bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building bridges: outreach to international students via vernacular language videos
Authors: Li Xiang , McDowell Kevin , Wang Xiaotong
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to describe librarians’ efforts in reaching out to international students through vernacular language videos at both the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Oregon. The videos were created to help international students familiarize themselves with the new library environment and to stimulate their interest in the future exploration of library resources and services.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the challenges of providing effective support to international students in the early stages of their academic life in the USA, explains the rationale for using vernacular language videos as a means of outreach to international students, outlines the factors considered in designing the videos that helped achieve the outreach goals and reviews promotion needs and assessment methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the videos.

Findings

Using online videos in native languages as a means to extend the reach of the libraries to international students is seen as useful and practical. Feedback from students and library colleagues shows positive reaction to the videos and provides encouragement for further outreach efforts to international students.

Practical implications

The strategies and experiences detailed here are easily adaptable to other institutions of higher education committed to developing outreach programs for international students.

Originality/value

The novelty of this case study is the librarians’ sophisticated thinking in developing vernacular language videos as a means of outreach to international students. The video project presented in the paper can function as an inspiring example for institutions preparing for the expected large influx of international students.
Student bibliographies: charting research skills over time
Authors: Lantz Catherine , Insua Glenda Maria , Armstrong Annie R. , Pho Annie
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare two bibliography assignments completed after one-shot library instruction to determine which research skills first-year students retain over the course of a semester.

Design/methodology/approach

A rubric was developed for citation analysis of student-annotated bibliographies and final bibliographies. Each assignment was scored on a three-point scale, and four criteria were assessed: the quality of sources used, variety of sources used, quality of annotations (for first assignment only) and citation accuracy.

Findings

Students scored highest on the quality of sources used in both assignments, although there was a statistically significant decline in overall scores from the first assignment to the second. Students had the most difficulty with writing annotations, followed closely by citation accuracy. Students primarily cited journal articles in their annotated bibliographies and reference sources in their final bibliographies. Website use increased notably from one assignment to the other.

Originality/value

This research is unique in its analysis of two separate bibliography assignments completed by first-year students over the course of a semester. It is of interest to librarians teaching one-shot library instruction or any librarian interested in assessing the research skills of first-year students.
High turnover rates of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs in European freshwater lakes
Authors: Cepáková Zuzana , Hrouzek Pavel , Žišková Eva , Nuyanzina‐Boldareva Ekaterina , Šorf Michal , Kozlíková‐Zapomělová Eliška , Salka Ivette , Grossart Hans‐Peter , Koblížek Michal
Published: August 2016

Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic (AAP) bacteria are bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a ‐containing organisms which use light energy to supplement their predominantly heterotrophic metabolism. Here, we investigated mortality and growth rates of AAP bacteria in three different freshwater lakes in Central Europe: the mountain lake Plešné, the oligo‐mesotrophic Lake Stechlin and the forest pond Huntov. The mortality of AAP bacteria was estimated from diel changes of BChl a fluorescence. Net and gross growth rates were calculated from the increases in AAP cell numbers. The gross growth rates of AAP bacteria ranged from 0.38 to 5.6 d−1, with the highest values observed during summer months. Simultaneously, the rapidly growing AAP cells have to cope with an intense grazing pressure by both zooplankton and protists. The presented results document that during the day, gross growth usually surpased mortality. Our results indicate that AAP bacteria utilize light energy under natural conditions to maintain rapid growth rates, which are balanced by a generally intense grazing pressure.
Desulfovibrio vulgaris CbiKP cobaltochelatase: evolution of a haem binding protein orchestrated by the incorporation of two histidine residues
Authors: Lobo Susana A.L. , Videira Marco A.M. , Pacheco Isabel , Wass Mark N. , Warren Martin J. , Teixeira Miguel , Matias Pedro M. , Romão Célia V. , Saraiva Lígia M.
Published: August 2016

The sulfate‐reducing bacteria of the Desulfovibrio genus make three distinct modified tetrapyrroles, haem, sirohaem and adenosylcobamide, where sirohydrochlorin acts as the last common biosynthetic intermediate along the branched tetrapyrrole pathway. Intriguingly, D. vulgaris encodes two sirohydrochlorin chelatases, CbiKP and CbiKC, that insert cobalt/iron into the tetrapyrrole macrocycle but are thought to be distinctly located in the periplasm and cytoplasm respectively. Fusing GFP onto the C‐terminus of CbiKP confirmed that the protein is transported to the periplasm. The structure‐function relationship of CbiKP was studied by constructing eleven site‐directed mutants and determining their chelatase activities, oligomeric status and haem binding abilities. Residues His154 and His216 were identified as essential for metal‐chelation of sirohydrochlorin. The tetrameric form of the protein is stabilized by Arg54 and Glu76, which form hydrogen bonds between two subunits. His96 is responsible for the binding of two haem groups within the main central cavity of the tetramer. Unexpectedly, CbiKP is shown to bind two additional haem groups through interaction with His103. Thus, although still retaining cobaltochelatase activity, the presence of His96 and His103 in CbiKP, which are absent from all other known bacterial cobaltochelatases, has evolved CbiKP a new function as a haem binding protein permitting it to act as a potential haem chaperone or transporter.
The comprehension problems for second‐language learners with poor reading comprehension despite adequate decoding: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Spencer Mercedes , Wagner Richard K.
Published: August 2016

We conducted a meta‐analysis of 16 existing studies to examine the nature of the comprehension problems for children who were second‐language learners with poor reading comprehension despite adequate decoding. Results indicated that these children had deficits in oral language (d = –0.80), but these deficits were not as severe as their reading comprehension deficit (d = –2.47). Second‐language learners also had weaker oral language skills compared with native‐speaking children regardless of comprehension status (d = –0.84). We discuss theoretical and practical implications of the finding that second‐language learners who are poor at reading comprehension despite adequate decoding have deficits in oral language but the deficit is not sufficient to explain their deficit in reading comprehension.
How to manipulate landscapes to improve the potential for range expansion
Authors: Hodgson Jenny A. , Wallis David W. , Krishna Ritesh , Cornell Stephen J.
Published: August 2016

Climate change is a global threat to species, and their capacity to adapt could be limited by habitat fragmentation. Many initiatives to restore habitats, increase connectivity and/or ensure ‘functioning ecological networks’ are explicitly or implicitly trying to address this threat. However, existing methods of analysing networks mainly treat the landscape as static, and it is difficult to use these to plan restoration.

We use a recent method to approximate the speed of a species’ range expansion through a landscape by an analogy to an electrical circuit, which takes into account both the rates of colonisation between patches and the rates at which occupied habitat produces new emigrants. Based on this, we propose and test two methods that can help to optimise the spatial arrangement of habitat for range expansion.

First, high current flowing through a habitat patch indicates that it should be a priority for conservation, and this can be the basis of an algorithm for iteratively dropping the least valuable patches. Secondly, high power in a link between two patches indicates that it is a bottleneck in the circuit, and this can be the basis of an algorithm for iteratively adding new patches in the most efficient places. We show that these methods perform well for a variety of realistic landscape patterns, assuming known and fixed dispersal ability and source/target locations.

The calculations involved for each parameter set are fast enough to be used as building blocks in a larger optimisation for practical planning of landscapes for multiple species. Thus, we lay the foundation for a new genre of systematic conservation planning, which efficiently proposes restoration as well as minimising loss.
Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) benefit from a cultivation of the bioenergy crop Silphium perfoliatumL. (Asteraceae) depending on larval feeding type, landscape composition and crop management
Authors: Mueller Anna Lena , Dauber Jens
Published: August 2016

An increasing production of annual bioenergy crops such as maize has led to regional land‐use changes, causing further shortages of already scarce floral resources for pollinators. Diversification of energy crop production with flowering crops is discussed as a mitigation strategy. The perennial Silphium perfoliatum, characterized by a flowering period between July and September, represents a promising candidate crop.

The present study aimed to investigate the management and landscape conditions under which a cultivation of S. perfoliatum could be an effective measure for pollinator conservation. In this context, hoverflies served as suitable indicators as a result of the different feeding behaviours of adults (floral resources) and larvae (mostly zoophagous or microphagous).

We compared abundance and species richness of adult hoverflies in 15 flowering S. perfoliatum fields in Germany with that in neighbouring habitats (maize fields, ditches/brooks and forest edges) and tested whether the landscape composition influenced local abundance and species richness in S. perfoliatum fields depending on larval feeding type.

Only microphagous hoverflies were more abundant in S. perfoliatum fields than in neighbouring habitats, primarily in mid‐September. This might be explained by the different activity periods and adaptations to flower traits of the two hoverfly groups. Although the abundance of zoophagous hoverflies was positively influenced by a higher crop diversity, the abundance and species richness of microphagous hoverflies responded positively to higher proportions of semi‐natural habitats in the surroundings.

Silphium perfoliatum can support certain hoverfly groups when it is harvested late to ensure a flower supply through to September and when semi‐natural habitats are maintained in agricultural landscapes.
Investigation of lactic acid bacterial strains for meat fermentation and the product's antioxidant and angiotensin‐I‐converting‐enzyme inhibitory activities
Authors: Takeda Shiro , Matsufuji Hisashi , Nakade Koji , Takenoyama Shin‐ichi , Ahhmed Abdulatef , Sakata Ryoichi , Kawahara Satoshi , Muguruma Michio
Published: August 2016

In the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains screened from our LAB collection, Lactobacillus (L.) sakei strain no. 23 and L. curvatus strain no. 28 degraded meat protein and tolerated salt and nitrite in vitro. Fermented sausages inoculated strains no. 23 and no. 28 showed not only favorable increases in viable LAB counts and reduced pH, but also the degradation of meat protein. The sausages fermented with these strains showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than those without LAB or fermented by each LAB type strain. Angiotensin‐I‐converting‐enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was also significantly higher in the sausages fermented with strain no. 23 than in those fermented with the type strain. Higher ACE inhibitory activity was also observed in the sausages fermented with strain no. 28, but did not differ significantly from those with the type strain. An analysis of the proteolysis and degradation products formed by each LAB in sausages suggested that those bioactivities yielded fermentation products such as peptides. Therefore, LAB starters that can adequately ferment meat, such as strains no. 23 and no. 28, should contribute to the production of bioactive compounds in meat products.
Calpain inhibitor calpeptin suppresses pancreatic cancer by disrupting cancer–stromal interactions in a mouse xenograft model
Authors: Yoshida Masaki , Miyasaka Yoshihiro , Ohuchida Kenoki , Okumura Takashi , Zheng Biao , Torata Nobuhiro , Fujita Hayato , Nabae Toshinaga , Manabe Tatsuya , Shimamoto Masaya , Ohtsuka Takao , Mizumoto Kazuhiro , Nakamura Masafumi
Published: August 2016

Desmoplasia contributes to the aggressive behavior of pancreatic cancer. However, recent clinical trials testing several antifibrotic agents on pancreatic cancer have not shown clear efficacy. Therefore, further investigation of desmoplasia‐targeting antifibrotic agents by another mechanism is needed. Calpeptin, an inhibitor of calpains, suppressed fibroblast function and inhibited fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of calpeptin on pancreatic cancer. We investigated whether calpeptin inhibited tumor progression using a mouse xenograft model. We used quantitative RT‐PCR to evaluate the expression of calpain‐1 and calpain‐2 mRNA in pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). We also undertook functional assays, including proliferation, migration, and invasion, to evaluate the inhibitory effects of calpeptin on PCCs and PSCs. Quantitative RT‐PCR indicated that PCCs and PSCs expressed calpain‐2 mRNA. Calpeptin reduced tumor volume (P = 0.0473) and tumor weight (P = 0.0471) and inhibited the tumor desmoplastic reaction (P < 0.001) in xenograft tumors in nude mice. Calpeptin also inhibited the biologic functions of PCCs and PSCs including proliferation (P = 0.017), migration (P = 0.027), and invasion (P = 0.035) in vitro. Furthermore, calpeptin reduced the migration of PCCs and PSCs by disrupting the cancer–stromal interaction (P = 0.0002). Our findings indicate that calpeptin is a promising antitumor agent for pancreatic cancer, due not only to its suppressive effect on PCCs and PSCs but also its disruption of the cancer–stromal interaction.
Glycogen synthase kinase‐3β is a pivotal mediator of cancer invasion and resistance to therapy
Authors: Domoto Takahiro , Pyko Ilya V. , Furuta Takuya , Miyashita Katsuyoshi , Uehara Masahiro , Shimasaki Takeo , Nakada Mitsutoshi , Minamoto Toshinari
Published: August 2016

Tumor cell invasion and resistance to therapy are the most intractable biological characteristics of cancer and, therefore, the most challenging for current cancer research and treatment paradigms. Refractory cancers, including pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma, show an inextricable association between the highly invasive behavior of tumor cells and their resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies. These aggressive properties of cancer share distinct cellular pathways that are connected to each other by several molecular hubs. There is increasing evidence to show that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)‐3β is aberrantly activated in various cancer types and this has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. In many but not all cancer types, aberrant GSK3β sustains the survival, immortalization, proliferation and invasion of tumor cells, while also rendering them insensitive or resistant to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Here we review studies that describe associations between therapeutic stimuli/resistance and the induction of pro‐invasive phenotypes in various cancer types. Such cancers are largely responsive to treatment that targets GSK3β. This review focuses on the role of GSK3β as a molecular hub that connects pathways responsible for tumor invasion and resistance to therapy, thus highlighting its potential as a major cancer therapeutic target. We also discuss the putative involvement of GSK3β in determining tumor cell stemness that underpins both tumor invasion and therapy resistance, leading to intractable and refractory cancer with dismal patient outcomes.
In‐vitroantileishmanial potential of peptide drug hirudin
Authors: Khan Hanif , Nadhman Akhtar , Azam Syed Sikander , Anees Mariam , Khan Imran , Ullah Ikram , Sohail Muhammad Farhan , Shahnaz Gul , Yasinzai Masoom
Published: August 2016

Hirudin is clinically an important drug used for the treatment of cardiac diseases, but has never been elucidated for antileishmanial potential. This study was designed to determine the therapeutic utility of hirudin against leishmaniasis. Binding affinities of 28 potent proteinase inhibitors were screened computationally against leishmanolysin (GP63), out of which hirudin exhibited higher binding affinity withGP63 and good expectedIC50values. Experimentally, hirudin showed most promising activity against promastigote and axenic amastigote forms of leishmanial parasites withIC50values of 0.60 ± 0.36 μg/mL and 0.43 ± 0.23 μg/mL, respectively, in a dose‐ and time‐dependent assay. The cytotoxicity assay revealed no adverse effects on human macrophages withLD50value of 860.11 ± 53.44 μg/mL. Hirudin caused leishmanial cell death mainly by apoptosis and membrane permeability. In spite of the basic knowledge obtained, hirudin mechanism is considerably less prone to the induction of resistance than classical drugs. Collectively, this study fosters further studies for the hirudin as new antileishmania lead with a new mode of action.
Biological effects of compressive forces exerted on particulate bone grafts during socket preservation: animal study
Authors: Delgado‐Ruiz Rafael , Romanos Georgios E. , Alexandre Gerhke Sergio , Gomez‐Moreno Gerardo , Maté‐Sánchez de Val José Eduardo , Calvo‐Guirado José Luis
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To compare different compressive forces exerted on a particulate graft material during socket preservation and their effects on bone regeneration.

Material and methods

Six male dogs were used. The second, third, and fourth premolars, and the first molar were extracted bilaterally at the lower jaws. A particulate synthetic biphasic grafting material (60% HA and 40% β‐tricalcium phosphate) was used. Three different standardized compressive forces were applied randomly during the socket preservation. The sample was divided into four experimental groups Test A (10 g), Test B (50 g), Test C (200 g), and Control (empty sockets). Collagen membranes were placed, and primary closure was obtained. Two months after the surgery the animals were sacrificed, and histomorphometric analysis of non‐decalcified samples was performed at the coronal, middle, and apical thirds.

Results

Grafted sockets resulted in higher bony contour (3 ± 0.43 mm2; P < 0.05). The particles penetrated up to the apical third in the group C but not in the other test groups and controls (P < 0.05). The percentage of new bone were higher at the coronal and apical thirds for Controls and group C compared to A and B groups (P < 0.05). The residual graft was higher for group C (53 ± 1.4%), followed by group B (45 ± 3.1%) and group A (35 ± 1.9%; P < 0.05). The percentages of connective tissue were higher at the middle third without differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this experimental animal study, it might be concluded that grafted sockets compressed with 200 g force will have higher bony contours; higher compressive forces facilitate the penetration of the particulate graft material into the apical area of the socket and results in more bone formation at the coronal, middle, and apical thirds
A stochastic surplus production model in continuous time
Authors: Pedersen Martin W , Berg Casper W
Published: August 2016

Surplus production modelling has a long history as a method for managing data‐limited fish stocks. Recent advancements have cast surplus production models as state‐space models that separate random variability of stock dynamics from error in observed indices of biomass. We present a stochastic surplus production model in continuous time (SPiCT), which in addition to stock dynamics also models the dynamics of the fisheries. This enables error in the catch process to be reflected in the uncertainty of estimated model parameters and management quantities. Benefits of the continuous‐time state‐space model formulation include the ability to provide estimates of exploitable biomass and fishing mortality at any point in time from data sampled at arbitrary and possibly irregular intervals. We show in a simulation that the ability to analyse subannual data can increase the effective sample size and improve estimation of reference points relative to discrete‐time analysis of aggregated annual data. Finally, subannual data from five North Sea stocks are analysed with particular focus on using residual analysis to diagnose model insufficiencies and identify necessary model extensions such as robust estimation and incorporation of seasonality. We argue that including all known sources of uncertainty, propagation of that uncertainty to reference points and checking of model assumptions using residuals are critical prerequisites to rigorous fish stock management based on surplus production models.
Thermodynamic entropy generation in the course of the fatigue crack initiation
Authors: Ontiveros V , Amiri M , Kahirdeh A , Modarres M
Published: August 2016

Evolution of the thermodynamic entropy generation during fatigue crack initiation life of notched specimens is studied. A set of experimental results of AA7075‐T651 is examined to determine applicability of the thermodynamic entropy generation as an index of fatigue crack initiation. Entropy accumulation is calculated from hysteresis energy and temperature rise. An increasing trend of entropy accumulation with the number of cycle to failure is observed on macroscale measurements. Results also determine that the entropy generations from the samples under the same operating conditions are similar as the crack grows. Scanning electron microscope analysis is performed on the fractured surfaces to observe the fatigue striations, and persistent slip bands are observed employing an optical microscope. A discussion is presented regarding the length scales on which crack initiation occurs and entropy calculation is made.
Nexus of Emotional and Development Geographies
Authors: Clouser Rebecca
Published: August 2016

Recently, the nexus of international development and emotion has received increasing attention from diverse sectors. While scholars from postcolonial, post‐structural, and feminist perspectives have long called for increased attention to emotions and the more‐than‐rational, more recent pieces such as the World Bank's World Development Report 2015 on Mind, Society, and Behavior have also taken up the refrain that “emotions matter” in development. Whether viewed as motivating factors, explanatory devices, or phenomena to be harnessed and manipulated, emotions are emerging as a key piece in development theory and practice. This paper critically analyzes the ways in which the nexus of emotion and development has been conceptualized from various perspectives. In particular, it raises questions related to geographies of power and control and highlights the implications of this emotional turn for both the theory and practice of development.
CRMP1 and CRMP2 have synergistic but distinct roles in dendritic development
Authors: Makihara Hiroko , Nakai Shiori , Ohkubo Wataru , Yamashita Naoya , Nakamura Fumio , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Shioi Go , Jitsuki‐Takahashi Aoi , Nakamura Haruko , Tanaka Fumiaki , Akase Tomoko , Kolattukudy Pappachan , Goshima Yoshio
Published: August 2016

Collapsin response mediator protein 2, CRMP2, has been identified as an intracellular signaling mediator for Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A). CRMP2 plays a key role in axon guidance, dendritic morphogenesis, and cell polarization. It has been also implicated in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the in vivo functions of CRMP2 remain unknown. We generated CRMP2 gene‐deficient (crmp2−/−) mice. The crmp2−/− mice showed irregular development of dendritic spines in cortical neurons. The density of dendritic spines was reduced in the cortical layer V pyramidal neurons of crmp2−/− mice as well as in those of sema3A−/− and crmp1−/− mice. However, no abnormality was found in dendritic patterning in crmp2−/− compared to wild‐type (WT) neurons. The level of CRMP1 was increased in crmp2−/−, but the level of CRMP2 was not altered in crmp1−/− compared to WT cortical brain lysates. Dendritic spine density and branching were reduced in double‐heterozygous sema3A+/−;crmp2+/− and sema3A+/−;crmp1+/− mice. The phenotypic defects had no genetic interaction between crmp1 and crmp2. These findings suggest that both CRMP1 and CRMP2 mediate Sema3A signaling to regulate dendritic spine maturation and patterning, but through overlapping and distinct signaling pathways.
Efficacy and safety of point‐of‐care ultrasound‐guided intra‐articular corticosteroid joint injections in patients with haemophilic arthropathy
Authors: Martin E. J. , Cooke E. J. , Ceponis A. , Barnes R. F. W. , Moran C. M. , Holle S. , Hughes T. H. , Moore R. E. , von Drygalski A.
Published: August 2016

Introduction and Objectives

Intra‐articular corticosteroid injections are standard of care for managing joint pain secondary to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis but are rarely used in haemophilic arthropathy. We have introduced and evaluated the efficacy and safety of ultrasound‐guided corticosteroid injections for pain relief in patients with haemophilic arthropathy.

Patients and methods

Ultrasound‐guided intra‐articular injections performed on haemophilia patients at UCSD between March 2012 and January 2016 were analysed. Needle placement and injection (40 mg triamcinolone; 3–5 mL lidocaine) were performed with musculoskeletal ultrasound and Power Doppler. Analysis included patient demographics, joint‐specific parameters such as tissue hypervascularity and effusions, pain relief, and procedure‐associated complications.

Results

Forty‐five injections (14 ankles, 13 elbows, 18 knees) were administered in 25 patients. Advanced arthropathy with hypervascularity and/or effusions was present in 91% and 61% of joints, respectively. Ninety‐one per cent of injections resulted in pain relief which was significant in 84% (>30% reduction). Median pain score was reduced from 7 of 10 to 1 of 10 (P < 0.001), usually within 24 h. Median duration of pain relief was 8 weeks (range 1–16 weeks). Haemophilia B patients experienced longer periods of relief, and high Pettersson scores were associated with shorter duration of relief. There were no procedure‐associated complications. Repeat ultrasound of eight joints within 4 weeks of injection demonstrated nearly complete resolution of hypervascularity.

Conclusions

Point‐of‐care ultrasound enabled intra‐articular corticosteroid injections that provided highly effective, safe, and relatively long‐lasting pain relief in haemophilic arthropathy. This approach should be used to improve pain management in haemophilic arthropathy.
Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in a living donor after left lobe donation: a case for caution
Authors: Ikegami Toru , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Kawasaki Junji , Shimagaki Tomonari , Uchiyama Hideaki , Soejima Yuji , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: August 2016

Although it has been recognized that those who are positive for anti‐hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HBcAb) and negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with normal liver function could be donors for living donor liver transplantation under appropriate prophylaxis, the negative impact of positive HBcAb on such donors themselves has not been reported. We present a case of a living donor with positive HBcAb, who donated his left lobe for his sister with unresectable giant hepatic hemangioma, and the donor himself developed a de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 10 years after donation. He had been lost from the follow‐up program since 1 year after donation. Imaging studies showed a heterogeneously enhanced mass compatible with HCC, which was 9 cm in size with portal invasion into the anterior portal vein of the remnant liver. Re‐laparotomy for hepatectomy with the removal of the tumor thrombus in the anterior portal vein of the remnant liver was carried out, and he is free from recurrence 6 months after surgery on prophylactic sorafenib. At our institute, 58 (9.6%) donors among the 603 living donors were anti‐HBcAb positive and anti‐HBsAg negative, and we started regular HCC surveillance using sonogram every 6 months for these patients.
New Initiation of Long‐Acting Opioids in Long‐Stay Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Pimentel Camilla B. , Gurwitz Jerry H. , Tjia Jennifer , Hume Anne L. , Lapane Kate L.
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of new initiation of long‐acting opioids since introduction of national efforts to increase prescriber and public awareness on safe use of transdermal fentanyl patches.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

U.S. nursing homes (NHs).

Participants

Medicare‐enrolled long‐stay NH residents (N = 22,253).

Measurements

Minimum Data Set 3.0 was linked with Medicare enrollment, hospital claims, and prescription drug transaction data (January–December 2011) and used to determine the prevalence of new initiation of a long‐acting opioid prescribed to residents in NHs.

Results

Of NH residents prescribed a long‐acting opioid within 30 days of NH admission (n = 12,278), 9.4% (95% confidence interval = 8.9–9.9%) lacked a prescription drug claim for a short‐acting opioid in the previous 60 days. The most common initial prescriptions of long‐acting opioids were fentanyl patch (51.9% of opioid‐naïve NH residents), morphine sulfate (28.1%), and oxycodone (17.2%).

Conclusion

New initiation of long‐acting opioids—especially fentanyl patches, which have been the subject of safety communications—persists in NHs.
The Quest to Bring Land under Social and Political Control: Land Reform Struggles of the Past and Present in Ecuador
Authors: Goodwin Geoff
Published: August 2016

Land reform was one of the most important policies introduced in Latin America in the twentieth century and remains high on the political agenda due to sustained pressure from rural social movements. Improving our understanding of the issue therefore remains a pressing concern. This paper responds to this need by proposing a new theoretical framework to explore land reform and providing a fresh analysis of historical and contemporary land struggles in Ecuador. Drawing on the pioneering work of Karl Polanyi, the paper characterizes these struggles as the attempt to increase the social and political control of land in the face of mounting commodification. The movement started in the 1960s and remains evident in Ecuador today. Exploring land reform in Ecuador from this theoretical perspective provides new insight into land struggles in the country and contributes to debates over land reforms of the past and present elsewhere in the Global South.
The impact of single and shared rooms on family‐centred care in children's hospitals
Authors: Curtis Penny , Northcott Andy
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To explore whether and how spatial aspects of children's hospital wards (single and shared rooms) impact upon family‐centred care.

Background

Family‐centred care has been widely adopted in paediatric hospitals internationally. Recent hospital building programmes in many countries have prioritised the provision of single rooms over shared rooms. Limited attention has, however, been paid to the potential impact of spatial aspects of paediatric wards on family‐centred care.

Design

Qualitative, ethnographic.

Methods

Phase 1; observation within four wards of a specialist children's hospital. Phase 2; interviews with 17 children aged 5–16 years and 60 parents/carers. Sixty nursing and support staff also took part in interviews and focus group discussions. All data were subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

Two themes emerged from the data analysis: ‘role expectations’ and ‘family–nurse interactions’. The latter theme comprised three subthemes: ‘family support needs’, ‘monitoring children's well‐being’ and ‘survey–assess–interact within spatial contexts’.

Conclusion

Spatial configurations within hospital wards significantly impacted upon the relationships and interactions between children, parents and nurses, which played out differently in single and shared rooms. Increasing the provision of single rooms within wards is therefore likely to directly affect how family‐centred care manifests in practice.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurses need to be sensitive to the impact of spatial characteristics, and particularly of single and shared rooms, on families’ experiences of children's hospital wards. Nurses’ contribution to and experience of family‐centred care can be expected to change significantly when spatial characteristics of wards change and, as is currently the vogue, hospitals maximise the provision of single rather than shared rooms.
A hermeneutic phenomenological study exploring the experience health practitioners have when working with families to safeguard children and the invisibility of the emotions work involved
Authors: Taylor Jillian , Smith Pam , Taylor Julie
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To explore the emotions work undertaken by practitioners with responsibility for the safeguarding of child well‐being and establish whether there is a relationship between emotion work, role visibility, professional well‐being and effectiveness of supportive frameworks.

Background

Protecting children is the responsibility of everyone in society with health, social care and public health services leading this worldwide. To safeguard children effectively, it is known that practitioners build relationships with families in sometimes challenging situations, which involve the management of emotions. However, irrespective of this current knowledge; health practitioners who work in this area suggest that their child safeguarding role is not recognised, respected or valued in professional and societal settings. The purpose of this study was to report on a qualitative study which set out to explore the relationship between the known relational‐based emotions work of practitioners' and the reported lack of visibility.

Methods

Hermeneutic phenomenology underpinned the study. Semistructured interviews were employed for data collection. Ten participants actively working with preschool children and families in healthcare organisations were recruited.

Results

The emotional‐, relationship‐ and communicative‐based work crucial to effectively safeguard children may influence the visibility of the role. Poor role visibility influences the morale of practitioners and the support they receive.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study proposes that when there is poor role recognition; there is ineffective clinical support. This reduces professional well‐being, which in turn will impact practitioner abilities to safeguard children.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study highlights that to sustain safe and effective health and social care practice, organisational leads require an understanding of the impact emotional‐ and relational‐based work can have on practitioners and provide supportive frameworks that will effectively promote professional well‐being.
Older women, intimate partner violence and mental health: a consideration of the particular issues for health and healthcare practice
Authors: McGarry Julie , Ali Parveen , Hinchliff Sharron
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To explore qualitative evidence in older women with a history of intimate partner violence and their accounts and experiences of mental health.

Background

Intimate partner violence significantly impacts the health and well‐being of women who experience it. However, women who experience intimate partner violence do not form a homogenous group and the effect on older women has not been adequately distinguished. While there is a growing body of evidence to address this deficit, studies to date have tended to concentrate on older women's experiences of intimate partner violence in totality and as such mental health issues have been subsumed as a part of the whole.

Design

Meta‐ethnographic synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Methods

A systematic search of PUBMED, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, COCHRANE, Medline and PsycInfo, Sci was completed. The search included articles published up until the end of December 2015.

Results

The review identified that intimate partner violence exerts a significant impact on the mental health of older women. Intimate partner violence for women in later life is inherently complex, especially where the boundaries of violence and vulnerability have been blurred historically both within the intimate partner violence discourse and through provision and practice.

Conclusions

This study adds to the developing knowledge and understanding of intimate partner violence for older women as a part of the growing body of evidence of the impact of intimate partner violence on the health and well‐being of those who experience abuse more generally. When age and gender intersect with intimate partner violence, there are specific implications and health professionals and service providers need to be aware of these.

Relevance to clinical practice

urses and healthcare professionals are professionally accountable for the effective management and support of women who have experienced abuse. It is therefore crucial that they are able to understand and identify the possible complexity of presentations of abuse and this includes older women.
Investigating nurse practitioners in the private sector: a theoretically informed research protocol
Authors: Adams Margaret , Gardner Glenn , Yates Patsy
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To report a study protocol and the theoretical framework normalisation process theory that informs this protocol for a case study investigation of private sector nurse practitioners.

Background

Most research evaluating nurse practitioner service is focused on public, mainly acute care environments where nurse practitioner service is well established with strong structures for governance and sustainability. Conversely, there is lack of clarity in governance for emerging models in the private sector. In a climate of healthcare reform, nurse practitioner service is extending beyond the familiar public health sector. Further research is required to inform knowledge of the practice, operational framework and governance of new nurse practitioner models.

Design

The proposed research will use a multiple exploratory case study design to examine private sector nurse practitioner service.

Methods

Data collection includes interviews, surveys and audits. A sequential mixed method approach to analysis of each case will be conducted. Findings from within‐case analysis will lead to a meta‐synthesis across all four cases to gain a holistic understanding of the cases under study, private sector nurse practitioner service. Normalisation process theory will be used to guide the research process, specifically coding and analysis of data using theory constructs and the relevant components associated with those constructs.

Conclusions

This article provides a blueprint for the research and describes a theoretical framework, normalisation process theory in terms of its flexibility as an analytical framework.

Relevance to clinical practice

Consistent with the goals of best research practice, this study protocol will inform the research community in the field of primary health care about emerging research in this field. Publishing a study protocol ensures researcher fidelity to the analysis plan and supports research collaboration across teams.
The Use of CAD/CAM Technology for Fabricating Cast Gold Survey Crowns under Existing Partial Removable Dental Prosthesis. A Clinical Report
Authors: El Kerdani Tarek , Roushdy Sally
Published: August 2016

The fabrication of a survey crown under an existing partial removable dental prosthesis (PRDP) has always been a challenge to many dental practitioners. This clinical report presents a technique for fabricating accurate cast gold survey crowns to fit existing PRDPs using CAD/CAM technology. The report describes a technique that would digitally scan the coronal anatomy of a cast gold survey crown and an abutment tooth under existing PRDPs planned for restoration, prior to any preparation. The information is stored in the digital software where all the coronal anatomical details are preserved without any modifications. The scanned designs are then applied to the scanned teeth preparations, sent to the milling machine and milled into full‐contour clear acrylic resin burn‐out patterns. The acrylic resin patterns are tried in the patient's mouth the same day to verify the full seating of the PRDP components. The patterns are then invested and cast into gold crowns and cemented in the conventional manner.
Melatonin‐induced increase in sensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib is associated with reactive oxygen species production and mitophagy
Authors: Prieto‐Domínguez Néstor , Ordóñez Raquel , Fernández Anna , Méndez‐Blanco Carolina , Baulies Anna , Garcia‐Ruiz Carmen , Fernández‐Checa José C. , Mauriz José L. , González‐Gallego Javier
Published: August 2016

Effects of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are frequently transient due to tumor‐acquired resistance, a phenotype that could be targeted by other molecules to reduce this adaptive response. Because melatonin is known to exert antitumor effects in HCC cells, this study investigated whether and how melatonin reduces resistance to sorafenib. Susceptibility to sorafenib (10 nmol/L to 50 μmol/L) in the presence of melatonin (1 and 2 mmol/L) was assessed in HCC cell lines HepG2, HuH7, and Hep3B. Cell viability was reduced by sorafenib from 1 μmol/L in HepG2 or HuH7 cells, and 2.5 μmol/L in Hep3B cells. Co‐administration of melatonin and sorafenib exhibited a synergistic cytotoxic effect on HepG2 and HuH7 cells, while Hep3B cells displayed susceptibility to doses of sorafenib that had no effect when administrated alone. Co‐administration of 2.5 μmol/L sorafenib and 1 mmol/L melatonin induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells, increasing PARP hydrolysis and BAX expression. We also observed an early colocalization of mitochondria with lysosomes, correlating with the expression of mitophagy markers PINK1 and Parkin and a reduction of mitofusin‐2 and mtDNA compared with sorafenib administration alone. Moreover, increased reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial membrane depolarization were elicited by drug combination, suggesting their contribution to mitophagy induction. Interestingly, Parkin silencing by siRNA to impair mitophagy significantly reduced cell killing, PARP cleavage, and BAX expression. These results demonstrate that the pro‐oxidant capacity of melatonin and its impact on mitochondria stability and turnover via mitophagy increase sensitivity to the cytotoxic effect of sorafenib.
Negation in Near‐Native French: Variation and Sociolinguistic Competence
Authors: Donaldson Bryan
Published: August 2016

This study investigated how adult second language (L2) speakers of French with near‐native proficiency realize verbal negation, a well‐known sociolinguistic variable in contemporary spoken French. Data included 10 spontaneous informal conversations between near‐native speakers of French and native speakers (NSs) closely acquainted with them. Although some near‐native speakers retained ne more frequently than their interlocutors, others produced ne at rates indistinguishable from the NSs. A variationist analysis of 1,877 examples of negation revealed that the near‐native speakers had largely acquired the relevant linguistic and sociostylistic factors that condition NS use, although an important subset of the near‐native speakers did not vary their ne use according to whether the negation appears in a lexicalized or nonlexicalized phrase. The results contribute to understanding L2 near‐nativeness, specifically with respect to sociolinguistic competence in adult learners.
Can policy ameliorate socioeconomic inequities in obesity and obesity‐related behaviours? A systematic review of the impact of universal policies on adults and children
Authors: Olstad D. L. , Teychenne M. , Minaker L. M. , Taber D. R. , Raine K. D. , Nykiforuk C. I. J. , Ball K.
Published: August 2016

This systematic review examined the impact of universal policies on socioeconomic inequities in obesity, dietary and physical activity behaviours among adults and children. PRISMA‐Equity guidelines were followed. Database searches spanned from 2004 to August 2015. Eligible studies assessed the impact of universal policies on anthropometric, dietary or physical activity‐related outcomes in adults or children according to socioeconomic position. Thirty‐six studies were included. Policies were classified as agentic, agento‐structural or structural, and their impact on inequities was rated as positive, neutral, negative or mixed according to the dominant associations observed. Most policies had neutral impacts on obesity‐related inequities regardless of whether they were agentic (60% neutral), agento‐structural (68% neutral) or structural (67% neutral). The proportion of positive impacts was similar across policy types (10% agentic, 18% agento‐structural and 11% structural), with some differences for negative impacts (30% agentic, 14% agento‐structural and 22% structural). The majority of associations remained neutral when stratified by participant population, implementation level and socioeconomic position measures and by anthropometric and behavioural outcomes. Fiscal measures had consistently neutral or positive impacts on inequities. Findings suggest an important role for policy in addressing obesity in an equitable manner and strengthen the case for implementing a broad complement of policies spanning the agency‐structure continuum.