defect in the endplate, named as Schmorl’s node (SN). The aim of the study is to reveal the prevalence and distribution of Schmorl’s nodes (SNs) in the lumbar spine and their relation to disc degeneration disease in Kirkuk city population.

Results

A cross-sectional analytic study was done for 324 adults (206 females and 118 males) with lower back pain evaluated as physician requests by lumbosacral MRI at the Azadi Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk city, Iraq. The demographic criteria of the study sample were 20–71 years old, 56–120 kg weight, and 150–181 cm height. SNs were seen in 72 patients (22%). Males were affected significantly more than the females (28.8% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.03). SNs were most significantly affecting older age groups. L1–L2 was the most affected disc level (23.6%) and the least was L5–S1 (8.3%). There was neither a significant relationship between SN and different disc degeneration scores (P = 0.76) nor with disc herniation (P = 0.62, OR = 1.4), but there was a significant relation (P = 0.00001, OR = 7.9) with MC.

Conclusion

SN is a frequent finding in adults’ lumbar spine MRI, especially in males; it is related to vertebral endplate bony pathology rather than discal pathology.
On proton charge radius definition
Authors: Trinhammer Ole L. , Bohr Henrik G.
Published: December 2019

We find a relation for the proton charge radius in closed form. The result 0.841235641(10) fm agrees with determinations from muonic hydrogen. Our relation is based on a mapping from an intrinsic configuration space for the proton to the observed size in laboratory experiments. The torus of the configuration space leads to periodic potentials in dynamical toroidal angles with the proton charge radius as a scale parameter in the mapping to laboratory space. The periodic potentials allow the introduction of Bloch phase factors which open for period doublings in the wave function. The opening of Bloch degrees of freedom is mediated by the Higgs mechanism. Thus, we find that pi times the proton charge radius equals twice the proton Compton wavelength.
The Causal Relationship of Circulating Triglyceride and Glycated Hemoglobin: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Hsiung Chia-Ni , Chang Yi-Cheng , Lin Chien-Wei , Chang Chia-Wei , Chou Wen-Cheng , Chu Hou-Wei , Su Ming-Wei , Wu Pei-Ei , Shen Chen-Yang
Published: December 2019

Context

The association between circulating triglyceride (TG) and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a biomarker for type 2 diabetes, has been widely addressed, but the causal direction of the relationship is still ambiguous.

Objective

To confirm the causal relationship between TG and HbA1c by using bidirectional and 2-step Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches.

Methods

We carried out a bidirectional MR approach using the summarized results from the public database to examine any potential causal effects between serum TG and HbA1c in 16 000 individuals of the Taiwan Biobank cohort. We used the MR estimate and the MR inverse variance–weighted method to reveal that relationship between TG and HbA1c. To further determine whether the DNA methylation at specific sequences mediate the causal pathway between TG and HbA1c, using the 2-step MR approach.

Results

We identified that a single-unit increase in TG measured via log transformation of mg/dL data was associated with a significant increase of 10 units of HbA1c (95% CI = 1.05−18.95, P = 0.029). In contrast, the genetic determinants of HbA1c do not contribute to the amount of circulating TG (beta = 1.75, 95% CI = –11.50 to 14.90). Sensitivity analyses, included the weighted-median approach and MR-Egger regression, were performed to confirm no pleiotropic effect among these instrumental variables. Furthermore, we identified the genetic variant, rs1823200, is associated with both methylation of the CpG site adjacent to CADPS gene and HbA1c level.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that higher circulating TG can have an affect on genomic methylation status, ultimately causing elevated level of circulating HbA1c.
Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodissection of an Entrapped Saphenous Nerve After Lower Extremity Varicose Vein Stripping: A Case Report
Authors: Watanabe Kunitaro , Tokumine Joho , Lefor Alan Kawarai , Moriyama Kumi , Yorozu Tomoko
Published: December 2019

A 78-year-old woman complained of numbness, tingling, and pain in the left leg 6 months after greater saphenous vein stripping. Ultrasonography identified a mass adjacent to the saphenous nerve at the scar. Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection separated the mass from the nerve. The pain disappeared after hydrodissection, and the patient remained pain free for 3 days. The visual analog pain scale decreased from 80 (before treatment) to 60 three days later. The hydrodissection was repeated weekly for a total of 8 times, and the pain completely resolved 4 months later. Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection is effective to treat nerve entrapment after lower extremity varicose vein stripping.
Crime, Politics, and the Future of India's Democracy
Authors: Vaishnav Milan
Published: December 2019

The review essays by Sunila S. Kale, Sandipto Dasgupta, and Michael J. Watts on Milan Vaishnav's When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics and Steven Pierce's Moral Economies of Corruption: State Formation and Political Culture in Nigeria raise a number of theoretically interesting questions about corruption, criminality, and their historical embeddedness. In particular, they force a rethinking of the commonly accepted notion that in many contexts the state, far from being seen as the remedy to citizens' core grievances, is the very source of the grievance to begin with. Paradoxically, elected representatives who helm the state apparatus are often the only actors with the authority and delegated powers to reform the state, something that they have few incentives to do.
Reprogramming: identifying the mechanisms that safeguard cell identity
Authors: Brumbaugh Justin , Di Stefano Bruno , Hochedlinger Konrad
Published: December 2019

Development and homeostasis rely upon concerted regulatory pathways to establish the specialized cell types needed for tissue function. Once a cell type is specified, the processes that restrict and maintain cell fate are equally important in ensuring tissue integrity. Over the past decade, several approaches to experimentally reprogram cell fate have emerged. Importantly, efforts to improve and understand these approaches have uncovered novel molecular determinants that reinforce lineage commitment and help resist cell fate changes. In this Review, we summarize recent studies that have provided insights into the various chromatin factors, post-transcriptional processes and features of genomic organization that safeguard cell identity in the context of reprogramming to pluripotency. We also highlight how these factors function in other experimental, physiological and pathological cell fate transitions, including direct lineage conversion, pluripotency-to-totipotency reversion and cancer.
Awakening the regenerative potential of the mammalian retina
Authors: Martin James F. , Poché Ross A.
Published: December 2019

As with all glial cells, the major role of retinal Müller glia (MG) is to provide essential neuronal support. However, the MG of some non-mammalian species have the additional ability to generate new retinal neurons capable of sight restoration. Unfortunately, mammalian MG do not possess this ability. However, if we could understand the reasons why, we may be able to devise strategies to confer regenerative potential. The recent discovery that the Hippo signaling pathway acts as an intrinsic block to mammalian MG proliferation, along with reports of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based MG reprogramming and functional photoreceptor differentiation, may indicate a watershed moment in the field of mammalian retinal regeneration. However, as researchers delve deeper into the cellular and molecular mechanisms, and further refine MG reprogramming strategies, we should recall past misinterpretations of data in this field and proceed with caution. Here, we provide a summary of these emerging data and a discussion of technical concerns specific to AAV-mediated reprogramming experiments that must be addressed in order for the field to move forward.