bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food security in Papua New Guinea: the need to go beyond “business case CSR”
Authors: Duarte Fernanda de Paiva , Imbun Benedict Young
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to canvass the views of villagers from a remote region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on food security issues in their community and their level of satisfaction with food security initiatives provided by the extractive company that operated on their land.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative design: data gathered through 14 semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and a discussion forum with 20 villagers from Pawa. Purposive sampling. Snow-balling method of recruitment.

Findings

Food security was identified as a growing concern among the villagers, who also expressed dissatisfaction with the food security projects offered through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) program offered by the company operating on their land. Communication problems between company and community and lack of trust were evident.

Research limitations/implications

Possibility of self-selection bias among participants. The perspective of the company was under-represented.

Practical implications

The study highlights the need for CSR practitioners to be mindful of the importance of effective communication with local communities.

Social Implications

The study reveals the importance of meaningful dialogue between company and host communities, which can lead to a more efficient allocation of resources and empowerment of host communities.

Originality/value

The study bridges a research gap in the field of CSR in developing countries because food security, as a CSR issue in PNG communities, is under-researched. The study contributes to a better understanding of company –community relations in PNG and how these relations can be improved through a more normative approach to CSR. It also highlights the importance of empowering host communities through meaningful dialogue.
Water Diffusion from a Bacterial Cell in Low‐Moisture Foods
Authors: Syamaladevi Roopesh M. , Tang Juming , Zhong QingPing
Published: August 2016

We used a Fick's unsteady state diffusion equation to estimate the time required for a single spherical shaped bacterium (assuming Enterococcus faecium as the target microorganism) in low‐moisture foods to equilibrate with the environment. We generated water sorption isotherms of freeze‐dried E. faecium. The water activity of bacterial cells at given water content increased considerably as temperature increased from 20 to 80 °C, as observed in the sorption isotherms of bacterial cells. When the water vapor diffusion coefficient was assumed as between 10−12 and 10−10 m2/s for bacterial cells, the predicted equilibration times (teq) ranged from 8.24×10−4 to 8.24×10−2 s. Considering a cell membrane barrier with a lower water diffusion coefficient (10−15 m2/s) around the bacterial cell with a water diffusion coefficient of 10−12 m2/s, the teq predicted using COMSOL Multiphysics program was 3.8×10−1 s. This result suggests that a single bacterium equilibrates rapidly (within seconds) with change in environmental humidity and temperature.
School performance for children with cleft lip and palate: a population‐based study
Authors: Bell J. C. , Raynes‐Greenow C. , Turner R. , Bower C. , Dodson A. , Nicholls W. , Nassar N.
Published: August 2016

Background

Educational attainment is important in shaping young people's life prospects. To investigate whether being born with orofacial cleft (OFC) affects school performance, we compared school test results between children born with and without OFC.

Methods

Using record‐linked datasets, we conducted a population‐based cohort study of children liveborn in Western Australia 1980–2010 with a diagnosis of OFC on the Register of Developmental Anomalies, and a random sample of 6603 children born without OFC. We compared odds ratios for meeting national minimum standards in five domains (reading, numeracy, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation), and adjusted OR (aOR) for children with cleft lip only (CLO), cleft lip and palate (CL + P) and cleft palate only (CPO) for each domain.

Results

Results from two testing programs (WALNA and NAPLAN) were available for 3238 (89%) children expected to participate. Most met the national minimum standards. Compared with children without OFC, children with CPO were less likely to meet minimum standards for NAPLAN reading (aOR 0.57 [95%CI 0.34, 0.96]) grammar and punctuation (aOR 0.49 [95%CI 0.32, 0.76]), WALNA writing (aOR 0.66 [95%CI 0.47, 0.92]), and WALNA and NAPLAN numeracy (aOR 0.64 [95%CI 0.43, 0.95] and aOR 0.47 [95%CI 0.28, 0.82]), respectively. Children with CL + P had significantly lower odds for reaching the spelling standard in NAPLAN tests (aOR 0.52 [95%CI 0.29, 0.94]). Children with CLO had similar odds for reaching all minimum standards.

Conclusion

Children born with OFC, particularly children with CPO, should be monitored to identify learning difficulties early, to enable intervention to maximize school attainment.
Fundamental literature and hot topics on rural left‐behind children in China: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Wang L. , Wei Y. , Ma Y. , Wang T.
Published: August 2016

Background

Recently, the literature on rural left‐behind children in China has rapidly grown. However, no comprehensive review of the status of knowledge on the issue exists.

Methods

A co‐cited network map of 327 studies (covering 1998 through 2014) drawn from the Chinese Social Studies Citation Index database was analysed.

Results

Using visualization software, the results identified three fundamental studies on the issue and four hot topics: interventions, deviant behaviours, mental health and family childrearing strategies. The analysis found that knowledge on this topic could be furthered by (1) focusing on protective factors and (2) integrating disciplines by standardizing concepts and measures.

Conclusions

These study's results are an important reference for the development of theories, practices and policies regarding rural left‐behind children in China.
The effect of experimental osteoporosis on bone regeneration: Part 1, histology findings
Authors: Calciolari Elena , Mardas Nikos , Dereka Xanthippi , Kostomitsopoulos Nikolaos , Petrie Aviva , Donos Nikolaos
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To histologically define the healing events occurring in calvarial critical size defects (CSDs) following treatment with a collagen barrier for guided bone regeneration (GBR) and a particulate graft in healthy and osteoporotic conditions.

Material and Methods

Thirty‐six 10‐month‐old, female, Wistar rats were used in this study. Half of them were ovariectomized (OVX) and fed with a low‐calcium diet to induce an osteoporotic‐like status. In each animal of both groups, two 5‐mm CSDs were created, one in the centre of each parietal bone, and they were treated with a deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) particulate graft and a bi‐layer collagen membrane. Six OVX and six healthy control rats were randomly euthanized at 7, 14 and 30 days. One defect per animal was randomly processed for decalcified histology. Three central sections were used for qualitative histology and histomorphometric analysis.

Results

No significant difference in terms of percentage of newly formed bone was detected between the two groups at the different healing periods. However, a trend towards less bone formation and of poorer quality, expressed as reduced bone maturation, was detected in the OVX animals at 30 days.

Discussion

According to this study, GBR with a collagen barrier and a DBBM graft can be successfully obtained also in osteoporotic‐like conditions. Future studies considering longer healing periods and controlling for the confounding factors arising from the use of a particulate graft are needed to confirm these data.
Ten‐year hard and soft tissue results of a pilot double‐blinded randomized controlled trial on immediately loaded post‐extractive implants using platform‐switching concept
Authors: Canullo Luigi , Caneva Martina , Tallarico Marco
Published: August 2016

Aim

To evaluate the 10‐year post‐loading radiological and esthetic outcomes of implants inserted in post‐extraction sites and restored with or without platform‐switching protocol.

Material and methods

Twenty‐two patients were scheduled for maxillary post‐extractive implant, using a 13 mm in length and 5.5 mm in diameter implant (Global, Sweden & Martina, Padua, Italy). They randomly received definitive restorations using platform‐switching concept (abutment 3.8 mm in diameter: test group) or standard restoration (abutment 5.5 mm in diameter: control group). Outcome measures were survival rates of implants and prostheses, peri‐implant marginal bone loss and periodontal indices 10 years after prosthetic loading. Moreover, esthetic parameters including soft tissue buccal peri‐implant mucosal levels (REC) and mesial and distal papilla height (PH) were taken at definitive restoration, 2 and 10 years thereafter.

Results

Nineteen implants were analyzed after 10 years of follow‐up. No implants nor prostheses failed. The postoperative radiographs demonstrated an overall mean bone loss of 0.18 ± 0.14 mm in the test group and of 0.80 ± 0.40 mm in the control group (P = 0.00108). Test group showed 0.23 ± 0.51 mm of REC gain and PH was of 0.21 ± 0.33 mm on average. On the other side, the control group presented a REC = −0.59 ± 0.80 mm with PH = −1.12 ± 0.55 mm, demonstrating a slight continuous soft tissue shrinkage during the entire follow‐up. The mean values were statistically significant different between test and control group for both REC gain (P = 0.01174) and PH (P = 0.0009).

Conclusions

With the limitations of this study, immediate single implant restorations rehabilitated with platform‐switching protocol may provide peri‐implant alveolar bone‐level stability and avoid continuous soft tissue shrinkage after 10 years of prosthetic loading compared to a platform‐matching restoration. Further studies involving larger sample sizes are required to confirm these preliminary results.
Metformin use and risk of lactic acidosis in people with diabetes with and without renal impairment: a cohort study in Denmark and the UK
Authors: Li L. , Jick S. , Gopalakrishnan C. , Heide‐Jørgensen U. , Nørrelund H. , Sørensen H. T. , Christiansen C. F. , Ehrenstein V.
Published: August 2016

Aims

To assess risk of lactic acidosis among metformin users compared with other glucose‐lowering agent users, according to renal function.

Methods

Using routine registries and databases, we conducted a cohort study. Of 43 580 metformin and 37 788 other glucose‐lowering agent users in northern Denmark and 102 688 metformin and 28 788 other glucose‐lowering agent users in the UK during 2001–2011, we identified lactic acidosis using diagnostic codes. We calculated the incidence rates of lactic acidosis in metformin and other glucose‐lowering agent users overall and according to baseline estimated GFR (eGFR) levels.

Results

In Denmark, the incidence rates of lactic acidosis were 11.6 (95% CI 7.0–18.1) and 1.8 (95% CI 0.4–5.4) per 100 000 person‐years of metformin use and of other glucose‐lowering agent use, respectively. In the UK, the corresponding lactic acidosis incidence rates were 6.8 (95% CI 4.6–9.6) and 1.0 (95% CI 0.01–5.7) per 100 000 person‐years of metformin use and of other glucose‐lowering agent use. The incidence rates increased with decreasing baseline eGFR in both countries. Of the metformin‐exposed people with lactic acidosis, 37% in Denmark and 34% in the UK experienced a decline in renal function in the year before the diagnosis.

Conclusions

Risk of lactic acidosis was higher in metformin users than in other glucose‐lowering agent users, and increased with decreasing eGFR, although this could be attributable to surveillance bias; however, diagnosed lactic acidosis was rare and can occur regardless of renal function.
Excessive blood pressure increase with exercise and risk of all‐cause mortality and cardiac events
Authors: Bouzas‐Mosquera María C. , Bouzas‐Mosquera Alberto , Peteiro Jesús
Published: August 2016

Background

The association of an excessive blood pressure increase with exercise (EBPIE) on cardiovascular outcomes remains controversial. We sought to assess its impact on the risk of all‐cause mortality and major cardiac events in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for stress testing.

Materials and methods

Exercise echocardiography was performed in 10 047 patients with known or suspected CAD. An EBPIE was defined as an increase in systolic blood pressure with exercise ≥ 80 mmHg. The endpoints were all‐cause mortality and major cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI).

Results

Overall, 573 patients exhibited an EBPIE during the tests. Over a mean follow‐up of 4·8 years, there were 1950 deaths (including 725 cardiac deaths), 1477 MI and 1900 MACE. The cumulative 10‐year rates of all‐cause mortality, cardiac death, nonfatal MI and MACE were 32·9%, 13·1%, 26·9% and 33% in patients who did not develop an EBPIE vs. 18·9%, 4·7%, 17·5% and 20·7% in those experiencing an EBPIE, respectively (P < 0·001 for all comparisons). In Cox regression analyses, an EBPIE remained predictive of all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0·73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0·59–0·91, P = 0·004), cardiac death (HR 0·67, 95% CI 0·46–0·98, P = 0·04), MI (HR 0·67, 95% CI 0·52–0·86, P = 0·002) and MACE (HR 0·69, 95% CI 0·56–0·86, P = 0·001).

Conclusions

An EBPIE was associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality and MACE in patients with known or suspected CAD referred for stress testing.
Interictal epileptiform discharges have an independent association with cognitive impairment in children with lesional epilepsy
Authors: Glennon Jennifer M. , Weiss‐Croft Louise , Harrison Sue , Cross J. Helen , Boyd Stewart G. , Baldeweg Torsten
Published: August 2016

Objectives

The relative contribution of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) to cognitive dysfunction in comparison with the underlying brain pathology is not yet understood in children with lesional focal epilepsy.

Methods

The current study investigated the association of IEDs with intellectual functioning in 103 children with medication‐resistant focal epilepsy. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to determine the independent contribution of IED features on intellectual functioning, after controlling for effects of lesional pathology, epilepsy duration, and medication. Exploratory analyses were conducted for language and memory scores as well as academic skills available in a subset of participants.

Results

The results reveal that IEDs have a negative association with IQ with independent, additive effects documented for frequent and bilaterally distributed IEDs as well as discharge enhancement in sleep. Left‐lateralized IEDs had a prominent effect on verbal intelligence, in excess of the influence of left‐sided brain pathology. These effects extended to other cognitive functions, most prominently for sleep‐enhanced IEDs to be associated with deficits in expressive and receptive language, reading, spelling and numerical skills.

Significance

Overall, IED effects on cognition were of a magnitude similar to lesional influences or drug effects (topiramate use). This study demonstrates an association between IEDs and cognitive dysfunction, independent of the underlying focal brain pathology.
Programmed cell death‐1 blockade enhances response to stereotactic radiation in an orthotopic murine model of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Friedman David , Baird Jason R. , Young Kristina H. , Cottam Benjamin , Crittenden Marka R. , Friedman Scott , Gough Michael J. , Newell Pippa
Published: August 2016

Aim

Small, solitary hepatocellular carcinoma is curable with stereotactic radiation or other methods of tumor ablation, however, regional and systemic tumor recurrence occurs in over 70% of patients. Here we describe the ability of immunoradiotherapy to induce an antitumor immune response and delay the growth of tumors in immunocompetent mice.

Methods

A syngeneic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep‐55.1c) was injected directly into the livers of C57BL/6 mice using ultrasound guidance, then tumors were treated with stereotactic radiation using a Small Animal Radiation Research Platform with computed tomography guidance.

Results

Delivery of three doses of 250 μg anti‐programmed cell death protein‐1 (αPD‐1) antibody concurrently with 30 Gy stereotactic body radiation therapy in three fractions reduced the growth rate of tumors and improved survival (P < 0.05). Combined treatment was associated with increased CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in the tumor; depletion of CD8 T cells eliminated the efficacy of combined treatment. Combined treatment also induced expression of programmed cell death‐1 ligand expression on tumor‐infiltrating macrophages, and the tumors grew rapidly after αPD‐1 treatment was discontinued.

Conclusions

Tumor response to stereotactic radiation can be augmented by concurrent treatment with αPD‐1. The efficacy of this combination therapy was transient, however, and treatment induced markers of adaptive immune resistance. These data are promising, but also indicate that mechanisms of immune resistance will need to be durably overcome for this combination to generate lasting immunity to protect against tumor recurrence.
CREDIBILITY AND STRATEGIC LEARNING IN NETWORKS
Authors: Chatterjee Kalyan , Dutta Bhaskar
Published: August 2016

We analyze a model of diffusion in a fixed, finite connected network. There is an interested party that knows the quality of the product being propagated and chooses an implant in the network to influence other agents to buy. Agents are either “innovators,” who adopt immediately, or rational. Rational consumers buy if buying instead of waiting maximizes expected utility. We consider the conditions on the network under which optimal diffusion of the good product with probability 1 is a perfect Bayes equilibrium.
BSHI Guideline: HLA matching and donor selection for haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation
Authors: Little A‐M. , Green A. , Harvey J. , Hemmatpour S. , Latham K. , Marsh S. G. E. , Poulton K. , Sage D.
Published: August 2016

A review of the British Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (BSHI) “Guideline for selection and HLA matching of related, adult unrelated donors and umbilical cord units for haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation” was undertaken by a BSHI appointed writing committee. Literature searches were performed, and the data extracted were presented as recommendations according to the GRADE nomenclature.
The contribution of the citrate pathway to oxidative stress in Down syndrome
Authors: Convertini Paolo , Menga Alessio , Andria Generoso , Scala Iris , Santarsiero Anna , Castiglione Morelli Maria A. , Iacobazzi Vito , Infantino Vittoria
Published: August 2016

Inflammatory conditions and oxidative stress have a crucial role in Down syndrome (DS). Emerging studies have also reported an altered lipid profile in the early stages of DS. Our previous works demonstrate that citrate pathway activation is required for oxygen radical production during inflammation. Here, we find up‐regulation of the citrate pathway and down‐regulation of carnitine/acylcarnitine carrier and carnitine palmitoyl‐transferase 1 genes in cells from children with DS. Interestingly, when the citrate pathway is inhibited, we observe a reduction in oxygen radicals as well as in lipid peroxidation levels. Our preliminary findings provide evidence for a citrate pathway dysregulation, which could be related to some phenotypic traits of people with DS.
Validation of an algorithm to predict reulceration in amputation patients with diabetes
Authors: Molines‐Barroso Raúl J , Lázaro‐Martínez José L , Álvaro‐Afonso Francisco J , Sanz‐Corbalán Irene , García‐Klepzig José L , Aragón‐Sánchez Javier
Published: August 2016

The aim of this article was to assess the ability to predict reulceration in people with diabetes and a history of minor amputation according to the formula proposed by Miller et al. A retrospective study was performed on 156 consecutive records of patients with a recent history of simple or multiple forefoot amputation. The sample was divided according to Miller's formula into patients at low risk of reulceration and those at high risk; those were further divided into two subgroups according to whether or not the first segment of the forefoot had been amputated. Forty‐eight (47·1%) individuals suffered forefoot reulceration, showing a median reulceration‐free survival time of 8 months [interquartile range (IR) 3·6–14·8]. Nephropathy (P = 0.005) and Miller's formula (P = 0.028) were risk factors for reulceration‐free survival time in the univariate analysis. The pattern relating to the first segment amputated [hazard ratio (HR) 2·853; P = 0·004; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·391–5·849] and nephropathy (HR 2·468; P = 0.004; 95% CI 1.328–4.587) showed a significant hazard ratio in the multivariate Cox model. Participants with first segment amputation and one other amputation showed an association with the probability of reulceration in comparison with any other specific type of minor amputation.
Effects of Duration of Waterlogging at Different Growth Stages on Grain Growth of Summer Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Field Conditions
Authors: Ren B. , Zhang J. , Dong S. , Liu P. , Zhao B.
Published: August 2016

A field experiment was performed to study the effects of waterlogging for different durations (3 and 6 days) on grain filling and endosperm cell proliferation of summer maize hybrids DengHai605 (DH605) and ZhengDan958 (ZD958) at the third leaf stage (V3), the sixth leaf stage (V6) and the 10th day after the tasselling stage (10VT). Results showed that waterlogging damages on grain filling and endosperm cell proliferation varied with growth stage and duration of waterlogging. The most significant effect of waterlogging was observed at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT. Endosperm cell content, average endosperm cell proliferation rate, grain weight and grain‐filling rate were reduced significantly with increasing waterlogging durations, with the most significant (P < 0.05) reduction in V3‐6 with a decrease of 37.1 %, 51.9 %, 13.6 % and 12.1 % for DH605, and 27.3 %, 51.1 %, 17.4 % and 14.3 % for ZD958, respectively. Waterlogging damages on grain filling and endosperm cell proliferation resulted in a significant reduction in grain yield. Waterlogging at V3 had the most yield reduction, followed by V6 and 10VT. Yield reduction after waterlogging for 6 days at different stage was about twice as much as that after waterlogging for 3 days. Clearly, the most significant inhibition of grain growth for waterlogging was observed at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT. The inhibition was enhanced significantly with increasing waterlogging durations. Endosperm cell number and grain weight was decreased by 8.3–24.1 % and 1.2–10.8 % after waterlogging for 3 days, while decreased by 12.9–32.2 % and 4.6–14.7 % after waterlogging for 6 days, compared to CK.
The use of gamification in education: a bibliometric and text mining analysis
Authors: Martí‐Parreño J. , Méndez‐Ibáñez E. , Alonso‐Arroyo A.
Published: August 2016

The use of games in education represents a promising tool to motivate and engage students in their learning process. Most of previous research on the topic has focused to develop theoretical frameworks or to conduct experiments as a means to analyse learning outcomes such as knowledge retention, problem‐solving skills gains or attitudes toward game‐based learning. Nevertheless, little research has focused on providing a comprehensive literature review, which will help researchers to better understand how this stream of research has evolved over the last years. In this study, we use a bibliometric, social network and text mining analysis in order to provide useful up‐to‐date information to picture the state of the art about current research and evolution of the topic. Analysis on a sample of 139 articles published in top journals over the last 5 years (2010–2014) allowed identifying relevant authors and institutions, key constructs and themes involved, and trends of knowledge development. Main findings suggest an increasing academic interest on the topic over the last 5 years and a wide variety of constructs that were clustered in four main themes that we named: (i) effectiveness, (ii) acceptance, (iii) engagement and (iv) social interactions. Future research lines are also addressed.

Lay Description

What is currently known about the use of games in education:

Games can increase students' intrinsic motivation to learn.

Games support active learning.

Games facilitate scaffolded instruction based on each individual student's needs.

What this paper adds to this:

This study identifies the most relevant researchers in this research area.

This study identifies the most relevant institutions involved in this research area.

This study identifies the main topics and themes researched by researchers.

This study identifies the main methodological approach used by researchers.

Findings for practitioners:

Relevant researchers and institutions to collaborate with.

Topics and themes under research.

Methods used to research the use of games in education.
Periodontal conditions and incidence of new cardiovascular events among patients with coronary vascular disease
Authors: Reichert Stefan , Schulz Susanne , Benten Ann‐Christin , Lutze Andrea , Seifert Tim , Schlitt Manuela , Werdan Karl , Hofmann Britt , Wienke Andreas , Schaller Hans‐Günter , Schlitt Axel
Published: August 2016

Aim

We wanted to investigate whether periodontal conditions and/or oral care habits are associated with new cardiovascular events among patients with coronary vascular disease (CVD).

Materials and Methods

In this longitudinal cohort study, 1002 inpatients with CVD were included. They were examined regarding prevalence of severe periodontitis, bleeding upon probing (BOP), number of missing teeth and oral care habits. The combined endpoint was defined as myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, cardiovascular death and death caused by stroke. Survival analyses were carried out after a 3‐year follow‐up period. Hazard ratios (HRs) were adjusted for known cardiac risk factors using Cox regression.

Results

Nine hundred and fifty‐three patients completed the 3‐year follow‐up. The overall incidence of the combined endpoint was 16.4%. Significant HRs for BOP (HR = 2, 95% CI: 1.2–3.3), severe tooth loss (HR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3–2.5), brushing teeth more than once a day (HR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.5–1.0) and use of floss/inter‐dental brushes (HR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.9) were evaluated only in univariate but not in multivariate survival analyses. Patients with severe periodontitis achieved the combined endpoint more often (18.9% versus 14.2%), but the result was not statistically significant after both univariate and multivariate survival analyses.

Conclusions

Periodontal conditions and oral care habits are not independent indicators for further adverse events in patients with CVD.
New details of the neural architecture of the salmonid adipose fin
Authors: Buckland‐Nicks J. A.
Published: August 2016

The adipose fin of salmonids, once widely regarded as vestigial and lacking in function, was shown to be important to swimming efficiency in juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta. Examination with confocal microscopy of adipose fins of S. trutta stained with various antibodies targeting the nervous system revealed several large nerves entering the fin and anastomosing throughout its length. The branching nerves form a plexus with specific patterns of fine terminal branches in the leading and trailing edges. A network of astrocyte‐like cells (ALCs) that is linked through cell processes to nerves and structural collagen reacted positively with antibodies to glial cells. No other fish fins, including other adipose fins, have been shown to exhibit this type of neural architecture. Many vertebrate mechanoreceptors rely on collagen deformation to stimulate responses in afferent nerves; similarly, the adipose fin also may function as a mechanosensor, where passive mechanical deflection by water currents stimulates afferent nerves.
Conventional versus drug‐eluting beads chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: Emphasis on the impact of tumor size
Authors: Lee Yong Kang , Jung Kyu Sik , Kim Do Young , Choi Jin Young , Kim Beom Kyung , Kim Seung Up , Park Jun Yong , Ahn Sang Hoon , Han Kwang‐Hyub , Kim Gyoung Min , Kim Man Deuk , Park Sung Il , Won Jong Yun , Lee Do Yun
Published: August 2016

Background and Aim

This study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using drug‐eluting beads (DEB).

Patients and Methods

This study retrospectively compared the clinical outcomes of 250 consecutive patients who underwent DEB‐TACE (n = 106) or conventional TACE (cTACE) (n = 144) in a tertiary center between January 2010 and April 2014. The median age of the patients was 62 years and 81.6% were men. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The time to progression (TTP), radiological response rate using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors criteria at 1 month after treatment, and complication rates within 1 month were also compared.

Results

The most common etiology was hepatitis B virus infection. The median index tumor size was 2.8 cm, and 150 (60.0%) patients had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B. Median TTP in the cTACE group was longer than in the DEB‐TACE group (13.3 vs10.8 months; P = 0.023). However, DEB‐TACE and cTACE groups showed no significant differences for mean OS (46.6 vs 44.9 months; P = 0.660) and disease control rate at 1 month (78.3% vs 86.8%; P = 0.076). The OS, TTP, and disease control rate were also not different between two groups, even when subgrouped by index tumor size. The complication rates within 1 month were higher in the cTACE group (6.6% vs 14.6%; P = 0.048).

Conclusions

Drug‐eluting beads TACE appears to be a safe intra‐arterial therapy. However, it is not superior to cTACE in terms of efficacy. Tumor size might not be a criterion to select treatment modality between cTACE and DEB‐TACE in terms of efficacy.
Using action research to build mentor capacity to improve orientation and quality of nursing students’ aged care placements: what to do when the phone rings
Authors: Lea Emma J , Andrews Sharon , Stronach Megan , Marlow Annette , Robinson Andrew L
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To describe whether an action research approach can be used to build capacity of residential aged care facility staff to support undergraduate nursing students’ clinical placements in residential aged care facilities, using development of an orientation programme as an exemplar.

Background

Aged care facilities are unpopular sites for nursing students’ clinical placements. A contributing factor is the limited capacity of staff to provide students with a positive placement experience. Strategies to build mentor capability to shape student placements and support learning and teaching are critical if nursing students are to have positive placements that attract them to aged care after graduation, an imperative given the increasing care needs of the ageing population worldwide.

Design

Action research approach employing mixed‐methods data collection (primarily qualitative with a quantitative component).

Methods

Aged care facility staff (n = 32) formed a mentor group at each of two Tasmanian facilities and met regularly to support undergraduate nursing students (n = 40) during placements. Group members planned, enacted, reviewed and reflected on orientation procedures to welcome students, familiarise them with the facility and prepare them for their placement. Data comprised transcripts from these and parallel student meetings, and orientation data from student questionnaires from two successive placement periods (2011/2012).

Results

Problems were identified in the orientation processes for the initial student placements. Mentors implemented a revised orientation programme. Evaluation demonstrated improved programme outcomes for students regarding knowledge of facility operations, their responsibilities and emergency procedures.

Conclusion

Action research provides an effective approach to engage aged care facility staff to build their capacity to support clinical placements.

Relevance to clinical practice

Building capacity in the aged care workforce is vital to provide appropriate care for residents with increasing care needs.
Understanding the bereavement care roles of nurses within acute care: a systematic review
Authors: Raymond Anita , Lee Susan F , Bloomer Melissa J
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To investigate nurses’ roles and responsibilities in providing bereavement care during the care of dying patients within acute care hospitals.

Background

Bereavement within acute care hospitals is often sudden, unexpected and managed by nurses who may have limited access to experts. Nurses’ roles and experience in the provision of bereavement care can have a significant influence on the subsequent bereavement process for families. Identifying the roles and responsibilities, nurses have in bereavement care will enhance bereavement supports within acute care environments.

Design

Mixed‐methods systematic review.

Methods

The review was conducted using the databases Cumulative Index Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO, CareSearch and Google Scholar. Included studies published between 2006–2015, identified nurse participants, and the studies were conducted in acute care hospitals. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, and the research results were extracted and subjected to thematic synthesis.

Results

Nurses’ role in bereavement care included patient‐centred care, family‐centred care, advocacy and professional development. Concerns about bereavement roles included competing clinical workload demands, limitations of physical environments in acute care hospitals and the need for further education in bereavement care.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to enable more detailed clarification of the roles nurse undertake in bereavement care in acute care hospitals. There is also a need to evaluate the effectiveness of these nursing roles and how these provisions impact on the bereavement process of patients and families.

Relevance to clinical practice

The care provided by acute care nurses to patients and families during end‐of‐life care is crucial to bereavement. The bereavement roles nurses undertake are not well understood with limited evidence of how these roles are measured. Further education in bereavement care is needed for acute care nurses.
Do Female Colleagues and Supervisors Influence Family Role Attitudes? A Three‐Level Test of Exposure Explanations Among Employed Men and Women in 27 European Countries
Authors: Meuleman Roza , Kraaykamp Gerbert , Verbakel Ellen
Published: August 2016

This study examines the relationship between various aspects of female labor participation and people's family role attitudes. Following exposure theory, we expect that individuals may adopt more egalitarian family roles as they are more often exposed to employed women because it dispels negative ideas about women's capabilities and brings them into contact with nontraditional networks. This study provides an elaborate test by examining the role of exposure to female colleagues and supervisors in three contexts: workplaces, occupational sectors, and countries. We found that the number of female colleagues at work and in occupational sectors was positively related to egalitarian family roles of employed men. Our study further showed that this positive relationship between exposure to female colleagues at work and men's egalitarian family roles was weaker in female‐dominated sectors. Remarkably, exposure to national female labor participation was not significantly related to the family roles of employed women.
Antecedents to Decision‐Making Quality and Agility in Innovation Portfolio Management
Authors: Kock Alexander , Georg Gemünden Hans
Published: August 2016

Innovation portfolio management (IPM) is a dynamic decision‐making process, in which projects are evaluated and selected, and resources are allocated. Previous research has developed an understanding of IPM success and its influencing factors. However, little research investigated the quality of the decision‐making process and the ability to quickly adapt the portfolio. This study focuses on the antecedents of decision‐making quality and agility (i.e., responsiveness to changes in the environment). Based on a decision‐making framework, five structural and cultural IPM components are derived as important antecedents of decision‐making quality, which in turn influences agility. The structural components (1) clarity of strategic goals, (2) formality of the IPM processes, and (3) controlling intensity serve a coordinating function. The cultural components (4) innovation climate and (5) risk climate serve a motivating function in IPM. An analysis of a sample of 179 firms and their innovation portfolios through structural equation modeling using a double‐informant design documents that these five components all positively influence portfolio decision‐making quality, which in turn positively influences agility. Results further show that environmental turbulence moderates some of these relationships. While the positive effect of process formality is weakened under increasing turbulence, the effects of controlling intensity and climate for innovation are strengthened by environmental turbulence. The findings have theoretical implications for the understanding of IPM as a dynamic capability and practical implications for the management of portfolios in turbulent environments.
Information‐theoretical Complexity Metrics
Authors: Hale John
Published: August 2016

Information‐theoretical complexity metrics are auxiliary hypotheses that link theories of parsing and grammar to potentially observable measurements such as reading times and neural signals. This review article considers two such metrics, Surprisal and Entropy Reduction, which are respectively built upon the two most natural notions of ‘information value’ for an observed event (Blachman ). This review sketches their conceptual background and touches on their relationship to other theories in cognitive science. It characterizes them as ‘lenses’ through which theorists ‘see’ the information‐processing consequences of linguistic grammars. While these metrics are not themselves parsing algorithms, the review identifies candidate mechanisms that have been proposed for both of them.
Breast pumps as an incentive for breastfeeding: a mixed methods study of acceptability
Authors: Crossland Nicola , Thomson Gill , Morgan Heather , MacLennan Graeme , Campbell Marion , Dykes Fiona , Hoddinott Pat
Published: August 2016

Increasing breastfeeding rates would improve maternal and child health, but multiple barriers to breastfeeding persist. Breast pump provision has been used as an incentive for breastfeeding, although effectiveness is unclear. Women's use of breast pumps is increasing and a high proportion of mothers express breastmilk. No research has yet reported women's and health professionals' perspectives on breast pumps as an incentive for breastfeeding. In the Benefits of Incentives for Breastfeeding and Smoking cessation in pregnancy (BIBS) study, mixed methods research explored women's and professionals' views of breast pumps as an incentive for breastfeeding. A survey of health professionals across Scotland and North West England measured agreement with ‘a breast pump costing around £40 provided for free on the NHS’ as an incentive strategy. Qualitative interviews and focus groups were conducted in two UK regions with a total of 68 participants (pregnant women, new mothers, and their significant others and health professionals) and thematic analysis undertaken. The survey of 497 health professionals found net agreement of 67.8% (337/497) with the breast pump incentive strategy, with no predictors of agreement shown by a multiple ordered logistic regression model. Qualitative research found interrelated themes of the ‘appeal and value of breast pumps’, ‘sharing the load’, ‘perceived benefits’, ‘perceived risks’ and issues related to ‘timing’. Qualitative participants expressed mixed views on the acceptability of breast pumps as an incentive for breastfeeding. Understanding the mechanisms of action for pump type, timing and additional support required for effectiveness is required to underpin trials of breast pump provision as an incentive for improving breastfeeding outcomes. © 2016 The Authors. Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Individual and structural environmental influences on utilization of iron and folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe
Authors: Tinago Chiwoneso B. , Annang Ingram Lucy , Blake Christine E. , Frongillo Edward A.
Published: August 2016

Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent among Zimbabweans with serious health and social implications. Due to a lack of a national micronutrient food fortification policy, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care established a policy for the prevention of maternal micronutrient deficiencies, which centres on pregnant women receiving daily iron and folic acid (IFA) at their first antenatal care visit and throughout pregnancy. Despite these efforts, utilization of IFA supplementation in pregnancy in Zimbabwe is low. This study aimed to understand the experiences and knowledge of IFA supplementation among pregnant women and healthcare workers in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the influence of health‐service and social environments on utilization. Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were conducted in Shona and English, with pregnant women (n = 24) and healthcare workers (n = 14) providing direct antenatal care services to pregnant women in two high‐density community clinics. Data were analysed thematically using NVivo 10. Influences on utilization were at the individual and structural environmental levels. Reasons for low utilization of IFA supplementation included forgetting to take IFA, side effects, misconceptions about IFA, limited access to nutrition information, delayed entry or non‐uptake of antenatal care and social norms of pregnant women for IFA supplementation. Utilization was enhanced by knowledge of risks and benefits of supplementation, fear of negative health complications with non‐utilization, family support and healthcare worker recommendation for supplementation. Study findings can inform approaches to strengthen micronutrient supplementation utilization to improve the micronutrient status of pregnant women to decrease maternal mortality and improve overall maternal and child health in Zimbabwe. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Comparison of the extent and pattern of cognitive impairment among predialysis, dialysis and transplant patients: A cross‐sectional study from Australia
Authors: Lambert Kelly , Mullan Judy , Mansfield Kylie , Lonergan Maureen
Published: August 2016

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the extent of cogntive impairment and the types of cognitive deficits in an Australian cohort of four patient groups with end stage kidney disease. Characteristics predicting the presence of cognitive impairment were also evaluated.

Methods

Observational cross‐sectional study of 155 patients with end stage kidney disease are recruited from a regional Australian renal unit. Eligible participants included those whose estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate was < 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2, were undertaking peritoneal or haemodialysis, or had received a kidney transplant. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool was used to screen the study participants for cognitive impairment and evaluate cognitive deficits. Cognitive impairment was defined as a total Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool score ≤24/30.

Results

The extent of cognitive impairment varied between the four groups with end stage kidney disease. Factors predicting the presence of cognitive impairment included undertaking dialysis, age ≥65, male gender and the presence of diabetes or cerebrovascular disease. Deficits in executive function, attention, language, visuospatial skills, memory and orientation were common among the study participants, and the extent of these deficits varied between groups. Limitations to the study included the cross‐sectional design, and that the presence of confounders like depression were not recorded.

Conclusion

The impact of disparities in the cognitive capabilities identified in this study are likely to be far reaching. Tailoring of education and self‐management programmes to the cognitive deficits of individuals is required.
Potential preadaptation to anthropogenic pollution: evidence from a common quantitative trait locus for zinc and cadmium tolerance in metallicolous and nonmetallicolous accessions of Arabidopsis halleri
Authors: Meyer Claire‐Lise , Pauwels Maxime , Briset Loic , Godé Cécile , Salis Piétro , Bourceaux Angélique , Souleman Dima , Frérot Hélène , Verbruggen Nathalie
Published: August 2016

As a drastic environmental change, metal pollution may promote the rapid evolution of genetic adaptations contributing to metal tolerance. In Arabidopsis halleri, genetic bases of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) tolerance have been uncovered only in a metallicolous accession, although tolerance is species‐wide. The genetic determinants of Zn and Cd tolerance in a nonmetallicolous accession were thus investigated for the first time.

The genetic architecture of tolerance was investigated in a nonmetallicolous population (SK2) by using first backcross progeny obtained from crosses between SK2 and Arabidopsis lyrata petraea, a nonmetallophyte species.

Only one significant and common quantitative trait locus (QTL) region was identified explaining 22.6% and 31.2% of the phenotypic variation for Zn and Cd tolerance, respectively. This QTL co‐localized with HEAVY METAL ATPASE 4 (AhHMA4), which was previously validated as a determinant of Zn and Cd tolerance in a metallicolous accession. Triplication and high expression of HMA4 were confirmed in SK2. In contrast, gene duplication and high expression of METAL TOLERANT PROTEIN 1A (MTP1A), which was previously associated with Zn tolerance in a metallicolous accession, were not observed in SK2.

Overall, the results support the role of HMA4 in tolerance capacities of A. halleri that may have pre‐existed in nonmetallicolous populations before colonization of metal‐polluted habitats. Preadaptation to metal‐contaminated sites is thus discussed.