bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Addressing sexual issues in palliative care: A qualitative study on nurses’ attitudes, roles and experiences
Authors: Benoot Charlotte , Enzlin Paul , Peremans Lieve , Bilsen Johan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimTo explore palliative care nurses’ attitudes, roles and concrete experience with regard to addressing sexual issues in their daily practice.BackgroundPatients and their partners in palliative care might experience dramatic changes in their sexuality and want nurses to provide the opportunity to address them. Moreover, it is argued that the holistic philosophy of palliative care encourages nurses working in this area to include sexual issues in their daily care. It is, however, unknown how palliative care nurses address sexual issues.DesignA generic qualitative study was performed.MethodsIn total, 21 in‐depth interviews were done with nurses from different facilities of palliative care networks in Flanders. Data were collected between September 2014 ‐ September 2016 and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.ResultsIt was found that the way palliative care nurses addressed sexual issues was clearly influenced by their own interpretation of the philosophical principles underlying palliative care. The different interpretations of these basic principles create tensions for nurses about how to address sexual issues in the daily practice of palliative care and nurses vary in their reactions to these tensions. The present findings show that palliative care nurses – when they were able to overcome these tensions – use a “sex‐positive approach” that fits with their tendency to focus on quality of life.ConclusionOut of the results of this study, we made a list of good practices for palliative care nurses addressing sexual issues. This list can be used in nursing educational programs.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis: Effectiveness of internet empowerment‐based self‐management interventions on adults with metabolic diseases
Authors: Kuo Chia‐Chi , Su Yu‐Jen , Lin Chiu‐Chu 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimTo synthesize the effects of Internet empowerment‐based self‐management interventions on adults with metabolic diseases.BackgroundMetabolic diseases are prevalent and burden healthcare systems; they have become a major health problem worldwide. The effects of IESMIs on lifestyle changes have been shown to improve adults’ physiological and psychological conditions. However, we found no systematic review evaluating these effects.DesignSystematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized and non‐randomized controlled trials, conducted according to the Cochrane handbook.Data resourcesA literature search was conducted using the Airiti Library, Association for Computing Machinery, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, ProQuest, PubMed/MEDLINE and Index of the Taiwan Periodical Literature System databases (earliest–June 2016).Review methodsTwo reviewers used the Cochrane Collaboration bias assessment tool to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Extracted data were entered and analysed using RevMan 5.3.5 software. Inverse variance was used to estimate effect sizes. Weighted and standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsTwenty‐one randomized controlled trials were reviewed. Meta‐analysis showed that the intervention significantly improved adults’ exercise habits, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, body weight, empowerment levels and quality of life.ConclusionThe intervention significantly improve the health status of adults with metabolic diseases, in particular their exercise habits, HbA1c levels, body weight, empowerment and quality of life. The intervention provides more convenient and faster access to healthcare for busy individuals with time constraints. These results suggest that healthcare professionals could develop accessible and friendly interactive online interfaces for patients to expand the use of these interventions in the clinical setting.
False Double Consciousness: Hermeneutical Resources from the Rush Limbaugh Show
Authors: Engelhardt Jeff , Campbell Sarah 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis article is a study of the interpretive resources developed by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show. Interpretive resources – also called ‘hermeneutical resources’ – are concepts, narratives, conceptual frameworks, etc. that enable subjects to make sense of themselves and their world. Much recent scholarship has explored how a community's interpretive resources influence social interactions or character traits in the community. In Limbaugh's transcripts, we found a pattern of what we call ‘concept doubling’, wherein terms are characterised in a way suggesting that liberals and conservatives express different concepts by their utterances of the same word form. We propose that this promotes an interpretive resource that encourages in those who use it what we call ‘false double consciousness’. We contrast the effects of false double consciousness with those of double consciousness, and we consider the interpretive resources available within false double consciousness.
Reducing uncertainty to promote appropriate decisions when facing hazardous phenomena at an active volcano
Authors: Merlhiot Gaëtan , Mermillod Martial , Le Pennec Jean‐Luc , Hidalgo Silvana , Mondillon Laurie 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study investigated a new direction for improving the decision making of populations at risk in the context of uncertain environmental events, such as volcanic hazards. According to the risk as feelings theory and dual process models, situations with certain outcomes do not necessarily require the use of affect heuristics (e.g., experienced feelings, anticipated emotions) as valid information in the decision‐making process. In the case of difficult decisions with moral dilemmas, certainty could even improve decisions. Thus, using an ecological design with various scenarios depicting upcoming volcanic hazards, we examined whether reducing the uncertainty of lethal threat by conveying certainty in an information campaign could influence decision making and promote a better quality of choice (correct application of the recommendations from the competent authorities). We focused specifically on two populations composed of local people living in the vicinity of an active volcano (Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador) and local scientists. We also examined whether a difficult decision involving a moral dilemma (e.g., leaving people behind so as not to jeopardize one's own life) potentiated this effect, compared to a less difficult situation without a dilemma. We demonstrated that, for local people facing a moral dilemma (difficult decision), the reduction of uncertainty of lethal threat involved a better application of the actual recommendations. These outcomes provided perspectives on improving the applications of the recommendations among local populations at risk in the context of a real risk exposure.
Predictors of “the last acceptable racism”: Group threats and public attitudes toward Gypsies and Travellers
Authors: Hutchison Paul , Chihade Raluca , Puiu Andrei A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrejudice against Gypsies/Travellers is prevalent in the United Kingdom and elsewhere but there is a lack of research investigating the underlying factors. The present research examined the relationships between different types of intergroup threats and their antecedents and U.K. residents' attitudes toward Gypsies/Travellers. Regression analyses confirmed that negative stereotypes, symbolic threats, and intergroup anxiety predicted attitudes, whereas multicultural ideology endorsement, ingroup identification, realistic threats, and intergroup anxiety predicted support for Gypsy/Traveller group rights. Moreover, multicultural ideology endorsement predicted support for group rights indirectly through realistic threats, whereas negative stereotypes predicted attitudes indirectly through symbolic threats and intergroup anxiety and predicted support for group rights indirectly through realistic threats and intergroup anxiety. Discussion focuses on the implications for strategies aimed at reducing what is often defined as “the last acceptable racism.”
Resist, recover or both? Growth plasticity in response to drought is geographically structured and linked to intraspecific variability in Pinus pinaster
Authors: Sánchez‐Salguero Raúl , Camarero J. Julio , Rozas Vicente , Génova Mar , Olano José M. , Arzac Alberto , Gazol Antonio , Caminero Leocadia , Tejedor Ernesto , de Luis Martín , Linares Juan C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimWe investigate the effects of the environmental and geographical processes driving growth resilience and recovery in response to drought in Mediterranean Pinus pinaster forests. We explicitly consider how intraspecific variability modulates growth resilience to drought.LocationWestern Mediterranean basin.MethodsWe analysed tree rings from a large network of 48 forests (836 trees) encompassing wide ecological and climatic gradients, including six provenances. To characterize the major constraints of P. pinaster growth under extremely dry conditions, we simulated growth responses to temperature and soil moisture using a process‐based growth model coupled with the quantification of climate–growth relationships. Then, we related growth–resilience indices to provenance and site variables considering different drought events.ResultsPinus pinaster displayed strong variation in growth resilience across its distributional range, but common patterns were found within each provenance. Post‐drought resilience increased with elevation and drier conditions but decreased with spring precipitation. Trees from dry sites were less resistant to drought but recovered faster than trees from wet sites.Main conclusionsResilience strategies differed among tree provenances: wet forests showed higher growth resistance to drought, while dry forests presented faster growth recovery, suggesting different impacts of climate warming on forest productivity. We detected geographically structured resilience patterns corresponding to different provenances, confirming high intraspecific variability in response to drought. This information should be included in species distribution models to simulate forest responses to climate warming and forecasted aridification.
When knowing is believing: A multi‐trait analysis of self‐reported TPCK
Authors: Krauskopf K. , Forssell K. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn an effort to understand teachers' technology use, recent scholarship has explored the idea of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK or TPACK). Many studies have used self‐reports to measure this knowledge (SR TPCK). Several studies have examined the construct validity of these assessments by analysing the internal relationships of the knowledge domains, but little attention has been paid to how SR TPCK relates to external criteria. We tackled this question of discriminant validity by reanalysing 2 data sets. We used correlation and multiple regression analyses to explore whether conceptually related constructs explain any variance in participants' SR TPCK. In Study 1, we applied this strategy to German pre‐service teachers using technology use, attitudinal variables, and objective measures of teachers' knowledge of technology and pedagogy as external criteria. In Study 2, we examined measures of technology knowledge, experience, and pro‐technology beliefs for in‐service teachers in the United States. Across both studies, a sizeable amount of the variance in SR TPCK is explained by teachers' prior technology use and pro‐technology attitudes. In contrast, fact‐based tests of technology and pedagogy are distinct from SR TPCK. We discuss implications for these findings and argue that researchers should gather complementary measures in concert.
The use of mobile messaging‐based case studies in a pharmacotherapy introduction class in China
Authors: Wang X. , Li M. , Wang M. , Cui S. , Shi L. , Duan L. , Wang T. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study is to examine the attitudes of students towards the case studies based on mobile messaging in a pharmacotherapy introduction class. Case studies were divided into 4 groups, with 30 pharmacy students each group. Each group was required to share pharmaceutical care plans on WeChat by posting messages. A post‐activity survey was conducted: Over 70% of the students agreed that mobile messaging‐based case studies (MMBC) helped developing skills and knowledge and stimulating additional research and readings. Over 60% of the students felt that MMBC helped understanding others' viewpoints and sharing their experience and knowledge. More than half of the students agreed that MMBC was more convenient than traditional and internet‐based case study. Less than 30% of the students agreed that the interaction with other students was good.The findings reflect the MMBC studies' popularity with students. Recommendations to use MMBC studies include (a) balance the merits, such as expressing opinions clearly and concisely, allowing for collaborative learning, with the drawbacks: distraction and the low quality of interactions; (b) use small groups for case discussion; (c) design a collaborative schedule dividing the discussion into different sections.
Utility of Doppler sonography for renal artery stenosis screening in obese children with hypertension
Authors: Makhija Pooja , Wilson Christopher , Garimella Sudha 
Published: March 2018

Pediatric hypertension guidelines recommend Doppler renal ultrasonography as a screening study for the evaluation of possible renal artery stenosis (RAS) in normal‐weight children ≥ 8 years of age who are suspected of having RAS and who will cooperate with the procedure. Obese children are excluded because of technical and vascular concerns. There are no data on RI in obese children. This is a retrospective review of children aged 1.5‐18 who received Doppler imaging studies over a 10‐year period. A total of 174 patients were studied. There was no significant difference between the RI values based on BMI. Of the 174 individuals in the study 22 obtained follow‐up CT/MRA after abnormal Doppler ultrasounds. On advanced imaging 3 were confirmed to have RAS. Obesity does not seem to influence RI.RI alone should not be used as a screening tool for RAS. An approach toward diagnosis is suggested based on BMI, renin levels, and ultrasound.
Effect of the in vivo application of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor on NK cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood
Authors: Yu Xing‐Xing , Han Ting‐Ting , Xu Ling‐Ling , Chang Ying‐Jun , Huang Xiao‐Jun , Zhao Xiang‐Yu 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGranulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) has been widely used in the field of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) for priming donor stem cells from the bone marrow (BM) to peripheral blood (PB) to collect stem cells more conveniently. Donor‐derived natural killer (NK) cells have important antitumour functions and immune regulatory roles post‐allo‐HSCT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of G‐CSF on donors' NK cells in BM and PB. The percentage of NK cells among nuclear cells and lymphocyte was significantly decreased and led to increased ratio of T and NK cells in BM and PB post‐G‐CSF in vivo application. Relative expansion of CD56bri NK cells led to a decreased ratio of CD56dim and CD56bri NK subsets in BM and PB post‐G‐CSF in vivo application. The expression of CD62L, CD54, CD94, NKP30 and CXCR4 on NK cells was significantly increased in PB after G‐CSF treatment. G‐CSF treatment decreased the IFN‐γ‐secreting NK population (NK1) dramatically in BM and PB, but increased the IL‐13‐secreting NK (NK2), TGF‐β‐secreting NK (NK3) and IL‐10‐secreting NK (NKr) populations significantly in BM. Clinical data demonstrated that higher doses of NK1 infused into the allograft correlated with an increased incidence of chronic graft‐vs‐host disease post‐transplantation. Taken together, our results show that the in vivo application of G‐CSF can modulate NK subpopulations, leading to an increased ratio of T and NK cells and decreased ratio of CD56dim and CD56bri NK cells as well as decreased NK1 populations in both PB and BM.
Smad7 deficiency decreases iron and haemoglobin through hepcidin up‐regulation by multilayer compensatory mechanisms
Authors: An Peng , Wang Hao , Wu Qian , Wang Jiaming , Xia Zhidan , He Xuyan , Wang Xinhui , Chen Yan , Min Junxia , Wang Fudi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo maintain iron homoeostasis, the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is tightly controlled by BMP‐Smad signalling pathway, but the physiological role of Smad7 in hepcidin regulation remains elusive. We generated and characterized hepatocyte‐specific Smad7 knockout mice (Smad7Alb/Alb), which showed decreased serum iron, tissue iron, haemoglobin concentration, up‐regulated hepcidin and increased phosphor‐Smad1/5/8 levels in both isolated primary hepatocytes and liver tissues. Increased levels of hepcidin lead to reduced expression of intestinal ferroportin and mild iron deficiency anaemia. Interestingly, we found no difference in hepcidin expression or phosphor‐Smad1/5/8 levels between iron‐challenged Smad7Alb/Alb and Smad7flox/flox, suggesting other factors assume the role of iron‐induced hepcidin regulation in Smad7 deletion. We performed RNA‐seq to identify differentially expressed genes in the liver. Significantly up‐regulated genes were then mapped to pathways, revealing TGF‐β signalling as one of the most relevant pathways, including the up‐regulated genes Smad6, Bambi and Fst (Follistatin). We found that Smad6 and Bambi—but not Follistatin—are controlled by the iron‐BMP–Smad pathway. Overexpressing Smad6, Bambi or Follistatin in cells significantly reduced hepcidin expression. Smad7 functions as a key regulator of iron homoeostasis by negatively controlling hepcidin expression, and Smad6 and Smad7 have non‐redundant roles. Smad6, Bambi and Follistatin serve as additional inhibitors of hepcidin in the liver.
Humanization of fibroblast growth factor 1 single‐chain antibody and validation for its antitumorigenic efficacy in breast cancer and glioma cells
Authors: He Xiao‐Xiao , Du Shuang , Gao Shi‐Qian , Chen Jing‐Ying , Cao Ran‐Juan , Xing Zhen‐Kai , Kazim Alia Rizvi Syeda , Yu Hua‐Li , Zheng Qing‐Chuan , Zhu Xiao‐Juan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSingle‐chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies are the smallest immunoglobulins with high antigen‐binding affinity. We have previously reported that fibroblast growth factor 1 played pivotal roles in cancer development and generated a mouse scFv (mscFv1C9) could effectively prohibit cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we further humanized this scFv (hscFv1C9) using a structure‐guided complementarity determining region grafting strategy. The purified hscFv1C9 maintained similar antigen‐binding affinity and specificity as mscFv1C9, and it was capable of inhibiting growth of different tumours in vitro and in vivo. These data strongly suggested that hscFv1C9 has antitumour potentials.
Inhibition of yes‐associated protein suppresses brain metastasis of human lung adenocarcinoma in a murine model
Authors: Hsu Ping‐Chih , Miao Jinbai , Huang Zhen , Yang Yi‐Lin , Xu Zhidong , You Joanna , Dai Yuyuan , Yeh Che‐Chung , Chan Geraldine , Liu Shu , Urisman Anatoly , Yang Cheng‐Ta , Jablons David M. , You Liang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractYes‐associated protein (YAP) is a main mediator of the Hippo pathway and promotes cancer development and progression in human lung cancer. We sought to determine whether inhibition of YAP suppresses metastasis of human lung adenocarcinoma in a murine model. We found that metastatic NSCLC cell lines H2030‐BrM3(K‐rasG12C mutation) and PC9‐BrM3 (EGFRΔexon19 mutation) had a significantly decreased p‐YAP(S127)/YAP ratio compared to parental H2030 (K‐rasG12C mutation) and PC9 (EGFRΔexon19 mutation) cells (P < .05). H2030‐BrM3 cells had significantly increased YAP mRNA and expression of Hippo downstream genes CTGF and CYR61 compared to parental H2030 cells (P < .05). Inhibition of YAP by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly decreased mRNA expression in downstream genes CTGF and CYR61 in H2030‐BrM3 cells (P < .05). In addition, inhibiting YAP by YAP shRNA significantly decreased migration and invasion abilities of H2030‐BrM3 cells (P < .05). We are first to show that mice inoculated with YAP shRNA‐transfected H2030‐BrM3 cells had significantly decreased metastatic tumour burden and survived longer than control mice (P < .05). Collectively, our results suggest that YAP plays an important role in promoting lung adenocarcinoma brain metastasis and that direct inhibition of YAP by shRNA suppresses H2030‐BrM3 cell brain metastasis in a murine model.
Inhibition of yes‐associated protein down‐regulates PD‐L1 (CD274) expression in human malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Hsu Ping‐Chih , Miao Jinbai , Wang Yu‐Cheng , Zhang Wen‐Qian , Yang Yi‐Lin , Wang Chih‐Wei , Yang Cheng‐Ta , Huang Zhen , You Joanna , Xu Zhidong , Jablons David M. , You Liang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAlthough tumour PD‐L1 (CD274) expression had been used as a predictive biomarker in checkpoint immunotherapy targeting the PD1/PD‐L1 axis in various cancers, the regulation of PD‐L1 (CD274) expression is unclear. Yes‐associated protein (YAP), an important oncogenic protein in Hippo signalling pathway, reportedly promotes cancer development. We investigated whether inhibition of YAP down‐regulates PD‐L1 (CD274) in human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Western blotting showed that 2 human MPM cell lines (H2052 and 211H) had increased PD‐L1 protein expression compared to H290, MS‐1 and H28 cells. In H2052 and 211H cells, PD‐L1 mRNA expression was significantly increased compared to other MPM cell lines; YAP knockdown by small interfering RNA decreased PD‐L1 protein and mRNA expression. Forced overexpression of the YAP gene increased PD‐L1 protein expression in H2452 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed the precipitation of PD‐L1 enhancer region encompassing 2 putative YAP‐TEAD‐binding sites in H2052 cells. We found that, in human MPM tissue microarray samples, YAP and PD‐L1 concurrently expressed in immunohistochemistry stain (n = 70, P < .05, chi‐square). We conclude that PD‐L1 is correlated with YAP expression, and inhibition of YAP down‐regulates PD‐L1 expression in human MPM. Further study of how YAP regulates PD‐L1 in MPM is warranted.
The European Commission's Fight against Cartels (1962–2014): A Retrospective and Forensic Analysis
Authors: Ordóñez‐De‐Haro José Manuel , Borrell Joan‐Ramon , Jiménez Juan Luis 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOn the basis of information collected from all the published European Commission's decisions in cartel cases between 1962 and 2014, this paper identifies different stages in the supra‐nationalization of cartel policy at the European Union (EU) level. It analyzes major competition policy reforms, strategies and initiatives taken by the European Commission (EC), and its relationship and interaction with Member States’ resistance and other policy players’ positions, which offers a new in‐depth study on the history and political economy of a key pillar of EU integration. It also provides a forensic analysis of the sanctioned cartels at each stage. This study shows that the introduction of the leniency programme was a critical juncture that allowed cartel authorities to identify cartels more effectively and to provide evidence for sanctioning collusion much more easily than before. This success was a key determinant for deepening the EU integration in competition policy. The intended drivers and the paradoxically unexpected shifters of such growing integration in cartel policy enforcement at the EU are discussed.