bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aspects in oat breeding: nutrition quality, nakedness and disease resistance, challenges and perspectives
Authors: Gorash A. , Armonienė R. , Mitchell Fetch J. , Liatukas Ž. , Danytė V.
Published: September 2017

Traditionally, the oat crop (Avena sativa) has been neglected in a number of respects, cultivated in cropping areas not optimal for wheat, barley or maize. In recent years the interest in oats has increased, particularly because of its dietary benefits and therapeutic potential for human health. The uniqueness and advantages of naked oats over other popular cereals, due to its potentially valuable nutritional composition, have been well studied and reported, opening new market “niches” for oats. Despite the well‐documented benefits, the status of the oat crop is still fragile, due to many reasons. The area cultivated for the oat crop is much less compared with other cereals, and therefore commercial efforts in oat breeding are less. Oat groat yield is lower than other cereals such as wheat and the nutritious uniqueness has not been reflected in agreeable market prices. The same price still exists for both naked and conventional/covered oats in the world grain market. The absence of visible market competitiveness, and some of the oat biological drawbacks, including low grain yield, keeps the oat crop as a lower profitability minor crop. This review is intended to analyse and summarise main achievements and challenges in oat genetics, agronomy and phytopathology to find possible ways of oat improvement and future perspectives for oat breeding.
Hypomineralized second primary molars: prevalence, defect characteristics and relationship with dental caries in Melbourne preschool children
Authors: Owen ML , Ghanim A , Elsby D , Manton DJ
Published: September 2017

Background

Dental caries and enamel defects (DDE) are prevalent amongst children. The presence of DDE, especially enamel hypomineralization, may increase caries experience. The reported prevalence of hypomineralized second primary molars (HSPM) is 2.7–21.8%, although the occurrence in Australian children remains unknown. These HSPM represent a potential predictive factor for molar‐incisor hypomineralization (MIH).

Methods

In total, 623 children aged 3–5 years from 30 randomly selected kindergartens participated. The HSPM were recorded using an index combining the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry MIH Judgment Criteria and modified DDE Index. Caries was recorded using International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria.

Results

In total, 144 HSPM were observed in 88 of the 623 (14.1%) children, a tooth‐level prevalence of 5.8%. The prevalence of dentinal carious lesions was 13.2%, and caries prevalence (d2–6mft > 0) was 36.4%. Cavitated carious lesions affected 30.7% of HSPM.

Conclusions

The relationship between an increase in HSPM lesion extent and increasing number of HSPM per child was statistically significant. A positive association between HSPM severity and extent at tooth level existed (P < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between the extent of HSPM and carious lesion severity (P < 0.05). In this population, children with HSPM did not have overall greater caries experience.
Urinary miR‐155‐5p and CXCL10 as prognostic and predictive biomarkers of rejection, graft outcome and treatment response in kidney transplantation
Authors: Millán Olga , Budde Klemens , Sommerer Claudia , Aliart Irene , Rissling Olesja , Bardaji Beatriz , Matz Maaren , Zeier Martin , Silva Irene , Guirado Lluis , Brunet Mercè
Published: September 2017

Aims

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be useful biomarkers of rejection and allograft outcome in kidney transplantation. Elevated urinary CXCL10 levels have been associated with acute rejection (AR) and may predict allograft failure. We examined the correlation of miRNA, CXCL10 levels and immunosuppressive drug exposure with AR and graft function in kidney transplant recipients.

Methods

Eighty de novo kidney transplant recipients were recruited from four European centres. All patients received tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone. Urinary pellet expression of miR‐142‐3p, miR‐210‐3p and miR‐155‐5p was assessed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and urinary CXCL10 levels by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay at the 1st week and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th months post‐transplantation.

Results

Eight patients experienced AR. Before and during AR, patients showed a significant increase of urinary miR‐142‐3p, miR‐155‐5p and CXCL10 levels and a decrease of miR‐210‐3p levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that miR‐155‐5p (area under the curve = 0.875; P = 0.046) and CXCL10 (area under the curve = 0.865; P = 0.029) had excellent capacity to discriminate between rejectors and nonrejectors. The optimal cut‐off values for the prognosis of AR were 0.51, with 85% sensitivity and 86% specificity for miR‐155‐5p and 84.73 pg ml–1, with 84% sensitivity and 80% specificity for CXCL10. miR‐155‐5p and CXCL10 levels correlated with glomerular filtration rate. Levels of both biomarkers normalized after recovery of graft function.

Conclusions

The regular early post‐transplantation monitoring of urinary miR‐155‐5p and CXCL10 can help in the prognosis of AR and graft dysfunction. Large prospective randomized multicentre trials are warranted to refine our cut‐off values and validate the clinical usefulness of these biomarkers.
β‐Cell signalling and insulin secretagogues: A path for improved diabetes therapy
Authors: Seino Susumu , Sugawara Kenji , Yokoi Norihide , Takahashi Harumi
Published: September 2017

Insulin secretagogues including sulfonylureas, glinides and incretin‐related drugs such as dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists are widely used for treatment of type 2 diabetes. In addition, glucokinase activators and G‐protein‐coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) agonists also have been developed, although the drugs are not clinically usable. These different drugs exert their effects on insulin secretion by different mechanisms. Recent advances in β‐cell signalling studies have not only deepened our understanding of insulin secretion but also revealed novel mechanisms of insulin secretagogues. Clarification of the signalling mechanisms of the insulin secretagogues will contribute to improved drug therapy for diabetes.
Signals in the pancreatic islet microenvironment influence β‐cell proliferation
Authors: Aamodt Kristie I. , Powers Alvin C.
Published: September 2017

The progressive loss of pancreatic β‐cell mass that occurs in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is a primary factor driving efforts to identify strategies for effectively increasing, enhancing or restoring β‐cell mass. While factors that seem to influence β‐cell proliferation in specific contexts have been described, reliable stimulation of human β‐cell proliferation has remained a challenge. Importantly, β‐cells exist in the context of a complex, integrated pancreatic islet microenvironment where they interact with other endocrine cells, vascular endothelial cells, extracellular matrix, neuronal projections and islet macrophages. This review highlights different components of the pancreatic microenvironment, and reviews what is known about how signaling that occurs between β‐cells and these other components influences β‐cell proliferation. Future efforts to further define the role of the pancreatic islet microenvironment on β‐cell proliferation may lead to the development of successful approaches to increase or restore β‐cell mass in diabetes.
The importance of snow in species distribution models of arctic vegetation
Authors: Niittynen Pekka , Luoto Miska
Published: September 2017

Snow cover is characteristic of high‐latitude and ‐altitude ecosystems where snowpack properties regulate many ecological patterns and processes. Nevertheless, snow information is only rarely used as a predictor in species distribution models (SDMs). Methodological difficulties have been limiting both the quality and quantity of available snow information in SDMs.

Here, we test whether incorporating remotely sensed snow information in baseline SDMs (using five climate‐topography‐soil variables) improves the accuracy of species occurrence and community level predictions. We use vegetation data recorded in 1200 study sites spanning a wide range of environmental conditions characteristic of mountain systems at high‐latitudes. The data consist of 273 species from three ecologically different and evolutionarily distant taxonomical groups: vascular plants, mosses, and lichens.

The inclusion of the snow persistence variable significantly improved the predictive performance of the distribution and community level predictions. The improvements were constant, irrespective of the evaluation metric used or the taxonomic group in question. Snow was the most influential predictor for 36% of the species and had, on average, the second highest variable importance scores of all the environmental variables considered. Consequently, models incorporating snow data produced markedly more refined distribution maps than simpler models. Snow information should not be neglected in the construction of species distribution models where ecosystems characterized by seasonal snow cover are concerned.
Chinese Individualisms: Childrearing Aspirations for the Next Generation of Middle‐Class Chinese Citizens
Authors: Kim Sung won , Brown Kari‐Elle , Fong Vanessa L.
Published: September 2017

This article draws on surveys (N = 406) and interviews (n = 48) of graduates of a middle school in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China, who were part of the first generation of children born under the one‐child policy that began along with China's economic reforms in 1979 and were between ages 25 and 30 when they were interviewed in 2011–14. We compared how they said they had been raised by their parents with how they hope to raise their own children. We found that, while their parents raised them with the disciplined study habits and high expectations children needed to become successful in the newly competitive education system of the 1990s, our interviewees had developed a new understanding of what it would take for children to become successful, upwardly mobile Chinese citizens in the 2010s, and emphasized freedom and the development and pursuit of individual interests, pointing towards a hybrid form of “soft” and “hard” individualism.
Corporate debt maturity and stock price crash risk
Authors: Dang Viet Anh , Lee Edward , Liu Yangke , Zeng Cheng
Published: September 2017

We find that firms with a larger proportion of short‐term debt have lower future stock price crash risk, consistent with short‐term debt lenders playing an effective monitoring role in constraining managers’ bad‐news‐hoarding behaviour. The inverse relationship between short‐maturity debt and future crash risk is more pronounced for firms that are harder to monitor due to weaker corporate governance, higher information asymmetry, and greater risk‐taking. These findings suggest that short‐term debt substitutes for other monitoring mechanisms in curbing managerial opportunism and reducing future crash risk. Our study implies that short‐maturity debt not only preserves creditors’ interests, but also protects shareholders’ wealth.
Clinical management of superficial complicated corneal ulcerations infected with newly identified fastidious bacteria with unknown antibiotic sensitivity in three horses
Authors: Henriksen M. d. L. , Sharkey  L. , Esser  M. , Costello J.
Published: September 2017

This case series addresses a clinical approach to a specific type of infected corneal ulceration in horses; the slow‐healing superficial complicated corneal ulceration involving a fastidious or possibly newly identified bacteria for which no antibiotic sensitivity can be determined. These corneal ulcerations present as superficial, nonhealing lesions that appear infected based on cellular infiltration of the cornea. Because they are superficial, they do not appear to be as serious to the referral veterinarian as deep stromal corneal ulcerations. However, superficial corneal ulcerations are complicated and slow healing, ultimately frustrating both owners and primary care clinicians. Culture results are often negative, or implicate a newly identified bacteria with no known antimicrobial sensitivity in horses.
Classical gonadoblastoma: its relationship to the ‘dissecting’ variant and undifferentiated gonadal tissue
Authors: Roth Lawrence M , Cheng Liang
Published: September 2017

Classical gonadoblastoma occurs almost entirely in the dysgenetic gonads of an individual who has a disorder of sex development. Approximately 40% of such neoplasms are bilateral. Almost all gonadoblastomas occur in patients who have a Y chromosome or part thereof; testis‐specific protein Y‐encoded 1 (TSPY1) is the putative gene. If a gonad in a patient who has a disorder of sex development contains germ cells with delayed maturation, and also harbours the TSPY1 gene, the cells can undergo transformation to classical gonadoblastoma. The latter consists of rounded islands composed of germ cells, sex cord elements and hyaline basement membrane material surrounded by a variably cellular gonadal stroma that sometimes contains steroid cells. Classical gonadoblastoma can be interpreted as a non‐invasive neoplasm that is the precursor of germinoma and, indirectly, other more aggressive germ cell neoplasms. Undifferentiated gonadal tissue is the precursor of classical gonadoblastoma and contains germ cells with delayed maturation that express octamer‐binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4); however, other germ cells show normal maturation and express TSPY1. If all germ cells in a patient with undifferentiated gonadal tissue involute, the result is a secondary streak. Undifferentiated gonadal tissue is a non‐neoplastic condition that should be distinguished clearly from ‘dissecting gonadoblastoma’, a neoplasm derived from classical gonadoblastoma that is the precursor of some germinomas. ‘Dissecting gonadoblastoma’ is a variant of classical gonadoblastoma that has unusual growth patterns and contains both sex cord and germ cell elements. Clonal expansion of germ cells is a characteristic of the late stage of ‘dissecting gonadoblastoma’.
Podoplanin expression in cancer‐associated fibroblasts predicts unfavourable prognosis in patients with pathological stage IA lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kubouchi Yasuaki , Yurugi Yohei , Wakahara Makoto , Sakabe Tomohiko , Haruki Tomohiro , Nosaka Kanae , Miwa Ken , Araki Kunio , Taniguchi Yuji , Shiomi Tatsushi , Nakamura Hiroshige , Umekita Yoshihisa
Published: September 2017

Aims

Podoplanin expression in cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been proposed as an unfavourable indicator in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, but little is known about its clinical significance in early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma. We evaluated the prognostic impact of podoplanin expression in patients with pathological stage (p‐stage) IA lung adenocarcinoma as categorised by the 8th edition of the tumour–node–metastasis classification for lung cancer.

Methods and results

Immunohistochemical analyses using anti‐podoplanin antibody were performed on resected specimens from 158 patients with p‐stage IA lung adenocarcinoma. When more than 10% of cancer cells or CAFs showed immunoreactivity with podoplanin, the specimens were classified as podoplanin‐positive. Podoplanin‐positive status in cancer cells (n = 8) was not correlated with clinicopathological factors or with patient prognosis. Podoplanin‐positive status in CAFs (n = 41) was correlated significantly with poorer tumour differentiation (P < 0.001), the presence of lymphatic invasion (P < 0.001) and high‐grade (solid and/or micropapillary) components constituting ≥1% of the entire tumour (P < 0.001). The log‐rank test showed that podoplanin‐positive status in CAFs was associated significantly with shorter disease‐free survival (DFS) (P < 0.001) and disease‐specific survival (P = 0.015). In Cox's multivariate analysis, podoplanin‐positive status in CAFs had the most significant effect on shorter DFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.411, P = 0.004], followed by the presence of high‐grade components (HR = 3.581, P = 0.013).

Conclusions

Podoplanin expression in CAFs could be an independent predictor of increased risk of recurrence in patients with p‐stage IA lung adenocarcinoma.
Out of focus: tailoring the cascade of care to the needs of women living with HIV
Authors: Geretti AM , Loutfy M , D'Arminio Monforte A , Latysheva I , Pérez Elías MJ , Rymer J , Boffito M
Published: September 2017

Around half of the global adult HIV‐positive population are women, yet historically women have been under‐represented in clinical studies of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and there has been minimal exploration of gender‐specific factors related to the response to and appropriateness of treatment choices in women living with HIV (WLWH). There are several key issues pertaining to the cascade of HIV care that make it important to differentiate WLWH from men living with HIV. Factors that are gender specific may impact on the status of WLWH, affecting access to diagnosis and treatment, optimal clinical management, ART outcomes, retention in care, and the overall long‐term wellbeing of WLWH. In this review, we discuss the results of recently reported women‐only clinical trials and highlight the key unmet needs of WLWH as they pertain to the cascade of HIV care across World Health Organization European Region countries. As significant knowledge gaps remain, the review identifies key areas where further research is required, in order to support improved management of WLWH and guide informed clinical decision‐making, including addressing psychosocial factors as part of comprehensive care.
Bifurcated Effects of Place‐of‐Origin Diversity on Individual and Team Performance: Evidence from Ten Seasons of German Soccer
Authors: Ben‐Ner Avner , Licht John‐Gabriel , Park Jin
Published: September 2017

How does diversity affect performance? We develop a theoretical framework in which diversity of prevention employees (protecting the organization from harm) and of promotion employees (advancing positive outcomes) have different effects on individual and organizational performance. We use data for twenty‐eight soccer teams and 1723 players that played in 6120 games during ten seasons and find that diversity of defensive (prevention) players has a positive effect on player and team performance whereas the opposite holds for offensive (promotion) players. Joint tenure of offensive players tends to amplify these effects.
Advanced vitreoretinal surgery
Authors: Koch P.
Published: September 2017

Title: Tips and tricks to manage complications in retinal detachment surgery

Introduction

Retinal detachment surgery can remain a tricky surgery that associates with different kind of complications. It is interesting to observe that our success rate did not increase so much in the literature since the 1940's, remaining between 80 and 90% as a whole.

Methods

We will therefore try to understand why complications arises in retinal detachment to figure out how to reduce it and thus increase our success rate. Since glaucomatous problems are a relevant complication of retinal detachment treated by silicon oil, we will identify how to reduce intra‐ocular pressure problems related to silicon oil use. In the same way, with the advent of heavy liquids like PFCL to stabilize the retina during surgery, we will try to understand how to work properly with PFCL or fix related complications. In a final step, we will examine the causes of macular pucker and recurrences of retinal detachment to enhance our success rate through different methods.

Conclusion

This session will be organized around theories commonly accepted in the literature and multiple videos to demonstrate tips and tricks to manage complications in retinal detachment surgery.
Low expression of SEMA6C accelerates the primordial follicle activation in the neonatal mouse ovary
Authors: Zhou Su , Yan Wei , Shen Wei , Cheng Jing , Xi Yueyue , Yuan Suzhen , Fu Fangfang , Ding Ting , Luo Aiyue , Wang Shixuan
Published: September 2017

The primordial follicle assembly, activation and the subsequent development are critical processes for female reproduction. A limited number of primordial follicles are activated to enter the growing follicle pool each wave, and the primordial follicle pool progressively diminishes over a woman's life‐time. The number of remaining primordial follicles represents the ovarian reserve. Identification and functional investigation of the factors involved in follicular initial recruitment will be of great significance to the understanding of the female reproduction process and ovarian ageing. In this study, we aimed to study whether and how semaphorin 6C (Sema6c) regulated the primordial follicle activation in the neonatal mouse ovary. The attenuation of SEMA6C expression by SiRNA accelerated the primordial follicle activation in the in vitro ovary culture system. PI3K‐AKT‐rpS6 pathway was activated when SEMA6C expression was down‐regulated. And the LY294002 could reverse the effect of low SEMA6C expression on primordial follicle activation. Our findings revealed that Sema6c was involved in the activation of primordial follicles, and the down‐regulation of SEMA6C led to massive primordial follicle activation by interacting with the PI3K‐AKT‐rpS6 pathway, which might also provide valuable information for understanding premature ovarian failure and ovarian ageing.
Quartz and orthopyroxene exsolution lamellae in clinopyroxene and the metamorphic P–T path of Belomorian eclogites
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Zhang Lifei , Wei Chunjing , Slabunov Alexander I. , Bader Thomas
Published: September 2017

The Shirokaya Salma eclogite‐bearing complex is located in the Archean–Palaeoproterozoic Belomorian Province (Russia). Its eclogites and eclogitic rocks show multiple clinopyroxene breakdown textures, characterized by quartz–amphibole, orthopyroxene and plagioclase lamellae. Representative samples, a fresh eclogite, two partly retrograded eclogites, and a strongly retrograded eclogitic rock, were collected for this study. Two distinct mineral assemblages—(1) omphacite+garnet+quartz+rutile±amphibole and (2) clinopyroxene+garnet+amphibole+plagioclase+quartz+rutile+ilmenite±orthopyroxene—are described. Based on phase equilibria modelling, these assemblages correspond to the eclogite and granulite facies metamorphism that occurred at 16–18 kbar, 750–800°C and 11–15 kbar, 820–850°C, respectively. The quartz–amphibole lamellae in clinopyroxene formed during retrogression with water ingress, but do not imply UHP metamorphism. The superfine orthopyroxene lamellae developed due to breakdown of an antecedent clinopyroxene (omphacite) during retrogression that was triggered by decompression from the peak of metamorphism, while the coarser orthopyroxene grains and rods formed afterwards. The P–T path reconstructed for the Shirokaya Salma eclogites is comparable to that of the adjacent 1.9 Ga Uzkaya Salma eclogite (Belomorian Province), and those of several other Palaeoproterozoic high‐grade metamorphic terranes worldwide, facts allowing us to debate the exact timing of eclogite facies metamorphism in the Belomorian Province.
The relationship between psychiatric patients’ caregiver burden and anger expression styles
Authors: Yıldırım Serap , Akyüz Özge , Engin Esra , Gültekin Kadriye
Published: September 2017

Aims and objectives

To examine the relationship between psychiatric patients’ caregiver burden and anger expression styles.

Background

In the caregiving process, when coping with problems, caregivers may exhibit emotional and behavioural responses, which can produce distressful results. One of these responses is angry. Examining the relationship between psychiatric patients’ caregiver burden and caregivers’ anger expression styles is necessary for quality of care.

Design

A descriptive and relational study.

Methods

The sample for study included 60 family caregivers who were stayed with patient in psychiatry clinic during the treatment of inpatient setting of a university hospital. Data for the study were collected using the Caregiver Burden Inventory and the Trait Anger and Anger Expression Scale. The analysis of variance, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis and Pearson correlation analysis were used.

Results

The caregivers’ Caregiver Burden Inventory score was found to be 24.60 ± 1.57. Gender, working status, level of intimacy with patient, status of whether or not caregiver was living with patient and status of whether or not caregiver experienced difficulties in providing care had a significant effect on the Caregiver Burden Inventory scale as a whole, as well as its subscales. This study found a positive relationship between caregiver burden and caregivers’ anger expression styles (p < .05, p < .01).

Conclusion

The total Caregiver Burden Inventory mean score of caregivers was concluded to be low, with some introductory characteristics and anger expression styles having an impact on the burden experienced by caregivers.

Relevance to clinical practice

Knowing the anger expression styles of caregivers is important for reducing caregiver burden and improving quality of care.
Effects of a nurse‐led transitional care programme on readmission, self‐efficacy to implement health‐promoting behaviours, functional status and life quality among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Pan , Xing Feng‐Mei , Li Chang‐Zai , Wang Feng‐Lan , Zhang Xiao‐Li
Published: September 2017

Aims and objectives

To examine the effectiveness of a nurse‐led transitional care programme on readmission, self‐efficacy to implement health‐promoting behaviours, functional status and life quality among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease.

Background

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of mortality in China. Transitional care could help to ensure improved patient outcomes. Nevertheless, our knowledge of how to perform transitional care for patients with coronary artery disease is insufficient in mainland China.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Methods

The nurse‐led transitional care intervention in the experimental group adopted the Omaha system and Pender's health‐promoting model as its frameworks. The control group received a comparable length routine care and follow‐up contacts. Evaluations were conducted at baseline before discharge and after 7 months after discharge using hospital readmission rate, self‐rated abilities for health practices scale and Seattle Angina Questionnaire for functional status and life quality. Data were collected between March 2014–October 2014.

Results

Compared with the control group, participants in the experimental group showed greater self‐efficacy to implement health‐promoting behaviours, more angina stability, less angina frequency, more satisfaction with treatment and better quality of life. The difference in readmission rate and physical limitations was not significant between the two groups.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a nurse‐led transitional care programme in improving the ability to implement health‐promoting behaviours, the functional status and life quality among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease.

Relevance to clinical practice

The nurse‐led transitional care programme is helpful for coronary artery disease patients to promote their effective transfer from hospital to community and provide an evidence for nursing managers to train their nurses for transitional care knowledge and skills.
Effects of nurse‐led clinical pathway in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Kebapcı Ayda , Kanan Nevin
Published: September 2017

Aims and objectives

To develop and evaluate the effects of a nurse‐led clinical pathway for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background

A clinical pathway is a multidisciplinary care plan, based on evidence and guidelines to provide consistent, quality care to patients and improve outcomes.

Design

Prospective, quasi‐experimental design.

Methods

Patients hospitalised for coronary artery bypass graft between April 2014–November 2015 in a hospital in Turkey were studied. First 42 usual care patients were enrolled to determine outcomes and plan for the development of the clinical pathway followed by 40 patients in the newly developed clinical pathway. The primary outcome was length of stay and secondary outcomes related to recovery from surgery (e.g., time to extubation, first feeding).

Results

The mean age for the clinical pathway group was 60 and for usual care was 63 years. Most were male (CP = 78%, UC = 69%). There were significant differences between groups for the primary outcome. Length of stay in the intensive care unit was 38.9 hr for CP and 50.7 hr for usual care patients p < .01. Total hospital time was 144.4 hr for clinical pathway and 162.2 hr for usual care, p < .05. For secondary measures, the following times were less for the clinical pathway group than for the usual care: time to extubation and nasogastric tube removal (5.7 vs. 8.6 hr, p < .01), first oral feeding (4.7 vs. 10.9 hr, p < .001), first mobilisation (8.4 vs. 22.9 hr, p < .001) and first bowel movement (69.8 vs. 85.9 hr, p < .01). There were no statistically significant differences in the 3‐month readmission rates and complication rates between the groups, except the renal complication rates were higher in the usual care (n = 16, 38%) than in the clinical pathway (n = 7, 17.5%) (p < .05).

Conclusion

The nurse‐led clinical pathway was effective in improving length of stay in both the ICU and hospital as well as the secondary outcomes.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study contributes to previous studies supporting clinical pathway use can improve the length of stay and quality of care in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
The effect of self‐administered superficial local hot and cold application methods on pain, functional status and quality of life in primary knee osteoarthritis patients
Authors: Aciksoz Semra , Akyuz Aygul , Tunay Servet
Published: September 2017

Aims and objectives

To investigate the effect of the self‐administered superficial local hot and cold applications on pain, and the functional status and the quality of life in primary knee osteoarthritis patients.

Background

Superficial local hot and cold application is used as a nonpharmacological method for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. However, various guidelines for the management of knee osteoarthritis have conflicting recommendation for hot and cold therapy.

Design

A randomised clinical trial design.

Methods

The sample consisted of patients (n = 96) who were diagnosed with primary knee osteoarthritis. During the application stage, patients were designated to the hot and cold application groups and administered hot and cold application twice a day for 3 weeks together with standard osteoarthritis treatment. The control group only used standard osteoarthritis treatment. The data were collected with a Descriptive Information Form, a Pain Scale, the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and a Patient Satisfaction Evaluation Form. Outcome measures included pain intensity, functional status and quality of life.

Results

We found decreased primary measurement pain scores and improved functional status scores and quality of life scores after the application programme compared to the pre‐application stage in both the hot and cold application groups. Once the application was completed, the pain scores, functional status scores and quality‐of‐life scores on the second measurements were found to be still statistically lower than the pre‐application scores but higher than the first measurement ([p < .001, χ2 = 48.000; p < .001, χ2 = 34.000], [p < .001, χ2 = 22.000; p = .001 χ2=14.000] and [p = .005, χ2 = 16.000; p = .001, χ2 = 12.500]). There was no difference in the perceived pain, functional status and quality of life between the pre‐application, postapplication and 2 weeks postapplication periods of the individuals in three groups (p > .05).

Conclusion

It was found that both hot and cold application resulted in a mild improvement in pain, functional status and quality of life, but this improvement was not sufficient to create a significant difference between the groups.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study contributes to the literature on hot and cold application methods as self‐management strategies for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Intestinal Microbiota in Large Yellow Croaker, Larimichthys crocea, at Different Ages
Authors: Wei Na , Wang Chengcheng , Xiao Shijun , Huang Weiqing , Lin Mao , Yan Qingpi , Ma Ying
Published: September 2017

The polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) of 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to investigate bacterial communities in the intestines of large yellow croaker at six different ages (12 d, 18 d, 26 d, 40 d, 3 mo, and 1 yr old) as well as within the corresponding feed and culture water. In addition, Illumina Miseq sequencing was utilized to compare intestinal microbiota between 12‐d‐old and 1‐yr‐old individuals. PCR‐DGGE results revealed that the culture water had the highest bacterial diversity, followed by the feed, while the intestines had the lowest diversity. The intestinal microbiota at six ages changed severely; however, the change did not follow any trend. The large yellow croaker intestines harbored specific bacterial communities that differed from those in both feed and water. Illumina Miseq sequencing results revealed that the diversity of intestinal bacteria in 12‐d‐old fish was higher than that in 1‐yr‐old fish, and the bacterial composition differed significantly between them. γ‐Proteobacteria and Pseudoalteromonas supplied the most abundant phylum and genus in the 12‐d‐old fish intestine. However, in the 1‐yr‐old fish intestine, Firmicutes and Clostridium were the most dominant, respectively. The study may contribute to a better understanding of gut microbiota and dynamics of the large yellow croaker and the relationship with their surrounding environment.
Collaborative Innovation, New Technologies, and Work Redesign
Authors: Lindsay Colin , Findlay Patricia , McQuarrie Johanna , Bennie Marion , Corcoran Emma Dunlop , Van Der Meer Robert
Published: September 2017

Stakeholders agree on the need to promote innovation in work organization in public services. This article deploys the concept of collaborative innovation to discuss employees' and managers' experiences of a major technology‐driven work redesign project within National Health Service pharmacy services in Scotland. The authors draw on extant literature on New Public Management (NPM) and collaborative approaches to innovation to frame more than 40 in‐depth interviews with managers and employees. They find that key components of collaborative innovation—related to joint problem‐solving, interdisciplinary working, and mutual learning—were important to the success of the redesign project and had positive impacts on job quality for some employees. The authors argue that researchers and policy makers should look beyond NPM‐driven models that have dominated some areas of the public innovation literature to consider the potential added value of collaborative innovation to improving both work and service delivery in the public sector.
Were We Really All in it Together? The Distributional Effects of the 2010–15 UK Coalition Government's Tax‐benefit Policy Changes
Authors: De Agostini Paola , Hills John , Sutherland Holly
Published: September 2017

This article examines the distributional impacts of changes to benefits, tax credits, pensions and direct taxes between the UK general elections of May 2010 and May 2015. The changes did not have a common effect on all household incomes; nor did the direct tax‐benefit changes contribute to deficit reduction. Effectively, reductions in benefits and tax credits financed part of the direct taxes cuts, but the overall net fiscal cost increased pressure for cuts in other public services and increases in other (more regressive) taxes. The main gains were in the upper middle of the income distribution, and the main losers were at the bottom and those close to, but not at, the very top. Across most of the distribution the changes were regressive. By comparing with other analyses of policy changes in the same period, we illustrate the importance of analytical choices and assumptions for detailed conclusions on their distributional effects. We also show how some groups were clear losers or gained little on average – including lone parent families, large families and families with younger children. Others were gainers, including two‐earner couples, and those in their fifties and early sixties. The findings show that a dominant feature of the period was that the combination of higher tax‐free income tax allowances, financed by cuts in benefits and tax credits, was generally regressive. As this combination also lies at the heart of the proposed policies of the Conservative government since 2015, we would expect these effects to be intensified in the coming years.
Red blood cell alloimmunization in neonates and children up to 3 years of age
Authors: Türkmen Tugce , Qiu Dan , Cooper Nina , Sachs Ulrich J. , Wößmann Wilhelm , Schranz Dietmar , Zimmer Klaus‐Peter , Ehrhardt Harald , Hackstein Holger , Bein Gregor
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

An alloimmune response to red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in neonates is a rare event. Several guidelines recommend limited pretransfusion testing in neonates. The evidence for these recommendations is based on small studies with sample sizes of between 30 and 90 infants.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among consecutive patients who received transfusions at a single university medical center. All non‐alloimmunized patients who had received their first RBC transfusion between 1994 and 2013 and who underwent at least one antibody screening follow‐up visit between 7 and 365 days after transfusion were included.

RESULTS

The incidence of alloimmunization in the control group of 17,084 adult patients age 45 years or older who had received a median of 5 RBC units (interquartile range, 2‐12 RBC units) was 3.55% (n = 607 alloimmunized patients). After transfusion of 40 RBC units, the cumulative incidence of alloimmunization in adult controls was 10.24% (95% confidence interval, 7.71%‐13.17%). In total, 1641 neonates and children up to age 3 years received a median of 4 RBC units (interquartile range, 2‐7 RBC units) in a median of two RBC transfusion episodes (interquartile range, one to five RBC transfusion episodes). Two children developed anti‐M and anti‐E antibodies post‐transfusion at the ages of 181 and 611 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this study presents the largest longitudinal cohort study of RBC alloimmunization in neonates. Antibodies against RBC antigens were not detected within the first 6 months of life. Repeat antibody screening and cross‐matching during the first months of life can be safely omitted.
A randomized multicenter study: safety and efficacy of mini‐pool intravenous immunoglobulin versus standard immunoglobulin in children aged 1‐18 years with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Elalfy Mohsen , Reda Marwa , Elghamry Islam , Elalfy Omar , Meabed Mohamed , El‐Ekiaby Nada , El‐Hawy Mahmoud A. , Goubran Hadi , El‐Ekiaby Magdy
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Because there is a global shortage of intravenous immunoglobulin, there is a need for new products to fill the gap.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, open‐label study investigating the safety and efficacy of a newly developed mini‐pool intravenous immunoglobulin G for children with immune thrombocytopenia. Seventy‐two patients ages 1 to 18 years with newly diagnosed (<1 month) immune thrombocytopenia who had platelet counts from 5 to 20 × 109/L with no serious bleeding were recruited from four centers in Egypt. Eligible patients were randomized into three groups 1:1:1. Group A (n = 24) received blood group–specific mini‐pool intravenous immunoglobulin in a dose equivalent to immunoglobulin 1 g/kg over 6 to 8 hours, Group B (n = 24) received standard intravenous immunoglobulin (approximately 1g/kg) as a single dose, and Group C (n = 24) did not receive any platelet‐enhancing therapy. Parents signed informed consent.

RESULTS

Of the patients who received mini‐pool intravenous immunoglobulin, 14 achieved a complete response (CR) (58.8%), and four had a response (16.6%). Of the patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin G, 16 achieved a complete response (66.6%), and four had a response (16.6%). In Group C, eight patients achieved a complete response (33.3%), and four had a response (16.6%). The median time to response was 8, 9, and 21 days in Group A, B, and C, respectively, which was significantly higher in Group C than Groups A and B (p < 0.001). Patients in Groups A and B reported 16 adverse drug reactions.

CONCLUSION

Mini‐pool intravenous immunoglobulin G was well tolerated, presented no safety issues, and was effective in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia, with efficacy comparable to that of the standard intravenous immunoglobulin G group, and it was significantly more effective than no treatment.
Cold platelets for trauma‐associated bleeding: regulatory approval, accreditation approval, and practice implementation—just the “tip of the iceberg”
Authors: Stubbs James R. , Tran Sheryl A. , Emery Richard L. , Hammel Scott A. , Haugen De Anna L. , Zielinski Martin D. , Zietlow Scott P. , Jenkins Donald
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Laboratory and clinical evidence suggest that cold‐stored platelets (CS‐PLTs) might be preferable to room temperature platelets (RT‐PLTs) for active bleeding. Ease of prehospital use plus potential hemostatic superiority led our facility to pursue approval of CS‐PLTs for actively bleeding trauma patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

From November 18, 2013, through October 8, 2015, correspondence was exchanged between our facility, the AABB, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An initial AABB variance request was for 5‐day CS‐PLTs without agitation. The AABB deferred its decision pending FDA approval to use our platelet (PLT) bags for CS‐PLTs. On March 27, 2015, the FDA approved 3‐day CS‐PLTs without agitation. On October 8, 2015, the AABB approved 3‐day CS‐PLTs without agitation and without bacterial testing for actively bleeding trauma patients. Our facility's goal is to carry CS‐PLTs on air ambulances.

RESULTS

CS‐PLTs have been used for trauma patients at our facility since October 2015. As of August 2016, a total of 21 (19.1%) of 119 CS‐PLTs have been transfused. The short 3‐day storage period combined with the formation of clots in plasma‐rich CS‐PLTs during storage have been the major causes of a high (80.9%) discard rate.

CONCLUSION

In the future, pathogen‐reduced (PR), PLT additive solution (PAS) CS‐PLTs seem more practical due to low risks of bacterial contamination and storage‐related clotting. This should make longer storage of CS‐PLTs feasible (e.g., 10 days or more). With a longer shelf life, PR PAS CS‐PLTs could potentially be used in a wider range of patient populations.
A Finite Element Model of a Midsize Male for Simulating Pedestrian Accidents
Authors: Untaroiu Costin D. , Pak Wansoo , Meng Yunzhu , Schap Jeremy , Koya Bharath , Gayzik Scott
Published: September 2017

Pedestrians represent one of the most vulnerable road users and comprise nearly 22% the road crash-related fatalities in the world. Therefore, protection of pedestrians in car-to-pedestrian collisions (CPC) has recently generated increased attention with regulations involving three subsystem tests. The development of a finite element (FE) pedestrian model could provide a complementary component that characterizes the whole-body response of vehicle–pedestrian interactions and assesses the pedestrian injuries. The main goal of this study was to develop and to validate a simplified full body FE model corresponding to a 50th male pedestrian in standing posture (M50-PS). The FE model mesh and defined material properties are based on a 50th percentile male occupant model. The lower limb-pelvis and lumbar spine regions of the human model were validated against the postmortem human surrogate (PMHS) test data recorded in four-point lateral knee bending tests, pelvic\abdomen\shoulder\thoracic impact tests, and lumbar spine bending tests. Then, a pedestrian-to-vehicle impact simulation was performed using the whole pedestrian model, and the results were compared to corresponding PMHS tests. Overall, the simulation results showed that lower leg response is mostly within the boundaries of PMHS corridors. In addition, the model shows the capability to predict the most common lower extremity injuries observed in pedestrian accidents. Generally, the validated pedestrian model may be used by safety researchers in the design of front ends of new vehicles in order to increase pedestrian protection.
Unveiling the role and life strategies of viruses from the surface to the dark ocean
Authors: Lara Elena , Vaqué Dolors , Sà Elisabet Laia , Boras Julia A. , Gomes Ana , Borrull Encarna , Díez-Vives Cristina , Teira Eva , Pernice Massimo C. , Garcia Francisca C. , Forn Irene , Castillo Yaiza M. , Peiró Aida , Salazar Guillem , Morán Xosé Anxelu G. , Massana Ramon , Catalá Teresa S. , Luna Gian Marco , Agustí Susana , Estrada Marta , Gasol Josep M. , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: September 2017

Viral activity exerts a particularly important role in the dark ocean across the global tropical and subtropical oceans.
Curvature and Rho activation differentially control the alignment of cells and stress fibers
Authors: Bade Nathan D. , Kamien Randall D. , Assoian Richard K. , Stebe Kathleen J.
Published: September 2017

Stress fibers, single cells, and densely packed cells align on gently curved surfaces and restructure upon Rho activation.
RecA filament maintains structural integrity using ATP-driven internal dynamics
Authors: Kim Sung Hyun , Ahn TakKyoon , Cui Tao Ju , Chauhan Sweeny , Sung Jaeyoung , Joo Chirlmin , Kim Doseok
Published: September 2017

Sequence-dependent internal reorganization of the RecA filament maintains its structural integrity.
Ultrahigh mobility and efficient charge injection in monolayer organic thin-film transistors on boron nitride
Authors: He Daowei , Qiao Jingsi , Zhang Linglong , Wang Junya , Lan Tu , Qian Jun , Li Yun , Shi Yi , Chai Yang , Lan Wei , Ono Luis K. , Qi Yabing , Xu Jian-Bin , Ji Wei , Wang Xinran
Published: September 2017

An ultimate monolayer of 2D organic crystal can deliver high OTFT performance and be a clean system to investigate device physics.
Quantum simulations with ultracold atoms in optical lattices
Authors: Gross Christian , Bloch Immanuel
Published: September 2017

Quantum simulation, a subdiscipline of quantum computation, can provide valuable insight into difficult quantum problems in physics or chemistry. Ultracold atoms in optical lattices represent an ideal platform for simulations of quantum many-body problems. Within this setting, quantum gas microscopes enable single atom observation and manipulation in large samples. Ultracold atom–based quantum simulators have already been used to probe quantum magnetism, to realize and detect topological quantum matter, and to study quantum systems with controlled long-range interactions. Experiments on many-body systems out of equilibrium have also provided results in regimes unavailable to the most advanced supercomputers. We review recent experimental progress in this field and comment on future directions.