bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Review of Public Health Training Needs Assessment Approaches: Opportunities to Move Forward
Authors: Joly Brenda M. , Coronado Fátima , Bickford Brittany C. , Leider Jonathon P. , Alford Aaron , McKeever Jennifer , Harper Elizabeth 
Published: March 2018

Context:
Assessing training needs of the public health workforce is crucial for creating professional development opportunities to improve knowledge, competence, and effectiveness of this workforce.

Dissemination:
Regional Public Health Training Centers (RPHTCs) assess workforce training needs and deliver training based on identified needs. To determine training priorities, several needs assessment surveys have been administered by RPHTCs and national public health member organizations.

Evaluation:
This study identified the types of training questions being asked to public health practitioners in the various assessment surveys implemented by RPHTCs and national membership organizations. Although the surveys measured similar overarching constructs, multiple approaches with limited consistency were used to measure training needs.

Discussion:
Although successful in responding to the needs of their targeted constituents, the limited consistency among survey types makes generalization of findings difficult. Disseminating common metrics and aggregate survey findings would increase efficiency in determining workforce training needs and developing targeted training.
67Ga Scintigraphy for Assessment of Disease Severity and Treatment Response in Patients With Paracoccidioidomycosis
Authors: Yamaga Lilian Yuri Itaya , Benard Gil , Watanabe Tomoco , Funari Marcelo Buarque de Gusmão , Hironaka Fausto Haruki , Buchpighel Carlos Alberto , Shikanai-Yasuda Maria Aparecida 
Published: March 2018

Objective
The evaluation of therapy response of patients with deep mycosis is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of disease at admission and evaluate treatment response of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis using 67Ga scintigraphy.

Subjects and Methods
Seventy-three patients with fully active disease were enrolled. A scoring system based on clinicoradiological and serological evaluation and 67Ga scan was devised. Pretherapy 67Ga score of 73 patients was compared with clinicoradiological and serological scores. A subgroup of 23 patients was followed up during treatment, and the rates of improvement of their clinicoradiological, serological, and 67Ga scores during treatment were compared at 3 time points (fully active phase, after clinical improvement, and clinically inactive disease).

Results
The correlations between scores before therapy were statistically significant. 67Ga score correlated with clinical score (r = 0.47, P < 0.001). Serological score correlated with both 67Ga and clinical scores (r = 0.32, P = 0.006, and r = 0.25, P = 0.034, respectively). Concerning evaluation of therapy response, clinicoradiological, serological, and 67Ga scores decreased significantly after therapy (P < 0.001). Notably, 67Ga score was the single one to become negative in most patients at the end of treatment (20 of 23 patients compared with 7 on clinicoradiological evaluation and 10 on serology, P = 0.003).

Conclusions
In patients with paracoccidioidomycosis, pretherapy 67Ga scintigraphy correlates with disease severity. Serial 67Ga scans seem to be helpful in evaluating the response to therapy.
99mTc-Methionine Hybrid SPECT/CT for Detection of Recurrent Glioma
Authors: Arora Geetanjali , Sharma Punit , Sharma Anshul , Mishra Anil Kumar , Hazari Puja Panwar , Biswas Ahitagni , Garg Ajay , Aheer Deepak , Kumar Rakesh 
Published: March 2018

Objectives
Posttherapy changes in treated glioma patients cannot be reliably differentiated from tumor recurrence. We evaluated the role of 99mTc-methionine SPECT/CT for the detection of recurrent glioma and compared the same with 18F-FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced MRI (CeMRI).

Methods
Forty-four patients with histologically proven, previously treated glioma and clinical suspicion of recurrence were prospectively enrolled in the study. Of these 44 patients, 39 (28 male and 11 female subjects; age, 38.05 ± 9.7 years) underwent 99mTc-methionine SPECT/CT, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and CeMRI of the brain and were included for final analysis. Combination of repeat imaging, biopsy, and/or clinical follow-up (6–36 months) was taken as reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated. Diagnostic values among modalities were compared.

Results
Positive predictive value and negative predictive value for 99mTc-methionine SPECT/CT, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and CeMRI were 95.6% and 56.2%, 92.3% and 61.5%, and 79.4% and 42.9%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the 3 modalities were 75.9% and 90%, 82.8% and 80%, and 87.1% and 30%. Specificity of 99mTc-methionine SPECT/CT was significantly higher than that of CeMRI (P < 0.0001) but not of 18F-FDG PET/CT (P = 0.36). No significant difference was seen between the modalities for sensitivity and accuracy.

Conclusions

99mTc-methionine is a promising tracer for detection of recurrent glioma. Diagnostic values of 99mTc-methionine SPECT/CT are similar to 18F-FDG, although it is more specific than CeMRI. So it may be used as a cost-effective alternative and also where PET/CT is not available.
Iodine/FDG “Flip-Flop” Phenomenon Inside a Large Metastatic Thyroid Cancer Lesion Better Characterized on SPECT/CT and PET/CT Studies
Authors: Duarte Paulo Schiavom , Marin José Flávio Gomes , de Carvalho José Willegaignon de Amorim , Sapienza Marcelo Tatit , Buchpiguel Carlos Alberto 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Iodine/FDG “flip-flop” phenomenon inside large metastatic thyroid cancer lesions has been rarely described. We present a case of this phenomenon better characterized using SPECT/CT and PET/CT studies.
Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection in a Rodent Model of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Pereira Luciano S. , Ávila Marcos P. , Salustiano Luciana X. , Paula Alcio C. , Arnhold Emmanuel , McCulley Timothy J. 
Published: March 2018

Introduction:
The management of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy centers around prevention of second eye involvement, without a uniformly accepted therapy for the involved eye. Several researchers have assessed the benefit of steroids with conflicting results. This experimental study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a single intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTA) in preserving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in a rodent model of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION).

Methods:
The rAION was induced in female Wistar rats. Animals were randomized into 3 groups: 1) untreated, 2) treated with 56 μg IVTA, and 3) intravitreal saline (placebo). Procedures were performed in the left eye, with the right eye serving as control. After 30 days, animals were sacrificed and eyes were assessed histologically for RGC number.

Results:
The average number of RGC was significantly lower in rAION subgroups when compared with the control group (P < 0.001). No significant difference was seen between rAION eyes treated with IVTA, placebo, and untreated eyes (P > 0.05%).

Conclusions:
In this rodent model for AION, no therapeutic benefit of intravitreal steroid injection was identified.
Label-free high-speed wide-field imaging of single microtubules using interference reflection microscopy
Authors: Mahamdeh Mohammed , Simmert Steve , Luchniak Anna , Schäeffer Erik , Howard Jonathon 
Published: March 2018

SummaryWhen studying microtubules in vitro, label free imaging of single microtubules is necessary when the quantity of purified tubulin is too low for efficient fluorescent labeling or there is concern that labelling will disrupt its function. Commonly used techniques for observing unlabeled microtubules, such as video enhanced differential interference contrast, dark-field and more recently laser-based interferometric scattering microscopy, suffer from a number of drawbacks. The contrast of differential interference contrast images depends on the orientation of the microtubules, dark-field is highly sensitive to impurities and optical misalignments, and interferometric scattering has a limited field of view. In addition, all of these techniques require costly optical components such as Nomarski prisms, dark-field condensers, lasers and laser scanners. Here we show that single microtubules can be imaged at high speed and with high contrast using interference reflection microscopy without the aforementioned drawbacks. Interference reflection microscopy is simple to implement, requiring only the incorporation of a 50/50 mirror instead of a dichroic in a fluorescence microscope, and with appropriate microscope settings has similar signal-to-noise ratio to differential interference contrast and fluorescence. We demonstrated the utility of interference reflection microscopy by high speed imaging and tracking of dynamic microtubules at 100 frames per second. In conclusion, the image quality of interference reflection microscopy is similar to or exceeds that of all other techniques and, with minimal microscope modification, can be used to study the dynamics of unlabeled microtubules.
Direct Measurement of Dissipation in a Single Protein using Small Amplitude Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Rajput S. , Talele S. , Ahlawat V. , Ajith VJ. , Roychoudhury A. , Kamerkar S. , Patil S. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTIn Krammer’s theory, stiffness and dissipation coefficient of a protein determine the rate of their conformational change. Using atomic force microscope, it is possible to measure viscoelasticity of a single protein, wherein it’s dissipative and elastic nature is directly and independently measured. Such measurements are performed, either by measuring the thermal fluctuations of the protein held under a constant force, or by providing small modulations to the protein by dithering the cantilever and measuring its response. In small amplitude approximation, where dither amplitude is comparable to persistence length of polymers, it is possible to measure the protein’s viscoelastic response accurately. We measured dissipation in I27 at extremely low pulling speeds (∼ 50 nm/s) and low dither frequencies (∼100 Hz). At these experimental parameters the dissipation is found to be ∼10−5 kg/s, well above the detection limit of conventional AFM and upper limit predicted by Benedetti et al. Our stiffness data clearly reveals unfolding intermediate of titin’s individual immunoglobulin units. The intermediate is elongation of folded domains by ∼8 Å, wherein two hydrogen bonds are broken between beta sheets. It was possible to measure this elongation in our experiments. The directly measured internal friction of unfolded polymer chain shows a scaling with tension on the chain. The measurements show that it is possible to measure internal friction in single molecules unambiguously using small amplitude AFM. It suggests that systematic experiments to unravel the relation between directly measured internal friction and folding rates of proteins are possible.
Towards Improving Embryo Selection: Simultaneous Next Generation Sequencing Of DNA And RNA From A Single Trophectoderm Biopsy
Authors: Weizman Noga Fuchs , Wyse Brandon A. , Antes Ran , Ibarrientos Zenon , Sangaralingam Mugundhine , Motamedi Gelareh , Kuznyetsov Valeriy , Madjunkova Svetlana , Librach Clifford L. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTImproved embryo selection is crucial in optimizing the results from assisted reproduction. Preimplantation genetic screening reduces time to pregnancy and miscarriages. Correlating the transcriptome of an embryo, with fertility treatments and outcomes, holds promise in improving the overall results. We developed a novel method for embryo selection in fertility treatments that integrates embryonic genomic and transcriptomic data and evaluated it in this pilot study.A total of 21 embryos donated for research were included. Three were used for the initial development and optimization of sample processing and sequencing. Thereafter, 18 embryos were used to demonstrate the clinical safety and reproducibility of our method. Two trophectoderm biopsies were taken from each embryo: one was processed as a clinical sample for genomic profiling (control, n=18), while the other biopsy (n=18) was split and utilized for independent, simultaneous genomic and transcriptomic analysis, here termed Preimplantation Genetic and Transcriptomic Testing (PGT2).High quality genomic and transcriptomic data were obtained from all analyzed samples. The concordance between genomic data obtained with PGT2 and control samples was 100% with clinical grade quality metrics. Euploid embryos showed downregulation of genes involved in anaerobic metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and fatty-acid oxidation. This is the first study to provide full genomic and transcriptomic profiles from a single TE biopsy from human embryos in a clinical setting unleashing the potential of improving embryo selection and outcomes in infertility treatments. Clinical trials are needed to correlate transcriptomic data with outcomes.SUMMARYDespite advances in assisted reproductive technologies, the success rate has remained relatively constant. Under the age of 35, there is a 40% chance of delivering a child per embryo transfer, which decreases with increasing maternal age. Prioritizing embryos for transfer is based on morphological assessment and, in some cases, incorporates genetic testing as well. Selection of euploid embryos for transfer shortens the time to pregnancy and reduces the risk for miscarriages. Adding the mRNA analysis to the genomic assessment of an embryo has the potential of improving the outcomes of fertility treatments.
Heparan sulfate molecules mediate synapse formation and function of male mating neural circuits inC. elegans
Authors: Lázaro-Peña María I. , Díaz-Balzac Carlos A. , Bülow Hannes E. , Emmons Scott W. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe nervous system regulates complex behaviors through a network of neurons interconnected by synapses. How specific synaptic connections are genetically determined is still unclear. Male mating is the most complex behavior inC. elegans. It is composed of sequential steps that are governed by more than 3,000 chemical connections. Here we show that heparan sulfates (HS) play a role in the formation and function of the male neural network. Cell-autonomous and non-autonomous 3-Osulfation by the HS modification enzyme HST-3.1/HS 3-O-sulfotransferase, localized to the HSPG glypicans LON-2/glypican and GPN-1/glypican, was specifically required for response to hermaphrodite contact during mating. Loss of 3-Osulfation resulted in the presynaptic accumulation of RAB-3, a molecule that localizes to synaptic vesicles, disrupting the formation of synapses in a component of the mating circuits. We also show that neural cell adhesion protein neurexin promotes and neural cell adhesion protein neuroligin inhibits formation of the same set of synapses in a parallel pathway. Thus, neural cell adhesion proteins and extracellular matrix components act together in the formation of synaptic connections.Author SummaryThe formation of the nervous system requires the function of several genetically-encoded proteins to form complex networks. Enzymatically-generated modifications of these proteins play a crucial role during this process. These authors analyzed the role of heparan sulfates in the process of synaptogenesis in the male tail ofC. elegans. A modification of heparan sulfate is required for the formation of specific synapses between neurons by acting cell-autonomously and non-autonomously. Could it be that heparan sulfates and their diverse modifications are a component of the specification factor that neurons use to make such large numbers of connections unique?
A reference haplotype panel for genome-wide imputation of short tandem repeats
Authors: Saini Shubham , Mitra Ileena , Mousavi Nima , Fotsing Stephanie Feupe , Gymrek Melissa 
Published: March 2018

AbstractShort tandem repeats (STRs) are involved in dozens of Mendelian disorders and have been implicated in a variety of complex traits. However, existing technologies focusing on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have not allowed for systematic STR association studies. Here, we leverage next-generation sequencing data from 479 families to create a SNP+STR reference haplotype panel for genome-wide imputation of STRs into SNP data. Imputation achieved an average of 97% concordance between genotyped and imputed STR genotypes in an external dataset compared to 63% expected under a random model. Performance varied widely across STRs, with near perfect concordance at bi-allelic STRs vs. 70% at highly polymorphic forensics markers. We demonstrate that imputation increases power over individual SNPs to detect STR associations using simulated phenotypes and gene expression data. This resource will enable the first large-scale STR association studies using existing SNP datasets, and will likely yield new insights into complex traits.
Machine learning models to predictin vivodrug response via optimal dimensionality reduction of tumour molecular profiles
Authors: Nguyen Linh , Naulaerts Stefan , Bomane Alexandra , Bruna Alejandra , Ghislat Ghita , Ballester Pedro J. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTInter-tumour heterogeneity is one of cancer’s most fundamental features. Patient stratification based on drug response prediction is hence needed for effective anti-cancer therapy. However, lessons from the past indicate that single-gene markers of response are rare and/or often fail to achieve a significant impact in clinic. In this context, Machine Learning (ML) is emerging as a particularly promising complementary approach to precision oncology. Here we leverage comprehensive Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) pharmacogenomic data sets with dimensionality-reducing ML algorithms with this purpose. Results show that combining multiple gene alterations via ML leads to better discrimination between sensitive and resistant PDXs in 19 of the 26 analysed cases. Highly predictive ML models employing concise gene lists were found for three cases: Paclitaxel (breast cancer), Binimetinib (breast cancer) and Cetuximab (colorectal cancer). Interestingly, each of these ML models identify some responsive PDXs not harbouring the best actionable mutation for that case (such PDXs were missed by those single-gene markers). Moreover, ML multi-gene predictors generally retrieve a much higher proportion of treatment-sensitive PDXs than the corresponding single-gene marker. As PDXs often recapitulate clinical outcomes, these results suggest that many more patients could benefit from precision oncology if multiple ML algorithms were applied to existing clinical pharmacogenomics data, especially those algorithms generating classifiers combining data-selected gene alterations.
Revisiting the relationship between formal planning process and planning effectiveness
Authors: Elbanna Said , Elsharnouby Tamer H. 
Published: March 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to address a timely research question by clarifying whether formal planning is a worthy approach for hotels. In so doing, the authors developed a theoretical model that extends prior research by exploring how the formal planning process influences organizational capabilities and decision-making style. The model also examines the impact of the three identified factors on planning effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 175 hotels located in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe study concludes that the practice of formal planning in the tourism sector does matter and both organizational capabilities and decision-making style are important factors in predicting planning effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralizations to organizations operating in other sectors, such as manufacturing or government sectors, should be drawn cautiously.Practical implicationsTaking into account oil price volatility and serious political crises in the region, this study provides several insights to hotel managers into how the formal planning process can influence planning effectiveness.Originality/valueThe findings enrich the debate on the role of formal planning in the tourism sector, which has been relatively devoid of similar studies.
Ductile damage parameters and far fieldJ-integral for high hardening steel
Authors: Krishnan S.A. , Sasikala G. , Moitra A. , Albert S.K. , Bhaduri A.K. 
Published: March 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to assess material damage parameters for ductile crack initiation and growth ahead of a crack/notch tip in high hardening steel like AISI type 316L(N) stainless steel.Design/methodology/approachDuctile damage parameter and far fieldJ-integral have been obtained from standard FEM analysis for a crack/notch tip undergoing large plastic deformation and resulting in crack initiation/growth. In conjunction with experimental results, the damage variable for low strength and high hardening material has been derived in terms of continuum parameters: equivalent plastic strain (εeq) and stress triaxiality (φ). The material parameters for damage initiation and growth in 316LN SS have been evaluated from tensile and fracture tests. With these material tensile/fracture parameters as input, elastic-plastic eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM) simulations were carried out on compact tension (CT) specimen geometry under varying initial stress triaxiality conditions.FindingsThe material parameters for damage initiation and growth have been assessed and calibrated by comparing the X-FEM predicted load-displacement responses with the experimental results. It is observed that the deviations in the predicted load values from the experimental data are within 6 percent for specimens witha/W=0.39, 0.55, 0.64, while fora/W=0.72, it is 17 percent.Originality/valueThe present study is a part of developing methods to obtain calibrated material damage parameters for crack growth simulation of components made of AISI 316L(N) stainless steel. This steel is used for fast breeder reactor-based power plant being built at Kalpakkam, India.
The art of deterrence: Singapore’s anti-money laundering regimes
Authors: Tan Veltrice 
Published: March 2018

Purpose
In light of the recent 1MDB Scandal in Singapore, this research paper aims to examine the deterrent effect of Singapore’s sanctions against money laundering within financial institutions.

Design/methodology/approach
Case laws and legislations are examined as are relevant reports by regulators.

Findings
Singapore’s anti-money laundering (AML) regimes may not act as an effective deterrent against money laundering activities within financial institutions. This is due to the overreliance on the theory of deterrence-based thinking, the lack of an “enforcement pyramid” and economic factors which influence regulators to be lenient towards financial institutions.

Research limitations/implications
There are limited data available in relation to regulators in Singapore and the prevalence of money laundering activities within Singapore’s financial institution. Any discussions within this article is based on the impressionistic observations of this author, which may not reflect the true state of affairs in Singapore.

Practical implications
Those who are interested in examining the relationship between money laundering and the deterrent effect of sanctions against financial institutions will have an interest in this topic.

Originality/value
The value of the paper is to demonstrate that Singapore’s AML regimes may not act as an effective deterrence against money laundering activities within financial institutions.