bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consumer satisfaction in retail stores: theory and implications
Authors: Paul Justin , Sankaranarayanan Koloth G. , Mekoth Nandakumar 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe substitution of small retail stores by the large stores has been a topic of debate among academics, practitioners, retailers and general public, especially in the context of foreign firms entering emerging markets such as China and India. The purpose of this research is to find out the determinants of consumer satisfaction in small and large retail stores in an emerging market, with a sample from India. Data were collected using a 39‐item structured questionnaire developed by the authors. The sample consists of 225 consumers who shop at retail outlets (Convenience sample of 125 consumers from small and 100 consumers from large stores respectively). Exploratory factor analysis grouped the 39 variables into 14 factors. Further, regression analysis revealed that six of the factors (Social desirability, staff friendliness, shopping economy, shopping ambience, family shopping and deal proneness) were major predictors of consumer satisfaction as they were found to be significant at 5% level. The significance of factors such as social desirability and staff friendliness imply that many consumers prefer those typical features of small stores, which in turn results in the likely coexistence of small retail formats in spite of the entry and proliferation of large retail stores from different countries. We posit three theoretical propositions to stimulate further research in this area.
Self‐esteem outcomes over a summer camp for obese youth
Authors: McGregor S. , McKenna J. , Gately P. , Hill A. J. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryBackground and objectivesVariation in the existing literature on the psychosocial benefits of weight loss in obese youth results, in part, from methodological limitations and modest weight loss. Accordingly, this research assessed perceived self‐competence and low self‐esteem during an intensive weight loss programme in a large sample of obese youth and related these to starting weight, gender and weight loss.MethodsOver 4 years, 303 obese male and female adolescents (body mass index [BMI] 34.3 kg m−2, BMI standard deviation score 2.99; 14.7 years) attended a residential weight loss camp for a mean duration of 31 d. Outcome variables included dimensional self‐esteem (Harter) and weight change over the camp.ResultsAt the start of camp, obese youth scored highest on social acceptance and lowest on physical appearance and athletic competence. Global self‐worth and most domains of self‐competence improved significantly over the intervention. The proportion with low global self‐worth reduced from 35% to 16%, but there was little change in the proportion reporting high self‐competence (23%). Mean weight loss was −5.5 kg (BMI standard deviation scores −0.25) with boys and those heaviest at the start losing most. Weight loss was significantly correlated with improved physical appearance (r = 0.13) and athletic competence (r = 0.19), but not global self‐worth.ConclusionsThis intensive weight loss intervention yielded significant psychological benefit, especially in self‐competence and among individuals achieving most weight loss. The weak association with weight loss suggests the influence of other contributing environmental or social features that should be the focus of further research.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of energy and macronutrient intake responses to physical activity interventions in children and adolescents with obesity
Authors: Schwartz C. , King N. A. , Perreira B. , Blundell J. E. , Thivel D. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryBackgroundThe effects of regular physical activity on energy intake in obese adolescents are unknown.ObjectiveThe objective is to determine how physical activity interventions affect energy and macronutrient intake in overweight/obese youth.Data sourcesDatabases were searched from December 2014 to December 2015 for studies that measured energy and/or macronutrient consumption in response to physical activity intervention in overweight/obese youth.Data selectionThe review comprises primary source articles published in English in peer‐reviewed journals. Articles that presented data on energy and/or macronutrient intake before and after a physical activity intervention (without dietary restriction) in overweight or obese children and teenagers (up to 18 years old) were included. Of the initial 307 references found, nine were included.ResultsThe nine included studies analysed the effect of 15 different physical activity interventions. Nine showed a decrease and six unchanged energy intakes. The effect size for total energy intake ranged from −2.108 to −0.207 (n = 14). Results of the meta‐analysis revealed a mean effect of physical intervention to reduce intake of −1.003 (95% confidence interval = −1.261 to −0.745, p < 0.001). Results for heterogeneity among these studies were I2 = 67.421; Q = 39.903; df = 13, p < 0.001. The mean energy intake reduction was −323 ± 286 kcal. Macronutrient intake was assessed in 11 interventions. Protein intake was found decreased in five (reduction of −26.8 ± 19.2 g), seven reported fat decrease (reduction of −26.4 ± 17.8 g) and five a decrease in CHO (reduction of −72.5 ± 22.8 g). The meta‐analysis revealed significant decreases of each macronutrient (p < 0.001).ConclusionStructured physical activity interventions favour decreased daily energy intake in obese adolescents.
The development and psychometric validation of the self‐efficacy and performance in self‐management support (SEPSS) Instrument
Authors: Duprez Veerle , Van Hooft Susanne M. , Dwarswaard Jolanda , van Staa AnneLoes , Van Hecke Ann , Strating Mathilde M.H. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAimTo develop and psychometrically test the self‐efficacy and performance in self‐management support (SEPSS) instrument.BackgroundFacilitating persons with a chronic condition to take an active role in the management of their condition, implicates that nurses acquire new competencies. An instrument that can validly and reliably measure nurses’ performance and their perceived capacity to perform self‐management support is needed to evaluate current practice and training in self‐management support.DesignInstrument development and psychometric testing of the content and construct validity, factor structure and reliability.MethodsA literature review and expert consultation (N = 17) identified the content. The items were structured according to the Five‐A's model and an overarching category of ‘overall’ competencies. The initial instrument was tested in a sample of 472 nurses and 51 nursing students from Belgium and the Netherlands, between June 2014–January 2015.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses revealed satisfactory fit indices for the six‐factor structure. Discriminating power was demonstrated for subgroups. The overall internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was high both for the self‐efficacy and the performance items. The test–retest intra‐class correlation coefficients were good.ConclusionThe SEPSS instrument is a 36‐item, Likert‐scaled self‐reporting instrument with good content and construct validity, and good internal consistency reliability and good test–retest reliability. Therefore, it is a promising instrument to measure self‐efficacy and performance with regard to self‐management support.
Exploring faecal incontinence in nursing home patients: a cross‐sectional study of prevalence and associations derived from the Residents Assessment Instrument for Long‐Term Care Facilities
Authors: Blekken Lene Elisabeth , Vinsnes Anne Guttormsen , Gjeilo Kari Hanne , Norton Christine , Mørkved Siv , Salvesen Øyvind , Nakrem Sigrid 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAimTo explore prevalence and associations of faecal incontinence among nursing home patients, to examine the effect of clustering of observations and to study the variation in faecal incontinence rates on both the level of nursing home units and individual patients.BackgroundFaecal incontinence affects 40‐55% of the patients in nursing homes and is associated with increased risk of morbidity and reduced quality of life. There is a lack of studies investigating faecal incontinence with validated instruments. More studies need to include models of analyses that allow for clustering of observations.DesignCross‐sectional.MethodsData on 261 patients from 20 nursing home units were collected during September–October 2014. The Norwegian version of the Resident Assessment Instrument for Long‐Term Care Facilities was used. Mixed effect models were conducted.ResultsPrevalence of faecal incontinence was 42·1% or 54% depending on the frequency labelling chosen. The effect of clustering by nursing home unit was not statistically significant. Most of the variation in faecal incontinence rates was explained by differences in patient characteristics, the most important being deficiencies in activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, diarrhoea and not participating in activities.ConclusionNursing home patients should be offered individualized assessment and continence care matching their patient characteristics. The Resident Assessment Instrument for Long‐Term Care Facilities is a useful instrument because of its’ combination of a comprehensive range of individual items and scales allowing for comparison of immediate or long‐term change in patients status. Studies evaluating interventions targeting faecal incontinence are warranted.
Effectiveness of advanced practice nurse‐led telehealth on readmissions and health‐related outcomes among patients with post‐acute myocardial infarction: ALTRA Study Protocol
Authors: Koh Karen Wei Ling , Wang Wenru , Richards A. Mark , Chan Mark Y. , Cheng Karis Kin Fong 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAimTo develop and examine the effectiveness of an advanced practice nurse‐led telehealth rehabilitative programme as a transitional nursing therapeutic on readmission rates and health‐related outcomes among patients with acute myocardial infarction postdischarge.BackgroundPatients suffering from acute myocardial infarction are experiencing an increasing trend of frequent readmissions. This implicates both the effectiveness of healthcare services and patient's quality of life. Advanced Practice Nurse‐led telehealth rehabilitative programme has yet to be explored as a strategy to minimize preventable readmissions and improve patient's self‐efficacy so as to enhance quality of life after a heart attack.DesignRandomized controlled trial with repeated measures.MethodologyA consecutive sampling of 172 patients with acute myocardial infarction will be recruited from a tertiary acute hospital in Singapore. Participants will be randomized into two groups. The experimental group (ALTRA) will receive Advanced Practice Nurse‐led telehealth rehabilitative programme on discharge. The control group will receive only standard follow‐up care. The outcome measures include readmissions, cardiac self‐efficacy, cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life, anxiety and depression. The data will be collected at the baseline, 1 and 6 month postdischarge. A postprogramme evaluation will be conducted among the participants to assess its acceptability, strengths and weakness.DiscussionALTRA aims to engage and support patients with acute myocardial infarction by increasing self‐care management through education and telehealth contacts with Advanced Practices Nurses. This provides a smoother transition of illness to health and ultimately, reduces preventable costly readmissions.Trial registrationThe study has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov. The trial registration number is NCT02483494.
Wayfinding in ageing and Alzheimer's disease within a virtual senior residence: study protocol
Authors: Davis Rebecca , Ohman Jennifer 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAimTo report a study protocol that examines the impact of adding salient cues in a virtual reality simulation of a senior residential building on wayfinding for older adults with and without Alzheimer's disease.BackgroundAn early symptom of Alzheimer's disease is the inability to find one's way (wayfinding). Senior residential environments are especially difficult for wayfinding. Salient cues may be able to help persons with Alzheimer's disease find their way more effectively so they can maintain independence.DesignA repeated measures, within and between subjects design.MethodsThis study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (August 2012). Older adults (N = 40) with normal cognition and older adults with early stage Alzheimer's disease/mild cognitive impairment (N = 40) will try to find their way to a location repeatedly in a virtual reality simulation of senior residence. There are two environments: standard (no cues) and salient (multiple cues). Outcome measures include how often and how quickly participants find the target location in each cue condition.ConclusionThe results of this study have the potential to provide evidence for ways to make the environment more supportive for wayfinding for older adults with Alzheimer's disease. This study is registered at Trialmatch.alz.org (Identifier 260425‐5).
Arguing for a New Form of Taxation: Lifetime Hourly Averaging
Authors: Bamford Douglas 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis article presents an argument for a new form of tax calculation. Firstly it is argued that Hypothetical Insurance is the best method to determine the correct type of distributive policies and the precise amounts that should be redistributed. Hourly averaging is then presented as a new candidate policy for both assisting the less economically fortunate and taxing the more economically fortunate. The article then argues that hourly averaging compares favourably against rival policies as a hypothetical insurance choice.
Image Integration to Guide Catheter Ablation in Scar‐Related Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: YAMASHITA SEIGO , SACHER FRÉDÉRIC , MAHIDA SAAGAR , BERTE BENJAMIN , LIM HAN S. , KOMATSU YUKI , AMRAOUI SANA , DENIS ARNAUD , DERVAL NICOLAS , LAURENT FRANÇOIS , SERMESANT MAXIME , MONTAUDON MICHEL , HOCINI MÉLÈZE , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL , JAÏS PIERRE , COCHET HUBERT 
Published: February 2016

Image Integration‐Guided VT AblationBackgroundAlthough multi‐detector computed tomography (MDCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can assess the structural substrate of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), non‐ICM (NICM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), the usefulness of systematic image integration during VT ablation remains undetermined.Methods and ResultsA total of 116 consecutive patients (67 ICM; 30 NICM; 19 ARVC) underwent VT ablation with image integration (MDCT 91%; CMR 30%; both 22%). Substrate was defined as wall thinning on MDCT and late gadolinium‐enhancement on CMR in ICM/NICM, and as myocardial hypo‐attenuation on MDCT in ARVC. This substrate was compared to mapping and ablation results with the endpoint of complete elimination of local abnormal ventricular activity (LAVA), and the impact of image integration on procedural management was analyzed. Imaging‐derived substrate identified 89% of critical VT isthmuses and 85% of LAVA, and was more efficient in identifying LAVA in ICM and ARVC than in NICM (90% and 90% vs. 72%, P < 0.0001), and when defined from CMR than MDCT (ICM: 92% vs. 88%, P = 0.026, NICM: 88% vs. 72%, P < 0.001). Image integration motivated additional mapping and epicardial access in 57% and 33% of patients. Coronary and phrenic nerve integration modified epicardial ablation strategy in 43% of patients. The impact of image integration on procedural management was higher in ARVC/NICM than in ICM (P < 0.01), and higher in case of epicardial approach (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsImage integration is feasible in large series of patients, provides information on VT substrate, and impacts procedural management, particularly in ARVC/NICM, and in case of epicardial approach.
3D spheroid culture enhances survival and therapeutic capacities of MSCs injected into ischemic kidney
Authors: Xu Yong , Shi Taoping , Xu Axiang , Zhang Lei 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThree‐dimensional (3D) cell culture has been reported to increase the therapeutic potentials of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of 3D spheroids of human adipose‐derived MSCs for acute kidney injury (AKI). In vitro studies indicated that 3D spheroids of MSCs produced higher levels of extracellular matrix proteins (including collagen I, fibronectin and laminin), and exhibited stronger anti‐apoptotic and anti‐oxidative capacities than two‐dimensional (2D) cultured cells. Furthermore, 3D culture increased the paracrine secretion of cytokines by MSCs, including angiogenic factors (VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor), anti‐apoptotic factors (epidermal growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor), the anti‐oxidative factor insulin‐like growth factor and the anti‐inflammatory protein tumour necrosis factor‐alpha stimulated gene/protein 6. Consistent with in vitro experiments, 3D spheroids of MSCs showed enhanced survival and paracrine effects in vivo. More importantly, when injected into the kidney of model rats with ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R)‐induced AKI, 3D spheroids were more beneficial in protecting the I/R kidney against apoptosis, reducing tissue damage, promoting vascularization and ameliorating renal function compared with 2D cultured cells. Therefore, the 3D culture strategy improved the therapeutic effects of MSCs, and might be promising for AKI treatment.
Skeletal ligament healing using the recombinant human amelogenin protein
Authors: Hanhan Salem , Ejzenberg Ayala , Goren Koby , Saba Faris , Suki Yarden , Sharon Shay , Shilo Dekel , Waxman Jacob , Spitzer Elad , Shahar Ron , Atkins Ayelet , Liebergall Meir , Blumenfeld Anat , Deutsch Dan , Haze Amir 
Published: February 2016

AbstractInjuries to ligaments are common, painful and debilitating, causing joint instability and impaired protective proprioception sensation around the joint. Healing of torn ligaments usually fails to take place, and surgical replacement or reconstruction is required. Previously, we showed that in vivo application of the recombinant human amelogenin protein (rHAM+) resulted in enhanced healing of the tooth‐supporting tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether amelogenin might also enhance repair of skeletal ligaments. The rat knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) was chosen to prove the concept. Full thickness tear was created and various concentrations of rHAM+, dissolved in propylene glycol alginate (PGA) carrier, were applied to the transected MCL. 12 weeks after transection, the mechanical properties, structure and composition of transected ligaments treated with 0.5 μg/μl rHAM+ were similar to the normal un‐transected ligaments, and were much stronger, stiffer and organized than control ligaments, treated with PGA only. Furthermore, the proprioceptive free nerve endings, in the 0.5 μg/μl rHAM+ treated group, were parallel to the collagen fibres similar to their arrangement in normal ligament, while in the control ligaments the free nerve endings were entrapped in the scar tissue at different directions, not parallel to the axis of the force. Four days after transection, treatment with 0.5 μg/μl rHAM+ increased the amount of cells expressing mesenchymal stem cell markers at the injured site. In conclusion application of rHAM+ dose dependently induced mechanical, structural and sensory healing of torn skeletal ligament. Initially the process involved recruitment and proliferation of cells expressing mesenchymal stem cell markers.
New protein–protein interactions of mitochondrial connexin 43 in mouse heart
Authors: Denuc Amanda , Núñez Estefanía , Calvo Enrique , Loureiro Marta , Miro‐Casas Elisabet , Guarás Adela , Vázquez Jesús , Garcia‐Dorado David 
Published: February 2016

AbstractConnexin 43 (Cx43), the gap junction protein involved in cell‐to‐cell coupling in the heart, is also present in the subsarcolemmal fraction of cardiomyocyte mitochondria. It has been described to regulate mitochondrial potassium influx and respiration and to be important for ischaemic preconditioning protection, although the molecular effectors involved are not fully characterized. In this study, we looked for potential partners of mitochondrial Cx43 in an attempt to identify new molecular pathways for cardioprotection. Mass spectrometry analysis of native immunoprecipitated mitochondrial extracts showed that Cx43 interacts with several proteins related with mitochondrial function and metabolism. Among them, we selected for further analysis only those present in the subsarcolemmal mitochondrial fraction and known to be related with the respiratory chain. Apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF) and the beta‐subunit of the electron‐transfer protein (ETFB), two proteins unrelated to date with Cx43, fulfilled these conditions, and their interaction with Cx43 was proven by direct and reverse co‐immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, a previously unknown molecular interaction between AIF and ETFB was established, and protein content and sub‐cellular localization appeared to be independent from the presence of Cx43. Our results identify new protein–protein interactions between AIF‐Cx43, ETFB‐Cx43 and AIF‐ETFB as possible players in the regulation of the mitochondrial redox state.
The role of topical dermocosmetics in acne vulgaris
Authors: Araviiskaia E. , Dréno B. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAcne is a common chronic inflammatory disease and treatment modalities based on acne severity are well established. The role of dermocosmetics in dermatology, and in particular acne, is becoming more important as more research elucidates the mechanisms of action of products in the pathogenesis of acne. Dermocosmetics have the potential to be used as monotherapy or in combination with medical treatment. Therefore, it has become important for dermatologists to understand dermocosmetics to effectively and appropriately advise patients on their use. The objective of this review was to provide new insights into the role of traditional and novel ingredients in dermocosmetics for the treatment of acne, based on the authors’ objective assessment of the published literature. The type of products discussed include: those which have a sebostatic effect, such as topical antioxidants and niacinamide; agents targeting abnormal keratinization, such as salicylic acid, lipo‐hydroxy acid, alpha‐hydroxy acids, retinol‐based products and linoleic acid; agents targeting Propionibacterium acnes, such as lauric acid; and anti‐inflammatory agents such as nicotinamide, alpha‐linolenic acid and zinc salts. Despite the scientific advances in understanding these cosmetic ingredients, there still remains a lack of rigorous controlled studies in this area.