bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterizing evolving frameworks: issues from Esmail et al. (2020) review
Authors: Glasgow Russell E. , Estabrooks Paul A. , Ory Marcia G.
Published: July 2020

There are complex issues in understanding and categorizing implementation science theories, models, and frameworks. Systematic reviews of these models are important undertakings for synthesizing current knowledge. The issues involved are even more challenging when reviewing a large number of frameworks and when some of the frameworks have evolved significantly over time. This paper addresses how the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework was described in the recent Esmail (2020) review and identifies four mischaracterizations. This is followed by a more general discussion of how advances or extensions of frameworks after an original source publication or influential review tend to be overlooked. We discuss why inadvertent mischaracterization of what a framework is and is not, and what it can and cannot be used for, can have deleterious consequences. Finally, we suggest initial ideas about what could be done to prevent or alleviate some of these problems by reviewers, framework developers, and scholars at large.
Circular RNA atlas in osteoclast differentiation with and without alendronate treatment
Authors: Lin Jianbiao , Ma Shaofeng , Zhu Cong , Chen Changqing , Lin Weibin , Lin Canbin , Huang Guofeng , Ding Zhenqi
Published: July 2020

Background

Alendronate (AL) is the most widely used bisphosphonate in the treatment of osteoporosis (OP). However, the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the treatment of OP with AL remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we showed that osteoclast (OC) precursors (OPCSs) could be induced into OCs with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) treatment. Subsequently, the OCs were treated with AL. OC differentiation-related biomarkers including RANK, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and cathepsin K (CTSK) were analyzed with TRAP staining, quantitative real-time (qPCR), and western blotting. Differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were identified among the OPCS, OC, and OC + AL groups. In addition, the expression levels of 10 DECs related to OC differentiation were verified by qPCR.

Results

TRAP staining showed that MCSF and RANKL treatment effectively induced OPCSs to differentiate into OCs. In addition, qPCR and western blot analysis revealed that the three biomarkers of OC (RANK, TRAP, and CTSK) were expressed significantly more in the OC group than those in the OPCS group. In contrast, the mRNA and protein expression levels of these three biomarkers decreased significantly in OCs treated with AL compared with those non-treated OCs. GO analysis of the DECs in the OPCS group vs. the OC group revealed that their functions were mainly related to cell, cell part, binding, and single-organism terms. KEGG analysis of the top 20 DECs in a comparison between the OPCS and OC groups showed that genes involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling were the most common. Results of functional analyses of DECs in an OC vs. OC + AL comparison were similar to those in the OPCS vs. OC comparison. Finally, qPCR showed that, in the OC + AL vs. OC group comparison, the expression levels of seven and three DECs significantly decreased and increased, respectively.

Conclusions

Having successfully induced OPCSs to differentiate into OCs, we showed that AL suppresses the differentiation of OPCS into OC and that 10 DECs were involved in the regulation of this process. This indicates that these DECs might be important to the treatment of OP.
Does ICSI for in vitro fertilization cause more aneuploid embryos?
Authors: Niu Xiangli , Long Jiamin , Gong Fangqiang , Wang Weihua
Published: July 2020

Background

High proportion of human embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) is aneuploidy. Many factors are related to the prevalence of embryonic aneuploidies, such as maternal age, sperm quality, and in vitro manipulation of oocytes. Oocytes are usually inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures for preimplantation genetic testing. There is still no available information whether insemination procedures, regular IVF or ICSI, affect embryonic aneuploidies.

Methods

In this case report, a patient at her age of 47 years old received donated oocytes from a young donor for infertility treatment. Half of oocytes were inseminated by regular IVF and other half of oocytes were inseminated by ICSI. Fertilized oocytes were cultured to blastocyst stage and then biopsied for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). The proportions of aneuploidies were compared between two insemination procedures.

Results

Forty-seven oocytes were retrieved, 23 were inseminated by regular IVF and 24 were removed from enclosed cumulus cells for ICSI. Out of 24 oocytes, 21 oocytes at metaphase II were inseminated by ICSI. After fertilization assessment, it was found that 12 oocytes from regular IVF fertilized normally. Nine blastocysts (75%) were biopsied and 1 (11.1%) was aneuploidy. By contrast, 19 out of 21 oocytes inseminated by ICSI fertilized normally, 14 blastocysts (73.7%) were obtained and 7 (50.0%) were aneuploidy. Transfer of a euploid blastocyst from regular IVF resulted in a healthy baby delivery.

Conclusion

These results indicate that more embryos produced by ICSI are aneuploidy as compared with embryos produced by regular IVF. The results indicate that in vitro manipulation of oocytes for ICSI procedure may have adverse effect on human oocytes, and it may be one of the reasons causing aneuploid embryos in human IVF.
Integrated human-machine intelligence for EV charging prediction in 5G smart grid
Authors: Sun Dedong , Ou Qinghai , Yao Xianjiong , Gao Songji , Wang Zhiqiang , Ma Wenjie , Li Wenjing
Published: July 2020

With the rapid development of the power infrastructures and the increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs), vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies have attracted great interest in both academia and industry as an energy management technology in 5G smart grid. Considering the inherently high mobility and low reliability of EVs, it is a great challenge for the smart grid to provide on-demand services for EVs. Therefore, we propose a novel smart grid architecture based on network slicing and edge computing technologies for the 5G smart grid. Under this architecture, the bidirectional traffic information between smart grids and EVs is collected to improve the EV charging experience and decrease the cost of energy service providers. In addition, the accurate prediction of EV charging behavior is also a challenge for V2G systems to improve the scheduling efficiency of EVs. Thus, we propose an EV charging behavior prediction scheme based on the hybrid artificial intelligence to identify targeted EVs and predict their charging behavior in this paper. Simulation results show that the proposed prediction scheme outperforms several state-of-the-art EV charging behavior prediction methods in terms of prediction accuracy and scheduling efficiency.
Vector-valued multilinear singular integrals with nonsmooth kernels and commutators on generalized weighted Morrey space
Authors: Zhao Nan , Zhou Jiang
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we prove weighted norm inequalities for vector-valued multilinear singular integrals with nonsmooth kernels and commutators on generalized weighted Morrey space.
SMCP: a Secure Mobile Crowdsensing Protocol for fog-based applications
Authors: Concone Federico , Lo Re Giuseppe , Morana Marco
Published: July 2020

The possibility of performing complex data analysis through sets of cooperating personal smart devices has recently encouraged the definition of new distributed computing paradigms. The general idea behind these approaches is to move early analysis towards theedgeof the network, while relying on other intermediate (fog) or remote (cloud) devices for computations of increasing complexity. Unfortunately, because both of their distributed nature and high degree of modularity, edge-fog-cloud computing systems are particularly prone to cyber security attacks that can be performed against every element of the infrastructure. In order to address this issue, in this paper we present SMCP, a Secure Mobile Crowdsensing Protocol for fog-based applications that exploit lightweight encryption techniques that are particularly suited for low-power mobile edge devices. In order to assess the performance of the proposed security mechanisms, we consider as case study a distributed human activity recognition scenario in which machine learning algorithms are performed by users’ personal smart devices at the edge and fog layers. The functionalities provided by SMCP have been directly compared with two state-of-the-art security protocols. Results show that our approach allows to achieve a higher degree of security while maintaining a low computational cost.
Potential use of corneal confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease associated neuropathy
Authors: Che Ning-Ning , Yang Hong-Qi
Published: July 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting about 2–3% of population above the age of 65. In recent years, Parkinson’s research has mainly focused on motor and non-motor symptoms while there are limited studies on neurodegeneration which is associated with balance problems and increased incidence of falls. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a real-time, non-invasive, in vivo ophthalmic imaging technique for quantifying nerve damage in peripheral neuropathies and central neurodegenerative disorders. CCM has shown significantly lower corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) in patients with PD compared to healthy controls. Reduced CNFD is associated with decreased intraepidermal nerve fiber density in PD. This review provides an overview of the ability of CCM to detect nerve damage associated with PD.
Representation of inner, outer and expanding circle varieties and cultures in global ELT textbooks
Authors: Tajeddin Zia , Pakzadian Maryam
Published: July 2020

The rise of world Englishes has challenged the emphasis on native-speaker accents and cultures in English language teaching. This study aimed to investigate the representation of world Englishes and cultures in three global language teaching textbooks, namelyInterchange,English Result,andAmerican English File. The textbooks were subjected to content analysis regarding their reference to Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles’ varieties and their associated cultural contents. Kachru (The alchemy of English: The spread functions and models of non-native Englishes. Oxford: Pergamon, 1986) notion of Concentric Circles, and the categorization proposed by Pfister and Borzelli (Unterrichtspraxis10:102–108, 1977) functioned as a framework to see which aspects of each culture (social, personal, religion/arts/humanities, political systems and institutions, and environmental concerns) were addressed in these textbooks. Findings revealed that most of the references to the three circles and cultural elements embodied in the textbooks were toward Inner Circle countries inAmerican English File. Furthermore, inInterchangeandEnglish Resultseries, reference to Outer and Expanding Circles’ varieties and cultural elements were comparatively more evident. However, all the three textbook series mostly represented Inner-Circle accents. These findings have implications for materials developers to adopt an EIL-aware approach and to avoid the sole representation of native speakers’ linguistic norms and cultures in ELT textbooks.
Clinical features and outcomes of PComA aneurysms originating from fetal posterior communicating arteries in a single institution
Authors: Chen Xin , Li Hao , Wang Ming-Ze , Li Mao-gui , Cao Yong , Zhang Dong , Zhang Yan , Wang Hao , Wang Shuo
Published: July 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze our experience with the patients who underwent surgical treatment of posterior communicating artery (PComA) aneurysms originating from fetal posterior cerebral artery (fPCA) and analyze the risk factors for the postoperative radiological infarction and outcome.

Methods

From 2011 to 2020, we retrospectively reviewed 74 PComA aneurysms originating from fPCA in terms of the clinical and radiological features and obtained the follow-up data from the Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. The relationships between these features and follow-up data were assessed with the univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

In this series, 74 aneurysms were occurring at the origin of fPCAs. All the patients showed complete obliteration of their aneurysms. Full fPCA type tends to be a predictive factor for radiological infarction (univariate χ2 = 5.873, P = 0.027; multivariate OR = 0.264, P = 0.060). Postoperative radiological infarction (univariate χ2 = 12.611, P = 0.001; multivariate OR = 6.033, P = 0.043), rupture (univariate χ2 = 4.514, P = 0.047; multivariate OR = 57.966, P = 0.044), and hypertension (univariate χ2 = 5.301, P = 0.024; multivariate OR = 24.462, P = 0.029) tend to be the independent predictive factors for poor prognosis at 3 months after discharge.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we report a series of patients harboring aneurysms originating from the fPCA. Surgical clipping is a reliable strategy. Full fPCA type is related to postsurgical infarction. Postoperative radiological infarction, rupture, and hypertension tend to be the independent predictive factor for poor prognosis at 3 months after discharge.
Pharmaceutical efficacy of harmalol in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sarkar Sarita , Bhattacharjee Paromita , Ghosh Tapas , Bhadra Kakali
Published: July 2020

Background

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) promoted by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) forms DNA adducts inducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Plant alkaloid, harmalol, is being used as a therapeutic agent against HCC due to its accessibility and efficacy by apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of cancer epithelial cells.

Result

Seven groups of Swiss albino mice were taken. Different stages of liver tissues and serum from various experimental groups were collected before and after harmalol treatment. The investigation was carried out by enzyme assay, bilirubin level in the blood, DNA, RNA, normal serum protein of liver tissue, and alpha-feto protein estimation of serum. Gross morphological assessment of liver, histological, and different apoptosis markers viz. p53, caspase3, and cytochrome C expression were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot.

Harmalol (10 mg/kg B.W. per week, I.P.) for 9 weeks showed a significant reduction in hepatocellular foci, nodules, and carcinoma ultimately retaining the normal morphology. It further induces ROS-dependent apoptosis through mitochondrial cytochrome C release that induces p53 by caspase3 activation.

Conclusion

The investigation will eventually help to develop more effective chemotherapeutic drugs from the natural source.
Does population density moderate suicide risk? An Italian population study over the last 30 years
Authors: Vichi Monica , Vitiello Benedetto , Ghirini Silvia , Pompili Maurizio
Published: July 2020

Background.

The relationship between population density and suicide risk remains unclear. While urbanization is associated with greater risk for psychopathology, higher suicide rates have been reported in rural areas. We examined population density and suicide in the Italian population in the last 30 years.

Methods.

The Italian National Institute of Statistics databases of the Italian population aged 15 years and older (52.4 million in 2016) were used to compute age-adjusted annual total mortality and suicide rates for the years 1985–2016. According to the European Union statistical office (EUROSTAT) criteria, municipalities were classified into densely populated areas, intermediate density areas, or thinly populated areas. Rate ratios (RRs) were computed by sex, age, and geographical area, using densely populated areas as reference.

Results.

Total mortality was not associated with population density. In males, suicide rate increased with decreasing population density (RR = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.08–1.28, in intermediate population areas, and RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20–1.45, in thinly populated areas, in 2016). This inverse relationship was found across age, geographical areas, and consecutively over 22 years (1994–2016). In females, no significant difference was detected (RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.82–1.13 in intermediate density areas and RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.85–1.22 in thinly populated areas). Hanging was the most common suicide method among males, more frequent in thinly (58.8%) than intermediate (53.2%) or densely (41.4%) populated areas.

Conclusions.

A consistent and temporally stable inverse relationship between population density and suicide was found in the male, but not female, population. Men may be more vulnerable to adverse social and economic factors associated with lower population density.
Screening for Dental Infections Achieves 6-Fold Reduction in Dental Emergencies During Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Watson Erin E. , Metcalfe Jessica E. , Kreher Matthew R. , Maxymiw Walter G. , Glogauer Michael , Schimmer Aaron D.
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE:

Patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are at risk of infection, including odontogenic infections, during induction chemotherapy. It is unknown whether clinical dental screening to diagnose and treat odontogenic disease in these patients can reduce the incidence of dental emergencies.

METHODS:

Between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, we screened 147 patients with newly diagnosed AML before their admission for induction chemotherapy (n1 = 147, “screened” group). The patients not screened acted as controls (n2 = 190, “unscreened” group), as did patients diagnosed with AML in the 26 months before the initiation of the screening program (n3 = 304, “prescreening” group). The number of patients in each group who presented for emergency dental assessment during admission for induction chemotherapy was determined by 2 independent reviewers.

RESULTS:

Among the 147 patients in the screened group, only 1 patient presented with an infectious odontogenic emergency (0.68% [95% CI, −0.64% to 1.98%]). In the unscreened group, 8 developed an infectious odontogenic emergency during induction chemotherapy (4.21% [95% CI, 1.37% to 7.15%]), a statistically significant difference ( P = .046, a = 0.05). A similar rate of infectious dental emergencies was observed in the prescreening group (4.28% [95% CI, 2.0% to 7.2%]).

CONCLUSION:

Clinical dental screening before induction chemotherapy in patients with AML resulted in a 6-fold reduction in infectious dental emergencies during the induction period.
Normal Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 During Somatostatin Receptor Ligand Treatment Predicts Surgical Cure in Acromegaly
Authors: Losa Marco , Garbin Enrico , Pedone Erika , Mortini Pietro
Published: July 2020

Context

Treatment with somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) is often given before pituitary surgery to patients with acromegaly.

Objective

To study whether the response to treatment with SRLs is predictive of surgical outcome.

Design

Retrospective, observational study.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Patients

We investigated 272 patients with acromegaly who had been treated with an SRL between 1990 and 2018.

Intervention

All patients underwent pituitary surgery performed by a skilled neurosurgeon.

Main outcome measure

Outcome of pituitary surgery in patients who had normalization of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels during SRL therapy in comparison with patients who did not normalize IGF-1 levels.

Results

Normalization of IGF-1 levels during SRL treatment occurred in 62 patients (22.8%) and was similar for the 3 different types of SRL (P = .88). Surgical remission occurred in 59.6% of the patients. Patients who normalized IGF-1 levels during SRL treatment had a higher probability of surgical cure than patients without IGF-1 normalization (83.9% vs 52.4%, respectively; P < .001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that lack of cavernous sinus invasion, small maximum tumor diameter, and IGF-1 normalization during SRL therapy were the only factors independently associated with a favorable surgical outcome.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that the normalization of IGF-1 levels during treatment with SRLs is an independent predictive factor of a favorable surgical outcome. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, but an optimal response to medical therapy may be a characteristic of less aggressive tumors that are more likely to be entirely removed at surgery.
Differential Regulation and Targeting of Estrogen Receptor α Turnover in Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Sreekumar Sreeja , Levine Kevin M , Sikora Matthew J , Chen Jian , Tasdemir Nilgun , Carter Dorothy , Dabbs David J , Meier Carolin , Basudan Ahmed , Boone David , McAuliffe Priscilla F , Jankowitz Rachel C , Lee Adrian V , Atkinson Jennifer M , Oesterreich Steffi
Published: July 2020

Invasive lobular breast carcinoma (ILC) accounts for 10% to 15% of breast cancers diagnosed annually. Evidence suggests that some aspects of endocrine treatment response might differ between invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and ILC, and that patients with ILC have worse long-term survival. We analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and observed lower levels of ESR1 mRNA (P = 0.002) and ERα protein (P = 0.038) in ER+ ILC (n = 137) compared to IDC (n = 554), and further confirmed the mRNA difference in a local UPMC cohort (ILC, n = 143; IDC, n = 877; P < 0.005). In both datasets, the correlation between ESR1 mRNA and ERα protein was weaker in ILC, suggesting differential post-transcriptional regulation of ERα. In vitro, 17β-estradiol (E2) decreased the rate of degradation and increased the half-life of ERα in ILC cell lines, whereas the opposite was observed in IDC cell lines. Further, E2 failed to induce robust ubiquitination of ERα in ILC cells. To determine the potential clinical relevance of these findings, we evaluated the effect of 2 selective estrogen receptor downregulators (SERDs), ICI 182,780 and AZD9496, on ERα turnover and cell growth. While ICI 182,780 and AZD9496 showed similar effects in IDC cells, in ILC cell lines, AZD9496 was not as effective as ICI 182,780 in decreasing ERα stability and E2-induced proliferation. Furthermore, AZD9496 exhibited partial agonist activity in growth assays in ILC cell lines. Our study provides evidence for a distinct ERα regulation by SERDs in ILC cell lines, and therefore it is important to include ILC models into preclinical and clinical testing of novel SERDs.
Defense of an Open Economy Model for Post–Civil War Spain
Authors: Expósito Alfonso , Sánchez-Lissen Rocío
Published: July 2020

This paper analyzes the work done by the economist Manuel de Torres Martínez (1903–1960), chair of economic theory at the University of Madrid, in the defense of an open economy model for Spain, through his prologues to the translations of foreign economics texts, during his period as director in Madrid of the economics section of the Publishing Aguilar (1945–60). With his work, Torres provided a guide to those responsible for economic policy to introduce the urgent changes needed by the Spanish economy, due to its problems of external deficit, inflation, and general shortages of products. At the same time, they contributed significantly to the diffusion and updating in Spain of the economic thought of foreign authors. Many of the ideas proposed by Torres and included in these prologues became a reality with the Stabilization Plan in 1959, which meant the definitive abandonment of an economic policy characterized by autarky and intense interventionism.
Toward a Predictive Theory of Theme Types
Authors: Lawrence John Y.
Published: July 2020

Listener expectations are a fundamental consideration in formal analysis, common to cognitive and hermeneutic approaches alike. Such approaches maintain that listeners use statistical regularities of musical style to predict where a piece of music is going and then assess what actually happens in terms of what they expected to happen. Although expectation is frequently invoked when considering very local phenomena (e.g., step-by-step progressions) or very global ones (e.g., the action spaces of a sonata), it has not played a systematic role in the analysis of basic theme types as formulated by William Caplin. This article proposes a framework for modeling expectation at the theme and phrase level. This is premised on the idea that conventional beginning-ending pairs condition listeners to expect certain endings when they hear certain beginnings. An expansion of Caplin’s categories is provided to classify such pairs. This reframing of phrase-structural analysis in predictive terms opens it up to the hermeneutic strategies of dialogic analysis, by allowing for the exploration of the rhetorical and expressive effects of failed predictions. This article further proposes a way to use corpus studies to identify theme types in later musical styles in which Caplin’s definitions do not necessarily apply. The utility of this approach is demonstrated in analyses of waltzes by Johann Strauss II.
Generic Sequences and the Generic Tonnetz
Authors: Hook Julian
Published: July 2020

This article employs concepts from diatonic set theory, transformation theory, and neo-Riemannian theory in an investigation of sequences in generic (mod-7) pitch space. Sequences may be described using generic transposition operators, mod-7 analogs of the more familiar mod-12 chromatic transposition operators, and may be mapped in a generic Tonnetz analogous to the Tonnetz diagrams of neo-Riemannian theory. A complete classification of generic sequences with two-chord transposition blocks is derived from the paths described by the sequences in the Tonnetz. While it is tempting to regard generic space as “diatonic,” the examples demonstrate that generic structure governs many sequences that are not actually diatonic at all. The examples also show that the sequences found in the literature include many more types than are widely recognized and that generic sequence structure may apply in numerous other contexts besides patterns of chord roots.
Ykt6-dependent endosomal recycling is required for Wnt secretion in the Drosophila wing epithelium
Authors: Linnemannstöns Karen , Witte Leonie , Karuna M Pradhipa , Kittel Jeanette Clarissa , Danieli Adi , Müller Denise , Nitsch Lena , Honemann-Capito Mona , Grawe Ferdinand , Wodarz Andreas , Gross Julia Christina
Published: July 2020

Morphogens are important signalling molecules for tissue development and their secretion requires tight regulation. In the wing imaginal disc of flies, the morphogen Wnt/Wingless is apically presented by the secreting cell and re-internalized before final long-range secretion. Why Wnt molecules undergo these trafficking steps and the nature of the regulatory control within the endosomal compartment remain unclear. Here, we have investigated how Wnts are sorted at the level of endosomes by the versatile v-SNARE Ykt6. Using in vivo genetics, proximity-dependent proteomics and in vitro biochemical analyses, we show that most Ykt6 is present in the cytosol, but can be recruited to de-acidified compartments and recycle Wnts to the plasma membrane via Rab4-positive recycling endosomes. Thus, we propose a molecular mechanism by which producing cells integrate and leverage endocytosis and recycling via Ykt6 to coordinate extracellular Wnt levels.
Carbon Dioxide-induced Bioluminescence Increase inArachnocampaLarvae
Authors: Charlton Hamish Richard , Merritt David John
Published: July 2020

Arachnocampa larvae utilise bioluminescence to lure small arthropod prey into their web-like silk snares. The luciferin-luciferase light-producing reaction occurs in a specialised light organ composed of Malpighian tubule cells in association with a tracheal mass. The accepted model for bioluminescence regulation is that light is actively repressed during the non-glowing period and released when glowing through the night. The model is based upon foregoing observations that carbon dioxide (CO2) – a commonly-used insect anaesthetic – produces elevated light output in whole, live larvae as well as isolated light organs. Alternative anaesthetics were reported to have a similar light-releasing effect. We set out to test this model in Arachnocampa flava larvae by exposing them to a range of anaesthetics and gas mixtures. The anaesthetics isoflurane, ethyl acetate, and diethyl ether did not produce high bioluminescence responses in the same way as CO2. Ligation and dissection experiments localised the CO2 response to the light organ rather than it being a response to general anaesthesia. Exposure to hypoxia through the introduction of nitrogen gas combined with CO2 exposures highlighted that continuity between the longitudinal tracheal trunks and the light organ tracheal mass is necessary for recovery of the CO2-induced light response. The physiological basis of the CO2-induced bioluminescence increase remains unresolved but is most likely related to access of oxygen to the photocytes. The results suggest that the repression model for bioluminescence control can be rejected. An alternative is proposed based on neural upregulation modulating bioluminescence intensity.
Structure-seq2 probing of RNA structure upon amino acid starvation reveals both known and novel RNA switches in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Ritchey Laura E. , Tack David C. , Yakhnin Helen , Jolley Elizabeth A. , Assmann Sarah M. , Bevilacqua Philip C. , Babitzke Paul
Published: July 2020

RNA structure influences numerous processes in all organisms. In bacteria, these processes include transcription termination and attenuation, small RNA and protein binding, translation initiation, and mRNA stability, and can be regulated via metabolite availability and other stresses. Here we use Structure-seq2 to probe the in vivo RNA structurome of Bacillus subtilis grown in the presence and absence of amino acids. Our results reveal that amino acid starvation results in lower overall dimethyl sulfate (DMS) reactivity of the transcriptome, indicating enhanced protection owing to protein binding or RNA structure. Starvation-induced changes in DMS reactivity correlated inversely with transcript abundance changes. This correlation was particularly pronounced in genes associated with the stringent response and CodY regulons, which are involved in adaptation to nutritional stress, suggesting that RNA structure contributes to transcript abundance change in regulons involved in amino acid metabolism. Structure-seq2 accurately reported on four known amino acid-responsive riboswitches: T-box, SAM, glycine, and lysine riboswitches. Additionally, we discovered a transcription attenuation mechanism that reduces yfmG expression when amino acids are added to the growth medium. We also found that translation of a leader peptide (YfmH) encoded just upstream of yfmG regulates yfmG expression. Our results are consistent with a model in which a slow rate of yfmH translation caused by limitation of the amino acids encoded in YfmH prevents transcription termination in the yfmG leader region by favoring formation of an overlapping antiterminator structure. This novel RNA switch offers a way to simultaneously monitor the levels of multiple amino acids.
In silico screening of known small molecules to bind ACE2 specific RBD on Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 for repurposing against COVID-19
Authors: BR Bharath , Damle Hrishikesh , Ganju Shiban , Damle Latha
Published: July 2020

Background: Human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is causing a pandemic with significant morbidity and mortality. As no effective novel drugs are available currently, drug repurposing is an alternative intervention strategy. Here we present an in silico drug repurposing study that implements successful concepts of computer-aided drug design (CADD) technology for repurposing known drugs to interfere with viral cellular entry via the spike glycoprotein (SARS-CoV-2-S), which mediates host cell entry via the hACE2 receptor.

Methods: A total of 4015 known and approved small molecules were screened for interaction with SARS-CoV-2-S through docking studies and 15 lead molecules were shortlisted. Additionally, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and glycyrrhizic acid (GA) were selected based on their reported anti-viral activity, safety, availability and affordability. The 18 molecules were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.

Results: The MD simulation results indicate that GA of plant origin may be repurposed for SARS-CoV-2 intervention, pending further studies.

Conclusions: Repurposing is a beneficial strategy for treating COVID-19 with existing drugs. It is aimed at using docking studies to screen molecules for clinical application and investigating their efficacy in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2-S. SARS-CoV-2-S is a key pathogenic protein that mediates pathogen-host interaction. Hence, the molecules screened for inhibitory properties against SARS-CoV-2-S can be clinically used to treat COVID-19 since the safety profile is already known.
Crisis de Valores y Deshumanización: una Reflexión Actual a partir del Holocausto.
Authors: Gil Jordán Carles
Published: July 2020

This educational proposal emerges from the need of approaching a current and significant social phenomenon: the massive arrival of refugees in Europe. For this purpose, the origin of this study goes back to the pursuit and annihilation of the Jews by the German state and their partners during the second third of the last century. From that perspective, a lot of social contents can be developed so that it helps to the understanding, analysis and reflection of today’s historical and social reality. The target of this project focuses on making the students aware of the German national-socialism so they can ponder the current crisis of values of the European democracies as well as the dehumanization that thousands of people who run away from their origin countries are suffering today. Approaching an issue like this is significant due to the racist and discriminatory attitudes that have been emerging in the past few years, aggravated by ultra-political parties in national parliaments and European institutions. These behaviours are challenging the tolerance and respect values that should be characteristic in a democratic society. In such a situation, educating in and to the citizenship becomes something vitally important
Holocausto y Memoria: Investigación y Formación en Galicia.
Authors: Garrido Vilariño Xoán Manuel , Ferreiro Vázquez Óscar , Rodríguez Travieso María Laura
Published: July 2020

This project aims to create a History of research and cultural transmission of the Holocaust in Galicia, from its beginnings in the new millennium until the present day. The idea first came up in the University of Vigo (Galicia, Spain), within group TI4 for Translation & Paratranslation. Since then it has developed across several articles published in academic magazines and various talks and conferences. In addition audiovisual material has been created, collecting the witness of Galician victims of the Holocaust (Joaquín Balboa) and the Genocide (the 200 people killed in Mauthausen) carried out by the Nazi and Francoist dictatorships, as well as the actions of the Touza sisters to save the lives of European Jews. The main receivers of this information are teachers of Elementary and Secondary Schools, via the online course “Teaching about the Holocaust” (PLATEGA Platform) and the non-mandatory curriculum subject “Holocaust and Memory”. This article gathers all the bibliography, both printed and online, on the academic papers and the audiovisual productions now available for teachers of the memories of the Holocaust.
Transitando la Ruptura Familiar: Una Aproximación Hacia la Coordinación de Parentalidad.
Authors: Riquelme Soto Verónica , Sahuquillo Mateo Piedad , Cánovas Leonhardt Paz
Published: July 2020

The traditional family model has undergone changes in recent times, there has been an increase in separations and divorces, as well as an increase in the number of judicial breakup proceedings subject to high levels of conflict. Regarding this socio-family reality, it is important to guarantee the fundamental right of minors to relate adequately with both their father and their mother, maintaining all their ties. The problem arises when their children are involved in the conflicts generated by the separation or divorce. These processes of family breakup with high levels of conflict are an important risk in terms of guaranteeing the well-being of the children involved in them. In the same way, there are more and more authors who explain that processes of separation or divorce conflict affect the children in different dimensions, causing an increase in behavioral, emotional or psychological problems. The aim of this study is to develop a content analysis to know and analyze the scientific literature, national and international, around this area. Our results show a first approximation from which to investigate and deepen the family breakup processes and to know the impact of scientific evidence around the reality of parenting coordination.
Trade Credit Insurance: Operational Value and Contract Choice
Authors: Yang S. Alex , Bakshi Nitin , Chen Christopher J.
Published: July 2020

Trade credit insurance (TCI) is a risk management tool commonly used by suppliers to guarantee against payment default by credit buyers. TCI contracts can be either cancelable (the insurer has the discretion to cancel this guarantee during the insured period) or noncancelable (the terms cannot be renegotiated within the insured period). This paper identifies two roles of TCI: the (cash flow) smoothing role (smoothing the supplier’s cash flows) and the monitoring role (tracking the buyer’s continued creditworthiness after contracting, which enables the supplier to make efficient operational decisions regarding whether to ship goods to the credit buyer). We further explore which contracts better facilitate these two roles of TCI by modeling the strategic interaction between the insurer and the supplier. Noncancelable contracts rely on the deductible to implement both roles, which may result in a conflict: a high deductible inhibits the smoothing role, whereas a low deductible weakens the monitoring role. Under cancelable contracts, the insurer’s cancelation action ensures that the information acquired is reflected in the supplier’s shipping decision. Thus, the insurer has adequate incentives to perform its monitoring function without resorting to a high deductible. Despite this advantage, we find that the insurer may exercise the cancelation option too aggressively; this thereby restores a preference for noncancelable contracts, especially when the supplier’s outside option is unattractive and the insurer’s monitoring cost is low. Noncancelable contracts are also relatively more attractive when the acquired information is verifiable than when it is unverifiable.

This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
Sources and Impact of Microplastic Pollution in Indian Aquatic Ecosystem: A Review
Authors: K Davis Ephsy , Raja S
Published: July 2020

Microplastics are major pollutant distributed widely throughout the Indian marine and freshwater are posing a significant risk to living organisms. World economic forum’s estimation, the world’s oceans will be filled with more plastics than fishes by weight by 2050. The extreme production and use of plastics being lead to plastic waste disposal, and the plastic degrade to microplastic. The growing amount of microplastics will continue to increase microplastic pollution in aquatic environments. Today, it is a major environmental problem because microplastics are less than 5 mm in size and associated with other pollutants that can be accumulated on the body to make health problems and lead to death. Microplastics are directly ingested by organisms from polluted water or indirectly through the contaminated food web. The effects of microplastics are wide-ranging, impacting marine life, fisheries, economics, tourism, plants, marine aesthetics, and human health. This paper review focuses on the microplastic sources, pollution, and its impact in the Indian aquatic environment.
Farmers Education and Risk Perceptions of Large-Scale Mining in Ghana
Authors: Owusu-Ansah Fred
Published: July 2020

Empirical studies that use household farmers as unit of analysis to examine the relative influence of education on risk perceptions of large scale mining projects in Ghana are virtually absent. This study combined evidence from literature, mixed methods, Pearson’s Chi square (X2) and correlation analyses. Systematic random sampling was used in selecting farmers. Data obtained from 725 households was analyzed using SPSS. The hypothesis “education has no relationship with farmers’ risk perceptions of large-scale mining projects in Ghana” was tested. Results revealed that large-scale mining has both positive and negative image in the minds of farmers. Farmers’ education strongly correlated with their knowledge of the state of the environment and natural resources before the arrival of the mining project [Pearson’s (X2) = 26.743; p = 0.024; Pearson's (r) = 0.791; p = 0.010]. Statistical evidence exists to support the claim that local communities protested against the mining project due to their ability to anticipate adverse effects of the project on environmental quality. Education significantly influenced farmers’ ability to link sources of livelihood to environmental and resource protection [Pearson's (X2) = 25.516, p = 0.043; Pearson's (r) = 0.640; p = 0.036]. Farmers’ risk perceptions of large scale mining as a threat to: community’s natural capital; traditional systems; environmental and social protection regime; established administrative procedures and good conducts of public officials; as well as being a threat to rural livelihood have serious implications for achieving the goals of sustainable mining in Ghana. Nonetheless, farmers associated mining as agent of economic development, and education significantly influenced this assessment [Pearson’s (X2) = 28.093, p = 0.021; Pearson’s (r) = 0.077; p = 0.041]. This paper concludes that education is a significant predictor in risk perception assessment. Robust environmental and social protection regimes, strong public institutions and improved socio-economic status are good predictors of farmers’ risk perceptions of mining.
What midwives think of the continuity of carer model
Authors: Wentworth India
Published: July 2020

How effective is the continuity of carer model? India Wentworth finds out by asking midwives to share their experiences
Exercise during pregnancy
Authors: Gerrard Jacque
Published: July 2020

What physical activity is considered safe during pregnancy? Jacque Gerrard offers key advice from a midwife's point of view
Experiences of individuals using a novel web-based rehabilitation programme: Self-management Programme of Activity Coping and Education (SPACE) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Bourne Claire , Chaplin Emma , Chantrell Stacey , Singh Sally , Apps Lindsay
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims

The Self-management Programme of Activity Coping and Education (SPACE) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been integrated into an online programme for patients to pursue at home with the support of health care professionals. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to participation in the web-based programme and to guide further development of the website.

Methods

This nested qualitative study was part of a feasibility study comparing web-based rehabilitation with standard pulmonary rehabilitation. Framework analysis was performed to identify themes.

Results

Four overarching themes were identified: programme content and reported gains; embedding the programme into daily routines; barriers to participating in the programme; and support. These themes describe benefits of the programme including improved activity levels, exercise intensity and knowledge of the condition, as well as the incorporation of exercise into daily routine. Both completers and non-completers acknowledged the importance of motivation and self-discipline when following the programme and that the flexibility of the programme could help or hinder engagement. Support from healthcare professionals was important and used for encouragement, to obtain health advice and technical support.

Conclusions

The experiences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using this web-based rehabilitation programme illustrate how patients can benefit from such a resource and integrate it into their daily lifestyle.
How primary caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis cope with social isolation: a grounded theory study in an Iranian context
Authors: Takalu Mohammad Taghi Mohseni , Hosseini Seyed Ali , Khankeh Hamid Reza , Pishyareh Ebrahim , Ebrahimi Hossein Ali , Bakhshi Enayatollah
Published: July 2020

Background/aims

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurological disease that can significantly impact the psychosocial aspects of primary caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis. This study explored the process of social isolation among primary caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis in Kerman, Iran.

Methods

A grounded theory approach was employed to explore the various aspects of social isolation. Data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews with 15 primary caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis, 13 individuals with multiple sclerosis and five health care providers who were selected based on purposeful and theoretical sampling. The data were analysed via constant comparative analysis.

Results

The core variable identified from the interviews was social isolation. Other concepts that were connected with this were: insufficient knowledge and awareness, escaping stigma, occupational difficulties, marital challenges and management of restrictions.

Conclusions

Social isolation can affect the wellbeing of primary caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis. Recognition and awareness of the process of social isolation and factors influencing it can be beneficial in designing theory-driven evaluation and intervention methods. It is recommended that rehabilitation specialists pay close attention to the common needs and interests of both individuals with multiple sclerosis and their primary caregivers.