A multidisciplinary approach to the implementation of non-pharmacological strategies to manage infant pain

Hills E., Rosenberg J., Banfield N., Harding C. A multidisciplinary approach to the implementation of non-pharmacological strategies to manage infant pain. Infant 2020; 16(2): 78-81. 1. Newborn infants are capable of experiencing pain. 2. Infants requiring specialist hospital care are likely to experience painful medical procedures. 3. Unmanaged pain has a long-lasting impact on an infant’s behaviour and physiological status

Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome in routine clinical practice.

The updated international consensus criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are useful for scientific clinical studies. However, there remains a need for diagnostic criteria for routine clinical use. We audited the results of routine antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) in a cohort of 193 consecutive patients with aPL positivity-based testing for lupus anticoagulant (LA), IgG and IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-ß(2)glycoprotein-1 antibodies (aß(2)GPI). Medium/high-titre aCL/aβ(2)GPI was defined as >99th percentile. Low-titre aCL/aβ(2)GPI positivity (>95(th )< 99(th) percentile) was considered positive for obstetric but not for thrombotic APS. One hundred of the 145 patients fulfilled both clinical and laboratory criteria for definite APS. Twenty-six women with purely obstetric APS had persistent low-titre aCL and/or aβ(2)GPI. With the inclusion of these patients, 126 of the 145 patients were considered to have APS. Sixty-seven out of 126 patients were LA-negative, of whom 12 had aCL only, 37 had aβ(2)GPI only and 18 positive were for both. The omission of aCL or aβ(2)GPI testing from investigation of APS would have led to a failure to diagnose APS in 9.5% and 29.4% of patients, respectively. Our data suggest that LA, aCL and aβ(2)GPI testing are all required for the accurate diagnosis of APS and that low-titre antibodies should be included in the diagnosis of obstetric APS

Protocol: optimised electrophyiological analysis of intact guard cells from arabidopsis

Genetic resources available for Arabidopsis thaliana make this species particularly attractive as a model for molecular genetic studies of guard cell homeostasis, transport and signalling, but this facility is not matched by accessible tools for quantitative analysis of transport in the intact cell. We have developed a reliable set of procedures for voltage clamp analysis of guard cells from Arabidopsis leaves. These procedures greatly simplify electrophysiological recordings, extending the duration of measurements and scope for analysis of the predominant K+ and anion channels of intact stomatal guard cells to that achieved previously in work with Vicia and tobacco guard cells

Eddy Structures Induced Within a Wedge by a Honing Circular Arc

In this paper we outline an expeditious numerical procedure to calculate the Stokes flow in a corner due to the rotation of a scraping circular boundary. The method is also applicable to other wedge geometries. We employ a collocation technique utilising a basis of eddy (similarity) functions introduced by Moffatt (1964) that allows us to satisfy automatically the governing equations for the streamfunction and all the boundary conditions on the surface of the wedge. The circular honing problem thereby becomes one-dimensional requiring only the satisfaction of conditions on the circular boundary. The advantage of using the Moffatt eddy functions as a basis in wedge geometry is clear and the technique greatly reduces many of the concerns with accuracy and time expenditure associated with alternative numerical methods. An investigation of the details of the eddy structure for our particular geometry is presented

Calcium-sensing receptor activation increases cell-cell adhesion and ß-cell function

Background/Aims: The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is expressed in pancreatic β-cells where it is thought to facilitate cell-to-cell communication and augment insulin secretion. However, it is unknown how CaR activation improves β-cell function. Methods: Immunocytochemistry and western blotting confirmed the expression of CaR in MIN6 β-cell line. The calcimimetic R568 (1µM) was used to increase the affinity of the CaR and specifically activate the receptor at a physiologically appropriate extracellular calcium concentration. Incorporation of 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to measure cell proliferation, whilst changes in non-nutrient-evoked cytosolic calcium were assessed using fura-2-microfluorimetry. AFM-single-cell-force spectroscopy related CaR-evoked changes in epithelial (E)-cadherin expression to improved functional tethering between coupled cells. Results: Activation of the CaR over 48hr doubled the expression of E-cadherin (206±41%) and increased L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel expression by 70% compared to control. These changes produced a 30% increase in cell-cell tethering and elevated the basal-to-peak amplitude of ATP (50µM) and tolbutamide (100µM)-evoked changes in cytosolic calcium. Activation of the receptor also increased PD98059 (1-100µM) and SU1498 (1-100µM)-dependent β-cell proliferation. Conclusion: Our data suggest that activation of the CaR increases E-cadherin mediated functional tethering between β-cells and increases expression of L-type VDCC and secretagogue-evoked changes in [Ca2+]i. These findings could explain how local changes in calcium, co-released with insulin, activate the CaR on neighbouring cells to help ensure efficient and appropriate secretory function

Helmeted Muskox (Bootherium bombifrons) from Near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta: Dating Evidence for Redeposition in Late Pleistocene Alluvium

Superimposition and intersection of preglacial and postglacial valley systems on the Canadian plains indicates that some of the recovered Quaternary vertebrate fossils may be redeposited. To test this proposition, an accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) date was obtained on bone from a previously described helmeted muskox skull from near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. The specimen, identified as Bootherium bombifrons = Symbos cavifrons was previously thought to be Late Pleistocene (postglacial) in age but showed evidence of transport. A date of 30 570 ± 250 14C yrs BP indicates that it is of Middle Wisconsinan (pre-Last Glacial Maximum) age and therefore was ultimately derived from the Empress Formation (Saskatchewan Gravels and Sands) in the Edmonton area. Other vertebrate fossils must be assessed carefully in this light and direct dating is recommended wherever possible to facilitate both stratigraphic and paleontological studies.La surimposition et l’entrecroisement des réseaux fluviatiles pré- et postglaciaires dans les Prairies indiquent que certains fossiles de vertébrés du Quaternaire pourraient avoir fait l’objet d’un remaniement. Pour tester l’hypothèse, nous avons daté, à l'aide d'un accélérateur de particules (SMA), un os provenant d'un crâne d'ovibos casqué (antérieurement décrit) trouvé près de Fort Saskatchewan. Identifié comme un Bootherium bombifrons = Symbos cavifrons, le spécimen, qu'on avait daté du Pléistocène supérieur (postglaciaire), portait des traces de transport. La date de 30 570 ± 250 ans 14C BP obtenue par SMA, indique qu'il daterait plutôt du Wisconsinien moyen (avant le dernier maximum glaciaire) et qu'il proviendrait, par conséquent, de la Formation d’Empress (Graviers et Sables de la Saskatchewan), dans la région d'Edmonton. À la lumière de ce résultat, d'autres fossiles de vertébrés devraient être réétudiés et, dans la mesure du possible, faire l'objet d'une datation directe, afin de favoriser les études stratigraphiques et paléontologiques

Identification of premature infant states in relation to introducing oral feeding

Background Recognizing oral readiness signs in infants is vital when planning the introduction of oral feeding. However, with premature infants, this can be difficult to gauge accurately because of immature development. Methods Twenty three staff from a level 2 neonatal unit participated. A questionnaire elicited knowledge about oral readiness and other factors related to oral feeding with premature infants. Participant knowledge of the written Als (1986) infant state descriptors was completed. A comparison was made of the skills in identification of the various infant states on video without and with written descriptors (Als, 1986). Correlations investigated if years of experience and grade had any relation to accurate infant state identification. Results There was wide variation in the type of training about premature infant feeding participants had received. Participants (65%) recognized the importance of oral readiness signs in relation to feeding development. A Wilcoxon signed ranks test revealed no significant differences in ability to identify infant states without and with the written Als (1986) descriptors when observing infant video materials. When not using the written descriptors, there was a strong negative correlation between grade and the identification of the [Active sleep] state, (p < 0.01), and a strong positive correlation between grade and the identification of the [Drowsy] state, (p < 0.05). There were no strong correlations between grade and years working when using the written descriptors. Conclusion Oral readiness signs are important when introducing oral feeding with premature infants. However, accurate identification of oral readiness remains challenging

Opportunity Recognition: Perceptions of Highly Successful Entrpreneurs

This study examined  multiple dimensions  of opportunity recognition  (OR) among a group  of exceptionally successful entrepreneurs and a control group of more randomly selected entrepreneurs.  There were few  differences  between the two groups.  Results  indicated that OR stemmed from prior experience, focusing on markets and customers, and responses to specific problems along with several other sources. Furthermore, OR appeared to he a multiple-step process far more frequently than a "eureka" experience. These results support much of the conventional wisdom about OR and indicate that multiple approaches to OR can lead  to success

Humanistic Perspectives in Criminology

In the past two decades, the field of criminology has changed dramatically. Mainstream criminology, which focused primarily on the etiology of behavior taken for granted as criminal, has been successively challenged by a number of different sociological theories and perspectives. These challenges have come from the labeling or interactionist perspective, various pluralistic conflict theories, and a number of radical, critical, or Marxist approaches. Although there are many differences among these theoretical developments, they share a common set of humanistic concerns. All of these perspectives attempt to combine a theoretical explanation of crime and social control with a practical concern for human liberation and social justice. All of these perspectives are concerned, in one way or another, with the way in which the social structuring of crime and social control affects the human rights, survival, and material well-being of people

Child Exploitation and the FIFA World Cup: A review of risks and protective interventions

This review was commissioned by the Child Abuse Programme (CAP) of Oak Foundation, a large international philanthropic organisation. It forms part of CAP’s effort to win societal rejection of practices such as the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents around major sporting events (MSEs), and to embed prevention and protection from exploitation as a permanent concern for global sports-related bodies. This review is intended to inform action in countries that host MSEs and to provide some suggestions on how hosting countries can avoid past pitfalls and mistakes in relation to child exploitation, especially economic and sexual exploitation. Importantly, it also acts as a call to action by those responsible for commissioning and staging MSEs, such as FIFA and the IOC, to anticipate, prepare for and adopt risk mitigation strategies and interventions. Positive leadership from these culturally powerful bodies could prove decisive in shifting hearts, minds and actions in the direction of improved safety for children