bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilateral comparison of cryogenic radiometers between NPL and UME, linked to the CCPR-S3 supplementary comparison
Authors: Goodman T
Published: August 2016

This report presents the results of a bilateral comparison between NPL and UME, which was carried out to establish the unilateral degrees of equivalence for UME with respect to the defined reference value of the CCPR S3 supplementary comparison of cryogenic radiometers using silicon trap detectors as transfer devices. In accordance with the protocol for the CCPR S3 comparison, UME was asked to calibrate a set of NPL supplied silicon trap transfer detectors at a series of laser wavelengths; UME chose to measure at 514.5 nm and 632.8 nm.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCPR, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Sequences of powers with second differences equal to two and hyperbolicity
Authors: Garcia-Fritz Natalia
Published: August 2016

By explicitly finding the complete set of curves of genus

0
0

or

1
1

in some surfaces of general type, we prove that under the Bombieri-Lang conjecture for surfaces, there exists an absolute bound

M
>
0

M>0

such that there are only finitely many sequences of length

M
M

formed by

k
k

-th rational powers with second differences equal to

2
2

. Moreover, we prove the unconditional analogue of this result for function fields, with

M
M

depending only on the genus of the function field. We also find new examples of Brody-hyperbolic surfaces arising from the previous arithmetic problem. Finally, under the Bombieri-Lang conjecture and the ABC-conjecture for four terms, we prove analogous results for sequences of integer powers with possibly different exponents, in which case some exceptional sequences occur.
Selective mutation accumulation: a computational model of the paternal age effect
Authors: Whelan Eoin C. , Nwala Alexander C. , Osgood Christopher , Olariu Stephan
Published: August 2016

Motivation: As the mean age of parenthood grows, the effect of parental age on genetic disease and child health becomes ever more important. A number of autosomal dominant disorders show a dramatic paternal age effect due to selfish mutations: substitutions that grant spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) a selective advantage in the testes of the father, but have a deleterious effect in offspring. In this paper we present a computational technique to model the SSC niche in order to examine the phenomenon and draw conclusions across different genes and disorders.

Results: We used a Markov chain to model the probabilities of mutation and positive selection with cell divisions. The model was fitted to available data on disease incidence and also mutation assays of sperm donors. Strength of selective advantage is presented for a range of disorders including Apert’s syndrome and achondroplasia. Incidence of the diseases was predicted closely for most disorders and was heavily influenced by the site-specific mutation rate and the number of mutable alleles. The model also successfully predicted a stronger selective advantage for more strongly activating gain-of-function mutations within the same gene. Both positive selection and the rate of copy-error mutations are important in adequately explaining the paternal age effect.

Availability and Implementation: C ++/R source codes and documentation including compilation instructions are available under GNU license at https://github.com/anwala/NicheSimulation.

Contact:  ewhel001@odu.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
H-PoP and H-PoPG: heuristic partitioning algorithms for single individual haplotyping of polyploids
Authors: Xie Minzhu , Wu Qiong , Wang Jianxin , Jiang Tao
Published: August 2016

Motivation: Some economically important plants including wheat and cotton have more than two copies of each chromosome. With the decreasing cost and increasing read length of next-generation sequencing technologies, reconstructing the multiple haplotypes of a polyploid genome from its sequence reads becomes practical. However, the computational challenge in polyploid haplotyping is much greater than that in diploid haplotyping, and there are few related methods.

Results: This article models the polyploid haplotyping problem as an optimal poly-partition problem of the reads, called the Polyploid Balanced Optimal Partition model. For the reads sequenced from a k-ploid genome, the model tries to divide the reads into k groups such that the difference between the reads of the same group is minimized while the difference between the reads of different groups is maximized. When the genotype information is available, the model is extended to the Polyploid Balanced Optimal Partition with Genotype constraint problem. These models are all NP-hard. We propose two heuristic algorithms, H-PoP and H-PoPG, based on dynamic programming and a strategy of limiting the number of intermediate solutions at each iteration, to solve the two models, respectively. Extensive experimental results on simulated and real data show that our algorithms can solve the models effectively, and are much faster and more accurate than the recent state-of-the-art polyploid haplotyping algorithms. The experiments also show that our algorithms can deal with long reads and deep read coverage effectively and accurately. Furthermore, H-PoP might be applied to help determine the ploidy of an organism.

Availability and Implementation:  https://github.com/MinzhuXie/H-PoPG

Contact:  xieminzhu@hotmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A computational strategy to adjust for copy number in tumor Hi-C data
Authors: Wu Hua-Jun , Michor Franziska
Published: August 2016

Motivation: The Hi-C technology was designed to decode the three-dimensional conformation of the genome. Despite progress towards more and more accurate contact maps, several systematic biases have been demonstrated to affect the resulting data matrix. Here we report a new source of bias that can arise in tumor Hi-C data, which is related to the copy number of genomic DNA. To address this bias, we designed a chromosome-adjusted iterative correction method called caICB. Our caICB correction method leads to significant improvements when compared with the original iterative correction in terms of eliminating copy number bias.

Availability and Implementation: The method is available at https://bitbucket.org/mthjwu/hicapp.

Contact:  michor@jimmy.harvard.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Assessment of Corn Quality for Nixtamalization: Development of a Convenient Bench‐Top Cooking Method
Authors: Sahasrabudhe Shreya N. , Ratnayake Wajira S. , Mathew John M. , Jackson David S.
Published: August 2016

A convenient small‐scale laboratory method that can be used to simultaneously analyze multiple samples was developed to rapidly assess suitability of corn for nixtamalization. This new 100 g method was developed based on a previously reported 500 g laboratory process that has been shown to mimic the industrial nixtamalization process. The two methods were compared for nixtamal moisture, dry matter loss, degree of pericarp removal, and gelatinization properties of the cooked corn. The heating and cooling profiles of the 100 g method were developed using the 500 g method, by monitoring temperature every 30 s during cooking and steeping. Nixtamalization was conducted with a 1:4 corn/water ratio, with 1% lime. A response surface central composite design was used to model a wide range of processing conditions for the two methods: cook temperature (80–95°C), cook time (3–40 min), and steep time (2–12 h). Parameter estimates and response surfaces were compared, and predictive models were fitted. The response surface models for the two methods were not significantly different for nixtamal moisture, dry matter loss, and gelatinization enthalpy; there was an overlap of the 90% Bonferroni confidence intervals (P < 0.05, r2 > 0.7). The bench‐top 100 g nixtamalization process can successfully mimic the 500 g method over a wide range of processing conditions.
Properties of Arabinoxylans in Frozen Dough Enriched with Wheat Fiber
Authors: Adams Vivian , Ragaee Sanaa , Goff H. Douglas , Abdel‐Aal El‐Sayed M.
Published: August 2016

The global market for frozen bread dough is rising; however, its quality could deteriorate during extended storage. Our previous study indicated that undesirable changes caused by freezing could be reduced by adding arabinoxylan‐rich fiber sources. The present study investigated the changes in arabinoxylan properties of yeasted dough during frozen storage. Dough samples made from refined, whole, and fiber‐enriched (15% either wheat aleurone or bran) flours were stored at –18°C for nine weeks, and structural properties of arabinoxylan were probed during storage. Water‐extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) content in dough samples increased by about 19–33% during the first three weeks of storage. Prolonged storage of dough (weeks 6 and 9), however, correlated with a decline in WEAX content. Average molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity of WEAX decreased during storage for all frozen dough samples. Arabinose‐to‐xylose ratios also decreased by 11 and 6% for control and composite dough samples, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.89, P < 0.0001) between WEAX content of dough and bread quality throughout the storage period. The results demonstrated that changes in dough quality during frozen storage were related to changes in the content and structure of WEAX that took place during frozen storage.
Effects of Cultivar, Growing Location, and Year on Physicochemical and Cooking Characteristics of Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Authors: Wang Ning , Hou Anfu , Santos Joseffus , Maximiuk Lisa
Published: August 2016

The effects of cultivar, growing location, and year on physicochemical and cooking characteristics of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were investigated, and the relationship between these characteristics was determined. Twenty dry bean cultivars and breeding lines were grown at two different locations for two consecutive years (2013 and 2014) in southern Manitoba, Canada. Results indicated that cultivar, growing location, and year had significant effects on seed weight, water hydration capacity, and cooking time of beans. Significant cultivar, location, and year variations in protein, starch, and phytic acid contents in beans were observed. Most of the traits were also significantly affected by the interactions of cultivar × location, cultivar × year, and location × year. Seed weight was negatively correlated with crude protein and ash contents but positively correlated with starch content. Cooking time was negatively correlated with protein, ash, and phytic acid contents but positively correlated with firmness. Phytic acid content in beans was positively correlated with ash content. Knowledge gained from this study will be useful to bean breeders in selecting parental lines for crossing and cultivar development in efforts to improve the quality of beans.
Plant Disease Severity Assessment—How Rater Bias, Assessment Method, and Experimental Design Affect Hypothesis Testing and Resource Use Efficiency
Authors: Chiang Kuo-Szu , Bock Clive H. , Lee I-Hsuan , El Jarroudi Moussa , Delfosse Philippe
Published: August 2016

The effect of rater bias and assessment method on hypothesis testing was studied for representative experimental designs for plant disease assessment using balanced and unbalanced data sets. Data sets with the same number of replicate estimates for each of two treatments are termed “balanced” and those with unequal numbers of replicate estimates are termed “unbalanced”. The three assessment methods considered were nearest percent estimates (NPEs), an amended 10% incremental scale, and the Horsfall-Barratt (H-B) scale. Estimates of severity of Septoria leaf blotch on leaves of winter wheat were used to develop distributions for a simulation model. The experimental designs are presented here in the context of simulation experiments which consider the optimal design for the number of specimens (individual units sampled) and the number of replicate estimates per specimen for a fixed total number of observations (total sample size for the treatments being compared). The criterion used to gauge each method was the power of the hypothesis test. As expected, at a given fixed number of observations, the balanced experimental designs invariably resulted in a higher power compared with the unbalanced designs at different disease severity means, mean differences, and variances. Based on these results, with unbiased estimates using NPE, the recommended number of replicate estimates taken per specimen is 2 (from a sample of specimens of at least 30), because this conserves resources. Furthermore, for biased estimates, an apparent difference in the power of the hypothesis test was observed between assessment methods and between experimental designs. Results indicated that, regardless of experimental design or rater bias, an amended 10% incremental scale has slightly less power compared with NPEs, and that the H-B scale is more likely than the others to cause a type II error. These results suggest that choice of assessment method, optimizing sample number and number of replicate estimates, and using a balanced experimental design are important criteria to consider to maximize the power of hypothesis tests for comparing treatments using disease severity estimates.
Effect of Vibration on Pain Response to Heel Lance
Authors: McGinnis Kate , Murray Eileen , Cherven Brooke , McCracken Courtney , Travers Curtis
Published: August 2016

Background:

Applied mechanical vibration in pediatric and adult populations has been shown to be an effective analgesic for acute and chronic pain, including needle pain. Studies among the neonatal population are lacking. According to the Gate Control Theory, it is expected that applied mechanical vibration will have a summative effect with standard nonpharmacologic pain control strategies, reducing behavioral and physiologic pain responses to heel lancing.

Purpose:

To determine the safety and efficacy of mechanical vibration for relief of heel lance pain among neonates.

Methods:

In this parallel design randomized controlled trial, eligible enrolled term or term-corrected neonates (n = 56) in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit were randomized to receive either sucrose and swaddling or sucrose, swaddling, and vibration for heel lance analgesia. Vibration was applied using a handheld battery-powered vibrator (Norco MiniVibrator, Hz = 92) to the lateral aspect of the lower leg along the sural dermatome throughout the heel lance procedure. Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) scores, heart rate, and oxygen saturations were collected at defined intervals surrounding heel lancing.

Results:

Infants in the vibration group (n = 30) had significantly lower N-PASS scores and more stable heart rates during heel stick (P = .006, P = .037) and 2 minutes after heel lance (P = .002, P = .016) than those in the nonvibration group. There were no adverse behavioral or physiologic responses to applied vibration in the sample.

Implications for Practice and Research:

Applied mechanical vibration is a safe and effective method for managing heel lance pain. This pilot study suggests that mechanical vibration warrants further exploration as a nonpharmacologic pain management tool among the neonatal population.
Biofabrication: The Future of Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Paxton Naomi C. , Powell Sean K. , Woodruff Maria A.
Published: August 2016

The hospital of the future will incorporate revolutionary technologies that will transform health care, delivering highly automated, personalized, and customized patient solutions. These advances will lead to lower health costs, improved access to the best treatments, and significantly better health outcomes for individuals and society. 3D printing plays a key role in this revolution, among these approaches; biofabrication is a growing area of interest. This advanced technology promises to produce patient-specific replacement tissue constructs and restore biological function and health in a rapid, tailored manner. As an alternative approach to current bone grafting and permanent implants, biofabrication combines the body’s own regenerative capacity with bioactive factors and biodegradable biomaterials that are formed into the complex shapes required to restore tissue form and function. Not surprisingly, the promise of biofabrication is driving significant research activity as teams progress this new technology toward routine clinical use. This review article discusses some of this important research, outlining many of the processes, materials, and technologies being developed by groups around the globe. Although the end goal is the same, a range of different 3D-printing approaches are being taken: from extrusion-based polymer fabrication with cellular-level resolution to 3D laser-printed constructs. It is crucial to also develop cutting-edge biomaterials that are structured to guide the tissue regeneration process, and develop advanced 3D computer software that will automatically produce the required digital models. Moving forward, by strong engagement between innovative researchers, clinicians, government, and industry, clinical practice may be transformed as we incorporate these advanced technology platforms.
Overview of Emerging Technology in Orthopedic Surgery: What is the Value in 3D Modeling and Printing?
Authors: Tetsworth Kevin D. , Mettyas Tamer
Published: August 2016

Three-dimensional printing and modeling has evolved significantly since first introduced in the 1980s. In the last 5 years, this revolution in technology has become far more accessible and affordable, and is already mainstream in many areas of medicine. Nowhere is this more apparent than in orthopedics, and many surgeons already incorporate aspects of 3D modeling and virtual procedures in their routine clinical practice. However, this technology promises to become even more prevalent as creative applications continue to be developed, and further innovations are certain to come. There are important public policy aspects to consider, both economic and regulatory. Regulatory issues are currently still under development, but will need to take into account sterilization, quality assurance, and product liability. The mechanical integrity of 3D-printed implants is influenced by the unique characteristics of the print process, including the energy density of the laser, the resolution of the print, and the orientation of the print on the build platform. Introduction of expensive new technology should only be done after careful consideration of the costs associated, the potential benefits, and the value that can be derived. The value in 3D modeling and printing can be considered relative to the initial costs, the experience of a 3D modeling unit, the complexity of a particular case, and the clinical expertise of the surgeons involved. There is significant potential value derived from modeling most displaced intra-articular fractures, once a 3D modeling unit is established and proficient. However, the greatest value comes from modeling the most highly complex cases. When the pathology is most abnormal, 3D modeling/printing can be a valuable clinical adjunct for even the most expert and experienced surgeons. Although currently hospital-based 3D modeling/printing units are uncommon, they will soon become far more common. For surgeons in developing nations, 3D printing may currently be prohibitively expensive, but 3D modeling is relatively inexpensive and therefore far more accessible. As 3D printer prices continue to fall, the ability to rapidly manufacture prototypes and patient-specific models will inevitably spread through these regions as well. However, the future for 3D-printed medical models, devices, and implants will be limited unless we are able to document their clinical superiority and confirm their value with respect to patient outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Level V—expert opinion.
Use of 3D Printed Bone Plate in Novel Technique to Surgically Correct Hallux Valgus Deformities
Authors: Smith Kathryn E. , Dupont Kenneth M. , Safranski David L. , Blair Jeremy W. , Buratti Dawn R. , Zeetser Vladimir , Callahan Ryan , Lin Jason S. , Gall Ken
Published: August 2016

Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers many potential advantages in designing and manufacturing plating systems for foot and ankle procedures that involve small, geometrically complex bony anatomy. Here, we describe the design and clinical use of a Ti-6Al-4V extra low interstitial bone plate (FastForward Bone Tether Plate; MedShape, Inc., Atlanta, GA) manufactured through 3D printing processes. The plate protects the second metatarsal when tethering suture tape between the first and second metatarsals and is a part of a new procedure that corrects hallux valgus (bunion) deformities without relying on doing an osteotomy or fusion procedure. The surgical technique and 2 clinical cases describing the use of this procedure with the 3D printed bone plate are presented within.
Familial Incomplete Punctal Canalization: Clinical and Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Features
Authors: Singh Swati , Ali Mohammad Javed , Naik Milind N.
Published: August 2016

Incomplete punctal canalization is a form of punctal dysgenesis with membranous noncanalization and can be confused with punctal agenesis. The clinical and diagnostic features are known; however, familial incomplete punctal canalization has not been reported earlier. A family with 3 affected members is presented in this series with similar incomplete punctal canalization and nasolacrimal duct obstructions. After membranotomy and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with bicanalicular intubation, all of them are free of epiphora at last visit.
Dacryolithiasis: A Review
Authors: Mishra Kapil , Hu Karen Y. , Kamal Saurabh , Andron Aleza , Della Rocca Robert C. , Ali Mohammad Javed , Nair Akshay Gopinathan
Published: August 2016

Purpose:

To review and summarize the clinical features, presentations, diagnostic modalities and management of dacryolithiasis.

Methods:

A comprehensive PubMed search of all English articles on dacryolithiasis was reviewed. Although this review primarily relied on articles written in English, non-English-language articles that had abstracts translated into English were also reviewed. Data reviewed included epidemiology, pathogenesis, appearance and composition, clinical features, presentations, diagnostic modalities, management of dacryolithiasis and the implications of incidental dacryoliths found during lacrimal surgery.

Results:

Although an unknown proportion of dacryolithiasis cases may remain asymptomatic; epiphora, acute and/or recurrent dacryocystitis, punctal discharge, and localized swelling are the most common presenting features of dacryolithiasis. It may also present as partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Dacryoliths exhibit a variety in external appearances. While some minimally invasive techniques for the removal of dacryoliths have been described, dacryocystorhinostomy with removal of the dacryoliths remain the most effective treatment in cases of symptomatic dacryolithiasis. The expression and production of certain proteins and peptides, namely those of the trifoil factor family play a significant role in the pathogenesis of dacryoliths.

Conclusions:

The management of dacryolithiasis is driven by the goal of resolution of secondary obstruction and/or inflammation. Although a large number of dacryoliths are incidentally found during dacryocystorhinostomy, certain clinical features such as unilateral sac distension, particularly those with a palpable firm medial canthal mass, might lead one to have a high index of suspicion. It remains unclear if the incidental finding of a dacryolith during a dacryocystorhinostomy has a favorable prognostic value.
Conjunctival Lymphoma in a Patient on Fingolimod for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Christopher Karen L. , Elner Victor M. , Demirci Hakan
Published: August 2016

The authors describe a 39-year-old woman treated with fingolimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis for 2 years who then developed a bilateral conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Fingolimod treatment for multiple sclerosis has been associated with lymphoma in 3 previously reported cases. This is the first case of ocular adnexal lymphoma presumed to be due to fingolimod. Given that ophthalmologists regularly monitor many patients on fingolimod for fingolimod-associated macular edema and ophthalmic manifestations of multiple sclerosis, the authors hope to alert physicians of the possibility of ocular adnexal lymphoma in these patients.
Predictability of Optic Foramen Location From a Ray Through the Ethmoidal Foramina
Authors: Mehta Milap P. , Chundury Rao V. , Ahn Eric S. , Mehta Dipesh , Jellema Lyman M. , Perry Julian D.
Published: August 2016

Purpose:

To determine how accurately a ray through the anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina predicts the location of the optic foramen.

Methods:

Dried, well-preserved, complete human skulls without bony defects belonging to the Hamann-Todd osteological collection of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History were examined. Photography was performed and a ray was drawn on orbit photographs extending through the center of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina toward the optic canal. The location of the ray at the anterior aspect of the optic canal was recorded.

Results:

Sixty-six total orbits were examined from 36 skulls with 6 skulls with only unilateral data. Thirty-eight orbits were of African descent and 28 were of European descent with an average age 45.25 years (range = 19–89 years). The anterior–posterior ethmoidal foramen ray extended superior (12/66), through (53/66), and inferior (1/66) to the optic canal. Of those rays passing through the optic canal, 32/53 (60%) passed through the upper one-third, 19/53 (36%) passed through the middle one-third, and 2/53 (4%) passed through the lower one-third of the optic canal.

Conclusions:

The anterior–posterior ethmoidal foramen ray highly predicts the superior aspect of the optic canal. This information can guide medial orbital wall surgery.
Required Critical Conversations Between Medical Examiners/Coroners and Forensic Nurses
Authors: Infanti Mraz Megan A.
Published: August 2016

Forensic teams work with the deceased and their families on a daily basis. The forensic team fulfills an important role during the death process and serves as a medium between the medical community and investigative community. The medical examiner, or coroner, depending on jurisdiction, plays a critical role in the death investigation, whose assessments and findings are a key element in care for the deceased in relation to the investigation. Communication regarding care for the deceased is critical to the completion of the investigation. Nine key discussion points are addressed as a means to launch communications between the forensic team and the medical examiner/coroner's office.
Protocolized care for early shock resuscitation
Authors: Goodwin Matthew , Ito Kaori , Gupta Arielle H. , Rivers Emanuel P.
Published: August 2016

Purpose of review

Protocolized care for early shock resuscitation (PCESR) has been intensely examined over the last decade. The purpose is to review the pathophysiologic basis, historical origin, clinical applications, components and outcome implications of PCESR.

Recent findings

PCESR is a multifaceted systems-based approach that includes early detection of high-risk patients and interventions to rapidly reverse hemodynamic perturbations that result in global or regional tissue hypoxia. It has been applied to perioperative surgery, trauma, cardiology (heart failure and acute myocardial infarction), pulmonary embolus, cardiac arrest, undifferentiated shock, postoperative cardiac surgery and pediatric septic shock. When this approach is used for adult septic shock, in particular, it is associated with a mortality reduction from 46.5 to less than 30% over the last 2 decades. Challenges to these findings are seen when repeated trials contain enrollment, diagnostic and therapeutic methodological differences.

PCESR is more than a hemodynamic optimization procedure. It also provides an educational framework for the less experienced and objective recognition of clinical improvement or deterioration. It further minimizes practices’ variation and provides objective measures that can be audited, evaluated and amendable to continuous quality improvement. As a result, morbidity and mortality are improved.
Transfusion-transmitted babesiosis: is it time to screen the blood supply?
Authors: Levin Andrew E. , Krause Peter J.
Published: August 2016

Purpose of review

This review summarizes the current status of blood screening to prevent transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB).

Recent findings

Babesia microti has recently been determined to be the most common transfusion-transmitted pathogen in the United States. Patients who acquire TTB often experience severe illness with an associated mortality rate of about 20%. Recent studies have demonstrated that laboratory screening using B. microti antibody and/or PCR assays can effectively identify infectious blood donors and that this approach may offer a cost- effective means of intervention. Pathogen inactivation methods may offer an alternative solution. None of these methods has yet been licensed by US Food and Drug Administration, however, and current efforts to prevent TTB rely on excluding blood donors who report having had babesiosis.

TTB imposes a significant health burden on the United States population. Further research is needed to better inform decisions on optimal screening strategies and reentry criteria, but given the acute need and the currently available screening tools, initiation of blood donor screening to prevent TTB should be given high priority.
Physical Activity Preferences for People Living With Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Craike Melinda , Hose Kaye , Courneya Kerry S. , Harrison Simon J. , Livingston Patricia M.
Published: August 2016

Background:

Although physical activity (PA) has significant benefits for people living with multiple myeloma (MM), participation rates are low. Examination of PA preferences will provide important information to clinicians and assist in the development of interventions to increase participation in PA for people living with MM.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the PA preferences for people living with MM, including the preferred role of clinicians.

Methods:

Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients treated for MM within the preceding 2 to 12 months. Interviews were analyzed using content analysis, where coding categories were derived directly from the text data.

Results:

Twenty-four interviews were conducted (women, 54%; age: mean [SD], 62 [8.8] years); 16 (67%) participants had an autologous stem cell transplant. Light- to moderate-intensity PA during and after treatment was feasible, with the strongest preference for a program 2 to 8 months after treatment. The timing of information delivery was important, as was input from clinicians and organizations with knowledge of MM. Preferences for location, structure, and timing of programs varied.

Conclusions:

Low- to moderate-intensity PA after treatment is likely to interest people with MM. Programs need to be flexible and consider individual differences in PA preferences, functional status, and treatment schedules.

Implications:

An individually tailored PA program should form part of clinical care, involving clinicians and organizations with expertise in MM. Options for home-based PA are also important. Further research, including a population-based study of people living with MM, is necessary to further quantify PA preferences.
Medication Errors in Outpatient Pediatrics
Authors: Berrier Kyla
Published: August 2016

Medication errors may occur during parental administration of prescription and over-the-counter medications in the outpatient pediatric setting. Misinterpretation of medication labels and dosing errors are two types of errors in medication administration. Health literacy may play an important role in parents' ability to safely manage their child's medication regimen. There are several proposed strategies for decreasing these medication administration errors, including using standardized dosing instruments, using strictly metric units for medication dosing, and providing parents and caregivers with picture-based dosing instructions. Pediatric healthcare providers should be aware of these strategies and seek to implement many of them into their practices.
Adapting Pediatric Clinical Experiences to a Changing Health Care Environment
Authors: Pohl Carla , Jarvill Melissa , Akman Olcay , Clark Sarah
Published: August 2016

Consolidation and regionalization in pediatric acute care hospitals have limited clinical opportunities for prelicensure nursing students. The use of schools as primary learning sites offers an opportunity for a combined pediatric and public health clinical experience for nursing students. The purpose of the study was to compare pediatric knowledge and clinical simulation performance between hospital- and community-based pediatric clinical experiences. Study results indicated no difference between groups based on knowledge or simulation scores.
Peripheral Refraction Validity of the Shin-Nippon SRW5000 Autorefractor
Authors: Osuagwu Uchechukwu Levi , Suheimat Marwan , Wolffsohn James S. , Atchison David A.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

To investigate the operation of the Shin-Nippon/Grand Seiko autorefractor and whether higher-order aberrations affect its peripheral refraction measurements.

Methods

Information on instrument design, together with parameters and equations used to obtain refraction, was obtained from a patent. A model eye simulating the operating principles was tested with an optical design program. Effects of induced defocus and astigmatism on the retinal image were used to calibrate the model eye to match the patent equations. Coma and trefoil were added to assess their effects on the image. Peripheral refraction of a physical model eye was measured along four visual field meridians with the Shin-Nippon/Grand Seiko autorefractor SRW-5000 and a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer, and simulated autorefractor peripheral refraction was derived using the Zernike coefficients from the aberrometer.

Results

In simulation, the autorefractor’s square image was changed in size by defocus, into rectangles or parallelograms by astigmatism, and into irregular shapes by coma and trefoil. In the presence of 1.0 D oblique astigmatism, errors in refraction were proportional to the higher-order aberrations, with up to 0.8 D sphere and 1.5 D cylinder for ±0.6 μm of coma or trefoil coefficients with a 5-mm-diameter pupil. For the physical model eye, refraction with the aberrometer was similar in all visual field meridians, but refraction with the autorefractor changed more quickly along one oblique meridian and less quickly along the other oblique meridian than along the horizontal and vertical meridians. Simulations predicted that higher-order aberrations would affect refraction in oblique meridians, and this was supported by the experimental measurements with the physical model eye.

Conclusions

The autorefractor’s peripheral refraction measurements are valid for horizontal and vertical field meridians, but not for oblique field meridians. Similar instruments must be validated before being adopted outside their design scope.
Do Prolonged Prophylactic Antibiotics Reduce the Incidence of Surgical-Site Infections in Immediate Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction?
Authors: Wang Frederick , Chin Robin , Piper Merisa , Esserman Laura , Sbitany Hani
Published: August 2016

Background:

Approximately 50,000 women in the United States undergo mastectomy and immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction annually, and most receive postoperative prophylactic antibiotics. The effect of these antibiotics on the risk of surgical-site infections remains unclear.

Methods:

The authors searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that compared less than 24 hours and greater than 24 hours of antibiotics following immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction. Primary outcomes were surgical-site infections and implant loss. Conservative random effects models were used to obtain pooled relative risk estimates.

Results:

The authors identified 927 studies, but only four cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial met their inclusion criteria. Unadjusted incidences of surgical-site infections were 14 percent with more than 24 hours of antibiotics, 19 percent with less than 24 hours of antibiotics, and 16 percent overall. Unadjusted incidences of implant loss were 8 percent with more than 24 hours of antibiotics, 10 percent with less than 24 hours of antibiotics, and 9 percent overall. The pooled relative risk of implant loss was 1.17 (95 percent CI, 0.39 to 3.6) with less than 24 hours of antibiotics, which was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Prolonged antibiotic use did not have a statistically significant effect on reducing surgical-site infections or implant loss. There was significant heterogeneity between studies, and prolonged antibiotics may have increased the risk of implant loss in the randomized controlled trial. Definitive evidence may only be obtained with data from more prospective randomized controlled trials.
Variations in Frontonasal Flap Design for Single-Stage Reconstruction of the Nasal Tip
Authors: Scheufler Oliver
Published: August 2016

Background:

Single-stage reconstruction of the nasal tip using frontonasal flaps yields variable results. Variations in flap design were used to optimize outcome.

Methods:

Consecutive nasal tip reconstructions using frontonasal flaps performed by the author during a 6-year period were studied retrospectively. Patients were followed up clinically and charts were reviewed for defect size, vertical orientation (tip versus supratip), and horizontal orientation (central versus lateral). Surgical reports and digital photographs were evaluated for flap design that was adapted to the defect, individual anatomy, and the nasal subunit concept. Flaps were classified by size (standard versus extended), proximal scar configuration (angular versus curved), and distal scar configuration (straight versus stairstep). Surgical complications and aesthetic outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

Twenty-nine frontonasal flaps were performed in 16 female and 13 male patients with a mean age of 73 years. The average defect diameter was 2 cm. The average surface area was 4 cm2. Primary defects were located at the tip in 22 cases and the supratip in seven cases, with 19 being lateral and 10 being central. Standard flaps were chosen in 13 patients and extended flaps in 16 patients. Proximal scar configuration was angular in 20 cases and curved in nine cases. Distals scar configuration was straight in 21 patients and stairstep in eight cases. Minor flap complications occurred in eight patients. Outcome was rated good to excellent in 97 percent of patients.

Conclusion:

Aesthetically pleasing single-stage reconstruction of the nasal tip is attainable using an anatomically based approach to frontonasal flap design.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
‘Disperse abroad in the land’: the role of wildlife in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Arnold Kathryn E. , Williams Nicola J. , Bennett Malcolm
Published: August 2016

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been detected in the microbiota of many wildlife species, including long-distance migrants. Inadequately treated wastes from humans and livestock dosed with antimicrobial drugs are often assumed to be the main sources of AMR to wildlife. While wildlife populations closely associated with human populations are more likely to harbour clinically important AMR related to that found in local humans and livestock, AMR is still common in remote wildlife populations with little direct human influence. Most reports of AMR in wildlife are survey based and/or small scale, so researchers can only speculate on possible sources and sinks of AMR or the impact of wildlife AMR on clinical resistance. This lack of quantitative data on the flow of AMR genes and AMR bacteria across the natural environment could reflect the numerous AMR sources and amplifiers in the populated world. Ecosystems with relatively simple and well-characterized potential inputs of AMR can provide tractable, but realistic, systems for studying AMR in the natural environment. New tools, such as animal tracking technologies and high-throughput sequencing of resistance genes and mobilomes, should be integrated with existing methodologies to understand how wildlife maintains and disperses AMR.
Making the dead talk: alarm cue-mediated antipredator behaviour and learning are enhanced when injured conspecifics experience high predation risk
Authors: Lucon-Xiccato Tyrone , Chivers Douglas P. , Mitchell Matthew D. , Ferrari Maud C. O.
Published: August 2016

Due to the costs of antipredator behaviour, prey have the ability to finely modulate their response according to the risk they have experienced, and adjust it over different scales of ecological time. Information on which to base their responses can be obtained from direct experience, but also indirectly from nearby conspecifics. In aquatic environments, alarm cues from injured conspecifics are an important and reliable source of information about current predation risk. We used wood frog tadpoles,
Lithobates sylvaticus
, to investigate whether prey responses to alarm cues match the level of background predation risk experienced by injured conspecifics. We found that tadpoles exposed to alarm cues from conspecifics raised in a high-risk environment showed a stronger antipredator response and an enhanced learned response to novel predators, when compared with tadpoles exposed to alarm cues from conspecifics raised in a low-risk environment. Alarm cues not only allow prey to cope with an ongoing predation event, but also to adjust their behaviour to match background risk in the environment.
Stem cell competition in the gut: insights from multi-scale computational modelling
Authors: Thalheim Torsten , Buske Peter , Przybilla Jens , Rother Karen , Loeffler Markus , Galle Joerg
Published: August 2016

Three-dimensional (3D) computational tissue models can provide a comprehensive description of tissue dynamics at the molecular, cellular and tissue level. Moreover, they can support the development of hypotheses about cellular interactions and about synergies between major signalling pathways. We exemplify these capabilities by simulation of a 3D single-cell-based model of mouse small intestinal crypts. We analyse the impact of lineage specification, distribution and cellular lifespan on clonal competition and study effects of Notch- and Wnt activation on fixation of mutations within the tissue. Based on these results, we predict that experimentally observed synergistic effects between autonomous Notch- and Wnt signalling in triggering intestinal tumourigenesis originate in the suppression of Wnt-dependent secretory lineage specification by Notch, giving rise to an increased fixation probability of Wnt-activating mutations. Our study demonstrates that 3D computational tissue models can support a mechanistic understanding of long-term tissue dynamics under homeostasis and during transformation.
Mammalian phospholipid homeostasis: evidence that membrane curvature elastic stress drives homeoviscous adaptationin vivo
Authors: Dymond Marcus K.
Published: August 2016

Several theories of phospholipid homeostasis have postulated that cells regulate the molecular composition of their bilayer membranes, such that a common biophysical membrane parameter is under homeostatic control. Two commonly cited theories are the intrinsic curvature hypothesis, which states that cells control membrane curvature elastic stress, and the theory of homeoviscous adaptation, which postulates cells control acyl chain packing order (membrane order). In this paper, we present evidence from data-driven modelling studies that these two theories correlatein vivo.We estimate the curvature elastic stress of mammalian cells to be 4–7 × 10−12N, a value high enough to suggest that in mammalian cells the preservation of membrane order arises through a mechanism where membrane curvature elastic stress is controlled. These results emerge from analysing the molecular contribution of individual phospholipids to both membrane order and curvature elastic stress in nearly 500 cellular compositionally diverse lipidomes. Our model suggests that the de novo synthesis of lipids is the dominant mechanism by which cells control curvature elastic stress and hence membrane orderin vivo. These results also suggest that cells can increase membrane curvature elastic stress disproportionately to membrane order by incorporating polyunsaturated fatty acids into lipids.
Covalent ISG15 conjugation positively regulates the ubiquitin E3 ligase activity of parkin
Authors: Im Eunju , Yoo Lang , Hyun Minju , Shin Woo Hyun , Chung Kwang Chul
Published: August 2016

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra and accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in aggregates called Lewy bodies. Several mutated genes have been found in familial PD patients, includingSNCA(α-synuclein),PARK2(parkin),PINK1,PARK7(DJ-1),LRRK2andATP13A2. Many pathogenic mutations ofPARK2, which encodes the ubiquitin E3 ligase parkin, result in loss of function, leading to accumulation of parkin substrates and consequently contributing to dopaminergic cell death. ISG15 is a member of the ubiquitin-like modifier family and is induced by stimulation with type I interferons. Similar to ubiquitin and ubiquitination, covalent conjugation of ISG15 to target proteins (ISGylation) regulates their biochemical properties. In this study, we identified parkin as a novel target of ISGylation specifically mediated by the ISG15-E3 ligase HERC5. In addition, we identified two ISGylation sites, Lys-349 and Lys-369, in the in-between-ring domain of parkin. ISGylation of these sites promotes parkin's ubiquitin E3 ligase activity by suppressing the intramolecular interaction that maintains its autoinhibited conformation and increases its cytoprotective effect. In conclusion, covalent ISG15 conjugation is a novel mode of modulating parkin activity, and alteration in this pathway may be associated with PD pathogenesis.