bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Number series of atoms, interatomic bonds and interface bonds defining zinc-blende nanocrystals as function of size, shape and surface orientation: Analytic tools to interpret solid state spectroscopy data
Authors: König Dirk
Published: August 2016

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) experience stress and charge transfer by embedding materials or ligands and impurity atoms. In return, the environment of NCs experiences a NC stress response which may lead to matrix deformation and propagated strain. Up to now, there is no universal gauge to evaluate the stress impact on NCs and their response as a function of NC size dNC. I deduce geometrical number series as analytical tools to obtain the number of NC atoms NNC(dNC[i]), bonds between NC atoms Nbnd(dNC[i]) and interface bonds NIF(dNC[i]) for seven high symmetry zinc-blende (zb) NCs with low-index faceting: {001} cubes, {111} octahedra, {110} dodecahedra, {001}-{111} pyramids, {111} tetrahedra, {111}-{001} quatrodecahedra and {001}-{111} quadrodecahedra. The fundamental insights into NC structures revealed here allow for major advancements in data interpretation and understanding of zb- and diamond-lattice based nanomaterials. The analytical number series can serve as a standard procedure for stress evaluation in solid state spectroscopy due to their deterministic nature, easy use and general applicability over a wide range of spectroscopy methods as well as NC sizes, forms and materials.
Diurnal resting sites of the nocturnal dasyurid marsupial Sminthopsis douglasi in Bladensburg National Park, Queensland
Authors: Woolley P. A.
Published: August 2016

An attempt has been made to determine where Julia Creek dunnarts (Sminthopsis douglasi), small nocturnal dasyurid marsupials, rest during the day under differing seasonal conditions. A short-term study was carried out in Bladensburg National Park, near the southern edge of its known distribution on the Mitchell grass downs in Queensland. Radio-collared individuals were located in cracks and holes. None of the males and females (including one with young in the pouch) were found to use the same resting site over periods of up to nine days, suggesting that they may be nomadic. Climatic factors may have affected the size of the dunnart population over the course of the study.
Effects of land-use change and management on soil carbon and nitrogen in the Brigalow Belt, Australia: II. Statistical models to unravel the climate-soil-management interaction
Authors: Pringle M. J. , Allen D. E. , Orton T. G. , Bishop T. F. A. , Butler D. W. , Henry B. K. , Dalal R. C.
Published: August 2016

The impact of grazing on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles is complex, and across a large area it can be difficult to uncover the magnitude of the effects. Here, we have linked two common approaches to statistical modelling – regression trees and linear mixed models – in a novel way to explore various aspects of soil C and N dynamics for a large, semiarid bioregion where land use is dominated by grazing. The resulting models, which we term RT-LMM, have the pleasing visual appeal of regression trees, and they account for spatial autocorrelation as per a linear mixed model. Our RT-LMM were developed from explanatory variables that related information on climate, soil and past land management. Response variables of interest were: stocks of soil total organic carbon (TOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), and particulate organic C (POC); the ratio of TOC stock to TN stock; and the relative abundance of stable isotopes δ13C and δ15N in the soil. Each variable was sampled at the depth interval 0–0.3 m. The interactions of land use with, in particular, air temperature and soil phosphorus were strong, but three principal management-related effects emerged: (i) the use of fire to clear native vegetation reduced stocks of TOC and TN, and the TOC : TN ratio, by 25%, 19% and 9%, respectively, suggesting that TOC is more sensitive to fire than TN; (ii) conversion of native vegetation to pasture enriched soil with δ13C by 1.7 ‰; subsequent regrowth of the native vegetation among the pasture restored δ13C to its original level but there was no corresponding change in TOC stock; and, (iii) the time elapsed since clearing reduced POC stocks and the TOC : TN ratio.
RNF122 suppresses antiviral type I interferon production by targeting RIG-I CARDs to mediate RIG-I degradation
Authors: Wang Wendie , Jiang Minghong , Liu Shuo , Zhang Shikun , Liu Wei , Ma Yuanwu , Zhang Lianfeng , Zhang Jiyan , Cao Xuetao
Published: August 2016

Significance

Upon virus infection, host cells detect viral nucleic acids and initiate antiviral innate immune responses by producing type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines. As a cytoplasmic sensor for RNA viruses, retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-I) recognizes the pathogenic RNAs and activates downstream signaling for initiation of antiviral innate immunity. In this study, we identify RING finger protein 122 (RNF122) as an E3 ligase that directly binds to RIG-I to induce K48-linked ubiquitination of RIG-I and mediate RIG-I degradation, consequently suppressing RIG-I–triggered antiviral innate immune response. RNF122 expression is upregulated by innate stimuli, and then acts as a feedback-negative regulator of RIG-I signaling to restrain type I IFN overproduction. Our study adds insight into the role of E3 ligases in the control of antiviral innate immunity.
Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant
Authors: Xue Jinzhuang , Deng Zhenzhen , Huang Pu , Huang Kangjun , Benton Michael J. , Cui Ying , Wang Deming , Liu Jianbo , Shen Bing , Basinger James F. , Hao Shougang
Published: August 2016

Significance

The roots and rhizomes of early vascular plants, and their interactions with soils, are poorly documented. Here we report on the complex, belowground rhizome systems of an Early Devonian plant, and their contribution to the formation of the earliest record of rooted red-bed soils in Asia. Our specimens predate the earliest trees with deep roots from the Middle Devonian by 20 million years. We propose that plant rhizomes have long functioned in terrestrial ecosystems, playing important roles in shaping Earth’s environments by reducing soil erosion rates and thereby increasing the stability of land surface and resilience of plant communities.
No relative expansion of the number of prefrontal neurons in primate and human evolution
Authors: Gabi Mariana , Neves Kleber , Masseron Carolinne , Ribeiro Pedro F. M. , Ventura-Antunes Lissa , Torres Laila , Mota Bruno , Kaas Jon H. , Herculano-Houzel Suzana
Published: August 2016

Significance

Human brain evolution is often considered synonymous with cortical expansion, in particular of the prefrontal cortex, a cortical region required for our remarkable cognitive abilities such as personality expression, planning, and decision making. In this study, we show that the expansion of numbers of cortical neurons in human and nonhuman primate evolution occurred in a similar manner across the cortex, without an increase in the relative number of neurons in the prefrontal region, and without a relative increase in the number of cells in the prefrontal white matter. One thing that distinguishes the human brain from other primate brains is thus not the relative size of its prefrontal cortex but its absolute number of neurons.
Functional neuroanatomy of intuitive physical inference
Authors: Fischer Jason , Mikhael John G. , Tenenbaum Joshua B. , Kanwisher Nancy
Published: August 2016

Significance

Perceiving the physical structure of the world and predicting how physical events will unfold over time are central to our daily lives. Recent behavioral and computational research has suggested that our physical intuitions may be supported by a “physics engine” in the brain akin to the physical simulation engines built into video games. However, to date, there has been almost no investigation of the brain areas involved in intuitive physical inference. Here, using fMRI, we show that a variety of physical inference tasks as well as simply viewing physically rich scenes engage a common brain network in frontal and parietal cortices. These findings open the door to the cognitive neuroscientific study of physical inference in the human brain.
Xkr8 phospholipid scrambling complex in apoptotic phosphatidylserine exposure
Authors: Suzuki Jun , Imanishi Eiichi , Nagata Shigekazu
Published: August 2016

Significance

In healthy cells, phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) is exclusively localized at inner leaflets of plasma membranes. When cells undergo apoptosis, caspases cleave a membrane protein, XK-related protein (Xkr) 8, at the C terminus, and the cleaved Xkr8 supports scrambling of phospholipids between inner and outer leaflets of plasma membranes. The PtdSer, thus exposed to the cell surface, is recognized by macrophages as an “eat me” signal for engulfment of dead cells. We report that Xkr8 is present as a complex with basigin or neuroplastin that work as a chaperone to localize Xkr8 at plasma membranes. When Xkr8 is cleaved by caspase, the complex undergoes a higher-order structure. These results will contribute to our understanding of how the Xkr8 scrambles phospholipids when cells undergo apoptosis.
Spawning and Hatching of Endangered Gila Chub in Captivity
Authors: Schultz Andrew A , Bonar Scott A
Published: August 2016

Information on reproductive characteristics of the endangered Gila Chub Gila intermedia is largely limited and qualitative, and culture techniques and requirements are virtually unknown. Here we provide the first published data on spawning and selected reproductive and developmental characteristics of Gila Chub. Fish were brought to the laboratory in March 2003 from Sabino Creek, Arizona (12.3°C). Fish were then warmed slowly and spawned at 14.9°C, 10 d after collection. Following this initial spawning, Gila Chub spawned consistently in the laboratory without hormonal, chemical, photoperiod, temperature, or substrate manipulation during all times of the year. Spawns were noted at temperatures ranging from about 15°C to 26°C; however, we noted that Gila Chub spawned less frequently at temperatures above 24°C. Multiple spawning attempts per year per individual are probable. There was a strong, inverse relationship between time to hatch and incubation temperature. The hatch rate of eggs was high (mean = 99.43%), and larval Gila Chub accepted a variety of natural and formulated diets at first feeding. The future of Gila Chub may someday depend in part on hatchery propagation to provide specimens for restocking formerly occupied habitats and establishing refuge populations. Information from our study can aid future efforts to successfully spawn and rear Gila Chub and related species.
Enhancement of helium exhaust by resonant magnetic perturbation fields at LHD and TEXTOR
Authors: Schmitz O. , Ida K. , Kobayashi M. , Bader A. , Brezinsek S. , Evans T.E. , Funaba H. , Goto M. , Mitarai O. , Morisaki T. , Motojima G. , Nakamura Y. , Narushima Y. , Nicolai D. , Samm U. , Tanaka H. , Yamada H. , Yoshinuma M. , Xu Y.
Published: August 2016

The ability to exhaust helium as the fusion born plasma impurity is a critical requirement for burning plasmas. We demonstrate in this paper that resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) fields can be used to actively manipulate helium exhaust characteristics. We present results from puff/pump studies at TEXTOR as example for a tokamak with a pumped limiter and from the Large Helical Device (LHD) with the closed helical divertor as example for a heliotron/stellarator device. For LHD, the effective helium confinement time

τ

p
,

H
e

∗

is a factor of 7–8 higher in the low and high density regimes explored when compared to TEXTOR discharges. This is attributed to ion root impurity transport which is one particular impurity transport regime assessed experimentally at LHD and which facilitates helium penetration to the plasma core. However, when an edge magnetic island is induced by externally applied RMP fields,

τ

p
,

H
e

∗

is decreased by up to

30
%

and hence

τ

p
,

H
e

∗

values closer to those of TEXTOR can be established. The combination of TEXTOR and LHD results suggest that a magnetic island induced by the RMP field in the plasma source region is an important ingredient for improving helium exhaust. The reduction in

τ

p
,

H
e

∗

seen is caused by a combination of improved helium exhaust due to an enhanced coupling to the pumping systems, increased outward transport and a reduced fueling efficiency for the helium injected and recycling from the wall elements.
Care Transitions, Patient Health, and System Performance in the United States
Authors: Simmons June , Atkins Sandy , Lynch Schuster Janice , Jones Melissa
Published: August 2016

Transitions in care occur when a patient moves from an institutional setting, such as a hospital or nursing home, to home or community, often with the hope or expectation of improving health status. At the very least, patients, clinicians, and caregivers aim to achieve stability and avoid complications that would precipitate a return to the emergency department (ED) or hospital. For some groups of vulnerable people, especially the very old and frail, such transitions often require specific, targeted coaching and supports that enable them to make the change successfully. Too often, as research indicates, these transitions are poorly executed and trigger a cycle of hospital readmissions and worsening health, even death. In recognizing these perils, organizations have begun to see that by improving the care transition process, they can improve health outcomes and reduce costs while ensuring safety, consistency, and continuity. While some of this improvement relies on medical care, coaching, social services and supports are often also essential. Lack of timely medical follow-up, transportation, inadequate nutrition, medication issues, low health literacy, and poverty present barriers to optimal health outcomes. By addressing social and environmental determinants of health and chronic disease self-management, social workers who make home visits or other proven timely interventions to assess and coach patients and their caregivers are demonstrating real results. This article describes care transitions interventions, research into barriers and opportunities, and specific programs aimed at improvement.
Group Work with School-Aged Children
Authors: LeCroy Craig Winston , McCullough Cosgrove Jenny
Published: August 2016

Research has shown groups are an efficient and effective modality for interventions with school-aged children. Psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic groups are frequently used to guide children in areas such as skills training, emotional regulation, violence prevention, and grief. There are key developmental questions to consider when working with children that take into consideration factors such as cognitive development and emotional maturity. Overall, groups can be an efficient and effective intervention in the school setting for use by school social workers.
Cultural Competence and Critical Consciousness in Social Work Pedagogy
Authors: Pitner Ronald , Sakamoto Izumi
Published: August 2016

For social workers, developing cultural competence is a necessary hallmark for interacting with our increasingly diverse and complex world. Developing cultural competence, however, requires continuously raising one’s level of critical consciousness. Critical consciousness and related concepts such as reflexivity, critical self-reflection, and critical self-awareness are widely recognized as a fundamental building block of human service practice, including social work practice. However, the dynamics involved in raising our own levels of critical consciousness are lengthy and messy because we often encounter cognitive and affective roadblocks. Thus, there is no single pedagogical strategy that could help all social work students effectively engage with this process. In this article the concept of critical consciousness postulated by Pitner and Sakamoto is applied specifically to the social work classroom setting. Their Critical Consciousness Conceptual Model (CCCM), which describes the process of developing critical consciousness by engaging one’s cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains, is presented. How this model can be incorporated as a pedagogical tool to help social work students develop and further strengthen their own levels of critical consciousness in the classroom setting is discussed, as are various pedagogical methods, including classroom debate, identity paper assignment, “creating a world map” exercise, and mindfulness-based pedagogy. Finally, implications for social work education are explored.
MR perfusion-weighted imaging in the evaluation of high-grade gliomas after treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Patel Praneil , Baradaran Hediyeh , Delgado Diana , Askin Gulce , Christos Paul , John Tsiouris Apostolos , Gupta Ajay
Published: August 2016

Background.

Distinction between tumor and treatment related changes is crucial for clinical management of patients with high-grade gliomas. Our purpose was to evaluate whether dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) metrics can effectively differentiate between recurrent tumor and posttreatment changes within the enhancing signal abnormality on conventional MRI.

Methods.

A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies evaluating PWI-based differentiation of recurrent tumor and posttreatment changes in patients with high-grade gliomas (World Health Organization grades III and IV). Only studies published in the “temozolomide era” beginning in 2005 were included. Summary estimates of diagnostic accuracy were obtained by using a random-effects model.

Results.

Of 1581 abstracts screened, 28 articles were included. The pooled sensitivities and specificities of each study's best performing parameter were 90% and 88% (95% CI: 0.85–0.94; 0.83–0.92) and 89% and 85% (95% CI: 0.78–0.96; 0.77–0.91) for DSC and DCE, respectively. The pooled sensitivities and specificities for detecting tumor recurrence using the 2 most commonly evaluated parameters, mean relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) (threshold range, 0.9–2.15) and maximum rCBV (threshold range, 1.49–3.1), were 88% and 88% (95% CI: 0.81–0.94; 0.78–0.95) and 93% and 76% (95% CI: 0.86–0.98; 0.66–0.85), respectively.

Conclusions.

PWI-derived thresholds separating viable tumor from treatment changes demonstrate relatively good accuracy in individual studies. However, because of significant variability in optimal reported thresholds and other limitations in the existing body of literature, further investigation and standardization is needed before implementing any particular quantitative PWI strategy across institutions.
Promiscuous Pathogenicity Islands and Phylogeny of Pathogenic Streptomyces spp.
Authors: Zhang Yucheng , Bignell Dawn R. D. , Zuo Ran , Fan Qiurong , Huguet-Tapia Jose C. , Ding Yousong , Loria Rosemary
Published: August 2016

Approximately 10 Streptomyces species cause disease on underground plant structures. The most economically important of these is potato scab, and the most studied of these pathogens is Streptomyces scabiei (syn. S. scabies). The main pathogenicity determinant of scab-causing Streptomyces species is a nitrated diketopiperazine, known as thaxtomin A (ThxA). In the pathogenic species Streptomyces turgidiscabies, ThxA biosynthetic genes reside on a mobile pathogenicity island (PAI). However, the mobilization of PAIs in other Streptomyces species remains uncharacterized. Here, we investigated the mobilization of the PAI of S. scabiei 87-22. Based on whole genome sequences, we inferred the evolutionary relationships of pathogenic Streptomyces species and discovered that Streptomyces sp. strain 96-12, a novel pathogenic species isolated from potatoes in Egypt, was phylogenetically grouped with nonpathogenic species rather than with known pathogenic species. We also found that Streptomyces sp. strain 96-12 contains a PAI that is almost identical to the PAI in S. scabiei 87-22, despite significant differences in their genome sequences. This suggested direct or indirect in vivo mobilization of the PAI between S. scabiei and nonpathogenic Streptomyces species. To test whether the S. scabiei 87-22 PAI could, indeed, be mobilized, S. scabiei 87-22 deletion mutants containing antibiotic resistance markers in the PAI were mated with Streptomyces diastatochromogenes, a nonpathogenic species. The PAI of S. scabiei was site-specifically inserted into the aviX1 gene of S. diastatochromogenes and conferred pathogenicity in radish seedling assays. Our results demonstrated that S. scabiei, the earliest described Streptomyces pathogen, could be the source of a PAI responsible for the emergence of novel pathogenic species.
Effectors from Wheat Rust Fungi Suppress Multiple Plant Defense Responses
Authors: Ramachandran Sowmya R. , Yin Chuntao , Kud Joanna , Tanaka Kiwamu , Mahoney Aaron K. , Xiao Fangming , Hulbert Scot H.
Published: August 2016

Fungi that cause cereal rust diseases (genus Puccinia) are important pathogens of wheat globally. Upon infection, the fungus secretes a number of effector proteins. Although a large repository of putative effectors has been predicted using bioinformatic pipelines, the lack of available high-throughput effector screening systems has limited functional studies on these proteins. In this study, we mined the available transcriptomes of Puccinia graminis and P. striiformis to look for potential effectors that suppress host hypersensitive response (HR). Twenty small (<300 amino acids), secreted proteins, with no predicted functions were selected for the HR suppression assay using Nicotiana benthamiana, in which each of the proteins were transiently expressed and evaluated for their ability to suppress HR caused by four cytotoxic effector‐R gene combinations (Cp/Rx, ATR13/RPP13, Rpt2/RPS‐2, and GPA/RBP‐1) and one mutated R gene—Pto(Y207D). Nine out of twenty proteins, designated Shr1 to Shr9 (suppressors of hypersensitive response), were found to suppress HR in N. benthamiana. These effectors varied in the effector-R gene defenses they suppressed, indicating these pathogens can interfere with a variety of host defense pathways. In addition to HR suppression, effector Shr7 also suppressed PAMP-triggered immune response triggered by flg22. Finally, delivery of Shr7 through Pseudomonas fluorescens EtHAn suppressed nonspecific HR induced by Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 in wheat, confirming its activity in a homologous system. Overall, this study provides the first evidence for the presence of effectors in Puccinia species suppressing multiple plant defense responses.
An unusual cause of hoarseness and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy
Authors: Truong Phat , Dickerson Lisa
Published: August 2016

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and thyroid disease suggest locally invasive thyroid malignancy. In contrast, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy caused by benign multinodular goiters or ectopic thyroid tissue accounts for only 1% of cases. This article describes an unusual case of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy secondary to a benign ectopic retrosternal thyroid tissue mass. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with progressive voice weakness and hoarseness.
Update on pediatric oral healthcare
Authors: Rizzolo Denise , Bowser Jonathan
Published: August 2016

As part of the patient-centered medical home, clinicians are being asked to apply fluoride varnish and perform oral examinations in children. This article reviews the latest national recommendations for fluoride varnish use to prevent dental caries.
HIV testing at a community health center before and after implementing universal screening
Authors: Kayingo Gerald , Bruce Robert Douglas
Published: August 2016

This study analyzed the quality of HIV screening at one of the largest community health centers in Connecticut. The data indicated that implementing universal HIV screening increased the proportion of underrepresented minorities and women tested, reducing the HIV testing disparities that previously existed at this center.
Order up! Understanding the school nurse's role
Authors: Ensz Catherine E.F.
Published: August 2016

These healthcare professionals are responsible for obtaining adequate and appropriate medical orders for students in the school setting and ensuring that they're correctly followed.
The Community Mentorship Program: Providing Community-Engagement Opportunities for Early-Stage Clinical and Translational Scientists to Facilitate Research Translation
Authors: Patino Cecilia M. , Kubicek Katrina , Robles Marisela , Kiger Holly , Dzekov Jeanne
Published: August 2016

Problem

A goal of the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC-CTSI) at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is to train early-stage clinical and translational scientists (CTSs) to conduct research that improves the health of diverse communities. This goal aligns well with the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations emphasizing community engagement in biomedical research that facilitates research translation. The Community Mentorship Program (CMP), created to complement community-engaged research didactics, matches CTSs with community mentors who help them identify and complete community-engaged experiences that inform their research.

Approach

The CMP was piloted in 2013–2015 by the SC-CTSI Workforce Development and Community Engagement cores. The CMP team matched three CTSs (assistant professors pursuing mentored career development awards) with mentors at community-based organizations (CBOs) aligned with their research interests. Each mentor–mentee pair signed a memorandum of understanding. The CMP team checked in regularly, monitoring progress and addressing challenges in CTSs’ completion of their community-engaged experience.

Outcomes

Each pair completed at least one community-engaged activity informing the CTS’s research. In exit interviews, the CTSs and CBO mentors expressed satisfaction with the program and stated that they would continue to work together. The CTSs reported that the program provided opportunities to develop networks outside academia, build trust within the community, and receive feedback and learn from individuals in communities affected by their research.

Next Steps

The CMP will be expanded to include all eligible early-career CTSs and promoted for use in similar settings outside the SC-CTSI.
Immediate Versus Delayed Computerized Brief Intervention for Illicit Drug Misuse
Authors: Gryczynski Jan , O’Grady Kevin E. , Mitchell Shannon Gwin , Ondersma Steven J. , Schwartz Robert P.
Published: August 2016

Objective:

Computerized brief interventions are a promising approach for integrating substance use interventions into primary care settings. We sought to examine the effectiveness of a computerized brief intervention for illicit drug misuse, which prior research showed performed no worse than a traditional in-person brief intervention.

Methods:

Community health center patients were screened for eligibility using the World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Participants were adult patients (aged 18–62 years; 53% female) with moderate-risk illicit drug use (N = 80), randomized to receive the computerized brief intervention either immediately or at their 3-month follow-up. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, and 6-month follow-up, and included the ASSIST and drug hair testing.

Results:

Most participants in the sample (90%) reported moderate-risk marijuana use. Although the sample as a whole reported significant decreases in ASSIST Global Drug Risk scores and ASSIST marijuana-specific scores, no significant differences were detected between “immediate” and “delayed” conditions on either of these measures. Likewise, no significant differences were detected between conditions in drug-positive hair test results at either follow-up.

Conclusions:

This study did not find differences between immediate versus delayed computerized brief intervention in reducing drug use or associated risks, suggesting potential regression to the mean or reactivity to the consent, screening, or assessment process. The findings are discussed in light of the study's limitations and directions for future research.
Contribution of the Suppressor of Variegation 3-9 Homolog 1 in Dorsal Root Ganglia and Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn to Nerve Injury–induced Nociceptive Hypersensitivity
Authors: Zhang Jun , Liang Lingli , Miao Xuerong , Wu Shaogen , Cao Jing , Tao Bo , Mao Qingxiang , Mo Kai , Xiong Ming , Lutz Brianna Marie , Bekker Alex , Tao Yuan-Xiang
Published: August 2016

Background

Peripheral nerve injury–induced gene alterations in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord likely participate in neuropathic pain genesis. Histone methylation gates gene expression. Whether the suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1), a histone methyltransferase, contributes to nerve injury–induced nociceptive hypersensitivity is unknown.

Methods

Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blot analysis, or immunohistochemistry were carried out to examine the expression of SUV39H1 mRNA and protein in rat DRG and dorsal horn and its colocalization with DRG μ-opioid receptor (MOR). The effects of a SUV39H1 inhibitor (chaetocin) or SUV39H1 siRNA on fifth lumbar spinal nerve ligation (SNL)–induced DRG MOR down-regulation and nociceptive hypersensitivity were examined.

Results

SUV39H1 was detected in neuronal nuclei of the DRG and dorsal horn. It was distributed predominantly in small DRG neurons, in which it coexpressed with MOR. The level of SUV39H1 protein in both injured DRG and ipsilateral fifth lumbar dorsal horn was time dependently increased after SNL. SNL also produced an increase in the amount of SUV39H1 mRNA in the injured DRG (n = 6/time point). Intrathecal chaetocin or SUV39H1 siRNA as well as DRG or intraspinal microinjection of SUV39H1 siRNA impaired SNL-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia (n = 5/group/treatment). DRG microinjection of SUV39H1 siRNA also restored SNL-induced DRG MOR down-regulation (n = 6/group).

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that SUV39H1 contributes to nerve injury–induced allodynia and hyperalgesia through gating MOR expression in the injured DRG. SUV39H1 may be a potential target for the therapeutic treatment of nerve injury–induced nociceptive hypersensitivity.
Marginalization
Authors: Hall Joanne M. , Carlson Kelly
Published: August 2016

In 1994, the concept of marginalization was explored in an article inAdvances in Nursing Science. This is a revisitation of the concept incorporating new scholarship. This update is founded on feminism, postcolonialism, critical race theory, and discourse deconstruction, all viewpoints that have been explicated in nursing. The purpose of this analysis is to look at new scholarship and concepts useful to applying marginalization in nursing knowledge development from the standpoint of Bourdieu's macro, meso, and micro levels. New scholarship includes globalization, intersectionality, privilege, microaggressions, and implicit bias. Implications for decreasing health disparities through this new scholarship are discussed.
Teen Mothers' Experience of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Bekaert Sarah , SmithBattle Lee
Published: August 2016

Pregnant and parenting teens suffer higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) than older mothers. This qualitative metasynthesis explores teen mothers' experience with IPV during pregnancy and postpartum. Organized by the metaphor of a web, findings highlight how pervasive violence during childhood contributes to teen pregnancy and the risk of IPV as violence is normalized. The web constricts through the partner's control as violence emerges or worsens with pregnancy. Young mothers become increasingly isolated, and live with the physical and psychological consequences of IPV. Trauma-informed nursing practice is needed to support teen mothers in violent intimate relationships to spin a new web.
Internet Recruitment of Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Im Eun-Ok , Lee Yaelim , Ji Xiaopeng , Zhang Jingwen , Kim Sangmi , Chee Eunice , Chee Wonshik , Tsai Hsiu-Min , Nishigaki Masakazu , Yeo Seon Ae , Shapira Marilyn M. , Mao Jun James
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this article is to identify practical issues in Internet recruitment of racial/ethnic minorities by analyzing an Internet intervention study conducted with Asian American breast cancer survivors, and to propose directions for recruitment of racial/ethnic minorities for future Internet research. Six practical issues were identified: (a) a relatively fewer number of Internet communities/groups; (b) hindrances in establishing authenticity; (c) difficulties in gaining entrée from the webmasters or Web site owners of Internet communities/groups; (d) the necessity of racially/ethnically matched research team members; (e) flexibility required in recruitment strategies; and (f) strategies to overcome the low response rate.
Clinical Growth
Authors: Barkimer Jessica
Published: August 2016

Clinical growth is an essential component of nursing education, although challenging to evaluate. Considering the paradigm shift toward constructivism and student-centered learning, clinical growth requires an examination within contemporary practices. A concept analysis of clinical growth in nursing education produced defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences. Attributes included higher-level thinking, socialization, skill development, self-reflection, self-investment, interpersonal communication, and linking theory to practice. Identification of critical attributes allows educators to adapt to student-centered learning in the clinical environment. These findings allow educators to determine significant research questions, develop situation-specific theories, and identify strategies to enhance student learning in the clinical environment.
Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Nonmyelopathic and Myelopathic Spondylotic Cervical Cord Compression
Authors: Kovalova Ivana , Kerkovsky Milos , Kadanka Zdenek , Kadanka Zdenek , Nemec Martin , Jurova Barbora , Dusek Ladislav , Jarkovsky Jiri , Bednarik Josef
Published: August 2016

Study Design.

Cross-sectional population-based observational study.

Objective.

To estimate the prevalence of nonmyelopathic spondylotic cervical cord compression (NMSCCC) and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in a population older than 40 years and to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of these conditions.

Summary of Background Data.

The prevalence of neither NMSCCC nor CSM is known and there exists no commonly accepted quantitative MRI definition of cervical cord compression.

Methods.

A group of 183 randomly recruited volunteers, 93 women, median age 66 years, range 40–80 years, underwent MRI examination of the cervical spine and spinal cord on a 1.5 T device using conventional sequences from disc levels C2/C3 to C6/C7. The imaging criterion for cervical cord compression was defined as a change in spinal cord contour at the level of an intervertebral disc on axial or sagittal MRI scan.

Results.

MRI signs of cervical cord compression were found in 108 individuals (59.0%; 95% CI: 51.5%–66.2%); their numbers increased with age from 31.6% in the fifth decade to 66.8% in the eighth. Clinical signs of symptomatic CSM were found in two cases (1.1%), and 75 cases (41.0%) were without compression. An anteroposterior cervical canal diameter at the level of intervertebral disc (CDdisc) of less than 9.9 mm was associated with the highest probability of NMSCCC—odds ratio (OR) = 32.5, followed by a compression ratio of ≤0.5: OR = 11.1.

Conclusion.

The prevalence of NMSCCC in a population older than 40 years is higher than previously reported and increases with age. CDdisc and compression ratio had the highest capacity to discriminate between subjects with and without asymptomatic compression, and their cut-off values could be used to objectify criteria for cervical cord compression.

Level of Evidence: 2
The Impact of Interventions to Improve Sleep on Delirium in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Research Framework*
Authors: Flannery Alexander H. , Oyler Douglas R. , Weinhouse Gerald L.
Published: August 2016

Objective :

This study aimed to assess whether interventions targeted at improving sleep in the ICU were associated with reductions in ICU delirium. Secondary outcomes include duration of delirium and ICU length of stay.

Data Sources:

MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, WorldCat, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched from inception to January 2016.

Study Selection:

Studies investigating any type of sleep intervention (nonpharmacologic or pharmacologic) and assessing the impact on ICU delirium were included. Any type of study design was permitted so long as the delirium assessment was made at least daily with a validated delirium assessment tool.

Data Extraction:

The following data were extracted: first author, year of publication, study design, ICU type, components of sleep intervention, use of sleep assessment tool, patient age, sex, severity of illness, sleep measures, delirium assessment tool, incidence of delirium, duration of delirium, and ICU length of stay. The incidence of delirium was used to compare rates of ICU delirium across studies. Methodologic quality of included studies was evaluated using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool.

Data Synthesis:

Of 488 citations screened, 10 studies were identified for inclusion in the final review; six of which demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of ICU delirium associated with sleep intervention. Four studies assessed duration of delirium; of which, three reported a shorter duration of delirium with sleep intervention. Two studies associated sleep intervention with a reduced ICU length of stay. In regard to quality assessment and risk of bias, only one study was assessed as strong. Multiple identified confounders and the significant qualitative assessment of heterogeneity limit both the conclusions that can be drawn from these findings and the quantitative pooling of data.

Conclusions:

Although sleep interventions seem to be a promising approach for improving delirium-related outcomes, studies are limited by bias issues, varying methodologies, and multiple confounders, making the evidence base for this conclusion limited at best. Future studies would benefit from a systematic approach to studying the link between sleep intervention and delirium-related outcomes, which is outlined in the context of reviewing the existing literature.
Prognostic Impact of Persistent Thrombocytopenia During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Retrospective Analysis of Prospectively Collected Data From a Cohort of Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Opfermann Philipp , Bevilacqua Michele , Felli Alessia , Mouhieddine Mohamed , Bachleda Teodor , Pichler Tristan , Hiesmayr Michael , Zuckermann Andreas , Dworschak Martin , Steinlechner Barbara
Published: August 2016

Objective:

The prognostic impact of thrombocytopenia in patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after cardiac surgery is uncertain. We investigated whether thrombocytopenia is independently predictive of poor outcome and describe the incidence and time course of thrombocytopenia in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients.

Design:

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Setting:

Cardiosurgical ICU at a tertiary referral center.

Patients:

Three hundred adult patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for more than 24 hours because of refractory cardiogenic shock after heart surgery between January 2001 and December 2014.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Two-way analysis of variance was used to compare the time course of platelet count changes between survivors and nonsurvivors. Using multiple Cox regression with time-dependent covariates, we investigated the impact of platelet count on 90-day mortality. In nonsurvivors, the daily incidence of moderate (< 100 – 50 × 109/L), severe (49 – 20 × 109/L), and very severe (< 20 × 109/L) thrombocytopenia was 50%, 54%, and 7%, respectively. Platelet count had a biphasic temporal pattern with an initial decrease until day 4–5 after the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Although a significant recovery of the platelet count was observed in survivors, a recovery did not occur in nonsurvivors (p = 0.0001). After adjusting for suspected confounders, moderate, severe, and very severe thrombocytopenia were independently associated with 90-day mortality. The highest risk was associated with severe (hazard ratio, 5.9 [2.7–12.6]; p < 0.0001) and very severe thrombocytopenia (hazard ratio, 25.9 [10.7–62.9], p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Thrombocytopenia is an independent risk factor for poor outcome in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients after cardiac surgery, with persistent severe thrombocytopenia likely reflecting a high degree of physiologic imbalance.
Hospital Volume and Outcomes of Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients Hospitalized With an Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Stefan Mihaela S. , Pekow Penelope S. , Shieh Meng-Shiou , Hill Nicholas S. , Rothberg Michael B. , Fisher Kimberly A. , Lindenauer Peter K.
Published: August 2016

Objective:

To determine the relationship between hospital noninvasive ventilation caseload and outcomes among patients with an acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Design:

Cross-sectional study of 13,893 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with noninvasive ventilation.

Setting:

A total of 243 U.S. hospitals participating in the Premier Inpatient Database.

Patients:

A total of 13,893 patients admitted between July 2009 and June 2011.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Annual hospital volume of noninvasive ventilation was analyzed as a continuous variable, as well as after grouping it in four categories. The median hospital annual volume of noninvasive ventilation use was 627 and varied from 234 admissions in quartile 1 to 1,529 admissions in quartile 4. Noninvasive ventilation failure occurred in 15.2%, and in-hospital mortality was 6.5%. After adjusting for patient characteristics, relative to low-volume hospitals, high-volume hospitals did not have lower noninvasive ventilation failure (odds ratio quartile 4 vs quartile 1, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.65–1.68) or in-hospital mortality (odds ratio quartile 4 vs quartile 1, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.69–1.12). In a hierarchical multivariable analysis with adjustment for patient characteristics where volume was assessed as a continuous variable, hospital volume was not related to outcomes, including noninvasive ventilation failure (p = 0.87), in-hospital mortality (p = 0.88), 30-day readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.83), or hospital length of stay (p = 0.12).

Conclusions:

The results of this large retrospective cohort study suggest that hospitals with higher noninvasive ventilation volume do not achieve better outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation treated with noninvasive ventilation; even hospitals with low noninvasive ventilation volume are able to successfully implement this intervention.
Engineering Hematopoietic Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy: Strategies to Address Safety and Toxicity Concerns
Authors: Resetca Diana , Neschadim Anton , Medin Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2016

Advances in cancer immunotherapies utilizing engineered hematopoietic cells have recently generated significant clinical successes. Of great promise are immunotherapies based on chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T (CAR-T) cells that are targeted toward malignant cells expressing defined tumor-associated antigens. CAR-T cells harness the effector function of the adaptive arm of the immune system and redirect it against cancer cells, overcoming the major challenges of immunotherapy, such as breaking tolerance to self-antigens and beating cancer immune system-evasion mechanisms. In early clinical trials, CAR-T cell-based therapies achieved complete and durable responses in a significant proportion of patients. Despite clinical successes and given the side effect profiles of immunotherapies based on engineered cells, potential concerns with the safety and toxicity of various therapeutic modalities remain. We discuss the concerns associated with the safety and stability of the gene delivery vehicles for cell engineering and with toxicities due to off-target and on-target, off-tumor effector functions of the engineered cells. We then overview the various strategies aimed at improving the safety of and resolving toxicities associated with cell-based immunotherapies. Integrating failsafe switches based on different suicide gene therapy systems into engineered cells engenders promising strategies toward ensuring the safety of cancer immunotherapies in the clinic.
Wound Complications and Perineal Pain After Extralevator Versus Standard Abdominoperineal Excision
Authors: Colov Emilie P. , Klein Mads , Gögenur Ismail
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND:

Extralevator abdominoperineal excision was introduced as an alternative to conventional abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancers. The perineal dissection is more extensive with extralevator abdominoperineal excision and leaves a greater defect.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate, on a national basis, the risk of perineal wound complications, pain, and hernia after conventional and extralevator abdominoperineal excision performed for low rectal cancer.

DESIGN:

This was a retrospective study collecting data from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database and from electronic medical files of patients.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted at Danish surgical departments.

PATIENTS:

A total of 445 patients operated between 2009 and 2012 with extralevator or conventional abdominoperineal excision were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The main end points of this study were perineal wound complications and pain lasting for >30 days after the operation.

RESULTS:

The 2 groups were demographically similar except for a higher ASA score in the conventional group. In the extralevator group, neoadjuvant chemoradiation was more frequent (71% vs 41%; p < 0.001), T stage was higher (more T3 tumors; 52% vs 38%; p = 0.006), and more tumors were fixed (21% vs 12%; p = 0.02). Perineal wound complications and pain were more frequent after extralevator versus conventional excision (44% vs 25%; p < 0.001 and 38% vs 22%; p < 0.001). After multivariate analyses, neoadjuvant chemoradiation, extralevator excision, and operation early in the study period were found to have a significant influence on the risk of long-term wound complications. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and wound complications were significant risk factors for long-term perineal pain. Results were similar after subgroup analyses on low tumors only.

LIMITATIONS:

This was a retrospective study. The 2 groups were not completely comparable at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS:

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation, extralevator compared with conventional excision, and operation early in the study period were significant factors for predicting perineal wound complications. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and wound complications were predictors of long-term perineal pain.