bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of components responsible for neuroprotective effects ofAllium cepaouter scale extract against ischemia reperfusion induced cerebral injury in mice
Authors: Singh Varinder , Shri Richa , Krishan Pawan , Singh Inder Pal , Shah Purvi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe antioxidant‐mediated neuroprotective effect ofAllium cepaouter scale extract (ACE) in mice with cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion (I‐R) injury was demonstrated in our earlier work. The current investigation aimed at establishing the bioactive component(s) responsible for this activity. Thus ACE was fractionated into ethyl acetate (EF) and aqueous (AF) fractions. These fractions were evaluated against cerebral I‐R injury in mice. I‐R injury in mice was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion followed by 24 hr reperfusion. Memory, sensorimotor functions, cerebral infarct size, and oxidative stress were measured to address the neuroprotective mechanism of test substances. EF showed marked improvement of memory and sensorimotor functions by reducing brain oxidative stress and infarct size in mice after I‐R injury. The bioactive EF was subjected to chromatographic (HPLC‐PDA, HPLC‐MS, preparative HPLC) and spectroscopic studies to isolate and identify the neuroprotective compounds. This lead to separation of three components, namely quercetin, quercetin 4′‐O‐glucoside, and the remaining fraction, from EF. The separated components were biologically evaluated. These components showed improvement in mice with I‐R injury. But, EF displayed more marked neuroprotective effects as compared to the isolated components. The distinct neuroprotective outcome of EF may be credited to the synergistic action of compounds present in EF. Further studies such as evaluation of neurotoxic effects and other possible neuroprotective mechanisms are required to develop EF as a neuroprotective drug.
The elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genome provides insights into anthocyanidin accumulation and fast growth
Authors: Yan Qi , Wu Fan , Xu Pan , Sun Zongyi , Li Jie , Gao Lijuan , Lu Liyan , Chen Dongdong , Muktar Meki , Jones Chris , Yi Xianfeng , Zhang Jiyu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractElephant grass (2n = 4x = 28; Cenchrus purpureus Schumach.), also known as Napier grass, is an important forage grass and potential energy crop in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. However, no study has yet reported a genome assembly for elephant grass at the chromosome scale. Here, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome of elephant grass with a total size of 1.97 Gb and a 1.5% heterozygosity rate, obtained using short‐read sequencing, single‐molecule long‐read sequencing and Hi‐C chromosome conformation capture. Evolutionary analysis showed that subgenome A' of elephant grass and pearl millet may have originated from a common ancestor more than 3.22 million years ago (MYA). Further, allotetraploid formation occurred at approximately 6.61 MYA. Syntenic analyses within elephant grass and with other grass species indicated that elephant grass has experienced chromosomal rearrangements. We found that some key enzyme‐encoding gene families related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanidins and flavonoids were expanded and highly expressed in leaves, which probably drives the production of these major anthocyanidin compounds and explains why this elephant grass cultivar has a high anthocyanidin content. In addition, we found a high copy number and transcript levels of genes involved in C4 photosynthesis and hormone signal transduction pathways that may contribute to the fast growth of elephant grass. The availability of elephant grass genome data advances our knowledge of the genetic evolution of elephant grass and will contribute to further biological research and breeding as well as for other polyploid plants in the genus Cenchrus.
How do employees learn from performance measures? Evidence from a local government entity
Authors: Lye Joanne , Hoque Zahirul , Parker Lee 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe examine how employees learn from a performance measurement system. Employing the social construction of reality theory, we analyse how actors constructed knowledge in their specific setting. Qualitative research within a local government entity involved interviews, observation of meetings and examination of archival records. We find that the process of individual learning from a performance measurement system is based around aligning varying episodic experiences of individuals at differing levels. The outcome of these findings is that learning by individuals is a socio‐technical process in which the use of performance measures is embedded in everyday thinking of the social world examined.
Interim guidance for health‐care professionals and administrators providing hospital care to adult patients with cognitive impairment, in the context of COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Martin‐Khan Melinda , Bail Kasia , Yates Mark W. , Thompson Jane , Graham Fred ,   Cognitive Impairment and COVID‐19, Hospital Care Guidance Committee
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveWe developed interim guidance for the care of patients with cognitive impairment in hospital during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsA Guidance Committee and Readers Group were recruited. The content was identified by the Committee and content‐specific subgroups, resulting in a draft document, which was sent to the Readers for review. People with dementia and care partners were involved in all aspects of the process.ResultsInfection control measures can lead to an escalation of distress. In an environment where visiting bans are applied to care partners/advocates, hospitals need to ensure care partners can continue to provide decision‐making support. Health‐care professionals can proactively engage care partners using videoconferencing technologies. Developing models of care that proactively support best practice can minimise the risk of delirium, mitigate escalating symptoms and guide the use of non‐pharmacological, pharmacological (start low, go slow) or physical restraint in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms.
Comparison of Grenz ray and photodynamic therapy for field treatment of actinic keratoses on the forearm: A case series
Authors: Angnardo Lauren , Wolfe Christopher M. , Green W. Harris , Cognetta Armand B. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundActinic Keratosis is an intraepidermal neoplasm that represents the second most common reason for dermatologic visits in the United States. Sustained clearance with existing therapies is highly variable.ObjectiveTo assess the effects of combination and monotherapy with photodynamic therapy (PDT), grenz ray therapy, and PDT with microneedling (microchannel skin system) for actinic damage of the dorsal forearms and hands.MethodsFull ethics approval was obtained through a Human Subjects Committee. Four patients with diffuse actinic field damage on their forearms and hands were recruited for the study. The dorsal forearm and hand from the elbow to the metacarpophalangeal joint were divided into four equal sections. Section 1 was treated with PDT. Section 2 was treated with grenz ray. Section 3 was treated with PDT plus microneedling. Section 4 was treated with grenz ray and PDT with microneedling. Lesion counts were recorded with transparent grids, photographed and evaluated by the same investigator at baseline, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months.ResultsAt month 6 post treatment, lesion counts, as a per cent reduction from baseline, were 91.7% in section 1 (PDT); 97.3% in section 2 (grenz ray); 92.9% in section 3 (PDT + microneedle); and 93.9% in section 4 (grenz ray + PDT + microneedle).ConclusionThe greatest reduction occurred in the grenz ray monotherapy section and the second greatest reduction in the grenz ray, PDT, microneedling section. Further research on the efficacy of grenz ray therapy for field treatment of actinic keratosis of the forearms and hands is needed.
Self‐directed reflective assessment for collective empowerment among pre‐service teachers
Authors: Yang Yuqin , Du Yang , van Aalst Jan , Sun Daner , Ouyang Fan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study investigated the role and process of self‐directed reflective assessment (SDRA) enhanced by learning analytics to support pre‐service teachers' (PTs') collective empowerment in a knowledge‐building (KB) classroom. The participants were 43 second‐year PTs from a compulsory course taught by a teacher who had 2 years' teaching experience. A comparison class of 47 PTs, taught by the same teacher and studying the same topics in a regular KB environment, also participated. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in participation and domain understanding between the experimental class and the comparison class. Qualitative tracing of the SDRA group's online discourse indicated that the PTs were empowered and that their collective empowerment increased gradually over time. Analysis of the PTs' prompt sheets revealed that analytic‐supported SDRA helped the PTs engage in collective decision making to choose and judge promising ideas, and in collective synthesis and “rise‐above” of ideas, thus helping them engage in high‐level collective empowerment. The findings have important implications for the design of technology‐rich environments as metacognitive tools to support learners' empowerment, and they shed light on how teachers can use such tools to engage learners in metacognitive practices to increase their empowerment.
Practitioner NotesWhat is already known about this topic?

Empowering pre‐service teachers' (PTs') to master higher order competencies is particularly important; PTs' empowerment primarily consisted of these high‐level competencies.
Collaborative inquiry that can help learners to develop higher order competencies and further empowerment primarily depends on learners' metacognition.
SDRA has great potential in empowering PTs, however, little research has been conducted to investigate the role and process of SDRA for supporting PTs.
What this paper adds

SDRA can empower PTs and help them increase their empowerment over time.
SDRA effectively drives PTs to actualize and develop their metacognition, which in turn fosters PTs to engage in collective decision making, idea negotiation, and idea synthesis and “rise‐above” thinking, and thereby gradually helps the PTs increase their empowerment.
The design of learning environments, which capitalizes on KB pedagogy and SDRA, is accessible to the PTs and fosters their collective empowerment.
Implications for practice and/or policy

Establishing a democratic and collaborative learning environment, fostering a sense of community and confidence among learners, and helping learners to gradually develop necessary skills are important for supporting their empowerment.
The learning design for empowering learners should support learners' agency, collective decision making, reflection and regulation, and collective KB.
It is important to organize collective reflection opportunities to help students engaged in data‐supported SDRA.
Association of homozygous variants of STING1 with outcome in human cervical cancer
Authors: Lubbers Joyce M. , Koopman Bart , de Klerk‐Sluis Jessica M. , van Rooij Nienke , Plat Annechien , Pijper Harry , Koopman Timco , van Hemel Bettien M. , Hollema Harry , Wisman Bea , Nijman Hans W. , de Bruyn Marco 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDNA‐sensing receptor Cyclic GMP–AMP Synthase (cGAS) and its downstream signaling effector STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) have gained significant interest in the field of tumor immunology, as a dysfunctional cGAS‐STING pathway is associated with poor prognosis and worse response to immunotherapy. However, studies so far have not taken into account the polymorphic nature of the STING‐encoding STING1 gene. We hypothesized that the presence of allelic variance in STING1 would cause variation between individuals as to their susceptibility to cancer development, cancer progression, and potential response to (immuno)therapy. To start to address this, we defined the genetic landscapes of STING1 in cervical scrapings and investigated their corresponding clinical characteristics across a unique cohort of cervical cancer patients and compared them with independent control cohorts. Although we did not observe an enrichment of particular STING1 allelic variants in cervical cancer patients, we did find that the occurrence of homozygous variants HAQ/HAQ and R232H/R232H of STING1 were associated with both younger age of diagnosis and higher recurrence rate. These findings were accompanied by worse survival, despite comparable mRNA and protein levels of STING and numbers of infiltrated CD8+ T cells. Our findings suggest that patients with HAQ/HAQ and R232H/R232H genotypes may have a dysfunctional cGAS‐STING pathway that fails to promote efficient anticancer immunity. Interestingly, the occurrence of these genotypes coincided with homozygous presence of the V48V variant, which was found to be individually associated with worse outcome. Therefore, we propose V48V to be further evaluated as a novel prognostic marker for cervical cancer.
Relationships of accelerometer‐determined physical activity with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and health‐related quality of life in patients after liver transplantation
Authors: Tanaka Satomi , Fujita Kimie , Makimoto Kiyoko , Kanaoka Maki , Yakushiji Kanako , Tanaka Rumi , Harada Noboru , Yoshizumi Tomoharu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe contribution of physical activity (PA) to the prevention of metabolic abnormalities following liver transplantation (LT) has not been well documented. We aimed to assess PA in post‐LT patients and to quantify its relationships with the development of postoperative metabolic abnormalities and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). We recruited 111 patients who had undergone LT ≥ 6 months previously. PA was measured by accelerometry, and HRQOL was evaluated using SF‐8. PA was quantified as the number of steps per day, and the time spent performing moderate‐to‐vigorous PA and light PA per week. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia increased more than twofold following LT. The proportion of the participants with a sedentary lifestyle (<5000 steps/day) was 36%. Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative hypertension and obesity were associated with preoperative body mass index and the number of steps taken (in 2000 steps/day increments). Preoperative diabetes was associated with obesity, and PA was associated with physical function‐related HRQOL scores. Thus, increasing the number of steps taken per day has the potential to reduce hypertension and obesity, and PA could improve physical function‐related HRQOL in patients following LT.
Canadian Real‐World Outcomes of Omnipod Initiation in People with Type 1 Diabetes (COPPER study): Evidence from the LMC Diabetes Registry
Authors: Brown R. E. , Vienneau T. , Aronson R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimsTo investigate real‐world clinical outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes who initiated the Omnipod Insulin Management System (Insulet Corp., Acton, MA, USA) compared to a matched cohort who maintained multiple daily injection therapy.MethodsThis retrospective observational study used data from the Canadian LMC Diabetes Registry. Adults with type 1 diabetes who switched from multiple daily injections to the Omnipod system as usual standard of care between January 2011 and April 2019 were matched to a cohort of adults with type 1 diabetes who maintained multiple daily injection therapy, using propensity‐score matching. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c at 3‐ to 6‐month follow‐up.ResultsPropensity‐score matching resulted in a final analytical cohort of 286 individuals (143/cohort). HbA1c in the Omnipod cohort was reduced by a mean ± sd of –3 ± 10 mmol/mol (–0.2 ± 1.0%; P = 0.005) with no change in the MDI cohort [0 ± 10 mmol/mol (0.0 ± 1.0%); P = 0.74]. HbA1c change was seen only in persons with baseline HbA1c ≥75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) [Omnipod cohort: –15 ± 12 mmol/mol (–1.4 ± 1.1%); P < 0.001] with a between‐treatment difference [mean (95% CI)] of –12 (–18, –6) mmol/mol [–1.1 (–1.6, –0.5) %, P < 0.001]. The median total daily dose of insulin was lower following Omnipod initiation (baseline 0.63 U/kg vs follow‐up 0.53 U/kg; P < 0.001), with no change in the MDI cohort (baseline 0.68 U/kg vs follow‐up 0.67 U/kg; P = 0.23).ConclusionsAdults with type 1 diabetes who initiated use of the Omnipod system in a real‐world clinical setting had lower HbA1c and total daily dose of insulin at 3‐ to 6‐month follow‐up compared to a matched cohort of adults who maintained multiple daily injection therapy. A treatment difference in HbA1c change was seen only in people with baseline HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (9.0%). (Clinical trials registration: NCT04226378).
Impact of the DC/TMD instructional video on the practical skills of undergraduate students—A single‐blinded, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rauch Angelika , Jahn Franziska , Roesner Anuschka , Hahnel Sebastian , Schierz Oliver 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionCompetencies in the clinical examination of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can be achieved by self‐instruction. This study aimed to identify the impact of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) instructional video on the practical examination skills of undergraduate students.Materials and methodsOne week prior to completing an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) addressing the examination of patients with TMD, undergraduate students in their third year received either the DC/TMD manual (control group) or additionally watched the instructional video once (intervention group). After passing the OSCE, a feedback questionnaire was completed by the students.ResultFifty undergraduates were recruited to take part in the OSCE prior to their first clinical course. The sum scores achieved in the stations were higher in the intervention group, but missed significance. Participants of the intervention group more often agreed that completing the OSCE stations was easy, which was significant for one station (P = .023). 95.8% of the participating students supported the implementation of the video in dental education.DiscussionDue to the conception of the study, the video was only presented once to ensure that the control group had no access to the medium at all. However, it might be interesting to investigate whether repeated watching of the video enhances its effect.ConclusionsClinical competencies in the examination of TMD patients can be achieved by self‐instruction with the DC/TMD manual and instructional video. Watching the video for educational purposes was highly recommended by undergraduate students.
Ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture for nusinersen administration in spinal muscular atrophy patients
Authors: Veiga‐Canuto D. , Cifrián‐Pérez M. , Pitarch‐Castellano I. , Vázquez‐Costa J.F. , Aparici F. 
Published: October 2020

Background and purposeThe purpose was to report the results of ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture for the administration of nusinersen in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients with complex spines.MethodsEighteen SMA patients (five children, five adolescents and eight adults) with either severe scoliosis or spondylodesis were evaluated for ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture. Ultrasound was performed with a 3.5 MHz transducer to guide a 22 gauge × 15 mm needle, which was placed in the posterior lumbar space following a parasagittal interlaminar approach.ResultsTwelve patients had undergone spinal instrumentation (nine growing rods and three spinal fusion) whilst the other six showed severe scoliosis. Success was achieved in 91/94 attempts (96.8%), in 14/18 patients (77.8%), including 100% of children and adolescents and 50% of adult patients. In two of the unsuccessfully treated patients, computed tomography and fluoroscopy‐guided transforaminal lumbar punctures were also tried without success. After a median follow‐up of 14 months, only few adverse events, mostly mild, were observed.ConclusionThe ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture, following an interlaminar parasagittal approach, is a safe and effective approach for intrathecal treatment with nusinersen in children, adolescents and carefully selected adult SMA patients with complex spines and could be considered the first option in them.
Machine learning from wristband sensor data for wearable, noninvasive seizure forecasting
Authors: Meisel Christian , El Atrache Rima , Jackson Michele , Schubach Sarah , Ufongene Claire , Loddenkemper Tobias 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveSeizure forecasting may provide patients with timely warnings to adapt their daily activities and help clinicians deliver more objective, personalized treatments. Although recent work has convincingly demonstrated that seizure risk assessment is in principle possible, these early approaches relied largely on complex, often invasive setups including intracranial electrocorticography, implanted devices, and multichannel electroencephalography, and required patient‐specific adaptation or learning to perform optimally, all of which limit translation to broad clinical application. To facilitate broader adaptation of seizure forecasting in clinical practice, noninvasive, easily applicable techniques that reliably assess seizure risk without much prior tuning are crucial. Wristbands that continuously record physiological parameters, including electrodermal activity, body temperature, blood volume pulse, and actigraphy, may afford monitoring of autonomous nervous system function and movement relevant for such a task, hence minimizing potential complications associated with invasive monitoring and avoiding stigma associated with bulky external monitoring devices on the head.MethodsHere, we applied deep learning on multimodal wristband sensor data from 69 patients with epilepsy (total duration > 2311 hours, 452 seizures) to assess its capability to forecast seizures in a statistically significant way.ResultsUsing a leave‐one‐subject‐out cross‐validation approach, we identified better‐than‐chance predictability in 43% of the patients. Time‐matched seizure surrogate data analyses indicated forecasting not to be driven simply by time of day or vigilance state. Prediction performance peaked when all sensor modalities were used, and did not differ between generalized and focal seizure types, but generally increased with the size of the training dataset, indicating potential further improvement with larger datasets in the future.SignificanceCollectively, these results show that statistically significant seizure risk assessments are feasible from easy‐to‐use, noninvasive wearable devices without the need of patient‐specific training or parameter optimization.