bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Initial Intrathecal Drug Ratio for Refractory Cancer-Related Pain for Early Pain Relief. A Retrospective Monocentric Study
Authors: Dupoiron Denis , Leblanc Damien , Demelliez-Merceron Sybille , Bore Francois , Seegers Valerie , Dubois Pierre Yves , Pechard Marie , Robard Serge , Delorme Thierry , Jubier-Hamon Sabrina , Carvajal Gabriel , Lebrec Nathalie
Published: March 2019

Objective

Intrathecal (IT) drug delivery has shown its efficiency in treating refractory cancer pain, but switching opioids from the systemic to the intrathecal route is a challenging phase. Moreover, associations are widely used and recommended. Few data deal with the initial dosage of each drug. Analyzing conversion factors and initial dosages used in intrathecal therapy seems essential to decreasing the length of titration and to delivering quick pain relief to patients.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from consecutive adult patients implanted with an intrathecal device for cancer pain and treated at the Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest, in Angers, France, for four years. The main goal was to identify factors associated with early pain relief after intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) implantation.

Results

Of the 220 IDDS-treated patients, 70 (32%) experienced early pain relief (EaPR) and 150 (68%) delayed pain relief (DePR). Performance Status stage and initial IT ropivacaine:IT morphine ratio were the variables independently associated with EaPR. The best IT ropivacaine:IT morphine ratio to predict EaPR was 5:1, with a 73% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64.8% to 79.6%) sensitivity and a 67.1% (95% CI = 54.9% to 77.9%) specificity. EaPR subjects experienced better pain relief (–84% vs –60% from baseline pain score, P < 0.0001), shorter length of hospitalization (7 vs 10 days, P < 0.0001), and longer survival (155 vs 82 days, P = 0.004).

Conclusions

Local anesthetic:morphine ratio should be considered when starting IDDS treatment. EaPR during the IT analgesia titration phase was associated with better pain relief and outcomes in patients with refractory cancer-related pain.
Clinical Relevance of Preoperative MRI in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Scaramuzzo Laura , Giudici Fabrizio , Archetti Marino , Minoia Leone , Zagra Antonino , Bongetta Daniele
Published: March 2019

Study Design:

This was a prospective cohort study.

Objectives:

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and clinical relevance of neuroaxial anomalies in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients as well as to evaluate different clinical and radiologic variables as potential predictors of the presence of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormality.

Summary of Background Data:

The usefulness of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in AIS is still debated in the literature as well as the clinical relevance of the neuroaxial anomalies detected.

Materials and Methods:

We performed an analysis on 88 patients affected by AIS with normal neurological examination undergoing a posterior arthrodesis intervention. Patients were stratified according to the presence and type of neuroaxial abnormalities and were compared by age, sex, Risser grading, Lenke curve type, coronal and sagittal curve parameters, presence of alterations at intraoperative neuromonitoring, and “pain” and “function” scores at the SRS-22 test.

Results:

Neuroaxial abnormalities were reported in 23 patients (26.14%): 14 hydromyelias, 7 syringomyelias, 1 case of Chiari I syndrome, and 1 case of spinal ependymoma. Age, sex, Risser grading, curve type, and coronal and sagittal curve parameters did not differ between normal patients and patients with any neuroaxial abnormality. Alterations of motor-evoked potential/somatosensory-evoked potential monitoring during surgery were reported in 23 patients; the difference in their incidence between normal (20%) and hydromyelia (64%) patients was significant (P<0.01). In evaluating the subareas of the SRS-22 test, we found that the “function” scores differed significantly by comparing normal (21.5±1.6) and hydromyelia (20.4±1.8) patients (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of neuroaxial abnormalities in AIS patients is relatively high, but we could not identify any definitive clinical or radiologic predictor of their presence. Hydromyelia was correlated with intraoperative motor-evoked potential/somatosensory-evoked potential electrophysiological alterations.
Turbulent wind field representation and conditional mean-field simulation
Authors: Krenk Steen , Møller Randi N.
Published: March 2019

The covariance structure of a homogeneous isotropic turbulent wind velocity field is derived in terms of modified Bessel functions for an extended form of the Kàrmàn velocity spectrum, including explicit expressions for the transverse coherence functions. A concept of transformed isotropic turbulence is introduced to account for differences in the axial, transverse and vertical fluctuating wind velocities and length scales in natural wind. A special form of the auto-regressive simulation format is developed for convected turbulence with exponentially increasing intervals to the regression planes. In each step, the wind velocity field in a transverse plane is represented by a conditional mean field and a stochastic contribution determined explicitly by the time–space covariances. Simulation results are presented for a square area of dimension less than the integral length scale, representative of buildings and wind turbines, and a horizontal line of length six times the length scale, representative of a long-span bridge. The simulations demonstrate high accuracy of simulated spectral densities, covariance functions and transverse coherence functions. The simulated results do not show visible dependence on the specific points used for the simulated records. The efficiency and the free simulation point configuration suggest high competitiveness compared to fast Fourier transform-based spectral methods.
WHO child growth standards for Pygmies: one size fits all?
Authors: Funk Stephan M. , Guerra Belén Palomo , Ickowitz Amy , Poni Nicias Afoumpam , Abdou Mohamadou Aminou , Sibama Yaya Hadam , Penda René , Brull Guillermo Ros , Abossolo Martin , Martín Eva Ávila , Okale Robert , Ze Blaise Ango , Carrión Ananda Moreno , Sebastián Cristina García , de Loizaga García Cristina Ruiz , Salazar Francisco López-Romero , Amazia Hissein , Álvarez Reyes Idoia , Sánchez Expósito Rafaela , Fa John E.
Published: March 2019

Background

African Pygmies exhibit a unique, genetically determined child growth dynamics and adult stature but the impact on assessing undernutrition remains unknown. Baka Pygmy health is highly compromised compared to sympatric populations. Evaluating child undernutrition is an important step to address this health quandry. We estimate stunting and wasting in Cameroon’s Baka children and investigate the applicability of the standards for Pygmy people.

Methods

Anthropometric and health data from 685 2-to12 year old children were collected at 25 health centres in southern Cameroon. Growth was analysed using both, WHO Child Growth Standards and the population itself as reference to define frequencies of stunting, wasting and obesity.

Findings

Baka children revealed with 68.4% the highest recorded level globally of stunting relative to the WHO child growth standard in 2-to-4 year olds. Wasting was at 8.2% in the upper third range in Sub-Saharan Africa. Obesity was with 6.5% similar to wasting, but no comparable data have been published for Sub-Saharan Africa. When referenced to the Baka population itself, values for stunting were dramatically lower at 1.0% and 2.9% for 2-to-4 and 5-to-12 year olds, respectively. Wasting was also lower at 2.8% and 1.8% and was exceeded by obesity at 3.4% and 3.5%, respectively. Brachial perimeters and oedemas indicated rare severe malnutrition (< 2%) whilst moderate and severe anaemia were frequent (26.6% and 3.3%, respectively).

Interpretation

WHO child growth standards for stunting are clearly not applicable to Pygmies thus contradicting the widespread emphasis of their ethnicity-independent applicability. The inferred values for wasting and obesity are also difficult to interpret and are likely overestimated by the WHO criteria. To achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals and to fulfil our humanitarian responsibility for fellow man, we recommend that Pygmy specific growth standards are developed for the genetically differing Pygmy tribes.
In “likes” we trust: likes, disclosures and firm-serving motives on social media
Authors: Seo Yuri , Kim Jungkeun , Choi Yung Kyun , Li Xiaozhu
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine when and how the number of “likes” can exert significant influence on consumer evaluations of social media advertising. It sheds a novel perspective on how social media “likes”, advertising disclosures and the presence of firm-serving motives influence advertising effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 examines how the number of “likes” influences consumer attitudes towards the sponsoring brand by strengthening advertising credibility, when social media ads are effectively (vs non-effectively) disclosed. Study 2 further establishes how the influence of the number of “likes” for effectively disclosed ads varies depending on whether the company states (vs does not state) its firm-serving motives.

Findings

The authors found that a social media ad displayed with a higher number of “likes” is perceived to be more credible, which can then yield more positive attitudes towards the brand. However, the use of effective disclosures moderates this relationship. To offset this effect, companies can restore the value of “likes” by stating their firm-serving motives openly when they develop social media advertising messages.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers a novel perspective on how consumers evaluate the number of displayed “likes” in the context of other social media features.

Practical implications

The study shows how social media marketers can become more effective in taking advantage of the number of “likes” that they accumulate on social networking site platforms.

Originality/value

The study illustrates a novel mechanism behind how and when the number of “likes” can influence the effectiveness of social media advertising.
The more I err, the less I pay
Authors: Muralidharan Etayankara , Bapuji Hari , Hora Manpreet
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of firm characteristics and crisis characteristics on remedies offered to consumers by firms in the event of a product recall crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

Published data on 868 product recalls in the US toy industry from 1988 to 2011 have been used to investigate the effects of firm experience in product recalls, type of firm (company versus intermediary) and product recall severity in predicting remedies offered to consumers in the event of a product recall.

Findings

The findings show that firm recall experience, firm type and recall severity are negatively associated with recall remedies offered. Specifically, firms offer lower remedies if they have higher recall experience, if they are upstream firms in the supply chain (farther from consumers) and if the recall is more severe.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the toy industry and does not consider product complexity, firm reputation and the role of external regulatory agencies in the prediction of remedies offered by firms. Future research may extend this study to include the above factors.

Practical implications

Offering a high remedy to consumers of a recalled product may be a responsible decision by a firm, but it may also attract shareholder wrath. The study has implications for managing multiple goals in product recall crisis management.

Originality/value

Studies focused on issues of interest to consumers during a recall crisis, such as swift recalls and appropriate remedies, are limited. This study contributes to the understanding of the antecedents of recall remedies.
The efficiency of Jordan insurance companies and its determinants using DEA, slacks, and logit models
Authors: Jaloudi Mutasem Mahmoud
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the technical efficiency in the Jordan insurance market and examine the internal and external determinants that appear to affect the technical efficiency of the insurance companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used panel data for 22 insurance companies operating inside Jordan over the period 2000–2016. The author used the data envelopment analysis to evaluate the technical efficiency scores, slacks-based and logit models to examine the efficiency determinants.

Findings

The study found that there is a slight development of technical efficiency for the Jordanian insurance companies during the study period. In addition, there is a substantial efficiency difference among insurance companies each year, and there is a variation at the level of efficiency for each company in each year. The results also showed that owners’ equities are among the most important internal determinants of companies’ efficiency, and there is a significant correlation between type, size and return on assets of the insurer and its efficiency.

Originality/value

This study provides insurance management with relevant indicators that would guide them to make efficient use of the resource base. The period of study also covers the period following the adoption of the insurance law and the issuance of most of the legislation related to the work of insurance companies.
From sense-making to perceived organizational performance: looking for the best way
Authors: Mas-Machuca Marta , Marimon Frederic
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Mission statements (SMs) are a frequent strategic tool, yet little is known about their effects on economic performance. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to model and assess the relationships among the sense-making of the SM, employee mission engagement (EME), organizational mission fulfillment (OMF) and perceived organizational performance (PER) and, second, to determine the path that best explains these connections.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports the results of an empirical investigation drawn from a sample of 132 managers at different levels in two Spanish companies. The data analysis was performed in two steps: the first was to assess the reliability of the measurement scales and the second was to build a causal model using structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

The findings suggest that the best path to explain the relationships between the SM and perceived organizational performance (PER) is SM, EME, OMF, PER, with a full mediation effect for EME and OMF. These findings are consistent with previous research.

Practical implications

The managerial implications of these results are that just having a good mission and effective communication of the mission is not enough. The mission has to be related to employee engagement and, at the same time, the organization needs to be mission driven.

Originality/value

This research provides a new paradigm for understanding the relationships between sense-making around the SM, EME, OMF and PER, and helps to adjudicate among possible outcome paths and better explain the inter-relationships among these constructs.
A taxonomy for Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA)
Authors: Rodriguez Barbara X. , Simonen Kathrina , Huang Monica , De Wolf Catherine
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of common parameters in existing tools that provide guidance to carry out Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) and proposes a new taxonomy, a catalogue of parameters, for the definition of the goal and scope (G&S) in WBLCA.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis approach is used to identify, code and analyze parameters in existing WBLCA tools. Finally, a catalogue of parameters is organized into a new taxonomy.

Findings

In total, 650 distinct parameter names related to the definition of G&S from 16 WBLCAs tools available in North America, Europe and Australia are identified. Building on the analysis of existing taxonomies, a new taxonomy of 54 parameters is proposed in order to describe the G&S of WBLCA.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis of parameters in WBLCA tools does not include Green Building Rating Systems and is only limited to tools available in English.

Practical implications

This research is crucial in life cycle assessment (LCA) method harmonization and to serve as a stepping stone to the identification and categorization of parameters that could contribute to WBLCA comparison necessary to meet current global carbon goals.

Social implications

The proposed taxonomy enables architecture, engineering and construction practitioners to contribute to current WBLCA practice.

Originality/value

A study of common parameters in existing tools contributes to identifying the type of data that is required to describe buildings and contribute to build a standardized framework for LCA reporting, which would facilitate consistency across future studies and can serve as a checklist for practitioners when conducting the G&S stage of WBLCA.
Determinants of predation success: How to survive an attack from a rattlesnake
Authors: Whitford Malachi D. , Freymiller Grace A. , Higham Timothy E. , Clark Rulon W.
Published: March 2019

The selection pressures that arise from capturing prey and avoiding predators are some of the strongest biotic forces shaping animal form and function. Examining how performance (i.e., athletic ability) affects the outcomes of encounters between free‐ranging predators and prey is essential for understanding the determinants of predation success rates and broad scale predator–prey dynamics, but quantifying these encounters in natural situations is logistically challenging.

The goal of our study was to examine how various metrics of predator/prey performance determine predation success by studying natural predator–prey interactions in the field with minimal manipulation of the study subjects.

We used high‐speed video recordings of free‐ranging sidewinder rattlesnakes (predator, Crotalus cerastes) and desert kangaroo rats (prey, Dipodomys deserti) to study how performance at various stages of their encounters alters the outcome of their interactions.

We found that predation success depends on (a) whether the rattlesnake struck accurately, (b) if the rattlesnake strike was accurate, the reaction time and escape manoeuvres of the kangaroo rat, and (c) if the kangaroo rat was bitten, the ability of the kangaroo rat to use defensive manoeuvres to avoid subjugation by the snake.

The results of our study suggest that the role of performance in predator–prey interactions is complex, and the determinants of predation success are altered by both predator and prey at multiple stages of an interaction in ways that may not be apparent in many experimental contexts.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
The Impact of Information Processing Costs on Firm Disclosure Choice: Evidence from the XBRL Mandate
Authors: BLANKESPOOR ELIZABETH
Published: March 2019

This paper examines the effect of market participants’ information processing costs on firms’ disclosure choice. Using the recent eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) regulation, I find that firms increase their quantitative footnote disclosures upon implementation of XBRL detailed tagging requirements designed to reduce information users’ processing costs. These results hold in a difference‐in‐difference design using matched nonadopting firms as controls, as well as two additional identification strategies. Examination of the disclosure increase by footnote type suggests that both regulatory and nonregulatory market participants play a role in monitoring firm disclosures. Overall, these findings suggest that the processing costs of market participants can be significant enough to impact firms’ disclosure decisions.
Controls and Cooperation in Interactive and Non‐Interactive Settings
Authors: Garrett Jace B. , Livingston Jeffrey A. , Tayler William B. , Cade Nicole L. , McVay Sarah E.
Published: March 2019

Prior research finds that controls that induce cooperation among collaborators on a project increase trust, and that this increased trust increases subsequent cooperation among collaborators. We extend this work by investigating how controls influence cooperative behavior in two settings. The first is an interactive setting where people work together and can benefit from each other's work. The second is a non‐interactive setting where people do not work together directly but where behavior can be observed. We propose that because controls are likely to engender greater trust and reciprocity in interactive settings than in non‐interactive settings, the effect of controls on future cooperative behavior will be greater for controls in interactive settings than for controls in non‐interactive settings. We find that controls in both settings increase future cooperative behavior, but the effect is significantly greater in interactive settings (where reciprocity and trust are more likely to develop). Furthermore, this increased cooperation is observed in an uncontrolled task, suggesting that the control fosters trust in others rather than trust in the control. These findings suggest that the benefits of controls are more substantial in work environments characterized by extensive teamwork and where employees benefit from each other's work.
Heart valve inspired and multi‐stream aortic cannula: Novel designs for cardiopulmonary bypass improvement in neonates
Authors: Rasooli Reza , Pekkan Kerem
Published: March 2019

In a typical open‐heart surgery, the blood flow through the aortic cannula is a critical element of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedure. Especially for the neonatal and pediatric CPB flow conditions, the need for small hydraulic diameter and large blood flow results confined turbulent jet flow regimes that exacerbate blood damage and platelet activation. Simultaneously, the confined jet wake leads to complex stagnation and recirculating flows that cause considerable thrombosis, blood, and endothelial cell damage through the aorta. Thus, an ideal neonatal CPB cannula should be able to generate optimal jet expansion so that sufficient cerebral perfusion is achieved through the head‐neck vessels to avoid postoperative neurological complications and developmental defects in children. To address these challenges, a formal bio‐inspired design framework is conducted to reach the desired cannula function through novel analogous biological components, first‐time in literature. Among the biological jet flow regimes studied, the ventricle filling‐jet generated through the atrio‐ventricle (AV) valves are found to be the most promising. Inspired from human AV valve shapes, 8 different novel cannula designs, considering the size constrains of neonatal and pediatric patients are built via high‐accurate micro stereo‐lithography. Using 2‐dimensional time‐resolved particle image velocimetry the turbulent jet wake characteristics are measured and compared. The proposed designs have exhibited a significant improvement as compared to standard circular cannula by around 30% reduction in maximum outflow velocity and more than 80% reduction in potential core length and spatial energy dissipation which results in a lower risk of cardiovascular and blood damage.
A comparison of common practices for identifying substance use during pregnancy in obstetric clinics
Authors: Klawans Michelle R. , Northrup Thomas F. , Villarreal Yolanda R. , Berens Pamela D. , Blackwell Sean , Bunag Tiffany , Stotts Angela L.
Published: March 2019

Background

Substance use during pregnancy has been linked to adverse birth and other outcomes. Screening and intervention in the prenatal clinic are recommended, and reliance on patient reports or selective urine drug screening is inadequate. The aim of this prospective project was to determine substance use identification rates associated with common screening practices, compared to universal screening, among pregnant women seeking care at an urban, academic obstetric clinic.

Methods

Women attending their first prenatal visit (N = 275) completed a self‐report questionnaire on lifetime and current substance use. A urine drug screening was also conducted, the results of which were not reported to providers. Participants’ charts were reviewed to obtain the results of provider‐ordered screens.

Results

The sample was primarily African‐American and Latino, with Medicaid insurance. Ten women (4.6%) reported current marijuana use, while more than double that number (n = 27; 11.6%) screened positive for marijuana via universal screening. The majority of women who screened positive via universal screening did not have a provider‐ordered urine drug screening, and less than one‐third (29.3%) of clinician‐ordered screens were positive for at least one substance. Finally, 90% of women who reported they were using marijuana were not selected by providers for a screen.

Discussion

Data demonstrate the high proportion of women using marijuana and the limitations of patient self‐report and selective, nonroutine screening to identify substance use during pregnancy. Effective, standardized, clinic‐wide strategies are needed to support providers in identifying pregnant women who use substances in order to increase the frequency of education and intervention.
Twin‐based heritability of actimetry traits
Authors: Gehrman Philip R. , Ghorai Arpita , Goodman Matthew , McCluskey Richard , Barilla Holly , Almasy Laura , Roenneberg Till , Bucan Maja
Published: March 2019

There is a critical need for phenotypes with substantial heritability that can be used as endophenotypes in behavioral genetic studies. Activity monitoring, called actimetry, has potential as a means of assessing sleep and circadian rhythm traits that could serve as endophenotypes relevant to a range of psychopathologies. This study examined a range of actimetry traits for heritability using a classic twin design. The sample consisted of 195 subjects from 45 monozygotic (MZ) and 50 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged 16‐40 years. Subjects wore both a research‐grade actimeter (GENEActiv) and a consumer‐oriented device (FitBit) for 2 weeks. Sleep and circadian traits were extracted from GENEActiv data using PennZzz and ChronoSapiens software programs. Sleep statistics for a limited number of FitBit‐collected traits were generated by its accompanying mobile app. Broad sense heritability was computed on a set of 33 MZ and 38 DZ twin pairs with complete data using both OpenMX and SOLAR software. These analyses yielded a large number of actimetry‐derived traits, 20 of which showed high heritability (h2 > 0.6), seven of which remain significant after Bonferroni correction. These results indicate that actimetry enables assessing a range of phenotypes with substantial heritability that may be useful as endophenotypes for genetic studies.
“What would you recommend doctor?”—Discourse analysis of a moment of dissonance when sharing decisions in clinical consultations
Authors: Sherlock Rebecca , Wood Fiona , Joseph‐Williams Natalie , Williams Denitza , Hyam Joanna , Sweetland Helen , McGarrigle Helen , Edwards Adrian
Published: March 2019

Background

Proven benefits of Shared Decision Making (SDM) include improved patient knowledge, involvement and confidence in making decisions. Although widely advocated in policy, SDM is still not widely implemented in practice. A common patient‐reported barrier is feeling that “doctor knows best”; thus, patients often defer decisions to the clinician.

Objective

To examine the nature of the discourse when patients ask clinicians for a treatment recommendation during consultations when treatment decisions are being shared and to examine clinicians’ strategies used in response.

Design, Setting and Participants

Theme‐orientated discourse analysis was performed on eight audio‐recordings of breast cancer diagnostic consultations in which patients or their partners attempted to defer treatment decisions to the clinician. Clinicians were trained in SDM.

Results

Tension was evident in a number of consultations when treatment recommendations were requested. Clinicians responded to recommendation requests by explaining why the decision was being shared (personal nature of the decision, individual preferences and equivalent survival outcomes of treatment options). There was only one instance where a clinician gave a treatment recommendation.

Discussion and Conclusions

Strategies for clinicians to facilitate SDM when patients seem to defer decisional responsibility include being clear about why the decision is being shared, acknowledging that this is difficult and making patients feel supported. When patients seek guidance, clinicians can provide a recommendation if grounded in an understanding of the patient's values.
Re‐evaluation of physical interaction between plant peroxisomes and other organelles using live‐cell imaging techniques
Authors: Oikawa Kazusato , Hayashi Makoto , Hayashi Yasuko , Nishimura Mikio
Published: March 2019

The dynamic behavior of organelles is essential for plant survival under various environmental conditions. Plant organelles, with various functions, migrate along actin filaments and contact other types of organelles, leading to physical interactions at a specific site called the membrane contact site. Recent studies have revealed the importance of physical interactions in maintaining efficient metabolite flow between organelles. In this review, we first summarize peroxisome function under different environmental conditions and growth stages to understand organelle interactions. We then discuss current knowledge regarding the interactions between peroxisome and other organelles, i.e., the oil bodies, chloroplast, and mitochondria from the perspective of metabolic and physiological regulation, with reference to various organelle interactions and techniques for estimating organelle interactions occurring in plant cells.
Simultaneous correction of breast hypertrophy and vaginal agenesis: Aesthetic surgery to the aid of reconstructive surgery
Authors: Gentileschi Stefano , Pino Valentina , Albanese Roberta , Salgarello Marzia , Scambia Giovanni , Ercoli Alfredo
Published: March 2019

Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome is characterized by aplasia of the uterus and the upper ⅔ of the vagina, with normal female genotype (46,XX) and the development of secondary sexual characters. One of the most popular surgical treatment is the McIndoe procedure, which major drawbacks are the scar of split thickness skin graft (STSG)harvesting, and risk of vaginal stenosis for graft retraction. We report the case of a patient, operated modifying the McIndoe technique, by harvesting a full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) from patient's breasts, undergone simultaneous reduction mammoplasty. The FTSG provided a complete lining of the reconstructed neovagina. At 6 months, we observed complete mucinous metaplasia of the vaginal walls and 1 year after surgery no sign of stenosis, without the use of the mold. The advantages of this technique are reduced donor site morbidity, when compared with traditional McIndoe technique, and reduced risk of neovagina retraction ensured by FTSG, compared with STSG. If future patients’ series confirm the good results achieved, we could consider it as a first‐line option in patients undergoing neovagina reconstruction, seeking breasts or body contouring surgery.
School Health Program: Impacting Physical Activity Behaviors Among Disadvantaged Students
Authors: Dai Chia‐Liang
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more apt to experience lower availability of nutritious foods, lack opportunities to exercise, and lack access to recreational facilities, and thus, are more likely to be obese and at greater risk for developing chronic diseases. We review school health education programs' impact on physical activity behaviors among disadvantaged students.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria of the study were articles: published in English with full text between 2011 and 2017; focused on school health education programs for disadvantaged school‐aged students; assessed programs including a physical activity component; examined school‐aged children and adolescents' physical activity behaviors; and assessed programs with comparison groups.

RESULTS

There were 13 studies matching inclusion criteria in this review. The results of this review indicated that school‐based health education programs which included culturally appropriate physical activity, parent involvement, and enhanced student motivation and choice of activities appeared to increase physical activity levels among disadvantaged school‐aged students. Health education programs should also emphasize behavioral change skills, such as goal setting and self‐motivation, to positively impact on students' physical activity behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

School‐based health education programs may help increase access to physical activity among disadvantaged populations.
Integration of congenital cytomegalovirus screening within a newborn hearing screening programme
Authors: Beswick Rachael , David Michael , Higashi Hideki , Thomas Delene , Nourse Clare , Koh Guan , Koorts Pieter , Jardine Luke A , Clark Julia E
Published: March 2019

Aim

Targeted screening by a salivary cytomegalovirus (CMV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of infants who ‘refer’ on their newborn hearing screen has been suggested as an easy, reliable and cost‐effective approach to identify and treat babies with congenital CMV (cCMV) to improve hearing outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and cost‐effectiveness of introducing targeted salivary cCMV testing into a newborn hearing screening programme.

Methods

The study included three tertiary maternity hospitals in Queensland, Australia between August 2014 and April 2016. Infants who ‘referred’ on the newborn hearing screen were offered a salivary swab for CMV PCR at the point of referral to audiology. Swabs were routinely processed and tested for CMV DNA by real‐time quantitative PCR. Parents of babies with a positive CMV PCR were notified, and the babies were medically assessed and, where appropriate, were offered treatment (oral valganciclovir).

Results

Of eligible infants, the parents of 83.0% (234/283) consented to the cCMV screen. Of these, 96.6% returned a negative result (226/234), and 3.4% (8/234) returned a positive result (three true positive; five false positive). The prevalence of cCMV for infants with confirmed hearing loss was 3.64% (P = 2/55; confidence interval = 0.44–12.53%). The cost comparison suggests the cost implementation of cCMV screening (and subsequent potential treatment benefits and management over time), compared to non‐screening (and subsequent management), to be negligible.

Conclusion

Incorporating cCMV testing into Universal Newborn Hearing Screening within Queensland is realistic and achievable, both practically and financially.
Major shifts in gut microbiota during development and its relationship to growth in ostriches
Authors: Videvall Elin , Song Se Jin , Bensch Hanna M. , Strandh Maria , Engelbrecht Anel , Serfontein Naomi , Hellgren Olof , Olivier Adriaan , Cloete Schalk , Knight Rob , Cornwallis Charlie K.
Published: March 2019

The development of gut microbiota during ontogeny is emerging as an important process influencing physiology, immunity and fitness in vertebrates. However, knowledge of how bacteria colonize the juvenile gut, how this is influenced by changes in the diversity of gut bacteria and to what extent this influences host fitness, particularly in nonmodel organisms, is lacking. Here we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the successional development of the faecal microbiome in ostriches (Struthio camelus,n = 66, repeatedly sampled) over the first 3 months of life and its relationship to growth. We found a gradual increase in microbial diversity with age that involved multiple colonization and extinction events and a major taxonomic shift in bacteria that coincided with the cessation of yolk absorption. Comparisons with the microbiota of adults (n = 5) revealed that the chicks became more similar in their microbial diversity and composition to adults as they aged. There was a five‐fold difference in juvenile growth during development, and growth during the first week of age was strongly positively correlated with the abundance of the genusBacteroidesand negatively correlated withAkkermansia.After the first week, the abundances of six phylogenetically diverse families (Peptococcaceae, S24‐7, Verrucomicrobiae, Anaeroplasmataceae, Streptococcaceae, Methanobacteriaceae) were associated with subsequent reductions in chick growth in an age‐specific and transient manner. These results have broad implications for our understanding of the development of gut microbiota and its associations with animal growth.
‘Scripture Grows with its Readers’: Doctrinal Development from a Ricœurian Perspective
Authors: Aspray Barnabas
Published: March 2019

This article uses the hermeneutic philosophy of Paul Ricœur to contribute to a Protestant‐ecumenical understanding of doctrinal development, construed as the growth of the meaning of Scripture. Ricœur’s hermeneutics differ from those of Gadamer, structuralism, and authorial intention in ways that, unlike these, show how doctrinal development is not only possible but necessary. With a Ricœurian approach to biblical interpretation, I argue that doctrinal and even dogmatic development is fully compatible with a Protestant commitment to sola scriptura.
Oral Prolonged‐Release Oxycodone‐Naloxone: Analgesic Response, Safety Profile, and Factors Influencing the Response in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Corli Oscar , Iorno Vittorio , Legramandi Lorenzo , Rulli Eliana , Roberto Anna , Azzarello Giuseppe , Schiavon Stefania , Cavanna Luigi , De Santis Stefano , Cartoni Claudio , Di Marco Pierangelo , Dauri Mario , Mistretta Rosario , Bortolussi Roberto , Clerico Mario , Pacchioni Manuela , Crispino Carlo , Marabese Mirko , Corsi Nicole ,   Good Response with Appropriate Treatment (GREAT) Collaborators
Published: March 2019

Background

Oxycodone‐naloxone (OXN) aims to reduce opioid‐related constipation while being successfully analgesic.

Methods

We evaluated the analgesic response, prevalence, and severity of side effects in 176 patients with cancer who had moderate to severe pain and were being treated with OXN. Patients were followed for 28 days and evaluated every 7 days. Pain intensity, changes of therapy, and adverse drug reactions were recorded at each visit. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of responders (≥30% reduction of pain intensity from baseline to final) and final average pain score ≤ 4 on a scale of 0 to 10.

Results

Average and worst pain intensity and breakthrough pain (BTP) prevalence decreased over time, and 81.3% of patients were responders. The starting daily dose of OXN was raised from 25.1 ± 13.0 mg to 44.1 ± 29.9 mg, and dose escalation > 5%/day was observed in 19.4% of patients; 40.8% to 46.2% and 11.0% to 17.0% experienced any constipation and a severe grade of constipation during the follow‐up visit, respectively. Digestive system tumor, thyroid endocrinopathies, psychological irritability, and BTP increased the risk for analgesic nonresponse.

Conclusions

OXN had a strong analgesic effect in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain; the safety profile is in line with the common adverse effects of opioids, and severe constipation was uncommon.

Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02293785.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Smith Robert
Published: March 2019

Journal of Education and Training Studies (JETS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JETS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 3S Adalberto Felipe Martinez, Federal University of São Carlos, BrazilEnisa Mede, Bahcesehir University, TurkeyFroilan D. Mobo, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, PhilippineGianpiero Greco, University of Study of Bari, ItalyGuilherme Tucher, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazilİbrahim Yaşar Kazu, Firat University, TurkeyJohn Cowan, Edinburgh Napier University, UKJon S. Turner, Missouri State University, USALorna T. Enerva, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, PhilippinesMassimiliano Barattucci, Ecampus University, ItalyMatt Varacallo, University of Kentucky, USAMeral Seker, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, TurkeyMichael Wall, Independent Researcher in Music and Music Education, USANiveen M. Zayed, MENA College of Management, JordanRichard Penny, University of Washington Bothell, USASadia Batool, Preston University Islamabad, PakistanSayim Aktay, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, TurkeyVjacheslav Ivanovich Babich, Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Ukraine Robert SmithEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Journal of Education and Training StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://jets.redfame.com
The Effects of Research-Inquiry Based Learning on the Scientific Reasoning Skills of Prospective Science Teachers
Authors: Yuksel Ibrahim
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of research-inquiry-based learning approach on the Scientific Reasoning Skills of Science Education Prospective Teachers in the Nature of Science and Science History Course. The study was designed as a single group pre-test – post - test model. The study group consisted of 31 prospective teachers in the 3rd grade of Science Education program in a public university in the spring term of 2017-2018 academic year. For the scientific reasoning skills of prospective teachers "Scientific Reasoning Skills Test - SRST" was measured as a pre-test, then the Nature of Science and Science History course was conducted with the Research-Inquiry Based Learning Approach and SRST was applied as a final test. This test consists of 7 sub-dimensions and contains a total of 26 items. The findings of the sub-problems of the study can be expressed as follows; a significant difference was found between the SRST pre-test total scores and post-test total scores in favor of the post-test total scores according to the sub-dimensions of proportional thinking, correlative thinking and hypothetical thinking. There was no significant difference in the post-test total scores according to the sub-dimensions of conservation laws, identifying and controlling variables, combinatorial thinking and probabilistic thinking. There was no significant difference between SRST pre-test and post-test total scores of man and woman students. A significant difference was found only in the sub-dimension of combinatorial thinking in the total scores of the sub-dimensions of SRST.
Boiling Heat Transfer Coefficients in a Falling Film Helical Coil Heat Exchanger for the NH3–LiNO3 Mixture
Authors: Hernández-Magallanes J. A. , Rivera W.
Published: March 2019

This paper reports the experimental data of boiling heat transfer coefficients for the ammonia–lithium nitrate mixture in a laminar falling film. The analyzed heat exchanger consists of a shell with an internal helical coil. More than one hundred test runs were carried out in steady-state conditions to determine the boiling heat transfer coefficients at generation temperatures, concentrations, and mass flow rates typical of absorption cooling systems of capacities between 5 and 10 kW. Ammonia vapor was produced at generation temperatures between 80 °C and 105 °C obtaining boiling heat transfer coefficients between 85 and 340 W/m2K. Semi-empirical correlations were used by diverse authors to correlate the experimental data. A new correlation was proposed with which the best adjustments were obtained. Also, the influence of the heat flux, the refrigerant solution mass flow rates, and the exit vapor qualities were analyzed in the boiling heat transfer coefficients.
A Comparative Study of Performance of Low Reynolds Number Turbulence Models for Various Heat Transfer Enhancement Simulations
Authors: Tiwari Ankit , Yavuzkurt Savas
Published: March 2019

The goal of this study is to evaluate the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) predictions of friction factor and Nusselt number from six different low Reynolds number k–ε (LRKE) models namely Chang–Hsieh–Chen (CHC), Launder–Sharma (LS), Abid, Lam–Bremhorst (LB), Yang–Shih (YS), and Abe–Kondoh–Nagano (AKN) for various heat transfer enhancement applications. Standard and realizable k–ε (RKE) models with enhanced wall treatment (EWT) were also studied. CFD predictions of Nusselt number, Stanton number, and friction factor were compared with experimental data from literature. Various parameters such as effect of type of mesh element and grid resolution were also studied. It is recommended that a model, which predicts reasonably accurate values for both friction factor and Nusselt number, should be chosen over disparate models, which may predict either of these quantities more accurately. This is based on the performance evaluation criterion developed by Webb and Kim (2006, Principles of Enhanced Heat Transfer, 2nd ed., Taylor and Francis Group, pp. 1–72) for heat transfer enhancement. It was found that all LRKE models failed to predict friction factor and Nusselt number accurately (within 30%) for transverse rectangular ribs, whereas standard and RKE with EWT predicted friction factor and Nusselt number within 25%. Conversely, for transverse grooves, AKN, AKN/CHC, and LS (with modified constants) models accurately predicted (within 30%) both friction factor and Nusselt number for rectangular, circular, and trapezoidal grooves, respectively. In these cases, standard and RKE predictions were inaccurate and inconsistent. For longitudinal fins, Standard/RKE model, AKN, LS and Abid LRKE models gave the friction factor and Nusselt number predictions within 25%, with the AKN model being the most accurate.
A Two-Step Model for Multiple Picosecond and Femtosecond Pulses Ablation of Fused Silica
Authors: Wang Han , Shen Hong , Yao Zhenqiang
Published: March 2019

The morphology of microchannels machined by multiple ultrafast laser pulses with 500 fs and 8 ps durations on fused silica plate is predicted by a two-step model with experimental validation in present work. A spike structure at crater boundary with different scales in 500 fs and 8 ps pulse ablation is found in the numerical investigation, which could be attributed to diffraction and attenuation of light intensity in both cases. To analyze the evolution of crater morphology and damaged area with an increasing number of pulses, the distribution of light intensity, lattice temperature, and self-trapped excitons density during certain pulses are studied. The results showed that 500 fs pulses lead to smoother crater boundary, smaller heat affected zone, and larger electrical damage area with respect to 8 ps pulses.
An Energy-Based Load Distribution Approach for the Application of Gear Mesh Stiffness on Elastic Bodies
Authors: Andary Faysal , Berroth Joerg , Jacobs Georg
Published: March 2019

This study introduces a new potential energy-based design method for simplifying elastic gear bodies in low- to mid-range frequency applications by bridging over the gear teeth with external stiffness elements. The advantage of the introduced method over more traditional approaches, which are either based on rigid gears or on replacing the teeth, is that the complex gear body and its dynamic behavior are preserved, albeit with fewer degrees of freedom. The method is demonstrated on a gear by replacing a single tooth under load and then validated numerically against a typical flexible gear model. The simulation results show good accuracy within the chosen frequency range and with a clear reduction in calculation time compared to the unreduced model. Furthermore, the extension and optimization potential of the results is discussed.