bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase II study of celecoxib with docetaxel chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy docetaxel plus cisplatin with maintenance celecoxib in inoperable stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Takhar Harminder , Singhal Nimit , Mislang Anna , Kumar Raj , Kim Laurence , Selva‐Nayagam Sid , Pittman Ken , Karapetis Chris , Borg Martin , Olver Ian N. , Brown Michael P.
Published: August 2017

Title

Phase II study of celecoxib with docetaxel chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by consolidation chemotherapy docetaxel plus cisplatin with maintenance celecoxib in inoperable stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Introduction

Concurrent CRT has been associated with improvement in absolute 5‐year survival by 10% and is the standard of care for inoperable stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer. Preclinical evidence suggests that cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibition may increase the efficacy of CRT.

Methods

Patients were treated with CRT (weekly docetaxel at 30 mg/m2 over 6 weeks with concurrent external beam radiotherapy with 60 Gy in 30 fractions) followed by consolidation chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin, each at 75 mg/m2 given 3 weekly for four cycles. Patients were to receive celecoxib 400 mg twice daily during treatment. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (30 Gy in 15 fractions) was offered if there was disease response.

Results

Twenty‐four patients commenced CRT. Nineteen patients commenced consolidation therapy with 14 patients completing treatment. Twelve patients had treatment with celecoxib. In the total cohort, the median overall survival (mOS) was 21 months and progression‐free survival (PFS) was 16 months. Overall response rate was 59% and disease control rate was 82%. Three patient deaths occurred. Significant grade 3/4 toxicity included radiation pneumonitis (17%), febrile neutropenia (17%), infection/sepsis with or with neutropenia (25%) and esophagitis (12.5%). Retrospective analysis of celecoxib versus no celecoxib treatment showed favorable mOS 26.5 versus 17.5 months and PFS 22 versus 16 months, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

The activity of this regimen has been demonstrated. Treatment‐related toxicity was substantial. The role of celecoxib in addition to CRT could not be demonstrated in this study because of the small number of patients.
Biomarkers and therapeutic advances in glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: Sasmita Andrew Octavian , Wong Ying Pei , Ling Anna Pick Kiong
Published: August 2017

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant tumor within the brain. Generally classified as primary and secondary with several different subtypes, ample molecular biomarkers have risen throughout the years which have garnered the attention of researchers. The advancements in genomics and proteomics have allowed researchers to gather prominent molecular biomarkers. All these biomarkers are gathered by means of biopsy or bodily fluid sample collection and are quantitatively analyzed by polymerase chain reaction coupled with other computational technologies. This review highlights the significance, regulation and prevalence of molecular biomarkers such as O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase, epidermal growth factor receptor vIII, isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation and several others which expressed differently in different types and molecular subtypes of GBM. The discoveries and roles of GBM‐specific microRNAs including miR‐21 and miR‐10b as biomarkers with promising prognostic values were also delineated. The role and mechanism of biomarkers in GBM tumorigenesis are essential in the development of therapy for patients suffering from the disease itself. Thus, this review also discusses the mechanisms, effects and limitations of therapy such as temozolomide, viral gene transfer, biomarker‐based vaccines or even engineered T cells for more specific responses. Biomarkers have displayed a high value and could eventually be utilized as drug targets. It is hoped that by combining different aspects of the disease which present with different biomarkers could lead to the development of a robust, effective and innovative take on GBM therapy.
The Abstraction of Care: What Work Counts?
Authors: Henry Caitlin
Published: August 2017

Nurses provide essential health care labor, but their work, a mix of caregiving and clinical expertise, is often undervalued and unacknowledged by health care administrators and the policies and practices that govern health care more broadly. Based on interviews with nurses working in the New York metropolitan area and through pairing feminist political economy with literature on abstraction and politics of the possible, I show that the ways in which nurses’ work is measured creates a value hierarchy of tasks. Examining various tools of measurement, I argue that methods for measuring work are rooted in an historical and continuous hierarchy of what counts as work and what has value. For nurses, these processes obscure the essential care work they perform. I argue that bringing an explicit politics of social reproduction to the politics of measuring and accounting for work makes visible necessary and often‐obscured tasks, spaces, and social relations.
Flint and Quartzite: Distinguishing Raw Material Through Bone Cut Marks
Authors: Maté‐González M. Á. , Yravedra J. , Martín‐Perea D. M. , Palomeque‐González J. , San‐Juan‐Blazquez M. , Estaca‐Gómez V. , Uribelarrea D. , Álvarez‐Alonso D. , Cuartero F. , González‐Aguilera D. , Domínguez‐Rodrigo M.
Published: August 2017

Since the 1980s, several experimental analyses have been able to differentiate some lithic tool types and some of their raw materials according to the morphology of cut marks imprinted by such tools when used for butchering activities. Thus, metal tool use has been differentiated in contexts with an abundance of lithic tools, or even the use of hand axes has been documented in carcass processing, in contrast with simple unretouched or retouched flakes. As important as this information is, there are still other important aspects to be analysed. Can cut marks produced with different lithic raw material types be differentiated? Can cut marks made with different types of the same raw material type be characterized and differentiated? The objective of this study is to evaluate if cut marks resulting from the use of different flints and different quartzites are distinguishable from each other. In the present work, an experimental analysis of hundreds of cut marks produced by five types of flint and five varieties of quartzite was carried out. Microphotogrammetry and geometric–morphometric techniques were applied to analyse these cut marks. The results show that flint cut marks and quartzite cut marks can be characterized at the assemblage level. Different types of flint produced cut marks that were not significantly different from each other. Cut marks made with Olduvai Gorge quartzite were significantly different from those produced with a set comprising several other types of quartzites. Crystal size, which is larger in Olduvai Gorge quartzites (0.5 mm) than Spanish quartzites (177–250 μm), is discussed as being the main reason for these statistically significant differences. This documented intra‐sample and inter‐sample variance does not hinder the resolution of the approach to differentiate between these two generic raw material types and opens the door for the application of this method in archaeological contexts.
Who seeks bariatric surgery? Psychosocial functioning among adolescent candidates, other treatment‐seeking adolescents with obesity and healthy controls
Authors: Call C. C. , Devlin M. J. , Fennoy I. , Zitsman J. L. , Walsh B. T. , Sysko R.
Published: August 2017

Limited data are available on the characteristics of adolescents with obesity who seek bariatric surgery. Existing data suggest that adolescent surgery candidates have a higher body mass index (BMI) than comparison adolescents with obesity, but the limited findings regarding psychosocial functioning are mixed. This study aimed to compare BMI and psychosocial functioning among adolescent bariatric surgery candidates, outpatient medical‐treatment‐seeking adolescents with obesity (receiving lifestyle modification), and adolescents in the normal‐weight range. All adolescents completed self‐report measures of impulsivity, delay discounting, depression, anxiety, stress, eating pathology, family functioning and quality of life, and had their height and weight measured. Adolescent surgical candidates had higher BMIs than both comparison groups. Surgical candidates did not differ from medical‐treatment‐seeking adolescents with obesity on any measure of psychosocial functioning, but both groups of adolescents with obesity reported greater anxiety and eating pathology and poorer quality of life than normal‐weight adolescents. Quality of life no longer differed across groups after controlling for BMI, suggesting that it is highly related to weight status. Adolescents with obesity may experience greater anxiety, eating pathology, and quality of life impairments than their peers in the normal‐weight range regardless of whether they are seeking surgery or outpatient medical treatment. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Assessing the kinetics of microbubble appearance in cirrhotic patients using transthoracic saline contrast‐enhanced echocardiography
Authors: Tonelli Adriano R. , Naal Tawfeq , Dakkak Wael , Park Margaret M. , Dweik Raed A. , Stoller James K.
Published: August 2017

Background

The number of cardiac cycles that need to be reviewed by echocardiography before a significant intrapulmonary shunt can be excluded remains unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients with cirrhosis who underwent technetium‐99 m‐labeled macroaggregated albumin scanning. The kinetics of bubble appearance after the injection of agitated saline during transthoracic echocardiograms were assessed in these patients.

Results

For the 64 eligible patients, the mean ± SD age was 56 ± 9 years. The median (IQR) shunt fraction by radionuclide scanning was 7.7% (2.8%–19.9%). Microbubbles were seen in the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) at a median (IQR) of 4 (2–5) and 4 (2–5) beats, respectively. The number of heart cycles before microbubbles appeared in the LA or LV was inversely associated with the nuclear scanning shunt fraction (R = −0.42, P = .001, R = −0.46, P < .001, respectively). If no microbubbles were detected by heart cycle 7, the shunt fraction was uniformly less than 3%. Patients with arterial oxygen <60 mm Hg, compared to ≥60 mm Hg, had earlier appearance of microbubbles in the left heart chambers (2.6 ± 1.9 vs 4.0 ± 2.3 beats, P = .046).

Conclusions

In patients with advanced cirrhosis suspected of having hepatopulmonary syndrome, a greater shunt fraction during nuclear scanning was associated with more pronounced hypoxemia and a prompt and more intense appearance of microbubbles in the left‐sided heart chambers. Patients with a shunt fraction above 3% have microbubbles in the LA or LV at some point during the first seven heart cycles.
Parental hospital‐treated somatic illnesses and psychosis of the offspring—The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 study
Authors: Räsänen Sami , Niemelä Mika , Nordström Tanja , Hakko Helinä , Haapea Marianne , Marshall Catherine A , Miettunen Jouko
Published: August 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate whether parental somatic illnesses during childhood increase the risk for later psychosis in the offspring. In addition, we examined which parental illnesses in particular are associated with increased risk of psychosis in the offspring.

Method

The data of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC 1986), included 9137 children born alive in northern Finland between the July 1, 1985, and the June 30, 1986. Information regarding the parents’ somatic morbidity was collected through various healthcare registers up to age 28 of the cohort members.

Results

Psychosis was diagnosed in 169 (1.8%) of the cohort members between the ages of 16 and 28. Accumulation of parental somatic diseases was related to later psychosis in the offspring. In addition, some specific somatic diagnostic groups of parents were emphasized in relation to psychosis in the offspring.

Conclusions

Our study findings indicated that parental somatic illness should be taken into account in the prevention of serious mental health problems in their offspring.
Critique and resistance: Ethical, social‐theoretical, political? On Fabian Freyenhagen's Adorno's Practical Philosophy
Authors: Celikates Robin
Published: August 2017

Fabian Freyenhagen's impressive reconstruction of Adorno's ‘practical philosophy’ provides a convincing defence of the possibility of making normative claims about the social world we live in without justifying these claims in terms of the right, the good, or human nature. More specifically, and more controversially, Freyenhagen argues that the normative resources Adorno's critique relies on are provided by a negative Aristotelianism. In this paper, I argue that this approach underestimates the extent to which Adorno follows the model of immanent critique, I highlight the socio‐theoretical underpinnings of what Freyenhagen calls Adorno's ‘ethics of resistance’, and I discuss the risk of overstating the danger of co‐optation that collective political action faces.
An evaluation of a school‐based dental sealant programme
Authors: Williams R , Rogo EJ , Gurenlian JR , Portillo KM
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of Bengal Smiles, a school‐based dental sealant programme and assess outcomes related to the U.S. Healthy People 2020 oral health objectives.

Methods

A needs assessment identified high caries prevalence in Idaho children and supported the need for a school‐based dental sealant programme at a local Title 1 school. Children (n=54) ages 6‐12 were screened by dental hygiene students for suspected dental caries, sealant placement and need for referral for dental treatment. Sealant retention and sealant caries rates were computed at 12 months (n=32) using descriptive statistics. Caries rates were analysed with a t test for paired samples, while a chi‐square test was used to determine a difference in referral treatment rates before and after the intervention of administrative staff who contacted parents of children in need of dental treatment.

Results

Bengal Smiles participants had a 16% decrease in suspected dental caries; however, there was no statistically significant difference in caries rates (P=.21) at baseline and 12 months. Sealant prevalence increased 370%. Sealant retention outcomes were 74% fully retained with 0% caries, 13% partially retained with 25% caries and 13% no retention with 25% caries. At 12 months, 50% of participants referred for dental treatment accessed care. The intervention of contacting parents had no statistically significant effect on increasing dental treatments (P=.75).

Conclusions

School‐based sealant programmes eliminate disparities in accessing oral health care and contribute to attaining U.S. Healthy People 2020 oral health objectives.
Research priorities for specialized nursing practice in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Al‐Yateem N. , Al‐Tamimi M. , Brenner M. , Altawil H. , Ahmad A. , Brownie S.
Published: August 2017

Background

Globally, nurses are undertaking expanded and more specialized roles in healthcare planning and service delivery in response to changing patterns and levels of health service demand. This means the nursing profession is increasingly considered as leaders in health service policy, research and practice. The United Arab Emirates has strengthened nursing governance and practice by establishing a Nursing and Midwifery Council and increasing the activity of nursing specialization, service leadership and research. This study aimed to identify clinically relevant research priorities to facilitate nursing contributions to evidence‐based care and strengthening health services in the country.

Methods

A two‐stage Delphi study design was used.

Results

The first round involved 783 participants. The second round involved 1116 participants, as more clinical settings were accessed. In total, 58 research priorities across a variety of nursing specialties (paediatrics, emergency care, intensive care, labour and maternity care, operating theatre and long‐term care) were identified as highly important.

Conclusion

These identified priorities will guide a more informed programme of research in each nursing specialty, with the aim of strengthening the evidence base to improving outcomes for patients and their families in the United Arab Emirates.

Implications for nursing practice, research and policy

The findings provide guidance on key areas for nurses to focus research contributions to enhance evidence‐based care and strengthen health systems. The identified priorities may also guide researchers in academic institutions to conduct research informed by current, clinically relevant issues. The findings may help inform funders and policymakers to support allocation of funding to research that has potential to contribute to enhancing nursing care in specialist areas.
Gender and leadership aspiration: Interpersonal and collective elements of cooperative climate differentially influence women and men
Authors: Fritz Claudia , van Knippenberg Daan
Published: August 2017

Female leaders remain a minority. Because leadership aspiration is a predictor of advancement, understanding stimulating conditions is important. A neglected perspective is the impact of organizational climate. We propose that cooperative climate can engender individuals’ motivation to contribute to the organization through leadership, and that leadership aspiration of women and men is differentially sensitive to interpersonal and collective aspects of cooperative climate. We argue that women are more disposed toward relational self‐construal and men toward collective self‐construal, and hence women's leadership aspiration is more influenced by the interpersonal element of cooperative climate whereas men's leadership aspiration by the collective element of cooperative climate. Results of a survey of N = 404 employed men and women supported both hypotheses.
Cardioprotection mediated by exosomes is impaired in the setting of type II diabetes but can be rescued by the use of non‐diabetic exosomes in vitro
Authors: Davidson Sean M. , Riquelme Jaime A. , Takov Kaloyan , Vicencio Jose M. , Boi‐Doku Claire , Khoo Vanessa , Doreth Christian , Radenkovic Dina , Lavandero Sergio , Yellon Derek M.
Published: August 2017

Many patients with ischaemic heart disease also have diabetes. As myocardial infarction is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in these patients, treatments that increase cell survival in response to ischaemia and reperfusion are needed. Exosomes—nano‐sized, lipid vesicles released from cells—can protect the hearts of non‐diabetic rats. We previously showed that exosomal HSP70 activates a cardioprotective signalling pathway in cardiomyocytes culminating in ERK1/2 and HSP27 phosphorylation. Here, we investigated whether the exosomal cardioprotective pathway remains intact in the setting of type II diabetes. Exosomes were isolated by differential centrifugation from non‐diabetic and type II diabetic patients, from non‐diabetic and Goto Kakizaki type II diabetic rats, and from normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic endothelial cells. Exosome size and number were not significantly altered by diabetes. CD81 and HSP70 exosome markers were increased in diabetic rat exosomes. However, exosomes from diabetic rats no longer activated the ERK1/2 and HSP27 cardioprotective pathway and were no longer protective in a primary rat cardiomyocytes model of hypoxia and reoxygenation injury. Hyperglycaemic culture conditions were sufficient to impair protection by endothelial exosomes. Importantly, however, exosomes from non‐diabetic rats retained the ability to protect cardiomyocytes from diabetic rats. Exosomes from diabetic plasma have lost the ability to protect cardiomyocytes, but protection can be restored with exosomes from non‐diabetic plasma. These results support the concept that exosomes may be used to protect cardiomyocytes against ischaemia and reperfusion injury, even in the setting of type II diabetes.
Effect of prebiotics on growth behavior of Lactobacillus plantarum and their impact on adherence of strict anaerobic pathogens to intestinal cell lines
Authors: Sharma Sakshi , Kanwar Sarbjit Singh
Published: August 2017

This study aimed to examine the influence of prebiotics on growth and activity of Lactobacillus plantarum and their effect on adherence of anaerobic pathogens to Caco‐2 and HT‐29 intestinal cell lines. The specific growth rate of indigenous L. plantarum in lactulose (0.51/hr) was found to be maximum followed by fructooligosaccharide (0.34/hr) and inulin (0.18/hr) which was statistically at par with reference strain. Shortest mean doubling time of indigenous strain was observed with lactulose (1 hr 35 min) followed by fructooligosaccharide (2 hr 3 min), and inulin (3 hr 85 min). Lactic and short‐chain fatty acids namely, acetic, propionic, and butyric were the principle metabolites observed after fermentation of prebiotics as detected by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. No significant change in growth and pH of anaerobic pathogens was observed in medium supplemented with different prebiotics. Presence of lactulose showed maximum inhibition in adherence of anaerobic pathogens namely, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (39 and 37%), Clostridium perfringens (36 and 34%), and Bacteroides fragilis (18 and16%), to Caco‐2 and HT‐29 intestinal cell lines.

Practical applications

The ability of certain bacteria to ferment prebiotics selectively is an important probiotic characteristic. According to the results of this study, lactulose was found to be the promising ingredient in combination with indigenous strain that not only supported the growth of lactobacillus strain, but also inhibited the adherence of anaerobic pathogens to intestinal cell lines. The metabolites produced on fermentation of prebiotic such as lactate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate have many reported health benefits in boosting the gut immunity of the host. Negligible growth of anaerobic pathogens in lactulose indicating its safe use without any ill effect to the host. Thus, the lactulose might have a potential for practical use in food industry for the development of future functional and dietary foods to impart health benefits at both colonic and systemic levels.
Assessment of patulin adsorption efficacy from aqueous solution by water‐insoluble corn flour
Authors: Guo Caixia , Guo Meng , Zhang Shengwan , Qin Dandan , Yang Yingjuan , Li Meiping
Published: August 2017

This study investigated water‐insoluble corn flour (WICF) as a novel biosorbent for removing patulin from aqueous solutions, including contaminated fruit juices. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to assess the effect of granularity of WICF, adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, pH, and initial patulin concentration. The results showed that the maximum removal percentage of 92.21% was achieved at 37 °C, pH value of 4.0 in 100 µg/L patulin concentration for 25 hr. The adsorption data could be well fitted with the Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo‐first order model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that mycotoxin adsorption is an endothermic and spontaneous process. Subsequently, scanning electron microscopy images showed obvious morphological changes in WICF after adsorbing patulin. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectroscopic evidence demonstrated that the main functional groups involved in the adsorption were O‐H, C = O and C‐O groups.

Practical applications

Patulin was found as a contaminant in various fruit juices, which raised serious concerns about developing an effective and cheap adsorbent for detoxification of patulin toxin in fruit juice and their products. Water‐insoluble corn flour was applied to strengthen the control of patulin for the first time. Results of this study indicated that water‐insoluble corn flour has a strong ability to remove patulin from aqueous solutions and various fruit juices. Therefore, using water‐insoluble corn flour as an adsorbent and combining the filtration process could be potentially applied in fruit juice industry for detoxification of patulin.
Fiscal Fairness as a Political Argument
Authors: Mahieu Bram , Geys Benny , Heyndels Bruno
Published: August 2017

Governments typically apply several tax instruments. The tax choice literature sees the choice among these as depending on the political costs involved. One source of such costs is (horizontal) inequity in the distribution of the tax burden. In this article, we provide the first empirical test of the question whether and to what extent such inequity affects tax choices. Using data on housing sales and tax policy in Flemish municipalities, we create an indicator for the inequity of the local property tax. The latter is levied on the property's assessed rental value, and its inequity is a by‐product of the slow reassessment procedure, leading to a situation in which properties of identical value are taxed very differently. We find clear evidence that municipalities in which property taxation is more inequitable tend to rely less on this tax as a source of municipal revenue.
Search for evidence of source event grouping among ureilites
Authors: Beard S. P. , Swindle T. D.
Published: August 2017

We use cosmic‐ray exposure (CRE) ages of ureilites, combined with magnesium numbers of olivine, and oxygen isotopes, to search for evidence of specific source events initiating exposure for groups of ureilites. This technique can also be used to investigate the heterogeneity of the body from which the samples were derived. There are a total of 39 ureilites included in our work, which represents the largest collection of ureilite CRE age data used to date. Although we find some evidence of possible clusters, it is clear that most ureilites did not originate in one or two events on a homogeneous parent body.
Carbonaceous chondrites as analogs for the composition and alteration of Ceres
Authors: McSween Harry Y. , Emery Joshua P. , Rivkin Andrew S. , Toplis Michael J. , C. Castillo‐Rogez Julie , Prettyman Thomas H. , De Sanctis M. Cristina , Pieters Carle M. , Raymond Carol A. , Russell Christopher T.
Published: August 2017

The mineralogy and geochemistry of Ceres, as constrained by Dawn's instruments, are broadly consistent with a carbonaceous chondrite (CM/CI) bulk composition. Differences explainable by Ceres’s more advanced alteration include the formation of Mg‐rich serpentine and ammoniated clay; a greater proportion of carbonate and lesser organic matter; amounts of magnetite, sulfide, and carbon that could act as spectral darkening agents; and partial fractionation of water ice and silicates in the interior and regolith. Ceres is not spectrally unique, but is similar to a few other C‐class asteroids, which may also have suffered extensive alteration. All these bodies are among the largest carbonaceous chondrite asteroids, and they orbit in the same part of the Main Belt. Thus, the degree of alteration is apparently related to the size of the body. Although the ammonia now incorporated into clay likely condensed in the outer nebula, we cannot presently determine whether Ceres itself formed in the outer solar system and migrated inward or was assembled within the Main Belt, along with other carbonaceous chondrite bodies.
High‐resolution melting and immunohistochemical analysis efficiently detects mutually exclusive genetic alterations of adamantinomatous and papillary craniopharyngiomas
Authors: Yoshimoto Koji , Hatae Ryusuke , Suzuki Satoshi O. , Hata Nobuhiro , Kuga Daisuke , Akagi Yojiro , Amemiya Takeo , Sangatsuda Yuhei , Mukae Nobutaka , Mizoguchi Masahiro , Iwaki Toru , Iihara Koji
Published: August 2017

Craniopharyngioma consists of adamantinomatous and papillary subtypes. Recent genetic analysis has demonstrated that the two subtypes are different, not only in clinicopathological features, but also in molecular oncogenesis. Papillary craniopharyngioma (pCP) is characterized by a BRAF mutation, the V600E (Val 600 Glu) mutation. Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (aCP) can be distinguished by frequent β‐catenin gene (CTNNB1) mutations. Although these genetic alterations can be a diagnostic molecular marker, the precise frequency of these mutations in clinical specimens remains unknown. In this study, we first evaluated BRAF V600E and CTNNB1 mutations in four and 14 cases of pCP and aCP, respectively, using high‐resolution melting analysis followed by Sanger sequencing. The results showed that 100% (4/4) of pCP cases had BRAF V600E mutations, while 78% (11/14) of the aCP cases had CTNNB1 mutations, with these genetic alterations being subtype‐specific and mutually exclusive. Second, we evaluated BRAF V600E and CTNNB1 mutations by immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). All pCP cases showed positive cytoplasmic staining with the BRAF V600E‐mutant antibody (VE‐1), whereas 86% (12/14) of aCP cases showed positive cytoplasmic and nuclear staining for CTNNB1, suggesting a CTNNB1 mutation. Only one case of wild‐type CTNNB1 on the DNA analysis showed immunopositivity on IHC. We did not detect a coexistence of BRAF V600E and CTNNB1 mutations in any single tumor, which indicated that these genetic alterations were mutually exclusive. We also report our modified IHC protocol for VE‐1 staining, and present the possibility that BRAF V600E mutations can be used as a diagnostic marker of pCP in the differentiation of Rathke cleft cyst with squamous metaplasia.
Marked accumulation of oligodendroglia‐like cells in temporal lobe epilepsy with amygdala enlargement and hippocampal sclerosis
Authors: Sone Daichi , Ikemura Masako , Saito Yuko , Taniguchi Go , Kunii Naoto
Published: August 2017

Although an increasing number of cases of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with ipsilateral amygdala enlargement (AE) have been reported, there are few pathological reports, and no clear consensus has been established. Oligodendroglia or oligodendroglia‐like cells (OLCs) have recently attracted attention in epilepsy studies. Here, we report the clinical and pathological findings of a 40‐year‐old male TLE patient with AE and hippocampal sclerosis, in whom histopathological study demonstrated remarkable clustering of OLCs around the uncus. The patient began to have refractory seizures at the age of 14, and preoperative MRI revealed left amygdala enlargement and left hippocampal atrophy. Other examinations were consistent with left mesial temporal epileptogenicity. He underwent surgical resection and achieved seizure freedom. Histopathological study of the amygdala showed swollen neurons with relatively large bodies and thick neurites, accompanied by vacuolar degeneration in the background. Additionally, there were marked clusters of OLCs with round nuclei and densely stained chromatin around the uncus. The OLCs were Olig2‐positive. In the hippocampus, severe cell loss in CA1 and granule cell dispersion in the dentate gyrus were found. These findings may provide some insights for further pathological investigations of TLE with non‐neoplastic AE.
Temporally and spatially shaped meanings of at‐homeness among people 85 years and over with severe illness
Authors: Saarnio Lotta , Boström Anne‐Marie , Gustavsson Petter , Hedman Ragnhild , Öhlén Joakim
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectives

The aim of the study was to illuminate how meanings of at‐homeness are temporally and spatially shaped by older people with severe illness.

Background

At‐homeness can be understood as a feeling of being metaphorically at‐home while experiencing well‐being. The research field of at‐homeness among older people with severe illness is under researched and knowledge about how at‐homeness is shaped by time and place is limited.

Method

Narrative interviews were conducted in Sweden with a total of twenty men and women who were aged 85 years or over and affected by severe illness. The narrative interviews were analysed based on a phenomenological hermeneutical method.

Results

Meanings of at‐homeness that were shaped temporally and spatially were interpreted, where time and place were shaped individually by other aspects and also interwoven. Two main inter‐related themes were constructed: shaping at‐homeness through relying on a familiar place and shaping at‐homeness through continuous balancing between the past, present and future.

Conclusion and Implications

At‐homeness is temporally and spatially shaped in two ways: through a process over time, or momentarily, where older people's earlier experiences and expectations are interwoven with their experiences of place and the people around them. The results of this study would be applicable to similar societal contexts. For future research, it is important to continue to study how at‐homeness can be promoted for severely ill older people, in specific situations and over time.
Time‐Varying Effects of Signs and Symptoms on Pregnancy Loss <20 Weeks: Findings from a Preconception Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sapra Katherine J. , Buck Louis Germaine M. , Sundaram Rajeshwari , Joseph K. S. , Bates Lisa M. , Galea Sando , Ananth Cande V.
Published: August 2017

Background

Although pregnancy loss affects one‐third of pregnancies, the associated signs/symptoms have not been fully described. Given the dynamic nature of maternal physiologic adaptation to early pregnancy, we posited the relationships between signs/symptoms and subsequent loss would vary weekly.

Methods

In a preconception cohort with daily follow‐up, pregnancies were ascertained by self‐administered sensitive home pregnancy tests on day of expected menses. We evaluated the effects of weekly time‐varying signs/symptoms (including vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal cramping, and nausea and/or vomiting) on pregnancy loss <20 weeks in Cox proportional hazards models and calculated the week‐specific probability of loss by the presence/absence of each sign/symptom.

Results

Of 341 pregnancies ascertained by home pregnancy test, 95 (28%) ended in loss. Relationships between signs/symptoms and loss varied across time since first positive pregnancy test. In the first week following pregnancy confirmation, when many losses occurred, bleeding [hazard ratio (HR) 8.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7, 16.0] and cramping (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2, 2.7) were associated with loss even when accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting (HR 5.2, 95% CI 2.6, 10.5). After the second week, new relationships emerged with nausea and/or vomiting inversely associated (HR range 0.6–0.3, all 95% CI upper bounds <1.00) and bleeding no longer associated with loss. Probabilities of loss of ranged from 78% (95% CI 59%, 96%) with bleeding present in week 1 to 8% (95% CI 5%, 12%) with nausea/vomiting present in week 5.

Conclusions

Relationships between signs/symptoms and pregnancy loss vary in early pregnancy possibly reflecting maternal physiologic response.
Estuary ecosystem restoration: implementing and institutionalizing adaptive management
Authors: Ebberts Blaine D. , Zelinsky Ben D. , Karnezis Jason P. , Studebaker Cynthia A. , Lopez‐Johnston Siena , Creason Anne M. , Krasnow Lynne , Johnson Gary E. , Thom Ronald M.
Published: August 2017

We implemented and institutionalized an adaptive management (AM) process for the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program, which is a large‐scale restoration program focused on improving ecosystem conditions in the 234‐km lower Columbia River and estuary. For our purpose, “institutionalized” means the AM process and restoration programs are embedded in the work flow of the implementing agencies and affected parties. While plans outlining frameworks, processes, or approaches to AM of ecosystem restoration programs are commonplace, their establishment for the long‐term is not. This article presents the basic AM process and explains how AM was implemented and institutionalized. Starting with a common goal, we pursued a well‐understood governance and decision‐making structure, routine coordination and communication activities, data and information sharing, commitment from partners and upper agency management to the AM process, and meaningful cooperation among program managers and partners. The overall approach and steps to implement and institutionalize AM for ecosystem restoration explained here are applicable to situations in which it has been incomplete or, as in our case, the restoration program is just getting started.
The Influence of Nurses' Demographics on Patient Participation in Hospitals: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Malfait Simon , Eeckloo Kristof , Van Hecke Ann
Published: August 2017

Background

Patient participation is an important issue in contemporary healthcare as it improves quality of care and enhances positive health outcomes. The participation of patients is mainly initiated by the nurses’ willingness to share their power and responsibility, but knowledge on nurses’ demographic characteristics influencing this behavior is nonexistent. This knowledge is essential to understand and improve patient participation.

Aim

To determine if nurses’ demographic characteristics influence their willingness to engage in patient participation.

Methods

A cross‐sectional multicenter study in 22 general and three university hospitals with 997 nurses was performed. The Patient Participation Culture Tool for healthcare workers, which measures patient participation behavior, was used. Multilevel analysis, taking into account the difference in wards and hospitals, was used to identify the influence of demographic characteristics.

Results

A position as supervisor (range: p < .001–.028) and a higher level of education (range: p = <.001–.012) show significant higher scores. Younger nurses seem to be more reluctant in accepting a collaborative patient role (p = .002) and coping with more active patient behavior (p < .001). This new role was less accepted by nurses on geriatric wards (p = .013), who also showed less sharing of information with their patients (p < .001).

Linking Evidence to Action

Age and level of education influence nurses’ willingness to share power and responsibility with their patients, perhaps indicating that patient participation behavior is an advanced nursing skill and multifaceted interventions, are needed for optimal implementation. Moreover, supervising nurses have different perceptions on patient participation and possibly regard patient participation as an easier task than their team members. This could lead to misunderstandings about the expectations toward patient participation in daily practice, leading to struggles with their nursing staff. Both findings implicate that implementing patient participation on a wide scale is more difficult than expected, which is conflicting with the widespread societal demand for more participation.
Heart‐bound adiponectin, not serum adiponectin, inversely correlates with cardiac hypertrophy in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Inoue Takao , Takemori Kumiko , Mizuguchi Nobuyuki , Kimura Masatomo , Chikugo Takaaki , Hagiyama Man , Yoneshige Azusa , Mori Tatsufumi , Maenishi Osamu , Kometani Takashi , Itoh Tatsuki , Satou Takao , Ito Akihiko
Published: August 2017

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

An inverse correlation between circulating adiponectin and many diseases has been reported, but some studies have found no correlation. To evaluate this controversy, we investigated the relationship between heart‐bound adiponectin and hypertension or cardiac hypertrophy, compared with serum adiponectin.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Using hypertensive and normotensive rats, we found that heart‐bound adiponectin was inversely correlated with cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that heart‐bound adiponectin has a more important function in preventing cardiac hypertrophy than circulating adiponectin. Our study provides new insights regarding the role of adiponectin in diseases.

The inverse correlation between circulating adiponectin concentration and hypertension or cardiac hypertrophy is still controversial. In addition to circulating adiponectin, adiponectin is also bound to tissues such as the heart and skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated the relationship of serum adiponectin and heart‐bound adiponectin with hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Four types of hypertensive rats presenting different blood pressure levels were used at different ages, as follows: normotensive Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKYs); two sub‐strains (strains C and B2, having low and high blood pressure, respectively) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs); and stroke‐prone SHRs (SHRSPs). Blood pressure, heart‐to‐body weight ratio, serum adiponectin and heart‐bound adiponectin were determined. Histopathological analysis of the heart was carried out to evaluate the relationship with heart‐bound adiponectin. Serum adiponectin concentration was not inversely correlated with blood pressure or heart‐to‐body weight ratio. In contrast, heart‐bound adiponectin levels were significantly lower in SHRSPs than in other strains at respective ages. This resulted from a decrease in T‐cadherin expression, which induced adiponectin binding to tissues. No significant difference in heart‐bound adiponectin among WKYs and SHRs (C and B2) was detected, indicating that heart‐bound adiponectin is not related to hypertension. In addition, differences in heart‐bound adiponectin did not affect AMP‐activated protein kinase in the traditional adiponectin activation cascade. Histopathological analysis revealed that heart‐bound adiponectin was inversely correlated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and left ventricular wall thickness and, in part, with cardiac fibrosis. These results suggest that the decreased level of heart‐bound adiponectin in SHRSPs is more related to their cardiac hypertrophy than circulating adiponectin.
Subunit‐dependent oxidative stress sensitivity of LRRC8 volume‐regulated anion channels
Authors: Gradogna Antonella , Gavazzo Paola , Boccaccio Anna , Pusch Michael
Published: August 2017

Key points

Swelling‐activated anion currents are modulated by oxidative conditions, but it is unknown if oxidation acts directly on the LRRC8 channel‐forming proteins or on regulatory factors.

We found that LRRC8A–LRRC8E heteromeric channels are dramatically activated by oxidation of intracellular cysteines, whereas LRRC8A–LRRC8C and LRRC8A–LRRC8D heteromers are inhibited by oxidation.

Volume‐regulated anion currents in Jurkat T lymphocytes were inhibited by oxidation, in agreement with a low expression of the LRRC8E subunit in these cells.

Our results show that LRRC8 channel proteins are directly modulated by oxidation in a subunit‐specific manner.

The volume‐regulated anion channel (VRAC) is formed by heteromers of LRRC8 proteins containing the essential LRRC8A subunit and at least one among the LRRC8B–E subunits. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play physiological and pathophysiological roles and VRAC channels are highly ROS sensitive. However, it is unclear if ROS act directly on the channels or on molecules involved in the activation pathway. We used fluorescently tagged LRRC8 proteins that yield large constitutive currents to test direct effects of oxidation. We found that 8A/8E heteromers are dramatically potentiated (more than 10‐fold) by oxidation of intracellular cysteine residues by chloramine‐T ortert‐butyl hydroperoxide. Oxidation was, however, not necessary for hypotonicity‐induced activation. In contrast, 8A/8C and 8A/8D heteromers were strongly inhibited by oxidation. Endogenous VRAC currents in Jurkat T lymphocytes were similarly inhibited by oxidation, in agreement with the finding that LRRC8C and LRRC8D subunits were more abundantly expressed than LRRC8E in Jurkat cells. Our results show that LRRC8 channels are directly modulated by oxidation in a subunit‐dependent manner.
Theoretical Realizability of Dream-Pipe-Like Oscillating/Pulsating Heat Pipe
Authors: Furukawa Masao
Published: August 2017

The state of the art of thermally self-excited oscillatory heat pipe technology is briefly mentioned to emphasize that there exists no oscillating/pulsating heat pipe (OHP/PHP) suited to long-distance heat transport. Responding to such conditions, this study actively proposes a newly devised conceptually novel type of OHP/PHP. In that heat pipe, the adiabatic section works as it were the dream pipe invented by Kurzweg. This striking quality of the proposed new-style OHP/PHP produces high possibilities of long-distance heat transport. To support such optimistic views, an originally planned mathematical model is introduced for feasibility studies. Hydraulic considerations have first been done to understand what conditions are required for sustaining bubble-train flows in a capillary tube of interest. Theoretical analysis has then been made to solve the momentum and energy equations governing the flow velocity and temperature fields in the adiabatic section. The obtained analytical solutions are arranged to give algebraic expressions of the effective thermal diffusivity, the performance index combined with the tidal displacement, and the required electric power. Computed results of those three are displayed in the figures to demonstrate the realizability of that novel OHP.
Review of Wind Turbine Research in 21st Century
Authors: Amano Ryoichi S.
Published: August 2017

Wind energy is a well proven and cost-effective technology and expected to be a promising technology in which industry responds to the environmental targets—so becoming an important source of power generation in years to come. This paper focuses on the current status of wind energy and more advanced subjects needed to understand the current technology in the wind power engineering.
An Integrated Energy System With Large-Scale Electrical and Thermal Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Zhao Tian , Chen Qun
Published: August 2017

In this contribution we introduced an integrated energy system consists of thermal power plants, combined heat-power (CHP) plants and wind power plants, and aimed to supply electricity and heat to users simultaneously. A large-scale battery, a TES device and heat transfer devices are included also. During the operation time of the battery, the TES device stores the generated heat and meanwhile supplies heat to users. Applying the power flow method, the electro-thermal analogy and the entransy dissipation-based thermal resistance method, we constructed the power flow model of the system. Besides, we optimized the system aimed to minimize wind curtailments. Optimization results presented for a typical day the system reduces wind curtailment percentage from 40.63 % to 13.70 % and supply 5% heat load. Besides, the operation strategy of the battery is to charge at night and discharge in the day.