bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrophoretic patterns of proteinuria in feline spontaneous chronic kidney disease
Authors: Giraldi Marco , Paltrinieri Saverio , Scarpa Paola
Published: February 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to describe the electrophoretic patterns of proteinuria in cats at risk of and cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and to investigate whether the presence of high-molecular-weight (HMW) and low-molecular-weight (LMW) proteins were associated with CKD, proteinuria and/or disease progression.

Methods

Healthy cats at risk of developing renal disease (n = 17) and cats affected with CKD at different stages (n = 22) were prospectively enrolled and sampled over time. Seventy urine samples were included and assayed with a commercially available sodium dodecyl sulfate–agarose gel electrophoresis (SDS-AGE) method. Each sample (gel lane) was inspected to identify albumin, HMW and LMW proteins, and an electrophoretic pattern (albuminuria, glomerular, tubular, mixed or negative) was assigned accordingly. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess the distribution of HMW and LMW proteins in cats grouped according to International Renal Interest Society stage and to the magnitude of proteinuria, and to assess if HMW and LMW proteins at the time of inclusion were associated with the development and progression of CKD.

Results

In samples of cats at risk, the most common pattern was glomerular (84.6%); glomerular pattern was also common in cats with CKD (54.2%), although mixed proteinuria and tubular proteinuria were also present (29.5% and 11.4%, respectively). The presence of LMW proteins was associated with CKD ( P <0.0001) and to a urine protein:creatinine ratio >0.2 ( P = 0.025). Both HMW and LMW proteins were not associated with progression of CKD within 6 months (n = 14).

Conclusions and relevance

Our results showed that HMW proteinuria is common in healthy cats at risk of developing CKD, although the pathological significance needs to be confirmed. The detection of LMW proteins in urine of cats suspected to be affected by CKD, especially in non-azotaemic, non-proteinuric or borderline proteinuric cats, suggests the presence of kidney damage.
Neonatal Skin-to-Skin Contact: Implications for Learning and Autonomic Nervous System Function in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Harrison Tondi M. , Chen Chao-Ying , Stein Phyllis , Brown Roger , Heathcock Jill C.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Infants with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) often develop neurodevelopmental disabilities. Cognitive abilities are associated with vagally mediated autonomic function. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) interventions enhance infant neurodevelopment and autonomic function in other high-risk populations.

Aim:

To examine the effects of a neonatal SSC intervention on learning and autonomic function in 3-month-old infants: infants with CCHD who received neonatal SSC ( n = 10), typically developing (TD) infants ( n = 16), and infants with CCHD without SSC ( n = 10).

Methods:

This secondary data analysis measured cognitive function using the mobile paradigm (MP), a classic measure of learning based on operant conditioning. Autonomic function was assessed with heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV). Data were analyzed with repeated-measures general linear mixed modeling with α = .10 for this exploratory study.

Results:

Learning rates were TD = 75%, cardiac-SSC = 70%, and cardiac-control = 40%. Learners demonstrated significant reductions in HRV during the MP; nonlearners exhibited no change. TD and cardiac-SSC groups exhibited increases in HR and reductions in HRV during the MP. No significant changes occurred in the cardiac-control group. Nonlinear HRV during the MP differed only in the TD group.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest improvements in cognitive and autonomic development in 3-month-old infants with CCHD who received neonatal SSC. Learning and autonomic function results in infants with CCHD who had not received SSC suggest reduced capacity to muster the physiologic resources to carry out this cognitive task. Findings provide preliminary evidence in support of implementation of SSC with infants with CCHD and support additional research.
Serum Albumin Trend Is a Predictor of Mortality in ICU Patients With Sepsis
Authors: Kendall Heather , Abreu Eduardo , Cheng An-Lin
Published: February 2019

Introduction:

Patients admitted to the hospital with sepsis are 8 times more likely to die than patients with other diagnoses. There is no diagnostic test that clearly identifies the presence of the dysregulated host response that is central to sepsis. Researchers have identified serum albumin as a possible predictor of mortality in a number of critically ill patient populations. However, these studies primarily focus on the levels on admission, neglecting the clinically significant decrease that occurs subsequently. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the trend of serum albumin over time and mortality in adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with sepsis.

Methods:

This retrospective, correlational study used existing medical record data. All patients admitted to the ICU at a Midwestern regional medical center with a primary sepsis diagnosis were included in the initial sample. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the ability of serum albumin to predict mortality.

Results:

Serum albumin trend, admission serum albumin level, and lowest serum albumin level were significant unique predictors of mortality. The probability of survival decreases by 70.6% when there is a strong negative trend in serum albumin level, by 63.4% when admission serum albumin is ≤2.45 g/dl, and by 76.4% when the lowest serum albumin is ≤1.45 g/dl.

Conclusion:

Clinicians are encouraged to measure serum albumin levels in patients with sepsis. Low serum albumin levels and a strong negative trend in serial measurements should instigate aggressive monitoring and treatment in this population.
Early-scatter laser photocoagulation promotes the formation of collateral vessels in branch retinal vein occlusion
Authors: An Seoung Hyun , Jeong Woo Jin
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

To investigate the effect of early-scatter laser photocoagulation on the formation of collateral vessels in branch retinal vein occlusion.

Methods:

The medical records of 40 cases (40 patients) of branch retinal vein occlusion with macular edema were retrospectively reviewed. Of them, 23 patients were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection and 17 patients underwent intravitreal bevacizumab injection with additional laser treatment. Early-scatter laser photocoagulation was applied for capillary non-perfusion areas, regardless of retinal neovascularization. Collateral vessel presence, recurrence rate of macular edema, and number of intravitreal bevacizumab injections were compared between the groups.

Results:

During the follow-up period, collateral vessel formation was noted in 10/23 eyes (43.5%) in the intravitreal bevacizumab injection group and 15/17 eyes (88.2%) in the laser combined treatment group ( p = 0.004). The recurrence rate of macular edema was lower in the laser combined treatment group (29.4%) than in the intravitreal bevacizumab injection group (65.2%); this difference was statistically significant ( p = 0.025). The average numbers of intravitreal bevacizumab injections were 3.57 ± 3.23 in the intravitreal bevacizumab group and 2.14 ± 2.26 in the laser combined treatment group ( p = 0.044).

Conclusion:

Early-scatter laser photocoagulation promotes collateral vessel formation; the presence of collateral vessels seemed to affect the course of macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion. Combined early-scatter laser photocoagulation treatment after intravitreal bevacizumab injection lowered the recurrence rate of macular edema and number of intravitreal bevacizumab injections in the cases of branch retinal vein occlusion.
The Possibility of Systematic Research Fraud Targeting Under-Studied Human Genes: Causes, Consequences, and Potential Solutions
Authors: Byrne Jennifer A , Grima Natalie , Capes-Davis Amanda , Labbé Cyril
Published: February 2019

A major reason for biomarker failure is the selection of candidate biomarkers based on inaccurate or incorrect published results. Incorrect research results leading to the selection of unproductive biomarker candidates are largely considered to stem from unintentional research errors. The additional possibility that biomarker research may be actively misdirected by research fraud has been given comparatively little consideration. This review discusses what we believe to be a new threat to biomarker research, namely, the possible systematic production of fraudulent gene knockdown studies that target under-studied human genes. We describe how fraudulent papers may be produced in series by paper mills using what we have described as a ‘theme and variations’ model, which could also be considered a form of salami slicing. We describe features of these single-gene knockdown publications that may allow them to evade detection by journal editors, peer reviewers, and readers. We then propose a number of approaches to facilitate their detection, including improved awareness of the features of publications constructed in series, broader requirements to post submitted manuscripts to preprint servers, and the use of semi-automated literature screening tools. These approaches may collectively improve the detection of fraudulent studies that might otherwise impede future biomarker research.
Model-based Evaluation of Gene Expression Changes in Response to Leishmania Infection
Authors: Stamper Brendan D , Davis Madison , Scott-Collins Sean , Tran Julie , Ton Caryn , Simidyan Agapi , Roberts Sigrid C
Published: February 2019

Since the development of high-density microarray technology in the late 1990s, global host gene expression changes in response to various stimuli have been extensively studied. More than a dozen peer-reviewed publications have investigated the effect of Leishmania infection in various models since 2001. This review covers the transcriptional changes in macrophage models induced by various Leishmania species and summarizes the resulting impact these studies have on our understanding of the host response to leishmaniasis in vitro. Characterization of the similarities and differences between various model systems will not only further our understanding of Leishmania-induced changes to macrophage gene expression but also identify potential therapeutic targets in the future.
Cerebrovascular Disease in the Young Adult: Examining Melatonin’s Possible Multiple Roles
Authors: Onaolapo Adejoke Yetunde , Onaolapo Olakunle James , Nathaniel Thomas I
Published: February 2019

In the last decade or more, there have been reports suggesting a rise in the incidence of stroke in young adults. Presently, it appears that the risk factors associated with the cause of stroke in young adults remain relatively constant across different geographic regions of the world. Moreover, the endogenous rhythm of a neurohormone such as melatonin is known to play certain roles in the modulation of some of the risk factors that are associated with an increased risk of stroke in young people. Whereas animal studies have shown that melatonin plays diverse roles in stroke, only a limited number of human studies examined the roles of exogenous melatonin administration in the prevention of stroke, attenuation of neuronal damage, and improving outcome or well-being in stroke patients. In this review, first we summarize existing studies of stroke in the young adult and then provide insights on melatonin and stroke. Thereafter, we discuss the role of melatonin in models of stroke and how melatonin can be regulated to prevent stroke in young adults. Finally, we highlight the possible roles of melatonin in the management and outcome of stroke, especially in the young adult stroke population.
How do early childhood education leaders navigate ethical dilemmas within the context of marketised provision in England?
Authors: Robson Jennifer van Krieken , Martin Estelle
Published: February 2019

Early childhood education settings can be understood as public forums where adults and children engage together in the implementation of national policy. The authors reflect on ethical dilemmas for leaders in early childhood education arising from the implementation of national policy. Dilemmas can be problematic in the sense that they are unresolved or routine-like as they pervade practice. Inspired by Shapiro and Stefkovich’s framework of multiple ethical paradigms, the authors analyse complex dilemmas arising for leaders in early childhood education as they implement national policy in the micro system with children, families and the community. Leaders are positioned in these contexts as principally concerned with the positive exploration of ethical dilemmas. The authors’ analysis gives visibility to the ways in which leaders may draw on theory and experience in the early childhood education setting to navigate ethical dilemmas within a marketised system. Knowledge of ethics and practice may be tacit, partial and incomplete; however, fragments are pieced together as ethical praxis.
Romance 2.0 on Instagram! “What Type of Girlfriend Would You Date?”
Authors: Jin S. Venus , Ryu Ehri , Muqaddam Aziz
Published: February 2019

Instagram selfies and groupies symbolize social media users’ public display of narcissism. From an evolutionary psychological perspective on the renovated hierarchy of fundamental human motives and needs, this study examined the interaction effects of Instagram photo types (selfies, group selfies, long-shot photos taken by others, and neutral photos) and Instagram peer viewers’ individual difference factors (intrasexual competition [ISC] for mates, need for popularity [NfP], loneliness, and need to belong [NtB]) on intersexual attraction. A randomized between-subjects experiment ( N = 110) was executed to see how the interaction affects the intention to date the target opposite-sex person. Multiple regression analyses confirm the moderating effects of ISC for mates, NfP, loneliness, and NtB on dating desire, among heterosexual/bisexual males exposed to female Instagram photos. Viewer characteristics moderate the influence of the potential mate’s photo types on perception and dating desirability. This study makes theoretical contributions to the literature on evolutionary psychology of narcissism and the renovated pyramid of primary needs. With regard to practical implications for online dating apps/social networking sites, neutral photos are more effective to appeal to men who feel lonely and have higher need for belonging and popularity, whereas group selfies are more appealing to men who have lower ISC for mate, NtB, and NfP.
Predictors of Symptoms Remission Among Family Caregivers of Individuals With Dementia Receiving REACH VA
Authors: Chen Cory K. , Nehrig Nicole , Abraham Karen S. , Wang Binhuan , Palfrey Amy P. , Baer Alyssa L.
Published: February 2019

Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers Health (REACH VA) is a behavioral intervention for caregivers of individuals with dementia disseminated in the VA. Although shown to improve caregiver and care recipient outcomes, some caregivers continue to experience depression or caregiver burden following the intervention. Factors that predict symptom remission following REACH VA are unknown. The present study investigated attachment, social support, and psychopathology as predictors of symptom remission for family caregivers who completed REACH VA. Caregivers who do not remit perceive lower levels of social support from loved ones, endorse poorer attachment quality, and have more personality disorder characteristics, particularly affective instability. These factors that impair caregivers’ abilities to be effectively attuned to the needs of their care recipients and to reap benefits from a brief and focused behavioral intervention such as REACH VA. Interventions that target caregiver interpersonal functioning and emotion regulation skills may be helpful to those who do not respond to REACH VA.
New opportunities to optimize antithrombotic therapy for secondary stroke prevention
Authors: Kim Anthony S , Easton J Donald
Published: February 2019

Stroke symptoms can be unsettling, even when symptoms resolve, but focusing on stroke prevention can be empowering provided that effective interventions for appropriate patient populations are available. Current options include interventions for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, high-dose statins, new oral anticoagulants, new developments in atrial fibrillation detection, and new therapeutics are in development. For antiplatelet therapy, aspirin monotherapy is effective but dual antiplatelet therapy with the combination of aspirin and clopidogrel increases hemorrhage risks over the long term that outweigh potential benefits. In the short term though, both the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) and Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke (POINT) trials have shown a benefit of short-term dual-antiplatelet therapy, though the increased major hemorrhage risk seen in POINT could justify applying dual-antiplatelet therapy to just the first 21 days. Furthermore, since clopidogrel is a prodrug that must be metabolized to have antiplatelet activity, it is not surprising that the treatment effect in CHANCE was limited to patients who were not carriers of loss-of-function alleles for clopidogrel metabolism. Ticagrelor, an antiplatelet agent which failed to meet its primary endpoint as monotherapy compared to aspirin in the Acute Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack Treated with Aspirin or Ticagrelor and Patient Outcomes (SOCRATES) trial, is currently being tested as combination therapy with aspirin compared to aspirin alone in Acute Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack Treated With Ticagrelor and ASA for Prevention of Stroke and Death (THALES). These developments along with improvements to the infrastructure to perform rapid evaluations and to apply intensive secondary stroke prevention interventions hold continued promise for the future.
Design and validation of an observational instrument for defence in soccer based on the Dynamical Systems Theory
Authors: Fernandes Tiago , Camerino Oleguer , Garganta Júlio , Pereira Rogério , Barreira Daniel
Published: February 2019

The research about soccer defensive phase shows many limitations regarding the procedures and operational definitions. The aims of this paper are to create an observational instrument based on Dynamic Systems concepts and evidence sufficient content validity to adequately and reliably recode defensive soccer behaviours. For these, a five-stage development process for validity was followed: (1) an initial literature review, instrument development, observation training; (2) adapting an existing systematic observational instrument; (3) pilot study with non-experts; (4) content validity with experts (coaches and researchers) and (5) inter- and intra-observer reliability. Using Aiken’s V coefficient and its cut-off value to determine validity content, consensus was found ( V > 0.67, n = 32, p < 0.05) for all items answered by participants in pilot study and for almost all subjects in the experts’ study ( V > 0.69, n = 12, p < 0.05). Also, Cohen’s Kappa shows inter- and intra-reliability values of 0.87 and 0.90, respectively. The final model, entitled Theoretical Dynamic Model of Soccer Defence, and the observational instrument, named Soccer-Defence, with 14 criteria and category systems, and 106 categories, seems to be suitable for analysing the defensive process in soccer and could be used to find strengths or weaknesses of tactical–technical defensive patterns of play and to help coaches to better prepare their teams.
The febrile child
Authors: Azam Mohsin , Laurent Su
Published: February 2019

Fever is probably the most common reason for a child to be taken to a doctor’s surgery, with approximately 20 to 40% of parents reporting that their child had a febrile illness in the last year. Febrile illness in young children has a wide range of causes, and creates concern in parents and carers. In most cases, the cause is a self-limiting viral infection. However, fever may also be the presenting feature of serious bacterial infections such as meningitis. Infections remain the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years, despite advances in healthcare. Therefore, guidance to help healthcare professionals distinguish between the majority of children who have minor self-limiting conditions and the occasional child with a sinister or even life-threatening infection is vital. This article aims to advise GPs on how to assess and initially manage a febrile child younger than 5 years, principally based on up-to-date National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
Automated three-dimensional measurements of version, inclination, and subluxation
Authors: Shukla Dave R , McLaughlin Richard J , Lee Julia , Nguyen Ngoc Tram V , Sanchez-Sotelo Joaquin
Published: February 2019

Background

Preoperative planning software has been developed to measure glenoid version, glenoid inclination, and humeral head subluxation on computed tomography (CT) for shoulder arthroplasty. However, most studies analyzing the effect of glenoid positioning on outcome were done prior to the introduction of planning software. Thus, measurements obtained from the software can only be extrapolated to predict failure provided they are similar to classic measurements. The purpose of this study was to compare measurements obtained using classic manual measuring techniques and measurements generated from automated image analysis software.

Methods

Ninety-five two-dimensional computed tomography scans of shoulders with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis were measured for version according to Friedman method, inclination according to Maurer method, and subluxation according to Walch method. DICOM files were loaded into an image analysis software (Blueprint, Wright Medical) and the output was compared with values obtained manually using a paired sample t-test.

Results

Average manual measurements included 13.8° version, 13.2° inclination, and 56.2% subluxation. Average image analysis software values included 17.4° version (3.5° difference, p < 0.0001), 9.2° inclination (3.9° difference, p < 0.001), and 74.2% for subluxation (18% difference, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Glenoid version and inclination values from the software and manual measurement on two-dimensional computed tomography were relatively similar, within approximately 4°. However, subluxation measurements differed by approximately 20%.
Comparing Apples With Apples: The Importance of Clean Data
Authors: Maughan Erin D. , Schneider Lori J.
Published: February 2019

This interview provides a practical example of how a school district is working to get and use clean, accurate data. It is a practical example of how to apply the principles found in the article on data fidelity, which is part of the “data and school nursing” articles series being published in NASN School Nurse during the 2018-2019 school year.
Economy-on-demand and the fairness of algorithms
Authors: Schubert Claudia , Hütt Marc-Thorsten
Published: February 2019

Algorithms are the key instrument for the economy-on-demand using platforms for its clients, workers and self-employed. An effective legal enforcement must not be limited to the control of the outcome of the algorithm but should also focus on the algorithm itself. This article assesses the present capacities of computer science to control and certify rule-based and data-centric (machine learning) algorithms. It discusses the legal instruments for the control of algorithms and their enforcement and institutional pre-conditions. It favours a digital agency that concentrates expertise and bureaucracy for the certification and official calibration of algorithms and promotes an international approach to the regulation of legal standards.
Heat-Related Illness in Midwestern Hispanic Farmworkers: A Descriptive Analysis of Hydration Status and Reported Symptoms
Authors: Culp Kennith , Tonelli Shalome
Published: February 2019

Heat-related illness (HRI) is a largely undocumented phenomenon in Midwestern Hispanic migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States. Frequently, the physiological burden of crop production is overlooked while workers are in the fields. We completed a mixed-methods study using a cross-sectional survey among migrant and seasonal farmworkers about their experience with HRI symptoms ( N = 148) and conducted an intensive surveillance on a smaller group of workers ( N = 20) in field trials ( N = 57 trials) using a chest-strapped multi-parameter monitoring wearable sensor (MPMWS) that measured skin/body temperature, heart and breathing rate, kilocalories burned per hour, and provided a physiological intensity (PI) score. The field trials were conducted across three classes of climate conditions and three PI score categories. We found that those in the uncomfortable category (PI score > 4.0) had a statistically significant ( F ratio = 16.41, p < .001) higher body temperatures ( M = 100.05°F) than those with a mild PI (range = 0-5) score ⩽ 2.5 ( M = 99.56°F) or moderate PI score > 2.5-4 (99.84°F). We also found that those in the uncomfortable climate condition category had a higher mean heart rate and breathing rate than those working under mild and moderate field trials.
Predictors of Hospital-Acquired Conditions Are Predominately Similar for Spine Surgery and Other Common Elective Surgical Procedures, With Some Key Exceptions
Authors: Horn Samantha R. , Pierce Katherine E. , Oh Cheongeun , Segreto Frank A. , Egers Max , Bortz Cole , Vasquez-Montes Dennis , Lafage Renaud , Lafage Virginie , Vira Shaleen , Steinmetz Leah , Ge David H. , Buza John A. , Moon John , Diebo Bassel G. , Alas Haddy , Brown Avery E. , Shepard Nicholas A. , Hassanzadeh Hamid , Passias Peter G.
Published: February 2019

Study Design:

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database.

Objective:

To predict the occurrence of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) 30-days postoperatively and to compare predictors of HACs for spine surgery with other common elective surgeries.

Methods:

Patients ≥18 years undergoing elective spine surgery were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database from 2005 to 2013. Outcome measures included any HACs: superficial or deep surgical site infection (SSI), venous thromboembolism (VTE), urinary tract infection (UTI). Spine surgery patients were compared with those undergoing other common procedures. Random forest followed by multivariable regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for the occurrence of HACs.

Results:

A total of 90 551 elective spine surgery patients, of whom 3021 (3.3%) developed at least 1 HAC, 1.4% SSI, 1.3% UTI, and 0.8% VTE. The occurrence of HACs for spine patients was predicted with high accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] 77.7%) with the following variables: female sex, baseline functional status, hypertension, history of transient ischemic attack (TIA), quadriplegia, steroid use, preoperative bleeding disorders, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, operating room duration, operative time, and level of residency supervision. Functional status and hypertension were HAC predictors for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), bariatric, and cardiothoracic patients. ASA class and operative time were predictors for most surgery cohorts. History of TIA, preoperative bleeding disorders, and steroid use were less predictive for most other common surgical cohorts.

Conclusions:

Occurrence of HACs after spine surgery can be predicted with demographic, clinical, and surgical factors. Predictors for HACs in surgical spine patients, also common across other surgical groups, include functional status, hypertension, and operative time. Understanding the baseline patient risks for HACs will allow surgeons to become more effective in their patient selection for surgery.
Correlation of Anterior Interbody Graft Choice With Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cervical Spine Trauma
Authors: Lee Hui Qing , Kow Chien Yew , Ng Jay Shen , Chan Patrick , Ton Lu , Etherington Greg , Liew Susan , Hunn Martin , Fitzgerald Mark , Tee Jin
Published: February 2019

Study Design:

Ambispective observational cohort study.

Objectives:

Synthetic graft usage avoids morbidity associated with harvest and reduces operative time. This study aims to evaluate outcomes of anterior cervical stabilization surgery using a synthetic cage in comparison with iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) following cervical spine trauma.

Methods:

An ambispective review was conducted on patients from the Alfred Trauma Registry. Consecutive patients treated at a level 1 trauma center, aged 18 years and older who were treated with standalone anterior cervical stabilization following spine trauma (2011-2016) were included in the study. Primary outcome measures were patient overall satisfaction, Neck Disability Index (NDI), neck pain 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS-neck) and arm pain 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS-arm). Secondary outcome measures were radiographic evidence of fusion and rate of revision surgery. All patients had follow-up for at least 1 year.

Results:

Between 2011 and 2016, 114 traumatic disc levels in 104 patients were treated. ICBG was used in 32% and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage in 68% of the patients. Both groups had similar demographic metrics. There was no significant difference in primary outcome measures between the graft types: (1) patient satisfaction ( P = .15), (2) NDI ( P = .11), (3) VAS-neck ( P = .13), and (4) VAS-arm ( P = .20). Radiology based fusion assessment 6 months postsurgery did not show statistical significance ( P = .10). The rates of revision surgery were similar.

Conclusions:

This study showed no significant difference in patient-reported outcome measures when comparing the usage of PEEK cage and ICBG in anterior stand alone cervical spine stabilization. Level 1 evidence studies are required to further investigate this finding.
Acute Encephalopathy With Biphasic Seizures and Late Reduced Diffusion Associated With Adenoviral Pneumonia
Authors: Lee Keun Soo , Lee Bo Lyun , Heo Young Jin
Published: February 2019

Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion is a subtype of acute encephalopathy described in a cohort of Japanese children. Few cases have been reported in countries other than Japan. It is characterized clinically by biphasic seizures and late reduced subcortical diffusion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report the case of a 3-year-old Korean girl with acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion who presented with status epilepticus associated with fever and pneumonia. Human adenovirus was detected from a respiratory specimen using multiplex real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. After 5 days, she developed a second cluster of seizures followed by altered consciousness, aphasia, stereotypic movement, and developmental regression. Her brain MRI showed symmetrical and extensive restricted diffusion in the subcortical white matter, which finally resulted in global brain atrophy, consistent with acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion. Here, we report a case of acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion associated with preceding adenoviral pneumonia.
Leadership Communication on Internal Digital Platforms, Emotional Capital, and Corporate Performance: The Case for Leader-Centric Listening
Authors: Cardon Peter W. , Huang Yumi , Power Gerard
Published: February 2019

This research examined the role of leadership communication on internal digital platforms and the nature of digital listening by leaders. A survey of managers showed that in higher emotional capital (employees’ aggregate feelings of goodwill toward a company and the way it operates) and higher performing organizations, leaders are much more active communicators on internal digital platforms. A critical incident study explored the nature of digital listening by leaders, showing that effective digital listening by leaders tends to be leader-centric but focused on the collective voice of employees. Future research about leader listening should explore the notion of collective voice.
Do Interns Know What They Think They Know? Assessing Business Communication Skills in Interns and Recent Graduates
Authors: Schartel Dunn Stephanie G. , Lane Peggy L.
Published: February 2019

This article extends a dialogue regarding how (and what) communication skills are stressed within business schools, which should be regularly examined and updated. Specifically, this article addresses which skills interns and employers perceive as important. Results indicate that interns and their supervisors have similar perceptions of which communication skills are most important. Furthermore, emphasis placed on communication skills in the business curriculum did not necessarily translate to perceived importance by the interns. Skills employers perceived to be important were compared with adequacy of interns’ skills. Writing, proofreading, interpersonal skills with customers, and listening were among the skills interns lacked.
Patient Knowledge and Perception of Radiation Risk in Diagnostic Imaging: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sweetman Stephen John , Bernard Jason
Published: February 2019

Background:

Informed consent dictates that patients appreciate the risks and benefits of imaging techniques that use ionizing radiation. Computed tomography (CT) and X-ray carry a stochastic lifetime risk of inducing malignancy. This risk is difficult to convey and often overlooked.

Objective:

This work aims to establish some basics regarding patient knowledge and perception of medical imaging to facilitate an informed consent process.

Method:

A questionnaire survey was conducted in a general orthopedic outpatient clinic in a United Kingdom tertiary center.

Results:

There were 219 respondents. Twenty-two percent understood that CT produces ionizing radiation associated with cancer risk, but only 6% knew about cancer risk from natural background radiation. Only 25% knew that CT has a higher cancer risk than X-ray. The majority (93%) knew that smoking poses higher risk than X-rays. The Internet as an information source was statistically associated with concern about X-rays.

Conclusions:

Patients underestimated CT cancer risk and were unable to compare risk between imaging modalities. Risk can be more effectively conveyed using better known relatable risks as comparators. Patient groups associated with lower knowledge, most in need of education, were highlighted.
Salivary Osmolality, Function, and Hydration Habits in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Mentes Janet C. , DeVost Michelle A. , Nandy Karabi
Published: February 2019

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hydration status as measured by salivary osmolality and personal hydration habits, selected demographic characteristics, and performance on a walking and balance test in older community-dwelling adults. This study used a descriptive observational design in a convenience sample of multiethnic, community-dwelling older adults ( N = 53). We collected saliva for analysis on 3 days both in the morning and early afternoon, along with a hydration habit questionnaire, get up and go test and demographic information. An exploratory factor analysis of the hydration habit questionnaire revealed a two-factor solution including physical barriers and psychological barriers to drinking fluids. A linear mixed-model approach revealed that time of day ( p < .01), race ( p = .015), mobility ( p < .01), and cognitive barriers ( p = .023) are all significant predictors of salivary osmolality among noninstitutionalized seniors. There is also a significant interaction between psychological barriers to drinking fluids and time of day ( p < .01). Average salivary osmolality was higher in this group of older adults than has been reported in younger adults. Controlling for all other variables, salivary osmolality is higher in the morning than in the afternoon, lower among Black or African American seniors than among White or Caucasian seniors, and higher among seniors with decreased mobility. An interaction between psychological barriers and salivary osmolality showed that those participants with more psychological barriers to drinking had higher salivary osmolality in the morning and an inverse relationship in the afternoon.
Firm Motivations for Shareholder Co-creation
Authors: Kennedy Eric L.
Published: February 2019

The present article, from corporate leader’s points of view, explores and provides a framework for the reasons a firm will engage and co-create with shareholders. Although the practice of firms engaging in value creation with shareholders takes place with regular occurrence, little is known about the motivations behind this co-creation. Gaining an understanding into this behaviour can benefit practitioners who wish to develop a value creation relationship with some of their shareholders. Therefore, reason for this undertaking is to develop a conceptual foundation to understand the relationships firms form with their shareholders, where co-creation of value is concerned. Five corporate leader interviews enlighten the research itinerary. The potential reasons for a firm to engage in the co-creation of organizational goals serve as broad themes by which the study is created, analysis is directed and arguments are formatted. The results of the informant interviews provide a cohesive foundation on which to further explore shareholder brand co-creation.
A Prospective Study on Hereditary Bias of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Gabriel Rami , Toledo-Corral Jaime , Kenney Maria Cristina , Mehta Mitul
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

This study employed a prospective survey to evaluate whether maternal family history or paternal family history is more likely to be found in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods:

Family history of AMD was ascertained through a survey questionnaire of 346 patients who were confirmed by an ophthalmologist to have AMD. To compare proportions of maternally and paternally transmitted disease, the data were treated as pair matched and analyzed using the modified chi-squared McNemar test. Probands with either parent deceased before age 60 were excluded. Further analysis was conducted by grouping wet-AMD and dry-AMD patients.

Results:

Of the 346 surveys conducted, 91 (26.3%) reported at least 1 parent affected with AMD. Probands were 65.9% women and 44.1% men. The mean ± SD age for men was 74.3 ± 6.3 years and for women 72.7 ± 7.7 years. The average age of proband fathers was 75.0 ± 6.9 years and of proband mothers 80.1 ± 6.0 years. Probands with AMD had a higher proportion of affected mothers than fathers with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.00 and a 95% CI of 1.73 to 5.44, P = .0001. For wet AMD, the OR was 4.0 (95% CI 1.46 to 13.6) and for dry AMD, the OR was 2.6 (95% CI 1.35 to 5.4).

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that individuals with maternal history of AMD may be at a significantly increased risk for developing AMD than if their father had the disease. Owing to limitations in sample size and discrepancies in lifespan between sexes, further studies will be needed to generalize results. The maternal proclivity in our study sample correlates with literature describing a mitochondrial component in the disease process, soliciting further exploration into mitochondrial etiology and larger hereditary studies.
A theoretical analysis of blade coating for third-grade fluid
Authors: Sajid M , Mughees M , Ali N , Shahzad H
Published: February 2019

In this article, coating process for a third-grade fluid using a simple fixed blade on a moving substrate is discussed. The analysis is carried out for both exponential (flexible blade) and plane (stiff blade) coaters. Coupled partial differential equations are simplified by applying the lubrication approximation theory and assuming that the coating layer thickness is much less than the blade length. The obtained system is normalized using suitable scales. A numerical solution of the governing boundary value problem is developed for various third-grade parameters. In addition, a perturbation solution is also obtained for small third-grade parameters. Interesting quantities such as pressure, pressure gradient, velocity, and load are computed and shown graphically and in tables. How the involved parameters influence the results is examined. The load on the blade is the most important physical quantity in the present work as it controls the coating thickness and quality. We found that the blade load increases as the third-grade material parameter [Formula: see text] increases.
The Value for Money Concept in Investment Evaluation: Deconstructing its Meaning for Better Decision Making
Authors: Barton Roy , Aibinu Ajibade A. , Oliveros Jose
Published: February 2019

The term “value for money” (VFM) is a poorly understood concept in practice. There is a lack of clarity in its application, especially in the distinction between “value” and “money” when assessing VFM in investment evaluation and decision making. This article clarifies the ambiguities in VFM by conceptually deconstructing its meaning using a “value triangle model” and, on that basis, we propose a six-step VFM assessment procedure, which has been tested during VFM workshops on infrastructure projects. Departing from the existing concept of value in value management and value engineering literature, the value triangle model rests on Daniel Bernoulli’s concept of value as captured in his famous quotation: “The value of an item must not be based upon its price but rather on the utility which it yields” (Bernoulli, 1954, p. 24). We deconstruct value into three components using everyday language: useful purpose, beneficial outcomes, and important features, making it applicable to any VFM decision context. By making a clear distinction between value and money and, by treating value and value for money as separate notions, greater clarity of VFM is provided, thus enabling more effective measurement in practice. Implications of the proposed deconstruction of VFM and the six-step procedure are discussed using stakeholder theory.
New insights into hematopoietic differentiation landscapes from single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Watcham Sam , Kucinski Iwo , Gottgens Berthold
Published: February 2019

Single-cell transcriptomics has recently emerged as a powerful tool to analyze cellular heterogeneity, discover new cell types, and infer putative differentiation routes. The technique has been rapidly embraced by the hematopoiesis research community, and like other technologies before, single-cell molecular profiling is widely expected to make important contributions to our understanding of the hematopoietic hierarchy. Much of this new interpretation relies on inference of the transcriptomic landscape as a representation of existing cellular states and associated transitions among them. Here we review how this model allows, under certain assumptions, charting of time-resolved differentiation trajectories with unparalleled resolution and how the landscape of multipotent cells may be rather devoid of discrete structures, challenging our preconceptions about stem and progenitor cell types and their organization. Finally, we highlight how promising technological advances may convert static differentiation landscapes into a dynamic cell flux model and thus provide a more holistic understanding of normal hematopoiesis and blood disorders.
Serum levels of TARC, MDC, IL-10, and soluble CD163 in Hodgkin lymphoma: a SWOG S0816 correlative study
Authors: Hsi Eric D. , Li Hongli , Nixon Andrew B. , Schöder Heiko , Bartlett Nancy L. , LeBlanc Michael , Smith Sonali , Kahl Brad S. , Leonard John P. , Evens Andrew M. , Scott David W. , Rimsza Lisa M. , Friedberg Jonathan W.
Published: February 2019

Serum soluble chemokines/cytokines produced by Hodgkin cells and the tumor microenvironment might be of value as biomarkers in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We assessed serum thymus and activation-related chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels at baseline, time of interim fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET), and after therapy in cHL patients treated on S0816, an intergroup phase 2 response-adapted study evaluating escalated therapy for interim PET (PET2)–positive patients (www.clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00822120). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status was assessed, and 559 serum samples were evaluated for TARC, MDC, IL-10, and sCD163 by immunoassay. EBV positivity correlated with higher sCD163 and IL-10 levels but lower TARC levels. While baseline biomarker levels were not associated with outcome, sCD163 levels at the time of PET2 were associated with favorable progression-free survival (PFS), adjusting for PET2 status. After therapy TARC, MDC, and IL-10 correlated with PFS and overall survival (OS) on univariable analysis, which remained significant adjusting for international prognostic score. When also adjusting for end-of-therapy PET results, TARC and IL-10 remained significantly associated with shorter PFS and OS. Exploratory analysis in PET2-negative patients showed that elevated posttherapy TARC and IL-10 levels were associated with PFS. Serum cytokine levels correlate with outcome in cHL and should be investigated further in risk-adapted cHL trials.
CXCL1 regulates neutrophil homeostasis in pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3
Authors: Paudel Sagar , Baral Pankaj , Ghimire Laxman , Bergeron Scott , Jin Liliang , DeCorte Joseph A. , Le John T. , Cai Shanshan , Jeyaseelan Samithamby
Published: February 2019

Neutrophil migration to the site of bacterial infection is a critical step in host defense. Exclusively produced in the bone marrow, neutrophil release into the blood is tightly controlled. Although the chemokine CXCL1 induces neutrophil influx during bacterial infections, its role in regulating neutrophil recruitment, granulopoiesis, and neutrophil mobilization in response to lung infection-induced sepsis is unclear. Here, we used a murine model of intrapulmonary Streptococcus pneumoniae infection to investigate the role of CXCL1 in host defense, granulopoiesis, and neutrophil mobilization. Our results demonstrate that CXCL1 augments neutrophil influx to control bacterial growth in the lungs, as well as bacterial dissemination, resulting in improved host survival. This was shown in Cxcl1−/− mice, which exhibited defective amplification of early neutrophil precursors in granulocytic compartments, and CD62L- and CD49d-dependent neutrophil release from the marrow. Administration of recombinant CXCL2 and CXCL5 after infection rescues the impairments in neutrophil-dependent host defense in Cxcl1−/− mice. Taken together, these findings identify CXCL1 as a central player in host defense, granulopoiesis, and mobilization of neutrophils during Gram-positive bacterial pneumonia-induced sepsis.