bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Results on Acceptance, Feasibility, and Subjective Efficacy of the Add-On Group Intervention Metacognitive Training for Borderline Patients
Authors: Schilling Lisa , Moritz Steffen , Köther Ulf , Nagel Matthias
Published: May 2015

Objective: The add-on intervention “metacognitive training for borderline patients (B-MCT)” targets cognitive biases in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). We aimed to evaluate acceptance, feasibility, and subjective use of this group intervention. Methods: Forty-eight inpatients with BPD were randomly assigned to 8 sessions of B-MCT versus an active control intervention (progressive muscle relaxation). Subjective use was assessed after 4 weeks. Results: B-MCT yielded significantly superior scores relative to the control group on several parameters, for example, use, fun, recommendation, and subjective improvements in symptomatology and cognitive abilities (e.g., perspective taking). Conclusions: The trial provides preliminary evidence for the acceptance and feasibility of metacognitive training in BPD. However, randomized controlled trials with larger samples and symptomatic outcomes are needed to investigate the specific impact of B-MCT on psychopathology and cognition.
Simulation Pedagogy with Nurse Practitioner Students: Impact of Receiving Immediate Individualized Faculty Feedback
Authors: Grossman Sheila , Conelius Jaclyn
Published: May 2015

Family nurse practitioner (FNP) students must achieve basic competency in managing patients’ primary care needs across the lifespan. Students in the FNP program have simulations integrated throughout their clinical theory courses to increase practice time with various patient cases. Students who received individualized faculty feedback immediately after self-evaluation of simulation performance showed statistically significantly increased knowledge (as evidenced by higher grades in course examinations and preceptor evaluations) than a control group of students who received feedback in a group class via a rubric grading guide 2–4 weeks after all students completed their individual simulations.
Nurses: The Right and Rites to Write, Right?
Authors: Darby Mark
Published: May 2015

Creative writing can be used to enhance professional skills by changing point of view and imagining a different ending. An example of one nurse's use of creative writing to improve nursing skills is demonstrated and explained.
Message from Plato: Expanding Our Nursing Horizons
Authors: Snow Brenda L. , Fitzsimons Virginia
Published: May 2015

Recognizing human enlightenment is a common theme from the ancient discipline of philosophy. The budding philosophy of nursing continues to find meaning and value in advanced education. This article offers a lesson from the philosopher Plato about not knowing what we don't know. Plato's allegory of the cave offers a unique insight for nurses hesitant to return to school for advanced degrees. Those who believe that the endeavor offers little in return may find enlightenment in this two-thousand-year-old allegory. Plato's cave both encourages the reader to consider the unseen benefits of an educational journey and provides hope about the value of the unknown.
The Power in Caring: Stepping in Where Others Don't Even Think to Tread
Authors: Denholm Diana
Published: May 2015

A caregiver, medical psychotherapist, and author of The Caregiving Wife's Handbook reveals that to move “from experience to empowerment,” one must first recognize that his or her experience has value. Every caregiver has experienced something that calls out for improvement or change. Empowered acts can be as simple as monitoring the food choices hospitals offer our loved ones and reporting deficiencies. Yet, caregivers avoid discussing difficult issues and may be unable to communicate effectively about needs and/or solutions. Learned communication is the key to achieving what we wish, simultaneously creating the best possible relationships with those around us. Six easy steps, along with tips and tools, are given to help collaborate and create agreements.
Supporting Caregivers in Caring: Empowered to Disempowered and Back Again
Authors: Petty Michael
Published: May 2015

Family caregivers contribute services valued at $450 billion to the U.S. economy annually. Although family members frequently lack training in the techniques of health care, providers routinely turn to them to provide care when a patient's condition no longer meets criteria for hospitalization. This article explores the concepts of caregiver empowerment and disempowerment, offers strategies for enhancing caregiver empowerment, and describes actions that may unintentionally disempower those same individuals. Case examples are used to draw attention to cues health care personnel may encounter that signal a need to look deeper into the caregiver's capacity to provide the needed care. Early identification of barriers to capacity will permit the health care team to bring resources to bear on the patient's situation to facilitate safe transitions of care.
Using Docudrama in a New Graduate Nurse Residency Program: Stepping into the Lives of Families Experiencing Dementia
Authors: Sorrell Jeanne Merkle , Szweda Christine
Published: May 2015

Hospitals are increasingly implementing residencies to help ensure that new graduate nurses are prepared to provide safe and effective care. At the Cleveland Clinic, a docudrama focused on ethical concerns in living with dementia was implemented into a 6-month pilot new graduate nurse residency program. Outcomes suggest that the docudrama helped nurse residents gain empathy and understanding through stepping into the lives of families experiencing dementia.
Caring Economics: A New Framework for Conceptualizing and Measuring Economic Activity
Authors: Ghosh Indradeep
Published: May 2015

This article introduces the reader to a new framework for conceptualizing and measuring economic activity called caring economics. Going beyond the conventional understanding of economic activity as that which unfolds in markets, caring economics highlights the work of care and caregiving that occurs within households and is often unpaid. This article also unveils a new set of measures based on the framework of caring economics that are urgently needed by policymakers and business leaders to foster personal, business, and national economic success.
Building Economic Value for Professional Nurses at the Gateway to the Health Care System
Authors: Jamieson Sharon A.
Published: May 2015

An enhanced role for professional nurses as directed care practitioners will lead to improved effectiveness of the health care system, establish independent economic value for nursing activities, and use the full range of nurses’ expertise.
What Matters Most: A Conversation with Brian Wong, MD, MPH
Authors: Wong Brian , Koloroutis Mary
Published: May 2015

In this article, Dr. Brian Wong describes a patient-accountable culture as built around the question, What matters most to patients? He asserts that it is up to each health care professional to take responsibility for his or her positive impact on the culture with every single interaction. Each interaction needs to support what matters most to patients and to the well-being of the team. As all health care professionals get better at showing up in a patient-accountable way, everything else gets better: patient safety, patient satisfaction, employee engagement, and even the bottom line. Not because of a series of initiatives but because we ask one question … “What matters most to you?”
Counseling Male Members of the Canadian Forces
Authors: Prousky Jonathan E.
Published: May 2015

The lives of men working in the Canadian Forces (CF) are vastly different from civilian life. The hardships and competition they endure often results in impersonal and alienating feelings. Such a life demands that their personal needs are subsumed by the overarching goals of the institution, necessitating that all men embrace the dictums of the CF. As a result of these unique hardships, the psychological well-being among the regular forces is generally worse compared to civilian workers. Counselors need to attune psychotherapy to the specific psychological and sociocultural adaptation stresses that these men have experienced as part of the military acculturation process that shifts them to embrace a more “militarized” worldview. Counselors should alter their approach to accommodate the traditional masculine ideology that underlies how these military men interface with the world. Lastly, counselors should rely on counseling interventions that promote therapeutic lifestyle changes and build on psychological resilience, such as skills building, therapeutic enactment, and mindfulness-based therapies.
A Case Study Approach to Mental Health Recovery: Understanding the Importance of Trauma-Informed Care
Authors: Lietz Cynthia A. , Lacasse Jeffrey R. , Cheung Justine R.
Published: May 2015

This article documents one woman’s experience of mental health recovery using a case study approach. Specifically, qualitative data collected through a semistructured interview were triangulated with the medical record to understand more about how this woman experienced a transition from a period of her life marked by severe psychological and emotional impairment to an extended period of time during which she was thriving and did not experience symptoms consistent with her former diagnosis of severe mental illness. This case study offers important implications regarding the importance of trauma-informed care in the field of mental health.
Adolescent Hostility Toward Therapists
Authors: Karon Bertram P. , Widener Anmarie J.
Published: May 2015

Many therapists avoid working with adolescents. One of the reasons is that many adolescents are unreasonably hostile to therapists and express this hostility in ways that are hard to take. This is particularly difficult if you take their hostility at face value. But there is something ironic about adolescent hostility toward therapists. Although it would be bad therapy to laugh at them, it is funny (ironic): If you take their hostility at face value, you cannot tolerate them. If you do not take it at face value, you can tolerate their hostility, and if you keep working with them, they will get better. You will notice this even though they will tell you that you are not helping them.

Theoretically, this is related to the unreasonable hostility of adolescents toward their parents and its basis in the need of the adolescent to prove to himself or herself that they do not want to still be a child even though a part of them does want to be a child. Several cases are presented, where taking the hostility seriously would have led to therapeutic failure, and where not taking it seriously led to therapeutic success. There was nothing funny, however, about the hostility of one adolescent patient who was a serial killer.
Developing and Testing a Bedside Aspiration Screen to Protect Stroke Patients From Aspiration and Mortality: Expanding Nursing Practice and Partnership
Authors: Huhn-Matesic Edith K.
Published: May 2015

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States at a rate of 1 death every 4 min. Stroke patients initially experience dysphagia 42%–76% of the time, putting them at high risk for developing aspiration pneumonia, increasing the risk of death three-fold in the first 30 days following onset of the condition. The Edith-Huhn-Matesic Bedside Aspiration Screen (EHMBAS) was developed as an evidence-based registered nurse (RN) bedside aspiration screening protocol. It represents an example where a strategic training program and multidisciplinary collaboration enabled nurses to broaden their education and scope of practice to improve care to the stroke population on the acute stroke unit. As recommended by the Institute of Medicine (2011) report, nurses advanced the health of stroke patients. The EHMBAS demonstrated strong validity (94% sensitivity) and high interrater reliability (Kappa = .92, p < .001). Pre- and poststaff training survey results verified a significant positive change in knowledge gained, preparedness, and satisfaction with teaching methods. Furthermore, 92.3% of patients surveyed had positive screening experiences. The multidisciplinary stroke team was highly effective at implementing stroke guidelines expeditiously, saving lives in this population. This study was significant in that it contributed to the body of work aimed at establishing a sustainable valid, and reliable evidence-based, bedside aspiration screen that can be promptly completed for acute stroke victims.
The Necessity of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Comprehensive Care for Future Health Care
Authors: Carter Michael A. , Moore Phillip J.
Published: May 2015

The education of nurse practitioners has undergone substantial evolution since Ford and Silver (1967) first reported on the preparation of nurses to assume the role of primary care providers for children. From this modest beginning in Colorado emerged a worldwide movement to prepare nurses to diagnose and treat patients in ways that in the past had been restricted to physicians. The early programs were not usually located in schools or colleges of nursing but rather were short-term continuing education programs. Later, nurse practitioner programs were transitioned to master’s degree programs and more recently began to evolve to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2014) currently lists 243 active DNP programs and 70 planned programs.
Advancing Post-Doctorate of Nursing Practice Residency Experience: First Year Reflections
Authors: Brown Kameka , Poppe Anne , Kaminetzky Catherine , Wipf Joyce , Woods Nancy Fugate
Published: May 2015

An interprofessional team developed a yearlong post-doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) residency program funded by the Veteran Affairs (VA) Office of Academic Affiliations. As the VA’s first post-DNP residency, this multidisciplinary team sought to develop a mentoring environment that would provide DNP residents with increased clinical training, interprofessional networking, role transition, and dedicated mentoring. The authors discuss critical design elements for a successful residency design along with lessons learned. Initial findings support continuation and solidification of post-DNP residencies for new DNPs.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Education for Uniformed Service Advanced Practice Nurses: A Model Curriculum and Clinical Partnership
Authors: Romano Carol A. , Hinshaw Ada Sue
Published: May 2015

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing asserted the position that the practice doctorate should be the graduate degree for advanced nursing practice preparation. To maintain professional standards for military advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and remain competitive for high-quality students, the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences transitioned its APRN programs to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. This article describes a model graduate curriculum that incorporates clinical partnerships to prepare APRNs for their future roles in the federal health care system. Background, stakeholders, program aims, implementation strategies, curriculum design, accreditation, challenges, and lessons learned are discussed.
Addressing the Health Care Delivery Needs in the Acute Care Setting by Developing a Postmaster’s Acute Care Certification Program
Authors: Miley Helen , Reinisch Courtney
Published: May 2015

The state of New Jersey certifies nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists from all specialties as advanced practice nurses (APNs). There are more than 4,000 certified APNs in the state in 17 specialty areas. APNs in the state have the privilege of practicing in various settings such as ambulatory, inpatient, and long-term care. The state does not limit the setting where an APN chooses to practice. A trend is emerging in the state to address the concern of primary care–educated APNs to prepare them for the delivery of care in the acute care setting. Some institutions within the state of New Jersey are requiring their primary care–educated and primary care–certified adult primary care APNs working in an inpatient setting obtain an acute care certification. Recognizing the needs of these adult primary care APNs, Dr. Helen Miley developed a postmaster’s certificate program which has been approved by Rutgers School of Nursing faculty. Although the first cohort has not yet been admitted to the program, it will be implemented in the near future. Because it is important to address the educational needs of adult primary care APNs, this article describes the needs assessment and development plan used for this program.
Qualitative Analysis of Comprehensive Care in Doctor of Nursing Practice Case Narratives: Astuteness and Advocacy Fall Short Without Audacity
Authors: Byrne Mary W.
Published: May 2015

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs have focused on competencies needed to deliver comprehensive patient care across settings and time. Endorsed by professional nursing associations, these competencies are typically evaluated through detailed case narratives written by DNP candidates. Beyond competency metrics, the essence of comprehensive care for advanced nursing practice has not been carefully explicated. In this study, a phenomenological analysis is applied to a purposive sample of 12 DNP case narratives to identify the meaning of comprehensive care as transmitted in practice. Clinical assessment precision, diagnostic acumen, and advocacy emerge consistently but only the more audacious nurse practitioners directly challenge health system fragmentation.
A Case of Cognitive Impairment Presenting With Apraxia and Visual Disturbance: A Unique Nurse Practitioner Perspective
Authors: Kramps Melissa
Published: May 2015

A 56-year-old woman developed problems with performing familiar tasks (apraxia), word finding (anomia), reading, and spatial orientation. The subsequent work-up and ultimate diagnosis illustrates the complex nature of cases being managed by doctorally prepared nurse practitioners.
Accelerated Bone Formation in Distracted Alveolar Bone After Injection of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐2
Authors: Terbish Munkhdulam , Yoo Seong‐Hun , Kim Hee‐Jin , Yu Hyung‐Seog , Hwang Chung‐Ju , Baik Hyung‐Seon , Cha Jung‐Yul
Published: May 2015

Background: This study evaluates the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP‐2) on the quality and quantity of regenerated bone when injected into distracted alveolar bone.

Methods: Sixteen adult beagle dogs were assigned to either the control or rhBMP‐2 group. After distraction was completed, an rhBMP‐2 dose of 330 μg in 0.33 mL was injected slowly into the distracted alveolar crest of the mesial, middle, and distal parts of the alveolar bone in the experimental group. Histologic and microcomputed tomography analyses of regenerated bone were done after 2 and 6 weeks of consolidation.

Results: After 6 weeks of consolidation, the vertical defect height in the middle of the regenerated bone was significantly lower in the rhBMP‐2 group (2.2 mm) than in the control group (3.4 mm) (P <0.05). Additionally, the width of the regenerated bone was significantly greater in the rhBMP‐2 group (4.3 mm) than in the control group (2.8 mm) (P <0.05). The bone density and volume of regenerated bone in the rhBMP‐2 group were greater than in the control group after 6 weeks of consolidation (P <0.001).

Conclusion: Injection of rhBMP‐2 into regenerated bone after a distraction osteogenesis procedure significantly increased bone volume in the dentoalveolar distraction site and improved both the width and height of the alveolar ridge and increased the bone density.
The 2014 DAF Survey at the University of Sheffield
Authors: Cox Andrew , Williamson Laurian
Published: May 2015

The Data Asset Framework methodology has evolved to provide a model for institutional surveys of researchersâ€™ data practices and attitudes. At least 13 such studies have been published in the UK and internationally. The aim of this paper is to analyse the results from the 2014 DAF survey at the University of Sheffield and to reflect on the comparability of this with previous published studies. 432 researchers responded to the survey representing 8% of the target population. Researchers at Sheffield collect multiple types of data and a significant number have accumulated very large amounts of data. Data was backed up on a diverse basis. Only 25% of respondents had a DMP. Eighteen months after its creation most respondents were still not aware of the local research data management policy. Fortunately, most respondents were favourable to the idea of training in many aspects of RDM. Researchers had generally had no experience of sharing data, but attitudes were positive, both in terms of a significant minority seeing a lack of data sharing as an obstacle to the progress of research and also desire to reuse the data of others and share their own with a broad group of researchers. Comparison of the Sheffield results with those of other institutions is difficult particularly because of the divergence of questions asked in the different studies. Nevertheless, in terms of data practices and identifying training priorities there are common patterns. This institutional survey showed less positive attitudes to data sharing than the results of cross-institutional studies, such as conducted by Tenopir et al. (2011).
Predictors of Retention and Achievement in a Massive Open Online Course
Authors: Greene Jeffrey A. , Oswald Christopher A. , Pomerantz Jeffrey
Published: May 2015

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been heralded as an education revolution, but they suffer from low retention, calling into question their viability as a means of promoting education for all. In addition, numerous gaps remain in the research literature, particularly concerning predictors of retention and achievement. In this study, we used survival analysis to examine the degree to which student characteristics, relevance, prior experience with MOOCs, self-reported commitment, and learners’ implicit theory of intelligence predicted retention and achievement. We found that learners’ expected investment, including level of commitment, expected number of hours devoted to the MOOC, and intention to obtain a certificate, related to retention likelihood. Prior level of schooling and expected hours devoted to the MOOC predicted achievement.
The New Politics of Diversity
Authors: Frankenberg Erica , McDermott Kathryn A. , DeBray Elizabeth , Blankenship Ann Elizabeth
Published: May 2015

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Education distributed $2,500,000 via a competitive grant program, the Technical Assistance for Student Assignment Plans, to 11 school districts. The grants and their local effects provide an opportunity to examine the new politics of diversity in public education. Participants cited a wide range of conceptions of diversity, most of which were race-neutral. Some districts enacted policies deemphasizing their original diversity goals. Even in Technical Assistance for Student Assignment Plans (TASAP) districts, whose leaders presumably value diversity, diversity was not always a compelling goal when competing with priorities such as fiscal austerity, school improvement, and neighborhood school demands. Future federal efforts to increase students’ exposure to diverse peers should recognize that local conditions might create contrary political pressures for local policymakers.
Do First-Year Seminars Improve College Grades and Retention? A Quantitative Review of Their Overall Effectiveness and an Examination of Moderators of Effectiveness
Authors: Permzadian Vahe , Credé Marcus
Published: May 2015

We review the effectiveness of first-year seminars based on the widely used criteria of first-year grades and the 1-year retention rate. Meta-analytic results indicate that first-year seminars have a small average effect on both first-year grades ( k = 89, N = 52,406, δ = 0.02) and the 1-year retention rate ( k = 195, N = 169,666, δ = 0.11). We discuss the implications of these small effects and show that they are meaningful and have important consequences. Results also indicate that the effectiveness of first-year seminars for both criteria is substantially moderated by first-year seminar characteristics (e.g., type of seminar), institutional characteristics (e.g., 2-year or 4-year institution), and study characteristics (e.g., study design). We use these results to make recommendations about the design of first-year seminars that can maximize the positive effect on both the grades and retention of participants.
Association of clinical features of acute viral encephalitis with mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes
Authors: Rahman Khadija , Khaled MS , Begum Marium , Begum Nasreen , Sultana Azmeri , Parvin Ruma , Akter Fahmuda
Published: May 2015

Background : Acute viral encephalitis is a world-wide health problem with severe morbidity, significant mortality and a high incidence of residual sequelae in survivors.Objective : To identify the association of clinical features of acute viral encephalitis with mortality and neurodevelopment outcomes.Methodology : It is a hospital based comparative observational prospective study done in Dhaka Shishu Hospital during the period of October 2005 to March 2006. Children with 1 month to 12 years of both sex presenting with specific clinical features and laboratory evidences suggestive of acute viral encephalitis (seizures, altered consciousness, features of raised intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid evidences of viral encephalitis) were included. 44 children were enrolled according to inclusion criteria. Data were collected on clinical and socio demographic status. SPSS 16 version program was used for data analysis.Result : Among the 44 cases, the mean age bellow 2 years was 14 months and above 2 years was 66 months. The incidence of acute viral encephalitis was highest within first 3 years of age. Most of the mortality 8(72.73%) occurred in low income group (P=0.003). 29(66 %) patients had Glasgow Coma Score <8 on admission, low Glasgow Coma Score at presentation had significant association with outcome, 11(100%) patients who died had Glasgow Coma Score <8(P=0.003). 28(68 %) patients stayed in hospital for >7 days, indicating more time taking for improvement from acute illness. There was significant association of duration of hospital stay and outcome (P=0.008). In Neurodevelopmental assessment domains were Gross motor, Fine motor, Vision, Hearing and Cognition and impairments were different in different patients. Impairments persisting in different domain at follow up comparing with admission showed satisfactory improvement. Improvement was significant in case of Gross motor (P=.005), Fine motor (P=.08) and Cognition (P=.09).Conclusion : It was observed from this study that children with acute viral encephalitis are at high risk of mortality and morbidity. Lower age at presentation, low socio-economic status, low Glasgow Coma Score on admission and short duration of hospital stay were associated with high mortality and were at high risk of future neurodevelopmental impairmentsNorthern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(2) 2015: 50-52
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) reduces transfusion requirements in anaemia of prematurity
Authors: Yasmeen BH Nazma , Akter Shaheen , Akhter Fahmuda , Jahan Rowshan , Hassan Mahmuda , Hoque Md Mahbubul
Published: May 2015

Background: During the last two decades with the application of advanced technological supports have improved the survival rate of preterm very low birth weight (PT VLBW) infants. At the same time anemia of prematurity (AOP) one of the most frequent complications of these patients also has been increased in the neonatal units. Packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions are the mainstay of treatment of AOP. The frequency of blood transfusion is directly related to the exposure of the tiny preterm infants to various risks of transfusion.Objectives : To evaluate whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy reduces the need of transfusions in AOP.Methods : A randomized controlled trial study was carried out at Neonatal Unit and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Dhaka Shishu (children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh with 60 PTVLBW neonates. Among them 30 in group I (rHuEPO group) and 30 in group II (control) were assigned. Therapy with rHuEPO (200 IU / kg / dose) thrice weekly was initiated on day 7 of life to group I for 2 weeks. From day 14 or after that as soon as enteral feeding was initiated oral iron and folic acid were received by both groups. Hematological assessment (haemoglobin, haematocrit level and reticulocyte count) were done at 6 and 10 weeks of life.Results : At the time of enrollment in the study PTLBW babies of both groups were almost similar in gestetional age, birth weight, hemoglobin, hematocrit values and reticulocyte count (p>0.05). During the 10 weeks observation period, hematological values were increased and the number of blood transfusions as well as the number of infants who received any transfusion were reduced in rHuEPO group compared to control group (p<0.01). No adverse effect of erythropoietin were found.Conclusion : The combination of rHuEPO and Iron, folic acid therapy significantly reduces the number of blood transfusion as well as the percentage of infants who received any transfusion in AOP.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(2) 2015: 53-56
Identification of predisposing factors and medical conditions associated with the type 2 diabetes mellitus in Bengali males
Authors: Begum Farzana , Shamim Khondker Manzare , Nazma Nandita , Khairuzzaman AKM
Published: May 2015

Background : Recent World Health Organization (WHO) report on diabetes prevalence has alarmed that diabetes has posed a serious threat to the entire population of the world. The prevalence of diabetes for all age groups world wide was estimated to be 2.8% in 2000 and projected to 4.4% in 2030. The number of diabetic population was estimated to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030. According to the recent report, the highest relative increase will occur in the Middle East, Sub-Sahara, Africa and India.Objective : To identify the predisposing factors and medical conditions associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Bengali males.Methodology : It was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in the Health Education department of BIRDEM. Fifty males were selected by systematic sampling associated medical conditions were recorded from history on diagnosis and present status during data collection. Data was collected by face to face interview using questionnaire. Data analysed by SPSS version 15.Result : Thirty patients (60%) were 45 years or above at diagnosis. Thirty nine patients (78%) gave the positive family history. Twenty (40%) was father and 19 (38%) mother was affected. The other general predisposing factors included overeating (58%), smoking (50%) and predilection for sweet food (48%), habitual physical inactivity (22%) and body mass index (BMI) consistent with obesity was 6% cases. No patients were alcoholic. History of medication was not very remarkable. Only 4 (8%) gave the history of taking glucocorticoid. At diagnosis from history associated medical conditions were, high cholesterol level in 10% and hypertension in 8% cases while taking data they were found with Coronary artery disease 10%, fatty liver 2%, high cholesterol 16%, hypertension 10%. Where as cerebrovuscular disease, chronic pancreatitis, recurrent urinary and genital tract infection or previously identified impaired glucose intolerance was not reported in any patients.Conclusion : Overeating, smokings, predilection for sweet food are the predisposing factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in present study. Hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, coronary artery disease, recurrent skin infections were associated medical conditions.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(2) 2015: 68-69
Open dressing in management of second degree burn in a pediatric burn unit
Authors: Ullah Md Saif , Ferdous Kazi Md Noor ul , Ara Sawkat , Bajracharia Jasmine
Published: May 2015

This study was to evaluate the results of open dressing in management of second degree burn in children.Methods : A retrospective study conducted on children with second degree burn during the period of 42 months from January 2010 to June 2014.Results : 150 patients included in this study. Age range was 1 months 12 days to 11 years 10 months. 68 % patients were within 1-5 years. 70% injured by hot water, 16% by hot liquids, 8.7% by hot cooking related substance and 5.3% due to flame. Only 12% patients showed positive culture of pathogenic organisms. Among them, 4 had a combined growth of Pseudomonas auroginosa and E.coli. 2 (1.3%) patient needed skin grafting. 62% patient stayed in the hospital up to 10 days and only 1 patient stayed 35 days. Mean cost of management per patient was calculated under several categories.Conclusion : Second degree burn can manage by open method effectively and successfully. Regular cleansing of the burnt wound with clean water and application of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) can easily be tough to the attendants.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(2) 2015: 73-75
Clinical evaluation of total abdominal hysterectomy - a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Akhter Shirin , Nazneen Rumana
Published: May 2015

Total abdominal Hysterectomy are gradually rising in our country. This study has been designed to find out the common indications of abdominal hysterectomy in a tertiary care hospital,. to know the clinical characters of the patients and. o elucidate postoperative complication of abdominal hysterectomy.Methodology : Cross- sectional observational study was done during 1st October 2007 to 30th September 2008. Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital (HFRCMCH). Total 100 patients were selected following enclusion & exclusion criteria hyperposive sampling. Data were recorded before and after operation and analyzed by SPSS version 15.Result : In the present study patients with leiomyoma of uterus was found to be the major indication of hysterectomy followed by dys functional uterine bleeding (DUB) 18.0%, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) 14.0%, chronic cervicitis 10.0%, adenomyosis 10.0%, pelvic endometriosis 6.0%, cervical polyp 2.0%, ovarian cysts 1.0% and chriocarcinoma 1.0%. Mean duration of operation (hour) and hospital stay was 1.15 hours and 7.48 days respectively. Most common complication of present series was fever 20.0% followed by 13.0% had wound infection, 6.0% UTI and 2.0% wound dehiscence.Conclusion : Hysterectomy is now the most widely performed major operation in gynaecology. Indication and post operative complications of hysterectomy varies from region to region.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(2) 2015: 76-77
Cerebral Palsy with Nephrotic Syndrome : A Rare Association- First Case Report in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md Kabir , Yeasmin Laila , Begum Saukat Ara , Khan Anwar Hossain , Alam Mahbub Ul , Hossain Delwar
Published: May 2015

Abstract not availableNorthern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(2) 2015: 78-79
Comparison of the effects of temperature and water potential on seed germination of Fabaceae species from desert and subalpine grassland
Authors: Hu Xiao Wen , Fan Yan , Baskin Carol C. , Baskin Jerry M. , Wang Yan Rong
Published: May 2015

• Premise of the study: Temperature and water potential for germination based on the thermal and hydrotime models have been successfully applied in predicting germination requirements of physiologically dormant seeds as well as nondormant seeds. However, comparative studies of the germination requirements of physically dormant seeds from different ecosystems have not been done.

• Methods: Germination of scarified seeds of four legume species collected from the Qing‐Tibetan Plateau and of four collected in the Alax Desert in China was compared over a range of temperatures and water potentials based on thermal time and hydrotime models.

• Key results: Seeds of species from the Qing‐Tibetan Plateau had a lower base temperature (Tb) and optimal temperature (To) for germination than those from the Alax Desert. Seeds of the four species from the Qing‐Tibetan Plateau germinated to high percentages at 5°C, whereas none of the four desert species did so. Seeds of species from the Alax Desert germinated to a high percentage at 35°C or 40°C, while no seeds of species from the Qing‐Tibetan Plateau germinated at 35°C or 40°C. The base median water potential [Ψb(50)] differed among species but not between the two habitats.

• Conclusions: The thermal time and hydrotime models accurately predicted the germination time course of scarified seeds of most of the eight species in response to temperature and water potential; thus, they can be useful tools in comparative studies on germination of seeds with physical dormancy. Habitat temperatures but not rainfall is closely related to germination requirements of these species.
Coordination of stomatal physiological behavior and morphology with carbon dioxide determines stomatal control
Authors: Haworth Matthew , Killi Dilek , Materassi Alessandro , Raschi Antonio
Published: May 2015

• Premise of the study: Stomatal control is determined by the ability to alter stomatal aperture and/or the number of stomata on the surface of new leaves in response to growth conditions. The development of stomatal control mechanisms to the concentration of CO2 within the atmosphere ([CO2]) is fundamental to our understanding of plant evolutionary history and the prediction of gas exchange responses to future [CO2].

• Methods: In a controlled environment, fern and angiosperm species were grown in atmospheres of ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (2000 ppm) [CO2]. Physiological stomatal behavior was compared with the stomatal morphological response to [CO2].

• Key results: An increase in [CO2] or darkness induced physiological stomatal responses ranging from reductions (active) to no change (passive) in stomatal conductance. Those species with passive stomatal behavior exhibited pronounced reductions of stomatal density in new foliage when grown in elevated [CO2], whereas species with active stomata showed little morphological response to [CO2]. Analysis of the physiological and morphological stomatal responses of a wider range of species suggests that patterns of stomatal control to [CO2] do not follow a phylogenetic pattern associated with plant evolution.

• Conclusions: Selective pressures may have driven the development of divergent stomatal control strategies to increased [CO2]. Those species that are able to actively regulate guard cell turgor are more likely to respond to [CO2] through a change in stomatal aperture than stomatal number. We propose a model of stomatal control strategies in response to [CO2] characterized by a trade‐off between short‐term physiological behavior and longer‐term morphological response.
La mise en place d’un répertoire public de délinquants sexuels aux États-Unis
Authors: Laurin Patrick
Published: May 2015

À travers l’étude de la mise en place de la « loi de Megan » suscitée par une panique morale liée au meurtre d’une fillette par un délinquant sexuel (New Jersey, 1994), l’article vise à comprendre en quoi une même réponse pénale peut être sous-tendue par deux rationalités de contrôle du crime apparemment étrangères sinon incompatibles entre elles. À partir du cas étudié, sont mises à jour, d’un côté, la présence d’une approche de politique expressive « dure avec le crime » et peu nuancée relevant de la souveraineté ; de l’autre, une logique aseptisée de gestion du risque visant l’efficacité, relevant d’une rationalité post-disciplinaire. L’analyse montre que si certaines incompatibilités entre les deux rationalités demeurent évidentes, certaines circonstances et caractéristiques internes les rendent étonnement complémentaires.
Vers une énergie intelligente pour la mobilité universitaire? Le cas de la recherche-action « Smart Campus »
Authors: Némoz Sophie
Published: May 2015

Lors du Symposium mondial sur le développement durable dans les universités (SMDD-U-2012), les établissements de recherche et d’enseignement supérieur ont été appelés à accompagner les changements environnementaux de la société. L’article interroge leur rôle dans la transition énergétique des territoires, en analysant comment les universités vont, en pratique, participer aux projets de réseaux intelligents au service de la mobilité électrique. L’objectif est de mettre à l’épreuve des faits les promesses d’un changement radical par l’amélioration de la cognition au moyen des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication. D’un point de vue international et local, cette « ontologie de l’intelligence » est revisitée sur le terrain universitaire. Un état des lieux et du paysage scientifique à travers le monde ouvre les discussions sur le concept d’« innovation de rupture » tel qu’il est aujourd’hui associé à l’introduction de technologies intelligentes dans le champ énergétique. Le cas de la recherche-action « Smart Campus » permet de relativiser les explications enchantées de la réussite des innovations.
A New Method for Writing Assurance Cases
Authors: Matsuno Yutaka , Yamamoto Shuichiro
Published: May 2015

In this paper, the authors present a new method for writing assurance cases. Assurance cases are documented bodies of evidence that provide a convincing and valid argument that a system is adequately dependable for a given application in a given environment. Assurance cases have been used mostly in the safety field, but are now beginning to be widely applied in other areas. Cyber security is one such area, and recently, assuring security of cyber systems has become crucial. Several methods and various guidelines for writing assurance cases have been used. Unfortunately, only experts are currently able to write assurance cases, and it is still difficult for ordinary engineers to write them. This paper presents a new method for writing assurance cases. The main ideas are that (1) documents generated and used during the system lifecycle must be either used by the assurance cases or must be referred to in the assurance cases, and (2) typical patterns exist for assurance cases, and these patterns have not yet been well discussed. This paper presents the preliminary steps in developing a method for writing assurance cases. The authors also report on a preliminary experiment carried out on a web server demo system.
Batf2/Irf1 Induces Inflammatory Responses in Classically Activated Macrophages, Lipopolysaccharides, and Mycobacterial Infection
Authors: Roy Sugata , Guler Reto , Parihar Suraj P. , Schmeier Sebastian , Kaczkowski Bogumil , Nishimura Hajime , Shin Jay W. , Negishi Yutaka , Ozturk Mumin , Hurdayal Ramona , Kubosaki Atsutaka , Kimura Yasumasa , de Hoon Michiel J. L. , Hayashizaki Yoshihide , Brombacher Frank , Suzuki Harukazu
Published: May 2015

Basic leucine zipper transcription factor Batf2 is poorly described, whereas Batf and Batf3 have been shown to play essential roles in dendritic cell, T cell, and B cell development and regulation. Batf2 was drastically induced in IFN-γ–activated classical macrophages (M1) compared with unstimulated or IL-4–activated alternative macrophages (M2). Batf2 knockdown experiments from IFN-γ–activated macrophages and subsequent expression profiling demonstrated important roles for regulation of immune responses, inducing inflammatory and host-protective genes Tnf, Ccl5, and Nos2. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Beijing strain HN878)–infected macrophages further induced Batf2 and augmented host-protective Batf2-dependent genes, particularly in M1, whose mechanism was suggested to be mediated through both TLR2 and TLR4 by LPS and heat-killed HN878 (HKTB) stimulation experiments. Irf1 binding motif was enriched in the promoters of Batf2-regulated genes. Coimmunoprecipitation study demonstrated Batf2 association with Irf1. Furthermore, Irf1 knockdown showed downregulation of IFN-γ– or LPS/HKTB-activated host-protective genes Tnf, Ccl5, Il12b, and Nos2. Conclusively, Batf2 is an activation marker gene for M1 involved in gene regulation of IFN-γ–activated classical macrophages, as well as LPS/HKTB-induced macrophage stimulation, possibly by Batf2/Irf1 gene induction. Taken together, these results underline the role of Batf2/Irf1 in inducing inflammatory responses in M. tuberculosis infection.
Thymic Involution Perturbs Negative Selection Leading to Autoreactive T Cells That Induce Chronic Inflammation
Authors: Coder Brandon D. , Wang Hongjun , Ruan Linhui , Su Dong-Ming
Published: May 2015

Thymic involution and the subsequent amplified release of autoreactive T cells increase the susceptibility toward developing autoimmunity, but whether they induce chronic inflammation with advanced age remains unclear. The presence of chronic low-level proinflammatory factors in elderly individuals (termed inflammaging) is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality in virtually every chronic age-related disease. To determine how thymic involution leads to the persistent release and activation of autoreactive T cells capable of inducing inflammaging, we used a Foxn1 conditional knockout mouse model that induces accelerated thymic involution while maintaining a young periphery. We found that thymic involution leads to T cell activation shortly after thymic egress, which is accompanied by a chronic inflammatory phenotype consisting of cellular infiltration into non–lymphoid tissues, increased TNF-α production, and elevated serum IL-6. Autoreactive T cell clones were detected in the periphery of Foxn1 conditional knockout mice. A failure of negative selection, facilitated by decreased expression of Aire rather than impaired regulatory T cell generation, led to autoreactive T cell generation. Furthermore, the young environment can reverse age-related regulatory T cell accumulation in naturally aged mice, but not inflammatory infiltration. Taken together, these findings identify thymic involution and the persistent activation of autoreactive T cells as a contributing source of chronic inflammation (inflammaging).
Genetic Variation in SP-A2 Leads to Differential Binding to Mycoplasma pneumoniae Membranes and Regulation of Host Responses
Authors: Ledford Julie G. , Voelker Dennis R. , Addison Kenneth J. , Wang Ying , Nikam Vinayak S. , Degan Simone , Kandasamy Pitachaimani , Tanyaratsrisakul Sasipa , Fischer Bernard M. , Kraft Monica , Hollingsworth John W.
Published: May 2015

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an extracellular pathogen that colonizes mucosal surfaces of the respiratory tract and is associated with asthma exacerbations. Previous reports demonstrate that surfactant protein-A (SP-A) binds live M. pneumoniae and mycoplasma membrane fractions (MMF) with high affinity. Humans express a repertoire of single–amino acid genetic variants of SP-A that may be associated with lung disease, and our findings demonstrate that allelic differences in SP-A2 (Gln223Lys) affect the binding to MMF. We show that SP-A−/− mice are more susceptible to MMF exposure and have significant increases in mucin production and neutrophil recruitment. Novel humanized SP-A2–transgenic mice harboring the hSP-A2 223K allele exhibit reduced neutrophil influx and mucin production in the lungs when challenged with MMF compared with SP-A−/− mice. Conversely, mice expressing hSP-A2 223Q have increased neutrophil influx and mucin production that are similar to SP-A−/− mice. Using tracheal epithelial cell cultures, we show that enhanced mucin production to MMF occurs in the absence of SP-A and is not dependent upon neutrophil recruitment. Increased phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was evident in the lungs of MMF-challenged mice when SP-A was absent. Pharmacologic inhibition of EGFR prior to MMF challenge dramatically reduced mucin production in SP-A−/− mice. These findings suggest a protective role for SP-A in limiting MMF-stimulated mucin production that occurs through interference with EGFR-mediated signaling. SP-A interaction with the EGFR signaling pathway appears to occur in an allele-specific manner that may have important implications for SP-A polymorphisms in human diseases.