bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minority Stress and HERoic Coping Among Ethnoracial Sexual Minority Girls: Intersections of Resilience
Authors: Craig Shelley L. , Austin Ashley , Alessi Edward J. , McInroy Lauren , Keane Gina
Published: June 2016

This study used a focus group methodology to explore the experiences of stress and coping among 40 Hispanic, Caribbean Black, Haitian, and African American cisgender sexual minority girls living in the southeastern United States. An analysis of the data using grounded theory strategies revealed that participants were part of a cultural context in which few boundaries existed between family, religion, and culture, and that they tended to believe that they were betraying family and culture because of their sexual minority identities. Participants described (a) real or perceived transgressions of gender expectations and roles, (b) violating religious doctrine, and (c) emotional exclusion and taunting by family members. In the same context, the theme of HERoic Coping described participants’ resilience that manifested as (a) serving as the family educator, (b) being “out” in the open with family, and (c) creating safety. This study found that the negotiation of complex family, religious, and community environments is critical to understanding resilience in ethnoracial sexual minority girls.
Precision medicine
Authors: Roberts Stephanie , Julius Michael
Published: June 2016

Precision medicine aims to fix what is wrong with today’s healthcare: a lack of targeted interventions tailored to the person. It encompasses many aspects of health; chief among these is one’s genetic profile. Researchers are making progress as gene-sequencing technologies get better and cheaper. Although there is cause for optimism, as several initiatives at Sunnybrook Research Institute show, scientific, systemic, and logistical challenges must be surmounted before advances can be integrated into the clinic. Despite these barriers, precision medicine is the only way forward.
Hydroxyapatite microporous bioceramics as vancomycin reservoir: Antibacterial efficiency and biocompatibility investigation
Authors: Parent Marianne , Magnaudeix Amandine , Delebassée Sylvie , Sarre Elisabeth , Champion Eric , Viana Trecant Marylène , Damia Chantal
Published: June 2016

Abstarct

Infections after bone reconstructive surgery are a real therapeutic and economic issue for the modern health care system. As the pathogen (most often Staphylococcus aureus) is able to develop a biofilm inside the bone, local delivery of antibiotics is of interest since high drug concentrations would be delivered directly at the target place. In this context, this study evaluated a porous hydroxyapatite implant as biocompatible bone substitute and vancomycin-delivery system to prevent post-operative infections. A simple method of impregnation with optimised conditions insured a high antibiotic loading (up to 2.3 ± 0.3 mg/m2), with a complete in vitro release obtained within 1–5 days. Additionally, the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of vancomycin were retained after loading on hydroxyapatite, as demonstrated after challenge with a Staphylococcus aureus strain. Regarding the biocompatibility, a wound healing assay of pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to various concentrations of vancomycin revealed a dose-dependent reduction in cell migration for antibiotic concentrations higher than 1 mg/mL. Meanwhile, cells were able to proliferate normally on vancomycin-loaded scaffolds, although cell initial adhesion was seriously impaired for scaffolds loaded with 2.3 mg/m2. Loaded scaffolds could be stored up to three months at room temperature without any degradation of the antibiotic. Together, these results demonstrate the efficacy of these hydroxyapatite bone substitutes for local delivery of vancomycin in the context of bone infection.
Effects of polymer blend composition on membrane properties and separation performance of PEES/PEI blend membrane
Authors: Saranya R , Beril JS , Mohan D
Published: June 2016

In this work, an attempt has been made for protein rejection from aqueous solution using ultrafiltration blend membrane based on poly(phenylene ether ether sulfone) (PEES) and polyetherimide (PEI) was prepared in various blend compositions. Prepared membranes were characterized in terms of pure water flux, water content, membrane hydraulic resistance, porosity, contact angle, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Studies were carried out to find out the rejection of proteins such as trypsin, pepsin, egg albumin, and bovine serum albumin. The extent of protein separation is directly proportional to molecular weight of protein. Pristine PEES membrane exhibited high-percentage protein rejection of BSA (92.7%), EA (88.2%), pepsin (85.8%), and trypsin (82.2%) compared to PEES/PEI blend membranes. PEES/PEI blend membranes have better hydrophilic property compared to pristine PEES membrane. Pristine PEES has a contact angle of 97.8°, embedded with PEI and reduced to 67.9°. The thermal stability of the membrane was slightly decreased when the percentage of PEI composition into the PEES/PEI blend increased and observed that the pure PEES membrane has superior thermal stability than PEES/PEI blend membranes
Numerical evaluation of implantable hearing devices using a finite element model of human ear considering viscoelastic properties
Authors: Zhang Jing , Tian Jiabin , Ta Na , Huang Xinsheng , Rao Zhushi
Published: June 2016

Finite element method was employed in this study to analyze the change in performance of implantable hearing devices due to the consideration of soft tissues’ viscoelasticity. An integrated finite element model of human ear including the external ear, middle ear and inner ear was first developed via reverse engineering and analyzed by acoustic–structure–fluid coupling. Viscoelastic properties of soft tissues in the middle ear were taken into consideration in this model. The model-derived dynamic responses including middle ear and cochlea functions showed a better agreement with experimental data at high frequencies above 3000 Hz than the Rayleigh-type damping. On this basis, a coupled finite element model consisting of the human ear and a piezoelectric actuator attached to the long process of incus was further constructed. Based on the electromechanical coupling analysis, equivalent sound pressure and power consumption of the actuator corresponding to viscoelasticity and Rayleigh damping were calculated using this model. The analytical results showed that the implant performance of the actuator evaluated using a finite element model considering viscoelastic properties gives a lower output above about 3 kHz than does Rayleigh damping model. Finite element model considering viscoelastic properties was more accurate to numerically evaluate implantable hearing devices.
Book Review: Eswar S. Prasad. 2014. The Dollar Trap: How the US Dollar Tightened Its Grip on Global Finance
Authors: Panda Hrushikesh
Published: June 2016

Eswar S. Prasad. 2014. The Dollar Trap: How the US Dollar Tightened Its Grip on Global Finance. Gurgaon: Penguin, xix + 408 pp. ISBN 9780670087624.
Teratogenicity of Artemether–Clindamycin Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Rats
Authors: Jain Soniya A. , Awale Madhavi , Pathak Sulabha , Vanage Geeta , Patravale Vandana B. , Sharma Shobhona
Published: June 2016

Currently, artemisinin-based combination therapy is considered the best option in the treatment of malaria. However, toxicity of artemisinins limits their use in pregnancy. In the absence of sufficient toxicity data, the World Health Organization recommends that artemisinins are not to be used in the first trimester of pregnancy and can be used only in second and third trimesters, when other treatments are not available. We have recently observed that drugs loaded in nanolipid carriers are selectively taken up in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes with a concomitant reduction in the dose required to cure animals. Thus, 20% of the therapeutic dose of artemether–clindamycin (ARM-CP) loaded in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs; mean particle size 55 ± 10 nm) resulted in complete parasite clearance and 100% survival of infected mice. Here, we investigate the teratogenicity of this formulation in rodents (dosing on alternate days from 6th day to 18th day of gestation; 12-15 animals/group). The teratogenicity of drug-free NLCs and artesunate–clindamycin (ARS-CP) solution was also evaluated. We found that the therapeutic dose of ARS-CP caused fetal resorptions (87.5% resorptions in 8 litters), suggesting its unsuitability for use in pregnancy. Artesunate–clindamycin NLCs at therapeutic doses also resulted in ∼90% fetal resorptions in 10 litters examined. However, postimplantation losses or fetal malformations were not observed at the dose of ARM-CP NLCs that was required for complete parasite clearance in preclinical trials (ie, 20% of the therapeutic dose). Our data suggest that the NLCs loaded with 20% of the therapeutic dose of ARM-CP may have potential in treating malaria during pregnancy.
Thermal sensitivity and relaxation of carbon fibre-foam sandwich composites with fibre optic sensors
Authors: Oromiehie Ebrahim , Rajan Ginu , Prusty Gangadhara B
Published: June 2016

The increasing use of sandwich composites for structural applications brings with it a need to establish a reliable inspection and monitoring method to ensure structural integrity and safe operation throughout the service life. Since optical fibre-based photonic sensing technologies are increasingly common for structural health monitoring of composite structures, selection of optical fibre Bragg grating sensors could be one possible choice for this purpose. In this paper, performance characterisation of sandwich composite with embedded silica fibre Bragg grating sensor is reported. Experimental tests were performed on a carbon fibre foam core sandwich composite embedded with a silica fibre Bragg grating sensor to extract the structural health monitoring parameters such as strain and temperature. The current study found that sandwich composite exhibits foam relaxation; however, its impact on strain measurement is negligible. Another important finding from the theoretical and the experimental thermal modelling was that although the constituent components of the sandwich composite have entirely different thermal expansion coefficients, its effect on the embedded fibre sensor can be minimal if the sensors are embedded between the face sheets. These results can initiate further research in this area and can lead to the development of state-of-the art structural health monitoring techniques for sandwich composite structures.
Infantile accountability: When big data meet small children
Authors: Wrigley Terry , Wormwell Louise
Published: June 2016

This article examines a government attempt to impose testing of 4-year-olds as a baseline against which to ‘hold primary schools accountable’ for children’s subsequent progress. It examines the various forms of baseline testing in this experiment and analyses the misleading claims made for the ‘predictive validity’ of baseline scores. The article also takes a broader look at standardised ways of tracking children’s attainment and progress to the end of primary school and tacit assumptions of linear progress underpinning large-scale data-based accountability processes.
The Cruel Optimism of The Good Wife
Authors: Orgad Shani
Published: June 2016

This article juxtaposes The Good Wife’s ( TGW) representation of Alicia Florrick’s experience as a professional woman and a mother, against interview accounts of middle-class women who left successful careers after having children. I show that TGW furnishes a compelling fantasy based on (1) the valorization of combining motherhood with competitive, long-hours high-powered waged work as the basis for a woman’s value and liberation, and (2) an emphasis on women’s professional performance and satisfaction as depending largely on their individual self-confidence and ability to “lean in,” while marginalizing the impact of structural issues on women’s success and workplace equality. This fantasy fails to correspond to women’s lived experience, but shapes their sense of self in painful ways. The TGW fantasy thus involves a relation of “cruel optimism”: it attracts women to desire it while impeding them from tackling the structural issues that are obstructing realization of their desire.
Dewey versus ‘Dewey’ on democracy and education
Authors: van der Ploeg Piet
Published: June 2016

In the literature on citizenship education, frequent references are made to Dewey. However, educationalists do not always interpret him correctly. To provide some counterbalance, I explain Dewey’s views on education and democracy. I base this, not only on ‘ Democracy and Education’, but also on 17 articles that Dewey wrote after ‘ Democracy and Education’, and on his ‘ Ethics’ and two earlier works, frequently cited by educationalists: ‘ Ethical Principles Underlying Education’ and ‘ School and Society’. According to Dewey, democracy and education are two sides of the same coin. Both involve and foster self-determination, self-development and participating in the common good, enlightened by intelligent understanding and scientific spirit. At the present, it is customary to define democratic citizenship education primarily in terms of social and moral learning, sometimes as though it can be distinguished from academic learning, as something extra besides learning subject matter. When such an approach is attributed to Dewey, as it often is, this is unwarranted.
Unacceptable failure of the PI2® implant
Authors: van Aaken J. , Holzer N. , Wehrli L. , Delaquaize F. , Gonzalez I. A. , Beaulieu J. Y.
Published: June 2016

The PI2® spacer is designed for treatment of trapeziometacarpal (TM) osteoarthritis. However, the shape of this implant has raised concerns about its stability. We retrospectively investigated 45 implants in 41 patients treated for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis in our hospital between 2004 and 2009 who underwent trapeziectomy and insertion of a PI2® spacer. Outcome parameters included revision rates and clinical outcomes correlated with implant position and scaphometacarpal distance, assessed using standard radiographs. A total of 12 implants (27%) were removed at a median time of 10 months (interquartile range (IQR), 7–22 months). These included five dislocations and one early infection. Additionally, a further six patients underwent revision due to persistent pain. Three of these had scapho-trapezoid osteoarthritis, two had developed subluxation of the implant, and one did not show any radiographic abnormalities. A review of patient records revealed that 33 implants remained in place at a median time of 29 months (IQR, 20–57). However, of those, only 21 implants (64%) in 17 patients were available for clinical evaluation at a median follow-up of 29 months (IQR, 19–62 months). No significant differences in clinical outcomes including functional results were observed between in-place ( n = 8) and subluxated ( n = 13) implants. Due to the high revision rate (12/45), consistent with other reports in the literature, we have abandoned the use of the PI2® spacer. We recommend the establishment of a registry for evaluation of future implants.

Type of study/level of evidence: Case-series study/level IV
Prevalence of left atrial abnormalities in atrial fibrillation versus normal sinus patients
Authors: Terpenning Silanath , Ketai Loren H , Teague Shawn D , Rissing Stacy M
Published: June 2016

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be the cause or sequela of left atrial abnormalities and variants.

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of left atrial (LA) abnormalities in AF patients compared to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) patients.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 281 cardiac CT examinations from 2010 to 2012, excluding patients with prior pulmonary vein ablation, known coronary artery disease, prior coronary stent placement, or coronary artery bypass grafts. The first group consisted of 159 AF patients undergoing cardiac CT prior to pulmonary vein ablation and the second group consisted of 122 NSR patients evaluated with coronary CT angiography. Demographic data were collected. LA abnormalities were analyzed. Left atrial diameter was measured on an axial view.

Results

A total of 281 patients were included. The male gender has significantly higher prevalence of AF than female gender, P value <0.001. Patients with AF were significantly older (mean age, 57.4 years; standard deviation [SD], 11.8 years) than NSR patients (mean age, 53.4 years; SD, 13.6 years), P value, 0.01. The left atrial diameter was greater in the AF patients (mean diameter, 4.3 cm; SD, 0.82 cm) versus the NSR patients (3.4 cm; SD, 0.58 cm), P value, <0.0001. LA diverticulum was the most prevalent variant, occurring in 28.4% of the entire patient population followed by LA pouch, occurring in 24%. There was no significant between group differences in the prevalence of these or the remainder of the LA variants.

Conclusion

AF patients differed significantly from NSR patients in LA size, gender, and mean age. There was no statistical significance between the two groups with regard to the LA morphologic abnormalities other than size.
A physical modeling study of seismic features of karst cave reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, China
Authors: Xu Chao , Di Bangrang , Wei Jianxin
Published: June 2016

On seismic migration sections, anomalous bright spots, called the string of beads response (SBR), are common features of carbonate karst reservoirs at the seismic scale in the Tarim Basin, China. To understand the SBR features of different karst caves, which is an important issue for local exploration, we conducted a physical modeling experiment. Within the physical model, we included various single caves with different scales, velocities, shapes, and fluids, as well as multiple caves in different spatial distributions. SBRs of all caves were extracted and summarized from the migration sections. First, we investigated effects of the cave scale, velocity, spatial distribution, shape, and fluids on SBRs. The relative amplitude of SBRs increased with the cave width ranging from 25 to 400 m and decreased with the cave velocity. The SBR split into two new SBRs when the cave height was larger than 100 m. Spatially distributed multiple caves resulted in some special SBRs, such as long SBRs, inclined SBRs, waved SBRs, and chaotic SBRs. The cave shape contribution to SBRs could be neglected in deep strata practically. The relative amplitude of SBRs of caves filled with gas and oil was stronger than those filled with water. Then, we established an interpretation chart of the corresponding relationship between six types of SBRs and their potential caves. Short SBRs were the responses of caves with a height of less than 60 m. Long SBRs corresponded to two kinds of cave units: (1) a single cave with a height between 70 and 100 m and (2) two caves (height less than 60 m) vertically distributed with a small distance (less than 60 m). Chop-shaped SBRs indicated caves with a width of more than 100 m. Inclined SBRs, waved SBRs, and chaotic SBRs corresponded to multiple caves spatially distributed in triangles, rhombuses, and clusters, respectively.
Lower Patient Ratings of Physician Communication Are Associated With Unmet Need for Symptom Management in Patients With Lung and Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Walling Anne M. , Keating Nancy L. , Kahn Katherine L. , Dy Sydney , Mack Jennifer W. , Malin Jennifer , Arora Neeraj K. , Adams John L. , Antonio Anna Liza M. , Tisnado Diana
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

Little is known about factors associated with unmet needs for symptom management in patients with cancer.

Methods:

Patients with a new diagnosis of lung and colorectal cancer from the diverse nationally representative Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance cohort completed a survey approximately 5 months after diagnosis (N = 5,422). We estimated the prevalence of unmet need for symptom management, defined as patients who report that they wanted help for at least one common symptom (pain, fatigue, depression, nausea/vomiting, cough, dyspnea, diarrhea) during the 4 weeks before the survey but did not receive it. We identified patient factors associated with unmet need by using logistic regression with random effects to account for clustering within study sites.

Results:

Overall, 15% (791 of 5,422) of patients had at least one unmet need for symptom management. Adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors, African American race, being uninsured or poor, having early-stage lung cancer, and the presence of moderate to severe symptoms were associated with unmet need (all P < .05). Furthermore, patients who rated their physician’s communication score < 80 (on a 0 to 100 scale) had adjusted rates of an unmet need for symptom management that were more than twice as high as patients who rated their physicians with a perfect communication score (23.1% v 10.0%; P < .001).

Conclusion:

A significant minority of patients with newly diagnosed lung and colorectal cancer report unmet needs for symptom management. Interventions to improve symptom management should consider the importance of physician communication to the patient’s experience of disease.
Assessing Colorectal Cancer Screening Adherence of Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries Age 76 to 95 Years
Authors: Bian John , Bennett Charles , Cooper Gregory , D'Alfonso Alessandra , Fisher Deborah , Lipscomb Joseph , Qian Chao-Nan
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

There are concerns about potential overuse of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening services among average-risk individuals older than age 75 years.

Materials and Methods:

Using a 5% random noncancer sample of Medicare beneficiaries who resided in the SEER areas, we examined rates of CRC screening adherence, defined by the Medicare coverage policy, among average-risk fee-for-service beneficiaries age 76 to 95 years from 2002 to 2010. The two outcomes are the status of overall CRC screening adherence, and the status of adherence to colonoscopy (v other modalities) conditional on patient adherence.

Results:

Overall CRC screening adherence rates of Medicare beneficiaries age 76 to 95 years increased from 13.0% to 21.4% from 2002 to 2010. In 2002, 2.2% of beneficiaries were adherent to colonoscopy, and 10.7%, by other modalities; the corresponding rates were 19.5% and 1.9%, respectively, in 2010. Specifically, rates of adherence to colonoscopy were 1.1% for those age 86 to 90 years and almost nil for those age 91 to 95 years in 2002, but the rates became 13.5% and 8.2%, respectively, in 2010. Compared with white beneficiaries, black beneficiaries age 76 to 95 years had a 7-percentage-point lower adherence rate. However, overall adherence rates among blacks increased by 168.6% from 2002 to 2010, whereas rates among whites increased by 63.0%. Logistic regressions showed that blacks age 86 to 95 years were less likely than whites to be adherent (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.59) but were more likely to be adherent to colonoscopy (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.47 to 3.91).

Conclusion:

High proportions of average-risk Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries screened by colonoscopy may represent opportunities for improving appropriateness and allocative efficiency of CRC screening by Medicare.
Genome wide identification ofTriboliumdorsoventral patterning genes
Authors: Stappert Dominik , Frey Nadine , von Levetzow Cornelia , Roth Siegfried
Published: June 2016

The gene regulatory network controlling dorsoventral axis formation in insects has undergone drastic evolutionary changes. In Drosophila, a stable long-range gradient of Toll signalling specifies ventral cell fates and restricts BMP signalling to the dorsal half of the embryo. In Tribolium, on the other hand, Toll signalling is transient and only indirectly controls BMP signalling. While the Drosophila network is exquisitely understood, much less is known about Tribolium. In order to gain unbiased insights into the Tribolium network we performed comparative transcriptome analyses of embryos with various dorsoventral pattering defects produced by parental RNAi for Toll and BMP signalling components. We also included embryos lacking the mesoderm (produced by Tc-twist RNAi) and characterized similarities and differences between Drosophila and Tribolium twist loss-of-function phenotypes. Using stringent conditions, we identified over 750 differentially expressed genes and analysed a subset with altered expression in more than one knockdown condition. We found new genes with localized expression and showed that conserved genes frequently possess earlier and stronger phenotypes than their Drosophila orthologs. For example, the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein Tartan, which has only a minor influence on nervous system development in Drosophila, is essential for early neurogenesis in Tribolium, and the Tc-zinc-finger homeodomain protein 1 (Tc-zfh1), the ortholog of which plays a minor role in Drosophila muscle development, is essential for maintaining early Tc-twist expression indicating an important function for mesoderm specification.
The Wnt and Delta-Notch signalling pathways interact to direct pair-rule gene expression via caudal during segment addition in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum
Authors: Schönauer Anna , Paese Christian L. B. , Hilbrant Maarten , Leite Daniel J. , Schwager Evelyn E. , Feitosa Natália Martins , Eibner Cornelius , Damen Wim G. M. , McGregor Alistair P.
Published: June 2016

In short germ arthropods, posterior segments are added sequentially from a growth zone or segment addition zone (SAZ) during embryogenesis. Studies in spiders such as the common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, have provided insights into the gene regulatory network (GRN) that underlies the development of the SAZ, and revealed the involvement of two important signalling pathways. It was shown that Wnt8 maintains a pool of undifferentiated cells in the SAZ, but this ligand is also required for dynamic Delta (Dl) expression associated with the formation of new segments. However, it remains unclear how these pathways interact during SAZ formation and subsequently regulate segment addition. Here we show that Delta-Notch signalling is required for Wnt8 expression in posterior SAZ cells, but represses the expression of this Wnt gene in anterior SAZ cells. We also found that these two signalling pathways are required for the expression of the spider orthologues of the segmentation genes even-skipped (eve) and runt-1 (run-1), at least in part via the transcription factor encoded by caudal (cad). Moreover, it appears that dynamic expression of eve in this spider does not require a feedback loop with run-1, as is found in the pair-rule circuit of the beetle Tribolium. Taken together, our results suggest that the development of posterior segments in Parasteatoda is directed by dynamic interactions between Wnt8 and Delta-Notch signalling that are read out by cad, which is necessary but not sufficient to regulate the expression of the pair-rule genes eve and run-1. Our study therefore provides new insights towards better understanding the evolution and developmental regulation of segmentation in other arthropods including insects.
The FaceBase Consortium: A comprehensive resource for craniofacial researchers
Authors: Brinkley James F. , Fisher Shannon , Harris Matthew P. , Holmes Greg , Hooper Joan E. , Jabs Ethylin Wang , Jones Kenneth L. , Kesselman Carl , Klein Ophir D. , Maas Richard L. , Marazita Mary L. , Selleri Licia , Spritz Richard A. , van Bakel Harm , Visel Axel , Williams Trevor J. , Wysocka Joanna ,   the FaceBase Consortium, Chai Yang
Published: June 2016

The FaceBase Consortium, funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, is designed to accelerate understanding of craniofacial developmental biology by generating comprehensive data resources to empower the research community, exploring high-throughput technology, fostering new scientific collaborations among researchers and human/computer interactions, facilitating hypothesis-driven research, and translating science into improved health care to benefit patients. The resources generated by the FaceBase projects include a number of dynamic imaging modalities, genome-wide association studies, software tools for analyzing human facial abnormalities, detailed phenotyping, anatomical and molecular atlases, global and specific gene expression patterns, and transcriptional profiling over the course of embryonic and postnatal development in animal models and humans. The integrated data visualization tools, faceted search infrastructure, and curation provided by the FaceBase Hub offer flexible and intuitive ways to interact with these multidisciplinary data. In parallel, the datasets also offer unique opportunities for new collaborations and training for researchers coming into the field of craniofacial studies. Here we highlight the focus of each spoke project and the integration of datasets contributed by the spokes to facilitate craniofacial research.
Mechanical stress mediated by both endosperm softening and embryo growth underlies endosperm elimination in Arabidopsis seeds
Authors: Fourquin Chloé , Beauzamy Léna , Chamot Sophy , Creff Audrey , Goodrich Justin , Boudaoud Arezki , Ingram Gwyneth
Published: June 2016

Seed development in angiosperms demands the tightly co-ordinated development of three genetically distinct structures. The embryo is surrounded by the endosperm, which is in turn enclosed within the maternally derived seed coat. In Arabidopsis final seed size is determined by early expansion of the coenocytic endosperm, which then cellularizes and subsequently undergoes developmental Programmed Cell Death, breaking down as the embryo grows. Endosperm breakdown requires the endosperm-specific basic Helix Loop Helix transcription factor ZHOUPI. However, to date the mechanism underlying the Arabidopsis endosperm breakdown process has not been elucidated. Here we provide evidence that ZHOUPI does not induce the developmental Programmed Cell Death of the endosperm directly. Instead ZHOUPI indirectly triggers cell death by regulating the expression of cell wall modifying enzymes, thus altering the physical properties of the endosperm to condition a mechanical environment permitting the compression of the cellularized endosperm by the developing embryo.
Magnetic Field Effects on Silica Gel Evolution from Aqueous Silicate Solutions
Authors: Sasahara Shigeo , Kaida Keiichiro , Ozeki Sumio
Published: June 2016

Magnetic field effects on silica gel formation from aqueous silicate solutions were examined by 29Si NMR, viscosity, and N2 adsorption measurements. 29Si NMR spectra were analyzed by the multivariate curve resolution to give three principal spectra, which may correspond to oligomeric species, polymeric species, and microgels. A 6 T magnetic field promoted the formation of polymeric species and the transformation of polymeric species to microgels. In addition, the magnetic field reduced the viscosity of the silicate solutions, suggesting depression of particle growth and interactions among silanol groups on particles under magnetic fields. Such magnetic field effects may relate to magnetic orientation and hydration of polymeric species and microgels.
Challenges in implementing the 2015 BASHH guidelines for the appropriate use of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV following sexual exposure
Authors: Khattak Mohammad Fawad
Published: June 2016

The use of post exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) following sexual exposure (PEPSE) was retrospectively audited in an inner city genitourinary clinic against the 2015 national guidelines by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). One-hundred out of a total of 101 patients (99%) had a baseline HIV test done. 82.1% (n=83) of patients were given PEPSE prescriptions fitting within recommended indications lower than the 90% target set by BASHH. 84.2% (n=85) of patients had PEPSE administered within 72 hours lower than the 90%. 61.4% (n=62) of patients were known to have completed four weeks of PEPSE lower than the 75% target. 61.4% (n=62) of patients were screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) lower than the 90% target. 59.4% (n=60%) of patients had post-PEPSE HIV bloods slightly lower than the 60% target.
The application of computer assisted technologies (CAT) in the rehabilitation of cognitive functions in psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence
Authors: Srebnicki Tomasz , Bryńska Anita
Published: June 2016

Próby stosowania komputerowych technologii wspomagających (Computer-Assisted Technologies- CAT) w rehabilitacji deficytów poznawczych, w tym występujących w zaburzeniach psychicznych wieku rozwojowego w tym zaburzeniach ze spektrum autyzmu, zespole nadpobudliwości psychoruchowej, specyficznych zaburzeniach rozwoju umiejętności szkolnych czy upośledzenia umysłowego , sięgają początku lat osiemdziesiątych XX wieku. Doskonalenie technologii informatycznych,rozwój mechatroniki, robotyki, coraz szersze rozpowszechnienie Internetu a także szeroki dostęp i tani dostęp do urządzeń elektronicznych przyczyniło się do dynamicznego rozwoju, zarówno w zakresie tworzonego oprogramowania terapeutycznego, jak i różnorodnych urządzeń wspomagających funkcjonowanie. Celem oddziaływań prowadzonych przy użyciu powyższych metod jest, z jednej strony zmiana w zakresie deficytowych funkcji poprzez ich ukierunkowaną stymulację ale również poprawa komfortu i jakości życia. Celem pracy jest omówienie rodzaju niektórych rodzajów interwencji wspomaganych komputerowo, najczęściej stosowanych w terapii dzieci i młodzieży z deficytami funkcji poznawczych, przegląd badań dotyczących oceny ich skuteczności a także zwrócenie uwagi na możliwe trudności i ograniczenia związane z wdrażaniem tego rodzaju oddziaływań.
Jewish Questions in The Three Ladies of London
Authors: Hirsch Brett D.
Published: June 2016

In the history of portraying Jews on the early modern stage, critics frequently cite Robert Wilson’s The Three Ladies of London as an anomaly. The play’s first modern editor, H.S.D. Mithal, went so far as to describe Gerontus as ‘a character sui generis’, quite unlike Marlowe’s porridge-poisoning Machiavel, Shakespeare’s knife-whetting usurer, and the devilish doctor in Selimus. This essay explores the questions raised by Wilson’s portrayal of Gerontus, paying particular attention to their critical and theatrical implications. What was understood by the term ‘Jew’ and how might Elizabethan audiences have recognized Gerontus as a Jew? Is the play really an anomaly of early modern theatre history?
Thomas L. Berger and Sonia Massai (eds), with Tania Demetriou. Paratexts in English Printed Drama to 1642. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp xx, 614 (vol. 1); x, 430 (vol. 2).
Authors: Smith Helen
Published: June 2016

This review considers Thomas L. Berger and Sonia Massai (eds), with Tania Demetriou. Paratexts in English Printed Drama to 1642. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp xx, 614 (vol. 1); x, 430 (vol. 2).
Managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the nurse's role
Authors: Gray Toni
Published: June 2016

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide affecting a vast amount of the population within the UK. COPD has an enormous impact on the lives of both individuals and their families. While smoking remains the biggest factor of COPD, other factors are enhancing, such as occupational factors ( Barnett, 2007 ).

This paper discusses the key role of the nurse in the management of COPD, with the emphasis on health education, smoking cessation, brief interventions, medication compliance and pulmonary rehabilitation.

The management of associated anxiety and depression and palliative care are further discussed, with recommendations made based on a review of the literature.
Care Certificate Standard 15: infection prevention and control
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: June 2016

Standard 15 is the final standard of the Care Standards Certificate and concerns the prevention and control of infection.

The healthcare assistant and assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) are key care providers in a variety of health and social care settings. Because of this, it is essential that you have an understanding of the key issues surrounding infection prevention and control, with the important aim of providing safe and effective care.

This article discusses the key issues that can help ensure that those people you provide care to, or offer support to, as well as those you work with, are safe.
Safe handling and administration of MABS: the guidance
Authors: McGowan Donna
Published: June 2016

While monoclonal antibodies (MABs) are not as hazardous as cytotoxic drugs, there is concern among health professionals about the potential risks and the limited evidence about this. Guidance on the safe use of MABs is mainly to be found in national documents covering all systemic anti-cancer therapies, with the only consensus guidelines specifically on MABs coming from Australia. This article therefore summarises the existing guidance relating to MABs
The urgent need to improve patient complaint handling in the NHS
Authors: Tingle John
Published: June 2016

In part one of a two-part column John Tingle discusses a report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman into the quality of NHS complaints investigations where serious or avoidable harm has been alleged
C is for the Circulatory system…
Authors: Hammond Paula , Lillie Stephen
Published: June 2016

This month, we continue our series that takes the form of an extended alphabetical adventure around the body, helping children to get to know themselves a little better.
Latest developments
Authors: Brady Chris
Published: June 2016

Send your letters, news stories or latest developments to: The Editor, Child Care, St Jude's Church, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 0PB email: childcare@markallengroup.com
Changing our support
Authors: Webb Penny
Published: June 2016

The traditional support networks for childminders have slowly been eroded by government policy, but while this might leave us feeling unloved, it might just offer fresh opportunities.
Ewma Study Recommendations: For Clinical Investigations in Leg Ulcers and Wound Care
Authors: Price Patricia , Gottrup Finn , Abel Martin
Published: June 2016

In 2010, the EWMA Patient Outcome Group (POG) published recommendations to improve the quality of evidence in wound management. 1 As a companion piece of work, the EWMA POG has worked to provide a series of user-friendly documents to assist those new to (or inexperienced in) research, in starting on the path to plan, conduct, interpret and disseminate findings from an investigation that will improve our understanding of clinical wound healing and raise the evidence level of the work undertaken in this important area. Given the range of wound types that clinicians are involved with, the POG has decided to limit the first of these to venous leg ulcers. In addition, as a European association, the focus will be on EU regulations and directives.
Recommendations for the management of biofilm: a consensus document
Authors: Bianchi T. , Wolcott R.D. , Peghetti A. , Leaper D. , Cutting K. , Polignano R. , Rosa Rita Z. , Moscatelli A. , Greco A. , Romanelli M. , Pancani S. , Bellingeri A. , Ruggeri V. , Postacchini L. , Tedesco S. , Manfredi L. , Camerlingo Maria , Rowan S. , Gabrielli A. , Pomponio G.
Published: June 2016

The potential impact of biofilm on healing in acute and chronic wounds is one of the most controversial current issues in wound care. A significant amount of laboratory-based research has been carried out on this topic, however, in 2013 the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) pointed out the lack of guidance for managing biofilms in clinical practice and solicited the need for guidelines and further clinical research.

In response to this challenge, the Italian Nursing Wound Healing Society (AISLeC) initiated a project which aimed to achieve consensus among a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional international panel of experts to identify what could be considered part of ‘good clinical practice’ with respect to the recognition and management of biofilms in acute and chronic wounds. The group followed a systematic approach, developed by the GRADE working group, to define relevant questions and clinical recommendations raised in clinical practice.

An independent librarian retrieved and screened approximately 2000 pertinent published papers to produce tables of levels of evidence. After a smaller focus group had a multistep structured discussion, and a formal voting process had been completed, ten therapeutic interventions were identified as being strongly recommendable for clinical practice, while another four recommendations were graded as being ‘weak’.

The panel subsequently formulated a preliminary statement (although with a weak grade of agreement): ‘provided that other causes that prevent optimal wound healing have been ruled out, chronic wounds are chronically infected’. All members of the panel agreed that there is a paucity of reliable, well-conducted clinical trials which have produced clear evidence related to the effects of biofilm presence. In the meantime it was agreed that expert-based guidelines were needed to be developed for the recognition and management of biofilms in wounds and for the best design of future clinical trials. This is a fundamental and urgent task for both laboratory-based scientists and clinicians

Declaration of interest:

David Leaper was a paid lecturer/consultant advisor within the last two years for Johnson and Johnson, CareFusion and Pfizer. Andrea Bellingeri, consultant advisor in the last two years for Coloplast, Angelini. Keith Cutting: has received honoraria as a member of speakers bureaus and advisory boards and received travel and accommodation expenses from a number of wound products companies. All the other authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Compression, collagen and bacteria-binding: different approaches for wound management
Authors: Fronzo C.
Published: June 2016

In May 2016, BSN medical hosted three clinical symposia at the EWMA conference in Bremen, Germany. These introduced the challenges of managing wounds in patients with CVD, the potential of collagen-based products to stimulate wound healing, and the combination of bacteria-binding dressings with NPWT. Camila Fronzo, JWC chief sub editor, was there to summarise the main points of each session.
Management of Patients With Venous Leg Ulcers: Challenges and Current Best Practice
Authors: Franks Peter J , Barker Judith , Collier Mark , Gethin Georgina , Haesler Emily , Jawien Arkadiusz , Laeuchli Severin , Mosti Giovanni , Probst Sebastian , Weller Carolina
Published: June 2016

Introduction

It is well documented that the prevalence of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) is increasing, coinciding with an ageing population. Accurate global prevalence of VLUs is difficult to estimate due to the range of methodologies used in studies and accuracy of reporting. 1 Venous ulceration is the most common type of leg ulceration and a significant clinical problem, affecting approximately 1% of the population and 3% of people over 80 years of age 2 in westernised countries. Moreover, the global prevalence of VLUs is predicted to escalate dramatically, as people are living longer, often with multiple comorbidities. Recent figures on the prevalence of VLUs are based on a small number of studies, conducted in Western countries, and the evidence is weak. However, it is estimated that 93% of VLUs will heal in 12 months, and 7% remain unhealed after five years. 3 Furthermore, the recurrence rate within 3 months after wound closure is as high as 70%. 4 -6 Thus, cost-effective adjunct evidence-based treatment strategies and services are needed to help prevent these ulcers, facilitate healing when they occur and prevent recurrence. The impact of a VLU represents social, personal, financial and psychological costs on the individual and further economic drain on the health-care system. This brings the challenge of providing a standardised leg ulcer service which delivers evidence-based treatment for the patient and their ulcer. It is recognised there are variations in practice and barriers preventing the implementation of best practice. There are patients not receiving appropriate and timely treatment in the initial development of VLUs, effective management of their VLU and preventing recurrence once the VLU has healed. Health-care professionals (HCPs) and organisations must have confidence in the development process of clinical practice guidelines and have ownership of these guidelines to ensure those of the highest quality guide their practice. These systematic judgments can assist in policy development, and decision making, improve communication, reduce errors and improve patient outcomes. There is an abundance of studies and guidelines that are available and regularly updated, however, there is still variation in the quality of the services offered to patients with a VLU. There are also variations in the evidence and some recommendations contradict each other, which can cause confusion and be a barrier to implementation. 7 The difference in health-care organisational structures, management support and the responsibility of VLU management can vary in different countries, often causing confusion and a barrier to seeking treatment. These factors further complicate the guideline implementation process, which is generally known to be a challenge with many diseases. 8
What constitutes good evidence? A brief guide for the nurse prescriber
Authors: Hilton Andrea
Published: June 2016

This article explores the steps that nurse prescribers should follow to practise evidence-based medicine. The use of good evidence, and what constitutes good evidence is highlighted, and key terms used in the research literature, such as ‘systematic review’, ‘randomised controlled trial’ and ‘cohort study’, are defined. Nurses should be able to critically appraise literature, and this article highlights the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, and the tools that research teams should follow to ensure they are producing the best evidence, which prescribers could also use to evaluate the reliability of evidence and its relevance to practice. This article also highlights potential facilitators and barriers to the implementation of evidence in practice, and concludes with tools to assess inappropriate prescribing.
How to … develop effective catheter care for older people
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: June 2016

Adrian Ashurst discusses the importance of maintaining effective catheter care in a residential setting, from the initial assessment and insertion, through to the catheter maintenance necessary for proper patient care
Dementia and religion: running a dementia-friendly service
Authors: Hirst Katy
Published: June 2016

People with dementia having as much capacity as anyone else to have an active faith in God. Katy Hirst provides an insight into ways that you can make your religious services more inclusive and dementia-friendly
Implementing the Care Certificate Standard 13
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: June 2016

The Care Certificate Standard 13 from The Care Certificate Workbook covers health and safety for anyone who works in a care setting. Adrian Ashurst takes a whistlestop tour of the key points you need to know about to meet your ‘duty of care’ to residents and others