bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The future of student life: learning
Authors: King Katie
Published: June 2017

Purpose

A research project exploring emerging student needs explored six aspects of student life: living, learning, working, playing, connecting and participating. Learning is explored here. New learning models and approaches and changing student expectations could lead to dramatic reshaping of the higher education landscape. The purpose of this paper is to summarize two scenarios about the learning domain from the Student Needs 2025+ project and highlight implications for the future of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to explore the future of six aspects of future student life.

Findings

Students will increasingly gravitate toward new learning models focused on experiential learning, taking advantage of advanced “edutech” and aimed at achieving specific outcomes. They will seek personalized learning approaches specific to their needs, and they will be increasingly willing to look outside the traditional higher education system if needed. The landscape will be characterized by power struggles: between the traditional players and the new entrants, between institutions and students and between competing philosophies of learning.

Research limitations/implications

In terms of research limitations, the paper is focused on the needs of students and does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of all the issues influencing higher education. It views the future of higher education through the lens of students and their emerging needs.

Practical implications

The paper is intended for educators, researchers and administrators to provide insight on how the needs of students, their key customers, are evolving.

Originality/value

This research explores student life in its totality as way to more accurately identify student needs in the future.
The future of student life: connecting
Authors: Breaux James
Published: June 2017

Purpose

A research project exploring emerging student needs explored six aspects of student life: living, learning, working, playing, connecting and participating. Connecting is explored in this paper. Students will be more connected in the future. They will expect more bandwidth and tools. Driven by the impacts of social expectations in a world of changing sexual and gender mores, they may participate in a wider range of communities. This paper aims to summarize two scenarios about the Connecting domain from the Student Needs 2025+ project, and highlight implications for the future of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to explore the future of six aspects of future student life.

Findings

Students will become more connected; connected to their extended families, to communities and to artificial intelligence. The technological interfaces facilitating these connections and many others will become less dispensable and more essential to happy daily life; don't leave home without your “phone”. To address the stressors arising from increasing information and social connectivity, students will need more counseling and tools to adjust and flourish. The formation of character, which is so central an outcome of the student learning experience, will no longer rely so heavily on face-to-face interactions at brick and mortar locations, but will be the result of a kaleidoscope of machine and personal interactions conducted remotely, asynchronously, and virtually as well.

Research limitations/implications

In terms of research limitations, this paper is focused on the needs of students and does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of all of the issues influencing higher education. It views the future of higher education through the lens of students and their emerging needs.

Practical implications

The paper is intended for educators, researchers and administrators to provide insight on how the needs of students, their key customers, are evolving.

Originality/value

This piece explores student life in its totality as a way to more accurately identify student needs in the future.
The future of student life: participating
Authors: Schutte Johann
Published: June 2017

Purpose

A research project exploring emerging student needs explored six aspects of student life: living, learning, working, playing, connecting and participating. Participating is explored here. This aspect focuses on the ways that students may become active citizens by participating in civic life. Insights are gained as to how students may engage with universities and governments and how they will contribute to the public sphere. Themes such as voting, (h)activism, transparency and digital strategies to improve governance are explored. This paper aims to summarize two scenarios about the Participating domain from the Student Needs 2025+ project and highlight implications for the future of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to explore the future of six aspects of future student life.

Findings

The ability of students and citizens to innovate and affect change should not be underestimated. The maker movement and the “life hacking” meme are symbols of the hidden societal energy available to governments to improve the world and solve our pressing issues. For this to be effective, the role of the hacker, and hacktivism in general as a form of civic participation, should be reframed as a positive contributor of change. The relationship between governing bodies and activism is at a crossroads. The current age of interconnectivity offers tremendous potential for governing bodies to include civil contributions and innovation in a powerful, net-positive way. However, the status quo is so often the opposite and those who are being governed are perceived as a threat. There is a need for key players and leaders to creatively act according to innovative paradigms and principles that strategically reconcile the hacked and the hacking for the greater good of society.

Research limitations/implications

In terms of research limitations, the paper is focused on the needs of students and does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of all of the issues influencing higher education. It views the future of higher education through the lens of students and their emerging needs.

Originality/value

This paper explores student life in its totality as a way to more accurately identify student needs in the future.
Culture: a key ingredient in business success
Authors: Silva Kevin
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to serve as a reference on how to revamp an organization’s culture following a re-brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Culture change: creating a framework for executing the transformation. Leadership competency model: establishing performance standards that align with how employees execute on the strategy.

Findings

A strong culture with the best talent helps promote problem solving, continuous improvement, idea exchanging, communication and team work, and ultimately, creates value for both the business and the community.

Originality/value

This case study will be useful to senior human resources professionals looking to enact change in their organization. In particular, this can be used as a guide as your organization undergoes a major transition such as a re-brand or merger.
Listening to drive culture change
Authors: Schramm Philipp
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The paper aims to show how a Detroit-based company recovered from a fractured culture and staggering projected financial loss by igniting a cultural revolution fueled by listening and employee engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

After setting the scene in post-recession Detroit, the case study walks the reader through how the company defined its turnaround goals, engaged its workforce to inspire widespread cultural change and how it is sustaining momentum.

Findings

The paper provides a detailed account of implementing a listening-focused culture and the positive impact it had on Webasto. It suggests that widespread organizational change is only possible when all employees are engaged and involved in the process.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates a real-world example of how an automotive supplier took a people-focused approach to engage its workforce with listening to drive culture change and ultimately impact an organization’s bottom line.
A Comprehensive Review on the Main Honey Authentication Issues: Production and Origin
Authors: Soares Sónia , Amaral Joana S. , Oliveira Maria Beatriz P.P. , Mafra Isabel
Published: June 2017

Honey is a highly consumed natural product, not only for its taste and nutritional value, but also for its health benefits. Owing to characteristics that are essentially or exclusively related to the specific region or particular local environment and flora, honey can be classified as a premium product generally perceived as a high‐quality and valued product because of its desirable flavor and taste. Consequently, honey has been a target of adulteration through inappropriate/fraudulent production practices and mislabeling origin. Globally, authentication of honey covers 2 main aspects: the production, with main issues related to sugar syrup addition, filtration, thermal treatment, and water content; and the labeled origin (geographical and/or botanical) and “organic” provenance. This review addresses all those issues, focusing on the approaches to detect the different types of honey adulteration. Due to the complex nature of honey and to the different types of adulteration, its authentication has been challenging and prompted the development of several advanced analytical approaches. Therefore, an updated, critical, and extensive overview on the current and advanced analytical methods targeting markers of adulteration/authenticity, including nontarget fingerprint approaches will be provided. The most recent advances on molecular, chromatographic, and spectroscopic methodologies will be described, emphasizing their pros and cons for the identification of botanical and geographical origins.
Effect of plant secondary metabolites on common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Su Qi , Zhou Zhixiong , Zhang Jianmin , Shi Caihua , Zhang Guohui , Jin Zhenyu , Wang Wenkai , Li Chuanren
Published: June 2017

The effect of various flavonoids, lectins and phenyl β‐D‐glucoside on larval survival, weights and the activities of digestive (total serine protease and trypsin) and detoxifying (esterase and glutathione‐S‐transferase) enzymes of Spodoptera litura larvae at 7 days after treatment was studied through diet incorporation assay. Flavonoids (rutin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, quercitin, kaempferol, myricetin, catechin, and ferulic acid) were incorporated in artificial diet at 100, 500 and 1000 ppm, lectins: groundnut leaf lectin (GLL), concavalin A (ConA) and phenyl β‐D‐glucoside at 1, 2 and 5 μg/mL. Flavonoids such as rutin, quercitin and kaempferol at 1000 ppm were more toxic to S. litura larvae than quinic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, myricetin, catechin, and ferulic acid. Larval growth and development were significantly reduced in S. litura larvae fed on a diet with GLL and ConA at 5 μg/mL compared to the larvae fed at 2 and 1 μg/mL concentrations. The larvae fed on flavonoid‐treated diets showed significant reduction in serine protease, trypsin and esterase activities. The flavonoids such as rutin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, naringenin, quercitin, kaempferol and myricetin, and lectins, GLL and ConA can be utilized in insect control programs.
From Cognitive Environment to French Youth Engagement in Jihad
Authors: Kortam Marie
Published: June 2017

This essay explores the cognitive environment of radicalised youth and describes how the path of engagement in the Syrian revolution is radicalised. Using a case study, I analyse the experiences, personality and motivation of Elodie, a young woman from Saint‐Denis in France. Elodie's story provides a context to examine how socially constructed processes become individualised. The approach taken in the study adopts anthropologist David Mandelbaum's concept of engagement to understand its meaning. Based on this approach, the study considers engagement as a phase of shaping convictions, not as its result. As such, engagement does not appear to be fixed, final, and unchangeable; rather it is dynamic. Constructing Elodie's trajectory will help in understanding the present pattern of meaning of what I call the ‘space of jihadist (fighters)’ and revolutionaries, as related to the Syrian conflict.
External tooth resorption associated with a peripheral odontogenic fibroma: review and case report
Authors: Heithersay GS , Musu D , Cotti E
Published: June 2017

The purpose of the study is to document a rare case of a peripheral odontogenic fibroma with associated cervical and coronal tooth resorption in a 38 year old woman. Histopathological features are described, the clinical management outlined and follow‐up observations over 27 years detailed. The exophytic firm lesion, coral pink in appearance, located on the labial aspect of a maxillary right lateral incisor was excised, fixed in formalin and prepared for histological evaluation. The resorption cavity and adjacent soft tissue were treated by the topical application of trichloroacetic acid prior to restoration with a glass‐ionomer cement and subsequent root canal treatment. Histologically, the body of the lesion was characterized by the presence of odontogenic epithelium embedded in a mature fibrous stroma. Areas of dystrophic calcification could also be identified. The features were consistent with a diagnosis of a peripheral odontogenic fibroma. The clinical result of treatment assessed 27 years postoperatively showed no evidence of recurrence of the peripheral odontogenic fibroma. External cervical and coronal tooth resorption can, on rare occasions, prove to be a clinical feature associated with peripheral odontogenic fibroma. Treatment of the tumour mass and the resorptive lesion can provide a successful outcome.
The outcome of ulcerative colitis patients undergoing pouch surgery is determined by pre‐surgical factors
Authors: Yanai H. , Ben‐Shachar S. , Mlynarsky L. , Godny L. , Leshno M. , Tulchinsky H. , Dotan I.
Published: June 2017

Background

Pouch surgery, a common intervention for ulcerative colitis (UC) complications, is often associated with the development of pouchitis.

Aim

To identify predictors of pouch outcome in a cohort of patients with UC.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective unmatched case‐cohort study in a tertiary IBD referral centre. Adult patients with UC were classified into the worst phenotype throughout follow‐up: normal pouch, a form of chronic pouchitis (either chronic pouchitis or Crohn's like disease of pouch [CLDP]), or episodic recurrent acute pouchitis (RAP). Risk factors for pouchitis (chronic forms) were detected using statistical models.

Results

Two hundred and fifty‐three pouch patients were followed up for 13.1±7.3 years. Only 71 patients (28.1%) maintained a favourable outcome of a sustained normal pouch. These patients were older at UC diagnosis (27.8±12.5 vs 23.0±11.4 years), had longer UC duration until surgery (13.4±9.5 vs 8.2±7.9 years), and had higher rates of referral to surgery due to nonrefractory (dysplasia/neoplasia) complications (42.3% vs 16.2%) compared with pouchitis patients. Median survival for sustained normal pouch was 10.8 years (95% CI 8.9‐12.7 years), and it was longer in the nonrefractory group (20.3 vs 9.4 years for the refractory group, HR=2.37, 95% CI 1.25‐3.52, P=.004).

Conclusions

Most patients with UC undergoing pouch surgery will develop pouchitis. Patients operated for nonrefractory indications have a more favourable outcome. These results may contribute to pre‐ and post‐surgical decision‐making. The findings imply that the processes determining UC severity may be similar to that causing pouchitis.
The macrolide antibiotic renaissance
Authors: Dinos George P
Published: June 2017

Macrolides represent a large family of protein synthesis inhibitors of great clinical interest due to their applicability to human medicine. Macrolides are composed of a macrocyclic lactone of different ring sizes, to which one or more deoxy‐sugar or amino sugar residues are attached. Macrolides act as antibiotics by binding to bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and interfering with protein synthesis. The high affinity of macrolides for bacterial ribosomes, together with the highly conserved structure of ribosomes across virtually all of the bacterial species, is consistent with their broad‐spectrum activity. Since the discovery of the progenitor macrolide, erythromycin, in 1950, many derivatives have been synthesised, leading to compounds with better bioavailability and acid stability and improved pharmacokinetics. These efforts led to the second generation of macrolides, including well‐known members such as azithromycin and clarithromycin. Subsequently, in order to address increasing antibiotic resistance, a third generation of macrolides displaying improved activity against many macrolide resistant strains was developed. However, these improvements were accompanied with serious side effects, leading to disappointment and causing many researchers to stop working on macrolide derivatives, assuming that this procedure had reached the end. In contrast, a recent published breakthrough introduced a new chemical platform for synthesis and discovery of a wide range of diverse macrolide antibiotics. This chemical synthesis revolution, in combination with reduction in the side effects, namely, ‘Ketek effects’, has led to a macrolide renaissance, increasing the hope for novel and safe therapeutic agents to combat serious human infectious diseases.
Are landscape attributes a useful shortcut for classifying vegetation in the tropics? A case study of La Amistad International Park
Authors: Monro Alexandre K. , Bystriakova Nadia , González Frank
Published: June 2017

Effective vegetation classification schemes identify the processes determining species assemblages and support the management of protected areas. They can also provide a framework for ecological research. In the tropics, elevation‐based classifications dominate over alternatives such as river catchments. Given the existence of floristic data for many localities, we ask how useful floristic data are for developing classification schemes in species‐rich tropical landscapes and whether floristic data provide support for classification by river catchment. We analyzed the distribution of vascular plant species within 141 plots across an elevation gradient of 130 to 3200 m asl within La Amistad National Park. We tested the hypothesis that river catchment, combined with elevation, explains much of the variation in species composition. We found that annual mean temperature, elevation, and river catchment variables best explained the variation within local species communities. However, only plots in high‐elevation oak forest and Páramo were distinct from those in low‐ and mid‐elevation zones. Beta diversity did not significantly differ in plots grouped by elevation zones, except for low‐elevation forest, although it did differ between river catchments. None of the analyses identified discrete vegetation assemblages within mid‐elevation (700–2600 m asl) plots. Our analysis supports the hypothesis that river catchment can be an alternative means for classifying tropical forest assemblages in conservation settings.
Experimental transplants reveal strong environmental effects on the growth of non‐vascular epiphytes in Afromontane forests
Authors: Stam Åsa , Enroth Johannes , Malombe Itambo , Pellikka Petri , Rikkinen Jouko
Published: June 2017

Transplant studies can provide valuable information on the growth responses of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens to environmental factors. We studied the growth of six epiphyte species at three sites in moist Afromontane forests of Taita Hills, Kenya. With 558 pendant transplants, we documented the growth of four bryophytes and two lichens over 1 yr. The transplants were placed into the lower canopy of one forest site in an upper montane zone, and two forest sites in a lower montane zone. Several pendant moss species grew very well in the cool and humid environment of the upper montane forest, with some transplants more than doubling their biomass during the year. Conversely, all transplanted taxa performed poorly in the lower montane zone, presumably because of the unfavorable combination of ample moisture with excessive warmth and insufficient light which characterizes the lower canopy in dense lower montane forests. The results demonstrate that pendant transplants can be used for monitoring growth of non‐vascular epiphytes in tropical forests. The starting weight of 0.25 g for pendant transplants worked well and can be recommended for future studies.
From French Wikipedia to Erudit: A test case for cross‐domain open information extraction
Authors: Gotti Fabrizio , Langlais Philippe
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we describe an open information extraction pipeline based on ReVerb for extracting knowledge from French text. We put it to the test by using the information triples extracted to build an entity classifier, ie, a system able to label a given instance with its type (for instance, Michel Foucault is a philosopher). The classifier requires little supervision. One novel aspect of this study is that we show how general domain information triples (extracted from French Wikipedia) can be used for deriving new knowledge from domain‐specific documents unrelated to Wikipedia, in our case scholarly articles focusing on the humanities. We believe that the present study is the first that focuses on such a cross‐domain, recall‐oriented approach in open information extraction. While our system's performance shows room for improvement, manual assessments show that the task is quite hard, even for a human, in part because of the cross‐domain aspect of the problem we tackle.
Comparison of effectiveness of temporary positive expiratory pressure versus oscillatory positive expiratory pressure in severe COPD patients
Authors: Nicolini Antonello , Mascardi Valentina , Grecchi Bruna , Ferrari‐Bravo Maura , Banfi Paolo , Barlascini Cornelius
Published: June 2017

Introduction

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients few modalities of airway clearance have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing hypersecretion and bronchial obstruction. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) is one of these.

Objective

Our goal was to compare the effectiveness of 2 devices Temporary PEP (T‐PEP) and Oscillatory PEP (O‐PEP) which use PEP applied at a low expiratory pressure of 1 cm H2O which creates oscillations that decrease bronchial obstruction in reducing COPD exacerbations and improving respiratory and health status assessment parameters. Each has different mechanism of action.

Methods

A 26 week randomized controlled study evaluated their efficacy in reducing exacerbations and improving health status assessment tests as well as respiratory function parameters in severe to very severe COPD patients. One hundred‐twenty patients were enrolled: 40 patients received T‐PEP therapy; 40 underwent treatment with O‐PEP; 40 constituted the control group. The primary outcome was the reduction of exacerbations after 1, 3 and 6 months; secondary outcomes were improvement of lung function and health status assessment tests [Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) scale, Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS) scale, and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score].

Results

Only T‐PEP statistically reduced the exacerbations after 1 and 3 months compared to the control group. Both the 2 devices improved dyspnea scale (MMRC), lung function parameters, and health status assessment (CAT) tests compared to the control group. Both interventions were well‐tolerated by our patients.

Conclusions

O‐PEP and T‐PEP are useful for COPD treatment but only T‐PEP reduces exacerbations. Adding tools for airway clearance to medical therapy can help the management of COPD.
Effects of oxygen therapy on wall‐motion score index in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction—the randomized SOCCER trial
Authors: Khoshnood Ardavan , Akbarzadeh Mahin , Roijer Anders , Meurling Carl , Carlsson Marcus , Bhiladvala Pallonji , Höglund Peter , Sparv David , Todorova Lizbet , Mokhtari Arash , Erlinge David , Ekelund Ulf
Published: June 2017

Background

Although oxygen (O2) is routinely used in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it may have negative effects. In this substudy of the SOCCER trial, we aimed to evaluate the effects of O2‐treatment on myocardial function in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods

Normoxic (≥94%) STEMI patients were randomized in the ambulance to either supplemental O2 or room air until the end of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The patients underwent echocardiography on day 2–3 after the PCI and once again after 6 months. The study endpoints were wall‐motion score index (WMSI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Results

Forty‐six patients in the O2 group and 41 in the air group were included in the analysis. The index echocardiography showed no significant differences between the groups in WMSI (1.32±0.27 for O2 group vs 1.28±0.28 for air group) or LVEF (47.0±8.5% vs 49.2±8.1%). Nor were there differences at 6 months in WMSI (1.16±0.25 vs 1.14±0.24) or LVEF (53.5±5.8% vs 53.5±6.9%).

Conclusion

The present findings indicate no harm or benefit of supplemental O2 on myocardial function in STEMI patients. Our results support that it is safe to withhold supplemental O2 in normoxic STEMI patients.
Imaging the elusive anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery
Authors: Sasikumar Deepa , Sasidharan Bijulal , Dharan Baiju S. , Sivasankaran Sivasubramanian , Krishnamoorthy Kavasseri M.
Published: June 2017

A 7‐year‐old girl with severe mitral regurgitation and pulmonary artery hypertension with good ventricular function was planned for mitral valve repair, but was subsequently diagnosed to have anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery. We describe the pitfalls in the diagnosis of this rare anomaly, particularly in the presence of severe pulmonary artery hypertension and absence of circumstantial evidence of coronary steal and ventricular dysfunction.
Psychological interventions on a specialist Early Intervention Inpatient Unit: An opportunity to engage?
Authors: Reynolds Nicola , Desai Roopal , Zhou Zheng , Fornells‐Ambrojo Miriam , Garden Paul
Published: June 2017

Background

This study explored engagement with psychology on a specialist early intervention psychosis inpatient unit, with a focus on whether demographics or admission factors impacted on engagement.

Method

This was a retrospective cohort study using data extracted from patient notes for all service users who were admitted to an Early Intervention ward during a specified 6‐month period. One hundred and one records were identified.

Results

Sixty‐eight (67.3%) of the service users engaged in psychological therapy, 45.6% (n = 47) attended psychology groups and 58.4% (n = 59) engaged in individual psychology sessions. Service users admitted to the ward voluntarily were more likely to engage in individual psychology sessions in comparison to those admitted under section of the mental health act (β = −0.270, P < .005). Length of admission predicted engagement with groups (β = 0.38, P < .001) and individual psychology sessions (β = 0.408, P < .001). Ethnicity, gender and number of admissions did not predict engagement in psychology.

Conclusions

Psychological interventions are acceptable on a specialist early intervention psychosis inpatient ward and offer an opportunity to engage service users. Engagement was not predicted by demographic factors typically seen in community settings. Implications arising from these differences are discussed.
Antithrombin III for portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver disease: A randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial
Authors: Hidaka Hisashi , Kokubu Shigehiro , Sato Takahiro , Katsushima Shinji , Izumi Namiki , Igura Takumi , Asahara Shingo , Notsumata Kazuo , Osaki Yukio , Tsuji Keiji , Kawanaka Hirofumi , Akahoshi Tomohiko , Hirota Shozo , Matsutani Shoichi ,   The NPB‐06 study group
Published: June 2017

Aim

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is one of the most critical disorders in liver disease patients. These patients have the imbalance of coagulation and coagulation inhibition resulting from decreased levels of coagulation inhibitory factors, such as protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III (AT‐III). We designed this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial comparing the safety and efficacy of AT‐III for PVT in liver disease patients with those who received no treatment.

Methods

Eligible patients were diagnosed with the association of thrombus, without tumor thrombus, and thrombus in more than 50% of the cross‐sectional lumen of the portal vein. Patients with 70% or less serum level of AT‐III were included. The study drug was given up to three times in a 5‐day consecutive infusion interval if the thrombus decreased in size. Efficacy was evaluated by contrast enhanced computed tomography using a five‐grade scale (complete response, partial response, slight response, no response, and progression). From October 2014 through to March 2016, 36 patients were randomly assigned to the AT‐III group and 37 patients to the placebo group.

Results

The proportion of patients with complete response or partial response of PVT was significantly higher in the AT‐III group (55.6%; 20/36 patients; 95% confidence interval, 38.1–72.1) than in the placebo group (19.4%; 7/36 patients, 95% confidence interval, 8.2–36.0) (P = 0.003). The overall incidence of adverse events and adverse drug reactions did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Conclusion

Antithrombin III is one of the essential therapies for patients with PVT in cases with lower concentration levels of AT‐III.
Evaluating patient and public involvement in health research: from theoretical model to practical workshop
Authors: Gibson Andy , Welsman Jo , Britten Nicky
Published: June 2017

Background

There is a growing literature on evaluating aspects of patient and public involvement (PPI). We have suggested that at the core of successful PPI is the dynamic interaction of different forms of knowledge, notably lay and professional. We have developed a four‐dimensional theoretical framework for understanding these interactions.

Aim

We explore the practical utility of the theoretical framework as a tool for mapping and evaluating the experience of PPI in health services research.

Methods

We conducted three workshops with different PPI groups in which participants were invited to map their PPI experiences on wall charts representing the four dimensions of our framework. The language used to describe the four dimensions was modified to make it more accessible to lay audiences. Participants were given sticky notes to indicate their own positions on the different dimensions and to write explanatory comments if they wished. Participants’ responses were then discussed and analysed as a group.

Results

The three groups were distinctive in their mapped responses suggesting different experiences in relation to having a strong or weak voice in their organization, having few or many ways of getting involved, addressing organizational or public concerns and believing that the organization was willing to change or not.

Discussion

The framework has practical utility for mapping and evaluating PPI interactions and is sensitive to differences in PPI experiences within and between different organizations. The workshops enabled participants to reflect collaboratively on their experiences with a view to improving PPI experiences and planning for the future.
New clients, audit quality, and audit partner industry expertise: Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Liu Li‐Lin , Xie Xinmei , Chang Yu‐Shan , Forgione Dana A.
Published: June 2017

New client acceptance decisions are critical for auditors. Audit quality can be negatively affected by limited knowledge of the new client's operations and finances. This may be mitigated for auditors with industry specialization. We examine whether new clientele negatively affect audit quality at the individual level and how the association with audit quality varies across auditors with different levels of industry specialization. Our study fills a gap in the literature by directly addressing the effects of new clients on audit quality for specialist and non‐specialist auditors, as well as portfolio‐concentration experts, and sheds light on the nature of risks associated with new client acceptance decisions. We find both industry specialists and portfolio‐concentration experts can maintain their audit quality when accepting new clients, while there is a decline in quality for auditors who are neither industry specialists nor portfolio‐concentration experts.
Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic: An open randomized controlled trial
Authors: Martinelli M. , Ummarino D. , Giugliano F. P. , Sciorio E. , Tortora C. , Bruzzese D. , De Giovanni D. , Rutigliano I. , Valenti S. , Romano C. , Campanozzi A. , Miele E. , Staiano A.
Published: June 2017

Background

Infant colic (IC) is a prevalent physiological event of infants, which can disrupt the child's home environment. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a mixture of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) compared with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and with simethicone for the treatment of IC.

Methods

A multicenter randomized comparative study was conducted in infants with colic, according to Rome III criteria, who were randomly assigned to receive M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L. and tyndallized L. acidophilus (HA122) (Colimil® Plus®; Milte Italia Spa, Milan, Italy) (Group A), L. reuteri DSM 17938 (Group B) and simethicone (Group C). Treatment was given to subjects for 28 days.

Key Results

One‐hundred and seventy‐six patients completed the study. Mean daily crying time at day 28 was significantly lower in group A (−44, 95% CI: −58 to −30, P<.001) and group B (−35, 95% CI: −49 to −20, P<.001) when compared to group C. No significant difference was observed between Group A and Group B (mean difference: −9 minutes, 95% CI −23 to +5, P=.205). At day 28, 39 of 57 (68.4%) of infants in Group C responded to the treatment compared with 57 out of 60 patients (95%) of Group A and 51 out of 59 (86.4%) of Group B (P<.001).

Conclusions

This study suggests that administration of M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L. and tyndallized L. acidophilus (HA122) and L. reuteri DSM 17938 are significantly more effective than simethicone in IC. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02708238.
Care as narrative practice in the context of long‐term care: Theoretical considerations
Authors: Berendonk Charlotte , Blix Bodil Hansen , Randall William L. , Baldwin Clive , Caine Vera
Published: June 2017

Aims and objectives

In this article, we introduce care itself as a narrative practice. We emphasise that all interactions between care providers and older adults in long‐term care settings are narrative in nature and foreground experience.

Background

Every person consists of innumerable stories based on experiences over time. Some experiences can be recalled and told as narratives, while others are inscribed into our bodies; they are embodied. These narratives shape who we are and are becoming, and influence how care providers experience and provide nursing care in long‐term care settings.

Main contributions of the theoretical considerations

We highlight the importance of stories to narrative identities and focus on the embodied act of coconstructing new stories in interaction. We emphasise the idea that care in gerontological nursing would benefit from acknowledging and fostering embodied narratives in a systematic way with older adults.

Conclusions

To foster, elicit, and coconstruct evolving and forward‐looking narratives based on older adults' verbal and embodied narratives is essential for the quality of care in long‐term settings. Care providers must be aware that they are co‐authors of older adults' continuous storying and restorying of their lives.

Implications for practice

To recognise that both residents and care providers are narrative beings shift the current culture of care away from rationalised and emotionally devoid consequences of care. Understanding the theoretical underpinnings of care itself as narrative practice is a first step in developing care practices that place relationships between residents and care providers at the centre of practice. There is a need for the implementation of strategies to think and work narratively in long‐term care settings.
Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Relief of Arthralgia in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Liu Yiming , Zhang Tingjie , Feng Yi
Published: June 2017

More than one‐third of the population with rheumatoid arthritis requires adjuvant analgesic treatment after antirheumatic therapy. In addition to analgesics, another option is radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT), a novel physical therapy that has been successfully used in the treatment of many types of chronic soft tissue pain. We report a series of 15 patients who suffered from arthralgia after being on disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs for more than 3 months. Participants received rESWT for 3 months as an adjuvant therapy. Compared to the pretherapy baseline, follow‐up at 3 months post‐therapy revealed a significant reduction in resting state visual analog scale scores from 2.90 ± 0.74 to 0.80 ± 0.79 (P = 0.004), active state visual analog scale scores from 5.70 ± 1.33 to 2.20 ± 0.63 (P < 0.001), morning stiffness duration from 2.25 ± 0.79 to 1.05 ± 0.69 hours (P = 0.004), disease activity score with 28‐joint counts based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate from 6.34 ± 0.72 to 4.19 ± 0.59 (P = 0.001), and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores from 10.20 ± 2.35 to 5.00 ± 2.62 (P = 0.005). The pre–post changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C‐reactive protein were not statistically significant. By the end of treatment, 11 participants stopped analgesics completely; the other 4 participants were on a smaller dosage. No severe adverse effects related to rESWT were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report using this therapy to treat arthralgia in rheumatoid arthritis.
Economic Transition, Urban Hierarchy, and Service Industry Growth in China
Authors: Zhong Yun , Wei Yehua Dennis
Published: June 2017

The service industry in China has been undergoing rapid growth, especially since the early 1990s. However, little research has been conducted regarding its characteristics, spatial patterns and dynamics. Based on the theories of economic growth, economic transition and urban hierarchy, this paper develops an analytical framework for elucidating the growth of the service industry in China. We find that cities with a high increment in the service industry tend to be located in coastal areas, and mainly constitute megacities and large, highly developed cities. Cities with higher administrative rank, such as centrally administrated municipalities, cities designated in the State Plan and provincial capitals, maintain relatively high growth in the service industry. It is concluded that China's economic transition and urban hierarchy play significant roles in the growth of the service industry, suggesting that service industry growth in China does not strictly adhere to growth patterns observed in Western countries.
Comment on “Whole-genome sequence analysis shows two endemic species of North American wolf are admixtures of the coyote and gray wolf”
Authors: Hohenlohe Paul A. , Rutledge Linda Y. , Waits Lisette P. , Andrews Kimberly R. , Adams Jennifer R. , Hinton Joseph W. , Nowak Ronald M. , Patterson Brent R. , Wydeven Adrian P. , Wilson Paul A. , White Brad N.
Published: June 2017

Whole-genome data do not support a recent hybrid origin for red and eastern wolves.
Draft Genome Sequence of Kingella negevensis SW7208426, the First European Strain of
K. negevensis
Isolated from a Healthy Child in Switzerland
Authors: El Houmami Nawal , Schrenzel Jacques , Yagupsky Pablo , Robert Catherine , Ceroni Dimitri , Raoult Didier , Fournier Pierre-Edouard
Published: June 2017

We report here the draft genome of
Kingella negevensis
strain SW7208426, isolated from the oropharynx of a healthy 6-year-old boy in Geneva, Switzerland. To our knowledge, this is the first genome report of the newly described
K. negevensis
species from Europe.
Medical judgement analogue studies with applications to spaceflight crew medical officer
Authors: McCarroll Michele L , Ahmed Rami A , Schwartz Alan , Gothard Michael David , Atkinson Steven Scott , Hughes Patrick , Brito Jose Cepeda , Assad Lori , Myers Jerry , George Richard L
Published: June 2017

Background

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed plans for potential emergency conditions from the Exploration Medical Conditions List. In an effort to mitigate conditions on the Exploration Medical Conditions List, NASA implemented a crew medical officer (CMO) designation for eligible astronauts. This pilot study aims to add knowledge that could be used in the Integrated Medical Model.

Methods

An analogue population was recruited for two categories: administrative physicians (AP) representing the physician CMOs and technical professionals (TP) representing the non-physician CMOs. Participants completed four medical simulations focused on abdominal pain: cholecystitis (CH) and renal colic (RC) and chest pain: cardiac ischaemia (STEMI; ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) and pneumothorax (PX). The Medical Judgment Metric (MJM) was used to evaluate medical decision making.

Results

There were no significant differences between the AP and TP groups in age, gender, race, ethnicity, education and baseline heart rate. Significant differences were noted in MJM average rater scores in AP versus TP in CH: 13.0 (±2.25), 4.5 (±0.48), p=<0.001; RC: 12.3 (±2.66), 4.8 (±0.94); STEMI: 12.1 (±3.33), 4.9 (±0.56); and PX: 13.5 (±2.53), 5.3 (±1.01), respectively.

Discussion

There could be a positive effect on crew health risk by having a physician CMO. The MJM demonstrated the ability to quantify medical judgement between the two analogue groups of spaceflight CMOs. Future studies should incorporate the MJM in a larger analogue population study to assess the medical risk for spaceflight crewmembers.
Comparative evaluation of six chromogenic media for presumptive yeast identification
Authors: Vecchione Alessandra , Florio Walter , Celandroni Francesco , Barnini Simona , Lupetti Antonella , Ghelardi Emilia
Published: June 2017

Aims

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the discrimination ability of six chromogenic media in presumptive yeast identification.

Methods

We analysed 108 clinical isolates and reference strains belonging to eight different species:Candida albicans,Candida dubliniensis,Candida tropicalis,Candida krusei,Candida glabrata,Candida parapsilosis,Candida lusitaniaeandTrichosporon mucoides.

Results

C. albicans,C. tropicalisandC. kruseicould be distinguished from one another in all the tested chromogenic media, as predicted by the manufacturers. In addition,C. albicanscould be distinguished fromC. dubliniensison BBL CHROMagar Candida, Kima CHROMagar Candida and Brilliance Candida, andC. parapsilosiscould be identified on CHROMATIC Candida agar, CHROMOGENIC Candida agar, and Brilliance Candida agar.

Conclusions

Brilliance Candida provided the widest discrimination ability, being able to discriminate five out of the sevenCandidaspecies tested. Interestingly,C. tropicalisandC. kruseicould be already distinguished from each other after 24 hours of incubation.
Tax Evasion and Multi-Agent-Based Model on Various Topologies
Authors: Lima F. W. S.
Published: June 2017

In this work, we use Monte-Carlo simulations to study the control of the fluctuations for tax evasion in the economics model proposed by [G. Zaklan, F. Westerhoff and D. Stauffer, J. Econ. Interact. Coordination. 4 (2009) 1; G. Zaklam, F.W.S. Lima and F. Westerhofd, Physica A 387 (2008) 5857.] via a nonequilibrium model with two states ([Formula: see text]) and a noise [Formula: see text] proposed for [M. J. Oliveira, J. Stat. Phys. 66 (1992) 273] and known as Majority-Vote model (MVM) and Sánchez–López-Rodríguez model on communities of agents or persons on some topologies as directed and undirected Barabási–Albert networks and Erdös–Rényi random graphs, Apollonian networks, directed small-world networks and Stauffer–Hohnisch–Pittnauer networks. The MVM is applied around the noise critical [Formula: see text] to evolve the Zaklan model.
Numerical modelling of slope–vegetation–atmosphere interaction: an overview
Authors: Elia Gaetano , Cotecchia Federica , Pedone Giuseppe , Vaunat Jean , Vardon Philip J. , Pereira Carlos , Springman Sarah M. , Rouainia Mohamed , Van Esch John , Koda Eugeniusz , Josifovski Josif , Nocilla Alessandra , Askarinejad Amin , Stirling Ross , Helm Peter , Lollino Piernicola , Osinski Piotr
Published: June 2017

The behaviour of natural and artificial slopes is controlled by their thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions and by soil–vegetation–atmosphere interaction. Porewater pressure changes within a slope related to variable meteorological settings have been shown to be able to induce soil erosion, shrinkage–swelling and cracking, thus leading to an overall decrease of the available soil strength with depth and, ultimately, to a progressive slope collapse. In terms of numerical modelling, the stability analysis of partially saturated slopes is a complex problem and a wide range of approaches from simple limit equilibrium solutions to advanced numerical analyses have been proposed in the literature. The more advanced approaches, although more rigorous, require input data such as the soil water retention curve and the hydraulic conductivity function, which are difficult to obtain in some cases. The quantification of the effects of future climate scenarios represents an additional challenge in forecasting slope–atmosphere interaction processes. This paper presents a review of real and ideal case histories regarding the numerical analysis of natural and artificial slopes subjected to different types of climatic perturbations. The limits and benefits of the different numerical approaches adopted are discussed and some general modelling recommendations are addressed.
Dependable Data Repairing with Fixing Rules
Authors: Wang Jiannan , Tang Nan
Published: June 2017

One of the main challenges that data-cleaning systems face is to
automatically
identify and repair data errors in a
dependable
manner. Though data dependencies (also known as integrity constraints) have been widely studied to capture errors in data, automated and dependable data repairing on these errors has remained a notoriously difficult problem. In this work, we introduce an automated approach for dependably repairing data errors, based on a novel class of
fixing rules
. A fixing rule contains an evidence pattern, a set of negative patterns, and a fact value. The heart of fixing rules is
deterministic
: given a tuple, the evidence pattern and the negative patterns of a fixing rule are combined to precisely capture which attribute is wrong, and the fact indicates how to correct this error. We study several fundamental problems associated with fixing rules and establish their complexity. We develop efficient algorithms to check whether a set of fixing rules are consistent and discuss approaches to resolve inconsistent fixing rules. We also devise efficient algorithms for repairing data errors using fixing rules. Moreover, we discuss approaches on how to generate a large number of fixing rules from examples or available knowledge bases. We experimentally demonstrate that our techniques outperform other automated algorithms in terms of the accuracy of repairing data errors, using both real-life and synthetic data.