bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional patterns of grey matter atrophy and magnetisation transfer ratio abnormalities in multiple sclerosis clinical subgroups: A voxel-based analysis study
Authors: Mallik Shahrukh , Muhlert Nils , Samson Rebecca S , Sethi Varun , Wheeler-Kingshott Claudia AM , Miller David H , Chard Declan T
Published: August 2014

Background:

In multiple sclerosis (MS), demyelination and neuro-axonal loss occur in the brain grey matter (GM). We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of GM magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) and volume to assess the regional localisation of reduced MTR (reflecting demyelination) and atrophy (reflecting neuro-axonal loss) in relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Methods:

A total of 98 people with MS (51 RRMS, 28 SPMS, 19 PPMS) and 29 controls had T1-weighted volumetric and magnetisation transfer scans. SPM8 was used to undertake voxel-based analysis (VBA) of GM tissue volumes and MTR. MS subgroups were compared with controls, adjusting for age and gender. A voxel-by-voxel basis correlation analysis between MTR and volume within each subject group was performed, using biological parametric mapping.

Results:

MTR reduction was more extensive than atrophy. RRMS and SPMS patients showed proportionately more atrophy in the deep GM. SPMS and PPMS patients showed proportionately greater cortical MTR reduction. RRMS patients demonstrated the most correlation of MTR reduction and atrophy in deep GM. In SPMS and PPMS patients, there was less extensive correlation.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that in the deep GM of RRMS patients, demyelination and neuro-axonal loss may be linked, while in SPMS and PPMS patients, neuro-axonal loss and demyelination may occur mostly independently.
Improving the effectiveness of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation through reflective wall coatings: Experimental and modeling based assessments
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Gautham , Tande Brian M.
Published: August 2014

Experimental and modeling based assessments of employing reflective wall coatings towards improving the effectiveness of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in unoccupied hospital rooms were carried out. Measurements of incident radiative fluxes on different surfaces were made in a control room as well as a room whose walls were painted with a nanostructured UV-C reflective wall coating. Employing the reflective paint resulted in up to a 20% increase in the incident radiative fluxes on some surfaces that were directly exposed to the radiation and nearly a 10-fold increase on surfaces that were not directly exposed. Spatially and directionally well-resolved simulations of radiative transfer within the rooms were carried out employing the finite volume radiation model. The measured enhancement in radiative fluxes predicted numerically agreed in general with experimental observations. The volume-averaged incident radiation increased by 60% in the presence of UV reflective walls. Ray effects or the preferential streaming of radiation in the numerical calculations was more pronounced in the control room and was minimized by increasing the angular resolution of the calculations even further. However in the room with UV reflective walls, the diffuse reflections caused the intensity distributions to become more isotropic and minimized the impacts of ray effects.
Adoption of online health management tools among healthy older adults: An exploratory study
Authors: Zettel-Watson Laura , Tsukerman Dmitry
Published: August 2014

As the population ages and chronic diseases abound, overburdened healthcare systems will increasingly require individuals to manage their own health. Online health management tools, quickly increasing in popularity, have the potential to diminish or even replace in-person contact with health professionals, but overall efficacy and usage trends are unknown. The current study explored perceptions and usage patterns among users of online health management tools, and identified barriers and barrier-breakers among non-users. An online survey was completed by 169 computer users (aged 50+). Analyses revealed that a sizable minority (37%) of participants use online health management tools and most users (89%) are satisfied with these tools, but a limited range of tools are being used and usage occurs in relatively limited domains. Improved awareness and education for online health management tools could enhance people’s abilities to remain at home as they age, reducing the financial burden on formal assistance programs.
Effect of carbon–silica dual phase filler obtained by impregnation method on the properties of SBR-based composites
Authors: Al-Hartomy Omar A , Al-Ghamdi Ahmed A , Al Said Said A Farha , Dishovsky Nikolay T , Malinova Petrunka A , Nikolov Radostin N
Published: August 2014

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)-based composites have been reinforced with carbon–silica dual phase fillers. The new type of reinforcing fillers have been obtained by an impregnation method used for introduction and deposition of a second silica phase over the surface of carbon black particles. The mechanical properties of SBR-based composites (applicable for passenger tread compounds) have been investigated. It has been found that the modulus at 100% of elongation and tensile strength of the composites reinforced with the dual phase fillers have increased considerably in comparison to those of the composites containing standard carbon black.
Print and online newspapers as material artefacts
Authors: Fortunati Leopoldina , Taipale Sakari , Farinosi Manuela
Published: August 2014

Traditional newspaper journalism is in a state of crisis and there have been several attempts to overcome this. Many discourses have reiterated the triumphal march of a digital revolution in newspaper journalism and anticipated the end of the print newspaper. This moment calls for an in-depth analysis of reader habits of news consumption and use in order to understand the audiences for journalistic output and their relationship with the journalistic objects. In this study, we adopt a multi-method approach, integrating (1) qualitative content analysis of student essays dealing with the physicality of printed and online newspapers, (2) ethnographic observation of the use practices of readers and (3) expert interview. The findings show that informants perceive print and online newspapers as objects with which they have a different experience and highlight the need to develop bridging strategies combining print and digital media in order to overcome the crisis facing printed news media.
When news sites go native: Redefining the advertising–editorial divide in response to native advertising
Authors: Carlson Matt
Published: August 2014

Professional journalism’s normative commitment to autonomy has long dictated the separation of editorial functions from advertising. However, the emergent practice of online native advertising complicates this division, resulting in conflicting visions of how journalistic authority should be established for digital news. This study examines reactions to a controversial Church of Scientology native advertisement on the Atlantic web site to assess how competing processes of norm-making and boundary work shape normative understandings of online journalism. Emergent understandings of content comprising both editorial and advertising components require new models for critical inquiry sufficiently sensitive to the online news environment.
Bringing public policy into policy practice
Authors: Almog-Bar Michal , Weiss-Gal Idit , Gal John
Published: August 2014

Policy practice is a core element of social work practice. The rationale for this type of practice and its key strategies and methods has been discussed at length in the literature. However, insights from public policy theories have not been employed in order to better understand the ways in which social workers can influence social policy formulation. This article seeks to broaden and enrich the theoretical foundations of policy practice by incorporating knowledge from two leading frameworks of the policy process – the Multiple Stream Framework (MSF) and the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) – into the policy practice discourse.

Findings

This article underscores the potential contribution of these frameworks to the engagement of social workers in the policy process by discussing the practical implications of their theoretical insights upon the roles and tasks of social workers engaged in policy practice. It does so by employing the frameworks to better understand the roles and the tasks of social workers in three streams in the policy process: problems, policy and politics. It also underlines social workers’ potential role of policy entrepreneurs.

Applications

The insights emerging from the MSF and the ACF can guide social workers in their efforts to influence the policy process. By drawing upon these frameworks, social workers will not only be able to see the wider policy picture but they should be better able to identify possible roles and relevant tasks for themselves in order to influence this process.
Struggles and resilience of African American women living with HIV or AIDS: A qualitative study
Authors: Smith Mieko K , McCarragher Timothy M , Brown Griffin T
Published: August 2014

This qualitative study analyzed the responses of African American women living with an HIV or AIDS diagnosis for 10 years or longer who were participants in an ongoing support group. Ten women with a mean age of 48.2 years were interviewed to describe their personal stories of HIV infection and to explore what led them to ultimately accept their diagnosis. The main focus of the study was to understand their strengths and resilience in enduring the burden of HIV or AIDS status.

Findings

The findings yielded a preliminary conceptual understanding similar to the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, including shock, anger, devastation, depression, denial, and acceptance. The women did not follow those stages in a linear fashion, but their strength carried them toward accepting their infection status. The participants described their sources of support and hopes for their future lives.

Applications

Social workers and other practitioners can gain a deeper understanding of the struggles, resilience for survival, and hope demonstrated by the participants in their experience with HIV and AIDS. The women’s suggestions for strategies of maintaining a positive outlook and achieving personal growth should be noted as helpful social work interventions not only for African American women but also women of other racial and ethnic groups living with HIV and AIDS. Additionally, other researchers may explore the preliminary conceptual understanding of stages toward acceptance yielded in this study with other groups of women living with HIV and AIDS.
Family Group Conferencing in public mental health and social capital theory
Authors: De Jong Gideon , Schout Gert , Pennell Joan , Abma Tineke
Published: August 2014

Clients in public mental health care have limited social capital; they lack trusting and mutually supportive relations within bonded groups and do not have access to supportive external groups. Family Group Conferencing (FGC) is a promising decision-making model to restore social ties and mobilise informal support. From January 2011 to September 2013, 41 family group conferences were organised in a Dutch public mental health care setting and studied using a qualitative case study methodology. Twenty-three of the conferences were successful in meeting their goals. This article reports on findings from the other 18 family group conferences that apparently had failed as the preparations became stuck or because a plan was never reached or fully implemented. Semi-structured interviews with 118 out of a possible total of 215 FGC participants were conducted to examine the process and impact of the conferences.

Findings

The interviews indicate that conferences were often held as a last resort, in situations where professional care had already failed prior to the conference. The intended goals of the conferences were not achieved because support from the social network was insufficiently mobilised and clients themselves felt helpless that they could improve their conditions.

Applications

A single conference seems insufficient on its own to break through a sense of inadequacy and paralysis. Social capital theory points to the necessity of not only renewing informal networks (‘strong ties’) but of expanding networks through connecting public mental health care clients to paid and volunteer work (‘weak ties’). FGC plans can include such action steps. Instituting a ‘family manager’ to monitor these steps may support the bonding of ‘strong ties’ and the bridging to ‘weak ties’.
Theorising federal togetherness in multinational states
Authors: Jewkes Michael
Published: August 2014

Many real-world multinational federal states seem to be engulfed in an almost permanent state of crisis due to a lack of ‘togetherness’ between federal partners. This has led, in cases such as Belgium and Spain, to near existential crises in which the longevity of the federation, as well as its ability to provide fundamental goods and services to its citizens, is called into question. This paper seeks to develop, for the first time within the realm of political philosophy, a greater understanding of the concept of ‘federal togetherness’ by unravelling its fundamental nature, the role that it plays in the multinational state, and the root causes of its evasiveness in many empirical cases. It is hoped that, once we have a more complete comprehension of this key multinational value, we will be in a more auspicious position from which to look to ameliorate the prospects of crisis-ridden federal states.
Discomfort glare and time of day
Authors: Kent MG , Altomonte S , Tregenza PR , Wilson R
Published: August 2014

There are strong reasons to suspect that glare sensation varies with the time of day. This study was designed to test whether such a relationship exists. Thirty subjects were exposed to an artificial light source four times of the day. The source luminance was progressively increased and subjects were required to give glare sensation votes corresponding to the level of visual discomfort experienced. Glare indices were calculated for every reported glare sensation vote, and the results were statistically analysed. The findings indicated a tendency towards greater tolerance to luminance increases in artificial lighting as the day progresses. This trend was found not to be statistically related to the possible confounding variable of learning, providing evidence of an effect of time of day on glare sensation.
Intimate partner homicide in 10 European countries: Statistical data and policy development in a cross-national perspective
Authors: Corradi Consuelo , Stöckl Heidi
Published: August 2014

Homicide is an important source of premature mortality, with intimate partners committing approximately one in seven homicides. Utilizing national statistics, this article explores recent data on intimate partner homicide in 10 European countries, namely Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. It discusses policy developments and the role of key policy-making actors and it provides a novel classification, based on the time when government action developed, that maps the 10 countries in a temporal sequence under three main headings: early birds, intermediate and newcomers. Notwithstanding great differences, the article finds common trends in policy developments. Institutional commitment in collecting intimate partner homicide data is consistent with an enduring record of both women’s activism and public action in addressing intimate partner violence.
Predictors of efficacy for endobronchial valves in bronchoscopic lung volume reduction
Authors: Iftikhar Imran H , McGuire Franklin R , Musani Ali I
Published: August 2014

Over the last several years, numerous trials have been carried out to check the efficacy of one-way valves in the management of advanced emphysema. While the design of the valves has not altered much, by selectively studying these valves in a select group of participants, such as those with and without intact fissures (FI+ and FI−), and by using different procedural techniques, our understanding of the valves has evolved. In this meta-analysis, we sought to study the effect of these factors on the efficacy of one-way valves. From PubMed and Embase, we included only those studies that provided separate data on fissure integrity or collateral ventilation. Our study outcomes included the mean change in forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). In the FI+ subgroup of participants, the pooled standardized mean difference in FEV1, 6MWD, and SGRQ were 0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34 to 0.67), p ≤ 0.001, 0.29 (95% CI: 0.13 to 0.45), p ≤ 0.001 and −6.02 (95% CI: −12.12 to 0.06), p = 0.05, respectively. In comparison, these results were superior to the FI− subgroup of participants. A separate analysis of the FI+ subgroup based on lobar occlusion versus nonlobar occlusion favored the former for superior efficacy. The preliminary findings of our meta-analysis confirm that one-way valves perform better in a select group of patients who show intact fissures on lung imaging pretreatment and in those who achieve lobar occlusion.
The Patterns of Inheritance in Early-Onset Dementia
Authors: Jarmolowicz Anna I. , Chen Huei-Yang , Panegyres Peter K.
Published: August 2014

Aim:

To investigate the patterns of inheritance and gene mutation status in early-onset dementia (EOD).

Methods:

Data were collected on 202 consecutive patients presenting to an EOD clinic. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD, n = 120) and early-onset frontotemporal dementia (EOFTD, n = 82) were studied.

Results:

The majority of participants, 72.5% with EOAD and 74.4% with EOFTD, did not have a positive family history of dementia. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance was observed in 14.2% of patients with EOAD and 13.4% of patients with FTD. Of those with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, 11.8% of EOAD and 45.5% of FTD probands had known pathogenic mutations. Only 1.6% of the total population of EOAD and 7.3% of EOFTD possessed known gene mutations.

Conclusion:

Early-onset dementia does not appear to be a strongly inherited autosomal dominant condition. The majority of patients were sporadic. Known mutations were uncommon and do not explain the total autosomal dominant burden.
Cancer Type Does Not Affect Exercise-Mediated Improvements in Cardiorespiratory Function and Fatigue
Authors: Repka Chris P. , Peterson Brent M. , Brown Jessica M. , Lalonde Trent L. , Schneider Carole M. , Hayward Reid
Published: August 2014

Purpose. Despite mounting evidence indicating that exercise training has a positive effect on cancer recovery, the influence of cancer type on the response to exercise training remains uncharacterized. Therefore, the adaptations to exercise training were compared between groups composed of 7 different forms of cancer. Methods. A total of 319 cancer survivors completed fatigue inventories and participated in assessments of cardiorespiratory function, which encompassed aerobic capacity (VO2peak), pulmonary function (forced vital capacity [FVC] and forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]), and resting blood pressure and heart rate. Participants were divided into 7 groups based on cancer type, including breast cancer (BC, n = 170), prostate cancer and other male urogenital neoplasia (PC, n = 38), hematological malignancies (HM, n = 34), colorectal cancer (CC, n = 25), gynecological cancers (GC, n = 20), glandular and epithelial neoplasms (GEN, n = 20), and lung cancer (LC, n = 12). All participants completed an individualized, multimodal exercise intervention consisting of cardiorespiratory, flexibility, balance, and muscular strength training 3 days per week for 3 months. Following the intervention, all subjects were reassessed. Generalized Estimating Equations with exchangeable working correlation structure was used to model each response; the group by time interaction effect represented the effect of cancer type on exercise-associated improvements. Results. No significant ( P > .05) group by time interaction effects were observed between different types of cancer for any parameter. Pre- to postexercise contrasts revealed significant improvements in VO2peak in BC, PC, HM, and GEN at the Bonferroni adjusted significance level (.00714). Heart rate was significantly lowered in the BC and CC groups. Mean fatigue indices decreased by at least 17% in all groups, but these changes were only significant in the BC, HM, CC, and GC groups. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in BC and GC, and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly only in the BC group while pulmonary function remained unchanged in all cancer types. Conclusion. Although trends toward improved cardiorespiratory and fatigue parameters only reached significance in some groups, there were no significant differences between cancer types. This suggests that cardiorespiratory and fatigue improvements following rehabilitative exercise are not dependent on cancer type. Further research investigating alternative physiological parameters are needed to confirm the relationship between cancer type and exercise-mediated rehabilitation.
Ludoarchaeology
Authors: Fuchs Mathias
Published: August 2014

Ludoarchaeology is a discipline that is methodologically rooted in archaeology with the aim of finding forgotten games—and texts on games. The discipline’s objective is to reinterpret the history of games and play via material objects from the past. This essay offers an example of one such case, revisions to Johan Huizinga’s Homo Ludens. In 2012, the author conducted an excavation in Gelderland, near Arnhem in the Netherlands, where Johan Huizinga spent his last years before his death on February 1, 1945. The excavation team found a document that was obviously a manuscript page of a major revision of Huizinga’s Homo Ludens. The text consists of an annotated version of page 41 from the 1938 edition of Homo Ludens with comments that completely change our view of how Huizinga thought about “free play,” rules, and order.
Omalizumab: a new treatment option for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Lehmann Sylvia , Pfannenstiel Claus , Friedrichs Frank , Kröger Kristina , Wagner Norbert , Tenbrock Klaus
Published: August 2014

Background:

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a severe complication in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), resulting in deterioration of lung function and impairment of overall prognosis. Standard therapy consists of high dosage, long-term corticosteroid treatment. This carries the risk of serious side effects such as immune suppression, diabetes and osteoporosis. Antifungal drugs such as itraconazole may cause interactions with other drugs and drug levels need to be monitored. Omalizumab treatment has been tried in several case studies.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study of six patients (four female, two male, age 4–33 years old) with CF and ABPA treated with omalizumab within an observation period of 7.5 years.

Results:

All patients showed clinical and laboratory stability or even an improvement within the treatment and post-treatment observation period, although omalizumab therapy was less effective in patients with progressed lung disease and long-term ABPA. Side effects of systemic steroids were reduced.

Conclusion:

Omalizumab has the potential to be an additional and solitary treatment option in patients with CF and ABPA. Early onset treatment may be beneficial and patients with early stage of lung disease seem to benefit more.
Every Drop Counts
Authors: Smith Suzanne L. , Dobbins Callie
Published: August 2014

Recent studies suggest a dose–response relationship between the amount of human milk received by very low birth weight infants and protection from select prematurity-specific morbidities. However, the feeding of high doses of human milk in this population often is precluded by insufficient maternal milk volume and the replacement of human milk feedings with calorie-dense infant formulas. This article reviews a multidisciplinary quality improvement effort aimed at administering higher enteral volumes of human milk at 1 week of life, 4 weeks of life, and at discharge in the neonatal intensive and progressive care units.
Mobile Public Memory
Authors: Tilton Shane
Published: August 2014

This article will look at the impact that mobile technologies have had on the ability of people to document their everyday lives. What is important to note about this documentation is that it has become a public display of events and experiences via mediated content. This documentation becomes more interesting to observe when it is put in context of how people can now record their travels. This “public memory” of private travel is assisted via mobile technologies with applications designed to record locations through Global Positioning System data and mediated content. After the documentation, the consumption of this content is conducted through social media services and other public outlets as opposed to the traditional means of showing where people have traveled via postcards, slides, and souvenirs. Through a mixed-method study, this process of documentation is analyzed via the thematic dichotomies that emerged throughout the course of surveys and interviews. This article will explore this contrast between the digital and physical through an analysis of the “traditional tourist” versus the “archiver of experiences.” Finally, the impact of this documentation will be framed in the context of mobile communication.
Aging with HIV
Authors: Solomon Patricia , O’Brien Kelly , Wilkins Seanne , Gervais Nicole
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a theoretical model describing the disability experienced by older adults living with HIV. Forty nine HIV positive men and women over the age of 50 years participated in in-depth qualitative interviews. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Uncertainty or worrying about the future was at the core of the model. Components of disability including symptoms and impairments, difficulties with day to day activities and challenges to social participation were experienced in the context of extrinsic or environmental factors (social support, stigma) and intrinsic contextual factors (positive living strategies, age). Time was an overarching component of the model. The model suggests areas for interventions to prevent or reduce disability related to the consequences of aging with HIV and improve overall quality of life.
STAT3 supports experimental K-RasG12D–induced murine myeloproliferative neoplasms dependent on serine phosphorylation
Authors: Gough Daniel J. , Marié Isabelle J. , Lobry Camille , Aifantis Iannis , Levy David E.
Published: August 2014

Key Points

Absence of STAT3 serine phosphorylation restricts activated K-Ras–driven myeloproliferative disease in a mouse model. A mitochondrial function of STAT3 supports K-Ras–driven, factor-independent growth of myeloid progenitors in vitro.
Hmga2 is a direct target gene of RUNX1 and regulates expansion of myeloid progenitors in mice
Authors: Lam Kentson , Muselman Alexander , Du Randal , Harada Yuka , Scholl Amanda G. , Yan Ming , Matsuura Shinobu , Weng Stephanie , Harada Hironori , Zhang Dong-Er
Published: August 2014

Key Points

Loss of RUNX1 by using genetic knockout or dominant-negative approaches leads to upregulation of its direct target gene Hmga2 in HSPCs. Expansion of myeloid progenitors caused by the loss of RUNX1 is rescued by loss of Hmga2, suggesting that RUNX1 functions through Hmga2.
The well-posedness for a system of generalized quasi-variational inclusion problems
Authors: Li Xiao-bo , Agarwal Ravi P , Cho Yeol Je , Huang Nan-jing
Published: August 2014

We introduce the concept of Levitin-Polyak well-posedness for a system of generalized quasi-variational inclusion problems and show some characterizations of Levitin-Polyak well-posedness for the system of generalized quasi-variational inclusion problems under some suitable conditions. We also give some results concerned with the Hadamard well-posedness for the system of generalized quasi-variational inclusion problems.

MSC:49J40, 49K40, 90C31.
Cesarean section in Shanghai: women’s or healthcare provider’s preferences?
Authors: Deng Wei , Klemetti Reija , Long Qian , Wu Zhuochun , Duan Chenggang , Zhang Wei-Hong , Ronsmans Carine , Zhang Yu , Hemminki Elina
Published: August 2014

Background

Cesarean section (CS) rate has increased rapidly over the past two decades in China mainly driven by non-medical factors. This study was to compare recalled preferences for CS among first-time mothers in early and late pregnancy with actual delivery mode; to explore factors related to CS preference and CS performed without medical indications; and to consider the role of healthcare providers in delivery mode preferences.

Methods

An anonymous questionnaire survey, combined with data on CS indications taken from the patient record, was conducted among 272 first-time mothers having their first postnatal check-up in one university affiliated obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Shanghai, China, between September 2006 and January 2007. Logistic regression was used to study factors related to the recalled preference for CS and CS performed without medical indication, adjusting for maternal age, education and income.

Results

The CS rate was 57% (151/263) among all women, 17% with medical indications and 40% without medical indications. For women without medical indications for CS (n = 215), there was no significant difference between women’s preference for CS in early (25%) and late pregnancy (28%); 48% of women actually had CS. Women recalled preferring a vaginal delivery but who had CS were more likely to have had a CS suggested by a prenatal care doctor [OR (95% CI): 20 (3.88-107.1)] or by a delivery obstetrician [OR (95% CI): 26 (6.26-105.8)]. Among women recalled preferring and having CS, a suggestion from the prenatal care doctor to have CS was very common.

Conclusions

In the primiparous women without a medical indication for CS, women recall of a provider suggestion for CS was a strong predictor of CS both among women who recalled a preference for CS and among women who recalled a preference for vaginal delivery. Public health education needs strengthening, including discussion of the risks associated with CS and psychological and social support given to women to help them prepare for and cope with childbirth.
Influence of the amount of co-infused amino acids on post-therapeutic potassium levels in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy
Authors: Lapa Constantin , Werner Rudolf A , Bluemel Christina , Lückerath Katharina , Schirbel Andreas , Strate Alexander , Buck Andreas K , Herrmann Ken
Published: August 2014

Background

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is routinely used for advanced or metastasized neuroendocrine tumours (NET). To prevent nephrotoxicity, positively charged amino acids (AA) are co-infused. The aim of this study was to correlate the risk for therapy-related hyperkalaemia with the total amount of AA infused.

Methods

Twenty-two patients undergoing PRRT with standard activities of 177Lu-DOTATATE/-TOC were monitored during two following treatment cycles with co-infusion of 75 and 50 g of AA (l-arginine and l-lysine), respectively. Mean serum levels of potassium and other parameters (glomerular filtration rate [GFR], creatinine, blood urea nitrogen [BUN], phosphate, chloride, lactate dehydrogenase) prior to, 4 h and 24 h after AA infusion were compared.

Results

Self-limiting hyperkalaemia (>5.0 mmol/l) resolving after 24 h occurred in 91% (20/22) of patients in both protocols. Potassium levels, BUN, creatinine, GFR, phosphate, chloride and LDH showed a similar range at 4 h after co-infusion of 75 or 50 g of AA, respectively (p?>?0.05). Only GFR and creatinine levels at 24 h varied significantly between the two co-infusion protocols (p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

Hyperkalaemia is a frequent side effect of AA infusion in PRRT. Varying the dose of co-infused amino acids did not impact on the incidence and severity of hyperkalaemia.
Conditional inactivation of PDCD2 induces p53 activation and cell cycle arrest
Authors: Granier Celine J. , Wang Wei , Tsang Tiffany , Steward Ruth , Sabaawy Hatem E. , Bhaumik Mantu , Rabson Arnold B.
Published: August 2014

PDCD2 (programmed cell death domain 2) is a highly conserved, zinc finger MYND domain-containing protein essential for normal development in the fly, zebrafish and mouse. The molecular functions and cellular activities of PDCD2 remain unclear. In order to better understand the functions of PDCD2 in mammalian development, we have examined PDCD2 activity in mouse blastocyst embryos, as well as in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We have studied mice bearing a targeted PDCD2 locus functioning as a null allele through a splicing gene trap, or as a conditional knockout, by deletion of exon2 containing the MYND domain. Tamoxifen-induced knockout of PDCD2 in MEFs, as well as in ESCs, leads to defects in progression from the G1 to the S phase of cell cycle, associated with increased levels of p53 protein and p53 target genes. G1 prolongation in ESCs was not associated with induction of differentiation. Loss of entry into S phase of the cell cycle and marked induction of nuclear p53 were also observed in PDCD2 knockout blastocysts. These results demonstrate a unique role for PDCD2 in regulating the cell cycle and p53 activation during early embryonic development of the mouse.
Correlative super-resolution fluorescence and electron microscopy of the nuclear pore complex with molecular resolution
Authors: Löschberger Anna , Franke Christian , Krohne Georg , van de Linde Sebastian , Sauer Markus
Published: August 2014

We combine super-resolution fluorescence localization microscopy with scanning electron microscopy to map the position of proteins of nuclear pore complexes in isolated Xenopus laevis oocyte nuclear envelopes with molecular resolution in both imaging modes. We use the periodic molecular structure of the nuclear pore complex to superimpose direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy images with a precision of < 20 nm on electron micrographs. The correlative images demonstrate quantitative molecular labeling and localization of nuclear pore complex proteins by standard immunocytochemistry with primary and secondary antibodies and reveal that the nuclear pore complex is composed of eight gp210 protein homodimers. In addition, we find subpopulations of nuclear pore complexes with ninefold symmetry that are found occasionally among the more typical eightfold symmetrical structures.
Stimuli-responsive Cooperative Catalysts Based on Dynamic Conformational Changes toward Spatiotemporal Control of Chemical Reactions
Authors: Imahori Tatsushi , Kurihara Seiji
Published: August 2014

This highlight review focuses on stimuli-responsive cooperative catalysts that reversibly switch the catalytic function on the basis of the dynamic conformation changes induced by external stimuli. Such enzyme-like switchable catalysts realize spatiotemporal control of chemical reactions, which can operate multiple regulations of chemical reaction(s) to realize anomalous chemical transformations. Although the progress is still small in present stage, this type of catalysts could open up new possibilities in various fields of scientific researches as well as synthetic chemistry.
Recognition of U-rich RNA by Hfq from the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Kovach Alexander R. , Hoff Kirsten E. , Canty John T. , Orans Jillian , Brennan Richard G.
Published: August 2014

Hfq is a post-transcriptional regulator that binds U- and A-rich regions of sRNAs and their target mRNAs to stimulate their annealing in order to effect translation regulation and, often, to alter their stability. The functional importance of Hfq and its RNA-binding properties are relatively well understood in Gram-negative bacteria, whereas less is known about the RNA-binding properties of this riboregulator in Gram-positive species. Here, we describe the structure of Hfq from the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in its RNA-free form and in complex with a U6 oligoribonucleotide. As expected, the protein takes the canonical hexameric toroidal shape of all other known Hfq structures. The U6 RNA binds on the “proximal face” in a pocket formed by conserved residues Q9, N42, F43, and K58. Additionally residues G5 and Q6 are involved in protein-nucleic and inter-subunit contacts that promote uracil specificity. Unlike Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) Hfq, Lm Hfq requires magnesium to bind U6 with high affinity. In contrast, the longer oligo-uridine, U16, binds Lm Hfq tightly in the presence or absence of magnesium, thereby suggesting the importance of additional residues on the proximal face and possibly the lateral rim in RNA interaction. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence quenching (TFQ) studies reveal, surprisingly, that Lm Hfq can bind (GU)3G and U6 on its proximal and distal faces, indicating a less stringent adenine-nucleotide specificity site on the distal face as compared to the Gram-positive Hfq proteins from Sa and Bacillus subtilis and suggesting as yet uncharacterized RNA-binding modes on both faces.
Current treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Authors: Cope Graham F
Published: August 2014

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and growing problem worldwide. Although frequently linked with poverty and poor living conditions, there is strong genetic basis to the disease and chronic exposure to environmental toxins and irritants, such as cigarette smoking. Inhaled beta-agonists and anti-muscarinic bronchodilators form the basis of both acute and chronic therapeutic treatment, with inhaled corticosteroids to boost their effectiveness and reduce the chronic inflammation. Smoking is the most important preventable risk factor for exacerbation and continued pulmonary deterioration. Patients should be biochemically tested to verify their self-reported smoking status and given in-house and specialist smoking cessation advice and counselling. This should be part of the rehabilitation process, which includes exercise training, education, nutritional intervention, and psychosocial support to improve the efficacy of pharmaceutical treatment and to enhance physical and mental wellbeing.
Service development in the new NHS
Authors: Majumder Pallab
Published: August 2014

This article will outline a plan for a redesign of service structure and delivery in the current context of the equal importance of high-quality clinical care and economic efficiency. This will be drawn from the author's experience of developing proposals for funding and setting services in this new and perceivably challenging environment. The article will discuss the rationale and outline plans for an example of a recent service development within a mental health service for refugee children and young people, in terms of opportunities and challenges presented. It will go on to explore the barriers and obstacles to the proposed new service through an interview with the manager of the service. An explicit discussion of these issues could initiate the development of a realistic idea of the benefits and challenges involved in making these strategic and service changes.
Extrinsic factors affecting the management of chronic wounds
Authors: Benbow Maureen
Published: August 2014

The cost of managing chronic wounds in terms of staff time and dressing materials is phenomenal. Time and money could be better invested in planned efforts to prevent the development of certain types of wounds and, more importantly, improve the quality of life for many more patients.
Traditional Chinese medicine, health beliefs and glaucoma awareness: implications for UK practice
Authors: Stanford Penelope , Olleveant Nicola , Wu Lihua
Published: August 2014

Changes in the UK population have heightened the need for the provision of culturally competent care. Recent population estimates suggest China provides the most migrants to the UK. This and the reported high incidence of glaucoma in the Chinese population signify the need for practitioners to be culturally aware of the health needs of this patient group. This article reviews the prevalence of glaucoma and the influence of traditional Chinese medicine on the health beliefs of the Chinese population living in the UK, and discusses how cultural awareness can facilitate the provision of culturally centred, individualised patient care.
A report on Allied Professions Day at the 2014 Royal College of Ophthalmologists annual congress
Authors: Marsden Janet
Published: August 2014

Allied Professions Day returned to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists annual congress on 21 May at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, UK. The programme was aimed at the larger professional groupings in ophthalmology, and covered four main themes: update on age-related macular degeneration; optimising services for people with learning disabilities; cataract; and workforce planning.
The role of practice nurses in providing palliative and end-of-life care to older patients with long-term conditions
Authors: Raphael Deborah , Waterworth Susan , Gott Merryn
Published: August 2014

Background:

Many people with palliative care needs will receive care from a primary care provider. However, GPs often have limited time to deal with these patients' supportive care needs, which is where primary care nurses can make a significant contribution.

Aim:

The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the role of practice nurses in the provision of palliative and end-of-life (EoL) care to older patients with long-term conditions.

Methods:

Twenty one practice nurses from a selection of rural and urban areas in New Zealand were interviewed about their EoL care experiences.

Results:

Three themes were identified relating to EoL care: variability of practice nurse involvement in EoL care, limited education and training in EoL care, and what practice nurses can (and do) contribute to EoL care.

Conclusion:

Priority should be given to developing the palliative care skills and knowledge of primary care nurses and their ability to provide the necessary support to the growing number of patients who will require palliative care.
The Down Syndrome Advantage: It Depends on What and When You Measure
Authors: Glidden Laraine Masters , Grein Katherine Anne , Ludwig Jesse Andrew
Published: August 2014

A “Down syndrome advantage”–better outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome and their families than for those with other intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD)–is reduced when variables confounded with diagnostic category are controlled. We compared maternal outcomes in a longitudinal sample of families rearing children with Down syndrome or other IDD, and found that a Down syndrome advantage is (a) most likely when the metric is about the son/daughter rather than the parent or family more globally, (b) may be present or absent at different ages, and (c) is partially explained by higher levels of adaptive behavior for individuals with Down syndrome. We discuss the importance of multiple measures at multiple times, and implications for family expectations and adjustment at various life stages.
Emotion Knowledge in Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome: A New Methodological Approach
Authors: Channell Marie Moore , Conners Frances A. , Barth Joan M.
Published: August 2014

Emotion knowledge was examined in 19 youth with Down syndrome (DS) and compared to typically developing (TD) children of similar developmental levels. This project expanded upon prior research on emotion knowledge in DS by utilizing a measure that minimized the need for linguistic skills, presented emotion expressions dynamically, and included social context cues. In Study 1, participants with DS were as accurate as TD participants when judging emotions from static or dynamic expression stimuli and from facial or contextual cues. In Study 2, participants with DS and TD participants showed similar cross-sectional developmental trajectories of emotion knowledge across mental age. This project highlights the importance of measure selection when examining emotion knowledge in samples with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
What drives endogenous growth in the United States?
Authors: Wesselbaum Dennis
Published: August 2014

The cleansing effects of recessions are investigated. We estimate a DSGE model allowing for endogenous growth to be driven by two competing theories. Either learning-by-doing effects or cleansing effects of recessions drive endogenous growth. Using Bayesian estimation techniques we find that reallocation effects in recessions dominate and also non-technological innovations have effects on productivity and, hence, long-run growth. Furthermore, we show that using directly observable TFP in the estimation has sizable effects on parameter estimates, the identification of shocks, and model dynamics.
Numerical analysis of temperature profiles during thermal modification of wood: chemical reactions and experimental verification
Authors: Trcala Miroslav , Čermák Petr
Published: August 2014

Numerical analysis of temperature profiles during thermal modification of wood was carried out. The numerical solution – based on finite element analysis, FEA – of the 3D problem of transient nonlinear heat transfer model is presented for wood as a typical anisotropic material. The numerical model was enhanced for describing chemical reactions of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin (pyrolysis model), which takes into account the exothermic reactions as an internal source of heat energy. Experimental as well as theoretical process schedules were applied and the influence of sample dimensions (sample geometry) and wood species was studied. The influence of wood species was negligible on heating time to reach the highest temperature, i.e., the temperature differences were about 2°C during the drying phase. A expected, the sample size played an important role in the heating duration and in terms of the exothermic reactions of wood. The experimental and numerical data are generally in good agreement. The numerical error increased in the range of higher temperatures. The results can be improved by consideration of wood species (mass of wood compounds) and boundary conditions in the pyrolysis model, thus, better insight into details of thermal modification of wood could be reached.