bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Palliative care nursing education features more prominently in 2015 than 2005: Results from a nationwide survey and qualitative analysis of curricula
Authors: Martins Pereira Sandra , Hernández-Marrero Pablo 
Published: March 2016

Background: Making palliative care accessible to all citizens who are in need of this type of care requires effective policies and education. Moreover, healthcare professionals have an ethical and legal responsibility to ensure quality palliative care. Nevertheless, palliative care has had traditionally a limited emphasis in healthcare professionals’ undergraduate education. Aim: To study the current status of palliative care education in nursing undergraduate curricula and compare 2005 and 2015 findings. Design: An online survey was sent to all state schools providing nursing undergraduate education in Portugal ( N = 21). The survey assessed if and how palliative care was included in the curricula, and whether or not national and international recommendations for palliative care nursing education were followed. Further analysis included the content of available curricula/syllabi. Setting/participants: A total of 19 schools completed the survey (90% of response rate). These institutions are geographically dispersed and representative of state nursing educational institutions in Portugal. Results: In 2015, all participant schools integrated palliative care in their curricula; nine schools had palliative care as an independent curricular unit (an 800% increase compared to 2005). While in 2005, only 14 out of 23 (61%) schools included palliative care explicitly in their curricula; in 2015, all 19 participant schools did so. National and international recommendations were followed. Conclusion: The inclusion of palliative care within nursing undergraduate curricula strongly increased from 2005 to 2015. Further research is needed to understand the contribution of education in the access, care provision, quality and development of palliative care in this country.
In vivo evidence for long-term vascular remodeling resulting from chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in mice
Authors: Struys Tom , Govaerts Kristof , Oosterlinck Wouter , Casteels Cindy , Bronckaers Annelies , Koole Michel , Van Laere Koen , Herijgers Paul , Lambrichts Ivo , Himmelreich Uwe , Dresselaers Tom 
Published: March 2016

We have characterized both acute and long-term vascular and metabolic effects of unilateral common carotid artery occlusion in mice by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. This common carotid artery occlusion model induces chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and is therefore relevant to both preclinical stroke studies, where it serves as a control condition for a commonly used mouse model of ischemic stroke, and neurodegeneration, as chronic hypoperfusion is causative to cognitive decline. By using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrate that under isoflurane anesthesia, cerebral perfusion levels recover gradually over one month. This recovery is paralleled by an increase in lumen diameter and altered tortuosity of the contralateral internal carotid artery at one year post-ligation as derived from magnetic resonance angiography data. Under urethane/α-chloralose anesthesia, no acute perfusion differences are observed, but the vascular response capacity to hypercapnia is found to be compromised. These hemispheric perfusion alterations are confirmed by water [15O]-H2O positron emission tomography. Glucose metabolism ([18F]-FDG positron emission tomography) or white matter organization (diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging) did not show any significant alterations. In conclusion, permanent unilateral common carotid artery occlusion results in acute and long-term vascular remodeling, which may have immediate consequences for animal models of stroke but also vascular dementia.
A role of the sodium pump in spreading ischemia in rats
Authors: Major Sebastian , Petzold Gabor C , Reiffurth Clemens , Windmüller Olaf , Foddis Marco , Lindauer Ute , Kang Eun-Jeung , Dreier Jens P 
Published: March 2016

In rats, spreading depolarization induces vasodilation/hyperemia in naïve tissue but the inverse response when artificial cerebrospinal fluid is topically applied to the brain containing (a) a nitric oxide–lowering agent and (b) elevated K+. The inverse response is characterized by severe vasoconstriction/ischemia. The perfusion deficit runs together with the depolarization in the tissue (=spreading ischemia). Here, we found in male Wistar rats that pre-treatment with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing elevated K+ in vivo led to a selective decline in α2/α3 Na+/K+-ATPase activity, determined spectrophotometrically ex vivo. Moreover, spreading ischemia, recorded with laser-Doppler flowmetry and electrocorticography, resulted from artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing a nitric oxide–lowering agent in combination with the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor ouabain at a concentration selectively inhibiting α2/α3 activity. Decline in α2/α3 activity results in increased Ca2+ uptake by internal stores of astrocytes, vascular myocytes, and pericytes since Ca2+ outflux via plasmalemmal Na+/Ca2+-exchanger declines. Augmented Ca2+ mobilization from internal stores during spreading depolarization might enhance vasoconstriction, thus, contributing to spreading ischemia. Accordingly, spreading ischemia was significantly shortened when intracellular Ca2+ stores were emptied by pre-treatment with thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA). These findings might have relevance for clinical conditions, in which spreading ischemia occurs such as delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Extrapolation of efficacy and other data to support the development of new medicines for children: A systematic review of methods
Authors: Wadsworth Ian , Hampson Lisa V , Jaki Thomas 
Published: March 2016

Objective: When developing new medicines for children, the potential to extrapolate from adult data to reduce the experimental burden in children is well recognised. However, significant assumptions about the similarity of adults and children are needed for extrapolations to be biologically plausible. We reviewed the literature to identify statistical methods that could be used to optimise extrapolations in paediatric drug development programmes. Methods: Web of Science was used to identify papers proposing methods relevant for using data from a ‘source population’ to support inferences for a ‘target population’. Four key areas of methods development were targeted: paediatric clinical trials, trials extrapolating efficacy across ethnic groups or geographic regions, the use of historical data in contemporary clinical trials and using short-term endpoints to support inferences about long-term outcomes. Results: Searches identified 626 papers of which 52 met our inclusion criteria. From these we identified 102 methods comprising 58 Bayesian and 44 frequentist approaches. Most Bayesian methods (n = 54) sought to use existing data in the source population to create an informative prior distribution for a future clinical trial. Of these, 46 allowed the source data to be down-weighted to account for potential differences between populations. Bayesian and frequentist versions of methods were found for assessing whether key parameters of source and target populations are commensurate (n = 34). Fourteen frequentist methods synthesised data from different populations using a joint model or a weighted test statistic. Conclusions: Several methods were identified as potentially applicable to paediatric drug development. Methods which can accommodate a heterogeneous target population and which allow data from a source population to be down-weighted are preferred. Methods assessing the commensurability of parameters may be used to determine whether it is appropriate to pool data across age groups to estimate treatment effects.
The pros and cons of the fourth revision of thalassaemia screening programme in Iran
Authors: Moafi Alireza , Vallian Reihaneh , Vallian Sadeq , Rahgozar Soheila , Torfenajad Mohammad , Moafi Hadi 
Published: March 2016

Objective To evaluate the repercussions of recent changes to the cut-offs used in the first screening step of the pre-marital screening programme for thalassaemia prevention in Iran. Methods The profiles of 984 subjects referred to a genetic laboratory, and the tests of 242 parents of children with thalassaemia major were assessed for red blood cell (RBC) indices, haemoglobin (Hb) A2 levels and results of Hb electrophoresis. Results Of 407 suspected thalassaemia minor (STM) cases, 18 proved positive for thalassaemia minor on molecular analysis (18/407, confidence interval 2.6–6.9%). If the revised screening cut-offs had been used to determine who would undergo molecular analysis, two of these cases would not have been identified. Only 4.4% of suspected cases with lower than normal RBC indices (mean corpuscular volume <80 fl and mean corpuscular Hb <27 pg) and HbA2 (<3.5%) were diagnosed with thalassaemia minor. Conclusion The thalassaemia major prevention programme is performed in two separate steps. One step involves the screening of subjects and identification of β-thalassaemia minor, suspected cases for thalassaemia minor (STM), and normal subject groups. The other step concerns the identification of thalassaemia minor in the STM group. Changing the cut-offs at the first screening step does not result in significant improvement from an economic view, and is associated with significant risk at the second screening step.
Retinal degeneration in primary-progressive multiple sclerosis: A role for cortical lesions?
Authors: Petracca Maria , Cordano Christian , Cellerino Maria , Button Julia , Krieger Stephen , Vancea Roxana , Ghassemi Rezwan , Farrell Colleen , Miller Aaron , Calabresi Peter A , Lublin Fred , Inglese Matilde 
Published: March 2016

Background: Retinal atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS) is secondary to optic nerve focal inflammation and to injury of the posterior visual pathway. Objectives: To investigate the contribution of cortical lesions (CLs) to retinal pathology in primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional evaluation of 25 patients and 20 controls, relating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics of visual pathway integrity with parameters derived from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, and macular volume (MV)). Results: Mean RNFL, GCIPL thickness, and MV were significantly reduced in patients compared to controls. MV and GCIPL thickness were significantly correlated with visual acuity. RNFL thinning was associated with thalamus and visual cortex volume (respectively, p = 0.01 and p < 0.05). In addition to thalamic volume, GCIPL thinning was associated with CLs and intracortical lesion number and volume, leucocortical lesion volume (all p ⩽ 0.05) while MV decrease was associated with CLs volume ( p = 0.05) and intracortical lesion number and volume ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that RNFL thinning and GCIPL thinning/MV decrease may be explained by alternative mechanisms including retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration and/or a common pathophysiologic process affecting both the brain with CLs and the retina with neuronal loss.
Engaging parents in Family Court: Lessons from an observational study of child protection cases
Authors: Lens Vicki 
Published: March 2016

Summary This study explores the courtroom interactions between judges, attorneys, and parents charged with child abuse or neglect. Drawing on ethnographic observations of court cases in a Family Court located in the northeastern United States, this study seeks to understand how judges encourage or inhibit parents’ participation and the strategies and tactics used to influence parental behaviors and obtain cooperation with court orders. Findings On one end of the spectrum are judges who engage little, or not at all with parents, preferring to speak only to the professional court actors. On the other end of the spectrum is a more participatory approach, with judges weaving parents into court room exchanges and engaging them in informational and decision-making dialogs. A similar divergence appears when soliciting cooperation from parents, with some judges relying on shaming rituals and others using a softer approach that incorporates praise and support. Applications Strategic interventions are identified that will increase parents’ cooperation and satisfaction with the Family Court system. These include vigorously engaging in both informational and decision-making dialogs with parents and using rituals of praise and support, rather than shaming.
Diabetes mellitus and coronary microvascular function in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and nonobstructed coronary arteries
Authors: Banovic Marko , Brkovic Voin , Nedeljkovic Ivana , Nedeljkovic Milan , Popovic Dejana , Djordjevic-Dikic Ana , Ristic Arsen , Nikolic Srdjan , Beleslin Branko 
Published: March 2016

Background and aim: Coronary flow reserve is impaired in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis and has a prognostic value. We investigated whether the type II diabetes mellitus additionally impairs microvascular circulation assessed by coronary flow reserve in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis, normal left ventricular ejection fraction and nonobstructed coronary arteries. Methods: A total of 128 patients, mean age of 66.35 ± 10.51 (58.6% males), with severe aortic stenosis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction were enrolled in this study. Patients with diabetes mellitus, those who were treated for diabetes mellitus or had documentation confirming the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, were considered. All patients underwent coronary angiography and had no obstructive coronary disease (defined as having no stenosis >50% in diameter), standard transthoracic Doppler-echocardiographic study and adenosine stress transthoracic echocardiography for coronary flow reserve measurement. Results: Diabetes mellitus was present in 26 patients (20.31%). There was no significant difference in aortic stenosis severity between diabetic and non-diabetic patients [aortic valve area (0.81 ± 0.18 vs 0.85 ± 0.15 cm2) and Vmax (4.20 ± 0.57 vs 4.21 ± 0.48 m/s)]. Mean coronary flow reserve in diabetic patients was 1.98 ± 0.48, while mean coronary flow reserve in non-diabetic patients was 2.64 ± 0.54 ( p < 0.01). Diabetes mellitus was independent predictor of coronary flow reserve [B = −0.636, 95% confidence interval (−0.916 to −0.368), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus additionally impairs coronary microvascular function in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and nonobstructed coronary arteries.
Three-dimensional protein model similarity analysis based on salient shape index
Authors: Yao Bo , Li Zhong , Ding Meng , Chen Minhong 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Background
Proteins play a special role in bioinformatics. The surface shape of a protein, which is an important characteristic of the protein, defines a geometric and biochemical domain where the protein interacts with other proteins. The similarity analysis among protein models has become an important topic of protein analysis, by which it can reveal the structure and the function of proteins.

Results
In this paper, a new protein similarity analysis method based on three-dimensional protein models is proposed. It constructs a feature matrix descriptor for each protein model combined by calculating the shape index (SI) and the related salient geometric feature (SGF), and then analyzes the protein model similarity by using this feature matrix and the extended grey relation analysis.

Conclusions
We compare our method to the Multi-resolution Reeb Graph (MRG) skeleton method, the L1-medial skeleton method and the local-diameter descriptor method. Experimental results show that our protein similarity analysis method is accurate and reliable while keeping the high computational efficiency.
Extensions of Ćirić and Wardowski type fixed point theorems in D-generalized metric spaces
Authors: Senapati Tanusri , Dey Lakshmi Kanta , Dolićanin-Ðekić Diana 
Published: March 2016

AbstractIn this paper, we study an interesting generalization of standard metric spaces, b-metric spaces, dislocated metric spaces, and modular spaces due to the recent work of Jleli and Samet. Here we modify the result for Ćirić quasi-contraction-type mappings and also prove the same result by taking D-admissible mappings. Moreover, we establish fixed point theorems for two well-known nonlinear contractions like rational contraction mappings and Wardowski type contraction mappings. Several important results in the literature can be derived from our results. Suitable examples are presented to substantiate our obtained results.
Neutrophil extracellular trap formation is elicited in response to cold physical plasma
Authors: Bekeschus Sander , Winterbourn Christine C , Kolata Julia , Masur Kai , Hasse Sybille , Bröker Barbara M , Parker Heather A 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Cold physical plasma is an ionized gas with a multitude of components, including hydrogen peroxide and other reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Recent studies suggest that exposure of wounds to cold plasma may accelerate healing. Upon wounding, neutrophils are the first line of defense against invading microorganisms but have also been identified to play a role in delayed healing. In this study, we examined how plasma treatment affects the functions of peripheral blood neutrophils. Plasma treatment induced oxidative stress, as assessed by the oxidation of intracellular fluorescent redox probes; reduced metabolic activity; but did not induce early apoptosis. Neutrophil oxidative burst was only modestly affected after plasma treatment, and the killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was not significantly affected. Intriguingly, we found that plasma induced profound extracellular trap formation. This was inhibited by the presence of catalase during plasma treatment but was not replicated by adding an equivalent concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Plasma-induced neutrophil extracellular trap formation was not dependent on the activity of myeloperoxidase or NADPH oxidase 2 but seemed to involve short-lived molecules. The amount of DNA release and the time course after plasma treatment were similar to that with the common neutrophil extracellular trap inducer PMA. After neutrophil extracellular traps had formed, concentrations of IL-8 were also significantly increased in supernatants of plasma-treated neutrophils. Both neutrophil extracellular traps and IL-8 release may aid antimicrobial activity and spur inflammation at the wound site. Whether this aids or exacerbates wound healing needs to be tested.
Wake analysis of aerodynamic components for the glide envelope of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Authors: KleinHeerenbrink Marco , Warfvinge Kajsa , Hedenström Anders 
Published: March 2016

Gliding flight is a relatively inexpensive mode of flight used by many larger bird species, where potential energy is used to cover the cost of aerodynamic drag. Birds have great flexibility in their flight configuration, allowing them to control their flight speed and glide angle. However, relatively little is known about how this flexibility affects aerodynamic drag.We measured the wake of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) gliding in a wind tunnel, and computed the components of aerodynamic drag from the wake. We found that induced drag was mainly affected by wingspan, but also that the use of the tail has a negative influence on span efficiency. Contrary to previous work, we found no support for the separated primaries being used in controlling the induced drag. Profile drag was of similar magnitude to that reported in other studies, and our results suggest that profile drag is affected by variation in wing shape. For a folded tail the body drag coefficient had a value of 0.2, rising to above 0.4 with the tail fully spread, which we conclude is due to tail profile drag.
Technopoly and the education of children: Media ecology as a form of reflection, praxis and resistance
Authors: Albrecht Robert , Tabone Carmine 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
The central theme in the work of Neil Postman focuses repeatedly on the dangers posed by the presence of electronic technology in every facet of our communication environment. Postman termed this relentless intrusion of technology in society ‘technopoly’ and warned of dire consequences if left unchecked, unnoticed and unopposed. Postman frequently advocated educational reform to meet this challenge and sketched some general ideas but was never systematically involved with such an attempt. In this article, the authors outline a 40-year educational experiment designed to resist the harmful effects of electronic technology by developing an ‘oral curriculum’ that engages children through a wide range of interpersonal and creative arts strategies. By deliberately adapting a ‘lo-tech’ workshop model that relies heavily on oral communication, the asking of questions and the development of literacy through engagement with the creative uses of drama, the Educational Arts Team has fostered a pedagogy that seeks to counter the ascendancy of electronic technology in the lives of children.
Multi-Peak Positive Solutions for Nonlinear Fractional Schr\"{o}dinger Systems in ℝ
N
Authors: Liu Weiming 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
In this paper, we study the nonlinear fractional Schrödinger system in

ℝ
N

${\mathbb{R}^{N}}$

. Applying the finite reduction method, we prove that the nonlinear fractional Schrödinger system has multi-peak positive solutions under some suitable conditions.
Procedures for the Naming of a New Element
Authors: Corish John 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe procedures to be followed in the naming of new elements fall into two distinct phases. The first of these is done jointly between IUPAC and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and involves the validation of a claimed discovery and its assignation to a laboratory or to a collaborating group of laboratories. The second phase is carried out by IUPAC alone, which utilises its standard procedures for the recommendation of a suitable name. After this recommendation has successfully gone through the usual stringent refereeing processes, it is then finally approved by the Council before being formally announced.
Changes in Self-Reported Household Preparedness Levels among a Rural Population after Exposure to Emergency Preparedness Campaign Materials
Authors: McNeill Charleen C. , Alfred Danita , Mastel-Smith Beth , Fountain Rebecca , MacClements Jonathan 
Published: March 2016

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the self-reported preparedness levels of a rural population in the US before and after an exposure to preparedness education materials from the Ready Campaign and the Texas “Ready or Not?” Campaign.

Design and Methods: A before-and-after design was used for the study of people who attended a Medical Outreach held in rural east Texas.

Results: Participants were significantly more prepared for an emergency after the educational program (M=17.1; SD=6.43) than before the educational program (M=13.21; SD=6.33; t(41)=–4.28; p<0.001; 95% CI [–5.74 to –2.06]; ES r=0.57).

Conclusions: Increases in the incidences of disasters have significantly affected the attention given disaster planning and preparedness measures, yet preparedness efforts in the US have not achieved preparedness goals. It is vital that emergency preparedness education measures be assessed for effectiveness so that evidence-based approaches to conducting them can be utilized. The improvement in preparedness among participants supports providing preparedness education at public health events similar to the one in East Texas.