bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Networking and Academic Performance: A Generalized Structured Component Approach
Authors: Doleck Tenzin , Bazelais Paul , Lemay David J.
Published: November 2017

The proliferation of social networking sites (SNS) use by students has been accompanied by both concerns and excitement regarding the consequences of SNS use. Research on SNS use has become increasingly popular in the educational literature. There are a variety of ways that SNS use can affect students, and indeed the work in this stream of research has documented the links between SNS use and various outcome variables. One research question raised given the popularity of SNS with students—which has been both limited and inconsistent in published results—concerns the link between SNS use and academic performance. As SNS use increases, such questions aimed at disentangling the link have become increasingly important to address. However, related investigations have yielded conflicting results and are deficient in documenting the interplay and influences of other variables. The present study aims to clarify the association between SNS and academic performance by testing an exploratory model to examine the connections between SNS use, student-school traits, and academic performance. We suggest that educational researchers should distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive SNS use in academic settings.
Experimental Study on Strategy-Oriented Web-Based English Instruction for EFL Students
Authors: Chang Mei-Mei , Lin Mei-Chen
Published: November 2017

This quasi-experimental study investigated whether a strategy-oriented media-based reading program could improve English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ reading comprehension. Eighty-five students who were registered for English Reading at a university were recruited through convenience sampling to take part in the study. In this study, a web-based Strategy-oriented Multimedia-Assisted Reading Training (SMART) program was designed and implemented. On the basis of a literature review, four instructional strategies were selected and implemented in this program. The SMART program was used by students in the experimental group but not by students in the control group. Students in both groups were taught by the same instructor with the same instructional materials. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks, and the effects of the SMART program on students’ reading comprehension were investigated. A questionnaire on students’ attitudes toward the use of the strategies was given only to the experimental group. The results show that mean score of the reading test was significantly higher for the experimental group than for the control group. Students’ feedback about using the SMART program was positive and encouraging.
The Final 30 Days of Life
Authors: Merchant Shaila J. , Lajkosz Katherine , Brogly Susan B. , Booth Christopher M. , Nanji Sulaiman , Patel Sunil V. , Baxter Nancy N.
Published: November 2017

Background:

Studies have reported overly aggressive end-of-life care (EOLC) in many cancers. We investigate trends in, and factors associated with, aggressive EOLC among patients who died of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in Ontario, Canada.

Methods:

All patients with primary cause of death from esophageal, gastric, colon, and anorectal cancer from January 2003 to December 2013 were identified through the Ontario Cancer Registry, and information was collected from linked databases. Outcomes representing aggressive EOLC were assessed: administration of chemotherapy, any emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (all within 30 days of death), death in hospital and in ICU, and a composite outcome representing any aggressive EOLC. Temporal trends were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test.

Results:

There were 34 630 patients in the cohort: 43% colon, 26% anorectal, 19% gastric, and 12% esophageal cancers. Aggressive EOLC was delivered to 65%, with a significantly decreasing trend from 64.8% in 2003 to 62.5% in 2013 ( P = .001). Utilization of specific elements of aggressive EOLC included 8% chemotherapy, 46% ED visits, 49% hospital admissions, 6% ICU admissions, 45% death in hospital, and 5% death in ICU. Trends over the study period showed that ED visits (from 43% to 46.9%; P = .0001) and death in ICU (from 3.7% to 4.9%; P = .04) significantly increased; hospital admissions (from 48.9% to 47.8%; P = .02) and death in hospital (from 46.6% to 38.9%; P < .0001) significantly decreased.

Conclusions:

Two-thirds of patients with GI cancer had aggressive EOLC in the last 30 days of life.
A Multivariate Comparison of Family, Felony, and Public Mass Murders in the United States
Authors: Fridel Emma E.
Published: November 2017

The mass murderer is known by a variety of names in both public and academic spheres, from the family annihilator to the active shooter, from the workplace avenger to the rampage school shooter. Although most researchers acknowledge that the phenomenon is heterogeneous, mass killing has defied classification, and currently no consensus typology exists. Most previous efforts at developing a classification scheme have focused on sorting these multicides into three broad groups, namely, family, felony, and public mass killings, exclusively relying on qualitative methods and case-study analysis to do so. The present study employs a multivariate approach to examine differences among types in victim, offender, and incident characteristics on the population of all mass murders in the United States from 2006 to 2016.
Childhood Familial Victimization: An Exploration of Gender and Sexual Identity Using the Scale of Negative Family Interactions
Authors: Martinez Katherine , McDonald Courtney
Published: November 2017

Familial violence poses a serious public health concern and has therefore received a considerable amount of attention from academics and practitioners alike. Research within this field has found that parent-to-parent and parent-to-child violence often occur simultaneously and are especially prevalent within households that suffer from social and environmental stressors. Sibling violence and its relationship to these other forms of familial violence has received considerably less attention, largely related to the widely held belief that sibling violence is natural, especially for boys. Using the Scale of Negative Family Interactions (SNFI), parent-to-child and sibling-to-sibling violence is investigated. Specifically, the relationship between participants’ gender and sexual identities and their reports of familial violence are explored to better understand participants’ gendered and sexed experiences. Data suggest that gender and sexual minorities may have a unique experience of familial violence, although further research is needed in this area.
An Investigation of Facilitated Individualized Education Program Meeting Practice: Promising Procedures That Foster Family–Professional Collaboration
Authors: Mueller Tracy Gershwin , Vick Anna Moriarity
Published: November 2017

There is limited research about effective Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting practices that promote family–professional collaboration. One emerging practice, the Facilitated IEP (FIEP) meeting, has recently gained national attention for its team-based approach. In this study, the authors interview 32 FIEP participants about their experiences with the process. Findings reveal five meeting procedures that encourage active team planning, collaboration, and problem solving between families and professionals, including premeeting with families, establishing and following a meeting agenda, using meeting norms, utilizing a parking lot for off-topic issues, and visual charting for graphic support during team discussion and problem solving. In this article, the authors present the implications of these procedural practices as a promising structure for IEP meetings that can be used by professionals to collaborate and involve families throughout the IEP meeting process. Implications for future research are also discussed.
Systemic lupus erythematosus with C1q deficiency: treatment with fresh frozen plasma
Authors: Ekinci Z , Ozturk K
Published: November 2017

Treatment and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in C1q deficient patients are rarely reported. The aim of this report is to share our experience about the course of management of three cases diagnosed as SLE with C1q deficiency, in light of present literature. Initial and dominant complaints of three cases from two different families were cutaneous manifestations. One patient was also diagnosed with arthritis and thrombocytopenia. Antinuclear antibody was positive in all cases, whereas anti-dsDNA was negative with normal levels of complement C3, C4 and decreased CH50 activity. C1QA gene of two patients had homozygous nonsense mutation (c.622 > T/p.Gln208Ter). Previously, all of them had been treated with steroids, hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate or azathioprine. It was learned that they had responded only to high dosage prednisolone and their symptoms flared up during dosage reduction even under methotrexate or azathioprine. All symptoms of all three cases improved by daily fresh frozen plasma (FFP) infusions, and once cutaneous lesions subsided, the infusions were reduced to a frequency that would prevent the flare up of the symptoms. Literature search revealed seven reports on fresh frozen plasma treatment in SLE with C1q deficient patients. In this report, it is concluded that severe cutaneous lesions, as seen in these C1q deficient SLE patients, cannot be controlled with conventional immunosuppressive treatment. Instead, regular fresh frozen plasma infusions are proposed as a more reasonable method of treatment.
Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Marongiu Fabio , Serra Maria Paola , Fanti Maura , Cadoni Erika , Serra Monica , Laconi Ezio
Published: November 2017

The evidence linking aging and cancer is overwhelming. Findings emerging from the field of regenerative medicine reinforce the notion that aging and cancer are profoundly interrelated in their pathogenetic pathways. We discuss evidence to indicate that age-associated alterations in the tissue microenvironment contribute to the emergence of a neoplastic-prone tissue landscape, which is able to support the selective growth of preneoplastic cell populations. Interestingly, tissue contexts that are able to select for the growth of preneoplastic cells, including the aged liver microenvironment, are also supportive for the clonal expansion of normal, homotypic, transplanted cells. This suggests that the growth of normal and preneoplastic cells is possibly driven by similar mechanisms, implying that strategies based on principles of regenerative medicine might be applicable to modulate neoplastic disease.
Perspectives of Stem Cell–Based Therapy for Age-Related Retinal Degenerative Diseases
Authors: Holan Vladimir , Hermankova Barbora , Kossl Jan
Published: November 2017

Retinal degenerative diseases, which include age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, mostly affect the elderly population and are the most common cause of decreased quality of vision or even blindness. So far, there is no satisfactory treatment protocol to prevent, stop, or cure these disorders. A great hope and promise for patients suffering from retinal diseases is represented by stem cell–based therapy that could replace diseased or missing retinal cells and support regeneration. In this respect, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that can be obtained from the particular patient and used as autologous cells have turned out to be a promising stem cell type for treatment. Here we show that MSCs can differentiate into cells expressing markers of retinal cells, inhibit production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by retinal tissue, and produce a number of growth and neuroprotective factors for retinal regeneration. All of these properties make MSCs a prospective cell type for cell-based therapy of age-related retinal degenerative diseases.
Posttransplant Immune Activation
Authors: Ducloux Didier , Bamoulid Jamal , Crepin Thomas , Rebibou Jean-Michel , Courivaud Cecile , Saas Philippe
Published: November 2017

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality in kidney transplant patients. Cumulative reports indicate that the excessive risk of cardiovascular events is not entirely explained by the increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and it has been postulated that posttransplant immune disturbances may explain the gap between the predicted and observed risks of cardiovascular events. Although concordant data suggest that innate immunity contributes to the posttransplant accelerated atherosclerosis, only few arguments plead for a role of adaptive immunity. We report and discuss here consistent data demonstrating that CD8+T cell activation is a frequent posttransplant immune feature that may have pro-atherogenic effects. Expansion of exhausted/activated CD8+T cells in kidney transplant recipients is stimulated by several factors including cytomegalovirus infections, lymphodepletive therapy (e.g., antithymocyte globulins), chronic allogeneic stimulation, and a past history of renal insufficiency. This is observed in the setting of decreased thymic activity, a process also found in elderly individuals and reflecting accelerated immune senescence.
Curve fitting in Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy used for the analysis of bacterial cells
Authors: Krepelka Pavel , Hynstova Iveta , Pytel Roman , Pérez-Rodríguez Fernando , Roger Jean-Michel , Drexler Petr
Published: November 2017

Infrared spectroscopy is a prominent molecular technique for bacterial analysis. Within its context, near infrared spectroscopy in particular brings benefits over other vibrational approaches; these advantages include, for example, lower sensitivity to water, high penetration depth and low cost. However, near infrared spectroscopy is not popular within microbiology, because the spectra of organic samples are difficult to interpret. We propose a comparison of spectral curve-fitting methods, namely, techniques that facilitate the interpretation of most peaks, simplify the spectra and improve the prediction of bacterial species from the relevant near infrared spectra. The performances of three common curve-fitting algorithms and the technique based on the differential evolution were compared via a synthesized experimental spectrum. Utilizing the obtained results, the spectra of three different bacterial species were curve fit by optimized algorithm. The proposed algorithm decomposed the spectra to specific absorption peaks, whose parameters were estimated via the differential evolution approach initialized through Levenberg-Marquardt optimization; subsequently, the spectra were classified with conventional procedures and using the parameters of the revealed peaks. On a limited data set, the correct classification rate computed by partial least squares discriminant analysis was 95%. When we employed the peak parameters for the classification, the rate corresponded to 91.7%. According to the Gaussian formula, the parameters comprise the spectral peak position, amplitude and width. The most important peaks for bacterial discrimination were identified by analysis of variance and interpreted as N–H stretching bonds in proteins, cis bonds and CH2 absorption in fatty acids. We examined some aspects of the behaviour of standard curve-fitting algorithms and proposed differential evolution to optimize the fitting process. Based on the correct use of these algorithms, the near infrared spectra of bacteria can be interpreted and the full potential of near infrared spectroscopy in microbiology exploited.
Community-Managed Water Services: The Case of Peru
Authors: Calzada Joan , Iranzo Susana , Sanz Alex
Published: November 2017

Due to lack of economic resources and the geographical dispersion of the population, state and private for-profit water provision is not feasible in many remote rural areas of developing countries. In such instances, community-managed water systems emerge as an alternative mechanism to provide safe water. Despite their importance, little is known about this type of organizations. This article examines the Juntas Administradoras de Servicios de Saneamiento (JASS), communal organizations that provide water services to more than 3 million people in rural and peri-urban areas of Peru. We focus on two important and related dimensions of the JASS. First, we empirically identify the factors associated to their existence (economic resources of the municipalities, tradition of communal work, and ethnic homogeneity). And second, we examine their organization and how they manage the water systems, which is importantly affected by the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities. Using the Peruvian JASS as a showcase, this article sheds then some light on the potential viability of this type of organizations. We conclude that the JASS might be an important and effective alternative to organize the provision of water services in rural and isolated areas. However, the consolidation of these institutions requires adequate supervision to ensure that water systems are correctly designed and managed and that internal governance problems do not compromise their sustainability.
Human Chitinases and Chitinase-Like Proteins as Indicators for Inflammation and Cancer
Authors: Kzhyshkowska Julia , Gratchev Alexei , Goerdt Sergij
Published: November 2017

Human Glyco_18 domain-containing proteins constitute a family of chitinases and chitinase-like proteins. Chitotriosidase and AMCase are true enzymes which hydrolyse chitin and have a C-terminal chitin-binding domain. YKL-40, YKL-39, SI-CLP and murine YM1/2 proteins possess solely Glyco_18 domain and do not have the hydrolytic activity. The major sources of Glyco_18 containing proteins are macrophages, neutrophils, epithelial cells, chondrocytes, synovial cells, and cancer cells. Both macrophages and neutrophils use the regulated secretory mechanism for the release of Glyco_18 containing proteins. Glyco_18 containing proteins are established biomarkers for human diseases. Chitotriosidase is overproduced by lipid-laden macrophages and is a major marker for the inherited lysosomal storage Gaucher disease. AMCase and murine lectin YM1 are upregulated in Th2-environment, and enzymatic activity of AMCase contributes to asthma pathogenesis. YKL proteins act as soluble mediators for the cell proliferation and migration, and are also involved in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Chitotriosidase and YKL-40 reflect the macrophage activation in atherosclerotic plaques. Serum level of YKL-40 is a diagnostic and prognostic marker for numerous types of solid tumors. YKL-39 is a marker for the activation of chondrocytes and the progression of the osteoarthritis in human. Recently identified SI-CLP is upregulated by Th2 cytokine IL-4 as well as by glucocorticoids. This unique feature of SI-CLP makes it an attractive candidate for the examination of individual sensitivity of patients to glucocorticoid treatment and prediction of side effects of glucocorticoid therapy. Human chitinases and chitinase-like proteins are found in tissues and circulation, and can be detected by non-invasive technologies.
Ubiquitin Fusion Degradation Protein 1 as a Blood Marker for the Early Diagnosis of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Allard Laure , Turck Natacha , Burkhard Pierre R. , Walter Nadia , Rosell Anna , Gex-Fabry Marianne , Hochstrasser Denis F. , Montaner Joan , Sanchez Jean-Charles
Published: November 2017

Background

Efficacy of thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke is strongly related to physician's ability to make an accurate diagnosis and to intervene within 3–6 h after event onset. In this context, the discovery and validation of very early blood markers have recently become an urgent, yet unmet, goal of stroke research. Ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 is increased in human postmortem CSF, a model of global brain insult, suggesting that its measurement in blood may prove useful as a biomarker of stroke.

Methods

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure UFD1 in plasma and sera in three independent cohorts, European (Swiss and Spanish) and North-American retrospective analysis encompassing a total of 123 consecutive stroke and 90 control subjects.

Results

Highly significant increase of ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 (UFD1) was found in Swiss stroke patients with 71% sensitivity (95% CI, 52–85.8%), and 90% specificity (95% CI, 74.2–98%) ( N = 31, p < 0.0001). Significantly elevated concentration of this marker was then validated in Spanish ( N = 39, p < 0.0001, 95% sensitivity (95% CI, 82.7– 99.4%)), 76% specificity (95% CI, 56.5–89.7%)) and North-American stroke patients ( N = 53, 62% sensitivity (95% CI, 47.9–75.2%), 90% specificity (95% CI, 73.5–97.9%), p < 0.0001). Its concentration was increased within 3 h of stroke onset, on both the Swiss ( p < 0.0001) and Spanish ( p = 0.0004) cohorts.

Conclusions

UFD1 emerges as a reliable plasma biomarker for the early diagnosis of stroke, and in the future, might be used in conjunction with clinical assessments, neuroimaging and other blood markers.
Interlaced strands: Health psychology in Brazil from an autobiographic perspective
Authors: Spink Mary Jane P
Published: November 2017

The presence of psychology in Brazilian Health Settings is closely related to two socio-political movements: for the creation of the Brazilian Unified Health System in 1990 and for Psychiatric Reform. Each had a multidisciplinary stance closely associated with a socially committed approach to healthcare delivery and connected with prior experiences that influenced its policies, among them the National AIDS Programme. These developments are told as a tale that interlaced autobiographical data and the long road to a universal healthcare system that shaped the relationship between psychology and health in the country.
Examining the relationship between health locus of control and God Locus of Health Control: Is God an internal or external source?
Authors: Boyd Joni M , Wilcox Sara
Published: November 2017

For many people, the influence of believing in a higher power can elicit powerful effects. This study examined the relationship between God control, health locus of control, and frequency of religious attendance within 838 college students through online surveys. Regression analysis showed that chance and external locus of control and frequency of religious attendance were significant and positive predictors of God Locus of Health Control. The association of powerful others external locus of control and God Locus of Health Control differed by race (stronger in non-Whites than Whites) and somewhat by gender (stronger in women than men). For some people, the role of a supreme being, or God, should be considered when designing programs for improving health behaviors.
Authenticity on “Black Twitter”: Reading Racial Performance and Social Networking
Authors: Maragh Raven S.
Published: November 2017

This article investigates the complex rhetorics of racial authenticity online, intermixing ethnography and critical technocultural discourse analysis (CTDA) to understand African American users’ investments in enacting race in their social networks. The piece uncovers “acting white” as a significant discourse that shapes online identity and group performances. Examining rhetorics of racial authenticity including insider knowledges in relation to “acting white” and “acting black,” I map Twitter users’ negotiations with individual and collective notions of racial ingroup markers. I put forth the finding of “performance in the negative case,” as interviewees discuss their lack of participation in their ingroup based on diverse perceptions of racial authenticity. I argue that a full understanding of racial authenticity, performative participation, and nonresponsiveness opens up identity and race formulations to include complexities of what is and is not expressed via interaction and performance.
Optimizing parameters for continuous electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous yarn using the Taguchi method
Authors: Wu Chang-Mou , Hsu Ching-Hsiang , Su Ching-Iuan , Liu Chun-Liang , Lee Jiunn-Yih
Published: November 2017

In this study, the Taguchi method, analysis of variance, and principal component analysis were used to design the optimal parameters with respect to different quality characteristics for the continuous electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous yarn. The experiment was designed using a Taguchi L9(34) orthogonal array. The Taguchi method is a unique statistical method for efficiently evaluating optimal parameters and the effects of different factors on quality characteristics. The experimental results obtained by this method are more accurate and reliable than one-factor-at-a-time experiments. The control factors discussed in this work include the draw ratio, nozzle size, flow rate, and draw temperature. The quality characteristics taken into consideration are fiber diameter, fiber uniformity, and fiber arrangement. The parameters to optimize the different quality characteristics were obtained from the main effect plot of the signal-to-noise ratios, after which analysis of variance and confidence intervals were applied to confirm that the results were acceptable. Multiple quality characteristics were analyzed by principal component analysis from the normalized signal-to-noise ratios and the principal component score. Combining the experimental and analysis results, the optimum parameters for multiple quality characteristics were found to be a draw ratio of 2.0, a nozzle number of 22 G, a flow rate of 7 ml/h, and a draw temperature 120℃.
SARA: Sandwiched attestation through remote agents for cluster-based wireless sensor networks
Authors: Yang Po-Hung , Yen Sung-Ming
Published: November 2017

Cluster-based wireless sensor networks have advantages of scalability and efficient communication. However, a major security risk to cluster heads is a malicious code injection attack through which an adversary can completely control a cluster network to deliver fake data and obtain private data. Memory attestation scheme is an effective mechanism for attesting the firmware integrity of an embedded device. Unfortunately, existing hardware-based remote attestation scheme relying on a trusted platform module incurs a considerable storage overhead to cluster heads. Therefore, this article proposes a lightweight hardware-based remote attestation scheme that comprises two remote attestation protocols. A lightweight hardware security module without executing any complicated cryptographic computation is employed and can substantially reduce the development cost and energy consumption compared with the trusted platform module. In the proposed scheme, a base station can attest each individual cluster head while all cluster nodes can simultaneously attest their cluster head in regular intervals. Performance analysis indicates that the storage requirement for cluster heads is independent of the number of attestation sessions. Furthermore, the computational cost of cluster nodes for the proposed scheme is comparable to that of the trusted platform module–based scheme. The proposed scheme is particularly suitable for long-term applications based on lightweight cluster heads.
The aspirin in reducing events in the elderly trial: Statistical analysis plan
Authors: Wolfe Rory , Murray Anne M , Woods Robyn L , Kirpach Brenda , Gilbertson David , Shah Raj C , Nelson Mark R , Reid Christopher M , Ernst Michael E , Lockery Jessica , Donnan Geoffrey A , Williamson Jeff , McNeil John J
Published: November 2017

Rationale

Aspirin has positive and negative effects on a number of age-related chronic conditions and there is uncertainty regarding its role in primary prevention in people aged 70 years and over.

Aims

To assess whether daily active treatment of 100 mg enteric-coated aspirin will extend the duration of disability-free life in healthy older participants.

Design

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled primary prevention trial undertaken in Australia and the United States with careful adjudication of endpoints including stroke.

Study outcome

In Australia 16,703 individuals were recruited through general practices across five states and territories, and in the United States, 2411 participants were recruited through 34 clinical sites across the country. Follow-up of participants will finish at the end of 2017 with average follow-up exceeding 4.25 years per person.

Discussion

The statistical analysis plan for ASPREE, finalized after closure of recruitment but before the end of patient follow-up, outlines the primary analyses and a range of subgroup and sensitivity analyses. (International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Register ISRCTN83772183 and clinicaltrials.gov Number NCT01038583)
Incidence, Etiology, and Outcomes of Altered Mental Status in the Perioperative Setting of Liver Transplantation
Authors: Lening Christopher , Agopian Vatche G. , Busuttil Ronald W. , Liebeskind David S.
Published: November 2017

Background:

We examined neurologic consultations for altered mental status in perioperative liver transplant patients to determine the overall incidence, to assess the presumed etiology and the data reviewed to determine that etiology, and to assess outcomes.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review conducted for all 728 adult patients receiving orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) between January 01, 2010, to June 30, 2014, with identification of 218 receiving neurology consults between 30 days pre-OLT and 90 days post-OLT, with review of all records necessary to determine initial findings and follow-up examination.

Results:

Seventy-three consults for 69 patients were identified, with 27 felt to be altered since a procedure, 20 with sudden-onset altered mentation, and 26 with gradual or waxing–waning course. A single underlying etiology was identified in only 19 cases, with multiple factors involved in all others, with metabolic, toxic, infectious, and structural etiologies most often implicated. There was no statistically significant difference in outcome for those with altered mental status consults versus the total OLT population, though the sudden-onset presentation group did show significantly increased mortality rates.

Conclusions:

This systematic study illustrates the variety of potential causes of altered mentation within the perioperative setting of liver transplantation. Workup including neuroimaging (preferably magnetic resonance imaging), infectious cultures, and expanded metabolic laboratory tests should be undertaken.
Clinico-pathological prognosticators in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Majumdar Barnali , Patil Shankargouda , Sarode Sachin C , Sarode Gargi S , Rao Roopa S
Published: November 2017

Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advancements, mortality and morbidity rates in the patients diagnosed with oral cancer remain static. Hence, an understanding of the factors that predict the progression of oral cancer appears to be useful in deciding on the most appropriate therapy, thereby improving survival. To do so in practice, a critical knowledge of prognostic markers that have high sensitivity is essential. Though recent research has introduced newer molecular markers, challenging the conventional prognostic assessment methods their universal application is yet to be determined. In practice, clinical and histopathological parameters are widely used for the selection of treatment strategies and for the determination of prognosis in oral cancer patients. A literature search yielded a multitude of parameters to be involved in the determination of prognosis of a patient. Based on published evidence, factors of significance were pTNM, tumour volume, depth of invasion, surgical margin status, tumour budding, vascular and perineural invasion, medullary bone invasion, extracapsular spread and the presence of distant metastasis.
Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in an Infant With Coarctation of the Aorta and Williams Syndrome
Authors: Cochran Clinton D. , Madani Rohit S. , Peltier Daniel , Pipe Steven , Owens Sonal T.
Published: November 2017

An infant with coarctation of the aorta and Williams syndrome was noted to have petechiae in cardiology clinic prior to planned surgical intervention. Workup revealed acquired von Willebrand syndrome secondary to the high shear force generated by the aortic coarctation. He was treated with intra- and postoperative Humate P; there were no postoperative bleeding complications. His acquired von Willebrand syndrome resolved postoperatively.
Gender Analysis of Post Resettlement Transformation in Livelihood Opportunities at Sardar Sarovar Project Resettlement Sites, India
Authors: Sikka Gaurav , Mathur Vinita
Published: November 2017

A gender perspective on displacement and associated resettlement is less common, since the traditional discourse has categorised the development refugees to be a homogenous undifferentiated people—without gender, age or other defining characteristics except ethnicity. Many studies are being done to analyse the impacts of displacement caused by development projects on the resettled communities. But the differential impacts of displacement on men and women have only been considered very recently. Gender has been missing in the impact assessments of large development projects like dams. This article, based on an ongoing research work, is an attempt in this direction to analyse some post resettlement impacts of the Sardar Sarovar Project on tribal communities from a gender lens. The first part of the article dwells upon the post resettlement changes in livelihood opportunities. The second part of the manuscript is a gender analysis showing the impacts of post resettlement transformations upon men and women at the new sites. We ultimately attempt to highlight the transformations in gender roles and gender relations due to displacement and resettlement by providing empirical evidence from the resettlement sites. The research has adopted qualitative methods in data collection. Data have been collected through household surveys, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants.
Cultural Context Connections between Bhutan and Australia: Research Notes on Instructional Design
Authors: De Sangita
Published: November 2017

This reflection article discusses the instructional design of an ‘Australia Awards’ funded Human Resource Development and Planning project for Bhutan. The key idea underscoring the design of the experiential learning was the emphasis on the consideration of cultural and contextual dimensions. This also reveals some aspects of the cultural differences between Australia and Bhutan based on Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture theory, in terms of the relationships between individuals and the degree of individualism compared to a collectivist Buddhist approaches to family, within business and personal life. The article also highlights that for a unique country like Bhutan, it was important for facilitators to understand the context of the country, population, economy and culture to ensure the contextualization of the course content in order to remove potential cultural and learning barriers as the open interaction of cultures effectively lead to exchange of ideas, values, knowledge and best practices, which was one of the significant outcomes of this course.
Redirecting T cells to hematological malignancies with bispecific antibodies
Authors: Velasquez Mireya Paulina , Bonifant Challice L. , Gottschalk Stephen
Published: November 2017

There is a need to improve outcomes for patients with recurrent and/or refractory hematological malignancies. Immunotherapy holds the promise to meet this need, because it does not rely on the cytotoxic mechanism of conventional therapies. Among different forms of immunotherapy, redirecting T cells to hematological malignancies with bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) is an attractive strategy. BsAbs are an “off-the-shelf” product that is easily scalable in contrast to adoptive T-cell therapies. Among these, the bispecific T-cell engager blinatumomab has emerged as the most successful BsAb to date. It consists of 2 single-chain variable fragments specific for CD19 present on B-cell malignancies and CD3 expressed on almost all T cells. Blinatumomab has shown potent antitumor activity as a single agent, particularly for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, resulting in its US Food and Drug Administration approval. However, although successful in inducing remissions, these are normally short-lived, with median response durations of <1 year. Nevertheless, the success of blinatumomab has reinvigorated the BsAb field, which is bustling with preclinical and clinical studies for not only B-cell–derived lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma but also acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma. Here, we will review the successes and challenges of T-cell–targeted BsAbs for the immunotherapy of hematological malignancies with special focus on conducted clinical studies and strategies to improve their efficacy.
The immunobiology of CD27 and OX40 and their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Buchan Sarah L. , Rogel Anne , Al-Shamkhani Aymen
Published: November 2017

In recent years, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) able to reinvigorate antitumor T-cell immunity have heralded a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. The most high profile of these mAbs block the inhibitory checkpoint receptors PD-1 and CTLA-4 and have improved life expectancy for patients across a range of tumor types. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that failure of some patients to respond to checkpoint inhibition is attributable to inadequate T-cell priming. For full T-cell activation, 2 signals must be received, and ligands providing the second of these signals, termed costimulation, are often lacking in tumors. Members of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) are key costimulators of T cells during infection, and there has been an increasing interest in harnessing these receptors to augment tumor immunity. We here review the immunobiology of 2 particularly promising TNFRSF target receptors, CD27 and OX40, and their respective ligands, CD70 and OX40L, focusing on their role within a tumor setting. We describe the influence of CD27 and OX40 on human T cells based on in vitro studies and on the phenotypes of several recently described individuals exhibiting natural deficiencies in CD27/CD70 and OX40. Finally, we review key literature describing progress in elucidating the efficacy and mode of action of OX40- and CD27-targeting mAbs in preclinical models and provide an overview of current clinical trials targeting these promising receptor/ligand pairings in cancer.
Circulating fibrocytes as biomarkers of impaired lung function in adults with sickle cell disease
Authors: Mehrad Borna , Burdick Marie D. , Wandersee Nancy J. , Shahir Kaushik S. , Zhang Liyun , Simpson Pippa M. , Strieter Robert M. , Field Joshua J.
Published: November 2017

Key Points

Fibrocytes are progenitor cells that home to injured organs and contribute to fibrosis. Levels of circulating fibrocytes are associated with pulmonary dysfunction in adults with SCD.
Proangiogenic alginate-g-pyrrole hydrogel with decoupled control of mechanical rigidity and electrically conductivity
Authors: DeVolder Ross J. , Seo Yongbeom , Kong Hyunjoon
Published: November 2017

Background

An electrically conductive hydrogel has emerged to regulate cellular secretion activities with electrical stimulation. However, the electrical conductivity of typical hydrogel systems decreases with increasing elastic modulus of the hydrogels because of decreased transport of ions through a polymeric cross-linked mesh.

Method

This study hypothesized that the inverse dependency between electrical conductivity and elastic modulus would be made through the cross-linking of conductive monomer-units conjugated to a hydrophilic polymeric backbone. This hypothesis was examined through the cross-linking of pyrrole groups that were conjugated to an alginate backbone, termed alginate-g-pyrrole.

Results

Hydrogels with increased degrees of pyrrole substitution exhibited a simultaneous increase in the gels mechanical rigidity and electrical conductivity. The resulting hydrogel could control the adhesion and vascular endothelial growth factor secretion of cells via applied electrical stimulation.

Conclusions

This material design principle will be broadly useful to fabricating materials used for various actuation, cell culture, and biomedical applications.
Development of the parasitoid Bracon brevicornis on different larval instars (L2-L5) of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella
Authors: Malesios G. A. , Prophetou-Athanasiadou D. A.
Published: November 2017

Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious parasitoid that attacks a variety of important lepidopterous pests of stored products. The aim of this study was to determine if different larval instars of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) affected longevity and fecundity of parasitoid B. brevicornis. Percentage of parasitism, number of eggs laid on different larval instars of P. interpunctella, number of larvae, prepupae, pupae and the number of F2 adults of B. brevicornis as well as the developmental time of parasitoid egg, larva, prepupa, pupa and the total developmental time from egg to adult on different larval instars of the host were recorded. Our results showed that statistically significant differences were observed among the larval instars of P. interpunctella in all studied parameters. In L2 of P. interpunctella no eggs of B. brevicornis were observed. A few eggs laid on L3 but they were not developed successfully. Concerning the development of B. brevicornis on L4 and L5 instars of P. interpunctella statistically significant differences were observed between the two instars. The mean number of eggs laid by B. brevicornis on L4 of P. interpunctella per 10 days was 2.42 eggs per adult, and the mean number larvae, prepupa, pupae and adults was 1.42, 1.37, 1.26 and 1.24 respectively. The mean number of eggs laid on L5 of P. interpunctella by B. brevicornis was 13.65, while the mean number of larvae, prepupae, pupae and adults was 9.73, 7.90, 7.44 and 7.16 respectively. In all cases the differences were statistically significant. The developmental time of B. brevicornis developed on L4 instar of P. interpunctella was 1.12 days for egg, 2.03 for larva, 1.47 for prepupa, 6.82 for pupa and the total developmental time from egg to adult 11.45 days. The developmental time of B. brevicornis developed on L5 instar of P. interpunctella was 1.18 days for egg, 1.68 for larva, 1.29 for prepupa, 7.76 for pupa and the total developmental time from egg to adult 11.92 days. The female and male B. brevicornis adult life span of F1 generation was 16.70 and 11 days when developed on L4 of P. interpunctella and 28.70 and 17.60 days when developed on L5 of P. interpunctella.
Efficacy of a Beauveria bassiana strain, Bacillus thuringiensis and their combination against the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta
Authors: Tsoulnara Despoina , Port Gordon
Published: November 2017

A single leaf bioassay was developed to investigate the entomopathogenic efficacy of a Beauveria bassiana strain, Bacillus thuringiensis (Costar®) and their interactions on larval mortality of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Tomato leaves were removed from the plants and sprayed with manufacturers’ highest field recommended concentrations for tomato crops before or after infesting the leaves with the larvae. Third instar larvae proved the most susceptible, while susceptibility was lower in the second instar larvae. The combined use showed a higher potential indicating a positive synergistic effect. In addition, treated leaves were sprayed directly with concentrations of 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 mL/L of B. bassiana. The efficacy was higher for the tested concentration of 0.20 mL/L that is higher than the recommended dose. The present study suggests that those bioinsecticides have a good potential in the control of T. absoluta.
A catalogue of Coleoptera specimens with potential forensic interest in the Goulandris Natural History Museum collection
Authors: Dimaki Maria , Anagnou-Veroniki Maria , Tylianakis Jason
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a catalogue of the Coleoptera specimens in the Goulandris Natural History Museum collection that have potential forensic interest. Forensic entomology can help to estimate the time elapsed since death by studying the necrophagous insects collected on a cadaver and its surroundings. In this paper forty eight species (369 specimens) are listed that belong to seven families: Silphidae (3 species), Staphylinidae (6 species), Histeridae (11 species), Anobiidae (4 species), Cleridae (6 species), Dermestidae (14 species), and Nitidulidae (4 species). The aim of this paper is to present this collection and its importance for studying forensic entomology.
Sex-specific dispersal behaviour of crawlers in the mealybug Planococcus citri
Authors: Ross L. , Pen I. , Shuker D.M.
Published: November 2017

Sex-specific dispersal can have important evolutionary and ecological implications, influencing local population structure and sex ratio, as well as the speed at which new habitats can be colonized. In scale insects, first-instar nymphs (crawlers) are assumed to be the main dispersal stage. Although all scale insects are extremely sexually dimorphic, in most species the sexes are indistinguishable as crawlers. Here we consider the mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso), and dispersal by crawlers to or from resource patches. The aim of this study was to test if: (1) crawler dispersal behaviour differs between the sexes and how this is affected by local conditions (population density and sex ratio); and (2) there is a difference between the sexes in crawler dispersal success to a new host plant. Using two experiments, which differed in how resources were spread between dispersal sources and sinks, we show that male and female nymphs do not differ in their dispersal behaviour or in their dispersal success when dispersal is via crawler locomotion. These laboratory experiments are an important starting point for understanding the evolution of dispersal behaviour of P. citri in the field, suggesting that more attention might need to be paid to different methods of dispersal as well as crawler locomotion.
Non-indigenous scale insects on ornamental plants in Bulgaria and China: A survey
Authors: Trencheva K. , Trenchev G. , Tomov R. , Wu S.-A.
Published: November 2017

A preliminary list of non-indigenous scale insect species on ornamental plants in Bulgaria and China is presented. The sampling was done between April and November, 2009, in the framework of the project “Invasive scale insects on ornamental plants in Bulgaria and China”. The insects were collected in nurseries, parks, gardens, botanical collections and greenhouses. Representatives from four families have been identified in Bulgaria, the most numerous of which are the Diaspididae (eight species), Coccidae (four species), Pseudococcidae (two species) and Margarodidae (one species). Three species of non-indigenous scale insects associated with ornamental plants were collected in China, all belonging to the family Pseudococcidae. A list of alien scale insect species on ornamental plants is given, including the sampling sites, host plants on which they were found, origin and first report in both countries.
ISSIS-XII (Crete, Greece, April-2010) recognises Zvi Mendel for his excellence and outstanding contributions to scale insect studies
Authors: Ben-Dov Yair
Published: November 2017

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