bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A clinicopathological and brain MRI study in Egyptian children with mitochondrial disorders
Authors: Ghaffar Hadeer A. , Hamdi Maha M. , Hagras Amal M. , Nakhla Gina A. , Kamel Ahmed M. , Selim Laila A.
Published: July 2015

This prospective study was undertaken to focus on the clinicopathological aspects as well as the value of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children suffering from mitochondriopathies. Thirty-one patients [15 males (48.4%) and 16 females (51.6%)] gathered from the neuropediatric and metabolic clinic of Cairo University Children Hospital were included in this study. All patients were subjected to a thorough history and a meticulous clinical examination, computerized tomography and (MRI), electromyography and nerve conduction velocity. Muscle biopsies were performed in 18/31 patients and were subjected to both cytochrome c oxidase (COX) staining and electron microscopic (EM) examination. Laboratory tests including serum lactate and pyruvate, serum creatine kinase (CK), urine and plasma aminogram, urine organic acid profile, acyl carnitine profile, enzymatic analysis for arylsulfatase, galactocerebrosidase, very long chain fatty acids, acetyl aspartase were also performed when needed. Patients were classified according to their clinical phenotypes into: mitochondrial leukoencephalopathy (3/31), Leigh syndrome (7/31), neuropathy, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (2/31), mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (6/31), Leber’s hereditary opticneuropathy (4/31), mitochondrial encephalopathy, red ragged fibers (MERRF) (1/31). Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis (MELAS) (1/31), familial dystonia (4/31), and mitochondrial myopathy (3/31). The main neurological manifestations in their order of frequency were global developmental delay (20; 64.5%), spasticity (16; 51.6%), hypotonia (12; 38.7%), convulsions (10; 32.3%), sensory neural deafness (7; 22.6%), dystonia (7; 22.6%) optic atrophy (5; 16.1%), proximal muscle weakness (3; 9.7%), retinitis pigmentosa (2; 6.5%) and ataxia (2; 6.5%). Electromyography and nerve conduction study were normal in 18/31 (58%), myopathic in 7/31 (22.6%) and neuropathic in 6/31 (19.4%) patients. CK was significantly increased in only 3/31 (9.7%) patients. The main MRI findings were basal ganglia abnormalities appearing as bilateral and symmetrical high signal intensity lesions on T2 weighted MRI (11/28; 39.3%). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in 7 patients and all were showing an increase lactate peak. EM examination revealed a subsarcolemmal aggregation of mitochondria in (12/18; 66.7%) and or a large and bizarre shaped mitochondria in (8/18; 44.4%), nonspecific myopathic changes in (3/18; 16.7%). Histochemical analysis of muscle biopsies using COX staining revealed a COX- vein (5/11; 45.5%), COX + vein (6/11; 54.5%), and myopathic changes in (3/18; 16.7%) patients. In conclusion, MRI and MRS are proved a promising tool in the diagnosis of mitochondrial cytopathies. MRS is a sensitive, non-invasive tool to evaluate the pathological lactate production in metabolic brain disease with disturbed energy production.
Cochlear Implantation and Single-sided Deafness: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Cabral Junior Francisco , Pinna Mariana , Alves Ricardo , Malerbi Andrea , Bento Ricardo
Published: July 2015

Introduction Current data show that binaural hearing is superior to unilateral hearing, specifically in the understanding of speech in noisy environments. Furthermore, unilateral hearing reduce onés ability to localize sound.

Objectives This study provides a systematic review of recent studies to evaluate the outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) with regards to speech discrimination, sound localization and tinnitus suppression.

Data Synthesis We performed a search in the PubMed, Cochrane Library and Lilacs databases to assess studies related to cochlear implantation in patients with unilateral deafness. After critical appraisal, eleven studies were selected for data extraction and analysis of demographic, study design and outcome data.

Conclusion Although some studies have shown encouraging results on cochlear implantation and SSD, all fail to provide a high level of evidence. Larger studies are necessary to define the tangible benefits of cochlear implantation in patients with SSD.
Simulation and experimental determination of the online separation of blood components with the help of microfluidic cascading spirals
Authors: Sprenger Lisa , Dutz Silvio , Schneider Thomas , Odenbach Stefan , Häfeli Urs O.
Published: July 2015

Microfluidic spirals were used to successfully separate rare solid components from unpretreated human whole blood samples. The measured separation ratio of the spirals is the factor by which the concentration of the rare component is increased due to the Dean effect present in a flow profile in a curved duct. Different rates of dilution of the blood samples with a phosphate-buffered solution were investigated. The diameters of the spherical particles to separate ranged from 2 μm to 18 μm. It was found that diluting the blood to 20% is optimal leading to a separation ratio up to 1.97. Using two spirals continuously placed in a row led to an increase in separation efficacy in samples consisting of phosphate-buffered solution only from 1.86 to 3.79. Numerical investigations were carried out to display the flow profiles of Newtonian water samples and the shear-thinning blood samples in the cross-section of the experimentally handled channels. A macroscopic difference in velocity between the two rheologically different fluids could not be found. The macroscopic Dean flow is equally present and useful to help particles migrate to certain equilibrium positions in blood as well as lower viscous Newtonian fluids. The investigations highlight the potential for using highly concentrated, very heterogeneous, and non-Newtonian fluidic systems in known microsystems for screening applications.
Size dependence of spin-wave modes in Ni80Fe20 nanodisks
Authors: Lupo P. , Kumar D. , Adeyeye A. O.
Published: July 2015

We investigate the radial and azimuthal spin-wave (SW) resonance modes in permalloy (Py: Ni80Fe20) disks at zero external magnetic field, as function of disk diameter and thickness, using broadband ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy. We observed, from both experimental and micromagnetic simulation results that the number of SW absorption peaks increases with disk diameter. Numerically calculated SW mode profiles revealed a characteristic minimum size, which does not scale proportionately with the increasing disk diameter. We show that higher order modes could thus be avoided with an appropriate choice of the disk diameter (smaller than the minimum mode size). Moreover, based on the mode profiles, the existence of azimuthal SW modes with even number of crests or troughs can be ruled out. These results could be useful in enhancing our fundamental understanding as well as engineering of new magnonic devices.
Asynchronous embryo transfer as a tool to understand embryo–uterine interaction in cattle: is a large conceptus a good thing?
Authors: Randi Federico , Fernandez-Fuertes Beatriz , McDonald Michael , Forde Niamh , Kelly Alan K. , Bastos Amorin Habner , Muniz de Lima Eduardo , Morotti Fabio , Marcondes Seneda Marcelo , Lonergan Patrick
Published: July 2015

The aim was to examine the effect of embryo–uterine synchrony on conceptus elongation and pregnancy rate in cattle. In Study 1, crossbred beef heifers each received 10 Day-7 in vitro-produced blastocysts on either Day 5, 7 or 9 after oestrus. A proportion of Day 5 recipients were supplemented with progesterone, via a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device from Days 3–5 plus either 750 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin or 3000 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin on Day 3. At embryo age Day 14, all heifers were slaughtered and the uterus was flushed. Fewer recipients yielded conceptuses (P < 0.05) and fewer conceptuses were recovered (P < 0.05) following transfer on Day 5 compared with Day 7 or 9. Supplementation with progesterone resulted in short cycles in approximately 50% of recipients. Mean conceptus length was greater (P < 0.05) following transfer to an advanced uterus. In Study 2, overall pregnancy rate following the fresh transfer of a single in vitro-produced blastocyst was 43.5% (2065/4749). Transfer of a Day 7 embryo to a synchronous Day-7 uterus resulted in a pregnancy rate of 47.3%. Transfer to a Day-5 (40.8%) or a Day-8 (41.3%) uterus moderately impacted pregnancy rate (P < 0.01) while transfer to a uterus 2 days in advance (Day-9, 24.4%) or 3 days behind (Day-4, 27.0%) reduced (P < 0.001) pregnancy rate compared with synchronous transfers. In conclusion, transfer of an embryo into an advanced uterus results in an acceleration of conceptus development, but does not result in greater pregnancy rates.
Canonical, stable, general mapping using context schemes
Authors: Novak Adam M. , Rosen Yohei , Haussler David , Paten Benedict
Published: July 2015

Motivation: Sequence mapping is the cornerstone of modern genomics. However, most existing sequence mapping algorithms are insufficiently general.

Results: We introduce context schemes: a method that allows the unambiguous recognition of a reference base in a query sequence by testing the query for substrings from an algorithmically defined set. Context schemes only map when there is a unique best mapping, and define this criterion uniformly for all reference bases. Mappings under context schemes can also be made stable, so that extension of the query string (e.g. by increasing read length) will not alter the mapping of previously mapped positions. Context schemes are general in several senses. They natively support the detection of arbitrary complex, novel rearrangements relative to the reference. They can scale over orders of magnitude in query sequence length. Finally, they are trivially extensible to more complex reference structures, such as graphs, that incorporate additional variation. We demonstrate empirically the existence of high-performance context schemes, and present efficient context scheme mapping algorithms.

Availability and implementation: The software test framework created for this study is available from https://registry.hub.docker.com/u/adamnovak/sequence-graphs/.

Contact:  anovak@soe.ucsc.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Designing alternative splicing RNA-seq studies. Beyond generic guidelines
Authors: Stephan-Otto Attolini Camille , Peña Victor , Rossell David
Published: July 2015

Motivation: Designing an RNA-seq study depends critically on its specific goals, technology and underlying biology, which renders general guidelines inadequate. We propose a Bayesian framework to customize experiments so that goals can be attained and resources are not wasted, with a focus on alternative splicing.

Results: We studied how read length, sequencing depth, library preparation and the number of replicates affects cost-effectiveness of single-sample and group comparison studies. Optimal settings varied strongly according to the target organism or tissue (potential 50–500% cost cuts) and, interestingly, short reads outperformed long reads for standard analyses. Our framework learns key characteristics for study design from the data, and predicts if and how to continue experimentation. These predictions matched several follow-up experimental datasets that were used for validation. We provide default pipelines, but the framework can be combined with other data analysis methods and can help assess their relative merits.

Availability and implementation: casper package at www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/casper.html, Supplementary Manual by typing casperDesign() at the R prompt.

Contact: rosselldavid@gmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Friction laws from dimensional-analysis point of view
Authors: Hatano Takahiro
Published: July 2015

Friction laws, which are a key to the understanding of the diversity of earthquakes, are considered theoretically. Using dimensional analysis, the logarithmic dependence of the friction coefficient on the slip velocity and the state variable is derived without any knowledge of the underlying physical processes on the frictional surface. This is based on a simple assumption that the friction coefficient is expressed as the difference from a reference state. Therefore, the functional form of the rate and state dependent friction law itself does not necessarily mean that thermal activation processes dominate friction. It is also shown that if there are two (or more) state variables having the same dimension, we need not assume the logarithmic dependence on the state variables.
Sterile Corneal Infiltrates Secondary to Psoriasis Exacerbations: Topical Tacrolimus as an Alternative Treatment Option
Authors: Gonzalez-Andrades Miguel , Arias-Santiago Salvador , García-Serrano José Luis , González Gallardo María del Carmen , McAlinden Colm
Published: July 2015

Introduction:

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Ocular manifestations, which occur in 10% to 20% of cases of psoriasis, are usually bilateral and often present during an exacerbation of the psoriasis. Serious corneal involvement is rare but can be devastating.

Case Report:

Two cases of sterile corneal infiltrates secondary to an exacerbation of psoriasis are presented. Treatment involved the use of 0.02% topical tacrolimus ointment, which resulted in resolution of the symptoms and infiltrates.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Topical tacrolimus may be considered as an alternative treatment option to corticosteroids in sterile corneal infiltrates.
FTO Polymorphism rs9939609 Contributes to Weight Changes in Children With Celiac Disease on Gluten‐Free Diet
Authors: Grandone Anna , Marzuillo Pierluigi , Cirillo Grazia , Squitieri Rosanna , Tolone Salvatore , Miraglia del Giudice Emanuele , Perrone Laura , Tolone Carlo
Published: July 2015

Objectives:

Studies of adults and children with celiac disease have reported an increased risk of overweight during gluten‐free diet (GFD). The fat mass and obesity‐associated gene (FTO) variant rs9939609 has been associated with increased risk of developing obesity in children and adults.

Methods:

In our study, we analyzed the effect of this variant on weight gain in a cohort of 280 children with celiac disease on GFD.

Results:

We found that after a mean follow‐up time of 3.0 years on GFD, FTO polymorphism influenced significantly the mean change in body mass index z score (P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

We conclude that the FTO gene contributes to determine weight changes in children with celiac disease on GFD.
Implementation of an Advanced Nursing Directive for Children With Right Lower Quadrant Pain
Authors: Thompson Graham C. , Kwong Simon , Bobrovitz Niklas , Yang Stephanie , Pols Erin Kate , Stang Antonia S. , Eccles Robin C. , Kazoleas Veronica
Published: July 2015

Objectives

Advanced nursing directives (ANDs) empower nursing staff to provide advanced levels of care before physician assessment. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine whether an AND for right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain could identify children who required any further investigation to diagnose appendicitis and (2) to determine whether children meeting AND criteria had better emergency department (ED) flow metrics compared with those who did not meet the criteria.

Methods

Health records of children aged 3 to 17 years presenting to the ED with abdominal pain who were managed using the departmental AND for RLQ pain were reviewed. Primary outcomes included (1) the proportion of patients requiring further investigation to diagnose appendicitis and (2) the time interval from triage to blood draw. Secondary outcomes included additional ED flow metrics, perforation rate, and negative appendectomy rate.

Results

An AND was completed for 210 children. Those who met the AND criteria were more likely to undergo further investigation to rule out appendicitis than those who did not meet the criteria (92/137 [67.2%] vs 32/73 [43.8%]; odds ratio [OR], 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40–4.90). Time to blood draw was significantly lower for those children meeting the AND criteria (74 vs 162 minutes, P < 0.001) as was time to hospital admission (271 vs 395 minutes, P = 0.008) and appendectomy (498 vs 602 minutes, P = 0.015). The negative appendectomy rate was 8.6% (5/58) for children meeting the AND criteria and 9.1% (2/22) for those not meeting the criteria (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.14–10.67); the perforation rate was 29.3% (17/58) and 4.5% (1/22), respectively (OR, 8.17; 95% CI, 1.17–380.86).

Conclusions

Children presenting to the ED with RLQ pain who meet the AND criteria are more likely to require further investigation to rule out appendicitis and have better department flow metrics than those who do not meet the criteria. Our results provide further evidence of the utility of ANDs in the ED.
Coordination nano-space as stage of hydrogen ortho–para conversion
Authors: Kosone Takashi , Hori Akihiro , Nishibori Eiji , Kubota Yoshiki , Mishima Akio , Ohba Masaaki , Tanaka Hiroshi , Kato Kenichi , Kim Jungeun , Real José Antonio , Kitagawa Susumu , Takata Masaki
Published: July 2015

The ability to design and control properties of nano-sized space in porous coordination polymers (PCPs) would provide us with an ideal stage for fascinating physical and chemical phenomena. We found an interconversion of nuclear-spin isomers for hydrogen molecule H
2
adsorbed in a Hofmann-type PCP, {Fe(pz)[Pd(CN)
4
]} (pz=pyrazine), by the temperature dependence of Raman spectra. The ortho (o)–para (p) conversion process of H
2
is forbidden for an isolated molecule. The charge density study using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction reveals the electric field generated in coordination nano-space. The present results corroborate similar findings observed on different systems and confirm that o–p conversion can occur on non-magnetic solids and that electric field can induce the catalytic hydrogen o–p conversion.
Proximate causes of the red face of the bald uakari monkey (
Cacajao calvus
)
Authors: Mayor P. , Mamani J. , Montes D. , González-Crespo C. , Sebastián M. A. , Bowler M.
Published: July 2015

In social species, such as primates, facial appearances transmit a variety of social signals. Although it is suggested that the intense red colour of the face of the bald uakari monkey might be an indicator of health, this hypothesis still has not been verified. This study describes the histological structure of the skin of the face in the bald uakari, compared with other non-red neotropical primates, to better understand the maintenance of its colour. The facial skin of the bald uakari monkey is characterized by a thinner epidermis, absence of melanin pigments and a high density of vascular capillaries that spread below the epidermis. These vascular capillaries are larger and more tortuous than in other neotropical primates. The skin of the face of the bald uakari monkey allows a direct external assessment of haematological status, suggesting that the colour of the face would be an honest indicator of health, but could also signal sexual or behavioural states.
A two-state hysteresis model from high-dimensional friction
Authors: Biswas Saurabh , Chatterjee Anindya
Published: July 2015

In prior work (Biswas & Chatterjee 2014
Proc. R. Soc. A
470, 20130817 (
doi:10.1098/rspa.2013.0817
)), we developed a six-state hysteresis model from a high-dimensional frictional system. Here, we use a more intuitively appealing frictional system that resembles one studied earlier by Iwan. The basis functions now have simple analytical description. The number of states required decreases further, from six to the theoretical minimum of two. The number of fitted parameters is reduced by an order of magnitude, to just six. An explicit and faster numerical solution method is developed. Parameter fitting to match different specified hysteresis loops is demonstrated. In summary, a new two-state model of hysteresis is presented that is ready for practical implementation. Essential Matlab code is provided.
Moving breathers and breather-to-soliton conversions for the Hirota equation
Authors: Chowdury A. , Ankiewicz A. , Akhmediev N.
Published: July 2015

We find that the Hirota equation admits breather-to-soliton conversion at special values of the solution eigenvalues. This occurs for the first-order, as well as higher orders, of breather solutions. An analytic expression for the condition of the transformation is given and several examples of transformations are presented. The values of these special eigenvalues depend on two free parameters that are present in the Hirota equation. We also find that higher order breathers generally have complicated quasi-periodic oscillations along the direction of propagation. Various breather solutions are considered, including the particular case of second-order breathers of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.
Binding energy and mechanical stability of two parallel and crossing carbon nanotubes
Authors: Zhao Junhua , Jia Yue , Wei Ning , Rabczuk Timon
Published: July 2015

The binding energy between two parallel (and two crossing) single-walled (and multi-walled) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is obtained by continuum modelling of the van der Waals interaction between them. The dependence of the binding energy on their diameters, number of walls and crossing angles is systematically analysed. The critical length for the mechanical stability and adhesion of the CNTs is determined by the function of
E

i

I

i

,
h
and
γ
, where
E

i

I

i

,
h
and
γ
are the CNTs bending stiffness, distance and binding energy between them, respectively. Checking against full atom molecular dynamics calculations show that the continuum solution has high accuracy. The established analytical solutions should be of great help for designing nanoelectromechanical devices.
Life-history evolution at the molecular level: adaptive amino acid composition of avian vitellogenins
Authors: Hughes Austin L.
Published: July 2015

Avian genomes typically encode three distinct vitellogenin (VTG) egg yolk proteins (VTG1, VTG2 and VTG3), which arose by gene duplication prior to the most recent common ancestor of birds. Analysis of VTG sequences from 34 avian species in a phylogenetic framework supported the hypothesis that VTG amino acid composition has co-evolved with embryo incubation time. Embryo incubation time was positively correlated with the proportions of dietary essential amino acids (EAAs) in VTG1 and VTG2, and with the proportion of sulfur-containing amino acids in VTG3. These patterns were seen even when only semi-altricial and/or altricial species were considered, suggesting that the duration of embryo incubation is a major selective factor on the amino acid composition of VTGs, rather than developmental mode alone. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the level of EAAs provided to the egg represents an adaptation to the loss of amino acids through breakdown over the course of incubation and imply that life-history phenotypes and VTG amino acid composition have co-evolved throughout the evolutionary history of birds.
Circlator: automated circularization of genome assemblies using long sequencing reads
Authors: Hunt Martin , De Silva Nishadi , Otto Thomas D , Parkhill Julian , Keane Jacqueline A , Harris Simon R
Published: July 2015

The assembly of DNA sequence data into finished genomes is undergoing a renais-sance thanks to emerging technologies producing reads of tens of kilobases. Assembling complete bacterial and small eukaryotic genomes is now possible, but the final step of circularizing sequences remains unsolved. Here we present Circlator, the first tool to automate assembly circularization and produce accurate linear rep-resentations of circular sequences. Using Pacific Biosciences and Oxford Nanopore data, Circlator correctly circularized 26 of 27 circularizable sequences, comprising 11 chromosomes and 12 plasmids from bacteria, the apicoplast and mitochondrion ofPlasmodium falciparumand a human mitochondrion. Circlator is available athttp://sanger-pathogens.github.io/circlator/.
Construction of China’s nominal energy condition index
Authors: Bai Caiquan , He Yiqing , Zhou Decai , Zhang Yi , Jiang Zhengyi
Published: July 2015

Purpose

The paper aims to know about energy condition’s impacts on inflation comprehensively.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructs China’s energy condition index (ECI) by bringing in three variables (China’s energy price, consumption and production) based on the financial condition index.

Findings

The result of empirical analysis shows that the index can predict China’s inflation well.

Originality/value

China’s ECI can predict China’s inflation well.
Energy consumption and growth in South Asia: evidence from a panel error correction model
Authors: Vidyarthi Harishankar
Published: July 2015

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to empirically examine the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth for a panel of five South Asian economies, namely, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal over the period from 1971 to 2010 within a multivariate framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses Pedroni cointegration and Granger causality test based on panel vector error correction model to examine long-run equilibrium relationship and direction of causation in the short and long run between energy consumption and economic growth using energy inclusive Cobb–Douglas production function for a panel of five South Asia countries, namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Findings

Pedroni’s panel cointegration test indicates the long-run equilibrium relationship between economic growth per capita, energy consumption per capita and real gross fixed capital formation per capita for panel. Further, 1 per cent increase in energy consumption per capita increases the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by 0.8424 per cent for the panel. Causality results suggest bidirectional causality between energy consumption per capita, gross fixed capital formation per capita and GDP per capita in the long run and unidirectional causality running from energy consumption per capita and gross fixed capital formation per capita to GDP per capita in the short run.

Practical implications

These South Asian countries should implement an expansionary energy policies through improving the energy infrastructure, energy efficiency measures and exploiting massive renewables’ availability for low-cost, affordable clean energy access for all, especially in the yet unserved rural and remote areas for further stimulating economic growth.

Originality/value

Implementing energy efficiency measures and massive renewables development (wind, solar and hydropower) may help the affordable and clean energy access and reducing fossils fuel dependence and its associated greenhouse emissions in South Asia.
Patient involvement in Danish health care
Authors: Vrangbaek Karsten
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate different types of patient involvement in Denmark, and to discuss the potential implications of pursuing several strategies for patient involvement simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents a preliminary framework for analysis of patient involvement in health care. This framework is used to analyze key governance features of patient involvement in Denmark based on previous research papers and reports describing patient involvement in Danish health care.

Findings

– Patient involvement is important in Denmark at the rhetorical level, and many policies and initiatives have been introduced. All three governance forms (voice, choice and co-production) are used. However, there are important barriers and limitations in translating the rhetoric into practice, and potential synergy and negative synergy effects can be identified when pursuing the strategies at the same time.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed framework further.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications for the development of patient involvement in health care.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfills a need to study different types of patient involvement and to develop a theoretical framework for characterizing and analyzing such involvement strategies.
Users’ involvement in the Italian NHS: the role of associations and self-help groups
Authors: Pavolini Emmanuele , Spina Elena
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to show the importance of considering patients’ and citizens’ associations for understanding users’ involvement in health care systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on both qualitative and quantitative data on Italy drawn from various sources (national statistics, own survey data, qualitative interviews).

Findings

– Although the paper avoids an excessively positive view of the success and frequency of collective patients’ participation, it nevertheless shows that the Italian National Health Care System (NHS) is undergoing important changes in this regard. Voice and co-production among patients, health care services and professionals have become more common and important also because of forms of collective action. Professionals themselves often belong to or promote such associations and groups. The Italian case also shows that voice and co-production tend frequently to merge into a single complex strategy where patients’ requests go along with their direct involvement in health care provision.

Social implications

– The study provides useful information for policy makers considering the implementation of policies that promote collective action in order to increase an active users’ participation in health care.

Originality/value

– This is one of the limited number of Italian studies which investigates users’ involvement in the NHS and collective action, thus adding knowledge to the limited research in this field.
User involvement in Slovenian healthcare
Authors: Kavcic Matic , Pahor Majda , Domajnko Barbara
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on current developments in user involvement in healthcare in Slovenia and to explore the issue from the macro-, mezzo- and micro-levels.

Design/methodology/approach

– User involvement is first contextualised within history of the organisation of healthcare system, from its socialist past through to its post-transitional developments. Second, user involvement is tracked through an analysis of healthcare policies and legislation as well as at its institutional and organisational levels. Finally, user involvement practices are illustrated from the perspective of individual patients. A descriptive and exploratory case study design was employed, including a literature review, document analysis and qualitative thematic analysis of nine in-depth and four semi-structured interviews.

Findings

– The findings reveal a complex and at times ambivalent picture in which user involvement is still not firmly embedded into the healthcare system, despite being generally accepted.

Originality/value

– No systematic qualitative research of patient involvement in Slovenia has previously been published. This research will establish a basis for further investigations of the topic.
Buzzing with disclosure of social shopping rewards
Authors: Coker Kesha K. , Smith Denise S , Altobello Suzanne A
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the dilemma that is based on a decision to disclose or not to disclose social shopping rewards (SSRs), in an effort to enhance the effectiveness of social shopping. To protect consumers and guide marketers, emergent forms of online commerce on social media platforms warrant closer examination. One such form is social shopping, which combines social media and online shopping. To motivate word of mouth (WOM) through social signs of approval or endorsement of brands, marketers have typically relied on social shopping rewards (SSRs). It is not typical, however, for the reason behind the social endorsement to be disclosed, leaving the branded message open to multiple interpretations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The dilemma of SSR disclosures is presented in a marketing and public policy analysis, drawing from findings from the WOM literature on disclosure, incentives, source credibility and on social media Disclosure Guidelines by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA). Based on this analysis and on an extension of the Dual Credibility Model, a conceptual model is proposed that shows how disclosure works through source credibility to produce positive social shopping outcomes.

Findings

– In addition to the conceptual model, recommendations are made for marketing research, practice and public policy. Of significance are proposed SSR Disclosure Guidelines that extend FTC and WOMMA guidelines for best practices in disclosures in social media.

Originality/value

– This paper represents pioneering research on the disclosure of SSRs.
Making use of elephants: lived experience and organisations
Authors: Paynter Sarah , Rivers Christine
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the surrounding attitudes, culture and workplace environment in which Oxleas NHS Foundation trust developed a network for staff with lived experience of mental ill health.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sarah Paynter completed an interview talking about her experiences with a peer, which was recorded, then the authors picked out relevant themes from this which are grounded in lived experience. The paper examines the theme of lived experience in the workplace in more depth, from a personal perspective (Sarah) and from an organisational perspective (Christine).

Findings

– There is a lack of dialogue about staff lived experience of mental ill health within the workplace. There are compelling reasons from both the perspective of the organisation and staff with lived experience for setting up a lived experience staff network. The authors note that increased dialogue and visibility has added value on both sides.

Originality/value

– This is a relatively new initiative in the NHS, and particularly in mental health trusts. The authors speak from their experiences in Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. This is of value to organisations looking to start dialogue and therefore improve the experiences of staff and the quality of the organisation.
An evaluation of key working for families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
Authors: Mengoni Silvana , Bardsley Janet , Oates John
Published: July 2015

Key working is a way of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families, and is highly regarded by families and practitioners. However, there is a lack of up‐to‐date research exploring key working in the current context of policy reforms in England. This article reports an evaluation of key working in four sites in England, with a particular focus on the SEND policy reforms. Key working resulted in a number of positive outcomes for children and young people, families and services, including helping services to meet the requirements of the SEND reforms. Challenging aspects included managing transitions and the relationship between key working practitioner and family, but successful strategies were identified. Key working supports the implementation of specific aspects of the English SEND reforms along with more general cultural change in services to align with families' needs and well‐established aspects of good practice.
Complicating Symmetric Peripheral Gangrene after Dopamine Therapy to Patients with Septic Shock
Authors: Dong Juan , Zhang Lingli , Rao Guangxun , Zhao Xiaohong
Published: July 2015

Dopamine is commonly used as a first‐line agent in the treatment of patients with septic shock. The use of dopamine rarely causes symmetric peripheral dry gangrene. If the symmetric peripheral dry gangrene occurs in the patient after dopamine injection, it easily leads to disagreement between doctors and patients. A 60‐year‐old woman who had sudden septic shock was sent to intensive care unit (ICU). She was received dopamine injection according to the routine during treatment. Over the next 3 months, her limbs developed to dry gangrene and required amputation. The result shows that the occurrence of dry gangrene could only be associated with the long‐term excessive use of dopamine according to the medical records. Although dopamine is a conventional drug for the treatment of septic shock, the forensic workers and clinicians must realize that vasopressors such as dopamine have been implicated directly or as a contributory cause in dry gangrene cases.
Severe Mental Illness, Somatic Delusions, and Attempted Mass Murder
Authors: Sarteschi Christine M.
Published: July 2015

A case of an attempted mass shooting at a large psychiatric hospital in the United States by a 30‐year‐old male with severe mental illness, somatic delusions, and exceptional access to healthcare professionals is reported. Six persons were shot, one died at the scene, and the shooter was then killed by the police. Data were gathered from court documents and media accounts. An analysis of the shooter's psychiatric history, his interactions with healthcare professionals, and communications prior to the shooting suggest a rare form of mass murder, a random attack by a documented psychotic and delusional individual suffering with somatic delusions. Despite his being psychotic, the killer planned the attack and made a direct threat 1 month prior to the shootings. This case highlights problems with the healthcare system, indicating that it might be ill equipped to appropriately deal with severe mental illness.
Comparison of CT‐based volumetric dosimetry with traditional prescription points in the treatment of cervical cancer with PDR brachytherapy
Authors: Lowrey Nicola , Nilsson Sanna , Moutrie Zoe , Chan Philip , Cheuk Robyn
Published: July 2015

Introduction

The traditional use of two‐dimensional geometric prescription points in intracavitary brachytherapy planning for locally advanced cervical cancer is increasingly being replaced by three‐dimensional (3D) planning. This study aimed to directly compare the two planning methods to validate that CT planning provides superior dosimetry for both tumour and organs at risk (OARs) in our department.

Methods

The CT planning data of 10 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer was audited. For each CT dataset, two new brachytherapy plans were created, comparing the dosimetry of conventional American Brachytherapy Society points and 3D‐optimised volumes created for the high‐risk clinical target volume (HR CTV) and OARs. Total biologically equivalent doses for these structures were calculated using the modified EQD2 formula and comparative dose‐volume histogram (DVH) analysis performed.

Results

DVH analysis revealed that for the 3D‐optimised plans, the prescription aim of D90 ≥ 100% was achieved for the HR CTV in all 10 patients. However, when prescribing to point A, only 50% of the plans achieved the minimum required dose to the HR CTV. Rectal and bladder dose constraints were met for all 3D‐optimised plans but exceeded in two and one of the conventional plans, respectively.

Conclusions

This study confirms that the regionally relevant practice of CT‐based 3D‐optimised planning results in improved tumour dose coverage compared with traditional points‐based planning methods and also improves dose to the rectum and bladder.
Assessment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Use of low‐dose whole pancreatic CT perfusion and individualized dual‐energy CT scanning
Authors: Li Hai‐ou , Guo Jun , Sun Cong , Li Xiao , Qi Yao‐dong , Wang Xi‐ming , Xu Zhuo‐dong , Chen Jiu‐hong , Liu Cheng
Published: July 2015

Introduction

The objective of this study was to investigate the value of low‐dose whole pancreatic computed tomography (CT) perfusion integrated with individualized dual‐energy CT (DECT) scanning in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Twenty patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent pancreatic CT perfusion as well as individualized dual‐phase DECT pancreatic scans. Perfusion characteristics of non‐tumourous pancreatic parenchyma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma were analysed. Weighted‐average 120 kVp images and the optimal monoenergetic images in dual phase were reconstructed and the contrast noise ratio (CNR) of pancreas‐to‐tumour were compared.

Results

There were significant difference on blood flow as well as blood volume between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the non‐tumourous pancreatic parenchyma (P < 0.05), whereas no difference on permeability (P > 0.05). CNRs of pancreas‐to‐tumour in individualized pancreatic phase were significantly higher than those in venous phase (P < 0.05), and CNRs of optimal monoenergetic images were higher than those on weighted‐average 120 kVp images (P < 0.05) in both phase. Total effective radiation dose of CT examination was around 9.32–13.75 mSv.

Conclusions

Low‐dose whole pancreatic CT perfusion can provide functional information, and the individualized pancreatic phase DECT scan is the optimal method for detecting pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The integration of the two techniques has great value in clinical application.
Notch1 controls cell chemoresistance in small cell lung carcinoma cells
Authors: Hassan Wael Abdo , Yoshida Ryoji , Kudoh Shinji , Kameyama Hiroki , Hasegawa Koki , Niimori‐Kita Kanako , Ito Takaaki
Published: July 2015

Background

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is characterized by a high rate of relapse and failure of chemotherapy because of the emergence of drug resistant cells. Notch signaling controls carcinogenesis in several human malignancies and could be involved in the resistance of cells to several chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we analyzed the role of Notch1 signaling in the resistance of human SCLC cells to doxorubicin.

Methods

Small interfering ribonucleic acid technology was used to knock down (KD) Notch1 in H69AR and SBC‐3 SCLC cells. We detected the effect of inhibiting Notch1 on the expression of drug resistant related molecules: multidrug resistance‐associated protein (MRP‐1) and anti‐apoptotic factor B‐cell lymphoma‐2, as well as to cell adhesion molecule E‐cadherin, which contributes to the adhesion of SCLC cells to the extracellular matrix and confers chemoresistance in a process known as cell adhesion‐mediated drug resistance (CAM‐DR). We also observed the effect of KD Notch1 on cell survival under high concentrations of doxorubicin treated media.

Results

H69AR and SBC‐3 cells expressed Notch1 protein and grew as adherent aggregates, which confer resistance to high concentrations of doxorubicin. On inhibiting Notch1, we observed activation of the apoptotic pathway in cells, possibly resulting from the loss of CAM‐DR and, thus, SBC‐3 cells showed a loss of chemoresistant ability. However, in H69AR cells with KD Notch1, the expression of MRP‐1 was increased and, thus, sustained the chemoresistant ability of cells.

Conclusion

The Notch1 signaling pathway is involved in mediating the drug resistance phenotype of SCLC cells.
Correct calculation of CO2 efflux using a closed‐chamber linked to a non‐dispersive infrared gas analyzer
Authors: Dossa Gbadamassi G. O. , Paudel Ekananda , Wang Hongyan , Cao Kunfang , Schaefer Douglas , Harrison Rhett D.
Published: July 2015

Improved understanding of the carbon (C) cycle is essential to model future climates and how this may feedback to affect greenhouse gas fluxes.

We summarize previous work quantifying respiration rates of organic substrates and briefly discuss how advances in technology, specifically the use of chambers linked to a non‐dispersive infrared gas analyzer (NDIR), can be applied to assess carbon dynamics from short‐term field measurements. This technology hastens measurement and is relatively inexpensive, enabling researchers to increase replication and investigate temporal and spatial variation.

We describe the theory behind calculations of CO2 efflux released through organic substrates, when using a closed‐chamber linked to a NDIR. These methods can in principle be extended to any chamber‐based measurement of gas fluxes, including partially closed chambers as used for soil surface CO2, nitrous oxide or methane effluxes and stem CO2 respiration, although additional assumptions may apply.

We show that incorrect application of formulae in some earlier studies resulted in either under‐ or over‐estimation of CO2 effluxes. Of the studies, we reviewed measuring the respiration of woody debris, leaf litter or woody stems using closed chambers linked to a NDIR, only 22% (11 of 51) provided the equations used to calculate CO2 efflux, and 72% (8 of 11) of those provided contained basic errors. Using our data on the decomposition of woody debris as an example, we found that such mistakes resulted in anywhere from 8% underestimation to 22% overestimation of CO2 efflux. The errors varied among studies and hence may limit understanding of the factors affecting emissions of CO2 and our ability to incorporate this knowledge into global carbon models.

We provide formulae for the correct calculation of respiration rates in future studies using closed chambers and thus provide a basis for comparative studies of factors affecting CO2 efflux from woody debris, leaf litter and other substrates. Ultimately, this will contribute to improved parameterization of forest respiration.
Extracting spatio‐temporal patterns in animal trajectories: an ecological application of sequence analysis methods
Authors: De Groeve Johannes , Van de Weghe Nico , Ranc Nathan , Neutens Tijs , Ometto Lino , Rota‐Stabelli Omar , Cagnacci Francesca
Published: July 2015

Digital tracking technologies have considerably increased the amount and quality of animal trajectories, enabling the study of habitat use and habitat selection at a fine spatial and temporal scale. However, current approaches do not yet explicitly account for a key aspect of habitat use, namely the sequential variation in the use of different habitat features.

To overcome this limitation, we propose a tree‐based approach that makes use of sequence analysis methods, derived from molecular biology, to explore and identify ecologically relevant sequential patterns in habitat use by animals. We applied this approach to ecological data consisting of simulated and real trajectories from a roe deer population (Capreolus capreolus), expressed as ordered sequences of habitat use.

We show that our approach effectively captured spatio‐temporal patterns of sequential habitat use by roe deer. In our case study, individual sequences were clustered according to the sequential use of the elevation gradient (first order) and of open/closed habitats (second order). We provided evidence for several behavioural processes, such as migration and daily alternating habitat use. Some unexpected patterns, such as homogeneous sequences of use of open habitat, could also be identified.

Our findings advocate the importance of dealing with the sequential nature of movement data. Approaches based on sequence analysis methods are particularly useful and effective since they allow exploring temporal patterns of habitat use in a synthetic and visually captive manner. The proposed approach represents a useful and effective way to classify individual movement behaviour across populations and species. Ultimately, this method can be applied to explore the temporal scale of ecological processes based on movement.