bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Childcare before age 6 and body mass index at age 7 years in a cohort of Danish children
Authors: Benjamin Neelon S. E. , Schmidt Morgen C. , Kamper‐Jørgensen M. , Oken E. , Gillman M. W. , Gallis J. A. , Sørensen T. I. A. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryBackgroundPrevious studies show inconsistent associations between childcare and obesity.AimsOur prior work demonstrated that childcare in infancy was associated with higher weight in a cohort of Danish children. Here, we extend this work and examine childcare through 6 years and body mass index (BMI) at age 7 years.Materials and MethodsWe examined 24 714 children in the Danish National Birth Cohort who were also in the Childcare Database. We conducted multivariable linear regressions examining children prior to age 6, overall and by type (daycare, crèche, age‐integrated and kindergarten), and BMI z‐score at 7 years, stratifying on maternal socio‐occupational status.ResultsA total of 19 760 (80.0%) children attended childcare before age 6. Childcare prior to age 6 was associated with BMI z‐score at 7 years (0.004 units per each additional 6 months of care; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.008; p = 0.01). Childcare in a kindergarten was the only type of care associated with BMI (0.009 units; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.02; p = 0.01). For children of higher socio‐occupational status mothers, childcare was associated with a 0.008 unit increase in BMI (95% CI: 0.004, 0.01; p > 0.001).ConclusionsChildcare was weakly associated with later BMI. This relationship was more pronounced in children from higher socio‐occupational status mothers and children in kindergarten care.
Indirect effects of immunological tolerance to a regular dietary protein reduce cutaneous scar formation
Authors: Cantaruti Thiago Anselmo , Costa Raquel Alves , de Souza Kênia Soares , Vaz Nelson Monteiro , Carvalho Cláudia Rocha 
Published: March 2017

SummaryOral tolerance refers to the specific inhibition of immune responsiveness to T‐cell‐dependent antigens contacted through the oral route before parenteral immunization. Oral tolerance to one protein does not inhibit immune responses to other unrelated proteins, but parenteral injection of tolerated antigens plus adjuvant into tolerant, but not normal, mice inhibits immune responses to antigens injected concomitantly or soon thereafter. The inhibitory effect triggered by parenteral injection of tolerated proteins is known as bystander suppression or indirect effects of oral tolerance. Intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) plus alum adjuvant in OVA‐tolerant mice soon before skin injury inhibits inflammation and improves cutaneous wound healing. However, as OVA is not a regular component of mouse chow, we tested whether indirect effects could be triggered by zein, the main protein of corn that is regularly present in mouse chow. We show that intraperitoneal injection of a single dose (10 μg) of zein plus alum adjuvant soon before skin injury in mice reduces leucocyte infiltration but increase the number of T cells and the expression of resistin‐like molecule‐α (a marker of alternatively activated macrophages) in the wound bed, increases the expression of transforming growth factor‐β3 in the newly formed epidermis and reduces cutaneous scar formation. These results suggest that indirect effects of oral tolerance triggered by parenteral injection of regular dietary components may be further explored as one alternative way to promote scarless wound healing.
Suppression of murine tumour growth through CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes via activated DEC‐205+ dendritic cells by sequential administration of α‐galactosylceramide in vivo
Authors: Kogo Hideki , Shimizu Masumi , Negishi Yasuyuki , Uchida Eiji , Takahashi Hidemi 
Published: March 2017

SummaryCancer immunity is mediated through the effective priming and activation of tumour‐specific class I MHC molecule‐restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). DEC‐205+ dendritic cells (DCs) can cross‐present the epitope(s) of captured tumour antigens associated with class I MHC molecules alongside co‐stimulatory molecules to prime and activate tumour‐specific CD8+ CTLs. Immunosuppressive tolerogenic DCs with reduced co‐stimulatory molecules may be a cause of impaired CTL induction. Hepa1‐6‐1 cells were established from the mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1‐6; these cells grow continuously after subcutaneous implantation into syngeneic C57BL/6 (B6) mice and do not prime CD8+ CTLs. In this study, we show that the growth of ongoing tumours was suppressed by activated CD8+ CTLs with tumour‐specific cytotoxicity through the administration of the glycolipid α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer), which is a compound known to stimulate invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and selectively activate DEC‐205+ DCs. Moreover, we demonstrated that sequential repetitive intraperitoneal inoculation with α‐GalCer every 48 hr appeared to convert tolerogenic DEC‐205+ DCs into immunogenic DCs with a higher expression of co‐stimulatory molecules and a stronger cross‐presentation capacity, which primed CTL precursors and induced tumour‐specific CD8+ CTLs within the tumour environment without activating iNKT cells. These findings provide a new basis for cancer immunotherapy to convert tolerogenic DEC‐205+ DCs within tumours into immunogenic DCs through the sequential administration of an immuno‐potent lipid/glycolipid, and then activated immunogenic DCs with sufficient expression of co‐stimulatory molecules prime and activate tumour‐specific CD8+ CTLs within the tumour to control tumour growth.
Impact of a nurse practitioner role on metabolic monitoring completion and referrals for consumers admitted to the intensive care area of an acute inpatient psychiatric unit
Authors: Brown Trudy , McKenna Brian , Furness Trentham 
Published: March 2017

AbstractMental illness increases a person's risk of physical health issues, including cardiovascular disease, leading to premature morbidity and mortality. Screening for cardiovascular disease through metabolic monitoring is recommended to aid in early detection. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether consumers admitted to an inpatient mental health unit receive routine metabolic monitoring, and to explore the contribution of a nurse practitioner to metabolic monitoring and the actioning of abnormal results. The present study used a retrospective mirror image cohort method to look at clinical consumer files for two separate 6‐month periods before and after a nurse practitioner role commenced. Metabolic monitoring variables were computed as completion frequencies and percentages. Univariate analyses were computed to describe differences among metabolic monitoring variables. A total of 497 consumers were admitted to the mental health inpatient unit's intensive care area across the two 6‐month data‐collection periods. Prior to the nurse practitioner role, only 2% of consumers had their body mass index (BMI) risk calculated; less than 1% had their waist circumference measured, and no abnormal results were referred to a general practitioner (GP). After the nurse practitioner role commenced, BMI risk was calculated for 67% of consumers, waist circumference recorded for 68%, and referrals for abnormal results were forwarded to 37 consumers’ GPs. A nurse practitioner on the inpatient mental health unit has allowed for a considerable increase in the metabolic screening of admitted consumers resulting in a number of referrals being forwarded to consumers’ GPs to be acted upon.
Changing nurse licensing examinations: media analysis and implications of the Canadian experience
Authors: McGillis Hall L. , Lalonde M. , Kashin J. , Yoo C. , Moran J. 
Published: March 2017

AimThis study examines perceptions of the implementation of National Council Licensing Examination in Canada through a content analysis of articles in the media.BackgroundPublic opinions of nursing in the media have been acknowledged as important for the profession, specifically in relation to their portrayal of nursing.IntroductionThe Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators began using the US‐based National Council Licensing Examination as entry examination (also known widely as NCLEX) for Canada's registered nurses, discontinuing the previous Canadian Registered Nurse Examination in 2015.MethodsA qualitative content analysis was conducted of media reports that emerged following adoption of the National Council Licensing Examination in Canada, and highlight the image of nursing portrayed in the media during this key regulatory policy change.ResultsRelease of the examination results for the first three quarters of 2015 identified a much lower overall Canadian pass rate than with the previous exam. Media reports highlight differences in perception of the examination between Canadian regulators and other stakeholders in the context of the examination experiences reported and test results. Issues around applicability of the examination to Canadian nursing practice, curriculum alignment, language translation concerns and stakeholder engagement were identified.DiscussionThe implementation of the National Council Licensing Examination in Canada highlighted lack of communication among nursing stakeholders in the country.ConclusionsMost of the media reporting has been negative and poses a reputational risk to the Canadian nursing profession.Implications for Nursing PolicyThis change in the licensing requirement has significant policy implications for nursing in Canada and globally. Issues such as appropriate examination translation, access to appropriate test preparation materials, assurance that the examination reflects distinctive aspects of a country's healthcare system and the need for stakeholder engagement were identified.
Dividend Policy and Informativeness of Reported Earnings: Evidence from the MENA Region
Authors: Farooq Omar , Shehata Nermeen , Nathan Siva 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis paper documents that informativeness of reported earnings, measured by earnings–return relation, is an increasing function of dividend payout ratio in the Middle East and North Africa region during the period between 2003 and 2014. We argue that higher dividends reduce agency conflicts. Lower agency problems lead firms to disclose information more truthfully, thereby improving credibility of reported earnings. We also show that our results hold for various proxies of dividend policy.
Heuristics for tactical time slot management: a periodic vehicle routing problem view
Authors: Hernandez Florent , Gendreau Michel , Potvin Jean‐Yves 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn this study, we consider a tactical problem where a time slot schedule for delivery service over a given planning horizon must be selected in each zone of a geographical area. A heuristic search evaluates each schedule selection by constructing a corresponding tactical routing plan of minimum cost based on demand and service time estimates. At the end, the schedule selection leading to the best tactical routing plan is selected. The latter can then be used as a blueprint when addressing the operational problem (i.e., when real customer orders are received and operational routes are constructed). We propose two heuristics to address the tactical problem. The first heuristic is a three‐phase approach: a periodic vehicle routing problem (PVRP) is first solved, followed by a repair phase and a final improvement phase where a vehicle routing problem (VRP) with time windows is solved for each period of the planning horizon. The second heuristic tackles the problem as a whole by directly solving a PVRP with time windows. Computational results compare the two heuristics under various settings, based on instances derived from benchmark instances for the VRP with time windows.
Changes in nutritional status in nursing home residents and associated factors in nutritional status decline: a secondary data analysis
Authors: Bauer Silvia , Halfens Ruud J.G. , Lohrmann Christa 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to describe changes in the nutritional status of nursing home residents over a period of 1 year and identify factors associated with a decline in nutritional status.BackgroundThe maintenance of good nutritional status is important for nursing home residents. Therefore, it is essential to identify risk factors that indicate a decline in nutritional status to take early prevention steps.DesignSecondary data analysis of repeated cross‐sectional studies.MethodsData collection was performed between 2009–2013 using the International Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems questionnaire. Data from three purposively selected nursing homes that included 157 residents were analysed.ResultsThe comparison between baseline data and data collected 1 year later showed that the nutritional status declined in 22·8% of the residents and improved in 6·5% of the cases. The body mass index and changes in the body mass index were significantly different between residents with stable/improved and declined nutritional status. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that care dependency, length of stay, changes in body mass index and malnutrition risk at baseline were significantly associated with a decline in nutritional status.ConclusionThis study showed that the baseline risk of malnutrition is the most important risk factor indicating a decline in nutritional status. Therefore, healthcare professionals should identify the malnutrition risk and take action as early as possible.
Are you with me or not? Temporal synchronicity and transactivity during CSCL
Authors: Popov V. , van Leeuwen A. , Buis S.C.A. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDo the simultaneous alignment of student activities (temporal synchronicity) and students successively building on each other's reasoning (transactivity) predict the quality of collaborative learning products? To address this question, we used a mixed‐method approach to study 74 first‐year university students who were randomly assigned to work in dyads on an ill‐defined problem of biodiversity collapse in tropical forests within a computer‐supported collaborative learning setting. The quantitative analysis revealed that neither temporal synchronicity nor transactivity was related to the quality of group products. The qualitative analysis of chat transcripts revealed that the variability between the groups could be explained by group dynamics, students' prior knowledge, confidence in managing the learning task, collaborative strategy and communication skills. The study findings could be used to optimize collaboration by informing students directly of their activities or the teachers that scaffold these activities.Lay DescriptionWhat is already known about this topic:

Collaborative learning effort is influenced by how well students coordinate their activities across time and transact on each other's ideas.
What this paper adds:

This study examines the relation between temporal synchronicity, transactivity and the quality of group products in the context of synchronous computer‐supported collaborative learning.
Neither temporal synchronicity nor transactivity was found to be directly related to the quality of group products.
Implications for practice and/or policy:

Collaboration groups require socio‐cognitive support not only based on the attunement of their efforts but also based on differences within groups.
Conventional versus 3‐D Echocardiography to Predict Arrhythmia Recurrence After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Authors: BOSSARD MATTHIAS , KNECHT SVEN , AESCHBACHER STEFANIE , BUECHEL RONNY R. , HOCHGRUBER THOMAS , ZIMMERMANN ANDREAS J. , KESSEL‐SCHAEFER ARNHEID , STEPHAN FRANK‐PETER , VÖLLMIN GIAN , PRADELLA MAURICE , STICHERLING CHRISTIAN , OSSWALD STEFAN , KAUFMANN BEAT A. , CONEN DAVID , KÜHNE MICHAEL 
Published: March 2017

Echocardiography to Predict AF RecurrenceBackgroundArrhythmia recurrence after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains high and requires repeat interventions in a substantial number of patients. We assessed the value of conventional and 3‐D echocardiography to predict AF recurrence.Methods and ResultsConsecutive patients undergoing AF ablation by means of pulmonary vein isolation were included in a prospective registry. Echocardiograms were obtained prior to the ablation procedure, and analyzed offline in a standardized manner, including 3‐D left atrial (LA) volumetry and determination of LA function and sphericity. The primary endpoint, AF recurrence (>30 seconds) between 3 to 12 months after AF ablation, was independently adjudicated. We included 276 patients (73% male, mean age 59.9 ± 9.9 years). Paroxysmal and persistent AF were present in 178 (64%) and 98 (36%) patients, respectively. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction and indexed LA volume in 3‐D (LAVI) were 52 ± 12% and 42 ± 13 mL/m2, respectively. AF recurrence was observed in 110 (40%) patients after a single procedure. Median (interquartile range) time to AF recurrence was 123 (92; 236) days. In multivariable Cox regression models, the only predictors for AF recurrence were the minimal, maximal, and indexed 3‐D LA volumes, P = 0.024, P = 0.016, and P = 0.014, respectively. Quartile specific analysis of 3‐D LAVI showed an HR of 1.885 (95%CI 1.066–3.334; P for trend = 0.015) for the highest compared to the lowest quartile.ConclusionOur results show the important role of LA volume for the long‐term freedom from arrhythmia after AF ablation. These data also highlight the potential of 3‐D echocardiography in this context and may facilitate patient selection for AF ablation.
Architectural differences in the anterior and middle compartments of the pelvic floor of young‐adult and postmenopausal females
Authors: Wu Yi , Dabhoiwala Noshir F. , Hagoort Jaco , Tan Li‐Wen , Zhang Shao‐Xiang , Lamers Wouter H. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe pelvic floor guards the passage of the pelvic organs to the exterior. The near‐epidemic prevalence of incontinence in women continues to generate interest in the functional anatomy of the pelvic floor. However, due to its complex architecture and poor accessibility, the classical ‘dissectional’ approach has been unable to come up with a satisfactory description, so that many aspects of its anatomy continue to raise debate. For this reason, we opted for a ‘sectional’ approach, using the Chinese Visible Human project (four females, 21–35 years) and the Visible Human Project (USA; one female, 59 years) datasets to investigate age‐related changes in the architecture of the anterior and middle compartments of the pelvic floor. The puborectal component of the levator ani muscle defined the levator hiatus boundary. The urethral sphincter complex consisted of a circular proximal portion (urethral sphincter proper), a sling that passed on the vaginal wall laterally to attach to the puborectal muscle (urethral compressor), and a circular portion that surrounded the distal urethra and vagina (urethrovaginal sphincter). The exclusive attachment of the urethral sphincter to soft tissues implies dependence on pelvic‐floor integrity for optimal function. The vagina was circular at the introitus and gradually flattened between bladder and rectum. Well‐developed fibrous tissue connected the inferior vaginal wall with urethra, rectum and pelvic floor. With eight‐muscle insertions, the perineal body was a strong, irregular fibrous node that guarded the levator hiatus. Only loose areolar tissue comprising a remarkably well developed venous plexus connecting the middle and superior parts of the vagina with the lateral pelvic wall. The posterolateral boundary of the putative cardinal and sacrouterine ligaments coincided with the adventitia surrounding the mesorectum. The major difference between the young‐adult and postmenopausal pelvic floor was the expansion of fat in between the components of the pelvic floor. We hypothesize that accumulation of pelvic fat compromises pelvic‐floor cohesion, because the pre‐pubertal pelvis contains very little fibrous and adipose tissue, and fat is an excellent lubricant.
Characteristics of communication with older people in home care: A qualitative analysis of audio recordings of home care visits
Authors: Kristensen Dorte V , Sundler Annelie J , Eide Hilde , Hafskjold Linda , Ruud Iren , Holmström Inger K 
Published: March 2017

Aims and objectivesTo describe the characteristics of communication practice in home care visits between older people (over 65 years old) and nurse assistants and to discuss the findings from a person‐centered perspective.BackgroundThe older population is increasing worldwide, along with the need for healthcare services in the person's home. To achieve a high‐quality care, person‐centered communication is crucial.DesignA descriptive design with a qualitative inductive approach was used.MethodFifteen audio recordings of naturally occurring conversations between 12 nurse assistants and 13 older people in Norway were analysed by qualitative content analysis.ResultsFour categories were revealed through analysis: (i) supporting older people's connection to everyday life; (ii) supporting older people's involvement in their own care; (iii) attention to older people's bodily and existential needs; and (iv) the impact of continuity and predictability on older people's well‐being.ConclusionsThe communication between the older people and the nurse assistants during home care visits was mainly task‐oriented, but also related to the person. The older people were involved in the tasks to be carried out and humour was part of the communication. Greater attention was paid to bodily than existential needs. The communication was connected with the older people's everyday life in several ways. Time frames and interruptions concern the older people; hearing and speech impairments were a challenge to communication. To enhance person‐centred communication, further studies are needed, especially intervention studies for healthcare professionals and students.Relevance to clinical practiceBeing responsive to older people's subjective experiences is important in meeting their needs in home care. Communication that addresses the need for trust and predictability is important for older people. Responding to existential needs require more attention. The home care setting has an impact on communication.