bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ImprovingIn VivoEfficacy of Bioactive Molecules: An Overview of Potentially Antitumor Phytochemicals and Currently Available Lipid-Based Delivery Systems
Authors: Mouhid Lamia , Corzo-Martínez Marta , Torres Carlos , Vázquez Luis , Reglero Guillermo , Fornari Tiziana , Ramírez de Molina Ana
Published: May 2017

Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment exhibit cell toxicity and display teratogenic effect on nontumor cells. Therefore, the search for alternative compounds which are effective against tumor cells but reduce toxicity against nontumor ones is of great importance in the progress or development of cancer treatments. In this sense, scientific knowledge about relevant aspects of nutrition intimately involved in the development and progression of cancer progresses rapidly. Phytochemicals, considered as bioactive ingredients present in plant products, have shown promising effects as potential therapeutic/preventive agents on cancer in severalin vitroandin vivoassays. However, despite their bioactive properties, phytochemicals are still not commonly used in clinical practice due to several reasons, mainly attributed to their poor bioavailability. In this sense, new formulation strategies are proposed as carriers to improve their bioefficacy, highlighting the use of lipid-based delivery systems. Here, we review the potential antitumoral activity of the bioactive compounds derived from plants and the current studies carried out in animal and human models. Furthermore, their association with lipids as a formulation strategy to enhance their efficacyin vivois also reported. The development of high effective bioactive supplements for cancer treatment based on the improvement of their bioavailability goes through this association.
Application of System Identification for Modeling the Dynamic Behavior of Axial Flow Compressor Dynamics
Authors: Schoen Marco P. , Lee Ji-Chao
Published: May 2017

Identification of a one-stage axial compressor system is addressed. In particular, we investigate the underlying dynamics of tip air injection and throttle activation to the overall compressor dynamics and the dynamics around the tip of the compressor blades. A proposed subspace system identification algorithm is used to extract three mathematical models: relating the tip air injection to the overall dynamics of the compressor and to the flow dynamics at the tip of the compressor blade and relating the movement of the throttle to the overall compressor dynamics. As the system identification relays on experimental data, concerns about the noise level and unmodeled system dynamics are addressed by experimenting with two model structures. The identification algorithm entails a heuristic optimization that allows for inspection of the results with respect to unmodeled system dynamics. The results of the proposed system identification algorithm show that the assumed model structure for the system identification algorithm takes on an important role in defining the coupling characteristics. A new measure for the flow state in the blade passage is proposed and used in characterizing the dynamics at the tip of the compressor blade, which allows for the inspection of the limits for the utilized actuation.
Resolving the Taxonomic Status ofChamelea gallinaandC. striatula(Veneridae, Bivalvia): A Combined Molecular Cytogenetic and Phylogenetic Approach
Authors: García-Souto Daniel , Qarkaxhija Vesa , Pasantes Juan J.
Published: May 2017

The striped venus clamsChamelea gallinaandC. striatulaare commercially important bivalves inhabiting European and North African coastal waters. The taxonomic status of these taxa has been the subject of debate for decades. In order to elucidate this issue, we generated 5S and 28S ribosomal RNA and H3 histone gene probes and mapped them by fluorescent in situ hybridization to the chromosomes of morphologically identified striped venus clams, collected from four geographically distant Atlantic and Mediterranean populations. The nucleotide variation at the three DNA markers, that is, the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and the large ribosomal subunit rRNA (16S) fragments, was also studied and the resultant phylogenetic trees were evaluated. Striking differences in both the chromosome distribution of these genes and the clustering of the samples on the phylogenetic trees observed provide clear evidence thatC. gallinaandC. striatulaare separated species.
The Distribution of Activation Markers and Selectins on Peripheral T Lymphocytes in Preeclampsia
Authors: Bajnok Anna , Ivanova Maria , Rigó János , Toldi Gergely
Published: May 2017

Introduction. Impaired maternal immune tolerance resulting in systemic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Phenotypical changes of monocytes and neutrophil granulocytes have already been studied in preeclampsia, and some studies also included T lymphocyte activation markers; however, the results are controversial and a comprehensive analysis of activation markers is lacking. The characteristics of cellular adhesion molecules in preeclampsia are yet to be described.Material and Methods. Peripheral blood samples of 18 preeclamptic patients and 20 healthy pregnant women in the third trimester were evaluated using flow cytometry to characterize the cell surface expression of T lymphocyte activation markers and selectins.Results. We found an elevated ratio of HLA-DR and CD122-, CD62E-, and CD62L-expressing cells among the CD4+ T lymphocytes in PE in comparison to healthy pregnancy. No alterations were found in the prevalence of CD69-, CD25-, and CD62P-expressing lymphocytes and CD11c-expressing monocytes.Conclusions. Our findings support the role of activated T lymphocytes and specific cell adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Exogenous Expressions of FTO Wild-Type and R316Q Mutant Proteins Caused an Increase in HNRPK Levels in 3T3-L1 Cells as Demonstrated by DIGE Analysis
Authors: Guzel Nil , Kasap Murat , Kanli Aylin , Akpinar Gurler , Gulkac M. Dogan , Karaosmanoglu Kubra
Published: May 2017

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein is an enzyme that oxidatively demethylates DNA. Although there are numerous studies regarding the catalytic function of FTO, the overall existence or absence of FTO on cellular proteome has not been investigated. This study investigated the changes in the soluble proteome of 3T3-L1 cells upon expression of the WT and the mutant (R316Q) FTO proteins. Protein extracts prepared from 3T3-L1 cells expressing either the WT or the mutant FTO proteins were used in DIGE experiments. Analysis of the data revealed the number of spots matched to every member and there were 350 ± 20 spots with 30.5% overall mean coefficient of variation. Eleven regulated protein spots were excised from the gels and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF. One of the identified proteins was heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K, which displayed more than 2.6- and 3.7-fold increases in its abundance in the WT and the mutant FTO expressing cells, respectively. Western blot analysis validated these observations. This is the first study revealing the presence of a parallel increase in expressions of FTO and HNRNPK proteins. This increase may codictate the metabolic changes occurring in the cell and may attribute a significance to HNRNPK in FTO-associated transformations.
Multiview Community Discovery Algorithm via Nonnegative Factorization Matrix in Heterogeneous Networks
Authors: Tao Wang , Yang Liu
Published: May 2017

With the rapid development of the Internet and communication technologies, a large number of multimode or multidimensional networks widely emerge in real‐world applications. Traditional community detection methods usually focus on homogeneous networks and simply treat different modes of nodes and connections in the same way, thus ignoring the inherent complexity and diversity of heterogeneous networks. It is challenging to effectively integrate the multiple modes of network information to discover the hidden community structure underlying heterogeneous interactions. In our work, a joint nonnegative matrix factorization (Joint‐NMF) algorithm is proposed to discover the complex structure in heterogeneous networks. Our method transforms the heterogeneous dataset into a series of bipartite graphs correlated. Taking inspiration from the multiview method, we extend the semisupervised learning from single graph to several bipartite graphs with multiple views. In this way, it provides mutual information between different bipartite graphs to realize the collaborative learning of different classifiers, thus comprehensively considers the internal structure of all bipartite graphs, and makes all the classifiers tend to reach a consensus on the clustering results of the target‐mode nodes. The experimental results show that Joint‐NMF algorithm is efficient and well‐behaved in real‐world heterogeneous networks and can better explore the community structure of multimode nodes in heterogeneous networks.
Calculation of Precise Constants in a Probability Model of Zipf’s Law Generation and Asymptotics of Sums of Multinomial Coefficients
Authors: Bochkarev Vladimir , Lerner Eduard
Published: May 2017

Let ω0,ω1,…,ωn be a full set of outcomes (symbols) and let positive pi, i=0,…,n, be their probabilities (∑i=0npi=1). Let us treat ω0 as a stop symbol; it can occur in sequences of symbols (we call them words) only once, at the very end. The probability of a word is defined as the product of probabilities of its symbols. We consider the list of all possible words sorted in the nonincreasing order of their probabilities. Let pr be the probability of the rth word in this list. We prove that if at least one of the ratios log⁡pi/log⁡pj, i,j∈1,…,n, is irrational, then the limit limr→∞pr/r-1/γ exists and differs from zero; here γ is the root of the equation ∑i=1npiγ=1. The limit constant can be expressed (rather easily) in terms of the entropy of the distribution (p1γ,…,pnγ).
A Correction Method for UAV Helicopter Airborne Temperature and Humidity Sensor
Authors: Fan Longqing , Chen Ge , Yu Fangjie , Liu Yunfei , Li Linhua
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a correction method for UAV helicopter airborne temperature and humidity including an error correction scheme and a bias‐calibration scheme. As rotor downwash flow brings measurement error on helicopter airborne sensors inevitably, the error correction scheme constructs a model between the rotor induced velocity and temperature and humidity by building the heat balance equation for platinum resistor temperature sensor and the pressure correction term for humidity sensor. The induced velocity of a spatial point below the rotor disc plane can be calculated by the sum of the induced velocities excited by center line vortex, rotor disk vortex, and skew cylinder vortex based on the generalized vortex theory. In order to minimize the systematic biases, the bias‐calibration scheme adopts a multiple linear regression to achieve a systematically consistent result with the tethered balloon profiles. Two temperature and humidity sensors were mounted on “Z‐5” UAV helicopter in the field experiment. Overall, the result of applying the calibration method shows that the temperature and relative humidity obtained by UAV helicopter closely align with tethered balloon profiles in providing measurements of the temperature profiles and humidity profiles within marine atmospheric boundary layers.
Effect of Body Mass Index on Posttonsillectomy Hemorrhage
Authors: Hoshino Tetsuro , Tanigawa Tohru , Yanohara Gen , Murotani Kenta , Horibe Yuichiro , Murohara Toyoaki , Shibata Rei , Ueda Hiromi
Published: May 2017

Objective. Obesity affects adverse outcomes in patients undergoing various surgeries. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures and posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is the major complication in patients with tonsillectomy. However, the effect of body mass index (BMI) on posttonsillectomy bleeding episodes is not well known. This study aimed to assess the clinical association between obesity and PTH. Methods. A total of 98 tonsillectomies were retrospectively reviewed. Patient charts were analyzed regarding demographic data and the indication for surgery. Patients with PTH were compared with uneventful cases. Patients were divided into three groups based on BMI: normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥ 25 and <30 kg/m2), and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Results. PTH occurred in 13% of patients with normal weight, in 23.5% of patients with overweight, and in 50% patients with obesity. The occurrence of PTH was significantly higher in patients with obesity than in those with normal weight and overweight (p=0.008). Multivariate analysis showed that obesity was a significant factor affecting the incidence of PTH after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the obese condition is independently associated with the incidence of PTH.
Spontaneous Production of Glutathione‐Conjugated Forms of 1,2‐Dichloropropane: Comparative Study on Metabolic Activation Processes of Dihaloalkanes Associated with Occupational Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Toyoda Yu , Takada Tappei , Suzuki Hiroshi
Published: May 2017

Recently, epidemiological studies revealed a positive relationship between an outbreak of occupational cholangiocarcinoma and exposure to organic solvents containing 1,2‐dichloropropane (1,2‐DCP). In 1,2‐DCP‐administered animal models, we previously found biliary excretion of potentially oncogenic metabolites consisting of glutathione‐ (GSH‐) conjugated forms of 1,2‐DCP (GS‐DCPs); however, the GS‐DCP production pathway remains unknown. To enhance the understanding of 1,2‐DCP‐related risks to human health, we examined the reactivity of GSH with 1,2‐DCP in vitro and compared it to that with dichloromethane (DCM), the other putative substance responsible for occupational cholangiocarcinoma. Our results showed that 1,2‐DCP was spontaneously conjugated with GSH, whereas this spontaneous reaction was hardly detected between DCM and GSH. Further analysis revealed that glutathione S‐transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) exhibited less effect on the 1,2‐DCP reaction as compared with that observed for DCM. Although GSTT1‐mediated bioactivation of dihaloalkanes could be a plausible explanation for the production of reactive metabolites related to carcinogenesis based on previous studies, this catalytic pathway might not mainly contribute to 1,2‐DCP‐related occupational cholangiocarcinoma. Considering the higher catalytic activity of GSTT1 on DCM as compared with that on 1,2‐DCP, our findings suggested differences in the activation processes associated with 1,2‐DCP and DCM metabolism.
Impact of Fluoropolymer-Based Paclitaxel Delivery on Neointimal Proliferation and Vascular Healing
Authors: Gasior Pawel , Cheng Yanping , Valencia Andres F. , McGregor Jenn , Conditt Gerard B. , Kaluza Grzegorz L. , Granada Juan F.
Published: May 2017

Background—

A polymer-free peripheral paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES, Zilver PTX, Cook, IN) has shown to improve vessel patency after superficial femoral angioplasty. A new-generation fluoropolymer-based PES (FP-PES; Eluvia, Boston Scientific, MA) displaying more controlled and sustained paclitaxel delivery promise to improve the clinical outcomes of first-generation PES. We sought to compare the biological effect of paclitaxel delivered by 2 different stent-coating technologies (fluoropolymer-based versus polymer-free) on neointimal proliferation and healing response in the familial hypercholesterolemic swine model of femoral restenosis.

Methods and Results—

The biological efficacy of clinically available FP-PES (n=12) and PES (n=12) was compared against a bare metal stent control (n=12; Innova, Boston Scientific, MA) after implantation in the femoral arteries of 18 familial hypercholesterolemic swine. Longitudinal quantitative vascular angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed at baseline and at 30 and 90 days. Histological evaluation was performed at 90 days. Ninety-day quantitative vascular angiography results showed a lower percent diameter stenosis for FP-PES (38.78% [31.27–47.66]) compared with PES (54.16% [42.60–61.97]) and bare metal stent (74.52% [47.23–100.00];
P
<0.001). Ninety-day optical coherence tomography results demonstrated significantly lower neointimal area in FP-PES (8.01 mm
2
[7.65–9.21]) compared with PES (10.95 mm
2
[9.64–12.46]) and bare metal stent (13.83 mm
2
[11.53–17.03];
P
<0.001). Histological evaluation showed larger lumen areas and evidence of higher biological activity (smooth muscle cell loss and fibrin deposition) in the FP-PES compared with PES and bare metal stent.

Conclusions—

In the familial hypercholesterolemic swine model of femoral restenosis, the implantation of an FP-PES resulted in lower levels of neointimal proliferation and sustained biological effect ≤90 days compared with a polymer-free stent-based approach.
Decadal Variability of Upper-Ocean Heat Content Associated with Meridional Shifts of Western Boundary Current Extensions in the North Pacific
Authors: Taguchi Bunmei , Schneider Niklas , Nonaka Masami , Sasaki Hideharu
Published: May 2017

Generation and propagation processes of upper-ocean heat content (OHC) in the North Pacific are investigated using oceanic subsurface observations and an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model hindcast simulation. OHC anomalies are decomposed into physically distinct dynamical components (OHC ρ) due to temperature anomalies that are associated with density anomalies and spiciness components (OHC χ) due to temperature anomalies that are density compensating with salinity. Analysis of the observational and model data consistently shows that both dynamical and spiciness components contribute to interannual–decadal OHC variability, with the former (latter) component dominating in the subtropical (subpolar) North Pacific. OHC ρ variability represents heaving of thermocline, propagates westward, and intensifies along the Kuroshio Extension, consistent with jet-trapped Rossby waves, while OHC χ variability propagates eastward along the subarctic frontal zone, suggesting advection by mean eastward currents. OHC χ variability tightly corresponds in space to horizontal mean spiciness gradients. Meanwhile, area-averaged OHC χ anomalies in the western subarctic frontal zone closely correspond in time to meridional shifts of the subarctic frontal zone. Regression coefficient of the OHC χ time series on the frontal displacement anomalies quantitatively agree with the area-averaged mean spiciness gradient in the region, and suggest that OHC χ is generated via frontal variability in the subarctic frontal zone.
On the Definition of Marginal Ice Zone Width
Authors: Strong Courtenay , Foster Dallas , Cherkaev Elena , Eisenman Ian , Golden Kenneth M.
Published: May 2017

Sea ice features a dense inner pack ice zone surrounded by a marginal ice zone (MIZ) in which the sea ice properties are modified by interaction with the ice-free open ocean. The width of the MIZ is a fundamental length scale for polar physical and biological dynamics. Several different criteria for establishing MIZ boundaries have emerged in the literature—wave penetration, floe size, sea ice concentration, etc.—and a variety of definitions for the width between the MIZ boundaries have been published. Here, three desirable mathematical properties for defining MIZ width are proposed: invariance with respect to translation and rotation on the sphere; uniqueness at every point in the MIZ; and generality, including nonconvex shapes. The previously published streamline definition is shown to satisfy all three properties, where width is defined as the arc length of a streamline through the solution to Laplaces’s equation within the MIZ boundaries, while other published definitions each satisfy only one of the desired properties. When defining MIZ spatial average width from streamline results, the rationale for averaging with respect to distance along both MIZ boundaries was left implicit in prior studies. Here it is made rigorous by developing and applying the mathematics of an analytically tractable idealization of MIZ geometry—the eccentric annulus. Finally, satellite-retrieved Arctic sea ice concentrations are used to investigate how well streamline-based MIZ spatial average width is approximated by alternative definitions that lack desirable mathematical properties or local width values but offer computational efficiency.
Is deinstitutionalisation a cheap alternative to chronic mental health care?
Authors: Pillay Anthony L
Published: May 2017

Worldwide, there has been a dominant belief that the deinstitutionalisation of the mentally ill is a cost-saving approach, leading health authorities to embark on such initiatives without adequate community-based health and social service resources and supports. These have resulted in disaster, even in high-income countries, when insufficient planning and preparation have been effected. The recent experience in South Africa that saw the deaths of approximately 100 people with chronic mental illness within 1 year of being moved from a mental health facility is further evidence of the need for more concerted and deliberate planning and resourcing of mental health care services. The article examines various issues relating to deinstitutionalisation and urges authorities to re-examine their approach to mental health care and especially the priority accorded to this marginalised group.
The digitally extended self: A lexicological analysis of personal data
Authors: Parkinson Brian , Millard David E , O’Hara Kieron , Giordano Richard
Published: May 2017

Individual’s privacy, especially with regard to their personal data, is increasingly an area of concern as people interact with a wider and more pervasive set of digital services. Unfortunately, the terminology around personal data is used inconsistently, the concepts are unclear and there is a poor understanding of their relationships. This is a challenge to those who need to discuss personal data in precise terms, for example, legislators, academics and service providers who seek informed consent from their users. In this article, we present a lexicological analysis of the terms used to describe personal data, use this analysis to identify common concepts and propose a model of the digitally extended self that shows how these concepts of personal data fit together. We then validate the model against key publications and show in practice how it can be used to describe personal data in three scenarios. Our work shows that there is no clearly delineated kernel of personal data, but rather that there are layers of personal data, with different qualities, sources and claims of ownership, which extend out from the individual and form the digitally extended self.
Strategies to address the shortcomings of commonly used advanced chronic heart failure descriptors to improve recruitment in palliative care research: A parallel mixed-methods feasibility study
Authors: Kane Pauline M , Murtagh Fliss EM , Ryan Karen R , Brice Mary , Mahon Niall G , McAdam Brendan , McQuillan Regina , O’Gara Geraldine , Raleigh Caroline , Tracey Cecelia , Howley Christine , Higginson Irene J , Daveson Barbara A ,   on behalf of BuildCARE
Published: May 2017

Background:

Recruitment challenges contribute to the paucity of palliative care research with advanced chronic heart failure patients.

Aim:

To describe the challenges and outline strategies of recruiting advanced chronic heart failure patients.

Design:

A feasibility study using a pre–post uncontrolled design.

Setting:

Advanced chronic heart failure patients were recruited at two nurse-led chronic heart failure disease management clinics in Ireland

Results:

Of 372 patients screened, 81 were approached, 38 were recruited (46.9% conversion to consent) and 25 completed the intervention. To identify the desired population, a modified version of the European Society of Cardiology definition was used together with modified New York Heart Association inclusion criteria to address inter-study site New York Heart Association classification subjectivity. These modifications substantially increased median monthly numbers of eligible patients approached (from 8 to 20) and median monthly numbers recruited (from 4 to 9). Analysis using a mortality risk calculator demonstrated that recruited patients had a median 1-year mortality risk of 22.7 and confirmed that the modified eligibility criteria successfully identified the population of interest. A statistically significant difference in New York Heart Association classification was found in recruited patients between study sites, but no statistically significant difference was found in selected clinical parameters between these patients.

Conclusion:

Clinically relevant modifications to the European Society of Cardiology definition and strategies to address New York Heart Association subjectivity may help to improve advanced chronic heart failure patient recruitment in clinical settings, thereby helping to address the paucity of palliative care research this population.
In-situ biogas upgrading during anaerobic digestion of food waste amended with walnut shell biochar at bench scale
Authors: Linville Jessica L , Shen Yanwen , Ignacio-de Leon Patricia A , Schoene Robin P , Urgun-Demirtas Meltem
Published: May 2017

A modified version of an in-situ CO2 removal process was applied during anaerobic digestion of food waste with two types of walnut shell biochar at bench scale under batch operating mode. Compared with the coarse walnut shell biochar, the fine walnut shell biochar has a higher ash content (43 vs. 36 wt%) and higher concentrations of calcium (31 vs. 19 wt% of ash), magnesium (8.4 vs. 5.6 wt% of ash) and sodium (23.4 vs. 0.3 wt% of ash), but a lower potassium concentration (0.2 vs. 40% wt% of ash). The 0.96–3.83 g biochar (g VSadded)-1 fine walnut shell biochar amended digesters produced biogas with 77.5%–98.1% CH4 content by removing 40%–96% of the CO2 compared with the control digesters at mesophilic and thermophilic temperature conditions. In a direct comparison at 1.83 g biochar (g VSadded)-1, the fine walnut shell biochar amended digesters (85.7% CH4 content and 61% CO2 removal) outperformed the coarse walnut shell biochar amended digesters (78.9% CH4 content and 51% CO2 removal). Biochar addition also increased alkalinity as CaCO3 from 2800 mg L-1 in the control digesters to 4800–6800 mg L-1, providing process stability for food waste anaerobic digestion.
Practical Use of Lactate Levels in the Intensive Care
Authors: Vink Eva E. , Bakker Jan
Published: May 2017

Hyperlactatemia is a strong predictor of mortality in diverse populations of critically ill patients. In this article, we will give an overview of how lactate is used in the intensive care unit. We describe the use of lactate as a predictor of outcome, as a marker to initiate therapy and to monitor adequacy of initiated treatments.
Perceptions of Knowledge Sharing Among Small Family Firm Leaders: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: Cunningham James , Seaman Claire , McGuire David
Published: May 2017

Small family firms have many unique relational qualities with implications for how knowledge is passed between individuals. Extant literature posits leadership approach as important in explaining differences in knowledge-sharing climate from one firm to another. This study investigates how leadership approaches interact with family influence to inform perceptions of knowledge sharing. We utilize survey data ( n = 110) from owner-managers of knowledge-intensive small family firms in Scotland. Our findings present a choice in leadership intention, contrasting organization-focused participation against family-influenced guidance. Insight is offered on the implications of this leadership choice at both organizational and familial levels.
Experiencing place: Younger people with dementia facing aged care
Authors: Rimkeit Sally , McIntosh Jacqueline
Published: May 2017

Objectives:

There are currently few facilities for people with younger onset dementia and they are placed by default into dementia care facilities designed for the elderly. There is limited understanding of how people with younger onset dementia and their care givers anticipate or experience aged residential care. This qualitative study has used semi-structured interviews to give voice to the opinions and perspectives of nine people with younger onset dementia and 11 care givers.

Method:

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used for idiographic analysis, allowing examination of the lived experience of younger people with dementia and an iterative exploration of what their experiences mean.

Results:

Themes of memory, autonomy and therapy emerged from the data. There is a need for a familiar memory of place in an intergenerational community and home-like setting. The loss of autonomy and ensuing stagnation or even institutional internment was much feared. Appropriate exercise and purposeful occupational activities as well as emotional support were valued therapies but often lacking for this group

Conclusions:

Emotional distress with the loss of a meaningful life can result from the placement of younger people with dementia into old age services. Development of age-appropriate services are required.
Exploring the rationale for group music activities for parents and young children: Parents’ and practitioners’ perspectives
Authors: Pitt Jessica , Hargreaves David
Published: May 2017

Children’s Centres are widespread in England and comprise multi-professional staff teams seeking to work with families with children aged 0–5 years. Although parent–child group music sessions appear frequently in Children’s Centre activity programmes, the rationale for their inclusion remains unclear. This article presents the results from phase two of an exploratory mixed-methods study which investigated the role of and rationale for parent–child (0–3 years) group music making activities in Children’s Centres. The perceptions of parents and practitioners were considered, and differences were found between them. The themes generated by the initial qualitative interview study (phase one) were investigated further in this quantitative questionnaire study (phase two), which involved 49 practitioners and 91 parents. Seven thematic categories of the perceived benefits of music—Social, Emotional, Learning, Teaching, Links to Home, Parenting, and Organisational—which had been identified in the interview study, were used as the basis of the design of the questionnaire. Statistical analyses revealed some significant differences between the expressed views of parent and practitioner groups, as well as between parents in different broad age groups. Practitioners expressed more positive views about the perceived benefits of music for parents than were expressed by the parents themselves. Parents in the majority age group (27–35 years) appeared to express significantly more positive opinions on a variety of questionnaire items than did parents in both younger and older age groups. Working practices of Children’s Centre practitioners appear to include music group activities for which they have had little training. A new practitioner role is proposed: that of social music pedagogue. The questionnaire results have augmented and enhanced the findings of the interview study and suggest that the rationale for parent–child music group activities in Children’s Centres is centred on the benefits for children’s social, cultural, emotional and cognitive development.
Role of motivation and attitude: Learning Turkish and Greek in Cyprus
Authors: Sallı Ayşegül
Published: May 2017

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions:

After years of conflict, struggle and separation, the partial opening of the Green Line that divides Cyprus made mutual transitions and contact between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots possible. Soon after, Greek and Turkish language courses started to attract interest and gained popularity. This study aims to identify the motivations that led both community members to learn the language of ‘the other community’ and discover their attitudes towards each other and the target language.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

A questionnaire that includes motivation and attitude scales and subscales on a five-point Likert-type scale was prepared both in Turkish and English. It was distributed to the Turkish and Greek Cypriots who were attending evening classes at that time. The study employed a quantitative approach.

Data and Analysis:

Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 18 statistical package. Frequency analysis and independent samples t-tests were applied.

Results/Conclusions:

Both community members have intrinsic motivation to continue the language classes. The participants express their enjoyment of the feeling of accomplishment that comes with learning to speak another language successfully in this regard. The Greek Cypriots are driven by their integrative motivation as they illustrate their wish to feel closer to the Turkish Cypriots and communicate with them. In terms of language attitudes, the Turkish Cypriots tend to exhibit more positive attitudes, mostly due to economic reasons. However, the fact that the Greek Cypriots do not cross the border seems to reveal their negative attitudes towards the Turkish Cypriots. Overall, the members of both communities are hesitant to express their opinions about each other.

Originality and Significance/Implications:

This study provides the evidence that despite having a cautious stance towards the other community, various motivational factors encourage Turkish and Greek Cypriots to take language classes. The study emphasizes that more steps should be taken both at social and political levels to bring the members of the two Cypriot communities closer, to enable language contact, and to smooth out the sceptic attitudes about each other.
Data quality shortcomings with the US HIV/AIDS surveillance system
Authors: Ngugi Benjamin K , Harrington Brenna , Porcher Eloni N , Wamai Richard G
Published: May 2017

This study investigates some of the data quality challenges facing the HIV surveillance system in the United States. Using the content analysis method, Center for Disease Control annual HIV surveillance reports (1982–2014) are systematically reviewed and evaluated against relevant data quality metrics from previous literature. Center for Disease Control HIV surveillance system has made several key achievements in the last decade. However, there are several outstanding challenges that need to be addressed. The data are unrepresentative, incomplete, inaccurate, and lacks the required granularity limiting its usage. These shortcomings weaken the country’s ability to track, report, and respond to the new HIV epidemiological trends. Furthermore, the problems deter the country from properly identifying and targeting the key subpopulations that need the highest resources by virtue of being at the highest risk of HIV infection. Several recommendations are suggested to address these issues.
Structure to utilize interventionists’ implementation experiences of a family-based behavioral weight management program to enhance the dissemination of the standardized intervention: The TODAY study
Authors: Chadwick Jennifer Q , Van Buren Dorothy J , Morales Elisa , Timpson Alexandra , Abrams Ericka L , Syme Amy , Preske Jeff , Mireles Gerardo , Anderson Barbara , Grover Nisha , Laffel Lori
Published: May 2017

Background

For a 2- to 6-year period, interventionists for the TODAY (Treatment Options for type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth) randomized clinical trial delivered a family-based, behavioral weight-loss program (the TODAY Lifestyle Program) to 234 youth with type 2 diabetes. Interventionists held at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, education, or health-related field and had experience working with children and families, especially from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. This article describes the administrative and organizational structure of the lifestyle program and how the structure facilitated collaboration among study leadership and lifestyle interventionists on the tailoring of the program to best suit the needs of the trial’s diverse patient population.

Methods

During the pilot phase and throughout the duration of the trial, the interventionists’ experiences in delivering the intervention were collected in a variety of ways including membership on study committees, survey responses, session audio recordings, and feedback during in-person trainings.

Results

The experiences of interventionists conveyed to study leadership through these channels resulted in decisions to tailor the lifestyle intervention’s delivery location and ways to supplement the standardized educational materials to better address the needs of a diverse patient population.

Conclusion

The methods used within the TODAY study to encourage and utilize interventionists’ experiences while implementing the lifestyle program may be useful to the design of future multi-site, clinical trials seeking to tailor behavioral interventions in a standardized, and culturally and developmentally sensitive manner.
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: development of an assessment set to evaluate functioning based on the Brief ICF Core Set for Hand Conditions – ICF HandA
Authors: Kus S. , Dereskewitz C. , Coenen M. , Rauch A. , Rudolf K.-D. ,   the Consortium Lighthouse Project Hand
Published: May 2017

Timely identification of patients’ problems after disorder or injury of the hand requires a thorough functional assessment. However, the variety of outcome measures available makes it difficult to choose the appropriate instrument. The brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (Brief ICF Core Set for Hand Conditions) provides a standard for what aspects need to be measured in hand injuries and disorders without specifying how to make the assessment. We developed the ICF-based Assessment Hand (ICF HandA), an assessment set for functioning based on the Brief ICF Core Set for Hand Conditions. First, we performed a literature review and an expert survey to pool outcome measures appropriate to assess functioning in clinical practice. At an interdisciplinary consensus conference experts decided on the outcome measures to be included in the ICF HandA. The ICF HandA provides a consensus on outcome measures and instruments to systematically assess function in patients with hand injuries and disorders.
Indications, techniques, and outcomes of arthroscopic repair of scapholunate ligament and triangular fibrocartilage complex
Authors: Mathoulin C. L.
Published: May 2017

This review includes updated understanding of the roles of intrinsic and extrinsic carpal ligaments in scapholunate instability and details the author’s experience of indications, arthroscopic repair methods, and outcomes of treating the instability. A classification on triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries is reviewed, followed by author’s indications, methods, and outcomes of arthroscopic repair of triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries.
Accuracy of a CGM Sensor in Pediatric Subjects With Type 1 Diabetes. Comparison of Three Insertion Sites: Arm, Abdomen, and Gluteus
Authors: Faccioli Simone , Del Favero Simone , Visentin Roberto , Bonfanti Riccardo , Iafusco Dario , Rabbone Ivana , Marigliano Marco , Schiaffini Riccardo , Bruttomesso Daniela , Cobelli Claudio ,   on behalf of the PedArPan Study Group
Published: May 2017

Background:

Patients with diabetes, especially pediatric ones, sometimes use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor in different positions from the approved ones. Here we compare the accuracy of Dexcom® G5 CGM sensor in three different sites: abdomen, gluteus (both approved) and arm (off-label).

Method:

Thirty youths, 5-9 years old, with type 1 diabetes (T1D) wore the sensor during a clinical trial where frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) measurements were obtained. Sensor was inserted in different sites according to the patient habit. Accuracy metrics include absolute relative difference (ARD) and absolute difference (AD) of CGM with respect to SMBG. The three sites were compared with ANOVA. If the test detected a difference, an additional pair-wise comparison was performed.

Results:

Overall, no accuracy difference was detected: the mean ARD was 13.3% (SD = 13.5%) for abdomen, 13.4% (12.9%) for arm and 12.9% (20.2%) for gluteus ( P value = .83); the mean AD was 17.0 mg/dl (17.2 mg/dl) for abdomen, 17.2 mg/dl (17.1 mg/dl) for arm and 18.3 mg/dl (18.5 mg/dl) for gluteus ( P value = .30). In hypo- and euglycemia ARD ( P value = .87 and .15, respectively), and AD ( P value = .68 and .37, respectively) were not statistically different. At variance, in hyperglycemia, a significant difference was detected between the two approved sites, abdomen and gluteus (ΔARD = −2.2% [CI = −4.2%, −0.1%], P value = .04), whereas the comparisons with the off-label location, arm-abdomen, and arm-gluteus were not significant.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that the accuracy of the sensor placed on the arm was not significantly different with respect to the two approved insertion sites (abdomen and gluteus). Larger, randomized trials are needed to draw final conclusions.
Impacts of credit constraint on small holder farmer’s technology adoption in Ethiopia
Authors: WoldeKidan Hana , Hadush Gebrelibanos , Gerezihar Kahsay
Published: May 2017

The study is conducted using a primary data which was collected from 252 randomly selected households found in two woredas (districts) of Gedeo zone with the objective of analysing determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in the credit market from both demand and supply sides and its implication on agricultural technology adoption and intensity of adoption. Probit and double-hurdle models are employed to analyse the data. Being young, number of oxen and distance to credit market are found to reduce the probability of being credit constrained. Age, number of oxen, family size and technology adoption are found to increase credit demand while land size, tropical livestock unit and distance to credit market have negative (unexpected) signs. In the double-hurdle model estimation while credit market participation, being literate, being young and livestock holdings are found to determine the probability of technology adoption positively having oxen, being credit constrained and far from input market affected probability of technology adoption negatively. In the last estimation, education, land size and livestock holdings turned out to affect intensity of adoption positively while number of oxen and distance to input market are found to reduce expenditure of farm technology.
Benefits Achieved for Patients Through Application of Height-Adjustable Examination Tables
Authors: Fragala Guy , Labreche Manon , Wawzynieki Patti
Published: May 2017

Objectives:

Ambulatory care is a rapidly growing segment of overall healthcare delivery and populations seen in ambulatory care settings are aging resulting in many patients with mobility limitations. Mounting a fixed height examination table can present a challenge to a patient with mobility limitations and may be somewhat difficult for the general patient population. This study sought to investigate potential benefits to the patient which might be achieved through introduction of height adjustable examination tables.

Methods:

A data collection tool was administered to patients at the time of a regularly scheduled clinic visit intended to measure exertion required, level of difficulty and feeling of safety.

Results:

Both patients requiring assistance and independent patients reported higher exertion, more difficulty and feeling less safe when mounting higher fixed height versus height adjustable examination tables.

Conclusions:

Height adjustable examination tables provide benefits to patients and should be considered when seeking furnishings for ambulatory care clinics.
Hansesmarkite, Ca2Mn2Nb6O19·20H2O, a new hexaniobate from a syenite pegmatite in the Larvik Plutonic Complex, southern Norway
Authors: Friis H. , Weller M. T. , Kampf A. R.
Published: May 2017

The new mineral hansesmarkite (IMA2015-067), Ca2Mn2Nb6O19·20H2O, was discovered at the AS Granit larvikite quarry in Tvedalen, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway. Hansesmarkite forms faintly yellow crystals up to 0.3 mm or thin coatingsin patches on gonnardite. Hansesmarkite is biaxial (+) with refractive indices (white light): α = 1.683(2), β = 1.698(2) and γ = 1.745(3); 2V(meas.) = 60.7(6)° and 2V(calc.) = 60.3°. The mineral exhibits moderate dispersion (r>v)and is pleochroic withX(almost colourless) <Y( pale yellow) <<Z(orangey yellow). The optical orientation isX^c= 20°,Y^b= 16° andZ^a= 5°. The empirical formula based on five electron probemicroanalyses and calculated based on Nb = 6 apfu is (Ca1.93Na0.02K0.01)∑1.96(Mn1.79Fe0.11)∑1.90Nb6O18.84·20H2O, with H2O determined from the structure solution.The mineral is triclinic,P1, witha= 9.081(4),b= 9.982(8),c= 10.60(1) Å, α = 111.07(8), β = 101.15(6), γ = 99.39(5)°,V= 850.8(13) Å3 andZ= 1. The structure was solved at 120 K because of thermalinstability of the mineral and refined toR1= 2.50% forFo> 4σ. The strongest reflections in the x-ray diffraction diagram are: [dobs. in Å (I)(hkl)] 9.282(36)(001), 8.610(100)(100, 011), 3.257(30)(031, 131)and 3.058(18)(130, 212). Hansesmarkite is the third naturally occurring hexaniobate in which six edge-sharing Nb-octahedra form the Lindqvist ion. These are linked via Mn-octahedra forming rods along [100] and Ca is located between the rods, creating a three dimensional structure via hydrogen bonds.
Unusual morphologies and the occurrence of pseudomorphs after ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) in fast growing, hyperalkaline speleothems
Authors: Field L. P. , Milodowski A. E. , Shaw R. P. , Stevens L. A. , Hall M. R. , Kilpatrick A. , Gunn J. , Kemp S. J. , Ellis M. A.
Published: May 2017

Unusual speleothems, associated with hyperalkaline (pH > 12) groundwaters have formed within a shallow, abandoned railway tunnel at Peak Dale, Derbyshire, UK. The hyperalkaline groundwaters are produced by the leaching of a thin layer (<2 m) of old lime-kiln waste on the soil-bedrock surface above the tunnel by rainwater. This results in a different reaction and chemical process to that more commonly associated with the formation of calcium carbonate speleothems from Ca-HCO3-type groundwaters and degassing of CO2. Stalagmites within the Peak Daletunnel have grown rapidly (averaging 33 mm y–1), following the closure of the tunnel 70 years ago. They have an unusual morphology comprising a central sub-horizontally-laminated column of micro- to nano-crystalline calcium carbonate encompassed by an outer sub-vertical assymetricripple-laminated layer. The stalagmites are composed largely of secondary calcite forming pseudomorphs (<1 mm) that we believe to be predominantly after the 'cold climate' calcium carbonate polymorph, ikaite (calcium carbonate hexahydrate: CaCO3·6H2O), withminor volumes of small (<5 μm) pseudomorphs after vaterite. The tunnel has a near constant temperature of 8–9°C, which is slightly above the previously published crystallization temperatures for ikaite (<6°C). Analysis of a stalagmite actively growing at the time ofsampling, and preserved immediately within a dry nitrogen cryogenic vessel, indicates that following crystallization of ikaite, decomposition to calcite occurs rapidly, if not instantaneously. We believe this is the first occurrence of this calcium carbonate polymorph observed within speleothems.