bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizational social context in primary health care
Authors: Galdikiene Nijole , Asikainen Paula , Rostila Ilmari , Green Philip , Balciunas Sigitas , Suominen Tarja
Published: February 2016

The recognition and assessment of organizational social context (culture, climate and morale) is particularly valuable in primary health care. Both culture and climate have been shown to be associated with work morale and to predict job satisfaction, organizational commitment and voluntary turnover of employees in nursing. This study aims to describe the social contexts of primary health care centers from the viewpoint of health care professionals. A descriptive study using an organizational social context instrument for data collection was undertaken. From 29 teams in 18 public primary care centers of one Lithuanian county, 344 health care professionals participated. The results of the study show that different organizational cultures, climates and levels of morale existed in primary health care centers, at both team and organizational levels. The differences between teams were significant in terms of culture rigidity and resistance. Climate differences were found at both team and organization levels in regard to stress and functionality. A variance of about 7% in work morale was seen in teams and organizations. Managers should recognize the different kinds of social contexts in which teams work, in order to enable them to co-work efficiently in evidence-based primary care settings.
Predictors of Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Among Young Adult Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Users
Authors: Leslie Ellen M. , Smirnov Andrew , Cherney Adrian , Wells Helene , Kemp Robert , Legosz Margot , Najman Jake M.
Published: February 2016

Background: Very high levels of alcohol consumption have been observed in young adult amphetamine-type stimulant (i.e., ecstasy and methamphetamine) users. The reasons for this association are poorly understood. Objective: To examine predictors of hazardous alcohol consumption in a sample of young adult amphetamine-type stimulant users after 30 months of follow-up, controlling for potential confounders. Method: Analysis of longitudinal data from a population-derived sample of Australian young adult amphetamine-type stimulant users ( n = 292). A prediction model of alcohol use at 30 months was developed using generalized linear latent and mixed modeling (GLLAMM). Results: Concurrently using ecstasy (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.67, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = [1.41, 5.07]), frequently attending nightclubs (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI = [1.04, 6.16]), high baseline alcohol use patterns (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI = [1.32, 3.20]), and being male (AOR = 3.60, 95% CI = [1.48, 8.78]) were associated with an increased likelihood of hazardous alcohol use at 30 months. Conclusion: Concurrent, but not baseline, ecstasy use was associated with hazardous alcohol use, suggesting that combined use of these substances may have an instrumental role in terms of the social functions of drug use (e.g., increasing capacity to drink). Integration of educational interventions concerning alcohol and stimulants is warranted.
Striatal Dopamine, Externalizing Proneness, and Substance Abuse
Authors: Byrne Kaileigh A. , Patrick Christopher J. , Worthy Darrell A.
Published: February 2016

We examined whether striatal dopamine moderates the impact of externalizing proneness (disinhibition) on reward-based decision making. Participants completed disinhibition and substance abuse subscales of the brief form Externalizing Spectrum Inventory and then performed a delay discounting task to assess preference for immediate rewards along with a dynamic decision making task that assessed long-term reward learning (i.e., inclination to choose larger delayed versus smaller immediate rewards). Striatal tonic dopamine levels were operationalized using spontaneous eyeblink rate. Regression analyses revealed that high disinhibition predicted greater delay discounting among participants with lower levels of striatal dopamine only, whereas substance abuse was associated with poorer long-term learning among individuals with lower levels of striatal dopamine, but better long-term learning in those with higher levels of striatal dopamine. These results suggest that disinhibition is more strongly associated with the wanting component of reward-based decision making, whereas substance abuse behavior is associated more with learning of long-term action-reward contingencies.
Colonized Curriculum
Authors: Weiner Melissa F.
Published: February 2016

Although U.S. scholars have long documented the stereotypical appearance of Africa in textbooks, scant research does so in the Netherlands. The Dutch, internationally recognized for generous aid, contributed to Africa’s historical underdevelopment by kidnapping, trading, and enslaving Africans. In this study, the author uses content and discourse analysis to examine how Africa, African independence, and European, particularly Dutch, aid organizations operating in Africa are represented in all Dutch primary school history textbooks published since 1980. A Eurocentric neocolonial master narrative homogenizes and essentializes Africa as a poor, primitive, and violent continent; discursively denies Dutch historical responsibility for African underdevelopment; excludes African nationalist efforts; and depicts the Dutch engaging in benevolent aid efforts toward African nations and peoples unable to help themselves. These textbooks, in constructing and perpetuating racialized conceptions of Africa and African peoples, constitute a continued legacy of colonialist conceptions that justify neoliberal intervention and exploitation. Given the denial of race and racism among both academics and the general populations in the Netherlands, these findings have critical implications for contemporary conceptions of Africa, Africans, and Afro-Dutch people living in the Netherlands today.
Validation of Cefazolin as Initial Antibiotic for First Upper Urinary Tract Infection in Children
Authors: Abe Yoshifusa , Wakabayashi Hitomi , Ogawa Yasuha , Machida Ayano , Endo Mio , Tamai Tetsuro , Sakurai Shunsuke , Hibino Satoshi , Mikawa Takeshi , Watanabe Yoshitaka , Ugajin Kazuhisa , Fukuchi Kunihiko , Itabashi Kazuo
Published: February 2016

To validate the policy of administering cefazolin (CEZ) as a first-line antibiotic to children who are hospitalized with their first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI), we evaluated microbial susceptibility to CEZ and the efficacy of CEZ. The 75 enrolled children with febrile UTI were initially treated with CEZ. Switching CEZ was not required in 84% of the patients. The median fever duration, prevalence of bacteremia, prevalence of UTI caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli, and median duration of hospitalization were significantly higher in the CEZ-ineffective group. The risks of vesicoureteral reflux, indication of operation, and renal scarring are not increased, even when CEZ is ineffective as a first-line antibiotic. CEZ is effective in more than 80% of pediatric patients with their first febrile UTI, but it should be switched to appropriate antibiotics considering sepsis or the ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae pathogen, when fever does not improve within 72 hours.
A multi-methodological study of the (K,Ca)-variety of the zeolite merlinoite
Authors: Gatta G. Diego , Rotiroti Nicola , Bersani Danilo , Bellatreccia Fabio , Ventura Giancarlo Della , Rizzato Silvia
Published: February 2016

A multi-methodological study of the (K,Ca)-variety of the zeolite merlinoite from Fosso Attici, Sacrofano, Italy was carried out on the basis of electron microprobe analysis in wavelength dispersive mode, singlecrystal X-ray diffraction (at 100 K), Raman and infrared spectroscopy. Thechemical formula of the merlinoite from Fosso Attici is (Na0.37K5.69)Σ=6.06(Mg0.01Ca1.93Ba0.40)Σ=2.34(Fe0.023+Al10.55Si21.38)Σ=31.9O64·19.6H2O,compatible with the ideal chemical formula K6Ca2[Al10Si22O64]·20H2O.

Anisotropic structure refinements confirmed the symmetry and the framework model previously reported (space group Immm, a = 14.066(5),b = 14.111(5), c = 9.943(3) Å at 100 K). Refinement converged with four cationic sites and six H2O sites; refined bond distances of the framework tetrahedra suggest a highly disordered Si/Al-distribution. The Raman spectrum of merlinoite (collected between 100and 4000 cm–1) is dominated by a doublet of bands between 496–422 cm–1, assigned to tetrahedral T–O–T symmetric bending modes. T–O–T antisymmetric stretching is also observed; stretching and bending modes of the H2Omolecules are only clearly visible when using a blue laser. The single-crystal near-infrared spectrum shows a very weak band at 6823 cm–1, assigned to the first overtone of the O–H stretching mode, and a band at 5209 cm–1, due to the combination of H2Ostretching and bending modes. Avery broad and convoluted absorption, extending from 3700 to 3000 cm–1 occurs in the H2O stretching region, while the ν2 bending mode of H2O is found at 1649 cm–1. The powder mid-infraredspectrum of merlinoite between 400–1300 cm–1 is dominated by tetrahedral T–O–T symmetric and antisymmetric stretches. Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of merlinoite and phillipsite provide a quick identification tool for these zeolites,which are often confused due to their close similarity.
Electronic and chemical structures of pyrite and arsenopyrite
Authors: Li Yu-Qiong , He Qian , Chen Jian-Hua , Zhao Cui-Hua
Published: February 2016

The first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential method is used to study the electronic and chemical structures of pyrite (FeS2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS). The results indicate that an antibonding interaction occurs between Fe and As atoms in arsenopyrite. This interaction results in the Fe atom being repelled towards the S atom to stabilize antibonding orbitals, causing a larger S–Fe–S angle in arsenopyrite than in pyrite and a distortion in the arsenopyrite structure. In arsenopyrite, Fe–Fe distances are alternately long and short. The low spin density of the Fedelectrons supports this configuration in arsenopyrite. However, electron density calculations indicate that there is negligible electron density present between Fe atoms. This result indicates that cation-anion interactions are dominant in arsenopyrite. The pyrite Fe 3dorbital is split below the Fermi level, whereas the arsenopyrite Fe 3dorbital is not split, which can be attributed to the stronger interatomic bonding effects between Fe and S atoms in pyrite compared to arsenopyrite. It is found that thed-porbital interactions between Fe and S atoms lead to bonding-antibonding splitting in both pyrite and arsenopyrite. However, the bonding effects between pyrite Fe and S atoms are stronger than in arsenopyrite. In arsenopyrite, the bonding interaction between the As 4pand Fe 3dorbitals is very weak, while the antibonding effect is very strong. Thep-porbital interaction is the dominant effect in As–S bonding. Frontier orbital calculations indicate that the Fermi levels of pyrite and arsenopyrite are notably close to each other, resulting in similar electrochemical activities. Orbital coefficient results show that the pyrite Fe 3dand S 3porbitals are the active orbitals in the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), respectively. In the case of arsenopyrite, Fe 3dorbitals are very active in both the HOMO and LUMO. Moreover, the activity of the As 4pin the HOMO is greater than S 3p, whereas the opposite situation occurs in the LUMO. Based on these results, As atoms could be one of the active sites for the oxidation of arsenopyrite. In addition, separation of arsenopyrite and pyrite could be achieved by utilizing the difference in chemical reactivities of iron in the two minerals.
Netter: re-ranking gene network inference predictions using structural network properties
Authors: Ruyssinck Joeri , Demeester Piet , Dhaene Tom , Saeys Yvan
Published: February 2016

Background

Many algorithms have been developed to infer the topology of gene regulatory networks from gene expression data. These methods typically produce a ranking of links between genes with associated confidence scores, after which a certain threshold is chosen to produce the inferred topology. However, the structural properties of the predicted network do not resemble those typical for a gene regulatory network, as most algorithms only take into account connections found in the data and do not include known graph properties in their inference process. This lowers the prediction accuracy of these methods, limiting their usability in practice.

Results

We propose a post-processing algorithm which is applicable to any confidence ranking of regulatory interactions obtained from a network inference method which can use, inter alia, graphlets and several graph-invariant properties to re-rank the links into a more accurate prediction. To demonstrate the potential of our approach, we re-rank predictions of six different state-of-the-art algorithms using three simple network properties as optimization criteria and show that Netter can improve the predictions made on both artificially generated data as well as the DREAM4 and DREAM5 benchmarks. Additionally, the DREAM5 E.coli. community prediction inferred from real expression data is further improved. Furthermore, Netter compares favorably to other post-processing algorithms and is not restricted to correlation-like predictions. Lastly, we demonstrate that the performance increase is robust for a wide range of parameter settings. Netter is available at http://bioinformatics.intec.ugent.be.

Conclusions

Network inference from high-throughput data is a long-standing challenge. In this work, we present Netter, which can further refine network predictions based on a set of user-defined graph properties. Netter is a flexible system which can be applied in unison with any method producing a ranking from omics data. It can be tailored to specific prior knowledge by expert users but can also be applied in general uses cases. Concluding, we believe that Netter is an interesting second step in the network inference process to further increase the quality of prediction.
Analysing multiple types of molecular profiles simultaneously: connecting the needles in the haystack
Authors: X. Menezes Renée , Mohammadi Leila , J. Goeman Jelle , M. Boer Judith
Published: February 2016

Background

It has been shown that a random-effects framework can be used to test the association between a gene’s expression level and the number of DNA copies of a set of genes. This gene-set modelling framework was later applied to find associations between mRNA expression and microRNA expression, by defining the gene sets using target prediction information.

Methods and results

Here, we extend the model introduced by Menezes et al. 2009 to consider the effect of not just copy number, but also of other molecular profiles such as methylation changes and loss-of-heterozigosity (LOH), on gene expression levels. We will consider again sets of measurements, to improve robustness of results and increase the power to find associations. Our approach can be used genome-wide to find associations and yields a test to help separate true associations from noise.

We apply our method to colon and to breast cancer samples, for which genome-wide copy number, methylation and gene expression profiles are available. Our findings include interesting gene expression-regulating mechanisms, which may involve only one of copy number or methylation, or both for the same samples. We even are able to find effects due to different molecular mechanisms in different samples.

Conclusions

Our method can equally well be applied to cases where other types of molecular (high-dimensional) data are collected, such as LOH, SNP genotype and microRNA expression data. Computationally efficient, it represents a flexible and powerful tool to study associations between high-dimensional datasets. The method is freely available via the SIM BioConductor package.
ksRepo: a generalized platform for computational drug repositioning
Authors: Brown Adam S. , Kong Sek Won , Kohane Isaac S. , Patel Chirag J.
Published: February 2016

Background

Repositioning approved drug and small molecules in novel therapeutic areas is of key interest to the pharmaceutical industry. A number of promising computational techniques have been developed to aid in repositioning, however, the majority of available methodologies require highly specific data inputs that preclude the use of many datasets and databases. There is a clear unmet need for a generalized methodology that enables the integration of multiple types of both gene expression data and database schema.

Results

ksRepo eliminates the need for a single microarray platform as input and allows for the use of a variety of drug and chemical exposure databases. We tested ksRepo’s performance on a set of five prostate cancer datasets using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) as our database of gene-compound interactions. ksRepo successfully predicted significance for five frontline prostate cancer therapies, representing a significant enrichment from over 7000 CTD compounds, and achieved specificity similar to other repositioning methods.

Conclusions

We present ksRepo, which enables investigators to use any data inputs for computational drug repositioning. ksRepo is implemented in a series of four functions in the R statistical environment under a BSD3 license. Source code is freely available athttp://github.com/adam-sam-brown/ksRepo. A vignette is provided to aid users in performing ksRepo analysis.
LowMACA: exploiting protein family analysis for the identification of rare driver mutations in cancer
Authors: Melloni Giorgio E. M. , de Pretis Stefano , Riva Laura , Pelizzola Mattia , Céol Arnaud , Costanza Jole , Müller Heiko , Zammataro Luca
Published: February 2016

Background

The increasing availability of resequencing data has led to a better understanding of the most important genes in cancer development. Nevertheless, the mutational landscape of many tumor types is heterogeneous and encompasses a long tail of potential driver genes that are systematically excluded by currently available methods due to the low frequency of their mutations. We developed LowMACA (Low frequency Mutations Analysis via Consensus Alignment), a method that combines the mutations of various proteins sharing the same functional domains to identify conserved residues that harbor clustered mutations in multiple sequence alignments. LowMACA is designed to visualize and statistically assess potential driver genes through the identification of their mutational hotspots.

Results

We analyzed the Ras superfamily exploiting the known driver mutations of the trioK-N-HRAS,identifying new putative driver mutations and genes belonging to less known members of the Rho, Rab and Rheb subfamilies. Furthermore, we applied the same concept to a list of known and candidate driver genes, and observed that low confidence genes show similar patterns of mutation compared to high confidence genes of the same protein family.

Conclusions

LowMACA is a software for the identification of gain-of-function mutations in putative oncogenic families, increasing the amount of information on functional domains and their possible role in cancer. In this context LowMACA emphasizes the role of genes mutated at low frequency otherwise undetectable by classical single gene analysis.

LowMACA is an R package available athttp://www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/LowMACA.html. It is also available as a GUI standalone downloadable at:https://cgsb.genomics.iit.it/wiki/projects/LowMACA
Candidate gene analysis in a case of congenital absence of the endometrium
Authors: Simavli Serap , Abreu Ana Paula , Kwaan Mary R. , Dluhy Robert G. , Yanushpolsky Elena H. , Feltmate Colleen , Cerda Sandra R. , Carroll Rona S. , Kaiser Ursula B. , Kuohung Wendy
Published: February 2016

Background

Primary amenorrhea usually result from a genetic or anatomic abnormality. We present the first reported patient with the absence of endometrium and lumen in a small bicornuate uterus in a patient with primary amenorrhea.

Case presentation

A 41-year-old woman presented for evaluation of primary amenorrhea and infertility. She did develop normal secondary sexual characteristics but never had menses. Physical examination, hormone analyses, and karyotype analysis were normal. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a small uterus with absent endometrial stripe. Ovaries were normal in size. Pathology from hysterectomy for abnormal Pap smears revealed a hypoplastic bicornuate uterus with absence of lumen and absent endometrium. DNA analyses for mutations in the coding sequences of three members of HOXA gene family was performed, but no variants in the coding sequence of these genes were found. These findings support the hypothesis that mutations in the coding sequence of HOXA10, HOXA11, and HOXA13 are not responsible for congenital endometrial absence with bicornuate hypoplastic uterus.

Conclusions

Congenital absence of the endometrium is an uncommon etiology for primary amenorrhea, and nonvisualization of the endometrial stripe on ultrasound imaging in association with primary amenorrhea should raise suspicion of this rare disorder in this case.
A matter of time: study of circadian clocks and their role in inflammation
Authors: Carter Stuart J , Durrington Hannah J , Gibbs Julie E , Blaikley John , Loudon Andrew S , Ray David W , Sabroe Ian
Published: February 2016

Circadian rhythms regulate changes in physiology, allowing organisms to respond to predictable environmental demands varying over a 24 h period. A growing body of evidence supports a key role for the circadian clock in the regulation of immune functions and inflammatory responses, which influence the understanding of infections and inflammatory diseases and their treatment. A variety of experimental methods have been used to assess the complex bidirectional crosstalk between the circadian clock and inflammation. In this review, we summarize the organization of the molecular clock, experimental methods used to study circadian rhythms, and both the inflammatory and immune consequences of circadian disturbance.
Identifying hydrologic flowpaths on arctic hillslopes using electrical resistivity and self potential
Authors: Voytek Emily B. , Rushlow Caitlin R. , Godsey Sarah E. , Singha Kamini
Published: February 2016

Shallow subsurface flow is a dominant process controlling hillslope runoff generation, soil development, and solute reaction and transport. Despite their importance, the location and geometry of these flow paths are difficult to determine. In arctic environments, shallow subsurface flow paths are limited to a thin zone of seasonal thaw above permafrost, which is traditionally assumed to mimic the surface topography. We have used a combined approach of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) measurements to map shallow subsurface flow paths in and around water tracks, drainage features common to arctic hillslopes. ERT measurements delineate thawed zones in the subsurface that control flow paths, whereas SP is sensitive to groundwater flow. We have found that areas of low electrical resistivity in the water tracks were deeper than manual thaw depth estimates and varied from the surface topography. This finding suggests that traditional techniques might underestimate active-layer thaw and the extent of the flow path network on arctic hillslopes. SP measurements identify complex 3D flow paths in the thawed zone. Our results lay the groundwork for investigations into the seasonal dynamics, hydrologic connectivity, and climate sensitivity of spatially distributed flow path networks on arctic hillslopes.
First-in-Human Phase I/II Study of NEOD001 in Patients With Light Chain Amyloidosis and Persistent Organ Dysfunction
Authors: Gertz Morie A. , Landau Heather , Comenzo Raymond L. , Seldin David , Weiss Brendan , Zonder Jeffrey , Merlini Giampaolo , Schönland Stefan , Walling Jackie , Kinney Gene G. , Koller Martin , Schenk Dale B. , Guthrie Spencer D. , Liedtke Michaela
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, which induces the dysfunction of vital organs. NEOD001 is a monoclonal antibody targeting these misfolded proteins. We report interim data from a phase I/II dose-escalation/expansion study of NEOD001 in patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction (NCT01707264).

Patients and Methods

Patients who had completed at least one previous anti–plasma cell-directed therapy, had partial hematologic response or better, and had persistent organ dysfunction received NEOD001 intravenously every 28 days. Dose levels of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 mg/kg were evaluated (3 + 3 study design). Primary objectives were to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended dose for future studies and to evaluate safety/tolerability. Secondary and exploratory objectives included pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and organ responses on the basis of published consensus criteria.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in seven cohorts (dose-escalation component). No drug-related serious adverse events (AEs), discontinuations because of drug-related AEs, dose-limiting toxicities, or antidrug antibodies were reported. The most frequent AEs were fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, and dyspnea. Recommended dosing was 24 mg/kg. Pharmacokinetics support intravenous dosing every 28 days. Of 14 cardiac-evaluable patients, eight (57%) met the criteria for cardiac response and six (43%) had stable disease. Of 15 renal-evaluable patients, nine (60%) met the criteria for renal response and six (40%) had stable disease.

Conclusion

Monthly infusions of NEOD001 were safe and well tolerated. Recommended future dosing was 24 mg/kg. Organ response rates compared favorably with those reported previously for chemotherapy. A phase II expansion is ongoing. A global phase III study (NCT02312206) has been initiated. Antibody therapy targeting misfolded proteins is a potential new therapy for the management of AL amyloidosis.
PTHrP Nuclear Localization and Carboxyl Terminus Sequences Modulate Dental and Mandibular Development in Part via the Action of p27
Authors: Sun Wen , Wu Jun , Huang Linying , Liu Hong , Wang Rong , Karaplis Andrew , Goltzman David , Miao Dengshun
Published: February 2016

To determine whether the action of the PTHrP nuclear localization sequence and C terminus is mediated through p27 in modulating dental and mandibular development, compound mutant mice, which are homozygous for both p27 deletion and the PTHrP1–84 knock-in mutation (p27−/−PthrpKI/KI), were generated. Their teeth and mandibular phenotypes were compared with those of p27−/−, PthrpKUK\ and wild-type mice. At 2 weeks of age, the mandibular mineral density, alveolar bone volume, osteoblast numbers, and dental volume, dentin sialoprotein-immunopo-sitive areas in the first molar were increased significantly in p27−/− mice and decreased dramatically in both PthrpKI/KI and p27−/− PthrpKI/KI mice compared with wild-type mice; however, these parameters were partly rescued in p27−/− PthrpKI/KI mice compared with PthrpKI/KI mice. These data demonstrate that the deletion of p27 in PthrpKI/KI mice can partially rescue defects in dental and mandibular development. Furthermore, we found that deletion of p27 in PthrpKI/KI mice partially corrected the dental and mandibular phenotype by modulating cell cyclin-regulating molecules and antioxidant enzymes. This study therefore indicates that the p27 pathway may function downstream in the action of PTHrP nuclear localization sequence to regulate dental and mandibular development. (Endocrinology 157: 1372–1384, 2016)
Emulsified Isoflurane Protects Against Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia Injury in Rats via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Hongfei , Xiong Xiaoxing , Liu Jin , Gu Lijuan , Li Fengxian , Wan Yi , Xu Shiyuan
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND:

Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway activation may promote neuronal survival via neuroprotection during inflammation after cerebral ischemia. In this study, we investigated whether IV pretreatment with emulsified isoflurane (EI) could decrease ischemic brain injury related to the PI3K/Akt pathway.

METHODS:

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received different doses of IV EI (1, 2, 4, or 8 mL/kg/h) or Intralipid® (8 mL/kg/h) for 30 minutes (n = 6–12 per group), followed by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 100 minutes to induce transient focal ischemia. The neurologic score and infarct volume were measured 48 hours after MCAO. Immunostaining, Western blot analysis, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to assess EI effects on the cell inflammatory response, high-mobility group box-1 release, and phosphorylated Akt (expression. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, was also infused into the ventricular space before EI to determine the effect of EI.

RESULTS:

Four milliliters per kilogram per hour of EI reduced the infarct size (21.08 ± 11.24 vs 37.09 ± 10.46, P = 0.006), improved neurologic scores after MCAO (1.13 ± 0.48 vs 1.95 ± 0.65, P = 0.015), significantly reinforced neuronal survival (982.7 ± 364.4 vs 439.8 ± 278.4, P = 0.036), and inhibited CD68+ macrophage/macroglial infiltration in the ischemic core (188.2 ± 49.1 vs 282 ± 49.4, P = 0.018) compared with the vehicle group. In the EI pretreatment group, the serum high-mobility group box-1 concentration (3.62 ± 0.72 vs 5.73 ± 0.65, P < 0.001) was decreased, and the cerebral phosphorylated Akt level (50.33 ± 4.73 vs 37.5 ± 3.11, P = 0.007) was increased at 48 hours, which was inhibited by LY294002 compared with the vehicle group (5.31 ± 0.72 vs 5.73 ± 0.65, P = 0.216; 43.00 ± 4.84 vs 37.5 ± 3.11, P = 0.091).

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that EI pretreatment protects against ischemic brain injury via the inhibition of cerebral inflammation and is associated with the PI3K-Akt pathway in rats with MCAO. This drug may be a novel therapeutic agent for patients after stroke.
Evaluation and management of anterior urethral stricture disease
Authors: Mangera Altaf , Osman Nadir , Chapple Christopher R.
Published: February 2016

Urethral stricture disease affects many men worldwide. Traditionally, the investigation of choice has been urethrography and the management of choice has been urethrotomy/dilatation. In this review, we discuss the evidence behind the use of ultrasonography in stricture assessment. We also discuss the factors a surgeon should consider when deciding the management options with each individual patient. Not all strictures are identical and surgeons should appreciate the poor long-term results of urethrotomy/dilatation for strictures longer than 2 cm, strictures in the penile urethra, recurrent strictures, and strictures secondary to lichen sclerosus. These patients may benefit from primary urethroplasty if they have many adverse features or secondary urethroplasty after the first recurrence.
Open drug discovery for the Zika virus
Authors: Ekins Sean , Mietchen Daniel , Coffee Megan , Stratton Thomas P , Freundlich Joel S , Freitas-Junior Lucio , Muratov Eugene , Siqueira-Neto Jair , Williams Antony J , Andrade Carolina
Published: February 2016

The Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in the Americas has caused global concern that we may be on the brink of a healthcare crisis. The lack of research on ZIKV in the over 60 years that we have known about it has left us with little in the way of starting points for drug discovery. Our response can build on previous efforts with virus outbreaks and lean heavily on work done on other flaviviruses such as dengue virus. We provide some suggestions of what might be possible and propose an open drug discovery effort that mobilizes global science efforts and provides leadership, which thus far has been lacking. We also provide a listing of potential resources and molecules that could be prioritized for testing as in vitro assays for ZIKV are developed. We propose also that in order to incentivize drug discovery, a neglected disease priority review voucher should be available to those who successfully develop an FDA approved treatment. Learning from the response to the ZIKV, the approaches to drug discovery used and the success and failures will be critical for future infectious disease outbreaks.
Pre-hospital resuscitation: what shall we tell the family?
Authors: Brown Nick
Published: February 2016

Cardiac arrest is a rarely attended event as a proportion of overall paramedic workload. When paramedics do attend such an event the management focus is largely concerned with clinical intervention and there may not be the capacity or appreciation for offering ongoing support to family members present. Indeed, even training may not have covered this element of care. Regardless of the prognosis for the patient, evidence suggests that there is benefit in directly involving relatives during the resuscitation. Engaging them with carefully considered and informed dialogue certainly seems humane at least. In which case, a structured and holistic approach should be employed where clinical care and emotional support go hand in hand.
Data Extraction And Management In Networks Of Observational Health Care Databases
For Scientific Research: A Comparison Among EU-ADR, OMOP, Mini-Sentinel And MATRICE
Strategies
Authors: Gini Rosa , Schuemie Martijn , Brown Jeffrey , Ryan Patrick , Vacchi Edoardo , Coppola Massimo , Cazzola Walter , Coloma Preciosa , Berni Roberto , Diallo Gayo , Oliveira José Luis , Avillach Paul , Trifirò Gianluca , Rijnbeek Peter , Bellentani Mariadonata , Van Der Lei Johan , Klazinga Niek , Sturkenboom Miriam
Published: February 2016

Introduction: We see increased use of existing observational data in order to
achieve fast and transparent production of empirical evidence in health care research.
Multiple databases are often used to increase power, to assess rare exposures or
outcomes, or to study diverse populations. For privacy and sociological reasons,
original data on individual subjects can’t be shared, requiring a distributed network
approach where data processing is performed prior to data sharing.Case Descriptions and
Variation Among Sites: We created a conceptual framework distinguishing three steps in
local data processing: (1) data reorganization into a data structure common across the
network; (2) derivation of study variables not present in original data; and (3)
application of study design to transform longitudinal data into aggregated data sets for
statistical analysis. We applied this framework to four case studies to identify
similarities and differences in the United States and Europe: Exploring and
Understanding Adverse Drug Reactions by Integrative Mining of Clinical Records and
Biomedical Knowledge(EU-ADR),Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership(OMOP), the Food
and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Mini-Sentinel, and the Italian network—the Integration
of Content Management Information on the Territory of Patients with Complex Diseases or
with Chronic Conditions (MATRICE).Findings: National networks (OMOP, Mini-Sentinel,
MATRICE) all adopted shared procedures for local data reorganization. The multinational
EU-ADR network needed locally defined procedures to reorganize its heterogeneous data
into a common structure. Derivation of new data elements was centrally defined in all
networks but the procedure was not shared in EU-ADR. Application of study design was a
common and shared procedure in all the case studies. Computer procedures were embodied
in different programming languages, including SAS, R, SQL, Java, and
C++.Conclusion: Using our conceptual framework we found several areas that would benefit
from research to identify optimal standards for production of empirical knowledge from
existing databases.
Workforce: Goals for Research and Innovation
Authors: McLaughlin Colleen , Sedlezky Lori , Belcher Harolyn , Marquand Abby , Hewitt Amy
Published: February 2016

Across the United States, there is growing demand for a competent and stable workforce able to effectively support the health and community lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) throughout the lifespan. This article describes national goals for research and innovation to advance the IDD workforce. The research goals outlined address important workforce topics that include increasing capacity and sustainability, competency development and quality support, the use of technology, family support, and the vital role of direct support professionals in helping people with IDD to become fully included and valued members of their communities.
La marcación variable de los objetos en español. Prominencia cognitiva y elección gramatical
Authors: Aijón Oliva Miguel Ángel
Published: February 2016

La marcación de los objetos con la partícula a es un hecho de variación gramatical que se ha abordado desde diversas perspectivas analíticas, pero que no ha recibido una explicación teórica general que permita dar cuenta de todos los contextos, categóricos y variables, del fenómeno. En este trabajo se propone un modelo funcional-cognitivo basado en la prominencia de los referentes, tanto la de carácter inherente como la adquirida en el contexto discursivo, frente a otras propuestas que enfatizan la transitividad del evento descrito por la cláusula. El referente del objeto establece un contraste de prominencia con el del sujeto y con otros posibles participantes del evento. Por ello, la marcación con a posee una doble función: señalar su especial prominencia, que lo aleja de los rasgos prototípicos del objeto no marcado, y distinguirlo a su vez del sujeto, con el que compite cognitivamente. La marcación resulta ser, así, uno de los principales rasgos formales y funcionales en que se manifiesta la variabilidad inherente al régimen verbal.
Acentos tonales y variantes: declarativas en habla formal y espontánea de La Gomera (Islas Canarias)
Authors: Díaz Cabrera Chaxiraxi , Dorta Luis Josefa
Published: February 2016

Este trabajo está realizado en el marco del proyecto Estudio comparativo de la entonación y del acento en zonas fronterizas del español (FFI2014-52716-P) vinculado a AMPER (Atlas Multimédia Prosodique de l’Espace Roman). El objetivo de esta investigación es hacer un estudio fonético-fonológico de oraciones declarativas (La Gomera, Islas Canarias) emitidas en dos estilos de habla, formal y espontáneo. Las oraciones fueron analizadas con subrutinas de Matlab (López Bobo et al, 2007) para extraer los valores de F0 en el núcleo de las sílabas. El etiquetaje fonético-fonológico sigue las directrices del sistema Sp_ToBI según la propuesta de Dorta ed. (2013). Se usó el umbral psicoacústico de 1,5 semitonos (Rietveld y Gussenhoven, 1985; Pamies Bertrán et al., 2002) para cuantificar la importancia de las variaciones tonales. Los resultados obtenidos permiten afianzar y ampliar la propuesta de etiquetaje fonológico postulada para el español en Dorta ed. (2013) en donde se diferenciaban tres invariantes monotonales y dos bitonales con sus correspondientes variantes para los acentos tonales de las zonas estudiadas.
La motivación léxica en el ámbito de la glosodidáctica
Authors: García Platero Juan Manuel
Published: February 2016

En la enseñanza y aprendizaje del léxico de una segunda lengua están presentes factores muy diversos, por lo que se requiere de un tratamiento específico y complementario. En este trabajo se analizan los mecanismos de motivación relativa de las palabras, tanto desde la perspectiva intralingüística como atendiendo a las relaciones de semejanza y contigüidad. Se trata de intentar, en la medida de lo posible, aminorar de la opacidad léxica alentando una reflexión metalingüística, de especial interés para los aprendices de la lengua meta.
Fraseología y lingüística cognitiva. Estudio interdisciplinar de la fraseologización de la locución somática de boca en boca
Authors: Merino González Alicia
Published: February 2016

En este artículo se analiza la fraseologización de la locución somática (LS) de boca en boca. Para ello, se abordará el objeto de estudio mediante la imbricación de la fraseología y la cognición, pues la lingüística cognitiva puede arrojar luz al estudio de la aparición, fijación e idiomaticidad del fraseologismo mediante los mecanismos figurativos. El proceso de fraseologización requiere la documentación de la locución en corpus diacrónicos y sincrónicos para trazar el proceso evolutivo de la unidad fraseológica (UF). La LS que se estudiará se encuentra en las obras lexicográficas actuales, no obstante, solo mediante el estudio diacrónico se logrará averiguar qué variantes o variaciones han dado lugar a esta combinación fija de palabras que conocemos hoy en día.
Un modelo para el análisis semántico-discursivo de la causalidad
Authors: Wong García Ernesto
Published: February 2016

La teoría dimensional del significado, desarrollada por el Dr. Leandro Caballero, tiene algunas limitaciones en lo que respecta a la codificación, a nivel de rasgos semánticos, de las relaciones de causalidad. Utilizando principalmente los métodos de análisis componencial y dimensional del significado, de modelación sobre trapecios semióticos y de análisis comparativo de corpus, este trabajo propone un modelo de escenarios causales lingüísticamente estructurados, basado en la dinámica de fuerzas, que amplía considerablemente la expresividad de los rasgos relacionales de la dimensión referencial. Concluye además que es posible tratar la causalidad como una supra-categoría semántico-nocional para su estudio tanto en el sistema de la lengua como en el discurso.
Gendered Geographies of Memory: Place, Violence, and Exigency at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Authors: Poirot Kristan
Published: February 2016

Although scholars recognize the importance of recovery projects that aim to recenter women’s roles in black freedom struggles, when it comes to these memory practices, the “woman problem” of civil rights memory is more acknowledged than understood. This essay argues that memories of civil rights movements are mapped spatially and rhetorically to depict correlations among Jim Crow contexts and acts of black resistance. The relationship among these spatial and rhetorical configurations is termed the “rhetorical geography of memory.” Through an account of the rhetorical geography of memory of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, this essay posits that place, violence, and masculinity animate a relationship between exigency and response, producing a gendered landscape of memory that limits at the outset the conditions and possibilities for women’s emergence.
An assessment for Public Hospitals Associations' performance measurement approach
Kamu Hastaneleri Birlikleri performans ölçüm yöntemi üzerine bir değerlendirme
Authors: Atılgan Emre
Published: February 2016

Health Transformation Program (HTP) was launched in 2003 with the primary aim of achieving effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in organization, delivery, and financing of health care services in Turkey.   In the final leg of the program, the Public Hospital Associations (PHA), which are basically the regional hospital unions, were announced in 2011 with the legislative decree no.663 and have been in operation since fall 2012. Establishment of the PHAs introduced a new management approach for Turkish public hospitals. This model based on a new managerial performance assessment approach, which was developed to evaluate the hospitals’ performances in many dimension, including medical, administrative, financial, quality, patient safety, employee-satisfaction and education aspects. In this regard, the Turkish Public Hospitals Institution (PHI), which is the highest institution that rules all the public hospitals, has begun to use modified version of Balanced Score Card (BSC) approach to assess the managerial performance of the PHAs. In this approach, production efficiency scores of hospitals, which are estimated with Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), became a key or a target indicator for hospital performance assessment. In this paper, the performance measurement approach of the PHAs is assessed with respect to the theoretical methods used in this approach, i.e. BSC and SFA efficiency methods.

 

Özet

Sağlıkta Dönüşüm Programı (SDP), Türkiye’de sağlık hizmetlerinin organizasyon, sunum ve finansmanında etkililik,  etkinlik ve hakkaniyet sağlamak amacıyla 2003 yılında uygulamaya konulmuştur. Programın son ayağında, basit anlamda hastanelerin yönetimsel olarak birleşmesi ifade eden Kamu Hastaneleri Birlikleri (KHB), 2011 yılında 663 nolu KHK ile kurulmuş ve 2012 yılında faaliyete başlamıştır. KHB’lerin kurulmasıyla birlikte Türkiye kamu hastaneleri için yeni bir yönetim yaklaşımı oluşturulmuştur. Bu yaklaşım, hastanelerin performansını, tıbbi, idari, mali, kalite, hasta ve Çalışan güvenliği-memnuniyeti ile eğitim boyutlarında değerlendirilmesini amacıyla geliştirilmiş olan yönetimsel performans modeli üzerine kurulmuştur. Uygulamaya konulan yeni sistemde, kamu hastanelerinin yönetici kuruluşu olan Türkiye Kamu Hastaneleri Kurumu (TKHK), KHB’lerin yönetimsel performansının değerlendirilmesi için, Dengeli Skor Kartı (DSK) yaklaşımının uyarlanmış bir şeklini kullanmaya başlamıştır.  Bu yaklaşımda, Stokastik Sınır Analizi yöntemiyle hesaplanan hastane üretim etkinlik skorları, hastane performansının belirlenmesinde anahtar ya da hedef gösterge olmuştur. Bu çalışmada Kamu Hastaneleri Birlikleri performans değerlendirme modelinin, modelin kullandığı DSK ve SSA yöntemleri çerçevesinde bir değerlendirmesi sunulmaktadır.
Development of the Miniaturized Pressuremeter Test to Evaluate Unbound Pavement Layers
Authors: Shaban A. M. , Cosentino P. J.
Published: February 2016

The development of a reliable field test that can be utilized to determine in situ pavement characteristics is discussed in this work. The developed device, which is a modified version of the PENCEL pressuremeter has a 6-in. inflatable probe capable of measuring field stress–strain response of the soils without worrying about edge effects of thin unbound granular layers. A roadway project was selected to conduct some preliminary field measurements in its subgrade layer. The PENCEL pressuremeter (PPMT) along with the miniaturized pressuremeter (MPMT) were used during the testing program to check the performance of the new device, and to validate its results. The results indicated that strength and stiffness properties of poorly graded sand subgrade, measured from running the miniaturized pressuremeter, compare well with those measured from the PENCEL pressuremeter. The MPMT data can be employed as essential inputs to evaluate existing pavement structures as part of a pavement-management system, and as critical inputs in empirical design methods of new flexible pavements and/or pavement overlays.
Screening for Depression in Children and Adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
Authors: Siu Albert L. ,   on behalf of the US Preventive Services Task Force
Published: February 2016

DESCRIPTION:

This article describes the update of the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents.

METHODS:

The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the benefits and harms of screening, accuracy of primary care–feasible screening tests, and benefits and harms of treatment with psychotherapy, medications, and collaborative care models in patients aged 7 to 18 years.

POPULATION:

This recommendation applies to children and adolescents aged ≤18 years who do not have an MDD diagnosis.

RECOMMENDATION:

The USPSTF recommends screening for MDD in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. Screening should be implemented with adequate systems in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate follow-up (B recommendation). The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for MDD in children aged ≤11 years (I statement).