bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing English teachers’ concerns about decentering Standard English
Authors: Metz Mike
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to address concerns of English teachers considering opening up their classrooms to multiple varieties of English.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the author’s experience as a teacher educator and professional developer in different regions of the USA, this narrative paper groups teachers’ concerns into general categories and offers responses to the most common questions.

Findings

Teachers want to know why they should make room in their classrooms for multiple Englishes; what they should teach differently; how they learn about English variation; how to balance Standardized English and other Englishes; and how these apply to English Learners and/or White speakers of Standardized English.

Practical implications

The study describes the author’s approach to teaching about language as a way to promote social justice and equality, the value of increasing students’ linguistic repertoires and why it is necessary to address listeners as well as speakers. As teachers attempt to adopt and adapt new approaches to teaching English language suggested in the research literature, they need to know their challenges and concerns are heard and addressed. Teacher educators working to support these teachers need ways to address teachers’ concerns.

Social implications

This paper emphasizes the importance of teaching mainstream, White, Standard English-speaking students about English language variation. By emphasizing the role of the listener and teaching students to hear language through an expanded language repertoire, English teachers can reduce the prejudice attached to historically stigmatized dialects of English.

Originality/value

This paper provides a needed perspective on how to work with teachers who express legitimate concerns about what it means to decenter Standardized English in English classrooms.
Super heroes, villains, and politics
Authors: Torres Francisco Luis , Tayne Kelsey
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the superhero genre, when couched in a space and project that seek to act as a counter-world and is rooted in the life experiences of youth, can allow Latinx elementary school students the opportunity to create counter-stories. Such stories facilitated the process of creating “critical hope” in relation to oppressive political discourses.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study conducted at an afterschool club in the Western USA. Using the superhero genre, elementary school students, grades third-fifth, participated in a project in which they created superhero and villain narratives set in their community.

Findings

The authors found that the superhero genre supported some Latinx students to develop counter-stories that engaged with and resisted the heightened xenophobic and racist discourse appropriated by then US presidential candidate Donald Trump in the context of the 2016 presidential campaign. These counter-stories allowed youth to engage in critical hope to imagine a better, more just world.

Originality/value

In a time when young Latinx students are continually subjected to racism and xenophobia promoted by political figures and taken up by popular media and the general public, it is necessary to support students in creating counter-stories and critical hope that push back against oppression. Findings suggest that the superhero genre can support Latinx students to discuss, dismantle and counter hateful discourses while striving for hope.
Influence of selected parameters on phenomena of two-phase flow and heat exchange in TSL furnace – numerical investigation
Authors: Kolczyk Ewa , Miczkowski Zdzisław , Czernecki Józef
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is application of a numerical simulation for determination of the influence of geometric parameters of a furnace and hydrodynamics of the gas introduced by a vertical submerged lance on the process of feed mixing and temperature distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical simulation with Phoenics software was applied for modeling of liquid phase movement and heat exchange between the gas supplied through a lance and the slag feed in a top submerged lance (TSL) furnace. The simulation of a two-phase flow of a slag–gas mixture based on the inter phase slip algorithm module was conducted. The influence of selected parameters, such as depth of lance submergence, gas flow rate and change of furnace geometry, on the phenomena of movement was studied.

Findings

Growth of dynamics of mixing with the depth of lance submergence and with increase of gas velocity in the lance was observed. Formation of a recirculation zone in the liquid slag was registered. Movement of the slag caused by the gas flow brought homogenization of the temperature field.

Originality/value

The study applied the simulation of a two-phase flow in the liquid slag–gas system in steady state, taking into account heat transfer between phases. It provides possibilities for optimization and selection of process parameters within the scope of the developed new technology using a TSL furnace.
Load balancing for chemically reacting flows
Authors: Löhner Rainald , Togashi Fumiya , Baum Joseph David
Published: October 2017

Purpose

A common observation made when computing chemically reacting flows is how central processing unit (CPU)-intensive these are in comparison to cold flow cases. The update of tens or hundreds of species with hundreds or thousands of reactions can easily consume more than 95% of the total CPU time. In many cases, the region where reactions (combustion) are actually taking place comprises only a very small percentage of the volume. Typical examples are flame fronts propagating through a domain. In such cases, only a small fraction of points/cells needs a full chemistry update. This leads to extreme load imbalances on parallel machines. The purpose of the present work is to develop a methodology to balance the work in an optimal way.

Design/methodology/approach

Points that require a full chemistry update are identified, gathered and distributed across the network, so that work is evenly distributed. Once the chemistry has been updated, the unknowns are gathered back.

Findings

The procedure has been found to work extremely well, leading to optimal load balance with insignificant communication overheads.

Research limitations/implications

In many production runs, the procedure leads to a reduction in CPU requirements of more than an order of magnitude. This allows much larger and longer runs, improving accuracy and statistics.

Practical implications

The procedure has allowed the calculation of chemically reacting flow cases that were hitherto not possible.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this type of load balancing has not been published before.
Unsteady natural convection with entropy generation in partially open triangular cavities with a local heat source
Authors: Öztop Hakan F. , Bondareva Nadezhda S. , Sheremet Mikhail A. , Abu-Hamdeh Nidal
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The main aim of this work is to perform a numerical analysis on natural convection with entropy generation in a partially open triangular cavity with a local heat source.

Design/methodology/approach

The unsteady governing dimensionless partial differential equations with corresponding initially and boundary conditions were numerically solved by the finite difference method of the second-order accuracy. The effects of dimensionless time is studied, and other governing parameters are Rayleigh number (Ra = 103 − 105), Prandtl number (Pr = 6.82), heater length (w/L = 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6) and distance of heater ratio (δ/L = 0.3).

Findings

An increase in the Rayleigh number leads to an increment of the fluid flow and heat transfer rates. Average Bejan number decreases with Ra as opposed to the average Nusselt number and average entropy generation. High values of Ra characterize a formation of long-duration oscillating behavior for the average Nusselt number and entropy generation.

Originality/value

The originality of this work is to analyze the entropy generation in natural convection in a one side open and partial heater-located cavity. This is a good application for electronical systems or building design.
Exploring the influence of store attributes on customer experience and customer engagement
Authors: Mohd-Ramly Suhaily , Omar Nor Asiah
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The global retail landscape has changed drastically. The rising role of Asia as one of the fastest growing international retail penetration and expansion will continue to make the region to be the driving force in world economic growth. However, the ambitious expansion plans are making the retail sector to be more challenging. Emphasizing on the customer experience and enhancing the value proposition to customers are undeniably vital factors for the long-term survival of any retail business. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of store attributes on customer experience and customer engagement in the context of department store in Malaysia. Subsequently, the influence of customer experience on customer engagement is also analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Using drop and collect survey, 484 valid responses of department store cardholders of age 18 years and above in the area Klang Valley, Malaysia, were collected. PLS structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses of this study.

Findings

Results revealed that customer experience is influenced by merchandise, store atmosphere, and loyalty program, while customer engagement is influenced by merchandise, communication, interpersonal communication, and loyalty. In contrast, post-transaction services were found to have non-significant impact on both customer experience and customer engagement. Analysis also revealed a strong relationship between customer experience and customer engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This study is carried out on customers of department store in Malaysia. However, the researchers urge other researchers to replicate the study from different countries and category of department stores.

Originality/value

Retail researchers recognize little knowledge on the contribution of store attributes to customer experience and customer engagement. This paper represents original research that encourages foreign retailers to employ service-dominant logic as a new marketing thought in designing strong customer engagement and experience strategies to capture the Malaysia market.
Truckies and health promotion: using the ANGELO framework to understand the workplace’s role
Authors: Sendall Marguerite C. , Crane Phil , McCosker Laura , Fleming Marylou , Biggs Herbert C. , Rowland Bevan
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Workplaces are challenging environments which place workers at the risk of obesity. This is particularly true for Australian road transport industry workplaces. The Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) framework is a public health tool which can be used to conceptualise obesogenic environments. It suggests that workplaces have a variety of roles (in the physical, economic, political and sociocultural domains) in responding to obesity in transport industry workplaces. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings which explore this idea.

Design/methodology/approach

The project used a mixed-methods approach located within a participatory action research framework, to engage workplace managers and truck drivers in the implementation and evaluation of workplace health promotion strategies. The project involved six transport industry workplaces in Queensland, Australia.

Findings

This study found that transport industry workplaces perceive themselves to have an important role in addressing the physical, economic, political and sociocultural aspects of obesity, as per the ANGELO framework. However, transport industry employees – specifically, truck drivers – do not perceive workplaces to have a major role in health; rather, they consider health to be an area of personal responsibility.

Practical implications

Balancing the competing perceptions of truck drivers and workplace managers about the workplace’s role in health promotion is an important consideration for future health promotion activities in this hard-to-reach, at-risk population.

Originality/value

The use of the ANGELO framework allows the conceptualisation of obesity in a novel workplace context.
Heterogeneous expression of glycoconjugates in the primary olfactory centre of the Japanese sword‐tailed newt (Cynops ensicauda)
Authors: Matsui T. , Tanaka K. , Kobayashi Y.
Published: October 2017

Histochemical organization of the Caudata olfactory system remains largely unknown, despite this amphibian order showing phylogenetic diversity in the development of the vomeronasal organ and its primary centre, the accessory olfactory bulb. Here, we investigated the glycoconjugate distribution in the olfactory bulb of a semi‐aquatic salamander, the Japanese sword‐tailed newt (Cynops ensicauda), by histochemical analysis of the lectins that were present. Eleven lectins showed a specific binding to the olfactory and vomeronasal nerves as well as to the olfactory glomeruli. Among them, succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (s‐WGA), soya bean agglutinin (SBA), Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin‐I (BSL‐I) and peanut agglutinin showed significantly different bindings to glomeruli between the main and accessory olfactory bulbs. We also found that s‐WGA, SBA, BSL‐I and Pisum sativum agglutinin preferentially bound to a rostral cluster of glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb. This finding suggests the presence of a functional subset of primary projections to the main olfactory system. Our results therefore demonstrated a region‐specific glycoconjugate expression in the olfactory bulb of C. ensicauda, which would be related to a functional segregation of the olfactory system.
Peripheral nerve block in ankle fracture surgery: a qualitative study of patients’ experiences
Authors: Henningsen M. J. , Sort R. , Møller A. M. , Herling S. F.
Published: October 2017

Peripheral nerve blocks are popular as a mode of anaesthesia for limb surgery and their beneficial effects are well documented in elective surgery. However, concerns have been raised about potential rebound pain outweighing the benefits in acute ankle fracture surgery. Furthermore, pain scores and morphine consumption do not provide a full picture, as pain is subjective. To evaluate the clinical usefulness of peripheral nerve blocks, we explored patients’ expectations and experiences by means of semi‐structured interviews analysed with systematic text condensation. We obtained ethical approval and informed consent and sampled purposively among adult patients scheduled for ankle surgery with nerve blocks as the primary mode of anaesthesia. Patients were interviewed within 48 h postoperatively. Data saturation was reached after 13 interviews. We found that, despite pre‐emptive ibuprofen and paracetamol, some patients did experience excruciating rebound pain for up to 2 h, although most had little or no pain. The patients had doubts about what to do when the block wore off, which led to a risk of unnecessary pain levels or morphine overuse. Patients had difficulty understanding the effect and course of the nerve blocks. They had misunderstandings regarding the blocks’ effect on sensation, resulting in fear of feeling pain during surgery and of permanent nerve damage after surgery. However, patients valued the mental alertness, ability to ambulate and efficient pain relief provided by the blocks. We recommend that patients be given thorough and repeated information as we feel this is crucial in preventing undesirable responses from patients, and is likely to increase the overall clinical usefulness of nerve blocks in acute limb surgery.
Peptide ligands for targeting the extracellular domain of EGFR: Comparison between linear and cyclic peptides
Authors: Williams Tyrslai M. , Sable Rushikesh , Singh Sitanshu , Vicente Maria Graca H. , Jois Seetharama D.
Published: October 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common solid internal malignancy among cancers. Early detection of cancer is key to increasing the survival rate of colorectal cancer patients. Overexpression of the EGFR protein is associated with CRC. We have designed a series of peptides that are highly specific for the extracellular domain of EGFR, based on our earlier studies on linear peptides. The previously reported linear peptide LARLLT, known to bind to EGFR, was modified with the goals of increasing its stability and its specificity toward EGFR. Peptide modifications, including D‐amino acid substitution, cyclization, and chain reversal, were investigated. In addition, to facilitate labeling of the peptide with a fluorescent dye, an additional lysine residue was introduced onto the linear (KLARLLT) and cyclic peptides cyclo(KLARLLT) (Cyclo.L1). The lysine residue was also converted into an azide group in both a linear and reversed cyclic peptide sequences cyclo(K(N3)larllt) (Cyclo.L1.1) to allow for subsequent “click” conjugation. The cyclic peptides showed enhanced binding to EGFR by SPR. NMR and molecular modeling studies suggest that the peptides acquire a β‐turn structure in solution. In vitro stability studies in human serum show that the cyclic peptide is more stable than the linear peptide.
Radiographic and clinical outcomes of rooted, platform‐switched, microthreaded implants with a sandblasted, large‐grid, and acid‐etched surface: A 5‐year prospective study
Authors: Mei Dong Mei , Zhao Baodong , Xu Hao , Wang Yanhui
Published: October 2017

Background

There is no data available on the long‐term outcomes of a rooted, platform‐switched, microthreaded implant with a sandblasted, large‐grid, and acid‐etched surface.

Purpose

This prospective, longitudinal study evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of rooted, platform‐switched, microthreaded and sandblasted, large‐grid, and acid‐etched (SLA) surface implants for 5 years.

Materials and Methods

Sixty implants were placed in sixty patients with partially edentulous maxillae or mandibles. The permanent prostheses were inserted 2–4 months after implant placement. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed at follow‐up visits scheduled postoperation, prosthesis installation, 1 year, and 5 years after surgery, to assess implant survival and success rates, biological and mechanical complications, and marginal bone loss.

Results

After 5 years’ follow‐up, four patients withdrawn from the study, and 56 implants achieved a 100% survival rate and 98.2% success rate. Three prosthetic complications occurred, resulting in a success rate for prostheses of 94.6%. The incidence of peri‐implant mucositis was 9.1% and no peri‐implantitis was diagnosed. The average marginal bone loss at the mesial aspect was 0.46 ± 0.27 mm after 1 year and 0.48 ± 0.27 mm after 5 years. The average marginal bone loss at the distal aspect was 0.46 ± 0.32 mm after 1 year and 0.50 ± 0.35 mm after 5 years.

Conclusion

After 5 years of loading, the rooted, platform‐switched, microthreaded, and SLA surface implants showed high survival and success rates, steady crestal bone levels, and excellent long‐term clinical outcomes in the soft tissue. Overloading may be related to the marginal bone loss around implants, but the surgical protocol, different sites, and jaw position did not correlate with crestal bone loss.
Real Objects Can Impede Conditional Reasoning but Augmented Objects Do Not
Authors: Sato Yuri , Sugimoto Yutaro , Ueda Kazuhiro
Published: October 2017

In this study, Knauff and Johnson‐Laird's (2002) visual impedance hypothesis (i.e., mental representations with irrelevant visual detail can impede reasoning) is applied to the domain of external representations and diagrammatic reasoning. We show that the use of real objects and augmented real (AR) objects can control human interpretation and reasoning about conditionals. As participants made inferences (e.g., an invalid one from "if P then Q" to "P"), they also moved objects corresponding to premises. Participants who moved real objects made more invalid inferences than those who moved AR objects and those who did not manipulate objects (there was no significant difference between the last two groups). Our results showed that real objects impeded conditional reasoning, but AR objects did not. These findings are explained by the fact that real objects may over‐specify a single state that exists, while AR objects suggest multiple possibilities.
Association of participant preferences on work and school participation after a first episode of psychosis
Authors: de Waal Alexandra , Dixon Lisa B. , Humensky Jennifer L.
Published: October 2017

Aim

To explore baseline ratings of importance (ROI) across life domains for participants in the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode Connection Program (RAISE CP), and investigate whether ratings were correlated with intervention outcomes over time.

Methods

At baseline, 63 participants rated the importance of reducing symptoms, side‐effects, confusion, increasing energy and school/work functioning and improving social relations. ROIs were examined in relation to work/school participation (n = 41) and occupational functioning (n = 37) after 12 months. Participants’ mean age was 22.3 (±4.2).

Results

The ROI domain rated as most important was school/work functioning, and higher school/work ROI at baseline predicted work/school participation after 12 months of participation.

Conclusions

It is particularly important to assess participant preferences and priorities when treating psychotic disorders because most areas of life are affected. Understanding the impact of participant goals on outcomes is essential as programs design patient‐centred treatment plans.
Benefits of and Barriers to Romantic Relationships Among Mothers in Ireland
Authors: Hadfield Kristin , Nixon Elizabeth
Published: October 2017

Objective

To examine what mothers expect of their romantic relationships and what prevents them from forming and maintaining relationships.

Background

Although there has been research on mothers' attitudes toward and expectations of marriage, there has been limited examination of their dating. It is critical to understand why parents form romantic relationships and what might cause them to cycle in and out of relationships to understand stepfamily formation.

Method

On the basis of semistructured interviews with a convenience sample of 33 single or repartnered Irish mothers, we conducted a thematic analysis guided by a social exchange framework.

Results

Mothers believed that being in a relationship would enable them to enact their preferred relationship roles, give them extra support, and provide a different gender role model for their child(ren). They found forming long‐term relationships difficult because of a lack of suitable partners, limited time and support, stepparents' possible negative influences on their child(ren), and their own personal characteristics. Unlike previous studies conducted in the United States, Irish mothers were not focused on the economic viability of partners or on economic benefits associated with repartnering.

Conclusions

Mothers believe that there are several rewards to forming and being in a relationship, but they face many impediments that may prevent them from forming long‐term relationships.

Implications

Practitioners may find it useful to focus on tempering mothers' expectations of relationship benefits and on reducing mothers' personal costs when forming and maintaining relationships.
International volunteering in a changing aidland
Authors: Schech Susanne
Published: October 2017

The growing diversity of North – South international volunteerism challenges the widely accepted distinction between volunteering for development as a long‐standing component of official development assistance and the more recent phenomenon of volunteer tourism as a private sector led commercial endeavour focused primarily on the personal growth of the volunteer. This paper reviews recent research that blurs this distinction by placing international volunteering within the geographical imaginaries of development and the neoliberal practices of governance of aidland. It focuses on four themes tackled in recent research: i) the ways in which neoliberal ideologies have shaped the motivations, goals, practices and governance of international volunteering; ii) the contexts in which international volunteering can foster more equitable relationships between Northern and Southern development actors; iii) what roles emotion and affect play in these relationships, and iv) the extent to which international volunteering can offer a critical perspective on the rules, logics and ideologies of aidland. The main argument is that while neoliberal conceptualisations of development have evidently shaped international volunteering, they do not fully capture the relational and experiential impacts of volunteering. The technologies of proximity afforded by volunteering can lead to critical and transformative insights into development and aidland, particularly when volunteers are embedded in local organisations over a longer time.
Power and changing modes of governance in the euro crisis
Authors: Carstensen Martin B. , Schmidt Vivien A.
Published: October 2017

Which European Union actors are most powerful in the governance of the euro crisis? The euro crisis has reignited the classic debate between intergovernmentalists, who tend to stress the coercive power of dominant member states in the European Council, and supranationalists, who maintain that through the use of institutional power, the Commission, and the European Central Bank turned out the “winners” of the crisis. This article argues that euro crisis governance is best understood not just in terms of one form of power but instead as evolving through different constellations of coercive, institutional, and ideational power that favored different EU actors over the course of the crisis, from the initial fast‐burning phase (2010–2012), where the coercive and ideational power of Northern European member states in the European Council was strongest, to the slow‐burning phase (2012–2016), when greater influence was afforded supranational actors through the use of ideational and institutional power.
Microbial contamination of open‐but‐unused portions of wound dressings stored in home settings
Authors: Templeton Sue , Wong Ching , Rando Tabatha , Adamson Penny , Lynn Penny
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate incidence rates and levels of microbial contamination in open‐but‐unused portions of wound dressings stored in home settings. Portions of wound dressings were collected at up to four home visits for 104 clients undertaking wound management within their home. A control sample and stored sample was collected on each home visit and sent for pathology testing to identify levels of microbial contamination. The stored open‐but‐unused wound dressings were managed according to a written protocol. Of the tested samples (n = 776), 6% of control samples and 7% of test samples had microbial contamination. From regression analysis, the stored samples were more likely to have microbial contamination than control samples, but results were not statistically significant. In comparing occasions of storage and handling across four home visits, after adjusting for sample group and dressing type, none of the home visit occasion regressions were statistically significant. In conclusion, storage of open‐but‐unused portions of wound dressings kept in home settings does not appear to increase the rate of microbial contamination compared to newly opened wound dressings.
Research Review: Is anxiety associated with negative interpretations of ambiguity in children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Stuijfzand Suzannah , Creswell Cathy , Field Andy P. , Pearcey Samantha , Dodd Helen
Published: October 2017

Background

The tendency to interpret ambiguity as threat (negative interpretation) has been implicated in cognitive models of anxiety. A significant body of research has examined the association between anxiety and negative interpretation, and reviews suggest there is a robust positive association in adults. However, evidence with children and adolescents has been inconsistent. This study aimed to provide a systematic quantitative assessment of the association between anxiety and negative interpretation in children and adolescents.

Method

Following systematic searches and screening for eligibility, 345 effects sizes from 77 studies were meta‐analysed.

Results

Overall a medium positive association was found between anxiety and negative interpretation in children and adolescents ( = .62). Two variables significantly moderated this effect. Specifically, the association increased in strength with increasing age and when the content of ambiguous scenarios matched the anxiety subtype under investigation.

Conclusions

Results extend findings from adult literature by demonstrating an association in children and adolescents with evidence for content specificity in the association. Age effects imply a role for development. Results raise considerations for when and for whom clinical treatments for anxiety focusing on interpretation bias are appropriate. The vast majority of studies included in the review have used correlational designs and there are a limited number of studies with young children. The results should be considered with these limitations in mind.
Sugar degradation process of mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit was developed with microbial biotransformation
Authors: Li Qian , Chen Zhihui , Yu Yuanshan , Zou Yuxiao , Liao Sentai , Hu Tenggen
Published: October 2017

Due to the high sugar content, fresh mulberry fruit was limited to the wide application in diet supplement designs for managing diabetes. Three kinds of microbial fermentation methods (lactobacillus, yeast aerobic, and yeast anaerobic fermentation) were compared to analysis the sugar reducing process of mulberry pulp in the present study. Based on the determination of nutrition and function bioactive components during the sugar reducing process, the evaluation models of principal component analysis were established to select the best method. The results showed that among the three kinds of fermentation methods, the optimum fermentation condition was selected for 96 hr by lactobacillus, with a degradation rate of 86.49% for fructose and 66.12% for glucose. During this process, lactic acid, and acetic acid were produced accordingly. The viable content of Leuconostoc mesenteroides was 818 lg CFU/ml at this point. The contents of C3G, C3R Pg3G and DNJ in mulberry pulp were 889.42, 857.16, 20.61, 27.92 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, the ORAC value was 45.07 µmol TE/ml and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity reached 44.2% after 96 hr of fermentation. In general, compared with yeast fermentation, lactobacillus fermentation had lower utilization rate of sugar but less degradation effect on functional ingredients in mulberry pulp. Yeast fermentation had higher sugar utilization rate and greater effect on functional ingredients.

Practical applications

Three microbial fermentation methods were compared to select the optimal process. The purpose was to consume sugar components and retain the original hypoglycemic functional factors in mulberry pulp as far as possible. The results will provide possible application in diet designs for managing diabetes.
Opiate Prescribing in Hospitalized Older Adults: Patterns and Outcomes
Authors: Maiti Sutapa , Sinvani Liron , Pisano Michele , Kozikowski Andrzej , Patel Vidhi , Akerman Meredith , Patel Karishma , Smilios Christopher , Nouryan Christian , Qiu Guang , Pekmezaris Renee , Wolf‐Klein Gisele
Published: October 2017

Background/Objectives

Whereas opiate prescribing patterns have been well described in outpatient and emergency department settings, they have been less defined in hospitalized older adults. The objective was to describe patterns of opiate prescribing and associated outcomes in hospitalized older adults.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care facility.

Participants

Hospitalized medical patients aged 65 and older (N = 9,245; mean age 80.3, 55.2% female, 72.3% white, 90.8% non‐Hispanic).

Measurements

Opiate exposure and duration of action, concurrent use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), adverse events, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and 30‐day readmissions.

Results

There was no difference in sex, race, ethnicity, or Charlson Comorbidity Index between opiate exposure groups. Participants who had never received opiates had a significantly shorter mean LOS than prior and new opiate users (5.2, 6.8, 7.7 days; P < .001) and were more likely to be discharged home (88.6%, 82.8%, 82.5%; P < .001) and significantly less likely to be readmitted within 30‐days (19.6%, 25.0%, 22.3%; P < .001). Participant who had never been exposed to opiates had a significantly shorter mean LOS than those receiving short‐ and long‐acting opiates (5.2, 7.3, 8.6 days; P < .001) and were more likely to be discharged home (88.6%, 82.6%, 82.4%; P < .001) and significantly less likely to be readmitted within 30‐days (19.6%, 27.7%, 28.9%; P < .001).

Conclusion

Opiate use is widespread during hospitalization and is associated with significant negative clinical outcomes and quality metrics. There is an urgent need to develop innovative pain management alternatives to opiate use.
Effects of oil content on the sensory, textural, and physical properties of pecan butter (Carya illinoinensis)
Authors: Wagener Emily A. , Kerr William L.
Published: October 2017

It has been difficult to produce acceptable pecan butters as the high oil content results in a product that flows and separates too easily. The objective of this work was to create pecan butters with varying oil levels (50–70%) and determine which would give the most acceptable product. Consumers rated pecan butters with 55–60% oil the most acceptable, whether roasted or not. Acceptability varied most in terms of texture and spreadability, but not flavor. Under large deformation firmness varied from 51.8 g (70% oil) to 4,880 g (50%) oil, while “spreadability” ranged from 19.2 to 7748 (g/s). Samples with 70% oil had the lowest viscosity and were Newtonian. Pecan butters with 50–55% oil had high viscosity and were shear thinning. Yield stress decreased with oil content, ranging from 0.014 to 500 Pa. The storage modulus (G′) increased from ∼7 Pa for samples with 70% oil up to 260,000 Pa for those with 50% oil. In conjunction, tan δ decreased from 1 to 0.07, showing the products take on much more solid‐like behavior as oil is removed. In conclusion, the rheological properties of pecan butter were quite sensitive to the amount of oil in the product. Differences in acceptability were primarily due to “texture” and “spreadability,” suggesting there is a limited range of firmness and spreadability that consumers will deem acceptable.

Practical applications

There has been considerable demand for butters and spreads made from a variety of culinary nuts. Pecans generally have too much oil (∼70%) to make a product with proper consistency and stability. In this study, some of the oil was removed to overcome this problem. It was found that pecan butter with 55–60% oil was most acceptable to consumers and with the level of firmness, yield stress, and spreadability most similar to commercial nut butters. The oil was relatively simple to remove from unroasted nuts, thus manufacturers could easily produce more acceptable pecan butter for the market.
Encapsulation of Bolbophorus damnificus (Digenea: Bolbophoridae) Metacercariae in Juvenile Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Is Linked to Delayed‐onset Mortality
Authors: Griffin Matt J. , Khoo Lester H. , Reichley Stephen R. , Ware Cynthia , Rosser Thomas G. , Alberson Neely R. , Woodyard Ethan T. , Pote Linda M. , Greenway Terrence E. , Tiwari Ambika , Mischke Charles C. , Wise David J.
Published: October 2017

Bolbophorus damnificus (Digenea: Bolbophoridae) causes significant economic losses in catfish aquaculture in the southeastern USA. To determine mortality trends associated with B. damnificus exposure, three separate disease challenges were conducted. The first challenge exposed channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, fingerlings (7–13 cm) to approximately 285 B. damnificus cercariae/L, while the second exposed fish to approximately 215 cercaria/L. Fish were monitored for morbidity and mortality for 28 d. In both studies, mortality first occurred 8 d postchallenge (PC) and peaked at 9 and 10 d PC, respectively. Mortality had subsided by 14 d PC, with only sporadic mortality occurring >15 d PC. Dead and moribund fish presented with lesions consistent with B. damnificus infection. A third challenge was performed to record histological changes associated with parasite development from initial exposure up to the cessation of mortality. Catfish (2–5 cm) were exposed as described above to a range covering 0, 35, 70, 100, 150, 175, and 215 cercariae/L. Each day, two fish were sampled from each treatment. Mortality trends were consistent with previous challenges. The mortality window coincided with parasite encapsulation, neovascularization, and development of the host‐derived cyst, suggesting that morbidity and mortality are linked to host pathophysiological changes in response to metacercariae encapsulation.
Butyrate promotes visceral hypersensitivity in an IBS‐like model via enteric glial cell‐derived nerve growth factor
Authors: Long X. , Li M. , Li L.‐X. , Sun Y.‐Y. , Zhang W.‐X. , Zhao D.‐Y. , Li Y.‐Q.
Published: October 2017

Background

Altered visceral sensation is common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and nerve growth factor (NGF) participates in visceral pain development. Sodium butyrate (NaB) could induce colonic hypersensitivity via peripheral up‐regulation of NGF in animals. Enteric glial cells (EGCs) appear to be an important source of NGF. Whether butyrate could induce visceral hypersensitivity via increased EGC‐derived NGF is still unknown.

Methods

CRL‐2690 cells were used for transcriptome analyses after butyrate treatment. Rats received butyrate enemas to induce colonic hypersensitivity. Colorectal distention test was performed to assess visceral sensitivity. Immunofluorescence studies were used to evaluate the co‐expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and NGF or growth associated protein 43 in animal model. NGF expression in rat colon was also investigated. In vitro, CRL‐2690 cells were stimulated with NaB or trichostatin A (TSA). NGF or GFAP expression was also examined.

Key Results

Transcriptome analyses showed that butyrate induced marked changes of genes expression related to neurotrophic signaling pathways. NaB‐treated rats showed increased visceral sensitivity. An improved NGF expression level was observed in NaB‐treated rats. Meanwhile, a 2.1‐fold increase in co‐expression of GFAP and NGF was also determined in rats received NaB enemas. In cultured cells, both NaB and TSA treatment could cause obvious NGF expression. Thus, butyrate might regulate EGC function via histone deacetylase inhibition.

Conclusions & Inferences

Butyrate‐EGC interplay may play a pivotal role in regulation of NGF expression and the development of colonic hypersensitivity in IBS‐like animal model.
A case report of Parry Romberg Syndrome initially presenting as periodontitis
Authors: Taylor G. , Culshaw S. , Armas J. , Savarrio L. , Goodall C.
Published: October 2017

Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS) is a rare disorder of progressive hemifacial atrophy, involving soft tissues, fat and occasionally bone. It can co‐exist with presentations of Morphea. We describe an unusual case of persistent periodontal and alveolar destruction associated with PRS. A 56‐year‐old African female initially presented with persistent periodontal destruction, which showed minimal response to conventional periodontal treatment. After non‐surgical treatment, surgical debridement followed by extraction of the two right maxillary incisor teeth was required to halt the periodontal destruction. Atrophy was not limited to the periodontal tissues. Multidisciplinary care and extensive investigations were required to diagnose PRS. Once the PRS has stabilised, adipose tissue transplants will be required to improve the facial appearance. We highlight the need for extensive investigations and a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose rare systemic causes for recalcitrant periodontal disease.
Beyond Words: Inarticulable Reasons and Reasonable Commitments
Authors: Ebels‐Duggan Kyla
Published: October 2017

We often come to value someone or something through experience of that person or thing. Call such an experience direct appreciation. When you appreciate something directly you may come to embrace a value that you did not previously grasp. Moreover, in a large and important subset of cases it seems you could not have fully appreciated that value, absent some such experience, merely by considering a report of the reasons or arguments that purport to justify your attitude. It follows that you will remain incapable of fully communicating the reasons for your valuing attitude to someone who lacks any such experience. Despite its ubiquity, this phenomenon goes missing in a great deal of contemporary work in ethics and political philosophy. To make sense of it we need an account of the standards governing our normative commitments that explains how we can have reasons for them without requiring articulacy about these reasons.
CRISPR is knocking on barn door
Authors: Lamas‐Toranzo I , Guerrero‐Sánchez J , Miralles‐Bover H , Alegre‐Cid G , Pericuesta E , Bermejo‐Álvarez P
Published: October 2017

Contents

Genome modification at specific loci in livestock species was only achievable by performing homologous recombination in somatic cells followed by somatic cell nuclear transfer. The difficulty and inefficiency of this method have slowed down the multiple applications of genome modification in farm animals. The discovery of site‐specific endonucleases has provided a different and more direct route for targeted mutagenesis, as these enzymes allow the ablation (KO) or insertion (KI) of specific genomic sequences on a single step, directly applied to zygotes. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), the last site‐specific endonuclease to be developed, is a RNA‐guided endonuclease, easy to engineer and direct to a given target site. This technology has been successfully applied to rabbits, swine, goats, sheep and cattle, situating genome editing in livestock species at an attainable distance, thereby empowering scientist to develop a myriad of applications. Genetically modified livestock animals can be used as biomodels to study human or livestock physiology and disease, as bioreactors to produce complex proteins, or as organ donors for transplantation. Specifically on livestock production, genome editing in farm animals may serve to improve productive genetic traits, to improve various animal products, to confer resistance to diseases or to minimize the environmental impact on farming. In this review, we provide an overview of the current methods for site‐specific genome modification in livestock species, discuss potential and already developed applications of genome edition in farm animals and debate about the possibilities for approval of products derived from gene‐edited animals for human consumption.
Effect of heat stress during in vitro maturation on developmental competence of vitrified bovine oocytes
Authors: Vendrell‐Flotats M , Arcarons N , Barau E , López‐Béjar M , Mogas T
Published: October 2017

Contents

Heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70) plays a crucial role as intracellular cytoprotectant and molecular chaperone. A phenomenon of heat stress (HS) leads to production of these proteins that could be beneficial to cells during cryopreservation, which is also a stressful process for the cell. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of exposure of bovine oocytes to moderate HS during in vitro maturation (IVM) prior vitrification. First, oocytes were subjected to HS (41.5°C for 1 hr) at 0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 of IVM. Oocytes in vitro matured for 20 hr served as control group. Presence of HSP70 was detected at 20 hr by immunofluorescence. HSP70 expression was significantly higher when oocytes were subjected to HS at 8 hr of IVM. Next, oocytes were distributed into four groups: Control: IVM oocytes; VIT: oocytes vitrified/warmed at 20 hr of IVM; HS: oocytes subjected to HS at 8 hr of IVM; HS‐VIT: oocytes subjected to HS at 8 hr of IVM and vitrified/warmed at 20 hr of IVM. Oocytes were fertilized at 24 hr of IVM, and cleavage and blastocyst yield were assessed. No significant differences were observed among treatments when cleavage rate was evaluated. However, fresh control and HS oocytes resulted in a significantly higher (p < .05) blastocyst rate when compared to VIT and HS‐VIT groups, although no significant differences within fresh or vitrified groups were observed. In conclusion, HS did not have a negative impact on the oocyte competence but HS applied before vitrification, offered no benefits for embryo development.
Effect of different extenders for donkey sperm vitrification in straws
Authors: Diaz‐Jimenez M , Pereira B , Ortiz I , Consuegra C , Partyka A , Dorado J , Hidalgo M
Published: October 2017

Contents

Aseptic vitrification of semen samples packed in straws has been successfully developed in human but not in donkeys. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two extenders for donkey sperm vitrification using straws. Ejaculates from four Andalusian donkeys were collected, and samples were extended in INRA‐96 (I) or Gent (G) supplemented with sucrose 0.25 M and 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA). Extended samples were cooled for one hour at 5°C. For vitrification, samples were filled in covered 0.25 ml straws and then plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. For warming, straws were immersed in INRA‐96 at 43°C. Results showed no significant differences between I and G treatments for TM (34.2% ± 8.7 vs. 30.7% ± 9.6) and PM (26.8% ± 7.3 vs. 24.6% ± 7.9), respectively. In conclusion, donkey sperm could be vitrified in straws either with INRA‐96 or with Gent in combination with sucrose and BSA.
Effects of the antimicrobial peptide protegrine 1 on sperm viability and bacterial load of boar seminal doses
Authors: Sancho S , Briz M , Yeste M , Bonet S , Bussalleu E
Published: October 2017

Contents

The presence of bacteria adversely affects boar sperm quality of seminal doses intended for artificial insemination. Currently, the most common measure to prevent bacteriospermia is the addition of antibiotics in semen extenders; however, mounting evidence shows that microbial resistance exists. A promising alternative to replace antibiotics are antimicrobial peptides. In this study, the effects of the antimicrobial peptide protegrine 1 (PG1) on the sperm viability and bacterial load of boar seminal doses were evaluated. Three different concentrations of PG1 (2.5, 25 and 100 μg/ml) were tested over a storing period of 10 days at 17°C. Sperm viability was analysed by fluorescence microscopy (SYBR14/propidium iodide), and bacterial load was assessed by plating 100 μl of each sample in Luria–Bertani medium and incubated at 37°C for 72 hr under aerobic conditions. Protegrine 1 was effective in controlling the bacterial load in all the assessed concentrations (p < .05), reaching the lowest values at the highest concentrations of the antimicrobial peptide. Nevertheless, sperm viability was significantly (p < .05) reduced by all tested concentrations of this peptide, the most cytotoxic effects being observed at the highest PG1 concentrations. Despite these results, the use of PG1 as an alternative to antibiotics cannot be totally discarded, as further studies using the truncated form of this peptide are needed.