bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonconvulsive seizures and status epilepticus in pediatric head trauma: A national survey
Authors: Hansen Gregory , Joffe Ari R , Bowman Stephen M , Richer Lawrence
Published: February 2015

Objectives:

It remains uncertain whether nonconvulsive seizures and nonconvulsive status epilepticus in pediatric traumatic brain injury are deleterious to the brain and/or impact the recovery from injury. Consequently, optimal electroencephalographic surveillance and management is unknown. We aimed to determine specialists’ opinion regarding the detection and treatment of nonconvulsive seizures or nonconvulsive status epilepticus in pediatric traumatic brain injury, regardless of their practice.

Methods:

In 2012, 183 surveys were sent to all 93 neurologists, 27 neurosurgeons, and 63 intensivists in the14 tertiary pediatric hospitals across Canada. The survey included an initial scenario of pediatric TBI that evolved into three further scenarios. Each scenario had required responses and an embedded branching logic algorithm ascertaining clinical management. The survey instrument assimilated data about the importance of nonconvulsive status epilepticus and nonconvulsive seizures detection and treatment, and whether they are a cause of brain injury that adversely affects neurologic outcomes.

Results:

Of the 79 specialists who replied (43% response rate), 68%–78% elected to order an electroencephalographic across all four scenarios, and one-third (31%–36%; scenario dependent) would request an urgent electroencephalographic (within the hour) in the comatose pediatric traumatic brain injury patient. In the absence of pharmacologic paralysis or intracranial pressure spikes, half-hour electroencephalographic (41%–55%) was preferred over ⩾24-h continuous electroencephalographic monitoring (29%–40%). Finally, nonconvulsive status epilepticus (81%–87%) and nonconvulsive seizures (61%–73%) were considered to be a cause of poor neurologic outcomes warranting aggressive pharmacologic management.

Conclusion:

The Canadian specialists’ opinion is that nonconvulsive seizures and nonconvulsive status epilepticus are biomarkers of brain injury and contribute to worsened outcomes. This suggests the urgency of future outcome-oriented research in the identification and management of nonconvulsive seizures or nonconvulsive status epilepticus.
‘Croque&bouge’: A feasible and acceptable programme for obesity prevention in preschoolers at risk and their parents
Authors: Bucher Della Torre Sophie , Dudley-Martin Fiona , Kruseman Maaike
Published: February 2015

Objectives:

To conceptualize and pilot test a programme of three workshops aiming to prevent the development of overweight in susceptible preschool children.

Methods:

Three workshops were conducted, targeting both parents and children. The curriculum for parents included discussions on feeding responsibilities, healthy eating, taste development, neophobia and physical activity recommendations. Children participated in various play activities with fruits and vegetables and read stories about hunger and satiety feelings. Recruitment was organized through paediatricians and child-care centres. Evaluation of the programme focused on feasibility, adequacy for children’s age, parents’ perception of impact and, for children, change of the ability to recognize and willingness to taste fruits and vegetables.

Results:

A total of 21 children and one of their parents participated in the programme. The programme was found to be feasible and adequate for the targeted community. Parents reported perceiving a positive impact of the intervention; however, this finding was not statistically significant. The major difficulty was identifying and recruiting families and engaging the parents in a discussion about weight.

Conclusions:

This short programme aiming to improve parents’ ability to offer healthy environment and promote healthy eating behaviour was feasible and acceptable for families with young children. When developing and implementing such programmes, close collaboration with paediatricians and other health providers should be sought in order to identify and reach children at risk of obesity and their family.
Comparing Perceived Listening Behavior Differences Between Managers and Nonmanagers Living in the United States, India, and Malaysia
Authors: Roebuck Deborah Britt , Bell Reginald L. , Raina Reeta , Lee Cheng E. (Catherine)
Published: February 2015

Many managers and employees work in multinational organizations, but know little about what constitutes good or bad listening skills from a cross-cultural perspective. Little literature exists concerning the listening behaviors of managers and nonmanagers or the impact of national culture on listening skills. No clear understanding of what constitutes effective and ineffective listening across various cultures and organizational positions is known. Therefore, this study examines the listening skills of both managers and nonmanagers from India, the United States, and Malaysia. A total of 513 managers and nonmanagers from these countries completed a survey measuring self-perceptions of their engagement in four listening behaviors: distracted listening, empathetic listening, judgment rushing, and conclusion jumping. An analysis of variance procedure, with a 2 × 3 factorial design, was used to ascertain whether differences existed when each of the four derived factors was used one at a time as a dependent variable. The two independent variables were managers/nonmanagers and country of residence. The means differed on the main effects of managers/nonmanagers ( p < .001) and country of residence ( p < .001) and interaction between managers and nonmanagers across the United States, India, and Malaysia ( p < .001) on all four factors. Therefore, perceptions of engaging in distracted listening, empathetic listening, judgment rushing, and conclusion jumping are different for managers and nonmanagers living in the United States, India, and Malaysia. This study’s findings will help both managers and nonmanagers from these countries understand the positives and negatives of these four listening practices and the influence of national culture on listening behaviors.
Ag nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanorod array on a mechanical flexible substrate with enhanced optical and antimicrobial properties
Authors: Chen Yi , Tse Wai Hei , Chen Longyan , Zhang Jin
Published: February 2015

Heteronanostructured zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) array are vertically grown on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through a hydrothermal method followed by an in situ deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a photoreduction process. The Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorods on PDMS are measured with an average diameter of 160 nm and an average length of 2 μm. ZnO NRs measured by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) shows highly crystalline with a lattice fringe of 0.255 nm, which corresponds to the (0002) planes in ZnO crystal lattice. The average diameter of the Ag NPs in situ deposited on the ZnO NRs is estimated at 22 ± 2 nm. As compared to the bare ZnO NRs, the heterostructured Ag-ZnO nanorod array shows enhanced ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 440 nm, and significant emission in the visible region (λem = 542 nm). In addition, the antimicrobial efficiency of Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorod array shows obvious improvement as compared to bare ZnO nanorod array. The cytotoxicity of ZnO nanorod array with and without Ag NPs was studied by using 3 T3 mouse fibroblast cell line. No significant toxic effect is imposed on the cells.
Enhanced performance of photonic crystal GaN light-emitting diodes with graphene transparent electrodes
Authors: Ge Hai-Liang , Xu Chen , Xu Kun , Xun Meng , Wang Jun , Liu Jie
Published: February 2015

The two-dimensional (2D) triangle lattice air hole photonic crystal (PC) GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LED) with double-layer graphene transparent electrodes (DGTE) have been produced. The current spreading effect of the double-layer graphene (GR) on the surface of the PC structure of the LED has been researched. Specially, we found that the part of the graphene suspending over the air hole of the PC structure was of much higher conductivity, which reduced the average sheet resistance of the graphene transparent conducting electrode and improved the current spreading of the PC LED. Therefore, the work voltage of the DGTE-PC LED was obviously decreased, and the output power was greatly enhanced. The COMSOL software was used to simulate the current density distribution of the samples. The results show that the etching of PC structure results in the degradation of the current spreading and that the graphene transparent conducting electrode can offer an uniform current spreading in the DGTE-PC LED.

PACS: 85.60.Jb; 68.65.Pq; 42.70.Qs
Self-alignment of silver nanoparticles in highly ordered 2D arrays
Authors: Rodríguez-León Ericka , Íñiguez-Palomares Ramón , Urrutia-Bañuelos Efraín , Herrera-Urbina Ronaldo , Tánori Judith , Maldonado Amir
Published: February 2015

We have synthesized silver nanoparticles in the non-polar phase of non-aqueous microemulsions. The nanocrystals have been grown by reducing silver ions in the microemulsion cylindrical micelles formed by the reducing agent (ethylene glycol). By a careful deposit of the microemulsion phase on a substrate, the micelles align in a hexagonal geometry, thus forming a 2D array of parallel strings of individual silver nanoparticles on the substrate. The microemulsions are the ternary system of anionic surfactant, non-polar solvent (isooctane), and solvent polar (ethylene glycol); the size of synthesized nanoparticles is about 7 nm and they are monodisperse. The study of the microstructure was realized by transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution technique transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Fourier processing using the software Digital Micrograph for the determination of the crystalline structure of the HR-TEM images of the nanocrystals; chemical composition was determined using the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Addition technique polarizing light microscopy allowed the observation of the hexagonal phase of the system. This method of synthesis and self-alignment could be useful for the preparation of patterned materials at the nanometer scale.
Blind identification of code word length for non-binary error-correcting codes in noisy transmission
Authors: Zrelli Yasamine , Gautier Roland , Rannou Eric , Marazin Mélanie , Radoi Emanuel
Published: February 2015

In cognitive radio context, the parameters of coding schemes are unknown at the receiver. The design of an intelligent receiver is then essential to blindly identify these parameters from the received data. The blind identification of code word length has already been extensively studied in the case of binary error-correcting codes. Here, we are interested in non-binary codes where a noisy transmission environment is considered. To deal with the blind identification problem of code word length, we propose a technique based on the Gauss-Jordan elimination in GF(q) (Galois field), with q=2
m
, where m is the number of bits per symbol. This proposed technique is based on the information provided by the arithmetic mean of the number of zeros in each column of these matrices. The robustness of our technique is studied for different code parameters and over different Galois fields.
Can donepezil facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation in difficult to wean patients? An interventional pilot study
Authors: Abbasi Saeed , Farsaei Shadi , Fazel Kamran , Golzari Samad EJ , Mahmoodpoor Ata
Published: February 2015

Background

Management of difficult to wean patients is a dilemma for health care system. Recently published studies demonstrated efficacy of donepezil to counteract respiratory depression in sleep apnea. However, to the best of our knowledge, pharmaceutical interventions with donepezil to facilitate weaning have not been tested so far. Therefore in the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of using donepezil on weaning course in difficult to wean patients.

Methods

In this non-randomized interventional clinical study, difficult to wean patients with prior inappropriately depressed respiratory responses were included from two referral intensive care units (ICU) in Iran. Patients with another potentially reasons of weaning failure were excluded from the study. Donepezil was started for eligible patients at dose of 10 mg daily for 2–4 weeks. For the primary outcomes, arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters were also measured before and after intervention to evaluate the possible effects of donepezil on them. In addition, weaning outcomes of patients were reported as final outcome in response to this intervention.

Results

Twelve out of 16 studied patients experienced successful results to facilitate weaning with donepezil intervention. The mean duration of donepezil treatment until outcome measurement was 12 days. There were not any significant differences in ABG parameters among patients with successful and failed weaning trial on day of donepezil initiation. However after donepezil intervention, mean of PCO2 and HCO3 decreased in patients with successful weaning trial and mean of PCO2 increased in those with weaning failure.

Conclusions

Reduced central respiratory drive was infrequently reason of failed weaning attempts but it must be considered especially in patients with hypercapnia secondary to inefficient gas exchange and slow breathing. Our results in the clinical setting suggest that, the use of donepezil can expedite weaning presumably by stimulation of respiratory center and obviate the need to re-intubation in cases of respiratory drive problem in difficult to wean patients. We suggest decrease PCO2 and HCO3 during donepezil steady could be valuable predictors for positive response to donepezil intervention.
Molecular simulation on carbon dioxide fixation routes towards synthesis of precursors for innovative urethanes
Authors: Carrillo Beber Vinicius , Taveira Caleiro Lucas , Rossi de Aguiar Kelen , Joswig Jan-Ole , Pereira Rodrigues Filho Ubirajara , Noeske Paul-Ludwig Michael , Rischka Klaus , Leite Cavalcanti Welchy
Published: February 2015

Classical molecular dynamics were carried out in order to obtain insights into proper conditions to perform chemical fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2) with epoxide molecules into cyclic carbonates. Two different molecules containing epoxide groups were investigated: 1,2–Epoxybutane (EB), called linear aliphatic epoxide molecule, and 3-Ethyl-7-oxabicyclo(4.1.0)heptane (EC), called cycloaliphatic epoxide molecule. The reaction systems involving carbon dioxide additionally were catalyzed by tetraethylammonium bromide (TEAB). The dynamics of the molecular groups were studied by taking into account known reaction mechanisms to investigate whether the optimal reaction conditions were observed.

Radial distribution functions and self-diffusion coefficients were calculated and revealed that in case of the systems with cycloaliphatic epoxide groups as reagent the CO2 molecules were located far away from the agglomerate formed by the dispersed tetraethylammonium bromide catalyst and epoxide groups (EC), and they do not present enough mobility to overcome the long distances to react. Additionally, it was observed that, in the case of the linear aliphatic epoxide groups (EB), the dynamics of the groups tends to facilitate the reaction mechanisms by presenting a considerable amount of available CO2 molecules in the neighborhood of the epoxy rings. Thus, via the Molecular Dynamics insights, the systems containing linear aliphatic epoxide groups presented a much more accessible condition for the subsequent reaction steps of the carbon dioxide fixation to occur as compared to systems containing cycloaliphatic epoxide groups. The simulation results are in agreement with the experimental findings, which showed via infrared spectroscopy the successful conversion of epoxy rings from linear aliphatic epoxide molecules into five-membered cyclic carbonates after reacting with carbon dioxide.
Peptide length and folding state govern the capacity of staphylococcal β-type phenol-soluble modulins to activate human formyl-peptide receptors 1 or 2
Authors: Kretschmer Dorothee , Rautenberg Maren , Linke Dirk , Peschel Andreas
Published: February 2015

Most staphylococci produce short α-type PSMs and about twice as long β-type PSMs that are potent leukocyte attractants and toxins. PSMs are usually secreted with the N-terminal formyl group but are only weak agonists for the leukocyte FPR1. Instead, the FPR1-related FPR2 senses PSMs efficiently and is crucial for leukocyte recruitment in infection. Which structural features distinguish FPR1 from FPR2 ligands has remained elusive. To analyze which peptide properties may govern the capacities of β-type PSMs to activate FPRs, full-length and truncated variants of such peptides from Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus lugdunensis were synthesized. FPR2 activation was observed even for short N- or C-terminal β-type PSM variants once they were longer than 18 aa, and this activity increased with length. In contrast, the shortest tested peptides were potent FPR1 agonists, and this property declined with increasing peptide length. Whereas full-length β-type PSMs formed α-helices and exhibited no FPR1-specific activity, the truncated peptides had less-stable secondary structures, were weak agonists for FPR1, and required N-terminal formyl-methionine residues to be FPR2 agonists. Together, these data suggest that FPR1 and FPR2 have opposed ligand preferences. Short, flexible PSM structures may favor FPR1 but not FPR2 activation, whereas longer peptides with α-helical, amphipathic properties are strong FPR2 but only weak FPR1 agonists. These findings should help to unravel the ligand specificities of 2 critical human PRRs, and they may be important for new, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory strategies.
Eph-Pak2a signaling regulates branching of the pharyngeal endoderm by inhibiting late-stage epithelial dynamics
Authors: Choe Chong Pyo , Crump J. Gage
Published: February 2015

Branching morphogenesis depends on the precise temporal and spatial control of epithelial dynamics. In the vertebrate head, endodermal branches, called pharyngeal pouches, form through the transient stratification, collective migration and reorganization of epithelial cells into bilayers. Here, we report novel requirements for the EphrinB ligands B2a and B3b, the Ephb4a receptor and the Pak2a kinase in the development of pouches and the posterior facial skeleton that depends on pouches for its segmentation. Time-lapse imaging in zebrafish shows that EphB-Pak2a signaling is required to stabilize pouch epithelial cells at the end of branching morphogenesis. Transgenic rescue experiments further demonstrate that endodermal Eph-ephrin signaling promotes pouch integrity by targeting Pak2a to the plasma membrane, where subsequent activation by Wnt4a-Cdc42 signaling increases junctional E-cadherin in maturing pouches. Integration of Eph-ephrin and Wnt4a signaling through Pak2a thus signals the end of branching morphogenesis by increasing intercellular adhesion that blocks further epithelial rearrangements.
Drosophila MAGI interacts with RASSF8 to regulate E-Cadherin-based adherens junctions in the developing eye
Authors: Zaessinger Sophie , Zhou Yanxiang , Bray Sarah J. , Tapon Nicolas , Djiane Alexandre
Published: February 2015

Morphogenesis is crucial during development to generate organs and tissues of the correct size and shape. During Drosophila late eye development, interommatidial cells (IOCs) rearrange to generate the highly organized pupal lattice, in which hexagonal ommatidial units pack tightly. This process involves the fine regulation of adherens junctions (AJs) and of adhesive E-Cadherin (E-Cad) complexes. Localized accumulation of Bazooka (Baz), the Drosophila PAR3 homolog, has emerged as a critical step to specify where new E-Cad complexes should be deposited during junction remodeling. However, the mechanisms controlling the correct localization of Baz are still only partly understood. We show here that Drosophila Magi, the sole fly homolog of the mammalian MAGI scaffolds, is an upstream regulator of E-Cad-based AJs during cell rearrangements, and that Magi mutant IOCs fail to reach their correct position. We uncover a direct physical interaction between Magi and the Ras association domain protein RASSF8 through a WW domain-PPxY motif binding, and show that apical Magi recruits the RASSF8-ASPP complex during AJ remodeling in IOCs. We further show that this Magi complex is required for the cortical recruitment of Baz and of the E-Cad-associated proteins α- and β-catenin. We propose that, by controlling the proper localization of Baz to remodeling junctions, Magi and the RASSF8-ASPP complex promote the recruitment or stabilization of E-Cad complexes at junction sites.
Evolutionarily conserved regulation of hypocretin neuron specification by Lhx9
Authors: Liu Justin , Merkle Florian T. , Gandhi Avni V. , Gagnon James A. , Woods Ian G. , Chiu Cindy N. , Shimogori Tomomi , Schier Alexander F. , Prober David A.
Published: February 2015

Loss of neurons that express the neuropeptide hypocretin (Hcrt) has been implicated in narcolepsy, a debilitating disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. Cell replacement therapy, using Hcrt-expressing neurons generated in vitro, is a potentially useful therapeutic approach, but factors sufficient to specify Hcrt neurons are unknown. Using zebrafish as a high-throughput system to screen for factors that can specify Hcrt neurons in vivo, we identified the LIM homeobox transcription factor Lhx9 as necessary and sufficient to specify Hcrt neurons. We found that Lhx9 can directly induce hcrt expression and we identified two potential Lhx9 binding sites in the zebrafish hcrt promoter. Akin to its function in zebrafish, we found that Lhx9 is sufficient to specify Hcrt-expressing neurons in the developing mouse hypothalamus. Our results elucidate an evolutionarily conserved role for Lhx9 in Hcrt neuron specification that improves our understanding of Hcrt neuron development.
Second-generation Notch1 activity-trap mouse line (N1IP::CreHI) provides a more comprehensive map of cells experiencing Notch1 activity
Authors: Liu Zhenyi , Brunskill Eric , Boyle Scott , Chen Shuang , Turkoz Mustafa , Guo Yuxuan , Grant Rachel , Kopan Raphael
Published: February 2015

We have previously described the creation and analysis of a Notch1 activity-trap mouse line, Notch1 intramembrane proteolysis-Cre6MT or N1IP::CreLO, that marked cells experiencing relatively high levels of Notch1 activation. Here, we report and characterize a second line with improved sensitivity (N1IP::CreHI) to mark cells experiencing lower levels of Notch1 activation. This improvement was achieved by increasing transcript stability and by restoring the native carboxy terminus of Cre, resulting in a five- to tenfold increase in Cre activity. The magnitude of this effect probably impacts Cre activity in strains with carboxy-terminal Ert2 fusion. These two trap lines and the related line N1IP::CreERT2 form a complementary mapping tool kit to identify changes in Notch1 activation patterns in vivo as the consequence of genetic or pharmaceutical intervention, and illustrate the variation in Notch1 signal strength from one tissue to the next and across developmental time.
teashirt is required for head-versus-tail regeneration polarity in planarians
Authors: Owen Jared H. , Wagner Daniel E. , Chen Chun-Chieh , Petersen Christian P. , Reddien Peter W.
Published: February 2015

Regeneration requires that the identities of new cells are properly specified to replace missing tissues. The Wnt signaling pathway serves a central role in specifying posterior cell fates during planarian regeneration. We identified a gene encoding a homolog of the Teashirt family of zinc-finger proteins in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea to be a target of Wnt signaling in intact animals and at posterior-facing wounds. Inhibition of Smed-teashirt (teashirt) by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in the regeneration of heads in place of tails, a phenotype previously observed with RNAi of the Wnt pathway genes β-catenin-1, wnt1, Dvl-1/2 or wntless. teashirt was required for β-catenin-1-dependent activation of posterior genes during regeneration. These findings identify teashirt as a transcriptional target of Wnt signaling required for Wnt-mediated specification of posterior blastemas.
Female-to-male sex reversal in mice caused by transgenic overexpression of Dmrt1
Authors: Zhao Liang , Svingen Terje , Ng Ee Ting , Koopman Peter
Published: February 2015

Genes related to Dmrt1, which encodes a DNA-binding DM domain transcription factor, act as triggers for primary sex determination in a broad range of metazoan species. However, this role is fulfilled in mammals by Sry, a newly evolved gene on the Y chromosome, such that Dmrt1 has become dispensable for primary sex determination and instead maintains Sertoli cell phenotype in postnatal testes. Here, we report that enforced expression of Dmrt1 in XX mouse fetal gonads using a Wt1-BAC transgene system is sufficient to drive testicular differentiation and male secondary sex development. XX transgenic fetal gonads showed typical testicular size and vasculature. Key ovarian markers, including Wnt4 and Foxl2, were repressed. Sertoli cells expressing the hallmark testis-determining gene Sox9 were formed, although they did not assemble into normal testis cords. Other bipotential lineages differentiated into testicular cell types, including steroidogenic fetal Leydig cells and non-meiotic germ cells. As a consequence, male internal and external reproductive organs developed postnatally, with an absence of female reproductive tissues. These results reveal that Dmrt1 has retained its ability to act as the primary testis-determining trigger in mammals, even though this function is no longer normally required. Thus, Dmrt1 provides a common thread in the evolution of sex determination mechanisms in metazoans.
Lectotypification of Leonurus quinquelobatus (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Ardenghi Nicola M.G.
Published: March 2015

The name Leonurus quinquelobatus is discussed and lectotypified using a specimen from the Gilibert Herbarium at KW.
Assistant practitioners: essential support in a climate of austerity
Authors: Matthews David
Published: February 2015

In Britain the last decade has witnessed the growth of the assistant practitioner (AP), a higher-level support worker role situated at band 4 of the NHS career framework, just below registered nurse. Various factors are given for the role's development but little analysis is provided as to the economic reasons for its implementation. With reference to the period since the economic crisis of 2007-08, this article proposes that the AP's implementation and function is influenced by the needs of the economy. With the UK Coalition Government refusing to increase public expenditure as it is thought detrimental to economic growth, emphasising instead the need to reduce public debt, an expansion of registered nurses is unlikely despite growing service user demand. As a result, the AP has become an important economic development in an attempt to maintain standards of nursing care in the present economic climate.
Sex and the older man
Authors: Norton Wendy , Tremayne Penny
Published: February 2015

Sexual health is an important part of an individual's physical and emotional wellbeing. Sexuality and sexual wellbeing are often associated with young people and therefore the needs of the older person can be overlooked. Such discrimination is unjustifiable given that statistics show a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and new diagnoses of HIV in the older man. These worrying trends emphasise the legitimate need for nurses to address sexuality and sexual wellbeing as an essential component of health care.
Lived experience, enhanced recovery and laparoscopic colonic resection
Authors: Fecher-Jones Imogen , Taylor Claire
Published: February 2015

Aim:

To explore patients' lived experience of undergoing laparoscopic colonic resection on an enhanced recovery programme.

Method:

Eleven patients were interviewed at home, between 14 and 16 days following discharge. The transcribed interview texts were interpreted with a hermeneutical-phenomenological method.

Findings:

Participants were keen to achieve their goals and participate actively in the enhanced recovery programme. They strived to return to full health as soon as possible after surgery, but all participants indicated that it was taking longer than they had expected. As they became more independent regarding their self-care needs during their hospital stay, participants noticed that the nursing presence became more distant, which could result in unmet psychological needs. Their recovery at home was perceived to be taking longer than it should and was often prolonged by symptoms. The minimally invasive approach associated with laparoscopic surgery led the participants to expect a lesser physical and psychological effect from this major surgery.

Conclusion:

Nurses need to acknowledge and attend not only to the physical but also to the emotional needs of patients on an enhanced recovery programme, right up until the point of discharge. Nurses also need to prepare patients more fully for what to expect after discharge.
Unlocking the NHS Constitution: recommendations for change
Authors: Tingle John
Published: February 2015

In the final part of his two-part series, John Tingle continues his discussion of a new report from the Patients Association on patient and public awareness of the NHS Constitution
Review of Improving Dental Care: A Call to Action
Authors: Marshall Kathryn
Published: February 2015

In April 2014, a symposium took place to obtain possible strategies for improving the oral health of the nation (England). This article will recap some of the key issues debated, discussing the findings from the event and their relevance to dental nurses
Is xylitol an effective treatment for oral candida infections?
Authors: Payne Jena
Published: February 2015

This article discusses if xylitol can inhibit the growth of Candida infections. The patient involved in this case study has suffered from chronic Candida-associated denture-induced stomatitis; the goal was to see if using xylitol could decrease his discomfort and increase his quality of life
Obstructive sleep apnoea and mandibular appliances
Authors: Johal Ama
Published: February 2015

Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome is a dangerous condition where the upper airways collapse during sleep. This article discusses the aetiology, symptoms and management of the condition
Moving and handling in the dental practice
Authors: Kemp Kerry , Webb Steve , Jevon Phil
Published: February 2015

In the first of four articles relating to moving and handling in the dental practice, the authors discuss the legislative background to moving and handling, as well as risk assessment
The Mental Capacity Act 2005: assessing capacity
Authors: Griffith Richard
Published: February 2015

In this article, Richard Griffith argues that dental care professionals must ensure the proper application of Mental Capacity Act 2005 to avoid paternalistic decision-making that erodes the autonomy and dignity of frail and vulnerable patients
The modern day dental nurse: education and prevention (part 2)
Authors: Hughes Rachel
Published: February 2015

In the second article of a two-part series, Rachel Hughes discusses how dental nurses can take the lead in oral health education and prevention in relation to adults' oral health and those with long-term health conditions
Reflection. Part 1: the importance of reflection
Authors: Fowler John
Published: February 2015

This six-part series will explore and discuss reflection. It will examine some of the techniques that you can use to aid reflection, how it can work in clinical practice, education and management. It will look at portfolios, reflective learning, helping others to reflect, and the importance of reflection in life
The treatment of an unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis by either intracapsular cuneiform osteotomy or pinningin situ
Authors: Walton R. D. M. , Martin E. , Wright D. , Garg N. K. , Perry D. , Bass A. , Bruce C.
Published: March 2015

We undertook a retrospective comparative study of all patients with an unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis presenting to a single centre between 1998 and 2011. There were 45 patients (46 hips; mean age 12.6 years; 9 to 14); 16 hips underwent intracapsular cuneiform osteotomy and 30 underwent pinning in situ, with varying degrees of serendipitous reduction. No patient in the osteotomy group was lost to follow-up, which was undertaken at a mean of 28 months (11 to 48); four patients in the pinning in situ group were lost to follow-up, which occurred at a mean of 30 months (10 to 50). Avascular necrosis (AVN) occurred in four hips (25%) following osteotomy and in 11 (42%) following pinning in situ. AVN was not seen in five hips for which osteotomy was undertaken > 13 days after presentation. AVN occurred in four of ten (40%) hips undergoing emergency pinning in situ, compared with four of 15 (47%) undergoing non-emergency pinning. The rate of AVN was 67% (four of six) in those undergoing pinning on the second or third day after presentation.

Pinning in situ following complete reduction led to AVN in four out of five cases (80%). In comparison, pinning in situ following incomplete reduction led to AVN in 7 of 21 cases (33%). The rate of development of AVN was significantly higher following pinning in situ with complete reduction than following intracapsular osteotomy (p = 0.048). Complete reduction was more frequent in those treated by emergency pinning and was strongly associated with AVN (p = 0.005).

Non-emergency intracapsular osteotomy may have a protective effect on the epiphyseal vasculature and should be undertaken with a delay of at least two weeks. The place of emergency pinning in situ in these patients needs to be re-evaluated, possibly in favour of an emergency open procedure or delayed intracapsular osteotomy. Non-emergency pinning in situ should be undertaken after a delay of at least five days, with the greatest risk at two and three days after presentation. Intracapsular osteotomy should be undertaken after a delay of at least 14 days. In our experience, closed epiphyseal reduction is harmful.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:412–19.
Prevention of graft-tunnel mismatch during anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft
Authors: Boddu C. K. , Arif S. K. , Hussain M. M. , Sankaranarayanan S. , Hameed S. , Sujir P. R.
Published: March 2015

Graft-tunnel mismatch of the bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft is a major concern during anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction if the femoral tunnel is positioned using a far medial portal technique, as the femoral tunnel tends to be shorter compared with that positioned using a transtibial portal technique. This study describes an accurate method of calculating the ideal length of bone plugs of a BPTB graft required to avoid graft–tunnel mismatch during anatomical ACL reconstruction using a far medial portal technique of femoral tunnel positioning.

Based on data obtained intra-operatively from 60 anatomical ACL reconstruction procedures, we calculated the length of bone plugs required in the BPTB graft to avoid graft–tunnel mismatch. When this was prevented in all the 60 cases, we found that the mean length of femoral bone plug that remained in contact with the interference screw within the femoral tunnel was 14 mm (12 to 22) and the mean length of tibial bone plug that remained in contact with the interference screw within the tibial tunnel was 23 mm (18 to 28). These results were used to validate theoretical formulae developed to predict the required length of bone plugs in BPTB graft during anatomical ACL reconstruction using a far medial portal technique.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:324–8.
‘Bringing them with personal interests’: the role of cultural capital in explaining who volunteers
Authors: Harflett Naomi
Published: February 2015

This article seeks to improve explanations for the inequality in participation of formal volunteering by connecting two so far disconnected perspectives on volunteering. While it is well established that volunteering can be a form of leisure, this perspective has not been integrated with the literature which recognises that participation in formal volunteering requires resources or capital. Based on a study of volunteering in the National Trust, the article argues that recognising that volunteering for the National Trust is a form of leisure participation in heritage or the countryside that requires cultural capital is key to explaining the predominantly white, middle-class profile of regular property-based National Trust volunteers. Given that most formal volunteering occurs in sports, exercise, hobby or recreation organisations, recognising that volunteering can be a form of leisure that requires cultural capital can make an important contribution to understanding inequality in participation of formal volunteering.
Hospital theatre: Promoting child well-being in cardiac and cancer wards
Authors: Sextou Persephone , Hall Sharon
Published: March 2015

This article examines the delivery of a theatre initiative with child audiences in a hospital context. It reports on a mixed-method evaluation of a bedside site-specific performance at high-risk wards based in a Children’s Hospital, NHS Trust in England. It acknowledges the circumstances of the children and the conditions of the location, and examines the potential of supporting children during their stay in hospital through entertainment and relaxation. The article discusses the experiences of those who participated in the performance, including children, parents and guardians. It discusses the experience of taking theatre into health care, and the strengths and challenges of using a hospital space as a ‘stage’. It concludes that a synergy between the artist and the child is important to this type of intervention, seeking to provide children with both entertainment and relaxation as an important strategy for their well-being in hospital.
Information on real-structure phenomena in metastable GeTe-rich germanium antimony tellurides (GeTe)nSb2Te3 (n ≥ 3) by semi-quantitative analysis of diffuse X-ray scattering
Authors: Urban Philipp , Schneider Matthias N. , Seemann Marten , Wright Jonathan P. , Oeckler Oliver
Published: March 2015

Quenching cubic high-temperature polymorphs of (GeTe)nSb2Te3 (n ≥ 3) yields metastable phases whose average structures can be approximated by the rocksalt type with 1/(n + 3) cation vacancies per anion. Corresponding diffraction patterns are a superposition of intensities from individual twin domains with trigonal average structure but pseudo-cubic metrics. Their four orientations are mirrored in structured diffuse streaks that interconnect Bragg reflections along the [001] directions of individual disordered trigonal domains. These streaks exhibit a “comet-like” shape with a maximum located at the low-angle side of Bragg positions (“comet head”) accompanied by a diffuse “comet tail”. 2D extended cation defect ordering leads to parallel but not equidistantly spaced planar faults. Based on a stacking fault approach, the diffuse scattering was simulated with parameters that describe the overall metrics, the concentration and distribution of cation defect layers, atom displacements in their vicinity and the stacking sequence of Te atom layers around the planar defects. These parameters were varied in order to derive simple rules for the interpretation of the diffuse scattering. The distance between Bragg positions and “comet heads” increases with the frequency of planar faults. A sharp distance distribution of the planar faults leads to an intensity modulation along the “comet tail” which for low values of n approximates superstructure reflections. The displacement of atom layers towards the planar defects yields “comets” on the low-angle side of Bragg positions. A rocksalt-type average structure is only present if the planar defects correspond to missing cation layers in the “cubic” ABC stacking sequence of the Te atom layers. An increasing amount of hexagonal ABA transitions around the defect layers leads to increasing broadening and splitting of the Bragg reflections which then overlap with the diffuse scattering. Based on these rules, the diffuse scattering of (GeTe)nSb2Te3 (n = 2, 4, 5, 12) crystals was analyzed by comparing simulated and experimental reciprocal space sections as well as selected streaks extracted from synchrotron data. With decreasing n, both the average distance between faults and thus the slab thickness decrease, whereas the probability of hexagonal ABA transitions increases. The quenched metastable phases can be understood as intermediates between the stable high-temperature phases, which exhibit a rocksalt-type structure with randomly disordered cations and vacancies on the cation position, and the trigonal layered structures, which are stable at room temperature and consist of distorted rocksalt-type slabs separated by equidistant defect layers.
Die Absorption der Nukleonenkomponente der kosmischen Strahlung in Luft zwischen Seehöhe und 4000 m
Authors: Teucher M.
Published: March 2015

Durch Beobachtung der Zahl der Kernzertrümmerungen in photographischen Emulsionen wird die Absorption der Nukleonenkomponente der kosmischen Strahlung in Luft zwischen Seehöhe und 3774 m untersucht.
Über die Darstellung des Feldes eines Diracschen magnetischen Singulettpoles durch ein Vektorpotential
Authors: Neugebauer Th.
Published: March 2015

Wenn man mit Dirac annimmt, daß es in der Natur auch magnetische Singulettpole geben kann, so kann deren komplettes magnetisches Feld nur durch ein Vektorpotential beschrieben werden. Die Herleitung geht von dem Vektorpotential einer Stromschleife aus. das mit Hilfe einer Umformung in die Vektorpotentiale von zwei separaten Polen zerlegt wird. Formel (9) gibt dieses Vektorpotential wieder, welches tatsächlich ein coulombartiges Feld einer Punktladung beschreibt, mit dem Unterschiede, daß eine Singularität entlang einer Linie auftritt, die der mathematische Ausdruck des von Dirac angenommenen unbeobachtbaren Fadens (..unobservable string“) ist.
Die Trennung binärer Gemische
Authors: Klemm Alfred
Published: March 2015

Mit Hilfe einer von Majumdar angegebenen Transformation wird die nichtlineare Differentialgleichung der binären Gemische für das am einen Ende geschlossene unendlich lange Trennrohr gelöst. Die Zeitabhängigkeit des Trennfaktors am Trennrohrende wird für verschiedene Mischungsverhältnisse graphisch dargestellt und im Fall der extremen Mischungsverhältnisse 0 und ∞ mit der von Trennrohren endlicher Länge verglichen.
Über den Einbau von Mn-Ionen in NaCl und KCl
Authors: Brauer Peter
Published: March 2015

Die Energie von in NaCl bzw. KCl eingebauten Mn++-Ionen wird gittertheoretisch nach einem früher mitgeteilten Verfahren berechnet mit dem Ergebnis, daß der Einbau von Mn++ in NaCl leichter erfolgen muß als in KCl, und daß Umladung in Mn+ in KCl auszuschließen ist. Die experimentellen Befunde, insbesondere das gegensätzliche Verhalten von Mn++ und Tl+, lassen sich also gittertheoretisch verstehen.
Über neue halbleitende Verbindungen
Authors: Welker H.
Published: March 2015

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Nachbildung der halbleitenden Elemente der vierten Hauptgruppe1 des periodischen Systems (Diamant, Si, Ge, graues Sn) durch bisher nicht als Halbleiter bekannte Verbindungen von Elementen der dritten Hauptgruppe (Al, Ga, In) mit Elementen der fünften Hauptgruppe (P, As, Sb). Infolge der quantenmechanischen Resonanz zwischen homöopolarem und heteropolarem Bindungsanteil lassen sich Voraussagen über die Halbleitereigenschaften dieser Verbindungen machen, die mit den Experimenten in gutem Einklang sind. Es zeigt sich dabei, daß diese Verbindungen in einigen Eigenschaften noch weit über die Elemente der vierten Gruppe hinausgehen. Z. B. werden bei In Sb Elektronenbeweglichkeiten bis zu 25000 cm2/Volt sec gemessen.
Neutronennachweis mit Bortrimethyl und Untersuchung der 10B (n, α) 7Li-Reaktion
Authors: Hauser Ulrich Hermann
Published: March 2015

Das im Vergleich zu Bortrifluorid reaktionsträge Gas Bortrimethyl ist zum Nachweis von thermischen Neutronen besonders geeignet. Es erlaubt die Verwendung von hohen Gasdrucken und bewirkt damit eine hohe Ansprechwahrscheinlichkeit. Die Eigenschaften von Bortrimethyl-Proportionalzählrohren werden beschrieben. Diese zeigen im Verlauf von mehreren Monaten keine Veränderungen.

Mit einem Proportionalzählrohr, das mit einer Argon-Bortrimethyl-Mischung gefüllt war, wurden die Energietönungen der 10B (n, α) 7Li-Reaktion durch einen Impulsanalysator gemessen. Die Meßergebnisse lassen sich nur mit den auf indirektem Weg von L auritsen et al. ermittelten Werten in Übereinstimmung bringen, wenn man eine Abhängigkeit des mittleren Energieverlustes pro Ionenpaar in Argon von der Energie der langsamen α- bzw. Li-Rückstoß-Teilchen annimmt, die von anderen Autoren bestritten wird. Die Energietönungen ergeben sich hiermit zu 2,304 ± 0,025 MeV und 2,781 ± 0,025 MeV. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit für den Übergang in den Grundzustand von 7Li beträgt 5,8 ± 0,1%.
Über günstige Betriebszustände des Elektronenzyklotrons
Authors: Schmelzer Christoph
Published: March 2015

1. An Hand der Resonanzbedingungen für relativistischen Zyklotronbetrieb werden die Verhältnisse diskutiert, unter denen größtmögliche Beschleunigung bei gegebenem Durchmesser des magnetischen Führungsfeldes für beliebige Werte der Resonanzspannung erhalten wird.

2. Graphische Verfahren werden zur Untersuchung der Phasenstabilität der Elektronenbewegung, der energetischen Inhomogenität des Elektronenstrahles und weiterer wichtiger Größen angewendet. Im Maximum findet die Resonanzbeschleunigung während 1/12 der Periode des Beschleunigungsfeldes statt. Die Homogenität des Elektronenstrahles übertrifft die gleichgroßer Linearbeschleuniger beträchtlich. Die Verhältnisse, unter denen ein negativer Innenwiderstand der Elektronenströmung Anlaß zu Instabilitäten geben kann, werden qualitativ diskutiert.

3. Laufzeiteffekte im Beschleunigungsspalt sind unvermeidbar und können zu einer drastischen Verkleinerung des phasenstabilen Bereiches führen. Man kann sie durch richtige Wahl der Betriebsdaten oder mittels besonderer Beschleunigungssysteme unschädlich machen.