bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Explaining the accreditation process from the institutional isomorphism perspective: a case study of Jordanian primary healthcare centers
Authors: Alyahya Mohammad , Hijazi Heba , Harvey Heather 
Published: October 2016

SummaryBackgroundWhile the main focus of accreditation initiatives has been on hospitals, the implementation of these programs is a relatively new notion among other types of healthcare facilities. Correspondingly, this study aims to understand how accreditation is perceived among primary public healthcare centers using an isomorphic institutional theory.Design/MethodologySemi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 56 healthcare professionals and administrative staff from seven non‐profit healthcare centers in Jordan using an explanatory case‐study approach.ResultsThe informants' narratives revealed that all three components of institutional theory: coercive, mimetic, and normative pressure, were drivers for institutional change in seeking accreditation. There was an overlapping and blending between the three various types of pressure. While participants perceived that healthcare centers faced formal and informal pressures to achieve accreditation, health centers were reluctant about the time, amount of effort, and their ability to achieve the accreditation. Ambiguity and fear of failure forced them to model successful ones. Moreover, the findings revealed that normative values of health professionals enhanced institutional isomorphism and influenced the accreditation process.ConclusionIdentifying these isomorphic changes may help key stakeholders to develop plans, policies, and procedures that could improve the quality of healthcare and enhance accreditation as an organizational strategic plan. Moreover, the study provided explanations of why and how organizations move to adopt new interventions and grow over time. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Large scale climate and rainfall seasonality in a Mediterranean Area: Insights from a non‐homogeneous Markov model applied to the Agro‐Pontino plain
Authors: Cioffi Francesco , Conticello Federico , Lall Upmanu , Marotta Lucia , Telesca Vito 
Published: October 2016

AbstractIn the context of climate change and variability, there is considerable interest in how large scale climate indicators influence regional precipitation occurrence and its seasonality. Seasonal and longer climate projections from coupled ocean–atmosphere models need to be downscaled to regional levels for hydrologic applications, and the identification of appropriate state variables from such models that can best inform this process is also of direct interest. Here, a Non‐Homogeneous Hidden Markov Model (NHMM) for downscaling daily rainfall is developed for the Agro‐Pontino Plain, a coastal reclamation region very vulnerable to changes of hydrological cycle. The NHMM, through a set of atmospheric predictors, provides the link between large scale meteorological features and local rainfall patterns. Atmospheric data from the NCEP/NCAR archive and 56‐years record (1951–2004) of daily rainfall measurements from 7 stations in Agro‐Pontino Plain are analyzed. A number of validation tests are carried out, in order to: 1) identify the best set of atmospheric predictors to model local rainfall; 2) evaluate the model performance to capture realistically relevant rainfall attributes as the inter‐annual and seasonal variability, as well as average and extreme rainfall patterns.Validation tests show that the best set of atmospheric predictors are the following: mean sea level pressure, temperature at 1000 hPa, meridional and zonal wind at 850 hPa and precipitable water, from 20°N to 80°N of latitude and from 80°W to 60°E of longitude. Furthermore, the validation tests show that the rainfall attributes are simulated realistically and accurately. The capability of the NHMM to be used as a forecasting tool to quantify changes of rainfall patterns forced by alteration of atmospheric circulation under climate change and variability scenarios is discussed.
Oxidative damage of the male reproductive system induced by paraquat
Authors: Chen Qing , Zhang Xin , Zhao Jin‐Yan , Lu Xiao‐Ning , Zheng Peng‐Sheng , Xue Xiang 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe effects of paraquat (PQ) on the male reproductive system are unclear. In this study, male rats were divided into four groups (0, 0.5, 2, and 8 mg/kg) and treated with PQ by oral gavage for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, a significant decline in sperm count, motility, and viability and an increase in teratospermia were observed in the PQ‐treated group (P < 0.05). Further investigation found that PQ resulted in enhanced lipid peroxidation and more apoptosis in the testis tissues, and apoptosis was likely to be associated with activation of the mitochondrial pathway. In summary, our study demonstrated oxidative damage due to PQ on the male reproductive system.
Uptake Pathways of Guandinylated Disulfide Containing Polymers as Nonviral Gene Carrier Delivering DNA to Cells
Authors: Zhang Jinmin , Yu Jiankun , Jiang Jingzheng , Chen Xiao , Sun Yanping , Yang Zhen , Yang Tianzhi , Cai Cuifang , Zhao Xiaoyun , Ding Pingtian 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTPolymers of guanidinylated disulfide containing poly(amido amine)s (Gua‐SS‐PAAs), have shown high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Previously, we synthesized two Gua‐SS‐PAA polymers, using guanidino containing monomers (i.e., arginine and agmatine, denoted as ARG and AGM, respectively) and N,N’‐cystaminebisacrylamide (CBA). In this study, these two polymers, AGM‐CBA and ARG‐CBA were complexed with plasmid DNA, and their uptake pathway was investigated. Complexes distribution in MCF‐7 cells, and changes on cell endosomes/lysosomes and membrane after the cells were exposed to complexes were tested. In addition, how the transfection efficiency changed with the cell cycle status as well as endocytosis inhibitors were studied. The polymers of AGM‐CBA and ARG‐CBA can avoid endosomal/lysosomal trap, therefore, greatly delivering plasmid DNA (pDNA) to the cell nucleoli. It is the guanidine groups in the polymers that enhanced complexes’ permeation through cell membrane with slight membrane damage, and targeting to the nucleoli. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 903–913, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian change point analysis for extreme daily precipitation
Authors: Chen Si , Li Yaxing , Kim Jinheum , Kim Seong W. 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTChange point (CP) analysis of extreme precipitation plays a key role to incorporate non‐stationarity in flood predictions under climate change. This article provides a Bayesian method to detect theCPfrequently appearing in extreme precipitation data. Unlike most published work based on a normal distribution, we allow for the model to follow a generalized Pareto distribution to fit extreme precipitation over a high threshold with aCP, which can effectively utilize tail behaviour of the distribution. The BayesianCPdetection is investigated on four models: a no change model, a shape change model, a scale change model, and both a shape and scale change model. Model selection is performed using the Bayes factor and model posterior probability; the posterior means of the unknownCPand the model parameters before and after theCPcan be obtained based on the selectedCPmodel. Simulation studies and a real data example are provided to demonstrate the proposed methodologies. Finally, model uncertainty issues in the frequency analysis are extensively discussed. It is found that considering the abrupt and sustainedCPin extreme precipitation is important when performing hydraulic or hydrologic design.
Post‐traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle: A distinct clinical entity requiring new research approaches
Authors: Delco Michelle L. , Kennedy John G. , Bonassar Lawrence J. , Fortier Lisa A. 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTThe diagnosis of ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing as a result of advancements in non‐invasive imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, improved arthroscopic surgical technology and heightened awareness among clinicians. Unlike OA of the knee, primary or age‐related ankle OA is rare, with the majority of ankle OA classified as post‐traumatic (PTOA). Ankle trauma, more specifically ankle sprain, is the single most common athletic injury, and no effective therapies are available to prevent or slow progression of PTOA. Despite the high incidence of ankle trauma and OA, ankle‐related OA research is sparse, with the majority of clinical and basic studies pertaining to the knee joint. Fundamental differences exist between joints including their structure and molecular composition, response to trauma, susceptibility to OA, clinical manifestations of disease, and response to treatment. Considerable evidence suggests that research findings from knee should not be extrapolated to the ankle, however few ankle‐specific preclinical models of PTOA are currently available. The objective of this article is to review the current state of ankle OA investigation, highlighting important differences between the ankle and knee that may limit the extent to which research findings from knee models are applicable to the ankle joint. Considerations for the development of new ankle‐specific, clinically relevant animal models are discussed. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:440–453, 2017.
Quality and clarity in systematic review abstracts: an empirical study
Authors: Tsou Amy Y. , Treadwell Jonathan R. 
Published: October 2016

BackgroundSystematic review (SR) abstracts are important for disseminating evidence syntheses to inform medical decision making. We assess reporting quality in SR abstracts using PRISMA for Abstracts (PRISMA‐A), Cochrane Handbook, and Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality guidance.MethodsWe evaluated a random sample of 200 SR abstracts (from 2014) comparing interventions in the general medical literature. We assessed adherence to PRISMA‐A criteria, problematic wording in conclusions, and whether “positive” studies described clinical significance.ResultsOn average, abstracts reported 60% of PRISMA‐A checklist items (mean 8.9 ± 1.7, range 4 to 12). Eighty percent of meta‐analyses reported quantitative measures with a confidence interval. Only 49% described effects in terms meaningful to patients and clinicians (e.g., absolute measures), and only 43% mentioned strengths/limitations of the evidence base. Average abstract word count was 274 (SD 89). Word count explained only 13% of score variability. PRISMA‐A scores did not differ between Cochrane and non‐Cochrane abstracts (mean difference 0.08, 95% confidence interval −1.16 to 1.00).Of 275 primary outcomes, 48% were statistically significant, 32% were not statistically significant, and 19% did not report significance or results. Only one abstract described clinical significance for positive findings. For “negative” outcomes, we identified problematic simple restatements (20%), vague “no evidence of effect” wording (9%), and wishful wording (8%).ConclusionsImproved SR abstract reporting is needed, particularly reporting of quantitative measures (for meta‐analysis), easily interpretable units, strengths/limitations of evidence, clinical significance, and clarifying whether negative results reflect true equivalence between treatments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Serum vitamin D and recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Authors: Rhim Gu Il 
Published: October 2016

ObjectivesThe objective of the present study was to examine the effects of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations on patients diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) on BPPV recurrence.Study DesignCase series.MethodsA retrospective review of 232 patients diagnosed with BPPV visiting the clinic between June 2014 and June 2015 was performed. All patients underwent a complete otolaryngological, audiologic, and neurologic evaluation. The appropriate particle‐repositioning maneuver was performed depending on the type of BPPV. The patients were divided into the recurrence group and the nonrecurrence group. Age, gender, follow‐up period, type of BPPV, and vitamin D concentrations in the two groups were compared and analyzed through binary logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe average follow‐up period after treatment was 10.2 months. Forty‐one (17.7%) of 232 patients suffered a recurrence during the follow‐up period. The mean vitamin D concentration of 191 patients who did not suffer any recurrence was 16.63 ng/mL, whereas that of 41 patients who suffered a recurrence was 13.64 ng/mL. This difference in vitamin D concentrations was statistically significant (P < 0.019). The patients' age, gender, follow‐up period, and type of BPPV had no statistically significant impact.ConclusionVitamin D is assumed to affect BPPV as a recurrence factor independent of age, gender, follow‐up period, and type of BPPV.Level of Evidence4.
Comparative metatranscriptomics reveals decline of a neustonic planktonic population
Authors: Mojib N. , Thimma M. , Kumaran M. , Sougrat R. , Irigoien X. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe neuston layer in tropical seas provides a good model to study the effects of increased levels of different stressors (e.g., temperature, ultraviolet radiation and Trichodesmium blooms). Here, we use a comparative in situ metatranscriptomics approach to reveal the functional genomic composition of metabolically active neustonic mesozooplankton community in response to the summer conditions in the Red Sea. The neustonic population exhibited changes in composition and abundance with a significant decline in copepods and appendicularia in July, when Trichodesmium cells were more abundant along with high temperatures and UV‐B radiation. Nearly 23,000 genes were differentially expressed at the community level when the metatranscriptomes of the neustonic zooplankton were compared in April, July, and October. On a wider Phylum level, the genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, carbon, nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids were significantly overrepresented in both arthropods and chordates in April and October. On organism level for copepods, expression of genes responsive to oxidative stress, defense against bacteria, immune response, and virus reproduction were increased along with the observed increased appearance of copepod carcasses in the samples collected during July. The differences in expression correspond either to secondary effects of the Trichodesmium bloom or more likely to the increased UV‐B radiation in July. Given the dearth of information on the zooplankton gene expression in response to environmental stimuli, our study provides the first transcriptome landscape of the mesozooplankton community during a period of increased mortality of the copepod and appendicularia population.
Crosslinked Platform Coatings Incorporating Bioactive Signals for the Control of Biointerfacial Interactions
Authors: Ozcelik Berkay , Chen Renxun , Glattauer Veronica , Kumar Naresh , Willcox MarkD.P. , Thissen Helmut 
Published: October 2016

Control over biointerfacial interactions on material surfaces is of significant interest in many biomedical applications and extends from the modulation of protein adsorption and cellular responses to the inhibition of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Effective control over biointerfaces is best achieved by reducing nonspecific interactions on the surface while also displaying specific bioactive signals. A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based multifunctional coating has been developed that provides effective reduction of protein fouling while enabling covalent immobilization of peptides in a one or two‐step manner. The highly protein resistant properties of the coating, synthesized via the crosslinking of PEG diepoxide and diaminopropane, are confirmed via europium‐labeled fibronectin adsorption and cell attachment assays. The ability to covalently incorporate bioactive signals is demonstrated using the cyclic peptides cRGDfK and cRADfK. L929 cells show enhanced attachment on the biologically active cRGDfK containing surfaces, while the surface remains nonadhesive when the nonbiologically active cRADfK peptide is immobilized. The crosslinked PEG‐based coating also demonstrates excellent resistance toward Staphylococcus aureus attachment in a 48 h biofilm assay, achieving a >96% reduction compared to the control surface. Additionally, incorporation of the antimicrobial peptide melimine during coating formation further significantly decreases biofilm formation (>99%).
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Bacterial community assembly in activated sludge: mapping beta diversity across environmental variables
Authors: Isazadeh Siavash , Jauffur Shameem , Frigon Dominic 
Published: October 2016

AbstractEffect of ecological variables on community assembly of heterotrophic bacteria at eight full‐scale and two pilot‐scale activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (AS‐WWTPs) were explored by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. In total, 39 samples covering a range of abiotic factors spread over space and time were analyzed. A core bacterial community of 24 families detected in at least six of the eight AS‐WWTPs was defined. In addition to the core families, plant‐specific families (observed at <50% AS‐WWTPs) were found to be also important in the community structure. Observed beta diversity was partitioned with respect to ecological variables. Specifically, the following variables were considered: influent wastewater characteristics, season (winter vs. summer), process operations (conventional, oxidation ditch, and sequence batch reactor), reactor sizes (pilot‐scale vs. full‐scale reactors), chemical stresses defined by ozonation of return activated sludge, interannual variation, and geographical locations. Among the assessed variables, influent wastewater characteristics and geographical locations contributed more in explaining the differences between AS‐WWTP bacterial communities with a maximum of approximately 26% of the observed variations. Partitioning of beta diversity is necessary to interpret the inherent variability in microbial community assembly and identify the driving forces at play in engineered microbial ecosystem.
Pure shift 1H NMR: what is next?
Authors: Castañar Laura 
Published: October 2016

AbstractCurrently, pure shift nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an area of high interest. The aim of this contribution is to describe briefly how this technique has evolved, where it is now and what could be the next challenges in the amazing adventure of the development and application of pure shift NMR experiments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accelerated mapping of magnetic susceptibility using 3D planes‐on‐a‐paddlewheel (POP) EPI at ultra‐high field strength
Authors: Stäb Daniel , Bollmann Steffen , Langkammer Christian , Bredies Kristian , Barth Markus 
Published: October 2016

With the advent of ultra‐high field MRI scanners in clinical research, susceptibility based MRI has recently gained increasing interest because of its potential to assess subtle tissue changes underlying neurological pathologies/disorders. Conventional, but rather slow, three‐dimensional (3D) spoiled gradient‐echo (GRE) sequences are typically employed to assess the susceptibility of tissue. 3D echo‐planar imaging (EPI) represents a fast alternative but generally comes with echo‐time restrictions, geometrical distortions and signal dropouts that can become severe at ultra‐high fields.In this work we assess quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) at 7 T using non‐Cartesian 3D EPI with a planes‐on‐a‐paddlewheel (POP) trajectory, which is created by rotating a standard EPI readout train around its own phase encoding axis.We show that the threefold accelerated non‐Cartesian 3D POP EPI sequence enables very fast, whole brain susceptibility mapping at an isotropic resolution of 1 mm and that the high image quality has sufficient signal‐to‐noise ratio in the phase data for reliable QSM processing. The susceptibility maps obtained were comparable with regard to QSM values and geometric distortions to those calculated from a conventional 4 min 3D GRE scan using the same QSM processing pipeline. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emerging new tools to study and treat muscle pathologies: genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and disease
Authors: Crist Colin 
Published: October 2016

AbstractSkeletal muscle is the most abundant tissue in our body, is responsible for generating the force required for movement, and is also an important thermogenic organ. Skeletal muscle is an enigmatic tissue because while on the one hand, skeletal muscle regeneration after injury is arguably one of the best‐studied stem cell‐dependent regenerative processes, on the other hand, skeletal muscle is still subject to many degenerative disorders with few therapeutic options in the clinic. It is important to develop new regenerative medicine‐based therapies for skeletal muscle. Future therapeutic strategies should take advantage of rapidly developing technologies enabling the differentiation of skeletal muscle from human pluripotent stem cells, along with precise genome editing, which will go hand in hand with a steady and focused approach to understanding underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and disease. In this review, I focus on highlighting the recent advances that particularly have relied on developmental and molecular biology approaches to understanding muscle development and stem cell function. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trend Analysis of Maximum Hydrologic Drought Variables Using Mann–Kendall and Şen's Innovative Trend Method
Authors: Tosunoglu F. , Kisi O. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractDroughts as destructive climatic extreme events affect natural environment of an area. Identifying droughts has a vital importance in the planning and management of water resource systems of a river basin. This study investigates the trends of maximum hydrologic drought variables, annual maximum duration (AMD), and annual maximum severity (AMS), by using Mann–Kendall, modified Mann–Kendall, and recently developed Şen's innovative trend analysis (ITA) methods. These methods are applied to the AMD and AMS of nine different stations located in Coruh River Basin, Turkey, in which numerous highly critical power plants have recently been constructed, under construction, or planned. Basic Mann–Kendall test indicated no trend in the investigated stations while the modified Mann–Kendall gave significantly decreasing trend for AMS series of station 2304 and for AMD series of station 2321 at 10% significance level. Modified Mann–Kendall and ITA approaches indicate that the AMS of station 2304 show significantly decreasing trend. According to the ITA method, the peak AMS values of the stations 2315 and 2322 have also significantly decreasing trend after 1986. Both modified MK and ITA methods provide increasing trends in drought severities of the stations 2316 and 2323. It should be noted that some droughts or water stress may be occurred in these stations in the future. Modified Mann–Kendall test provides no significant trend for the seven stations while ITA results indicated some positive or negative trends at these stations. The primary points of interest of Şen's ITA method are that it is not subject to any assumption such as serial relationship, non‐normality, sample size, and trends of low, medium, and high data can be seen by this method easily. The study indicates that the ITA method could be simply and successfully used by hydrologist or water resources decision makers or in identifying droughts to prepare efficient management plans. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.