bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caring for stoma patients with arthritis and mental incapacities
Authors: Black Pat
Published: September 2015

Mental incapacities in the form of dementia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and the physical incapacities of arthritis are difficult hurdles for an older patient who has to undergo stoma surgery, irrespective of the stoma being temporary or permanent. The loss of intellectual and physical function can cause significant deterioration in the patient's ability to carry out day-to-day activities and can also manifest itself in changes in social behaviour. Caring for these patients in the community will require the nurse to adjust the patient's care accordingly, and provide a holistic and more individualised care package that includes the support of the carer or spouse. This article discusses the ways in which community nurses can help the older stoma patient and carer.
Reviewing education challenges and solutions for health professionals in community care
Authors: Kirk Mary
Published: September 2015

The biggest asset of the NHS is its staff. Health professionals working in the community are faced with a number of challenges to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills in their clinical practice. NHS England's Five Year Forward View describes the need for change, identifying the necessity to reshape care delivery, harnessing technology, and driving down variations in quality and safety of care. This article explores some of the challenges faced by community health-care providers and reviews possible solutions to meet community health-care needs for now as well as the future.
Wound healing and dressings: the role of RemendTM
Authors: O'Dwyer Louise
Published: September 2015

Wounds are commonly encountered within veterinary practice, and in order to deal with them effectively it is essential to have a good understanding of the wound healing process, which is often complex. A large number of wound dressings are available for the management of open wounds, but very few actually contain products which are naturally occurring in the wound itself. Hyaluronan is one such molecule; it is a disaccharide polymer and is found in variable lengths, depending on its location within the body. It gives structure to the wound during the inflammatory phase of wound healing, and also acts as a space-filler in granulation tissue, in addition to encouraging fibroblast migration and collagen production. Hyaluronan has been incorporated into a wound spray, Remend™, which has been developed to enhance wound healing, and to promote rapid wound closure in a variety of animal species.
A comparison of the v-gel® supraglottic airway device and non-cuffed endotracheal tube in the time to first capnograph trace during anaesthetic induction in rabbits
Authors: Richardson Deborah
Published: September 2015

Background:

Rabbit anaesthesia can be a daunting prospect for many veterinary professionals. Their intubation can be difficult; because of this many rabbits are not intubated during major surgery.

Aim:

To compare two methods of rabbit intubation and evaluate which achieved a reliable airway in the least time. This will in turn hopefully encourage veterinary nurses to take a more proactive role in rabbit anaesthesia.

Materials and methods:

Eight rabbits that were admitted for elective neutering were randomly assigned either an endotracheal tube or a v-gel®. Using capnography the ease and success rate of intubation was assessed.

Results:

The time taken to intubate a rabbit in the v-gel group was quicker than using an endotracheal tube.

Conclusion:

The v-gel proved to be a reliable method to intubate a rabbit, reducing the risk of trauma to the patient.
Hydrological Response Unit Analysis Using AVSWAT 2000 for Keuliling Reservoir Watershed, Aceh Province, Indonesia
Authors: Azmeri . , Yulianur Alfian , Rizalihadi Maimun , Bachtiar Shafur
Published: September 2015

Sediments deposition derived from the erosion in upstream areas can lead to river siltation or canals downstream irrigation. According to the complexity of erosion problem at Keuliling reservoir, it is essential that topography, hydrology, soil type and land use to be analyzed comprehensively. Software used to analyze is AVSWAT 2000 (Arc View Soil and Water Assessment Tools-2000), one of the additional tool of ArcView program. The results obtained are the watershed delineation map, soil type map to produce soil erodibility factor (K) which indicates the resistance of soil particles toward exfoliation, land use map to produce crop management factor (C) and soil conservation and its management factors (P). Hydrology analysis includes soil type, land use and utility for the erosion rate analysis through Hydrologic Response Unit (HRU). The biggest HRU value of sub-basin is on area 5 and the lowest one is on area 10. All four HRU in sub-basin area 5 are potentially donating high value for HRU. In short, this area has the longest slope length so that it has a large LS factor. About 50% of the land was covered by bushes which gain higher C factor rather than forest. Moreover, it has contour crop conservation technique with 9-20 % declivity resulting in having dominant factor of P. Soil type is dominated by Meucampli Formation which has soil erodibility factor with high level of vulnerable toward the rainfall kinetic energy. All in all, the vast majority of HRU parameters in this sub-basin area obtain the highest HRU value. Hydrology analysis, soil type, and use-land are useful for land area analysis that is susceptible to erosion which was identified through Hydrologic Response Unit (HRU) using GIS. As the matter of fact, spatially studies constructed with GIS can facilitate the agency to determine critical areas which are needed to be aware or fully rehabilitated.
Developing an Integrated Pest Management Program for Tomatoes in The Red River Delta of Vietnam: A mini review
Authors: Ha Tuan M.
Published: September 2015

Ecologically based approaches to pest management in crop production have been embraced in recent decades due to their validity and effectiveness. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is not a new concept. It has been adopted in various regions in Vietnam, particularly in tomato production, an economically important vegetable crop in the Red River Delta (RRD). Given the occurrence and development of tomato pests are influenced by many factors such as soil types, crop varieties and growth habits, production practices, local climatic conditions, and growing seasons, this paper therefore developed an IPM program for tomatoes in the RRD based on the defined major pests in the region. Detailed factsheets for six major pests were developed and different components of the IPM were explored and employed for the ease of identification and management. Practical suggestions for tomato growers were also presented.
An assessment of The Capacity Drops at The Bottleneck Segments: A review on the existing methodologies
Authors: Sugiarto Sugiarto , Lulusi . , Saleh Sofyan M.
Published: September 2015

The term of capacity is very useful to quantify the ability of transport facilities in terms of carrying traffic. The capacity of the road is an essential ingredient in the planning, design, and operation of roadways. It is desirable for traffic analyst to be able to predict the time and places where congestion will occur and the volumes to be expected. Most of urbanized areas have been experiencing of traffic congestion problems particularly at urban arterial systems. High traffic demand and limited supply of roadways are always the main factors produced traffic congestion. However, there are other sources of local and temporal congestion, such as uncontrolled access point, median opening and on-street parking activities, which are caused a reduction of roadway capacity during peak operations. Those locations could result in reduction of travel speed and road, as known as hidden bottlenecks. This is bottleneck which is without any changes in geometric of the segments. The Indonesian Highway Capacity Manual (IHCM, 1997) is used to assess urban arterial systems till current days. IHCM provides a static method for examining the capacityand does not systematically take into account of bottleneck activities. However, bottleneck activities create interruption smooth traffic flow along arterial streets, which in turns stimulate related problems, such as, excessive air pollution, additional energy consumption and driver’s frustration due to traffic jammed. This condition could happen simultaneously; mostly repetitive and predictable in same peak hour demands. Therefore, this paper carefully summarize on the existing methodologies considering required data, handled data processing and expected output of each proposed of analysis. We further notice that dynamic approach could be more appropriated for analyzing temporal congestion segments (median opening, on street parking, etc.). Method of oblique cumulative plot seems to be more applicable in terms of convenient, surveying tool and the accuracy of analysis. This method is easy to handle and powerful in identifying flow and speed fluctuations during breakdown occurs
Qualitative Exploration of Sexual Experiences Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Implications for Sex Education
Authors: Barnett Jessica Penwell , Maticka‐Tyndale Eleanor
Published: September 2015

CONTEXT

The increasing prevalence of autism since the 1990s has led to growing demand for sex education that meets the needs of persons on the autism spectrum. Yet there is a dearth of research documenting the firsthand experiences and perspectives of autistic individuals.

METHODS

A thematic analysis was conducted of in‐depth, Internet‐facilitated interviews with 24 adults on the autism spectrum who were recruited from Internet community spaces between November 2012 and May 2013. Inclusion criteria were self‐identification as a person on the autism spectrum, being a U.S. resident, being aged 18 or older, and having the ability to communicate orally or through writing.

RESULTS

Participants were aged 18–61 and were living in the community at the time of interview, most with limited extrafamilial support. They were less likely than the general population to be heterosexual or gender‐conforming and were more likely to have experienced romantic or sexual debut after age 18. Participants’ most common concerns were courtship difficulties and sensory dysregulation in the context of partnered sexuality. These concerns were exacerbated by inadequate and inappropriate sex education experiences. Participants addressed challenges by using sensory barriers (e.g., latex gloves); planning when and how to have sex; negotiating alternatives to sexual scripts predicated on nondisabled experience; and practicing explicit and intentional communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals on the autism spectrum would benefit from sex education that normalizes differences (e.g., in identities and experiences of sexuality), is offered throughout young adulthood, addresses disability‐relevant sensory and communication needs, and includes practicing neurotypical sociosexual norms.
Avian Podocytes, Which Lack Nephrin, Use Adherens Junction Proteins at Intercellular Junctions
Authors: Yaoita Eishin , Nishimura Hiroko , Nameta Masaaki , Yoshida Yutaka , Takimoto Hiroki , Fujinaka Hidehiko , Kawachi Hiroshi , Magdeldin Sameh , Zhang Ying , Xu Bo , Oyama Tomizo , Nakamura Fujio , Yamamoto Tadashi
Published: September 2015

Nephrin, a major intercellular junction (ICJ) molecule of mammalian podocytes in the renal glomerulus, is absent in the avian genome. We hypothesized that birds use ICJ molecules other than nephrin in their podocytes. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the possible involvement of adherens junction (AJ) proteins in the ICJs of avian podocytes. We found the AJ proteins N-cadherin and α- and β-catenins in podocytes of quail and chickens but not in those of rats, pigs or humans. The AJ proteins were prominent in avian glomerulus-rich fractions in immunoblot analyses, and in immunofluorescence microscopy analyses, they were localized along glomerular capillary walls appearing in at least two staining patterns: weakly diffuse and distinctly granular. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the significant accumulation of immunogold particles for the AJ proteins were especially evident in avian slit diaphragms and AJs. Furthermore, N-cadherin was found to be expressed in all nephron cells in the early developmental stage but became confined to podocytes during maturation. These results indicate that avian slit diaphragms clearly express AJ proteins as compared with that in the mammal—where AJ proteins are suppressed to an extremely low level—and that avian podocytes are interconnected by AJs per se in addition to slit diaphragms.
Mahatsak txerritzen
Authors: Aizpurua-Olaizola Oier , Vallejo Asier , Olivares Maitane , Navarro Patricia , Etxebarria Nestor , Usobiaga Aresatz
Published: September 2015

Janari lasterraren eta industrialki prozesatutako janariaren aroan bizi gara. Era berean, jaki hauek ekarri duten galera nutrizionala konpentsatzeko gehigarrien beharra geroz eta handiagoa da. Gehigarri horien artean hauexek ditugu: omega 3 gisako gantz azido asegabeak eta eragin antioxidatzailea duten polifenolak. Ildo honetatik, ardo hondakinak konposatu bioaktibo askoren iturri garrantzitsuak izan daitezke, sortzen den hondakin kopurua oso handia izateaz gain, bertan aurki daiteken gantz azido asegabeen eta polifenolen kontzentrazioa oso altua baita. Lan honetan ardo hondakinen balioa handitu ahal izateko bi urrats garrantzitsu gauzatu dira: osagai bioaktiboen erauzketa, eta polifenolen kasuan erraz degradatu daitezkeenez haien kapsularatzea. Konposatu bioaktiboak erauzteko bi urratseko jariakin gainkritiko bidezko erauzketa (SFE Supercritical Fluid Extraction) optimizatu da,eta ondorioz, lehen urratsean gantz azidoak soilik eta bigarren urratsean polifenolak soilik erauztea lortu dira. Kapsularatzeari dagokionez, zurrusta-bibrazio bidezko mikrokapsularatzea (VNM Vibration Nozzle Microencapsulation) erabili da 150 eta 300 µm-ko zurrustekin kaltzio-alginatozko eta kaltzio-alginato-kitosanezko tamaina ezberdinetako mikrokapsulak eratzeko. Prozesu horretan eragina duten aldagaiak optimizatu, kapsulak sortu eta haien egonkortasuna aztertu da 6 hilabetetan zehar hainbat kontserbazio baldintzatan (4°C-tara ilunpean eta giro tenperaturan ilunpean eta argipean). Kapsulatutako polifenolen egonkortasuna baldintza guztietan kapsulatu gabeena baino askoz ere handiagoa dela ikusi da.
Emigración y cuidados: ambigüedades, cambios y continuidades desde la perspectiva de las abuelas cuidadoras en Colombia
Authors: Bianchi-Pernasilici Gisela Marisa , Piras Gioia
Published: September 2015

En la actualidad, los aspectos relacionados con la organización de las tareas de cuidado de personas juegan un papel importante dentro del planteamiento y desarrollo de los viajes migratorios. Así, el objetivo de este artículo es llevar a cabo una aproximación a las experiencias vividas por las abuelas colombianas que se quedan al cuidado de sus nietos y nietas tras la emigración de los progenitores a España. A través de entrevistas semi-estructuradas realizadas en la región del Eje Cafetero en Colombia, nuestro objetivo es analizar el punto de vista de las abuelas en torno a la reorganización del cuidado a personas dependientes del hogar tras la emigración, haciendo hincapié en las emociones y sentimientos que la asunción del papel de cuidadora genera. Los resultados de nuestro estudio pretenden hacer una llamada de atención sobre los efectos emocionales que la migración familiar genera en las sociedades de origen, siendo éste un campo de investigación todavía poco explorado.
Monstrous Desires and Disinterested Appreciation: Architecture, Technique and Nature
Authors: Vela Castillo José
Published: September 2015

It seems that in the last decades architecture has finally become aware of the impact the demands of its construction and of its maintenance and operation have on the environment. The demands for architecture of being green or becoming ecological have been answered mostly through an enhanced use of technology, through a technical deployment of a multiplicity of systems and gadgets that try to achieve a better performance, or in other words, a better efficiency, but not by addressing the roots of the question. Henceforth, this increase in the use of technology is covering the fact that what architecture needs to do for being green is not to promote the use of technology, but to rethink its original relation with technique and nature. This paper will propose in the first place a brief survey of this original and tainted relation between architecture, technique and nature, to show how and why this relation was condemned since the beginning. Then, I will propose in the first place two strategies to fight this original misunderstanding: an architecture of visibility, which should be a critical one, and an architecture of gratuity, that should necessarily be a disinterested one. It will follow a review of some of the questions already mentioned with more detail, addressing the question of a necessary negotiation with nature, the issues posed by the rhetorical use of green technology, the demands of transparency and gratuity in architecture, the relations between physis and techne, and the important question of disinterest through the lens of Kantian aesthetics. In a final and short conclusion I will propose, instead of a technical substratum for the relations between architecture and nature, an aesthetical one, that can anticipate a relation between man and nature based in disinterest instead of extraction and domination.
CUT-UP CITY. El ready-made como experimento urbano. (www.cutupcity.com)
Authors: Navarro Jover Luis , Salcedo Sánchez Esteban , López Ujaque José Manuel , Blanes Pérez Eduardo , Lazcano López Jesús
Published: September 2015

CUT-UP es un término acuñado por el escritor estadounidense William S. Burroughs basado en la yuxtaposición de pasajes de las obras del propio autor y también de obras de otros escritores para luego volver a ensamblar los fragmentos de forma aleatoria generando sentidos y significados totalmente inéditos.Trasladado al campo de la arquitectura, el propósito de esta operación sería la de definir estrategias que, utilizando las formas existentes, consiguieran efectos completamente diferentes. Así, se puede decir que las nociones de originalidad e incluso de creación, tan presentes en nuestra cultura, se podrían entender de una manera mucho más libre y desprejuiciada.
STUDY OF L–H TRANSITION AND PEDESTAL WIDTH BASED ON TWO-FIELD BIFURCATION AND FIXED POINT CONCEPTS
Authors: Chatthong Boonyarit , Onjun Thawatchai
Published: September 2015

The L–H transition in magnetic confinement plasmas is investigated on the basis of concepts of two-field bifurcation and fixed-point stability. A set of heat and particle transport equations with both neoclassical and anomalous effects included is used to study ETB formation and also pedestal width and dynamics. It is found that plasmas can exhibit bifurcation where a sudden jump in the gradients can be achieved at the transition point corresponding to the critical flux. Furthermore, it is found that the transport barrier expands inward, whereby the radial growth of the pedestal initially appears to be superdiffusive but later slows down and stops. In addition, the time of barrier expansion is found to be much longer than the time that plasma takes to evolve from L-mode to H-mode. A sensitivity study is also performed, in which the barrier width is found to be sensitive to various parameters, e.g. heating, transport coefficients and suppression strength.
A SYSTEM AND A DEVICE FOR ISOLATING CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS FROM THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD IN VIVO
Authors: Mego Michal , Kocifaj Miroslav , Kundracik František
Published: September 2015

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) play a crucial role in disseminating tumors and in the metastatic cascade. CTCs are found only in small numbers, and the limited amount of isolated CTCs makes it impossible to characterize them closely. This paper presents a proposal for a new system for isolating CTCs from the peripheral blood in vivo. The system enables CTCs to be isolated from the whole blood volume for further research and applications. The proposed system consists of magnetic nanoparticles covered by monoclonal antibodies against a common epithelial antigen, large supermagnets, which are used to control the position of the nanoparticles within the human body, and a special wire made of a magnetic core wrapped in a non-magnetic shell. The system could be used not only for isolating CTCs, but also for in vivo isolation of other rare cells from the peripheral blood, including hematopoietic and/or mesenchymal stem cells, with applications in regenerative medicine and/or in stem cell transplantation.
PRODUCTION OF PROTOTYPE PARTS USING DIRECT METAL LASER SINTERING TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Sedlak Josef , Zemčík Oskar , Slaný Martin , Chladil Josef , Kouřil Karel , Sekerka Vít , Rozkošný Luboš
Published: September 2015

Unconventional methods of modern materials preparation include additive technologies which involve the sintering of powders of different chemical composition, granularity, physical, chemical and other utility properties. The technology called Rapid Prototyping, which uses different technological principles of producing components, belongs to this type of material preparation. The Rapid Prototyping technology facilities use photopolymers, thermoplastics, specially treated paper or metal powders. The advantage is the direct production of metal parts from input data and the fact that there is no need for the production of special tools (moulds, press tools, etc.). Unused powder from sintering technologies is re-used for production 98% of the time, which means that the process is economical, as well as ecological.The present paper discusses the technology of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), which falls into the group of additive technologies of Rapid Prototyping (RP). The major objective is a detailed description of DMLS, pointing out the benefits it offers and its application in practice. The practical part describes the production and provides an economic comparison of several prototype parts that were designed for testing in the automotive industry.
Dialog der Dichter
Authors: Schilling Erik
Published: September 2015

Eine (Liebes-)Beziehung mündet in einen poetischen Dialog: Stefan George und Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Lou Andreas-Salomé und Rainer Maria Rilke, Else Lasker-Schüler und Gottfried Benn, Ingeborg Bachmann und Paul Celan, Friederike Mayröcker und Ernst Jandl, Thomas Kling und Durs Grünbein sprechen in ihren Gedichten miteinander. Erik Schilling vollzieht diese Vertrautheit in Versen literaturwissenschaftlich nach und erschließt dabei Ambivalenzen von Lyrik als Form dichterischer Dialogizität.
Erwachsenenbildung als Diskurs
Authors: Rosenberg Hannah
Published: September 2015

Wie funktioniert die Disziplin »Erwachsenenbildung«? Und wie konstituiert sie ihren Gegenstand? Hannah Rosenberg rekonstruiert die Entstehung von »Erwachsenenbildung« im binnendisziplinären Diskurs über vier Dekaden, indem sie die bislang unabhängig voneinander existierenden Perspektiven der Wissenschafts- und der Diskursforschung systematisch miteinander verschränkt. Sie zeigt, wie durch Leerstellen und Wiederholungen Identitätsprobleme und Blockaden der Disziplin entstehen konnten. Zugleich verweist die Studie auf die Potenziale und damit auf Perspektiven für die weitere Reflexion und Entwicklung der Erwachsenenbildungswissenschaft.
Gebaute Landschaften
Authors: Klack Gunnar
Published: September 2015

Das Werk der Architekten Hermann Fehling und Daniel Gogel stellt aufgrund seines vielgestaltigen und expressiven Formenrepertoires einen Sonderfall der Architektur der Nachkriegsmoderne dar. Die hierfür herangezogene Bezeichnung »organische Architektur« wirft jedoch zunächst mehr Fragen auf, als dass sie eine Erklärung bietet: Mit welchen Vorstellungen von Natur und mit welchen Gestaltungsstrategien ist die organische Architektur verbunden? Für welche Inhalte ist diese Architektur symbolhaft? Mit seiner Auseinandersetzung mit Fehling + Gogel als Vertreter der »organischen Architektur« liefert Gunnar Klack einen Beitrag zur aktuellen Diskussion über den angemessenen Umgang mit dem kulturellen Erbe der Nachkriegsmoderne.
Der Männerroman
Authors: Knaup Anna Katharina
Published: September 2015

Männlichkeit ist ein modifizierbares Bündel kultureller Maximen, das immer mal wieder neu verhandelt wird. In der Gegenwartsliteratur hat die Beschäftigung mit dem, was derzeit als männlich gilt, dabei sogar zur Genese eines neuen Genres geführt: dem Männerroman. Seit Erscheinen von Tommy Jauds »Vollidiot« im Jahr 2004 ist er zum festen Bestandteil deutscher Bestsellerlisten geworden. In der Forschung wurde er bisher jedoch noch nicht beschrieben. Anna Katharina Knaup schließt diese Forschungslücke, indem sie etwa Abgrenzungen zum Pop- oder Frauenroman sucht und den literarischen Traditionen des Männerromans nachgeht. Es entsteht das reichhaltige Bild eines Genres, das sich (nicht nur) zwischen Ratgeber und Comedy bewegt.
The Umbral operator and the integration
involving generalized Bessel-type functions
Authors: Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Mondal Saiful Rahman , Agarwal Praveen , Al-Dhaifallah Mujahed
Published: September 2015

The main purpose of this paper is to introduce a class of new integrals involving generalized Bessel
functions and generalized Struve functions by using operational method and umbral formalization of Ramanujan
master theorem. Their connections with trigonometric functions with several distinct complex arguments are also
presented.
On the numerical solutions of some fractional ordinary differential equations by fractional Adams-Bashforth-Moulton method
Authors: Baskonus Haci Mehmet , Bulut Hasan
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we apply the Fractional Adams-Bashforth-Moulton Method for obtaining the numerical solutions of some linear and nonlinear fractional ordinary differential equations. Then, we construct a table including numerical results for both fractional differential equations. Then, we draw two dimensional surfaces of numerical solutions and analytical solutions by considering the suitable values of parameters. Finally, we use the L2 nodal norm and L∞ maximum nodal norm to evaluate the accuracy of method used in this paper.
Synthesis and crystal structures of extremely bulky phosphinoamido and phosphinoamino germanium(II) chloride complexes
Authors: Böttcher Tobias , Jones Cameron
Published: September 2015

Reaction of an extremely bulky potassium amide complex, KL
Stratified reference: the common core of distributivity, aspect, and measurement
Authors: Champollion Lucas
Published: September 2015

Why can I tell you that I
Safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of TV-1106, a long-acting GH treatment for GH deficiency
Authors: Cohen-Barak Orit , Sakov Anat , Rasamoelisolo Michele , Bassan Merav , Brown Kurt , Mendzelevski Boaz , Spiegelstein Ofer
Published: September 2015

Background

TV-1106 (Teva Pharmaceuticals) is a genetically fused recombinant protein of human GH (hGH) and human serum albumin, in development for treatment of GH deficiency (GHD). TV-1106 is expected to have an extended duration of action compared to daily GH treatment and may enable a reduction in the frequency of injections and improve compliance and quality of life for adults and children requiring GHD therapy.

Objective

To assess the safety, local tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TV-1106 following single s.c. injections in healthy male volunteers.

Methods

Subjects (n=56) were assigned to one of seven ascending dose groups (3–100 mg) and received either a single dose of TV-1106 (n=6) or placebo (n=2) by s.c. injection.

Results

Eighteen subjects reported 43 adverse effects (AEs), which were mild to moderate; no serious AEs (SAEs) occurred. In 50, 70 and 100 mg groups there were mild to moderate increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure that significantly correlated with higher levels of IGF1. TV-1106 showed pharmacokinetic characteristics of a long-acting hGH as demonstrated by a terminal elimination half-life of 23–35 h, delayed time of peak concentration, and systemic levels seen up to 7 days after dosing. IGF1 levels increased in a dose-dependent manner, before reaching a plateau, with levels above baseline extending beyond 7 days post dose.

Conclusion

Single administration of TV-1106 up to 100 mg was safe in healthy volunteers. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics support once-weekly administration in patients with GHD.
DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: On the need for national-, racial-, or ethnic-specific standards for the assessment of bone maturation
Authors: Hochberg Ze'ev
Published: September 2015

In an attempt to overcome ethnic and racial differences in skeletal maturation, the use of ethnic-specific standards has been suggested. Do we need such standards? Based on a fundamental understanding of phenotypic plasticity and an individual's ability to respond to environmental cues, the author argues that we do not need ethnic-specific standards for bone maturity. I suggest that we use a unified international standard of bone maturity for comparing the health, nutrition, and quality of life of all children, regardless of their race, nationality, and ethnicity.
Linking transcriptomics and proteomics in spermatogenesis
Authors: Chalmel Frédéric , Rolland Antoine D
Published: September 2015

Spermatogenesis is a complex and tightly regulated process leading to the continuous production of male gametes, the spermatozoa. This developmental process requires the sequential and coordinated expression of thousands of genes, including many that are testis-specific. The molecular networks underlying normal and pathological spermatogenesis have been widely investigated in recent decades, and many high-throughput expression studies have studied genes and proteins involved in male fertility. In this review, we focus on studies that have attempted to correlate transcription and translation during spermatogenesis by comparing the testicular transcriptome and proteome. We also discuss the recent development and use of new transcriptomic approaches that provide a better proxy for the proteome, from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Finally, we provide illustrations of how testis-derived transcriptomic and proteomic data can be integrated to address new questions and how the ‘proteomics informed by transcriptomics’ technique, by combining RNA-seq and MS-based proteomics, can contribute significantly to the discovery of new protein-coding genes or new protein isoforms expressed during spermatogenesis.
The Abundant Histone Chaperones Spt6 and FACT Collaborate to Assemble, Inspect, and Maintain Chromatin Structure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: McCullough Laura , Connell Zaily , Petersen Charisse , Formosa Tim
Published: September 2015

Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Spt6 protein is a conserved chromatin factor with several distinct functional domains, including a natively unstructured 30-residue N-terminal region that binds competitively with Spn1 or nucleosomes. To uncover physiological roles of these interactions, we isolated histone mutations that suppress defects caused by weakening Spt6:Spn1 binding with the spt6-F249K mutation. The strongest suppressor was H2A-N39K, which perturbs the point of contact between the two H2A-H2B dimers in an assembled nucleosome. Substantial suppression also was observed when the H2A-H2B interface with H3-H4 was altered, and many members of this class of mutations also suppressed a defect in another essential histone chaperone, FACT. Spt6 is best known as an H3-H4 chaperone, but we found that it binds with similar affinity to H2A-H2B or H3-H4. Like FACT, Spt6 is therefore capable of binding each of the individual components of a nucleosome, but unlike FACT, Spt6 did not produce endonuclease-sensitive reorganized nucleosomes and did not displace H2A-H2B dimers from nucleosomes. Spt6 and FACT therefore have distinct activities, but defects can be suppressed by overlapping histone mutations. We also found that Spt6 and FACT together are nearly as abundant as nucleosomes, with ∼24,000 Spt6 molecules, ∼42,000 FACT molecules, and ∼75,000 nucleosomes per cell. Histone mutations that destabilize interfaces within nucleosomes therefore reveal multiple spatial regions that have both common and distinct roles in the functions of these two essential and abundant histone chaperones. We discuss these observations in terms of different potential roles for chaperones in both promoting the assembly of nucleosomes and monitoring their quality.
Development of the Children With Disabilities Algorithm
Authors: Chien Alyna T. , Kuhlthau Karen A. , Toomey Sara L. , Quinn Jessica A. , Houtrow Amy J. , Kuo Dennis Z. , Okumura Megumi J. , Van Cleave Jeanne M. , Johnson Chelsea K. , Mahoney Lindsey L. , Martin Julia , Landrum Mary Beth , Schuster Mark A.
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND:

A major impediment to understanding quality of care for children with disabilities (CWD) is the lack of a method for identifying this group in claims databases. We developed the CWD algorithm (CWDA), which uses International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes to identify CWD.

METHODS:

We conducted a cross-sectional study that (1) ensured each of the 14 567 codes within the 2012 ICD-9-CM codebook was independently classified by 3 to 9 pediatricians based on the code’s likelihood of indicating CWD and (2) triangulated the resulting CWDA against parent and physician assessment of children’s disability status by using survey and chart abstraction, respectively. Eight fellowship-trained general pediatricians and 42 subspecialists from across the United States participated in the code classification. Parents of 128 children from a large, free-standing children’s hospital participated in the parent survey; charts of 336 children from the same hospital were included in the abstraction study.

RESULTS:

CWDA contains 669 ICD-9-CM codes classified as having a ≥75% likelihood of indicating CWD. Examples include 318.2 Profound intellectual disabilities and 780.72 Functional quadriplegia. CWDA sensitivity was 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.63–0.84) compared with parent report and 0.98 (0.95–0.99) compared with physician assessment; its specificity was 0.86 (0.72–0.95) and 0.50 (0.41–0.59), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

ICD-9-CM codes can be classified by their likelihood of indicating CWD. CWDA triangulates well with parent report and physician assessment of child disability status. CWDA is a new tool that can be used to assess care quality for CWD.
Chronic Pain Assessment Tools for Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kingsnorth Shauna , Orava Taryn , Provvidenza Christine , Adler Ellie , Ami Noam , Gresley-Jones Tessa , Mankad Deepali , Slonim Naomi , Fay Linda , Joachimides Nick , Hoffman Andrea , Hung Ryan , Fehlings Darcy
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Chronic pain in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is underrecognized, leading to detriments in their physical, social, and mental well-being. Our objective was to identify, describe, and critique pediatric chronic pain assessment tools and make recommendations for clinical use for children with CP. Secondly, develop an evidence-informed toolbox to support clinicians in the assessment of chronic pain in children with disabilities.

METHODS:

Ovid Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Embase databases were systematically searched by using key terms “chronic pain” and “clinical assessment tool” between January 2012 and July 2014. Tools from multiple pediatric health conditions were explored contingent on inclusion criteria: (1) children 1 to 18 years; (2) assessment focus on chronic pain; (3) psychometric properties reported; (4) written in English between 1980 and 2014. Pediatric chronic pain assessment tools were extracted and corresponding validation articles were sought for review. Detailed tool descriptions were composed and each tool underwent a formal critique of psychometric properties and clinical utility.

RESULTS:

Of the retrieved 2652 articles, 250 articles met eligibility, from which 52 chronic pain assessment tools were retrieved. A consensus among interprofessional working group members determined 7 chronic pain interference tools to be of importance. Not all tools have been validated with children with CP nor is there 1 tool to meet the needs of all children experiencing chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study has systematically reviewed and recommended, through expert consensus, valid and reliable chronic pain interference assessment tools for children with disabilities.
Preterm Infant Attendance at Health Supervision Visits
Authors: D’Agostino Jo Ann , Passarella Molly , Saynisch Philip , Martin Ashley E. , Macheras Michelle , Lorch Scott A.
Published: September 2015

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the adherence of premature infants with the American Academy of Pediatrics health supervision visit schedule, factors affecting adherence, and the association of adherence with preventive care.

METHODS:

Retrospective cohort of all infants ≤35 weeks’ gestation, born 2005 to 2009, receiving care at a 30-site primary care network for at least 24 months (n = 1854). Adherence was defined as having a health supervision visit within each expected time period during the first 18 months of life. Logistic regression identified sociodemographic and medical factors associated with nonadherence and risk-adjusted association between nonadherence and outcomes.

RESULTS:

Only 43% received all expected health supervision visits. Those with Medicaid insurance (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35–0.60), a visit without insurance (AOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.32–0.67), chronic illness (AOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.51–0.97), and black race (AOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.50–0.98) were less adherent, whereas provider continuity of care (AOR 2.89, 95% CI 1.92–4.37) and lower birth weight (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.02–2.73) increased adherence. Infants <100% adherent were less likely to be up to date with immunizations and receive recommended preventive care. In nearly half of missed visit windows, no health supervision visit was scheduled.

CONCLUSIONS:

Fewer than half of premature infants were fully adherent with the preventive health schedule with associated gaps in health monitoring and immunization delays. These data suggest the importance of health supervision visits and the need to explore scheduling facilitators for those at risk for nonadherence.
Bladder Function After Fetal Surgery for Myelomeningocele
Authors: Brock John W. , Carr Michael C. , Adzick N. Scott , Burrows Pamela K. , Thomas John C. , Thom Elizabeth A. , Howell Lori J. , Farrell Jody A. , Dabrowiak Mary E. , Farmer Diana L. , Cheng Earl Y. , Kropp Bradley P. , Caldamone Anthony A. , Bulas Dorothy I. , Tolivaisa Susan , Baskin Laurence S. ,   for the MOMS Investigators
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND:

A substudy of the Management of Myelomeningocele Study evaluating urological outcomes was conducted.

METHODS:

Pregnant women diagnosed with fetal myelomeningocele were randomly assigned to either prenatal or standard postnatal surgical repair. The substudy included patients randomly assigned after April 18, 2005. The primary outcome was defined in their children as death or the need for clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) by 30 months of age characterized by prespecified criteria. Secondary outcomes included bladder and kidney abnormalities observed by urodynamics and renal/bladder ultrasound at 12 and 30 months, which were analyzed as repeated measures.

RESULTS:

Of the 115 women enrolled in the substudy, the primary outcome occurred in 52% of children in the prenatal surgery group and 66% in the postnatal surgery group (relative risk [RR]: 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57–1.07). Actual rates of CIC use were 38% and 51% in the prenatal and postnatal surgery groups, respectively (RR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.48–1.12). Prenatal surgery resulted in less trabeculation (RR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.19–0.79) and fewer cases of open bladder neck on urodynamics (RR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.40–0.92) after adjustment by child’s gender and lesion level. The difference in trabeculation was confirmed by ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS:

Prenatal surgery did not significantly reduce the need for CIC by 30 months of age but was associated with less bladder trabeculation and open bladder neck. The implications of these findings are unclear now, but support the need for long-term urologic follow-up of patients with myelomeningocele regardless of type of surgical repair.
The Apgar Score
Authors:   AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN,   AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS COMMITTEE ON OBSTETRIC PRACTICE, Watterberg Kristi L. , Aucott Susan , Benitz William E. , Cummings James J. , Eichenwald Eric C. , Goldsmith Jay , Poindexter Brenda B. , Puopolo Karen , Stewart Dan L. , Wang Kasper S. , Ecker Jeffrey L. , Wax Joseph R. , Borders Ann Elizabeth Bryant , El-Sayed Yasser Yehia , Heine R. Phillips , Jamieson Denise J. , Mascola Maria Anne , Minkoff Howard L. , Stuebe Alison M. , Sumners James E. , Tuuli Methodius G. , Wharton Kurt R.
Published: September 2015

The Apgar score provides an accepted and convenient method for reporting the status of the newborn infant immediately after birth and the response to resuscitation if needed. The Apgar score alone cannot be considered as evidence of, or a consequence of, asphyxia; does not predict individual neonatal mortality or neurologic outcome; and should not be used for that purpose. An Apgar score assigned during resuscitation is not equivalent to a score assigned to a spontaneously breathing infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourage use of an expanded Apgar score reporting form that accounts for concurrent resuscitative interventions.
Temporal trends in nitrogen concentrations in Estonian rivers
Authors: Klõga Marija , Maharjan Bharat
Published: September 2015

The nutrient content in streams and rivers depend on many interacting processes such as hydro-geographical conditions and land use practices. The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of Estonian rivers and determine any trends in the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) between 1992 and 2013. This study involved 43 monitoring sites and 32 rivers in Estonia. The temporal trends were assessed using the partial Mann- Kendall (PMK) test, which was adapted to account for the influence of water discharge. Most of the studied streams and sites did not show any trend in nitrogen concentrations. The statistically significant downward trend in TN was identified at 13 monitoring stations and upward trend at four monitoring sites. The results for NO3-N showed a statistically significant downward trend at three sampling sites while the upward trend was found at nine monitoring stations, particularly at four sites located within the nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ). Overall, the increasing nitrate content in surface waters can most probably be attributed to the intensification of agricultural activities in rivers catchments during the last ten years. However, there are still many uncertainties in nutrient loss processes. Thus, the national monitoring programmes should be further developed.
Complement sensitivity and factor H binding of European Francisella tularensis ssp. holarctica strains in selected animal species
Authors: Kreizinger Zsuzsa , Bhide Mangesh , Bencurova Elena , Dolinska Saskia , Gyuranecz Miklós
Published: September 2015

Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium, the causative agent of the zoonotic disease tularaemia. The bacterium has developed several extracellular and intracellular strategies to evade the hosts’ innate and adaptive immune responses. The aims of the study were to examine complement sensitivity of wild and attenuated F. tularensis ssp. holarctica strains in animal hosts of distinct sensitivity to the bacterium, to compare the complement-evading ability of wild strains of different phylogeographic background, and to examine the role of factor H in the host–pathogen interactions. Complement sensitivity assays were carried out on various F. tularensis ssp. holarctica wild strains and on the attenuated live vaccine strain (LVS) with sera of the highly sensitive house mouse (Mus musculus), the moderately sensitive European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) and the relatively resistant cattle (Bos taurus). Specific binding of complement regulator factor H to bacterial membrane proteins was examined by Western blot assays. All wild strains interacted with the hosts’ complement system and showed no significant differences in their survivability. The attenuated LVS was resistant to serum killing in mouse, but was lysed in the sera of hare and cattle. Direct binding of factor H to F. tularensis membrane proteins was not detected.
Correlation between bull fertility and sperm cell velocity parameters generated by computer-assisted semen analysis
Authors: Nagy Ádám , Polichronopoulos Tassos , Gáspárdy András , Solti László , Cseh Sándor
Published: September 2015

Motility is one of the most important characteristics associated with the fertilising ability of spermatozoa indicating their viability and structural integrity. Therefore, the examination of motility constitutes an integral part of semen analysis. Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) allows an accurate and objective assessment of different sperm motion characteristics with high repeatability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different kinematic (velocity) parameters of frozen/thawed bull semen and determine if any of them could be correlated with their fertilising capability after insemination based on the achieved pregnancy rate. Ejaculates from 10 bulls were collected and frozen. The kinematic/velocity parameters of spermatozoa were measured by CASA and compared to the pregnancy results of almost 9,000 females artificially inseminated (AI) with frozen semen of any of the 10 tested bulls. The data of the experiments are summarised mainly with a focus on the effects of individual velocities (curvilinear velocity: VCL, straight-line velocity: VSL, average path velocity: VAP) on fertility rather than on the influence of progressive motility as a whole. We conclude that VAP is the most useful semen motility characteristic which has clinical relevance in the prediction of fertility.
Short-term effects of scaling and root planing with or without adjunctive use of an essential-oil-based mouthwash in the treatment of periodontal inflammation in smokers
Authors: Alshehri Mohammad , Alshail Faisal , Alqahtani Sami H. , Aloriny Tawfeeg Saleh , Alsharif Abdulhakim , Kujan Omar
Published: September 2015

Objective

The aim of the present short-term follow-up study was to assess the effects of scaling and root planing (SRP) with or without adjunctive use of an essential-oil-based mouthwash in the treatment of periodontal inflammation in smokers.

Methods

In total, 120 individuals were divided into 2 groups. In Group-1, 60 smokers with periodontal inflammation received SRP alone; and in Grou p-2, 60 smokers with periodontal inflammation received adjunct essential-oil mouthwash therapy. Periodontal parameters (plaque index [PI], bleedingon- probing [BOP], and probing pocket depth [PD] ≥ 4 mm) were assessed at baseline and after 90 days of treatment.

Results

There was no significant difference in periodontal parameters (PI, BOP, and PD ≥ 4 mm) among participants in Group-1 and -2. Participants in both groups showed significant reductions in PI (P < 0.01), BOP (P < 0.01), and PD ≥ 4 mm (P < 0.01) at follow-up compared to base line. At 90 days of follow-up, PI (P < 0.05), BOP (P < 0.05), and PD ≥ 4 mm (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in Group-1 compared to Group-2.

Conclusions

SRP with adjunct essential-oil mouthwash therapy is more effective in the treatment o f periodontal inflammation in smokers as compared to when SRP is performed alone.