bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Novel Hemostatic Biomarkers of Adverse Clinical Events in Patients Implanted With a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: McClane Nathan , Jeske Walter , Walenga Jeanine M. , Escalante Vicki , Hoppensteadt Debra , Schwartz Jeffrey , Bakhos Mamdouh
Published: March 2018

Heart failure affects over 5 million people in the United States. Its rising prevalence and the limited supply of donor hearts is increasing the use of mechanical cardiac support with the implantation of continuous-flow ventricular assist devices (CF-VAD). Patients with CF-VAD implants are at risk of complications, specifically adverse hemostatic events such as nonsurgical bleeding and thrombosis. Development of a pump thrombus requires clinical intervention and/or surgical replacement significantly increasing the risk of patient morbidity and mortality. Identification of biomarkers for these events could improve current risk assessment models, subsequent treatment, and quality of life prognoses for VAD-implanted patients. The standard means for identifying thrombus in VAD patients is currently limited to monitoring levels of lactate dehydrogenase (>2× upper limit of normal), which is incapable of predicting a future event, but describes the risk of a present thrombus. Surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is a technique used to identify biomarkers. In this study, 3 groups of unique peaks were identified in plasma from patients with left ventricular assist devices: 8.1-kDa, 11.7-kDa, and a 15.2-/16.1-kDa pair. Unique correlations were found for each peak, respectively, with microparticles (MPs) and MP procoagulant activity, C-reactive protein, and MP-tissue factor. Furthermore, the use of 8.1-kDa peaks may be able to differentiate thrombotic events from other hemostatic events.
An investigation on responses of thermoelastic interactions in a generalized thermoelasticity with memory-dependent derivatives inside a thick plate
Authors: Kant Shashi , Mukhopadhyay Santwana
Published: March 2018

The present work is carried out under generalized thermoelasticity theory with memory-dependent derivatives. The main purpose of this work is to analyze the thermoelastic interactions inside an infinitely extended thick plate due to axis-symmetric temperature distribution applied at the lower and upper surfaces of the plate under memory-dependent generalized thermoelasticity. The formulation of the problem is done in the context of the theory of thermoelasticity under memory-dependent derivatives with inclusion of time delay parameter [Formula: see text] and kernel functions that are defined in a slipping interval [Formula: see text]. The potential function concept along with Laplace and Hankel transform techniques is used to solve the problem. Furthermore, inversion of the Hankel transform technique is used to find the solution in the Laplace transform domain. The final solution in the space–time domain is obtained by employing a numerical method of Laplace inversion. We have also compared the present findings with work which has been done earlier. An analysis and the comparison of all the physical fields inherent to the generalized thermoelasticity with one relaxation parameter are given in a detailed way. The special findings and differences of using different kernel functions are highlighted.
Single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty for Urrets-Zavalia syndrome
Authors: Narang Priya , Agarwal Amar , Ashok Kumar Dhivya
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

To demonstrate the efficacy and initial results of single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty in cases of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome.

Methods:

In this prospective interventional study, single-pass four-throw was performed to reconstruct the pupil in all symptomatic cases with Urrets-Zavalia syndrome. Applanation tonometry, indentation gonioscopy, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography for anterior chamber angle assessment were performed in all the cases.

Results:

Out of 10 cases that were identified with Urrets-Zavalia syndrome, the procedure was performed in 7 cases, whereas 3 cases were left untreated, as they did not have any visual complaints. Five out of seven eyes had preoperative raised intraocular pressure with appositional closure of the angle. Postoperatively, intraocular pressure was controlled in all the eyes, whereas one eye required antiglaucoma medications to control the intraocular pressure. The mean preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 1.1 ± 1.2 and 0.4 ± 0.4 LogMar, respectively. There was a significant improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity (p = 0.0169) in the postoperative period. The mean preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure was 26.6 ± 11.23 and 16.3 ± 2.98 mm Hg, respectively (p = 0.0168). All the patients had a minimum of 6-month follow-up period (range = 6–8 months).

Conclusion:

Single-pass four-throw can be employed for cases with Urrets-Zavalia syndrome, and single-pass four-throw helps to prevent the postoperative glare and narrows down the pupil size effectively. Single-pass four-throw helps to alleviate the anterior chamber angle apposition in patients with Urrets-Zavalia syndrome by mechanically pulling the peripheral iris centrally as demonstrated on anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The study also reports the occurrence of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome after glued intraocular lens surgery.
Pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for primary and secondary macular hole closure: Is it still a useful procedure?
Authors: Pieczynski Janusz , Kuklo Patrycja , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

To evaluate usefulness of posterior vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for primary and secondary macular hole closure.

Methods:

We searched for publications on the surgical treatment of full-thickness idiopathic and recurrent macular hole. We divided reports into two groups: primary macular hole repair and recurrent macular hole repair with silicone oil tamponade.

Results:

In primary macular hole treatment, different authors confirmed effectiveness of silicone oil tamponade. They suggest that the most important factor for successful outcome was completeness of vitreous cavity filling with oil. Complications after this method were comparable to those after gas tamponade. However, even if good anatomical results are achieved in secondary macular hole closure, visual acuity is sometimes less rewarding.

Conclusion:

There are reports on good efficacy of silicone oil tamponade for primary and recurrent macular hole closure. Anatomical closure and visual acuity rates in pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil and with gas filling are comparable. Gas tamponade seems to be safer and needs no more surgery. Postoperative complications in both methods are similar, but all patients with silicone oil filling need to undergo a reoperation to have the silicone removed. There are also other surgical techniques for primary macular hole closure as well as for unsuccessful primary macular hole procedures. We think that primary macular hole closure should be performed with gas tamponade, supported with different adjuvants, as a method of choice. Silicone oil tamponade could be still an alternative in cases, when there are no more efficient techniques or possibilities to treat with success recurrent macular hole.
Structured physical assessment of arteriovenous fistulae in haemodialysis access surveillance: A missed opportunity?
Authors: Jackson Victoria E , Hurst Helen , Mitra Sandip
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Arteriovenous fistulae remain the gold standard of vascular access in haemodialysis. There is currently no consensus on standardised methods of monitoring arteriovenous fistulae. Assessment techniques and practice remain widely variable. The purpose of this study is to determine whether existing evidence supports physical assessment as an effective tool and a good predictor of arteriovenous fistulae dysfunction to allow for timely intervention and improve outcomes.

Methods:

A literature search was performed using CINAHL, PubMed, Medline and BNI databases and relevant search terms. Studies included were peer-reviewed, published after 2008, in English and related to arteriovenous fistulae only. Six key papers were identified and critically analysed for validity and relevance, in relation to outcomes, assessor experience, training duration and nurses’ ability to perform physical assessment.

Results:

Physical assessment has been shown to be effective in detecting arteriovenous fistulae dysfunction and comparable to technology-based surveillance. Physical assessment techniques generally adopt a ‘look, listen and feel’ approach to identify arteriovenous fistulae dysfunction that includes stenosis, thrombosis, ischaemia and infections. Physical assessment is a skill that can be taught with studies showing that skill-specific training is more effective than experience alone. Cost-effectiveness analysis is lacking.

Conclusion:

The analysis of evidence demonstrates that physical assessment of arteriovenous fistulae is an effective method of detecting arteriovenous fistulae dysfunction and is a skill that can be taught. A structured physical assessment and its implementation may be significant in routine care, but research into the most effective physical assessment techniques and its impact on clinical practice in haemodialysis is required.
Discrepancy in perceived social support among typically developing siblings of youth with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Tomeny Theodore S , Rankin James A , Baker Lorien K , Eldred Sophia W , Barry Tammy D
Published: March 2018

Social support can buffer against stressors often associated with having family members with autism spectrum disorder. This study included 112 parents and typically developing siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder. Relations between self-reported typically developing sibling emotional and behavioral problems and discrepancy between social support frequency and importance were examined via polynomial regression with response surface analysis. Typically developing siblings who described social support as frequent and important reported relatively few problems. Typically developing siblings who reported social support as highly important but infrequent exhibited the highest emotional and behavioral difficulties. Thus, typically developing siblings with little support who view support as highly important may be particularly responsive to social support improvement efforts.
Some wheres and whys in bilingual codeswitching: Directionality, motivation and locus of codeswitching in Russian-Hebrew bilingual children
Authors: Raichlin Rina , Walters Joel , Altman Carmit
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectives:

Differences in directionality, motivations and locus of codeswitching have been reported for children’s codeswitching, but these constructs have not been subjected to experimental study in order to examine how they may interact. This study investigated these variables in bilingual preschool children’s codeswitching.

Methodology:

Thirty-two Russian-Hebrew bilingual children (mean age 6;3) performed two tasks: Retelling of narratives manipulated for setting/topic and listener and Conversation with a bilingual adult. Retelling conditions included a Russian story retold to a Hebrew-speaking puppet, a Hebrew story retold to a Russian speaking puppet and a Mixed language story retold to a bilingual puppet. The Conversation task involved responses to questions in Russian, Hebrew and codeswitched speech about holidays and activities at home and in preschool.

Data and Analysis:

All children’s speech was audio recorded and transcribed using CHILDES conventions for data transcription. Codeswitched utterances were coded for the following: Directionality (Hebrew-to-Russian/Russian-to-Hebrew); Motivation (psycholinguistic/sociopragmatic); and Locus (intra-utterance/cross-speaker).

Results:

Overall children produced more codeswitching from Russian to Hebrew and did so more for psycholinguistic motivations (to maintain fluency or to overcome difficulties in lexical access).

Originality:

High rates of codeswitching occurred in this study, ranging from 15% to 22% for Conversation and Retelling, respectively (calculated as codeswitched instances per utterance). This high rate may be attributed to the experimental nature of the tasks, which intended to elicit codeswitching in children’s speech.

Significance:

Drawing from Green and Wei’s processing model, findings regarding directionality and motivation are discussed in terms of connectivity and activation.
Psychometric proprieties of the Child Health Questionnaire in an Arabic-speaking context: A multi-trait and multi-sample study
Authors: Veronese Guido , Pepe Alessandro
Published: March 2018

Ongoing research on the assessment of children’s health has led to the development of a large number of quantitative tools. The Child Health Questionnaire—Parent Form (CHQ-PF) is a set of questionnaires aimed at measuring different facets of children’s health as perceived by their parents. The present multi-trait multi-sample study tested the validity and the reliability of the 50-item version of the CHQ with families ( N = 1095) living in contexts of low-intensity warfare. The validation procedures implemented (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and reliability testing) yielded a new, shorter version of the questionnaire (CHQ-PF-25). We discuss the potential of using the CHQ-PF-25 in Arabic-speaking crisis contexts and the limitations of the present study.
Health-promotion research over three decades: The social-ecological model and challenges in implementation of interventions
Authors: Wold Bente , Mittelmark Maurice B.
Published: March 2018

Aims: This debate paper traces the development of innovative methods for undertaking health promotion research with a socialecological orientation, with a few examples drawn from 30 years of research on adolescent health promotion research at the University of Bergen. Conclusion: We aim to show how the social-ecological model is becoming more evident as a guide to research, using three cases that illustrate progress and potential. The first case is the Norwegian part of the European Network of Health Promoting Schools. The second case is a project just underway, The COMPLETE study, which is a community-led effort to promote students’ mental health and create a good psychosocial learning environment. The third case is a developing idea for the next generation of social-ecological research on adolescent well-being, using an asset approach to foster social inclusion and sense of community in multiple settings.
Health in All Policies: From rhetoric to implementation and evaluation – the Finnish experience
Authors: Ståhl Timo
Published: March 2018

The principles of the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach are not new. Their international roots can be traced back to 1978 and the Alma-Ata Declaration and the 1986 Ottawa Charter. In Finland, the roots of HiAP go back to 1972 when the Economic Council of Finland, chaired by the Prime Minister, launched the ‘Report of the working group exploring the goals of health’. The paper discusses the history, rationale, and implementation of the principles underlying the umbrella concept of HiAP. A rationale for implementing a new concept – HiAP in 2006 during the Finnish European Union presidency – is given. The focus here will be on implementation of HiAP. International material supporting the implementation is introduced and practical examples from Finland presented. The Benchmarking System for Health Promotion Capacity Building is introduced, since it has been used as a primary source of information for monitoring and evaluating HiAP in Finland at the local level. The experience from Finland clearly indicates that HiAP as an approach and as a way of working requires long-term commitment and vision. For working across sectors it is crucial to have data on health and health determinants and analyses of the links between health outcomes, health determinants, and policies across sectors and levels of governance. Intersectoral structures, processes, and tools for the identification of problems and solutions, decisions, and implementation across sectors are prerequisites of HiAP. Legislative backing has proven to be useful, especially in providing continuation and sustainability.
Addressing the social determinants of health at the local level: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Fosse E. , Helgesen M.K. , Hagen S. , Torp S.
Published: March 2018

Aims: The gradient in health inequalities reflects a relationship between health and social circumstance, demonstrating that health worsens as you move down the socio-economic scale. For more than a decade, the Norwegian National government has developed policies to reduce social inequalities in health by levelling the social gradient. The adoption of the Public Health Act in 2012 was a further movement towards a comprehensive policy. The main aim of the act is to reduce social health inequalities by adopting a Health in All Policies approach. The municipalities are regarded key in the implementation of the act. The SODEMIFA project aimed to study the development of the new public health policy, with a particular emphasis on its implementation in municipalities. Methods: In the SODEMIFA project, a mixed-methods approach was applied, and the data consisted of surveys as well as qualitative interviews. The informants were policymakers at the national and local level. Results: Our findings indicate that the municipalities had a rather vague understanding of the concept of health inequalities, and even more so, the concept of the social gradient in health. The most common understanding was that policy to reduce social inequalities concerned disadvantaged groups. Accordingly, policies and measures would be directed at these groups, rather than addressing the social gradient. Conclusions: A movement towards an increased understanding and adoption of the new, comprehensive public health policy was observed. However, to continue this process, both local and national levels must stay committed to the principles of the act.
Leisure-time youth centres as health-promoting settings: Experiences from multicultural neighbourhoods in Sweden
Authors: Fredriksson Ingela , Geidne Susanna , Eriksson Charli
Published: March 2018

Aims: The aim of this paper is to advocate for the importance of meaningful leisure time for young people from a health-promotion perspective using experiences from two youth centres in multicultural neighbourhoods in Sweden. Methods: In this practice-based study, data were collected between 2012 and 2014 at two youth centres in multicultural, socially deprived suburbs in Sweden using surveys with 12- to 16-year-old adolescents ( n = 207), seven individual interviews with staff and three cooperation partners in the neighbourhoods, and six group interviews with adolescents (50% girls). Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods were used for analysis. Results: As part of the youth centres’ strategies, they are open and inclusive, foster supportive relationships, emphasise youth empowerment, and integrate family, school and community in their work. The youth centres are health-promoting settings with regard to four of the action areas in the Ottawa Charter: build healthy public policy, create supportive environments, strengthen community actions and develop personal skills. Conclusions:There is a need for a variety and a combination of various structured and unstructured leisure-time activities because young people’s background and life situation plays a role for their participation in leisure-time activities. We conclude that youth centres are well placed to be or to become health-promoting settings if the activities takes place in a structured environment.
Loneliness and subjective health complaints among school-aged children
Authors: Lyyra Nelli , Välimaa Raili , Tynjälä Jorma
Published: March 2018

Aim: The first aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of loneliness and subjective health complaints (SHCs) among school-aged children in Finland. The second aim was to analyse to what extent perceived loneliness explains any variance in SHCs among school-aged children. Method: A representative sample of 5925 Finnish children and adolescents from grades 5 ( Mage=11.8 years), 7 ( Mage=13.8) and 9 ( Mage=15.8) completed the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the prevalence of health complaints and loneliness. Structural equation modelling was used to test how strongly loneliness was associated with SHCs. Results: The prevalence of loneliness and SHCs was higher among girls and increased with age. Loneliness was a significant predictor of health complaints, especially of psychological symptoms among girls and among ninth grade students. Conclusions: The findings indicate that loneliness is a major risk to the health and well-being of school-aged children. The strong association between loneliness and SHCs highlights the importance of active preventive actions to reduce loneliness.
What makes health promotion research distinct?
Authors: Woodall James , Warwick-Booth Louise , South Jane , Cross Ruth
Published: March 2018

There have been concerns about the decline of health promotion as a practice and discipline and, alongside this, calls for a clearer articulation of health promotion research and what, if anything, makes it distinct. This discussion paper, based on a review of the literature, the authors’ own experiences in the field, and a workshop delivered by two of the authors at the 8th Nordic Health Promotion Conference, seeks to state the reasons why health promotion research is distinctive. While by no means exhaustive, the paper suggests four distinctive features. The paper hopes to be a catalyst to enable health promotion researchers to be explicit in their practice and to begin the process of developing an agreed set of research principles.
Milestones in Nordic Health Promotion research
Authors: Haglund Bo J.A. , Tillgren Per
Published: March 2018

Based on the storytelling tradition and analyses of conference material, this article provides an overview of the evolving Nordic Health Promotion Research Network (NHPRN) and its conferences over the last 20 years. The story goes from the planning of the first conference in Bergen, Norway, back in 1996 to the eighth conference in Jyväskylä, Finland, in 2016. There have been three phases of development. During the first phase, 1996–2007, the five first conferences were initiated and implemented by departments of public health in the Nordic countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative centres of Health Promotion in Bergen University and a group at Karolinska Institute, Department of Social Medicine, creating supportive environments for health in Stockholm played key roles in initiating and supporting NHPRN. During the second phase, 2007–2014, the network was strengthened and supported by the Nordic School of Public Health (NHV) in Gothenburg. The third phase started when NHV closed down in 2015 and networking activities were transferred to the European Office of WHO in Copenhagen. The Nordic Health Promotion Research Conference series has served several purposes and will continue to do so. They are important Nordic meeting places, stimulating Health Promotion research, as well as explicitly managing ongoing concerns in the international Health Promotion community. This is reflected in the shift of foci over time. The content of the conferences has been highly responsive to whatever challenges are particularly relevant at different points in time, while also contributing to developing Health Promotion as a discipline, given that every conference has built on the previous ones.
Trusted and doubted: Discourses of parenting training in two Swedish official inquiries, 1947 and 2008
Authors: Rooth Hetty , Forinder Ulla , Söderbäck Maja , Viitasara Eija , Piuva Katarina
Published: March 2018

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse discourses of parenting training in official inquires in Sweden that explicitly deal with the bringing up of children and parental education and how the representations of the problems and their solutions affect parental subject positions in the early welfare state and at the onset of the 21st century. Method: We carried out a discourse analysis of two public inquiries of 1947 and 2008, drawing on theories about governmentality and power regimes. Tools from political discourse analysis were used to investigate the objectives of political discourse practices. Results: Both inquiries referred to a context of change and new life demands as a problem. Concerning suggestions for solutions, there were discrepancies in parents’ estimated need of expert knowledge and in descriptions of parental capacity. In a discourse of trust and doubt, the parents in 1947 were positioned as trusted welfare partners and secure raisers of future generations, and in 2008, as doubted adults, feared to be faltering in their child-rearing tasks. Conclusions: The analysis revealed how governmental problem descriptions, reasoning about causes and suggestions of solutions influenced parents’ subject positions in a discourse of trust and doubt, and made way for governmental interventions with universal parenting training in the 21st century.
Research note: Light emitting diodes as solar power resources
Authors: Salman RK
Published: March 2018

This paper investigates the possibility of recycling light emitting diodes from damaged electronic devices, and using them in a similar way to photovoltaic cells in order to reduce environmental pollution. The study used a number of tests with a variety of different parameters for measuring the capability for light emitting diodes to harvest the sun’s rays and to convert them into a useful form of electrical power. The different configurations involved variations of light emitting diode wavelength and number, as well as the connection types between the light emitting diodes (series and parallel) and the angle of incidence of the sun’s rays to the light emitting diode’s base. The results showed promising voltage data for parallel-connected light emitting diodes of lemon (yellow-green) and green colour. The variations in voltage produced by tilting the light emitting diode’s base exhibited similar behaviour to that seen in solar panels. The power that was harvested from the light emitting diodes was extremely low, but the voltage gains showed promising trends that could be employed in useful applications. Hence, light emitting diodes could be re-used to reduce environmental pollution and thus to contribute towards environmental enhancement.
Algorithmic investigation of the actual and virtual design space of historic hexagonal-based Islamic patterns
Authors: Alani Mostafa W
Published: March 2018

This research challenges the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis to be the key to researching historical Islamic geometric patterns. Adopting a mathematical description shows that the historical focus on existing forms has left the relevant structural similarities between historical Islamic geometric patterns understudied. The research focused on the hexagonal-based Islamic geometric patterns and found that historical designs correlate to each other beyond just the formal dimension and that deep, morphological connections exist in the structures of historical singularities. Using historical evidence, this article identifies these connections and presents a categorization system that groups designs together based on their “morphogenetic” characteristics.
Parent Report of Communication Skills of Jamaican Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study
Authors: Burton Jenny M. , Washington Karla N. , Samms-Vaughan Maureen
Published: March 2018

Most research related to communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been obtained from monolingual English-speaking children from high-income countries. Based on questionnaires completed by parents, this pilot study aimed to describe the communication characteristics of six children with ASD living in Jamaica. Parents had concerns about their child’s speech intelligibility, expressive language, and social communication. All children were reported to speak using Standard Jamaican English (SJE). Exposure to SJE and Jamaican Creole (JC) was reported by half of the parents. Emergent literacy was considered a relative strength. All parents reported that their child could recite the alphabet and identify some letters and that family members also helped their child print and read letters or words. Other aspects of the home literacy environment and early literacy skills were varied. Information from this group provides some insights into communication skills in children with ASD from Caribbean backgrounds.
Listing at Multiple Stages
Authors: Flachs Andrew
Published: March 2018

Free listing exercises are common and informative ways to explore shared bodies of knowledge and practice, and they can probe widely experienced phenomena in daily life. However, even with a representative sample, this method can suffer under common conditions in anthropological fieldwork: Respondents forget to list items, they fail to provide exhaustive lists, they become fatigued during the interview process, and their responses may not provide representative information. In this article, I suggest an iterative process that combines targeted free listing with key informants, walking probes, and a survey checklist. During an investigation of agricultural biodiversity in Telangana, India, this approach generated more comprehensive lists than free listing exercises alone. This process generates checklist surveys appropriate for larger research populations and can be used to assess widespread knowledge and practices quickly, accurately, and with minimal respondent fatigue.
Edoxaban Plus Aspirin vs Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Endovascular Treatment of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: Results of the ePAD Trial
Authors: Moll Frans , Baumgartner Iris , Jaff Michael , Nwachuku Chuke , Tangelder Marco , Ansel Gary , Adams George , Zeller Thomas , Rundback John , Grosso Michael , Lin Min , Mercur Michele F. , Minar Erich ,   for the ePAD Investigators
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To report a randomized study that investigated the safety (risk of major bleeds) and potential efficacy of edoxaban, an oral anticoagulant that targets the major components of arterial thrombi, to prevent loss of patency following endovascular treatment (EVT). Methods: Between February 2012 and June 2014, 203 patients who underwent femoropopliteal EVT were randomized to receive aspirin plus edoxaban or aspirin plus clopidogrel for 3 months in the Edoxaban in Peripheral Arterial Disease (ePAD) study ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01802775). Randomization assigned 101 patients (mean age 68.0±10.4 years; 67 men) to the edoxaban group and 102 patients (mean age 66.7±8.6 years; 78 men) to the clopidogrel group. The primary safety endpoint was bleeding as classified by the TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) criteria and ISTH (International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis) criteria; the efficacy endpoint was the rate of restenosis/reocclusion. Results: There were no major or life-threatening bleeding events in the edoxaban group, while there were 2 major and 2 life-threatening bleeding events in the clopidogrel group by the TIMI criteria. By the ISTH classification, there was 1 major and 1 life-threatening bleeding event vs 5 major and 2 life-threatening bleeding events, respectively [relative risk (RR) 0.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02 to 1.70]. The bleeding risk was not statistically different with either treatment when assessed by TIMI or ISTH. Following 6 months of observation, there was a lower incidence of restenosis/reocclusion with edoxaban compared with clopidogrel (30.9% vs 34.7%; RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.34, p=0.643). Conclusion: These results suggest that patients who have undergone EVT have similar risks for major and life-threatening bleeding events with edoxaban and aspirin compared with clopidogrel and aspirin. The incidence of restenosis/reocclusion events, while not statistically different, was lower with edoxaban and aspirin, but an adequately sized trial will be needed to confirm these findings.
Construction, Expression, and Characterization of rSEA-EGF and In Vitro Evaluation of its Antitumor Activity Against Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Liu Xueting , Zeng Liping , Zhao Zhongqiu , Xie Yang , Wang Shan , Zhang Junyan , He Ying , Zou Zehong , Zhang Jianguo , Tao Ailin
Published: March 2018

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A is well known as a superantigen and able to be used for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A was genetically conjugated to epidermal growth factor to produce a chimeric protein recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor protein was purified using Strep-Tactin affinity chromatography and Endotoxin Removal Resin and identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electropheresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed purified recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor could successfully bind to the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2, significantly promote the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and enhance the secretion of several cytokines that have broad antitumor activities, such as interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-2 . Importantly, recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor significantly inhibited proliferation of CNE2 cells and promoted apoptosis in CNE2 cells when cocultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Finally, both the binding of recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor and the toxicity of recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were demonstrated as specific and only effective on high epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing cell lines. In all, our work suggests that recombinant Staphylococcal enterotoxin A–epidermal growth factor serves as a promising novel immunotherapeutic agent. More in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to verify its antitumor potency, as well as investigate the underlying mechanisms in cancer immunotherapy.
Rotary ultrasonic machining of rocks: An experimental investigation
Authors: Fernando PKSC , Zhang Meng , Pei Zhijian
Published: March 2018

Rock drilling is widely used to explore and mine energy resources. It has also been used to extract samples to study the earth’s geological composition and topography and to explore different planets. Percussive drilling is, as of right now, the most commonly used rock drilling method. Due to the high hardness and abrasiveness of rock, tool wear in rock drilling is severe, thus limiting its penetration rate and resulting in high cost. Therefore, it is crucial to develop more cost-effective rock drilling processes. Rotary ultrasonic machining has been used to drill many materials including metal alloys, ceramics, and composites, and its cost advantages have been demonstrated in many previous studies. This article presents the first experimental investigation of rotary ultrasonic machining of rocks. Three types of rocks (basalt, marble, and travertine) were used. Six input variables (tool rotation speed, feedrate, ultrasonic power, abrasive size, abrasive concentration, and drill bit diameter) were examined and two output variables (cutting force and surface roughness) were measured. Results indicate that rotary ultrasonic machining can drill holes of high quality on rocks of different hardness with a much lower cutting force and at a penetration rate of approximately three times faster than percussive drilling.
Measurements on grinding wheels for investigating α-Fe2O3 in precision electrolytic in-process dressing grinding
Authors: Kuai Jicai , Zhang Huali
Published: March 2018

Electrolytic in-process dressing grinding holds tremendous promise for ultra-precision grinding on hard and brittle materials. Besides oxide films on the grinding wheels, it is important to study the content generation and transformation of α-Fe2O3 inside the oxide film and its effect on polishing process. In this study, X-ray diffractometer measurement was performed in electrolytic in-process dressing grinding with different grinding wheels in order to investigate the content and transformation procedure of α-Fe2O3. The non-abrasive iron-bonded wheels showed significantly improved polishing performance with better surface quality.
The reliability and validity of the Adaptive Functioning Assessment Tool in UK custodial settings
Authors: Ross Gareth E , Hocken Kerensa , Auty Jonathan M
Published: March 2018

Adaptive functioning (AF) has been overlooked in the assessment of intellectual disability within the UK Prison Service, primarily because there are no reliable and valid measures of AF suitable for use with prison populations. This position is incompatible with the obligation of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to provide specialist interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Adaptive Functioning Assessment Tool (AFAT), a new measure of AF developed for use in prisons. The AFAT was completed on 61 participants (mean age 41, standard deviation 11.8). Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach’s α. Construct validity was assessed using linear regression and a Receiver Operator Characteristic analysis. The findings provide evidence to support the AFAT being a reliable and valid measure of AF in prison populations.
Rhetorical relationships with students: A higher education case study of perceptions of online assessment in mathematics
Authors: Brown Ken , Lally Vic
Published: March 2018

Some students perceive that online assessment does not provide for a true reflection of their work effort. This article reports on a collaborative international project between two higher education institutions with the aim of researching issues relating to engineering student perceptions with respect to online assessment of mathematics. It provides a comparison between students of similar educational standing in Finland and Ireland. The students undertook to complete questionnaires and a sample of students was selected to participate in several group discussion interviews. Evidence from the data suggests that many of the students demonstrate low levels of confidence, do not display knowledge of continuous assessment processes and perceive many barriers when confronted with online assessment in their first semester. Alternative perspectives were sought from lecturers by means of individual interviews. The research indicates that perceptions of effort and reward as seen by students are at variance with those held by lecturers. The study offers a brief insight into the thinking of students in the first year of their engineering mathematics course. It may be suggested that alternative approaches to curriculum and pedagogical design are necessary to alleviate student concerns.
Current best practice management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
Authors: Han Esther , Nguyen Laura , Sirls Larry , Peters Kenneth
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Over the last 100 years, the terminology and diagnosis criteria for interstitial cystitis have evolved. Many therapeutic options have changed, but others have endured. This article will review the idea of separating ‘classic’ Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (HL IC) from non-Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome (N-HL IC/BPS) and their respective treatment algorithms.

Methods/Results:

A literature search was performed to identify articles and research on HL IC and N-HL IC/BPS including definitions, etiological theories, and treatments. This article is an overview of the existing literature. We also offer insight into how HL IC and N-HL IC/BPS are approached at our tertiary referral center. Additionally, American Urological Association guidelines have been integrated and newer treatment modalities and research will be introduced at the conclusion.

Conclusion:

The AUA guidelines have mapped out a stepwise fashion to treat IC/BPS; at our institution we separate patients with HL IC from those with N-HL IC/BPS prior to them entering a treatment pathway. We identify the rarer patient with HL as having classic ‘IC’; this cystoscopic finding is critical in guiding treatment. We believe HL IC is a distinct disease from N-HL IC/BPS and therapy should focus on the bladder. The vast majority of patients with N-HL IC/BPS need management of their pelvic floor muscles as the primary therapy, complemented by bladder-directed therapies as needed as well as a multidisciplinary team to manage a variety of other regional/systemic symptoms. Ongoing research into IC/BPS will help us better understand the pathophysiology and phenotypes of this complex disease while exciting and novel research studies are developing promising treatments.
Regional stability through energy cooperation: The case of the EU and Ukraine
Authors: Chumak Dmytro , Prokip Andrian
Published: March 2018

Despite the progress Ukraine has made in the energy sector since the 2014 revolution, there are still many internal and external challenges that have to be overcome. Recently the government has adopted a new energy strategy, which aims to establish a comprehensive approach to developing the energy sector, both to meet the EU’s standards and to cope with existing challenges. However, development strategies in Ukraine usually face problems at the implementation stage due to political and economic obstacles. This article argues that regional cooperation in the energy sphere, which would lead to successful reforms and the implementation of Ukraine’s new energy strategy, would not favour just one party, but the region in general, especially in terms of standing up to the common geopolitical threat from Russia. Collaboration between the EU and Ukraine will bring better interdependence and will contribute to strengthening regional energy security.
Correlating the King-Devick Test With Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening in Adolescent Patients With Concussion: A Pilot Study
Authors: Russell-Giller Shira , Toto Diana , Heitzman Mike , Naematullah Mustafa , Shumko John
Published: March 2018

Background:

The King-Devick (K-D) test is a rapid number-naming task that has been well validated as a sensitive sideline performance measure for concussion detection. Patients with concussion take significantly longer to complete the K-D test than healthy controls. Previous research suggests that ocular motor deficits, specifically saccadic abnormalities, may be an underlying factor for the prolonged time. However, these findings have not been studied at length.

Hypothesis:

K-D testing time of concussed adolescents at the initial clinical concussion visit will positively correlate with vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS) total scores.

Study Design:

Case series.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

A total of 71 patient charts were retrospectively analyzed between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017. Included charts consisted of patients between the ages of 10 and 18 years with a diagnosis of concussion and who had completed K-D testing and VOMS assessment at the initial physician visit. Univariate correlation between K-D testing time and the 7 VOMS items was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients.

Results:

K-D testing time strongly correlated with all 7 VOMS items ( r(69) = 0.325-0.585, P < 0.01). In a linear regression model that accounted for each VOMS item, the convergence (near point) item and the visual motion sensitivity item significantly predicted K-D testing time (β = 0.387, t(63) = 2.81, P < 0.01 and β = 0.375, t(63) = 2.35, P = 0.02, respectively). Additionally, 37.5% of the 24 patients with worsening symptoms after K-D testing freely reported increased visual problems.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that prolonged K-D testing times in adolescents with concussion may be related to subtypes of vestibular/ocular motor impairment that extend beyond saccadic abnormalities.

Clinical Relevance:

Poor K-D testing performance of adolescents with concussion may indicate a range of vestibular/ocular motor deficits that need to be further identified and addressed to maximize recovery.
Quantitative T2 Mapping Shows Increased Degeneration in Adjacent Intervertebral Discs Following Kyphoplasty
Authors: Pachowsky Milena L. , Kleyer Arnd , Wegener Lisa , Langenbach Andreas , Simon David , Janka Rolf , May Matthias , Welsch Goetz H.
Published: March 2018

Objective

A minimally invasive treatment of osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic thoracic and lumbar spine fractures is cement augmentation (kyphoplasty). Little is known about the impact on adjacent intervertebral discs. A quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach in addition to morphological MRI is desirable to evaluate changes in the intervertebral disc. Our study aims to evaluate the feasibility of T2 mapping for the detection of subtle changes in the intervertebral discs in spines after kyphoplasty.

Design

Intervertebral discs were assessed by quantitative MRI (3.0 T) using T2 relaxation time mapping. Region of interest (ROI; 6 per disc) analyses were performed. The ROIs at the anterior and posterior edges were interpreted as annulus fibrosus (AF). The 2 very inner zones were regarded as nucleus pulposus (NP) and the regions in between as intermediate transition zone. We compared T2 relaxation time values of intervertebral discs adjacent to the vertebrae after kyphoplasty with those nonadjacent to vertebrae after kyphoplasty, especially in the NP.

Results

The analysis of the ROIs showed that the intervertebral discs of the adjacent vertebral segments are associated with reduced T2 values compared to those that are nonadjacent to the affected vertebrae.

Conclusion

This study is to our knowledge the first investigation of intervertebral discs after kyphoplasty by quantitative MRI. Quantitative T2 mapping shows increased degeneration in adjacent intervertebral discs following kyphoplasty. Besides its contribution to a broader knowledge of postoperative changes after kyphoplasty, our findings may help to improve differentiation between healthy and degenerated intervertebral discs using these techniques.