bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Parathyroidectomy on Bone Metabolism and Bone Pain in Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Schneider Ralph , Steinmetz Carolin , Karakas Elias , Bartsch Detlef K. , Schlosser Katja
Published: January 2018

Background: After parathyroidectomy (PTX), hungry bone syndrome leads to hypocalcemia due to bone remineralization. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze changes in markers of bone metabolism in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) after PTX and to correlate these markers with bone pain measured with a validated questionnaire. Materials and Methods: All patients who underwent PTX for sHPT between March 2010 and February 2012 at out institution were included in this prospective observational pilot study. At the day before surgery and on the 3rd day thereafter, levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (AP), bone-specific AP (BAP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b), osteoprotegerin (OPG), sclerostin, fibroblast growth factor 23, and Klotho were measured. Additionally, all patients were requested to answer the Brief Pain Inventory preoperatively and on the 5th postoperative day. Results: A total of 35 patients with a mean age of 49.8 years were analyzed. A significant difference between the pre- and postoperative values could be detected in PTH, calcium, BAP, TRAP5b, and sclerostin. The highest correlation of laboratory markers with bone pain was found for preoperative PTH (r = 0.3), postoperative OPG (r = 0.4), postoperative BAP (r = –0.4), and postoperative Klotho (r = –0.4). Conclusions: The present study revealed significant perioperative changes in PTH, BAP, sclerostin, and TRAP5b after PTX. These markers may serve as laboratory markers to monitor bone metabolism in patients with sHPT. PTH, OPG, and sclerostin were the parameters with the closest correlation to bone pain. However, larger prospective trials with a longer follow-up are required to confirm these results.
Association of Circulating Levels of ADMA with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with CKD: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Fang , Xiong Ruifang , Feng Sujuan , Lu Xiangxue , Li Han , Wang Shixiang
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: The incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is significantly higher than that in the general population. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is considered to be an important predictor of atherosclerosis. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) acted as an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, which was elevated in patients with CKD, but whether plasma ADMA correlate with the CIMT in CKD patients is still not elucidated. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase electronic database. A total of 334 related articles were retrieved, after screened by the inclusion and exclusion criterions, 6 articles were selected. Results: After an overall pooled estimate of correlation coefficient (R) within the 6 articles, we found that levels of circulating ADMA were positively related to CIMT in the patients with CKD. Furthermore, the partial correlation coefficient (PR) was used to reduce the interference caused by the hybrid factors. After correction of other risk factors, it also turned out that levels of circulating ADMA were positively related to CIMT. Conclusion: Circulating levels of ADMA in CKD patients were positively related to CIMT, which could be a predictor of early-onset atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic disease in patients with CKD.
Association of FTO rs9939609 with Obesity in the Kuwaiti Population: A Public Health Concern?
Authors: Al-Serri Ahmad , Al-Bustan Suzanne A. , Kamkar Maisa , Thomas Daisy  , Alsmadi Osama , Al-Temaimi Rabeah , Mojiminiyi Olusegun A. , Abdella Nabila A.
Published: January 2018

Objective: To investigate the effect of the common fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphism rs9939609 on body mass index (BMI) in one of the most obese populations worldwide. Subjects and Methods: Genotypic data for FTO rs9939609 were available for 1,034 unrelated Kuwaiti adults obtained from Kuwait’s Dasman Diabetes Institute and Kuwait University. The association between the FTO polymorphism with BMI as continuous and categorical (normal BMI [< 25] vs. overweight/obese [> 25]) variables was analyzed using both linear and logistic regression models, respectively, with the assumption of both dominant and additive genetic models performed using the SNPassoc package from R statistics. Results: The A allele was associated with increased BMI (β = 1.21; 95% CI = 0.16–2.26; p = 0.023). In concordance, the categorical BMI (normal vs. overweight/obese) also showed a significant association between the A allele and overweight/obesity (OR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.01–2.12; p = 0.041). However, no association between the FTO variant was observed with cardiometabolic traits. Conclusion: We observed an association between the common FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and increased BMI (overweight/obesity) in Kuwaiti adults, which is consistent with previous research in other populations. Our findings encourage further investigation of genetic variants to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the development of obesity in such an obesogenic population.
Transplanted Dental Pulp Stem Cells Migrate to Injured Area and Express Neural Markers in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Zhang Xuemei , Zhou Yinglian , Li Hulun , Wang Rui , Yang Dan , Li Bing , Cao Xiaofang , Fu Jin
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: Ischemic stroke is a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide, while effective restorative treatments are limited at present. Stem cell transplantation holds therapeutic potential for ischemic vascular diseases and may provide an opportunity for neural regeneration. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) origin from neural crest and have neuro-ectodermal features including proliferation and multilineage differentiation potentials. Methods: The rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used to evaluate whether intravenous administration of DPSCs can reduce infarct size and to estimate the migration and trans-differentiation into neuron-like cells in focal cerebral ischemia models. Brain tissues were collected at 4 weeks following cell transplantation and analyzed with immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Results: Intravenously administration of rat-derived DPSCs were found to migrate into the boundary of ischemic areas and expressed neural specific markers, reducing infarct volume and cerebral edema. Conclusions: These results suggest that DPSCs treatment may serve as a potential therapy for clinical stroke patients in the future.
Algoritmo
Authors: Lima Tiago Novaes
Published: January 2018

Ensaio autoficcional sobre a celeridade e os desdobramentos do sujeito moderno perante sites de relacionamento.
A memória da perda e a escrita do luto em dois romances portugueses da segunda metade do século XX
Authors: Girola Maristela Kirst de Lima
Published: January 2018

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar como ocorre a escrita do luto em dois romances portugueses, A Sibila (1954) de Agustina Bessa-Luís e Não entres tão depressa nessa noite escura (2000) de António Lobo Antunes. Apesar de se tratar de romances esteticamente diversos, publicados em momentos diferentes da segunda metade do século XX, um nos anos 50 e o outro no final do século, entendemos que ambos utilizam a memória como recurso importante para tratar de acontecimentos traumáticos para as personagens desencadeadoras da escrita.
Para além de nós: relações de amor através da performance e da escrita
Authors: Bezerra Andrea Pech
Published: January 2018

Realizando um esforço para alinhar prática e teoria, este texto transita entre uma escrita de artista e uma escrita acadêmica. Ele conta sobre o processo de desenvolvimento de um trabalho artístico e ele é o próprio trabalho em si. Na primeira parte, exponho textos-obra: escritos sobre a criação de uma performance e textos que compuseram esta performance. Na segunda, discorrerei sobre as questões que permeiam minha pesquisa e que atravessam este trabalho, trazendo algumas referências. Sem abrir mão de uma escrita pessoal, a exposição destas questões se dá em uma narrativa, onde o interesse não é justificar o trabalho ou apontá-lo em uma direção definitiva. A intenção aqui é abrir fissuras, transitar por caminhos errantes e pousar em encruzilhadas.
Plasma Circular RNAs, Hsa_circRNA_025016, Predict Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Isolated Off‐Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Zhang Jian , Xu Yinli , Xu Shu , Liu Yu , Yu Liming , Li Zhi , Xue Xiaodong , Wang Huishan
Published: January 2018

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are pervasively expressed in highly divergent eukaryotes and are stable in body fluids. However, the link between circRNAs and onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) has not previously been investigated. We aimed to identify plasma circRNAs that are able predict AF after cardiac surgery.

Methods and Results

Plasma circRNA expression profiles were investigated in a total of 769 patients with or without AF after isolated off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting. First, a circRNA microarray was used to screen 13 617 human circRNAs in plasma samples from patients in the discovery cohort (n=30). A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was then applied to evaluate the expression of 9 selected circRNAs in the training cohort (n=365). This approach revealed that hsa_circRNA_025016 was upregulated in patients with new‐onset AF with a high diagnostic accuracy as assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (=0.802). Additionally, a satisfactory diagnostic performance of hsa_circRNA_025016 was found in the validation cohort (n=284). Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes biological pathway analysis indicated that hsa_circ_025016 participated in melanogenesis, insulin secretion, and the thyroid hormone signaling pathway. A positive correlation between hsa_circ_025016 and fasting blood glucose was also identified in both cohorts.

Conclusions

Hsa_circ_025016 is a potential biomarker for predicting new‐onset AF after isolated off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
Transplantation of Allogeneic Pericytes Improves Myocardial Vascularization and Reduces Interstitial Fibrosis in a Swine Model of Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Alvino Valeria Vincenza , Fernández‐Jiménez Rodrigo , Rodriguez‐Arabaolaza Iker , Slater Sadie , Mangialardi Giuseppe , Avolio Elisa , Spencer Helen , Culliford Lucy , Hassan Sakinah , Sueiro Ballesteros Lorena , Herman Andrew , Ayaon‐Albarrán Ali , Galán‐Arriola Carlos , Sánchez‐González Javier , Hennessey Helena , Delmege Catherine , Ascione Raimondo , Emanueli Costanza , Angelini Gianni Davide , Ibanez Borja , Madeddu Paolo
Published: January 2018

Background

Transplantation of adventitial pericytes (
APC
s) promotes cardiac repair in murine models of myocardial infarction. The aim of present study was to confirm the benefit of
APC
therapy in a large animal model.

Methods and Results

We performed a blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled
APC
therapy trial in a swine model of reperfused myocardial infarction. A first study used human
APC
s (
hAPC
s) from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A second study used allogeneic swine
APC
s (
sAPC
s). Primary end points were (1) ejection fraction as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and (2) myocardial vascularization and fibrosis as determined by immunohistochemistry. Transplantation of
hAPC
s reduced fibrosis but failed to improve the other efficacy end points. Incompatibility of the xenogeneic model was suggested by the occurrence of a cytotoxic response following in vitro challenge of
hAPC
s with swine spleen lymphocytes and the failure to retrieve
hAPC
s in transplanted hearts. We next considered
sAPC
s as an alternative. Flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and functional/cytotoxic assays indicate that
sAPC
s are a surrogate of
hAPC
s. Transplantation of allogeneic
sAPC
s benefited capillary density and fibrosis but did not improve cardiac magnetic resonance imaging indices of contractility. Transplanted cells were detected in the border zone.

Conclusions

Immunologic barriers limit the applicability of a xenogeneic swine model to assess
hAPC
efficacy. On the other hand, we newly show that transplantation of allogeneic
sAPC
s is feasible, safe, and immunologically acceptable. The approach induces proangiogenic and antifibrotic benefits, though these effects were not enough to result in functional improvements.
Relationship of High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Renal Function in Patients Treated With Atorvastatin
Authors: Ong Kwok Leung , Waters David D. , Fayyad Rana , Vogt Liffert , Melamed Shari , DeMicco David A. , Rye Kerry‐Anne , Barter Philip J.
Published: January 2018

Background

It is not known whether the concentration of high‐density lipoprotein (
HDL
) cholesterol is related to renal function in statin‐treated patients. We therefore investigated whether
HDL
cholesterol levels predicted renal function in atorvastatin‐treated patients in the TNT (Treating to New Targets) trial.

Methods and Results

A total of 9542 participants were included in this analysis. Renal function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (
eGFR
).
HDL
cholesterol levels at month 3 were used as this is the time point at which on‐treatment
HDL
cholesterol levels became stable. Among 6319 participants with a normal
eGFR
(≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
) at baseline, higher
HDL
cholesterol levels at month 3 were significantly associated with lower risk of decline in
eGFR
(ie, having
eGFR
<60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
) during follow‐up (
HR
of 1.04, 0.88, 0.85, and 0.77 for
HDL
cholesterol quintiles 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively, relative to quintile 1,
P
for trend=0.006). Among 3223 participants with an
eGFR
(<60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
) at baseline, higher
HDL
cholesterol levels at month 3 had less impact on
eGFR
during follow‐up, with statistical significance observed only when analyzing
HDL
cholesterol levels as a continuous variable (
P
=0.043), but not as a categorical quintile variable (
P
for trend=0.27).

Conclusions

In patients treated with atorvastatin, higher
HDL
cholesterol levels were associated with lower risk of
eGFR
decline in patients with normal
eGFR
at baseline. However, further study is needed to establish whether there is any causal relationship between
HDL
s and renal function.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00327691.
Relationship of Arterial Stiffness Index and Pulse Pressure With Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality
Authors: Said M. Abdullah , Eppinga Ruben N. , Lipsic Erik , Verweij Niek , van der Harst Pim
Published: January 2018

Background

Vascular aging results in stiffer arteries and may have a role in the development of cardiovascular disease (
CVD
). Arterial stiffness index (
ASI
), measured by finger photoplethysmography, and pulse pressure (
PP
) are 2 independent vascular aging indices. We investigated whether
ASI
or
PP
predict new‐onset
CVD
and mortality in a large community‐based population.

Methods and Results

We studied 169 613
UK
Biobank participants (mean age 56.8 years; 45.8% males) who underwent
ASI
measurement and blood pressure measurement for
PP
calculation. Mean±
SD ASI
was 9.30±3.1 m/s and mean±
SD PP
was 50.98±13.2 mm Hg. During a median disease follow‐up of 2.8 years (interquartile range 1.4–4.0), 18 190 participants developed
CVD
, of which 1587 myocardial infarction (
MI
), 4326 coronary heart disease, 1192 heart failure, and 1319 stroke. During a median mortality follow‐up of 6.1 years (interquartile range 5.8–6.3), 3678 participants died, of which 1180 of
CVD
. Higher
ASI
was associated with increased risk of overall
CVD
(unadjusted hazard ratio 1.27; 95% confidence interval [
CI
], 1.25–1.28), myocardial infarction (1.38; 95%
CI
, 1.32–1.44), coronary heart disease (1.31; 95%
CI
, 1.27–1.34), and heart failure (1.31; 95%
CI
1.24–1.37).
ASI
also predicted mortality (all‐cause,
CVD
, other). Higher
PP
was associated with overall
CVD
(1.57; 95%
CI
, 1.55–1.59), myocardial infarction (1.48; 95%
CI
, 1.42–1.54), coronary heart disease (1.47; 95%
CI
, 1.43–1.50), heart failure (1.47; 95%
CI
, 1.40–1.55), and
CVD
mortality (1.47; 95%
CI
, 1.40–1.55).
PP
improved risk reclassification of
CVD
in a non–laboratory‐based Framingham Risk Score by 5.4%,
ASI
by 2.3%.

Conclusions

ASI
and
PP
are independent predictors of
CVD
and mortality outcomes. Although both improved risk prediction for new‐onset disease,
PP
appears to have a larger clinical value than
ASI
.
Amending Ongoing Upper-Limb Reaches: Visual and Proprioceptive Contributions?
Authors: Goodman Rachel , Crainic Valentin A. , Bested Stephen R. , Wijeyaratnam Darrin O. , de Grosbois John , Tremblay Luc
Published: January 2018

In order to maximize the precise completion of voluntary actions, humans can theoretically utilize both visual and proprioceptive information to plan and amend ongoing limb trajectories. Although vision has been thought to be a more dominant sensory modality, research has shown that sensory feedback may be processed as a function of its relevance and reliability. As well, theoretical models of voluntary action have suggested that both vision and proprioception can be used to prepare online trajectory amendments. However, empirical evidence regarding the use of proprioception for online control has come from indirect manipulations from the sensory feedback (i.e., without directly perturbing the afferent information; e.g., visual–proprioceptive mismatch). In order to directly assess the relative contributions of visual and proprioceptive feedback to the online control of voluntary actions, direct perturbations to both vision (i.e., liquid crystal goggles) and proprioception (i.e., tendon vibration) were implemented in two experiments. The first experiment employed the manipulations while participants simply performed a rapid goal-directed movement (30 cm amplitude). Results from this first experiment yielded no significant evidence that proprioceptive feedback contributed to online control processes. The second experiment employed an imperceptible target jump to elicit online trajectory amendments. Without or with tendon vibration, participants still corrected for the target jumps. The current study provided more evidence of the importance of vision for online control but little support for the importance of proprioception for online limb–target regulation mechanisms.
Toward the Application of Decadal Climate Predictions
Authors: Towler Erin , PaiMazumder Debasish , Done James
Published: January 2018

Decadal prediction is a relatively new branch of climate science that bridges the gap between seasonal climate forecasts and multidecadal-to-century projections of climate change. This paper develops a three-step framework toward the potential application of decadal temperature predictions using the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4). In step 1, the predictions are evaluated and it is found that the temperature hindcasts show skill over some regions of the United States and Canada. In step 2, the predictions are manipulated using two methods: a deterministic-anomaly approach (like climate change projections) and a probabilistic tercile-based approach (like seasonal forecasts). In step 3, the predictions are translated by adding a delta (for the anomaly manipulation) and conducting a weighted resample (for the probabilistic manipulation), as well as using a new hybrid method. Using the 2010 initialized hindcast, the framework is demonstrated for predicting 2011–15 over two case-study watersheds [Ottawa (Canada) and Colorado]. For the Colorado watershed, there was a noticeable shift toward higher temperatures, and the delta, weighted resample, and hybrid translations all were better at capturing the observed temperatures than was an approach that used climatological values. For the Ottawa watershed, the observed temperatures over the period of prediction were only subtly different than the climatological values; therefore, the difference between the translation methods was less noticeable. The advantages and disadvantages of the manipulation and translation approaches are discussed, as well as how their use will depend on the user context. The authors emphasize that skill evaluations should be tailored to particular applications and identify additional steps that are needed before the decadal temperature predictions can be readily incorporated into applications.
Dominant Modes of Subseasonal Variability of East Asian Summertime Surface Air Temperature and Their Predictions
Authors: Liang Ping , Lin Hai , Ding Yihui
Published: January 2018

Subseasonal variability of surface air temperature (SAT) over East Asia is analyzed using the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis of 34 Northern Hemisphere extended summers. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is performed with pentad SAT data to identify the leading modes of subseasonal SAT variability. The first (EOF1) and second (EOF2) modes, which together account for about 35% of the total variance, correspond to a monopole structure of SAT anomaly in the whole East Asian region and a dipole structure with opposite signs of variability over the north and south East Asian continent, respectively. Lead–lag regressions are calculated in order to analyze how the large-scale atmospheric circulation evolves in association with the development of the leading SAT modes. An eastward propagation of the Rossby wave from the midlatitude Atlantic Ocean is observed about three pentads before EOF1. EOF2 is influenced by both the tropical Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and a midlatitude wave train. These results indicate that there is potential for prediction of the dominant SAT modes on the subseasonal time scale. The subseasonal prediction of the two dominant modes is further evaluated in the operational monthly forecasting system of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The model shows a better forecast skill than the persistence forecast. The strength of the subseasonal signal in initial conditions impacts the forecast skill. The forecasts starting with strong EOF in the initial condition are more skillful than those initialized with weak EOF. The findings in the study contribute to improving the understanding of the subseasonal variability and SAT subseasonal forecasting in East Asia.
Unrealistic Increases in Wind Speed Explain Reduced Eastern Pacific Heat Flux in Reanalyses
Authors: Liu Chunlei , Allan Richard P.
Published: January 2018

Tropical eastern Pacific sea surface temperature plays a pivotal role in mechanisms that determine global mean surface temperature variability. In this study, the surface flux contribution to recent cooling of the tropical eastern Pacific is investigated using data from three atmospheric reanalyses with full assimilation of observations, an observation-based net surface energy flux reconstruction, and 15 atmosphere-only climate model simulations. For ERA-Interim, 78% of the decrease in net surface flux (−0.65 W m−2 yr−1 over 1988–2008) is explained by the latent heat flux variability. Latent heat flux variability differs between datasets, and this is investigated using a bulk formula. It is found that discrepancies in wind speed change explain contrasting latent heat flux trends across datasets. The significant increase in wind speed of 0.26 m s−1 decade−1 over the tropical eastern Pacific in ERA-Interim is not reproduced by satellite or buoy observations or atmosphere-only climate model simulations, casting questions on the reliability of reanalysis-based surface fluxes over the tropical eastern Pacific.
The Promises and Realities of Implementing a Coteaching Model of Student Teaching
Authors: Soslau Elizabeth , Gallo-Fox Jennifer , Scantlebury Kathryn
Published: January 2018

Within a sociocultural framework, we use situated learning theory to explore the use of a coteaching approach during student teaching. Coteaching is a model for learning to teach where clinical educators and teacher candidates teach alongside one another and share responsibility for pupil learning. Teacher education programs have adopted this model for student teaching because there is evidence that coteaching supports pupil learning and coteacher learning. This study of coteaching in three teacher education programs, within the same university, examined opportunities afforded for teacher candidates’ development of growth competence, adaptive teaching expertise, and collaborative expertise. Data analysis from the nested, cross-case qualitative study enabled us to examine opportunities for candidate learning afforded by coteaching during student teaching, posit recommendations on using coteaching, explain the necessary conditions, and discuss the model’s current limitations.
Realising governmentality: Pastoral power, governmental discourse and the (re)constitution of subjectivities
Authors: Martin Graham P. , Waring Justin
Published: January 2018

Michel Foucault’s concept of governmentality has been hugely influential in sociology and other disciplinary fields. However, its application has been criticised by those who suggest it neglects agency, and gives overwhelming power to governmental discourses in constituting subjectivities, determining behaviour and reproducing social reality. Drawing on posthumously translated lecture transcripts, in this article the authors suggest that Foucault’s nascent concept of pastoral power offers a route to a better conceptualisation of the relationship between discourse, subjectivity and agency, and a means of understanding the (contested, non-determinate, social) process through which governmental discourses are shaped, disseminated and translated into action. The authors offer empirical examples from their work in healthcare of how this process takes place, present a model of the key mechanisms through which contemporary pastoral power operates, and suggest future research avenues for refining, developing or contesting this model.
Does Gender Moderate the Relationship Between Social Capital and Life Satisfaction? Evidence From Urban China
Authors: Lu Nan , Jiang Nan , Lou Vivian W. Q. , Zeng Yue , Liu Meng
Published: January 2018

The present study aimed to test the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between social capital and life satisfaction among older adults in urban China. A quota sampling method was used to select 456 older adults aged 60 and older from 16 local communities in Suzhou city in 2015. Hierarchical multiple regression was employed to test the proposed models. The associations between family social capital and life satisfaction were higher among older men than women. Trust and helping others were stronger predictors of older women’s life satisfaction than their male counterparts. Citizenship activities affected life satisfaction among older men only. The findings highlight the important role of social capital in sustaining and/or improving life satisfaction among both older women and men. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.
Congenital mitral regurgitation with Down syndrome
Authors: Tajima Koji , Honda Kentaro , Yuzaki Mitsuru , Kunimoto Hideki , Okada Yukikatsu , Nishimura Yoshiharu
Published: January 2018

A 19-year-old man with Down syndrome had congenital mitral regurgitation. He had slight mental retardation and difficulty in performing independent oral drug administration. We planned mitral valve plasty to avoid postoperative anticoagulant therapy. The mitral valve lesions were complicated. A prolapsed anterior mitral leaflet, shortened posterior leaflet, abnormal cleft, abnormal papillary muscle, and enlarged annulus were observed. Successful mitral valve plasty was performed using several techniques. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no significant mitral regurgitation was found.
Change detection and schematic processing in music
Authors: Agres Kat R.
Published: January 2018

Research into vision has highlighted the importance of gist representations in change detection and memory. This article puts forth the hypothesis that schematic processing and gist provide an account for change detection in music as well, where a musical gist is an abstracted memory representation for schematically consistent tones. The present experiments illuminate the content of gist memory representations by testing when listeners can detect single-tone changes in pairs of melodies. In Experiment 1, musicians and non-musicians listened to melodies varying in tonal structure. Less structure resulted in compromised change detection in both groups. Most often, musicians displayed more accurate change detection than non-musicians, but, surprisingly, when schematic processing could not contribute to memory encoding, musicians performed worse than their untrained counterparts. Experiment 2 utilized a full-factorial design to examine tonality, interval of pitch change, metrical position, and rhythm. Tonality had a particularly large effect on performance, with non-scale tones generally aiding change detection. Listeners were unlikely, however, to detect schematically-inconsistent tones when only brief melodic context was available. The results uphold the hypothesis that memory for melodies relies on schematic processing, with change detection dependent upon whether the change alters the schematic gist of the melody.
Implementing evidence-based practice: A context analysis to examine use of task-based approaches to upper-limb rehabilitation
Authors: Radomski Mary Vining , Anheluk Mattie , Arulanantham Christine , Finkelstein Marsha , Flinn Nancy
Published: January 2018

Statement of context

Many occupational therapists experience challenges in implementing evidence-based practice, which may be best approached as a context-specific enterprise.

Critical reflection on practice

This practice analysis article reports the results of analyzing 24 home programs that occupational therapists issued to rehabilitation inpatients with stroke upon their discharge home. Home programs did not reflect a task-based approach to upper-limb recovery, even though this is supported by established evidence. Examination of contextual factors provides a framework to facilitate evidence implementation.

Implications for practice

Occupational therapists may optimize evidence-based practice implementation by first evaluating and addressing practice-specific contextual factors.
Safety, Efficacy, and Timeliness of Intravenous Potassium Chloride Replacement Protocols in a Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Amirnovin Rambod , Lieu Phuong , Imperial-Perez Flerida , Taketomo Carol , Markovitz Barry P. , Moromisato David Y.
Published: January 2018

Objective:

Hypokalemia in children following cardiac surgery occurs frequently, placing them at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias. However, renal insufficiency after cardiopulmonary bypass warrants careful administration of potassium (K+). Two different nurse-driven protocols (high dose and tiered dosing) were implemented to identify an optimal K+ replacement regimen, compared to an historical low-dose protocol. Our objective was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and timeliness of these protocols.

Design:

A retrospective cohort review of pediatric patients placed on intravenous K+ replacement protocols over 1 year was used to determine efficacy and safety of the protocols. A prospective single-blinded review of K+ repletion was used to determine timeliness.

Patients:

Pediatric patients with congenital or acquired cardiac disease.

Setting:

Twenty-four-bed cardiothoracic intensive care unit in a tertiary children’s hospital.

Interventions:

Efficacy was defined as fewer supplemental potassium chloride (KCl) doses, as well as a higher protocol to total doses ratio per patient. Safety was defined as a lower percentage of serum K+ levels ≥4.8 mEq/L after a dose of KCl. Between-group differences were assessed by nonparametric univariate analysis.

Results:

There were 138 patients with a median age of 3.0 (interquartile range: 0.23-10.0) months. The incidence of K+ levels ≥4.8 mEq/L after a protocol dose was higher in the high-dose protocol versus the tiered-dosing protocol but not different between the low-dose and tiered-dosing protocols (high dose = 2.2% vs tiered dosing = 0.5%, P = .05). The ratio of protocol doses to total doses per patient was lower in the low-dose protocol compared to the tiered-dosing protocol ( P < .05). Protocol doses were administered 45 minutes faster ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

The tiered-dosed, nurse-driven K+ replacement protocol was associated with decreased supplemental K+ doses without increased risk of hyperkalemia, administering doses faster than individually ordered doses; the protocol was effective, safe, and timely in the treatment of hypokalemia in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery.
Effect of Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundation on the vibration of rotating functionally graded material cylindrical shell
Authors: Hussain Muzamal , Naeem Muhammad Nawaz , Isvandzibaei Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2018

In this paper, vibration characteristics of rotating functionally graded cylindrical shell resting on Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundations have been investigated. These shells are fabricated from functionally graded materials. Shell dynamical equations are derived by using the Hamilton variational principle and the Langrangian functional framed from the shell strain and kinetic energy expressions. Elastic foundations, namely Winkler and Pasternak moduli are inducted in the tangential direction of the shell. The rotational motions of the shells are due to the Coriolis and centrifugal acceleration as well as the hoop tension produced in the rotating case. The wave propagation approach in standard eigenvalue form has been employed in order to derive the characteristic frequency equation describing the natural frequencies of vibration in rotating functionally graded cylindrical shell. The complex exponential functions, with the axial modal numbers that depend on the boundary conditions stated at edges of a cylindrical shell, have been used to compute the axial modal dependence. In our new investigation, frequency spectra are obtained for circumferential wave number, length-to-radius ratio, height-to-radius ratio with simply supported–simply supported and clamped–clamped boundary conditions without elastic foundation. Also, the effect of elastic foundation on the rotating cylindrical shells is examined with the simply supported–simply supported edge. To check the validity of the present method, the fundamental natural frequencies of non-rotating isotropic and functionally graded cylindrical shells are compared with the open literature. Also, a comparison is made for infinitely long rotating with the earlier published paper.
Decoupling and decomposition analysis of carbon emissions from economic output in Chinese Guangdong Province: A sector perspective
Authors: Zhao Ming-Ming , Li Rongrong
Published: January 2018

South China’s Guangdong Province, the Chinese largest provincial economy and the global 14th biggest economy, has been facing a huge challenge of achieving economic growth without emission growth. Developing new strategy for making economic growth compatible carbon reduction requires better understanding of the decoupling carbon emission from economic growth. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive decoupling and decomposition analysis of carbon emission from economic output in Guangdong Province from a sector perspective. We firstly calculate carbon emission in six sectors based on the energy consumption of each sector and carbon coefficient of 13 types of fuels during 2000–2014, and then quantify the decoupling status between CO2 emissions and economic growth in those six sectors by using the Tapio decoupling index, finally, investigate the influencing factors of emissions by using the decomposition techniques. The modeling results show that agricultural sector has strong decoupling, industrial, transport and others sectors are weak decoupling; construction and trade sectors are expansive negative decoupling. We also find that energy intensity and economic output are the major factors influencing carbon emission, also the effects of energy structure and emission factor among six sectors are studied. Some policy recommendations finally are put forward.
Improving Adherence to Atypical Antipsychotic Agent Screening Guidelines in Pediatric Patients: A Quality Improvement Project Within an Integrated Community Mental Health Setting
Authors: Featherston Elishia L. , Dihigo Sharolyn , Gilder Richard E.
Published: January 2018

Background: Approximately 14% to 20% of children and adolescents have a mental health problem. Atypical antipsychotic agents are used to treat behavioral, emotional, and mental health problems in children and adolescents. A discrepancy between best practices and actual practices exists. Objective: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase adherence above baseline, through implementation of a checklist, to recommended screening guidelines in children, ages 4 to 18, prescribed atypical antipsychotic agents over 12 weeks. Design/Results: Aggregate comparison of the mean ranks of scores were tested with the Mann–Whitney U test, U = 1,087.5, n1 = n2 = 70, total N =140, p < .001. Variables of body mass index, blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting glucose, fasting lipids, personal history, and family history were observed and tested using the chi-square with Fisher’s exact tests and are significant at or above 99% confidence level ( p < .01). Conclusion: Educating mental health providers, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners on recommended screening guidelines and implementing a checklist had a measurable effect on increasing adherence to the recommended screening guidelines in a community mental health setting.
Doing Masculinity
Authors: Mendoza Pérez Karmele , Morgade Salgado Marta
Published: January 2018

The aim of this article is to engage with unaccompanied migrant Maghrebi boys’ styles of physical self-presentation, “looks,” and hairstyles as a source of knowledge on the construction of masculinities. In order to observe such bodily expressive practices, we used general ethnographic methodology and, in particular, a workshop built around different artistic techniques. Since masculinity is inextricably defined in relation to specific agents and contexts, insights into unaccompanied migrant teenagers’ enactments of masculinity are dependent on (1) the collective imagination lying behind such “looks” and bodily images, (2) the discomfort and tensions created in the institutional communities in which these minors live—especially among social workers, and (3) the dialogue and relationships that emerge between the aesthetic and bodily expressions of these young migrants’ own culture and those of the other cultural groups that coexist, in our case, in a European city.
Mindfulness and the cultural psychology of personhood: Challenges of self, other, and moral orientation in Haiti
Authors: Hoffman Diane M
Published: January 2018

The global spread of mindfulness-based interventions raises some interesting questions regarding the universality and translatibility of key ideas and practices of mindfulness. Based on ethnographic research, this article reflects on one effort to bring ideas and practices of mindfulness-based stress reduction to Haitian mental health practitioners and educators in Haiti. While core concepts of mindfulness-based stress reduction are often assumed to be universal, this analysis suggests that cultural meaning systems and social contexts, and in particular local cultural psychologies of personhood, strongly influenced the meanings that Haitian participants took away from their exposure to mindfulness-based stress reduction. These differences manifested in resistance to individualist concepts self-embedded in the discourse of mindfulness-based stress reduction as well as to its secularism. However, while rejecting an individualistic and amoral self-focus, Haitian participants also re-interpreted mindfulness in new ways that stressed its value for societal and national well-being. The article reflects on the larger questions that surround the making and re-making of meanings associated with well-being as mindfulness-based interventions move across cultural and national borders.
Test cheating and standardised assessment in Croatia: Changing procedures, changing minds?
Authors: Cosic Ivana
Published: January 2018

This paper attempts to explain why test cheating in Croatia seemingly prevails despite the introduction of a standardised examination, the state matura. It offers a contrast to sweeping cultural explanations of the stereotypical Eastern-European cheater and attempts to examine the issue more thoroughly. The Croatian state matura is a secondary school exit examination which was adopted as part of the surge of neoliberal policies around the world and was financed through a World Bank loan. The position taken here is that borrowed neoliberal policies, like standardised assessment, lead to unpredictable and unexpected responses in post-socialist settings (Silova, 2010 ; Steiner-Khamsi and Stolpe, 2006 ), offering new perspectives and explanations on educational practices more generally. The concepts of comparative and transcendental justice (Sen, 1999 , 2009 ) are used to illustrate how cheating practices in Croatian educational settings seemingly prevailed, despite the introduction of the state matura. The paper maps the trend of Croatian teachers’ handling of cheating and suggests that standardised assessment cultivates a vision of educational fairness that is both enabled and constrained by a belief in a perfectly just procedure.
Quantifying Thematic Saturation in Qualitative Data Analysis
Authors: Lowe Andrew , Norris Anthony C. , Farris A. Jane , Babbage Duncan R.
Published: January 2018

An important aspect of qualitative research is reaching saturation—loosely, a point at which observing more data will not lead to discovery of more information related to the research questions. However, there has been no validated means of objectively establishing saturation. This article proposes a novel quantitative approach to measuring thematic saturation based on a sound statistical model. The model is validated on two data sets from different qualitative research projects involving interviews, focus groups, and literature surveys. The proposed model provides consistent estimates of saturation across data sets, within branches of data sets, and over the course of a research project. The model can be used for both quantifying saturation and estimating the number of observations required to achieve a specified level of saturation.
Regulating Ionizing Radiation Based on Metrics for Evaluation of Regulatory Science Claims
Authors: Moghissi A. Alan , Calderone Richard , Azam Furzan , Nowak Teresa , Sheppard Sarah , McBride Dennis K. , Jaeger Lisa
Published: January 2018

This article attempts to reconcile differences within the relevant scientific community on the effect of exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation notably the applicability of linear nonthreshold (LNT) process at exposures below a certain limit. This article applies an updated version of Metrics for Evaluation of Regulatory Science Claims (MERSC) derived form Best Available Regulatory Science (BARS) to the arguments provided by the proponents and opponents of LNT. Based on BARS/MERSC, 3 categories of effects of exposure to ionizing radiation are identified. One category (designated as S) consists of reproducible and undisputed adverse effects. A second category (designated as U) consists of areas where the scientific evidence for potential adverse effects includes uncertainties. The scientific evidence in the U category leads to a threshold. In contrast, the scientific foundation of the third category (designated as P) is questionable, as the scientific evidence indicates that adverse effects of the exposure at this level are not only questionable but may be helpful. This article claims that the third area is the domain of policy makers including regulators. This article describes Jeffersonian Principle that categorizes the affected community into specialists, knowledgeable nonspecialists, and the general public. Based on Jeffersonian Principle, the relevant scientific information, particularly the U and P areas, must be translated into a language that at a minimum is understandable to the knowledgeable group. Once this process is completed, the policy makers including regulators may select exposure limits based on their judgment.
Homogenous and Microbeam X-Ray Radiation Induces Proteomic Changes in the Brains of Irradiated Rats and in the Brains of Nonirradiated Cage Mate Rats
Authors: Smith Richard , Wang Jiaxi , Seymour Colin , Fernandez-Palomo Cristian , Fazzari Jennifer , Schültke Elisabeth , Bräuer-Krisch Elke , Laissue Jean , Schroll Christian , Mothersill Carmel
Published: January 2018

To evaluate microbeam radiation therapy (MRT), for brain tumor treatment, the bystander effect in nonirradiated companion animals was investigated. Adult rats were irradiated with 35 or 350 Gy at the European Synchrotron Research Facility using homogenous irradiation (HR) or MRT to the right brain hemisphere. The irradiated rats were housed with nonirradiated rats. After 48 hours, all rats were euthanized and the frontal lobe proteome was analyzed using 2-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Proteome changes were determined by analysis of variance ( P < .05). Homogenous irradiation increased serum albumin, heat shock protein 71 (HSP-71), triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), fructose bisphosphate aldolase (FBA), and prohibitin and decreased dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD) and pyruvate kinase. Microbeam radiation therapy increased HSP-71, FBA, and prohibitin, and decreased aconitase, dihydropyrimidinase, TPI, tubulin DLD, and pyruvate kinase. Cage mates with HR irradiated rats showed increased HSP-71 and FBA and decreased pyruvate kinase, DLD, and aconitase. Cage mates with MRT irradiated rats showed increased HSP-71, prohibitin, and FBA and decreased aconitase and DLD. Homogenous irradiation proteome changes indicated tumorigenesis, while MRT proteome changes indicated an oxidative stress response. The bystander effect of proteome changes appeared antitumorigenic and inducing radioresistance. This investigation also supports the need for research into prohibitin interaction with HSP-70/71 chaperones and cancer therapy.