bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Process improvement for professionalizing non-profit organizations: BPM approach
Authors: Haddad Carolina Resende , Ayala Diego Hernando Florez , Uriona Maldonado Mauricio , Forcellini Fernando Antônio , Lezana Álvaro Guillermo Rojas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a proposal for process improvement at the Department of Social Responsibility of a Colombian process-based organization, called CAJASAN. The department has four main processes: Foniñez (children fund), Fosfec (unemployment fund), Project Management and International Cooperation and Network Management and Alliances. The objective of this paper is to suggest an improvement in these processes through BPM application.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors followed the BPM method proposed by Dumas et al. (2013) for process improvement composed by process identification; process discovery; process analysis; process redesign; process implementation and process monitoring and controlling. The authors modeled the processes by using the software Bizagi®.

Findings

– The actual processes work in an independent way and with no communication. Moreover, the department experiences short-term problems solutions and process inefficiency. It was possible to suggest changes in three out of four processes.

Practical implications

– Implementing BPM in non-profit organizations (NPO) addresses many of the current management challenges faced by such organizations. NPO’s researchers and practitioners should take BPM as a potential way to help in professionalizing them.

Originality/value

– The authors bring an original case study about a Colombian NPO. As a process-oriented organization, the authors use BPM as a management tool to solve many challenges that the company faces nowadays.
Tensile test simulation of high-carbon steel by discrete element method
Authors: Chen Guangming , Schott Dingena L. , Lodewijks Gabriel
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The tensile test is one of the fundamental experiments used to evaluate material properties. Simulating a tensile test can be a replacement of experiments to determine mechanical parameters of a continuous material. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research uses a new approach to model a tensile test of a high-carbon steel on the basis of discrete element method (DEM). In this research, the tensile test specimen was created by using a DEM packing theory. The particle-particle bond model was used to establish the internal forces of the tensile test specimen. The particle-particle bond model was first tested by performing two-particle tensile test, then was adopted to simulate tensile tests of the high-carbon steel by using 3,678 particles.

Findings

– This research has successfully revealed the relationships between the DEM parameters and mechanical parameters by modelling a tensile test. The parametric study demonstrates that the particle physical radius, particle contact radius and bond disc radius can significantly influence ultimate stress and Young’s modulus of the specimen, whereas they slightly impact elongation at fracture. Increasing the normal and shear stiffness, the critical normal and shear stiffness can enable the increase of ultimate stress, however, up to maximum values.

Research limitations/implications

– To improve the particle-particle bond model to simulate a tensile test for high-carbon steel, the damping factors for compensating energy loss from transition of particle motions and failure of bonds are required.

Practical implications

– This work reinforces the knowledge of applying DEM to model continuous materials.

Originality/value

– This research illustrates a new approach to model a tensile test of a high-carbon steel on the basis of DEM.
Forearm test for disposable antibacterial foot sweat pads
Authors: Kaplan Sibel , Aslan Selcuk
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to obtain thermal sensations arise during skin-antibacterial modified foot sweat pad contact by subjective forearm test carried out on 14 males.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sweat pads were designed for the foot and topsheet layers, constituting of polypropylene (PP) or polylactic acid (PLA) nonwoven fabrics, were modified by herbal antibacterial agents (cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, phenylethyl alcohol). Antibacterial agents were applied directly or within polymers which prepared by three different polymerization methods. Dry and wet pads (including water 50 percent of absorption capacity) were placed on the forearms of the subjects for a constant period under controlled environmental conditions. Liquid absorption and transfer characteristics of the topsheet layers were measured by standard methods (drop, absorption capacity, wetback tests) and moisture management tester parameters. Subjective coolness and dampness sensations arise during first touch of the pads were gathered and results were discussed according to liquid absorption and transfer characteristics of the sweat pads which differ according to topsheet fabrics and different antibacterial treatments.

Findings

– The paper showed that, direct or polymerization-based antibacterial applications created significantly different coolness and dampness sensations when compared with raw PP and PLA fabrics. Significant relationships were obtained between coolness sensation and both dampness sensation and absorption capacity results.

Originality/value

– Forearm test is normally applied on standard fabrics but in this study, it was applied on a disposable product which is used within foot clothing system.
Increasing washing performance of wet-spun fibers
Authors: Akdere Musa , Schriever Sascha , Seide Gunnar , Gries Thomas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The wet-spinning process is very important for the development and production of new lightweight design materials. The washing process is determined as one of the most cost-expensive part of wet spinning. The purpose of this paper is to show the development of a new washing concept. It proposes to increase the washing performance by decreasing fiber-fiber-interfaces during the washing process.

Design/methodology/approach

– For this purpose, conventional washing concepts are investigated by means of simulations and experiments to obtain process knowledge. Computational fluid dynamics simulation and particle image velocimetry measurements are used to investigate the process.

Findings

– The overall deficit in conventional washing methods is the large number of fiber-fiber-interfaces, which inhibit the solvent transport out of the compact fiber bundle. Therefore, a new washing concept with included water nozzles is developed. Based on the simulations and observations it is found that the arrangement of the nozzles has direct influence on the fanning of the fiber bundle.

Originality/value

– With increased fanning of the fiber bundle a more efficient solvent transport is expected. The developed washing box is a prosperous concept to achieve a higher washing performance during the wet-spinning process. The variable design of the washing box makes it possible to test different nozzle configurations and designs. In this paper the two most promising nozzle arrangements are shown and compared to each other.
Reducing environmental impact in air jet weaving technology
Authors: Grassi Corrado , Schröter Achim , Gloy Yves Simon , Gries Thomas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to deal with the energy efficiency of textile weaving machines. Increasing energy costs and environmental impact are a challenge for textile manufacturers as well as for the developers of textile production machines. As example, air jet weaving is the most productive but also most energy consuming weaving method.

Design/methodology/approach

– A method based on energy efficiency considered as the main requirements in the design phase has been developed at the Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University (ITA), Aachen, Germany, in order to improve energy efficiency of air-jet weaving machines. Technological developments are always concerned about low energy costs, low environmental impact, high productivity and constant product quality. The high degree of energy consumption of the method can be ascribed to the high need of compressed air required by the relay nozzles during the weft insertion process.

Findings

– The relay nozzles of the air-jet weaving technology consume up to 80 percent of the air required by the weft insertion process. At ITA a new nozzle concept was developed. The developed geometry is a so called high-volume-low-pressure nozzle, based on convergent nozzle aerodynamic theory.

Originality/value

– By employing such new concept of relay nozzles within the weft insertion process, energy savings are possible up to 30 percent.
Systematic review of pertussis immunisation among Asians
Authors: Pal Moneeta , Goodyear-Smith Felicity , Exeter Daniel
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature on pertussis immunisations among the Asian population.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic review was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The review performed searches using the keywords: immun*, vaccine* AND whooping cough or Bordetella pertussis OR B pertussis AND Asia*. The search was conducted on four electronic databases, namely, Medline, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Findings

– In total, 13 studies of relevance were included in the review after screening 206 articles. The studies were categorised into three literature sections which were: epidemiology of pertussis, vaccine effectiveness studies in Asia and strategies aimed to increase uptake of immunisations against pertussis.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to financial constraints, the authors only had access to articles published in the English language and full text articles which may limit the generalisability of the review.

Originality/value

– The review is useful in providing insight into the general trends of pertussis immunisations among Asians and in aiding future research in this area.
Healthcare injustice in patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Ezenwa Miriam O , Patil Crystal , Shi Kevin , Molokie Robert E
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to detail experiences that sickle cell disease (SCD) patients associate with healthcare justice and injustice in pain control.

Design/methodology/approach

– A content analysis study of open-ended comments written by 31 participants who completed a 20-item healthcare injustice questionnaire-revised twice: once in reference to experiences with doctors and once in reference to experiences with nurses.

Findings

– Participants’ mean age was 33±10 years; most were African-Americans and women. Themes showed: the four domains of healthcare justice were represented in patients’ comments; examples of justice and injustice were provided; specific incidents and interactions with healthcare providers were memorable to patients; and setting was a factor important to healthcare experiences because expectations about services vary by setting.

Research limitations/implications

– Patients were self-selected. Future work will include qualitative interviews and focus groups to uncover more details about how patients experience healthcare injustice.

Practical implications

– Additional training is needed for SCD providers and about proper management of sickle cell pain; educational modules are also needed that address areas of healthcare injustice by patients.

Originality/value

– The authors are the first to report how patients define healthcare justice and injustice. Specific details about memorable SCD patient-provider interactions and pain control are described.
The disparity in geographical accessibility to healthcare resources in Iran: the comparison of two cross-section
Authors: Emamgholipour Sefiddashti Sara , Kazemi Karyani Ali , Ghazanfari Sadegh
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– Accessing adequate healthcare to all people is one of the main goals of the health sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate healthcare services access development of the provinces in Iran during 2007 and 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population included all the provinces in Iran. The data for 13 variables, including physical and human health resources, was collected from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the Statistics Center of Iran. Taxonomy technique was used to determine the degree of healthcare services access development in the provinces.

Findings

– The findings show that Semnan was the province with the most developed healthcare services access with development score of 0.342 while Sistan Balocehstan province was the least developed with development score of one in 2007. In the year 2013, Chahar-Mahal Bakhtiari and Sistan Baluchestan were the least and most developed provinces with scores of 0.551 and 0.989, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the development scores in access to healthcare services in 2007 and 2013 were 0.7463±0.1268 and 0.7766±0.1058, respectively.

Originality/value

– Most previous studies that examined disparities in access to healthcare resources in Iran only considered one resource. This study applied a taxonomy technique to investigate the disparity and changes in access using 13 main healthcare resources. This approach helped the authors to investigate whether the decisions of the policy makers were intended to eliminate the disparities.
Sensemaking and metacognitive prompting in ill-structured problems
Authors: Smy Victoria , Cahillane Marie , MacLean Piers
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of generic prompting principles and a framework of prompts that have the potential to foster learning and skill acquisition among adult novices when performing complex, ill-structured problems.

Design/methodology/approach

– Relevant research in the literatures surrounding problem structure, sensemaking, expertise, metacognition, scaffolding, and cognitive load were reviewed and synthesised in order to derive generic prompting principles and guidelines for their implementation.

Findings

– A framework of generic principles and prompts is proposed. Differentiation between prompts supporting cognition either within, or after an ill-structured problem-solving task was supported.

Practical implications

– Prompts such as those proposed in the framework developed presently can be designed into technology-enhanced learning environments in order to structure and guide the cognitive processes of novices. In addition, prompts can be combined with other learning support technologies (e.g. research diaries, collaborative discourse) in order to support learning. Empirical testing will be required to quantify the potential benefits (and limitations of) the proposed prompting framework.

Originality/value

– The prompts developed constitute a framework for structuring and guiding learning efforts in domains where explicit, actionable feedback is often unavailable. The proposed framework offers a method of tailoring the scaffolding of prompts in order to support differing levels of problem structure and may serve as the basis for establishing an internalised and adaptive learning approach that can be transferred to new problems or contexts.
Overeducation and job satisfaction: the role of job demands and control
Authors: Verhaest Dieter , Verhofstadt Elsy
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how job demands and control contribute to the relationship between overeducation and job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is based on data for Belgian young workers up to the age of 26. The authors execute regression analyses, with autonomy, quantitative demands and job satisfaction as dependent variables. The authors account for unobserved individual heterogeneity by means of panel-data techniques.

Findings

– The results reveal a significant role of demands and control for the relationship between overeducation and job satisfaction. At career start, overeducated workers have less control than adequately educated individuals with similar skills levels, but more control than adequately educated employees doing similar work. Moreover, their control increases faster over the career than that of adequately educated workers with a similar educational background. Finally, demands have less adverse effects on satisfaction for high-skilled workers, irrespective of their match, while control moderates the negative satisfaction effect of overeducation.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should look beyond the early career and focus on other potential compensation mechanisms for overeducation. Also the role of underlying mechanisms, such as job crafting, deserves more attention.

Practical implications

– The results suggest that providing more autonomy is an effective strategy to avoid job dissatisfaction among overeducated workers.

Originality/value

– The study connects two areas of research, namely, that on overeducation and its consequences and that on the role of job demands and control for workers’ well-being. The results contribute to a better understanding why overeducation persists. Moreover, they are consistent with the hypothesis that employers hire overeducated workers because they require less monitoring and are more able to cope with demands, although more direct evidence on this is needed.
Coaching for professional growth in one Australian school: “oil in water”
Authors: Netolicky Deborah M.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to build knowledge around the use of coaching to develop teachers’ professional practice in schools. It surfaces insider perspectives of teachers and school leaders in one Australian school, during the development of a model for teacher growth, which used a combination of cognitive coaching and the Danielson Framework for Teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

– A narrative approach to interview data were used to examine the perspectives of 14 educators – teachers and school leaders – involved in the implementation of a school-based cognitive coaching model.

Findings

– This study found that being a coach is an empowering and identity-shaping experience, that coaching for empowerment and capacity building benefits from a non-hierarchical relationship, and that coaching can be enhanced by the use of additional tools and approaches. Implementing a school-based cognitive coaching model, in conjunction with the Danielson Framework for Teaching, can have unexpected impacts on individuals, relationships, and organizations. As described by a participant, these butterfly effects can be non-linear, like “oil in water.”

Originality/value

– In examining teacher and school leader perceptions of a coaching model that trusts teachers’ capacity to grow, this paper shows what coaching and being coached can look like in context and in action. It reveals that cognitive coaching and the Danielson Framework for Teaching can be congruent tools for positive teacher and organizational growth, requiring a slow bottom-up approach to change, an organizational culture of trust, and coaching relationships free from judgment or power inequity. It additionally shows that the combination of being a coach, and also being coached, can facilitate empowerment, professional growth, and changes in belief and practice.
A critical exploration of “access” in qualitative international business field research
Authors: Fjellström Daniella , Guttormsen David S. A.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– Researchers often face challenges in locating and obtaining relevant and meaningful information during qualitative international business (IB) field research in other countries. This process constitutes an immensely critical phase, which determines the success or failure of the research endeavour. The purpose of this paper is to discuss “access” as a multidimensional and contestable concept that poses particular challenges in international and multicultural research contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper builds on the experience as field researchers in China/Hong Kong (120 in-depth interviews) and the need to disseminate acquired field experiences, in particular concerning “access”. The multifaceted issue of “access” is rarely featured on the IB methodological agenda, and has become a silent feature of qualitative IB research.

Findings

– This paper is devoted to this nexus: the lack of focus on “access” issues, and the rich sources of acquired, but mostly veiled, field experiences that feature in both IB and management research programmes. A plausible explanation for this circumstance relates to the influence of mainstream positivist and objectivist paradigms in which researchers are not recognised as having an impact on research processes, hence taking this silent feature for granted.

Originality/value

– By viewing the multiple dimensions of “access”, we move beyond the mainstream understanding that merely relates it to the question of gaining access to a physical site and/or the time of an individual, and in which “access” is only an enterprise of securing pre-existing, tangible information. Drawing upon specific international field research experiences, this paper contributes to the methodological debate concerning “access” – beyond “technicality” and towards a concept of socio-cultural and multidimensional research practice.
The role of vagal pathway andNK1andNK2receptors in cardiovascular and respiratory effects of neurokinin A
Authors: Kaczyńska Katarzyna , Jampolska Monika , Szereda‐Przestaszewska Małgorzata
Published: May 2016

Neurokinin A (NKA) is a peptide neurotransmitter that participates in the regulation of breathing and the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the current study was to determine the cardiorespiratory pattern exerted by the systemic injection of NKA, to look at the contribution of neurokininNK1andNK2receptors, and to establish the engagement of the vagal pathway in mediation of these responses. The effects of intravenous injections ofNKA(50 μg/kg) were studied in anaesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats in the following experimental schemes: in neurally intact rats; and vagotomized at either midcervical or supranodosal level. Intravenous injections ofNKAin the intact rats evoked sudden and short‐lived increase in the respiratory rate concomitant with drop in tidal volume, followed by a prolonged depression, coupled with continuous augmentation of the tidal volume. Respiratory alterations were accompanied by transient tachycardia and prolonged hypotension. Midcervical vagotomy eliminated respiratory rate response and augmentation of tidal volume. Section of supranodosal vagi abrogated all respiratory reactions.NK2receptor blockade abolished respiratory changes without affecting cardiovascular effects, whereasNK1receptor blockade significantly reduced hypotension and increase in heart rate with no impact on the respiratory system. These results indicate thatNKAinduced changes in the breathing resulting from an excitation of theNK2receptors on the vagal endings. A fall in blood pressure triggered byNKAoccurs outside of the vagus nerve and is probably mediatedviaits direct action on vascular smooth muscles supplied withNK1receptors.
Pigment variations in Emiliania huxleyi (CCMP370) as a response to changes in light intensity or quality
Authors: Garrido José L. , Brunet Christophe , Rodríguez Francisco
Published: May 2016

Many studies on photoacclimation examine the pigment responses to changes in light intensity, but variations in light climate in the aquatic environment are also related to changes in spectral composition. We have employed a high‐performance liquid chromatography method with improved resolution towards chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin‐related xanthophylls to examine the pigment composition of Emiliania huxleyi CCMP 370 under different light intensities and spectral qualities.

To maintain its photosynthetic performance, E. huxleyi CCMP370 promotes drastic pigment changes that can be either the interconversion of pigments in pools with the same basic chromophoric structure (Fucoxanthin type or chlorophyll c type), or the ex novo synthesis (Diatoxanthin). These changes are linked either to variations in light quality (Fucoxanthin related xanthophylls) or in light intensity (chlorophyll c3/Monovinyl chlorophyll c3, Diadinoxanthin/Diatoxanthin, β,ɛ−carotene/ β,β‐carotene). Fucoxanthin and 19′‐hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin proportions were highly dependent on spectral conditions. Whereas Fucoxanthin dominated in green and red light, 19′‐hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin prevailed under blue spectral conditions.

Our results suggest that the huge pigment diversity enhanced the photoacclimative capacities of E. huxleyi to efficiently perform under changing light environments. The ubiquity and success in the global ocean as well as the capacity of E. huxleyi to form large surface blooms might be associated to the plasticity described here.
Effect of a pager notification system on Australasian Triage Scale category 2 patients in a paediatric emergency department
Authors: Cheng Daryl R , McCartney Laura E , West Adam , Craig Simon S
Published: May 2016

Objective

Australasian EDs have introduced innovative processes to ensure safe and timely management of patients. Our ED introduced a dedicated pager system to provide rapid assessment of Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) category 2 patients in an attempt to expedite ED care. The present paper aims to evaluate the impact of this initiative on time to clinician, ED length of stay (LOS) and clinical outcomes in a tertiary paediatric ED.

Methods

Retrospective structured chart review on patients presenting in a 2 month period before the intervention (August–September 2009) and the same time 1 year later. Patients were grouped into common ATS category 2 presentations and analysed in these subcategories. Clinical indicators of appropriate and timely performance were selected from best practice performance guidelines.

Results

779 ATS category 2 patients were seen during the two periods: 370 pre‐intervention and 409 post‐intervention. The overall percentage of ATS category 2 patients seen within the target time increased by 22.3%, although there was no significant change in ED LOS. The median time for patients from triage to being seen by an ED clinician improved from 10 to 6 min (P < 0.01). However, we were unable to demonstrate an impact of the pager system on various clinical quality indicators.

Conclusions

The rapid assessment pager system proved beneficial in reducing triage to clinician times for ATS category 2 patients but showed no improvement in overall ED LOS or disease‐specific clinical quality indicators. Further research is needed to determine the influence of other components of ED functioning on clinical outcomes, as well as the overall clinical impact a pager system has on other measures of quality such as patient satisfaction and other subgroups of patients.
Physician assistants in Australasian emergency departments
Authors: Close Benjamin , Zolcinski Robert
Published: May 2016

A physician assistant (PA) is a university qualified health professional who's primary role is to provide medical care under the direction and supervision of medical staff. This is a new profession in Australasia. The PA is well suited to working in both rural, regional and urban settings that deliver emergency medical care. A perspective is presented on their role and scope of practice within the Australasian emergency care system supported by some early findings from their use in a tertiary ED.
Wolbachiaendosymbionts in haplodiploid and diploid scolytine beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)
Authors: Kawasaki Yuuki , Schuler Hannes , Stauffer Christian , Lakatos Ferenc , Kajimura Hisashi
Published: May 2016

Haplodiploidy is a sex determination system in which fertilized diploid eggs develop into females and unfertilized haploid eggs develop into males. The evolutionary explanations for this phenomenon include the possibility that haplodiploidy can be reinforced by infection with endosymbiotic bacteria, such asWolbachia. The subfamily Scolytinae contains species with haplodiploid and diploid sex determination systems. Thus, we studied the association withWolbachiain 12 diploid and 11 haplodiploid scolytine beetles by analyzingwspand multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of five loci in this endosymbiont.Wolbachiagenotypes were compared with mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (EF) genotypes in the scolytines. Eight of the 23 scolytine species were infected withWolbachia, with haplodiploids at significantly higher rates than diploid species. Cloning and sequencing detected multiple infections with up to sixWolbachiastrains in individual species. Phylogenetic analyses ofwspand five MLST genes revealed differentWolbachiastrains in scolytines. Comparisons between the beetle andWolbachiaphylogenies revealed that closely related beetles were infected with genetically differentWolbachiastrains. These results suggest the horizontal transmission of multipleWolbachiastrains between scolytines. We discuss these results in terms of the evolution of different sex determination systems in scolytine beetles.
The Effect of Tax Preparation Expenses for Employees: Evidence from Germany
Authors: Blaufus Kay , Hechtner Frank , Möhlmann Axel
Published: May 2016

Using a panel of German income tax accounting data from taxpayers with no business income (employees), we find a negative relationship between tax preparation expenses and tax liabilities. However, preparation expenses are shown to exceed estimated tax savings. Specifically, one additional Euro spent on preparation yields an estimated tax savings of 72 cents in an OLS regression and 24 cents in a fixed effects regression. In addition, we observe substantial heterogeneity in tax savings among income groups, but even if we account for long‐term tax savings, tax liability reductions exceed tax preparation expenses only for the highest income quintile. In all other income quintiles, average preparation expenses exceed the estimated tax and time savings. Based on these results, we also examine whether other specific benefits affect an individual's decision to purchase tax preparation services, and the results indicate the importance of the benefits of coping with complexity and reduced uncertainty. Overall, our findings illustrate that the current tax compliance process violates at least two of Adam Smith's principles of taxation, taxes are neither certain nor fair.
Real‐world surgical outcomes of a gelatin‐hemostatic matrix in women requiring a hysterectomy: a matched case–control study
Authors: Obermair Helena , Janda Monika , Obermair Andreas
Published: May 2016

Introduction

The aim of this study was to compare adverse events and surgical outcomes of hysterectomy with or without use of a gelatin‐hemostatic matrix (SURGIFLO®).

Materials and methods

Prospective case–control study (Canadian Task Force classification II2) of total hysterectomy (Piver Type 1) provided by surgeons in Australia between November 2005 and May 2015. Data were collected via SurgicalPerformance, a web‐based data project which aims to provide confidential feedback to surgeons about their surgical outcomes. Of 2440 records of women who received a hysterectomy, 1351 were eligible for these analyses; 107 received SURGIFLO® hemostatic matrix to prevent postoperative blood loss and 1244 did not.

Results

Patients with or without SURGIFLO® differed in age, Charlson comorbidity index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system score (ASA), and also differed in clinical outcomes. After matching for patient's age and ASA at surgery, patients with and without SURGIFLO® had comparable baseline characteristics. Matched patients with and without SURGIFLO® had comparable clinical outcomes including risk of developing vault hematoma, return to the operating room, transfusion of red cells, surgical site infection (pelvis), readmission within 30 days and unplanned ICU admission.

Conclusions

In a sample matched by age and ASA, SURGIFLO® neither prevented nor caused additional adverse events in women undergoing hysterectomy. Surgeons used SURGIFLO® more commonly among women who were older, had more comorbidities and a higher ASA score. This indicates that it may be most useful in complicated surgery or cases.
Continuous subcutaneous glucose monitoring is accurate in term and near‐term infants at risk of hypoglycaemia
Authors: Wackernagel Dirk , Dube Martina , Blennow Mats , Tindberg Ylva
Published: May 2016

Aim

Postnatal hypoglycaemia increases the risk of adverse neurological outcomes in newborn infants, and adequate glucose control requires repetitive and painful blood sampling. This study evaluated a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) that aims to improve glucose control and decrease the frequency of blood samples taken from neonates.

Methods

CGMS sensors, which measure glucose values every five minutes and require calibration twice a day, were placed on 20 infants at risk of hypoglycaemia. The infants also underwent blood glucose sampling, and the blood glucose values were compared with CGMS values six times during the first 30 minutes after sampling.

Results

We used 97/264 (37%) of the blood glucose values taken for the CGMS calibration. The highest accuracy, a mean of 0.22 (95% confidence interval 0.13–0.30 mmol/L), was found 15–19 minutes after sampling, due to the calibration process. No significant subcutaneous glucose time lag was detectable.

Conclusion

The CGMS system was an accurate and feasible method for glucose control, provided earlier detection of hypoglycaemia in newborn infants and reduced their exposure to procedural pain. The delay in calibration in infants was a new finding and needs to be taken into account when comparing CGMS readings to blood glucose values.
Primary Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the adrenal gland
Authors: Zhang Lian , Yao Min , Hisaoka Masanori , Sasano Hironobu , Gao Hongwen
Published: May 2016

Primary Ewing sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the adrenal gland is extremely rare. We report a case of Ewing sarcoma or PNET of the adrenal in a 48‐year‐old Chinese woman. The patient was hospitalized with left upper quadrant abdominal pain and swelling that had been present for 1 year. Computed tomography (CT) images revealed a circumscribed mass in the left adrenal region measuring 12 cm in its greatest dimension, and the mass was surgically resected. Macroscopically, the mass (13 × 10 × 8 cm3) in the left adrenal gland was encapsulated, soft, appearing grayish white and yellow, and with foci of cystic degeneration, necrosis, and hemorrhage on cross‐sectional. Non‐tumorous adrenal tissue was compressed, but identifiable at the periphery of the specimen. Histologically, compact short spindle and oval tumor cells were arranged in sheets. Tumor cells tested positive for vimentin, CD99, Bcl‐2, NKX2.2, EMA, and CD117, and weakly positive for FLI‐1 on immunohistochemical analysis and showed rearrangement of the EWSR1 on fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Post‐adrenalectomy, after being recurrence free for 4.5 years, the patient relapsed and a localized recurrence was detected on a follow‐up CT scan.
Review article: long‐term safety of nucleoside and nucleotide analogues in HBV‐monoinfected patients
Authors: Lampertico P. , Chan H. L. Y. , Janssen H. L. A. , Strasser S. I. , Schindler R. , Berg T.
Published: May 2016

Background

Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) for chronic hepatitis B treatment achieve high rates of viral suppression and are generally well tolerated. Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are the currently preferred first‐line agents. The safety of these agents in clinical practice is particularly relevant since long‐term treatment is usually required.

Aim

To summarise and critically discuss recent real‐world evidence on the safety of treatment with ETV or TDF in hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐monoinfected patients.

Methods

PubMed and conference proceedings up to 15th June 2015 were searched using the terms ((((Hepatitis_B) OR HBV) AND ((tenofovir) OR entecavir)) AND (((lactic_acidosis) OR bone) OR renal)).

Results

In selected populations included in registration studies, both ETV and TDF were well tolerated with no clinically significant renal toxicity or lactic acidosis. Growing ‘real‐world’ clinical experience with these agents includes some reports of ETV‐associated lactic acidosis and TDF‐associated renal impairment; however, evidence from cohort studies appears to be conflicting. In the case of ETV‐related lactic acidosis, a small number of cases have been reported, all in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The degree of association between TDF treatment and changes in markers of renal function varies between studies: discrepancies may result from the use of different definitions and cut‐offs for reporting renal toxicities, and differences in patient populations.

Conclusions

Pre‐treatment and on‐treatment monitoring of eGFR and phosphorus, with prompt appropriate dose adjustment or treatment switch can minimise the impact of NUC renal toxicity. Standardisation of measures of renal impairment and identification of early molecular markers remain an unmet need.
Review article: treatment as prevention – targeting people who inject drugs as a pathway towards hepatitis C eradication
Authors: Leask J. D. , Dillon J. F.
Published: May 2016

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. HCV predominates in people who inject drugs; a group in whom anti‐viral therapy has previously been withheld on the basis of chaotic lifestyles and associated risks of reinfection. New research has emerged which suggests that by specifically targeting HCV‐infected people who inject drugs for treatment, the pool of HCV would deplete, thus reducing overall transmission and eventually leading to HCV eradication.

Aim

To outline the requirements for HCV eradication and review the evidence that this is achievable.

Methods

Expert review of the literature.

Results

The achievement of HCV eradication using ‘treatment as prevention’ is supported by numerous epidemiological modelling studies employing a variety of models in several contexts including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men and prisoners. More recent studies also incorporate the newer, more efficacious direct‐acting anti‐viral drugs. These drugs have been shown to be safe and effective in people who inject drugs in clinical trials. There is no empirical evidence of the impact of treatment as prevention strategies on population prevalence.

Conclusions

This review highlights the efforts to control HCV and evaluates the possibilities of achieving eradication of HCV. Currently, the technologies required to achieve HCV eradication exist, but the infrastructure to deliver them is not generally available or of insufficient scale outside of specific areas. Such areas are yet to demonstrate that elimination is possible, but results of studies in these areas are awaited. Such a demonstration would be proof of principle for eradication. Although we are aspiring towards HCV eradication, elimination is the more realistic prospect.
A literature review on the pharmacological sensitivity of human evoked hyperalgesia pain models
Authors: van Amerongen Guido , de Boer Matthijs W. , Groeneveld Geert Jan , Hay Justin L.
Published: May 2016

Aims

Human evoked pain models can be used to determine the efficacy of new and existing analgesics and to aid in the identification of new targets. Aspects of neuropathic pain can be simulated by inducing hyperalgesia resulting from provoked sensitization. The present literature review aimed to provide insight into the sensitivity of different hyperalgesia and allodynia models of pharmacological treatment.

Methods

A literature search was performed to identify randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies that included human hyperalgesia pain models and investigated the pharmacodynamic effects of different classes of drugs.

Results

Three hyperalgesia models [ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, capsaicin and thermode burn] have been used extensively. Assessment of hyperalgesia/allodynia and pharmacological effect are measured using challenge tests, which generally comprise thermal (heat/cold) or mechanical stimulation (pin‐prick, stroking or impact). The UVB model was sensitive to the antihyperalgesic effects of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids. The capsaicin model was partially sensitive to opioids. The burn model did not detect any antihyperalgesic effects when NSAIDs or local anaesthetics were administered but responded to the effects of N‐methyl D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists by moderately reducing mechanical hyperalgesia.

Conclusions

Based on pharmacological sensitivity, the UVB model adequately reflects inflammatory pain and was sensitive to NSAIDs and opioids. Findings from the capsaicin and burn models raised questions about the translatability of these models to the treatment of neuropathic pain. There is a need for a reproducible and predictive model of neuropathic pain, either in healthy subjects or in patients.
Influence of S‐Oxidation on Cytotoxic Activity of Oxathiole‐Fused Chalcones
Authors: Konieczny Marek T. , Buɬakowska Anita , Pirska Danuta , Konieczny Wojciech , Skladanowski Andrzej , Sabisz Michal , Wojciechowski Marek , Lemke Krzysztof
Published: May 2016

Synthesis, in vitro cytotoxic activity, and interaction with tubulin of oxidized, isomeric 1‐(5‐alkoxybenzo[d][1,3]oxathiol‐6‐yl)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐ones and 1‐(6‐alkoxybenzo[d][1,3]oxathiol‐5‐yl)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐ones are described. Most of the compounds demonstrated cytotoxic activity at submicromolar concentrations. It was found that oxidation of sulfur atom of the oxathiole‐fused chalcones strongly influenced activity of the parent compounds, and that depending on relative position of the sulfur atom in the molecule, the activity was either increased or diminished. For isomers with sulfur atom para to the chalcone carbonyl group, oxidation led to increase in activity, while for isomers with sulfur atom meta to the carbonyl the activity dropped down. It was demonstrated that the compounds interact with tubulin at the colchicine binding site, and the interaction was evaluated using molecular modeling. It was concluded that the observed profound influence of oxidation of the sulfur atom on cytotoxic activity cannot be solely related to interaction of the compounds with tubulin.
Various modifications of the amphipathic dynorphin A pharmacophore for rat brain bradykinin receptors
Authors: Lee Yeon Sun , Kupp Robert , Remesic Michael V. , Ramos‐Colon Cyf , Hall Sara M. , Chan Christopher , Rankin David , Lai Josephine , Porreca Frank , Hruby Victor J.
Published: May 2016

As a unique endogenous opioid ligand, dynorphin A shows paradoxical neuroexcitatory effects at bradykinin receptors, and the effects are known to be amplified by the upregulation of dynorphin A under chronic pain and inflammatory conditions. In our earlier structure–activity relationship studies, the amphipathic dynorphin A fragment, [Des‐Arg7]‐Dyn A‐(4–11), was identified as a pharmacophore for the bradykinin receptors along with key structural features. Here, further modifications of the pharmacophore showed that the position of a Pro residue is also an important feature because of its role in making (or disrupting) a β‐turn or 310 helix structure which is crucial for receptor recognition.
Illegitimate RAG-mediated recombination events are involved inIKZF1Δ3–6 deletion inBCR-ABL1lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Dong Y , Liu F , Wu C , Li S , Zhao X , Zhang P , Jiao J , Yu X , Ji Y , Zhang M
Published: May 2016

Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukaemia viral oncogene homologue 1 (BCR–ABL1), encoded by the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, is the characteristic of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and a subset of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We demonstrated that expression of the Ik6 transcript, which lacked exons 3–6, was observed exclusively in BCR–ABL1+B ALL and lymphoid blast crisis CML (BC–CML) patients harbouring the IKZF1 Δ3–6 deletion. To confirm the hypothesis that illegitimate recombination activating gene protein (RAG)-mediated recombination events are involved in IKZF1 Δ3–6 deletion in BCR–ABL1 lymphoblastic leukaemia, we first demonstrated that the expression rates of RAG1 and RAG2, collectively called RAG, were higher in ALL and BC–CML (lymphoid). Notably, analysis of relationships among RAG, BCR–ABL1 and Ikaros 6 (Ik6) showed that Ik6 can be generated only if RAG and BCR–ABL1 are co-existing. The sequencing data showed that the deleted segments of introns 2 and 6 contained cryptic recombination signal sequences (cRSSs) and frequently had non-template nucleotides inserted between breakpoints. Furthermore, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) technology and demonstrated that the sequences directly flanking IKZF1 Δ3–6 deletion breakpoints have significantly higher levels of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) modifications. Overall, RAG expression, good-quality cRSS and a specific chromatin modification, H3K4me3, satisfy the conditions of RAG's off-target effects on IKZF1. Our work provides evidence for RAG-mediated IKZF1 Δ3–6 deletion. Our results raise the prospect that RAG is a valuable biomarker in disease surveillance. Dissecting the contribution of RAG should not only provide valuable mechanistic insights, but will also lead to a new therapeutic direction.
Muscle‐Based Control for Character Animation
Authors: Cruz Ruiz A.L. , Pontonnier C. , Pronost N. , Dumont G.
Published: May 2016

Muscle‐based control is transforming the field of physics‐based character animation through the integration of knowledge from neuroscience, biomechanics and robotics, which enhance motion realism. Since any physics‐based animation system can be extended to a muscle‐actuated system, the possibilities of growth are tremendous. However, modelling muscles and their control remains a difficult challenge. We present an organized review of over a decade of research in muscle‐based control for character animation, its fundamental concepts and future directions for development. The core of this review contains a classification of control methods, tables summarizing their key aspects and popular neuromuscular functions used within these controllers, all with the purpose of providing the reader with an overview of the field.