bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contraception counseling for adolescents
Authors: Raidoo Shandhini , Kaneshiro Bliss
Published: July 2017

Purpose of review

In recent years, pregnancy and birth rates among adolescents in the United States have declined to all-time lows, although adolescents in the United States continue to have the highest rate of unintended pregnancy among developed countries. Contraception is a key component in the prevention of unintended pregnancy. In this review, we outline unique barriers to reproductive healthcare for adolescents and strategies to optimally address the contraceptive needs of adolescents.

Recent findings

Adolescents face barriers such as confidentiality, cost, and access when seeking contraception. Counseling about options for contraception may involve parents or guardians when appropriate, but an adolescent's autonomy should be respected in the decision-making process. Contraceptive counseling for adolescents must not be coercive in nature. Adolescents are at an increased risk for acquisition of sexually transmitted infections, and dual use, the use of condoms and an additional method of contraception, is highly recommended. Initiatives that remove the common barriers of cost and access have demonstrated significant success in increasing the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods and reducing the rates of unintended pregnancy among adolescents.

Counseling adolescents about contraception requires acknowledgement of the unique barriers that adolescents face and facilitating decision-making about contraceptive methods in a manner that prioritizes the adolescent's autonomy.
MACULAR ATROPHY AND MACULAR MORPHOLOGY IN AFLIBERCEPT-TREATED NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Authors: Kuroda Yoshimasa , Yamashiro Kenji , Ooto Sotaro , Tamura Hiroshi , Oishi Akio , Nakanishi Hideo , Miyata Manabu , Hata Masayuki , Takahashi Ayako , Wakazono Tomotaka , Yoshimura Nagahisa , Tsujikawa Akitaka
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

To investigate the incidence and predictors of macular atrophy during treatment with aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Japanese patients.

Methods:

This study included patients with treatment-naive subfoveal neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated from December 2012 through January 2015. Patients were treated with bi-monthly aflibercept injections after 3 monthly loading injections for the first year. Diagnosis of retinal pigment epithelial atrophy was made based on color fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and fundus autofluorescence. Baseline characteristics and morphological features were analyzed for their association with the development of macular atrophy.

Results:

This study included 123 eyes that had no baseline macular atrophy and treated with aflibercept injections for 12 months. Thirteen eyes (10.6%) developed new macular atrophy at 12 months. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of intraretinal fluid and thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness at baseline were associated with the development of macular atrophy after aflibercept treatment.

Conclusion:

Macular atrophy developed in about 10% of eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration during 12 months of treatment with a fixed regimen of aflibercept. Intraretinal fluid and subfoveal choroidal thickness seem to be predictors for development of macular atrophy after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.
Visceral pain as a triggering factor for fibromyalgia symptoms in comorbid patients
Authors: Costantini Raffaele , Affaitati Giannapia , Wesselmann Ursula , Czakanski Peter , Giamberardino Maria Adele
Published: July 2017

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a central sensitization syndrome; however, peripheral pain sources potentially exacerbate its symptoms of chronic diffuse musculoskeletal pain and hyperalgesia. This prospective study evaluated visceral pain as a possible triggering factor for FMS pain and hyperalgesia in comorbid patients. Women with (1) FMS + irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); (2) FMS + primary dysmenorrhea (Dys); (3) FMS + Dys secondary to endometriosis (Endo); (4) FMS + colon diverticulosis (Div) were compared with FMS-only women, for fibromyalgia pain (number and intensity of episodes and analgesic consumption) over comparable periods and for somatic hyperalgesia (electrical and pressure pain thresholds) in painful (tender points) and control areas (trapezius, deltoid, quadriceps muscles, and overlying subcutis and skin). In comorbid subgroups, FMS symptoms were also reassessed after treatment of the visceral condition or no treatment. All comorbid groups vs FMS-only had significantly higher FMS pain (number/intensity of episodes and analgesic consumption) and hyperalgesia in deep somatic tissues (subcutis and muscle) at all sites (0.05 < P < 0.0001). Visceral pain (number of IBS days, painful menstrual cycles, and abdominal pain episodes from diverticulitis) correlated directly with all parameters of FMS pain and inversely with muscle pain thresholds at all sites (0.03 < P < 0.0001). Fibromyalgia syndrome pain and hyperalgesia in all tissues and all sites significantly decreased in patients after visceral comorbidity treatment (dietary for 6 months [IBS], hormonal for 6 months [dysmenorrhea], laser [endometriosis], and surgery [diverticulosis]) (0.05 < P < 0.0001) vs no change in untreated patients. Visceral pain enhances FMS symptoms, probably augmenting the level of central sensitization typical of the syndrome. Systematic assessment and treatment of visceral pain comorbidities should be a part of FMS management strategy.
Bidirectional association between fibromyalgia and gastroesophageal reflux disease: two population-based retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Wang Jia-Chi , Sung Fung-Chang , Men Mauranda , Wang Kevin A. , Lin Cheng-Li , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: July 2017

Fibromyalgia (FM) tends to coexist with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the bidirectional association between FM and GERD, using a nationwide database, the National Health Insurance of Taiwan. We established 2 study arms, including 35,117 patients with FM in arm 1 and 34,630 patients with GERD in arm 2, newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2010. For each study arm, we randomly selected 4-fold subjects with neither FM nor GERD from the same database, frequency matched by sex, age, and diagnosis date, as the respective control cohorts. Incidence of GERD in arm 1 and incidence of FM in arm 2 were estimated by the end of 2011. The overall incidence of GERD was 1.6-fold greater in the FM cohort than in the non-FM cohort (12.0 and 7.61 per 1000 person-years, crude hazard ratio [HR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.51-1.66), with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.27 (95% CI = 1.22-1.33) after controlling for sex, age, comorbidities, and medications. The GERD cohort ultimately had a 1.5-fold higher incidence of FM than the non-GERD cohort (5.76 vs 3.96 per 1000 person-years), with an aHR of 1.44 (95% CI = 1.29-1.60). The present study suggests a bidirectional relationship between FM and GERD. There is a greater risk of developing GERD for patients with FM than developing FM for patients with GERD.
Longitudinal change in parent and child functioning after internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain
Authors: Law Emily F. , Fisher Emma , Howard Waylon J. , Levy Rona , Ritterband Lee , Palermo Tonya M.
Published: July 2017

Theoretical models of pediatric chronic pain propose longitudinal associations between children's pain experiences and parent and family factors. A large body of cross-sectional research supports these models, demonstrating that greater parent distress and maladaptive parenting behaviors are associated with greater child disability. Family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions have been developed for youth with chronic pain which aim to improve child disability and reduce maladaptive parenting behaviors. However, little is known about temporal, longitudinal associations between parent and child functioning in this population. In the present study, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from 138 families of youth with chronic pain aged 11 to 17 years old who received family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered through the Internet as part of a randomized controlled trial. Measures of child disability, parent protective behavior, and parent distress were obtained at pretreatment, immediate posttreatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Latent growth modeling indicated that child disability, parent protective behavior, and parent distress improved with treatment over the 12-month study period. Latent growth modeling for parallel processes indicated that higher parent distress at pretreatment predicted less improvement in child disability over 12 months. No other predictive paths between parent and child functioning were significant. These findings indicate that parent distress may increase the risk of poor response to psychological pain treatment among youth with chronic pain. At present, parent distress is not routinely targeted in psychological interventions for pediatric chronic pain. Research is needed to determine optimal strategies for targeting parent and family factors in the treatment of pediatric chronic pain.
The Effect of Cold Dialysis in Motor and Sensory Symptoms of RLS/WED Occurring During Hemodialysis: A Double-Blind Study
Authors: Sakkas Giorgos K. , Tsaknaki Evaggelia , Rosa Clara S. , Giannaki Christoforos D. , Krase Argyro A. , Lavdas Eleftherios , Hadjigeorgiou Georgios M. , Stefanidis Ioannis , Karatzaferi Christina
Published: July 2017

Restless legs syndrome/Willis–Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) is a common sensorimotory disorder affecting almost 30% of hemodialysis (HD) patients. RLS/WED induces discomfort during rest hours, and its symptoms have also been observed during HD sessions. Anecdotal reports suggest that cooling the dialysate solution during dialysis could help patients overcome those symptoms and improve restlessness. The aim of this double-blind study was to assess whether a reduction of the dialysate temperature by 1°C could reduce motor and sensory symptoms of RLS/WED occurring during HD. Thirty-two HD patients participated in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: the RLS (N=16) and the non-RLS groups (N=16). Patients were studied on two different scenarios for two consecutive HD sessions, 1 week apart: 1) standard temperature of the dialysate (37°C) and 2) low temperature of the dialysate (36°C cold dialysis scenario). In all sessions, motor (leg movement per hour of HD [LM/hHD]) and sensory symptoms were assessed. The reduction of dialysate temperature by 1°C was effective in reducing motor symptoms as they assessed the LM/hHD by 36% only in patients with RLS, while a significant interaction was found between “LM/hHD affected by temperature” and “RLS status” (p = 0.039). Sensory symptoms also reduced by 10% after the reduction of the dialysate temperature. The reduction of the dialysate temperature by 1°C reduced motor symptoms by 36–54% and sensory symptoms by 10% in HD patients with RLS/WED. Cold dialysis could be considered a safe nonpharmacological approach for the amelioration of RLS/WED symptoms occurring during HD.
Evaluation and management of nonsyndromic congenital hearing loss
Authors: Funamura Jamie L.
Published: July 2017

Purpose of review

Nonsyndromic congenital hearing loss represents the largest proportion of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss. The optimal evaluation and management of affected patients remains clinically challenging. Current controversies in the diagnostic work-up of nonsyndromic congenital hearing loss are presented in this review.

Recent findings

The improved diagnostic yield of comprehensive genetic testing due to new sequencing technologies is changing the diagnostic for congenital hearing loss. Concerns for both ionizing radiation and general anaesthetic exposure are also driving shifts in imaging modality preferences for infants and toddlers.

A thoughtful systematic, targeted approach taking into consideration the audiologic phenotype of the patient is recommended for the work-up of nonsyndromic congenital hearing loss.
Safety Risks Among Home Infusion Nurses and Other Home Health Care Providers
Authors: Markkanen Pia , Galligan Catherine , Quinn Margaret
Published: July 2017

In the United States, home health care (HHC) is a rapidly growing industry and home infusion therapy is a rapidly growing market. HHC can present substantial occupational safety and health (OSH) risks. This article summarizes major OSH risks relevant to home infusion therapy by illustrating them through real-life scenarios collected systematically using qualitative research methods by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-funded research projects at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The need for home infusion therapy will continue to grow in the future, and safety interventions to prevent or minimize OSH risks are essential.
Development of Adaptive Coping From Mid to Late Life
Authors: Martin-Joy John S. , Malone Johanna C. , Cui Xing-Jia , Johansen Pål-Ørjan , Hill Kevin P. , Rahman M. Omar , Waldinger Robert J. , Vaillant George E.
Published: July 2017

The present study examines changes in defense maturity from mid to late life using data from an over 70-year longitudinal study. A sample of 72 men was followed beginning in late adolescence. Participants' childhoods were coded for emotional warmth. Defense mechanisms were coded by independent raters using the Q-Sort of Defenses (Roston et al., 1992, Ego mechanisms of defense: A guide for clinicians and researchers 217–233) based on interview data gathered at approximately ages 52 and 75. We examined psychosocial correlates of defenses at midlife, late life, and changes in defense from mid to late life. Overall, defenses grew more adaptive from midlife to late life. However, results differed on the basis of the emotional warmth experienced in the participants' childhoods. In midlife, men who experienced warm childhoods used more adaptive (mature) defenses; yet by late life, this difference in defensive maturity had disappeared. Men who experienced less childhood warmth were more likely to show an increase in adaptive defenses during the period from mid to late life.
Testing for Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
Authors: James David H. , Patrician Patricia A. , Miltner Rebecca S.
Published: July 2017

The use of the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies for nursing professional development is in its infancy. QSEN content was incorporated into nursing orientation and tested knowledge gain for three QSEN competencies. Results showed an increase in patient safety knowledge. A difference was noted in knowledge between ADN and BSN nurses for evidence-based practice and quality improvement. The results indicate a need for stronger interventions to build practicing nurses' QSEN competencies.
Evaluating the Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Practice Educational Program in a Large Academic Medical Center
Authors: Wilson Barbara L. , Banner Melissa , Austria Mary Jean , Wilson Andrew
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to create a system-wide education program in a large academic medical center to increase exposure and understanding of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. We also hoped to increase their confidence in utilizing and implementing EBP at the bedside. Although our approach to educating professional staff on EBP provided initial benefits, holding the gains over a 1-year period proved to be difficult.
Posttraumatic Stress and Burnout Symptoms in Forensic Doctors and Staff in a Mortuary
Authors: Kömür İlhami , Ozdemirel Rifat O. , Ozver İsmail , Başpinar Bünyamin , Demir Muhammet , Gönen Fatih , Kandemir Eyüp , Emul Murat
Published: July 2017

We aimed to investigate burnout and posttraumatic stress symptoms in mortuary staff members who work for the Council of Forensic Medicine where more than 4500 autopsies are annually performed.

The data were collected from 142 mortuary staff members from the Council of Forensic Medicine, Turkey. The participants were divided into the following 4 groups: forensic medicine specialists (n = 40, 28.2%), forensic medicine residents (n = 54, 38.0%), autopsy technicians (n = 24, 16.9%), and other staff members (n = 24, 16.9%). All of the participants completed a brief sociodemographic form and standardized questionnaires to assess health symptoms, such as the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Posttraumatic Symptom Screening Scale.

Forensic medicine staff members are at risk for developing psychological health symptoms, such as burnout or posttraumatic stress, due to work-related stressors. We observed that autopsy technicians seemed to have more emotional exhaustion and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, whereas resident doctors had a lower sense of personal accomplishment.
A SWIFT Method for Handing Off Obstetrical Patients on the Labor Floor
Authors: Sheen Jean-Ju , Reimers Laura , Govindappagari Shravya , Ngai Ivan M. , Garretto Diana , Donepudi Roopali , Tropper Pamela , Goffman Dena , Dayal Ashlesha K. , Bernstein Peter S.
Published: July 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to improve patient handoffs on the labor floor.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of obstetrics residents at Montefiore Medical Center was performed between 2012 and 2014. Labor-floor handoffs were recorded before and after didactic sessions as well as after installation of whiteboards formatted with the mnemonic SWIFT (Subject, Why?, Issues, Fetus, Tasks). Handoff transcripts were evaluated by obstetricians blinded to timing and speaker identity. An intraclass correlation coefficient accounted for evaluator differences. Data analysis was by ordinal logistic regression, the generalized estimating equations method (correlated data), and Bonferroni adjustment (multiple comparisons).

Results

Forty-five handoffs were evaluated (15 each predidactics, postdidactics, and postwhiteboard revision). Higher completeness scores over time were noted for admission reason, labor concerns, and task list (not statistically significant). Comprehensive score increases prelecture to postwhiteboard were seen in handoff clarity (2.81 versus 2.91) and overall quality (2.77 versus 2.81) (not statistically significant). A subanalysis of four residents who gave multiple handoffs over different periods revealed few significant changes over time. Greater interevaluator consistency was noted with more objective elements.

Conclusions

The mnemonic SWIFT, with formalized curricula for obstetrical resident training focusing on new learners and increased faculty involvement and reinforcement, may result in improvement of handoffs on the labor floor.
Retransplantation in Late Hepatic Artery Thrombosis: Graft Access and Transplant Outcome
Authors: Buchholz Bettina M. , Khan Shakeeb , David Miruna D. , Gunson Bridget K. , Isaac John R. , Roberts Keith J. , Muiesan Paolo , Mirza Darius F. , Tripathi Dhiraj , Perera M. Thamara P.R.
Published: July 2017

Background

Definitive treatment for late hepatic artery thrombosis (L-HAT) is retransplantation (re-LT); however, the L-HAT–associated disease burden is poorly represented in allocation models.

Methods

Graft access and transplant outcome of the re-LT experience between 2005 and 2016 was reviewed with specific focus on the L-HAT cohort in this single-center retrospective study.

Results

Ninety-nine (5.7%) of 1725 liver transplantations were re-LT with HAT as the main indication (n = 43; 43%) distributed into early (n = 25) and late (n = 18) episodes. Model for end-stage liver disease as well as United Kingdom model for end-stage liver disease did not accurately reflect high disease burden of graft failure associated infections such as hepatic abscesses and biliary sepsis in L-HAT. Hence, re-LT candidates with L-HAT received low prioritization and waited longest until the allocation of an acceptable graft (median, 103 days; interquartile range, 28-291 days), allowing for progression of biliary sepsis. Balance of risk score and 3-month mortality score prognosticated good transplant outcome in L-HAT but, contrary to the prediction, the factual 1-year patient survival after re-LT was significantly inferior in L-HAT compared to early HAT, early non-HAT and late non-HAT (65% vs 82%, 92% and 95%) which was mainly caused by sepsis and multiorgan failure driving 3-month mortality (28% vs 11%, 16% and 0%). Access to a second graft after a median waitlist time of 6 weeks achieved the best short- and long-term outcome in re-LT for L-HAT (3-month mortality, 13%; 1-year survival, 77%).

Conclusions

Inequity in graft access and peritransplant sepsis are fundamental obstacles for successful re-LT in L-HAT. Offering a graft for those in need at the best window of opportunity could facilitate earlier engrafting with improved outcomes.
Structure and Function of the Human Insula
Authors: Uddin Lucina Q. , Nomi Jason S. , Hébert-Seropian Benjamin , Ghaziri Jimmy , Boucher Olivier
Published: July 2017

The insular cortex, or “Island of Reil,” is hidden deep within the lateral sulcus of the brain. Subdivisions within the insula have been identified on the basis of cytoarchitectonics, sulcal landmarks, and connectivity. Depending on the parcellation technique used, the insula can be divided into anywhere between 2 and 13 distinct subdivisions. The insula subserves a wide variety of functions in humans ranging from sensory and affective processing to high-level cognition. Here, we provide a concise summary of known structural and functional features of the human insular cortex with a focus on lesion case studies and recent neuroimaging evidence for considerable functional heterogeneity of this brain region.
Misleading EEG Lateralization Associated With Midline Shift
Authors: Ghearing Gena R. , Abramovici Sergiu , Popescu Alexandra , Baldwin Maria E.
Published: July 2017

Midline discharges, lateralized periodic discharges, and seizures have been described with ipsilateral lesions that result in midline shift (MLS). Periodic discharges and seizures arising contralateral to a known lesion have not previously been described as a sign of MLS. We present four patients with focal brain lesions, resulting in MLS and epileptiform discharges arising from the contralateral hemisphere. Patient 1 underwent a right anterior temporal lobectomy. On postoperative day 2, computed tomography demonstrated a right to left MLS of 12 mm, and EEG was remarkable for left temporal nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Patient 2 experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which was more prominent on the left. Computed tomography after craniotomy demonstrated left to right MLS of 6 mm, and EEG was remarkable for right lateralized periodic discharges. Patient 3 had a right subdural hematoma and underwent craniotomy for evacuation. On postoperative day 3, computed tomography demonstrated a right MLS of 7 mm, and EEG was remarkable for left temporal nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Patient 4 had traumatic brain hemorrhages with maximal left frontotemporal involvement. Six days after the trauma, computed tomography was significant for left to right MLS of 9 mm, and EEG showed right lateralized periodic discharges. Epileptiform discharges and seizures occurring contralateral to a known lesion may be an indicator of MLS.
Mapping-based all-RNA-information sequencing analysis (ARIseq) pipeline simultaneously revealed taxonomic composition, gene expression, and their correlation in an acidic stream ecosystem
Authors: Tsuboi Arisa , Itoga Misao , Hongoh Yuichi , Moriya Shigeharu
Published: July 2017

We developed a new pipeline for simultaneous analyses of both rRNA profile as a taxonomic marker and mRNA profile as a functional marker, to understand microbial ecosystems in natural environments. Our pipeline, named All-RNA-Information sequencing (ARIseq), comprises a high-throughput sequencing of reverse transcribed total RNA and several widely used computational tools, and generates quantitatively reliable information on both community structures and gene expression patterns, which were verified by quantitative PCR analyses in this study. Particularly, correlation network analysis in the pipeline can reveal microbial taxa and expressed genes that share patterns of dynamics among different time and/or geographical points. The pipeline is primarily mapping-based, using a public database for small subunit rRNA genes and obtained contigs as the reference database for protein-coding genes. We applied this pipeline to biofilm samples, as examples, collected from an acidic spring water stream in the Chyatsubomi-goke Park in Gunma prefecture, Japan. Our analyses revealed the predominance of iron and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria andPinnulariadiatoms, and also indicated that the distributions of the iron-sulfur-oxidizing bacterial consortium and thePinnulariadiatoms largely overlapped but showed distinct patterns. In addition, our analyses showed that the iron-oxidizing bacterial genusAcidithiobacillusand co-occurringAcidiphiliumshared similar distribution pattern whereas another iron-oxidizing genusLeptospirillumexhibited a distinct pattern. Our pipeline enables researchers to more easily capture the outline of microbial ecosystems based on the taxonomic composition, protein-coding gene expression, and their correlations.
A Model of Temporal Scaling Correctly Predicts that Weber′s Law is Speed-dependent
Authors: Hardy Nicholas F , Goudar Vishwa , Romero-Sosa Juan L , Buonomano Dean
Published: July 2017

Timing is fundamental to complex motor behaviors: from tying a knot to playing the piano. A general feature of motor timing is temporal scaling: the ability to produce motor patterns at different speeds. Here we report that temporal scaling is not automatic. After learning to produce a Morse code pattern at one speed, subjects did not accurately generalize to novel speeds. Temporal scaling was also not a general property of a recurrent neural network (RNN) model, however after training across different speeds the model produced robust temporal scaling. The model captured a signature of motor timing-Weber′s law-but predicted that temporal precision increases at faster speeds. A human psychophysics study confirmed this prediction: the standard deviation of responses in absolute time were lower at faster speeds. These results establish that RNNs can account for temporal scaling, and suggest a novel psychophysical principle: the Weber-speed effect.
Quantifying 35 transcripts in a single tube: Model-based calibration of the GeXP RT-PCR assay
Authors: Marquardt Pauline , Werthmann Britta , Rätzel Viktoria , Haas Markus , Marwan Wolfgang
Published: July 2017

Quantitative analysis of differential gene expression is of central importance in molecular life sciences. The Gene eXpression Profiling technology (GeXP) relies on multiplex RT-PCR and subsequent capillary electrophoretic separation of the amplification products and allows to quantify the transcripts of up to approximately 35 genes with a single reaction and one dye. Here, we provide a kinetic model of primer binding and PCR product formation as the rational basis for taking and evaluating calibration curves. With the help of a purposeful designed data processing workflow supported by easy-to-use Perl scripts for calibration, data evaluation, and quality control, the calibration procedure and the model predictions were confirmed and the robustness and linearity of transcript quantification demonstrated for differentiatingPhysarum polycephalumplasmodial cells. We conclude that GeXP analysis is a robust, sensitive, and useful method when the transcripts of tens to few hundred genes are to be precisely quantified in a high number of samples.
Privacy-preserving generative deep neural networks support clinical data sharing
Authors: Beaulieu-Jones Brett K. , Wu Zhiwei Steven , Williams Chris , Lee Ran , Bhavnani Sanjeev P. , Byrd James Brian , Greene Casey S.
Published: July 2017

Background

Data sharing accelerates scientific progress but sharing individual level data while preserving patient privacy presents a barrier.

Methods and Results

Using pairs of deep neural networks, we generated simulated, synthetic “participants” that closely resemble participants of the SPRINT trial. We showed that such paired networks can be trained with differential privacy, a formal privacy framework that limits the likelihood that queries of the synthetic participants’ data could identify a real a participant in the trial. Machine-learning predictors built on the synthetic population generalize to the original dataset. This finding suggests that the synthetic data can be shared with others, enabling them to perform hypothesis-generating analyses as though they had the original trial data.

Conclusions

Deep neural networks that generate synthetic participants facilitate secondary analyses and reproducible investigation of clinical datasets by enhancing data sharing while preserving participant privacy.
TheDrosophiladystonia gene homologNeurocalcinfacilitates sleep by inhibiting a movement-promoting neural network
Authors: Chen Ko-Fan , Lamaze Angélique , Krätschmer Patrick , Jepson James E.C.
Published: July 2017

Primary dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder linked to altered dopaminergic signaling and synaptic plasticity in regions of the brain involved in motor control. Mutations inHPCA, encoding the neuronal calcium sensor Hippocalcin, are associated with primary dystonia, suggesting a function for Hippocalcin in regulating the initiation and/or maintenance of activity. However, such a role for Hippocalcin or Hippocalcin homologs has yet to be demonstrated in vivo. Here we investigate the cellular and organismal functions of theDrosophilaHippocalcin homolog Neurocalcin (NCA), and define a role for NCA in promoting sleep by suppressing nighttime hyperactivity. We show that NCA acts in a common pathway with the D1-type Dop1R1 dopamine receptor and facilitates sleep by inhibiting neurotransmitter release from a multi-component activity-promoting circuit. Our results suggest conserved roles for Hippocalcin homologs in modulating motor control through dopaminergic pathways, suppressing aberrant movements in humans and inappropriate nighttime locomotion inDrosophila.
riboSeed: leveraging prokaryotic genomic architecture to assemble across ribosomal regions
Authors: Waters Nicholas R. , Abram Florence , Brennan Fiona , Holmes Ashleigh , Pritchard Leighton
Published: July 2017

The vast majority of bacterial genome sequencing has been performed using Illumina short reads. Because of the inherent difficulty of resolving repeated regions with short reads alone, only ≈10% of sequencing projects have resulted in a closed genome. The most common repeated regions are those coding for ribosomal operons (rDNAs), which occur in a bacterial genome between 1 and 15 times, and are typically used as sequence markers to classify and identify bacteria. Here, we exploit conservation in the genomic context in which rDNAs occur across taxa to improve assembly of these regions relative tode novosequencing by using the conserved nature of rDNAs across taxa and the uniqueness of their flanking regions within a genome. We describe a method to construct targeted pseudocontigs generated by iteratively assembling reads that map to a reference genome’s rDNAs. These pseudocontigs are then used to more accurately assemble the newly-sequenced chromosome. We show that this method, implemented as riboSeed, correctly bridges across adjacent contigs in bacterial genome assembly and, when used in conjunction with other genome polishing tools, can assist in closure of a genome.
Two novel bimetallic transition metal–uranyl one-dimensional coordination polymers with manganese(II) and cobalt(II) incorporating bridging diglycolate (2,2′-oxydiacetate) ligands
Authors: Ridenour J. August , Pyrch Mikaela M. , Manning Zachery J. , Bertke Jeffery A. , Cahill Christopher L.
Published: July 2017

The crystal structures of two new bimetallic uranyl–transition metal compounds with diglycolic acid [or 2-(carboxymethoxy)acetic acid] have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds, namely catena-poly[[[tetraaquamanganese(II)]-μ-2,2′-oxydiacetato-[dioxidouranium(VI)]-μ-2,2′-oxydiacetato] dihydrate], {[MnU(C4H4O5)2O2(H2O)4]·2H2O}
n
, and catena-poly[[[tetraaquacobalt(II)]-μ-2,2′-oxydiacetato-[dioxidouranium(VI)]-μ-2,2′-oxydiacetato] dihydrate], {[CoU(C4H4O5)2O2(H2O)4]·2H2O}
n
, both crystallize in the triclinic space group P\overline{1}. These compounds form one-dimensional chains via alternating uranyl and transition metal building units. The chains then assemble into three-dimensional supramolecular networks through several hydrogen bonds between water molecules and diglycolate ligands. Luminescence measurements were conducted and no uranyl emission was observed in either compound.
Molecular structures of 3-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]- and 3-[(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium saccharinates
Authors: Lu Norman , Chiang Hsing-Fang , Wei Rong-Jyun , Wen Yuh-Sheng , Liu Ling-Kang
Published: July 2017

The salts 3-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium saccharinate, C9H10F4NO+·C7H4NO3S−, (1), and 3-[(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium saccharinate, C9H9F5NO+·C7H4NO3S−, (2), i.e. saccharinate (or 1,1-dioxo-1λ6,2-benzothiazol-3-olate) salts of pyridinium with –CH2OCH2CF2CF2H and –CH2OCH2CF2CF3
meta substituents, respectively, were investigated crystallographically in order to compare their fluorine-related weak interactions in the solid state. Both salts demonstrate a stable synthon formed by the pyridinium cation and the saccharinate anion, in which a seven-membered ring reveals a double hydrogen-bonding pattern. The twist between the pyridinium plane and the saccharinate plane in (2) is 21.26 (8)° and that in (1) is 8.03 (6)°. Both salts also show stacks of alternating cation–anion π-interactions. The layer distances, calculated from the centroid of the saccharinate plane to the neighbouring pyridinium planes, above and below, are 3.406 (2) and 3.517 (2) Å in (1), and 3.409 (3) and 3.458 (3) Å in (2).
Business model innovation, strategic information and the role of analyst firms
Authors: Parnell Brett David , Stott Ryan , Stone Merlin , Aravopoulou Eleni , Timms Lucy
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of analysts in providing information to support business model innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on initial research by two of the co-authors on business models (Stott et al., 2016), to which is added the experience of members of the team in working in strategic analyst firms or in working closely with clients of business analyst firms and further secondary data.

Findings

The findings of this paper show that analysts could do more to help their clients capture the opportunities and meet the threats of business model innovation, but this may require business leaders and analyst firms to think differently about their mutual relationship, particularly the briefs that clients provide analysts and how analysts aggregate information to provide a clearer picture of business model choices and their likely consequences.

Research limitations/implications

This paper needs confirmation of views by primary empirical research.

Practical implications

This study identifies the need for firms to brief their analysts to provide much enhanced information concerning business model opportunities and threats, and for teachers and researchers in marketing to become more closely acquainted with the business model literature and analyst reports and processes.

Social implications

As the idea of business model change becomes a more acceptable part of the strategic armoury of firms, the understanding of the information requirements to support such change to become more widely understood, and business model change to be consequently more common can be expected. This paper contributes to the understanding of the information requirements involved in such changes.

Originality/value

This study highlights the gap in the discussion of information provision to business leaders concerning business model innovation requirements and threats.
A typology for management innovations
Authors: Gebauer Heiko , Haldimann Mirella , Jennings Saul Caroline
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a typology of management innovations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a multiple-case (embedded) design, with each organization representing a case, which entails a few embedded units of analysis. Case studies are about the base-of-the-pyramid (BoP) initiatives, during which all organizations are interested in management innovations which support them in coming up with and implementing between two and four new management practices.

Findings

The findings suggest four types of management innovations: efficiency-driven, externally recommended, problem-oriented, and opportunity-oriented management innovation.

Research limitations/implications

This paper explores and analyses management innovations, rather than testing them. As with most qualitative research, the transferability of the findings is limited.

Practical implications

Managers should vigorously pursue management innovations, not only in BoP markets, but also in all markets. Practitioners must, however, ensure that they are not fully absorbed by a single type of management innovation, and recognize the importance of pursing multiple ones.

Social implications

For academics, the authors revitalize the concept of engaged scholarship.

Originality/value

Surprisingly, previous research looks either into generic or specific management innovations. The typology is original, since the typology offers a more fine-grained view on management innovations.
Managing the fuzzy front-end in multicultural teams
Authors: Neukam Marion Nathalie
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify coordination mechanisms for multicultural teams at the fuzzy front-end (FFE) of discontinuous product innovations to maintain their creative potential by limiting the negative effects of cultural differences of individual nations.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a case study, the international teamwork at the FFE was analyzed at Bürkert, a German medium-sized firm active in the industrial sector.

Findings

In correlation with the academic literature, the findings suggest that a strong organizational culture oriented toward innovation delivers a common framework for the FFE. Additionally, the case company succeeded in limiting the negative effects of individual nations’ cultures through common professional cultures.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected from a single case study what limits its generalizability. Moreover, national culture was considered to be overlapping with political boundaries without taking regional differences into account. Future research should focus to overcome these limitations so as to better capture international challenges at this fuzzy phase of the innovation process.

Practical implications

Companies should focus on their corporate culture and use the concept of professional cultures to facilitate not only the international collaboration, but also the communication on a national level between the functional departments at the FFE.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a better understanding of the FFE in a multicultural innovation team to sustain its innovative potential over time. It proposes a first parsimonious framework to coordinate cultural differences at the FFE.
MHD natural convective flow of nanofluids past stationary and moving inclined porous plate considering temperature and concentration gradients with suction
Authors: Thumma Thirupathi , Chamkha A. , Sheri Siva Reddy
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the mathematical modeling of magnetohydrodynamic natural convective boundary layer flow of nanofluids past a stationary and moving inclined porous plate considering temperature and concentration gradients with suction effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The transformed non-dimensional and coupled governing partial differential equations are solved numerically using the finite element method.

Findings

The obtained numerical results for physical governing parameters on the velocity, temperature and concentration distributions are exemplified graphically and presented quantitatively. The boundary layer thickness increased with the increasing values of Soret, Dufour and Grashof numbers, while the thickness of boundary layer decreased with increasing values of suction for both stationary and moving plate cases. The primary and secondary velocity profiles are decreasing with an angle of inclination for moving plate and inclination has no significant effect for the stationary plate. An increase of the Soret number and Dufour number tend to increase the heat and mass transfer, while an increase of suction reduces the heat and mass transfer.

Originality/value

The problem is an important contribution to the field of nanofluid science and technology and is relevant to high temperature rotating chemical engineering systems exploiting magnetized nanofluids. This study is relatively original in nanofluids.
Numerical investigation of heat flux distribution in a deep gap based on chemical equilibrium
Authors: Huang Guo , Huang Haiming
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to perform the simulation to explore the gap flow field under a hypersonic air flow. Thermal protection systems of hypersonic vehicles generally consist of thermal insulation tiles, and gaps between these tiles probably cause a severe local aerodynamic thermal effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The discretizations of convection flux term and temporal term in the governing equation with chemical equilibrium, respectively, take AUSM+-up flux-vector splitting scheme and the implicit lower-upper symmetric Gauss–Seidel method. Based on these, the flow field in a deep gap is simulated by means of the computer codes that the authors have written.

Findings

The numerical results show that the heat flux distribution in a gap has a good agreement with experimental results. Importantly, the distribution of heat flux is “U” shaped and the maximum of the heat flux occurs at the windward corner of a gap.

Originality/value

To explore the gap flow field under a hypersonic air flow, which is a chemically reacting, all speed and viscous flow, a novel model with an equivalent ratio of specific heats is presented. The investigation in this paper has a guide for the design of the thermal protection system in hypersonic vehicles.
Shock waves analysis of planar and non planar nonlinear Burgers’ equation using Scale-2 Haar wavelets
Authors: Pandit Sapna , Kumar Manoj , Mohapatra R.N. , Alshomrani Ali Saleh
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to find the numerical solution of planar and non-planar Burgers’ equation and analysis of the shock behave.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors discritize the time-dependent term using Crank–Nicholson finite difference approximation and use quasilinearization to linearize the nonlinear term then apply Scale-2 Haar wavelets for space integration. After applying this scheme on partial differential, the equation transforms into a system of algebraic equation. Then, the system of equation is solved using Gauss elimination method.

Findings

Present method is the extension of the method (Jiwari, 2012). The numerical solutions using Scale-2 Haar wavelets prove that the proposed method is reliable for planar and non-planar nonlinear Burgers’ equation and yields results better than other methods and compatible with the exact solutions.

Originality/value

The numerical results for non-planar Burgers’ equation are very sparse. In the present paper, the authors identify where the shock wave and discontinuity occur in planar and non-planar Burgers’' equation.
An improved enrichment method for weak discontinuities for thermal problems
Authors: Marti Julio , Ortega Ernesto , Idelsohn Sergio
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new elemental enrichment technique to improve the accuracy of the simulations of thermal problems containing weak discontinuities.

Design/methodology/approach

The enrichment is introduced in the elements cut by the materials interface by means of adding additional shape functions. The weak form of the problem is obtained using Galerkin approach and subsequently integrating the diffusion term by parts. To enforce the continuity of the fluxes in the “cut” elements, a contour integral must be added. These contour integrals named here the “inter-elemental heat fluxes” are usually neglected in the existing enrichment approaches. The proposed approach takes these fluxes into account.

Findings

It has been shown that the inter-elemental heat fluxes cannot be generally neglected and must be included. The corresponding method can be easily implemented in any existing finite element method (FEM) code, as the new degrees of freedom corresponding to the enrichment are local to the elements. This allows for their static condensation, thus not affecting the size and structure of the global system of governing equations. The resulting elements have exactly the same number of unknowns as the non-enriched finite element (FE).

Originality/value

It is the first work where the necessity of including inter-elemental heat fluxes has been demonstrated. Moreover, numerical tests solved have proven the importance of these findings. It has been shown that the proposed enrichment leads to an improved accuracy in comparison with the former approaches where inter-elemental heat fluxes were neglected.
Teacher-related factors in assimilation of technological change in schools
Authors: Arar Khalid , Abramovitz Ruth
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore teachers’ attitudes toward the implementation of new computer technology to improve teaching and learning products at a private Arab school in Israel. Specifically, the aim was to individuate teachers’ factors associated with higher productivity of this technological change.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used the mixed-methods approach to enrich the data derived from a case study. It employed a questionnaire of 81 items administered among 55 teachers and in-depth interviews with both teachers and senior management team members at one private Arab school in Israel.

Findings

Results show some features that characterize the teachers who rated the productivity of this new management change highly. Those teachers tend to have high expectations of the change and to view the change implementation process favorably. Teachers with such characteristics tend to be female teachers. The influence of teachers’ education was latent. Their teaching experience influenced only their expectations and views of the process, but not their perceptions of the change products.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focused only on one private school known for its excellence and teaching staff, and thus may not apply to the entire Arab education system in Israel. Nevertheless, the findings indicate how to increase teaching productivity when planning the management of technological change for increased teaching benefits in schools with similar characteristics.

Originality/value

This paper explored a case in which technological change was implemented through a careful process of management planning, in order to facilitate the construction of a model of indicators to facilitate change.