bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting false messages in vehicular ad hoc networks based on a traffic flow model
Authors: Liu Jizhao , Yang Weidong , Zhang Junbao , Yang Changlin
Published: February 2020

In vehicular ad hoc networks, inside attackers can launch a false information attack by injecting false emergency messages to report bogus events such as traffic accidents. In this article, a false message detection scheme is proposed and evaluated. First, traffic flow theory is employed to analyze vehicular behavior under a traffic accident scenario. It shows that a “bottleneck” phenomenon is triggered because the road capacity is reduced by blocked lanes at an accident site. The traffic parameters, such as vehicular density, exhibit a distinct statistical property compared to an accident-free scenario. Based on this, a false message detection algorithm is proposed in which the traveling vehicles are exploited as witnesses to collect traffic parameters, and their observation data are used as evidence to feed a traffic flow model. A Bayesian theorem–based method is used to calculate the likelihood for each traffic scenarios, and the actual traffic condition is estimated to determine whether the reported accident has actually occurred. Finally, the performance of the proposed scheme was verified through simulations in a realistic traffic scenario. It was shown that a higher detection accuracy could be obtained compared to previously proposed approach.
A lightweight verifiable outsourced decryption of attribute-based encryption scheme for blockchain-enabled wireless body area network in fog computing
Authors: Guo Rui , Zhuang Chaoyuan , Shi Huixian , Zhang Yinghui , Zheng Dong
Published: February 2020

Wireless body area network includes some tiny wearable sensors for monitoring the physiological data of user, which has been a promising method of promoting the quality and efficiency greatly in healthcare. The collected physical signs are aggregated into the medical documents and uploaded to cloud server for utilizing by the remote user. As these files are highly sensitive privacy data, there is a vital challenge that constructs a secure and efficient communication architecture in this application scenario. Based on this standpoint, we present a lightweight verifiability ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption protocol with outsourced decryption in this article. Specifically, our construction enjoys the following six features: (1) Although the outsourced decryption enables to save the computation overhead of the data user sharply in an attribute-based encryption scheme, the ciphertext is out of control and the correctness cannot be guaranteed by the data owner. The proposal provides the verifiability of ciphertext that ensures the user to check the correctness efficiently. (2) The size of the ciphertext is constant that is not increased with the complexity of attribute and access structure. (3) For Internet of Things devices, it introduces the fog computing into our protocol for the purpose of low latency and relation interactions, which has virtually saved the bandwidth. (4) With the help of blockchain technique, we encapsulate the hash value of public parameter, original and transformed ciphertext and transformed key into a block, so that the tamper-resistance is facilitated against an adversary from inside and outside the system. (5) In the standard model, we prove that it is selectively chosen-plaintext attack-secure and verifiable provided that the computational bilinear Diffie–Hellman assumption holds. (6) It implements this protocol and shows the result of performance measurement, which indicates a significant reduction on communication and computation costs burden on every entity in wireless body area network.
A Novel Synthesis of Fe3O4@SiO2@Au@Porous SiO2 Structure for NIR Irradiation-Induced DOX Release and Cancer Treatment
Authors: Yang Meng , Yang Wenhua , Chen Liang , Ding Mingjian , Li Chenhao , Shi Dongliang
Published: February 2020

Doxorubicin (DOX) alone or in combination has been widely used for numerous cancers, including breast, lung, bladder, and so on. In this article, a core/shell/shell structured Fe3O4@SiO2@Au@porous SiO2 particles for the drug delivery and release of DOX was demonstrated, with the aid of near-infrared irradiation. Fe3O4 was used to direct the transportation and delivery of the drug-loaded composite to the target tissues and organs under an external magnetic field, the first layer of SiO2 was used for Au nanoparticle attachment, Au acted as the agent for light–thermal conversion, and the porous SiO2 was used to load DOX. The morphology of the nanoparticles was studied by transmission electron microscopy, and the porous structure was characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption curves. The drug delivery system displayed high drug loading capacity, and the release behavior was largely impacted by the environmental pH. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of Fe3O4@SiO2@Au@porous SiO2 and DOX loaded Fe3O4@SiO2@Au@porous SiO2 was studied through in vitro 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability assay.
Studying texts in a non-native language: A further investigation of factors involved in the L2 recall cost
Authors: Vander Beken Heleen , De Bruyne Ellen , Brysbaert Marc
Published: February 2020

With academic internationalisation at full speed, English is increasingly used as a medium of instruction in higher education. The question arises of whether unbalanced bilinguals remember study materials in a non-native language (L2) as well as in a first language (L1). In previous studies, we found a disadvantage for students recalling short, expository texts in L2 compared with L1, but no such disadvantage for a true/false recognition test, not even on delayed tests after a month. As no additional forgetting occurs, the quality of the memory trace seems to be equally strong in both languages and the recall cost might be caused by a lack of production skill in L2. To test this hypothesis, we ran experiments in L1–L1, L2–L1, and L2–L2 conditions with free and cued recall (short open questions). We replicate the L2 free recall cost reported earlier and show that it is due to the encoding in L2 rather than to an L2 production cost. In contrast, we found no significant difference in a new pair of texts with short, cued recall questions, though there was a trend in the expected direction. A summary of the effect sizes obtained so far shows a considerable variety in magnitudes (with rather big confidence intervals), suggesting that the cost of studying in L2 depends on several factors such as study time, test requirement, and language proficiency level.
Effect of Exercise and Meals on Continuous Glucose Monitor Data in Healthy Individuals Without Diabetes
Authors: DuBose Stephanie N. , Li Zoey , Sherr Jennifer L. , Beck Roy W. , Tamborlane William V. , Shah Viral N.
Published: February 2020

Objective:

The aim of these analyses was to characterize the effect of exercise and meals on glucose concentrations in healthy individuals without diabetes.

Methods:

Healthy individuals without diabetes (age ≥6 years) with nonobese body mass index were enrolled at 12 centers within the T1D Exchange Clinic Network. Participants wore a blinded Dexcom G6 for up to ten days. Throughout this sensor wear, participants completed a daily log indicating times and type of any exercise and start times of meals and snacks.

Results:

A total of 153 participants (age 7-80 years) were included in the analyses. Exercise induced a mean change of −15 ± 18 mg/dL from baseline to nadir sensor glucose level. Mean nadir glucose concentration during nights following exercise days was 82 ± 11 mg/dL compared with 85 ± 11 mg/dL during nights following nonexercise days ( P = .05). Mean change from baseline to nadir sensor glucose level during aerobic exercise was −15 ± 18 and −9 ± 12 mg/dL for resistance exercise ( P = .25). Overnight nadir glucose during nights following aerobic and resistance exercise was 83 ± 12 and 76 ± 14 mg/dL, respectively ( P = .25). Overall mean peak postprandial glucose per participant increased from 93 ± 10 mg/dL premeal to 130 ± 13 mg/dL with an average time to peak glucose per participant of 97 ± 31 minutes. Consumption of alcohol on the day prior did not impact overnight mean or nadir glucose.

Conclusion:

The present analysis provides important data characterizing the effect of exercise and meals on glucose in healthy individuals without diabetes. These data provide a repository to which future therapies, whether pharmacologic or technologic, can be compared.
Correlations in Trends of Sinusitis-Related Online Google Search Queries in the United States
Authors: Sharma Dhruv , Sandelski Morgan M. , Ting Jonathan , Higgins Thomas S.
Published: February 2020

Background

Online search query trends have been shown to correlate with real-life epidemiologic phenomena.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze correlations in trends in Google online search volumes of sinusitis-related terms, including symptomatology and similar disease states.

Methods

Terms clinically associated with “sinusitis” were determined by consensus. Terms of symptomatology were derived from the validated 22-item sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) as well as terminology encountered with the authors’ clinical experience. Terms of disease states that could overlap in symptomatology with sinusitis were then chosen. Google Trends, an online tool for extracting relative frequencies from a public database of search queries, was used to query normalized monthly volumes in the United States from January 2004 to September 2017 of searches related to the topics decided upon by consensus. Bivariate Pearson correlation was used to compare the search queries.

Results

Online search volumes of “sinusitis” have a distinct seasonal variation, with consistent annual peaks and troughs. In terms of symptomatology, “postnasal drip,” “nasal congestion,” “cough,” “rhinorrhea,” and “sore throat” most highly correlated with “sinusitis” search volumes with statistical significance. “sinusitis” search query volume had a higher positive correlation with “common cold” and “acute sinusitis” than “chronic sinusitis” with regard to disease states.

Conclusions

Trends in Google online search volumes over time of “sinusitis” symptomatology mimic real-world clinical phenomena and provide insight into the issues affecting the general population.
Liking but Devaluing Animals: Emotional and Deliberative Paths to Speciesism
Authors: Caviola Lucius , Capraro Valerio
Published: February 2020

We explore whether priming emotion versus deliberation affects speciesism—the tendency to prioritize certain individuals over others on the basis of their species membership (three main and two supplementary studies, four preregistered; N = 3,288). We find that the tendency to prioritize humans over animals (anthropocentric speciesism) decreases when participants were asked to think emotionally compared to deliberatively. In contrast, the tendency to prioritize dogs over other animals (pet speciesism) increases when participants were asked to think emotionally compared to deliberatively. We hypothesize that, emotionally, people like animals in general and dogs in particular; however, deliberatively, people attribute higher moral status to humans than animals and roughly equal status to dogs, chimpanzees, elephants, and pigs. In support of this explanation, participants tended to discriminate between animals based on likability when thinking emotionally and based on moral status when thinking deliberatively. These findings shed light on the psychological underpinnings of speciesism.
Optimizing outcomes in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: a review of current and forthcoming therapeutic strategies
Authors: Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P. , Asimakopoulos John V. , Konstantopoulos Kostas , Angelopoulou Maria K.
Published: February 2020

The outcome of patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (rr-cHL) has improved considerably in recent years owing to the approval of highly active novel agents such as brentuximab vedotin and Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors. Although no randomized trials have been conducted to provide formal proof, it is almost undisputable that the survival of these patients has been prolonged. As autologous stem-cell transplantation (SCT) remains the standard of care for second-line therapy of most patients with rr-cHL, optimization of second-line regimens with the use of brentuximab vedotin, or, in the future, checkpoint inhibitors, is promising to increase both the eligibility rate for transplant and the final outcome. The need for subsequent therapy, and especially allogeneic SCT, can be reduced with brentuximab vedotin consolidation for 1 year, while pembrolizumab is also being tested in this setting. Several other drug categories appear to be active in rr-cHL, but their development has been delayed by the appearance of brentuximab vedotin, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, which have dominated the field of rr-cHL treatment in the last 5 years. Combinations of active drugs in chemo-free approaches may further increase efficacy and hopefully reduce toxicity in rr-cHL, but are still under development.
The prevalence and associated factors of Treponema pallidum among HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals who attended voluntary counseling and testing center of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study design
Authors: Weldesenbet Habtamu , Asrat Daniel , Weldeamanuel Yimtubezinash
Published: February 2020

Background:

Treponema pallidum and HIV are among the most common public health problems in Ethiopia. These infections are interrelated. Treponema pallidum causes genital ulcer which enhances HIV transmission and complicates HIV by causing severe ulcer among HIV-positive individuals. Although Treponema pallidum and HIV have a similar route of transmission, screening services for Treponema pallidum are not available in most of the voluntary counseling and testing centers.

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of Treponema pallidum and sociodemographic factors among HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals from the voluntary counseling and testing center of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods:

In this research, a cross-sectional study was conducted and a total of 292 consecutive samples were collected from the voluntary counseling and testing center of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A blood specimen was tested for the presence of Treponema pallidum using rapid plasma reagin and a rapid test kit for HIV. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results:

The overall prevalence of Treponema pallidum was 5/292 (1.7%). All HIV-positive clients were negative for Treponema pallidum. None of the risk factors were significantly associated with Treponema pallidum.

Conclusion:

In this study, the prevalence of Treponema pallidum was 5/292 (1.7%). None of the study participants were co-infected with Treponema pallidum and HIV.

Recommendation:

There was a lack of association between syphilis and HIV in this study, but still the prevalence of Treponema pallidum among voluntary counseling and testing center clients is a public health problem. Therefore, Treponema pallidum infection control strategies should be designed in parallel with HIV control strategy and actions should be taken to avert the problem, including the provision of better health education and screening services at voluntary counseling and testing centers parallel with HIV.
Acquired factor VIII deficiency in prostate adenocarcinoma presenting as multiple hematomas and hemarthrosis
Authors: Lewis Akeem , Joseph Joe , Pathak Nirmal , Baseri Babak , Luhrs Carol
Published: February 2020

Acquired hemophilia A or acquired factor VIII deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder due to the presence of autoantibodies to factor VIII. It has been associated with autoimmune conditions, certain medications, and malignancy. It has a high morbidity and mortality, and early diagnosis and treatment is critically important. Acquired hemophilia A usually manifests with soft tissue bleeding, such as epistaxis, genitourinary, or gastrointestinal bleeding and rarely with hemarthrosis. In this case report, we present the management of an uncommon case of acquired hemophilia A in a patient with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma who presented with both hemarthrosis and soft tissue bleeding. Bleeding was controlled with recombinant factor VIIa, factor VIII bypassing agent, and immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone and rituximab. Chemotherapy with docetaxel was also promptly initiated to address the underlying condition and achieve long-term remission, which is currently ongoing for 10 months.
Intravitreal bevacizumab-induced exacerbation of proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy, and amelioration by switching to ranibizumab
Authors: Hanna Ramy M , Abdelnour Lama , Hasnain Huma , Selamet Umut , Kurtz Ira
Published: February 2020

Certain diabetic and hypertensive patients started on intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition for diabetic retinopathy may experience worsening of hypertension and proteinuria. The etiology of this is the newly recognized absorption of intravitreally injected vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, and the susceptibility of patients with pre-existing renal disease to exacerbations depends on the degree of systemic absorption. There are eighteen reported cases of worsening hypertension, woresening proteinuria, worsening renal function, thrombotic microangiopathy, and glomerular disease noted after initiation of intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor blockade. This nineteenth case demonstrates worsening hypertension and proteinuria with the start of bevacizumab. Both blood pressure and proteinuria parameters showed overall improvement with switching to the less absorbed and lower potency agent ranibizumab. There was a slight rise in serum creatinine after bevacizumab therapy, which stabilized at a new baseline, and the serum creatinine remained stable on ranibizumab. There were no other nephrotoxic exposures that explained the mild rise in serum creatinine. Because of improvement in renal function and proteinuria, a renal biopsy was deferred for the time. This case re-demonstrates the risk of worsening proteinuria with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors when given intravitreally in some patients. The demonstration of improvement in blood pressure and proteinuria with the use of lower potency agents like ranibizumab is novel and an important concept confirming observations from pharmacokinetic studies. The switch to ranibizumab offers a therapeutic option when proteinuria worsens with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor blockade, and the patient requires ongoing intravitreal therapy for treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Doctor YouTube’s opinion on seasonal influenza: A critical appraisal of the information available to patients
Authors: Kallur Akhil , Albalbissi Ahmad , Carillo-Martin Ismael , Boonpheng Boonphiphop , Kallur Lakshmi , Kherallah Yaman , Mahajan Akhilesh , Mahapatra Shayan , Mohan Kaushik , Mohan Priyasree , Reddy Keerti , Sankhyan Pratyaksha , Lopez-Alvarez Sonia , Youssef Dima , El Abbassi Adel M , Gonzalez-Estrada Alexei
Published: February 2020

Background

Seasonal influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. During the 2017–2018 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted approximately 959,000 hospitalizations and 79,400 deaths from influenza. We sought to evaluate the educational quality of informational videos pertaining to seasonal influenza on the popular social media forum, YouTube.

Methods

Using the keywords “seasonal influenza,” all videos from 28 January to 5 February 2017 were included and analyzed for characteristics, source, and content. The source was further classified as healthcare provider, alternative-medicine provider, the patient and/or their parents, company, media, or professional society. Videos about other categories of influenza (e.g. swine or Spanish) or in foreign languages were excluded. A total of 10 blinded reviewers scored each video independently.

Results

Overall, 300 videos were analyzed, with a median of 341.50 views, 1.00 likes, 0 dislikes, and 0 comments. Based on the average scores of videos by source, there was statistically significant difference in the average score among videos by video source ( p < 0.01). Healthcare provider videos had the highest mean scores whereas alternative medicine provider videos had the lowest.

Conclusions

Although the aforementioned video sources scored higher than others, these videos did not fulfill our criteria as far as educating patients thoroughly. Our data also suggest alternative medicine and patient source videos were misleading for patients. Clinical implications: Although videos by healthcare providers were a better source of information, videos on seasonal influenza were shown to be poor sources of valid healthcare information. This study reiterates the need for higher-quality educational videos on seasonal influenza by the medical community.
Patient experiences of being cared for by nursing students in a psychiatric education unit
Authors: Andersson Niklas , Ekebergh Margaretha , Hörberg Ulrica
Published: February 2020

Patients are vital for student learning. However, research has primarily focused on student nurse learning from a student or supervisor perspective; few studies have investigated patient perspectives. This study examines student care practice for patients in acute psychiatric day care. The aim was to describe patients’ experiences of care by student nurses in a psychiatric education unit, a collaboration between the clinic and academia. Data were collected through 17 lifeworld interviews with patients, of which 10 also included observations. Data have been analysed for meanings using reflective, lifeworld research (RLR). The findings reveal that the encounters involve an interactive process of giving and receiving, providing students with both health opportunities and risks. The findings can further be described by the following constituents: exposed and vulnerable; responsibility to support; the importance of accessibility; reciprocity; and engagement that evokes the desire to live a life with dignity. In a patient–student community, there are prerequisites for proper caring. Patient health seems to be positively affected when patients are involved in both their own care and student learning.
Practised sedation in mechanically ventilated patients: A survey of nurses’ perceptions
Authors: Nystrøm Vivian , Fosser Olsen Brita , Brekke Idunn
Published: February 2020

Recent clinical practice guidelines recommend analgosedation in intensive care unit patients, where the patients' pain first is relieved, followed by sedatives only on indication. The aims of the present study was to examine sedation practice today, to evaluate the degree to which there is a difference in sedation practice between units, and to investigate the associations between nurses' demographic characteristics and their perception of sedation practice. A cross sectional survey was conducted to the nurses in three intensive care units in Norway. The results indicated that light sedation was implemented in the three intensive care unit studied. Continuous infusion of propofol and dexmedetomidine were used most frequently, and continuous infusion of midazolam was used occasionally. However, the sedation practices varied significantly between the units. Subjective scoring systems, physician's prescriptions, and prescription follow-up were reported to be most frequently used as guidelines and directives, and Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale was reported to be the most frequently used sedation assessment tool.
Improvement of Lower Back Pain in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis After Decompression Surgery and Factors That Predict Residual Lower Back Pain
Authors: Kitagawa Takahiro , Ogura Yoji , Kobayashi Yoshiomi , Takahashi Yoshiyuki , Yonezawa Yoshiro , Yoshida Kodai , Takahashi Yohei , Yasuda Akimasa , Shinozaki Yoshio , Ogawa Jun
Published: February 2020

Study Design:

Retrospective observational study.

Objectives:

There is no consensus to predict improvement of lower back pain (LBP) in lumbar spinal stenosis after decompression surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement of LBP and analyze the preoperative predicting factors for residual LBP.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 119 patients who underwent lumbar decompression surgery without fusion and had a minimum follow-up of 1 year. LBP was evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) LBP score, and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). All patients were divided into LBP improved group (group I) and LBP residual group (group R) according to the NRS score. Radiographic images were examined preoperatively and at the final follow-up. We evaluated spinopelvic radiological parameters and analyzed the differences between group I and group R.

Results:

LBP was significantly improved after decompression surgery (LBP NRS, 5.7 vs 2.6, P < .001; JOABPEQ LBP score, 41.3 vs 79.6, P < .001; RMDQ, 10.3 vs 3.6, P < .001). Of 119 patients, 94 patients were allocated to group I and 25 was allocated to group R. There was significant difference in preoperative thoracolumbar kyphosis between group I and group R.

Conclusions:

Most cases of LBP in lumbar spinal stenosis were improved after decompression surgery without fusion. Preoperative thoracolumbar kyphosis predicted residual LBP after decompression surgery.
Communication Professionals’ Sensemaking of CSR: A Case Study of a Financial Services Firm
Authors: Miller Katharine E. , Fyke Jeremy P.
Published: February 2020

This case study explores corporate social responsibility (CSR) through the perspective of communication professionals at a large financial services firm. These employees rely on both external communication through formal reporting as well as informal internal communication to understand CSR activities, and tend to describe CSR by what it means within their organization. We find that communication employees perceive that CSR is obligatory, rarely questioned or explained, labeled as “voluntold,” and mainly employed for good press due to its philanthropic focus. We offer theoretical and practical implications that center on making CSR operational, not additive, and ideas for educators teaching CSR.
International guidelines on stage III N2 nonsmall cell lung cancer: surgery or radiotherapy?
Authors: Putora Paul Martin , Leskow Pawel , McDonald Fiona , Batchelor Tim , Evison Matthiew
Published: February 2020

Stage III N2 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a complex disease with poor treatment outcomes. For patients in whom the disease is considered technically resectable, the main treatment options include surgery (with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy/neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT)) or CRT followed by adjuvant immunotherapy (dependent on programmed death ligand 1 status). As there is no clear evidence demonstrating a survival benefit between these options, patient preference plays an important role. A lack of a consensus definition of resectability of N2 disease adds to the complexity of the decision-making process. We compared 10 international guidelines on the treatment of NSCLC to investigate the recommendations on preoperatively diagnosed stage III N2 NSCLC. This comparison simplified the treatment paths to multimodal therapy based on surgery or radiotherapy (RT). We analysed factors relevant to decision-making within these guidelines. Overall, for nonbulky mediastinal lymph node involvement there was no clear preference between surgery and CRT. With increasing extent of mediastinal nodal disease, a tendency towards multimodal treatment based on RT was identified. In multiple scenarios, surgery or RT-based treatments are feasible and patient involvement in decision-making is critical.
The Theodul Glacier Unit, a slab of pre-Alpine rocks in the Alpine meta-ophiolite of Zermatt-Saas, Western Alps
Authors: Bucher Kurt , Weisenberger Tobias Björn , Weber Sebastian , Klemm Oliver , Corfu Fernando
Published: February 2020

The Theodul-Glacier-Unit (TGU) is a 100 m thick and 2 km long slab of pre-Alpine schist, gneiss and mafic rocks tectonically emplaced in the eclogite-facies Zermatt-Saas meta-ophiolite nappe (ZSU). The meta-sedimentary rocks occur mostly as garnet-phengite schists with locally cm-sized garnet porphyroblasts. The metavolcanic basic rocks are present as variably retrogressed eclogites showing a continental basalt signature and contain abundant zircon, which is unusual for basalts. The zircons dated with the U–Pb system yield an upper intercept age of 295 ± 16 Ma and a lower intercept age of 145 ± 34 Ma. The early Permian age is interpreted to represent the age of high-grade granulite facies metamorphism, evidence of which is also preserved in the cores of garnet porphyroblasts of the Grt-Ph schists. The lower intercept age corresponds to the time of continental breakup and the initiation of the Tethys in the Mid-Jurassic; these events may have created the TGU as an extensional allochton. Eclogite facies metamorphism recorded by the TGU rocks occurred during Alpine subduction at 57 Ma, the Lu–Hf age of TGU eclogite garnets. The TGU reached a depth of about 53 km at P–T conditions of 1.7 GPa and 520 °C derived from both, eclogite and Grt-Ph schist. This is in contrast to the ZSU surrounding the TGU with a reported subduction depth of more than 80 km at 43 Ma. It is proposed here that TGU and ZSU were subducted separately out of sequence. After juxtaposition of the two units during late Alpine thrusting and folding forming the present day geometry of nappes in the Zermatt-Saas region both units were progressively metamorphosed to about 650 MPa and 470 °C. This late prograde metamorphism at 34 Ma produced oligoclase + magnesio-hornblende in the matrix of Grt-Ph schists and eclogites. The derived TGU data document a complete Wilson Cycle.
The Polarization Properties of the Reflection Spectra of Single-Layer MoS2 and ReS2 on SiO2/Si and Quartz Substrates
Authors: Shi Yafang , Wang Longlong , Qiao Xiaofen , Li Shuai , Liu Yi , Li Xiaoli , Zhao Xiaohui
Published: February 2020

MoS2 and ReS2 are typical transition metal chalcogenides with many excellent electrical and optical properties. Due to different lattice symmetries, ReS2 offers one more dimension than MoS2 to tune its physical properties. In this paper, we studied the polarized reflection spectra in single-layer MoS2 and ReS2. The explicit difference identifies strong angle-dependent properties in single-layer ReS2 distinct from single-layer MoS2. The results of samples on both SiO2/Si substrate and quartz substrate show single-layer ReS2 is in-plane anisotropic and the change period of reflection intensity is estimated with the polarization angles.
Pathophysiological properties of CLIC3 chloride channel in human gastric cancer cells
Authors: Kawai Shunsuke , Fujii Takuto , Shimizu Takahiro , Sukegawa Kenta , Hashimoto Isaya , Okumura Tomoyuki , Nagata Takuya , Sakai Hideki , Fujii Tsutomu
Published: February 2020

Pathophysiological functions of chloride intracellular channel protein 3 (CLIC3) in human gastric cancer have been unclear. In the tissue microarray analysis using 107 gastric cancer specimens, CLIC3 expression was negatively correlated with pathological tumor depth, and the patients with lower expression of CLIC3 exhibited poorer prognosis. CLIC3 was expressed in the plasma membrane of cancer cells in the tissue. CLIC3 expression was also found in a human gastric cancer cell line (MKN7). In whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of the cells expressing CLIC3, NPPB-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl−currents were observed. Cell proliferation was significantly accelerated by knockdown of CLIC3 in MKN7 cells. On the other hand, the proliferation was attenuated by exogenous CLIC3 expression in human gastric cancer cells (KATOIII and NUGC-4) in which endogenous CLIC3 expression is negligible. Our results suggest that CLIC3 functions as a Cl−channel in the plasma membrane of gastric cancer cells and that decreased expression of CLIC3 results in unfavorable prognosis of gastric cancer patients.
Analyses on clustering of the conserved residues at protein-RNA interfaces and its application in binding site identification
Authors: Yang Zhen , Deng Xueqing , Liu Yang , Gong Weikang , Li Chunhua
Published: February 2020

Background

The maintenance of protein structural stability requires the cooperativity among spatially neighboring residues. Previous studies have shown that conserved residues tend to occur clustered together within enzyme active sites and protein-protein/DNA interfaces. It is possible that conserved residues form one or more local clusters in protein tertiary structures as it can facilitate the formation of functional motifs. In this work, we systematically investigate the spatial distributions of conserved residues as well as hot spot ones within protein-RNA interfaces.

Results

The analysis of 191 polypeptide chains from 160 complexes shows the polypeptides interacting with tRNAs evolve relatively rapidly. A statistical analysis of residues in different regions shows that the interface residues are often more conserved, while the most conserved ones are those occurring at protein interiors which maintain the stability of folded polypeptide chains. Additionally, we found that 77.8% of the interfaces have the conserved residues clustered within the entire interface regions. Appling the clustering characteristics to the identification of the real interface, there are 31.1% of cases where the real interfaces are ranked in top 10% of 1000 randomly generated surface patches. In the conserved clusters, the preferred residues are the hydrophobic (Leu, Ile, Met), aromatic (Tyr, Phe, Trp) and interestingly only one positively charged Arg residues. For the hot spot residues, 51.5% of them are situated in the conserved residue clusters, and they are largely consistent with the preferred residue types in the conserved clusters.

Conclusions

The protein-RNA interface residues are often more conserved than non-interface surface ones. The conserved interface residues occur more spatially clustered relative to the entire interface residues. The high consistence of hot spot residue types and the preferred residue types in the conserved clusters has important implications for the experimental alanine scanning mutagenesis study. This work deepens the understanding of the residual organization at protein-RNA interface and is of potential applications in the identification of binding site and hot spot residues.
Suppression of behavioral activity and hippocampal noradrenaline caused by surgical stress in type 2 diabetes model mice
Authors: Nishimura Momoka , Nomura Yuki , Egi Moritoki , Obata Norihiko , Tsunoda Makoto , Mizobuchi Satoshi
Published: February 2020

Background

There has been much discussion recently about the occurrence of neuropsychological complications during the perioperative period. Diabetes is known to be one of the metabolic risk factors. Although the number of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasing, the pathophysiology of postoperative neuropsychological dysfunction in DM patients is still unclear. Recently, a deficiency of neurotransmitters, such as monoamines, was reported to be associated with mental disorders. Therefore, we investigated the effects of surgical stress on behavioral activity and hippocampal noradrenaline (NA) level in type 2 diabetes mellitus model (T2DM) mice.

Methods

Eighty-four 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups (non-diabetes, non-diabetes with surgery, T2DM, and T2DM with surgery groups). T2DM mice were established by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. At 14 weeks of age, fifteen mice in each group underwent a series of behavioral tests including an open field (OF) test, a novel object recognition (NOR) test and a light–dark (LD) test. In the surgery groups, open abdominal surgery with manipulation of the intestine was performed 24 h before the behavioral tests as a surgical stress. Hippocampal noradrenaline (NA) concentration was examined in six mice in each group by high-performance liquid chromatography. The data were analyzed by the Mann–Whitney U test, and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The T2DM group showed significantly increased explorative activity in the NOR test (P = 0.0016) and significantly increased frequency of transition in the LD test (P = 0.043) compared with those in the non-diabetic group before surgery. In T2DM mice, surgical stress resulted in decreased total distance in the OF test, decreased explorative activity in the NOR test, and decreased frequency of transition in the LD test (OF: P = 0.015, NOR: P = 0.009, LD: P = 0.007) and decreased hippocampal NA (P = 0.015), but such differences were not observed in the non-diabetic mice.

Conclusions

Mice with T2DM induced by feeding an HFD showed increased behavioral activities, and surgical stress in T2DM mice caused postoperative hypoactivity and reduction of the hippocampal NA level.
Photosynthetic characteristics and chloroplast ultrastructure of welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) grown under different LED wavelengths
Authors: Gao Song , Liu Xuena , Liu Ying , Cao Bili , Chen Zijing , Xu Kun
Published: February 2020

Background

The optimized illumination of plants using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is beneficial to their photosynthetic performance, and in recent years, LEDs have been widely used in horticultural facilities. However, there are significant differences in the responses of different crops to different wavelengths of light. Thus, the influence of artificial light on photosynthesis requires further investigation to provide theoretical guidelines for the light environments used in industrial crop production. In this study, we tested the effects of different LEDs (white, W; blue, B; green, G; yellow, Y; and red, R) with the same photon flux density (300 μmol/m2·s) on the growth, development, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, leaf structure, and chloroplast ultrastructure of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) plants.

Results

Plants in the W and B treatments had significantly higher height, leaf area, and fresh weight than those in the other treatments. The photosynthetic pigment content and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in the W treatment were significantly higher than those in the monochromatic light treatments, the transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (Gs) were the highest in the B treatment, and the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) was the highest in the Y treatment. The non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) was the highest in the Y treatment, but the other chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics differed among treatments in the following order: W > B > R > G > Y. This includes the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) under dark adaptation (Fv/Fm), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII under light adaptation (Fv′/Fm′), photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII), and apparent electron transport rate (ETR). Finally, the leaf structure and chloroplast ultrastructure showed the most complete development in the B treatment.

Conclusions

White and blue light significantly improved the photosynthetic efficiency of Welsh onions, whereas yellow light reduced the photosynthetic efficiency.
Imaging findings for pancreatic Hamartoma: two case reports and a review of the literature
Authors: Cui Heng , Lian Yuqing , Chen Feng
Published: February 2020

Background

Pancreatic hamartoma is an extremely rare benign disease, and previous reports have provided little detail regarding its appearance in imaging. As a result, we report the imaging findings for two cases of pancreatic hamartoma.

Case presentation

One 57-year-old female patient and one 69-year-old male patient presented with pancreatic lesions incidentally detected by US; CT and MRI revealed a 2.9-cm cystic and solid lesion and a 1.4-cm solid lesion, respectively. US showed a hypoechoic well-defined mass in the pancreatic head. The plain CT indicated that the internal density was uneven, and the lesions showed obvious progressive enhancement. The MRI-T2WI showed iso- to high-intensity, the DWI showed iso-intensity, and the masses also all showed obvious progressive enhancement. Histopathological studies confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic hamartoma.

Conclusion

Pancreatic hamartoma is an extremely rare tumour with benign features, such as no dilatation of the MPD and well-defined, slight hyperintensity or iso-intensity on T2WI and iso-intensity on DWI, with obvious progressive enhancement. Therefore, detailed review of multiple imaging modalities may help in diagnosis of PH and prevent unnecessary surgery for patients with this diagnosis.
How to assess experienced quality of care in nursing homes from the client’s perspective: results of a qualitative study
Authors: Sion Katya Y. J. , Verbeek Hilde , de Boer Bram , Zwakhalen Sandra M. G. , Odekerken-Schröder Gaby , Schols Jos M. G. A. , Hamers Jan P. H.
Published: February 2020

Background

The culture shift in nursing homes from task-oriented to person-centered care has created a need to assess clients’ experienced quality of care (QoC), as this corresponds best with what matters to them. This study aimed to gain insight into how to assess experienced QoC in nursing homes from the client’s perspective.

Method

A qualitative study was performed consisting of a focus group with client representatives (n = 10), a focus group with nursing home staff (n = 9) and a world café with client representatives and staff recruited from the Living Lab in Ageing & Long-Term Care (n = 24). Three questions about assessing experienced QoC from the client’s perspective were addressed during data collection: 1) What content needs to be assessed? 2) What assessment procedures are needed? and, 3) Who needs to be involved in the assessment? Semi-structured questions, photo elicitation and creative writing were used to answer these questions. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

Participants indicated that experienced QoC mostly occurs within the interactions between clients, family and staff, highlighting the impact of relationships. They suggested assessments should focus on three aspects: 1) knowledge about the client, 2) a responsive approach, and 3) a caring environment. These can be assessed by having conversations with clients, their families and staff, and additionally observing the clients in their living environments. Sufficient time and resources are prerequisites for this. Additionally, the person performing the quality assessments needs to possess certain communication and empathy skills.

Conclusion

It is important to include the perspectives of the client, family and staff when assessing experienced QoC, in line with the principles underlying relationship-centered care. In order to be feasible, it is recommended to incorporate quality assessments into the nursing homes’ daily routines. Further research with clients, family and staff in nursing homes is needed to develop a feasible, reliable and valid method that assesses experienced QoC from the client’s perspective.
Adnexal torsion in the third trimester of pregnancy: a case report and diagnostic value of MR imaging
Authors: Bai Wei , Xu Xiao , Xie Haizhu , Sun Chunjuan , Che Kaili , Liu Meijie , Liu Jing , Shi Yinghong , Ma Heng
Published: February 2020

Background

The torsion of normal adnexa is rare during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Nonspecific symptoms and signs as well as the limitations of ultrasound (US) make the diagnosis difficult, resulting in the loss of adnexa and fetal compromise. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of the torsion of normal adnexa are not classically described during pregnancy and only reported in a few cases. We find some different MRI features of the torsion of normal adnexa in late pregnancy and its diagnosis and treatment values are discussed in our report.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old woman at 31 + 5 weeks’ gestation presented to the emergency department with a three-day history of the left lower abdominal pain. US discovered a mass of 87 × 61 mm in the left abdomen, but did not show whether the mass originated from the left ovary or the uterus. MRI showed the left ovary was increased in size to 82 × 42 × 85 mm with peripheral follicles. On fat-suppressed T2-weighted images, the signal intensity of the lesion was significantly decreased compared with the right ovary. The adjacent fallopian tube was found to be thickened. The radiologists diagnosed ovary infarction secondary to adnexal torsion. With the provisional diagnosis of adnexal torsion, the patient was taken to surgery. The left adnexal torsion was found during surgery. There was extensive hemorrhage and necrosis, so a left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. The histopathology confirmed an extensively hemorrhagic fallopian tube and ovary with partial necrosis.

Conclusion

We believe MRI is helpful where US is indeterminate in diagnosis of the torsion of normal adnexa in advanced pregnancy. We found that aside from hyperintensity on fat-saturated T1-weighted images, the low signal intensity on T2-weighted images can also reflect adnexal hemorrhage in conjunction with the torsion of normal adnexa.
Analysis on the polymorphisms of site RS4977574, and RS1333045 in region 9p21 and the susceptibility of coronary heart disease in Chinese population
Authors: Hua Lei , Yuan Jin-Xia , He Shu , Zhao Chen-Hui , Jia Qiao-Wei , Zhang Jing , An Feng-Hui , Chen Zhao-Hong , Li Li-Hua , Wang Lian-Sheng , Ma Wen-Zhu , Xu Guang-Xu , Jia En-Zhi
Published: February 2020

Background

Rs4977574 (A > G) and Rs1333045 (C > T) are both single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related with coronary artery disease, locating on chromosome 9p21.3. The study aimed to identify the correlation between rs4977574 and rs1333045 polymorphism genotypes and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a Chinese population.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 855 subjects. A case-control study was used in this experiment, and 598 cases in the CHD group and 257 subjects in the control group were enrolled. Genotyping was identified by the Agena MassARRAY system. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS (Ver 16.0) and plink (Ver. 1.07, Shaun Purcell). Haplotype analysis was performed using Haploview software.

Results

Association analysis by plink indicated a significant difference in the allele distribution for single nucleotide polymorphisms between cases and controls (rs4977574 P = 0.003, rs1333045 P = 0.035). Fisher’s exact test by plink proved that allele G may be associated with a higher risk of CHD (P = 0.003, odds ratio (OR) = 1.371) and the T allele was likely to reduce the risk of coronary events (P = 0.035, OR = 0.798). The serum levels of apolipoprotein A (ApoA) were higher in subjects with the AG + AA genotype of rs4977574 compared to those with the GG genotype (P = 0.028). In the dominant model of rs1333045, the levels of ApoA were higher and LDL levels were lower in the TC + TT genotype than in the CC genotype.

Conclusions

The present study examined the association between the 9p21 chromosome rs4977574 and rs1333045 polymorphism genotypes and CHD in a population of Chinese patients. The G allele of rs4977574 and the C allele of rs1333045 are the susceptibility sites of CHD.