bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Sibling Aggression With Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Authors: Tucker Corinna Jenkins , Finkelhor David , Turner Heather , Shattuck Anne
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE:

Sibling aggression is common but often dismissed as benign. We examine whether being a victim of various forms of sibling aggression is associated with children’s and adolescents’ mental health distress. We also contrast the consequences of sibling versus peer aggression for children’s and adolescents’ mental health.

METHODS:

We analyzed a national probability sample (n = 3599) that included telephone interviews about past year victimizations conducted with youth aged 10 to 17 or an adult caregiver concerning children aged 0 to 9.

RESULTS:

Children ages 0 to 9 and youth ages 10 to 17 who experienced sibling aggression in the past year (ie, psychological, property, mild or severe physical assault), reported greater mental health distress. Children ages 0 to 9 showed greater mental health distress than did youth aged 10 to 17 in the case of mild physical assault, but they did not differ for the other types of sibling aggression. Comparison of sibling versus peer aggression generally showed that sibling and peer aggression independently and uniquely predicted worsened mental health.

CONCLUSIONS:

The possible importance of sibling aggression for children’s and adolescents’ mental health should not be dismissed. The mobilization to prevent and stop peer victimization and bullying should expand to encompass sibling aggression as well.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Pediatric Conditions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Posadzki Paul , Lee Myeong Soo , Ernst Edzard
Published: June 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Most osteopaths are trained in pediatric care, and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is available for many pediatric conditions. The objective of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the effectiveness of OMT as a treatment of pediatric conditions.

METHODS:

Eleven databases were searched from their respective inceptions to November 2012. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included, if they tested OMT against any type of control in pediatric patients. Study quality was critically appraised by using the Cochrane criteria.

RESULTS:

Seventeen trials met the inclusion criteria. Five RCTs were of high methodological quality. Of those, 1 favored OMT, whereas 4 revealed no effect compared with various control interventions. Replications by independent researchers were available for 2 conditions only, and both failed to confirm the findings of the previous studies. Seven RCTs suggested that OMT leads to a significantly greater reduction in the symptoms of asthma, congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (posttreatment), daily weight gain and length of hospital stay, dysfunctional voiding, infantile colic, otitis media, or postural asymmetry compared with various control interventions. Seven RCTs indicated that OMT had no effect on the symptoms of asthma, cerebral palsy, idiopathic scoliosis, obstructive apnea, otitis media, or temporomandibular disorders compared with various control interventions. Three RCTs did not perform between-group comparisons. The majority of the included RCTs did not report the incidence rates of adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS:

The evidence of the effectiveness of OMT for pediatric conditions remains unproven due to the paucity and low methodological quality of the primary studies.
A Randomized, Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study of Darbepoetin Alfa in Preterm Infants
Authors: Ohls Robin K. , Christensen Robert D. , Kamath-Rayne Beena D. , Rosenberg Adam , Wiedmeier Susan E. , Roohi Mahshid , Lacy Conra Backstrom , Lambert Diane K. , Burnett Jill J. , Pruckler Barbara , Schrader Ron , Lowe Jean R.
Published: June 2013

BACKGROUND:

A novel erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), darbepoetin alfa (Darbe), increases hematocrit in anemic adults when administered every 1 to 3 weeks. Weekly Darbe dosing has not been evaluated in preterm infants. We hypothesized that infants would respond to Darbe by decreasing transfusion needs compared with placebo, with less-frequent dosing than erythropoietin (Epo).

METHODS:

Preterm infants 500 to 1250 g birth weight and ≤48 hours of age were randomized to Darbe (10 μg/kg, 1 time per week subcutaneously), Epo (400 U/kg, 3 times per week subcutaneously) or placebo (sham dosing) through 35 weeks’ gestation. All received supplemental iron, folate, and vitamin E, and were transfused according to protocol. Transfusions (primary outcome), complete blood counts, absolute reticulocyte counts (ARCs), phlebotomy losses, and adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS:

A total of 102 infants (946 ± 196 g, 27.7 ± 1.8 weeks’ gestation, 51 ± 25 hours of age at first dose) were enrolled. Infants in the Darbe and Epo groups received significantly fewer transfusions (P = .015) and were exposed to fewer donors (P = .044) than the placebo group (Darbe: 1.2 ± 2.4 transfusions and 0.7 ± 1.2 donors per infant; Epo: 1.2 ± 1.6 transfusions and 0.8 ± 1.0 donors per infant; placebo: 2.4 ± 2.9 transfusions and 1.2 ± 1.3 donors per infant). Hematocrit and ARC were higher in the Darbe and Epo groups compared with placebo (P = .001, Darbe and Epo versus placebo for both hematocrit and ARCs). Morbidities were similar among groups, including the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity.

CONCLUSIONS:

Infants receiving Darbe or Epo received fewer transfusions and fewer donor exposures, and fewer injections were given to Darbe recipients. Darbepoetin and Epo successfully serve as adjuncts to transfusions in maintaining red cell mass in preterm infants.
MicroRNA-profiling in breast- and salivary gland-derived adenoid cystic carcinomas
Authors: Kiss Orsolya , Tőkés Anna-Mária , Spisák Sándor , Szilágyi Anna , Lippai Norbert , Szász A. Marcell , Kulka Janina
Published: June 2013

Introduction: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a salivary gland-derived malignant tumor, but rarely it can originate from the breast, too. The salivary gland-derived form shows a very aggressive clinical outcome, while adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast has mostly a very good prognosis. Aim: The aim of the authors was to compare the miRNA-expression profile of breast- and salivary gland-derived cases. Method: The miRNA-profiles of two salivary gland derived and two breast-derived adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues as well as one normal breast and one salivary gland tissues were analysed using the Affymetrix® Gene Chip. Results: The expression of some miRNAs differed in the tumor tissues compared to their controls: the let-7b was overexpressed in salivary gland-derived adenoid cystic carcinoma, while decreased in breast-derived adenoid cystic carcinoma. In addition, the miR-24 was decreased in salivary gland-derived but overexpressed in breast-derived adenoid cystic carcinomas. The miR-181a-2* was only detected in salivary gland-derived adenoid cystic carcinomas. Conclusions: Through post-transcriptional regulation of the genes, the diverse expression of some miRNAs may partially explain the diverse clinical outcome of salivary gland-derived and breast-derived adenoid cystic carcinomas. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 963–968.
Optimization of IGZO/Cu/IGZO Multilayers as Transparent Composite Electrode on Flexible Substrate by Room-temperature Sputtering and Post-Deposition Anneals
Authors: Dhar Aritra , Alford T. L.
Published: June 2013

Highly transparent composite electrodes made of multilayers of In- and Ga-doped ZnO and Cu (IGZO/Cu/IGZO) thin films (30/3-9/30 nm thick) are deposited onto flexible substrates at room temperature and by using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The effect of Cu thickness on the electrical and optical properties of the multilayer stack has been studied in accordance with the Cu morphology. The optical and electrical properties of the multilayers are studied with the UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Hall measurement and four point probe analyses. Results are compared with those from a single IGZO layered thin film. The average optical transmittance and sheet resistance both decreases with increase of copper thickness and has been optimized at 6 nm Cu middle layer thickness. The Haacke figure of merit (FOM) has been calculated to evaluate the performance of the films. The highest FOM achieved is 6 x 10-3 Ω-1 for a Cu thickness of 6 nm with a sheet resistance of 12.2 Ω/sq and an average transmittance of 86%. The multilayered thin films are annealed upto 150 °C in vacuum, forming gas and O2 environments and the optical and electrical properties are studied and compared against the as-deposited samples. Thus IGZO/Cu/IGZO multilayer is a promising flexible electrode material for the next-generation flexible optoelectronics.
High Mobility IGZO/ITO Double-layered Transparent Composite Electrode: A Thermal Stability Study
Authors: Dhar Aritra , Alford T. L.
Published: June 2013

The fabrication of a thin film optoelectronic device involves the exposure of the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) to a high process temperature. Indium gallium zinc oxide (InGaZnO4 or IGZO) is a well known TCO with high optical transparency, moderate conductivity and high mobility. However, its electrical properties deteriorate after subsequent high temperature processes in air atmosphere. On the other hand indium tin oxide (ITO) has higher conductivity than IGZO and better thermal stability. Therefore, IGZO/ITO bilayers have been deposited on glass by radio frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature and subsequently annealed at high temperatures in order to study their thermal stability. In the present work, a-IGZO layers with a thickness ranging from 10 nm to 100 nm were deposited over a 50 nm thick ITO layer. Results are compared with those from a single IGZO layered thin film without the ITO bottom layer. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the multilayers are studied with the use of scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy and Hall measurement. An IGZO optimal thickness of 50 nm is found to improve the bilayer thermal stability at temperatures upto 400 °C keeping good opto-electrical properties. The sheet resistance for the optimized IGZO/ITO composite films is about 22 Ohm/sq, and the transmittance in the visible range is about 90%. The composite shows an excellent mobility above 40 cm2 /V-s and thus can be potentially applied as channel layer in thin film transistors (TFTs)
Fabrication and Characterization of Antimony Tin Oxide Nanoparticle Networks Inside Polystyrene
Authors: Gussenhoven Ryan J. , Gerhardt Rosario A.
Published: June 2013

Recently, there has been much interest in the creation of 3D networks of nanowires. One possible way to do this is to encase the nanowires inside transparent polymer matrices since there is also a demand for obtaining conducting transparent composites. If the filler of the composite is made from a strongly conducting material, the degree of connectivity of the networked nanowires can be tested by measuring its conductivity. Though much work has been done with ITO (Tin-doped indium oxide), little has been done with the chemically similar, but cheaper, ATO (Antimony-doped tin oxide). In this study, ATO nanoparticles were added into a polystyrene matrix and simultaneously pressed and heated so that a 3D network of the nanoparticles would form. The effecti veness of the conducting pseudo-nanowire networks was measured as the concentration of ATO in polystyrene was varied. Another variable utilized was the temperature at which the samples were pressed. The optical transmittance of the composites was also measured in order to quantify their transparency. It was found that, once the nanowire networks had percolated at a concentration of about 1.25 PHR, the conductivity and, consequently, the coherence of the networks increased at a decreasing rate as the concentration was increased. The effect of the pressing temperature was complex and required many additional sets of specimens to understand. Samples pressed at the highest temperature had the least coherent networks, as the polystyrene became too fluid and disrupted the ATO networks while at lower temperatures the opposite occurred. The optical transmittance dropped sharply as the concentration of ATO reached and surpassed 1.0 PHR. Nanowire networks were, indeed, formed through this process using these materials, but use as a conducting transparent composite in the visible range is unlikely as the percolation threshold occurs at a concentration greater than that of the optical transmittance drop, creating a trade-off between conductivity and transparency. The resistivity did drop as much as six orders of magnitude and may be useful for other applications.
Fabrication of Conductive Glass Nanocomposites with Networks of Antimony Tin Oxide
Authors: Pruyn Timothy L. , Gerhardt Rosario A.
Published: June 2013

The percolation threshold in a ceramic composite depends on the processing conditions used to fabricate them along with the size and shape of the filler. In this study, borosilicate glass microspheres were used as the matrix material and nanosized antimony tin oxide (ATO) particles were used as the filler. The microsphere/ATO composites were fabricated by hot pressing around the glass transition temperature in order to control the viscosity. The pressure and temperature applied allowed the ATO to be confined to the spaces between certain glass particles, forming percolating networks at low volume fractions of the ATO. The electrical properties were examined using ac impedance spectroscopy. The impedance, electric modulus, and tan δ were studied which allowed for valuable insights in structure-property-processing relationships in these materials, along with determination of the percolation behavior in these composites. This analysis on samples right before percolation indicated that there was a highly resistive component affecting long range conductivity which is likely due to porosity at the triple points while the dielectric response is affected by the clusters of ATO nanoparticles. Based on this, the percolation of ATO should reduce down to lower concentrations if the processing conditions are improved to reduce this porosity and further segregate the ATO.
Highly efficient blue organic light-emitting diodes using DPASN quantum well structure
Authors: Yoon Ju-An , Kim You-Hyun , Kim Nam Ho , Yoo Seung Il , Lee Sang Youn , Kim Woo Young
Published: June 2013

In this study, we fabricated blue OLEDs with quantum well structure (QWS) using four different blue emissive materials such as DPVBi, ADN and DPASN, and BAlq as QWS material. Conventional QWS blue OLEDs used to be composed of emissive layer and charge blocking layer with lower HOMO-LUMO energy level, but we designed triple emitting layer for more significant hole-electron recombination in EML and a wider region of exciton generation as forming QWS spontaneously. The structure of triple emitting layered blue OLED is ITO / NPB(700 Å) / X(100 Å) / BAlq(100 Å) /X (100 Å) / Bphen(300 Å) / Liq(20 Å) / Al(1200 Å) (X= DPVBi, ADN, DPASN). HOMO-LUMO energy levels of DPVBi, ADN, DPASN and BAlq were 2.8-5.9, 2.6-5.6, 2.3-5.2 and 2.9-5.9 eV, respectively. The maximum luminous efficiency was 5.32 cd/A at 3.5 V in a blue OLED with DPASN / BAlq / DPASN QWS.
A trait‐based ecology of the Los Angeles urban forest
Authors: Pataki D. E. , McCarthy H. R. , Gillespie T. , Jenerette G. D. , Pincetl S.
Published: June 2013

Plant functional trait classifications have provided a useful framework for understanding the biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Here we propose that trait‐based ecology may be expanded for understanding urban biodiversity in human planted and human dominated land cover by including plant attributes that influence human choices about cultivated species in novel ecosystems. We measured leaf functional traits in 24 tree species grown in the Los Angeles region of southern California in order to assess whether leaf functional traits were (1) predictable based on biogeographic region of origin, and (2) related to urban plant performance and ecosystem‐services based traits. This entailed the development of a proposed new, ecosystem services‐based classification of tree species traits is based on ∼1000 household surveys of the preferences of urban residents for specific tree attributes in southern California. We evaluated the relationship between leaf functional traits, ecosystem services‐based traits, and urban tree performance as measured by stem growth and predawn leaf water potential (as a metric of rooting distributions). Leaf functional traits were strongly predictable based on species' biogeographic region of origin including native habitat type and continent of origin, and hence appeared to be conserved in the urban environment. Ecosystem services‐based traits such as tree water use, provision of showy flowers, size at maturity, and growth rates were also predictable based on geographic region of origin, and several ecosystem services‐based traits were related to leaf functional traits. We suggest that ecosystem services‐based traits may be useful variables to quantify in studies of urban forest community assembly, where species composition is strongly influenced by decision‐making based on the preferences of urban residents and stakeholders. Our initial ecosystem services‐based trait classification is defined from the results of household surveys and measurements in the Los Angeles area; these results are likely to vary by location, and can be improved with additional data on the performance, physiology, and morphology of urban trees as well as a better understanding of human preferences by region.
An Improved Random Forest Algorithm for Class-Imbalanced Data Classification and its Application in PAD Risk Factors Analysis
Authors: Yao Dengju , Yang Jing , Zhan Xiaojuan
Published: June 2013

The classification problem is one of the important research subjects in the field of machine learning. However,
most machine learning algorithms train a classifier based on the assumption that the number of training examples of
classes is almost equal. When a classifier was trained on imbalanced data, the performance of the classifier declined
clearly. For resolving the class-imbalanced problem, an improved random forest algorithm was proposed based on sampling
with replacement. We extracted multiple example subsets randomly with replacement from majority class, and the
example number of extracted example subsets is as the same with minority class example dataset. Then, multiple new training
datasets were constructed by combining the each exacted majority example subset and minority class dataset respectively,
and multiple random forest classifiers were training on these training dataset. For a prediction example, the class was
determined by majority voting of multiple random forest classifiers. The experimental results on five groups UCI datasets
and a real clinical dataset show that the proposed method could deal with the class-imbalanced data problem and the improved
random forest algorithm outperformed original random forest and other methods in literatures.
Tools of Engagement Project: On-Demand Discovery Learning Professional Development
Authors: Sullivan Roberta (Robin) , Burns Beth , Gradel Kathleen , Shi Shufang , Tysick Cynthia , van Putten Cherie
Published: June 2013

Increasingly, the traditional professional development (PD) model at 4-year institutions fails to meet the evolving needs of faculty. The traditional model of PD faces unique implementation challenges, including developing offerings that appeal to a wide range of disciplines and topics, dealing with limited faculty availability, physical/campus location barriers, and limited training staff. This article discusses a collaborative initiative across five State University of New York (SUNY) colleges and universities to develop a web-based, on-demand, self-directed PD opportunity that can easily be shared and replicated throughout SUNY and the world under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 license. The Tools of Engagement Project: On-demand Discovery Learning Professional Development (hereafter referred to as TOEP) allows faculty to explore emerging technologies and Web 2.0 tools at their own pace through a variety of rich media and textual tutorials. As a part of the grant research, the interactive community of TOEP learners also reflect on how they could incorporate emerging technologies and Web 2.0 tools into their pedagogy, thereby creating a knowledge base of technology implementation.
The Role of Gender in Distance Learning: A Meta-Analytic Review of Gender Differences in Academic Performance and Self-Efficacy in Distance Learning
Authors: Perkowski Justine
Published: June 2013

This meta-analytic review was performed to determine the relationship between gender and two constructs measuring success in distance learning—academic performance and self-efficacy—with a particular interest in identifying whether females or males have an advantage in distance learning environments. Data from 15 studies resulted in 18 effect sizes for aggregation and comparison, with 9 of those effect sizes attributed to academic performance and 9 attributed to measures of self-efficacy. The aggregate effect sizes for both academic performance and self-efficacy were found to be significant ( d = .36, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = .25–.46, p < .001; d = .22, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = .04–.41, p < .05), and were small or small-to-medium, respectively. The effect sizes for academic performance were not significantly heterogeneous, but the effect sizes for self-efficacy were. Exploratory moderator analyses indicated that the combination mode of learning with both online contact and face-to-face interaction moderated the effect of gender on self-efficacy, and also indicated a significant relationship between self-efficacy and participants in Asia versus Europe and the United States. These significant relationships were only apparent in a fixed-effects model. The study discusses the implications of the results, as well as the limitations.
The Impact of Additional Support Services on Caregivers of Hospice Patients and Hospice Social Workers
Authors: Empeño Jessica , Raming Natasha T. J. , Irwin Scott A. , Nelesen Richard A. , Lloyd Linda S.
Published: June 2013

Family caregivers often suffer higher levels of physical and emotional distress when caring for a chronically or terminally ill family member. Providing this kind of care to a loved one at the end of life contributes to increased stress, health problems, and a decreased quality of life. The Hospice Caregiver Support Project provided support services to caregivers identified by the hospice social worker as needing this support and/or assistance. Results from the project show that offering additional services relieved caregiver stress by allowing the caregiver time away from their caregiving role and reducing feelings of guilt and worry, and increased hospice social worker satisfaction with their ability to respond to the needs of hospice patients and caregivers.
Palliative Care and Use of Animal-Assisted Therapy
Authors: Engelman Suzanne R.
Published: June 2013

A growing body of research and clinical reports support the benefits of utilizing animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as a complementary, transdisciplinary treatment intervention in medical settings. However, fewer articles are found demonstrating AAT's use in palliative care settings. This article is a study of the effects of AAT in palliative care situations, presenting one anecdotal clinical vignette. In this way, the efficacy of this technique in decreasing patient pain, thereby increasing patient quality of life, and lowering staff stress levels may be illustrated.
A Palliative Care Specific Spiritual Assessment: How This Story Evolved
Authors: Galchutt Paul
Published: June 2013

This article reflects a project to create, refine, and use a palliative care specific spiritual assessment, with the intent to implement its use for both an inpatient Palliative Consult Service (PCS) and a Spiritual Health Service (SHS) team. Extensive meetings with these services to confirm a shared understanding of the use of this spiritual assessment to facilitate communication with PCS through consistent language about the patient's story, suffering, spirit, and sense-making. Following a pilot phase of using this palliative care spiritual assessment, five presentations were shared with the SHS team to explore using this assessment. Although the SHS team decided not to use its content, these presentations spurred dialogue toward what was to become a SHS standardized documentation process, eventually called data, intervention, outcome, plan (DIOP).
Last Watch: Developing an Inpatient Palliative Volunteer Program for U.S. Veterans in Hospice
Authors: Gerber Pamela S.
Published: June 2013

This project offers encouraging evidence of the impact of providing companionship and compassionate care to actively dying Veterans. Veteran-centered care serves as a guide for volunteer program objectives including goals based on measuring outcomes of volunteer visits offered to Veterans, frequency of visits to those desiring volunteer involvement and documentation of goals on the resident plan of care. Forty-eight Veterans were admitted to the Palliative Integrated Care (PIC) Unit during the project review period with a median length of stay (LOS) of 7 days, ranging 1–50 days. Goals were met for Veterans with LOS > 3 days; however, it was more challenging to meet the needs of Veterans with shorter stays. Data for this project were collected over a 6-month period. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responding to the needs of end-of-life Veterans who do not have family or friends readily available through the No Veteran Dies Alone initiative.
Improving Access and Satisfaction with Spiritual Care in the Hospice Setting
Authors: Hall Daleasha , Shirey Mary A. , Waggoner David C.
Published: June 2013

Hospice of Sacred Heart, an agency of PeaceHealth Oregon, experienced a dramatic increase in its census beginning in 2007. The spiritual care team noticed the number of referrals was decreasing while the census was increasing. A quality improvement initiative was conducted, including a staff survey, an education program about spirituality and the role of chaplains on interdisciplinary teams in the hospice setting, and an audit of the chaplain's daily allocation of time. These actions resulted in an increase in the use of spiritual care services by patients and staff and the addition of two full-time, benefited chaplain positions.
Northwest Cancer Specialists (NCS) Cares: Coordinated, Advocacy, Resources, Education, and Support: A Palliative Care Program in an Outpatient Oncology Practice
Authors: Hedlund Susan
Published: June 2013

A large community-based oncology practice developed a pilot project to enhance staff and patient awareness of the benefits of palliative care, advance care planning, and earlier intervention with patients with advancing disease. The results were ongoing implementation of palliative care conferences at all sites, greater numbers of referral to hospice, lessened chemotherapy given in the last 2 weeks of life, and the hiring of two social workers as a result of needs identified. Staff reported greater satisfaction with interprofessional communication.
Strengthening End-of-Life Care for African-American Patients and Families through Education and Community Outreach
Authors: Holmstrom Eric C.
Published: June 2013

Care for African-American patients and families at the end of life presents a unique challenge to healthcare providers. Providers need to be culturally and historically competent to effectively serve persons with a long history of distrust of the white-dominated healthcare system. Effective means of addressing outreach, access, and service issues for this community need to be twofold. They must focus on those who deliver the care and those who receive it. This twofold focus inspired the education and community outreach that were key elements in this ACE Project. The resources of the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life (ICEOL), particularly their APPEAL curriculum, was key to strengthening end-of-life care in the internal culture of Abington Memorial Hospital and the community they serve.
Bereavement: Caring for Families and Friends after a Patient Dies
Authors: Hottensen Dory
Published: June 2013

New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is a large academic medical center that provided minimal, if any, bereavement support to families and loved ones of patients who died in the hospital. A comprehensive bereavement program was developed and implemented which included sending condolence cards to family members and friends, follow-up phone calls to screen for complicated grief, individual counseling, bereavement support groups, community referrals, and an annual memorial service for families and staff to provide an opportunity for shared mourning during the grieving process.
Improving the Integration of Palliative Care in a Comprehensive Oncology Center: Increasing Primary Care Referrals to Palliative Care
Authors: Hydeman Jennifer
Published: June 2013

Confronted with the complexities inherent in delivering palliative care, effective collaboration with referring staff becomes vital. Based on the evaluation of the physical and psychosocial concerns of patients, the goal of palliative care is to craft interventions that maintain quality of life in the face of increasing symptoms and deteriorating functional status. The project's goal was to increase the appropriateness of referrals to palliative care by the primary services in the hospital. The aim was to achieve this by developing a process to assess patient functioning in critical psychosocial and functional areas, and providing this data to referring medical staff to educate them on the contribution of palliative care to symptom control and patient quality of life. The findings show that referrals to palliative care have increased over 100% from a broader range of services since initiating this project. Assessment data has been collected on 165 patients and outcomes are discussed.
Translating Dignity Therapy into Practice: Effects and Lessons Learned
Authors: Johns Shelley A.
Published: June 2013

Dignity Therapy (DT) is an intervention designed to lessen existential suffering as death draws near. DT has a growing evidence base, with positive outcomes for patients and their family members; however, it is not yet widely available in community settings. The purpose of this project was to translate DT into clinical practice in a cancer center in the midwestern United States. DT was provided to 10 patients with metastatic cancer who completed baseline and post-intervention measures of depression, existential distress, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with the intervention. DT was found to be feasible and acceptable to the majority of patients and their families. DT outcomes will be presented, along with suggestions for clinicians who are interested in offering DT in their practices.
Improving Incidence of Referrals for Psychosocial and Spiritual Transdisciplinary Care in a Palliative Care Service: Focus on Brain Death
Authors: Markham Kelly C.
Published: June 2013

The goal of this project was to examine the uniformity of the hospital's delivery of psychosocial and spiritual care for the families of patients being evaluated for brain death. A retrospective chart review encompassing one calendar year was conducted. After conferring with physicians and staff, a strategy was developed to capture information on patients who were diagnosed with brain death. Following evaluation of the information gathered, a proposal was introduced and hospital procedure revised. Triggers were put in place to ensure consistent offering of psycho-spiritual transdisciplinary services to the families of patients who are undergoing evaluation for brain death.
Improving End-of-Life Care for Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) Patients: Paradox or Protocol?
Authors: McGonigal Peg
Published: June 2013

When a person consents to have a ventricular assist device (VAD) implanted in one's heart, the intention is to extend life toward a new heart or toward more time. Complications may develop followed by frequent hospital admissions—most often in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting—rendering a transplant a distant reality and to discontinue the device means certain death. Emotional support for patient and family is critical. Regardless of the original goal for the device, palliative care provides assistance in communication, goal setting, and symptom management and yet its consultation is often more for brink-of-death care than end-of-life care provided at the time of diagnosis of a life-threatening disease such as heart failure. This study examined the recent deaths of hospitalized patients with VADs and the use of the palliative care service. Understanding the benefit and timing of palliative care for VAD patients—particularly in the ICU setting—may improve the end-of-life experience for patients, families, and healthcare providers.
Psychosocial Concerns among Latinas with Life-Limiting Advanced Cancers
Authors: Nedjat-Haiem Frances R. , Carrion Iraida V. , Lorenz Karl A. , Ell Kathleen , Palinkas Lawrence
Published: June 2013

Research has demonstrated that limited dialogue in end-of-life (EOL) care can negatively impact decision-making and place of death. Furthermore, when vulnerable populations are faced with EOL cancer care, they experience issues resulting from previous gaps in services attributed to sociocultural and economic issues that influence EOL care. These conditions place an additional burden on disadvantaged populations which can cause distress, especially as disparate conditions continue to persist. Little is known about Latinos' psychosocial concerns that lead to distress in EOL care. The objective of this study is to explore Latinas' experiences with life-limiting cancer conditions to identify the EOL care concerns that impact their dying experience. This study used a phenomenological approach to explore the EOL care concerns of 24 Latinas receiving treatment for metastatic cancers in a public sector healthcare system in Los Angeles, California. In-depth interviews were recorded and transcribed, and qualitative analysis was performed using Atlas.ti software.
Examining the Impact of Spiritual Care in Long-Term Care
Authors: Nichols Sarah W.
Published: June 2013

This project examines the effects of spiritual care on chronically ill and aging populations and those who care for them by studying the development of a comprehensive Pastoral Care Program at Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS), a nonprofit that owns two Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) in Southern California (in 2010 ECS operated three communities). The study includes the vision, methodology, and specific steps taken to implement this spiritual care program and methods to measure its efficacy. Data is analyzed from satisfaction surveys conducted the year before the program's introduction and surveys taken 2 and 4 years after the institution of the Pastoral Care Program, along with anecdotal findings. Results indicated that spiritual awareness and satisfaction increased throughout the resident population after the Pastoral Care Program's establishment and that satisfaction levels continued to improve as the program developed over time. This study suggests that spiritual support (both religious and nonreligious) is a vital factor in well-being and quality of life at the end of life and that transdisciplinary palliative care is needed in long-term care settings to address spiritual and psychosocial needs.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center's & Gilda's Club Nashville: Songs from the Heart
Authors: Tinker Cindy
Published: June 2013

Songs from the Heart is an annual palliative care and outreach/support project done in partnership with the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Henry Joyce Cancer Clinic and Gilda's Club Nashville. It is a two-evening songwriters' workshop and concert that gives cancer survivors, family members and healthcare professionals the opportunity to tell their story about cancer through the art of music in a safe therapeutic environment. It is a unique project through the art of music helping others of all ages and from all walks of life find healing and hope; as well as an opportunity to give back to others. A professional singer/songwriter and a social worker co-facilitate the two-evening songwriters workshop. Two musicians perform songs the workshop songwriters have written at a community wide concert. Those who have participated in Songs from the Heart have communicated through the workshop evaluations that this experience has been life changing and a unique opportunity in being able to: explore and express their deep felt emotional feelings and thoughts; release their creative juices; ability to be alone with the group, yet feel included as a whole; express their journey through music; and benefit from being involved with others affected by cancer who have had similar difficulties. Others who have attended the concert or listened to the CD have expressed the significant impact these songs have had on their lives and their journey with cancer.
Use of Complementary Therapies in Hospice and Palliative Care
Authors: Vandergrift Alison
Published: June 2013

As society has become increasingly inquisitive about complementary therapies, various sectors of the medical community have begun to incorporate complementary therapies into their practice, studying their impact on client health and effectiveness in treating specific symptoms. This article describes the design and initial findings from a 1-year review of the implementation of massage and Reiki therapies on patients in a small hospice and palliative care program in central Connecticut. Over the course of 1 year, 114 massage sessions were provided to 52 different patients, all of which included Reiki. After completion of these sessions, patients were evaluated for changes in symptoms such as pain reduction, ease in breathing, stress/anxiety reduction, and increased relaxation, with the results being predominantly beneficial.
Improving a Grief and Loss Program: Caring for Patients, Families, and Staff
Authors: Wintermeyer-Pingel Susan A. , Murphy Donna , Hammelef Karen J.
Published: June 2013

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC) Grief and Loss Program provides supportive care services during bereavement which is considered part of the care continuum. This program received 50 death notifications per month upon project initiation and currently receives approximately 125 per month. Initial program evaluation was conducted via a pilot survey of bereaved parents as well as verbal and written evaluations from the transdisciplinary staff of Patient and Family Support Services. Grief support prior to evaluation included mailings, phone calls as indicated, poorly attended bereavement support groups, and limited staff support. Based on program evaluation, grief support continues through the use of mail/e-mail and phone calls to those at risk for complicated grief. Three to four gatherings per year are offered rather than monthly support groups, and connections to community resources are provided. The Comfort And Resources at End of Life (C-A-R-E) program was implemented to support and educate staff. Next steps include further program evaluation and potential research to examine best practices for the bereaved.
Sorption of benzothiazoles onto sandy aquifer material under equilibrium and nonequlibrium conditions
Authors: Kragulj Marijana , Trickovic Jelena , Dalmacija Bozo , Ivancev-Tumbas Ivana , Leovac Anita , Molnar Jelena , Krcmar Dejan
Published: June 2013

In this study, the sorption behaviour of 1,3-benzothiazole (BT) and
2-(methylthio)benzothiazole (MTBT) was investigated on Danube geosorbent
under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. All sorption isotherms
fitted well with the Freundlich model (R2=0.932-0.993). The results showed
that organic matter of the Danube geosorbent has a higher sorption affinity
for the more hydrophobic MTBT compared to BT. However, sorption-desorption
experiments showed that MTBT was more easily desorbed than BT molecules,
which indicates the importance of absorption relative to adsorption in the
overall sorption mechanism of MTBT. In general, molecules of BT and MTBT were
more easily desorbed in the lower concentration range, which resulted in an
increase in the hysteresis indices with increasing concentrations. Column
experiments revealed that retention of the investigated compounds on the
aquifer material followed the compound?s hydrophobicity. BT showed a lower
retention, in accordance with its lower sorption affinity obtained in the
static experiments, while MTBT showed a greater sorption affinity, and thus
had a longer retention time on the column. Thus during transport BT represent
greater risk for groundwaters than MTBT. These results have increased our
understanding of benzothiazoles sorption and desorption process which
represent one of the most important factors which influence the behaviour of
organic compounds in the environment.
Helping Students Understand Occupational Fraud by Applying the ACFE Report to Daytime Television Talk Show Confessions
Authors: Daigle Ronald J. , Hayes David C. , Morris Philip W.
Published: June 2013

In this case, students develop their understanding of how occupational fraud is committed and detected. They also learn about the traits of victim organizations and characteristics of fraud perpetrators. The students develop their understanding of occupational fraud by applying concepts in the most recent edition of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse (ACFE 2012, hereafter referred to as the Report) to two daytime television talk show episodes in which the hosts (Montel Williams and Dr. Phil) interview individuals convicted of occupational fraud.

The results of data collected reflect that students completing the case significantly increased their knowledge about how occupational fraud is committed and detected. Students also significantly increased their knowledge of traits of victim organizations and characteristics of fraud perpetrators. Students reported it was a valuable educational experience to apply knowledge gained to two real situations as documented on daytime television talk show episodes. They also enjoyed the case and thought they would benefit from more cases like this one.
PRLR Regulates Hepatic Insulin Sensitivity in Mice via STAT5
Authors: Yu Junjie , Xiao Fei , Zhang Qian , Liu Bin , Guo Yajie , Lv Ziquan , Xia Tingting , Chen Shanghai , Li Kai , Du Ying , Guo Feifan
Published: June 2013

Insulin resistance is one of the major contributing factors in the development of metabolic diseases. The mechanisms responsible for insulin resistance, however, remain poorly understood. Although numerous functions of the prolactin receptor (PRLR) have been identified, a direct effect on insulin sensitivity has not been previously described. The aim of our current study is to investigate this possibility and elucidate underlying mechanisms. Here we show that insulin sensitivity is improved or impaired in mice injected with adenovirus that overexpress or knock down PRLR expression, respectively. Similar observations were obtained in in vitro studies. In addition, we discovered that the signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 pathway are required for regulating insulin sensitivity by PRLR. Moreover, we observed that PRLR expression is decreased or increased under insulin-resistant (db/db mice) or insulin-sensitive (leucine deprivation) conditions, respectively, and found that altering PRLR expression significantly reverses insulin sensitivity under both conditions. Finally, we found that PRLR expression levels are increased under leucine deprivation via a general control nonderepressible 2/mammalian target of rapamycin/ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1–dependent pathway. These results demonstrate a novel function for hepatic PRLR in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and provide important insights concerning the nutritional regulation of PRLR expression.
CSF phosphorylated neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H) levels are biomarkers of Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Iencean St.M. , Ungureanu Didona , Tascu Al. , Costachescu B. , Iencean A.St. , Poeata I.
Published: June 2013

Several studies showed that the phosphorylated form of the neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H) are related to neuronal injuries and its detection provide information about the presence and degree of neuronal loss. Neurofilaments are three subunits, namely NF-L, NF-M and NF-H. The phosphorylated neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H) is present into serum and CSF in significant amounts following neuronal injury and may be detected. The pNF-H can be a biomarker of the neuronal injuries and its detection allows the monitoring neuronal pathology and may provide diagnosis and prognosis in humans.

We are interested in pNF-H as biomarker of neuronal injury in spinal cord injury and we used a pNF-H ELISA test capable of detecting the levels of phosphorylated NF-H (pNF-H) to patients with spinal cord injury. We studied the pNF-H levels in CSF in two patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and for normal values of pNF-H we determined the CSF pNF-H level from individuals without neurological damage.

The pNF-H values of CSF from the two patients with SCI were 5-10 times higher than the normal and its higher values were related to an unfavorable outcome.

In conclusion, although the number of cases is very low - only two, in the context of experimental studies in animals with SCI, we can say that pNF-H is marker in SCI in humans and its increased values are consistent with an unfavorable outcome.
Urinary Tract Infection in Children: Importance of Proper Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Hossain M Moazzam
Published: June 2013

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v37i1.15344BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2013; VOL 37 (1) : 1-4
Celiac Disease in Bangladesh  Two Case Reports
Authors: Rukunuzzaman Md , Karim ASM Bazlul , Billah SM Baqui , Rahman Md Atiar , Islam Md Mahbubul , Kamal Mohammed
Published: June 2013

Celiae disease is an immunological disorder precipitated by gluten in genetically susceptible persons. Its prevalence is not known in Bangladesh because of unavailability of its screening test. There is diversity in the presentation of celiac disease. Two children of 5 and 8 years of age who were diagnosed as celiac disease are reported here. One presented typically with chronic diarrhoea & growth failure. Another child presented with features of chronic liver disease. In both the cases IgA tTGA were positive and duodenal biopsy showed villous atrophy. After diagnosis, both the patients were kept on gluten free diet (GFD). After six months of GFD, IgA tTGA came down to normal in both the cases. They were then given gluten containing diet again & after few months IgA tTGA again raised in both the cases. Thereafter the cases were finally diagnosed as celiac disease and were advised life long gluten free diet. Celiac disease is not uncommon in Bangladesh and screening test should be done to diagnose or rule out celiac disease when there is a suspicion. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v37i1.15351 BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2013; VOL 37 (1) : 45-48
Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication Updated April 2010
Authors: Editor The
Published: June 2013

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v37i1.15353 BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2013; VOL 37 (1) : 52-73
Electoral Cross-dressing: The Role Reversal Campaigns of Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande in the 2012 Presidential Election
Authors: Kuhn Raymond
Published: June 2013

This article analyses and evaluates the 2012 presidential campaigns of Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande. It argues that these were to a large extent characterized by role reversal: Sarkozy was obliged to adopt the role of challenger, while Hollande assumed the status of incumbent. Yet it is also clear that this role reversal was not complete. Hollande enjoyed many of the advantages of the challenger position, while in contrast Sarkozy suffered from many of the disadvantages of incumbency, notably his mixed policy record in office and a negative public response to his presidential style.