bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Darcy-Forchheimer flow with variable thermal conductivity and Cattaneo-Christov heat flux
Authors: Hayat T. , Muhammad Taseer , Al-Mezal Saleh , Liao S.J.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The objectives of present communication are threefolds. First is to model and analyze the two-dimensional Darcy-Forchheimer flow of Maxwell fluid induced by a stretching surface. Temperature-dependent thermal conductivity is taken into account. Second is to examine the heat transfer process through non-classical flux by Cattaneo-Christov theory. Third is to derive convergent homotopic solutions for velocity and temperature distributions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The resulting non-linear system is solved through the homotopy analysis method.

Findings

An increment in Deborah number β causes a reduction in velocity field f′(η) while opposite behavior is observed for temperature field θ(η). Velocity field f′(η) and thickness of momentum boundary layer are decreased when the authors enhance the values of porosity parameter λ while opposite behavior is noticed for temperature profile θ(η). Temperature field θ(η) is inversely proportional to the thermal relaxation parameter γ. The numerical values of temperature gradient at the sheet − θ′(0) are higher for larger values of thermal relaxation parameter γ.

Originality/value

To the best of author’s knowledge, no such consideration has been given in the literature yet.
Self-employment of men supported by female breadwinners
Authors: Gather Claudia , Schürmann Lena , Zipprian Heinz
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to look at the multiple embeddedness of male self-employment by focusing on entrepreneurship of men supported by female breadwinners.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a qualitative research design, the paper presents three case studies drawn from a research project, where 40 narrative interviews were conducted with female and male business starters.

Findings

The concept of embeddedness that was developed for female business founders can also be applied and specified for business startups of men. Creating and conducting a business or becoming self-employed is for men closely related to and interwoven with gender norms, household and partnership dynamics. Men who are not the family breadwinners benefit from the male connotations of entrepreneurship. Male self-employment, even if of precarious or low pecuniary relevance, allows them to fulfill the norms of masculinity and employment.

Research limitations/implications

Given that this is a qualitative study only based on three case studies, more research is needed to estimate the frequency of this type of male self-employment.

Originality/value

The importance of the context for the decision on starting-up and conducting a business is shown for male entrepreneurs. The study demonstrates how on the household level the male entrepreneurship norm is transformed into everyday lives and fits into gender arrangements. In emphasizing the non-economic dimensions of entrepreneurship, the paper opens the discussion about the interconnections between gender and entrepreneurship for men as well.
Gender, family and business
Authors: Guo Xuguang , Werner Jon M.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between family responsibilities and family support, on the one hand, and decisions by men and women concerning owning a business, as well as how many hours they work in that business.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data collected by the US Current Population Survey between 1989 and 2011 and had a starting sample of 1,258,430 individuals, and a final sample of 27,147.

Findings

The authors found that both women and men are more inclined to own a business when they are married, have children or receive financial support from their spouse. They also found widespread gender differences in these analyses. The influence of family-related issues on owning a business is stronger for women than for men.

Originality/value

The findings indicate that male business owners work longer hours if they have young children. In contrast, female business owners reduce their work hours if they are married, have young children and receive support from their spouse. Implications are discussed.
Study of the influence of lubrication parameters on gear lubrication properties and efficiency
Authors: Li Kaiyue , Chen Guoding , Liu Deng
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The analysis of lubricating properties and efficiency is important for aviation high-speed gear. So far, the project of lubricating properties and efficiency are processing under the condition of a given lubricating state, which is still depending on practical experience. This paper aims to mostly focus on the analysis of given lubricating state but lost sight of the relevance of lubrication parameters and lubricating state, which not only makes the analysis of aviation high-speed gear transmission and efficiency fail to trace to practical situation but also has an adverse effect on the reliance and validity of the project.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on this, the numerical model of spraying oil and oil film spreading is established, and the quantitative relationship between spray lubrication parameters and spreading characteristics of oil film is studied. According to the geometric and mechanical conditions of meshing points and taking the influence of rich-oil/starved-oil lubrication and roughness of teeth surface into consideration, corrected film thickness under condition of elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication and lubricating state of mesh points are analyzed. On this basis, power consumption and efficiency of gear transmission are also calculated by figuring out the solid friction and oil friction separately.

Findings

Through the research of this thesis, the effect of friction power consumption and efficiency with lubrication parameters is discussed. The effect of lubrication parameters on friction power consumption and efficiency of gear is complex. With the increase of spreading film thickness and film length, the frictional power consumption is less and the efficiency is higher.

Originality/value

This work provides a systematic technological approach to lubrication design and efficiency calculation of aviation high-speed gear transmission, which has remarkable engineering significance for the accurate lubrication design of the aviation mechanical parts.
Effect of micropolar lubrication in non-circular hole-entry hybrid journal bearing with constant flow valve restrictor
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Verma Suresh
Published: November 2016

Purpose

In the present scenario of high-speed machines, the use of non-circular hole-entry bearing configuration, i.e. two-lobe, multi-lobe, lemon bore, etc., has becomes unavoidable, as the journal bearings with non-circular configurations provide better stability at high operating speed and heavy dynamic loading. Further, this research aims to show that the presence of micro particles in the lubricants greatly affects performance of the bearings, as their presence leads to non-Newtonian behaviors of the lubricant. Therefore, to consider the effect of these micro particles, the lubricant is modeled as a micropolar lubricant. The present work analyzes the effect of these micropolar lubricants on the performance of hole-entry circular and non-circular (two-lobe) hybrid journal bearings compensated with constant flow valve restrictor and compares with that of Newtonian lubricants.

Design/methodology/approach

The modified Reynolds equation governing the laminar flow of iso-viscous, incompressible micropolar lubricant in the clearance space of a journal bearing system has been solved using finite element method and appropriate boundary conditions. Further, a comparative analysis between circular and non-circular (two-lobe) hybrid journal bearing compensated with constant flow valve restrictor operating with Newtonian and micropolar lubricant has been presented.

Findings

The numerically simulated results reveal that the non-circular bearing configuration provides better performance vis-à-vis the circular bearing configuration. Further, the increase in the micropolar effect of the lubricant enhances the performance of circular and the non-circular bearing configurations compared with the Newtonian lubricant. Also, in the case of the non-circular bearing configuration with an offset factor (δ = 1.5), the bearing performance improved compared with (δ = 1.25).

Originality/value

Many research studies have been done in the area of non-circular hybrid journal bearing with Newtonian lubricants with different types of restrictors, but the non-circular hole-entry constant flow valve-compensated hybrid journal bearing operating with the micropolar lubricant has not been analyzed. Therefore, in the present work, an effort has been made to fill this research gap.
Oil condition monitoring for HEMM – a case study
Authors: Kumar Ashwani , Ghosh Subrata Kumar
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The paper aims to monitor the condition of heavy Earth-moving machines (HEMMs) used in open cast mines by lube oil analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Oil samples at periodic interval were collected from the HEMM engine (Model No: BEML BH50M). Ferrography and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy have been used for the wear particle analysis present in oil samples. Viscosity analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy have been done to investigate the degradation in quality and changes as compared to the initial structural properties of the lubricants.

Findings

The results obtained indicates wear in cylinder liner and piston ring. Copper, cast iron, alloy steel and ferrous oxide have been found as rubbing wear particles and cutting wear particles. Contamination level has also been found to be increasing in consecutive older oil samples. Chemical properties degraded with usage time and variations in oxidation and soot level have also been observed in every sample.

Practical implications

The results will be very much useful to maintenance teams of mining industry for early prediction of any impending failure of the machines, for example, diesel dilution, severe wear of the piston or cylinder liner leading to seizure can be predicted.

Originality/value

The HEMMs are an important piece of equipment in coal mining. Proper condition monitoring of HEMM is required to reduce the break down and down time to increase production.
Room temperature tribological performance of biodiesel (soybean oil)
Authors: Peng De-Xing
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the effect of biodiesel additive in fuel system of diesel engines to reduce wear characteristics. Biofuels are environmentally friendly and renewable alternatives to mineral-based fuels and cause low pollution; thus, they can be used to comply with future emission regulations to safeguard environmental and human health.

Design/methodology/approach

Two types of diesel fuel, pure petrodiesel and soybean oil, were compared for their fuel properties and tribological performance. The ball-on-disk wear testing method was used as an analytical tool for this purpose. The lubricating efficiency of the fuels was estimated using a photomicroscope to measure the average diameter of the wear scar produced on the test ball.

Findings

The wear experiments showed that the wear scar diameters were 1.13 and 0.94 mm for lubrication of the pure petro-diesel and soybean oil, respectively. However, fatty acids containing biodiesel typically have thicker molecular layers than mineral pure petro-diesel, and thus can reduce the wear rate of the sliding metals. This improved the boundary lubrication conditions and the lubricity of the fuel. Biodiesel fuels are effective lubricity enhancers and have greater lubricity enhancing properties than petro-diesel.

Originality/value

The ability of biodiesel to be highly biodegradable and its superior lubricating property when used in compression ignition engines make it an excellent fuel. Biofuel is an attractive alternative fuel to various energy sectors, particularly the transportation sector. Biofuel has immense potential for use in a sustainable energy mixture in the future.
Artificial neural network model for evaluation the effect of surface properties amendment on slurry erosion behavior of AISI 5117 steel
Authors: Saleh Bahaa , Aly Ayman A.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of surface treatment on slurry erosion behavior of AISI 5,117 steel using artificial neural network (ANN) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The slurry erosion wear behavior of electroless nickel-phosphorus (Ni-P) coated, carburized and untreated AISI 5,117 alloy steel was investigated experimentally and theoretically using ANN technique based on error back propagation learning algorithm.

Findings

From the obtained results, it can be concluded that the proposed AAN model can be successfully used for evaluating slurry erosion behavior of the Ni-P coated, carburized and untreated AISI 5,117 steel for wide range of operating conditions and Ni-P coating and carburizing improve the slurry erosion resistance of AISI 5,117 steel; however, the coating is more efficient.

Originality/value

Slurry erosion is a serious problem for the performance, reliability and service life of engineering components used in many industrial applications. To improve the performance of these components, engineering surface technologies have been attracting a great deal of attention. The extent of slurry erosion is dependent on a wide range of variables. To account all variables that effect on erosion behavior, prediction of erosion behavior by soft computational technique is one of the most important requirements. ANN has the ability to tackle the problem of complex relationships among variables that cannot be accomplished by traditional analytical methods.
Managing working behaviour towards new ways of working: a case study
Authors: van Diermen Olga Guillette , Beltman Schelte
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to address the management of people and their working behaviour successfully during workplace change – from a traditional way of working towards new ways of working. The study was based on the observation that during workplace change, organisations often fail to see the importance of managing (working) behaviour during the process of workplace change. The focus is mostly on the design of the new working environment and the information technology in it. However, these do not seem to be the determining aspects of the success of workplace change, merely necessary boundary conditions. This paper will elucidate how internal communication can make the greatest impact on shifting people’s working behaviour and attitudes and thus manage it effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature study has been conducted to investigate the relation between the topics of new ways of working, workplace change and internal communication. This study surfaced the importance of the aspect of (working) behaviour within workplace change. Subsequently, a field study was performed, during which several interviews were held with the project team of the R&D department of a chemical multinational, who is on the brink of implementing a new workplace concept. Also, focus group interviews were held with their employees to research personal views on expected working behaviour.

Findings

The outcomes of the research, literature review and field study clarify the critical success factors for internal communication to manage the workplace change, so it lives up to the expectations. These are: face-to-face communication, assigning the manager the role of workplace change leader and use internal communication to inform employees and inspire them.

Originality/value

In this paper, the behavioural aspect has been identified as a key determinant of perceived success of a new workplace concept. Managing workplace change successfully should therefore merely focus on managing the working behaviour of the people involved, instead of managing the building and interior design or the technology in it. Internal communication was identified as a pivotal tool to reach this success.
Comparison of global dementia discussions: perspective from the world young leaders in dementia
Authors: Booi Laura , Newman Kristine , Jackson Piper
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically reflect on the global dementia prevention views of the Japanese leaders at both the Japanese Young Leaders in Dementia Event and the Japanese Global Legacy Against Dementia event, from a Canadian perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper undertook a global comparison of the discussion and recommendations from both the Japanese Young Leader Event and the satellite Global Dementia Legacy Event.

Findings

The paper provides insights about the cultural and intergenerational differences in both the Japanese solutions compared to the Canadian solutions.

Originality/value

The authors encourage leaders involved in global prevention dementia discussions to remember the importance of context, in regards to both cultural and intergenerational collaborations, in the search for global dementia solutions.
Overcoming ageism through a new intergenerational learning paradigm: challenges and findings
Authors: Gonçalves Marta , Hatton-Yeo Alan , Farcas Diana
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a programme developed and tested in Portugal under this new paradigm where young adults (18-30) and old adults (over 65) learn research skills together.

Design/methodology/approach

The structure of the learning experience consists in a six-month training course for lay people in research skills in three specific areas of family, mental health and intergenerational relationships. In order to apply the acquired research and intervention knowledge, participants work in intergenerational groups on a small research project.

Findings

Results from the first two editions of the programme indicate benefits of mutual reciprocity in the contribution to tackle ageism and trust between generations.

Research limitations/implications

The potential practice implications for this type of intergenerational programme are significant, considering the increasing aging population in Portugal and the high ageism present. However, the authors may ask if the encountered results are the same with another type of learning subject. Therefore, the authors recommend a replication of this study/programme in other fields.

Practical implications

An integrated active ageing goes from a senior cultural entertainment to a public policy intervention sustained over time, reducing costs in terms of health, education and social services.

Social implications

Ageism, that is to say discrimination against people because of their age, is an enormous social problem. The new intergenerational learning paradigm can help to address this by emphasizing the importance of the intergroup contact between generations where each group can learn from and teach the other.

Originality/value

The authors can say that these first two editions of the Intergenerational University was a first outlook of how the authors can innovate learning processes at universities and bring research to the public. It is a methodology of social responsibility universities may adopt.
Accessing care coordination information: the non-statutory sector contribution
Authors: Jasper Rowan , Hughes Jane , Sutcliffe Caroline , Abendstern Michele , Loynes Niklas , Challis David
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The provision of information and advice for older people arranging their own care is a policy objective. The purpose of this paper is to explore the range and scope of web-based information about care coordination activities for older people in the non-statutory sector in England.

Design/methodology/approach

Non-statutory organisations were identified through a structured internet search. Services were screened to identify those providing at least one care coordination activity. A postal survey of services was conducted in 2014 and results compared with the initial findings of the web search.

Findings

Almost 300 services were identified, most of which were provided by three organisations: Age UK; Alzheimer’s Society; and the British Red Cross. Brokerage was the most frequently reported care coordination activity; the majority of services focussed on help to stay at home; and carers and older people (including those with dementia) were the target groups most often identified. Comparison of the two information sources revealed a significant agreement between two care coordination’s activities: compiling support plans and monitoring and review.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are based on a purposive sample of organisations and therefore care must be exercised in generalising from them.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to systematically explore the nature and extent of information about care coordination activities provided by the non-statutory sector in England. It was conducted when policy advocated both an increased role for the non-statutory sector and an increase in self-directed support.
When I am old I shall wear purple: a qualitative study of the effect of group poetry sessions on the well-being of older adults
Authors: Seymour Richard , Murray Michael
Published: November 2016

Purpose

There is increasing evidence that participation in various art forms can be beneficial for health and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of participating in a poetry reading group on a group of older residents of an assisted living facility.

Design/methodology/approach

Six poetry sessions, each on a different theme, were conducted with a group of volunteer participants. These sessions, those of pre- and post-study focus groups and interviews with the group facilitator and staff contact were audio-recorded. The transcripts of the recordings were then subjected to a thematic analysis.

Findings

Overall the participants were enthused by the opportunity to participate in the project and the benefits were confirmed by the support staff. In addition, reading poetry on particular themes promoted different types of discussion.

Research limitations/implications

The number of participants in this study was small and the study was conducted over a short period of time.

Practical implications

This paper confirms the impact of poetry reading for older people. The challenge is to explore this impact in more detail and over community as well as residential settings.

Originality/value

This paper is the first empirical report on the value of poetry reading for older people.
Revaluating aging in place: from traditional definitions to the continuum of care
Authors: Weil Joyce , Smith Elizabeth
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Traditional definitions of aging in place often define aging in place specifically as the ability to remain in one’s own home or community setting in later life. The purpose of this paper is to reframe aging in place and show how narrowly defined aging in place models can be potentially negative constructs that limit options for older adults. The authors propose a paradigm shift, or a re-framing of, the popularized idea of aging in place. The authors challenge mainstream and literature-based beliefs that are deeply rooted to the idea that aging in place ideally happens in the home in which a person has lived for many years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews common concepts and constructs associated with aging in place as well as gaps or exclusions, and US-based aging in place policy initiatives favoring the aging in place model.

Findings

An expanded definition of aging in place embraces heterogeneity in residence types and living options. A realistic assessment of person-environment fit, matching an older person’s capabilities to his or her environmental demands, allows for the development of additional aging in place options for those living across the continuum of care.

Social implications

Aging in place should be moved from the personal “success” or “failure” of an older individual to include the role of society and societal views and policies in facilitating or hindering aging in place options. The authors demonstrate that these options, in facilities within the continuum of care, can be thought of as appealing for older persons of all levels of physical and cognitive functioning.

Originality/value

Research about aging in place tends to stress the value of one place (one’s home) over other living settings. This limits the ability of people to age in place and curtails discussion of all the items necessary to maintain place.
All together now: experimental multispecies biofilm model systems
Authors: Tan Chuan Hao , Lee Kai Wei Kelvin , Burmølle Mette , Kjelleberg Staffan , Rice Scott A.
Published: November 2016

Studies of microorganisms have traditionally focused on single species populations, which have greatly facilitated our understanding of the genetics and physiology that underpin microbial growth, adaptation and biofilm development. However, given that most microorganisms exist as multispecies consortia, the field is increasingly exploring microbial communities using a range of technologies traditionally limited to populations, including meta‐omics based approaches and high resolution imaging. The experimental communities currently being explored range from relatively low diversity, for example, two to four species, to significantly more complex systems, comprised of several hundred species. Results from both defined and undefined communities have revealed a number of emergent properties, including improved stress tolerance, increased biomass production, community level signalling and metabolic cooperation. Based on results published to date, we submit that community‐based studies are timely and increasingly reveal new properties associated with multispecies consortia that could not be predicted by studies of the individual component species. Here, we review a range of defined and undefined experimental systems used to study microbial community interactions.
The septin protein Sep4 facilitates host infection by plant fungal pathogens via mediating initiation of infection structure formation
Authors: Feng Hui‐Qiang , Li Gui‐Hua , Du Shun‐Wen , Yang Song , Li Xue‐Qian , de Figueiredo Paul , Qin Qing‐Ming
Published: November 2016

Many phytopathogenic fungi use infection structures (IFSs, i.e., appressoria and infection cushions) to penetrate host cuticles. However, the conserved mechanisms that mediate initiation of IFS formation in divergent pathogens upon sensing the presence of host plants remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that a conserved septin gene SEP4 plays crucial roles in this process. Disruption of SEP4 in the plant grey mould fungus Botrytis cinerea completely blocked IFS formation and abolished the virulence of ΔBcsep4 mutants on unwounded hosts. During IFS formation, mutants lacking SEP4 could produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) normally. Inhibition of ROS production in strains harbouring the SEP4 gene resulted in disordered assembly of Sep4 and the subsequent failure to form infection cushions, suggesting that proper Sep4 assembly regulated by ROS is required for initiation of IFS formation and infection. Moreover, loss of SEP4 severely impaired mutant conidiation, melanin and chitin accumulation in hyphal tips and lesion expansion on wounded hosts, but significantly promoted germ tube elongation and sclerotium production. SEP4‐mediated fungal pathogenic development, including IFS formation, was validated in the hemibiotroph Magnaporthe oryzae. Our findings indicate that Sep4 plays pleiotropic roles in B. cinerea development and specifically facilities host infection by mediating initiation of IFS formation in divergent plant fungal pathogens in response to ROS signaling.
Two degradation strategies for overcoming the recalcitrance of natural lignocellulosic xylan by polysaccharides‐binding GH10 and GH11 xylanases of filamentous fungi
Authors: Miao Youzhi , Li Pan , Li Guangqi , Liu Dongyang , Druzhinina Irina S. , Kubicek Christian P. , Shen Qirong , Zhang Ruifu
Published: November 2016

The recalcitrance of lignocellulose forms a strong barrier for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass in chemical or biofuel industries. Filamentous fungi are major plant biomass decomposer, and capable of forming all the required enzymes. Here, they characterized the GH10 and GH11 endo‐xylanases and a CE1 acetyl‐xylan esterase (Axe1) from a superior biomass‐degrading strain, Aspergillus fumigatus Z5, and examined how they interact in xylan degradation. Cellulose‐binding (CBM1) domain inhibited GH10 xylanase activities for pure xylan, but afforded them an ability to hydrolyze washed corncob particles (WCCP). CBM1‐containing GH10 xylanases also showed synergism with CBM1‐containing Axe1 in WCCP hydrolysis, and this synergy was strictly dependent on the presence of their CBM1 domains. In contrast, GH11 xylanases had no CBM1, but still could bind xylan and hydrolyzed WCCP; however, no synergism displayed with Axe1. GH10 xylanases and GH11 xylanases showed a pronounced synergism in WCCP hydrolysis, which was dependent on the presence of the CBM1 in GH10 xylanases and absence from GH11 xylanases. They exhibit different mechanisms to bind to cellulose and xylan, and act in synergy when these two structures are intact. These findings will be helpful for the further development of highly efficient enzyme mixtures for lignocellulosic biomass conversion.
Sulforaphane‐induced apoptosis in Xuanwei lung adenocarcinoma cell line XWLC‐05
Authors: Zhou Lan , Yao Qian , Li Yan , Huang Yun‐chao , Jiang Hua , Wang Chuan‐qiong , Fan Lei
Published: November 2016

Background

Xuanwei district in Yunnan Province has the highest incidence of lung cancer in China, especially among non‐smoking women. Cruciferous vegetables can reduce lung cancer risk by prompting a protective mechanism against respiratory tract inflammation caused by air pollution, and are rich in sulforaphane, which can induce changes in gene expression. We investigated the effect of sulforaphane‐induced apoptosis in Xuanwei lung adenocarcinoma cell line (XWCL‐05) to explore the value of sulforaphane in lung cancer prevention and treatment.

Methods

Cell growth inhibition was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay; cell morphology and apoptosis were observed under transmission electron microscope; cell cycle and apoptosis rates were detected using flow cytometry; B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) and Bcl‐2‐like protein 4 (Bax) messenger RNA expression were determined by quantitative PCR; and p53, p73, p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), Bax, Bcl‐2, and caspase‐9 protein expression were detected by Western blotting.

Results

Sulforaphane inhibited XWLC‐05 cell growth with inhibitory concentration (IC)50 of 4.04, 3.38, and 3.02 μg/mL at 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Sulforaphane affected the XWLC‐05 cell cycle as cells accumulated in the G2/M phase. The proportion of apoptotic cells observed was 27.6%. Compared with the control, the sulforaphane group showed decreased Bcl‐2 and p53 expression, and significantly increased p73, PUMA, Bax, and caspase‐9 protein expression (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Sulforaphane induces Xuanwei lung adenocarcinoma cell apoptosis. Its possible mechanism may involve the upregulation of p73 expression and its effector target genes
PUMA
and Bax in lung cancer cells, downregulation of the anti‐apoptotic gene
B

cl
‐2, and activation of caspase‐9. It may also involve downregulation of the mutant p53 protein.
Minimal intervention dentistry for early childhood caries and child dental anxiety: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Arrow P , Klobas E
Published: November 2016

Background

To compare changes in child dental anxiety after treatment for early childhood caries (ECC) using two treatment approaches.

Methods

Children with ECC were randomized to test (atraumatic restorative treatment (ART)‐based approach) or control (standard care approach) groups. Children aged 3 years or older completed a dental anxiety scale at baseline and follow up. Changes in child dental anxiety from baseline to follow up were tested using the chi‐squared statistic, Wilcoxon rank sum test, McNemar's test and multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Two hundred and fifty‐four children were randomized (N = 127 test, N = 127 control). At baseline, 193 children completed the dental anxiety scale, 211 at follow up and 170 completed the scale on both occasions. Children who were anxious at baseline (11%) were no longer anxious at follow up, and 11% non‐anxious children became anxious. Multinomial logistic regression found each increment in the number of visits increased the odds of worsening dental anxiety (odds ratio (OR), 2.2; P < 0.05), whereas each increment in the number of treatments lowered the odds of worsening anxiety (OR, 0.50; P = 0.05).

Conclusions

The ART‐based approach to managing ECC resulted in similar levels of dental anxiety to the standard treatment approach and provides a valuable alternative approach to the management of ECC in a primary dental care setting.
Minimal immune determinants connect Zika virus, human Cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii to microcephaly‐related human proteins
Authors: Lucchese Guglielmo , Kanduc Darja
Published: November 2016

Aiming at the molecular definition of the relationship(s) between prenatal infections and fetal microcephaly and using pentapeptides as minimal immune determinants, we analyzed the peptide matching between proteins from infectious agents involved in microcephalic syndromes (namely Zika virus, human Cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii) and human proteins that, when altered, have been specifically associated with microcephaly. We report that an unexpected high number of epitopic pentapeptides (ie, 34) are common to the three fetopathogenic agents and repeatedly occur throughout an important number of microcephaly‐related human proteins. The data introduce the issue of multiple cross‐reactivity into the etiology on ZIKV‐associated pathologies. Indeed, the commonality of immune determinants might lead to a sequence of boostered immune responses if the host undergoes different fetopathogenic infections, thus temporally scanning a potential clinical progression toward brain malformations. At this juncture, the past history of maternal infections/vaccinations might dictate the fetal pathologic outcome.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for early oral cancers: Westmead Hospital experience
Authors: Abdul‐Razak Muzib , Chung Hsiang , Wong Eva , Palme Carsten , Veness Michael , Farlow David , Coleman Hedley , Morgan Gary
Published: November 2016

Background

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become an alternative option to elective neck dissection (END) for early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) outside of Australia. We sought to assess the technical feasibility of SLNB and validate its accuracy against that of END in an Australian setting.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study consisting of 30 consecutive patients with cT1

‐

2N0 OCSCC referred to the Head and Neck Cancer Service, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, between 2011 and 2014. All patients underwent SLNB followed by immediate selective neck dissection (levels I–III).

Results

A total of 30 patients were diagnosed with an early clinically node‐negative OCSCC (seven cT1 and 23 cT2), with the majority located on the oral tongue. A median of three (range: 1–14) sentinel nodes were identified on lymphoscintigraphy, and all sentinel nodes were successfully retrieved, with 50% having a pathologically positive sentinel node. No false‐negative sentinel nodes were identified using selective neck dissection as the gold standard. The negative predictive value (NPV) of SLNB was 100%, with 40% having a sentinel node identified outside the field of planned neck dissection on lymphoscintigraphy. Of these, one patient had a positive sentinel node outside of the ipsilateral supraomohyoid neck dissection template.

Conclusion

SLNB for early OCSCC is technically feasible in an Australian setting. It has a high NPV and can potentially identify at‐risk lymphatic basins outside the traditional selective neck dissection levels even in well‐lateralized lesions.
Systematic review of reusable versus disposable laparoscopic instruments: costs and safety
Authors: Siu Joey , Hill Andrew G. , MacCormick Andrew D.
Published: November 2016

Background

The quality of instruments and surgical expertise in minimally invasive surgery has developed markedly in the last two decades. Attention is now being turned to ways to allow surgeons to adopt more cost‐effective and environmental‐friendly approaches. This review explores current evidence on the cost and environmental impact of reusable versus single‐use instruments. In addition, we aim to compare their quality, functionality and associated clinical outcomes.

Method

The Medline and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant literature from January 2000 to May 2015. Subject headings were Equipment Reuse/, Disposable Equipment/, Cholecystectomy/, Laparoscopic/, Laparoscopy/, Surgical Instruments/, Medical Waste Disposal/, Waste Management/, Medical Waste/, Environmental Sustainability/ and Sterilization/.

Results

There are few objective comparative analyses between single‐use versus reusable instruments. Current evidence suggests that limiting use of disposal instruments to necessity may hold both economical and environmental advantages. Theoretical advantages of single‐use instruments in quality, safety, sterility, ease of use and importantly patient outcomes have rarely been examined. Cost‐saving methods, environmental‐friendly methods, global operative costs, hidden costs, sterilization methods and quality assurance systems vary greatly between studies making it difficult to gain an overview of the comparison between single‐use and reusable instruments.

Conclusions

Further examination of cost comparisons between disposable and reusable instruments is necessary while externalized environmental costs, instrument function and safety are also important to consider in future studies.
Thrombotic Depositions on Right Impeller of Double‐Ended Centrifugal Total Artificial Heart In Vivo
Authors: Karimov Jamshid H. , Horvath David J. , Okano Shinji , Goodin Mark , Sunagawa Gengo , Byram Nicole , Moazami Nader , Golding Leonard A.R. , Fukamachi Kiyotaka
Published: November 2016

The development of total artificial heart devices is a complex undertaking that includes chronic biocompatibility assessment of the device. It is considered particularly important to assess whether device design and features can be compatible long term in a biological environment. As part of the development program for the Cleveland Clinic continuous‐flow total artificial heart (CFTAH), we evaluated the device for signs of thrombosis and biological material deposition in four animals that had achieved the intended 14‐, 30‐, or 90‐day durations in each respective experiment. Explanted CFTAHs were analyzed for possible clot buildup at “susceptible” areas inside the pump, particularly the right pump impeller. Depositions of various consistency and shapes were observed. We here report our findings, along with macroscopic and microscopic analysis post explant, and provide computational fluid dynamics data with its potential implications for thrombus formation.
Iron concentration in breast milk normalised within one week of a single high_dose infusion of iron isomaltoside in randomised controlled trial
Authors: Holm Charlotte , Thomsen Lars Lykke , Norgaard Astrid , Markova Veronika , Michaelsen Kim F. , Langhoff_Roos Jens
Published: November 2016

Aim

We compared the iron concentration in breast milk after a single high dose of intravenous iron isomaltoside or daily oral iron for postpartum haemorrhage.

Methods

In this randomised controlled trial, the women were allocated a single dose of intravenous 1200 mg iron isomaltoside or oral iron at a mean daily dose of 70.5 mg. We included 65 women with sufficient breast milk three days after inclusion _ 30 from the intravenous iron group and 35 from the oral iron group _ and collected breast milk and maternal blood samples three days and one week after allocation.

Results

The mean (_SD) iron concentration in breast milk in the intravenous and oral groups was 0.72 _ 0.27 and 0.40 _ 0.18 mg/L at three days (p < 0.001) and 0.47 _ 0.17 and 0.44 _ 0.25 mg/L after one week (p = 0.64). Baseline samples were not available that soon after birth.

Conclusion

A single high dose of intravenous iron isomaltoside for postpartum haemorrhage led to a transient increase in the iron concentration in breast milk three days after treatment compared with oral iron. The difference disappeared one week after treatment, and mean iron concentrations were within the normal range in all samples.
Review article: mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Grégoire C. , Lechanteur C. , Briquet A. , Baudoux É. , Baron F. , Louis E. , Beguin Y.
Published: November 2016

Background

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic relapsing diseases in which pro‐inflammatory immune cells and cytokines induce intestinal tissue damage and disability. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exert powerful immunomodulatory effects and stimulate tissue repair.

Aim

To review the current data on mesenchymal stromal cell therapy in IBD.

Method

We searched PubMed and ‘ClinicalTrials.gov’ databases using the terms ‘mesenchymal stromal cells’, ‘mesenchymal stem cell transplantation’, ‘inflammatory bowel diseases’, ‘Crohn disease’ and ‘colitis, ulcerative’. Additional publications were identified from individual article reference lists.

Results

MSCs include inhibition of Th1/Th17 lymphocytes and recruitment of regulatory T lymphocytes, induction of antigen‐presenting cells into a regulatory‐like profile, and stimulation of epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation. More than 200 patients with refractory fistulas have been treated with local injections of MSCs, resulting in complete response in more than half, and in overall response in approximately two thirds of patients. In refractory luminal Crohn's disease, 49 cases of systemic MSC infusions have been reported, while trials with autologous MSCs resulted in mitigated responses, studies using allogeneic MSCs were promising, with around 60% of patients experiencing a response and around 40% achieving clinical remission.

Conclusions

Mesenchymal stromal cells might represent a promising therapy for IBD, especially for Crohn's disease. There remain many unsolved questions concerning the optimal origin and source of mesenchymal stromal cells, dosage and modalities of administration. Moreover, mesenchymal stromal cells still need to prove their effectiveness compared with conventional treatments in randomised controlled trials.
Polymorphisms of RDH16 and VEGFR1 influence M. trapezius steatosis in Japanese Black carcass
Authors: Ishida Takafumi , Noda Kosuke , Jomane Fortune Ntengwa , Tokunaga Tadaaki
Published: November 2016

The exact cause of steatosis, one of defects in Japanese beef carcasses, has not been elucidated to date, because it is very difficult to diagnose cyclopedically with certain reproducibility due to the bias in the outbreak. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of polymorphisms in retinol dehydrogenase 16 (RDH16), myoferlin (MYOF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) on carcass‐graded Musculus trapezius steatosis. For logistic regression analysis, 646 carcasses shipped from 29 farms in Miyazaki, Japan, were used. The GG genotype in RDH16 showed significant odds ratios against AA and AG. In VEGFR1, CT had a significant odds ratio against CC. After evaluating for interaction, highly significant odds ratios were observed in the combinations that included the GG risk genotype in RDH16. It is noteworthy that there was no steatosis in the combination GG (RDH16) and CC (VEGFR1). It may be concluded that there is a possibility that steatosis can be suppressed by the CC genotype in VEGFR1. The current study revealed the influence of genetic polymorphisms on M. trapezius steatosis that had not been reported until now, and may help elucidate the cause of steatosis.
Cloning and characterization of the glutamate dehydrogenase gene in Streptococcus bovis
Authors: Ando Tasuke , Sugawara Yoko , Nishio Ryohei , Murakami Miho , Isogai Emiko , Yoneyama Hiroshi
Published: November 2016

Streptococcus bovis, an etiologic agent of rumen acidosis in cattle, is a rumen bacterium that can grow in a chemically defined medium containing ammonia as a sole source of nitrogen. To understand its ability to assimilate inorganic ammonia, we focused on the function of glutamate dehydrogenase. In order to identify the gene encoding this enzyme, we first amplified an internal region of the gene by using degenerate primers corresponding to hexameric family I and NAD(P)+ binding motifs. Subsequently, inverse PCR was used to identify the whole gene, comprising an open reading frame of 1350 bp that encodes 449 amino acid residues that appear to have the substrate binding site of glutamate dehydrogenase observed in other organisms. Upon introduction of a recombinant plasmid harboring the gene into an Escherichia coli glutamate auxotroph lacking glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase, the transformants gained the ability to grow on minimal medium without glutamate supplementation. When cell extracts of the transformant were resolved by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by activity staining, a single protein band appeared that corresponded to the size of S. bovis glutamate dehydrogenase. Based on these results, we concluded that the gene obtained encodes glutamate dehydrogenase in S. bovis.
Sequential chemotherapy followed by reduced‐intensity conditioning and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adult patients with relapse or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia: a survey from the Acute Leukaemia Working Party of EBMT
Authors: Ringdén Olle , Labopin Myriam , Schmid Christoph , Sadeghi Behnam , Polge Emmanuelle , Tischer Johanna , Ganser Arnold , Michallet Mauricette , Kanz Lothar , Schwerdtfeger Rainer , Nagler Arnon , Mohty Mohamad ,   the Acute Leukaemia Working Party of the EBMT
Published: November 2016

This study analysed the outcome of 267 patients with relapse/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who received sequential chemotherapy including fludarabine, cytarabine and amsacrine followed by reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC) and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The transplants in 77 patients were from matched sibling donors (MSDs) and those in 190 patients were from matched unrelated donors. Most patients (94·3%) were given anti‐T‐cell antibodies. The incidence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) of grades II‒IV was 32·1% and that of chronic GVHD was 30·2%. The 3‐year probability of non‐relapse mortality (NRM) was 25·9%, that of relapse was 48·5%, that of GVHD‐free and relapse‐free survival (GRFS) was 17·8% and that of leukaemia‐free survival (LFS) was 25·6%. In multivariate analysis, unrelated donor recipients more frequently had acute GVHD of grades II‒IV [hazard ratio (HR) = 1·98, P = 0·017] and suffered less relapses (HR = 0·62, P = 0·01) than MSD recipients. Treatment with anti‐T‐cell antibodies reduced NRM (HR = 0·35, P = 0·01) and improved survival (HR = 0·49, P = 0·01), GRFS (HR = 0·37, P = 0·0004) and LFS (HR = 0·46, P = 0·005). Thus, sequential chemotherapy followed by RIC HSCT and use of anti‐T‐cell antibodies seems promising in patients with refractory AML.