bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral feeding outcomes in neonates with congenital cardiac disease undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Sables-Baus Sharon , Kaufman Jon , Cook Paul , da Cruz Eduardo M. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackgroundAchievement of adequate oral nutrition is a challenging task after early neonatal cardiac surgery. This study aims to describe predictors of oral feeding outcomes for neonates after early surgical interventions.Materials and methodsA retrospective review of neonates admitted with congenital cardiac disease over a period of 1 year. We analysed predictors of the need for a feeding tube at discharge and the amount taken at each feeding. Multilevel modelling was used to look at individual change over time predicting oral amount at each feeding.ResultsWe identified 56 neonates. Diagnoses were heterogeneous; 23% of the infants had associated genetic syndromes and 45% required pre-operative mechanical ventilation. The median time from birth to surgery was 8.4 days, with 29 infants fed orally before surgery. The mean time from surgery to first oral feeding attempt was 12 hours. Time from surgery to oral feeding, the amount taken with first feeding, and cross-clamp times were significant predictors of oral feeding success, whereas the presence of a comorbidity – genetic abnormality – and longer ventilator dependency predicted failure. Almost half of the neonates required a feeding tube upon discharge, and no infant discharged was solely breastfed. Discharge with a feeding tube was associated with greater weight gain at that time.ConclusionsNeonates with congenital cardiac disease face significant barriers to successfully achieving oral feeding on hospital discharge. Enteral feeding guidelines focus on physiological stabilisation and do not always address the developmental milestones necessary to support oral feeding. Future prospective studies are necessary to identify multimodal strategies to optimise early feeding.
Catalytic properties of the Gas family β-(1,3)-glucanosyltransferases active in fungal cell-wall biogenesis as determined by a novel fluorescent assay
Authors: Mazáň Marián , Ragni Enrico , Popolo Laura , Farkaš Vladimír 
Published: July 2011

BGTs [β-(1,3)-glucanosyltransglycosylases; EC 2.4.1.-] of the GH72 (family 72 of glycosylhydrolases) are GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol)-anchored proteins that play an important role in the biogenesis of fungal cell walls. They randomly cleave glycosidic linkages in β-(1,3)-glucan chains and ligate the polysaccharide portions containing newly formed reducing ends to C3(OH) at non-reducing ends of other β-(1,3)-glucan molecules. We have developed a sensitive fluorescence-based method for the assay of transglycosylating activity of GH72 enzymes. In the new assay, laminarin [β-(1,3)-glucan] is used as the glucanosyl donor and LamOS (laminarioligosaccharides) fluorescently labelled with SR (sulforhodamine) serve as the acceptors. The new fluorescent assay was employed for partial biochemical characterization of the heterologously expressed Gas family proteins from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All the Gas enzymes specifically used laminarin as the glucanosyl donor and a SR–LamOS of DP (degree of polymerization) ≥5 as the acceptors. Gas proteins expressed in distinct stages of the yeast life cycle showed differences in their pH optima. Gas1p and Gas5p, which are expressed during vegetative growth, had the highest activity at pH 4.5 and 3.5 respectively, whereas the sporulation-specific Gas2p and Gas4p were most active between pH 5 and 6. The novel fluorescent assay provides a suitable tool for the screening of potential glucanosyltransferases or their inhibitors.
Down‐regulation of c‐Myc expression inhibits the invasion of bile duct carcinoma cells
Authors: Li Zhuo‐Ri , Wu Yi‐Fei , Ma Chun‐Yang , Nie Shen‐Dan , Mao Xian‐Hai , Shi Yong‐Zhong 
Published: July 2011

AbstractCholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary hepatic tumour originating from biliary tract epithelial cells with poor prognosis. Enhanced c‐Myc protein expression contributes to many aspects of tumour cell biology. Although the ability of c‐Myc to drive unrestricted cell proliferation and to inhibit cell differentiation had been well recognized, whether down‐regulated c‐Myc expression can inhibit tumour cell invasion still remains to be explored. The c‐Myc ASODN (antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide) and NSODN (nonsense oligodeoxyribonucleotide) were designed, synthesized and transfected into human QBC939 bile duct carcinoma cells using the Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. The protein expression of c‐Myc was detected by Western blot. A transwell experiment was applied to evaluate the invasive capacity of the QBC939 cells. c‐Myc ASODN could significantly suppress the c‐Myc protein expression (P<0.05) and the invasion (P<0.01) of QBC939 cells transfected with c‐Myc ASODN compared with that in the control and c‐Myc NSODN‐transfected group. Thus in the present study we show that down‐regulation of c‐Myc expression can inhibit the invasion of QBC939 cells in vitro.
Experimental characterization of temperature sensitive dyes for laser induced fluorescence thermometry
Authors: Estrada-Pérez Carlos E. , Hassan Yassin A. , Tan Sichao 
Published: July 2011

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) is a non-intrusive optical technique that uses fluorescent dyes to measure whole-field fluid scalars such as temperature, concentration, pH, etc. LIF measurements’ accuracy is strongly influenced by the fluorescent dye's behavior under different experimental conditions. In particular, ratiometric LIF thermometry accuracy depends on the correct selection of fluorescent dyes mixtures. Therefore, a thorough characterizations of fluorescent dyes is needed to obtain optimal mixtures and suitable optical configurations for given experimental conditions. This work presents the experimental characterization of fluorescein-27 (FL27) and rhodamine-B (RhB) mixtures to determine suitable aqueous solutions for ratiometric LIF thermometry. The mixtures' fluorescence emission intensity was measured with a spectrofluorometer, and the influence of concentration ratio (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$C_{\text{RhB}}/C_{\text{FL27}}$\end{document}CRhB/CFL27), temperature, excitation wavelength (λext), and pH were analyzed. The results show that the temperature dependence of FL27 emission intensity changed from a negative to a positive value as the excitation wavelength increased. The temperature sensitivity (4.0% per °C) of RhB and FL27 mixture under 532 nm excitation wavelength was found to be higher than that of the commonly used mixture of RhB and Rh110 (2.0% per °C) at the same excitation wavelength. While the emission intensities of the dyes are sensitive to pH value, the temperature dependence is unaffected. The influence of concentration ratio on temperature sensitivity depends on both the detected bands of the emitted spectrum and the temperature; the concentration ratio should be selected based on the measured temperature scope. A new multicolor method or advanced two color method with high temperature sensitivity (6.0% or 10.0% per °C) is presented. This technique was specially developed to improve whole-field temperature measurements.
Changing ecological constraints of practice alters coordination of dynamic interceptive actions
Authors: Renshaw Ian , Oldham Anthony R.H. , Davids Keith , Golds Tim 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe ecological constraints of practice have a significant effect on the acquisition of functional information–movement couplings and learners need to converge on information‐specifying perceptual variables. Consequently, the prolonged and widespread use of ball projection machines for the practice of interceptive actions may lack theoretical foundation because they afford information‐specifying variables that are not present in competition. The timing and coordination of the forward defensive stroke in cricket batting were examined in experienced batters under two typical practice task constraints: batting against a representative “real” bowler and a representative bowling machine (mean delivery velocity 26.76 m·s−1 under both conditions). Significant adaptation of coordination and timing was observed under the different practice task constraints. For example, initiation of the backswing was later against a bowler and downswing was faster with a different ratio of backswing–downswing when batting against the bowling machine (47%–53%) compared with the bowler (54%–46%). Peak bat height differed under the two constraints (bowling machine: mean 1.56 m, s=19.89; bowler: 1.72 m, s=10.36 m). Mean length of front foot stride was shorter against the bowling machine (0.55 m, s=0.07 m) than the bowler (0.59 m, s=0.06 m). The correlation between initiation of backswing and front foot movement was much higher against the bowler (r = 0.88) than the bowling machine (r=0.65).
Micronutrient contents in organic and conventional tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Ordóñez‐Santos Luis Eduardo , Vázquez‐Odériz M. Lourdes , Romero‐Rodríguez M. Angeles 
Published: July 2011

SummaryOrganic food is associated by the general public with improved nutritional properties, and this has led to increasing demand for organic vegetables. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences in the micronutrient contents in organic and conventional tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Two tomato cultivars ‘Lladó’ and ‘Antillas’ grown organically and conventionally were compared regarding their micronutrient in terms of K, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, lycopene, ß‐carotene, ascorbic, malic and citric acids, and total phenolic compound content. Cultivar ‘Lladó’ had the highest concentration of the nutrient lycopene, ß‐carotene, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu. Where cultivation method affected the concentration of ascorbic acid and Mn, only one cultivar was affected. For all nutrients examined, cultivar differences were greater than differences because of cultivation method. This study confirms that the most important variable in the micronutrient content of tomatoes is cultivar; organically grown tomato is no more nutritious than conventionally grown tomato when soil fertility is well managed.
An empowerment framework for nursing leadership development: supporting evidence
Authors: MacPhee Maura , Skelton‐Green Judith , Bouthillette France , Suryaprakash Nitya 
Published: July 2011

macphee m., skelton‐green j., bouthillette f. & suryaprakash n. (2012) An empowerment framework for nursing leadership development: supporting evidence. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(1), 159–169.AbstractAim.  This article is a report on a descriptive study of nurse leaders’ perspectives of the outcomes of a formal leadership programme.Background.  Effective nurse leaders are necessary to address complex issues associated with healthcare systems reforms. Little is known about the types of leadership development programmes that most effectively prepare nurse leaders for healthcare challenges. When nurse leaders use structural and psychological empowerment strategies, the results are safer work environments and better nurse outcomes. The leadership development programme associated with this study is based on a unifying theoretical empowerment framework to empower nurse leaders and enable them to empower others.Methods.  Twenty seven front‐line and mid‐level nurse leaders with variable years of experience were interviewed for 1 year after participating in a formal leadership development programme. Data were gathered in 2008–2009 from four programme cohorts. Four researchers independently developed code categories and themes using qualitative content analysis.Results.  Evidence of leadership development programme empowerment included nurse leader reports of increased self‐confidence with respect to carrying out their roles and responsibilities; positive changes in their leadership styles; and perceptions of staff recognition of positive stylistic changes. Regardless of years of experience, mid‐level leaders had a broader appreciation of practice environment issues than front‐line leaders. Time for reflection was valuable to all participants, and front‐line leaders, in particular, appreciated the time to discuss nurse‐specific issues with their colleagues.Conclusion.  This study provides evidence that a theoretical empowerment framework and strategies can empower nurse leaders, potentially resulting in staff empowerment.
Measuring patient and visitor violence in general hospitals: feasibility of the SOVES‐G‐R, internal consistency and construct validity of the POAS‐S and the POIS
Authors: Hahn Sabine , Müller Marianne , Needham Ian , Dassen Theo , Kok Gerjo , Halfens Ruud JG 
Published: July 2011

Aims. To investigate the feasibility of a survey measuring patient and visitor violence after translation and modification, namely the Survey of Violence Experienced by Staff (German version revised) and to validate the shortened Perception of Aggression Scale (POAS‐S) and the Perception of Importance of Intervention Skills Scale (POIS) after adaptation for use in a general hospital setting.Background. The use of different approaches and research instruments for investigating patient and visitor violence negatively influences the comparability of studies. Typically, general hospitals use self‐administered surveys. However, support for these instruments’ validity is insufficient.Methods. Between November 2006–January 2007, 291 nurses working in general hospitals in the German‐speaking region of Switzerland completed the SOVES‐G‐R, the POAS‐S and the POIS (response rate = 71%).Results. The participants’ responses demonstrated a need for modifications to enhance the feasibility of the SOVES‐G‐R in two categories, namely experiences with patient and visitor violence in ‘the past 12 months’ and in ‘the past working week’. The POAS‐S revealed the same factor solution as in earlier studies, with two factors explaining 38·0% of variance. In the POIS, two factors were distinguished: (1) structured interventions and evaluation and (2) the importance of preventive measures.Conclusions. The SOVES‐G‐R, the POAS‐S and the POIS are adequate for investigating factors influencing the occurrence of patient and visitor violence in general hospitals. Given the changes in the SOVES‐G‐R and the moderate size of our sample, further testing with a larger sample is recommended.Relevance to clinical practice. The instruments help determine which clinical settings have a greater risk of patient and visitor violence and the specific factors that influence this risk. This can facilitate the implementation of situation‐specific preventive measures against patient and visitor violence in general hospitals.
Comprehensive versus partial deferred tax liabilities and equity market values
Authors: Wong Jilnaught , Wong Norman , Naiker Vic 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis study investigates the value relevance of the deferred tax liability recognized using comprehensive versus partial allocation. Our research examines New Zealand firms who, prior to the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards, were free to choose between comprehensive and partial allocation. We test the joint hypothesis that the partial, as opposed to comprehensive, deferred tax liability is relevant for equity valuation and is sufficiently reliable to be reflected in investors’ valuation assessments. Our results are consistent with this prediction.
The Abuse of Regression in the National Health Service Allocation Formulae: Response to the Department of Health’s 2007 ‘Resource Allocation Research Paper’
Authors: Galbraith Jane , Stone Mervyn 
Published: July 2011

SummaryWeighted capitation formulae for the allocation of funds to England’s regional health authorities go back decades. In 2006, a paper in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, criticized the formula that has been used, with little change, from 2003 to 2009. The Department of Health has responded tangentially in a report from a team of academics whose remit was to revise the formula for its continued use beyond 2009. The Series A critique is here renewed and strengthened by analysis of the role of some elementary statistical tools in the construction of the latest formula. The conclusion is that, if the force of the extended critique is accepted, other approaches will have to be considered.
Is the Anchoring Vignette Method Sensitive to the Domain and Choice of the Vignette?
Authors: Voňková Hana , Hullegie Patrick 
Published: July 2011

SummaryAnalysis of self-assessments may yield biased results when respondents use the response categories of survey questions in different ways. An anchoring vignette is a short description of relevant aspects of a hypothetical person’s life and can be used to correct self-assessments for heterogeneity in reporting behaviour. The paper studies the validity of the parametric model for the anchoring vignette method. Rather than testing separately the assumptions of this model, we take the following two approaches. First, we study whether different vignettes within a certain domain lead to similar adjusted self-assessments. Second, we study whether different adjusted self-assessments, each adjusted by using a single vignette, are closer to a measure of the actual situation than the unadjusted self-assessments. We use data from the 2004 and 2007 waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for three domains of health: cognition, breathing and mobility. Our results indicate that the anchoring vignette method is sensitive to the choice of the vignette for cognition and breathing, whereas the results for mobility are more encouraging.
Anchoring Vignettes with Sample Selection due to Non-Response
Authors: Paccagnella Omar 
Published: July 2011

SummaryAnchoring vignettes are a powerful tool for enhancing self-reported data comparability across countries or socio-economic groups, since they may correct for differential item functioning, i.e. the individual heterogeneity in the interpretation of the survey questions. The parametric solution of this approach is called the compound hierarchical ordinal probit (CHOPIT) model. Since vignettes are particular versions of questionnaires, their collection can suffer from sample selection bias due to non-response. We extend the CHOPIT model to account for this problem. This extension is, however, complicated by the fact that the variable of interest is ordinal, so the procedures that are adopted in the case of a strictly continuous outcome are no longer applicable and the maximum likelihood approach is therefore the suggested solution. The extended model is then applied to investigate and compare across countries the effects of differential item functioning and sample selection on the response scale differences in the self-reported work disability vignettes that were collected in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. When the collected vignette rate is high, the bias that is induced by the selection mechanism on the CHOPIT estimates is negligible. When the collected vignette rate is low, sample selection affects the model estimates, leading to a reversing of the directions of some differential item functioning corrections provided by the standard CHOPIT model.
Whose constituency? Representativeness of the Finnish Paper Workers' Union, innovation strategies, and outsourcing in the Finnish paper industry between 1980 and 2008
Authors: Jonker‐Hoffrén Paul 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTOutsourcing has been a conflictual issue in the Finnish paper industry, which reached a temporary solution in 2005. This article analyses the Paper Workers' Union's stance on outsourcing, arguing that it has been defending acquired rights and perhaps deliberately narrowed its representation of diverse constituencies over time.
Reaching out for strength within? ‘Social movement unionism’ in a small country setting
Authors: Parker Jane 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTTrade unions around the developed world face common challenges in terms of declining membership and influence, and ‘conventional’ union revival strategies have yielded limited success. A relatively recent innovation has been the embrace of ‘social movement unionism’ (SMU), which challenges traditional workplace conceptions of trade union roles via alliances with campaigning civil society organisations. This empirical study examines how SMU is conceived and applied in a small country context, focusing on the role of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. The findings suggest that SMU can appeal to trade union associations in smaller national (or regional) settings owing to a combination of institutional and size effects which concentrate networks. This has implications for unions and union federations interested in advancing both workplace and wider social justice concerns.
Regulation of the (pro)renin–renin receptor in cardiac remodelling
Authors: Mahmud Hasan , Silljé Herman H. W. , Cannon Megan V. , van Gilst Wiek H. , de Boer Rudolf A. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe (pro)renin–renin receptor [(P)RR] was discovered as an important novel component of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). The functional significance of (P)RR is widely studied in renal and vascular pathologies and has sparked interest for a potential role in cardiovascular disease. To investigate the role of (P)RR in cardiac pathophysiology, we aimed to assess (P)RR regulation in adverse cardiac remodelling of the failing heart. In particular, we evaluated the expression of (P)RR in different models of heart failure and across different species. Significantly increased levels of (P)RR mRNA were found in post‐myocardial infarcted (MI) hearts of rats (1.6‐fold, P < 0.05) and mice (5‐fold, P < 0.01), as well as in transgenic rats with overexpression of the mouse renin gene (Ren2) (2.2‐fold, P < 0.01). Moreover, we observed a strong increase of (P)RR expression in hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients (5.3‐fold, P < 0.001). Because none of the tested commercially available antibodies appeared to detect endogenous (P)RR, a (P)RR‐specific polyclonal antibody was generated to study (P)RR protein levels. (P)RR protein levels were significantly increased in the post‐MI rat heart (1.4‐fold, P < 0.05) as compared to controls. Most interestingly in DCM patients, a significant 8.7‐fold (P < 0.05) increase was observed. Thus, protein expression paralleled gene expression. These results demonstrate that (P)RR expression is strongly up‐regulated both in rodent models of heart failure and in the failing human heart, hinting to a potential role for (P)RR in cardiac pathophysiology.
Is routine hysteroscopy during LLETZ a valuable additional procedure?
Authors: OTT JOHANNES , JATZKO BIRGIT , NEMETH ZOLTAN , WIRTH STEFAN , WAGNER GERHARD 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe aimed to critically review our experience with the value and risks of a diagnostic hysteroscopy performed in addition to LLETZ. We retrospectively included 442 womentients undergoing LLETZ and additional routine diagnostic hysteroscopy. Women for whom concomitant diagnostic hysteroscopy was somehow indicated were excluded. We focused on complications and intrauterine abnormalities detected by hysteroscopy that had not been seen on preoperative vaginal ultrasound. In 28/442 (6.3%), hysteroscopy and/or histological examination of the specimen removed by curettage revealed an abnormal intrauterine finding (benign endometrial polyps, n=20; benign cervical polyps, n=2; small leiomyomas inside the uterine cavity, n=1; septate/arcuate/unicornuate, n=5). A total of 38 surgical complications (8.6%) occurred. The two adverse events related to diagnostic hysteroscopy were uterine perforations (0.5%). In conclusion, only a few benign findings of questionable clinical relevance were discovered. Thus, we do not consider an additional routine diagnostic hysteroscopy during LLETZ beneficial for the patient.