bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time to the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy does not impact survival in patients with resected pancreatic cancer
Authors: Mirkin Katelin A. , Greenleaf Erin K. , Hollenbeak Christopher S. , Wong Joyce
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with pancreatic cancer, but to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding the temporal relationship between chemotherapy initiation and survival. The current study analyzed the impact of time to the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

The National Cancer Data Base (2003‐2011) was retrospectively reviewed for patients with clinical American Joint Committee on Cancer stages I to III resected pancreatic carcinoma. Time to chemotherapy was stratified at the 12‐week postoperative time point. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The current study included 6706 patients who underwent surgical resection alone, 3723 patients who initiated adjuvant chemotherapy at ≤12 weeks, and 669 patients who initiated adjuvant chemotherapy at >12 weeks. Patients who received chemotherapy at >12 weeks were older and had greater comorbidities. Those undergoing a Whipple resection or total pancreatectomy were more likely to initiate chemotherapy later compared with those patients undergoing a distal surgical resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy conferred a survival benefit over surgical resection alone (P<.0001). There was no overall survival benefit observed for patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy at ≤12 weeks compared with at >12 weeks (P =.5301). When stratified by pathological stage of disease, there was no survival benefit noted for the earlier initiation of chemotherapy: stage I: P =.2783; stage II: P =.0708; and stage III: P =.0778. After controlling for patient, disease, and surgery characteristics, both patients who initiated adjuvant chemotherapy at ≤12 weeks and at >12 weeks were found to have a 35% lower odds of mortality versus those who underwent surgical resection alone (P<.0001 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

The earlier initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy does not appear to significantly impact long‐term survival in patients with resected pancreatic cancer. Because adjuvant chemotherapy confers a survival benefit, delayed chemotherapy should be offered when appropriate. Cancer 2016;122:2979‐2987. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Maximum number of discriminable colors in a region of uniform color space
Authors: Brill Michael H.
Published: June 2016

Continuing a discussion by Kuehni, this note examines the problem of fitting as many as possible colors in a 1‐JND radius sphere such that each pair of colors is separated by at least 1 JND. Kuehni announced nine. A first estimate yields a maximum of 13, but this is too many because colors populating adjacent spheres will be too close to each other. Accordingly, I derive the maximum number,
, of discriminable colors per unit volume of color space, and then formally compute from this number packing density a number of colors inside the unit sphere. That estimate, nearly 6, will undoubtedly erode when discrete color points are chosen within the unit sphere. Kuehni's estimate of 9 is too high. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2016
Growth, composition, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of new multiferroic Pb3.3Mn4.8Ni1.1Ti0.56O15.3 single crystals
Authors: Tomov V. , Rafailov P. M. , Luo Chih‐Wei
Published: June 2016

Multiferroic single crystals in the novel system Pb‐Mn‐Ni‐Ti‐O have been grown by the high temperature solution growth method. At room temperature the crystals are indexed in the hexagonal space group P63cm. The dielectric and magnetic properties along with the temperature dependence of the c‐lattice parameter have been studied in the temperature range 2 K ‐ 500 К. The magnetic measurements reveal a paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase transition around 48 K. The dielectric permittivity exhibits a maximum at 430 K, indicating ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition. The temperature dependent Raman and XRD measurements around 430 K reveal an anomaly and abrupt change of the lattice parameter along the z‐axis respectively, thus confirming the ferroelectric‐to‐paraelectric phase transition.
New findings on type 2 diabetes in first‐generation Chinese migrants settled in Italy: Chinese in Prato (CHIP) cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Modesti Pietro A. , Calabrese Maria , Malandrino Danilo , Colella Andrea , Galanti Giorgio , Zhao Dong
Published: June 2016

Background

Chinese people are one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in Europe, and their health has become a key issue to host nations. Although type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a big burden among migrant populations, data on Chinese immigrants in Europe are limited.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was performed in 2014, adopting principles of community‐based participatory research to investigate T2DM, diagnosed by the American Diabetes Association fasting criteria, in Chinese first‐generation migrants aged 16 to 59 years settled in Prato (Italy). Association with different factors was investigated using logistic regression.

Results

Of the 1608 participants, 177 had T2DM (11.0%), 119 being newly diagnosed (7.4%). Among subjects with diabetes, 58 (32.8%) were aware of the disease; among subjects with diabetes aware of their condition, 46 (79%) were treated with glucose lowering drugs. Age‐standardized (World Health Organization 2001 population) prevalence of T2DM was 9.6% (95% CI 9.1 to 10.2%), being 12.0% (95% CI 11.0 to 12.9%) in men, and 7.8% (95% CI 7.1 to 8.4%) in women. At adjusted logistic regression, diabetes was associated with hypertension, current smoking, adiposity indices (waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, waist‐to‐height ratio, and body mass index), and high triglycerides. T2DM, adiposity indices, and high triglycerides were not associated with duration of stay in Italy.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of T2DM among first‐generation Chinese immigrants in Europe stresses the need for specific health programs for T2DM early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. There is an urgent need for policies to support this group because current policies will produce major social and economic costs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mismatch in microbial food webs: predators but not prey perform better in their local biotic and abiotic conditions
Authors: Parain Elodie C. , Gravel Dominique , Rohr Rudolf P. , Bersier Louis‐Félix , Gray Sarah M.
Published: June 2016

Understanding how trophic levels respond to changes in abiotic and biotic conditions is key for predicting how food webs will react to environmental perturbations. Different trophic levels may respond disproportionately to change, with lower levels more likely to react faster, as they typically consist of smaller‐bodied species with higher reproductive rates. This response could cause a mismatch between trophic levels, in which predators and prey will respond differently to changing abiotic or biotic conditions. This mismatch between trophic levels could result in altered top‐down and bottom‐up control and changes in interaction strength. To determine the possibility of a mismatch, we conducted a reciprocal‐transplant experiment involvingSarracenia purpureafood webs consisting of bacterial communities as prey and a subset of six morphologically similar protozoans as predators. We used a factorial design with four temperatures, four bacteria and protozoan biogeographic origins, replicated four times. This design allowed us to determine how predator and prey dynamics were altered by abiotic (temperature) conditions and biotic (predators paired with prey from either their local or non‐local biogeographic origin) conditions. We found that prey reached higher densities in warmer temperature regardless of their temperature of origin. Conversely, predators achieved higher densities in the temperature condition and with the prey from their origin. These results confirm that predators perform better in abiotic and biotic conditions of their origin while their prey do not. This mismatch between trophic levels may be especially significant under climate change, potentially disrupting ecosystem functioning by disproportionately affecting top‐down and bottom‐up control.
Reproductive efficiency and shade avoidance plasticity under simulated competition
Authors: Fazlioglu Fatih , Al‐Namazi Ali , Bonser Stephen P.
Published: June 2016

Plant strategy and life‐history theories make different predictions about reproductive efficiency under competition. While strategy theory suggests under intense competition iteroparous perennial plants delay reproduction and semelparous annuals reproduce quickly, life‐history theory predicts both annual and perennial plants increase resource allocation to reproduction under intense competition. We tested (1) how simulated competition influences reproductive efficiency and competitive ability (CA) of different plant life histories and growth forms; (2) whether life history or growth form is associated with CA; (3) whether shade avoidance plasticity is connected to reproductive efficiency under simulated competition. We examined plastic responses of 11 herbaceous species representing different life histories and growth forms to simulated competition (spectral shade). We found that both annual and perennial plants invested more to reproduction under simulated competition in accordance with life‐history theory predictions. There was no significant difference between competitive abilities of different life histories, but across growth forms, erect species expressed greater CA (in terms of leaf number) than other growth forms. We also found that shade avoidance plasticity can increase the reproductive efficiency by capitalizing on the early life resource acquisition and conversion of these resources into reproduction. Therefore, we suggest that a reassessment of the interpretation of shade avoidance plasticity is necessary by revealing its role in reproduction, not only in competition of plants.
Is the relationship between mast‐seeding and weather in oaks related to their life‐history or phylogeny?
Authors: Koenig Walter D. , Alejano Reyes , Carbonero Maria Dolores , Fernández‐Rebollo Pilar , Knops Johannes M. H. , Marañón Teodoro , Padilla‐Díaz Carmen M. , Pearse Ian S. , Pérez‐Ramos Ignacio M. , Vázquez‐Piqué Javier , Pesendorfer Mario B.
Published: June 2016

Although the functional basis of variable and synchronous seed production (masting behavior) has been extensively investigated, only recently has attention been focused on the proximate mechanisms driving this phenomenon. We analyzed the relationship between weather and acorn production in 15 species of oaks (genus Quercus) from three geographic regions on two continents, with the goals of determining the extent to which similar sets of weather factors affect masting behavior across species and to explore the ecological basis for the similarities detected. Lag‐1 temporal autocorrelations were predominantly negative, supporting the hypothesis that stored resources play a role in masting behavior across this genus, and we were able to determine environmental variables correlating with acorn production in all but one of the species. Standard weather variables outperformed “differential‐cue” variables based on the difference between successive years in a majority of species, which is consistent with the hypothesis that weather is linked directly to the proximate mechanism driving seed production and that masting in these species is likely to be sensitive to climate change. Based on the correlations between weather variables and acorn production, cluster analysis failed to generate any obvious groups of species corresponding to phylogeny or life‐history. Discriminant function analyses, however, were able to identify the phylogenetic section to which the species belonged and, controlling for phylogeny, the length of time species required to mature acorns, whether they were evergreen or deciduous, and, to a lesser extent, the geographic region to which they are endemic. These results indicate that similar proximate mechanisms are driving acorn production in these species of oaks, that the environmental factors driving seed production in oaks are to some extent phylogenetically conserved, and that the shared mechanisms driving acorn production result in some degree of synchrony among coexisting species in a way that potentially enhances predator satiation, at least when they have acorns requiring the same length of time to mature.
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein induces incomplete tolerance of CD4+ T cells specific for both a myelin and a neuronal self‐antigen in mice
Authors: Lucca Liliana E. , Axisa Pierre‐Paul , Aloulou Meryem , Perals Corine , Ramadan Abdulraouf , Rufas Pierre , Kyewski Bruno , Derbinski Jens , Fazilleau Nicolas , Mars Lennart T. , Liblau Roland S.
Published: June 2016

T‐cell polyspecificity, predicting that individual T cells recognize a continuum of related ligands, implies that multiple antigens can tolerize T cells specific for a given self‐antigen. We previously showed in C57BL/6 mice that part of the CD4+ T‐cell repertoire specific for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35–55 also recognizes the neuronal antigen neurofilament medium (NF‐M) 15–35. Such bi‐specific CD4+ T cells are frequent and produce inflammatory cytokines after stimulation. Since T cells recognizing two self‐antigens would be expected to be tolerized more efficiently, this finding prompted us to study how polyspecificity impacts tolerance. We found that similar to MOG, NF‐M is expressed in the thymus by medullary thymic epithelial cells, a tolerogenic population. Nevertheless, the frequency, phenotype, and capacity to transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) of MOG35‐55‐reactive CD4+ T cells were increased in MOG‐deficient but not in NF‐M‐deficient mice. We found that presentation of NF‐M15‐35 by I‐Ab on dendritic cells is of short duration, suggesting unstable MHC class II binding. Consistently, introducing an MHC‐anchoring residue into NF‐M15‐35 (NF‐M15‐35T20Y) increased its immunogenicity, activating a repertoire able to induce EAE. Our results show that in C57BL/6 mice bi‐specific encephalitogenic T cells manage to escape tolerization due to inefficient exposure to two self‐antigens.
Anchoring Cytochrome b562 on a Gold Nanoparticle by a Heme–Heme Pocket Interaction
Authors: Onoda Akira , Taniguchi Tomoaki , Inoue Nozomu , Kamii Ayumi , Hayashi Takashi
Published: June 2016

Gold nanoparticles immobilized on a gold electrode surface were modified with a heme moiety through gold–sulfur bonds and then treated with apocytochrome b562 (apoCYT) to yield a reconstituted protein on the gold nanoparticles. Immobilization of apoCYT on the surface of the AuNP‐modified electrode was confirmed by the charge‐transfer resistance value RCT determined using alternating‐current electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The N 1s and Fe 2p peaks in the X‐ray photoelectron spectrum support the reconstitution of the heme moiety on the surface of the AuNP electrode. The hemoprotein‐immobilized electrode exhibits a ten‐fold enhanced electrochemical response relative to the protein immobilized directly on the gold electrode.
Tri‐ and Pentanuclear Complexes Derived from Manganese(III) Schiff Base and Hexacyanoferrate(III) Building Blocks
Authors: Zhang Meng‐Jiao , Zhang Yu‐Ye , Yang Chun , Wang Qing‐Lun , Liao Dai‐Zheng
Published: June 2016

A tri‐ and a pentanuclear cyanido‐bridged complex based on manganese(III) Schiff base and hexacyanoferrate(III) units, namely, [{Mn(naphtmen)}2{Fe(CN)6}][Mn(naphtmen)(CH3OH)2]2ClO4·5CH3OH·H2O [1; naphtmen2– = N,N′‐(1,1,2,2‐tetramethylethylene)bis(naphthylideneiminato) dianion] and [{Mn(naphtmen)}4{Fe(CN)6}]ClO4 (2), were synthesized and structurally characterized by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. The structural analyses show that 1 consists of linear trinuclear clusters of [{Mn(naphtmen)}2{Fe(CN)6}]– anions, which are further linked into one‐dimensional chains by the out‐of‐plane biphenolate bridges. In 2, magnetically isolated cyanido‐bridged pentanuclear {[Mn(naphtmen)]4[Fe(CN)6]}+ cations were obtained. The temperature‐dependent magnetic susceptibilities indicate that the exchange interactions between the FeIII and MnIII ions through the cyanido bridges are ferromagnetic in 1 and 2. The magnetic fittings for 1 and 2 gave magnetic coupling constants JMnFe = 6.68 and 4.31 cm–1, respectively. Complex 2 exhibits a clear frequency‐dependent alternating‐current (AC) magnetic susceptibility below 3.5 K, which is due to single‐molecule magnet behavior with Ueff = 23.4 cm–1 and τ0 = 7.5 × 10–10 s.
Remarkable Ability of the Benzylidene Ligand To Control Initiation of Hoveyda–Grubbs Metathesis Catalysts
Authors: Basak Tymoteusz , Grudzień Krzysztof , Barbasiewicz Michał
Published: June 2016

The structure of the chelating benzylidene ligand offers the unique ability to control the initiation of Hoveyda–Grubbs metathesis catalysts. Apart from steric and electronic effects acting on the step involving opening of the chelate ring, changes related to the following ligand‐exchange process may also play a critical role. Our mechanistic model reveals that ligands substituted at the 6‐position of the benzylidene ring enter the metathesis cycle in a nonoptimal chelating conformation, and thus the coordination number of the ruthenium center transiently increases to six (associative mechanism). In effect, the synthesis and initiation of the catalysts becomes difficult, and the energy barrier of the ligand‐exchange process is controlled by the structure of the coordinating OR group. Moreover, we explain how isomeric naphthalene ligands affect the catalytic performance by an indivisible combination of steric and π‐electron delocalization effects.
Leaders' achievement goals and their integrative management of creative ideas voiced by subordinates or superiors
Authors: Sijbom Roy B. L. , Janssen Onne , Van Yperen Nico W.
Published: June 2016

The purpose of this research was to examine the joint impact of leader achievement goals and hierarchical position of the voicer of creative ideas (subordinate vs. superior) on the extent to which leaders (intent to) integrate these voiced creative ideas with their own ideas (integrative idea management). In a scenario‐based survey (study 1; N = 189), in which we measured participants' achievement goals, we found that the relationship between leaders' performance goals and their intention to integrate voiced creative ideas is contingent on the hierarchical position of the idea voicer. Similarly, in an experimental study (study 2; N = 94), in which we experimentally induced achievement goals, we found that leaders display lower integrative intentions when ideas are voiced by a subordinate rather than a superior, but this was only true for leaders pursuing performance goals. Furthermore, the results of an additional, exploratory analysis suggest that the hierarchical position of the voicer of creative ideas had an indirect effect on integrative behavior through integrative intentions for performance goal leaders and no effect for mastery goal leaders. Together, these findings advance our understanding of how middle management leaders are influenced by their own achievement goals when managing the creative ideas voiced by subordinates and superiors.
Quality of service provision and capacity expansion through extended‐DSA for 5G
Authors: Herzog Uwe , Georgakopoulos Andreas , Belikaidis Ioannis‐Prodromos , Fitch Michael , Briggs Keith , Diaz Salvador , Carrasco Óscar , Moessner Klaus , Miscopein Benoit , Mumtaz Shahid , Demestichas Panagiotis
Published: June 2016

5G systems are expected to advance on a number of aspects compared with current systems, for example, providing a 1000 times higher capacity, a much lower latency and improved quality of user experience. This paper presents the vision and approach followed by the H2020 project SPEED‐5G. The approach is based on densification of small cells, exploitation of Multi‐RAT, development of new resource management techniques and a more efficient use of spectrum. A novel 5G system architecture is proposed based on the Network Slicing paradigm, which enables a highly flexible, scalable and backwards compatible architecture. A core aspect is the definition of a new MAC layer that facilitates Multi‐RAT access and allows prioritising and allocating traffic across heterogeneous access technologies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of maturity stage and lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Siberian wildrye silage
Authors: Li Ping , Bai Shiqie , You Minghong , Shen Yixin
Published: June 2016

It is difficult to make good quality of silage from alpine gramineous from the Qinghai Tibetan plateau. The effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Siberian wildrye silage were studied in southeast of the Qinghai Tibetan plateau. Siberian wildrye materials were freshly cut at the sprouting stage, flowering stage, and milky stage. Silage was prepared by using a small‐scale silage fermentation system (bag silos). Lactobacillus plantarum (LP, 5 × 108 cfu/kg FM), Lactobacillus buchneri (LB, 5 × 108 cfu/kg FM) and their mixture (LP+LB, 5 × 108 cfu/kg FM) as silage additives were separately added to ensiled forages, and no additive served as control (CK). These bag silos were kept at room temperature (<15°C), and the silage qualities were analyzed after 60 days of ensiling. The number of indigenous LAB on fresh materials was less than that of yeasts and molds, and LAB species showed specification adapted to low temperature. LAB inoculated silages had lower (P < 0.05) pH value, NH3‐N/TN and butyric acid content compared with control silage. Silage treated with LB had higher contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, WSC and CP. However, the aerobic stability of silages inoculated with LAB did not differ significantly between stages (P > 0.05). When fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, and aerobic stability were considered, treatment with L. plantarum resulted in high quality of Siberian wildrye silage harvested at the flowering stage in the alpine region.
Soil Paleocatenas, Prehistoric Land Use, and Coastal Landscape Dynamics at Druridge Bay, Northeast England
Authors: Payton Robert W. , Bonsall Clive
Published: June 2016

Coastal erosion of sand dune systems along Druridge Bay, northeast England, has progressively exposed parts of the subdune mid‐Holocene landscape, including paleocatenas, indicating former soil hydrosequences with localized wetland habitats, and archaeological evidence of human activities and land use from the Late Mesolithic to the Romano‐British period. Archaeological investigations and pedostratigraphic studies of paleosols provide a unique spatial–chronological framework to interpret soil and land use change over several millennia in the context of a changing coastal environment. Evidence includes dating of archaeological remains, the stratigraphy, morphology and micromorphology of buried soils and sediments, and the palynology and radiocarbon dating of subdune peats. Early Bronze Age burial sites were preferentially located on well‐drained hillocks also used for grazing. Adjacent wetland depressions provided areas of marshy grassland and swamp over deep fen peat soils that started to develop c. 5435 cal. yr B.P. in response to a rising groundwater table stimulated partly by slow sea‐level rise. The backslopes of the paleocatena were occupied by imperfectly to poorly drained soils that supported open oak‐hazel woodland with evidence for progressive clearance and use for agriculture. Windblown sand started to accumulate on the study site sometime between 3930 and 3670 cal. yr B.P., well before the Little Ice Age date for dune formation suggested by previous researchers.
Anhedonia and individual differences in orbitofrontal cortex sulcogyral morphology
Authors: Zhang Hyden , Harris Lauren , Split Molly , Troiani Vanessa , Olson Ingrid R.
Published: June 2016

Three types of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) sulcogyral patterns that have been identified in the population, and the distribution of these three types in clinically diagnosed schizophrenic patients has been found to be distinct from the normal population. Schizophrenia is associated with increased levels of social and physical anhedonia. In this study, we asked whether variation in anhedonia in a neurologically normal population is associated with altered sulcogyral pattern frequency. OFC sulcogyral type was classified and anhedonia was measured in 58 normal young adults, and the relationship between OFC sulcogyral type and anhedonia was explored. In line with other studies conducted in chronic schizophrenia, individuals with higher levels of physical anhedonia demonstrated atypical sulcogyral patterns. Individuals with higher physical anhedonia showed a reduced incidence of Type I OFC and an increased incidence of Type II OFC in the left hemisphere compared to individuals with lower physical anhedonia. These findings support the notion that Type I OFC sulcogyral pattern is protective of anhedonia compared to Type II, even in individuals that are not schizophrenic. Overall, these results support the view that symptoms and neural indices typically associated with neuropsychiatric disorders actually reflect quantitative traits that are continuously distributed throughout the general population. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3873–3881, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging after pediatric traumatic brain injury: Impact of age at injury and time since injury on pathway integrity
Authors: Ewing‐Cobbs Linda , Johnson Chad Parker , Juranek Jenifer , DeMaster Dana , Prasad Mary , Duque Gerardo , Kramer Larry , Cox Charles S. , Swank Paul R.
Published: June 2016

Following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging may characterize alterations in initial recovery and subsequent trajectory of white matter development. Our primary aim examined effects of age at injury and time since injury on pathway microstructure in children ages 6–15 scanned 3 and 24 months after TBI. Microstructural values generated using tract‐based spatial statistics extracted from core association, limbic, and projection pathways were analyzed using general linear mixed models. Relative to children with orthopedic injury, the TBI group had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) bilaterally in all seven pathways. In left‐hemisphere association pathways, school‐aged children with TBI had the lowest initial pathway integrity and showed the greatest increase in FA over time suggesting continued development despite incomplete recovery. Adolescents showed limited change in FA and radial diffusivity and had the greatest residual deficit suggesting relatively arrested development. Radial diffusivity was persistently elevated in the TBI group, implicating dysmyelination as a core contributor to chronic post‐traumatic neurodegenerative changes. The secondary aim compared FA values over time in the total sample, including participants contributing either one or two scans to the analysis, to the longitudinal cases contributing two scans. For each pathway, FA values and effect sizes were very similar and indicated extremely small differences in measurement of change over time in the total and longitudinal samples. Statistical approaches incorporating missing data may reliably estimate the effects of TBI and provide increased power to identify whether pathways show neurodegeneration, arrested development, or continued growth following pediatric TBI. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3929–3945, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bone mineral density utilization in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma
Authors: Muchtar Eli , Dagan Adi , Robenshtok Eyal , Shochat Tzippy , Oniashvili Nino , Amitai Irina , Raanani Pia , Magen Hila
Published: June 2016

Bone disease is a major cause for morbidity in multiple myeloma (MM), with the main focus concerning the manifestation as osteolytic lesions. Bone mineral loss is another reflection of myeloma bone involvement. Recently, osteoporosis has been omitted as a defining criterion for symptomatic disease in MM. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the use of bone mineral density (BMD) exams by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) among MM patients in a tertiary medical care centre. One‐hundred seventy three patients were included. The T‐scores of lumbar spine (LS), left femur neck (FN) and left total hip (TH) were obtained and analysed. The extent of osteolytic disease was categorized based on six bony areas. There was a strong correlation between spine and femur's T‐scores (r = 0.56–0.61, p < 0.0001), although different sets of variables were correlated with LS and femur's T‐scores. There was no correlation between BMD measurements and osteolytic disease extent. Patients with vertebral fracture(s) had significant lower T‐scores of the spine in comparison to patients without vertebral fractures. Sixty‐three patients (36.4% of the cohort) had follow‐up DXA exam. In general, there was an increase in the LS T‐scores, while femoral values decreased. However, in patients who achieved complete response (CR) and in those who retained CR during follow‐up, femoral BMD increased as well. Because correlation between BMD and the extent of osteolytic lesions was not seen, our data support the recent exclusion of BMD assessment from the definition of symptomatic myeloma. Still, its use should be considered for evaluation of age‐ or therapy‐related osteoporosis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MATERNAL GRIEVING AND THE PERCEPTION OF AND ATTACHMENT TO CHILDREN BORN SUBSEQUENT TO A PERINATAL LOSS
Authors: Al‐Maharma Dua’ Yousef , Abujaradeh Hiba , Mahmoud Khadejah Fahmi , Jarrad Reem Ahmad
Published: June 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal grieving for perinatal loss (PL) and the perception of and attachment to children born subsequent to a recent PL among mothers in Jordan. A cross‐sectional, descriptive correlational design was used. A convenience sample of 190 mothers of full‐term, healthy newborns born subsequent to a recent PL was recruited from seven Maternal and Child Health Care Centers in Jordan. These mothers were assessed using the Perinatal Grief Scale (L.J. Toedter, J.N. Lasker, & J.M. Alhadeff), 1988, the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (J.T. Condon & C.J. Corkindale, 1998), and the Neonatal Perception Inventory II (E. Broussard, 1979). Results showed a significant negative relationship between grief intensity and the attachment level, r = −.37, p = .000, and a significant positive relationship between the attachment level and neonatal perception, r = .28, p = .000. Mothers’ grief intensity was significantly affected by their demographic characteristics; however, there was no significant relationship between grief intensity and neonatal perception, r = .23, p = .23. Perinatal grief was negatively related to maternal attachment to the subsequent child. Nurses should address bereaved mothers and their children who might be at risk for developing attachment disturbances to facilitate positive adaptation to the subsequent pregnancy and parenthood.
PARALLEL MODELS OF ASSESSMENT: INFANT MENTAL HEALTH AND THERAPEUTIC ASSESSMENT MODELS INTERSECT THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD CASE STUDIES
Authors: Gart Natalie , Zamora Irina , Williams Marian E.
Published: June 2016

Therapeutic Assessment (TA; S.E. Finn & M.E. Tonsager, 1997; J.D. Smith, 2010) is a collaborative, semistructured model that encourages self‐discovery and meaning‐making through the use of assessment as an intervention approach. This model shares core strategies with infant mental health assessment, including close collaboration with parents and caregivers, active participation of the family, a focus on developing new family stories and increasing parents’ understanding of their child, and reducing isolation and increasing hope through the assessment process. The intersection of these two theoretical approaches is explored, using case studies of three infants/young children and their families to illustrate the application of TA to infant mental health. The case of an 18‐month‐old girl whose parents fear that she has bipolar disorder illustrates the core principles of the TA model, highlighting the use of assessment intervention sessions and the clinical approach to preparing assessment feedback. The second case follows an infant with a rare genetic syndrome from ages 2 to 24 months, focusing on the assessor–parent relationship and the importance of a developmental perspective. Finally, assessment of a 3‐year‐old boy illustrates the development and use of a fable as a tool to provide feedback to a young child about assessment findings and recommendations.
Synthesis of Tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3‐b]indole [60]Fullerene Derivatives via Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reaction of C60 and α,β‐Unsaturated Indole‐2‐thiones
Authors: Matloubi Moghaddam Firouz , Ghanbari Bahram , Behzadi Masoumeh , Baghersad Mohammad Hadi
Published: June 2016

Hetero‐Diels–Alder reactions of [60]fullerene with α,β‐unsaturated thio‐oxindoles (3a, 3b, 3c), prepared from thio‐oxindole 1 and heteroaromatic aldehydes (2a, 2b, 2c), to generate tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3‐b]indole [60]fullerene cycloadducts (5a, 5b, 5c) under thermal or microwave irradiation were described. The yields were improved, and the reaction time was decreased by conducting the reaction under microwave irradiation.
Timing of mesenchymal stem cell delivery impacts the fate and therapeutic potential in intervertebral disc repair
Authors: Maidhof Robert , Rafiuddin Asfi , Chowdhury Farzana , Jacobsen Timothy , Chahine Nadeen O.
Published: June 2016

Cell‐based therapies offer a promising approach to treat intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The impact of the injury microenvironment on treatment efficacy has not been established. This study used a rat disc stab injury model with administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) at 3, 14, or 30 days post injury (DPI) to evaluate the impact of interventional timing on IVD biochemistry and biomechanics. We also evaluated cellular localization within the disc with near infrared imaging to track the time and spatial profile of cellular migration after in vivo delivery. Results showed that upon injection into a healthy disc, MSCs began to gradually migrate outwards over the course of 14 days, as indicated by decreased signal intensity from the disc space and increased signal within the adjacent vertebrae. Cells administered 14 or 30 DPI also tended to migrate out 14 days after injection but cells injected 3 DPI were retained at a significantly higher amount versus the other groups (p < 0.05). Correspondingly the 3 DPI group, but not 14 or 30 DPI groups, had a higher GAG content in the MSC injected discs (p = 0.06). Enrichment of MSCs and increased GAG content in 3 DPI group did not lead to increased compressive biomechanical properties. Findings suggest that cell therapies administered at an early stage of injury/disease progression may have greater chances of mitigating matrix loss, possibly through promotion of MSC activity by the inflammatory microenvironment associated with injury. Future studies will evaluate the mode and driving factors that regulate cellular migration out of the disc. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:32–40, 2017.
A population‐based comparison of 30‐day readmission after surgery for colon and rectal cancer: How are they different?
Authors: Doumouras Aristithes G. , Tsao Miriam W. , Saleh Fady , Hong Dennis
Published: June 2016

Background

An implicit assumption in the analysis of colorectal readmission is that colon and rectal cancer patients are similar enough to analyze together. However, no studies have examined this assumption and whether substantial differences exist between colon and rectal cancer patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of the differences in predictors, diagnoses, and costs of readmission between colon and rectal cancer cohorts for 30‐day readmission. This study included all patients aged >18 who received an elective colectomy or low anterior resection for colorectal cancer from April 2008 until March 2012 in the province of Ontario.

Results

Overall, 13,571 patients were identified and the readmission rates significantly differed between rectal and colon cancer patients (7.1% colon and 10.7% rectal P = 0.001). Diabetes, age, and discharge to long term care were significantly different among colon and rectal patients in the prediction of readmission. Readmission for renal and stoma causes was more prominent in the rectal cohort. The adjusted cost difference for readmission did not significantly differ between rectal and colon cancer $178 ($1,924–1,568 P = 0.84)

Conclusion

Several important differences in predictors and diagnoses exist between the two cohorts. Conversely, the costs associated with readmission were homogenous between rectal and colon cancer patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:354–360. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the Termination Mechanism in the Radical Polymerization of Acrylates
Authors: Ballard Nicholas , Hamzehlou Shaghayegh , Ruipérez Fernando , Asua José M.
Published: June 2016

In a recent publication, Nakamura and co‐workers studied the termination mechanism in the radical polymerization of acrylates. Contrary to conventional thinking, their conclusion is that termination is overwhelmingly by disproportionation. This finding impacts on a large body of the previous work in the polymerization of acrylic monomers which this work seeks to address. Analysis of the molecular weight distribution of acrylic polymers obtained under different polymerization conditions shows that termination by combination is the more probable mechanism for mutual termination of secondary radicals. It is proposed that in the experiments conducted by Nakamura and co‐workers, backbiting plays a key role and their experimental data are reinterpreted, showing that they are more revealing with respect to the mode of termination of the midchain radical produced by backbiting, than to bimolecular termination of secondary radicals.

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DFT calculations of hyperfine coupling constants of organic π radicals and comparison with empirical equations and experiment
Authors: Kirste Burkhard
Published: June 2016

Density functional theory calculations (UB3LYP/EPR‐III) for a series of radicals and radical ions were performed to check the internal consistency of the method and its implications to the theoretical concepts of electron paramagnetic resonance such as π–σ spin polarization, hyperconjugation and phenyl hyperconjugation. In the second part, experimental data for seven radicals (43 hyperfine coupling constants) are compared with calculations, yielding a correlation of r2 = 0.97. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effects of Acupressure Training on Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function of Older Adults: A 1‐Year Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zeng Hui , Liu Mengjiao , Wang Ping , Kang Jiaxun , Lu Fenghua , Pan Lu
Published: June 2016

We explored the effects of acupressure training on older adults’ sleep quality and cognitive function. Ninety older adults with impaired sleep quality were selected from screened volunteers and randomly divided into equal control and experimental groups; 82 completed the 1‐year follow‐up. Participants in the control group were given instructions on sleep health, while those in the experimental group received sleep health instructions plus individual and small group acupressure training sessions and support to practice the intervention on their own each day. All participants were assessed by trained assistants blind to study group allocation using Chinese versions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Mini‐Mental State Examination, and four subscales from the revised Chinese version of the Wechsler Memory Scale, at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that acupressure training improved older adults’ sleep quality and cognitive function, but the mediating effect of sleep on the relationship between acupressure training and cognitive function was not supported. Given the ease, simplicity, and safety of acupressure training observed with community‐dwelling older adults in China, attempts should be made to replicate these preliminary positive findings with larger samples. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Controlling dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss by starch‐coated silver nanoparticles in ethylene–propylene rubber
Authors: Sadroddini M. , Razzaghi‐Kashani M. , Miranzadeh M. , Kassaee M.Z.
Published: June 2016

In this study, the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and starch‐coated ones (AgNP/starch) on dielectric properties of ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR) composites were compared. The dielectric permittivity of AgNP/EPR with 8 vol% of AgNP achieved 336 at 1 kHz which specifies the percolation threshold. AgNP/EPR composite with 6 vol% of filler as a near‐percolation sample was chosen to study the contribution of starch on dielectric properties. The AgNP/EPR composite showed relatively high dielectric permittivity and loss tangent (
, at 1 kHz), whereas AgNP/starch/EPR composite showed lower permittivity and loss (
, at 1 kHz), but with the advantage of more reduction in dielectric loss than dielectric permittivity. Moreover, better compatibility was observed between EPR and AgNP/starch particles, resulting in better dispersion of this coated filler, compared to AgNP. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1303–1310, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Poly(vinyl chloride)/Poly(butylene succinate)/wood flour composites: Physical properties and biodegradability
Authors: Chuayjuljit Saowaroj , Kongthan Jurairat , Chaiwutthinan Phasawat , Boonmahitthisud Anyaporn
Published: June 2016

This work aimed to improve the toughness and biodegradability of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by inclusion of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and wood flour (WF). The PVC/PBS blends (10–50 wt% PBS) showed a PBS‐dose‐dependent increase in the impact strength, elongation at break, and biodegradability compared to the neat PVC. According to the optimum impact strength and elongation at break, the 80/20 (w/w) PVC/PBS blend was further filled with three loading levels of WF (10, 20, and 30 parts by weight per hundred parts of blend resin). The resulting PVC/PBS/WF composites showed a significant increase in the tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, heat deflection temperature (HDT), water uptake, and biodegradability, but only a slight increase in the hardness and glass transition temperature, accompanied with a decrease in the impact strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, and Vicat softening point compared to the neat 80/20 (w/w) blend. It can be concluded that PBS played an important role both in toughening and increasing the biodegradability of PVC/PBS blends while WF caused an increase in the stiffness, HDT, and also the biodegradability of PVC/PBS/WF composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1543–1552, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Blast mitigation using FRP retrofitting and coating techniques
Authors: Chundawat T.S. , Vaya Dipti , Sini N.K. , Varma I.K.
Published: June 2016

Extensive experimental and computational studies have been carried out on survivability of buildings, vehicles, combat helmets etc exposed to various high‐velocity projectiles such as explosives, bullets, sharpenal etc. Such explosive attacks have necessitated the development of protective techniques for mitigation of blast. Retrofitting the above mentioned structures with light weight materials such as fibrous composites, coatings or both seems to be of foremost importance. The present review focuses mainly on experimental techniques reported in last 15 years for blast mitigation. The topics covered include introduction, applications and properties of FRP coatings, types of explosives and other details of charge, testing procedures and performance evaluation of protected structures. Proposed mechanism for improvement in blast mitigation of protected structures has also been discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1389–1402, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Flexural fatigue behavior of a pultruded basalt fiber reinforced epoxy plate subjected to elevated temperatures exposure
Authors: Wang Zike , Yang Zhaohui , Yang Yongming , Xian Guijun
Published: June 2016

In the present article, effects of elevated temperature treatment on the flexural fatigue behavior of a pultruded basalt fiber reinforced epoxy plates (BFRPs) were investigated. Elevated temperature treatment conditions were set as 150 and 250°C for 0.5, 1, and 2 h in an oven. The static testing results revealed that elevated temperature treatment only brings in slight degradation in the flexural properties of the BFRP. However, the short beam shear strength (SBS) was deteriorated significantly. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) results indicates that elevated temperature treatment at 150°C mainly shows a post‐curing effect on the resin matrix, while elevated temperature treatment at 250°C leads to fiber debonding and decomposition of the resin. The S‐N curves of BFRP (untreated and treated 150 and 250°C for 1 h) show that the elevated temperature treatment decreased the fatigue lives of BFRP remarkably, especially under high strain ratio. As indicated, elevated temperature treatment accelerates the growth of the damages due, mainly, to the deteriorated fiber–resin bonding property and increased void content. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1731–1741, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Penultimate effects in the copolymerization of maleic anhydride with electron‐rich styrene derivatives
Authors: ten Brummelhuis Niels , Stutz Marvin Björn
Published: June 2016

The (controlled) free‐radical copolymerization of maleic anhydride and styrene or derivatives thereof is often thought to provide nearly perfect alternating copolymers. Here, the RAFT copolymerization of electron‐rich styrene derivatives with maleic anhydride is reported. This copolymerization shows distinct penultimate effects, resulting in polymers with increased incorporation of styrene monomers, that is, where a tendency toward periodic (S‐S‐MA) copolymers exists. This work could be a first step towards periodic copolymers based on maleic anhydride and styrene derivatives. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2932–2939
Small‐angle X‐ray scattering as a useful supplementary technique to determine molecular masses of polyelectrolytes in solution
Authors: Plazzotta Beatrice , Diget Jakob Stensgaard , Zhu Kaizheng , Nyström Bo , Pedersen Jan Skov
Published: June 2016

Determination of molecular masses of charged polymers is often nontrivial and most methods have their drawbacks. For polyelectrolytes, a new possibility for the determination of number‐average molecular masses is represented by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) which allows fast determinations with a 10% accuracy. This is done by relating the mass to the position of a characteristic peak feature which arises in SAXS due to the local ordering caused by charge‐repulsions between polyelectrolytes. Advantages of the technique are the simplicity of data analysis, the independency from polymer architecture, and the low sample and time consumption. The method was tested on polyelectrolytes of various structures and chemical compositions, and the results were compared with those obtained from more conventional techniques, such as asymmetric flow field‐flow fractionation, gel permeation chromatography, and classical SAXS data analysis, showing that the accuracy of the suggested method is similar to that of the other techniques. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1913–1917