bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internal–external circumferential crack behaviour in the cement layer of total hip replacement
Authors: Oshkour A. A. , Abu Osman N. A. , Yau Y. H. , Tarlochan F. , Pramanik S. , Wan Abas W. A. B.
Published: March 2013

This study aimed to investigate crack behaviour at the internal and external surfaces of the cement layer in total hip replacement. A three‐dimensional model of the femur with the cemented prosthesis was developed and analysed. Cracks were placed on the internal, external and both internal and external surfaces of the cement layer. Stress intensity factors were measured during gait. Results revealed that the stress intensity factors modes I and III were the most dominant in the crack propagation in the cement layer. The domain of mode I was the medial and lateral sides of the cement layer. Meanwhile, the domain of mode III was the anterior and posterior sides of the cement layer. The stress intensity factor and distance from the distal end indicated an inverse relationship. The internal and external cracks had no significant interaction. Moreover, stress intensity factors at the external surface of the cement layer were higher than those on the internal surface.
Miocamycin‐Containing Triple Therapy for H. pylori Infection
Authors: Dore Maria Pina , Massidda Marco , Yilmaz Ozlem , Demiray‐Gürbüz Ebru , Manca Alessandra , Bassotti Gabrio
Published: March 2013

Introduction

In Northern Sardinia, one‐week triple standard therapies containing a proton‐pump inhibitor and two antibiotics for H. pylori infection have an average cure rate of 57% largely due to a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The efficacy of miocamycin‐containing treatment for 10 days was evaluated.

Materials and Methods

Patients referred to the endoscopy service for dyspeptic symptoms were enrolled. H. pylori infection was defined as a positive rapid urease test, presence of the bacteria on gastric biopsies, and a positive 13C‐UBT. Treatment consisted of 10 days with omeprazole 20 mg, miocamycin water‐soluble 900 mg, and tinidazole 500 mg all bid. Success was evaluated 40–50 days after the end of therapy and defined by a negative 13C‐UBT. Compliance was considered good if at least 90% of the total number of the pills were taken. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique was applied on paraffin‐embedded gastric tissue sections to test susceptibility to clarithromycin of the bacteria.

Results

50 patients were enrolled (mean age; 52, 36% men). Miocamycin‐containing therapy cured 86% (42/49; 95% CI = 72–94%) of infected patients by PP analysis. Susceptibility data (FISH) was available for 38 patients. Cure rates for the 28 with clarithromycin‐susceptible infection was 96% vs 50% for those with resistant or mixed infection, (p = .003). Good compliance was recorded in 48 patients. None of the patients discontinued therapy.

Conclusions

Miocamycin appears to be a valid alternative for clarithromycin for H. pylori eradication. Head‐to‐head studies will be needed to ascertain whether it is superior.
Nesting site density and distribution affect Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) reproductive success and almond yield in a commercial orchard
Authors: Artz Derek R. , Allan Matthew J. , Wardell Gordon I. , Pitts‐Singer Theresa L.
Published: March 2013

The potential of commercially managed, native blue orchard bees, Osmia lignaria, to augment honey bees in orchard pollination depends on various factors, particularly how to enhance O. lignaria retention while optimising even pollination throughout orchards by varying their stocking density and nesting site distribution.

In 2011, we investigated how artificial nest box density and the number of cavities within nest boxes influenced O. lignaria retention and reproduction in a 61 ha almond orchard pollinated by a mixture of O. lignaria and Apis mellifera in the southern Central Valley of California. We assessed how localised O. lignaria nesting affected total nut yield.

Retention of O. lignaria females was significantly greater in orchard areas with high density nest boxes compared with areas with low density nest boxes. Females preferred to nest in high density (low cavity) nest boxes compared to low density (high cavity) nest boxes. All measures of O. lignaria reproductive success were greater in orchard areas with high density nest boxes than areas with low density nest boxes.

Localised O. lignaria foraging and nesting activity influenced nut yield by producing more nuts in orchard areas with high density nest boxes compared with low density nest boxes, although differences in nut yield just failed to meet statistical significance.

Results of this study show that the density and distribution of nest boxes for nesting O. lignaria females can strongly influence the reproductive success of an alternative, managed bee pollinator in a large production orchard.
Efficacy of preoperative ibuprofen on the success of inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Noguera‐Gonzalez D. , Cerda‐Cristerna B. I. , Chavarria‐Bolaños D. , Flores‐Reyes H. , Pozos‐Guillen A.
Published: March 2013

Aim

To evaluate the effect of preoperative oral ibuprofen (IBU) on the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) with mepivacaine containing 1 : 100 000 epinephrine for patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP).

Methodology

The present study was a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. The study included two study groups each consisting of 25 patients who exhibited symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth. The patients presented prolonged moderate or severe pain (>10 s) after cold testing and indicated their pain scores on a Heft‐Parker visual analogue scale. The patients received identically appearing capsules containing either 600 mg IBU (IBUg) or gelatin (placebo, PLAg) 1 h before administration of IANB with 2% mepivacaine containing 1 : 100 000 epinephrine. After 15 min, the anaesthetic blockade was assessed by a three‐step examination (lip numbness, positive/negative response to cold testing and clinical discomfort during endodontic access). IANB success was defined as the absence of pain during any of these evaluations. The data were analysed using the chi‐squared test.

Results

All of the patients reported moderate or severe pain before the preoperative procedure. Statistically significant differences were observed between the IBUg and PLAg (P < 0.05); the success rates for the IANB were 72% (IBUg) and 36% (PLAg).

Conclusions

Preoperative oral administration of IBU significantly improved the efficacy of IANB in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.
Retrospective follow‐up assessment of prognostic variables associated with the outcome of periradicular surgery
Authors: Villa‐Machado P. A. , Botero‐Ramírez X. , Tobón‐Arroyave S. I.
Published: March 2013

Aim

To investigate, retrospectively over a 1‐ to 16‐year follow‐up period, the strength and independence of the association of different patient‐, tooth‐ and surgery‐related prognostic variables with the outcome of periradicular surgery.

Methodology

The study cohort included 171 teeth in 154 subjects. Clinical and radiographic measures along with the follow‐up period were used to determine the healing outcome. For statistical analysis, results were dichotomized into healed/healing versus asymptomatic function/persistent disease cases. The association between candidate prognostic variables and asymptomatic function/persistent disease was analysed individually and adjusted for confounding using a multivariate binary logistic regression model.

Results

The percentage of success (healed/healing cases) was found to be 83.6%, whereas the percentage of failure (asymptomatic function/persistent disease cases) was found to be 16.4%. Whilst univariate analysis revealed a positive association of the presence of preoperative signs/symptoms, unsatisfactory quality of the coronal restoration, pronounced root‐end resection bevel and inadequate quality of root‐end filling with asymptomatic function/persistent disease, after multivariate binary logistic regression analysis only the unsatisfactory quality of the coronal restoration and inadequate quality of root‐end filling were strongly and independently associated with disease status. Confounding and interaction effects between candidate prognostic variables was noted.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that whilst the quality of both the coronal restoration and the root‐end filling might be the foremost prognostic variables in periradicular surgery, there are synergistic biological interactive and mutually confounding effects with respect to root‐end resection bevel and preoperative signs and/or symptoms that may be also associated with an increased proportion of failures after periradicular surgery.
Pitfalls in special coagulation testing: three illustrative case studies
Authors: Moser K. A. , (Adcock) Funk D. M.
Published: March 2013

Assays in the special coagulation laboratory are affected by numerous factors, including pre‐analytical variables, anticoagulant drugs, and abnormalities of the coagulation system other than the analyte specifically being examined. By reviewing special coagulation tests as a group and in concert with clinical information, as well as understanding assay methodologies, interferences can be more easily recognized and incorrect interpretations avoided, preventing possibly unnecessary treatment of patients. Three case studies involving protein S activity, von Willebrand factor analysis, and factor V activity with Bethesda titer will highlight potential pitfalls in the interpretation of special coagulation tests.
Emergency assessment of hemostasis in the bleeding patient
Authors: Chandler W. L.
Published: March 2013

Emergency hemostasis testing is typically used to determine which blood products are needed to correct hemostatic defects associated with bleeding. Rapid assessment of hemostasis can be performed using standard or viscoelastic hemostasis tests in the clinical laboratory, satellite laboratory, or using point‐of‐care methods. The major drawback of standard coagulation testing is that most clinical laboratories are focused more on accuracy than on turnaround time. Improving turnaround times may require revision of the entire approach to performing the testing in the clinical laboratory including specimen processing, testing, and reporting. An advantage to rapid central laboratory testing is the availability to all areas of the hospital, not just the emergency department or operating rooms. Use of point‐of‐care assays can improve turnaround times, but point‐of‐care tests typically show more variation and lower precision. Viscoelastic global hemostasis tests can be used for rapid assessment as well, but care needs to be taken in the interpretation of the results. Viscoelastic testing is currently the only method that can detect severe fibrinolysis. Platelet function testing is useful for detection of hereditary platelet function problems and some antiplatelet medication monitoring, but is less useful for preoperative bleeding risk assessment or diagnosing the cause of acquire bleeding syndromes. This review will highlight different approaches to the rapid assessment of hemostasis.
Characterisation of acid proteases from a fusant F76 and its progenitors Aspergillus oryzae HN3042 and Aspergillus niger CICC2377
Authors: Xu Defeng , Li Caihong , Wang Yaling , Sun Lijun , Zhao Haifeng , Zhao Mouming
Published: March 2013

The characteristics of a novel acid protease from a fusant F76 were comparatively evaluated with those from its progenitors Aspergillus oryzae HN3042 and A. niger CICC2377. The UV spectra of these three acid proteases were similar, but fluorescence spectra were different. The acid protease from F76 contained 7.1% α‐helix, 39.4% β‐sheet, 24.7% β‐turn and 32% aperiodic coil, unlike those from its progenitors. The acid protease from F76 was active in the temperature range of 35–55 °C with the optimum temperature of 40 °C and was stable in the pH range of 2.5–6.5 with the optimum pH of 3.5, while those values from A. oryzae HN3042 and A. niger CICC2377 were 45 °C, 4.0 and 40 °C, 3.5, respectively. The kinetic parameters of the acid protease from F76 were different from its progenitors and the Michaelis constant, maximum velocity, activation energy, and attenuation index were 0.96 mg mL−1, 135.14 μmol min−1 mg−1, 64.11 kJ mol−1 and 0.59, respectively.
Spatial range shape drives the grain size effects in species distribution models
Authors: Lauzeral Christine , Grenouillet Gaël , Brosse Sébastien
Published: March 2013

Species distribution models (SDMs) link species occurrences to environmental descriptors using species and environmental data that are often recorded at different grain sizes. The upscaling process implied by grain size matching between species data and environmental data may affect the observed species distribution and thus might also modify the SDM‐derived species distribution. Here we used five virtual species with differing range sizes to determine the effects of grain size on SDM‐derived distribution area. We showed that the increase of SDM‐derived distribution area with grain size is mainly due to the geometric increase of the area of the observed distribution range used to build the SDMs. Models based on presence–absence data that were built using the initial prevalence in the calibration dataset and the maximization of TSS or Kappa as cut‐off threshold accurately predicted the observed area whatever the grain size and species range size. In addition we found that the commonly used evaluation measures (AUC, TSS and Kappa) cannot be used to evaluate the accuracy of SDM‐derived distribution areas. Thus, the grain size of the data used to feed SDMs has to be chosen carefully, depending on the data quality and the goals of the study.
The Alleviating Effect of Elevated CO2 on Heat Stress Susceptibility of Two Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars
Authors: Shanmugam S. , Kjaer K. H. , Ottosen C.‐O. , Rosenqvist E. , Kumari Sharma D. , Wollenweber B.
Published: March 2013

This study analysed the alleviating effect of elevated CO2 on stress‐induced decreases in photosynthesis and changes in carbohydrate metabolism in two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) of different origin. The plants were grown in ambient (400 μl l−1) and elevated (800 μl l−1) CO2 with a day/night temperature of 15/10 °C. At the growth stages of tillering, booting and anthesis, the plants were subjected to heat stress of 40 °C for three continuous days. Photosynthetic parameters, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and contents of pigments and carbohydrates in leaves were analysed before and during the stress treatments as well as after 1 day of recovery. Heat stress reduced PN and Fv/Fm in both wheat cultivars, but plants grown in elevated CO2 maintained higher PN and Fv/Fm in comparison with plants grown in ambient CO2. Heat stress reduced leaf chlorophyll contents and increased leaf sucrose contents in both cultivars grown at ambient and elevated CO2. The content of hexoses in the leaves increased mainly in the tolerant cultivar in response to the combination of elevated CO2 and heat stress. The results show that heat stress tolerance in wheat is related to cultivar origin, the phenological stage of the plants and can be alleviated by elevated CO2. This confirms the complex interrelation between environmental factors and genotypic traits that influence crop performance under various climatic stresses.
Paracetamol overdose in Victoria remains a significant health‐care burden
Authors: Sood Siddharth , Howell Jessica , Sundararajan Vijaya , Angus Peter W , Gow Paul J
Published: March 2013

Background and Aim

Paracetamol is the most frequently used analgesic in Australia and can be purchased without a prescription. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology and outcome of paracetamol overdoses occurring in Victoria, Australia.

Methods

The Victorian admitted episode dataset was examined for all patients who had a diagnosis of paracetamol poisoning (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification [ICD‐10‐AM]: T39.1) or paracetamol adverse effect in therapeutic use (Y45.5) from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2007. Data extracted included all ICD‐10 codes related to their admissions, gender, age range, date of admission, and cause of death (if applicable).

Results

Over 7 years, there was a total of 14 662 hospital admissions for paracetamol overdose with a mean of 2095 cases per year. Accidental overdoses comprised 15% (n = 2149) of cases. The overdose rate fell from 46 cases per 100 000 in 2001 to 39 cases per 100 000 in 2006 (P < 0.001). Most overdoses occurred in women (71%), and patients between 15 and 50 years old comprised 78% of all cases. Complications and mortality were relatively uncommon, with only 26 deaths directly attributable to paracetamol overdose over the 7 years. No child under 15 years old died from their overdose.

Conclusion

Admission to Victorian hospitals with paracetamol overdose presents an enormous and in many cases preventable health‐care burden. Fortunately, there has been a gradual fall in admissions, and most cases appear relatively benign. Further reductions in overdose could be achieved with increased awareness by physicians and the general public regarding the potential for accidental overdose, and increasing funding for mental health initiatives.
Current status on the diagnosis and evaluation of pancreatic tumor in Asia with particular emphasis on the role of endoscopic ultrasound
Authors: Kongkam Pradermchai , Ang Tiing Leong , Vu Charles K F , Dy Frederick T , Yasuda Kenjiro , Rerknimitr Rungsun , Varadarajulu Shyam , Dhir Vinay , Chong Vui Heng , Zhen Dong Jin , Wong Jennie Y Y , Ho Khek‐Yu ,   the Asian Consortium of EUS
Published: March 2013

In Asia, the incidence of pancreatic cancer in some countries has been increasing. Owing to most cases being diagnosed late, prognosis for pancreatic cancer remains dismal. It is clear that the future for pancreatic cancer lies in early detection. While the possible presence of pancreatic masses is often first raised by non‐invasive abdominal imaging, such as computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, smaller lesions and locoregional lymph node metastases are often not detectable by these means. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) offers a higher sensitivity (93–100%) for detection of small potentially curable pancreatic masses than other existing imaging modalities. It is also recommended for the evaluation of portal vein confluence, portal vein, celiac axis, and superior mesentric artery origin, and exclusion of resectability. Due to the closer proximity of EUS to the target structure, and lower rate of needle tract seeding, EUS‐guided fine‐needle aspiration of pancreatic mass is considered the most suitable tissue acquisition technique. Lastly, EUS also enables the performance of endoscopic interventions. Its performance can be further enhanced with newer techniques, including contrast‐enhanced ultrasound and elastrography. It is anticipated that in the near future, molecular technologies may make it possible to detect microscopic amounts of cancer in tissue or blood, predict relapse and survival after therapy, as well as determine optimal therapy.
The Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adult with Developmental Disability (PAS‐ADD) Checklist: reliability and validity of French version
Authors: Gerber F. , Carminati G. Galli
Published: March 2013

Background

The lack of psychometric measures of psychopathology especially in intellectual disabilities (ID) population was addressed by creation of the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adult with Developmental Disability (PAS‐ADD‐10) in Moss et al. This schedule is a structured interview designed for professionals in psychopathology. The PAS‐ADD Checklist was created as a screening tool designed for non‐specialists in mental illness, such as families and care staff. The Checklist includes 29 symptoms items graded on a four‐point scale. When the score passes the threshold, this indicates the need for further psychiatric assessment. In a study by Moss et al. and a replication by Sturmey et al., the PAS‐ADD Checklist was validated and proved reliable as a screening tool for psychiatric disorders in a population of adults with ID. In this study, the French translation of the Checklist is compared with the English version and the psychometric properties are presented for outpatients.

Method

The French version was created by translation and back translation. Acceptability, internal consistency, inter‐rater reliability, factorial analysis and sensitivity/specificity were calculated.

Results

Reliability analyses for sub‐scales and threshold scales showed good (Cronbach's alpha coefficient greater than 0.7) to acceptable (alpha over 0.6) internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha was over 0.8 when the total scale was considered. Spearman Rank correlations, calculated for 45 pairs of raters on threshold scores, are above 0.66, which is a good sign of accordance between non‐specialist raters. Sensitivity and specificity were computed for the number of participants who did and did not cross threshold and for whom a psychiatric disorder was or was not present. The sensitivity was 55% and specificity was 70%. The confirmatory factor analysis with a three‐factor solution explained only 46.1%, which suggests a mediocre fit of the data to the model. Even if items have good saturation on each factor, it does not fit with the theoretical model.

Conclusions

The validity of the French version in this sample seems to be acceptable. Specificity was higher than those reported in the English version and sensitivity was lower. The French version was less successful in screening than English version, probably because of the low number of false negatives in this sample, which constitutes recruitment bias in a psychiatric sample. Nevertheless, the French version of the PAS‐ADD Checklist is reliable as a general screening tool for psychiatric disorders.
The genetic composition of populations of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) used in biomedical research
Authors: Kanthaswamy S. , Ng J. , Satkoski Trask J. , George D.A. , Kou A.J. , Hoffman L.N. , Doherty T.B. , Houghton P. , Smith D.G.
Published: March 2013

Background

The genetic composition of cynomolgus macaques used in biomedical research is not as well‐characterized as that of rhesus macaques.

Methods

Populations of cynomolgus macaques from Sumatra, Corregidor, Mauritius, Singapore, Cambodia, and Zamboanga were analyzed using 24 STRs.

Results

The Sumatran and Cambodian populations exhibited the highest allelic diversity, while the Mauritian population exhibited the lowest. Sumatran cynomolgus macaques were the most genetically similar to all others, consistent with an Indonesian origin of the species. The high diversity among Cambodian animals may result from interbreeding with rhesus macaques. The Philippine and Mauritian samples were the most divergent from other populations, the former due to separation from the Sunda Shelf by deepwater and the latter due to anthropogenic translocation and extreme founder effects.

Conclusions

Investigators should verify their research subjects' origin, ancestry, and pedigree to minimize risks to biomedical experimentation from genetic variance stemming from close kinship and mixed ancestry as these can obscure treatment effects.
Women's experience of acute and chronic pain following breast cancer surgery
Authors: Hovind Inger L , Bredal Inger S , Dihle Alfhild
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectives

To gain knowledge of how women experience pain and pain treatment after breast cancer surgery and to identify areas of pain management that they believe could be improved.

Background

According to the literature, 20–60% of patients develop chronic pain after breast cancer surgery and treatment. Because of the short length of hospitalisation in Norway, breast cancer patients are left responsible for most of their own pain management.

Design

An explorative and qualitative design was chosen.

Methods

In‐depth interviews were conducted with eight women who experienced chronic pain rated at 3–5 on a 11‐point numerical rating scale one year or more after breast cancer surgery. This study is part of a larger, quantitative study assessing pain after surgery. The interviews were taped, transcribed and analysed according to qualitative content analysis.

Results

The interviewees had expected pain in the acute postoperative period, but had not expected that pain would persist. None of the women recalled having received information about pain. They took few analgesics and were generally sceptical about medication, mostly because of earlier reactions to drugs. They received no explanations for and little help with chronic pain. Most of them were active and worked outside the home.

Conclusions

After short hospital stays, adequate information and follow‐up after discharge may optimise pain management regimens. Those who develop chronic pain need more information and help to manage their pain.

Relevance to clinical practice

Finding the appropriate time for information about postoperative pain management is necessary to optimise a good analgesic regimen. Multimodal and aggressive treatment of acute pain should be emphasised.
Central nervous system tuberculosis: A disease from Papua New Guinea in North Queensland
Authors: Ting Pascallina LC , Norton Robert
Published: March 2013

Aim

To describe cases of confirmed central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis seen at the major tertiary referral centre of North Queensland over a 10‐year period.

Methods

This is a retrospective case series‐based study of all cases of proven Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the CNS presenting to a major tertiary referral centre of North Queensland between 2000 and 2010.

Results

Five cases of confirmed CNS tuberculosis were identified over the 10‐year period with two deaths. All were from Papua New Guinea with a mean age of 7 years. Imaging and early microbiological diagnosis was critical in making the diagnosis. HIV infection was not a contributing factor. Multidrug resistance was inferred or confirmed in two cases.

Conclusions

CNS tuberculosis is a disease being increasingly seen in North Queensland among children from Papua New Guinea. Anticipation of multidrug resistance is important in the immediate management of suspected cases.
B Alert: Hepatitis B virus infection in children in Victoria
Authors: Jimenez Gabriela , Alex George , Paxton Georgia , Connell Thomas G , Hardikar Winita
Published: March 2013

Aim

The aim of this study is to determine the demographic, clinical and serological patterns of hepatitis B in children in Victoria over a 17‐year period.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of medical records of all patients <18 years of age with positive hepatitis B surface antigen referred to the Gastroenterology, Immigrant Health and Infectious Diseases clinics between 1992 and 2009.

Results

Of the 164 children identified, 76% were born overseas, with vertical transmission the most likely source in 84%. Most were asymptomatic, with no signs of chronic liver disease. Forty children infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) were born in Australia prior to universal vaccination. There was poor documentation of vaccination or response to vaccination in siblings at risk within families where at least one child was infected. An increasing number of referrals was noted from 2006 to 2009 compared with the preceding 4 years (P < 0.001). Of an expected 200 follow‐up visits from new referrals, 78% were attended.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the number of children with HBV in our population is increasing and that models of health care designed to integrate primary with specialist care are required to minimise the overall health care burden of this chronic infection.
Evaluations of Infinite Utility Streams: Pareto Efficient and Egalitarian Axiomatics
Authors: Alcantud José Carlos R. , García‐Sanz María D.
Published: March 2013

This investigation focuses on the aggregation of infinite utility streams by social welfare functions. We analyze the possibility of combining Pareto‐efficiency and Hammond Equity principles when the feasible utilities for each generation are [0, 1] and the natural numbers. In the latter case, the Hammond Equity ethics can be combined with non‐trivial specifications of the Pareto postulate, even through anonymous social welfare functions. As a consequence, any evaluation of infinite utility streams that verifies a mild specification of the Paretian axiom must exert some interference on the affairs of particular generations.
Applying the cognitive theory of multimedia learning: an analysis of medical animations
Authors: Yue Carole , Kim Jessie , Ogawa Rikke , Stark Elena , Kim Sara
Published: March 2013

Context  Instructional animations play a prominent role in medical education, but the degree to which these teaching tools follow empirically established learning principles, such as those outlined in the cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML), is unknown. These principles provide guidelines for designing animations in a way that promotes optimal cognitive processing and facilitates learning, but the application of these learning principles in current animations has not yet been investigated. A large‐scale review of existing educational tools in the context of this theoretical framework is necessary to examine if and how instructional medical animations adhere to these principles and where improvements can be made.

Methods  We conducted a comprehensive review of instructional animations in the health sciences domain and examined whether these animations met the three main goals of CTML: managing essential processing; minimising extraneous processing, and facilitating generative processing. We also identified areas for pedagogical improvement. Through Google keyword searches, we identified 4455 medical animations for review. After the application of exclusion criteria, 860 animations from 20 developers were retained. We randomly sampled and reviewed 50% of the identified animations.

Results  Many animations did not follow the recommended multimedia learning principles, particularly those that support the management of essential processing. We also noted an excess of extraneous visual and auditory elements and few opportunities for learner interactivity.

Conclusions  Many unrealised opportunities exist for improving the efficacy of animations as learning tools in medical education; instructors can look to effective examples to select or design animations that incorporate the established principles of CTML.
Sustaining secondary school nursing practice in Australia: A qualitative study
Authors: Guzys Diana , Kenny Amanda , Bish Melanie
Published: March 2013

This interpretive descriptive, qualitative study explored secondary school nurses' perceptions of factors that impact on their role and their views on how their role can be best supported. Nine secondary school nurses from four Department of Human Services regions in Victoria, Australia, participated in semistructured, in‐depth interviews. Purposive sampling was used, with participants required to have a minimum of 2 years' experience as secondary school nurses. Data were thematically analyzed, revealing a complex and challenging role. The findings identified key factors necessary to support quality practice. All stakeholders need a shared understanding of the purpose and principles underpinning the secondary school nurse role and the nurse's professional obligations. Knowledge and experience are required that recognize the breadth and depth necessary for secondary school nurses to work effectively within their scope of practice. The adoption of a model of critical companionship is recommended to provide facilitated reflection on practice as a support mechanism for the role.
A randomized, double‐blind, controlled study and pooled analysis of two identical trials of fermented milk containing probioticBifidobacterium lactisCNCM I‐2494 in healthy women reporting minor digestive symptoms
Authors: Marteau P. , Guyonnet D. , Lafaye de Micheaux P. , Gelu S.
Published: March 2013

Background The probiotic fermented milk (PFM) containingBifidobacterium lactisCNCM I‐2494 improved gastrointestinal (GI) well‐being and digestive symptoms in a previous trial involving women reporting minor digestive symptoms. Our objective is to confirm these findings in a second study and in a pooled analysis of both studies.

Methods In this double‐blind, controlled, parallel design study, subjects without diagnosed GI disorders consumed PFM or control dairy product daily for 4 weeks. Endpoints comprised weekly assessment of GI well‐being (primary endpoint), rate of responders and digestive symptoms. Data were analyzed on full analysis set population (n = 324) and on the pooled data of randomized subjects of this study with those of the first study (n = 538).

Key Results In this second study, no significant difference was observed in the percentage of women reporting an improvement in GI well‐being [OR = 1.20 (95% CI 0.87, 1.66)] and rate of responders [OR = 1.38 (95% CI 0.89, 2.14)]. Composite score of digestive symptoms was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in PFM when compared to the control group [LSmean = −0.42 (95% CI −0.81, −0.03)]. In the pooled analysis, significant differences were observed in favor of PFM group for all endpoints: percentage of women with improved GI well‐being [OR = 1.36 (95% CI 1.07, 1.73)], rate of responders [OR = 1.53 (95% CI 1.09, 2.16)] and composite score of digestive symptoms [LSmean = −0.48 (95% CI −0.80, −0.16)].

Conclusions & Inferences This second study did not confirm improvement on the primary endpoint. However, a pooled analysis of the two trials showed improvement in GI well‐being and digestive symptoms in women reporting minor digestive symptoms.
Effect of acute peppermint oil administration on gastric sensorimotor function and nutrient tolerance in health
Authors: Papathanasopoulos A. , Rotondo A. , Janssen P. , Boesmans W. , Farré R. , Vanden Berghe P. , Tack J.
Published: March 2013

Background

Menthol reduces intestinal motility in animal studies, an effect that is probably mediated by transient receptor potential channels. Peppermint oil (PO), with menthol as a major constituent, is widely used as a spasmolytic agent in irritable bowel syndrome. In the current study, we investigated the effect of acute PO administration on intragastric pressure (IGP) profiles and gastric sensorimotor functions in health.

Methods

Healthy volunteers underwent IGP measurement before and during continuous intragastric infusion of a nutrient drink (n = 13), and gastric barostat studies (n = 13). A single capsule of PO (182 mg) or placebo was administered during the studies in a randomized controlled crossover design. Throughout the studies, healthy volunteers scored 11 epigastric symptoms on a visual analogue scale (VAS); satiation was scored on a 6‐point Likert scale during intragastric infusion.

Key Results

During fasting, IGP and motility index (MI) of the proximal stomach decreased significantly after PO administration compared with placebo (P < 0.0001 and <0.05, respectively). In contrast, during intragastric infusion of the nutrient drink, no significant differences were detected between PO and placebo in IGP profiles, MI, satiation scores, and epigastric symptoms. The maximum infused volume, gastric compliance or sensitivity to balloon distention did not differ between both treatment arms. However, reduced appetite scores were seen during fasting after PO treatment, as compared with placebo (P = 0.01). Postprandial VAS scores were similar between PO and placebo.

Conclusions & Inferences

Peppermint oil reduces IGP, proximal phasic contractility, and appetite, with negligible effects on gastric sensitivity, tone, accommodation, and nutrient tolerance in health.
Commensal microbiota modulate murine behaviors in a strictly contamination‐free environment confirmed by culture‐based methods
Authors: Nishino R. , Mikami K. , Takahashi H. , Tomonaga S. , Furuse M. , Hiramoto T. , Aiba Y. , Koga Y. , Sudo N.
Published: March 2013

Background

There is increasing evidence suggesting the existence of an interaction between commensal microbiota, the gut and the brain. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of commensal microbiota on the host behaviors in a contamination‐free environment, which was verified by culture‐based methods.

Methods

Open‐field and marble‐burying tests were used to analyze anxiety‐like behaviors and locomotor activity in gnotobiotic BALB/c mice with a common genetic background in a sterile isolator. The monoamine levels in several regions of the brain were measured in germfree (GF) mice and commensal fecal microbiota‐associated mice (EX‐GF).

Key Results

A 24‐h exposure to the environment outside the sterile isolators rendered GF mice less anxious than those not contaminated, while there was no change in the locomotion. EX‐GF mice, the gnotobiotic mice with normal specific pathogen‐free microbiota, were less anxious and active than GF mice using open‐field and marble‐burying tests. The norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin turnover rates were higher in the EX‐GF mice than in the GF mice in most regions of the brain, suggesting that monoaminergic neurotransmission might increase in the EX‐GF mice comparing the GF mice. Monoassociation with Brautia coccoides reduced the anxiety level, but it did not affect the locomotor activity. In contrast, colonization with Bifidobacterium infantis decreased the locomotor activity, while having little effect on the anxiety level.

Conclusions & Inferences

These results strongly support the current view that gut microorganisms modulate brain development and behavior.
Doctors' orders and the language of representation
Authors: Pijl‐Zieber Em M.
Published: March 2013

The term doctors' orders or physicians' orders is endemic to nurses' work, to the degree perhaps that few nurses give the term much thought. The nursing profession has progressed over its historical trajectory, from a level of considerable dependence upon physicians' directives, in its beginning, to much greater professional autonomy. However, the term order remains a stronghold in nurses' professional reality, despite the fact that this term is laden with anachronistic ideological interests that are embedded within the historical, sociopolitical and gendered contexts in which health care occurs. In this essay I consider the term order through multiple philosophical and semantic lenses. I explore the endowment of power within the word order and how this term disadvantages nurses. I examine how the word order demarcates roles and establishes perceived value of the item represented by the originator of the order. The concept of doctors' orders carries powerful meanings, affirms the power‐as‐knowledge hierarchy so entrenched in the nurse–physician relationship, and can inhibit nurses' full participation as partners in health care.
Biomarkers in nutrition: new frontiers in research and application
Authors: Combs Gerald F. , Trumbo Paula R. , McKinley Michelle C. , Milner John , Studenski Stephanie , Kimura Takeshi , Watkins Steven M. , Raiten Daniel J.
Published: March 2013

Nutritional biomarkers—biochemical, functional, or clinical indices of nutrient intake, status, or functional effects—are needed to support evidence‐based clinical guidance and effective health programs and policies related to food, nutrition, and health. Such indices can reveal information about biological or physiological responses to dietary behavior or pathogenic processes, and can be used to monitor responses to therapeutic interventions and to provide information on interindividual differences in response to diet and nutrition. Many nutritional biomarkers are available; yet there has been no formal mechanism to establish consensus regarding the optimal biomarkers for particular nutrients and applications.
Myositis ossificans traumatica of the mylohyoid musculature
Authors: Krishnan B.
Published: March 2013

Myositis ossificans traumatica (MOT) is a non‐neoplastic reactive hyperplasia characterised by prominent heterotopic ossification within the skeletal muscle and deep soft tissues of the extremities and trunk caused by single or repetitive injury. It is rarely seen involving the oral and masticatory musculature. Heterotopic ossification of the mylohyoid musculature is described. The clinical, diagnostic and treatment considerations are discussed in detail.

This, to the best of knowledge, is the first report of MOT of the mylohyoid musculature.
LOCAL INQUIRIES OR PUBLIC HEARINGS: CHANGES IN PUBLIC CONSULTATION OVER THE REDISTRIBUTION OF UK PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES
Authors: JOHNSTON RON , PATTIE CHARLES , ROSSITER DAVID
Published: March 2013

The UK government undertakes a variety of public consultation procedures during the implementation of a range of policies, some of which involve public hearings with varying formats. In 2011 it proposed a major change to such procedures used in the redistribution of Parliamentary constituency boundaries. Local Inquiries were deemed ‘not fit for purpose’ and eliminated, because they were lengthy and dominated by the political parties seeking electoral gain. This change was opposed in Parliament and an alternative procedure introduced involving Public Hearings which were to be shorter and less conflictual than the Local Inquiries they replaced. The Hearings for the first round of redistributions under the new procedure have now been held. This article assesses whether they were any ‘fitter for purpose’; there was very little participation by the general public and, as before, the proceedings were dominated by the political parties.
AFTER FUKUSHIMA: REFLECTIONS ON RISK AND INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING IN AN ERA OF MEGA‐CRISES
Authors: 't HART PAUL
Published: March 2013

Triggered by the recent inquiries into the Fukushima nuclear disaster, this article reflects on the challenges of developing and operating risk regulation and crisis management regimes in an era of highly complex and tightly interconnected socio‐technical systems. These challenges are not just technical and professional but fundamentally institutional and cultural. The article identifies three key paradoxes and challenges of contemporary risk and crisis management, signals a range of recurrent problems in governments' efforts to cope with these challenges, problematizes current patterns of societal learning from crises, and sketches an agenda for public administration research in this area.
Relation between sleep status of preterm infants aged 1–2 years and mothers’ parenting stress
Authors: Asaka Yoko , Takada Satoshi
Published: March 2013

Background

The aim of this study was to compare infants’ sleep measures through an actigraph and maternal parenting stress among preterm and full‐term mothers, and to explore the factors affecting maternal parenting stress in relation to infants’ sleep.

Methods

The subjects were 44 pairs of mothers and children. Twenty‐one were in the preterm group, and 23 were in the full‐term group. Inclusion criteria for preterm infants were born at less than 36 weeks and birthweight of less than 2500 g. The Parenting Stress Index (PSI) Short Form assesses maternal perception of the degree of parenting stress: the children's domain, and the parent's domain. An actigraph was applied to assess the infants’ sleep measures.

Results

The PSI showed significant differences, with high scores in parenting stress in the preterm group. Also, the number of mothers who complained about their infant's sleep issues was significantly higher in the preterm group. Most of the sleep measures showed improvement by their age in both preterm and full‐term infants. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sleep efficiency, longest sleep duration at nighttime accounted for 71% of stress in the children's domain of the PSI of the preterm group.

Conclusion

The parenting stress among mothers of preterm infants was significantly higher than that of mothers of full‐term infants. The mothers of preterm infants were concerned about their infant's nocturnal sleep quality.
Different Strokes for Different Folks: The Impact of Sex Dissimilarity in the Empowerment–Performance Relationship
Authors: Avery Derek R. , Wang Mo , Volpone Sabrina D. , Zhou Le
Published: March 2013

Organizations often utilize empowerment as a way to bolster performance. It is largely assumed, however, that its impact in this capacity is equivalent across organizational members. We tested this notion within a sample of 420 employees belonging to 75 teams in a Chinese organization and found that team empowerment related positively to supervisor‐rated in‐role and self‐rated extra‐role performance through its effect on individual psychological empowerment. More important, employee–coworker demographic dissimilarity moderated both stages of this indirect relationship. Specifically, when employee–coworker sex dissimilarity was higher, the following relationships were attenuated: (a) team empowerment–individual empowerment, (b) individual empowerment–in‐role performance, and (c) individual empowerment–extra–role performance. Collectively, the results illustrate that the impact of empowerment is contingent upon demographic dissimilarity.
A Meta‐Analytic Investigation of the Within‐Person Self‐Efficacy Domain: Is Self‐Efficacy a Product of Past Performance or a Driver of Future Performance?
Authors: Sitzmann Traci , Yeo Gillian
Published: March 2013

We conducted a meta‐analysis to determine whether the within‐person self‐efficacy/performance relationship is positive, negative, or null and to compare the strength of the self‐efficacy/performance and past performance/self‐efficacy within‐person relationships. The self‐efficacy/performance within‐person corrected correlation was .23 but was weak and nonsignificant (ρ = .06) when controlling for the linear trajectory, revealing that the main effect was spurious. The past performance/self‐efficacy within‐person corrected correlation was .40 and remained positive and significant (ρ = .30) when controlling for the linear trajectory. The moderator results revealed that at the within‐person level of analysis: (a) self‐efficacy had at best a moderate, positive effect on performance and a null effect under other moderating conditions (ρ ranged from –.02 to .33); (b) the main effect of past performance on self‐efficacy was stronger than the effect of self‐efficacy on performance, even in the moderating conditions that produced the strongest self‐efficacy/performance relationship; (c) the effect of past performance on self‐efficacy ranged from moderate to strong across moderating conditions and was statistically significant across performance tasks, contextual factors, and methodological moderators (ρ ranged from .18 to .52). Overall, this suggests that self‐efficacy is primarily a product of past performance rather than the driving force affecting future performance.