bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Evoked Potentials (P300): Is the Decision To Press a Button Always Conscious?
Authors: Klochkova O , Gnezditsky V
Published: May 2020

Evoked cognitive potentials are a promising experimental technique that can be useful in diagnosis of various cognitive disorders, especially connected to the various memory impairments. Of particular interest to researchers is the study of the cognitive evoked potentials’ latency when recognition of various stimuli isinvolved. To study the physiological nature and functional role of evoked cognitive potentials observed during the reaction to stimuli, and to determine the degree of conscious control involved in this reaction, the experimental data were statistically analyzed to determine the numerical correlation between the working memory capacity and the cognitive potential’s latency. The cognitive EPs were measured for 166 healthy subjects and 63 others that had some pathological brain condition (discirculatory encephalopathy and other brain discirculatory disorders), varied by the age and gender. Measurements were done with the Neurosoft Neuro-MEP 4 computerized encephalography system, which implemented the standard method of large latency neural response measurement for P300 waves. Measurements were done in the setup where the subject had to recognize the significant stimuli and react to them by pressing a button. The significant stimulus was represented by a 2 kHz tone, while the insignificant stimuli were the frequently repeated 1 kHz tones.The brainwaves were registered in Cz-M1 and Cz-M2 outputs. This method allowed detection and latency measurements of the main response components N2, P3a P3ab and N3. Working memory capacity was determined by the number of words from a 10–15 word sets correctly reproduced shortly after exposures, as outlined by Luria. A statistically significant nonlinear correlation was observed between the memory capacity and the EP’s latency, which was fitted by a modified hyperbolic function. Additionally, greater latencies were observed for subjects suffering from the memory disorders, and much shorter latencies were in general noted for the male subjects as opposed to the female ones. One more interesting observation was that in manycases the absolute reaction time was less than the cognitive potential peak taken as a conscious decision, suggesting that it is in many cases an automatic reaction. Cognitive potentials measurements, being an instrumental method, allow a clinical psychologist much greater flexibility in his diagnostic repertory, as it can be used even in the cases where word tests cannot. Also, the reaction times shorter than the latency of conscious reaction to stimuli adds weight to the simultaneous codes theory of automatic reactions.
Keywords: working memory capacity (WMC), regression line, nonlinear correlation, test less WMC estimates, cognitive processes, working memory, cognitive evoked potentials simultaneous codes, positional game, conscious cognitive comparison, P300
Hand’s Asymmetries in Fine Motor Precision and Speed Performance in Different Age Groups
Authors: Liutsko L , Muiños R , Maria Tous-Ral J
Published: May 2020

Rose (1970) showed that women had more symmetrical precision in movements in hands, whereas men performed more asymmetrically (with dominance for right hand). These findings were congruent with Ananiev’s (1968) scheme differentiated for sexes, in which for men there was a need for use of additional adaptive mechanisms (asymmetry) whereas women passed with basic ones (symmetry). Our study aimedto check the hands symmetry/asymmetry and correlations in fine motor precision and speed in both sexes and how they change in different age groups. The results of our study showed that the highest asymmetry in fine motor precision was related (for both sex groups and among all movement types) to the developmental periodof life (12-17 years old) followed by group age of 64-95 due to ageing processes. In our study women performed with less asymmetry between both hands for majority of observable variables compared to men in all age groups. The highest frequency of asymmetrical performance in fine motor precision for both sexes was observed in the Frontal movement type, followed by the Transversal, and least, in the Sagittal. For the speed performance, the highest frequency of asymmetrical performance was shown in the Transversal movement type.
Keywords: fine motor precision; speed; sex differences; age-depended differences; Proprioceptive diagnostics; M.K.P.
Peculiar Features of Non-Verbal Means of Communication among Children with Normal Eyesight and Visually Challenged Children of High Preschool Age
Authors: Оkonechnikova L
Published: May 2020

It is known, that visually challenged child acquire non-verbal means of communication less spontaneously. It is more common for them to use single and definite gestures and frequently provide them with some verbal explanations, incorrect perception of gestures and miming, poorness or lack of movements. Based on A.R.Luria’s idea of the role of the environment in a child’s personality formation, and compensatorydeveloping mechanisms and also on some ideas of modern researchers that nonverbal means of communication are connected with social conditions and usually are formed during the life with the exception of means of affective expressiveness (G.V. Grigirieva, L.I.Plaksina, L.I.Solntseva), we have made a comparative study of using nonverbal means of communication among children with normal eyesight and visuallychallenged children. As research approaches we modify and use such techniques as “The ABC of Mood”by N.L.Belopolskaya, “Silence game” by G.V.Grigorieva, “Understanding of gestures” by N.V.Pilipko and “Understanding of Miming” by Sabin and Hardick modified by G.V. Grigorieva. We have examined 36 children of high preschool age, 18 of them were with normal eyesight and 18 were visually challenged, and all of them were taught how to acquire non-verbal means of communication. We have found out that children from both groups could not differentiate similar facial expressions and gestures, miming usually was described through actions, not through feelings or emotions. The results showed us the absence of defining facial expressions, gestures and miming on the levelы of cognition and behavior between these two groups of children. On the level of emotions, we had had the following differences: the children with normal eyesight rarely explain gestures through actions then visually challenged children and also they rarely connect the emotional statewith the situation, but more often they distinguish miming through explaining some physical characteristics, that may depend on their visual problem. So we can conclude that if we organize the process of education in the right way (the role of the environment) visually challenged pre-school aged children can have the partial ability to compensate their acquirement of non-verbal means of communication.
Keywords: non-verbal means of communication, expressions, gestures, miming, pre-school aged children, visually challenged.
Influence of Neuropsychological Development of Children on Their Verbal Abilities
Authors: Oshchepkova E , Zubova E
Published: May 2020

Learning disabilities in childhood are often caused by certain delays in language and higher mental functions development. So nowadays comprehensive research of child language development and its neuropsychological base is of great demand. The objective of the present study was to discover relationships between children’s age, certain characteristics of speech production, neuropsychological and neurolinguistic development. 126 students (51 first-graders and 75 second-graders) were recruited. They underwent complete neuropsychological assessment along with the trial “Creating a Story based on the series of pictures”. The results show that age is an important factor of neuropsychological development from the first to second grade. It concerns especially frontal lobe development. Neuropsychological development also correlates with neurolinguistical level: children who are better at programming and control, analytic and holistic strategies would be more successful in the trial “Creating a Story based on the series of pictures”, their speech would be more correct lexically as well as grammatically and syntactically. We also show that speech particularitiesand their correlation with neuropsychological indexes would vary in first- and second grades.
Keywords: Lurian neuropsychology; child neuropsychology; neurolinguistics; neuropsychological development; Creating a Story based on the series of pictures; speech.
Features of Professional Health of a Teacher at Different Stages of Professional Development
Authors: Pecherkina A , Muslumov R
Published: May 2020

The article presents the results of a study of the professional health of a teacher at different stages of professional development. 270 school teachers participated in the study. The research methods were selected in accordance with the defined components of the teacher’s professional health: motivational (questionnaire ”Motivation for success” (T. Ehlers), questionnaire ”Motivation to avoid failures” (T. Ehlers)), emotional(questionnaire «Self-assessment of emotional states» (H. Eysenck), questionnaire «Empathy» (A. Mehrabyan)) and reflective (differential reflexivity test (D.A. Leontiev, Y.N. Osin), method of the diagnostic of the development level of reflexivity (A.V. Karpov)). The sample was divided into groups in accordance with the stages of professional development: 0 to 5 years of work experience in school - the adaptation stage; 6 to 15 years - primary professionalization; 16 to 25 years - secondary professionalization; over 25 years – mastery. It is established that the motivational component of a teacher’s professional health is characterized by a moderately high and average motivation for success and a high and very high level of avoidance of failures. The emotional component of a teacher’s professional health is characterized by a low level of frustration and aggressiveness,a high level of anxiety and an average level of rigidity and effective empathy. The reflective component of a teacher’s professional health is characterized by average indicators of the level of development of reflexivity and systemic reflection, as well as low indicators of introspection and quasi-reflection. As professionaldevelopment occurs, the intensity of the indicators of motivational, emotional and reflective components of a teacher’s professional health changes. It is characterized by increasing motivation for success, increased level of anxiety, increased level of rigidity, development of systemic reflection.
Keywords: health, teacher’s professional health, teacher’s professional health structure, motivational component of teacher’s professional health, emotional component of teacher’s professional health, reflective component of teacher’s professional health
Correlation between Personal Characteristics of Junior Adolescents and Their Perception of Relations with Mothers and Fathers
Authors: Permiakova M
Published: May 2020

The article is devoted to the research into the correlation of personal characteristics of adolescents aged 11-12 with their perception of the relations with parents. Two hypotheses were put forward: 1) the existence of a connection between the teenagers’ perception of the child-parent relations and such personal characteristicsof adolescents as sociability, self-confidence, responsibility, sensitivity, social courage, risk appetite, and anxiety; 2) the differences in the correlations between the personal characteristics of adolescents and their perceptions of the relations with mothers and the relations with fathers. The research involved 106 adolescents (52 girls and 54 boys) aged 11-12 years. All the testees study in schools in Ekaterinburg (Russia) and are brought upin two-parent families. Constructs: Children‘s Personality Questionnaire (12PF/CPQ) (adaptated by E.M. Aleksandrovskaya); The Parent-Child Interaction questionnaire (I.M. Markovskaya); Family Drawing Test (Burns and Kaufman). The research results showed that contrary to the established opinion about the conflictual nature of the relations with parents during the teen years, the majority of adolescents (84%) are more or less satisfied with the relations. At the same time, they consider both their mother and father to be demanding, strict, and controlling them. Boys note the high demands by their fathers, and the girls feel more controland exactingness on the part of their mothers. The most personal characteristics associated with the relations with both parents are responsibility, sociability, and social courage. The level of anxiety among adolescents is higher the higher is the mother’s authority and less acceptance of her child, and the more demanding butinconsistent in these requirements, the less accepting the child is the father. Positive correlations were found between excitability and the nervous tension of children and severity of mothers and fathers. Such personal characteristics as a child’s self-confidence and sensitivity are more associated with a good relationship with their mother, and the appetite for risk is more related to the relationship with their father.
Keywords: teenagers/adolescents/teens 11-12 years old, personal characteristics, the relations with fathers, relations with mothers.
Luria’s Syndrome for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation of Adolescents
Authors: Solovieva Y , Quintanar L
Published: May 2020

Neuropsychology, as a science, studies possible relations between psychological processes and brain in cases of normality and diverse pathologies. Such kind of relations might be established and understood by different manners. A.R. Luria proposed unique and particular way of approach by brain units. Such conceptionis not completely understood and even less used in practice of diagnosis and rehabilitation today. Neuropsychologists provide assessments of isolated functions by help of psychometric procedures. The judgment of diagnosis refers to such terms as “attention or memory disorders”, dyslexia and so on. All these terms are really far away from the conception of systemic and dynamic representation of human actions infunctional brain systems. Same or worse is the situation with rehabilitation directed to isolated operations as conductive exercises for isolated functions. The objective of our report is to share opinion of application of Luria’s methodology of syndrome analysis. Procedures of systemic functional diagnosis must conduct to systemic procedures in rehabilitation. An example of qualitative assessment of adolescent patient withbrain injury is presented. Goals, stages and examples of formation of actions in rehabilitation with results are provided. Psychological conceptions of stage by stage formation and orientation base of action and its usage for rehabilitation is taken into account. We conclude that systemic and dynamic approach in neuropsychology might be conducted in reality of assessment and rehabilitation. We discuss the necessity of establishment of bridges between psychological theory of actions instead of functions and systemic representation of actions by functional brain systems.
Keywords: neuropsychological rehabilitation, concepts of neuropsychology, functional diagnosis, qualitative neuropsychology, brain injury rehabilitation.
Subjective Cognitive Complaints in Distant Phase After Stroke – Preliminary Study
Authors: Małgorzata Szepietowska E
Published: May 2020

Introduction. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is often reported by healthy individuals and by different clinical groups. Current data do not clearly show the relationship between SCD and cognitive functioning, but the predictors of SCD are: age, depression and sociodemographic factors. Inconclusive data also applies topeople suffering from stroke in the distal post-stroke phase. Correct identification of the causes of SCD will help to take adequate forms of psychological therapy (neuropsychological rehabilitation and/or psychotherapy).
Methodology. The aims of research was to compare the intensity and structure of SCD as well as theirdeterminants in healthy persons and those after stroke. In our study 193 adults participated: 118 osób without brain pathology and 75 patients who suffered stroke 2–3 years earlier. DEX-S and ProCog as methods of evaluation of SCD and cognitive assessment techniques: the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), WAIS-R subtests and intensity of depressive mood (Geriatric Depression Scale – 15) were used in the study.
Results. Patients after stroke were characterized by more severe SCD than healthy people. People in both groups likewise (low) rated one’s own long-term memory, general cognitive and executive function. It has also been shown that people after stroke have significantly lower cognitive competencies compared to healthyindividuals, but similar (low) level of depressive mood. The later part of the analysis showed that some complaints may be determined by depressive mood, others are due to the interaction of cognitive deficits and depressive mood.
Conclusion. Our results confirm the need for proper qualifications complaints in patients after stroke (in distant post-stroke phase).
Keywords: subjective cognitive decline, stroke, cognitive functioning, depression
Preschooler’s Cognitive Development in Correlation with Their Parents’ Implicit Theories of Intelligence and Personality
Authors: Vindeker O , Pavlova S
Published: May 2020

This paper is devoted to cognitive development of preschoolers in correlation with implicit theories of their parents. There are four positive mindsets of intelligence and learning motivation: (1) growth intelligence mindset, (2) growth personality mindset, (3) acceptance of learning goals, (4) positive learning self-esteem. We hypothesized that cognitive and intellectual parameters and self-esteem of preschoolers correlatewith parents’ growth mindsets. The study involved 120 subjects-40 preschoolers in age of 6 ± 0.5 years old (20 boys and 20 girls) and their 80 fathers and mothers. The parents ’ sample consisted of subjects aged from 27 to 54 years average age was 37.9 ± 6.7 years old). To investigate the cognitive differences of preschoolers we used: (1) two subtests of WISC (for examining attention and short-term memory); (2) Method of Verbal Thinking of Kern-Yirasek; (3) Method of Express Diagnostics of Intellectual Abilities (MEDIA) I. S. Averina, E. I. Shabanova and E. N. Zadorina. To explore parents’ mindsets Questionnaire of Implicit Theories of Intelligence and Personality (by C. Dweck, in the adaptation of T.V. Kornilova et al, 2008) was used. It was determined that the indicators of cognitive development and intelligence of girls are more related to parental attitudes than boys. In this case, the closest relationship is observed in the dyad ”father – daughter”. Indicators of attention, short-term memory, understanding of quantitative and qualitative relations, logical thinking are associated with mindsets of growth intelligence and adoption of their fathers’ high learning value. Girls ’mathematical abilities are positively related to fathers’ and negative mothers ’ growth mindsets.
Keywords: parents’ influence, growth intelligence mindset, growth personality mindset, learning goals, learning self-esteem, cognitive and intellectual development.
Experience in the Organization of the Neuropsychological Support of Children with Mental Retardation in Comprehensive Secondary Schools
Authors: Zhuikova S , Lukianova T
Published: May 2020

Over the years, the neuropsychological approach has proven its validity and effectiveness as a differential-diagnostic, prognostic, preventive and corrective tool for working with different groups of children. But it has not yet entered the wide practice of teachers and psychologists of secondary schools. The purpose of our work is the organization of neuropsychological support of children with mental retardation in a secondary school. As a result of neuropsychological diagnostics for each first grader the individual neuropsychological profile is made. The main directions of correction work are defined and realized. The main attention is paid to the development of spatial notions, which are key in teaching reading, writing and counting. As a result, the positive dynamics in the development of all levels of spatial notions – from the notions of the body to quasi-dimensional notions - is shown. This helped children overcome their training maladjustment. As a result of our work, it hasalso become possible to achieve the introduction of neuropsychological support in the daily educational process, to provide school teachers with basic algorithms of neuropsychological support of learning processes.
Keywords: neuropsychological support, mental retardation, spatial notions
THE ING NGARSA SUNG TULADHA COOPERATIVE LEARNING MODEL AND STUDENTS' PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES
Authors: Hutagaol Kartini , Saija Louise , Panjaitan Maru M. J.
Published: May 2020

This paper describes one way that teachers as educators can face the challenges of the industrial revolution 4.0, namely by instilling and preparing creative and character-based leaders. Education as character building can be implemented using Ki Hajar Dewantara's leadership concepts, namely Ing Ngarsa Sung Tuladha, Ing Madya Mangun Karsa, and Tut Wuri Handayani. The concept of leadership was first adopted as a cooperative learning model which emphasized exemplariness in group learning. The group leader is called tuladha and is the facilitator of the group. Tuladha utilizes the Internet of Things. Before the teaching and learning process in class, information, concepts or ideas, and examples are posted by the teacher to the tuladha. This study is an experimental study with the sample used meeting the prerequisites of the statistical test used. The results showed that students' mathematical problem solving abilities increased significantly using the Ing Ngarsa Sung Tuladha cooperative learning model over the usual method. The category of improving students' mathematical problem solving abilities that obtain the Ing Ngarsa Sung Tuladha cooperative learning model is in the high category.
Transparência Pública Sob a Perspectiva da Avaliação de Desempenho:
Authors: Pires Paulo Alexandre Da Silva , Ensslin Sandra Rolim , Somensi Karine , Bornia Antonio Cezar
Published: May 2020

O serviço público tem enfrentado um crescente descontentamento da sociedade e, com isso, tem-se observado o aumento na demanda por transparência. Esta pesquisa objetivou identificar, por meio da revisão de literatura sobre a Avaliação de Desempenho da Transparência Pública, quais são as lacunas e oportunidades de pesquisa na área. Por meio da utilização do instrumento de intervenção Knowledge Development Process-Constructivist (Proknow-C), foi identificado que: (i) Manuel P. Rodríguez Bolívar, Juan L. Gandía e Antonio M. Lopez Hernandez são autores de destaque; (ii) inexistem redes de pesquisadores; (iii) os modelos de Avaliação de Desempenho da Transparência Pública não estavam alinhados à estratégia organizacional; (iv) há pouca interação entre os Sistemas de Avaliação de Desempenho e o ambiente; e (v) os Sistemas de Avaliação de Desempenho não estão totalmente evoluídos para atender ao contexto contemporâneo. Portanto, são identificadas oportunidades de pesquisas nesses aspectos.
Inovação em Serviços
Authors: Cabral Gabriela Ostrovski , Lebioda Laleska , Lemos Dannyela Da Cunha
Published: May 2020

A inovação é reconhecida como um dos atributos fundamentais das economias contemporâneas, porém, ainda é pouco associada ao setor de serviços. A Faculdade de Informática e Administração Paulista (FIAP) é uma instituição de ensino superior do setor privado que busca se destacar no campo da inovação. Este artigo configura-se num relato de pesquisa que discorre sobre a inovação na FIAP, cujo objetivo é compreender se as práticas realizadas pela referida instituição a caracterizam como provedora de inovação em serviços. Realizou-se um estudo de caso, com abordagem qualitativa. Quanto a coleta de dados primários, realizou-se uma entrevista semiestruturada com um dos diretores da FIAP. A coleta dos dados secundários foi realizada através de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. Após esta etapa, os resultados foram analisados e comparados com os fundamentos teóricos da inovação em serviços. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a FIAP pode ser considerada provedora de inovação em serviços. O estudo contribui para o campo de estudos em inovação em serviços, apresentando exemplos de ações e parcerias que fazem uma instituição ser considerada uma organização inovadora.
DOĞRUDAN YABANCI YATIRIMLARIN ÜLKEYE ÖZGÜ BELİRLEYİCİLERİ: YÜKSELEN PİYASA EKONOMİLERİ İÇİN PANEL VERİ ANALİZİ
Authors: BELKE Murat , ÖZTURGUT Rıdvan
Published: May 2020

Bu çalışma, 2000-2015 döneminde 27 yükselen piyasa
ekonomisinde doğrudan yabancı yatırım girişlerini etkileyen ülkeye özgü
faktörleri incelemektedir. Çalışmada panel regresyon yöntemi kullanılmaktadır.
Panel regresyon sonuçları, inceleme dönemi itibariyle piyasa hacminin, dışa
açıklık derecesinin, altyapının ve politik istikrarın yükselen piyasa
ekonomilerine yönelen doğrudan yabancı yatırımlar üzerinde pozitif etkisi
olduğunu, makroekonomik istikrarsızlığın ve küresel finansal krizin ise negatif
etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak işgücü maliyetleri ile doğrudan
yabancı yatırımlar arasında anlamlı bir ilişki tespit edilememiştir. Bulgular
daha yüksek kişi başına gelir seviyesine sahip, dış ticarete açık, sağlam
altyapıya ve makroekonomik istikrara sahip ülkelerin doğrudan yabancı yatımlar
için cazibe merkezi olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca ülkelerin yasal
sistemindeki ve mülkiyet haklarındaki ilerlemeler doğrudan yabancı yatırımları
olumlu etkilemektedir.
Brain Tumor Detection and Segmentation: A Survey
Authors: Shantta Kalifa , Basir Otman
Published: May 2020

Even with the enormous progress in medical technology, brain tumor detection is still an extremely tedious and complex task for the physicians. The early and accurate detection of brain tumors enables effective and efficient therapy and thus can result in increased survival rates. Automatic detection and classification of brain tumors have the potential to achieve efficiency and a higher degree of predictable accuracy. However, it is well established that the accuracy performance of automatic detection and classification techniques varies from technique to technique, and tends to be image modality dependent. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art detection techniques and highlights their pros and cons.
Sex differences in the association between self-reported sleep duration, insomnia symptoms and cardiometabolic risk factors: cross-sectional findings from from Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health
Authors: Silva-Costa Aline , Rotenberg Lucia , Nobre Aline Araujo , Chor Dora , Aquino Estela , Melo Enirtes Caetano , Barreto Sandhi , Schmidt Maria Inês , Griep Rosane Härter
Published: May 2020

Background: The U-shaped associations between sleep durations and cardiometabolic risk factors (glycated hemoglobin levels, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension and HDL-cholesterol levels) are still inconclusive. Moreover, as sleep is comprised of quantitative and qualitative aspects, exploring both insomnia symptoms and sleep duration are relevant when evaluating the potential effects of sleep problems on health. The aim was to evaluate sex-specific associations between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from wave two of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), including 7,491 women and 6,232 men. Questionnaires were administered to provide information about socioeconomic conditions, lifestyle, and sleep characteristics. A 12-hour fasting blood sample was drawn to measure serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin. Blood pressure, weight and height were also measured using standard equipment. Generalized additive models were used to evaluate the curve shape of the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and the outcomes. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the magnitude of the associations of self-reported sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and short sleep plus insomnia symptoms with cardiometabolic risk factors. Results: For women, self-reported sleep duration and insomnia symptoms (either separately or linked to short sleep duration) were associated with obesity, hypertension and glycated hemoglobin after adjusting for the confounders. The magnitudes of the associations between self-reported short sleep duration plus insomnia symptoms and the outcomes were slightly increased, considering sleep duration or insomnia symptoms separately. For men, both long sleep duration and insomnia symptoms were associated with hypertriglyceridemia after adjusted for the confounders. Conclusion: These findings suggest possible sex-specific patterns, since obesity, hypertension and high glycated hemoglobin were associated with self-reported sleep duration and insomnia symptoms in women, but not in men, and reinforce the importance of considering quantitative and qualitative aspects of sleep for the prevention and management of the outcomes.
Incidence Rates, Risk Factors, and Mortality Rates of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A meta-analysis.
Authors: Wang Haixia , Yi Mo , Jia Yuanmin , Li Yizhang , Bai Chenxiao , Jiang Di , Chen Ou
Published: May 2020

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common nosocomial infection in Intensive care units (ICUs) and is associated with the significant utilization of health-care resources. However, the incidence rates, risk factors and mortality rates of VAP are controversial.Methods: The Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases through May 2020 were independently searched by two researchers to collect all relevant studies. Data including incidence rates, risk factors and mortality rates of VAP were extracted for the meta-analysis.Results: 24 studies, including 10 retrospective studies and 14 prospective studies on VAP were included in our analysis. In the meta-analysis, we found that the VAP rate was 20/1000 ventilator-days (95% confidence interval (CI) 17–22%). The data demonstrated that trauma (odds ratio (OR) 1.51; 95% CI 1.21-1.88), steroids use (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.25-1.82), enteral feeding (OR 3.40; 95% CI 2.56-4.52), nasogastric tube placement (OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.75-5.00), tracheostomy (OR 3.65; 95% CI 1.93-6.90), reintubation (OR 6.08; 95% CI 4.62-8.00), central vascular catheter (CVC) placement (OR 3.83; 95% CI 2.55-5.77), blood transfusion(OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.16-2.64), H2 blockers use (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.27-4.07) and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)(OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.44) were risk factors of VAP. When patients developed VAP, duration of ICU stay (OR 11.09; 95% CI 7.50-14.68) and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) (OR 12.96; 95% CI 10.42-15.51) were significantly increased. What’s more, VAP was associated with an increased risk of mortality (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.04-1.83).ConclusionsThis study may contribute to the development of improved infection control strategies for high-risk patients. Additional studies are needed in the future to clarify the incidence rates, risk factors and mortality rates of VAP.
Catalog of small repeating earthquakes for the Japanese Islands
Authors: Igarashi Toshihiro
Published: May 2020

Groups of repeating earthquakes, which occur in approximately the same location and possess a similar focal mechanism, have been extracted in various tectonic environments worldwide. Their recurrence interval has been used to estimate the spatiotemporal evolution of aseismic slip along major tectonic boundaries. Furthermore, slight changes between the waveforms of repeating earthquakes have been analyzed to delineate temporal changes in the local seismic velocity structure. Here we construct a long-term catalog of small repeating earthquakes in the central Japan since 1981 and throughout the Japanese Islands since 2001 (2001–2019) based on waveform similarity and relative source locations. Most of the long-duration sequences are located near the strongly coupled areas of the Philippine Sea and Pacific plates as they subduct from the Ryukyu-Nankai-Sagami and Kuril–Japan trenches, respectively. Many of the repeating sequences that occur in shallow crustal environments are short-lived. This repeating earthquake catalog allows us to estimate the slip history along each tectonic boundary. We believe that this and similar catalogs will be useful for future investigations of source processes, temporal slip and stress changes along faults, and local velocity structures, thereby providing new insights into earthquake generation mechanisms.
Decreased CXCL5 expression associated with intrauterine adhesions in a rat model and human endometrial tissues
Authors: Sun Shiying , Fang Zi-Ang , Gao Yang , He Yu , Sun Chao , Zhan Lei , Zhou Guiju , Wei Bing
Published: May 2020

Background

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is a consequence of endometrium damage, leading to infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and various complications of pregnancy. IUA usually occurs after an infection or injury-related inflammation of the endometrium. CXCL5, a member of chemokines, is associated with the remodeling of connective tissues, but its roles in the formation of IUA remain uncertain. This study aims to investigate the expression and effect of CXCL5 in the development of IUA.
Results

CXCL5 protein level in the endometrium of IUA rat is significantly decreased compared with that in normal and sham-operated endometria of rats (P < 0.001). Furthermore, real-time PCR and western blotting assays also show that the CXCL5 expression in endometrial tissues from IUA patients is much lower than that in normal endometrium (P < 0.01), which is consistent with the results based on the rat model. CXCL5 significantly up-regulates MMP9 expression and slightly up-regulates p65 expression in human endometrial cells after CXCL5 overexpression.
Conclusions

These results show that CXCL5 plays an important role in the inhibition of IUA formation after injury by modulating MMP9 expression and therefore has a protective effect of CXCL5 in the adhesion formation of IUA. These findings provide valuable information for evaluating prognosis and guiding therapy of intrauterine adhesions.
Diffusion kurtosis imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging-based classification of acute stroke lesions in the brain: A pilot study
Authors: Liu Xin , Chen Songsen , Chen Fang , Wang Lei , Afsar Khan , Guo Gang , Yan Gen
Published: May 2020

Background: We postulated that diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) could classify heterogeneous stroke lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and improve our understanding of the characteristics of tissue injury. We aimed to retrospectively study different DKI parameters in patients with acute stroke reported in the literature. Methods: We collected the DWI and DKI data of 41 patients (26 men, 15 women), including 86 cases of acute cerebral infarction in different brain regions. Of them, 20 patients had single infarction, whereas others had multiple infarctions. Acute cerebral infarction lesions were classified into two categories based on DKI and DWI parameters: type I, matched DKI and DWI parameters and type II, mismatched DKI and DWI parameters. Regions of interest (ROIs) were outlined within the most severely infarcted areas of each lesion according to each independent parametric map. In the control groups, same-sized ROIs were located in the corresponding region of the normal contralateral hemisphere. In both categories, DKI and DWI parameters followed a normal Gaussian distribution. We used the independent sample t-test to compare the differences in each group. Results: In type I cases, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean kurtosis (MK), and axial kurtosis (Ka) values were significantly different (P<0.05). In type II cases, only MK and Ka values were significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusions: DKI can provide more information on acute ischemic brain infarction and enrich our understanding of ischemic tissue injury. This DKI and DWI parameters-based classification of acute stroke lesions may confer a renewed understanding of infarction cores.
Identified and Validated the Characterization of the Colorectal Cancer Tumor Immune Microenvironment
Authors: Han Peng , Chen yu De , Yang Feng
Published: May 2020

Background

While the administration of immunotherapy can facilitate the development of durable anti-tumor immunity in certain colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.This study was therefore designed to conduct a robust analysis of the CRC immune microenvironment to identify specific genes and pathways that can be targeted in an effort to achieve more effective immunotherapy outcomes.
Methods

Using five Independent data sets, we analyzed expression profiles associated with 29 different immune signatures, and we used these profiles to guide the hierarchical clustering of CRC samples based on their immune microenvironmental composition.
Results

We were able to cluster our CRC samples based on whether they had exhibited high, medium, or low levels of infiltration by immune cell types associated with tumor clearance (Immunity_H, Immunity_M, and Immunity_L, respectively). Samples in the Immunity_H subset exhibited a “hot” immune microenvironment, with higher stromal scores, higher immune scores, and lower tumor purity. The microsatellite instability (MSI) group included the majority of the Immunity_H samples, whereas most Immunity_M and Immunity_L samples were incorporated into the microsatellite stability (MSS) .The vast majority of patients with KRAS mutations were in the Immunity_L and MSS groups, whereas the majority of patients exhibiting BRAF V600E mutations were found in the Immunity_H and MSI-H samples. TMB high samples included a majority of the Immunity_H samples and a small subset of the Immunity_M samples.
Conclusions

Our results identify three reproducibly validated immune subtypes of CRC tumor samples, potentially offering valuable insights that may guide the immunotherapeutic treatment of these patients.
Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms in the Turkish Population are associated with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Hoscan Ahmet Yahya , Bulan Batuhan , Keskin Senanur , Cavus Ayse , Culcu Elif Asena , Isik Nihal , List Edward O , Arman Ahmet
Published: May 2020

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease characterized by demyelination and axonal degeneration affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Unfortunately, very little is known about the etiology of this disease. Among the genetic factors suggested to be associated with this disease are polymorphisms to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). However, there is disagreement in the literature on this topic. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are associated with MS. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of MS disease with VDR Fok-I, Bsm-I and Taq-I polymorphisms in Turkish population.Method: This study contains 271 MS patients and 203 healthy controls. Blood samples were taken from each subject to isolate genomic DNA by salting out method. VDR gene Fok-I, Bsm-I and Taq-I polymorphism regions for each patient and control were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were digested, and the genotypes were determined based on size of digested PCR products. Results: Our results demonstrate associations between MS disease and distribution of VDR Fok-I T/T polymorphism genotype, VDR Fok-I T allele frequency, distribution of VDR Taq-I C/C polymorphism genotype and VDR Taq-I C allele frequency (Pearson test, p<0,05). However, there was no relationship between MS disease and VDR Bsm-I polymorphisms for genotype distribution (Pearson test, p>0,05) or allele frequency (Pearson test, p>0,05). Furthermore, there was also an association between subtypes of MS disease and VDR Fok-I allele frequency (Pearson test, p<0,05) but distribution of VDR Fok-I genotype was not associated with subtypes of MS (Pearson test, p>0,05). No meaningful association was found between subtypes of MS for genotypes distribution and allele frequencies of Bsm-I and Taq-I polymorphisms (Pearson test, p>0,05).Conclusion: Fok-I and Taq-I VDR gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with MS disease in the Turkish population. However, there is no association between MS and the VDR gene Bsm-I polymorphism.
WNK1 Antagonist Decreased Sevoflurane-induced Neurotoxicity in HT22 Hippocampal Neurons via the WNK1/NKCC1 Signalling Pathway
Authors: Bai Yafan , Li WenJing , Li JunFa , An LiXin
Published: May 2020

Background: Children repeatedly exposed to anaesthesia have a high risk of cognitive impairment. The GABAAR plays an important role in the neurotoxicity caused by sevoflurane, but the mechanism of its regulation in this context is unknown. The present study aimed to reveal the WNK1/NKCC1 pathway as a regulator of the neurotoxicity caused by sevoflurane on the HT22 hippocampal neuron cell line. Methods: In this study, HT22 hippocampal neurons were used as the research object. A model of sevoflurane treatment was established. HT22 cultured hippocampal neurons were divided into three groups: control group, 4.1% sevoflurane treatment group for 6h, WNK-463 (specific antagonist of WNK1, 1µmol) + sevoflurane treatment group. Cell viability and the optimum concentration of WNK-463 were measured by MTS method. Indicators of neuron injury: cell viability was detected by MTS method, cell apoptosis was detected by Tunel method, and the content of cleaved caspase-3 protein apoptosis factor was detected by Western blot. Pathway protein detection: the expression of WNK1, NKCC1 was detected. Calcium imaging measures intracellular calcium ion concentration and verifies downstream targets.Results: The neurotoxic effects of sevoflurane on hippocampal neurons were observed. Cell viability was reduced, the apoptotic cell rate was increased, and cleaved caspase-3 was upregulated after 4% sevoflurane exposure for 6 h. WNK-463 downregulated the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis in sevoflurane-injured neurons. Compared with the control HT22 cells, sevoflurane increased the expression of WNK1 kinase and NKCC1 protein, whereas WNK-463 reversed this increase without affecting the control HT22 cells. Sevoflurane exposure in HT22 cells caused intracellular Ca2+ concentrations to increase, while WNK-463 reversed this change. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a neuroprotective role of the WNK1 antagonist WNK-463 in sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity. WNK-463 promoted hippocampal neuron viability and reduced the apoptosis and intracellular calcium overload caused by sevoflurane on HT22 hippocampal neurons, possibly via the modulation of the WNK1/NKCC1 pathway.
Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of circular RNA circ-ITCH expression in cancer patients: a meta-analysis
Authors: Sun Xiao-Dong , Huan Chen , Sun Da-Wei , Lv Guo-yue
Published: May 2020

Background: Circular RNAs are a class of noncoding RNAs, and several members of them have been reported to be capable of regulating various biological processes and predicting the outcome of disease. Among them, circular RNA circ-ITCH has been identified to be aberrantly expressed and associated with disease progression in diverse cancers. However, the relationship between circ-ITCH expression and clinicopathological features, as well as prognosis of cancers, remains inconclusive. Material and methods: Up to April 30th, 2020, relevant articles were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases. A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the clinical significance of circ-ITCH in cancers by systematically summarizing all eligible literatures. Results: A total of 1 456 patients from 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that cancer patients with low circ-ITCH expression were more susceptible to develop lymph node metastasis (OR=2.26, 95% CI:1.63-3.13, P=0.000), and were associated with larger tumor size (OR=2.69, 95%CI:1.76-4.12, P=0.000), advanced TNM stage (OR=2.57, 95%CI:1.63-4.06, P=0.000), as well as poor overall survival (OS) (HR=2.51, 95%CI:2.09-3.02, P=0.000, univariate analysis; HR=2.69, 95%CI:1.82-3.96, P=0.000, multivariate analysis). Conclusion: Low circ-ITCH expression was significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and unfavorable outcome in various cancers. Therefore, circ-ITCH may serve as a molecular therapy target and a prognostic marker in cancers.
Antibacterial Function of Chromium Nanoparticles Against K. Pneumonia, E. coli and P. typhus
Authors: Tailor Giriraj , Chaudhary Jyoti , Joshi Ajit , Verma Deepshikha , Michael Osahon
Published: May 2020

The bioactive chromium nanoparticles were synthesized by calcination followed by thermal decomposition method. The antibacterial activity of chromium nanoparticles diffused in Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). The antibacterial activity of chromium nanoparticles carried out against significant human pathogens (gram negative bacteria) viz, K. pneumonia, E. coli and P. typhus using agar diffusion cup plate method at 100 µg/ml concentration. The highest zone of inhibition was observed (12.0 mm) against K. pneumonia and lowest zone of inhibition (7.0 mm) E. coli. Thus, the outcomes of these studies suggest that synthesized chromium nanoparticles are of clinical importance.
Association Between Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes and Clinicopathological Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Kejing , Tang Lili , Wang Shouman , Yang Yuan , Wang Hao , Zhou Zhiyang , Pang Jian , Chen Feiyu
Published: May 2020

Objective The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the associations between seven tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) and risk of breast cancer assessed by tumor pathological characteristics and body mass index (BMI).Methods Seven tSNPs of four breast cancer susceptibility genes were analyzed in 734 Chinese women with breast cancer and 672 age-matched healthy controls, then the association with clinicopathological characteristics, BMI, molecular subtype, TNM staging and lymph node status, was determined.Results Two tSNPs, rs12951053 located in TP53 and rs16945628 in BRIP1, displayed increased risk of breast cancer in the BMI ≧ 25 kg/m2 group (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.02–2.21, P = 0.041 and OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.13–3.26, P = 0.015, respectively). The other five tSNPs (rs1805812, rs2735385 and rs6999227 in NBS1, rs7220719 in BRIP1 and rs2299941 in PTEN) displayed a decreased risk of breast cancer in the 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 group. Two tSNPs, rs12951053 in TP53 and rs7220719 in BRIP1 exhibited an increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.05–2.15, P = 0.026 and OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.05–4.29, P = 0.032, respectively), and the three tSNPs in NBS1 (rs1805812, rs2735385 and rs6999227) all displayed negative association with both luminal B breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. The tSNP rs2299941 in PTEN also exhibited a negative association with each breast cancer molecular subtype, except triple-negative breast cancer. The majority of tSNPs displayed a negative association with stage II or III breast cancer. A number of tSNPs showed a negative association with breast cancer that was lymph node negative or with 1–3 positive nodes. Only one tSNP, rs12951053 in TP53 displayed a positive association with lymph node negative breast cancer (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.08–1.91, P = 0.013).Conclusions The majority of tSNPs displayed a negative association with breast cancer and only a few tSNPs (rs12951053 in TP53, rs16945628 and rs7220719 in BRIP1) showed an increased risk of breast cancer as defined by clinicopathological characteristics.