bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What will I tell you about my marriage? The relationship between attachment and autobiographical memory of married life
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Dahua , Feeney Brooke C. , Li Fengzhan
Published: August 2016

The relationship between attachment orientation and the emotional and thematic content of autobiographical memory about marriage in later life was investigated. A total of 242 older married adults received a quick recall interview to retrieve as many events as one could of what happened in his or her marital life. Each event was rated by the participant on its emotional valence, and its thematic content was coded by two raters according to three themes: interaction mode of the couple, life domain, and interpersonal context. Results indicated that attachment security and attachment avoidance, but not attachment anxiety, predicted the emotional valence and relationship-relevant thematic contents (e.g., relationship-maintaining life domain and between-couple interpersonal context) of marital memories. Attachment by gender interactions revealed that men with lower avoidance retrieved more relationship-maintaining events, and women with higher anxiety or lower avoidance retrieved more between-couple events. Implications of results are discussed.
The depth of fields: Managing focus in the epistemic subcultures of mind and brain science
Authors: Peterson David
Published: August 2016

The ‘psy’ sciences emerged from the tangled roots of philosophy, physiology, biology and medicine, and these origins have produced heterogeneous fields. Scientists in these areas work in a complex, overlapping ecology of fields that results in the constant co-presence of dissonant theories, methods and research objects. This raises questions regarding how conceptual clarity is maintained. Using the optical metaphor ‘depth of field’, I show how researchers in all fields marginalize potential threats to routine scientific work by framing them as either too broad and imprecise or too narrow and technical. The appearance of this defocusing and devaluing across sites suggests a general aspect of scientific cognition, rather than a by-product of any specific scientific dispute.
The Influence of Evidence-Based Surgical Indications and Techniques on Failure Rates After Arthroscopic Shoulder Stabilization in the Contact or Collision Athlete With Anterior Shoulder Instability
Authors: Leroux Timothy S. , Saltzman Bryan M. , Meyer Maximilian , Frank Rachel M. , Bach Bernard R. , Cole Brian J. , Romeo Anthony A. , Verma Nikhil N.
Published: August 2016

Background:

It has been reported that arthroscopic shoulder stabilization yields higher rates of failure in contact or collision athletes as compared with open shoulder stabilization; however, this is largely based upon studies that do not employ modern, evidence-based surgical indications and techniques for arthroscopic shoulder stabilization.

Purpose:

To (1) determine the pooled failure rate across all studies reporting failure after primary arthroscopic shoulder stabilization for anterior shoulder instability in contact or collision athletes and (2) stratify failure rates according to studies that use evidence-based surgical indications and techniques.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A review of PubMed, Medline, and Embase was performed to identify all clinical studies with a minimum of 1-year follow-up that reported failure rates after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization for anterior shoulder instability in contact or collision athletes. Data pertaining to patient demographics, clinical and radiographic preoperative assessment, surgical indications, surgical technique, rehabilitation, and outcome were collected from each included study. An overall failure rate was determined across all included studies. After this, a secondary literature review was performed to identify factors related to patient selection and surgical technique that significantly influence failure after primary arthroscopic shoulder stabilization. Failure rates were then determined among included studies that used these evidence-based indications and techniques.

Results:

Overall, 26 studies reporting on 779 contact or collision athletes met the inclusion criteria. The mean patient age was 19.9 years, 90.3% were male, and the most common sport was rugby. There was considerable variability in the reporting of patient demographics, preoperative assessment, surgical indications, surgical technique, and patient outcomes. Across all included studies, the pooled failure rate after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization in the contact or collision athlete was 17.8%; however, among studies that excluded patients with significant bone loss, used a minimum of 3 suture anchors, and performed the stabilization in the lateral decubitus position, the failure rate was 7.9%.

Conclusion:

The rate of failure after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization in contact or collision athletes decreases from 17.8% to 7.9% after the use of evidence-based surgical indications and techniques.
Nurses’ Encounters With Older Adults Engaged in Self-Neglectful Behaviors in the Community: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Band-Winterstein Tova
Published: August 2016

Objective: Alongside clinical tasks and decision making, there is a growing awareness of the emotions that arise during nurses’ interaction with clients and its significance in relation to meeting the demands of one’s role. This study aims to delve deeper into the experience of community care nurses’ encounters with older adults engaged in self-neglectful behaviors. Method: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 experienced nurses in Israel, who worked with older adults engaged in self-neglectful behaviors in the community. Results: Three main themes emerged: “Everything is amplified in old age”: An age-related decline in functioning produces situations of self-neglect, Self-neglect as an experience imprinted on the nurse’s work: The struggle for treatment, and “What is our role here?”—Nurses’ obligations in cases of self-neglect. Conclusion: The complexity of older adults engaged in self-neglectful behaviors results in feelings of confusion and ambiguity regarding the nurses’ role.
Expanding patient engagement in quality improvement and health system redesign
Authors: Baker G. Ross , Fancott Carol , Judd Maria , O’Connor Patricia
Published: August 2016

Healthcare organizations face growing pressures to increase patient-centred care and to involve patients more in organizational decisions. Yet many providers worry that such involvement requires additional time and resources and do not see patients as capable of contributing meaningfully to decisions. This article discusses three efforts in four organizations to engage patients in quality improvement efforts. McGill University Health Centre, Saskatoon Health Region, and Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Regions all engaged patients in quality improvement and system redesign initiatives that were successful in improving care processes, outcomes, and patient experience measures. Patient involvement in redesigning care may provide a way to demonstrate the value of patients’ experiences and inputs into problem-solving, building support for their involvement in other areas. Further study of these cases and a broader survey of organizational experiences with patient involvement may help elucidate the factors that support greater patient engagement.
Les considérations éthiques relatives à la désadoption d’aspects inefficaces ou nuisibles des soins de santé
Authors: Niven Daniel J. , Leigh Jeanna Parsons , Stelfox Henry T.
Published: August 2016

La désadoption désigne l’abandon d’une pratique médicale ou d’un service de santé inefficace ou nuisible après une période d’adoption. Tandis que les dépenses croissantes en matière de santé menacent de paralyser les sociétés qui les financent, le fait de faciliter la désadoption peut faire partie intégrante de systèmes de santé durables qui prodiguent des soins de qualité. Le présent article explore des enjeux éthiques qui se rapportent à la désadoption, y compris les principes sous-jacents de bénéficience, de non-maléficience, de justice et d’autonomie.
Utility of Whole Exome Sequencing for Genetic Diagnosis of Previously Undiagnosed Pediatric Neurology Patients
Authors: Kuperberg Maya , Lev Dorit , Blumkin Lubov , Zerem Ayelet , Ginsberg Mira , Linder Ilan , Carmi Nirit , Kivity Sarah , Lerman-Sagie Tally , Leshinsky-Silver Esther
Published: August 2016

Whole exome sequencing enables scanning a large number of genes for relatively low costs. The authors investigate its use for previously undiagnosed pediatric neurological patients. This retrospective cohort study performed whole exome sequencing on 57 patients of “Magen” neurogenetic clinics, with unknown diagnoses despite previous workup. The authors report on clinical features, causative genes, and treatment modifications and provide an analysis of whole exome sequencing utility per primary clinical feature. A causative gene was identified in 49.1% of patients, of which 17 had an autosomal dominant mutation, 9 autosomal recessive, and 2 X-linked. The highest rate of positive diagnosis was found for patients with developmental delay, ataxia, or suspected neuromuscular disease. Whole exome sequencing warranted a definitive change of treatment for 5 patients. Genetic databases were updated accordingly. In conclusion, whole exome sequencing is useful in obtaining a high detection rate for previously undiagnosed disorders. Use of this technique could affect diagnosis, treatment, and prognostics for both patients and relatives.
A novel multi-parameter coordinated shift control strategy for an automated manual transmission based on fuzzy inference
Authors: Zhang Lipeng , Zhang Xiaohong , Han Zongqi , Chen Junyun , Liu Jingchao
Published: August 2016

For a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, the shift control strategy should reflect the driver’s intention in the dynamic performance and the economy performance of the vehicle. However, the driver’s intention is difficult to identify and involve in the shift strategy because of the complexity of driving environments, the diversity of powertrain parameters and the randomness of the driver’s behaviour. Therefore, in this paper, by considering a vehicle equipped with an automated manual transmission as the study object, a novel multi-parameter coordinated shift control strategy is proposed on the basis of identification of the driver’s intention. First, in order to predict the intention of the driver more effectively, the relative opening degree of the accelerator is defined on the basis of the dynamic analysis. Then, the characteristics of the driver’s expected acceleration, which involve the influence of the driving environment, are proposed. They can be classified into five categories, namely stop, deceleration, keep, acceleration and urgent acceleration. Next, a fuzzy control system is designed to identify the driver’s acceleration characteristics in real time. This considers the vehicle speed, the rate of change in the opening degree of the accelerator and the relative opening degree of the accelerator as the inputs and the quantitative intention of the driver as the output. Finally, the novel multi-parameter coordinated shift control strategy is formulated on the basis of the vehicle speed, the opening degree of the accelerator and the quantitative intention of the driver. The designed shift strategy is compared with conventional methods using simulations and is verified by road tests. The results show that the shift control strategy can make the vehicle shift much more effective.
Why are developing country corporations more susceptible to the vicissitudes of international finance?
Authors: Palma José Gabriel
Published: August 2016

About USD7 trillion of quantitative easing funds has flooded emerging markets since 2008. These funds, created to stimulate a recovery in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and to stabilise financial markets, ended up mostly as emerging markets’ corporate bonds and loans (often after being leveraged into many multiples of their original value). Not for the first time, emerging markets became the financial markets of last resort. These funds were then either mainly invested (Asia) or used (as in Latin America and South Africa) for almost anything except for creating additional productive capacities. Enquiries into these issues, especially how corporations financed their investment, were subjects that fascinated economist Ajit Singh. He was the first to find out that corporations in emerging markets relied much more on external finance than those in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (where retained profits played a major role). The implication was that they were likely to be more susceptible to the vicissitudes of financial markets, and these have become even more weird since quantitative easing, as Northern ‘investors’, in search for elusive yields, have been happy to take on ever higher risks, leverage and illiquidity in the South. This is a key difference between current global financial fragilities and those at the onset of the current global financial crisis in 2007. The stakes for emerging economies and international financial markets could scarcely be higher, but unfortunately these huge new challenges occur at the worst possible time, as our social imagination has seldom been so barren.
Make a Move Intervention to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Authors: Nerud Kimberly , Samra Haifa (Abou).
Published: August 2016

Guided by the social cognitive theory, this randomized controlled trial tested the “Make a Move,” a provider-led intervention for Head Start parents aimed to produce changes in the outcomes of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of physical activity and healthy eating. Participants were parents of children ages 3–5 years enrolled in a Head Start program. Participants completed a 57-item questionnaire at baseline and postintervention. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test revealed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in scores on knowledge of healthy eating ( z = 1.99, p = .05), attitude of physical activity ( z = 2.71, p < .01), and behavior of physical activity ( z = 2.03, p = .04). Ten participants (77%) completed all four intervention sessions. This study provided new insights into the relationship of a provider-led intervention with respect to knowledge, attitude, and behaviors in healthy eating and physical activity.
A review of presentations and discussions of the workshop Computational mechanics of generalized continua and applications to materials with microstructure that was held in Catania 29–31 October 2015
Authors: Misra Anil , Placidi Luca , Scerrato Daria
Published: August 2016

A report on the workshop Computational mechanics of generalized continua and applications to materials with microstructure (Catania 29–31 October 2015) is provided. The constructive atmosphere that was present at the workshop in 2012 and the Euromech Colloquium in 2014, both in Cisterna di Latina, was repeated for this workshop in Catania. The objective of this meeting was to bring together experts within the CNRS International Associate Laboratory (LIA) Francois Cosserat–Tullio Levi Civita Coss & Vita in order to discuss topics of common interest. Particularly, the workshop was dedicated to the following projects of LIA: (i) computational mechanics of generalized continua; and (ii) nonlinearity and stability in continuous media. Also subjects related to the application of generalized continua to multiscale and smart materials were discussed. Approximately 25 Coss & Vita LIA members and other experts (mostly from France and Italy) gathered together, including PhD students and those students from the Scuola Superiore di Catania.
An analytical model to predict the impact response of one-dimensional structures
Authors: Tahaye Abadi Mohammad
Published: August 2016

An analytical solution method is presented for the transient axial response of one-dimensional structures subjected to impact loading. The transient structural response is expressed as a series of the impact loading function and its progressive shifting values depending on both material position and time scale. The governing differential equation on the impact force is derived considering the general solution and constitutive equation of the contact interface. The analytical solution of differential equation yields a recursive function describing the impact force and displacement function of the total geometry. Depending on the contact surface roughness and the material properties, an impact function is introduced as a base function for impact response. The procedure is implemented to determine the shock waves generated at the collision of the elastic rod on the rigid surface and two elastic rods. The analytical solution also derives the steady-state response of the structure after the impact loading.
Investigation of flexural behavior of 3D textile reinforced concrete using both experimental tests and finite element method
Authors: Abdellahi Sayyed Behzad , Hejazi Sayyed Mahdi , Hasani Hossein
Published: August 2016

In this study, the influence of 3D fabric on the flexural behavior of cementitious composites has been investigated. Three 3D fabric samples were produced with different spacer yarn orientation angles of 65°, 55°, and 47°. The cementitious matrix was fabricated by cement and waste stone powder. After casting of all samples, flexural test was carried out on all specimens. Results showed that cementitious sample reinforced by 3D fabric with less spacer yarn orientation angle proposed the highest flexural strength among all samples (reinforced and unreinforced samples). Moreover, finite element method was used to predict the flexural behavior of textile reinforced concrete. Finite element method results showed good agreement with the experimental data. Consequently, the maximum spacer yarn stress derived by finite element analysis was used to calculate the efficiency reinforcement factor for all the textile reinforced concrete samples.
Visibility labour: Engaging with Influencers’ fashion brands and #OOTD advertorial campaigns on Instagram
Authors: Abidin Crystal
Published: August 2016

Influencer commerce has experienced an exponential growth, resulting in new forms of digital practices among young women. Influencers are one form of microcelebrity who accumulate a following on blogs and social media through textual and visual narrations of their personal, everyday lives, upon which advertorials for products and services are premised. In Singapore, Influencers are predominantly young women whose commercial practices are most noted on Instagram. In response, everyday users are beginning to model after Influencers through tags, reposts and #OOTDs (Outfit Of The Day), unwittingly producing volumes of advertising content that is not only encouraged by Influencers and brands but also publicly utilised with little compensation. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork among Instagram Influencers and followers in Singapore, this article investigates the visibility labour in which followers engage on follower-anchored Instagram advertorials, in an attention economy that has swiftly profited off work that is quietly creative but insidiously exploitative.
Invisibility of Black women: Drawing attention to individuality
Authors: Sesko Amanda K. , Biernat Monica
Published: August 2016

We examine nonprototypicality as an antecedent to invisibility ( lack of individuation) of Black women. Study 1 varied numerical representation of Black women within the group “women” to be low/equal to White women, and Study 2 varied the trait overlap of Black women to be low/high relative to White women and/or Black men. Invisibility was measured by a face recognition task. Rather than invisibility being reduced under conditions of equal numerical representation and high trait overlap, low numerical representation and low trait overlap increased recognition for Black female faces. In Studies 3–4 participants primed to focus on differences showed better recognition for Black women’s faces than those primed to focus on similarities. We suggest a difference focus reduces reliance on categorical information, increasing individuation and visibility. But nonprototypicality matters: Study 5 perceivers who saw less overlap between “women” and “Black women” on gender stereotypes showed worse recognition of Black women.
Perceptions of instability and choice across sexual orientation groups
Authors: Burke Sara E. , LaFrance Marianne
Published: August 2016

Some have described gay and lesbian people as making a “lifestyle choice” while others assert that bisexuality is not a stable or valid identity. This paper examines the possibility that perceived instability and perceived choice, and their associations with prejudice, differ depending on both the sexual orientation of the participant and the target group. Participants varying in sexual orientation were randomly assigned to evaluate heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual targets. Results indicated that negative evaluation of the various target groups was more closely associated with perceived instability than it was with perceived choice. This relationship was moderated by both participant and target sexual orientation; for example, it was weaker for bisexual targets, whose sexual orientations were rated as unstable even among nonbisexual participants who evaluated them positively. A more nuanced understanding of the beliefs underlying prejudice against sexual minorities can be developed by considering targets and participants of many sexual orientations.
Diversity ideologies and intergroup attitudes: When multiculturalism is beneficial for majority group members
Authors: Ng Tseung-Wong Caroline , Verkuyten Maykel
Published: August 2016

In social psychology, the background assumption of most of the research on cultural diversity ideologies is that multiculturalism is not in the interest of majority group members while colourblindness is. However, this assumption may not hold in a context in which multiculturalism benefits the majority group. Two studies investigated the association between multiculturalism and in-group bias amongst Hindu majority members in Mauritius. In Study 1, survey data showed that those who highly identified as Hindus reported less bias when they endorsed multiculturalism. Using an experimental design, Study 2 demonstrated that higher compared to lower majority group identifiers showed stronger in-group bias in colourblindness, polyculturalism, and control conditions, but not in a multiculturalism condition. In contrast to the existing research conducted in Western countries, these findings demonstrate that multiculturalism rather than colourblindness can be reassuring for high majority group identifiers. It is concluded that the meaning and impact of cultural diversity ideologies for intergroup relations depend on the national context.
Predicting static strength in adhesively bonded single lap joints using a critical distance based method: Substrate thickness and overlap length effects
Authors: Khoramishad H , Akhavan-Safar A , Ayatollahi MR , da Silva LFM
Published: August 2016

A critical distance based method was proposed for predicting the strength of adhesive single lap joints. Using this method, the failure of SLJs was predicted when the longitudinal strain along the adhesive mid-plane reached a critical value at a specific critical distance. The two parameters of the method including the critical longitudinal strain and the critical distance can be determined using experimental results. Several single lap joints with different overlap lengths and substrate thicknesses were manufactured and tested under quasi-static loading. It was found that the critical distance was independent of the overlap length and the substrate thickness while the critical longitudinal strain was found to be dependent on the substrate thickness. However, the effect of substrate thickness on the critical longitudinal strain decreased by increasing the substrate thickness. The correlation between the experimental and predicted failure loads was found to be very well.
Contribution by Departments of Forensic Medicine to Tissue Donation for Transplant Purposes
Authors: Malm Torsten , Sandgren Åkerman Åsa , Greby Jesper , Odö Björn , Henriksson Bengt-Åke
Published: August 2016

Background:

A department of forensic medicine (DFM) can be a valuable source for tissue donation, but logistics can prove difficult to overcome as it pertains to obtaining tissues for donation. This article describes the potential of tissues that can be procured for transplantation.

Materials and Methods:

Sweden has 9.7 million inhabitants, with an annual mortality rate of 90 000 and 5500 medicolegal autopsies per year. Cooperation between tissue banking and 2 DFMs began in the mid-1980s. Recently, cooperation has expanded to include all six DFMs. All tissue establishments (TEs) were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their cooperation with DFMs from 2011 through 2013.

Results:

A total of 298 actual donors were identified; 1090 tissues were procured including cardiovascular tissue, cornea, sclera, ear bones, and skin for transplantation. Of the tissues distributed, 553 were for transplantation and 72 for other medical purposes. Twenty-three percent of the tissues were discarded. Reasons for tissue rejection included deficient tissue quality (65%), positive serology tests (9%), positive bacteriology tests after decontamination procedures (7%), technical errors (<1%), and other reasons (18%).

Conclusion:

Nineteen percent of all tissues distributed for transplantation came from donors in DFMs. The cooperation between DFMs and TEs was described as well functioning and excellent. Education and national courses in tissue procurement for employees in DFMs are contributing factors to such positive interactions. The support from the National Board of Forensic Medicine is an important factor for sustainable progress.
Transcriptomic and behavioural characterisation of a mouse model of burn pain identify the cholecystokinin 2 receptor as an analgesic target
Authors: Yin Kathleen , Deuis Jennifer R , Lewis Richard J , Vetter Irina
Published: August 2016

Burn injury is a cause of significant mortality and morbidity worldwide and is frequently associated with severe and long-lasting pain that remains difficult to manage throughout recovery. We characterised a mouse model of burn-induced pain using pharmacological and transcriptomic approaches. Mechanical allodynia elicited by burn injury was partially reversed by meloxicam (5 mg/kg), gabapentin (100 mg/kg) and oxycodone (3 and 10 mg/kg), while thermal allodynia and gait abnormalities were only significantly improved by amitriptyline (3 mg/kg) and oxycodone (10 mg/kg). The need for relatively high opioid doses to elicit analgesia suggested a degree of opioid resistance, similar to that shown clinically in burn patients. We thus assessed the gene expression changes in dorsal root ganglion neurons and pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning burn injury-induced pain using a transcriptomic approach. Burn injury was associated with significantly increased expression of genes associated with axon guidance, neuropeptide signalling, behavioural defence response and extracellular signalling, confirming a mixed neuropathic and inflammatory aetiology. Notably, among the pain-related genes that were upregulated post-injury was the cholecystokinin 2 receptor ( Cckbr), a G protein-coupled receptor known as a pain target involved in reducing opioid effectiveness. Indeed, the clinically used cholecystokinin receptor antagonist proglumide (30 mg/kg) was effective at reversing mechanical allodynia, with additional analgesia evident in combination with low-dose oxycodone (1 mg/kg), including significant reversal of thermal allodynia. These findings highlight the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning burn injury-induced pain and suggest that cholecystokinin-2 receptor antagonists may be useful clinically as adjuvants to decrease opioid requirements and improve analgesic management.
Suture button reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane in Essex-Lopresti lesions: a comparative biomechanical investigation
Authors: Hackl M. , Andermahr J. , Staat M. , Bremer I. , Borggrefe J. , Prescher A. , Müller L. P. , Wegmann K.
Published: August 2016

Surgical reconstruction of the interosseous membrane may restore longitudinal forearm stability in Essex-Lopresti lesions. This study aimed to compare the longitudinal stability of the intact forearm with a single-bundle and a double-bundle reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane using digital image correlation with a three-dimensional camera system. Single and cyclic axial loading of eight fresh-frozen forearm specimens was carried out in the intact state, after creation of an Essex-Lopresti lesion, after a single-bundle and after a double-bundle reconstruction of the central band using a TightRope® (Arthrex GmbH, Munich, Germany) construct. Instability significantly increased after creation of an Essex-Lopresti lesion. The stability of intact specimens was similar to both reconstruction techniques. The results of this study suggest that TightRope® reconstruction of the central band restores longitudinal forearm stability. However, the single-bundle technique may be less reliable than double-bundle reconstruction.

Level of evidence: Basic Science Study
Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury in Neurocritical Care Patients Receiving Continuous Hypertonic Saline
Authors: Erdman Michael J. , Riha Heidi , Bode Lauren , Chang Jason J. , Jones G. Morgan
Published: August 2016

Background and Purpose:

Continuous intravenous 3% hypertonic saline (HTS) infusions are commonly used for the management of cerebral edema following severe neurologic injuries. Despite widespread use, data regarding the incidence and predictors of nephrotoxicity are lacking. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence and identify predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in neurocritical care patients administered continuous infusion HTS.

Methods:

This was an institutional review board–approved, multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients receiving HTS infusions at 2 academic medical centers. A univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify predictors of AKI. Data regarding AKI were evaluated during treatment with HTS and up to 24 hours after discontinuation.

Results:

A total of 329 patients were included in our analysis, with 54 (16%) developing AKI. Those who developed AKI experienced significantly longer stays in the intensive care unit (14.8 vs 11.5 days; P = .006) and higher mortality (48.1% vs 21.9%; P < .001). We identified past medical history of chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR]: 9.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-50.6; P = .007), serum sodium greater than 155 mmol/L (OR: 4.1, 95% CI: 2.1-8.0; P < .001), concomitant administration of piperacillin/tazobactam (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.7-9.3; P = .002), male gender (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.5-6.6; P = .002), and African American race (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.2; P = .007) as independent predictors of AKI.

Conclusion:

Acute kidney injury is relatively common in patients receiving continuous HTS and may significantly impact clinical outcomes.
Self-efficacy in treating tobacco use: A review article
Authors: Elshatarat Rami Azmi , Yacoub Mohammed Ibrahim , Khraim Fadi Marwan , Saleh Zyad Taher , Afaneh Tareq Rateb
Published: August 2016

Globally, tobacco use continues to be a major health care concern. Despite strong recommendations to quit smoking, tobacco users are experiencing difficulties in quitting. The purpose of this integrative review is to discuss self-efficacy theory as an important behavioral therapy for treating tobacco use and nicotine dependence. Moreover, the paper proposes a literature-derived model that employs self-efficacy as a central component for treating tobacco use and nicotine dependence. Eleven relevant articles were included in this review. Self-efficacy has an important role in smoking cessation. Improving self-efficacy enhances the individual’s success in quitting tobacco use and preventing relapse. Moreover, incorporating self-efficacy as a cognitive behavioral intervention has shown various degrees of success for treating tobacco use and nicotine dependence. In order to offer guidance to health care providers assisting in quitting tobacco, a model that integrates self-efficacy as a central component of the quitting process is proposed.
Entrepreneurs Establishing Political Connection
Authors: Denis Akouwerabou B.
Published: August 2016

Political connection is multiform, and each of its components may affect the enterprise in different ways. In this article, we have studied the advantages of two types of political connections with data from private enterprises. An enterprise can financially support a political party’s campaigns or support only a single candidate of a political party. The enterprises choose between these two types of political connections according to the respective profitability of each. We make use of primary data collected in 2014 from enterprises that take part in Burkina Faso’s public procurements to analyze the expenses and profits linked to each of these political connections. The database has helped us to identify three categories of enterprises according to the type of political connection being implemented. The first category of enterprises financially supports only political parties, and the second finances only politicians. The third category is composed of those that finance both politicians and political parties. The data show that the enterprises that establish both types of political connections bear more expenses. These enterprises also earn more public contracts. The difference in treatment between these three types of enterprises is only viewed at the level of the number of public contracts obtained. This process allows us to say that the only advantage linked to the establishment of political connection in Burkina Faso is the profitability linked to government procurements. Our data do not address the hypothesis of tax reduction as a benefit of a given category.
Identification of glycans on plasma-derived ADAMTS13
Authors: Verbij Fabian C. , Stokhuijzen Eva , Kaijen Paul H. P. , van Alphen Floris , Meijer Alexander B. , Voorberg Jan
Published: August 2016

Key Points

ADAMTS13 contains complex type N-linked glycans, which contain terminal mannose, sialic acids, and fucose residues. TSP1 repeats are modified by O-fucosylation and C-mannosylation; O-fucosylation was also observed in the disintegrin domain.
Fusing literature and full network data improves disease similarity computation
Authors: Li Ping , Nie Yaling , Yu Jingkai
Published: August 2016

Background

Identifying relatedness among diseases could help deepen understanding for the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of diseases, and facilitate drug repositioning projects. A number of methods for computing disease similarity had been developed; however, none of them were designed to utilize information of the entire protein interaction network, using instead only those interactions involving disease causing genes. Most of previously published methods required gene-disease association data, unfortunately, many diseases still have very few or no associated genes, which impeded broad adoption of those methods. In this study, we propose a new method (MedNetSim) for computing disease similarity by integrating medical literature and protein interaction network. MedNetSim consists of a network-based method (NetSim), which employs the entire protein interaction network, and a MEDLINE-based method (MedSim), which computes disease similarity by mining the biomedical literature.

Results

Among function-based methods, NetSim achieved the best performance. Its average AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) reached 95.2 %. MedSim, whose performance was even comparable to some function-based methods, acquired the highest average AUC in all semantic-based methods. Integration of MedSim and NetSim (MedNetSim) further improved the average AUC to 96.4 %. We further studied the effectiveness of different data sources. It was found that quality of protein interaction data was more important than its volume. On the contrary, higher volume of gene-disease association data was more beneficial, even with a lower reliability. Utilizing higher volume of disease-related gene data further improved the average AUC of MedNetSim and NetSim to 97.5 % and 96.7 %, respectively.

Conclusions

Integrating biomedical literature and protein interaction network can be an effective way to compute disease similarity. Lacking sufficient disease-related gene data, literature-based methods such as MedSim can be a great addition to function-based algorithms. It may be beneficial to steer more resources torward studying gene-disease associations and improving the quality of protein interaction data. Disease similarities can be computed using the proposed methods at http://www.digintelli.com:8000/.
Middle ear ventilation status postoperatively after translabyrinthine resection of vestibular schwannoma with mastoid obliteration and Eustachian tube occlusion: Is the Eustachian tube enough to ventilate the middle ear without the mastoid air cell system?
Authors: Belyea James , Wickens Brandon , Bance Manohar
Published: August 2016

Background

Gas pressure balance is essential for maintaining normal middle ear function. The mucosal surfaces of the middle ear, the mastoid air cell system (MACS), and the Eustachian tube (ET) play a critical role in this process; however, the extent that each of these factors contributes to overall middle ear ventilation is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if the ET alone can maintain normal middle ear pressure without the MACS. To do this, we reviewed subjects who had their MACS completely removed with translabyrinthine (TL) surgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was done to collect pre and postoperative tympanometry data from patients who underwent resection of vestibular schwannoma. Data from the operative side was compared to the non-operative side at 2 years post-op.

Results

Twenty-four patients were included in this study. Of these, 63 % achieved a type A tympanogram at 2 years post-op in the TL resection group, implying an ability to maintain middle ear pressure in the absence of a mastoid cavity. Because some had negative pressures post TL resection, the average change in pre and postoperative pressure was -37.5 daPa for the operative side and 7.8 daPa for the non-operative side. This was significantly different.

Discussion

The difference for change in pre and postoperative pressure and compliance between operative and non-operative side might be expected from the ET plugging during TL resection. However, more interesting are those patients in whom the ET presumably reopens, and in these subjects, despite having no mastoid compartment at all, and the space obliterated with fat, they were still able to maintain normal ventilation of the middle ear space.

Conclusion

Our findings imply that the ET alone is adequate to ventilate at least the reduced middle ear space following TL surgery in most subjects, and perhaps in 100 % if the ET hadn't been plugged during surgery. Hence, the mastoid air cell system, even when healthy, is not needed to maintain air in the middle year cleft.
Assessment of Imaging Modalities and Response Metrics in Ewing Sarcoma: Correlation With Survival
Authors: Koshkin Vadim S. , Bolejack Vanessa , Schwartz Lawrence H. , Wahl Richard L. , Chugh Rashmi , Reinke Denise K. , Zhao Binsheng , O Joo H. , Patel Shreyaskumar R. , Schuetze Scott M. , Baker Laurence H.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Despite the rapidly increasing use of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) –positron emission tomography (PET), the comparison of anatomic and functional imaging in the assessment of clinical outcomes has been lacking. In addition, there has not been a rigorous evaluation of how common radiologic criteria or the location of the radiology reader (local v central) compare in the ability to predict benefit. In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of various radiologic response assessments for the prediction of overall survival (OS) within the same data set of patients with sarcoma.

Methods

We analyzed assessments made during a clinical trial of a novel IGF1R antibody in Ewing sarcoma: PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST) for functional imaging and WHO criteria (performed locally and centrally), RECIST, and volumetric analysis for anatomic imaging. We compared the effectiveness of the various criteria for the prediction of progression and survival.

Results

For volume analysis, progression—defined as cumulative lesion volume increase of 100% at 6 weeks—was the optimal cutoff for decreased OS (P < .001). Assessment of the day-9 FDG-PET scan was associated with reduced OS in progressors compared with nonprogressors (P = .001) and with improved OS in responders compared with nonresponders. Significant variations in response (18% to 44%) and progression (9% to 50%) were observed between the different criteria. The comparison of central and local interpretation of anatomic imaging produced similar outcomes. PET was superior to anatomic imaging in identification of a response. Volume analysis identified the most responders among the anatomic imaging criteria.

Conclusion

An early signal with FDG-PET on day 9 and volume analysis were the best predictors of benefit. Validation of the volumetric analysis is required.
A Convenient Method for Evaluating Epithelial Cell Proliferation in the Whole Mammary Glands of Female Mice
Authors: Berryhill Grace E. , Brust-Mascher Ingrid , Huynh Jill H. , Famula Thomas R. , Reardon Colin , Hovey Russell C.
Published: August 2016

The mammary glands (MG) undergo rapid expansion of the ductal network during puberty in response to endocrine cues including the potent mitogenic effects of estrogen. The proliferation of mammary epithelial cells occurs in a spatially distinctive manner, where terminal end buds located at the ductal termini are the primary site of cell division. Here, we present a relatively high throughput approach to spatially assess epithelial cell proliferation in whole mouse MG using histochemical detection of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine in conjunction with a standard curve-based data deconvolution technique to semiquantitatively measure proliferation via wide-field epifluorescent microscopy. This approach was validated against the “gold standard” of counting labeled nuclei from confocal images utilizing computer-assisted image analysis. Our method proved sensitive enough to describe the significant and spatially variable proliferative response to low-dose estrogen after 108 hours. This flexible method presents a timely and economical approach to obtaining spatial information regarding epithelial cell proliferation in the mouse MG.
Impact of Month of Birth on the Risk of Development of Autoimmune Addison’s Disease
Authors: Pazderska Agnieszka , Fichna Marta , Mitchell Anna L. , Napier Catherine M. , Gan Earn , Ruchała Marek , Santibanez-Koref Mauro , Pearce Simon H.
Published: August 2016

Context:

The pathogenesis of autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) is thought to be due to interplay of genetic, immune, and environmental factors. A month-of-birth effect, with increased risk for those born in autumn/winter months, has been described in autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroid disease.

Objective:

Month-of-birth effect was investigated in 2 independent cohorts of AAD subjects.

Design, Setting, and Patients:

The monthly distribution of birth in AAD patients was compared with that of the general population using the cosinor test. A total of 415 AAD subjects from the United Kingdom cohort were compared with 8 180 180 United Kingdom births, and 231 AAD subjects from the Polish cohort were compared with 2 421 384 Polish births.

Main Outcome Measures:

Association between month of birth and the susceptibility to AAD.

Results:

In the entire cohort of AAD subjects, month-of-birth distribution analysis showed significant periodicity with peak of births in December and trough in May (P = .028). Analysis of the odds ratio distribution based on month of birth in 2 cohorts of patients with AAD versus the general population revealed a December peak and May trough, and January peak and July trough, in the United Kingdom and Polish cohorts, respectively.

Conclusion:

For the first time, we demonstrate that month of birth exerts an effect on the risk of developing AAD, with excess risk in individuals born in winter months and a protective effect when born in the summer. Exposure to seasonal viral infections in the perinatal period, coupled with vitamin D deficiency, could lead to dysregulation of innate immunity affecting the risk of developing AAD.
Adipocyte Browning and Higher Mitochondrial Function in Periadrenal But Not SC Fat in Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Vergnes Laurent , Davies Graeme R. , Lin Jason Y. , Yeh Michael W. , Livhits Masha J. , Harari Avital , Symonds Michael E. , Sacks Harold S. , Reue Karen
Published: August 2016

Context:

Patients with pheochromocytoma (pheo) show presence of multilocular adipocytes that express uncoupling protein 1 within periadrenal (pADR) and omental (OME) fat depots. It has been hypothesized that this is due to adrenergic stimulation by catecholamines produced by the pheo tumors.

Objective:

To characterize the prevalence and respiratory activity of brown-like adipocytes within pADR, OME, and SC fat depots in human adult pheo patients.

Design:

This was an observational cohort study.

Setting:

The study took place in a university hospital.

Patients:

We studied 46 patients who underwent surgery for benign adrenal tumors (21 pheos and 25 controls with adrenocortical adenomas).

Main outcome measure:

We characterized adipocyte browning in pADR, SC, and OME fat depots for histological and immunohistological features, mitochondrial respiration rate, and gene expression. We also determined circulating levels of catecholamines and other browning-related hormones.

Results:

Eleven of 21 pheo pADR adipose samples, but only one of 25 pADR samples from control patients exhibited multilocular adipocytes. The pADR browning phenotype was associated with higher plasma catecholamines and raised uncoupling protein 1. Mitochondria from multilocular pADR fat of pheo patients exhibited increased rates of coupled and uncoupled respiration. Global gene expression analysis in pADR fat revealed enrichment in β-oxidation genes in pheo patients with multilocular adipocytes. No SC or OME fat depots exhibited aspects of browning.

Conclusion:

Browning of the pADR depot occurred in half of pheo patients and was associated with increased catecholamines and mitochondrial activity. No browning was detected in other fat depots, suggesting that other factors are required to promote browning in these depots.