bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sports Rules—Deserving Students and School Reformers Suffer: The Tragic Impact of the NCAA's Efforts to Impose Standards on High Schools
Authors: Nathan Joe
Published: February 2022

Is the National Collegiate Athletic Organization (NCAA), an organization whose central role is regulating college and university sports, really the appropriate group to dictate high school course standards? The NCAA's Initial Eligibility process illustrates the harm a poorly designed, badly implemented effort to impose standards from “on high “ can do to deserving students and talented educators. The NCAA's questionable standards and sloppy procedures have delayed or blocked thousands of high school students, including a National Merit Scholar, class valedictorians and other qualified students, from participating in college sports. A strong athletic record, good grades, and high test scores no longer guarantee that students will be able to participate in university sports—they now must take an acceptable number of NCAA-approved courses. The NCAA has also frustrated high school reformers by classifying many researched-based courses as inappropriate for college preparation. This article describes a growing national challenge to NCAA policies and procedures, and proposes next steps.
The Arm of the School that Extends into the Homes: The Visiting Teacher Movement, 1906 to 1940
Authors: Knupfer Anne Meis
Published: February 2022

This article traces the development of the visiting teacher movement, from 1906 to 1940, with particular attention paid to the disjuncture between professional discourse and actual practices. Three main points are argued. First, early visiting teacher work drew from multiple sources, including social settlements, juvenile courts, private philanthropies, and women's clubs. The discussion of the origins of visiting teachers in multiple urban settings attested to the diversity of their work in communities and in schools. Second, most visiting teachers’ work remained essentially unchanged, despite their later participation in child guidance clinics. Even though visiting teachers worked in conjunction with psychiatrists and psychologists, their practices still relied upon traditional approaches used in the first part of the century. Third, the medical and psychiatric discourses surrounding visiting teacher work in the 1920s and 1930s assumed a powerful life of its own. In a most curious manner, these languages formed a critique of teachers’ social relations with students and of their classroom practices generally. Subsequently, many teacher education programs initiated mental hygiene and psychology courses for their student teachers. The article concludes with lessons educators and policy makers might take from the visiting teacher movement, especially those related to the current school-linked social services model.
Dropping Out of Advanced Mathematics: The Effects of Parental Involvement
Authors: Ma Xin
Published: February 2022

Based on a national sample from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY), this study examined the effects of individual characteristics and different types of parental involvement on participation in advanced mathematics from grades 8 to 12. Results of hierarchical survival analysis show that an average student is most likely to drop out in grade 12, where there is also a large gender gap in participation in favor of males. Prior achievement is most influential in the early grades of high school, whereas prior attitude is most influential in the later grades. Schools vary significantly in participation rates at each grade level, but the variation is relatively small at both the beginning and the end of high school. There is a positive contextual effect associated with school mean socioeconomic status which is substantial in grade 9, smaller in grades 10 and 11, and negligible in grade 12. As to parental involvement, volunteer work for school is the most important school-level variable in the early grades (8 to 10). The effect is strong in each grade, and remains similar in magnitude across grades. Home discussion is critical in the middle grades (10 and 11). The effect is strong, and remains almost constant in the two grades. Home-school communication has a temporary, though strong, effect in grade 9. The effect of home expectation is nonsignificant across all grades.
The Precarious Multitude of Bacurau
Authors: Sticchi Francesco
Published: February 2022

This article aims to investigate the political and conceptual power of the successful and highly praised film Bacurau (Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho, 2019) by inserting it within general trends of contemporary visual culture surrounding the issue of cinematic precarity. The discussion will find its analytical coordinates around the notions of chronotope and dialogism. These tools are notoriously attributed to Mikhail Bakhtin and are intended to investigate regular patterns in aesthetic experiences and to evaluate the differential and subversive potential to be attributed to every case study. The grounding assumption of the following analysis is to understand cinematic experience as an ecological encounter and an affective and conceptual interaction in which viewers find the opportunity to explore and experience complex ethical systems: a productive interrelation that allows us also to connect the discussion with reflections upon general dynamics of neoliberal governance and with trajectories of resistance and revolt against it.
The establishment and dynamic analysis of a new friction model of brake pair considering interface morphology and particles
Authors: Huang Taosheng , Wei Daogao , Zhu Yingjie , Jiang Ping , Zhang Bingzhan , Yin Andong
Published: February 2022

The disc brake works in an open environment in contact with the outside world. The particles will cause fluctuations in the friction coefficient of the brake. A friction model is established to reflect the morphology characteristics of the surface and the particles, as well as the relationship between the mechanical properties of the brake pair and friction-velocity. The influence of surface morphology parameters and particle parameters on the friction model is analyzed. Based on the model, the stability of the braking system was analyzed, and the influence of friction parameters on the stick-slip vibration characteristics of the system was studied numerically. The results show that the variation of particle parameters has a great influence on the motion stability of the braking system.
The combined effect of carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes on the electrical and self-heating properties of cement composites
Authors: Armoosh Salam R. , Oltulu Meral , Alameri Ibrahim , Mohammed Hussein M. A. , Karacali Tevhit
Published: February 2022

This work investigates the electrical and heating performance of conductive cement composites by using carbonaceous materials (carbon fibers (CF) and carbon nanotubes (CNT)) as conductive materials. Various volume fractions of carbonaceous materials were used to indicate the electrical heating performance of the cement composites. Experimental results showed that adding the carbonaceous materials in cement composites reduced the electrical resistance by more than 98% than that of the main cement paste. The percolation threshold of all carbonaceous cement composites was found to be between 0.1 and 0.75 vol%. By applying a potential voltage to the cement composites, different heating temperatures were investigated depending on the type of carbonaceous materials and their volume fractions. The conductive cement composites showed high heating performance exceeded 100°C within a record time when the input voltage is 60 V. At the end of the study, an analysis of electric power consumption was carried out to determine the feasibility of using carbonaceous materials as self-heating components in the suggested conductive cement composites.
Unexpected severe hepatic and skin toxicities during high dose methotrexate course for osteosarcoma
Authors: Salaün Hélène , Le Nail Louis Romée , Simon Corinne , Narciso Berengere , De Pinieux Gonzague , Vegas Hélène , Vinceneux Armelle
Published: February 2022

Introduction

high dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) regimen is used in osteosarcoma, leukemia and lymphoma treatment. Osteosarcoma is mostly diagnosed in children and adolescents. Most frequent methotrexate toxicities are mucositis, myelosuppression, renal failure, hepatitis and necrotizing encephalopathy. Toxicities increase with renal impairment, denutrition, in older patients, with some pharmacogenetics factors or with drug interactions.

Case report

We report a 16th years old woman diagnosed with osteosarcoma and experienced an unexpected severe hepatic and skin toxicities as toxic epidermal necrolys, Steven Johnson syndrome.

Management and outcome

This toxicity occurred despite acid folinic rescue performed as good practice recommendation. Fourteen hours after methotrexate administration, renal failure was observed and after 72 h an erythematous rash and epidermal detachment with toxic epidermal necrolys. Seven days after methotrexate administration, hepatic failure began until grade IV cytolysis. High dose of folinic acid were administered during all severe toxicities. Methotrexate were not longer administered to this young patient and chemotherapy with ifosfamide (IFO), doxorubicine and cisplatin were performed in this patient and complete histologic response were observed in the surgical bone resection.

Discussion

No classical toxicities risk factors were identified in this patient but a homozygote mutation of MTHFR gene and homozygote SLCO1B1 gene mutation were found. MTHFR and SLCO1B1 are both implicated in methotrexate metabolism.
Effect of Nicotinamide in Skin Cancer and Actinic Keratoses Chemoprophylaxis, and Adverse Effects Related to Nicotinamide: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mainville Laurence , Smilga Anne-Sophie , Fortin Paul R.
Published: February 2022

Background

Oral nicotinamide is recommended in individuals with a field of cancerization or with ≥1 previous cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

Objective

To evaluate the effect of nicotinamide in prevention of skin cancers.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of nicotinamide. We used Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science databases from their inception to October 2020 to search the following concepts: “nicotinamide”; “randomized controlled trial” (validated filters). Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts for intervention and study design before searching full texts for eligibility criteria. To be eligible, ≥1 outcome had to be covered. We used a standardized collection grid to complete data extraction in duplicate. The primary outcome was skin cancers (all types). Secondary outcomes were basal cell carcinomas (BCCs); cSCCs; actinic keratoses; melanomas; digestive, cutaneous, and biochemical adverse effects (AEs). Subgroup analyses were planned a priori.

Results

We screened 4730 citations and found 29 trials (3039 patients) meeting inclusion criteria. Nicotinamide was associated with a significant reduction in skin cancers compared to control (rate ratio 0.50 (95% CI, 0.29-0.85; I 2 = 64%; 552 patients; 5 trials); moderate strength of the evidence). Heterogeneity was explained by risk of bias. Nicotinamide was associated with a significant reduction in BCCs and cSCCs, and increased risk of digestive AEs.

Conclusion

Oral nicotinamide should be considered in healthy patients or organ transplant recipients with history of skin cancer (GRADE: weak recommendation; moderate-quality evidence), in particular of BCC and cSCC.
Corporate censorship online: Vagueness and discursive imprecision in YouTube’s advertiser-friendly content guidelines
Authors: Kopf Susanne
Published: February 2022

This article deals with YouTube’s advertiser-friendly content guidelines – the content rules dedicated to defining what YouTube deems advertiser (un)friendly and that YouTube creators seeking to monetise their content through advertising have to follow. Specifically, this study addresses the textual composition of YouTube’s regulations with a focus on occurrences of vagueness. Regarding methods of data analysis, I take a corpus-assisted discourse analytical approach to YouTube’s texts on advertiser-friendliness. That is, I take a wide-angle view on all concordance lines of ‘content’ and identify occurrences of different forms of vagueness. Findings suggest that at least 26% of the lines of ‘content’ detailing YouTube’s ad-friendly content guidelines exhibit at least one of eight forms of vagueness. Consequently, content creators – left unsure about the monetisability of particular content – may choose not to push any boundaries but to produce noncontroversial content, which, in turn, may impede content plurality on YouTube.
‘Who is /ourguy/?’: Tracing panoramic memes to study the collectivity of 4chan/pol/
Authors: Hagen Sal
Published: February 2022

This article explores how Internet memes can be traced as nodal points for the study of online groups. Such ‘meme tracing’ is specifically pertinent to the study of anonymous imageboards like 4chan, where inquiry cannot be easily based on the individual. Drawing from actor-network theory, I argue ‘panoramic memes’ – memes that repeatedly paint a totalising picture of a collective – are especially useful to identify what narratives hold such anonymous groups together. To operationalise this, I conducted a qualitative-quantitative case study of ‘/ourguy/’: a meme used to suggest a certain public figure is representative of the beliefs of an entire group. Using text mining methods, I traced this term to the names of public figures on 4chan’s far-right /pol/ board. This reveals that Donald Trump and Robert Mueller were most commonly proposed as an ‘/ourguy/’ between 2016 and 2020, while the meme was entangled with conspiracy creation and far-right mobilisation.
An experimental and numerical study on the vibration characteristics of glass fiber composite sandwich panel with lattice cores
Authors: Gholizadeh Eratbeni Mehdi , Rostamiyan Yasser , Seyyedi Seyyed Masoud
Published: February 2022

This research aims to design, manufacture, and determine the vibration characteristics of a composite sandwich panel with lattice cores. For this purpose, first, a glass fiber sandwich panel with lattice truss core has been fabricated in the laboratory. In this part, the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding method has been used to achieve laminates without any porosity. Afterward, the modal tests have been performed to obtain the natural frequencies, shape modes, damping ratio, and frequency responses of the sandwich panel. In addition, a finite element analysis has been developed to calculate the natural frequencies, damping ratio, and mode shapes of the composite sandwich panel. Then the experimental data have been compared to numerical simulation, and good agreement has been found.
Cultural Scripts Underpinning Prostate Cancer-Literacy in Japan
Authors: Castro-Vázquez Genaro
Published: February 2022

In a country where cancer has been dubbed a “national disease” ( kokumin bio) that mostly affects Japanese men, this article presents a reading of the cultural scripts underneath prostate cancer—one of the “Western type of cancers” ( ōbeigata no gan). The reading is grounded in an adaptation of the “sexual scripting theory,” the construct of cancer-literacy, and the analysis of 3,092 newspaper reports published from 2005 to 2020, in three Japanese newspapers with the largest circulation in the country. The analysis is presented in line with three axes: cancer-self, cancer-biopedagogy, and cancer-economics to indicate that a cancer-self largely entails the subjectivity of a Westernized, married, heterosexual man who undergoes andropause, needs to understand what bladder somatics is, and depends on his family and the feminization of care to cope with cancer. The chances to prevent and/or survive the disease chiefly hinge on adopting a form of cancer-biopedagogy, which entails a composite entanglement of knowledge and health-related practices underpinned by the ethnicization of cancer through the consumption of “traditional food” ( washoku) and the assumption that turning into a “healthy self” is determined by Japanese ethnic traits. Cancer-economics is concerned with costs of testing and treatments, health care insurance policies, and food and dietary supplements that serve to commodify a cancer-self who deals with prostate and urinary-related issues.
Can early golfing lead to acetabular and lower limb changes? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Prum Grégoire , Sauret Christophe , Bourgain Maxime , Rouillon Olivier , Rouch Philippe , Thoreux Patricia
Published: February 2022

Golf is a sport which is sometimes started early, in particular for players who become professionals. The combination of an early practice (before growth peak) with high training loads could further increase the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this study was to comparing the morphological and positional parameters of the acetabular and lower limbs of golfers with early or late involvement in the golf practice. Two populations: golfers with early involvement in golf practice (before adolescent growth peak, 12 y.o.), golfers with late involvement (after adolescent growth peak). Subjects underwent a low-dose biplanar radiograph in standard standing position allowing the 3D reconstruction of bones. Morphological parameters were automatically computed from it. Thirty-five male golf players were included: 13 in early group (mean age 27 y.o.), 22 in late group (mean age 56 y.o.). The index of cumulative torsions (sum of the tibial and femoral torsions) was different between sides in early: 7° on the lead-side; 20° on the trail-side ( p < 0.01). This index was different between the lead-side of the early group compared to late (22°; p < 0.001). It could be explained by the mechanical stresses applied on lead knee and ankle during the follow-through. Intensive golf involvement by young players could lead to bone morphology modifications.
The archival riot: Travesti/Trans* audiovisual memory politics in twenty-first-century Argentina
Authors: Simonetto Patricio , Butierrez Marce
Published: February 2022

This article analyzes the making of travesti/trans* memory politics in Argentina. Focused on audiovisual initiatives, archives, catalogs, novels, and digital activism, it studies how these policies emerged in the wider context of the archival and digital turn. While placing the dialogues with Argentine centrality of memory in social conflict and Latin American archival grassroots politics, this text addresses the role of remembrance in the production of travesti/trans* identity. This article argues that trans* memory initiatives acted as politics of belonging that worked in two levels: defining the limits of a common identitarian past, and reaching a wider cisgender audience to highlight the social violence that defined travesti/trans’ precarious lives. This article shows how by placing travesti/trans* memories in tension with national retelling of the past, they are building politics of belonging to legitimate their claims of social reparation to make new trans* futures possible.
The Need for Diabetes Advance Directives to Support the Care of People With Diabetes
Authors: Lewis Dana M.
Published: February 2022

It is time to adopt an advance directive specific to diabetes management. Research shows that people with diabetes in the hospital are often removed from existing diabetes self-management, resulting in poorer outcomes. Diabetes advance directives, which outline preferred diabetes self-management in scenarios such as hospitalization or outpatient procedures, are key for enabling patients with diabetes to continue successful diabetes management including use of existing diabetes technology. A diabetes advance directive is a new concept for both patients and providers that can improve clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes. Given the risk of harm in the absence of such a document, diabetes advance directives can be a useful new tool for patients and providers and to aid in the discussion, care planning, and self-management with diabetes technology.
Educational Leadership Preparation and Professional Roles: Are We Serving the Needs of Leadership Roles Along the Leadership Continuum?
Authors: Eadens Daniel W. , Ceballos Marjorie
Published: February 2022

As the complexity of school and district contexts continue to evolve, there is a need to prepare leaders at various points along the leadership continuum. Through this survey research, we analyzed student perceptions of program effectiveness ( N = 408) from 2013 to 2020 in one educational leadership program through the lens of student professional roles (e.g., teachers, instructional coaches, central office personnel). Results varied with instructional coaches demonstrating higher perceptions of effectiveness and central office personnel lower perceptions. Findings from this study could serve as the impetus for further research as educational leadership programs serve diverse educational leadership roles.
Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake and barriers to being vaccinated among first-round eligibles for COVID-19 vaccination in Eastern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study
Authors: Alemayehu Astawus , Yusuf Mohammed , Demissie Abebaw , Abdullahi Yasin
Published: February 2022

Objective:

Coronavirus disease is a deadly virus that continues to afflict many countries worldwide. Ethiopia has planned to give vaccines to 20% of the population by March 2022. This study aimed to assess determinants of vaccine uptake and barriers to being vaccinated among first-round eligibles for coronavirus disease vaccination in Harar, eastern Ethiopia.

Methods:

A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 820 randomly selected coronavirus disease first-round eligible groups in Harar from August 20 to September 15, 2021. Descriptive summary statistics were done. Logistic regression analyses were computed to identify associations between dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p value of <0.05 were declared statistically significant.

Result:

Out of 820, only 39.4% of participants took the coronavirus disease vaccine. The main barriers to being vaccinated were, belief vaccine has no use (24%), and belief vaccine causes blood clots (17.9%). Being a merchant (adjusted odds ratio: 7.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.6, 24), people who had no schooling (adjusted odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 4.9), having attitude below the mean score (adjusted odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.8), having coronavirus disease prevention practice above the mean score (adjusted odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.8), and family size < 5 members (adjusted odds ratio: 0.64, 95% confidence interval: 0.4, 0.9) were found to be significantly associated with coronavirus disease vaccination.

Conclusion:

Overall, coronavirus disease-19’s first-round vaccination status was low. The number of people vaccinated was higher among 50–60 age groups than those who are >60 years. Being female, being a person with no schooling, being a merchant, being a farmer, and having low coronavirus disease prevention practice was found to be significantly associated with coronavirus disease vaccination. We recommend that the Federal Ministry of Health, Harari Regional Health Bureau, and other concerned stakeholders should work more diligently to provide continued campaigning on coronavirus disease vaccination and better vaccine awareness creation, as this is the only way out of this epidemic.
“What Counts” as Research? Comparing Policy Guidelines to the Evidence Education Leaders Report as Useful
Authors: Farrell Caitlin C. , Penuel William R. , Davidson Kristen
Published: February 2022

Despite calls for evidence-based decision making, the field has a limited understanding of how educational leaders actually engage research. This study draws on a nationally representative sample of 368 district and school leaders who named pieces of research that were useful to their work. Educational leaders found frameworks and practical guidance in the form of books to be most useful. They report turning to research across different domains of leadership practice, including supporting their own professional learning, guiding instructional activities for others, and monitoring and supporting implementation. While a small portion of sources named would qualify for the top three “tiers of evidence” of the Every Student Succeeds Act, those sources named as useful for program selection more frequently met these criteria. Together, these findings offer a broader portrait of research use, one rooted in leaders’ engagement with research as a part of their multifaceted and complex practice.
Genome sequencing-based coverage analyses facilitate high-resolution detection of deletions linked to phenotypes of gamma-irradiated wheat mutants
Authors: Komura Shoya , Jinno Hironobu , Sonoda Tatsuya , Oono Youko , Handa Hirokazu , Takumi Shigeo , Yoshida Kentaro , Kobayashi Fuminori
Published: February 2022

Background

Gamma-irradiated mutants ofTriticum aestivumL., hexaploid wheat, provide novel and agriculturally important traits and are used as breeding materials. However, the identification of causative genomic regions of mutant phenotypes is challenging because of the large and complicated genome of hexaploid wheat. Recently, the combined use of high-quality reference genome sequences of common wheat and cost-effective resequencing technologies has made it possible to evaluate genome-wide polymorphisms, even in complex genomes.

Results

To investigate whether the genome sequencing approach can effectively detect structural variations, such as deletions, frequently caused by gamma irradiation, we selected a grain-hardness mutant from the gamma-irradiated population of Japanese elite wheat cultivar “Kitahonami.” TheHardness(Ha) locus, including the puroindoline protein-encoding genesPina-D1andPinb-D1on the short arm of chromosome 5D, primarily regulates the grain hardness variation in common wheat. We performed short-read genome sequencing of wild-type and grain-hardness mutant plants, and subsequently aligned their short reads to the reference genome of the wheat cultivar “Chinese Spring.” Genome-wide comparisons of depth-of-coverage between wild-type and mutant strains detected ~ 130 Mbp deletion on the short arm of chromosome 5D in the mutant genome. Molecular markers for this deletion were applied to the progeny populations generated by a cross between the wild-type and the mutant. A large deletion in the region including theHalocus was associated with the mutant phenotype, indicating that the genome sequencing is a powerful and efficient approach for detecting a deletion marker of a gamma-irradiated mutant phenotype. In addition, we investigated a pre-harvest sprouting tolerance mutant and identified a 67.8 Mbp deletion on chromosome 3B whereViviparous-B1and GRAS family transcription factors are located. Co-dominant markers designed to detect the deletion-polymorphism confirmed the association with low germination rate, leading to pre-harvest sprouting tolerance.

Conclusions

Short read-based genome sequencing of gamma-irradiated mutants facilitates the identification of large deletions linked to mutant phenotypes when combined with segregation analyses in progeny populations. This method allows effective application of mutants with agriculturally important traits in breeding using marker-assisted selection.
Defining the mutation sites in chickpea nodulation mutants PM233 and PM405
Authors: Frailey Daniel C. , Zhang Qian , Wood David J. , Davis Thomas M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Like most legumes, chickpeas form specialized organs called root nodules. These nodules allow for a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria. The rhizobia provide fixed atmospheric nitrogen to the plant in a usable form. It is of both basic and practical interest to understand the host plant genetics of legume root nodulation. Chickpea lines PM233 and PM405, which harbor the mutationally identified nodulation genes rn1 and rn4, respectively, both display nodulation-deficient phenotypes. Previous investigators identified the rn1 mutation with the chickpea homolog of Medicago truncatula nodulation gene NSP2, but were unable to define the mutant rn1 allele. We used Illumina and Nanopore sequencing reads to attempt to identify and characterize candidate mutation sites responsible for the PM233 and PM405 phenotypes.

Results

We aligned Illumina reads to the available desi chickpea reference genome, and did a de novo contig assembly of Nanopore reads. In mutant PM233, the Nanopore contigs allowed us to identify the breakpoints of a ~ 35 kb deleted region containing the CaNSP2 gene, the Medicago truncatula homolog of which is involved in nodulation. In mutant PM405, we performed variant calling in read alignments and identified 10 candidate mutations. Genotyping of a segregating progeny population narrowed that pool down to a single candidate gene which displayed homology to M. truncatula nodulation gene NIN.

Conclusions

We have characterized the nodulation mutation sites in chickpea mutants PM233 and PM405. In mutant PM233, the rn1 mutation was shown to be due to deletion of the entire CaNSP2 nodulation gene, while in mutant PM405 the rn4 mutation was due to a single base deletion resulting in a frameshift mutation between the predicted RWP-RK and PB1 domains of the NIN nodulation gene. Critical to characterization of the rn1 allele was the generation of Nanopore contigs for mutant PM233 and its wild type parent ICC 640, without which the deletional boundaries could not be defined. Our results suggest that efforts of prior investigators were hampered by genomic misassemblies in the CaNSP2 region of both the desi and kabuli reference genomes.
Comparative analysis of background EEG activity in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy during valproic acid treatment: a standardized, low-resolution, brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) study
Authors: Moon Ja-Un , Lee Joo-Young , Kim Kwang-Yeon , Eom Tae-Hoon , Kim Young-Hoon , Lee In-Goo
Published: February 2022

Background

By definition, the background EEG is normal in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients and not accompanied by other developmental and cognitive problems. However, some recent studies using quantitative EEG (qEEG) reported abnormal changes in the background activity. QEEG investigation in patients undergoing anticonvulsant treatment might be a useful approach to explore the electrophysiology and anticonvulsant effects in JME.

Methods

We investigated background EEG activity changes in patients undergoing valproic acid (VPA) treatment using qEEG analysis in a distributed source model. In 17 children with JME, non-parametric statistical analysis using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography was performed to compare the current density distribution of four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) between untreated and treated conditions.

Results

VPA reduced background EEG activity in the low-frequency (delta-theta) bands across the frontal, parieto-occipital, and limbic lobes (threshold log-F-ratio = ±1.414, p < 0.05; threshold log-F-ratio= ±1.465, p < 0.01). In the delta band, comparative analysis revealed significant current density differences in the occipital, parietal, and limbic lobes. In the theta band, the analysis revealed significant differences in the frontal, occipital, and limbic lobes. The maximal difference was found in the delta band in the cuneus of the left occipital lobe (log-F-ratio = −1.840) and the theta band in the medial frontal gyrus of the left frontal lobe (log-F-ratio = −1.610).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the anticonvulsant effects on the neural networks involved in JME. In addition, these findings suggested the focal features and the possibility of functional deficits in patients with JME.
Perception of information to Swedish melanoma patients in routine clinical practice – a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Tufvesson Stiller Helena , Mikiver Rasmus , Uppugunduri Srinivas , Schmitt-Egenolf Marcus
Published: February 2022

Background

Comprehensible, relevant information empowers patients, allowing them to take an active part in their care. We aim to investigate how Swedish melanoma patients perceive information provided in routine clinical practice and explore the correlation between satisfaction with information, symptoms and functioning scales, and quality of life.

Methods

A cross-sectional study where EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-INFO25 and EQ-5D-3L questionnaires were sent to 1213 patients by post and 792 responded (65%).

Results

Only 0.5% reported that they wished to have received less information. The amount of information received and the satisfaction with that information was age-dependent, where older patients reported receiving less information than younger patients. Middle-aged patients were more satisfied with the information compared to both younger and older patients. The perception of having received sufficient information correlated negatively with anxiety. Higher satisfaction with the information also correlated positively with scores for functioning scales and negatively with degree of symptoms. No difference was perceived in information levels between disease stage apart from the scale “information about other services”, where patients with more severe disease reported receiving more information. Men and women reported equal satisfaction concerning the information received.

Conclusions

Patients lack sufficient information and age affects the perception of it. It is of utmost importance to tailor the information to suit the individual needs of a given patient, as satisfaction with the information received correlates with the patient’s well-being.
Disparities in three critical maternal health indicators amongst Muslims: Vis-a-vis the results reflected on National Health Mission
Authors: Sk Md Illias Kanchan , Ali Balhasan , Biswas Mohai Menul , Saha Mrinal Kanti
Published: February 2022

Background

The post national health mission era has been recognized for India’s accelerating improvement in maternal health care utilization. Concurrent investigations with the purview of examining inequalities in maternal care utilisation have rigorously examined across various socio-economic groups, focusing on Muslim women. The present study examined socio-economic differentials in maternal health care utilisation among Muslims and the delineated factors which are contributing for these inequalities.

Methods

Study used the data from National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted in 2005-06 and 2015-16. the present study applied concentration index and Wagstaff-type decomposition analysis to measure and decompose the inequality in maternal health services.

Results

This study found that utilisation of full antenatal care (full ANC), skilled attendants at birth (SBAs) and postnatal care was increased during 2005-06 to 2015-16. However, the least improvement was observed in full antenatal care whereas substantial improvement was achieved in utilising skilled attendants at birth. Further, the poor and non-poor gap in maternal health care utilisation mostly prevailed among the educated, urban resident, other backward castes among Muslims. The inequality has been declined largely in SBA utilisation compared to full ANC and PNC, especially in the southern India. Higher education, mass media exposure, higher birth order and urban residence contribute and explain most of these inequalities in maternal care among Muslim women

Conclusions

Despite the fact that free and cash benefitted health programmes, wealth, mass media exposure and education etc welfare programs benefitted a large number of citizens, it also produced most of the inequalities among Muslims in India. The results focus on the significance of wealth, education, and mass media exposure in bridging the socioeconomic gap in maternal health care utilization among Muslims.
Extracellular vesicles from serum samples of mycobacteria patients induced cell death of THP-1 monocyte and PBMC
Authors: Javadi Alireza , Shamaei Masoud , Tabarsi Payam , Nomani Masoumeh , Varahram Mohammad , Kazemi Bahram
Published: February 2022

Background

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in cell communication and the pathogenesis of some diseases. EVs may accelerate cell death during the course of mycobacterial infection and are also considered as a new vaccine design, drug delivery, and biomarker candidates. The current study evaluates the effects of EVs from serum samples of mycobacteria-infected patients on THP-1 monocytes and PBMC cells.

Method

EVs were purified from the serum, then cultured separately with THP-1 monocytes and PBMCs. The cell death was determined through annexin V-FITC and PI staining. GW4869, an EVs inhibitor, was used to determine if EVs released from serum could increase THP-1 monocytes cell death.

Results

The cell death was significantly increased in the presence of 10 µg/ml and 5 µg/ml concentrations of the purified EVs (p < 0.05). Minimal cell death was determined in 2.5 µg/ml and 1.2 µg/ml (p < 0.05). Up to 85% of the cells were viable in the presence of the GW4869 inhibitor (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Direct infection of the cells with EVs released from mycobacteria-infected patients samples, the multiplicity of infection with the EVs, and virulent or avirulent mycobacteria may change the status of the cell death. The isolated EVs  from serum samples of patients with mycobacterial  infection accelerated cell death, which means that they might   not be considered as an optimal tool for developing drug delivery and vaccine against tuberculosis.
Direct comparison of the next-generation sequencing and iTERT PCR methods for the diagnosis of TERT hotspot mutations in advanced solid cancers
Authors: Kang So Young , Kim Deok Geun , Kim Hyunjin , Cho Yoon Ah , Ha Sang Yun , Kwon Ghee Young , Jang Kee-Taek , Kim Kyoung-Mee
Published: February 2022

Background

Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter region have been proposed as novel mechanisms for the transcriptional activation of telomerase. Two recurrent mutations in the TERT promoter, C228T and C250T, are prognostic biomarkers. Herein, we directly compared the commercially available iTERT PCR kit with NGS-based deep sequencing to validate the NGS results and determine the analytical sensitivity of the PCR kit.

Methods

Of the 2032 advanced solid tumors diagnosed using the TruSight Oncology 500 NGS test, mutations in the TERT promoter region were detected in 103 cases, with 79 cases of C228T, 22 cases of C250T, and 2 cases of C228A hotspot mutations. TERT promoter mutations were detected from 31 urinary bladder, 19 pancreato-biliary, 22 hepatic, 12 malignant melanoma, and 12 other tumor samples.

Results

In all 103 TERT-mutated cases detected using NGS, the same DNA samples were also tested with the iTERT PCR/Sanger sequencing. PCR successfully verified the presence of the same mutations in all cases with 100% agreement. The average read depth of the TERT promoter region was 320.4, which was significantly lower than that of the other genes (mean, 743.5). Interestingly, NGS read depth was significantly higher at C250 compared to C228 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The NGS test results were validated by a PCR test and iTERT PCR/Sanger sequencing is sensitive for the identification of the TERT promoter mutations.
Emerging role of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of KRAS
Authors: Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh , Shirvani-Farsani Zeinab , Hussen Bashdar Mahmud , Taheri Mohammad , Jalili Khoshnoud Reza
Published: February 2022

The Kirsten ras oncogene KRAS is a member of the small GTPase superfamily participating in the RAS/MAPK pathway. A single amino acid substitution in KRAS gene has been shown to activate the encoded protein resulting in cell transformation. This oncogene is involved in the malignant transformation in several tissues. Notably, numerous non-coding RNAs have been found to interact with KRAS protein. Such interaction results in a wide array of human disorders, particularly cancers. Orilnc1, KIMAT1, SLCO4A1-AS1, LINC01420, KRAS1P, YWHAE, PART1, MALAT1, PCAT-1, lncRNA-NUTF2P3-001 and TP53TG1 are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) whose interactions with KRAS have been verified in the context of cancer. miR-143, miR-96, miR-134 and miR-126 have also been shown to interact with KRAS in different tissues. Finally, circITGA7, circ_GLG1, circFNTA and circ-MEMO1 are examples of circular RNAs (circRNAs) that interact with KRAS. In this review, we describe the interaction between KRAS and lncRNAs, miRNAs and circRNAs, particularly in the context of cancer.
Trigonelline reverses high glucose-induced proliferation, fibrosis of mesangial cells via modulation of Wnt signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Chen , Shi Yan , Ma Jiulong , Chen Zhen , Zhang Ming , Zhao Yan
Published: February 2022

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The proliferation and apoptosis of mesangial cells induced by the activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway is crucial in DN. Trigonelline (TRL) is an alkaloid that has been shown to decrease proteinuria and protect the renal function in DN. However, the effect of TRL on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway of mesangial cells is unclear.

Methods

As a cellular DN model, human mesangial cells (HMCs) were treated with high-glucose (HG). β-Catenin plasmid and control knockdown plasmids were transfected into HG-treated HMCs as β-catenin pcDNA and β-catenin siRNA groups, respectively. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and terminal dUTP transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. mRNA expression of Wnt1, Wnt3a, Wnt4, Wnt5a, β-catenin, TCF4, Cyclin D1, and CDK4 were detected by qRT-PCR. Protein expression of Wnt4, Wnt5a, nucleus-β-catenin, TCF4, Cyclin D1, and CDK4 were detected by western blotting.

Results

TRL significantly inhibited HG-induced HMCs viability over three-time points measured (24, 48, and 72 h). In addition, TRL suppressed the levels of fibronectin (FN) and collagen IV (Col IV) in HG-stimulated HMCs. Furthermore, TRL efficiently inhibited the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in HG-stimulated HMCs. Taken together, these data indicated that TRL inhibited HG-induced HMCs proliferation and ECM expression via the modulation of the Wnt signaling pathway.

Conclusions

TRL reduces HG-induced cell injury by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Dietary fructose and its association with the metabolic syndrome in Lebanese healthy adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Aoun Rita , Chokor Fatima Al Zahraa , Taktouk Mandy , Nasrallah Mona , Ismaeel Hussain , Tamim Hani , Nasreddine Lara
Published: February 2022

Background

Epidemiological studies investigating the association between dietary fructose intake and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are scarce and have produced controversial findings. This study aimed at (1) assessing total dietary fructose intake in a sample of Lebanese healthy adults, and determining the intake levels of natural vs. added fructose; (2) investigating the association of dietary fructose with MetS; and (3) identifying the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with high fructose intake.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a representative sample of adults living in Beirut, Lebanon (n = 283). Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected, and dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Intakes of naturally-occurring fructose from fructose-containing food sources, such as fruits, vegetables, honey, were considered as “natural fructose”. Acknowledging that the most common form of added sugar in commodities is sucrose or High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), 50% of added sugar in food products was considered as added fructose. Total dietary fructose intake was calculated by summing up natural and added fructose intakes. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association of total, added and natural fructose intakes with the MetS and to identify the socioeconomic predictors of high fructose intake.

Results

Mean intake of total fructose was estimated at 51.42 ± 35.54 g/day, representing 6.58 ± 3.71% of energy intakes (EI). Natural and added fructose intakes were estimated at 12.29 ± 8.57 and 39.12 ± 34.10 g/day (1.78 ± 1.41% EI and 4.80 ± 3.56% EI), respectively. Participants in the highest quartile of total and added fructose intakes had higher odds of MetS (OR = 2.84, 95%CI: 1.01, 7.94 and OR = 3.18, 95%CI: 1.06, 9.49, respectively). In contrast, natural fructose intake was not associated with MetS. Age, gender and crowding index were identified as factors that may modulate dietary fructose intakes.

Conclusions

The observed association between high added fructose intake and the MetS highlights the need for public health strategies aimed at limiting sugar intake from industrialized foods and promoting healthier dietary patterns in Lebanon.
Transcriptional landscape of circulating platelets from patients with COVID-19 reveals key subnetworks and regulators underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection: implications for immunothrombosis
Authors: Ji Weiping , Chen Lu , Yang Wei , Li Ke , Zhao Jingting , Yan Congcong , You Cancan , Jiang Minghua , Zhou Meng , Shen Xian
Published: February 2022

Background

Thrombosis and coagulopathy are pervasive pathological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and thrombotic complications are a sign of severe COVID-19 disease and are associated with multiple organ failure and increased mortality. Platelets are essential cells that regulate hemostasis, thrombus formation and inflammation; however, the mechanism underlying the interaction between platelets and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear.

Results

The present study performed RNA sequencing on the RNA isolated from platelets obtained from 10 COVID-19 patients and eight healthy donors, and discovered that SARS-CoV-2 not only significantly altered the coding and non-coding transcriptional landscape, but also altered the function of the platelets, promoted thrombus formation and affected energy metabolism of platelets. Integrative network biology analysis identified four key subnetworks and 16 risk regulators underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection, involved in coronavirus disease-COVID-19, platelet activation and immune response pathways. Furthermore, four risk genes (upstream binding transcription factor, RNA polymerase II, I and III subunit L, Y-box binding protein 1 and yippee like 2) were found to be associated with COVID-19 severity. Finally, a significant alteration in the von Willebrand factor/glycoprotein Ib-IX-V axis was revealed to be strongly associated with platelet aggregation and immunothrombosis.

Conclusions

The transcriptional landscape and the identification of critical subnetworks and risk genes of platelets provided novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of immunothrombosis in COVID-19 progression, which may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for preventing COVID-19-associated thrombosis and improving the clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients.
On a new fractional Sobolev space with variable exponent on complete manifolds
Authors: Aberqi Ahmed , Benslimane Omar , Ouaziz Abdesslam , Repovs̆ Dus̆an D.
Published: February 2022

We present the theory of a new fractional Sobolev space in complete manifolds with variable exponent. As a result, we investigate some of our new space’s qualitative properties, such as completeness, reflexivity, separability, and density. We also show that continuous and compact embedding results are valid. We apply the conclusions of this study to the variational analysis of a class of fractional$p(z, \cdot )$p(z,⋅)-Laplacian problems involving potentials with vanishing behavior at infinity as an application.