bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a literacy intervention programme on enhancing learning outcomes for secondary students with dyslexia in Hong Kong
Authors: Tam Irelan O.L. , Leung Cynthia 
Published: July 2019

ObjectiveThis quasi‐experimental study reported the results of a structured literacy intervention programme designed for secondary school students of Year 7 to Year 9 with dyslexia. Students of the intervention group (n = 116) participated in 40‐week sessions of small‐size, classroom‐based, and split‐group intervention setting with 45‐min daily lesson on both Chinese and English language compared with students in the control group who received normal classroom instructions (n = 98).ResultsStudents in the intervention group outperformed the control groups in self‐regulated learning scales, which indicated that there was positive change in students' behavioural and cognitive outcomes in learning. Although students demonstrated gains in phonetic skills, posttest results in academic achievement did not exhibit significant improvement when compared with their control group peers.ConclusionThe findings provided some encouraging evidence of the effectiveness of intervention programme. Students that demonstrated gains in phonetic skills and improvement in behavioural and cognitive aspects required continuous intervention lessons to become a self‐regulated learner, who would be self‐motivated to improve methods of learning and adopt strategies for attaining academic goals. The study contributed to the literature by presenting one of the very first school‐based, small‐size, classroom‐based, and split‐group intervention programme for secondary school dyslexic students, which included teachers and students training on English and Chinese intervention content (phonological and literacy content), teaching curriculum integrated with school curriculum, and coteaching with school teachers in the mainstream classrooms, whereas most of the existing intervention programmes used pull‐out approach involving the first language only.
The Good and Bad Faces of Oxidized Phospholipids: Friends or Foes of Vascular Endothelium?
Authors: Birukov Konstantin G. , Oskolkova Olga V. 
Published: July 2019

A diverse group of bioactive lipids are generated from the oxidation of phospholipids during various pathological conditions such as lung injury, sepsis, and autoimmune diseases. An elevated level of circulating oxidized phospholipids with potent inflammatory activities has been recognized as a hallmark of various diseases including atherosclerosis. On the other hand, the oxidation of a principal membrane phospholipid 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐arachidonoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (PAPC) results in the formation of a heterogeneous mixture of full length and fragmented oxidized species with both beneficial and detrimental effects on pulmonary endothelium. Among these, the extensive studies from this research group have established that full length oxidized species present in oxidized PAPC (OxPAPC) have pronounced endothelial barrier protective and anti‐inflammatory properties. This has been documented in various cellular and animal models of lung injury and inflammation using a wide range of chemical and mechanical stimuli. Moreover, OxPAPC stimulation of endothelial cells generates anti‐inflammatory molecules such as lipoxin that mediate the recovery of inflamed lungs. This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge on OxPAPC‐mediated positive regulation of endothelial barrier function and its potential as a promising therapeutic target for lung injury and inflammation.Practical Applications: This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge on OxPAPC‐mediated positive regulation of endothelial barrier function and its potential as a promising therapeutic target for lung injury and inflammation.Products of phospholipid oxidation may exhibit disruptive or protective effects on vascular endothelium depending on the extent of oxidation. Full length oxidized phospholipids stimulated endothelial barrier recovery and resolution of acute lung injury or sepsis by triggering multiple mechanisms enhancing endothelial barrier properties and diminishing inflammation.
Data‐driven auditing: A predictive modeling approach to fraud detection and classification
Authors: Singh Nitin , Lai Kee‐hung , Vejvar Markus , Cheng T. C. Edwin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThis article develops and empirically tests a predictive model for audit of fraud detection with practical applications for audit operations. By analyzing real‐life accounting data, the proposed model can identify anomalous transactions and directly focus on exceptions for further investigation in real time, thus offering a significant reduction in manual intervention and processing time in audit operations. Our approach is a highly desirable supplement to the existing rule‐based models, given the growing use of information technology for analytics in auditing. The proposed approach is based on classification. Following the tenets of the principal agency theory, we discuss how our approach can help to reduce monitoring and contracting costs, disincentivize fraud, improve auditor efficiency and independence, and increase audit quality. We contribute to the current literature by discussing the implications of data‐driven audit on the moderating role of auditors in principal‐agent relationships and providing practical insights into the operational aspects of financial reporting and auditing, modeling of fraud‐detection classification models, and benefits, barriers, and enablers of implementing data driven audit in companies.
Identification of TAF1, SAT1, and ARHGEF9 as DNA methylation biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Cai Chudong , Xie Xiaojun , Zhou Junyi , Fang Xi , Wang Fang , Wang Meng 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. More than 90% of primary HCC is HCC. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and alcohol consumption have been widely accepted as two major risk factors for developing HCC. Herein, we aimed to identify DNA methylation genes related to both HCV infection and alcohol consumption. In this study, we identified methylation genes that were associated with the risk of HCV infection and alcohol consumption, respectively, by a large‐scale bioinformatic analysis. Through PPI network analysis, we revealed the associations between the two types of genes and found six hub genes—TAF1, SAT1, Phospholipase C‐beta 2, FGD1, ARHGAP4, and ARHGEF9—that may be associated with both HCV infection and alcohol consumption. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis was used to analyze the function which these genes in the network enriched. Among them, TAF1, SAT1, and ARHGEF9 were methylated genes that have been found to be related to tumor progression in HCC patients. Through independent data sets, we verified the methylation pattern of these six genes in HCC samples that had both HCV infection and alcohol consumption risks. Furthermore, we found that three of the six methylated genes were also associated with the prognosis of HCC patients. To summarize, we identified six hub genes that were associated with both HCV infection and alcohol consumption in the progress of HCC. The six methylation genes that might play an important role in both HCV infection and alcohol consumption would be potential therapy targets for HCC.
Proinflammation effect of Mst1 promotes BV‐2 cell death via augmenting Drp1‐mediated mitochondrial fragmentation and activating the JNK pathway
Authors: Tian Hong , Wang Kang , Jin Miao , Li Jingtao , Yu Yanbing 
Published: July 2019

AbstractInﬂammation has been increasingly studied as part of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Mammalian Ste20‐like kinase 1 (Mst1), a key factor of the Hippo pathway, is connected to cell death. Unfortunately, little study has been performed to detect the impact of Mst1 in neuroninflammation. The results indicated that Mst1 expression was upregulated because of LPS treatment. However, the loss of Mst1 sustained BV‐2 cell viability and promoted cell survival in the presence of LPS treatment. Molecular investigation assay demonstrated that Mst1 deletion was followed by a drop in the levels of mitochondrial fission via repressing Drp1 expression. However, Drp1 adenovirus transfection reduced the protective impacts of Mst1 knockdown on mitochondrial stress and neuronal dysfunction. Finally, our results illuminated that Mst1 affected Drp1 content and mitochondrial fission in a JNK‐dependent mechanism. Reactivation of the JNK axis inhibited Mst1 knockdown‐mediated neuronal protection and mitochondrial homeostasis. Altogether, our results indicated that Mst1 upregulation and the activation of JNK‐Drp1‐mitochondrial fission pathway could be considered as the novel mechanism regulating the progression of neuroninflammation. This finding would pave a new road for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases via modulating the Mst1‐JNK‐Drp1‐mitochondrial fission axis.
Hepatocyte growth factor enhances the clearance of a multidrug‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain by high doses of conventional chemotherapy, preserving liver function
Authors: Bello‐Monroy Oscar , Mata‐Espinosa Dulce , Enríquez‐Cortina Cristina , Souza Verónica , Miranda Roxana U. , Bucio Leticia , Barrios‐Payán Jorge , Marquina‐Castillo Brenda , Rodríguez‐Ochoa Ignacio , Rosales Patricia , Gutiérrez‐Ruiz María Concepción , Hernández‐Pando Rogelio , Gomez‐Quiroz Luis Enrique 
Published: July 2019

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in humankind history. Although, drug sensible TB is slowly decreasing, at present the rise of TB cases produced by multidrug‐resistant (MDR) and extensively drug‐resistant strains is a big challenge. Thus, looking for new therapeutic options against these MDR strains is mandatory. In the present work, we studied, in BALB/c mice infected with MDR strain, the therapeutic effect of supra‐pharmacological doses of the conventional primary antibiotics rifampicin and isoniazid (administrated by gavage or intratracheal routes), in combination with recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). This high dose of antibiotics administered for 3 months, overcome the resistant threshold of the MDR strain producing a significant reduction of pulmonary bacillary loads but induced liver damage, which was totally prevented by the administration of HGF. To address the long‐term efficiency of this combined treatment, groups of animals after 1 month of treatment termination were immunosuppressed by glucocorticoid administration and, after 1 month, mice were euthanized, and the bacillary load was determined in lungs. In comparison with animals treated only with a high dose of antibiotics, animals that received the combined treatment showed significantly lower bacterial burdens. Thus, treatment of MDR‐TB with very high doses of primary antibiotics particularly administrated by aerial route can produce a very good therapeutic effect, and its hepatic toxicity can be prevented by the administration of HGF, becoming in a new treatment modality for MDR‐TB.
Two‐photon microscopy assessment of the overall energy metabolism alteration of amoeba in hypertonic environment
Authors: Loukanov Alexandre 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIn this study, a two‐photon fluorescence microscopic imaging technique is reported for assessment the effect of dynamic hypertonic environment on the overall energy metabolism alteration and adaptation of soil‐living amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. For that purpose the fluorescence intensity of mitochondrial reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was monitored and quantified in order to evaluate the corresponded metabolic state of monolayer cultured cells. The two‐photon excitation of NADH with 720 nm near infrared irradiation produced blue fluorescence emission with maximum wavelength centered at 460 nm. The benefits of reported noninvasive microscopic technique are the significantly less cellular damage and avoiding the excitation of other biomolecules except of NADH. It enabled to acquire data for NADH levels of the observed cells on agar plate specimen and hypertonic nutrition media in a Petri dish. The method demonstrated also good sensitivity, reproducibility and the obtained results revealed that D. discoideum species form aggregation in hypertonic environment within several minutes with aim to survive. The formed aggregate had amorphous shape and it consisted from dozen amoeba cells, which kept their NADH amount in constant level for few hours. The reported imaging method might be applicable in various studies for characterization of metabolic events and assessment of the cell energy balance in hypertonic environment.
Validity of administrative database detection of previously resolved hepatitis B virus in Japan
Authors: Imai Shinobu , Yamana Hayato , Inoue Norihiko , Akazawa Manabu , Horiguchi Hiromasa , Fushimi Kiyohide , Migita Kiyoshi , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Sugiyama Masaya , Mizokami Masashi 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation has increased owing to advances in the immunosuppressive therapy field. However, the HBV reactivation incidence among patients with previously resolved HBV (prHBV) infection during immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. The objective of this work is to describe the validity of detecting prHBV infection from administrative data through comparisons with chart abstraction and determine the incidence of HBV reactivation during immunosuppressive therapy for RA in Japan. In this retrospective cohort study, data on selected patients were extracted from administrative claims data. To identify patients with prHBV infection and de novo hepatitis, and HBsAg carriers, we conducted chart abstraction. The incidence rate of de novo hepatitis was 1.23 of 100 person‐years. The positive predictive value (PPV) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) of administrative data for the identification of suspected prHBV infections was 85.8% (95% CI: 81.7%‐89.3%). This study evaluated the PPV of the algorithm of HBV‐DNA testing with immunosuppressive therapy performed four times or more per year for the detection of prHBV infection from administrative data. Additionally, we determined the incidence rate of HBV reactivation among preHBV infections during immunosuppressive therapy for RA to be 1.23 of 100 person‐years.
Effects of the tropospheric large‐scale circulation on European winter temperatures during the period of amplified Arctic warming
Authors: Vihma Timo , Graversen Rune , Chen Linling , Handorf Dörthe , Skific Natasa , Francis Jennifer A. , Tyrrell Nicholas , Hall Richard , Hanna Edward , Uotila Petteri , Dethloff Klaus , Karpechko Alexey Y. , Björnsson Halldor , Overland James E. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWe investigate factors influencing European winter (DJFM) air temperatures for the period 1979–2015 with the focus on changes during the recent period of rapid Arctic warming (1998–2015). We employ meteorological reanalyses analysed with a combination of correlation analysis, two pattern clustering techniques, and back‐trajectory airmass identification. In all five selected European regions, severe cold winter events lasting at least 4 days are significantly correlated with warm Arctic episodes. Relationships during opposite conditions of warm Europe/cold Arctic are also significant. Correlations have become consistently stronger since 1998. Large‐scale pattern analysis reveals that cold spells are associated with the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO‐) and the positive phase of the Scandinavian (SCA+) pattern, which in turn are correlated with the divergence of dry‐static energy transport. Warm European extremes are associated with opposite phases of these patterns and the convergence of latent heat transport. Airmass trajectory analysis is consistent with these findings, as airmasses associated with extreme cold events typically originate over continents, while warm events tend to occur with prevailing maritime airmasses. Despite Arctic‐wide warming, significant cooling has occurred in northeastern Europe owing to a decrease in adiabatic subsidence heating in airmasses arriving from the southeast, along with increased occurrence of circulation patterns favouring low temperature advection. These dynamic effects dominated over the increased mean temperature of most circulation patterns. Lagged correlation analysis reveals that SCA‐ and NAO+ are typically preceded by cold Arctic anomalies during the previous 2–3 months, which may aid seasonal forecasting.
Long‐Term Pathology of Ovine Lumbar Spine Degeneration Following Injury Via Percutaneous Minimally Invasive Partial Nucleotomy
Authors: Schwan Stefan , Ludtka Christopher , Friedmann Andrea , Heilmann Andreas , Baerthel Andre , Brehm Walther , Wiesner Ingo , Meisel Hans J. , Goehre Felix 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTThe focus of this work is to assess the long‐term progression of degeneration in the ovine lumbar spine following a minimally invasive model injury comparable to the damage of an intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation. A partial nucleotomy was performed on 18 sheep via the percutaneous dorsolateral approach. The animals were culled at 6 and 12 months to evaluate the damaged and neighboring functional spine units (FSUs) for degenerative characteristics via μ‐CT and histology. Both quantitative μ‐CT and histology investigations demonstrated statistically significant differences between the native and damaged FSUs investigated. Qualitative analysis of μ‐CT revealed numerous pathological markers consistent with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), with differences in frequency and severity between the native and damaged FSUs. The annulus fibrosus reforms a pressure seal within 6 weeks, but the extent of the trauma is significant enough to initiate IVD degeneration, which is already clearly visible at 6 months and especially so 12 months post‐op. IDD pathology consistent with signs of a herniation was seen in both the 6‐ and 12‐month groups. This technique provides a useful model injury for the preclinical evaluation of IDD in large animal models, especially in regards to simulating disc herniation as well as for testing the efficacy of associated therapies in the future. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2376–2388, 2019
Inhibitory potential of prickly pears and their isolated bioactives against digestive enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes and inflammatory response
Authors: Gómez‐Maqueo Andrea , García‐Cayuela Tomás , Fernández‐López Rebeca , Welti‐Chanes Jorge , Cano M Pilar 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDPrickly pears are potential candidates for the development of low‐cost functional foods because they grow with low water requirements in arid regions of the world. They are sources of betalains and phenolic compounds, which have been reported to contribute to human health. The study of the biological activity of different varieties and of their isolated bioactive constitutes is fundamental in the design of functional foods. In this context, our objective is the assessment of the ability of Spanish and Mexican prickly‐pear cultivars to inhibit enzymes related to type 2 diabetes and the inflammatory response, and the contribution of their bioactive compounds to their nutra‐pharmaceutical potential.RESULTSPrickly pear peels presented the highest antioxidant activity due to their high isorhamnetin glycoside content. Isorhamnetin glycosides showed significantly higher antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity than aglycone, particularly isorhamnetin glucosyl‐rhamnosyl‐pentoside (IG2), which also reported antihyperglycemic activity. Morada, Vigor, and Sanguinos whole fruits exhibited moderate α‐amylase inhibition and higher α‐glucosidase inhibition, which is ideal for lowering glucose absorption in hyperglycemia management. Sanguinos peels presented the highest anti‐inflammatory activity because of their high indicaxanthin content and isorhamnetin glycoside profile.CONCLUSIONSIn the design of prickly pear functional foods, technological processing should prioritize the retention or concentration of these bioactive compounds to preserve (or increase) their natural antioxidant, antihyperglycemic and anti‐inflammatory activity. Peels of red and orange varieties should be further evaluated for antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory purposes while whole fruits of red and purple varieties could be considered possible candidates for hyperglycemia management. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Complications after vascularized jejunal mesenteric lymph node transfer: A 3‐year experience
Authors: Kraft Casey T. , Eiferman Daniel , Jordan Sumanas , Skoracki Roman J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundVascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) is a well‐established method for the surgical management of refractory extremity lymphedema. Generally, donor lymph nodes are harvested from the axilla, groin, or supraclavicular area. However, these sites offer their own disadvantages and introduce risk for inducing lymphedema at the surgical donor site. In our experience, the jejunal mesentery can be an excellent source of lymph nodes without the risk of donor site lymphedema. Long term complications are unknown for this procedure; we report our experience, complication rates, and lessons learned.MethodsA retrospective review was performed for all patients at our institution undergoing surgical treatment of lymphedema using jejunal mesenteric VLNT from February 2015 to February 2018. Demographic data, length of follow up, and surgical complications were reviewed.ResultsTwenty‐nine patients have undergone jejunal VLNT at our institution during the three‐year study period, with a total of 30 transfers. Five patients had a concurrent omental lymph node transfer. Average length of follow up was 17.6 months (range 1.0–36.8 months). There was one flap loss in this time frame (3.3%). Four patients developed hernias post‐operatively (13.8%), and three had nonoperative small bowel obstructions (10.3%). One patient had a postoperative wound infection at the abdominal incision (3.4%).ConclusionsJejunal VLNT can be an effective option for surgical treatment of lymphedema, without the risk of postoperative donor site lymphedema. Patients and surgeons should be aware of the risks of hernia and small bowel obstruction with this method compared to other lymph node sources.