bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient introduction of an isogenic homozygous mutation to induced pluripotent stem cells from a hereditary hearing loss family using CRISPR/Cas9 and single-stranded donor oligonucleotides
Authors: Dong Yunpeng , Peng Tao , Wu Weijing , Tan Donghui , Liu Xuezhong , Xie Dinghua
Published: March 2019

Background

Heterozygous purinergic receptor p2x gene ( P2RX2) c.178G>T (p.V60L) mutations can lead to progressive hearing loss (HL) and increased susceptibility to noise. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. A combination of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas)9-mediated gene editing may provide a promising tool to study gene function and treat hereditary deafness in humans.

Methods

hiPSC technology and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing were used to generate heterozygous and homozygous P2RX2 c.178G>T (p.V60L) cell models.

Results

We generated non-integrative hiPSCs from urine samples derived from three members of a large Chinese family carrying heterozygous P2RX2 c.178G>T mutations (designated P2RX2+/–) as a model to study P2RX2-mediated hereditary HL. Furthermore, we used CRISPR/Cas9 and single-stranded donor oligonucleotides to genetically establish homozygous P2RX2 c.178G>T hiPSCs (designated P2RX2–/–) from heterozygous patient-specific hiPSCs as a control to further study the pathological gene function.

Conclusions

Heterozygous and homozygous P2RX2-mutated hiPSC lines are good models to investigate the pathological mechanisms of P2RX2 mutations in HL pathogenesis. Our findings confirmed our hypothesis that it is feasible and convenient to introduce precise point mutations into genomic loci of interest to generate gene-mutated hiPSC models.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided injection of coils and cyanoacrylate glue for the treatment of gastric fundal varices with abnormal shunts: a series of case reports
Authors: Wang XiaoMing , Yu Shan , Chen Xin , Duan Lei
Published: March 2019

Gastric varices are found in approximately 20% of patients with portal hypertension. Endoscopic procedures involving the injection of cyanoacrylate (CYA) have proven to be the therapies of choice for primary treatment of gastric varices and have resulted in higher hemostasis rates and lower recurrent bleeding rates compared with band ligation and sclerotherapy. Nevertheless, serious adverse events associated with CYA injection, including glue embolization, have been reported in numerous articles and have occasionally led to fatal adverse events. Gastric fundal varices with abnormal shunts are higher-risk than those without abnormal shunts, and their treatment is more challenging. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided puncture is an important technique in the field of digestive endoscopy. EUS has advantages that include improved therapeutic targeting, enhanced variceal detection, the ability to confirm varix obliteration with Doppler examination, and the ability to perform accurate observations of gastric varices that are not affected by blood in the stomach. The coils currently used for intravascular embolization can be precisely delivered into a varix through fine-needle puncture under EUS guidance, and this technique has provided a new approach for varix obliteration. We herein describe two patients with severe gastric fundal varices who were treated with EUS-guided coil injection and CYA embolization.
Long-term treatment patterns of prophylactic and acute migraine medications and incidence of opioid-related adverse events in patients with migraine
Authors: Bonafede Machaon , Wilson Kathleen , Xue Fei
Published: March 2019

Objectives

To describe long-term treatment patterns in migraine patients initiating prophylactic therapy and to evaluate acute medication use and adverse events associated with opioids.

Methods

This study used the 2005–2014 IBM MarketScan® databases to evaluate migraine patients initiating prophylactic medication. Outcome measures included persistence with prophylactic migraine medications over 2–5 years. Acute medication use and gastrointestinal-related adverse events and opioid abuse following opioid use were evaluated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate predictors of non-persistence and predictors of gastrointestinal-related AEs and opioid abuse associated with long-term opioid use.

Results

In total, 147,832 patients were analyzed. Non-persistence was observed in 90% of patients; 39% switched, 30% restarted, and 31% discontinued treatment. Over the follow-up, 59.9% of patients received triptans, 66.6% non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 77.4% opioids, and 2.6% ergotamines. Among opioid users, 16.6% experienced nausea/vomiting, 12.2% had constipation, and 10.4% had diarrhea. Opioid abuse was reported in <1% of opioid users. Gastrointestinal-related adverse events increased with increasing number of days’ supply of opioids.

Conclusions

Non-persistence to prophylactic treatment was frequent among migraine patients. Opioid use was common in migraine patients and the risk of gastrointestinal-related adverse events and opioid abuse increased with long-term use of opioids. These results suggest a need for more effective prophylactic migraine treatments.
A progressive traditionalist: Sir Edwin Van-Der-Vord Nixon CMG, Accountant, (1876–1955)
Authors: Cobbin Phillip E , Burrows Geoffrey H
Published: March 2019

This article contributes to remedying the paucity of biographical information about Australian luminary accounting figures in the first half of the twentieth-century, a period of enormous change and development in the accounting profession, particularly in relation to its organisational structure, international links, literature, intellectual base, education and role in relation to government in both peace- and war-time. It is argued that no individual luminary is more neglected by biographers, yet deserving of extended biographical treatment, than Sir Edwin Van-der-Vord Nixon, one of the great figures in Australian accounting, whose eponymous firm was a critical antecedent to the present day EY Australia. Nixon’s career spanned the crucially important ‘coming of age’ period in Australian accounting. The key evolutionary developments in Australian accounting that provided the foundation for the modern profession are the backdrop against which Nixon’s lifelong career in accounting can be observed.
Interventions in Foster Family Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bergström Martin , Cederblad Marianne , Håkansson Kickan , Jonsson Ann Kristine , Munthe Christian , Vinnerljung Bo , Wirtberg Ingegerd , Östlund Pernilla , Sundell Knut
Published: March 2019

Objective:

Foster family care is associated with adverse short- and long-term consequences for the child. A systematic review was conducted on interventions for foster children and foster careers.

Method:

A comprehensive search process was used to find eligible interventions evaluated in randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies. The quality of studies was assessed with GRADE, and effects were synthesized using meta-analytic methods.

Results:

In all, 28 publications of 18 interventions, including 5,357 children, were identified. Only three specific interventions had sufficient confidence of evidence. No study had examined tools for foster parent selection nor had evaluated preservice programs related to outcomes.

Discussion:

These analyses provide new insights and hope into the field of systematic interventions in foster care. The overall results indicate that it is possible to improve eight outcomes but cannot point out which programs are superior. Ethically, social care organizations should systematically collect knowledge about effects and side effects.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Spring Ligament Augmentation With the FiberTape Device in a Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
Authors: Aynardi Michael C. , Saloky Kaitlin , Roush Evan P. , Juliano Paul , Lewis Gregory S.
Published: March 2019

Background:

The structural importance of the spring ligament complex in arch stability has been described. Furthermore, the pathology of this complex is often noted in patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. The purpose of this biomechanical study was to evaluate spring ligament repair alone versus augmentation with the FiberTape device in a cadaveric flatfoot model.

Methods:

Eight paired, below-the-knee, cadaveric specimens underwent flatfoot creation and reconstruction. The experimental group received augmentation with FiberTape (InternalBrace). After potting, specimens were loaded statically to measure talonavicular contact pressures and flatfoot correction. Cyclic loading was performed in a stepwise fashion. Loading was performed at 1 Hz and 100 cycles, at 100-N intervals from 500 to 1800 N, with the Achilles tendon also loaded to simulate weightbearing in the postoperative period.

Results:

Control specimen analysis demonstrated failures of 8 of 8 (100%) spring ligament suture repairs, occurring through suture cut-through (5 specimens), suture fatigue and elongation (2), or knot failure (1). One of 8 (12.5%) FiberTape-augmented repairs failed after cyclic loading. The difference in number of repair failures was statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P = .0014). Analysis revealed that at forces of 1600 N ( P = .03) and 1700 N ( P = .02) there were statistically significant differences between the FiberTape-augmented group and the control group, with a greater collapse in the lateral Meary talo–first metatarsal angle in the controls. There was no significant difference or abnormal increase in contact pressures of the talonavicular joint in both groups.

Conclusion:

FiberTape augmentation of the spring ligament appears biomechanically safe and effective under cyclic loading.

Clinical relevance:

Spring ligament augmentation with this device may be another biomechanically safe and reasonable treatment modality for surgeons during flatfoot reconstruction. It is possible that early protected weightbearing after these procedures may be performed.
Magneto-electro-elastic vibration of moderately thick FG annular plates subjected to multi physical loads in thermal environment using GDQ method by considering neutral surface
Authors: Arshid Ehsan , Kiani Ali , Amir Saeed
Published: March 2019

The vibration analysis of an annular plate made up of functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic materials subjected to multi physical loads is presented. The plate is in thermal environment and temperature is distributed non-uniformly in its thickness direction. In addition, the plate is assumed moderately thick, the material properties vary through the thickness, and the exact neutral surface position is determined and took into account. According to Hamilton’s principle and the first-order shear deformation theory, the governing motion equations are extracted. Numerical results for various boundary conditions are obtained via the generalized differential quadrature method and are validated in simpler states with those of the literature. The effects of different parameters such as material property gradient index, multi physical loads, temperature variations, boundary conditions and geometric specifications of the plate on the natural frequencies and mode shapes are investigated. Temperature changes have little effect on the natural frequencies and the effect of electric potential on them is opposite of magnetic one. In other words, by increasing the magnetic potential, the rigidity of the plate increases too, and the frequency increases. The results of this study are useful to design more efficient sensors and actuators used in the smart or intelligent structures.
Navigating conflicts of interest: Ethical policies of 12 exemplary Asian media organisations
Authors: George Cherian , Zeng Yuan , Mazumdar Suruchi
Published: March 2019

While research into non-Western media systems and professional norms are growth areas in journalism studies, little is known about the policies of news organisations beyond a few celebrated global brands. This exploratory study is situated in that gap. It examines 12 reputable media organisations in seven territories – China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Taiwan. Through interviews with top-level editors and executives, the study analyses their stated policies with regard to commercial conflicts of interest. In particular, how they deal with pressures from owners and advertisers who want favourable news coverage and how they respond to the demand for commercial deals that blur the boundaries between editorial and advertising. The study responds to recent calls in media ethics scholarship for critical-empiricist research on the ‘possible’ world, focusing on actually existing exemplars rather than abstract ideals. The 12 organisations have adopted a range of responses to these pressures. In general, most have policies aimed at preserving their editorial integrity even as they become more accommodating to the market. Our interviewees point to the importance of organisational culture, more than written policies, in maintaining professionalism: most of the organisations were founded by journalist-publishers whose ethos continues to exert a strong influence. While these organisations have lessons for others, it may be unrealistic to expect their culture of journalistic independence to diffuse beyond a small set of principled media outlets.
Book review: Sevil, Acar. 2017: The Curse of Natural Resources: A Development Analysis in a Comparative Context
Authors: Villar Paul Fenton
Published: March 2019

Sevil, Acar. 2017: The Curse of Natural Resources: A Development Analysis in a Comparative Context. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. 244 pp. RRP £88.00 (Hardback), ISBN 978-1-137-58722-0.
Motivation, expectations and understanding of patients and their parents seeking orthodontic treatment in specialist practice
Authors: Geoghegan Finn , Birjandi Ana Ahmadi , Machado Xavier Guilherme , DiBiase Andrew T
Published: March 2019

Objectives:

To determine patient and parent/guardian motivation, expectation and understanding of orthodontic treatment.

Design:

A self-completion questionnaire survey of new patients referred for orthodontic assessment.

Setting:

Specialist practices in Surrey and Berkshire (United Kingdom).

Participants:

A total of 500 questionnaires were issued (250 were issued to patients and 250 to parents).

Methods:

The survey was based on a self-completed questionnaire which was issued at the assessment appointment. Both questionnaires were adapted and extended from originally validated questionnaires previously used in a hospital setting. Patients and parents were asked to complete separate anonymous questionnaires. The patient questionnaire consisted of 24 closed-ended questions divided into three domains: motivation; understanding; and expectation of orthodontic treatment. The parent questionnaire consisted of 13 questions covering the same three domains

Results:

The response rate for the patient and parent questionnaires was 95% and 91%, respectively. Forty-seven percent of the patients were aged 11–13 years. In 77% of cases, the referral was initiated by their dentist. Only 3% of patients thought there was nothing wrong with their teeth. There was a poor understanding of what a retainer is and for how long patients are expected to use it.

Conclusions:

Referral for orthodontic treatment was initiated by the patients’ general dental practitioner in the majority of the cases. The anticipation of improved dental appearance was a prime motivating factor. Participants had realistic expectations and there was a good acceptance of appliances and dental extractions for orthodontic treatment. Nevertheless, both patients and parents/guardians were less well informed on the nature and duration of orthodontic retention.
Leptin levels in gingival crevicular fluid during canine retraction: in vivo comparative study
Authors: Sar Sanjit Kumar , Shetty Divya , Kumar Piush , Juneja Saurabh , Sharma Payal
Published: March 2019

Objective:

To evaluate and compare the leptin levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and rate of canine retraction using an elastomeric chain and nickel–titanium (NiTi) closed coil spring.

Design:

In vivo, clinical study.

Setting:

Orthodontic department at ITS Centre for Dental Studies and Research, Ghaziabad, India.

Participants:

Twenty-seven patients reported to the Department of Orthodontics at ITS Centre for Dental Studies and Research.

Methods:

Twenty-seven patients were included in the study in which canine retraction was carried out with an elastomeric chain and NiTi closed coil spring on either side of the arch applying 150 g of force on both sides. GCF samples were collected before the commencement of canine retraction, on the first, seventh and 21st day after application of force and were analysed for leptin levels by the ELISA technique. Impressions for the study model were taken at baseline and after 21 days to measure the rate of tooth movement bilaterally with an electronic digital calliper.

Results:

The results obtained within both groups showed a significant decrease in leptin levels from baseline to 21 days ( P = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in leptin levels between both groups, but leptin levels decreased more in the NiTi closed coil spring group. The rate of tooth movement is not significantly different between both groups, but space closure is faster in the NiTi closed coil spring group.

Conclusions:

Leptin levels in GCF showed a significant decrease during canine retraction using an elastomeric chain and NiTi coil spring; there was no significant difference in the rate of tooth movement between both the groups.
UEFA Champions League Entry Has Not Satisfied Strategyproofness in Three Seasons
Authors: Csató László
Published: March 2019

This article investigates the qualification for the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) Champions League (CL), the most prestigious club competition in European football, with respect to the theoretical property of strategyproofness. We find that in three seasons (2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018), the UEFA Europa League titleholder might have been better off by losing its match against the CL titleholder in their domestic championship. A straightforward solution is suggested in order to avoid the occurrence of this paradox. The use of an incentive compatible rule would have a real effect on the qualification in these three seasons of the UEFA CL.
From national identity to state legitimacy: Mobilizing digitally networked publics in eastern Ukraine
Authors: Boichak Olga , Jackson Sam
Published: March 2019

Social media enable broad and diverse publics to mobilize around a shared collective identity. In this article, the authors use social movement literature and studies of peace and conflict to foreground the role of platform-mediated communication in creating a national identity in a fragile state. We argue that, by affording activists with a possibility of public, yet anonymous interactions, social media may play a crucial role in conferring state legitimacy during a violent conflict. Investigating the case of Mariupol, Ukraine, where a small group of citizens employed social media to support and legitimize the Ukrainian state among the city population, the authors illuminate the use of new media affordances to construct a national identity among digitally networked publics, mobilizing support for a threatened state.
William James on Passion and Emotion: Influence of Théodule Ribot
Authors: Charland Louis C.
Published: March 2019

This case study in the history of “passion” and “emotion” is based on the writings of William James. James is famous for his (1884) theory of emotion. However, like his illustrious colleague, Théodule Ribot, he also recognized the importance of “passion” in psychology. That aspect of James’s work is underappreciated. Ribot explicitly defends the necessity of including “passion” in psychology. James does not go that far. But he does utilize a very similar concept in connection with the term “passion” and there can be little doubt he considered it scientifically legitimate. Consequently, like Ribot, James must be considered an exception to historical accounts of this period which describe a transition from “passion” to “emotion” in which “passion” plays no part.
Comparison of all suture fixation with tension band wiring and plate fixation of the olecranon
Authors: Phadnis Joideep Sunil , Vaughan Alex , Luokkala Toni , Peters Jonathon , Watson Jay J , Watts Adam
Published: March 2019

Background

Tension band wiring and plate fixation are common techniques used to stabilize simple olecranon fractures and osteotomies of the olecranon. All suture fixation is an alternative technique but has not been compared previously to these traditional methods. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the three techniques.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-eight consecutive Mayo type 1 and 2 olecranon fractures (n = 138) and olecranon osteotomies (n = 30) with a minimum follow-up time of one year were compared. The primary outcome measure was the rate of re-operation. Secondary outcome measures were the incidence of complications, rate of radiographic union and incidence of radiographic reduction loss.

Results

Fixation was performed using tension band wiring in 89 patients, plating in 38 patients and suture fixation in 41 patients. There was no significant difference in the fracture type according to the Mayo classification between the groups. The re-operation rate was significantly higher in the tension band wiring group (36%) compared with both the plate group (11%, p = 0.03) and the suture group (2%, p = 0.002). There were two revision fixations in the tension band wiring group and one in the suture group. There was one asymptomatic non-union in the suture group. All other fractures and osteotomies achieved radiographic union.

Conclusion

Suture fixation of simple olecranon fractures and osteotomies was reliable in providing stable union and had a significantly lower re-operation rate when compared with tension band wiring.
Lower sensitivity of ankle-brachial index measurements among people suffering with diabetes-associated vascular disorders: A systematic review
Authors: Abouhamda Ayman , Alturkstani Majid , Jan Yousef
Published: March 2019

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease affecting microvascular and macrovascular systems and is considered as the strongest risk factor for peripheral arterial disease. Although the prevalence of the peripheral arterial disease is high among people living with diabetes, its severity is not accurately detected with the prevalent diagnostic methodologies. The ankle-brachial index measurement is a simple, objective, and reliable tool for diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. However, it is of limited value in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease among diabetic patients due to its low sensitivity among diabetic individuals. Diabetes mellitus results in atherosclerosis and calcification of peripheral arterial walls leading to false normal ankle-brachial index values. Therefore, healthcare practitioners should be careful not to misinterpret ankle-brachial index results among diabetic patients. A literature search was conducted using the keywords “ankle-brachial index,” “interpretation,” “limitations,” “diabetic foot,” and “peripheral arterial disease” on different medical search engines. The results were manually scanned and then further reviewed to select the articles related to our topic of discussion. This article will review the use of ankle-brachial index measurement among diabetic patients, its limitations and its prognostic value. In Conclusion, Ankle-brachial index can be used for diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease with some precautions (e.g. raising the threshold of diagnosis or using the lowest systolic pressure value measured at the ankle) and can also be a prognostic indicator for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
How Many People Live in Political Bubbles on Social Media? Evidence From Linked Survey and Twitter Data
Authors: Eady Gregory , Nagler Jonathan , Guess Andy , Zilinsky Jan , Tucker Joshua A.
Published: March 2019

A major point of debate in the study of the Internet and politics is the extent to which social media platforms encourage citizens to inhabit online “bubbles” or “echo chambers,” exposed primarily to ideologically congenial political information. To investigate this question, we link a representative survey of Americans with data from respondents’ public Twitter accounts ( N = 1,496). We then quantify the ideological distributions of users’ online political and media environments by merging validated estimates of user ideology with the full set of accounts followed by our survey respondents ( N = 642,345) and the available tweets posted by those accounts ( N ~ 1.2 billion). We study the extent to which liberals and conservatives encounter counter-attitudinal messages in two distinct ways: (a) by the accounts they follow and (b) by the tweets they receive from those accounts, either directly or indirectly (via retweets). More than a third of respondents do not follow any media sources, but among those who do, we find a substantial amount of overlap (51%) in the ideological distributions of accounts followed by users on opposite ends of the political spectrum. At the same time, however, we find asymmetries in individuals’ willingness to venture into cross-cutting spaces, with conservatives more likely to follow media and political accounts classified as left-leaning than the reverse. Finally, we argue that such choices are likely tempered by online news watching behavior.
Does Culture Play a Role at Work? Examining the Relationships Among Sociocultural Values, Job Satisfaction, and Social Support as a Mediator
Authors: Mensah Abigail Opoku
Published: March 2019

Current literature on employees’ work attitudes often fails to examine how employees’ specific sociocultural values influence work attitudes. This study of 211 bank managers examined specifically the cardinal sociocultural values (moral values, religious values, communal values, attitude toward others, and family values) within the Ghanaian society and how they influence job satisfaction. The study further tested the mediating role of social support on the relationship between sociocultural values and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM)/partial least squares (PLS) to test for the relationships between sociocultural values (as the endogenous variable) and job satisfaction (as the exogenous variable) and the mediating role of social support. Based on the results, it is concluded that there exist a significant positive relationship between sociocultural values and job satisfaction. The strongest relationship observed is between moral values, religious values, and job satisfaction. Social support mediated the sociocultural values and job satisfaction relationships, sometimes fully and sometimes partially, depending on which specific sociocultural value was being examined. Theoretical and practical implications of the proposed research are discussed.
Pregnant pause: should we screen for sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy?
Authors: Perkins Alex , Einion Alys
Published: March 2019

Physiological and hormonal changes in pregnancy can contribute towards sleep disordered breathing in pregnant women (SDBP). When present, SDBP increases the risk of several adverse maternal and fetal outcomes independent of factors such as age, weight and pre-existing maternal comorbidities. SDBP is underdiagnosed and may be hard to recognise because the presentation can be difficult to differentiate from normal pregnancy and the severity may change over the course of gestation. Timely intervention seems likely to help reduce adverse outcomes, but the relative benefits of intervention are still unclear. The definition of what constitutes a sleep-related breathing “disorder” in pregnancy may be different to the general population and so traditional thresholds for intervention may not be relevant in pregnancy. Any modifications to the disease definition in this group, or implementation of more intensive screening, may result in overdiagnosis. Further research is needed to help clinicians evaluate the balance of benefits and harms in this process. Until this is clearer there is a strong imperative for shared decision making in screening and treatment decisions, and screening programmes should be monitored to assess whether improved outcomes can be achieved at the healthcare system level.

Key points

Untreated sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy poses risks to maternal and fetal wellbeing, but it is underdiagnosed.

Careful approaches to screening could improve rates of diagnosis, but thresholds for and benefits of intervention are unclear.

Clinical guidelines and screening programmes for sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy need to consider the potential harms of overdiagnosis and should involve shared decision making and careful monitoring of outcomes relevant to the individual.

Educational aims

Explore current knowledge of the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in the pregnant population.

Explore the relationship between sleep disordered breathing and adverse outcomes.

Understand the approaches to diagnosis and management of sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy.

Explore issues around screening, underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis in the context of sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy.
Accumulation of wear and tear in archival and library collections. Part I: exploring the concepts of reliability and epidemiology
Authors: Duran-Casablancas Cristina , Grau-Bové Josep , Strlič Matija
Published: March 2019

Wear and tear is the outcome of degradation most frequently reported in assessments of archival and library collections. It is also problematic to study in controlled experiments, due to the difficulty in reproducing the conditions in which original objects are kept and used in archives and libraries. Hence, data collected from actual collections, for instance during surveys, could provide the evidence on how wear and tear occurs. However, to be useful, such data need to be purposely collected and analysed: unlike the usual collection surveys, the aim is not to quantify the prevalence of a certain damage type but to provide evidence on how such damage occurs. In this paper we explore whether two approaches used in other disciplines could be useful: reliability engineering, the method that deals with failure in complex systems, and epidemiology, which explores diseases in defined populations. We show that based on reliability engineering we can decide which data related to the causes of mechanical failure should be collected during collection surveys, while using epidemiology we can develop the study design and the data analysis needed to study the relationship between mechanical failure, and the factors that might affect the degree of failure. The results of epidemiological studies in heritage collections could provide quantitative evidence of patterns of decay in collections, and corroborate the qualitative analysis provided by reliability. The results can directly support collection management decisions or can be used in mathematical models in which the effect of preservation measures is explored.
Expression of PD-L1 in primary breast carcinoma and lymph node metastases
Authors: Alves Alice M. , Paredes Joana , Schmitt Fernando
Published: March 2019

Background

Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a predictive biomarker of the response of immunotherapy in some types of cancer. In the last years it was described its expression in breast cancer, namely in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cases. In order to better understand the prognostic value of PD-L1 in breast cancer, this study analysed its expression in a series of primary tumours and respective nodal metastases.

Methods

PD-L1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a series of 52 breast cancer cases and paired lymph node metastasis and correlate with the clinicopathological features of the primary tumour. The TNBC cases were re-classified using morphological and immunohistochemistry surrogate markers and the expression of PD-L1 was correlate with the different subtypes.

Results

It was observed that the majority of the cases with PDL-1 positive in the nodal metastasis did not express PD-L1 in the primary tumour (90.0%, 10 out of 11 cases). In addition, from the cases with a negative PD-L1 expression in the primary tumour, 23.8% expressed PD-L1 in the metastasis (10 out of 42 cases).No relationship was found between the PD-L1 expression in nodal metastasis and the clinicopathological features of the primary tumour. Finally, basal-like immunosuppressed (BLIS) TN tumours seem to be less prone to express PD-L1.

Conclusion

Although without statistical significance, there is a gain in terms of the PD-L1 expression in the nodal metastasis when compared to the primary tumour. This may have therapeutic implications on immunotherapy that blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.
Of oncogenes and open science: an interview with Harold Varmus
Authors: Varmus Harold
Published: March 2019

Harold Varmus has made pioneering contributions to our understanding of cancer as a genetic disease. The discovery of the cellular origin of retroviral oncogenes earned him and his long-term collaborator, Michael Bishop, the Lasker Prize for Basic Medical Sciences in 1982 and the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1989. Throughout his career, Varmus has held several leadership roles that shaped science policy in the US and worldwide, and he has been an outspoken advocate for open science. In this interview, he talks (among other things) about the factors that shaped his early career choices, the thrill of scientific discovery, and the importance of including diverse populations in genomic studies of cancer and other diseases.
The potential impact of age, gender, body mass index, socioeconomic status and dietary habits on the prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abbass Marwa M.S. , AbuBakr Nermeen , Radwan Israa Ahmed , Rady Dina , El Moshy Sara , Ramadan Mohamed , Ahmed Attera , Al Jawaldeh Ayoub
Published: March 2019

Background:Dental caries is a major public health problem and the most widespread chronic disease to affect individuals throughout their lifetime. Little information exists about the prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian adults. Therefore, this study investigated the dental caries experience among Egyptian adults in correlation with different risk factors.

Methods:A total of 359 Egyptian adults (age range, 18-74 years) were examined over a period of 3 months, starting on the 15thof November 2017 until the 13thof January 2018. Socio-demographic data, brushing frequency, body mass index (BMI) and eating habits were recorded and collected using a questionnaire. Dental examination was performed using the Decayed, Missing and Filled tooth (DMFT) index.

Results:In total, 86.63% of participants had dental caries experience. Of the participants, 60.45%, 48.47% and 55.43% had at least one decayed, missing and filled tooth, respectively. The mean number of decayed, missing, filled or DMFT for the whole sample were 2.4±3.6, 1.98±3.99, 1.79±2.45, 6.09±5.7, respectively. Decayed teeth were inversely correlated with socio-economic status (SES), education level, brushing frequency and milk consumption and positively correlated with grains, junk food and soda drinks consumption. Missing teeth were inversely correlated with SES, education level and brushing frequency, while positively correlated with age, BMI and caffeinated drink consumption. Conversely, filled teeth were positively correlated with age, BMI, SES and education level, while negatively correlated with grains and sugars in drinks.

Conclusion:The present study clarifies that age, BMI, SES, education level and brushing frequency are risk factors significantly associated with dental caries prevalence amongst Egyptian adults. Egyptian adults' dietary habits might lead to obesity, which indirectly causes dental caries rather than directly as in children.
Introducing high school students to the Gene Ontology classification system
Authors: Dedhia Mehek , Kohetuk Kenneth , Crusio Wim E. , Delprato Anna
Published: March 2019

We present an activity that introduces high school students to the Gene Ontology classification system which is widely used in genomics and systems biology studies to characterize large sets of genes based on functional and structural information. This is a valuable and standardized method used to identify genes that act in similar processes and pathways and also to gain insight into the overall architecture and distribution of genes and gene families associated with a particular tissue or disease. Through this exercise, students will learn how the classification system works by analyzing a list of genes using DAVID the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery that incorporates the Gene Ontology system into its suite of analysis tools. This method of profiling genes is used by our high school student interns to categorize gene expression data related to behavioral neuroscience. Students will get a feel for working with genes and gene sets, gain vocabulary, obtain an understanding of how a database is structured and gain an awareness of the vast amount of information that is known about genes as well as the online analysis tools that are available.
Preliminary assessment of the utilization of durian peel liquid smoke as a natural preservative for mackerel
Authors: Faisal Muhammad , Gani Asri , Mulana Farid
Published: March 2019

Background: Durian peel is a type of biomass waste that contains cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. The pyrolysis of these compounds results in production of liquid smoke which can be used as a natural preservative to replace current synthetic preservatives. This research assessed the ability of liquid smoke produced during pyrolysis of durian peel to preserve fish.

Methods: Dry durian peel waste underwent batch reactor pyrolysis at 340°C and 380°C, resulting in production of liquid smoke (grade 3), charcoal, and tar. This liquid smoke was then distilled at 190°C to produce grade 1 liquid smoke, which was used to preserve mackerel. The preservation process was conducted by soaking the mackerel samples in liquid smoke at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3% concentration levels followed by observations every 6 hours. Tests to determine the total volatile base (TVB) content, antibacterial quality of the liquid smoke and organoleptic quality of the fish were conducted in order to assess the preservation properties of the liquid smoke.

Results: Tests on the antibacterial effects showed that the liquid smoke inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on fish even at low concentrations. At 54 hours, the TVB values remained below 30 mg nitrogen/g, indicating that the fish was still safe for human consumption. Results from the organoleptic tests showed that the concentration of liquid smoke influenced the preservation effects.

Conclusions: At a concentration of 2–3%, the fish samples possessed acceptable flavor, taste, color and texture for up to 48 hours of soaking. However, the best conditions were obtained with a 3% concentration of liquid smoke (produced with 340°C pyrolysis), as the fish was still considered acceptable for up to 42 hours.
Latent Complete-Lattice Structure of Hilbert-Space Projectors
Authors: Herbut Fedor
Published: March 2019

To uncover the hidden complete-lattice structure of Hilbert-space projectors, which is not seen by the operator operations and relations (algebraically), resort is taken to the ranges of projectors (to subspaces—to geometry). Taking the range of a projector is completed into a bijection of all projectors onto all subspaces of any finite or countably infinite dimensional Hilbert space. As a second step, this basic bijection is upgraded into an isomorphism of partially ordered sets utilizing the sub-projector relation on the one hand, and the subspace relation on the other. As a third and final step, the basic bijection is further upgraded to isomorphism of complete lattices. The complete-lattice structure is derived for subspaces, then, using the basic bijection, it is transferred to the set of all projectors. Some consequences in the quantum-mechanical  formalism are examined with particular attention to the infinite sums appearing in spectral decompositions of discrete self-adjoint operators with infinite spectra.Quanta 2019; 8: 1–10.
Updates in Management and Timing of Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Yu Margaret K , Kamal Fahmeedah , Chertow Glenn M
Published: March 2019

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized patients and is associated with mortality, prolonged hospital length of stay, and increased healthcare costs. This paper reviews several areas of controversy in the identification and management of AKI. Serum creatinine and urine output are used to identify and stage AKI by severity. Although standardized definitions of AKI are used in research settings, these definitions do not account for individual patient factors or clinical context which are necessary components in the assessment of AKI. After treatment of reversible causes of AKI, patients with AKI should receive adequate volume resuscitation with crystalloid solutions. Balanced crystalloid solutions generally prevent severe hyperchloremia and could potentially reduce the risk of AKI, but additional studies are needed to demonstrate a clinical benefit. Intravenous albumin may be beneficial in patients with chronic liver disease either to prevent or attenuate the severity of AKI; otherwise, the use of albumin or other colloids (eg, hydroxyethyl starch) is not recommended. Diuretics should be used to treat volume overload, but they do not facilitate AKI recovery or reduce mortality. Nutrition consultation may be helpful to ensure that patients receive adequate, but not excessive, dietary protein intake, as the latter can lead to azotemia and electrolyte disturbances disproportionate to the patient's kidney failure. The optimal timing of dialysis initiation in AKI remains controversial, with conflicting results from two randomized controlled trials.
How does the way we design hotels influence consumer brand experiences
Authors: Beka Rudin , Cenko Enila
Published: March 2019

The influence that product design has on commercial success is undisputable. A considerable number of companies highly invest in creativity and design by forging partnerships with contemporary artists and design studios so as to create impressive commercial brands. Unusual design spaces are shaping our consumption experiences and influencing the way we evaluate and talk about brands. The main idea of this study is to approach customers’ brand experience from a design perspective. How can we bring empathy to customers within the hotel industry by using impressive design and how can we manipulate environmental design so as to enhance positive brand experiences? The research is focused on theoretical and practical work in the field of design and marketing, approaching a design perspective within the brand experience process. A detailed analysis is conducted on hotel spatial branding and a model has been constructed using pleasant emotions as mediators. The findings indicate that products with a focus on symbolic design are expected to have a higher customer brand experience. The proposed model can have practical and managerial applications in the area of environmental psychology, hotel design, branding strategy and integrated marketing communications where the recognition of design benefits will have a direct contribution to business performance.
Model for diameter distribution from assortments volumes: theoretical formulation and a case application with a sample of timber trade data for clear-cut sections
Authors: Siipilehto Jouni , Rajala Miika
Published: March 2019

This study examined a theoretical model for stand structures from the volumes of pulpwood and saw logs of clear-cut stands. The average stem size was used to estimate the number of cut trees. The distribution was solved using nonlinear derivative-free optimization. The truncated 2-parameter Weibull distribution was used to describe the stand structure of the commercial stems. This method was first tested with harvester data collected from seven clear-cut stands in southern Finland. Validation included reliability in the stand characteristics and goodness-of-fit of the species-specific distributions. The distributions provided unbiased estimates for the saw log volume, while the bias in the estimated pulpwood volume was 2%. The standard stand characteristics from the Weibull distributions corresponded notably well with the harvester data. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test rejected two distributions out of 21 cases, when the accurate input variables were available for the theoretical model. The results of the study suggest that the presented method is a relevant option for predicting the stand structure. In practice, the reliability of the presented method was dependent on the quality of the information available from the stand prior to cutting. With a timber trade data set, the solution for the distribution for a clear-cut section was found. The goodness-of-fit was dependent on the accuracy of the visually assessed timber trade variables. Especially the average stem size proved difficult to assess due to high number of understorey pulpwood stems. Due to overestimated average stem sizes, the solved number of harvested trees was underestimated. Less than 50% of the distributions predicted for clear-cut sections passed the KS test.
Congenital Falciparum Malaria with Chloroquine Resistance Type ll
Authors: Dianto Dianto , Rampengan T. H.
Published: March 2019

A case of congenial falciparum malaria has been reported. The diagnosis was based ·on history of illness, clinical manifestations, age of the child and presence of the ring form falciparum malaria in the peripheral blood films.

Treatment with chloroquine showed resistance type II, though treatment with quinine was successful.

In malaria endemic areas, although rare, one must be aware of the possibility of congenital malaria.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus Before and After Surgery
Authors: Madiyono Bambang , Oesman Ismet N. , Sastroasmoro Sudigdo , Putra Sukman Tulus , Soelaiman Eva Jeumpa , Rachmad Kukuh Basuki
Published: March 2019

Twenty five patients with patent ductus arteriosus, who had undergone surgical closure were studied retrospectively. Girls were more affected than boys; the sex ratio was 4 : I. Associated cardiac lesions were diagnosed in 3 patients, two with ventricular septal defect and one with congenital mitral stenosis. Congestive heart failure was diagnosed in 5 patients before surgery. Typical continuous murmur was heard in most cases (76%), while in the rest only systolic murmur was detected. Electrocardiographic left atrial enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy and right ventricular hypertrophy were found in 8%, 48% and 40%, respectively.Cardiomegaly with increased pulmonary vascular markings was found in 60% of cases, while ratio of left atrial to aortic root diameter greater than 1.2 was detected in 60% of patients. The PDA could be directly visualized by echocardiography in 15 cases.Cardiac catheterization was performed in 17 cases, 47% with hyperkinetic pulmonary hypertension, 41% with high pulmonary flow without pulmonary hypertension and 12% with mild increased pulmonary flow. The pulmonary-systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) was more correlated to pulmonary vascular markings rather than to cardio-thoracic ratio. Division of the ductus was the procedure of choice, but in 16% of cases ductal ligation was performed because of technical reasons. Postoperative catch-up in both weight and height was observed more clearly in  children operated at earlier age. Ejection systolic murmur was still detected in 2 patients, in whom hyperkinetic pulmonary hypertension existed prior to surgery. No cardiomegaly was found in patients followedup I year or more after surgery. The mortality was nil.