bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of Constituent Ingredients in Enteral Nutrition Formulas Can Make a Difference in Patient Response to Enteral Feeding
Authors: Savino Patricia
Published: August 2017

Enteral feeding is considered the preferred method for providing a complete or supplemental source of nutrition to patients. Enteral formulas (EFs) are traditionally assessed from general information provided by the manufacturer such as caloric density, percentage of macronutrients, and micronutrients to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Sometimes labeling information highlights particular ingredients to indicate specific properties at a metabolic or nutrition level. However, it is necessary to review the quality and composition of any enteral formula, since the basic components are responsible for tolerance and nutrition efficacy, and this should not be overshadowed by the benefit of a single constituent. Intolerance to EF is commonly attributed to individual patient response or to the means of administration. The objective of this review is to highlight the importance of appraising EFs with regard to composition and effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Review of experimental Richtmyer–Meshkov instability in shock tube: From simple to complex
Authors: Zhai Zhigang , Zou Liyong , Wu Qiang , Luo Xisheng
Published: August 2017

Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instability is regarded as a central role for understanding the hydrodynamic processes involved in inertial confinement fusion, supersonic combustion and supernova explosion. Because of its academic implication and engineering applications, the RM instability has received much attention since it was proposed. As an important tool for studying RM instability, shock tube experiment on shock–fluid interface interaction has been widely adopted and great progress has been achieved in past decades. The generation of a shock wave, the formation of an initial interface and the diagnostic of flow field are the three elements for studying the RM instability experimentally. This review surveys the advances in experimental investigations of RM instability in shock tube environment. Originating from a simple configuration as a planar shock interacting with a simple perturbed interface, the experimental study of RM instability approaches more complex situations like a convergent shock with a simple interface, or a planar shock with a complex interface. It is then expected that the experimental study on the real circumstance may be realized by using a complex shock with a complex interface. Finally, we propose the following issues for future study: (1) evolution of the RM instability induced by cylindrically converging shock waves; (2) effect of the three dimensions on the RM instability; (3) interaction of perturbed shock wave with an initially uniform or perturbed interface; and (4) formation and mixing mechanism of the compressible turbulence in the final stage of the RM instability.
The Challenges of Mobilizing Workers on Gender Issues: Lessons from Two Studies on the Occupational Health of Teachers in Québec: Les défis de mobiliser les travailleur.ses sur la question du genre: Constats issus de deux recherches portant sur la santé au travail d'enseignant.es du Québec
Authors: Riel Jessica , Major Marie-Eve
Published: August 2017

In partnership with the largest teachers’ union confederation in Québec ( Centrale des syndicats du Québec), two qualitative research studies that integrate gender were conducted in the teaching community. These ergonomic studies advocated a participatory approach involving interviews and observations with high school teachers (thirty-five) and female teachers responsible for vocational training in trades with predominantly male clientele (twelve). The results revealed that gender influences work success by reducing the operational leeway available for female teachers to carry out their work and protect their health. In both studies, it was difficult to discuss these results with the teachers, especially with female teachers. Resistance, even denial, was present among high school teachers, while, in vocational training, resignation and a feeling of helplessness were observed. These reactions demonstrate that taking gender into account in prevention poses particular challenges that need to be addressed in order to promote equality between women and men in workplaces.
Peculiarities of feline hyperadrenocorticism: Update on diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Boland Lara A , Barrs Vanessa R
Published: August 2017

Practical relevance:

Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is a relatively uncommon endocrinopathy of older cats, with a mean age at diagnosis of 10 years. In addition to pituitary-dependent and adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism, clinical signs of HAC can result from adrenal sex steroid-producing tumours.

Clinical challenges:

While HAC in cats has many similarities to canine HAC, there are key differences in presentation, diagnosis and response to therapy. Most, but not all, cats with HAC have concurrent diabetes mellitus, which is often insulin resistant. Up to a third of cats with HAC have extreme skin fragility and are at high risk of debilitating iatrogenic skin tears during diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. Infections of the skin and nail beds, and urinary, respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, secondary to cortisol-induced immune suppression, are also common. Cats respond differently to dogs to adrenal function tests including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests; a 10-fold higher dose of dexamethasone is recommended in cats to screen for HAC. Curative treatment options include adrenalectomy or transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. Radiation or medical treatment may improve clinical signs. The response to mitotane therapy is poor. While trilostane is the medical treatment of choice based on retrospective studies, investigations into the pharmacokinetics of this drug in cats are lacking.

Global importance:

Feline HAC occurs worldwide and is not associated with any purebreed predisposition. Although uncommon, adrenal sex steroid-producing tumours have a higher prevalence in cats than in dogs.

Evidence base:

The information in this review is drawn from over 180 reported cases of feline HAC. Reports investigating clinical presentation, clinicopathological findings and treatment outcomes are observational, retrospective multiple case series (EBM grade III) or single case reports (EBM grade IV). While most endocrine testing studies for diagnosis are cohort controlled analytical studies (EBM grade III), prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled studies have been performed (EBM grade I).
Skin as a marker of general feline health: Cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease
Authors: Vogelnest Linda J
Published: August 2017

Practical relevance:

Although most skin lesions occur due to diseases primarily affecting the skin, some reflect important systemic diseases. Such lesions may relate directly to the systemic disease, or may occur due to secondary skin diseases that develop because of immunosuppression. Early recognition of skin changes as a marker of systemic disease will maximise patient outcomes.

Clinical challenges:

In older or clearly debilitated cats presenting with skin disease, the potential for underlying systemic disease is often readily apparent. Similarly, cats presenting with severe ulcerative or multifocal nodular skin lesions, or with concurrent signs of systemic illness, will more instinctively prompt systemic evaluation. More challenging is the cat presenting with alopecic, scaling, erythemic and/or mildly crusted skin disease, with or without pruritus; hypersensitivities and infectious dermatoses are the most common considerations, but occasionally systemic disease underlies the skin changes. Knowing when screening laboratory testing, body imaging or other systemic diagnostics are indicated is not always straightforward.

Evidence base:

This article reviews cutaneous presentations of systemic diseases reported in the veterinary literature, and discusses important differential diagnoses. The author draws on clinical experience, published data on disease prevalence and case evaluations, and expert opinions on approach to common systemic problems to provide guidance on when investigation for underlying systemic disease is most appropriate.
Naturally occurring antibodies in cats against dog erythrocyte antigens and vice versa
Authors: Priolo Vito , Masucci Marisa , Spada Eva , Proverbio Daniela , Pennisi Maria Grazia
Published: August 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of naturally occurring antibodies against canine erythrocyte antigens in cats and vice versa. The influence of canine and feline blood type on cross-match results was also studied.

Methods

Blood samples from 34 cats and 42 dogs were used to perform test tube major and minor cross-match tests and blood typing. Blood from each cat was cross-matched with blood from 2–6 dogs, for a total of 111 cross-match tests. Haemolysis, macro- and microagglutination were considered markers of a positive cross-match.

Results

Eighty-three overall major cross-match tests were positive at 37°C, 86 at room temperature and 90 at 4°C. The minor cross-match tests were positive in all but two cross-matches performed at 37°C, all tests performed at room temperature and all but one test performed at 4°C. No cats tested totally negative at both major and minor cross-matches performed with samples from any single dog. Prevalence of warm natural antibodies against canine erythrocyte antigens was lower in type B cats than in type A cats, regardless of the blood type of donor dogs.

Conclusions and relevance

This study reveals a high prevalence of naturally occurring antibodies in cats against dog erythrocyte antigens and vice versa, and suggests that transfusion of cats with canine blood is not recommended as a routine procedure owing to the potential high risk of either acute severe or milder transfusion reactions.
Impact of stressful death or divorce in people with HIV: A prospective examination and the buffering effects of religious coping and social support
Authors: Ironson Gail , Henry Sarah M , Gonzalez Brian D
Published: August 2017

This study examined the impact of a stressful death/divorce on psychological and immune outcomes in people with HIV. People with HIV with stressful death/divorce were examined from before the event to up to 12 months later ( n = 45); controls were assessed at similar intervals ( n = 112). Stressful deaths/divorces were associated with increased viral load and anxiety over time ( ps ≤ .014), but not CD4+ or depression. Increased use of religious coping after the stressful death/divorce was associated with slower increases in viral load ( p = .010). These data suggest people with HIV should consider the potentially elevated risk of transmission after such events and seek appropriate monitoring and care.
Performance of bi-directional elliptical rolling rods for base isolation of buildings under near-fault earthquakes
Authors: Rawat Aruna , Ummer Naseef , Matsagar Vasant
Published: August 2017

Rolling base isolation system provides effective isolation to the structures from seismic base excitations by virtue of its low frictional resistance. Herein, dynamic analysis of flexible-shear type multi-storey building mounted on orthogonally placed elliptical rolling rod base isolation systems subjected to bi-directional components of near-fault earthquake ground motions is presented. The orthogonally placed rods would make it possible to resist the earthquake forces induced in the structure in both the horizontal directions. The curved surface of these elliptical rods has a self-restoring capability due to which the magnitude of peak isolator displacement and residual displacement is reduced. The roughness of the tempered curved surface of the rollers dissipates energy in motion due to frictional damping. The seismic performance of the multi-storey building mounted on the elliptical rolling rod base isolation system is compared with that mounted on the sliding pure-friction and cylindrical rolling rod systems. Parametric studies are conducted to examine the behavior of the building for different superstructure flexibilities, eccentricities of the elliptical rod, and coefficients of friction. It is concluded that the elliptical rolling rod base isolation system is effective in mitigation of damaging effects of the near-fault earthquake ground motions in the multi-storey buildings. Even under the near-fault earthquake ground motions, the base-isolated building mounted on the elliptical rolling rods shows considerable reduction in seismic response. The isolator displacement with the elliptical rolling rod base isolation system is less in comparison to the pure-friction and cylindrical rolling rod systems.
Fuzzy inference system for the assessment of indoor environmental quality in a room
Authors: Jabłoński Karol , Grychowski Tomasz
Published: August 2017

The aim of the project presented in this article was to design a system which allows for assessment of indoor environmental conditions, with a special consideration regarding the comfort of occupants. The system consists of two microprocessor devices with numerous sensors, as well as a PC application which includes fuzzy inference module. Fuzzy inference algorithm allows for comfort assessment based on data gathered by sensors. It can also help to analyse the efficiency of HVAC systems. The article includes description of the system's functions and selection criteria for sensors taking into account of measurands. Also described in this paper is the construction of knowledge base, based on information from environmental standards and experts' statements. The constructed system was tested and examined, to confirm its application in practical comfort assessment and to highlight the advantages of using fuzzy logic in the process of analysing measured parameters and inference, which captures the way living beings process data.
The effect of social media multitasking on classroom performance
Authors: Demirbilek Muhammet , Talan Tarik
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether off-task multitasking activities with mobile technologies, specifically social networking sites and short messaging services, used during real-time lectures have an effect on grade performance in higher education students. Two experimental groups and one control group were used in this research. While participants in experimental groups 1 and 2 were allowed to navigate Facebook and to exchange short messaging service messages via mobile phones during real time in class lecturing, the control group participants were allowed to take notes using only pen and paper in the same lecturing conditions during three consecutive experimental sessions. The results showed that when students were given the opportunity of non-lecture-related multitasking using mobile phones writing/sending short messaging services and looking at Facebook profiles/reading news feed/looking at shared multimedia/reading wall messages during the lecture, their grade performance was hindered compared to traditional pen and paper note-taking. Engaging in social media use while trying to follow instruction may reduce learners’ capacity for cognitive processing causing poor academic performance.
Random-vibration-based damage detection and precise localization on a lab–scale aircraft stabilizer structure via the Generalized Functional Model Based Method
Authors: Sakaris Christos S , Sakellariou John S , Fassois Spilios D
Published: August 2017

The problem of random-vibration-based damage diagnosis, including detection and localization, for a lab–scale aircraft stabilizer structure is addressed. Diagnosis is based on the recently introduced Generalized Functional Model Based Method, which utilizes a simple data-based model – instead of large-scale finite element type models – in the inspection phase and is capable of estimating the damage coordinates and their uncertainty region. The focus of the work is on assessing the achievable detection performance and localization accuracy under constraints on the number of deployed sensors and the excitation bandwidth, both reflecting practical limitations relating to potential in-flight implementation. The damage scenarios simulate local stiffness reduction via the addition of a small mass at any point on the structure. While the method has been recently employed with structures consisting of one-dimensional elements, it is presently and for the first time challenged with the considerably more complex problem of damage localization on a two-dimensional structural element. The method’s details, including the transformation of functional boundary constraints into simple ones within the context of the associated optimization problem, are illustrated. The results obtained with a large number of experiments, using only two vibration sensors and limited, low-frequency signal bandwidth, demonstrate excellent damage detection and remarkably accurate localization, thus indicating the method’s high potential for effective damage diagnosis.
Self-Awareness for Memory Impairment in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Cova Ilaria , Grande Giulia , Cucumo Valentina , Ghiretti Roberta , Maggiore Laura , Galimberti Daniela , Scarpini Elio , Mariani Claudio , Pomati Simone
Published: August 2017

Aim:

To assess memory impairment insight as a predictor of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods:

To verify whether the awareness of memory impairment assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was associated with the risk of progression to dementia and AD in a cohort of MCI, we used a Cox regression model adjusted for age, sex, education, subtypes of amnestic MCI, Mini-Mental State Examination, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale severity index, and apolipoprotein E genotype.

Results:

During a follow-up of 27.7 (20.8) months, 205 (63.3%) of 324 patients with amnestic MCI progressed to dementia, including 141 to AD. No association was found in the unadjusted, partially adjusted (for sociodemographic variables), and fully adjusted multivariate Cox analysis between the awareness of memory impairment and the progression to dementia and AD.

Discussion:

Awareness or anosognosia of memory deficits, identified by GDS, is not useful to predict progression to dementia of patients with amnestic MCI.
International Ballroom Dancing Against Neurodegeneration: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Greek Community-Dwelling Elders With Mild Cognitive impairment
Authors: Lazarou Ioulietta , Parastatidis Themis , Tsolaki Anthoula , Gkioka Mara , Karakostas Anastasios , Douka Stella , Tsolaki Magda
Published: August 2017

Background:

Many studies have highlighted the positive effects of dance in people with neurodegenerative diseases.

Objectives:

To explore the effects of International Ballroom Dancing on cognitive function in elders with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

Methods:

One-hundred twenty-nine elderly patients with aMCI diagnosis (mean age 66.8 ± 10.1 years) were randomly assigned into 2 groups: intervention group (IG, n = 66) and control group (CG, n = 63). The IG exercised systematically for 10 months, and both groups were submitted to extensive neuropsychological assessment prior and after the 10-month period.

Results:

According to the independent sample t test at the follow-up, significant differences between groups were found in benefit of the IG while the CG showed worse performance in the majority of neuropsychological tests. According to the Student t test, better performance is detected in IG in contrast with CG, which had worse performance almost in all scales.

Conclusion:

Dance may be an important nonpharmacological approach that can benefit cognitive functions.
Research on folding suspension of multi-constrained rover based on the variation and fusion of rods and pairs
Authors: Yang Fei , Yue Honghao , Li Meng , Tao Jianguo , Deng Zongquan
Published: August 2017

Planetary rovers with folding functions can solve the contradiction between the limited space of the vehicle and the functional diversity of the rover and greatly improve the efficiency–cost ratio of space launch activities. In this article, the multi-constrained quadrilateral suspension is considered based on the practical requirements of planetary detection. Based on graph theory and metamorphic theory, the structural characteristics and movement patterns of the rover are analyzed, the configuration transforming process of adding or decreasing the number of rods and kinematic pairs during folding is studied, and the corresponding mathematical model is established. The suspension of the rover is divided into three basic units, and the folding study is performed around each unit. The folding set of each unit type is given, and a feasible folding set is selected for each type of unit according to their structural characteristics and constraint conditions. At the same time, 15-folding schemes for the rover are given, and the optimal scheme is determined. According to the final folding scheme of the rover, the principle prototype of the rover is developed, and the functional experiment of the folding and unfolding is performed. The experimental results verify the feasibility and rationality of the folding scheme, indicating that the developed detection vehicle has a large fold ratio, which can fully adapt to the limited space inside the rocket. The theoretical and technical results can provide technical support for the engineering application of subsequent rovers with folding.
Assessing a smartphone application to measure counter-movement jumps in recreational athletes
Authors: Driller Matthew , Tavares Francisco , McMaster Daniel , O’Donnell Shannon
Published: August 2017

The use of counter-movement jumps as a measure of neuromuscular performance in athletes has become common in the sport setting. Accurate methods of measuring jump parameters are often expensive, difficult to transport and require expert knowledge. A new smartphone application ( My Jump) claims to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing jump height but is yet to be evaluated by independent researchers. Sixty-one recreational athletes (30 male/31 female, mean ± SD; age: 20 ± 4 years) each performed three counter-movement jumps (totalling 183 jumps) on a force plate following a standardised warm-up. All jumps were recorded using an iPhone 6 s and analysed for jump height (m) and flight time (s) using the My Jump application. Jumps were compared between a force plate and My Jump for validity with inter-scorer reliability also assessed. Results show that My Jump is valid (mean bias = 0.9 cm, r = 0.96) and reliable (typical error of estimate = 1.4 cm) for assessing jump performance in recreational athletes using an iPhone 6 s with a 240 Hz high-speed camera. My Jump is a cost-effective and easy-to-use alternative for measuring vertical jump performance without the need for specialist equipment or expertise.
Assessing and predicting drug-induced anticholinergic risks: an integrated computational approach
Authors: Xu Dong , Anderson Heather D. , Tao Aoxiang , Hannah Katia L. , Linnebur Sunny A. , Valuck Robert J. , Culbertson Vaughn L.
Published: August 2017

Background:

Anticholinergic (AC) adverse drug events (ADEs) are caused by inhibition of muscarinic receptors as a result of designated or off-target drug–receptor interactions. In practice, AC toxicity is assessed primarily based on clinician experience. The goal of this study was to evaluate a novel concept of integrating big pharmacological and healthcare data to assess clinical AC toxicity risks.

Methods:

AC toxicity scores (ATSs) were computed using drug–receptor inhibitions identified through pharmacological data screening. A longitudinal retrospective cohort study using medical claims data was performed to quantify AC clinical risks. ATS was compared with two previously reported toxicity measures. A quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model was established for rapid assessment and prediction of AC clinical risks.

Results:

A total of 25 common medications, and 575,228 exposed and unexposed patients were analyzed. Our data indicated that ATS is more consistent with the trend of AC outcomes than other toxicity methods. Incorporating drug pharmacokinetic parameters to ATS yielded a QSAR model with excellent correlation to AC incident rate ( R2 = 0.83) and predictive performance (cross validation Q2 = 0.64). Good correlation and predictive performance ( R2 = 0.68/ Q2 = 0.29) were also obtained for an M2 receptor-specific QSAR model and tachycardia, an M2 receptor-specific ADE.

Conclusions:

Albeit using a small medication sample size, our pilot data demonstrated the potential and feasibility of a new computational AC toxicity scoring approach driven by underlying pharmacology and big data analytics. Follow-up work is under way to further develop the ATS scoring approach and clinical toxicity predictive model using a large number of medications and clinical parameters.
Typhoid and Scrub Typhus Coinfection in a Returned Traveler
Authors: Seow Christopher Wen-Xing , Logarajah Veena , Tan Natalie Woon Hui
Published: August 2017

This is a case report of a 12-year-old returned traveler with typhoid and scrub typhus coinfection. The diagnosis of typhoid was made early with blood cultures and Widal Weil Felix serology. Persistent fever despite appropriate antibiotics for typhoid fever prompted a search for concomitant infection, which led to the diagnosis of scrub typhus confirmed by Orientia tsutsugamushi serology. The patient was given doxycycline with good clinical response. Scrub typhus infection should be an early consideration in the differential diagnoses of fever in a returned traveler from regions where it is endemic. Coinfections should be taken into consideration particularly when fever or symptoms persist despite adequate therapy for a previously identified microorganism.
A quasi-equilibrium approach for market clearing in land use microsimulations
Authors: Hurtubia Ricardo , Martinez Francisco Javier , Bierlaire Michel
Published: August 2017

A method for market clearing in land use models with a microsimulation approach for location choice of agents is proposed. The method, based on the Bid-auction theory and random utility models, assumes that agents individually adjust their perceived expected utility by observing market prices before entering auctions for a real estate good, hence modifying their overall willingness to pay for locations. The adjustment translates into a correction of each agent’s bid level that follows the direction of supply-demand equilibrium, as they attempt to ensure their location. In each period, auctions for each available real estate good are simulated and prices are computed as the expected maximum bid of all agents in the market. The proposed method is tested for the city of Brussels, validated against real data and compared with results obtained when the bid adjustment is not included. Simulation results reproduce price trends that were observed in reality between the year 2001 and 2008, outperforming results obtained without a quasi-equilibrium bid adjustment approach. The proposed method is feasible to be implemented in large scale microsimulations and agent-based models because it does not require solving large fixed-point equilibrium problems.
Risk of tuberculosis in patients with solid cancers and haematological malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dobler Claudia C. , Cheung Kelvin , Nguyen John , Martin Andrew
Published: August 2017

There is uncertainty regarding whether patients with cancer should be screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the relative incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in cancer.

We searched MEDLINE and Embase for studies published before December 21, 2016. We included studies that evaluated the incidence of TB in patients with solid cancers and haematological malignancies relative to a reference group (study control or general population). A pooled estimate of the incidence rate ratio (IRR) was obtained using standard meta-analysis methods.

The search strategy identified 13 unique studies including 921 464 patients with cancer. The IRR of TB for adult patients with cancer was 2.61 (95% CI 2.12–3.22;I2=91%). In haematological cancers, the IRR was 3.53 (95% CI 1.63–7.64;I2=96%); and in solid cancers in adults, it was 2.25 (95% CI 1.96–2.58;I2=91%). The highest IRR was found in children with haematological malignancies or solid cancers (IRR 16.82, 95% CI 8.81–32.12;I2=79%).

Considering the limited duration of maximum immunosuppression in cancer and reduced cumulative lifetime risk of TB because of reduced life expectancy, children, but not adults, appear to be at a sufficient level of risk to warrant systematic screening for LTBI.
Correlating pre‐operative MRI measurements of metatarsal Osteomyelitis with surgical clean margins reveals the need for a one centimeter resection margin
Authors: Bernstein Brent , Stouder Melody , Bronfenbrenner Eric , Chen Steven , Anderson David
Published: August 2017

Background

Due to the high incidence of forefoot ulcerations with associated osteomyelitis, there has been an increased demand for partial ray amputations. In order to ensure complete removal of infected metatarsal bone, a clean margin amount is chosen based on the surgeon's intraoperative visual subjective evaluation. The margin is resected and sent to pathology. Currently the literature shows positive proximal margin rates of 35–40%. The purpose of this study was to reduce the rate of positive proximal margins by effectively resecting all infected bone using pre‐operative MRI measurements with an added resection margin.

Methods

Twenty‐four osteomyelitis positive metatarsals were included in this exploratory study. The distance of proximal osteomyelitic extension within the metatarsal was measured on MRI in centimeters. Intra‐operatively, the partial ray amputation cut was determined by adding an extra 0.5 cm resection margin to the MRI measurement. At the study's mid‐point, bone histopathology revealed an increase in positive proximal margin rates‐so the resection margin was increased to 1 cm. Descriptive outcomes included the mean distance of osteomyelitis propagation, proximal margin rates, as well as diagnostic statistics.

Results

After removing the specimens with false positive MRI results, the study sample included 21 metatarsals positive for osteomyelitis. A 0.5 cm resection margin proximal to the osteomyelitis resulted in a 50% positive proximal margin rate. After increasing the resection margin to 1 cm, there was found to be an improved positive proximal margin rate of 9%. Based on MRI findings, the mean distance + standard deviation of osteomyelitis propagation along the metatarsal proximally was 1.81 cm + 0.74 cm. The metatarsal specimen was processed by pathology into multiple pieces and compared to MRI, resulting in MRI sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 74%, positive predictive value of 79%, and negative predictive value of 60%.

Conclusions

By performing a 1 cm resection margin proximal to the metatarsal osteomyelitis the proximal margin rate was reduced to clinically meaningful levels. These preliminary findings support using a 1 cm resection margin when performing any form of metatarsal amputation, to reduce the risk of residual osteomyelitis post‐operatively.

Trial registration

St. Luke's Hospital, IRB National Protocol ID SLHN2015–112. Date:1–13‐16.
Monitoring of the daily living activities in smart home care
Authors: Vanus Jan , Belesova Jana , Martinek Radek , Nedoma Jan , Fajkus Marcel , Bilik Petr , Zidek Jan
Published: August 2017

One of the key requirements for technological systems that are used to secure independent housing for seniors in their home environment is monitoring of daily living activities (ADL), their classification, and recognition of routine daily patterns and habits of seniors in Smart Home Care (SHC). To monitor daily living activities, the use of a temperature, CO2, humidity sensors, and microphones are described in experiments in this study. The first part of the paper describes the use of CO2 concentration measurement for detecting and monitoring room´s occupancy in SHC. In second part focuses this paper on the proposal of an implementation of Artificial Neural Network based on the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LMA) for the detection of human presence in a room of SHC with the use of predictive calculation of CO2 concentrations from obtained measurements of temperature (indoor, outdoor) Ti, To and relative air humidity rH. Based on the long-term monitoring (1 month) of operational and technical functions (unregulated, uncontrolled) in an experimental Smart Home (SH), LMA was trained through the data picked up by the sensors of CO2, T and rH with the aim to indirectly predict CO2 leading to the elimination of CO2 sensor from the measurement process. Within the realized experiment, input parameters of the neuronal network and the number of neurons for LMA were optimized on the basis of calculated values of Root Mean Squared Error, the correlative coefficient (R) and the length of the measured training time ANN. With the use of the trained network ANN, we realized a strictly controlled short-term (11 h) experiment without the use of CO2 sensor. Experimental results verified high method accuracy (>95%) within the short-term and long-term experiments for learned ANN (1.6.2015–30.6.2015). For learned ANN (1.2.2014–27.2.2014) was verified worse method accuracy (>60%). The original contribution is a verification of a low-cost method for the detection of human presence in the real operating environment of SHC. In the third part of the paper is described the practical implementation of voice control of operating technical functions by the KNX technology in SHC by means of the in-house developed application HESTIA, intended for both the desktop system version and the mobile version of the Windows 10 operating system for mobile phones. The resultant application can be configured for any building equipped with the KNX bus system. Voice control implementation is an in-house solution, no third-party software is used here. Utilization of the voice communication application in SHC was proven on the experimental basis with the combination of measurement CO2 for ADL monitoring in SHC.
Leveraging Mobile Technology to Improve Efficiency of the Consent-to-Treatment Process
Authors: Chhin Veng , Roussos Jerry , Michaelson Terry , Bana Mazaheer , Bezjak Andrea , Foxcroft Sophie , Hamilton Jasmine L. , Liu Fei-Fei
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This study reports on the implementation of an electronic consent-to-treatment system (e-Consent) in a busy radiation medicine program and compares it with the previous paper-based method of documenting patient consent.

Methods

A password-protected, electronic, e-Consent application was designed in-house and installed on iPad devices to document patient consent for radiation therapy treatments. A feasibility study, followed by a program-wide deployment of e-Consent, was executed. The effectiveness and impact of e-Consent on workflow were determined by comparing the number of problems arising from the paper-based consenting method with those from the e-Consent process. Staff satisfaction and perceived impact of e-Consent on workflow were determined by a program-wide survey of e-Consent users.

Results

The e-Consent completion rate was 94.2% (5,600 of 5,943 forms) 1 year after implementation, indicating successful uptake at the program level. Although the paper-based method of documenting patient consent was associated with an error rate of 7% (24 of 343 forms), e-Consent was associated with an error rate of 0.32% (18 of 5,600 forms) 1 year after deployment. Results of a 10-item e-Consent user survey indicated improvement in staff workflow and high overall satisfaction with e-Consent.

Conclusion

e-Consent is more efficient than paper-based methods for documenting patient consent. Moreover, replacing paper-based consent methods with an electronic version facilitated an improved workflow and staff satisfaction. Efforts aimed at implementing e-Consent throughout the entire cancer program are currently underway.
Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Among Senior Medicare Beneficiaries Treated With Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Baik Seo Hyon , Kury Fabricio Sampaio Peres , McDonald Clement Joseph
Published: August 2017

Purpose

To assess the relative risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) among patients with prostate cancer who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), after adjustment for other cancer therapies.

Methods

Data from demographics, survival, diagnoses codes, procedure codes, and other information about beneficiaries age 67 years or older in the Medicare claims database was assessed to determine the unadjusted and adjusted risks of AD and of dementia from ADT. The prespecified survival analysis method was competing risk regression.

Results

Of the 1.2 million fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who developed prostate cancer in 2001 to 2014, 35% received ADT. Of these, 109,815 (8.9%) and 223,765 (18.8%) developed AD and dementia, respectively, and 26% to 33% died without either outcome. Unadjusted rates of AD and all-cause mortality per 1,000 patient-years were higher among ADT recipients; the unadjusted rates of AD were 17.0 and 15.5 per 1,000 person-years in recipients and nonrecipients, respectively, and the unadjusted rates of all-cause mortality were 73.0 and 51.6 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. The unadjusted rates for dementia in ADT recipients versus nonrecipients were 38.5 and 32.9, respectively, and the unadjusted rates of mortality were 60.2 versus 40.4, respectively. However, after analysis was adjusted for other cancer therapies and other covariates, patients with ADT treatment had no increased risk of AD (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97 to 0.99) and had only a miniscule (1%) risk of dementia (SHR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.02); patients treated with ADT were more likely to die before progression to AD (SHR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.24) or dementia (SHR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.26). The risks of AD and dementia were not associated with duration of ADT (ie, no dose effect). Other secondary analyses confirmed these results.

Conclusion

These data suggest that ADT treatment has no hazard for AD and no meaningful hazard for dementia among men age 67 years or older who are enrolled in Medicare.
Molecular regulation of high muscle mass in developing Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle fetuses
Authors: Cassar-Malek Isabelle , Boby Céline , Picard Brigitte , Reverter Antonio , Hudson Nicholas J.
Published: August 2017

The Blonde d'Aquitaine (BA) is a French cattle breed with enhanced muscularity, partly attributable to a MSTN mutation. The BA m. Semitendinosus has a faster muscle fibre isoform phenotype comprising a higher proportion of fast type IIX fibres compared to age matched Charolais (CH). To better understand the molecular network of modifications in BA compared to CH muscle, we assayed the transcriptomes of the m. Semitendinosus at 110, 180, 210 and 260 days post conception (dpc). We used a combination of differential expression (DE) and Regulatory Impact Factors (RIF) to compare and contrast muscle gene expression between the breeds. Prominently developmentally regulated genes in both breeds reflected the replacement of embryonic myosin isoforms (MYL4, MYH3) with adult isoforms (MYH1) and the upregulation of mitochondrial metabolism (CKMT2, AGXT2L1) in preparation for birth. In contrasting the breeds, the transition to a fast, glycolytic muscle phenotype in the MSTN mutant BA is detectable through downregulation of various slow twitch subunits (TNNC1, MYH7, TPM3, CSRP3) beyond 210 dpc and a small but consistent genome-wide reduction in mRNA encoding the mitoproteome. Across the breeds NRIP2 is the regulatory gene possessing a network change most similar to that of MSTN.
Tbx1 and Jag1 act in concert to modulate the fate of neurosensory cells of the mouse otic vesicle
Authors: Macchiarulo Stephania , Morrow Bernice E.
Published: August 2017

The domain within the otic vesicle (OV) known as the neurosensory domain (NSD), contains cells that will give rise to the hair and support cells of the otic sensory organs, as well as the neurons that form the cochleovestibular ganglion (CVG). The molecular dynamics that occur at the NSD boundary relative to adjacent OV cells is not well defined. The Tbx1 transcription factor gene expression pattern is complementary to the NSD, and inactivation results in an expansion of the NSD and expression of the Notch ligand, Jag1 mapping, in part to the NSD. To shed light on the role of Jag1 in NSD development, as well as test whether Tbx1 and Jag1 might genetically interact to regulate this process, we inactivated Jag1 within the Tbx1 expression domain using a knock-in Tbx1Cre allele. We observed an enlarged neurogenic domain marked by a synergistic increase in expression of NeuroD and other proneural transcription factor genes in double Tbx1 and Jag1 conditional loss-of-function embryos. We noted that neuroblasts preferentially expanded across the medial-lateral axis and that an increase in cell proliferation could not account for this expansion, suggesting that there was a change in cell fate. We also found that inactivation of Jag1 with Tbx1Cre resulted in failed development of the cristae and semicircular canals, as well as notably fewer hair cells in the ventral epithelium of the inner ear rudiment when inactivated on a Tbx1 null background, compared to Tbx1Cre/- mutant embryos. We propose that loss of expression of Tbx1 and Jag1 within the Tbx1 expression domain tips the balance of cell fates in the NSD resulting in an overproduction of neuroblasts at the expense of non-neural cells within the OV.
A PGAM5–KEAP1–Nrf2 complex is required for stress-induced mitochondrial retrograde trafficking
Authors: O'Mealey Gary B. , Plafker Kendra S. , Berry William L. , Janknecht Ralf , Chan Jefferson Y. , Plafker Scott M.
Published: August 2017

The Nrf2 transcription factor is a master regulator of the cellular anti-stress response. A population of the transcription factor associates with the mitochondria through a complex with KEAP1 and the mitochondrial outer membrane histidine phosphatase, PGAM5. To determine the function of this mitochondrial complex, we knocked down each component and assessed mitochondrial morphology and distribution. We discovered that depletion of Nrf2 or PGAM5, but not KEAP1, inhibits mitochondrial retrograde trafficking induced by proteasome inhibition. Mechanistically, this disrupted motility results from aberrant degradation of Miro2, a mitochondrial GTPase that links mitochondria to microtubules. Rescue experiments demonstrate that this Miro2 degradation involves the KEAP1–cullin-3 E3 ubiquitin ligase and the proteasome. These data are consistent with a model in which an intact complex of PGAM5–KEAP1–Nrf2 preserves mitochondrial motility by suppressing dominant-negative KEAP1 activity. These data further provide a mechanistic explanation for how age-dependent declines in Nrf2 expression impact mitochondrial motility and induce functional deficits commonly linked to neurodegeneration.
Beneficial effects of a heat wave: higher growth and immune components driven by a higher food intake
Authors: Van Dievel Marie , Stoks Robby , Janssens Lizanne
Published: August 2017

While heat waves will become more frequent and intense under global warming, the ability of species to deal with extreme weather events is poorly understood. We investigated how a heat wave influenced growth rate and investment in two immune components (phenoloxidase activity and melanin content) in larvae of two damselfly species, Ischnura elegans and Enallagma cyathigerum. Late instar larvae were kept at 18°C (i.e. their average natural water temperatures) or at a simulated long heat wave at 30°C. To explain the heat wave effects, we quantified traits related to energy uptake (food intake and growth efficiency), energy expenditure (metabolic rate measured as activity of the electron transport system, ETS) and investment in energy storage (fat content). The two species differed in life strategy with I. elegans having a higher growth rate, growth efficiency, ETS activity, and fat content. In line with its preference for cooler water bodies, the heat wave was only lethal for E. cyathigerum. Yet, both species benefited from the heat wave by increasing growth rate, which can be explained by the higher increase in food intake than metabolic rate. This may also have contributed to the increased investments in energy storage and immune components under the heat wave. This mediatory role of food intake indicates the critical role of food availability and behaviour in shaping the impact of heat waves. Our results highlight the importance of including behavioural and physiological variables to unravel and predict the impact of extreme climate events on organisms.
Corrosion. Methods of Corrosion Control in the Oil Industry
Authors: Нишкевич  , Nishkevich Yuriy , Тропин  , Tropin Aleksandr , Насибуллин  , Nasibullin Florid , Брычков  , Brychkov Vladimir , Гарипов  , Garipov Renat , Козлов  , Kozlov Igor'
Published: August 2017

Corrosion failure of oil field equipment not only reduces its life but also lead to frequent emergency the spout of the oil and mineralized formation water leads to pollution of the environment, and as a consequence leads annually to billions in losses. A solution to this problem is an important industry problem. The main damage caused by corrosion, is not the loss of metal itself, but in the huge cost of the equipment and products being destroyed by corrosion and environmental pollution due to emergency failures of the equipment. All these factors are forced to conduct deep fundamental research to determine the root cause of high rates of corrosion.
‘I think my son is a wonderful chap’: working-class and middle-class fathers’ narratives of their son’s ADHD diagnosis and medication
Authors: Olsvold Aina , Aarseth Helene , Bondevik Hilde
Published: August 2017

This article adds to the emergent literature on classed fathering by exploring how middle-class and working-class fathers relate to their sons’ ADHD diagnosis. The strong requirement on parents to adhere to a dominant medical discourse of ADHD is used as a case to explore how the entwinement of class and gender shape different fathering practices. The article draws on in-depth interviews with 16 fathers of boys diagnosed with ADHD. These interviews were part of a larger study including interviews with children and their mothers. All the fathers interviewed were critical of the medical understanding of their sons’ behaviour, and seemed, in different ways to defend their sons against the diagnosis and medication. However, this resistance is much clearer in the working-class fathers’ narratives than in the middle-class fathers’. We argue that classed masculinities allow these fathers to take on a love-driven identification with their sons’ problematic masculine behaviour. Seen in a wider context, the fathers’ critical voices offer considerable resistance to the medicalisation discourse, and thus also to currently dominant parenting regimes.