bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
003 PP: USING FOCUS GROUPS IN NATURALLY OCCURRING SETTINGSa
Authors: Brown S 
Published: April 2015

One of the strengths of focus groups is the insight they provide into participant interaction, which differs depending on whether participants are strangers or acquaintances. In this paper I reflect on experiences of conducting focus groups amongst acquaintances in naturally occurring settings, where participants were known to each other and participation was less about being recruited, and more about being there when the focus group took place. I draw on data from field notes as well as from the groups themselves. I describe challenges and benefits of using naturally occurring groups, and reflect on the way the findings from these groups illuminated aspects of the study concerning relationships. I conclude by suggesting that using focus groups in naturally occurring settings alongside other qualitative data collection affords insights into the research topic that would not otherwise be available.aBrown S. Using focus groups in naturally occurring settings.Qualitative Research Journal2015;15:86–97.
004 PP: THE RESEARCHER IN RESIDENCE MODEL: GETTING EMBEDDED IN THE WELC INTEGRATED CARE PROGRAMME
Authors: Eyre L 
Published: April 2015

The Researcher in Residence model is a methodological innovation being developed by UCLPartners and Improvement Science London to help bring academic and practitioner communities more closely together to improve outcomes for patients and value for the health system. The model places the researcher as a key member of the delivery team rather than an external observer of change, and gives them a stake in the success, or otherwise, of the initiative. The expertise which the Researcher in Residence brings to the programme in which they are embedded is communicated to and negotiated with, rather than imposed on, the practitioners in the delivery team and other stakeholders.The model is being applied in the Waltham Forest, East London and City (WELC) Integrated Care pioneer programme. The programme commissioned an embedded and process oriented local evaluation, which focuses less on whether the programme ‘works’ and more on how to use established research evidence to optimise the effectiveness of the implementation team. The WELC care collaborative has brought together commissioners, providers and local authorities covering the area served by Barts Health NHS Trust. The partners have come together to build a model of integrated care that looks at the whole person—their physical health, mental health and social care needs.The overall aim of the WELC Integrated Care programme evaluation is to explore the processes by which integrated care is being implemented across WELC in order to enhance and improve the effectiveness of delivery of the programme objectives. The project has a strongly participative approach, underpinned by a critical realist ontology, an interpretive epistemology, and a Critical Discourse Analysis methodology.
008 PP: BEYOND EFFECTIVENESS: CONDUCTING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ALONGSIDE A CLUSTER RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF HIV TESTING IN GENERAL PRACTICE
Authors: McMullen H , Griffiths C , Greenhalgh T 
Published: April 2015

I worked as a trial manager of a cluster randomized controlled trial of rapid HIV testing in primary care settings over a 2.5 year period. This left me with a number of questions that were unanswered by the trial design. I have since undertaken a PhD applying qualitative methodology to explore trial phenomena, including process evaluation, case study and qualitative interviews. We applied the Diffusion of Innovations in Healthcare Settingsamodel to process data from the trial to explore high and low performing practices. This provided a rich picture of the intervention implementation process, as intended; however this data also prompted the need to revisit some of the assumptions upon which the trial was based. The trial assumed rapid testing would detect undiagnosed HIV however the exploration of patient data revealed this was not always the case. For example, already knowing their status, one patient used the rapid test to manage a number of factors related to their identity and personal circumstances, demonstrating the way testing and treatment creates meaning for patients. It also echoes what Annemarie Mol suggests in the Logic of Care, that we pay attention not only to what technologies are supposed to do, but what they happen to do.bThis example, among other unexpected findings, highlights the need for a greater theorisation of the data and the unravelling of trial assumptions. We explore the experience of conducting qualitative analysis alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial related to a stigmatised illness and discuss the challenges and insights gained in the process.aGreenhalgh T, Robert G, McFarlane F,et al. Diffusion of innovations in service organizations: systematic review and recommendations.Milbank Quarterly2004;82:581–629.bMol A.The logic of care: health and the problem of patient choice. London, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2008.
015 PP: A LONE VOICE: REFLECTIONS ON PRESENTING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AT A SURGEON'S CONFERENCE
Authors: Trusson D 
Published: April 2015

In this paper I describe how I used my dual position of service user and sociologist to present my research findings at an international conference for surgeons. As a former breast cancer patient I was invited to participate in a study of women's experiences of having breast reconstruction using their own body tissue. Questions included rating my happiness and confidence on a scale of 1–10 which challenged me as a qualitative researcher. The study also revealed parallels with my own research with 24 women who had been treated for early stage breast cancer, where similar issues had emerged organically through their narratives. When I discussed this with the breast care team I was encouraged to submit an abstract to the conference where the results of the quantitative study were going to be presented.The subsequent paper, entitled ‘Autologous Breast Reconstruction from the Patient's Perspective: A Qualitative Study,’ was presented at the 5thInternational Meeting of Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery in Nottingham in September 2013.My reflections on my experience of presenting to an audience, who were unaccustomed to qualitative research, include the challenges of facing my own intimidation by health professionals as a patient. I will discuss the positive feedback that I received which will hopefully encourage other qualitative health researchers to reach beyond the usual audiences in order to disseminate their research findings.
Impact of Metabolic Heterogeneity on Tumor Growth, Invasion, and Treatment Outcomes
Authors: Robertson-Tessi Mark , Gillies Robert J. , Gatenby Robert A. , Anderson Alexander R.A. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Histopathologic knowledge that extensive heterogeneity exists between and within tumors has been confirmed and deepened recently by molecular studies. However, the impact of tumor heterogeneity on prognosis and treatment remains as poorly understood as ever. Using a hybrid multiscale mathematical model of tumor growth in vascularized tissue, we investigated the selection pressures exerted by spatial and temporal variations in tumor microenvironment and the resulting phenotypic adaptations. A key component of this model is normal and tumor metabolism and its interaction with microenvironmental factors. The metabolic phenotype of tumor cells is plastic, and microenvironmental selection leads to increased tumor glycolysis and decreased pH. Once this phenotype emerges, the tumor dramatically changes its behavior due to acid-mediated invasion, an effect that depends on both variations in the tumor cell phenotypes and their spatial distribution within the tumor. In early stages of growth, tumors are stratified, with the most aggressive cells developing within the interior of the tumor. These cells then grow to the edge of the tumor and invade into the normal tissue using acidosis. Simulations suggest that diffusible cytotoxic treatments, such as chemotherapy, may increase the metabolic aggressiveness of a tumor due to drug-mediated selection. Chemotherapy removes the metabolic stratification of the tumor and allows more aggressive cells to grow toward blood vessels and normal tissue. Antiangiogenic therapy also selects for aggressive phenotypes due to degradation of the tumor microenvironment, ultimately resulting in a more invasive tumor. In contrast, pH buffer therapy slows down the development of aggressive tumors, but only if administered when the tumor is still stratified. Overall, findings from this model highlight the risks of cytotoxic and antiangiogenic treatments in the context of tumor heterogeneity resulting from a selection for more aggressive behaviors. Cancer Res; 75(8); 1567–79. ©2015 AACR.
Ibrutinib Exerts Potent Antifibrotic and Antitumor Activities in Mouse Models of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Massó-Vallés Daniel , Jauset Toni , Serrano Erika , Sodir Nicole M. , Pedersen Kim , Affara Nesrine I. , Whitfield Jonathan R. , Beaulieu Marie-Eve , Evan Gerard I. , Elias Laurence , Arribas Joaquín , Soucek Laura 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense stromal fibroinflammatory reaction that is a major obstacle to effective therapy. The desmoplastic stroma comprises many inflammatory cells, in particular mast cells as key components of the PDAC microenvironment, and such infiltration correlates with poor patient outcome. Indeed, it has been hypothesized that stromal ablation is critical to improve clinical response in patients with PDAC. Ibrutinib is a clinically approved Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits mast cells and tumor progression in a mouse model of β-cell tumorigenesis. Here, we show that ibrutinib is highly effective at limiting the growth of PDAC in both transgenic mouse and patient-derived xenograft models of the disease. In these various experimental settings, ibrutinib effectively diminished fibrosis, extended survival, and improved the response to clinical standard-of-care therapy. Our results offer a preclinical rationale to immediately evaluate the clinical efficacy of ibrutinib in patients with PDAC. Cancer Res; 75(8); 1675–81. ©2015 AACR.
Germline Mutations in theCDKN2BTumor Suppressor Gene Predispose to Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Jafri Mariam , Wake Naomi C. , Ascher David B. , Pires Douglas E.V. , Gentle Dean , Morris Mark R. , Rattenberry Eleanor , Simpson Michael A. , Trembath Richard C. , Weber Astrid , Woodward Emma R. , Donaldson Alan , Blundell Tom L. , Latif Farida , Maher Eamonn R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractFamilial renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is genetically heterogeneous and may be caused by mutations in multiple genes, including VHL, MET, SDHB, FH, FLCN, PTEN, and BAP1. However, most individuals with inherited RCC do not have a detectable germline mutation. To identify novel inherited RCC genes, we undertook exome resequencing studies in a familial RCC kindred and identified a CDKN2B nonsense mutation that segregated with familial RCC status. Targeted resequencing of CDKN2B in individuals (n = 82) with features of inherited RCC then revealed three candidate CDKN2B missense mutations (p.Pro40Thr, p.Ala23Glu, and p.Asp86Asn). In silico analysis of the three-dimensional structures indicated that each missense substitution was likely pathogenic through reduced stability of the mutant or reduced affinity for cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, and in vitro studies demonstrated that each of the mutations impaired CDKN2B-induced suppression of proliferation in an RCC cell line. These findings identify germline CDKN2B mutations as a novel cause of familial RCC.Significance: Germline loss-of-function CDKN2B mutations were identified in a subset of patients with features of inherited RCC. Detection of germline CDKN2B mutations will have an impact on familial cancer screening and might prove to influence the management of disseminated disease. Cancer Discov; 5(7); 723–9. ©2015 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 681
Acupuncture Efficacy on Ischemic Stroke Recovery
Authors: Zhang Shihong , Wu Bo , Liu Ming , Li Ning , Zeng Xianrong , Liu Hua , Yang Qingcheng , Han Zhao , Rao Ping , Wang Dong 
Published: April 2015

Background and Purpose—
Acupuncture is a frequently used complementary treatment for ischemic stroke in China but the evidence available from previous randomized trials is inconclusive. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in a more robustly designed larger scale trial.

Methods—
This is a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Eight hundred sixty-two hospitalized patients with limb paralysis between 3 to 10 days after ischemic stroke onset were allocated acupuncture plus standard care or standard care alone. The acupuncture was applied 5 times per week for 3 to 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were defined as follows: (1) death/disability according to Barthel index and (2) death/institutional care at 6 months.

Results—
There was a tendency of fewer patients being dead or dependent in acupuncture group (80/385, 20.7%) than in control group (102/396, 25.8%) at 6 months (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.54–1.05). The benefit was noted in subgroup receiving ≥10 sessions of acupuncture (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.47–0.98). There was no statistical difference in death or institutional care between the 2 groups (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.63–1.79). Severe adverse events occurred in 7.6% and 8.3% of patients in the 2 groups, respectively.

Conclusions—
Acupuncture seemed to be safe in the subacute phase of ischemic stroke. If the potential benefits observed are confirmed in future larger study, the health gain from wider use of the treatment could be substantial.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.chictr.org/en/
. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-11001353.
Evaluation of Submonthly Precipitation Forecast Skill from Global Ensemble Prediction Systems
Authors: Li Shuhua , Robertson Andrew W. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The prediction skill of precipitation at submonthly time scales during the boreal summer season is investigated based on hindcasts from three global ensemble prediction systems (EPSs). The results, analyzed for lead times up to 4 weeks, indicate encouraging correlation skill over some regions, particularly over the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The hindcasts from all three models correspond to high prediction skill over the first week compared to the following three weeks. The ECMWF forecast system tends to yield higher prediction skill than the other two systems, in terms of both correlation and mean squared skill score. However, all three systems are found to exhibit large conditional biases in the tropics, highlighted using the mean squared skill score.
The sources of submonthly predictability are examined in the ECMWF hindcasts over the Maritime Continent in three typical years of contrasting ENSO phase, with a focus on the combined impact of the intraseasonal MJO and interannual ENSO. Rainfall variations over Borneo in the ENSO-neutral year are found to correspond well with the dominant MJO phase. The contribution of ENSO becomes substantial in the two ENSO years, but the MJO impact can become dominant when the MJO occurs in phases 2–3 during El Niño or in phases 5–6 during the La Niña year. These results support the concept that “windows of opportunity” of high forecast skill exist as a function of ENSO and the MJO in certain locations and seasons, which may lead to subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasts of substantial societal value in the future.
An experimental method to study emissions from heated tobacco between 100-200°C
Authors: Forster Mark , Liu Chuan , Duke Martin G , McAdam Kevin G , Proctor Christopher J 
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Background
Cigarette smoke emissions are mainly produced by distillation, pyrolysis and combustion reactions when the tobacco is burnt. Some studies have shown that heating tobacco to temperatures below pyrolysis and combustion temperatures has the potential to reduce or eliminate some toxicants found in cigarette smoke. In this study, we designed a bench-top tube furnace that heats tobacco between 100-200°C and systematically studied the effects of heating temperatures on selected gas phase and aerosol phase compounds using an ISO machine-smoking protocol.

Results
Among a list of target chemical compounds, seven toxicants (nicotine, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, formaldehyde, NNN and NNK) were quantifiable but not at all temperatures examined. The levels of the compounds generally displayed an increasing trend with increasing temperatures. The observed carbon monoxide and aldehydes represented the initial thermal breakdown products from the tobacco constituents. Water was the largest measured component in the total aerosol phase collected and appeared to be mainly released by evaporation; nicotine release characteristics were consistent with bond breaking and evaporation. Quantifiable levels of NNK and NNN were thought to be the result of evaporative transfer from the tobacco blend.

Conclusions
These results demonstrate the practical utility of this tool to study low-temperature toxicant formation and emission from heated tobacco. Between 100 to 200°C, nicotine and some cigarette smoke compounds were released as a result of evaporative transfer or initial thermal decomposition from the tobacco blend.
Monitoring and assessment of water health quality in the Tajan River, Iran using physicochemical, fish and macroinvertebrates indices
Authors: Aazami Jaber , Esmaili-Sari Abbas , Abdoli Asghar , Sohrabi Hormoz , Van den Brink Paul J 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundNowadays, aquatic organisms are used as bio-indicators to assess ecological water quality in western regions, but have hardly been used in an Iranian context. We, therefore, evaluated the suitability of several indices to assess the water quality for an Iranian case study.MethodsMeasured data on biotic (fish and macroinvertebrates) and abiotic elements (28 physicochemical and habitat parameters), were used to calculate six indices for assessment of water quality and the impact of human activities in the Tajan river, Iran. GIS, uni- and multivariate statistics were used to assess the correlations between biological and environmental endpoints.ResultsThe results showed that ecological condition and water quality were reduced from up- to downstream. The reduced water quality was revealed by the biotic indices better than the abiotic ones which were linked to a variety of ecological water quality scales.ConclusionThe fish index showed a strong relationship with long-term database of physicochemical parameters (12 years (94%)), whereas macroinvertebrates index is more correlated with short-term data (76%). Meanwhile, the biotic and abiotic elements in this study were also classified well by PCA. Pulp and wood plants and sand mining are indicated to have the most negative effects on the river ecosystem.
Role of orography in inducing high lightning flash rate at the foothills of Himalaya
Authors: Pawar Sunil D , Gopalakrishnan Venkatachalam , Murugavel Palani 
Published: April 2015

AbstractSurface electric measurements obtained beneath thunderstorms with almost similar characteristics at a station located close to the Himalayan foothills in northeastern India have been analyzed. All these thunderstorms had some similar features - occurred after midnight and lasted for a short duration of less than an hour, and an active stage of these thunderstorms lasted for 10 to 25 min. All these thunderstorms exhibited very high peak flash rates ranging from 40 to 80 flashes per minute during the active stage. A lightning jump of about 65 flashes per minute (fpm) was observed during two occurrences of these thunderstorms. Surprisingly, in spite of very high peak lightning flash rates and lightning jumps, no severe weather phenomena were observed at the ground during these thunderstorms. The formation of such small duration thunderstorms with very high lightning flash rates is attributed to the conversion of moisture in the valley during nighttime.
Reaction Integration Using Electrogenerated Cationic Intermediates
Authors: Yoshida Jun-ichi , Shimizu Akihiro , Ashikari Yosuke , Morofuji Tatsuya , Hayashi Ryutaro , Nokami Toshiki , Nagaki Aiichiro 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Reaction integration which combines multiple reactions in a single operation in one pot or in a flow system without isolating intermediates enhances the power and speed of organic synthesis to meet future demands for synthesis of various organic molecules. This article provides a brief outline of a new field of organic synthesis based on time integration and space integration of reactions using unstable reactive cationic intermediates generated by electrochemical oxidation.
Free-Roaming Dogs Control Activities in One Italian Province (2000-2013): Is the Implemented Approach Effective?
Authors: Barnard Shanis , Chincarini Matteo , Di Tommaso Lucio , Di Giulio Fabrizio , Messori Stefano , Ferri Nicola 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
In Italy, standards for the management of free-roaming dogs (FRDs) are defined by regional norms, generating a high variability of approaches around the country. Despite efforts carried out by the competent authorities, FRDs are still a reality impacting upon animal health and welfare and public costs. A similar scenario can be found in many other Mediterranean and Balkan counties. Here we present 14 years of data (2000-2013) retrieved from the admission dog registry of a public shelter (PS) responsible for the collection of stray dogs from one Italian province. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the local FRD population, identifying its source and to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions implemented by the local authorities. In the investigated period, 7,475 dogs were admitted to the PS. Despite the intense sterilisation plan (mean 381.7 sterilisations per year), the overall number of dogs entering PS did not decrease consistently across the years. Results highlighted a lack of responsibility of owners by failing to sterilise and identify their dogs and allowing intact animals to roam free, therefore producing uncontrolled and unwanted litters. The current dog population management strategy, based on both sheltering and capture-neuter-release programmes, is insufficient to tackle the straying phenomenon. Educational and sterilisation programmes should be an integral part of a successfully implemented FRD control plan. Our results provide further insight on free-roaming dog population dynamics and control systems, and may have important implications for many other local contexts across Europe trying to overcome the straying phenomenon.
A Numerical Approach to Determine Some Properties of Cylindrical Pieces of Bananas During Drying
Authors: da Silva Wilton Pereira , Silva Cleide M. D. P. S. e , Junior Aluizio Freire da Silva , de Melo Queiroz Alexandre José 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
This article uses several liquid diffusion models to describe convective drying of bananas cut into cylindrical pieces. A two-dimensional numerical solution of the diffusion equation with boundary condition of the third kind, obtained through the finite volume method, was used to describe the process. The cylindrical pieces were cut into the following dimensions: length of about 21 mm and average radius of 15 mm. Drying air temperatures were 40°C, 50°C, 60°C and 70°C. In order to determine the process parameters, an optimizer was coupled with the numerical solution. A model that considers the shrinkage and variable effective moisture diffusivity well describes drying for all the experimental conditions, and enables to predict the moisture distributions at any given time. For this model, the determination coefficient has varied from 0.99937 (70°C) to 0.99995 (40°C), while the chi-square ranged from 3.41 × 10−4 (40°C) to 4.15 × 10−3 (70°C).